huffpost--2020-04-27--Asian Celebs Fighting Racist Attacks During Pandemic

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Actress Olivia Cheng was recently volunteering in Vancouver when she says she witnessed a man drive up to an elderly Chinese woman , roll down his window and yell , “ This is your fault !
” before throwing trash at her .
The incident enraged Cheng , and also served as another reason why she feels it ’ s so important for celebrities of Asian descent to use their voices and speak up against anti-Asian attacks , which authorities say are increasing during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t happening , ” Cheng , who stars in “ The Stand ” on CBS All Access , said in a recent interview with The Associated Press .
“ For now , it would not be unwise to be a little more careful , to maybe have buddy systems when possible to go get your groceries if you ’ re not feeling safe.
” “ He looked at me straight in the eye and said , ‘ You should be quarantined ’ and took off , ” said the veteran actor , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United States as a child .
“ I got very angry obviously , flush with this kind of cold in your body .
And I started screaming at him , but he was way too far away for him to hear me.
” “ Once this outbreak happened in Wuhan , we all kind of went , ‘ OK , we know what this is gon na mean , ’ ” said the actor , who was born in the Philippines .
“ The Good Doctor ” actor Will Yun Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son to the grocery store : “ My wife is Caucasian , but my son is half Korean and half white .
But he looks very Asian.
” But Ma and other stars are speaking up and working to combat the ignorance and harassment .
Ma joined actress Celia Au and other celebrities and influencers in the recent campaign called ” Wash the Hate , ” created by IW Group , an Asian American-focused marketing agency .
The PSA features Ma , Au and others washing their hands and reminding people that hygiene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help combat the virus .
“ If I can start the conversation , why not ?
’ said Au , who was also born in Hong Kong .
“ If we don ’ t talk about it , then it ’ s not going to be talked about at all.
” She went down an internet rabbit hole of attacks posted online .
“ I had to stop watching , ” she said .
“ It brought up all those feelings again from being a kid and not being able to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to be having with your kids in your house .
You need to , even if you ’ re not Chinese .
You should be explaining that this is terrible , that racism is coming out of this pandemic , ” she said .
“ So , have that talk with your kid .
Have that talk with your friends .
If one of your friends says , ‘ Yo , this ‘ Chinese Virus ’ is crazy.
’ Say , ‘ No .
Actually , man it ’ s called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Chinese Virus.
’ ’ Just check them.
” This year , the South Korean film “ Parasite ” won the best picture Oscar , and Chinese-American director Lulu Wang took home the Independent Spirit Award for her film , “ The Farewell.
” “ Crazy Rich Asians ” was a hit at the box office in 2018 and last year , Sandra Oh became the first Asian woman in 39 years to win the best leading TV actress Golden Globe for “ Killing Eve .
”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Actress Olivia Cheng was recently volunteering in Vancouver when she says she witnessed a man drive up to an elderly Chinese woman, roll down his window and yell, “This is your fault!” before throwing trash at her.
The incident enraged Cheng, and also served as another reason why she feels it’s so important for celebrities of Asian descent to use their voices and speak up against anti-Asian attacks, which authorities say are increasing during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“I don’t think we can pretend that this isn’t happening,” Cheng, who stars in “The Stand” on CBS All Access, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “For now, it would not be unwise to be a little more careful, to maybe have buddy systems when possible to go get your groceries if you’re not feeling safe.”
The FBI reports there has been an uptick in hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans since the outbreak of COVID-19, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, late last year.
Some people have blamed China and Asians in general for the spread of coronavirus; President Donald Trump at times has called it the “Chinese virus.”
In New York, state Attorney General Letitia James has set up a hotline to report harassment or other targeted crime. Some of those incidents have been filmed and posted online.
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“Tigertail” star Tzi Ma says he’s been a victim of such harassment. He was entering a grocery store in Pasadena, California, recently when he was confronted by a man in a car.
“He looked at me straight in the eye and said, ‘You should be quarantined’ and took off,” said the veteran actor, who was born in Hong Kong but moved to the United States as a child.
“I got very angry obviously, flush with this kind of cold in your body. And I started screaming at him, but he was way too far away for him to hear me.”
Actor Alain Uy, a star of the upcoming Hulu series “Marvel’s Helstrom,” worried early on that such incidents would occur after the virus’ spread.
“Once this outbreak happened in Wuhan, we all kind of went, ‘OK, we know what this is gonna mean,’” said the actor, who was born in the Philippines.
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“Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu said he’s been feeling more cautious than usual.
“It’s very sad when I feel a little bit weird when I’m going to go for a walk around the block,” he said.
“The Real” co-host, Jeannie Mai, who is half-Vietnamese and half-Chinese, revealed recently that for the first time, she needed someone to monitor her social media posts to delete racist comments.
“The Good Doctor” actor Will Yun Lee is even nervous about taking his baby son to the grocery store: “My wife is Caucasian, but my son is half Korean and half white. But he looks very Asian.”
But Ma and other stars are speaking up and working to combat the ignorance and harassment. Ma joined actress Celia Au and other celebrities and influencers in the recent campaign called ” Wash the Hate, ” created by IW Group, an Asian American-focused marketing agency. The PSA features Ma, Au and others washing their hands and reminding people that hygiene, not xenophobia, is the way to help combat the virus.
“If I can start the conversation, why not?’ said Au, who was also born in Hong Kong. “If we don’t talk about it, then it’s not going to be talked about at all.”
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For Cheng, the recent wave of anti-Asian sentiment brought back painful memories of her childhood growing up in Edmonton, Canada, where she was the victim of a bias attack as a teen.
She went down an internet rabbit hole of attacks posted online. “I had to stop watching,” she said. “It brought up all those feelings again from being a kid and not being able to do anything.”
Mai says that it’s not only important for Asian stars to speak out against these attacks, but people of other races as well.
“These are the conversations you need to be having with your kids in your house. You need to, even if you’re not Chinese. You should be explaining that this is terrible, that racism is coming out of this pandemic,” she said. “So, have that talk with your kid. Have that talk with your friends. If one of your friends says, ‘Yo, this ‘Chinese Virus’ is crazy.’ Say, ‘No. Actually, man it’s called COVID-19. It’s not the ‘Chinese Virus.’’ Just check them.”
Earlier this month, “The Real” host Bill Maher defended calling coronavirus the “Chinese Virus,” comparing it to the Spanish flu.
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“While people say it’s innocuous and that it came from China, it’s the undertones,” Lee said. “Certain people will grab those undertones and attach to it.”
There’s also a worry that anti-Asian American sentiment could translate to a regression in Hollywood after recent success of telling Asian stories.
This year, the South Korean film “Parasite” won the best picture Oscar, and Chinese-American director Lulu Wang took home the Independent Spirit Award for her film, “The Farewell.” “Crazy Rich Asians” was a hit at the box office in 2018 and last year, Sandra Oh became the first Asian woman in 39 years to win the best leading TV actress Golden Globe for “Killing Eve.”
“I worry, is this going to impact our chances so soon after it feels like we finally made inroads?” Cheng said. “Is this going to regress us and put us however many steps back?”
Ma says the only way to proceed is to keep putting out diverse stories.
“There’s no relenting. We’ll keep moving forward. And hopefully one day, people are going to say, ‘You know what? I not only accept the differences, but I also accept the fact that we’re very much alike.’”


huffpost--2020-04-27--Nancy Pelosi Endorses Joe Biden For President

April 27 ( Reuters ) — U.S. House Of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Joe Biden for president , joining a list of top Democrats who have recently thrown their support behind the former vice president .
Pelosi ’ s endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate follows that of U.S .
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders , former president Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore , who all threw their weight behind Biden earlier this month .
In a video statement released on Monday , Pelosi cited Biden ’ s experience in government , including his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as evidence of his leadership qualities .
She said Biden is well-positioned to lead the country amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak .
“ As we face coronavirus , Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience , with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis , ” Pelosi said in her endorsement .
The endorsement comes at an opportune time for Biden , who has struggled to maintain a high profile during the COVID-19 pandemic and sustain the momentum he had built up in his lightning-quick run toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and past Democratic leaders , Biden has also won endorsements from some other key stakeholders like Washington state Governor Jay Inslee , a prominent climate change campaigner , and the 400,000-member United Auto Workers union .
The endorsements have given Biden a series of headlines at a time when his campaign is effectively on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak — and when U.S. President Donald Trump has captured media attention with his combative White House briefings .
The Democrats are eager to project unity heading into the presidential race against Trump for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks , the more moderate Biden has made attempts to win the support of the liberal backers of Sanders and Warren .

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April 27 (Reuters) — U.S. House Of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Joe Biden for president, joining a list of top Democrats who have recently thrown their support behind the former vice president.
Pelosi’s endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate follows that of U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, former president Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore, who all threw their weight behind Biden earlier this month.
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In a video statement released on Monday, Pelosi cited Biden’s experience in government, including his role in passing the Affordable Care Act, as evidence of his leadership qualities. She said Biden is well-positioned to lead the country amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
“As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience, with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis,” Pelosi said in her endorsement.
The endorsement comes at an opportune time for Biden, who has struggled to maintain a high profile during the COVID-19 pandemic and sustain the momentum he had built up in his lightning-quick run toward becoming the Democratic nominee.
Besides current and past Democratic leaders, Biden has also won endorsements from some other key stakeholders like Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a prominent climate change campaigner, and the 400,000-member United Auto Workers union.
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The endorsements have given Biden a series of headlines at a time when his campaign is effectively on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak — and when U.S. President Donald Trump has captured media attention with his combative White House briefings.
The Democrats are eager to project unity heading into the presidential race against Trump for the Nov. 3 general election. In recent weeks, the more moderate Biden has made attempts to win the support of the liberal backers of Sanders and Warren.


huffpost--2020-04-27--William Barr Says Feds Are 'On The Lookout' For 'Overbearing' Coronavirus Restrictions

WASHINGTON ― Attorney General William Barr ordered federal prosecutors to “ be on the lookout ” for coronavirus-related measures from states and localities that could infringe upon Americans ’ constitutional rights and civil liberties .
In a memo to the head of the Justice Department ’ s Civil Rights Division as well as all 93 U.S. attorneys across the country , Barr indicated that the Trump administration may take legal action against state and local governments that impose excessive restrictions on citizens because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections , the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court , ” Barr wrote .
“ Many policies that would be unthinkable in regular time have become commonplace in recent weeks , and we do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local officials to protect the public , ” Barr wrote .
“ But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis .
We must therefore be vigilant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time the public is protected.
” Attorney General William Barr arrives at a briefing about the coronavirus pandemic at the White House on April 1 , 2020 .
Barr said last week that the Trump administration may side with private litigants who challenge the constitutionality of the enactment of certain coronavirus-related restrictions .
The DOJ previously sided with a church that was banned from holding a drive-in service in which congregants stayed in their cars with their windows up and listened to a preacher over the radio .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , lent support to activists who sought to rally members of the public against states ’ measures to restrict activity due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ LIBERATE MINNESOTA !
” “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA , ” Trump tweeted earlier this month , targeting states led by Democratic governors .
Barr placed Civil Rights Division chief Eric Dreiband as well as U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider , the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Michigan , in charge of overseeing efforts to “ monitor state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to correct them.
” Schneider ’ s selection raises the possibility that the feds will look at restrictions imposed by Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) , whose strict stay-at-home orders have faced protests .

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WASHINGTON ― Attorney General William Barr ordered federal prosecutors to “be on the lookout” for coronavirus-related measures from states and localities that could infringe upon Americans’ constitutional rights and civil liberties.
In a memo to the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division as well as all 93 U.S. attorneys across the country, Barr indicated that the Trump administration may take legal action against state and local governments that impose excessive restrictions on citizens because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court,” Barr wrote.
“Many policies that would be unthinkable in regular time have become commonplace in recent weeks, and we do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local officials to protect the public,” Barr wrote. “But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis. We must therefore be vigilant to ensure its protections are preserved, at the same time the public is protected.”
Attorney General William Barr arrives at a briefing about the coronavirus pandemic at the White House on April 1, 2020. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Barr said last week that the Trump administration may side with private litigants who challenge the constitutionality of the enactment of certain coronavirus-related restrictions. The DOJ previously sided with a church that was banned from holding a drive-in service in which congregants stayed in their cars with their windows up and listened to a preacher over the radio.
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President Donald Trump, who nominated Barr in December 2018, lent support to activists who sought to rally members of the public against states’ measures to restrict activity due to the coronavirus pandemic. “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” Trump tweeted earlier this month, targeting states led by Democratic governors.
Barr placed Civil Rights Division chief Eric Dreiband as well as U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Michigan, in charge of overseeing efforts to “monitor state and local policies and, if necessary, take action to correct them.” Schneider’s selection raises the possibility that the feds will look at restrictions imposed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), whose strict stay-at-home orders have faced protests.
Read Barr’s memo below.


huffpost--2020-04-27--Swedish Citizens Honoring Its Chief Epidemiologist With Tattoo Tributes

STOCKHOLM , April 27 ( Reuters ) - It ’ s not every day that the face of a chief epidemiologist is inked as a tattoo .
But then it ’ s not every country that has tackled the coronavirus pandemic like Sweden .
Anders Tegnell was until the start of the crisis an unknown civil servant at the Public Health Agency but has become the face of Sweden ’ s strategy to keep schools , restaurants and businesses open during the outbreak .
Now the 64-year-old has name recognition on the streets and has been immortalized as a tattoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) is like the face outwards during this crisis and for me , I mean , I think he ’ s doing quite a good job because he has been standing straight in the frontline and he ’ s just been doing his job great , ” said Gustav Lloyd Agerblad , 32 , admiring the image of Tegnell ’ s face on his arm .
Sweden strategy has not been to stop the virus but to slow the spread enough for the healthcare system to cope .
It has not been based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasizing social distancing and good hygiene .
Even though the plan has prompted some skepticism from policy-makers overseas , around three-quarters of Swedes have expressed high or very high confidence inthe Public Health Agency , a survey from Novus showed this month .
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven ’ s popularity has also surged and more than six out of 10 people have confidence in the government ’ s handling of the crisis .
“ I came up with the idea because I believe in our strategy and I believe that the authorities can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said tattoo artist Zashay Rissanen Tastas as he inked Tegnell ’ s face onto Agerblad .
“ If we keep our distance it ’ s probably going to be fine.
” Still , more than 2,200 people have died of the virus in Sweden , fewer relative to the size of the population than in Britain , France and Spain but far more than in Denmark and Norway , where authorities have taken a stricter approach .
The disparity with its Nordic neighbors has drawn fierce criticism from some Swedish scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to re-start their struggling economies , people have also highlighted the benefits of Sweden ’ s approach .
“ We ’ ll have to see .
It ’ s too soon to say , as he himself says , one has to give it some time and we ’ ll see , ” she said .
( Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Philip O ’ Connor ; Editing by Alison Williams )

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STOCKHOLM, April 27 (Reuters) - It’s not every day that the face of a chief epidemiologist is inked as a tattoo. But then it’s not every country that has tackled the coronavirus pandemic like Sweden.
Anders Tegnell was until the start of the crisis an unknown civil servant at the Public Health Agency but has become the face of Sweden’s strategy to keep schools, restaurants and businesses open during the outbreak.
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Now the 64-year-old has name recognition on the streets and has been immortalized as a tattoo.
“I think he (Tegnell) is like the face outwards during this crisis and for me,I mean, I think he’s doing quite a good job because he has been standing straight in the frontline and he’s just been doing his job great,” said Gustav Lloyd Agerblad, 32, admiring the image of Tegnell’s face on his arm.
Sweden strategy has not been to stop the virus but to slow the spread enough for the healthcare system to cope. It has not been based on bans but instead on voluntary measures emphasizing social distancing and good hygiene.
Even though the plan has prompted some skepticism from policy-makers overseas, around three-quarters of Swedes have expressed high or very high confidence inthe Public Health Agency, a survey from Novus showed this month.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s popularity has also surged and more than six out of 10 people have confidence in the government’s handling of the crisis.
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“I came up with the idea because I believe in our strategy and I believe that the authorities can’t make us stay at home,” said tattoo artist Zashay Rissanen Tastas as he inked Tegnell’s face onto Agerblad. “If we keep our distance it’s probably going to be fine.”
Still, more than 2,200 people have died of the virus in Sweden, fewer relative to the size of the population than in Britain, France and Spain but far more than in Denmark and Norway, where authorities have taken a stricter approach.
The disparity with its Nordic neighbors has drawn fierce criticism from some Swedish scientists. But as other countries are seeking to re-start their struggling economies, people have also highlighted the benefits of Sweden’s approach.
On the streets of Stockholm, as in the tattoo parlor, some passers-by spokehighly of Tegnell.
“Everyone loves him. Absolutely. That’s how it is. He’s very popular,” said Tove Falck-Olsson.
But will it last?


huffpost--2020-04-27--We're Really, Really Bored. But Here's Why We Should Embrace It.

At the start of this pandemic , nothing seemed real .
We were confused , anxious , and unable to digest what was happening .
Many of us struggled to sit with the uncertainty of it all .
We ’ re also just ... bored .
Bored of not seeing friends .
Bored of trying to find things to do .
Bored of staying indoors .
Bored of having no motivation .
Bored of looking at the same four walls .
And with that boredom comes guilt .
Not only because of the faint throwback of our mom telling us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” but also because frontline workers ― those dealing with sick patients day in , day out ― would do anything to be sat at home , bored .
They ’ re risking their lives every single day for others .
For many of us ― me included ― the feeling of boredom is a hard one to sit with .
If your pre-corona social life was busy , it can feel like you ’ re retreating to your childlike , whiny self ― “ I ’ m borredddd ” ― when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually bored , though ?
Or just struggling to adjust ?
Boredom , according to researcher Teresa Belton , is the “ uncomfortable feeling ” that comes from lack of mental stimulation , when nothing in your environment or thoughts engages or holds your interest .
It creates a sense of being stuck , she says .
But it shouldn ’ t be confused , as it often is , with having nothing to do .
“ Imagine what our lives would be if we couldn ’ t [ feel bored ] , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually find ourselves in some utterly meaningless or boring situations but we ’ d never know it !
And because of that , we wouldn ’ t make any attempt to get out of those situations.
” How much is too much ?
Too much boredom can be damaging , according to Belton .
But Eastwood believes the discomfort of boredom is good for us ― like pain .
“ These uncomfortable feelings keep us safe and help us meet our needs , ” he says .
Our need to escape its discomfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or doing accustomed things in new ways .
While we ’ re in lockdown , having periods of no demands on our time or attention is beneficial in our usual , over-stimulating , productivity-focused , constantly active culture , Belton says .
If we can let go of the expectation of being active , entertained or distracted at all times , taking time out to let the mind wander is beneficial to our mental functioning .
Because of this , many people sing boredom ’ s praises .
Sandi Mann , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boredom is brilliant , says it ’ s essential for creativity .
“ This period of lockdown could turn out to be the most creative period in the history of humankind , ” she says .
“ When we ’ re bored , our search for neural stimulation can lead us to daydream which can lead to stimulation of creativity – I have done the research to prove it !
” So how can we embrace it ?
To really embrace boredom we need to do nothing , Mann says .
That means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swipe the boredom away ― just be .
“ Let your mind wander .
Go for a walk in your daily exercise slot .
Or sit in your garden or by your window and watch the clouds and trees .
Daydreaming is the key to creativity , ” she says .
Look at time as a resource rather than a burden , Belton advises .
“ It ’ s also an opportunity to try and slow the pace at which you do things .
The current restrictions can offer the opportunity to pursue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a new skill or interest .
Getting really immersed in an activity that stretches one ’ s abilities produces a fulfilling sense of ‘ flow ’ in which one loses oneself and does not notice the passing of time.
” But , adds Belton , combatting boredom in the context of the coronavirus crisis can be harder , as it ’ s necessary to be aware of other factors that might also be in operation .
“ For many people , boredom will be experienced along with other emotions and circumstances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , depression , financial difficulties , loneliness , household discord , or constrained living space.
” These may make it difficult to find the motivation , concentration or confidence to try something new .
But if it ’ s possible to get stuck into something that brings a sense of exploration or achievement , she says , this will provide an escape from current difficulties .

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At the start of this pandemic, nothing seemed real. We were confused, anxious, and unable to digest what was happening. Many of us struggled to sit with the uncertainty of it all. But now? Now, we’re just... bored. Bored of not seeing friends. Bored of trying to find things to do. Bored of staying indoors. Bored of having no motivation. Bored of looking at the same four walls.
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And with that boredom comes guilt. Not only because of the faint throwback of our mum telling us “only boring people get bored”, but also because frontline workers – those dealing with sick patients day in, day out – would do anything to be sat at home, bored. They’re risking their lives every single day for others.
What’s weird about this is knowing it’s too huge a shift to not be retrospectively one of the defining moments of your life but because it’s also SO FUCKING BORING it’s really hard to see how it will acquire that status — shon faye. (@shonfaye) April 21, 2020
For many of us – me included – the feeling of boredom is a hard one to sit with. If your pre-corona social life was busy, it can feel like you’re retreating to your childlike, whiny self – “I’m borredddd” – when you have nothing to do.
Are we actually bored, though? Or just struggling to adjust? Boredom, according to researcher Dr Teresa Belton, is the “uncomfortable feeling” that comes from lack of mental stimulation, when nothing in your environment or thoughts engages or holds your interest. It creates a sense of being stuck, she says. But it shouldn’t be confused, as it often is, with having nothing to do.
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When boredom drags, we flip between restlessness and lethargy, and whatever we’re doing feels pointless, says John Eastwood, associate professor at York University and co-author of Out Of My Skull, The Psychology Of Boredom.
“We struggle to be self-determined,” he says. “It could be said we are failing to author our lives.”
“Boredom shouldn’t be confused, as it often is, with having nothing to do.” - Dr Teresa Belton
The capacity of boredom is necessary, however. In fact, Andreas Elpidorou, an academic philosopher and writer, says we’re “lucky” we have the ability to experience boredom.
“Imagine what our lives would be if we couldn’t, because of some neurological disorder,” he says. “We would eventually find ourselves in some utterly meaningless or boring situations but we’d never know it! And because of that, we wouldn’t make any attempt to get out of those situations.”
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How much is too much?
Too much boredom can be damaging, says Belton. But Eastwood believes the discomfort of boredom is good for us – like pain. “These uncomfortable feelings keep us safe and help us meet our needs,” he says.
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Our need to escape its discomfort can push us into trying new things, or doing accustomed things in new ways. While we’re in lockdown, having periods of no demands on our time or attention is beneficial in our usual, over-stimulating, productivity-focused, constantly active culture, says Belton. If we can let go of the expectation of being active, entertained or distracted at all times, taking time out to let the mind wander is beneficial to our mental functioning.
Because of this, many people sing boredom’s praises. Sandi Mann, who has written a whole book on why boredom is brilliant, says it’s essential for creativity. “This period of lockdown could turn out to be the most creative period in the history of humankind,” she tells HuffPost UK. “When we’re bored, our search for neural stimulation can lead us to daydream which can lead to stimulation of creativity – I have done the research to prove it!”
So how can we embrace it?
To really embrace boredom we need to do nothing, says Mann. That means not using our devices to scroll and swipe the boredom away – just be. “Let your mind wander. Go for a walk in your daily exercise slot. Or sit in your garden or by your window and watch the clouds and trees. Daydreaming is the key to creativity,” she says.
Look at time as a resource – a gift – rather than a burden, advises Belton. “It’s also an opportunity to try and slow the pace at which you do things. The current restrictions can offer the opportunity to pursue longer term projects, or to take up a new skill or interest. Getting really immersed in an activity that stretches one’s abilities produces a fulfilling sense of ‘flow’ in which one loses oneself and does not notice the passing of time.”
But, adds Belton, combatting boredom in the context of the coronavirus crisis can be harder, as it’s necessary to be aware of other factors that might also be in operation. “For many people, boredom will be experienced along with other emotions and circumstances, e.g, fear, grief, anxiety, depression, financial difficulties, loneliness, household discord, or constrained living space.”
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These may make it difficult to find the motivation, concentration or confidence to try something new. But if it’s possible to get stuck into something that brings a sense of exploration or achievement, she says, this will provide an escape from current difficulties.
Next time you’re bored?
“Stay calm,” says Eastwood. “Don’t rush to make the uncomfortable feeling go away without addressing the underlying problem. Remember, boredom is an alert telling us we need to become authors of our lives... don’t dull that message, head it.
“Avoid passive entertainment where you treat yourself like a passive empty vessel to fill with compelling experience. Instead look for activities that flow from, and give expression to, your passion, creativity and curiosity.”


huffpost--2020-06-04--What To Do If You're Hit By Tear Gas Or Pepper Spray

If you go to a protest , you need to prepare for a hostile environment .
Some law enforcement officials have responded to protests with violence by charging into crowds , assaulting and arresting peaceful protesters .
On Monday , federal police in riot gear used gas and flash-bangs to disperse a peaceful crowd of protesters near the White House , just so President Donald Trump could walk to a nearby church for a photo-op .
To avoid panicking in the moment , you should plan what to do if you or the people around you are exposed to chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ function .
While tear gas and pepper spray are chemically different , the best remedy for both is to flush it out of your eyes with water , and to get the chemicals out of your environment , according to Dr. Diane Calello , executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Center and an associate professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School .
If you ’ re exposed to pepper spray , get to high ground and flush it out with as much water as you need .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s helpful to bring a change of clothes if you are hit by pepper spray .
But first , go to a safe area .
“ First and foremost , get out of the area , get out of the clothes and get clean , including your face and your hair and your hands and anything that may have the spray on it , ” Calello said .
Water and soap is all you need for your face and body .
Rinsing your eyes under running shower water can be helpful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calello noted getting rid of all the pepper spray is likely to take more than a small bottle of water unless you ’ re exposed to only a little bit .
“ It ’ s basically running under a faucet until it feels better , ” she said , adding that in the ER , “ we run liters of water , potentially , into [ a patient ’ s ] eyes until they are feeling better and we feel like the chemical is out.
” What is tear gas , and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommended remedy for tear gas , too .
Although there are many proposed treatments , including milk and baby shampoo , Johnson-Arbor recommends sticking with water because baby shampoo and milk have not been proved to be more effective , and water is more widely available .
One 2018 study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine found that irrigating people ’ s skin and eyes with water and baby shampoo provided no better relief from tear gas or pepper spray than water alone .
Take care of yourself after being tear-gassed @ @ @

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Police across America are deploying pepper spray and tear gas against demonstrators seeking justice for Black victims of police violence, such as George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis while a white officer pressed on his neck and ignored his pleas that he could not breathe.
If you go to a protest, you need to prepare for a hostile environment. Some law enforcement officials have responded to protests with violence by charging into crowds, assaulting and arresting peaceful protesters. On Monday, federal police in riot gear used gas and flash-bangs to disperse a peaceful crowd of protesters near the White House, just so President Donald Trump could walk to a nearby church for a photo-op.
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To avoid panicking in the moment, you should plan what to do if you or the people around you are exposed to chemical irritants that make you temporarily unable to function. While tear gas and pepper spray are chemically different, the best remedy for both is to flush it out of your eyes with water, and to get the chemicals out of your environment, according to Dr. Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Center and an associate professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
But there’s plenty more you need to know.
What is pepper spray?
Pepper spray, also known as oleoresin capsicum, is a combination of chile extracts. Although pepper spray is widely available for purchase, the kind you are likely to face at a protest is a much more concentrated dose of capsaicin, the active ingredient in oleoresin capsicum.
“The pepper spray we can buy as citizens of the United States has a much lower concentration than the pepper spray used by law enforcement,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center.
Tear gas and pepper spray both cause intense burning and irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth, respiratory system and skin, Johnson-Arbor said.
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“The very best thing to do if chemical weapons are being used is to stay calm and spread calm.” - Chicago Action Medical street medic
If you’re exposed to pepper spray, get to high ground and flush it out with as much water as you need.
“The very best thing to do if chemical weapons are being used is to stay calm and spread calm,” said Ben, a nursing student and a street medic with Chicago Action Medical, a group that provides health support to justice movements. Ben wanted to be identified only by first name for fear of reprisal.
If you are exposed to pepper spray, don’t lie down. Pepper spray is heavier than air and will sink toward the ground, so “exposures will be higher there,” said Johnson-Arbor.
If you’re planning ahead, it’s helpful to bring a change of clothes if you are hit by pepper spray. But first, go to a safe area. “First and foremost, get out of the area, get out of the clothes and get clean, including your face and your hair and your hands and anything that may have the spray on it,” Calello said. Water and soap is all you need for your face and body.
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Ben said that flushing your eyes with a forceful stream of water is the best treatment ― he recommends using a 24-ounce water bottle dedicated solely to eye flushes ― but to be mindful of what’s already in your eyes before starting an eye flush. In order to safely and effectively flush your eyes, you cannot be wearing contact lenses.
“Ideally, folks should wear glasses rather than contacts to protests and direct actions,” Ben said.
John Minchillo/ASSOCIATED PRESS Flush out chemical irritants like tear gas and pepper spray with water if possible, not milk or baby shampoo combinations, doctors say.
Rinsing your eyes under running shower water can be helpful, too, Johnson-Arbor said, and Calello noted getting rid of all the pepper spray is likely to take more than a small bottle of water unless you’re exposed to only a little bit. “It’s basically running under a faucet until it feels better,” she said, adding that in the ER, “we run liters of water, potentially, into [a patient’s] eyes until they are feeling better and we feel like the chemical is out.”
You may see milk being used to combat pepper spray, but it’s not really recommended. “Will it hurt to pour milk into your eyes instead of water? No, it won’t, but it probably does not have any benefit over water or saline irrigation,” Calello said.
“Beyond the eye flush, encourage someone who’s been exposed to these irritants to spit and blow their nose,” Ben said. “Our goal is to get rid of whatever is causing us pain.”
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Keep in mind that we’re in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic, so avoid coughing, spitting or sneezing on others, and wear a face covering whenever possible.
What is tear gas, and what does it do?
The most common type of tear gas used currently is “CS,” or o-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile, said Johnson-Arbor.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of exposure to a riot control agent like tear gas include excessive tearing of the eyes, blurred vision, nose swelling, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, a choking sensation, wheezing, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting.
You will start feeling some of these side effects within 20 to 30 seconds of being hit, Calello said. Although the effects are generally short-lived once the exposure is over, permanent damage and even deaths have been reported.
Water is the recommended remedy for tear gas, too.
When you are exposed to tear gas, it’s important to stay calm and breathe slowly through the discomfort. “Panicking increases the irritation,” states Amnesty International.
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There is no specific antidote to tear gas. “It is a chemical that directly stimulates the pain nerves in your eyes, causing them to develop very painful tearing, lid spasm, burning,” Calello said. “There is not an antidote other than just washing [your eyes] out and getting it out of there.”
Although there are many proposed treatments, including milk and baby shampoo, Johnson-Arbor recommends sticking with water because baby shampoo and milk have not been proved to be more effective, and water is more widely available. One 2018 study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine found that irrigating people’s skin and eyes with water and baby shampoo provided no better relief from tear gas or pepper spray than water alone.
As with treating pepper spray, using large quantities of water to flush out the parts of your body that got exposed is the best remedy.
Once people are no longer exposed and in fresh air, the symptoms of tear gas exposure should resolve within minutes to an hour, Johnson-Arbor said.
Take care of yourself after being tear-gassed or pepper-sprayed.
Do pay attention to lingering symptoms from chemical irritants. If you are having any trouble breathing, especially if you are asthmatic, seek out medical attention, medical experts said.
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Pay attention to your mental care, too. “If you are involved in a very traumatic event that involves the use of tear gas, you may find that you are fatigued or feel stressed from the encounter, and being conscious of that is a potential target of self-care,” Calello said.
Ben’s aftercare tips include changing clothes as soon as possible and immediately putting them in a plastic bag until they can be laundered with detergent-based soap. Then showering with cool water.


huffpost--2020-06-04--Inmate In Brooklyn's Federal Jail Dies After Being Pepper-Sprayed, Removed From Cell

A 35-year-old inmate detained in a federal jail in New York City died Wednesday after guards pepper-sprayed him and forcibly removed him from his cell , the Federal Bureau of Prisons said .
Jamel Floyd , a Black man , had “ barricaded inside his cell ” at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and was breaking the cell ’ s window with “ a metal object , ” according to a statement released by the BOP .
He was pepper-sprayed and removed from his cell for being “ increasingly disruptive ” and “ potentially harmful to himself and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical staff at the jail responded to the situation , they found Floyd unresponsive and initiated life-saving measures , the BOP said .
Staff requested emergency medical services and Floyd was transported to a local hospital , where he was subsequently pronounced dead , according to the BOP ’ s statement .
There is no indication that Floyd ’ s death was coronavirus-related , the BOP said .
He had been detained at MDC Brooklyn since October 2019 , the bureau ’ s statement said .
The FBI and U.S .
Marshals Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Marshals Service said it ’ s referring queries on the matter to the BOP .
The FBI did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .
“ My office will be following up , but the reality is this : change at # MDCBrooklyn is long overdue , ” Velázquez tweeted Wednesday .
“ Whether it is a loss of heat in the dead of winter , inadequate protections against the spread of COVID-19 or this most recent incident , it has become evident this institution is too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Brooklyn , located in the neighborhood of Sunset Park , is notorious for its abysmal conditions and operational issues .
MDC Brooklyn houses about 1,600 male and female inmates , most of whom are awaiting trials and have not been convicted of a crime .
The detention center is notorious for its abhorrent conditions and operational issues , and has made national headlines for its inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic .
David Patton , executive director and attorney-in-chief of the Federal Defenders of New York , a nonprofit focused on defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Floyd ’ s death “ extremely disturbing ” and demanded “ a full , independent and transparent investigation ” into the matter .
“ The most important thing right now is to get the facts , ” including all of the relevant video , Patton told HuffPost in a statement Thursday .
“ The MDC is a brutal place to be imprisoned at any time , but it ’ s truly horrific right now , ” he continued .
“ People incarcerated there are completely locked down , shut off from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fear of a deadly disease .
We don ’ t know what happened yesterday , but we need to find out.
” Jamel Floyd ’ s death comes as nationwide protests against racism and police brutality have erupted in response to the killing of George Floyd , who died in police custody in Minneapolis last week .
There ’ s no indication that the two men are related .

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A 35-year-old inmate detained in a federal jail in New York City died Wednesday after guards pepper-sprayed him and forcibly removed him from his cell, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.
Jamel Floyd, a Black man, had “barricaded inside his cell” at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and was breaking the cell’s window with “a metal object,” according to a statement released by the BOP.
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He was pepper-sprayed and removed from his cell for being “increasingly disruptive” and “potentially harmful to himself and others,” the statement said.
When medical staff at the jail responded to the situation, they found Floyd unresponsive and initiated life-saving measures, the BOP said. Staff requested emergency medical services and Floyd was transported to a local hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to the BOP’s statement.
There is no indication that Floyd’s death was coronavirus-related, the BOP said. He had been detained at MDC Brooklyn since October 2019, the bureau’s statement said.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service have been notified, the BOP said. The Marshals Service said it’s referring queries on the matter to the BOP. The FBI did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
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The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General announced Thursday that it’s coordinating with the FBI to investigate Floyd’s death.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez, a Democrat whose district includes MDC Brooklyn, called on the jail to maintain all security video footage of Floyd’s unit for review.
“My office will be following up, but the reality is this: change at #MDCBrooklyn is long overdue,” Velázquez tweeted Wednesday. “Whether it is a loss of heat in the dead of winter, inadequate protections against the spread of COVID-19 or this most recent incident, it has become evident this institution is too often unsafe.”
The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, located in the neighborhood of Sunset Park, is notorious for its abysmal conditions and operational issues. Andrew Lichtenstein via Getty Images
MDC Brooklyn houses about 1,600 male and female inmates, most of whom are awaiting trials and have not been convicted of a crime.
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The detention center is notorious for its abhorrent conditions and operational issues, and has made national headlines for its inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic.
David Patton, executive director and attorney-in-chief of the Federal Defenders of New York, a nonprofit focused on defending impoverished people accused of federal crime, called Floyd’s death “extremely disturbing” and demanded “a full, independent and transparent investigation” into the matter.
“The most important thing right now is to get the facts,” including all of the relevant video, Patton told HuffPost in a statement Thursday.
“The MDC is a brutal place to be imprisoned at any time, but it’s truly horrific right now,” he continued. “People incarcerated there are completely locked down, shut off from their families and loved ones, and living in fear of a deadly disease. We don’t know what happened yesterday, but we need to find out.”


huffpost--2020-06-04--This Is Your Brain On Stories And Movies About Pandemics

Maybe you can ’ t stop reading about COVID-19 , from the new research studies to the political developments surrounding the disease .
Or perhaps you binge-watched both “ Outbreak ” and “ Contagion ” back-to-back ( which was a very popular thing to do in March , AKA 10 lifetimes ago ) , and then dove straight into Netflix ’ s Pandemic docu-series .
As some people try to avoid anything that reminds them of COVID-19 , others simply can ’ t get enough pandemic content .
If you ’ re obsessed with the news cycle right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons you might be diving straight into the action .
If you can ’ t stop reading the news , you may be looking for a sense of control .
According to Gail Saltz , an associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the Personology podcast , people have different coping and defense mechanisms for dealing with anxiety and stress .
“ Those will probably say a lot about how much looking or not looking [ at pandemic-related content ] someone is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the news cycle ― analyzing every detail of new developments ― are likely looking to regain some control and “ own the narrative , ” according to Judy Ho , a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist in Southern California and host of SuperCharged Life podcast .
“ Reading up on all of the news gives people the belief that somehow they ’ ll be able to solve the problem better if they are armed with all of the knowledge , ” Ho said .
“ Which is true to an extent , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little we can control about how much longer this disease spreads and when we might actually get back to the new normal as a society because those are not our decisions to make.
” The urge to control and mold a situation is innate , speaking directly to our evolutionary roots of survival at all costs , she added .
“ If we can control our environment , then we can survive and not perish .
So it ’ s a survivalist technique at the most basic level , ” Ho said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a bad thing to do .
“ Intellectualizing is both a reasonably sophisticated and , for some people , helpful defense mechanism ― understanding it to the best of their abilities , ” Saltz said .
In a world of unknown , if the disease strikes close to home , it might give you some comfort to feel like you understand the pandemic as well as you can .
That said , Saltz said what is “ healthy in moderation ” can be taken to an extreme quickly .
Initially , finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But it also provides positive feedback in your brain to say , ‘ This works , ’ ” Saltz said .
“ If you find yourself going down the rabbit hole all the time , the compulsion to look and find the material , and make yourself feel better , will grow an obsession .
You ’ ll go from intellectualizing it to an obsessive-compulsive solution to anxiety ... You could develop a problem that feels like a solution.
” If you are constantly seeking out new COVID-19 information that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting yourself to such activities to 20 minutes a day .
Engage in other hobbies ― like meditation , going for walks , talking to friends , cooking ― to calm your anxiety .

Maybe you can’t stop reading about COVID-19, from the new research studies to the political developments surrounding the disease. Or perhaps you binge-watched both “Outbreak” and “Contagion” back-to-back (which was a very popular thing to do in March, AKA 10 lifetimes ago), and then dove straight into Netflix’s Pandemic docu-series.
As some people try to avoid anything that reminds them of COVID-19, others simply can’t get enough pandemic content. If you’re obsessed with the news cycle right now, and related matters, here are some reasons you might be diving straight into the action.
If you can’t stop reading the news, you may be looking for a sense of control.
According to Gail Saltz, an associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the Personology podcast, people have different coping and defense mechanisms for dealing with anxiety and stress.
“Those will probably say a lot about how much looking or not looking [at pandemic-related content] someone is doing,” Saltz said.
People diving into the news cycle ― analyzing every detail of new developments ― are likely looking to regain some control and “own the narrative,” according to Judy Ho, a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist in Southern California and host of SuperCharged Life podcast.
“Reading up on all of the news gives people the belief that somehow they’ll be able to solve the problem better if they are armed with all of the knowledge,” Ho said. “Which is true to an extent, but not true in that there is very little we can control about how much longer this disease spreads and when we might actually get back to the new normal as a society because those are not our decisions to make.”
The urge to control and mold a situation is innate, speaking directly to our evolutionary roots of survival at all costs, she added. “If we can control our environment, then we can survive and not perish. So it’s a survivalist technique at the most basic level,” Ho said.
Getting educated through following the news is not a bad thing to do. “Intellectualizing is both a reasonably sophisticated and, for some people, helpful defense mechanism ― understanding it to the best of their abilities,” Saltz said. In a world of unknown, if the disease strikes close to home, it might give you some comfort to feel like you understand the pandemic as well as you can.
That said, Saltz said what is “healthy in moderation” can be taken to an extreme quickly. Initially, finding out new information will calm your nerves. “But it also provides positive feedback in your brain to say, ‘This works,’” Saltz said. “If you find yourself going down the rabbit hole all the time, the compulsion to look and find the material, and make yourself feel better, will grow an obsession. You’ll go from intellectualizing it to an obsessive-compulsive solution to anxiety... You could develop a problem that feels like a solution.”
If you are constantly seeking out new COVID-19 information that may not even be there, Saltz suggested limiting yourself to such activities to 20 minutes a day. Engage in other hobbies ― like meditation, going for walks, talking to friends, cooking ― to calm your anxiety.


huffpost--2020-06-04--Nearly 1.9 Million Sought Unemployment Aid Last Week

WASHINGTON , June 4 ( Reuters ) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped below 2 million last week for the first time since mid-March , but remains astonishingly high as companies adjust to an environment that has been significantly changed by COVID-19 .
New claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 1.877 million for the week ended May 30 , down from 2.126 million the prior week , the Labor Department reported on Thursday .
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 1.8 million initial claims in the latest week .
New jobless claims have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late March .
Despite the still elevated reading , the most recent data suggested the worst is over for the labor market , combined with data on Wednesday that showed a smaller-than-expected drop in private payrolls in May .
Surveys have also shown consumer confidence , manufacturing and services industries stabilizing albeit at low levels in May , indicating the downturn triggered by a near shutdown of the country in mid-March to control the spread of COVID-19 was bottoming .
Many businesses had reopened by mid-May .
Economists said the stubbornly high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave of layoffs as businesses navigate weak demand , as well as some lingering backlogs at state unemployment offices overwhelmed by the flood of applications early in the shutdown .
“ Many of the new claims reflect current layoffs , as the corporate sector more broadly begins to adjust to the altered outlook for the year ahead , ” said Lou Crandall , chief economist of Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City , New Jersey .
“ Even as the economy begins to reopen , new job losses continue to pile up.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have announced layoffs , while some big retailers like JC Penney and high-end chain Neiman Marcus have filed for bankruptcy .
States and local governments , whose budgets have been decimated by the COVID-19 fight , are also cutting jobs .
The government ’ s closely watched employment report for May , scheduled for release on Friday , is likely to show nonfarm payrolls falling by 8 million in May after a record 20.537 million plunge in April , according to a Reuters survey of economists .
The unemployment rate is forecast rocketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War Two record , from 14.7 % in April .
( Reporting By Lucia Mutikani Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )

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WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped below 2 million last week for the first time since mid-March, but remains astonishingly high as companies adjust to an environment that has been significantly changed by COVID-19.
New claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 1.877 million for the week ended May 30, down from 2.126 million the prior week, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 1.8 million initial claims in the latest week.
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New jobless claims have declined since hitting a record 6.867 million in late March. Despite the still elevated reading, the most recent data suggested the worst is over for the labor market, combined with data on Wednesday that showed a smaller-than-expected drop in private payrolls in May.
Surveys have also shown consumer confidence, manufacturing and services industries stabilizing albeit at low levels in May, indicating the downturn triggered by a near shutdown of the country in mid-March to control the spread of COVID-19 was bottoming. Many businesses had reopened by mid-May.
Economists said the stubbornly high number of unemployment claims comes from a second wave of layoffs as businesses navigate weak demand, as well as some lingering backlogs at state unemployment offices overwhelmed by the flood of applications early in the shutdown.
“Many of the new claims reflect current layoffs, as the corporate sector more broadly begins to adjust to the altered outlook for the year ahead,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist of Wrightson ICAP LLC in Jersey City, New Jersey. “Even as the economy begins to reopen, new job losses continue to pile up.”
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Boeing and pipeline operator Energy Transfer have announced layoffs, while some big retailers like JC Penney and high-end chain Neiman Marcus have filed for bankruptcy. States and local governments, whose budgets have been decimated by the COVID-19 fight, are also cutting jobs.


huffpost--2020-06-04--Former Boy Band Star Dies From Coronavirus At 34

Chris Trousdale , a former member of the boy band DreamStreet , died Tuesday from complications of coronavirus , according @ @ @ @ @ 34 .
A family member said Trousdale died from the effects of COVID-19 , TMZ @ @ @ @ @ McCartney confirmed the cause on Instagram .
A rep told Billboard Trousdale died of an @ @ @ @ @ wrote about their time together as 12- and 14-year-olds and said Trousdale was the most @ @ @ @ @ “ I truly envied him as a performer , ” he wrote .
“ Although @ @ @ @ @ only 3 years , at that age , it felt like a lifetime and we @ @ @ @ @ ” McCartney added .
“ My deepest sympathies go out to his mother whom I @ @ @ @ @ RIP Chris .
”

Chris Trousdale, a former member of the boy band DreamStreet, died Tuesday from complications of coronavirus, according to reports. He was 34.
A family member said Trousdale died from the effects of COVID-19, TMZ reported. Former bandmate Jesse McCartney confirmed the cause on Instagram. A rep told Billboard Trousdale died of an “undisclosed illness.”
McCartney wrote about their time together as 12- and 14-year-olds and said Trousdale was the most popular in the group. “I truly envied him as a performer,” he wrote.
“Although we were a band for only 3 years, at that age, it felt like a lifetime and we built a real brotherhood,” McCartney added. “My deepest sympathies go out to his mother whom I know cherished him dearly. RIP Chris.”


huffpost--2020-06-04--Study Authors Retract Influential Lancet Hydroxychloroquine Article

NEW YORK , June 4 ( Reuters ) - Three of the authors of an influential article that found hydroxychloroquine increased the risk of death in COVID-19 patients retracted the study on Thursday , citing concerns about the quality of the data behind it .
The anti-malarial drug has been controversial in part due to support from U.S. President Donald Trump , as well as implications of the study published in British medical journal the Lancet last month .
The three authors said Surgisphere , the company that provided the data , would not transfer the full dataset for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources.
” The fourth author of the study , Dr. Sapan Desai , the CEO of Surgisphere , declined to comment on the retraction .
Today , three of the authors have retracted `` Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19 : a multinational registry analysis '' Read the Retraction notice and statement from The Lancet https : //t.co/pPNCJ3nO8n pic.twitter.com/pB0FBj6EXr — The Lancet ( @ TheLancet ) June 4 , 2020 The observational study published in the Lancet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 patients , some treated with the decades-old malaria drug .
It claimed that those treated with hydroxychloroquine or the related chloroquine had higher risk of death and heart rhythm problems than patients who were not given the medicines .
Several clinical trials were put on hold after the study was published .
The World Health Organization , which paused hydroxychloroquine trials after The Lancet study was released , said on Wednesday it was ready to resume trials .
Many scientists voiced concern about the study .
Nearly 150 doctors signed an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the article ’ s conclusions into question and asking to make public the peer review comments that preceded publication .
“ I did not do enough to ensure that the data source was appropriate for this use , ” the study ’ s lead author , Harvard Medical School Professor Mandeep Mehra , said in a statement .
“ For that , and for all the disruptions – both directly and indirectly – I am truly sorry.
” The Lancet in a statement said , “ there are many outstanding questions about Surgisphere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this study.
” ( Reporting by Michael Erman and Peter Henderson Editing by Tom Brown and Leslie Adler )

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NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) - Three of the authors of an influential article that found hydroxychloroquine increased the risk of death in COVID-19 patients retracted the study on Thursday, citing concerns about the quality of the data behind it.
The anti-malarial drug has been controversial in part due to support from U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as implications of the study published in British medical journal the Lancet last month.
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The three authors said Surgisphere, the company that provided the data, would not transfer the full dataset for an independent review and that they “can no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources.”
The fourth author of the study, Dr. Sapan Desai, the CEO of Surgisphere, declined to comment on the retraction.
Today, three of the authors have retracted "Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis" Read the Retraction notice and statement from The Lancet https://t.co/pPNCJ3nO8n pic.twitter.com/pB0FBj6EXr — The Lancet (@TheLancet) June 4, 2020
The observational study published in the Lancet on May 22 looked at 96,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, some treated with the decades-old malaria drug. It claimed that those treated with hydroxychloroquine or the related chloroquine had higher risk of death and heart rhythm problems than patients who were not given the medicines.
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Several clinical trials were put on hold after the study was published. The World Health Organization, which paused hydroxychloroquine trials after The Lancet study was released, said on Wednesday it was ready to resume trials.
Many scientists voiced concern about the study. Nearly 150 doctors signed an open letter to the Lancet last week calling the article’s conclusions into question and asking to make public the peer review comments that preceded publication.
“I did not do enough to ensure that the data source was appropriate for this use,” the study’s lead author, Harvard Medical School Professor Mandeep Mehra, said in a statement. “For that, and for all the disruptions – both directly and indirectly – I am truly sorry.”
Surgisphere was not immediately available for comment.


huffpost--2020-06-04--Trump To Sign Sweeping Order To Expedite Energy, Infrastructure Projects

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to use their emergency authorities to accelerate energy , highway and other infrastructure projects , a move that the administration says will help jump-start an economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic , HuffPost has confirmed .
The order will “ expedite construction of highways and other projects designed for environmental , energy , transportation , natural resource , and other uses ” and further the administration ’ s efforts “ to reform burdensome and outdated bureaucratic processes that prevent projects from moving forward , ” a senior administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also instructs the departments of Interior , Agriculture and Defense to speed up energy and other projects on federal lands .
Agencies will have the authority to waive environmental reviews normally required under the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act , according to The Washington Post , which broke the story Thursday .
Also on Thursday , the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new rule to overhaul how cost-benefit analyses factor into Clean Air Act regulations , ultimately limiting the agency ’ s ability to put in place stricter rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change .
While EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement that the rule will “ improve the transparency , ” the Union of Concerned Scientists called it “ a backdoor way to justify rollbacks of public health and environmental protections.
” Last year , the Interior Department finalized a rollback of the Endangered Species Act , one of America ’ s most important laws for protecting imperiled animals and plants , making it easier to remove recovered species from the protected list and paving the way for more drilling and mining .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposed overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act , a 50-year-old law that protects air , water and land by requiring federal agencies to conduct detailed environmental assessments of major infrastructure projects .
The changes would expedite fossil fuel pipelines , highways and power plants by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental assessments ― a move that environmental justice and conservation groups see as a clear attempt to cut the public out of the democratic process .
Critics blasted news of Trump ’ s upcoming executive order as another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are disproportionately affected by major development , including highways and fossil fuel infrastructure .
The order comes as Americans across the nation take to the streets to condemn racism , injustice and police brutality .
“ Today President Trump is dealing another blow to the Black community , during a worldwide pandemic and nearly a week into nationwide Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and structural racism , ” House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva ( D-Ariz. ) said in a statement .
“ Gutting NEPA takes away one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect themselves and make their voices heard on federal decisions impacting them.
” The Trump administration has continued to push its pro-polluter agenda throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , which has already killed more than 107,000 Americans and infected more than 1.8 million .
That includes the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s decision to suspend enforcement of bedrock clean air and water laws .
This week , five Republican senators sent the White House a letter urging the administration to “ sunset ” all federal regulations that have been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the beginning of the rule-making process .
“ The burden that many of these regulations create for everyday Americans is now abundantly clear , ” the lawmakers said .
Christy Goldfuss , a former chair of the environmental council under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress , said Thursday that Trump ’ s order “ will only serve to further silence ” communities of color .
“ They ’ re trying to divert attention away from the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by giving agency leads the excuse to ram through polluting projects that will prop up the dying fossil fuel industry while destroying the very same communities that are dying at higher rates from COVID-19 and police violence , as well , ” she said in an emailed statement .

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President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to use their emergency authorities to accelerate energy, highway and other infrastructure projects, a move that the administration says will help jump-start an economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, HuffPost has confirmed.
The order will “expedite construction of highways and other projects designed for environmental, energy, transportation, natural resource, and other uses” and further the administration’s efforts “to reform burdensome and outdated bureaucratic processes that prevent projects from moving forward,” a senior administration official said in an email. It also instructs the departments of Interior, Agriculture and Defense to speed up energy and other projects on federal lands.
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Agencies will have the authority to waive environmental reviews normally required under the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, according to The Washington Post, which broke the story Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new rule to overhaul how cost-benefit analyses factor into Clean Air Act regulations, ultimately limiting the agency’s ability to put in place stricter rules to safeguard clean air and fight climate change. While EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement that the rule will “improve the transparency,” the Union of Concerned Scientists called it “a backdoor way to justify rollbacks of public health and environmental protections.”
The two actions further the administration’s pro-industry agenda, which has targeted numerous environmental regulations in order to boost fossil fuel production and other development.
Last year, the Interior Department finalized a rollback of the Endangered Species Act, one of America’s most important laws for protecting imperiled animals and plants, making it easier to remove recovered species from the protected list and paving the way for more drilling and mining.
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And in January, the administration unveiled a proposed overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act, a 50-year-old law that protects air, water and land by requiring federal agencies to conduct detailed environmental assessments of major infrastructure projects. The changes would expedite fossil fuel pipelines, highways and power plants by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental assessments ― a move that environmental justice and conservation groups see as a clear attempt to cut the public out of the democratic process.
A section of the Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia. Charles Mostoller / Reuters
Critics blasted news of Trump’s upcoming executive order as another attack on communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by major development, including highways and fossil fuel infrastructure. The order comes as Americans across the nation take to the streets to condemn racism, injustice and police brutality.
“Today President Trump is dealing another blow to the Black community, during a worldwide pandemic and nearly a week into nationwide Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and structural racism,” House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said in a statement. “Gutting NEPA takes away one of the few tools communities of color have to protect themselves and make their voices heard on federal decisions impacting them.”
The Trump administration has continued to push its pro-polluter agenda throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already killed more than 107,000 Americans and infected more than 1.8 million. That includes the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to suspend enforcement of bedrock clean air and water laws.
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This week, five Republican senators sent the White House a letter urging the administration to “sunset” all federal regulations that have been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring that those regulations go back to the beginning of the rule-making process. “The burden that many of these regulations create for everyday Americans is now abundantly clear,” the lawmakers said.
Christy Goldfuss, a former chair of the environmental council under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said Thursday that Trump’s order “will only serve to further silence” communities of color.


huffpost--2020-05-26--Is It Safe To Buy Food At The Farmers Market During The Pandemic?

“ Think of what you picture as a farmers market , ” said Kelly Crane , executive director of the Oregon Farmers Markets Association .
“ Crowds , kids ’ activities and music with everybody talking , interacting and hugging their neighbors ... that ’ s not what the markets are going to be like this season.
” Just about every farmers market that ’ s already open or opening has new protocols and safety measures in place .
Booths are farther apart to better accommodate social distancing .
Farmers wear masks and gloves , and shoppers are either encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signage sometimes directs shoppers to travel in one direction through a market or to keep six feet apart from each other .
And some , like the Racine Farmers Market in Racine , Wisconsin , are not opening at all .
“ Sampling was one of the first things we had to get rid of , ” said Brie Mazurek , communications director for the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture , which runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and five other farmers markets in San Francisco .
Also , unlike grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up an avocado or a grapefruit to see if it ’ s ripe enough , there ’ s no touching .
“ You can ’ t handle the produce anymore , ” Mazurek told HuffPost .
“ You have to point , and the farmers will hand you what you want to buy.
” “ It ’ s , ‘ I would like these tomatoes over there , ’ and they ’ ll give the bag to you , ” said Ariana Torres , assistant professor of the department of horticulture and agricultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economist and a farmer .
“ I remember the experience of shopping when I ’ ve traveled to developing countries – it ’ s that kind of transaction.
” “ If we consider the set-up of a grocery store versus a farmers market , I believe farmers markets can be more secure , ” Torres said .
“ They ’ re outdoors , and since many have reduced the number of vendors , there ’ s better than six feet social distancing .
They ’ re also following all of the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s safer.
” “ When farmers markets are done right , they can be as safe or safer than any indoor grocery shopping experience , ” Crane said .
“ Farmers markets have radically changed their operations .
Blown-up footprints , spaced six to 10 feet apart , lots of environmental signage and messaging before , during and after , with chalk marks or tape on the ground , plus extra perimeter control so you don ’ t get overloaded with density.
” Sarah Marcus , owner of Briar Rose Creamery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vendor at four farmers markets , said she and other farmers have a hand-washing station set up as part of her booths , as well as hand sanitizer .
“ It ’ s a lot of wiping down , ” she said .
“ What was already a clean environment is even cleaner.
” But not all farmers markets are created equal .
Sheana Davis , owner of The Epicurean Connection in Sonoma , California , said she will only shop for ingredients for her catering business at one of two farmers markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sonoma Farmers Market moved it off of the plaza to these baseball fields in town , and they spread it out so there ’ s four times the amount of space for each vendor , ” Davis said .
“ They took a really proactive approach , and they removed any merchants that weren ’ t agriculture-direct .
It ’ s clear that social distancing is a priority .
But when I went to another one , I said , ‘ Hell , no.
’ There wasn ’ t social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be any protocols in place.
” Marcus said that at the local Oregon farmers markets where she sells cheese , only one person per family is supposed to shop , and there ’ s no lingering or sampling .
“ Things are continuing to evolve at the markets themselves , ” she said .
“ Now it ’ s more of a service and less of an event.
” “ It is a different experience , ” Gwin said .
“ The people who were just going down there to buy a pint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun … they ’ re probably not going this year , but the vast majority of customers who do significant shopping are going to still go .
I ’ m really hoping that the demand is strong enough that these farmers are going to make it through.
” Marcus says farmers markets , where she always sells some cheese , keep her small creamery and its four employees in business as her restaurant and winery sales dry up .
“ Yes , things will improve , ” Marcus said .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honestly don ’ t know.
” How to shop safely at a farmers market

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As the growing season gets underway across the country, farmers markets are beginning to reopen. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the farmers markets of 2020 are vastly different entities than farmers markets of 2019.
“Think of what you picture as a farmers market,” said Kelly Crane, executive director of the Oregon Farmers Markets Association. “Crowds, kids’ activities and music with everybody talking, interacting and hugging their neighbors ... that’s not what the markets are going to be like this season.”
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We’ll also lose out on cooking demonstrations, samples of fresh produce, and milling about and sitting at tables to eat freshly prepared foods.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Farmers and shoppers alike are asked to wear masks at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco.
Just about every farmers market that’s already open or opening has new protocols and safety measures in place. Booths are farther apart to better accommodate social distancing. Farmers wear masks and gloves, and shoppers are either encouraged or required to wear masks. New signage sometimes directs shoppers to travel in one direction through a market or to keep six feet apart from each other. And some, like the Racine Farmers Market in Racine, Wisconsin, are not opening at all.
“Sampling was one of the first things we had to get rid of,” said Brie Mazurek, communications director for the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture, which runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and five other farmers markets in San Francisco.
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Also, unlike grocery stores, where you can still pick up an avocado or a grapefruit to see if it’s ripe enough, there’s no touching. “You can’t handle the produce anymore,” Mazurek told HuffPost. “You have to point, and the farmers will hand you what you want to buy.”
“It’s, ‘I would like these tomatoes over there,’ and they’ll give the bag to you,” said Ariana Torres, assistant professor of the department of horticulture and agricultural economics at Purdue University ― and also an economist and a farmer. “I remember the experience of shopping when I’ve traveled to developing countries – it’s that kind of transaction.”
“If we consider the set-up of a grocery store versus a farmers market, I believe farmers markets can be more secure.”
Some markets may also be smaller. “Some are only selling produce,” Torres said. “You’re not going to see anyone selling woodwork or candles or dog treats or jewelry.”
Like grocery stores, many markets have special hours for elderly and immunocompromised customers, and volunteers and workers are trained to correct customers when they don’t stay a safe distance apart.
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Many markets are also encouraging cashless payment systems, and some are even offering pickup and curbside delivery.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco has self-pay stations like this one.
But unlike most grocery stores, most farmers markets have hand-washing stations with soap and water set up prominently. And while grocery stores have some hand sanitizers at the entrances, many farmers markets have numerous hand sanitizer dispensers throughout.
“If we consider the set-up of a grocery store versus a farmers market, I believe farmers markets can be more secure,” Torres said. “They’re outdoors, and since many have reduced the number of vendors, there’s better than six feet social distancing. They’re also following all of the local and state guidelines, so I believe it’s safer.”
“When farmers markets are done right, they can be as safe or safer than any indoor grocery shopping experience,” Crane said. “Farmers markets have radically changed their operations. Blown-up footprints, spaced six to 10 feet apart, lots of environmental signage and messaging before, during and after, with chalk marks or tape on the ground, plus extra perimeter control so you don’t get overloaded with density.”
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“[The farmers market is] also safer because it’s a very short supply chain, and the food is not going through very many hands,” said Lauren Gwin, extension community food systems specialist at Oregon State University.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Caution tape prevents shoppers from touching the produce at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco.
Sarah Marcus, owner of Briar Rose Creamery in Dundee, Oregon, and a vendor at four farmers markets, said she and other farmers have a hand-washing station set up as part of her booths, as well as hand sanitizer. “It’s a lot of wiping down,” she said. “What was already a clean environment is even cleaner.”
But not all farmers markets are created equal. Sheana Davis, owner of The Epicurean Connection in Sonoma, California, said she will only shop for ingredients for her catering business at one of two farmers markets in her town.
“The City of Sonoma Farmers Market moved it off of the plaza to these baseball fields in town, and they spread it out so there’s four times the amount of space for each vendor,” Davis said. “They took a really proactive approach, and they removed any merchants that weren’t agriculture-direct. It’s clear that social distancing is a priority. But when I went to another one, I said, ‘Hell, no.’ There wasn’t social distancing, and there didn’t seem to be any protocols in place.”
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Courtesy of Layfayette and West Lafayette farmers markets in Indiana Hand sanitizing stations are easy to find at the Lafayette and West Lafayette farmers markets in Indiana.
Marcus said that at the local Oregon farmers markets where she sells cheese, only one person per family is supposed to shop, and there’s no lingering or sampling. “Things are continuing to evolve at the markets themselves,” she said. “Now it’s more of a service and less of an event.”
“It is a different experience,” Gwin said. “The people who were just going down there to buy a pint of strawberries and just hang out in the sun … they’re probably not going this year, but the vast majority of customers who do significant shopping are going to still go. I’m really hoping that the demand is strong enough that these farmers are going to make it through.”
Marcus says farmers markets, where she always sells some cheese, keep her small creamery and its four employees in business as her restaurant and winery sales dry up. “Yes, things will improve,” Marcus said. “When? Likely next year. But I honestly don’t know.”
How to shop safely at a farmers market
Crane offers these tips to shoppers at farmers markets:


huffpost--2020-05-26--Most Medicare Enrollees May Soon Only Pay $35 A Month For Insulin

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Medicare recipients will be able to get prescription plans that limit copays for insulin , a potential savings of hundreds of dollars , the White House announced Tuesday in a pivot to pocketbook issues that could influence November ’ s election .
The new benefit — to be formally unveiled at a Rose Garden event Tuesday afternoon — is being touted as a major accomplishment by Trump administration officials eager to change the subject from the grim drumbeat of coronavirus pandemic news .
The new insulin benefit will be voluntary , so during open enrollment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must make sure to pick an insurance plan that provides it .
Most people with Medicare will have access to them .
Stable copays for insulin are the result of a deal shepherded by the administration between insulin manufacturers and major insurers , Medicare chief Seema Verma told The Associated Press .
The three major suppliers , Eli Lilly , Novo Nordisk and Sanofi , were all involved .
“ It was a delicate negotiation , ” Verma said .
Drugmakers and insurers have been at odds in recent years , blaming one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do think this is a big step.
” The cost of insulin is one the biggest worries for consumers generally concerned about high prices for brand name drugs .
Millions of people with diabetes use insulin to keep their blood sugars within normal ranges and stave off complications that can include heart disease , blindness , kidney failure and amputations .
People with diabetes also suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19 .
Trump last week told Republican senators at a Capitol Hill meeting he still wants to pass a bill this year to lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to do it , ” according to a summary from an attendee .
Bipartisan legislation to limit price increases and reduce costs for older people with high drug bills is pending in the Senate .
An AP-NORC poll in May found that 54 % of adults 60 and older said they disapproved of how Trump is handling his job as president , while 45 % approved .
The fate of drug pricing legislation ultimately seems to rest with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who has a much more ambitious plan for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs , not just insulin .
Pelosi would use expected savings to provide vision , dental and hearing coverage for older adults .
Most Republicans oppose that approach as an expansion of government price-setting .
Although the White House and Pelosi ’ s office were in conversations last year about prescription drug legislation , the relationship between the two leaders has been tense and angry for months .
Verma , head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , said 1,750 insurance plans that offer drug coverage to Medicare recipients have agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 35 a month next year .
It will be available through “ enhanced ” plans that may cost more per month but offer additional benefits such as reduced cost-sharing on certain drugs .
The cap on copays is expected to lead to a small increase in premiums .
One out of three people with Medicare have diabetes , and more than 3 million use insulin .
At list prices , the drug can cost more than $ 5,000 a year .
Although insured patients don ’ t pay that , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the full cost .
People who can ’ t afford their insulin may try to cope by reducing their doses , a dangerous calculation that can put their lives in jeopardy .
Medicare ’ s prescription drug benefit is offered by private insurers , either as a stand-alone “ Part D ” drug plan added to traditional Medicare , or as part of a managed care plan under Medicare Advantage .
The taxpayer-subsidized private plans are closely regulated by the government , but by law Medicare is barred from negotiating drug prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden want to change .
Insurers and drugmakers welcomed the announcement .
The industry group America ’ s Health Insurance Plans called it an “ excellent example of public-private partnerships where everyone wins.
” The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said it ’ s pleased to see the administration focused on lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients .
Medicare estimates that about 6 in 10 beneficiaries are already in prescription drug plans that will offer the new insulin benefit .
Those whose plans don ’ t offer the new option can switch during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 .
Medicare ’ s online plan finder will help beneficiaries find plans that cap insulin copays .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare recipients will be able to get prescription plans that limit copays for insulin, a potential savings of hundreds of dollars, the White House announced Tuesday in a pivot to pocketbook issues that could influence November’s election.
The new benefit — to be formally unveiled at a Rose Garden event Tuesday afternoon — is being touted as a major accomplishment by Trump administration officials eager to change the subject from the grim drumbeat of coronavirus pandemic news.
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Older adults who pick a drug plan offering the new insulin benefit would pay a maximum of $35 a month starting next year, a savings estimated at $446 annually. Fluctuating cost-sharing amounts that are common now would be replaced by a manageable amount.
The new insulin benefit will be voluntary, so during open enrollment this fall Medicare recipients who are interested must make sure to pick an insurance plan that provides it. Most people with Medicare will have access to them.
Stable copays for insulin are the result of a deal shepherded by the administration between insulin manufacturers and major insurers, Medicare chief Seema Verma told The Associated Press. The three major suppliers, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, were all involved.
“It was a delicate negotiation,” Verma said. Drugmakers and insurers have been at odds in recent years, blaming one another for high prices. “I do think this is a big step.”
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The deal comes as President Donald Trump returns to the issue of drug prices, trying to woo older people whose votes are critical to his reelection prospects.
The cost of insulin is one the biggest worries for consumers generally concerned about high prices for brand name drugs. Millions of people with diabetes use insulin to keep their blood sugars within normal ranges and stave off complications that can include heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. People with diabetes also suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19.
Trump last week told Republican senators at a Capitol Hill meeting he still wants to pass a bill this year to lower drug costs, saying “I think you have to do it,” according to a summary from an attendee. Bipartisan legislation to limit price increases and reduce costs for older people with high drug bills is pending in the Senate.
An AP-NORC poll in May found that 54% of adults 60 and older said they disapproved of how Trump is handling his job as president, while 45% approved.
The fate of drug pricing legislation ultimately seems to rest with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has a much more ambitious plan for Medicare to negotiate prices for the costliest drugs, not just insulin. Pelosi would use expected savings to provide vision, dental and hearing coverage for older adults. Most Republicans oppose that approach as an expansion of government price-setting.
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Although the White House and Pelosi’s office were in conversations last year about prescription drug legislation, the relationship between the two leaders has been tense and angry for months.
White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway told AP the administration can’t wait for the Democratic-controlled House on drug prices. “Waiting for them to act is very perilous,” Conway said.
Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said 1,750 insurance plans that offer drug coverage to Medicare recipients have agreed to provide insulin for a maximum copay of $35 a month next year. It will be available through “enhanced” plans that may cost more per month but offer additional benefits such as reduced cost-sharing on certain drugs. The cap on copays is expected to lead to a small increase in premiums.
Importantly for patients, the new benefit would cover a range of insulin products, including pen and vial forms for rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting and long-acting versions.
One out of three people with Medicare have diabetes, and more than 3 million use insulin. At list prices, the drug can cost more than $5,000 a year. Although insured patients don’t pay that, they do notice rising copays that are based on the full cost. People who can’t afford their insulin may try to cope by reducing their doses, a dangerous calculation that can put their lives in jeopardy.
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Medicare’s prescription drug benefit is offered by private insurers, either as a stand-alone “Part D” drug plan added to traditional Medicare, or as part of a managed care plan under Medicare Advantage. The taxpayer-subsidized private plans are closely regulated by the government, but by law Medicare is barred from negotiating drug prices — something Democrats including presidential candidate Joe Biden want to change.
Insurers and drugmakers welcomed the announcement. The industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans called it an “excellent example of public-private partnerships where everyone wins.” The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said it’s pleased to see the administration focused on lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Medicare estimates that about 6 in 10 beneficiaries are already in prescription drug plans that will offer the new insulin benefit. Those whose plans don’t offer the new option can switch during open enrollment season, which starts Oct. 15. Medicare’s online plan finder will help beneficiaries find plans that cap insulin copays.
The insulin benefit will be available in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Participation is voluntary for insurers and Medicare recipients alike.
In a twist, the new Trump insulin option stems in part from experimentation authority that Medicare gained under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, which the White House is seeking to overturn as unconstitutional.
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