msnbc--2020-11-10--Vatican finds popes knew of allegations against disgraced ex-cardinal McCarrick years ago

ROME — Former Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II were aware of claims relating to disgraced American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick , whom the Vatican later defrocked after investigating sexual misconduct allegations , but did not halt the powerful cleric 's rise through the church , according to a report released on Tuesday .
McCarrick , one of the most prominent figures in the U.S. Catholic Church before his stunning fall from power , was expelled from the priesthood in 2019 after a Vatican investigation .
The lengthy Vatican report outlines how the former popes , as well as senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual misconduct allegations , including McCarrick sharing a bed with seminarians at his New Jersey beach house and an unsuccessful attempt to restrict his role in public life in the 1990s .
`` At the time of McCarrick 's appointment and in part because of the limited nature of the Holy See 's own prior investigations , the Holy See never received a complaint directly from a victim , whether adult or minor , about McCarrick 's misconduct , '' the report said .
`` For this reason , McCarrick 's supporters could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'gossip ' or 'rumors . '
'' John Paul II served from 1978 until his death in 2005 and was succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI who retired in 2013 .
The allegations against McCarrick , the highest profile Church figure to have been dismissed from the priesthood in modern times , date back decades .
The report , which was commissioned by Pope Francis in 2018 and includes interviews with over 90 witnesses and details incidents and allegations of abuse , took two years to compile .
According to the investigation , Pope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconduct in 2017 .
Francis has consistently denied knowledge of McCarrick 's sexual misconduct .
Tackling sexual abuses that have battered the Catholic Church 's reputation has been a major challenge for Francis , with victims demanding a crackdown on bishops accused of concealing or mismanaging cases .
The report `` did not examine the issue of McCarrick 's culpability ... that question has already been adjudicated , '' it said , but looked at `` institutional knowledge '' surrounding his behavior .
A former Archbishop of Washington , D.C. , McCarrick was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presided over the 2009 funeral of senator Ted Kennedy and was present at the funeral mass of President-elect Joe Biden 's son Beau in Delaware in 2015 .
The four U.S. dioceses where McCarrick served — New York , Metuchen , Newark , and Washington , D.C. — also carried out separate investigations that fed into the Vatican report .
It outlined how McCarrick seemingly managed to rise through the ranks of the church , despite a history of sexual misconduct with adult male seminarians and minors .
McCarrick , 90 , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. has previously responded publicly only to the allegations of abuse of minors , saying he had `` absolutely no recollection '' of them .
He has not commented on sexual misconduct with adult males or on this report .
NBC News has reached out to U.S. Archdiocese 's for comment .
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics '' We publish the report with sorrow for the wounds that these events have caused to the victims , their families , the Church in the United States , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parolin , the Vatican Secretary of State , in a statement .
Parolin said he and Pope Francis had viewed the testimonies of victims and that in publishing the report `` the truth has been pursued . ''
He also reiterated that the Vatican had already taken steps to improve the transparency mechanisms for future reports of sexual abuse and misconduct in the church .

Claudio Lavanga and Deborah Lubov and Adela Suliman

ROME — The previous two popes were aware of sexual misconduct allegations against American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick but they did not halt the powerful cleric's rise through the church, according to a Vatican report released Tuesday.
The 446-page document said that Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II had known for years about claims against McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, D.C., who was one of the most prominent figures in the U.S. Roman Catholic Church.
The report said the previous two popes, as well as senior U.S. Catholic officials, knew about the allegations. These included that McCarrick had shared a bed with seminarians at his New Jersey beach house and that there was "credible evidence" he abused minors when he was a priest in the 1970s, although the report found this didn't surface until years later.
McCarrick was expelled from the priesthood in 2019 after a Vatican investigation found a "credible and substantiated" allegation of sexual abuse involving a teenager nearly 50 years previously.
Now aged 90 and living in seclusion in the U.S., he has previously responded publicly only to the allegations that he abused minors, saying he had "absolutely no recollection" of them.
The report said Pope Francis, who has has consistently denied knowledge of the incidents, was only given evidence of McCarrick's misconduct in 2017.
Pope John Paul II, who served from 1978 until his death in 2005, was told about some of the claims against McCarrick in 1999 when deciding whether to appoint him archbishop of Washington, D.C., the report said.
The then-pope, who was declared a saint in 2014, called for an internal investigation, according to the report. But three of the four American bishops who were interviewed "provided inaccurate and incomplete information" that ultimately influenced the decision to give McCarrick the prominent post, it said.
John Paul II's willingness to believe McCarrick's denials was also likely based on the men knowing each other for decades, and appeared to have been motivated by experiences in the pope's native Poland, where he witnessed "spurious allegations against bishops to degrade the standing of the church," the report said.
The "limited investigations" that were conducted meant that McCarrick's supporters "could plausibly characterize the allegations against him as 'gossip' or 'rumors'" and his denials were accepted, the report said. It also claimed that the Holy See had never received a complaint direct from a victim when McCarrick was appointed to Washington.
But James Grein, one of the men whose accusations of sexual abuse resulted in McCarrick's defrocking, has said he personally told John Paul II about the abuse during a 1988 Vatican audience. "He blessed me, he put his hands on me, then he dismissed me," Grein said during a news conference in August 2019 in Manhattan.
He was among hundreds of child sex abuse victims who filed lawsuits in New York under the Child Victims Act, which allows individuals to sue regardless of when the alleged acts happened. The legislation was bitterly opposed by the Catholic Church and other religious groups and blocked for years by Republicans in the state Legislature.
Grein was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.
After replacing John Paul II in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI's knowledge of "McCarrick's misconduct was generally similar to the information" available to his predecessor, the report said.
Despite the concerns being brought to the pope's attention, "instead, the decision was made to appeal to McCarrick's conscience and ecclesial spirit by indicating to him that he should maintain a lower profile and minimize travel for the good of the church," according to the report.
Saint Peter's Square a day before the Vatican releases its long-awaited report into disgraced ex-U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Remo Casilli / Reuters
Tackling sexual abuses that have battered the Catholic Church's reputation has been a major challenge for Francis, with victims demanding a crackdown on bishops accused of concealing or mismanaging cases. This has only increased against the background of the #MeToo era.
The report "did not examine the issue of McCarrick's culpability" because "that question has already been adjudicated," but Vatican investigators did look at "institutional knowledge" surrounding his behavior. McCarrick has not commented on alleged sexual misconduct with adult men or on this report.
A former archbishop of Washington, D.C., McCarrick was familiar to U.S. political elites.
He presided over the 2009 funeral of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., in 2009 and was present at the funeral Mass of President-elect Joe Biden's son Beau in Delaware in 2015.
The four U.S. dioceses where McCarrick served — New York, Metuchen and Newark in New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. — also carried out separate investigations that fed into the Vatican report.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics
Cardinal-Designate Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington called the Vatican's report "an important, difficult and necessary document" that was necessary if "true redemptive healing is ever to commence."
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said in a statement, "We publish the report with sorrow for the wounds that these events have caused to the victims, their families, the Church in the United States, and the Universal Church."
Reuters contributed to this report.


msnbc--2020-11-10--These families avoided screens. Then the pandemic hit.

It took two days for remote learning to make Molly Pascal 's kids cry .
Their school 's hourslong remote online program last spring prompted near-immediate complaints of headaches , irritability and fatigue from the siblings , then in the fourth and fifth grades .
Pascal , who lives in Pittsburgh , said she was able to talk to her children 's school and narrowed their days down to the four most critical classes , jettisoning the rest .
The family is now reluctant to even put on a movie at night because of the increase in screen time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , but Pascal 's were facing a particular challenge : At home , they almost never spent time in front of screens .
`` I feel like it has just confirmed our values , '' Pascal said .
`` I can see how screen time hurts my children . ''
Versions of this negotiation played out across the U.S. in the spring as efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus led state governments to order school and business shutdowns in all 50 states .
Many school districts made the transition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those families with the necessary hardware , internet connections and patience .
While many parents threw in the collective towel on limiting their kids ' screen time , and experts generally supported that decision , screen-free families found themselves reconsidering their policies .
With school fully remote , avoiding screens entirely was n't possible without drastic measures , such as home-schooling .
Some families , like Pascal 's , doubled down on their choices as a direct consequence of the screen time required by learning .
Others , like Lydia Elle , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , significantly revised their parenting rules as in-person options for seeing family , maintaining social connections and entertainment nearly vanished overnight .
`` My daughter is an only child .
She does school online .
All of my family lives no closer than 2,000 miles away , '' Elle said .
Avoiding screen time beyond school would have cut her daughter off from her community during a highly stressful time , she said .
After her remote school day ends , Elle 's 11-year-old daughter calls up a friend on FaceTime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the popular computer game Roblox or chatting aimlessly .
`` I decided not to infringe on her need to socialize in whatever ways she can carve it out , '' Elle said .
`` In another life , I 'll be like , 'Oh , my goodness , that 's terrible . '
'' In recent years , experts have moved beyond recommending strict limits on children 's screen time to focus more on how that time is being spent .
In March , the American Academy of Pediatrics put out a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only that families `` preserve offline experiences '' and acknowledging that `` screen media use will likely increase . ''
Michael Robb , the senior director of research for Common Sense Media , a nonprofit that evaluates and researches digital media for children , said parents should work backward , making sure their kids have access to a range of important experiences over the course of a week .
They should include playing with friends , being outside , getting a good night 's sleep and nutritious food – some of which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value of using digital media as a shared family experience , which other parents said they found valuable .
Digital media , he said , can be a source of conversation and positive memories instead of a constant fount of tension and disagreement .
`` Frankly , if it can be a source of joy for families to do something together , that 's wonderful , '' Robb said .
Elle and her daughter have started watching `` Gilmore Girls '' together and have found it to be a bonding experience during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote learning eventually led at least one screen-free family to opt out of formal school altogether .
Meghan Owenz , an assistant teaching professor at Penn State Berks and co-founder of screenfreeparenting.com , said her children , ages 5 and 8 , had a grueling remote schedule .
Their school day ran from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. , with five hours of live instruction a day .
She and her husband , who are both working from home , submitted alternative activities that corresponded to their kids ' lessons for the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would n't be present for live instruction .
Last week , they decided to formally unenroll their kids and home-school them , instead .
That was `` essentially what we were doing anyways , '' Owenz wrote in an email .
`` Now , we just have less uploading to do . ''
Many parents , especially affluent ones , have pushed to shift kids ' pre-pandemic activities online and carry on as normal , Owenz said in an interview .
When Pascal 's son 's martial arts classes went online , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were a poor substitute for the camaraderie and enjoyment that came from physically being in class .
`` It 's not the same , and kids are n't going to be as engaged , '' Owenz said .
`` Might it be OK to say , 'This is a really different time than it was last year , and we 're going to do some really different things that maybe are interesting that we do n't normally have time to do ? '
''

It took two days for remote learning to make Molly Pascal's kids cry.
Their school's hourslong remote online program last spring prompted near-immediate complaints of headaches, irritability and fatigue from the siblings, then in the fourth and fifth grades. Pascal, who lives in Pittsburgh, said she was able to talk to her children's school and narrowed their days down to the four most critical classes, jettisoning the rest. The family is now reluctant to even put on a movie at night because of the increase in screen time.
Remote learning has been difficult for many children, but Pascal's were facing a particular challenge: At home, they almost never spent time in front of screens.
"I feel like it has just confirmed our values," Pascal said. "I can see how screen time hurts my children."
Versions of this negotiation played out across the U.S. in the spring as efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus led state governments to order school and business shutdowns in all 50 states. Many school districts made the transition to remote learning – a test for even those families with the necessary hardware, internet connections and patience.
While many parents threw in the collective towel on limiting their kids' screen time, and experts generally supported that decision, screen-free families found themselves reconsidering their policies. With school fully remote, avoiding screens entirely wasn't possible without drastic measures, such as home-schooling.
Some families, like Pascal's, doubled down on their choices as a direct consequence of the screen time required by learning. Others, like Lydia Elle, a lifestyle influencer and single mom living in Los Angeles, significantly revised their parenting rules as in-person options for seeing family, maintaining social connections and entertainment nearly vanished overnight.
"My daughter is an only child. She does school online. All of my family lives no closer than 2,000 miles away," Elle said. Avoiding screen time beyond school would have cut her daughter off from her community during a highly stressful time, she said.
After her remote school day ends, Elle's 11-year-old daughter calls up a friend on FaceTime and they hang out, perhaps playing the popular computer game Roblox or chatting aimlessly.
"I decided not to infringe on her need to socialize in whatever ways she can carve it out," Elle said. "In another life, I'll be like, 'Oh, my goodness, that's terrible.'"
In recent years, experts have moved beyond recommending strict limits on children's screen time to focus more on how that time is being spent. In March, the American Academy of Pediatrics put out a statement eschewing formal screen time limits, suggesting only that families "preserve offline experiences" and acknowledging that "screen media use will likely increase."
Lydia Elle's daughter London uses an iPad in the car. Courtesy Lydia Elle
Michael Robb, the senior director of research for Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that evaluates and researches digital media for children, said parents should work backward, making sure their kids have access to a range of important experiences over the course of a week. They should include playing with friends, being outside, getting a good night's sleep and nutritious food – some of which will involve screens.
Robb also highlighted the value of using digital media as a shared family experience, which other parents said they found valuable. Digital media, he said, can be a source of conversation and positive memories instead of a constant fount of tension and disagreement.
"Frankly, if it can be a source of joy for families to do something together, that's wonderful," Robb said.
Elle and her daughter have started watching "Gilmore Girls" together and have found it to be a bonding experience during a highly stressful time.
The pressures of remote learning eventually led at least one screen-free family to opt out of formal school altogether.
Meghan Owenz, an assistant teaching professor at Penn State Berks and co-founder of screenfreeparenting.com, said her children, ages 5 and 8, had a grueling remote schedule. Their school day ran from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with five hours of live instruction a day. She and her husband, who are both working from home, submitted alternative activities that corresponded to their kids' lessons for the day, and they told the school they wouldn't be present for live instruction.
Last week, they decided to formally unenroll their kids and home-school them, instead.
That was "essentially what we were doing anyways," Owenz wrote in an email. "Now, we just have less uploading to do."
Many parents, especially affluent ones, have pushed to shift kids' pre-pandemic activities online and carry on as normal, Owenz said in an interview. When Pascal's son's martial arts classes went online, her family gave them a try before realizing they were a poor substitute for the camaraderie and enjoyment that came from physically being in class.
"It's not the same, and kids aren't going to be as engaged," Owenz said. "Might it be OK to say, 'This is a really different time than it was last year, and we're going to do some really different things that maybe are interesting that we don't normally have time to do?'"


msnbc--2020-11-10--HHS Secretary: Coronavirus 'general vaccination' programs by spring

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar predicted Tuesday that there would be enough Covid-19 vaccine for general public vaccination campaigns by spring 2021 .
In an appearance on the TODAY show , Azar outlined what he said would be the distribution schedule for Pfizer 's and other companies ' experimental vaccines , none of which are approved , but Pfizer said Monday its vaccine is over 90 percent effective at preventing coronavirus infection .
Azar said the pharmaceutical giant is ramping up to deliver 20 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine monthly by the end of November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine to inoculate at-risk nursing home residents , health care workers and first responders by the end of January and that there should be `` enough for all Americans by the end of March to early April to have general vaccination programs . ''
Azar also touted the FDA emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly 's monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab , a treatment for people at risk of developing severe effects from Covid-19 .
Around the world and in the United States , coronavirus cases are skyrocketing , with over 50 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads with 10 million cases and nearly a quarter-million deaths since the pandemic broke out earlier this year .

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar predicted Tuesday that there would be enough Covid-19 vaccine for general public vaccination campaigns by spring 2021.
In an appearance on the TODAY show, Azar outlined what he said would be the distribution schedule for Pfizer's and other companies' experimental vaccines, none of which are approved, but Pfizer said Monday its vaccine is over 90 percent effective at preventing coronavirus infection.
Azar said the pharmaceutical giant is ramping up to deliver 20 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine monthly by the end of November.
Azar forecasted that there would be enough of the vaccine to inoculate at-risk nursing home residents, health care workers and first responders by the end of January and that there should be "enough for all Americans by the end of March to early April to have general vaccination programs."
Azar also touted the FDA emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab, a treatment for people at risk of developing severe effects from Covid-19.
Around the world and in the United States, coronavirus cases are skyrocketing, with over 50 million cases so far.
The United States leads with 10 million cases and nearly a quarter-million deaths since the pandemic broke out earlier this year.
In a statement Monday, Pfizer said it expects to deliver up to 50 million doses of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion in 2021.
Pfizer did not immediately respond to a NBC News request for comment on Azar's forecast for vaccine distribution in the United States.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Latino forgotten history: New book retells epic Mayan creation story most of us don't know

Every culture has an origin story .
Many Latinos can trace their cultural roots to an epic poem that was passed down in Central America for over a millennium — but this rich , important history has been largely buried , Mexican scholar Ilan Stavans says .
`` The Popol Vuh in many ways is like 'Beowulf , ' the Bible , the Viking sagas , 'The Iliad ' and 'The Odyssey , ' '' says Stavans , a Latin American and Latino culture professor at Amherst College .
`` It tells stories of battles and the rise and fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of `` Popol Vuh : A Retelling , '' a prose rendition of the heroic epic poem about the creation of the world as told by the K'iche ' Maya people of Guatemala .
The book , with stunning illustrations by the Salvadoran folk artist Gabriela Larios , is out Tuesday .
The Popol Vuh is considered one of the most important texts about the Mayans and the ancient history of the Americas .
Although scholars acknowledge its significance and other versions of the book have been published , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the indigenous narratives of the Americas have achieved canonical status worldwide .
The disdain has to do with the allergy of Europe to nontraditional stories from outside the continent , '' Stavans says .
`` The Spanish Empire kept these narratives — the Popol Vuh is unquestionably the most important of them — from being recognized as legitimate .
And Mexico and Central America have n't invested in them wholeheartedly , keeping them at best as museum artifacts . ''
It 's believed that the sprawling epic was passed down orally for over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in writing by K'iche ' nobility around the 1550s , when they found themselves under the control of Spanish colonizers .
It was later translated into Spanish by the Dominican friar Francisco Ximénez at the beginning of the 18th century .
`` The preservation of the Popol Vuh is a story about indigenous oppression , survival and endurance .
But it also shows how colonizers can have within themselves the ability to rescue a culture , give voice to a people as an outsider , '' says Stavans , referring to Ximénez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgotten by history .
Stavans says that while the Popol Vuh celebrates the mythology and history of the K'iche ' people in Mesoamerica — referring to the Maya cultures that lived in modern-day Mexico , Guatemala , Honduras , Belize , El Salvador and Costa Rica — the story behind its preservation is truly Latin American in scope , because it shows how indigenous peoples struggled to survive in the face of European colonization .
`` Sunset has fallen on the K'iche ' people .
Our lands have been taken away , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been stolen , '' Stavans writes at the beginning of the book .
`` I tell these stories of the ancient world to once again ignite our people 's hearts . ''
Stavans ' retelling of the Popol Vuh is divided into four parts .
The first part focuses on the sacred Maya creation myth , which describes how the world was made and how humans were created after the gods experimented with other creatures .
The second part tells the story of the hero twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué , who take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by playing a ballgame that Stavans compares to soccer .
The third part describes the genealogy of the K'iche ' nobility , and the fourth part concludes with the destruction of the K'iche ' and the arrival of the Spaniards .
Classic literature fans might compare the Mayan underworld ( known as Xibalba ) with Dante 's 14th century Italian epic `` The Divine Comedy , '' which also gives readers an underground tour of hell .
Other fans might also find exciting parallels with more recent pop culture hits like Netflix 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV show , the Upside Down world is an alternate dimension full of death and monsters that is connected to the human world through a series of portals .
And similarly , Xibalba is a place of death and fear that is connected to the living world through caves and cenotes .
For Stavans , the connection between opposing worlds — the living and the dead , good and evil , the seen and the unseen — challenges readers to have a deeper understanding of the complexity of reality .
`` My mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them from her own mother , and so on , '' the book says .
`` They explain how nature is ruled by opposites : truth and lies , light and darkness , sound and silence .
Humans swing on a pendulum without ever becoming static . ''

Every culture has an origin story. Many Latinos can trace their cultural roots to an epic poem that was passed down in Central America for over a millennium — but this rich, important history has been largely buried, Mexican scholar Ilan Stavans says.
"The Popol Vuh in many ways is like 'Beowulf,' the Bible, the Viking sagas, 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey,'" says Stavans, a Latin American and Latino culture professor at Amherst College. "It tells stories of battles and the rise and fall of a people."
Stavans is the author of "Popol Vuh: A Retelling," a prose rendition of the heroic epic poem about the creation of the world as told by the K'iche' Maya people of Guatemala. The book, with stunning illustrations by the Salvadoran folk artist Gabriela Larios, is out Tuesday.
The Popol Vuh is considered one of the most important texts about the Mayans and the ancient history of the Americas. Although scholars acknowledge its significance and other versions of the book have been published, it's not commonly known.
"None of the indigenous narratives of the Americas have achieved canonical status worldwide. The disdain has to do with the allergy of Europe to nontraditional stories from outside the continent," Stavans says. "The Spanish Empire kept these narratives — the Popol Vuh is unquestionably the most important of them — from being recognized as legitimate. And Mexico and Central America haven't invested in them wholeheartedly, keeping them at best as museum artifacts."
An illustration from "Popol Vuh: A Retelling" by Ilan Stavans, with illustrations by Gabriela Larios. Gabriela Larios
It's believed that the sprawling epic was passed down orally for over a thousand years until it was first put in writing by K'iche' nobility around the 1550s, when they found themselves under the control of Spanish colonizers.
It was later translated into Spanish by the Dominican friar Francisco Ximénez at the beginning of the 18th century.
"The preservation of the Popol Vuh is a story about indigenous oppression, survival and endurance. But it also shows how colonizers can have within themselves the ability to rescue a culture, give voice to a people as an outsider," says Stavans, referring to Ximénez, who was, ironically, largely forgotten by history.
Stavans says that while the Popol Vuh celebrates the mythology and history of the K'iche' people in Mesoamerica — referring to the Maya cultures that lived in modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador and Costa Rica — the story behind its preservation is truly Latin American in scope, because it shows how indigenous peoples struggled to survive in the face of European colonization.
"Sunset has fallen on the K'iche' people. Our lands have been taken away, our leaders have been subjugated, our children have been stolen," Stavans writes at the beginning of the book. "I tell these stories of the ancient world to once again ignite our people's hearts."
An illustration from "Popol Vuh: A Retelling" by Ilan Stavans, with illustrations by Gabriela Larios. Gabriela Larios
Stavans' retelling of the Popol Vuh is divided into four parts. The first part focuses on the sacred Maya creation myth, which describes how the world was made and how humans were created after the gods experimented with other creatures. The second part tells the story of the hero twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, who take on the gods of the Maya underworld by playing a ballgame that Stavans compares to soccer. The third part describes the genealogy of the K'iche' nobility, and the fourth part concludes with the destruction of the K'iche' and the arrival of the Spaniards.
Classic literature fans might compare the Mayan underworld (known as Xibalba) with Dante's 14th century Italian epic "The Divine Comedy," which also gives readers an underground tour of hell.
Other fans might also find exciting parallels with more recent pop culture hits like Netflix's "Stranger Things." In the TV show, the Upside Down world is an alternate dimension full of death and monsters that is connected to the human world through a series of portals. And similarly, Xibalba is a place of death and fear that is connected to the living world through caves and cenotes.
For Stavans, the connection between opposing worlds — the living and the dead, good and evil, the seen and the unseen — challenges readers to have a deeper understanding of the complexity of reality.
"My mother told them to me, she got them from her own mother, and so on," the book says. "They explain how nature is ruled by opposites: truth and lies, light and darkness, sound and silence. Humans swing on a pendulum without ever becoming static."
Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Some publishers cool to post-White House book by Trump

One of publishing ’ s most thriving genres of the past four years , books about President Donald Trump , is not going to end when he leaves office .
In 2021 and beyond , look for waves of releases about the Trump administration and about the president ’ s loss to Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
Works already planned include the anti-Trump “ Preventable : The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures , Politics , and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response , ” by former Obamacare head Andy Slavitt .
There ’ s a campaign book from New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burns .
And former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale is reportedly working on a memoir .
Expect detailed condemnations of the 45th president ’ s actions and rhetoric , from journalists and former associates , and also flattering accounts from White House allies and pro-Trump pundits .
And there might well be a book from Trump himself , who received more than 70 million votes even as he became the first president in nearly 30 years to be defeated after one term .
“ It was a very controversial presidency and the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed with Trump fans , ” says Matt Latimer of the Javelin literary agency , where clients have included former FBI Director James Comey , former National Security Adviser John Bolton and Fox host Tucker Carlson .
“ But there are tens of millions of Americans who look to the Trump presidency as an important time and are fans of his administration .
At least some publishers will recognize that.
” Publishers often speak proudly about their openness to diverse voices , while also acknowledging that they like to make money .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few years have acquired books by everyone from Sean Hannity to Corey Lewandowski .
Simon & Schuster is Hillary Clinton ’ s longtime publisher , but through its conservative Threshold Editions released Trump ’ s most recent work , “ Crippled America , ” which came out in 2015 .
Center Street , a Hachette Book Group imprint , has published Donald Trump Jr. , Newt Gingrich and Judge Jeanine Pirro among others .
“ No matter their political beliefs , every American has personally experienced the seismic shift within Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ Books will be published for years to come about his presidency and the conservative movement in general , and Center Street absolutely intends to be a leader in that space.
” There are risks in publishing Trump , although even presidents who have left office highly unpopular , from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush , managed to get book deals and release bestsellers .
None were as polarizing as Trump or have so many upcoming legal battles , including a New York State investigation into his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Jean Carroll , one of more than 20 women who have alleged sexual assault or misconduct by Trump .
Several publishers told the AP that they don ’ t believe Trump will have the same global appeal as former President Barack Obama , whose “ A Promised Land ” comes out next week .
Obama and his wife , former first lady Michelle Obama , agreed to a reported $ 65 million deal with Crown in 2017 .
Any publisher signing with Trump or a top administration official might face the anger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public , but from within the industry .
When Simon & Schuster signed up the far right journalist-commentator Milo Yiannopoulos in 2017 , more than 100 authors publicly objected .
( The publisher ended up dropping him amid allegations he approved of sex between men and young boys . )
Hachette cancelled a memoir by Woody Allen , whose daughter Dylan Farrow has alleged he sexually abused her , after employees staged a walkout in protest .
( Skyhorse Publishing later released the book ) .
Ellen Oh , an author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We Need Diverse Books , mentioned three of the most controversial Trump appointees : Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and senior advisor Stephen Miller .
“ I would campaign hard against these three officials who have done the most damage under Trump , ” said Oh , who was among those who signed the Yiannapoulos letter .
David Drake , executive vice president and publisher of Crown , which will release Obama ’ s memoir , declined comment on whether he would acquire a book by Trump or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president and publisher of Alfred A. Knopf , Reagan Arthur , doubted she would sign up Trump , but added that she would probably agree to meet with him , out of courtesy to a former president .
Dana Canedy , senior vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster ’ s namesake imprint , said any decision to work with Trump or those in his Cabinet would depend on what they were planning to say .
“ I would apply the same rigorous approach to any meeting , with anyone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I would have to see whether there ’ s an arc to the story , how deeply reported it would be , and that there would be fact-checking so we could be confident about it .
And that ’ s whether Joe Biden was coming to me or Donald Trump was coming to me.
” Canedy said she might be interested in a book from Trump about his influence on the Republican Party , which initially resisted his rise in 2016 .
She would want Trump , or any author , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest , ” and have ” a level of insight and self-awareness.
” Asked if she believed Trump could meet those standards , Canedy said : “ I wouldn ’ t know how to answer that , quite honestly , because I would need to see the proposal first.
” The switch from a Republican to a Democratic president also should result in a shift on best-seller lists .
The past four years have seen a continuous run of anti-Trump blockbusters , including Michael Wolff ’ s “ Fire and Fury , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mary Trump ’ s “ Too Much and Never Enough , ” and Bob Woodward ’ s “ Fear ” and “ Rage.
” The next four years should mark the dawn of books against Biden .
“ It ’ s historically been our experience that books coming from the right are more available and more popular when there is a Democratic presidency , ” says Adrian Zackheim , who runs the conservative Sentinel imprint at Penguin Random House and has published books by Mike Huckabee , Nikki Haley and Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty much a scientific fact .
”

One of publishing’s most thriving genres of the past four years, books about President Donald Trump, is not going to end when he leaves office.
In 2021 and beyond, look for waves of releases about the Trump administration and about the president’s loss to Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Works already planned include the anti-Trump “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response,” by former Obamacare head Andy Slavitt. There’s a campaign book from New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns. And former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale is reportedly working on a memoir.
Expect detailed condemnations of the 45th president’s actions and rhetoric, from journalists and former associates, and also flattering accounts from White House allies and pro-Trump pundits. And there might well be a book from Trump himself, who received more than 70 million votes even as he became the first president in nearly 30 years to be defeated after one term.
“It was a very controversial presidency and the New York publishing world isn’t exactly packed with Trump fans,” says Matt Latimer of the Javelin literary agency, where clients have included former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and Fox host Tucker Carlson.
“But there are tens of millions of Americans who look to the Trump presidency as an important time and are fans of his administration. At least some publishers will recognize that.”
Publishers often speak proudly about their openness to diverse voices, while also acknowledging that they like to make money. Several houses have conservative imprints that over the past few years have acquired books by everyone from Sean Hannity to Corey Lewandowski.
Simon & Schuster is Hillary Clinton’s longtime publisher, but through its conservative Threshold Editions released Trump’s most recent work, “Crippled America,” which came out in 2015. Center Street, a Hachette Book Group imprint, has published Donald Trump Jr., Newt Gingrich and Judge Jeanine Pirro among others.
“No matter their political beliefs, every American has personally experienced the seismic shift within Washington,” Center Street publisher Daisy Blackwell Hutton said in a statement. “Books will be published for years to come about his presidency and the conservative movement in general, and Center Street absolutely intends to be a leader in that space.”
There are risks in publishing Trump, although even presidents who have left office highly unpopular, from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush, managed to get book deals and release bestsellers. None were as polarizing as Trump or have so many upcoming legal battles, including a New York State investigation into his finances, and a defamation lawsuit from E. Jean Carroll, one of more than 20 women who have alleged sexual assault or misconduct by Trump.
Several publishers told the AP that they don’t believe Trump will have the same global appeal as former President Barack Obama, whose “A Promised Land” comes out next week. Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, agreed to a reported $65 million deal with Crown in 2017.
Any publisher signing with Trump or a top administration official might face the anger not just of Trump critics among the general public, but from within the industry. When Simon & Schuster signed up the far right journalist-commentator Milo Yiannopoulos in 2017, more than 100 authors publicly objected. (The publisher ended up dropping him amid allegations he approved of sex between men and young boys.) Hachette cancelled a memoir by Woody Allen, whose daughter Dylan Farrow has alleged he sexually abused her, after employees staged a walkout in protest. (Skyhorse Publishing later released the book).
Ellen Oh, an author of fantasy novels who co-founded the grassroots organization We Need Diverse Books, mentioned three of the most controversial Trump appointees: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and senior advisor Stephen Miller. “I would campaign hard against these three officials who have done the most damage under Trump,” said Oh, who was among those who signed the Yiannapoulos letter.
David Drake, executive vice president and publisher of Crown, which will release Obama’s memoir, declined comment on whether he would acquire a book by Trump or even meet with him. The executive vice president and publisher of Alfred A. Knopf, Reagan Arthur, doubted she would sign up Trump, but added that she would probably agree to meet with him, out of courtesy to a former president.
Dana Canedy, senior vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster’s namesake imprint, said any decision to work with Trump or those in his Cabinet would depend on what they were planning to say.
“I would apply the same rigorous approach to any meeting, with anyone, Democratic or Republican,” she said. “I would have to see whether there’s an arc to the story, how deeply reported it would be, and that there would be fact-checking so we could be confident about it. And that’s whether Joe Biden was coming to me or Donald Trump was coming to me.”
Canedy said she might be interested in a book from Trump about his influence on the Republican Party, which initially resisted his rise in 2016. She would want Trump, or any author, to be “fair, balanced and honest,” and have ”a level of insight and self-awareness.”
Asked if she believed Trump could meet those standards, Canedy said: “I wouldn’t know how to answer that, quite honestly, because I would need to see the proposal first.”
The switch from a Republican to a Democratic president also should result in a shift on best-seller lists. The past four years have seen a continuous run of anti-Trump blockbusters, including Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury,” Comey’s “A Higher Loyalty,” Mary Trump’s “Too Much and Never Enough,” and Bob Woodward’s “Fear” and “Rage.”
The next four years should mark the dawn of books against Biden.
“It’s historically been our experience that books coming from the right are more available and more popular when there is a Democratic presidency,” says Adrian Zackheim, who runs the conservative Sentinel imprint at Penguin Random House and has published books by Mike Huckabee, Nikki Haley and Brian Kilmeade among others. “That is pretty much a scientific fact.”


msnbc--2020-11-10--Breaking News: Trump loyalists taking key posts at the Pentagon

Lauren Leader : ‘ It is imperative that we continue breaking the last glass ceilings in our government ’

NBC News Pentagon correspondent Courtney Kube joins Nicolle Wallace to break the news that in the final days of his presidency, Trump has decided to install loyalists, including Kash Patel and Anthony Tata, to prominent posts in the Defense Department.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Frank Figliuzzi calls Trump ‘a barricaded subject’ in the White House

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msnbc--2020-11-11--‘We’re at a breaking point’: U.S. records more than one million coronavirus cases this month

‘We’re at a breaking point’: U.S. records more than one million coronavirus cases this month
The United States has already exceeded one million coronavirus cases in the month of November, with more than 100,000 cases in consecutive days.Nov. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Roberts, Kavanaugh suggest they may let bulk of Obamacare survive

Roberts, Kavanaugh suggest they may let bulk of Obamacare survive
Ari Melber explains how comments by Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh signal that they may allow most of the Affordable Care Act stand.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Biden: Republicans denying election results are 'mildly intimidated' by Trump

President-elect Joe Biden announces he will continue his transition plans even as Republicans in office deny the election results and stand with President Trump as he has yet to concede. He says they are "mildly intimidated" by President Trump.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-11--'Loser!': Trump's own lawyer Cohen hits 'crybaby' Trump after Biden win

Several days have passed since Biden was declared the President-Elect and Trump still refuses to concede and to help Biden’s team transition to the White House. Michael Cohen and MSNBC contributor Jason Johnson discuss Trump’s financial motivations for dragging out the inevitable and remaining in politics with MSNBC’s Ari Melber. Cohen also discusses his friendship with comedian Rosie O'Donnell and the time she visited him in prison.Nov. 11, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Dr. Fauci says Pfizer could have doses of vaccine available by December

After Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is announced to be 90 percent effective, Dr. Fauci says "by the time we get into December, we will have doses available for people judged to be at the highest priority to get it first."Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Pfizer, Biontech Covid-19 vaccine uses technology that could revolutionize future immunizations

NBC News' Willem Marx breaks down the new biotechnology used in the Pfizer and Biontech coronavirus vaccine that could be used to create future vaccinations.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-10--Conservative Trump critic slams 'frivolous litigation'

The Dispatch's David French says the Trump lawsuits over the 2020 election outcome will not impact the outcome and that Trump's attacks are an exercise in futility.Nov. 10, 2020


msnbc--2020-11-11--Trump loyalists given top Pentagon roles after several officials resign following Esper's ouster

Several loyalists to President Donald Trump were promoted to top roles in the Pentagon on Tuesday after officials tendered resignations following the unceremonious ouster of Defense Secretary Mark Esper .
The Pentagon confirmed the resignations of the department ’ s top officials for policy and intelligence in a press release .
The resignations include : Acting undersecretary for policy James Anderson ; undersecretary for intelligence Joseph Kernan ; and Esper 's chief of staff Jen Stewart .
The release noted that Kernan 's resignation was `` planned for several months . ''
Anthony Tata , a retired Army general and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson .
Ezra Cohen-Watnick , who currently works in Defense and is a former aide to disgraced National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , will replace Kernan .
Kash Patel , a former National Security Council official and former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes , R-Calif. , who worked on the controversial House probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election , will replace Stewart .
The shakeup comes after the president announced Monday that he fired Esper as his defense secretary and said Christopher Miller , who headed the counterterrorism center , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Defense .
Esper 's ouster was Trump 's first personnel move since losing the election and has prompted Democrats to raise national security concerns as President-elect Joe Biden begins his transition .
In a statement , Miller thanked the officials for their work .
“ I want to thank Dr. Anderson , Admiral Kernan and Jen Stewart for their service to the nation and the Department , '' Miller said .
`` Over their careers each has contributed greatly to the national defense and the future of the Department of Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their next endeavors.
” NBC News reported last week that Esper had prepared a letter of resignation and previously reported that Esper has long been at odds with Trump .
The two disagreed , for example , about the use of active-duty troops to respond to protests across the nation this summer .
Some officials promoted to top roles at the Pentagon are also seen as controversial picks .
Media reports linked Patel to efforts to discredit the Russian investigation and whether there were ties between the Trump campaign and Russia , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Trump nominated Tata to be the undersecretary for policy but the retired Army general quickly withdrew his name after bipartisan concerns from lawmakers .
Tata expressed Islamophobic views publicly and in 2018 called former President Barack Obama a `` terrorist leader '' on Twitter .
Tata additionally claimed the Iran nuclear deal came about because of Obama 's `` Islamic roots '' and was an attempt `` to help Iranians and the greater Islamic state crush Israel . ''
He apologized and was placed in a role at the Pentagon that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotion to lead the Pentagon ’ s policy shop while having an acting title circumvents the need for Senate approval .

Several loyalists to President Donald Trump were promoted to top roles in the Defense Department on Tuesday after officials resigned following the unceremonious ouster of Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The Pentagon confirmed the resignations of the department's top officials for policy and intelligence in a statement. The resignations include those of James Anderson, the acting undersecretary for policy; Joseph Kernan, the undersecretary for intelligence; and Jen Stewart, Esper's chief of staff. The release said Kernan's resignation had been "planned for several months."
Retired Army Gen. Anthony Tata, a frequent Fox News guest, will replace Anderson. Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who works in the Defense Department and was an aide to the disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn, will replace Kernan. Kash Patel, a former National Security Council official and former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., who worked on the contentious House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, will replace Stewart.
Trump announced Monday that he had fired Esper as defense secretary and said Christopher Miller, who headed the counterterrorism center, would serve as acting secretary. Esper's ouster was Trump's first personnel move since he lost the election, and it has prompted Democrats to raise national security concerns as President-elect Joe Biden begins his transition.
In a statement, Miller thanked Anderson, Kernan and Stewart "for their service to the nation and the department."
"Over their careers each has contributed greatly to the national defense and the future of the Department of Defense. We wish them the best in their next endeavors," he said.
NBC News reported last week that Esper had prepared a letter of resignation, after previously reporting that Esper has long been at odds with Trump. The two disagreed, for example, about the use of active-duty troops to respond to protests across the country this summer.
Some of the officials promoted Tuesday are also seen as controversial picks.
Media reports linked Patel to efforts to discredit the Russian investigation and to discredit questions about whether there were ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to The Associated Press.
Trump nominated Tata this year to be the undersecretary for policy, but he quickly withdrew his name over bipartisan concerns from lawmakers. Tata expressed Islamophobic views publicly, and in 2018 he called former President Barack Obama a "terrorist leader" on Twitter. Tata in addition claimed that the Iran nuclear deal came about because of Obama's "Islamic roots" and that it was an attempt "to help Iranians and the greater Islamic state crush Israel."
He apologized and was placed in a role at the Pentagon that did not need Senate approval. His promotion to lead the Pentagon's policy shop while having an "acting" title circumvents the need for Senate approval.


msnbc--2020-11-10--19-year-old charged with illegally supplying gun to Kyle Rittenhouse

Charges have been filed against a 19-year-old man who prosecutors allege purchased and supplied the gun used by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse in the fatal shootings of two protesters in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Dominick Black , of Kenosha , faces two felony counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor , causing death , according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court .
If he 's found guilty , he faces up to 6 years in prison per count .
When reached by NBC News , Black ’ s attorney declined to comment on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The complaint says Black told authorities that over the summer he received money for the Smith & Wesson M & P 15 rifle from Rittenhouse , his friend , who was too young to have legally purchased the weapon himself .
Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree intentional homicide , first-degree reckless homicide , attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other charges after fatally shooting two men and injuring a third during a protest on Aug. 25 over the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
While Rittenhouse admitted to the shootings , his lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the criminal complaint against Black , the weapon used in the shootings was purchased on May 1 at the Wisconsin gun store Ladysmith Ace Home Center by Black , who prosecutors claim was “ aware ” Rittenhouse could not have made the purchase himself .
Since Rittenhouse was an Illinois resident he also did not have an Illinois Firearm Owner Identification card , so the pair agreed to have the weapon stored at Black ’ s stepfather ’ s house in Kenosha , the complaint says .
On Aug. 23 , black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times in the back by a white police officer .
Protesters took to the streets after a video of the shooting began circulating online .
According to the criminal complaint , Black enlisted the help of Rittenhouse in guarding the Kenosha car dealership Car Source from property damage and looting .
The complaint stated Black “ volunteered to go out after curfew ” and “ asked Mr. Rittenhouse to join him.
” In interviews , the owner of Car Source has denied requesting help from either Black or Rittenhouse in protecting his dealership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Black ’ s stepfather ’ s house on Aug. 25 , the complaint says , where Black gave Rittenhouse the gun .
Hours later , Rittenhouse would allegedly use that gun to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber , and injure a third , Gaige Grosskreutz , during the protests .
The shootings were captured on video and shared on social media .
At an initial court appearance via video on Monday , Black ’ s attorney , Robert Keller , said his client —who ’ s being held in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kenosha and has no criminal history .
Court Commissioner Loren Keating set Black ’ s bail at $ 2,500 and also ordered Black to have no contact with Rittenhouse or Gaige Grosskreutz , who was allegedly shot in the arm by Rittenhouse .
In that same court appearance , Rittenhouse —who ’ s also held at Kenosha County Jail — had his bail set to $ 2 million .
In addition to facing up to 12 years in prison , Black faces fines of up to $ 20,000 for both Class H @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s due back in court Nov. 19 .

Charges have been filed against a 19-year-old man who prosecutors allege purchased and supplied the gun used by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse in the fatal shootings of two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Dominick Black, of Kenosha, faces two felony counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor, causing death, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court. If he's found guilty, he faces up to 6 years in prison per count.
When reached by NBC News, Black’s attorney declined to comment on his client’s case at this time.
The complaint says Black told authorities that over the summer he received money for the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle from Rittenhouse, his friend, who was too young to have legally purchased the weapon himself.
Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other charges after fatally shooting two men and injuring a third during a protest on Aug. 25 over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. While Rittenhouse admitted to the shootings, his lawyers claim he acted in self-defense.
According to the criminal complaint against Black, the weapon used in the shootings was purchased on May 1 at the Wisconsin gun store Ladysmith Ace Home Center by Black, who prosecutors claim was “aware” Rittenhouse could not have made the purchase himself. Since Rittenhouse was an Illinois resident he also did not have an Illinois Firearm Owner Identification card, so the pair agreed to have the weapon stored at Black’s stepfather’s house in Kenosha, the complaint says.
On Aug. 23, black Kenosha resident Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back by a white police officer. Protesters took to the streets after a video of the shooting began circulating online.
According to the criminal complaint, Black enlisted the help of Rittenhouse in guarding the Kenosha car dealership Car Source from property damage and looting. The complaint stated Black “volunteered to go out after curfew” and “asked Mr. Rittenhouse to join him.”
In interviews, the owner of Car Source has denied requesting help from either Black or Rittenhouse in protecting his dealership during the protests.
The pair went to Black’s stepfather’s house on Aug. 25, the complaint says, where Black gave Rittenhouse the gun. Hours later, Rittenhouse would allegedly use that gun to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and injure a third, Gaige Grosskreutz, during the protests.
The shootings were captured on video and shared on social media.
At an initial court appearance via video on Monday, Black’s attorney, Robert Keller, said his client —who’s being held in Kenosha County Jail — lives with his mother in Kenosha and has no criminal history. Court Commissioner Loren Keating set Black’s bail at $2,500 and also ordered Black to have no contact with Rittenhouse or Gaige Grosskreutz, who was allegedly shot in the arm by Rittenhouse.
In that same court appearance, Rittenhouse —who’s also held at Kenosha County Jail — had his bail set to $2 million.
In addition to facing up to 12 years in prison, Black faces fines of up to $20,000 for both Class H felonies, according to the criminal complaint. He’s due back in court Nov. 19.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Graphic: Turnout per county in the battleground states

Voter turnout rose sharply during last week 's election in battleground states across the country .
Nearly every county in the 13 major battleground states had more voter turnout than in the 2016 election , according to an analysis of NBC News election results .
Of those thousand-plus counties , only 12 had lower turnouts than in the last election , as of the latest results .
While Joe Biden was able to flip four of the 13 states from President Donald Trump and win three more states that Hillary Clinton won in 2016 , the picture remains largely unchanged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,118 counties in battleground states , only 37 flipped , or 0.3 percent , which meant control of the states rested largely on parties ' turning out votes within counties they had won before .
More than 70 percent of Michigan voters turned out , an increase of almost 10 percentage points over 2016 .
The state , part of the so-called blue wall , went to Biden after having flipped for Trump in 2016 .
Jake Berlin , a first-time voter from Oakland County , teetered on the fence about his decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he reached his polling place .
`` I felt I could be tipping the scale one way or another and felt like I had a good amount of power , '' Berlin said .
`` That was exciting . ''
Berlin did not vote in 2016 .
He said he had a change of heart because of Michigan 's role as a swing state .
`` You 've kind of got to make sure your voice is heard , otherwise it 's just going to be everyone else 's voice heard , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump .
His county went for Biden .
Florida , a decisive state in many presidential elections , had a turnout of 64 percent , up from 57 percent in 2016 .
A precinct within the University of Central Florida in Orange County even exceeded 100 percent voter turnout , which The New York Times attributed to a few voters who switched their addresses on Election Day and moved into the area .
Danaë Rivera-Marasco , a spokesperson for the Orange County Elections Commission , said the commission worked closely with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to vote .
`` It 's great to see young engagement and that they took responsibility , '' Rivera-Marasco said .
`` We have n't seen anything like that in past elections . ''
Arizona was one of the states with the greatest increases in voter turnout , up by 10 percentage points from 2016 .
Only four counties went to Clinton in 2016 , and according to the latest results five have gone to Biden .
This year , 300,000 more Democratic voters turned out in Maricopa County than in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds a lead over Trump in the state .
The region , which includes Phoenix , is the state 's most populous county .
Turnout in North Carolina , another such swing state , rose by 7 percentage points over 2016 .
Scotland County is one of three counties in the state to have flipped this year , having voted for Clinton in 2016 and switching to Trump this year .
Dell Parker , elections director of the Scotland County Board of Elections , said that even with the popularity of mail-in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger outcome on Election Day .
`` We had heard a lot of people talking about the election , so we kind of prepared for a big turnout , '' Parker said .
`` We were actually a little disappointed that more people did not come . ''

Kanwal Syed and Elliott Ramos and Ellie Frymire and Naitian Zhou

Voter turnout rose sharply during last week's election in battleground states across the country.
Nearly every county in the 13 major battleground states had more voter turnout than in the 2016 election, according to an analysis of NBC News election results. Of those thousand-plus counties, only 12 had lower turnouts than in the last election, as of the latest results.
While Joe Biden was able to flip four of the 13 states from President Donald Trump and win three more states that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, the picture remains largely unchanged within the states themselves.
Out of 1,118 counties in battleground states, only 37 flipped, or 3.3 percent, which meant control of the states rested largely on parties' turning out votes within counties they had won before.
Michigan
More than 70 percent of Michigan voters turned out, an increase of almost 10 percentage points over 2016. The state, part of the so-called blue wall, went to Biden after having flipped for Trump in 2016.
Jake Berlin, a first-time voter from Oakland County, teetered on the fence about his decision this year all the way up until he reached his polling place.
"I felt I could be tipping the scale one way or another and felt like I had a good amount of power," Berlin said. "That was exciting."
Berlin did not vote in 2016. He said he had a change of heart because of Michigan's role as a swing state.
"You've kind of got to make sure your voice is heard, otherwise it's just going to be everyone else's voice heard," he said.
Berlin said he voted for Trump. His county went for Biden.
Florida
Florida, a decisive state in many presidential elections, had a turnout of 64 percent, up from 57 percent in 2016.
A precinct within the University of Central Florida in Orange County even exceeded 100 percent voter turnout, which The New York Times attributed to a few voters who switched their addresses on Election Day and moved into the area.
Danaë Rivera-Marasco, a spokesperson for the Orange County Elections Commission, said the commission worked closely with the UCF student government association to encourage young voters to vote.
"It's great to see young engagement and that they took responsibility," Rivera-Marasco said. "We haven't seen anything like that in past elections."
Arizona
Arizona was one of the states with the greatest increases in voter turnout, up by 10 percentage points from 2016. Only four counties went to Clinton in 2016, and according to the latest results five have gone to Biden.
This year, 300,000 more Democratic voters turned out in Maricopa County than in 2016, flipping it to Biden, who holds a lead over Trump in the state. The region, which includes Phoenix, is the state's most populous county.
North Carolina
Turnout in North Carolina, another such swing state, rose by 7 percentage points over 2016. Scotland County is one of three counties in the state to have flipped this year, having voted for Clinton in 2016 and switching to Trump this year.
Dell Parker, elections director of the Scotland County Board of Elections, said that even with the popularity of mail-in and absentee ballots, the board expected a larger outcome on Election Day.
"We had heard a lot of people talking about the election, so we kind of prepared for a big turnout," Parker said. "We were actually a little disappointed that more people did not come."
The state's final vote count is expected Tuesday.
CORRECTION (Nov. 12, 2020, 11:30 a.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misstated the percent of battleground counties that flipped. It is 3.3 percent, not 0.3 percent.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Wayfair's early Black Friday sales

Wayfair's early Black Friday sales

Black Friday is still a couple weeks away but Wayfair and other retailers , from The Home Depot to Nordstrom and Macy ’ s , are offering early sales and deals to get you started .
Wayfair is currently holding its Black Friday Early Access sale , which will run through the morning of Nov. 13 .
Wayfair is simultaneously hosting its annual Holiday Sale through Nov. 12 , as well as a Kitchen Essentials sale through Nov. 20 .
And while the retailer plans to release more Black Friday deals on Nov. 27 , you can certainly save while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly good idea this year as delivery services , including FedEx and UPS , are preparing for a potential “ shortfall of as many as 7 million packages a day , ” NBC News reported in October .
Whether you ’ re thinking of upgrading your bedroom or elevating your dining room , you can find everything from living room furniture and bedding to storage , lighting fixtures and more during Wayfair 's Black Friday Early Access sale .
To help you sort through Wayfair 's sales and deals on thousands of products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings by product type , as well as some of the top deals worth considering .
• Up to 60 percent off living room seating , including ergonomic chairs • Up to 60 percent off TV stands and living room tables • Up to 60 percent off kitchen upgrades • Up to 60 percent off lighting • Up to 55 percent off dining room furniture , including dining sets • Up to 55 percent off bathroom upgrades • Up to 55 percent off kids furniture • Up to 50 percent off outdoor furniture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrics , including a KitchenAid Stand Mixer • Up to 50 percent off storage solutions There are almost 1,500 sales on furniture right now .
Here are some of those furniture deals by the spaces or furry friends they 're designed for .
There are almost 2,000 sales on bedroom and bathroom items right now .
Here are some of those deals by category : There are almost 900 sales on home decor right now .
Here are some of those deals by category : There are nearly 550 sales on appliances right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals by category : The Andover Mills Popel Armchair could be the next great addition to your reading nook .
It features button tufts along the back for a classic and traditional design and is made from linen upholstery , solid beechwood and polyester filling for support .
Plus , you can find it in half a dozen colors and patterns , including Beige/Light Gray and Gray .
This AllModern sofa is 7 feet wide and can seat three people .
It features button-tufted detailing along the bottom seat and offers a chic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made from a solid kiln-dried wood frame , solid walnut wood legs and includes sinuous springs , or coils , in a vertical S-shaped format for support .
Additionally , it includes velvet upholstery , polyester fill and two toss pillows .
It comes in 10 colorways , including Dark Sapphire and Blush .
If you ’ re thinking of purchasing a TV during Black Friday , this Laurel Foundry stand can fit TVs that are up to 65 inches in size and could offer a stylish base .
It sports barn-style doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand calls a modern-yet-rustic design .
It also includes lots of space inside for storing everything from gaming consoles and accessories to blankets , cords and more .
Plus , you can find it in half-a-dozen colors , including Rustic Oak and Stone Gray .
This Royal Gourmet grill allows you to choose between using charcoal or liquid propane and sports three burners with 8,500 BTUs each .
It features two side tables to hold your tools while you cook and offer a large working space .
It also includes a built-in thermometer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheels for you to conveniently move it around as desired .
While I like this Black option for its modern design , you can also get it in the Stainless style .
Catch up on the latest from NBC News Shopping guides and recommendations and download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak .

This article contains deals across broad categories of products from several retailers that we think you’ll want to know about. In some instances, we may make a commission on purchases made from those retailers.
Black Friday is here and Wayfair and other retailers, from Walmart and Target to Home Depot, Nordstrom, Amazon and Macy’s, are offering sales and deals on a slew of items. Wayfair is offering Black Friday Early-Access Deals and is still running its annual Holiday Sale. And while the retailer plans to release more Black Friday deals on Nov. 27, you can certainly save while shopping early, which may be a particularly good idea this year as delivery services, including FedEx and UPS, are preparing for a potential “shortfall of as many as 7 million packages a day,” NBC News reported in October.
SKIP AHEAD Best Black Friday deals at Wayfair
Whether you’re thinking of upgrading your bedroom, elevating your dining room, or otherwise sprucing up your home this holiday season, you can find everything from living room furniture and bedding to storage, lighting fixtures and more during Wayfair's Black Friday Early Access sale. To help you sort through Wayfair's sales and deals on thousands of products, we gathered some of the best savings by product type, as well as some of the top deals worth considering.
Best Wayfair Black Friday sales 2020
Best Wayfair Black Friday deals on furniture
There are almost 153,000 sales on furniture right now. Here are some of those furniture deals by the spaces or furry friends they're designed for.
Best Wayfair Black Friday deals on bedroom and bathroom items
There are almost 89,500 sales on bedroom and bathroom items right now. Here are some of those deals by category:
Best Black Friday home decor deals
There are almost 900 sales on home decor right now. Here are some of those deals by category:
Best Black Friday deals on appliances
There are nearly 9,300 sales on appliances right now. Here are some of those deals by category:
Best Wayfair Black Friday deals 2020
Rating: 4.5-star average, more than 10,500 reviewers
This Winston Porter barrel chair features a simple and classic design and includes nail heads around its perimeter for added detail. It is made of faux leather upholstery with a foam-filled back for comfort and is low enough to the ground to lounge alongside a coffee table. Additionally, it can support up to 200 pounds and is equipped with a removable cushion and removable cushion cover for easier cleaning.
Rating: 4.7-star average, more than 8,900 reviewers
If you’re thinking of purchasing a TV during Black Friday, this Laurel Foundry stand can fit TVs that are up to 65 inches in size and could offer a stylish base. It sports barn-style doors and features metal hardware for what the brand calls a modern-yet-rustic design. It also includes lots of space inside for storing everything from gaming consoles and accessories to blankets, cords and more. Plus, you can find it in half-a-dozen colors, including Rustic Oak and Stone Gray. And if you're looking for a more compact version, consider the Three Posts Lorraine TV Stand.
Rating: 4.8-star average, more than 10,300 reviewers
This highly-rated coffee table by Trent Austin Design features a rustic and industrial look. It's made of solid wood and metal and comes with an open shelf that offers plenty of storage space for blankets and books. Additionally, you can find it in nearly half-a-dozen colors, including Gray and Light Gray.
Rating: 4.5-star average, more than 6,500 reviewers
The Andover Mills Popel Armchair could be the next great addition to your reading nook. It features button tufts along the back for a classic and traditional design and is made from linen upholstery, solid beechwood and polyester filling for support. Plus, you can find it in other colors and patterns, including Red.
Rating: 4.4-star average, more than 1,300 reviewers
This Royal Gourmet grill allows you to choose between using charcoal or liquid propane and sports three burners with 8,500 BTUs each. It features two side tables to hold your tools while you cook and offer a large working space. It also includes a built-in thermometer and bottle opener, as well as wheels for you to conveniently move it around as desired. While I like this Black option for its modern design, you can also get it in the Stainless style.
Rating: 4.6-star average, more than 500 reviewers
If you have limited outdoor space, or are looking for a portable grill otherwise, consider this liquid propane option from Royal Gourmet Corp. It's 24 inches wide and sports three burners with 9,000 BTUs each. It also features a stainless steel control panel and cup at its side to trap grease while you cook.
Rating: 4.7-star average, more than 3,800 reviewers
This AllModern sofa is 7 feet wide and can seat three people. It features button-tufted detailing along the bottom seat and offers a chic and modern design. It’s made from a solid kiln-dried wood frame, solid walnut wood legs and includes sinuous springs, or coils, in a vertical S-shaped format for support. Additionally, it includes velvet upholstery, polyester fill and two toss pillows. It comes in 10 colorways, including Dark Sapphire and Blush.
Rating: 4.5-star average, more than 7,200 reviewers
This four-piece outdoor patio set comes with two chairs, a sofa and a table. The water-resistant pieces are made of wicker and rattan and the table is equipped with a glass top. Additionally, you'll receive three polyester cushions with removable covers for easy cleaning. And if you have limited space consider this Andover Mills two-piece option.
Catch up on the latest from NBC News Shopping guides and recommendations and download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Looking for the perfect gift? Check out the Shop TODAY Holiday Plaza.


msnbc--2020-11-10--Football game between Alabama and LSU delayed after players test positive for COVID-19

A matchup between two college football heavyweights scheduled for this weekend was postponed after players from Louisiana State University tested positive for coronavirus , school officials said .
The LSU Tigers , who won the College Football Playoff National Championship last year after an undefeated season , were scheduled to play the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday .
In a statement , LSU didn ’ t say how many players had tested positive for the virus .
But the university ’ s director of athletics , Scott Woodward , said that the team didn ’ t have the minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
The school said the match between the SEC titans may be rescheduled for Dec. 19 .
The delay comes two months after LSU coach Ed Orgeron said that most of his team had tested positive for the virus .
“ Not all of our players , but most of our players have caught it , '' he told reporters during a Sept. 15 news conference .
`` So I think hopefully they wo n't catch it again and hopefully they wo n't be out for games . ''
Crimson Tide coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
A second game scheduled for Nov. 14 between Auburn University and Mississippi State University was also canceled after Mississippi players tested positive for the virus .
That game was rescheduled for Dec. 12 .

A matchup between two college football heavyweights scheduled for this weekend was postponed after players from Louisiana State University tested positive for coronavirus, school officials said.
The LSU Tigers, who won the College Football Playoff National Championship last year after an undefeated season, were scheduled to play the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.
In a statement, LSU didn’t say how many players had tested positive for the virus. But the university’s director of athletics, Scott Woodward, said that the team didn’t have the minimum number of scholarship players required for the game.
The school said the match between the SEC titans may be rescheduled for Dec. 19.
The delay comes two months after LSU coach Ed Orgeron said that most of his team had tested positive for the virus.
“Not all of our players, but most of our players have caught it," he told reporters during a Sept. 15 news conference. "So I think hopefully they won't catch it again and hopefully they won't be out for games."
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban tested positive for the virus last month.
A second game scheduled for Nov. 14 between Auburn University and Mississippi State University was also canceled after Mississippi players tested positive for the virus. That game was rescheduled for Dec. 12.


msnbc--2020-11-10--'Murder hornet' nest had potential to spawn almost 200 queens in Washington state

Scientists found nearly 200 potential queen hornets in the “ murder hornet ” nest that was successfully destroyed by Washington state agriculture officials in October .
The invasive 2-inch Asian giant hornet , or vespa mandarinia , has drawn concern over the species ' ability to slaughter honeybee colonies within a span of a few hours .
Entomologists attached radio trackers to three hornets that had been caught in a trap , and one of those led them to a nest in Blaine , Washington , that was later destroyed .
The nest contained 108 cells that looked like queens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already emerged , according to Sven Spichiger , managing entomologist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture .
It ’ s unclear how many more queens could have spawned from the nest because the hornets can destroy their cells after they emerge .
“ A portion of [ queens ] actually will never end up surviving because they didn ’ t get enough nutrition before leaving the nest , ” Spichiger said .
“ The rest of them that leave the nest , should they get proper nutrition , will mate with males @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nest.
” Queens that survive typically hibernate during the winter and create new colonies in the spring , Spichiger said .
The lead entomologist hopes to eradicate the species if possible through tracking worker hornets and using those to locate more nests .
“ I 'm very encouraged by the support we 've received from the public , and our citizen scientists , ” Spichiger said .
“ And with that type of an effort and with everybody looking and immediately calling them in , we actually do stand a strong chance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that goal.
” Workers in protective suits used foam to seal crevices in the nest found last month , wrapped the tree in cellophane and then used a vacuum hose to suck out the hornets .
Ninety-eight worker hornets were captured through the vacuum and will be used for scientific research .
“ It really seems like we got there just in the nick of time as our original vacuum extraction seemed to only give us workers , ” Spichiger said .
“ We only got queens four days later after we cracked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queens had already left the nest , it was just a few.
” After opening the nests , researchers found 190 larvae , 112 worker hornets and nine male hornets in addition to the queen count .
The nest contained six combs with at least 776 cells , but Spichiger said some outer cells may have been damaged upon removal and not counted .
The Asian giant hornet was dubbed the “ murder hornet ” after the term circulated on Twitter in May following a New York Times report on efforts to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name caught on , typically used by people colloquially and in headlines to describe the invasive species “ I 'm not a big fan of it .
These are not going to hunt you down and murder you , ” Spichiger said .
If you walk into a nest your life is probably in danger .
That 's the sheer reality , but your life is in danger if you walk into the nest of other stinging insects as well , especially if you 're allergic.
” The species has longer stingers with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger to people if the insects feel threatened .
And unlike honeybees , the Asian giant hornets can sting repeatedly , entomologist Chris Looney said in a video posted to Washington State Department of Agriculture YouTube earlier this year .
The public is encouraged to report a possible sighting to local authorities rather than attempting to kill the hornets or nests .

Scientists found nearly 200 potential queen hornets in the “murder hornet” nest that was successfully destroyed by Washington state agriculture officials in October.
The invasive 2-inch Asian giant hornet, or vespa mandarinia, has drawn concern over the species' ability to slaughter honeybee colonies within a span of a few hours. Entomologists attached radio trackers to three hornets that had been caught in a trap, and one of those led them to a nest in Blaine, Washington, that was later destroyed.
The nest contained 108 cells that looked like queens ready to emerge while another 76 had already emerged, according to Sven Spichiger, managing entomologist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture. It’s unclear how many more queens could have spawned from the nest because the hornets can destroy their cells after they emerge.
“A portion of [queens] actually will never end up surviving because they didn’t get enough nutrition before leaving the nest,” Spichiger said. “The rest of them that leave the nest, should they get proper nutrition, will mate with males should there be males waiting outside the nest.”
Queens that survive typically hibernate during the winter and create new colonies in the spring, Spichiger said. The lead entomologist hopes to eradicate the species if possible through tracking worker hornets and using those to locate more nests.
“I'm very encouraged by the support we've received from the public, and our citizen scientists,” Spichiger said. “And with that type of an effort and with everybody looking and immediately calling them in, we actually do stand a strong chance. So, cautiously optimistic we will achieve that goal.”
A Washington State Department of Agriculture workers holds two of the dozens of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a tree on Oct. 24, 2020, in Blaine. Elaine Thompson / AP
Workers in protective suits used foam to seal crevices in the nest found last month, wrapped the tree in cellophane and then used a vacuum hose to suck out the hornets. Ninety-eight worker hornets were captured through the vacuum and will be used for scientific research.
“It really seems like we got there just in the nick of time as our original vacuum extraction seemed to only give us workers,” Spichiger said. “We only got queens four days later after we cracked it open, and so if any queens had already left the nest, it was just a few.”
After opening the nests, researchers found 190 larvae, 112 worker hornets and nine male hornets in addition to the queen count. The nest contained six combs with at least 776 cells, but Spichiger said some outer cells may have been damaged upon removal and not counted.
The Asian giant hornet was dubbed the “murder hornet” after the term circulated on Twitter in May following a New York Times report on efforts to stop the species from annihilating honeybees. The name caught on, typically used by people colloquially and in headlines to describe the invasive species
“I'm not a big fan of it. These are not going to hunt you down and murder you,” Spichiger said. If you walk into a nest your life is probably in danger. That's the sheer reality, but your life is in danger if you walk into the nest of other stinging insects as well, especially if you're allergic.”
The species has longer stingers with more toxic venom that could pose a danger to people if the insects feel threatened. And unlike honeybees, the Asian giant hornets can sting repeatedly, entomologist Chris Looney said in a video posted to Washington State Department of Agriculture YouTube earlier this year.
The public is encouraged to report a possible sighting to local authorities rather than attempting to kill the hornets or nests.