msnbc--2020-12-22--Zoom broke its own rules (and undermined human rights) to make China happy

On Dec. 18 , prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department charged a China-based Zoom executive with conspiring to terminate Zoom meetings this year that commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at the Chinese government ’ s behest .
The 47-page complaint contains detailed exchanges between the executive and employees at Zoom ’ s California headquarters this year .
It was a fascinating read , not least because few global tech companies that do business in China have ever made public the details of their communications with Chinese authorities on censorship issues , despite repeated calls to do so from human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What the complaint reveals is Beijing ’ s aggressive pursuit of global censorship of topics deemed sensitive or critical of Beijing , and Zoom ’ s failure to adequately protect its users ’ rights to free expression and privacy .
In May , the China-based Zoom executive , Xinjiang Jin , who served as a government affairs liaison , contacted employees at Zoom ’ s headquarters about the massacre 's anniversary on June 4 .
The anniversary is one of the most censored events in China , and Jin told his colleagues in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in China had increased pressure on Zoom to censor politically sensitive content of Chinese users no matter where they were .
According to the document , Jin said that China “ has implemented real-name registration/verification , so there are not many that do bad things anymore .
All are from the U.S. , if we don ’ t handle them well , net security will ban all overseas servers , so I respectfully ask you to take this seriously.
” A U.S.-based colleague obliged : “ We will hurry and ban all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the name of a Zoom server .
Beijing has long leveraged market access to compel foreign tech companies to meet its censorship demands , whether in China or abroad .
Apple has removed hundreds of virtual private network ( VPN ) apps from China ’ s App Store .
In 2019 , it also removed a mapping app widely used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the App Store .
LinkedIn blocked content critical of Chinese authorities for users in China .
From the complaint , one can see Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t terminate meetings or suspend accounts upon request , it risked having its China operation shut down at any time , which loomed large in all of its decisions .
Companies understandably want access to China ’ s huge market , but they also have a responsibility to respect human rights under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights .
Zoom said publicly that it is “ dedicated to the free and open exchange of ideas , ” but when Jin repeatedly framed speech critical of the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things ” or “ illegal activities , ” and demanded they be censored , he met no resistance or got any questions from his colleagues at headquarters .
Besides conveying Chinese authorities ’ demands and threats to Zoom ’ s headquarters , Jin was also shutting down meetings on behalf of Beijing in a more deceitful way .
When a private June 3 Tiananmen commemoration meeting was in motion , some emails were sent to Zoom ’ s public , generic U.S.-based complaint email account , alleging that the meeting contained content supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pornography .
( An FBI investigation later found that no user accounts associated with the email addresses from which the complaint was filed actually participated in the meeting . )
Jin , who had no access to that generic complaint account , concurrently alerted his U.S.-based colleague of the complaints .
The colleague quickly terminated the meeting and suspended the host account without any investigation into the matter .
For a public meeting on June 4 , Jin suggested to his U.S.-based colleague , “ It ’ s a public meeting , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ U.S. ] as [ an ] abus [ ive ] meeting , then you [ in the ] U.S. may have evidence to suspend it.
” Upon receiving Jin ’ s message , the colleague terminated the account used to host the meeting .
Soon after the organizer of the meeting restarted the meeting in another room using a different account , some Zoom accounts with avatars of naked women and the flag of the Islamic State group joined the meeting .
Around the same time , emails were sent to Jin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ pornography.
” Jin relayed those emails to his U.S.-based colleague who then terminated the meeting again and suspended the new account .
So in order to justify shutting down legitimate meetings hosted in the U.S. , a China-based Zoom executive was running schemes to trigger a violation of Zoom ’ s terms of service , and a U.S.-based Zoom employee , knowing they were schemes , facilitated it .
Earlier in the chat between Jin and the U.S. employee , Jin suggested that , instead of suspending the host account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ quarantine ” for 24 hours , as if Zoom was having technical issues .
It therefore seems reasonable to say that the U.S. employee was aware of the schemes .
Second , the schemes have so many other holes ( detailed in the complaint ) , it ’ s hard to imagine the U.S. side wouldn ’ t detect them if they actually wanted to .
All these events not only raise serious questions about what kind of oversight Zoom has over requests for censorship and user data , but also over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also has to wonder , to what extent Zoom ’ s top leadership knew about them ?
Zoom said in a statement that the company only learned about Jin ’ s violations of Zoom ’ s policies during an internal investigation it initiated after the incidents became public .
Zoom said it had terminated Jin ’ s employment and placed other employees on administrative leave .
Going forward , Zoom said it will not allow requests from the Chinese government to affect anyone outside of mainland China , but said nothing about protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
For the past 31 years , the Chinese government has scrubbed any mentions of the Tiananmen Square Massacre from the Chinese internet , imprisoned and harassed numerous activists and writers who dared to talk about it , and restricted the movement and communication of the families of victims .
The censorship of the event has been so successful that most young people in the country today do not know it happened .
I personally know some of the participants in the aforementioned meetings .
Some were student leaders of the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ensuing massacre .
They are the most courageous people I know .
Despite facing extraordinary repression over the past three decades , they have chosen to continue to speak out .
And this is how Zoom treated them .
Statements about being committed to free expression and human rights are empty promises unless companies enact policies and conduct due diligence , making sure they ’ re respecting human rights and mitigating harm .
This especially applies to companies that operate in different countries and cultures .
A company can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfailingly do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party .
The party is increasingly a threat to the human rights of people everywhere .
Not only Zoom , but all tech companies who do business in China need to think about what kind of role they want to play in the history of justice and human rights .

On Dec. 18, prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department charged a China-based Zoom executive with conspiring to terminate Zoom meetings this year that commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at the Chinese government’s behest. The 47-page complaint contains detailed exchanges between the executive and employees at Zoom’s California headquarters this year.
Beijing has long leveraged market access to compel foreign tech companies to meet its censorship demands, whether in China or abroad.
It was a fascinating read, not least because few global tech companies that do business in China have ever made public the details of their communications with Chinese authorities on censorship issues, despite repeated calls to do so from human rights organizations and United Nations experts.
What the complaint reveals is Beijing’s aggressive pursuit of global censorship of topics deemed sensitive or critical of Beijing, and Zoom’s failure to adequately protect its users’ rights to free expression and privacy.
In May, the China-based Zoom executive, Xinjiang Jin, who served as a government affairs liaison, contacted employees at Zoom’s headquarters about the massacre's anniversary on June 4. The anniversary is one of the most censored events in China, and Jin told his colleagues in the U.S. that the “internet police” in China had increased pressure on Zoom to censor politically sensitive content of Chinese users no matter where they were.
According to the document, Jin said that China “has implemented real-name registration/verification, so there are not many that do bad things anymore. All are from the U.S., if we don’t handle them well, net security will ban all overseas servers, so I respectfully ask you to take this seriously.”
A U.S.-based colleague obliged: “We will hurry and ban all the free accounts from US04,” referring to the name of a Zoom server.
Beijing has long leveraged market access to compel foreign tech companies to meet its censorship demands, whether in China or abroad. Apple has removed hundreds of virtual private network (VPN) apps from China’s App Store. In 2019, it also removed a mapping app widely used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the App Store.
Companies understandably want access to China’s huge market, but they also have a responsibility to respect human rights.
LinkedIn blocked content critical of Chinese authorities for users in China. From the complaint, one can see Zoom’s fear that if it didn’t terminate meetings or suspend accounts upon request, it risked having its China operation shut down at any time, which loomed large in all of its decisions.
Companies understandably want access to China’s huge market, but they also have a responsibility to respect human rights under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Zoom said publicly that it is “dedicated to the free and open exchange of ideas,” but when Jin repeatedly framed speech critical of the Chinese government as something that could “do bad things” or “illegal activities,” and demanded they be censored, he met no resistance or got any questions from his colleagues at headquarters.
Besides conveying Chinese authorities’ demands and threats to Zoom’s headquarters, Jin was also shutting down meetings on behalf of Beijing in a more deceitful way.
When a private June 3 Tiananmen commemoration meeting was in motion, some emails were sent to Zoom’s public, generic U.S.-based complaint email account, alleging that the meeting contained content supporting terrorism, inciting violence or distributing child pornography. (An FBI investigation later found that no user accounts associated with the email addresses from which the complaint was filed actually participated in the meeting.)
Jin, who had no access to that generic complaint account, concurrently alerted his U.S.-based colleague of the complaints. The colleague quickly terminated the meeting and suspended the host account without any investigation into the matter.
For the past 31 years, the Chinese government has scrubbed any mentions of the Tiananmen Square Massacre from the Chinese internet.
For a public meeting on June 4, Jin suggested to his U.S.-based colleague, “It’s a public meeting, so we could join and report to Zoom [U.S.] as [an] abus[ive] meeting, then you [in the] U.S. may have evidence to suspend it.” Upon receiving Jin’s message, the colleague terminated the account used to host the meeting. Soon after the organizer of the meeting restarted the meeting in another room using a different account, some Zoom accounts with avatars of naked women and the flag of the Islamic State group joined the meeting.
Around the same time, emails were sent to Jin reporting these accounts for “inciting violence” or “pornography.” Jin relayed those emails to his U.S.-based colleague who then terminated the meeting again and suspended the new account.
So in order to justify shutting down legitimate meetings hosted in the U.S., a China-based Zoom executive was running schemes to trigger a violation of Zoom’s terms of service, and a U.S.-based Zoom employee, knowing they were schemes, facilitated it.
Earlier in the chat between Jin and the U.S. employee, Jin suggested that, instead of suspending the host account, they could put the account in “quarantine” for 24 hours, as if Zoom was having technical issues. It therefore seems reasonable to say that the U.S. employee was aware of the schemes. Second, the schemes have so many other holes (detailed in the complaint), it’s hard to imagine the U.S. side wouldn’t detect them if they actually wanted to.
All these events not only raise serious questions about what kind of oversight Zoom has over requests for censorship and user data, but also over staff who handle such requests. One also has to wonder, to what extent Zoom’s top leadership knew about them? Zoom said in a statement that the company only learned about Jin’s violations of Zoom’s policies during an internal investigation it initiated after the incidents became public. Zoom said it had terminated Jin’s employment and placed other employees on administrative leave.
Going forward, Zoom said it will not allow requests from the Chinese government to affect anyone outside of mainland China, but said nothing about protecting the rights of its users in the country.
For the past 31 years, the Chinese government has scrubbed any mentions of the Tiananmen Square Massacre from the Chinese internet, imprisoned and harassed numerous activists and writers who dared to talk about it, and restricted the movement and communication of the families of victims. The censorship of the event has been so successful that most young people in the country today do not know it happened.
I personally know some of the participants in the aforementioned meetings. Some were student leaders of the protests and some were parents of people killed in the ensuing massacre. They are the most courageous people I know. Despite facing extraordinary repression over the past three decades, they have chosen to continue to speak out. And this is how Zoom treated them.
Statements about being committed to free expression and human rights are empty promises unless companies enact policies and conduct due diligence, making sure they’re respecting human rights and mitigating harm. This especially applies to companies that operate in different countries and cultures. A company can’t say it stands for rights and then unfailingly do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party.
The party is increasingly a threat to the human rights of people everywhere. Not only Zoom, but all tech companies who do business in China need to think about what kind of role they want to play in the history of justice and human rights.


msnbc--2020-12-22--Biden's Director of the National Economic Council breaks down Biden's economic intentions

Dr. Gupta : Vaccine will be effective against new strain seen in UK

Watch upcoming Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese join Stephanie Ruhle to break down the Biden administration's economic intentions and what he's walking into when he starts the job in January.Dec. 22, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--‘As corrupt as a pardon gets’: Chris Hayes on Trump pardoning Manafort, Stone

MAGA world turns on Bill Barr who resigns as 'the worst Attorney General in our lifetimes '

"This is as fundamentally corrupt as a pardon gets," says Chris Hayes on Pres. Trump pardoning Paul Manafort, his 2016 campaign chairman, and Roger Stone, his longtime associate.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--MAGA world turns on Bill Barr who resigns as 'the worst Attorney General in our lifetimes'

The most controversial Attorney General since the Nixon Era resigns. Deputy AG Jeffrey Rosen takes over the role as Trump becomes increasingly “erratic” in his attempts to hold onto power. Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal joins The Beat to look back on Barr’s actions as Attorney General and to break down what Americans can expect from Rosen’s month in office.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Trump pardons Paul Manafort, Roger Stone

Public financial disclosure should not be new to Thomas: Fmr. ethics officer on new report on gifts 07:43


msnbc--2020-12-24--Trump pardoned four ex-Blackwater guards. Here’s the story of their victims.

On Tuesday, Trump pardoned the four men responsible for one of the worst atrocities of the Iraq War. The lawyer who represented families of the victims of the Nisour Square massacre shares their story.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-23--Donna Edwards: We need to adjust our institutions to prevent a ‘tyrant and an authoritarian like Don

Donna Edwards: We need to adjust our institutions to prevent a ‘tyrant and an authoritarian like Donald Trump in our future’
Former Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards expresses her frustration with Trump’s attacks on America’s rule of law, and recognizes that once he is out of office, we will need to implement new safeguards to ensure no future president can abuse power like Trump hasDec. 23, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Rep. Jayapal on Trump derailing covid relief talks: Democrats wanted $2000 checks ‘a long time ago’

Here’s what Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal had to say about Trump derailing Covid relief talks asking for more in stimulus checks: "The president is being disingenuous at best, cruel at worst. 250 days ago, I introduced a bill with Rashida Tlaib and others for $2000 in survival checks … We were pushing for more money the entire time."Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Joy Reid and Leslie Jones present: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas


msnbc--2020-12-23--Trump officially vetoes National Defense Authorization Act

President Trump has officially vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act for military spending citing concerns over renaming bases named for Confederates and lack of changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. NBC's Garrett Haake has details on the president's objections and how likely Congress will override the veto.Dec. 23, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-23--Biden adviser reacts to Pfizer selling 100 million more Covid vaccines to U.S.

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.


msnbc--2020-12-23--Los Angeles County hospitals losing control as Covid-19 cases rise

Biden says he and first lady will go to Hawaii 'as soon as we can' 04:17


msnbc--2020-12-23--Mail carriers are having a terrible Christmas

As I write this , Christmas is just days away and my fiancée ’ s present is… somewhere in the United States of America .
Where exactly , I ’ m not entirely sure .
I ’ m not sure if it will actually make it here by Dec. 25 — and I can ’ t say that I ’ m surprised .
Or , for that matter , all that upset .
You see , the package I ’ m waiting for is being shipped via the United States Postal Service and to say that the boys and girls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a severe understatement .
Any inconvenience we , the consumers and customers of the Postal Service , have experienced this holiday season is a drop in the bucket compared to what they ’ ve gone through at post offices around the country .
Remember what it was like when the pandemic kicked off in March and stay-at-home orders went out in a bunch of states ?
The rush of people turning to online shopping — both to keep from going outside and as a mental balm against the crushing ennui that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the delivery drivers at the USPS , FedEx and UPS all nearly broken under the weight of the collective tonnage of our purchases .
As the packages piled up , so did the coronavirus cases in the packed sorting warehouses , where sorters showed up despite showing symptoms for fear of losing their jobs .
But while parcel shipping increased , regular mail plummeted , putting the Postal Service in a bind .
Already by April , there were warnings that the USPS would run out of cash entirely before September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Postal Service that President Donald Trump launched as part of his re-election bid .
Trump argued early and often that mail-in voting was rife with fraud , using this blatant lie as a reason to not provide more funding to the USPS .
Congress eventually managed to get a sizable loan to a stabilizing Postal Service but not without strings .
And the struggles it ’ s facing financially aren ’ t going away anytime soon .
Trump also named shipping executive Louis DeJoy as the new US Postmaster General , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instituted changes that he and his defenders claimed were meant to maximize productivity from postal workers .
Instead , his orders , including dismantling sorting machines and ordering mail workers not to finish delivering every item on their route by the end of their shift , made things worse .
( DeJoy rolled back many of those changes in September in response to the outcry . )
Thankfully the Postal Service came through for the election , despite Trump ’ s best efforts .
But now things are hellacious as the Christmas surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping .
UPS and FedEx basically saw this coming — the former placed shipping limits on some of the biggest retailers this season to keep performance levels high .
The effect , though , has been the overflow going to USPS , which already handles an estimated 40 percent of Amazon ’ s deliveries and the so-called “ last-mile ” of the private companies ’ deliveries in rural areas .
“ The plant ’ s so backed up that they ’ re sending raw unsorted mail , whole trays to carriers to manually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fields , a rural letter carrier In Knoxville , Tennessee told Labor Notes .
“ Everyone ’ s spending an hour a day just casing up mail that ’ s supposed to be run through a machine , because there ’ s no one to run the machine .
That ’ s on top of having 400 packages to deliver on your route.
” The backlog has become so severe that in some facilities employees are basically forced to craft tunnels out of the boxes , according to new reporting from the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now refusing to accept new mail shipments .
The backlogs are so pronounced that some managers have reached out to colleagues in hopes of diverting mail shipments to nearby facilities .
But often , those places are full , too .
Meanwhile , packages sit on trucks for days waiting for floor space to open so the loads can be sorted.
” Having that little space to maneuver makes it hard to keep away from coworkers , raising the risk of spreading the coronavirus no matter how many guidelines the Postal Service puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 641,000 postal workers working out of 31,500 facilities , according to the USPS ’ s Office of the Inspector General .
Of those , nearly 19,000 have called in sick or are isolating because they ’ ve been exposed to Covid-19 .
On the flip side , small businesses have been hurt in this congestion too , with vendors tweeting and posting on Facebook messages basically saying , “ delays are not our fault , so please stop yelling at us.
” The sort of dedication that it takes to have all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering as many packages as possible as the Postal Service clearly is is frankly mindboggling .
Like I said , I ’ m not personally upset that my partner ’ s gift might not make it to her by Christmas Day .
I am , though , having to work through a version of the guilt that I felt back in the spring , as I fretted and worried over every online purchase that we made .
It ’ s a potent mix , this guilt , a combination of discomfort with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all at a time like this and knowing that each “ order now , ” no matter how small , contributes to the strain on the system .
The least — the absolute least — that we can do in response is be kind to letter carriers in our neighborhoods when we see them .
Don ’ t ask them if they know where your package is — they don ’ t .
Don ’ t hassle them for late deliveries — it ’ s not their fault .
Instead , treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see like a blue-clad Santa Claus .
If you want to go so far as to leave some cookies in your mailbox for them , just be sure to check for a nut allergy first .
I ’ m sure they ’ ll appreciate it .

As I write this, Christmas is just days away and my fiancée’s present is… somewhere in the United States of America. Where exactly, I’m not entirely sure. I’m not sure if it will actually make it here by Dec. 25 — and I can’t say that I’m surprised. Or, for that matter, all that upset.
The author’s dilemma, circa Dec. 23, 2020.
You see, the package I’m waiting for is being shipped via the United States Postal Service and to say that the boys and girls in blue have had a hard year would be a severe understatement. Any inconvenience we, the consumers and customers of the Postal Service, have experienced this holiday season is a drop in the bucket compared to what they’ve gone through at post offices around the country.
As the packages piled up, so did the coronavirus cases in the packed sorting warehouses, where sorters showed up despite showing symptoms for fear of losing their jobs.
Remember what it was like when the pandemic kicked off in March and stay-at-home orders went out in a bunch of states? The rush of people turning to online shopping — both to keep from going outside and as a mental balm against the crushing ennui that Covid-19 inspired — and the resulting crunch left the delivery drivers at the USPS, FedEx and UPS all nearly broken under the weight of the collective tonnage of our purchases.
As the packages piled up, so did the coronavirus cases in the packed sorting warehouses, where sorters showed up despite showing symptoms for fear of losing their jobs. But while parcel shipping increased, regular mail plummeted, putting the Postal Service in a bind. Already by April, there were warnings that the USPS would run out of cash entirely before September.
Complicating things further was the war against the Postal Service that President Donald Trump launched as part of his re-election bid. Trump argued early and often that mail-in voting was rife with fraud, using this blatant lie as a reason to not provide more funding to the USPS. Congress eventually managed to get a sizable loan to a stabilizing Postal Service but not without strings. And the struggles it’s facing financially aren’t going away anytime soon.
Trump also named shipping executive Louis DeJoy as the new US Postmaster General, which only added to the chaos. DeJoy instituted changes that he and his defenders claimed were meant to maximize productivity from postal workers. Instead, his orders, including dismantling sorting machines and ordering mail workers not to finish delivering every item on their route by the end of their shift, made things worse. (DeJoy rolled back many of those changes in September in response to the outcry.)
There are currently about 641,000 postal workers working out of 31,500 facilities. Of those, nearly 19,000 have called in sick or are isolating.
Thankfully the Postal Service came through for the election, despite Trump’s best efforts. But now things are hellacious as the Christmas surge has hit, despite retailers encouraging early shopping. UPS and FedEx basically saw this coming — the former placed shipping limits on some of the biggest retailers this season to keep performance levels high. The effect, though, has been the overflow going to USPS, which already handles an estimated 40 percent of Amazon’s deliveries and the so-called “last-mile” of the private companies’ deliveries in rural areas.
“The plant’s so backed up that they’re sending raw unsorted mail, whole trays to carriers to manually sort and case ourselves,” Alex Fields, a rural letter carrier In Knoxville, Tennessee told Labor Notes. “Everyone’s spending an hour a day just casing up mail that’s supposed to be run through a machine, because there’s no one to run the machine. That’s on top of having 400 packages to deliver on your route.”
The backlog has become so severe that in some facilities employees are basically forced to craft tunnels out of the boxes, according to new reporting from the Washington Post.
“Some processing plants are now refusing to accept new mail shipments. The backlogs are so pronounced that some managers have reached out to colleagues in hopes of diverting mail shipments to nearby facilities. But often, those places are full, too. Meanwhile, packages sit on trucks for days waiting for floor space to open so the loads can be sorted.”
This is why your packages are still "in transit," and why it won't be helpful to call with your tracking number. USPS package volumes are up 30-40%. Staffing is short due to COVID cases and quarantines. The mail is simply backed up. Remember to thank your carriers! #USPSdelays pic.twitter.com/cFQ6CSmBH8 — Emily May (@emtomology) December 17, 2020
Having that little space to maneuver makes it hard to keep away from coworkers, raising the risk of spreading the coronavirus no matter how many guidelines the Postal Service puts into place. There are currently about 641,000 postal workers working out of 31,500 facilities, according to the USPS’s Office of the Inspector General. Of those, nearly 19,000 have called in sick or are isolating because they’ve been exposed to Covid-19.
On the flip side, small businesses have been hurt in this congestion too, with vendors tweeting and posting on Facebook messages basically saying, “delays are not our fault, so please stop yelling at us.”
USPS got customers out here thinking they’re being scammed 😩🥴
Business owners: We shipped the packages 2 weeks ago.
Customers: It just says label created.
USPS: pic.twitter.com/OLxJoaXpOn — Eunique’s Playing #CultureTags (@eunique) December 19, 2020
The sort of dedication that it takes to have all that happening and still be as committed to delivering as many packages as possible as the Postal Service clearly is is frankly mindboggling.
Like I said, I’m not personally upset that my partner’s gift might not make it to her by Christmas Day. I am, though, having to work through a version of the guilt that I felt back in the spring, as I fretted and worried over every online purchase that we made. It’s a potent mix, this guilt, a combination of discomfort with the privilege of being able to shop online at all at a time like this and knowing that each “order now,” no matter how small, contributes to the strain on the system.
The least — the absolute least — that we can do in response is be kind to letter carriers in our neighborhoods when we see them. Don’t ask them if they know where your package is — they don’t. Don’t hassle them for late deliveries — it’s not their fault. Instead, treat each and every parcel-bearing postal worker you see like a blue-clad Santa Claus. If you want to go so far as to leave some cookies in your mailbox for them, just be sure to check for a nut allergy first. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.


msnbc--2020-12-23--The hypocrisy of GOP Covid deniers getting vaccinated before doctors

In recent days , America has watched some of the very same Republican senators — Joni Ernst , Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham , for example — who in the past undermined the risks posed by Covid-19 , attend events that hastened its spread .
We 've watch as they failed to denounce President Donald Trump ’ s numerous lies about this deadly virus , but then had no problem lining up to get the coronavirus vaccine before the rest of us .
As one emergency room doctor put it on Twitter after seeing a photo of 49-year-old Rubio being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ER doctor and despite trying , I have not yet been able to be vaccinated.
” None of this should surprise you .
The GOP and hypocrisy go hand in hand at this point .
It ’ s like Trump and lying .
Yet , these three senators ’ profiles in duplicity are still uniquely atrocious .
Let ’ s start with Ernst , the senator from Iowa who both undercut the deadliness of the virus and vocally opposed measures that would have saved lives as it continued to infect thousands in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although 184,000 of our fellow Americans had already died from the virus , Ernst told Iowans that she was “ so skeptical '' about the Covid-19 death toll data that she suggested the numbers were inflated .
In her view , “ health care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if Covid is tied to it , so what do you think they ’ re doing ? ''
This baseless conspiracy theory had been championed by groups like QAnon , but Ernst gave it increased credence by virtue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association announcing that wearing masks saves lives , Ernst opposed making this lifesaving measure mandatory as recently as late August .
“ I don ’ t think the government should be all do all end all and tell us how to live our lives , ” she told Iowa Public Radio .
As of the most recent totals , over 3,600 people in Iowa have died from Covid-19 , and around 270,00 have tested positive in a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it came to a vaccine distributed by the government , Ernst was all too happy to jump the line to get it .
( Per CDC guidelines , given the limited supplies , the vaccine should be administered first to health care workers , people at high risk due to underlying health issues , those over 65 and workers in “ critical industries.
” ) During the summer Covid-19 surge , Florida was already clocking 282,000 cases .
But Rubio opposed closing restaurants and theme parks in his state .
He declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think there ’ s any evidence that restaurants or Disney World … are the cause of this surge.
” This was despite the fact that a well-publicized study released weeks before Rubio ’ s misleading comment traced indoor dining across the country to the spread of the virus .
( Florida has now seen over 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and 20,000-plus deaths . )
With the Covid-19 death toll in the United States reaching a gruesome 240,000 in mid-November , Rubio traveled to Georgia to speak at a packed rally for GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and nearly half of the crowd was not wearing masks , according to CNN ’ s Kyung Lah , who left the rally with her TV crew out of a concern for their safety .
This occurred while Georgia was in the “ red zone ” in terms of infections , according to Lah .
And finally , we have South Carolina 's Graham , Trump ’ s defender in chief in the Senate .
After November ’ s presidential election , Graham actively assisted Trump in attempting to overturn the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including in Georgia .
And yet , he was silent when Trump told Americans the virus was nothing more than the “ flu.
” Graham refused to take a Covid-19 test before his U.S. Senate debate in October , despite two other Republican senators on a committee he chairs recently testing positive .
And he was also filmed in July at an indoor political gathering , where neither he nor the others were wearing masks .
The actions of these senators highlight why so many Americans dislike politicians .
They are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stances if such flip-flopping benefits them personally .
But it ’ s one thing when they ’ re switching sides on a bill ; it ’ s quite another when their previous rhetoric likely contributed to illness and death .
The point here is not that politicians don ’ t deserve the vaccine — everyone can and should get it .
That ’ s the only way we can ensure our nation recovers .
And politicians have mostly argued that they need the shot either because various elected officials are required to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a power vacuum , or because they think it will help build public trust in the vaccine .
But these arguments are far from ironclad — especially in cases like Rubio , who is a healthy , middle-aged man and not part of the presidential line of succession ( Graham and Ernst are n't either , although Graham is 65 ) .
Overall , I agree with the sentiment of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , who Monday night told Joy Reid on MSNBC ’ s “ The Reid Out ” that this isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reality is that it is literally about saving lives , ” she said .
And she ’ s right .
The vaccine — like wearing masks and giving Americans accurate information about the risk posed by the virus — is part of our broader nonpartisan effort to halt a health crisis .
I just wish these Republican senators had been able to put politics aside earlier .
If they had , perhaps more Americans would be alive today .

In recent days, America has watched some of the very same Republican senators — Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham, for example — who in the past undermined the risks posed by Covid-19, attend events that hastened its spread. We've watch as they failed to denounce President Donald Trump’s numerous lies about this deadly virus, but then had no problem lining up to get the coronavirus vaccine before the rest of us.
As one emergency room doctor put it on Twitter after seeing a photo of 49-year-old Rubio being vaccinated Monday: “I’m an ER doctor and despite trying, I have not yet been able to be vaccinated.”
I’m an ER doctor and despite trying, I have not yet been able to be vaccinated. https://t.co/xEdhs35tIK — Jeremy Faust MD MS (ER physician) (@jeremyfaust) December 20, 2020
None of this should surprise you. The GOP and hypocrisy go hand in hand at this point. It’s like Trump and lying. Yet, these three senators’ profiles in duplicity are still uniquely atrocious.
Let’s start with Ernst, the senator from Iowa who both undercut the deadliness of the virus and vocally opposed measures that would have saved lives as it continued to infect thousands in her home state. In early September, although 184,000 of our fellow Americans had already died from the virus, Ernst told Iowans that she was “so skeptical" about the Covid-19 death toll data that she suggested the numbers were inflated. In her view, “health care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if Covid is tied to it, so what do you think they’re doing?" This baseless conspiracy theory had been championed by groups like QAnon, but Ernst gave it increased credence by virtue of her position and platform.
In addition, despite doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association announcing that wearing masks saves lives, Ernst opposed making this lifesaving measure mandatory as recently as late August. “I don’t think the government should be all do all end all and tell us how to live our lives,” she told Iowa Public Radio. As of the most recent totals, over 3,600 people in Iowa have died from Covid-19, and around 270,00 have tested positive in a state of around 3.2 million.
Over 3,600 people in Iowa have died from Covid-19, and around 270,00 have tested positive in a state of around 3.2 million.
Yet, when it came to a vaccine distributed by the government, Ernst was all too happy to jump the line to get it. (Per CDC guidelines, given the limited supplies, the vaccine should be administered first to health care workers, people at high risk due to underlying health issues, those over 65 and workers in “critical industries.”)
During the summer Covid-19 surge, Florida was already clocking 282,000 cases. But Rubio opposed closing restaurants and theme parks in his state. He declared in mid-July: “I don’t think there’s any evidence that restaurants or Disney World … are the cause of this surge.” This was despite the fact that a well-publicized study released weeks before Rubio’s misleading comment traced indoor dining across the country to the spread of the virus. (Florida has now seen over 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and 20,000-plus deaths.)
With the Covid-19 death toll in the United States reaching a gruesome 240,000 in mid-November, Rubio traveled to Georgia to speak at a packed rally for GOP Senate candidates. Attendees were crammed indoors, and nearly half of the crowd was not wearing masks, according to CNN’s Kyung Lah, who left the rally with her TV crew out of a concern for their safety. This occurred while Georgia was in the “red zone” in terms of infections, according to Lah.
This is what the “Save Our Majority” rally looks like. Speaking before this crowd in a windowless room, Sens. @marcorubio @KLoeffler. Approx 1/3rd to 1/2 of the room is maskless, as Georgia #COVID19 infections enter a red zone. pic.twitter.com/ALppPBWkxu — Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) November 11, 2020
And finally, we have South Carolina's Graham, Trump’s defender in chief in the Senate. After November’s presidential election, Graham actively assisted Trump in attempting to overturn the results by pressuring officials in various battleground states, including in Georgia. And yet, he was silent when Trump told Americans the virus was nothing more than the “flu.”
The actions of these senators highlight why so many Americans dislike politicians.
Graham refused to take a Covid-19 test before his U.S. Senate debate in October, despite two other Republican senators on a committee he chairs recently testing positive. And he was also filmed in July at an indoor political gathering, where neither he nor the others were wearing masks.
The actions of these senators highlight why so many Americans dislike politicians. They are more than happy to ignore their public political stances if such flip-flopping benefits them personally. But it’s one thing when they’re switching sides on a bill; it’s quite another when their previous rhetoric likely contributed to illness and death.
The point here is not that politicians don’t deserve the vaccine — everyone can and should get it. That’s the only way we can ensure our nation recovers. And politicians have mostly argued that they need the shot either because various elected officials are required to keep the government running smoothly and to prevent a power vacuum, or because they think it will help build public trust in the vaccine.
But these arguments are far from ironclad — especially in cases like Rubio, who is a healthy, middle-aged man and not part of the presidential line of succession (Graham and Ernst aren't either, although Graham is 65).
Overall, I agree with the sentiment of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who Monday night told Joy Reid on MSNBC’s “The Reid Out” that this isn’t a political dispute. “The reality is that it is literally about saving lives,” she said.
And she’s right. The vaccine — like wearing masks and giving Americans accurate information about the risk posed by the virus — is part of our broader nonpartisan effort to halt a health crisis. I just wish these Republican senators had been able to put politics aside earlier. If they had, perhaps more Americans would be alive today.


msnbc--2020-12-24--Trump throws Covid aid into chaos, issues pardons, and skips town

Jake Sherman : It 's likely Trump is going to shut gov't .
down on Monday

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-12-24--How Trump could set back Covid relief for weeks just by doing nothing

How Trump could set back Covid relief for weeks just by doing nothing
Rachel Maddow explains how a "pocket veto" could doom a Covid-19 relief bill for weeks if Donald Trump doesn't take a break from golfing at Mar-a-Lago to clean up the mess he made by injecting himself into the negotiation process after both parties, both chambers, and Trump's own representative had already agreed to the terms of the bill.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Rep. Crow: Trump’s pardon of convicted Blackwater guards sends ‘exceptionally dangerous message’

Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) says the commander-in-chief is meant to set the “tone and tenor” of the military, and Donald Trump’s pardon of four Blackwater contractors convicted in an Iraqi massacre sends the “exact opposite message” of how service members should conduct themselves. He tells Ali Velshi a reset will be needed when Joe Biden is sworn into office “to rebuild some of our norms and traditions that are so critical to defending our nation.”Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--California hospitals overwhelmed by covid cases

When asked if Dr. Rob trusts the Covid-19 vaccine, his response: 'We think by the end of the first quarter of next year most people who want it will be able to get it, so we're still talking another six months of everybody doing the hard work, wearing masks, and social distancing, not traveling and doing everything as remotely as possible ... I'm confident with the studies that have been done showing it's safe."Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--"A Trump Christmas Carol" starring Wilbur Ross

The comparisons between Charles Dickens ’ miserly , Christmas-hating curmudgeon , Ebenezer Scrooge , and members of President Donald Trump ’ s Cabinet flow fast and easy .
And yet Wilbur Ross , who ’ s maintained his position at the top of the commerce department throughout Trump ’ s presidency , is the clear choice in my mind for the official who most fits the bill .
By all accounts , Ross has been an absolute nightmare of a secretary , one who “ keeps ethics watchdogs up at night.
” In literally any other administration , he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in his unrepentant pursuit of money through the years and the willingness to cast aside his own staffers in his own interest , Ross has all the makings of a man who would make Scrooge blush with distaste .
He is a Michael Caine among Muppets , a serious patron of the art of corruption surrounded by chaos , antics , and hijinks .
The citizenship question was dead to begin with .
There was no question whatever about that .
The Supreme Court had ruled upon it , the Census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had signed a statement to that effect , and you could take Ross ’ s name to the bank .
We begin our examination with a look at Ross ’ s indifference to the suffering of his fellow citizens , which can best be summed up in how on his orders the Census Bureau politicized the decennial count .
Ross announced in March 2018 that a citizenship question would be added to the coming census , forcing respondents to reveal their immigration status .
If put into practice , undocumented immigrants would find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignoring census workers canvassing their neighborhood or incriminating themselves , opening the door for their own deportation .
Protecting themselves and their families would mean a drop-off in money allocated to their communities and potentially reducing their state ’ s seats in Congress .
Ross claimed that the question was merely being added at the request of the Justice Department to better enforce the Voting Rights Act .
As it turns out , Ross had been advocating for a citizenship question long before the Justice Department ’ s letter , as emails released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not what government lawyers had told the Supreme Court .
Chief Justice John Roberts was not exactly pleased that the administration had lied to his face and in his opinion nuked the question .
Roberts made clear that it was because “ the evidence tells a story that does not match the explanation the secretary gave for his decision.
” The first bell had rung out and , as promised , the first spirit had stood before Ross .
The journey to the past that had promised to show him how little happiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gone , and the Ghost departed once more , leaving Ross alone with his thoughts .
Like Scrooge , Ross is , to quote Dickens , “ a squeezing , wrenching , grasping , scraping , clutching , covetous , old sinner !
” But unlike Scrooge , who was at least honest in his callousness , we may add that Ross is an inveterate liar , especially when it comes to his riches .
Forbes Magazine reported in 2017 that Ross was not actually a billionaire as he had claimed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms showed he was worth a paltry $ 700 million at most .
Forbes reporter Dan Alexander wrote that the evidence showed that “ Ross lied to us , the latest in an apparent sequence of fibs , exaggerations , omissions , fabrications and whoppers that have been going on with Forbes since 2004.
” Alexander also later reported that true to avaricious form , former colleagues of Ross “ remember the commerce secretary taking handfuls of Sweet ' N Low packets from a nearby restaurant , so he did n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One says workers at his house in the Hamptons used to call the office , claiming Ross had not paid them for their work .
Another two people said Ross once pledged $ 1 million to a charity , then never paid.
” It ’ s not merely past misdeeds on Ross ’ s ledger , as Scrooge 's deceased former partner , Jacob Marley , would put it .
Like Trump , whose Atlantic City casino Ross helped him retain ownership of in the 1990s , he has continued to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When he first testified before the Senate ahead of his confirmation in 2017 , Ross promised that he would divest millions of dollars ’ worth of assets .
Instead , he clung to them , including investments in Chinese and Russian businesses , even reportedly making money off of being exposed .
One holding of his earned Ross seven figures between the time he was appointed and when he finally let it go in Dec. 2017 .
A joint report between NPR and the Center for Public Integrity in 2018 found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from public disclosure filings whether Ross has cleanly parted ways with all the assets he promised to divest.
” The situation was bad enough that the government ’ s ethics watchdog refused to certify Ross ’ s disclosure forms given the number of assets he ’ d previously failed to report .
And this September , newly filed forms showed that Ross made millions of dollars in outside income in fiscal year 2020 .
The sumptuous feasts that the Ghost of Christmas Present had brought with him had already faded into nothing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ breadth and width of Washington , looking in on the federal employees in his charge as they celebrated Christmas Day .
The embers in the fireplace sank lower — the chill in the room remained steady .
Nobody could accuse Ross of having a solid connection with the common man .
Case in point , both Ross and Scrooge share a confusion over why on earth the poor would require any sort of charity .
“ Are there no prisons ?
” Scrooge asked a gentleman who ’ d come to ask him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` A Christmas Carol . ''
He was told that while they and other institutions like workhouses do still exist , many would rather die than utilize them .
“ If they would rather die , ” said Scrooge in response , “ they had better do it , and decrease the surplus population.
” While it ’ s not quite the level of misanthropy displayed by Dickens ’ anti-hero , compare Ross , speaking to CNBC in Jan. 2019 about furloughed federal workers resorting to food banks during a government shutdown : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making credit available to them .
Now true , the people might have to pay a little bit of interest , but the idea that it 's paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea.
” Let ’ s also not forget though the time when , at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic , Ross claimed the coronavirus ’ s spread could be good for the U.S. in the long run .
`` I do n't want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate , very malignant disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The fact is , it does give business yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain ...
So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America.
” The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come hesitated .
The spirit was unsure what visions of the future would potentially sway the 83-year-old man who stood before him .
Beneath its hood , the specter shrugged what passed as shoulders .
There would be no Christmas morning rebirth for this one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Bob Cratchit-like employee to defend Ross , or a Tiny Tim for him to empathize with , you ’ re in for a long wait .
Over the years , Ross ’ s leadership — or lack thereof — inside the commerce department has led to articles referring to the office as “ a disaster.
” ( His propensity for falling asleep in meetings hasn ’ t helped endear him to staffers either . )
“ He has completely lost the trust of the building and staff are just holding on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” one former Commerce official told the Washington Post in 2019 .
In the end , the story of “ A Christmas Carol ” is ultimately one of redemption .
Scrooge ’ s journey from indifferent skinflint to “ as good a friend , as good a master , and as good a man , as the good old city knew , or any other good old city , town , or borough , in the good old world ” credits the Christmas spirit with his transformation .
But it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , should we want to change our ways enough , even without the intervention of Dickens ’ ghosts .
I suppose there ’ s a chance that Ross could one day find such a renewed faith in mankind .
Until then , I say what he will not , and ask that this Christmas , God bless us , every one .

The comparisons between Charles Dickens’ miserly, Christmas-hating curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge, and members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet flow fast and easy. And yet Wilbur Ross, who’s maintained his position at the top of the commerce department throughout Trump’s presidency, is the clear choice in my mind for the official who most fits the bill.
By all accounts, Ross has been an absolute nightmare of a secretary, one who “keeps ethics watchdogs up at night.” In literally any other administration, he would have been fired a long time ago. And in his unrepentant pursuit of money through the years and the willingness to cast aside his own staffers in his own interest, Ross has all the makings of a man who would make Scrooge blush with distaste. He is a Michael Caine among Muppets, a serious patron of the art of corruption surrounded by chaos, antics, and hijinks.
The citizenship question was dead to begin with. There was no question whatever about that. The Supreme Court had ruled upon it, the Census Bureau had acknowledged its demise. Ross had signed a statement to that effect, and you could take Ross’s name to the bank.
We begin our examination with a look at Ross’s indifference to the suffering of his fellow citizens, which can best be summed up in how on his orders the Census Bureau politicized the decennial count. Ross announced in March 2018 that a citizenship question would be added to the coming census, forcing respondents to reveal their immigration status.
If put into practice, undocumented immigrants would find themselves faced with the choice of either ignoring census workers canvassing their neighborhood or incriminating themselves, opening the door for their own deportation. Protecting themselves and their families would mean a drop-off in money allocated to their communities and potentially reducing their state’s seats in Congress.
Ross claimed that the question was merely being added at the request of the Justice Department to better enforce the Voting Rights Act. As it turns out, Ross had been advocating for a citizenship question long before the Justice Department’s letter, as emails released in July 2018 showed — which is not what government lawyers had told the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts was not exactly pleased that the administration had lied to his face and in his opinion nuked the question. Roberts made clear that it was because “the evidence tells a story that does not match the explanation the secretary gave for his decision.”
The first bell had rung out and, as promised, the first spirit had stood before Ross. The journey to the past that had promised to show him how little happiness his money had brought him had come and gone, and the Ghost departed once more, leaving Ross alone with his thoughts.
Like Scrooge, Ross is, to quote Dickens, “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!” But unlike Scrooge, who was at least honest in his callousness, we may add that Ross is an inveterate liar, especially when it comes to his riches. Forbes Magazine reported in 2017 that Ross was not actually a billionaire as he had claimed for years. Instead, federal financial disclosure forms showed he was worth a paltry $700 million at most. Forbes reporter Dan Alexander wrote that the evidence showed that “Ross lied to us, the latest in an apparent sequence of fibs, exaggerations, omissions, fabrications and whoppers that have been going on with Forbes since 2004.”
Alexander also later reported that true to avaricious form, former colleagues of Ross “remember the commerce secretary taking handfuls of Sweet'N Low packets from a nearby restaurant, so he didn't have to go out and buy some for himself. One says workers at his house in the Hamptons used to call the office, claiming Ross had not paid them for their work. Another two people said Ross once pledged $1 million to a charity, then never paid.”
It’s not merely past misdeeds on Ross’s ledger, as Scrooge's deceased former partner, Jacob Marley, would put it. Like Trump, whose Atlantic City casino Ross helped him retain ownership of in the 1990s, he has continued to make money during his time in public service. When he first testified before the Senate ahead of his confirmation in 2017, Ross promised that he would divest millions of dollars’ worth of assets. Instead, he clung to them, including investments in Chinese and Russian businesses, even reportedly making money off of being exposed. One holding of his earned Ross seven figures between the time he was appointed and when he finally let it go in Dec. 2017.
A joint report between NPR and the Center for Public Integrity in 2018 found that experts were “still unable to confirm from public disclosure filings whether Ross has cleanly parted ways with all the assets he promised to divest.” The situation was bad enough that the government’s ethics watchdog refused to certify Ross’s disclosure forms given the number of assets he’d previously failed to report. And this September, newly filed forms showed that Ross made millions of dollars in outside income in fiscal year 2020.
The sumptuous feasts that the Ghost of Christmas Present had brought with him had already faded into nothing. The spirit had flitted Ross across the breadth and width of Washington, looking in on the federal employees in his charge as they celebrated Christmas Day. The embers in the fireplace sank lower — the chill in the room remained steady.
Nobody could accuse Ross of having a solid connection with the common man. Case in point, both Ross and Scrooge share a confusion over why on earth the poor would require any sort of charity. “Are there no prisons?” Scrooge asked a gentleman who’d come to ask him for a donation towards the start of "A Christmas Carol." He was told that while they and other institutions like workhouses do still exist, many would rather die than utilize them. “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge in response, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
While it’s not quite the level of misanthropy displayed by Dickens’ anti-hero, compare Ross, speaking to CNBC in Jan. 2019 about furloughed federal workers resorting to food banks during a government shutdown: “Banks and credit unions should be making credit available to them. Now true, the people might have to pay a little bit of interest, but the idea that it's paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea.”
Let’s also not forget though the time when, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ross claimed the coronavirus’s spread could be good for the U.S. in the long run. "I don't want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate, very malignant disease,” he said on Fox Business. "The fact is, it does give business yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain... So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America.”
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come hesitated. The spirit was unsure what visions of the future would potentially sway the 83-year-old man who stood before him. Beneath its hood, the specter shrugged what passed as shoulders. There would be no Christmas morning rebirth for this one.
If you’ve been waiting for a Bob Cratchit-like employee to defend Ross, or a Tiny Tim for him to empathize with, you’re in for a long wait. Over the years, Ross’s leadership — or lack thereof — inside the commerce department has led to articles referring to the office as “a disaster.” (His propensity for falling asleep in meetings hasn’t helped endear him to staffers either.)
“He has completely lost the trust of the building and staff are just holding on, waiting for it to be over,” one former Commerce official told the Washington Post in 2019.
In the end, the story of “A Christmas Carol” is ultimately one of redemption. Scrooge’s journey from indifferent skinflint to “as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world” credits the Christmas spirit with his transformation. But it’s one that any of us can make, should we want to change our ways enough, even without the intervention of Dickens’ ghosts.
I suppose there’s a chance that Ross could one day find such a renewed faith in mankind. Until then, I say what he will not, and ask that this Christmas, God bless us, every one.


msnbc--2020-12-24--What’s next for Covid stimulus legislation after GOP blocks check increase?

The 'wreckage ' left by Trump and how to reform it

‘They better get out a really big check book’: Dominion case rips open Fox News to more lawsuits from Smartmatic, Ray Epps, and more 06:28


msnbc--2020-12-24--How Trump's pardons of Russia figures could backfire if he is prosecuted

How Trump's pardons of Russia figures could backfire if he is prosecuted
Andrew Weissmann, former lead prosecutor for Robert Mueller, talks with Rachel Maddow about how pardoned individuals can be compelled to testify where the Fifth Amendment no longer applies, which could mean people like Roger Stone and Paul Manafort being called to testify if prosecutors pursue a case against Donald Trump.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Jake Sherman: It's likely Trump is going to shut gov't. down on Monday

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it 08:18


msnbc--2020-12-24--Covid vaccine distribution underway in Israel, Palestinians may wait months

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, talks with MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin about vaccinations could be delayed for months in Gaza and the West Bank as Covid-19 vaccinations get underway in Israel.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Faith leaders reflect on a holiday season amid a pandemic


msnbc--2020-12-24--Trump signals extremist supporters with martial law talk; promises 'wild' D.C. protest

Rachel Maddow reports on Donald Trump entertaining the idea of imposing martial law to keep himself in power and his calls for supporters to participate in a "wild" protest in Washington, D.C. on January 6th, when he hopes Republicans will help him sabotage the official counting of the 2020 electoral votes.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Navajo Nation President: Rep. Deb Haaland's nomination to Biden cabinet gives Native American leader

Navajo Nation President: Rep. Deb Haaland's nomination to Biden cabinet gives Native American leaders 'a seat at the table'


msnbc--2020-12-24--Paul Finebaum weighs in on Nick Saban, college playoffs

The four college football playoff contenders are set for the semifinals on New Year's Day, and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum joins Morning Joe to discuss the games and the legacy of head Alabama coach Nick Saban.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Wilbur Ross is more of a Scrooge than Scrooge himself


msnbc--2020-12-24--Why Stone, Manafort, Flynn could be given grand jury subpoenas in future

Why Stone, Manafort, Flynn could be given grand jury subpoenas in future
Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann weighs in on Trump's pardoning of Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner, saying that Stone, Manafort and Michael Flynn could be subpoenaed in the future and cannot be pardoned for future crimes.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-24--Incoming U.S. lawmakers face long list of domestic, foreign challenges

Representative-elect Marie Newman talks with MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin about the challenges the new members of Congress will face in passing more Covid-19 relief and tackling other issues.Dec. 24, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-25--Massive vehicle explosion in downtown Nashville believed to be intentional

Police responded to a shots fired call when they came across a suspicious RV that paused them to call the bomb squad, resulting in a massive explosion they believe to be intentional. Three injuries have been reported and 20 nearby buildings were said to have been damaged.Dec. 25, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-25--U.S. to require negative Covid test for air travelers from U.K.

U.S. to require negative Covid test for air travelers from U.K.
Major U.S. airlines are now requiring 72 hour negative PCR tests before flying from the U.K., resulting in disappointment for those trying to travel for the holidays. NBC’s Matt Bradley reports.Dec. 25, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-26--FBI searches home in connection with Nashville Christmas explosion

Navajo Nation President : Rep. Deb Haaland 's nomination to Biden cabinet gives Native American leaders ' a seat at @ @ @

UP NEXT
Biden says he and first lady will go to Hawaii 'as soon as we can' 04:17


msnbc--2020-12-26--Rep. Lee: Why hasn’t Trump told GOP to be ‘lock step’ with him on $2,000 checks?

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msnbc--2020-12-26--Legal experts break down Trump’s controversial pardons

Donald Trump’s pardons for convicted allies to the president, former Blackwater contractors, and other controversial figures is drawing criticism. Larry Kupers, former Department of Justice Acting Pardon Attorney, and MSNBC legal analyst and attorney Paul Butler, join Tiffany Cross to discuss.Dec. 26, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-26--As prison infections and death rates soar, inmate treatment during pandemic scrutinized

The COVID-19 death and infection rates in prisons and jails are much higher than in the general U.S. population. Mitigating the risk of the pandemic to inmates is discussed with Robbie Dennis, a prison reform advocate who was incarcerated during the pandemic, and Alanah Odoms Hebert, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana.Dec. 26, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-26--Labor Union Leader on the expiration of unemployment benefits: “We are talking about total economic

Labor Union Leader on the expiration of unemployment benefits: “We are talking about total economic disaster here.”

We’ve seen Trump inject himself into crucial Congressional negotiations at the final hour before with new demands before, and each time the result is widening the divide and delaying relief, says Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants. She joins Ali Velshi to discuss what’s at stake as unemployment benefits expire with still no monetary relief on its way to Americans.Dec. 26, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-26--Ali Velshi breaks down four years of the Trump administration by the numbers

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it


msnbc--2020-12-26--Roger McNamee on new anti-trust cases: “harms that affect all of society should require some remedy”

Roger McNamee on new anti-trust cases: “harms that affect all of society should require some remedy”
‘Zucked’ author and early Facebook and Google investor Roger McNamee joins ‘Velshi’ to discuss his hopes that the new anti-trust cases against the Silicon Valley giants will break up anti-democratic monopolies, and how social media uses the first amendment “as cover” to amplify “the most extreme voices in society at the expense of society itself.”Dec. 26, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-26--The state of the Black Lives Matter movement, and its future, analyzed by experts

The state of the Black Lives Matter movement, and its future, analyzed by experts
The Black Lives Matter movement being accepted by the mainstream in 2020, with diverse participation, is analyzed by experts, who also weigh in on the movement's future.Dec. 26, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--'You have a president who is increasingly out of touch while Americans are dying'

'You have a president who is increasingly out of touch while Americans are dying'
President Trump is golfing at his private club in Florida over the Christmas weekend while a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill sits on his desk that would provide millions of Americans with desperately needed financial assistance. MSNBC’s host of “American Voices” Alicia Menendez speaks with Rolling Stone Washington Bureau Chief Andy Kroll, Politico White House Correspondent Tyler Pager, and MSNBC Political Analyst, host of “Zerlina,” and the author of “The End of White Politics” Zerlina Maxwell about what this roadblock means for vulnerable Americans.Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--‘I would not wish this burden on no one’: Undocumented couple free after over 2 years in church sanc

‘I would not wish this burden on no one’: Undocumented couple free after over 2 years in church sanctuary

Clive and Oneita Thompson fled violence in their home country Jamaica in 2004 and came to the United States to seek asylum. And after 14 years working and paying taxes, they were facing deportation. For the last two years they lived in Philadelphia churches, and now they’re free. The Thompson’s join MSNBC’s “American Voices” host Alicia Menendez to talk about their experience, what they hope to see in asylum and immigration reform, and what is next for their family.Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--Trump signs $900 billion Covid relief package

2020 ’ s challenges , losses , hopes and heroism highlighted by Capehart in his ‘ Bye Line ’


msnbc--2020-12-27--Suspected Nashville bomber Anthony Warner ‘perished’ in Christmas Day explosion

Nashville officials announced that Anthony Warner is the suspected bomber in the Christmas Day explosion that went off in the center of the city’s business district. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Donald Cochran said, Warner “was present when the bomb went off,” and “he perished.”Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--Rep. Beatty: If $2,000 checks fail to pass, it will be ‘on hands of Republican colleagues’

We are in an 'era of global boiling' as nearly half of all Americans are under heat advisories 06:17


msnbc--2020-12-27--Exclusive: Alex Padilla, who'll be first Latino California U.S. senator, on The Sunday Show

California’s next U.S. senator, and the first Latino U.S. senator from the state of California, Alex Padilla, discusses COVID relief and his plans for his work in Washington, in an exclusive sitdown with Jonathan Capehart.Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--Mass vaccine rollout under way in Europe as Covid mutates into more contagious strain

Mass vaccine rollout under way in Europe as Covid mutates into more contagious strain
A massive vaccination rollout is underway in Europe as more than a dozen countries are reporting cases of a mutated Covid-19 variant. It is believed to be about 70 percent more contagious than the original virus strain. NBC News’ Matt Bradley reports on vaccine distribution efforts.Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--Race disparities in healthcare made clear by pandemic, vaccine fears

A black doctor who died of COVID-19 after complaining about her treatment in the hospital, Dr. Susan Moore, sadly passed away amid growing vaccine fears among people of color, which stem from hundreds of years of medical racism. Jonathan Capehart and his panel discuss what the medical establishment can do to allay fears of getting the vaccine, and to ultimately resolve the issue of rampant, racial healthcare disparities.Dec. 27, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-27--Small business owner? Start prepping for the next PPP round now.


msnbc--2020-12-28--Trump signs spending bill, unlocking Covid aid and averting shutdown

'First step on way back to normal life ' : Doctor participates in vaccine trial

Meacham: Pence probably saved the republic, but I don't always want to count on one person to do it 08:18


msnbc--2020-12-28--'First step on way back to normal life': Doctor participates in vaccine trial


msnbc--2020-12-28--‘Will we see Congress actually step up?’: Biden warns reversing Trump’s immigration policies won’t h

‘Will we see Congress actually step up?’: Biden warns reversing Trump’s immigration policies won’t happen overnight

President-Elect Joe Biden said this week that while he’s pushing to reverse President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, he tamped down expectations by reminding everyone this will take time. But the pressure is on. Jonathan Jayes-Green, Vice President of Programs at The Marguerite Casey Foundation, and ProPublica immigration reporter Dara Lind join MSNBC’s host of “American Voices” Alicia Menendez to weigh in on the conversation.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--The 2020 election cycle is over, but the war against voting rights will continue into 2021

Despite the election season being over, the war against voting rights will follow us well into 2021 as republican state legislatures introduce anti-voting access bills. However, there are policies the Biden-Harris administration could push for within their first one hundred days in office to help voting rights activists. Angela Peoples, Director of the Democracy Defense Coalition joins MSNBC’s host of “American Voices” Alicia Menendez to break down the path ahead.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-29--House approves bill to up Covid relief checks to $2,000

‘ Marie Antoinette has nothing on this guy : ’ Trump ’ s ‘ cruel ’ delay in signing relief @

The House has passed a bill to increase Covid relief checks from $600 to $2,000. Joy Reid notes that Trump is trying to take the credit for this despite actions that delayed aid or abdicated his responsibility entirely.Dec. 29, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-29--Olivia Troye: ‘I am very concerned there will be violence on January 6’

Olivia Troye: ‘I am very concerned there will be violence on January 6’
Former member of the Trump administration Olivia Troye expresses her worry that the divisiveness Trump has stoked in this country will have damaging and lasting implicationsDec. 29, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--House passes bill increasing coronavirus stimulus checks to $2,000

After Trump backtracked and signed a $2.3 trillion package that combines Covid-19 relief with government funding, the House has passed the bill that would increase Covid-19 stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, narrowly hitting the two-thirds majority needed to pass. The measure now goes to the Senate.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--Presidential historian on President Trump's final days in office: 'There's nothing in history that's

Presidential historian on President Trump's final days in office: 'There's nothing in history that's remotely like this'
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the nature of President Trump's final days as he prepares to leave office. He compares the President's unwillingness to concede the 2020 election to Al Gore's concession in 2000 after the Supreme Court ruling, adding, 'That's what most patriots do.'Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--Biden criticizes Trump administration for 'roadblocks' on national security issues

President-elect Joe Biden delivered remarks after meeting with his national security team and criticized the Trump administration for creating "roadblocks" on information he believes would ensure national safety amid the transition.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--Year in review: Looking back at top politics stories of 2020

Year in review: Looking back at top politics stories of 2020
NBC News' Chris Jansing looks back at the biggest political stories of 2020 including the presidential election, the coronavirus pandemic and the protests across the country following the death of George Floyd.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-29--Jim Cavanaugh explains how investigators can determine the motivation behind the bombing in Nashvill

Jim Cavanaugh explains how investigators can determine the motivation behind the bombing in Nashville

Former ATF Special Agent in Charge Jim Cavanaugh looks at what we know so far about the bombing in Nashville, Tennessee that took place on Christmas morning, and explains how investigators will get to the bottom of the bomber’s motiveDec. 29, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--House lawmakers vote Monday on $2,000 checks


msnbc--2020-12-28--Actress Lori Loughlin released from federal prison

Biden says he and first lady will go to Hawaii 'as soon as we can' 04:17


msnbc--2020-12-28--How the U.S. missed chances to lessen impact of virus

How the U.S. missed chances to lessen impact of virus
Lawrence Wright of the New Yorker says the U.S. had three separate chances in 2020 to lessen the impact of the coronavirus at home.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--‘You can't just snap your fingers and will these people into existence’: CA Dr. on lack of ICU staff

‘You can't just snap your fingers and will these people into existence’: CA Dr. on lack of ICU staff
With one person dying of COVID in LA every 10 minutes, LA County USC Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brad Spellberg has called the scene at his hospital a battlefield. He joins Yasmin Vossoughian to discuss the new decisions being made right now about rationing care.Dec. 28, 2020


msnbc--2020-12-28--What Padilla's nomination means for post-Trump America

Latinos have lived in California before California was a state , yet it took a 170 years to finally see ourselves represented in the most esteemed body politic in the world .
For this reason alone , the selection of Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fulfill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ’ Senate term is so historically significant for California and the nation on multiple fronts .
For those of us who grew up under Pete Wilson ’ s reign and the stain of Proposition 187 — the original show-me-your-papers law against anyone not white — Padilla 's heading to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing seeded 25 years ago , led by young Latinx and Asian Americans fighting to turn California into a safer , equitable state for us and our families .
Harris ’ s election and Padilla 's selection carry the same significance for Asian Americans who ’ ve called this country home for 200 years — yet still don ’ t get acknowledgement of their “ Americanness.
” Like Padilla and Harris , the aftermath of Prop 187 politicized me .
Watching neighbors singling out families because of their accents and surnames , teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their abilities , and police pulling over young men for simply driving while brown in small-town Sonoma are just small examples that led to my life ’ s work .
I joined millions of other young people at the time trying to claim a piece of California , a piece of America that tried to deny our existence , our equity and our citizenry simply for not being white .
The organized pushback against Proposition 187 by the community became the blueprint for my organization Voto Latino , where we applied a model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ leaders led similar anti-immigrant trends .
When 1 in 3 fellow Americans believe that the majority of Latinx are undocumented despite whole swaths of our country where the border migrated , not the people , it speaks to Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s appointment of Padilla as writing history .
If we look to our government , newsrooms , executive suites , education , health care , tech and the film industry , one would never guess that Latinos have been the second-largest demographic in the United States since 2003 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Carolina and Texas reflect California ’ s politics from two decades ago — young Latinos and Asian Americans rising , registering to vote , running for office as a response to racial profiling legislation , increased hate crimes , national and local rhetoric that penalizes us for seeking our American birthright in a land that omits our history , our story and our contributions .
It is perhaps why it ’ s just as significant that Newsom chose Padilla in the same week the Senate greenlighted the Latino American Museum after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed the vast inequities across our institutions in how this country treats the most marginalized .
A McKinsey report in July noted that the nation ’ s 60 million Latinos “ have experienced a disproportionate share of the health and economic effects of the pandemic … are about three times more likely than white residents to test positive for the virus , experience more challenges with accessing care , and are more economically vulnerable.
” Since the pandemic began , 50 percent of Latinos were laid off or had hours reduced , yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program loans to help save many of those lost hours and jobs .
At a time when 60 percent of Latinos are under 34 years old , many will miss some of their best earning years as a result of Covid-19-related pre-existing conditions and a Depression-era economy .
Congress ’ s own Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act omitted 20 percent of the Latino workforce , including U.S. citizens living with undocumented loved ones .
The nominations of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alejandro Mayorkas to the Department of Homeland Security , and Miquel Cardona to the Department of Education are as significant as Padilla ’ s appointment , as our nation rebuilds from the pandemic .
All three have deep expertise to run their respective departments , but equally as important , but often overlooked , is that they possess the cultural competency required to address the needs of a sizable but little understood population that will be key to our rebound .
There remains work to be done to better reflect Latino representation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Californian and American Latino experience are what make Padilla ’ s pick so meaningful today .
The Latino narrative of struggle and awakening through organizing against the odds is woven into the American story .
After four years of Trump pummeling the Latino community through policy , action and language , coupled with the pandemic ’ s ravaging effects , December has given us some glimmers of hope that a new course is on the horizon with the passage of the Latino Museum , three Cabinet appointments and the selection of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latinx community — which has born the brunt of loss , deaths and omission — now sees the possibility of a new day through Padilla ’ s appointment .
His rise is one rooted in a people organizing and claiming their space and their American identity despite the force of opposition that we have endured .
It sends a message to a child who has witnessed her parents interrogated by authorities , questioning their citizenship simply because they speak Spanish , the second most widely spoken language in the world , in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limitless , that the American dream is still possible and that her ambition is not outsized .
And that she , too , may someday join the Senate and even occupy the White House .

Latinos have lived in California before California was a state, yet it took a 170 years to finally see ourselves represented in the most esteemed body politic in the world. For this reason alone, the selection of Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fulfill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ Senate term is so historically significant for California and the nation on multiple fronts.
The geopolitical trends in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas reflect California’s politics from two decades ago.
For those of us who grew up under Pete Wilson’s reign and the stain of Proposition 187 — the original show-me-your-papers law against anyone not white — Padilla's heading to the Senate is the fruit of tireless organizing seeded 25 years ago, led by young Latinx and Asian Americans fighting to turn California into a safer, equitable state for us and our families.
Harris’s election and Padilla's selection carry the same significance for Asian Americans who’ve called this country home for 200 years — yet still don’t get acknowledgement of their “Americanness.”
Like Padilla and Harris, the aftermath of Prop 187 politicized me. Watching neighbors singling out families because of their accents and surnames, teachers tracking students based on race rather than their abilities, and police pulling over young men for simply driving while brown in small-town Sonoma are just small examples that led to my life’s work. I joined millions of other young people at the time trying to claim a piece of California, a piece of America that tried to deny our existence, our equity and our citizenry simply for not being white.
The organized pushback against Proposition 187 by the community became the blueprint for my organization Voto Latino, where we applied a model from Arizona to Georgia as those states’ leaders led similar anti-immigrant trends.
One in 3 Americans believe that the majority of Latinx are undocumented despite whole swaths of our country where the border migrated — not the people.
When 1 in 3 fellow Americans believe that the majority of Latinx are undocumented despite whole swaths of our country where the border migrated, not the people, it speaks to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s appointment of Padilla as writing history.
If we look to our government, newsrooms, executive suites, education, health care, tech and the film industry, one would never guess that Latinos have been the second-largest demographic in the United States since 2003. The geopolitical trends in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas reflect California’s politics from two decades ago — young Latinos and Asian Americans rising, registering to vote, running for office as a response to racial profiling legislation, increased hate crimes, national and local rhetoric that penalizes us for seeking our American birthright in a land that omits our history, our story and our contributions.
It is perhaps why it’s just as significant that Newsom chose Padilla in the same week the Senate greenlighted the Latino American Museum after a near three decadeslong fight.
Covid-19 exposed the vast inequities across our institutions in how this country treats the most marginalized. A McKinsey report in July noted that the nation’s 60 million Latinos “have experienced a disproportionate share of the health and economic effects of the pandemic … are about three times more likely than white residents to test positive for the virus, experience more challenges with accessing care, and are more economically vulnerable.”
Since the pandemic began, 50 percent of Latinos were laid off or had hours reduced, yet just 18 percent of Latino-owned businesses received Paycheck Protection Program loans to help save many of those lost hours and jobs. At a time when 60 percent of Latinos are under 34 years old, many will miss some of their best earning years as a result of Covid-19-related pre-existing conditions and a Depression-era economy. Congress’s own Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act omitted 20 percent of the Latino workforce, including U.S. citizens living with undocumented loved ones.
Just 18 percent of Latino-owned businesses received Paycheck Protection Program loans to help save many of those lost hours and jobs.
The nominations of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Alejandro Mayorkas to the Department of Homeland Security, and Miquel Cardona to the Department of Education are as significant as Padilla’s appointment, as our nation rebuilds from the pandemic. All three have deep expertise to run their respective departments, but equally as important, but often overlooked, is that they possess the cultural competency required to address the needs of a sizable but little understood population that will be key to our rebound.
There remains work to be done to better reflect Latino representation in America. The broad historical omissions of the Californian and American Latino experience are what make Padilla’s pick so meaningful today. The Latino narrative of struggle and awakening through organizing against the odds is woven into the American story.
After four years of Trump pummeling the Latino community through policy, action and language, coupled with the pandemic’s ravaging effects, December has given us some glimmers of hope that a new course is on the horizon with the passage of the Latino Museum, three Cabinet appointments and the selection of California’s first Mexican-American senator.
The Latinx community — which has born the brunt of loss, deaths and omission — now sees the possibility of a new day through Padilla’s appointment. His rise is one rooted in a people organizing and claiming their space and their American identity despite the force of opposition that we have endured.
It sends a message to a child who has witnessed her parents interrogated by authorities, questioning their citizenship simply because they speak Spanish, the second most widely spoken language in the world, in public: that her possibility in America is limitless, that the American dream is still possible and that her ambition is not outsized. And that she, too, may someday join the Senate and even occupy the White House.