huffpost--2020-04-22--How The Coronavirus Is Derailing Fertility Treatments

Kristy and Brandon Callaway are ready to have a baby .
They ’ ve started setting up their nursery with a crib and bassinet , and like to toss around baby names , though they haven ’ t found one they agree on yet .
They started in vitro fertilization last year , and in mid-March , Kristy was set to begin a monthlong series of daily injections and medications to prepare her body for a frozen embryo transfer initially scheduled to take place this week .
Fertility treatments , including IVF , are often physically taxing , emotionally painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becoming pregnant can take years , and just one IVF cycle can cost between $ 10,000 and $ 15,000 , depending on insurance coverage and treatment center costs .
Pushing back treatment could mean an individual has a lower likelihood of success or less money to afford the procedures .
The ASRM guidelines urge fertility doctors and centers to strongly consider canceling embryo transfers and suspending elective surgeries and nonurgent diagnostic procedures , but allow care to continue for women who are “ in-cycle ” ( meaning treatment is in progress ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require urgent stimulation and cryopreservation ( egg or embryo freezing ) , such as cancer patients who may soon be starting chemotherapy .
Current research shows it ’ s not likely that the coronavirus can pass from mother to fetus during pregnancy , labor or delivery , according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
The guidelines are more about reducing community transmission of the virus and reducing pressure on overburdened health systems and hospitals , and they fall in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
Still , some IVF centers have shut down entirely , which means that even patients whose treatment is already in progress have had to cancel fertility treatments , said Meir Olcha , a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and the director of preimplantation embryo assessment at New Hope Fertility Center in New York City .
There ’ s a real urgency to resume treatments when it ’ s safe to do so , said Amanda Kallen , a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at the Yale Fertility Center .
But pinpointing when that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dictated by the progression of the pandemic , ASRM guidelines , and broader state and federal shelter-in-place orders .
“ We ’ re having daily conversations with our practice on how soon can we get started again , when is it safe , and how do we prioritize people who have been waiting or are ready to go , ” Kallen said .
“ But I don ’ t think anybody feels that this is an easy decision for us to make or for patients to have to deal with , ” Kallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the word elective used to describe fertility treatment and that ’ s not the right word .
It ’ s not elective and nobody chooses to be infertile and nobody chooses to need to use fertility treatments.
” Since we don ’ t know how long the pandemic or the current ASRM recommendations will last , fertility experts agree that it ’ s tough to know whether suspended fertility treatments could eliminate the chance of becoming pregnant for some women .
Olcha said it ’ s a possibility given that fertility and ovarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline can be steep .
He explained that there are biological markers that help to assess fertility .
One is called Anti-Müllerian hormone and helps predict ovarian reserve , which is basically the number and quality of eggs in a woman ’ s ovaries .
A low AMH marker allows fertility specialists to project that an individual ’ s ability to get pregnant would be affected by time .
Lost time isn ’ t the only concern for fertility specialists and people trying to get fertility treatment right now .
The financial impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As the economy takes a hit and people lose jobs , money set aside to start a family may need to be diverted elsewhere .
Kallen said she has patients who have lost their jobs , leaving uncertainty around whether they ’ ll be able to start or resume fertility treatments once the world gets back to a place where these treatments are even happening .
“ I think the longer this goes on , the more you ’ re going to see that we ’ re all even more worried and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to have on our patients — not only their chance of success , but also their mental and physical well-being , ” Kallen said .
Both Kristy and Brandon Callaway have medical issues that affect their fertility , and they learned early on that they would need to pursue IVF to have children .
Kristy has already undergone two egg retrieval procedures that each yielded only one viable embryo .
The next step , whenever it ’ s safe to do it , will be to transfer the embryo .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pill we could take or a procedure we could go through that would get us closer to our goal of parenthood , ” Kristy said .
“ COVID-19 offered us no solutions other than time .
So we wait for the day our doctor calls and tells me to start those injections so we can begin the embryo transfer process .
”

Kristy and Brandon Callaway have had to delay fertility treatments due to the coronavirus pandemic. EventSmith Productions
Kristy and Brandon Callaway are ready to have a baby. They’ve started setting up their nursery with a crib and bassinet, and like to toss around baby names, though they haven’t found one they agree on yet. They started in vitro fertilization last year, and in mid-March, Kristy was set to begin a monthlong series of daily injections and medications to prepare her body for a frozen embryo transfer initially scheduled to take place this week.
Then the coronavirus began spreading through the U.S. On March 18, Kristy’s fertility doctor called to let her know her treatment would be postponed. Now, the Callaways’ dreams are on hold.
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“We were finally taking the biggest step of all toward becoming parents, and it came to a screeching halt,” Kristy said. “With a single phone call, our dreams and plans were on hold again. I cried the entire day. I still cry often.”
Fertility treatments, including IVF, are often physically taxing, emotionally painful, expensive and full of uncertainty. Becoming pregnant can take years, and just one IVF cycle can cost between $10,000 and $15,000, depending on insurance coverage and treatment center costs. Pushing back treatment could mean an individual has a lower likelihood of success or less money to afford the procedures.
But COVID-19 is giving many couples, like the Callaways, no choice but to delay. In order to protect patients, fertility centers have suspended new fertility treatments — including IVF, intrauterine inseminations, and ovulation induction — due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, as recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
The ASRM guidelines urge fertility doctors and centers to strongly consider canceling embryo transfers and suspending elective surgeries and nonurgent diagnostic procedures, but allow care to continue for women who are “in-cycle” (meaning treatment is in progress), as well as in cases where women require urgent stimulation and cryopreservation (egg or embryo freezing), such as cancer patients who may soon be starting chemotherapy.
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Current research shows it’s not likely that the coronavirus can pass from mother to fetus during pregnancy, labor or delivery, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The guidelines are more about reducing community transmission of the virus and reducing pressure on overburdened health systems and hospitals, and they fall in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that suggest canceling elective procedures and using telemedicine when possible.
Many states have issued executive orders that outline which businesses and facilities must close in light of COVID-19, but health care facilities are typically deemed an essential service and permitted to stay open.
Still, some IVF centers have shut down entirely, which means that even patients whose treatment is already in progress have had to cancel fertility treatments, said Meir Olcha, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and the director of preimplantation embryo assessment at New Hope Fertility Center in New York City.
There’s a real urgency to resume treatments when it’s safe to do so, said Amanda Kallen, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at the Yale Fertility Center. But pinpointing when that will happen is difficult and will likely be dictated by the progression of the pandemic, ASRM guidelines, and broader state and federal shelter-in-place orders.
“We’re having daily conversations with our practice on how soon can we get started again, when is it safe, and how do we prioritize people who have been waiting or are ready to go,” Kallen said.
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In the meantime, she’s working to support panicked and anxious patients and provide reassurance that this pause is temporary and designed to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19.
“But I don’t think anybody feels that this is an easy decision for us to make or for patients to have to deal with,” Kallen said. “I’ve seen the word elective used to describe fertility treatment and that’s not the right word. It’s not elective and nobody chooses to be infertile and nobody chooses to need to use fertility treatments.”
“Postponing treatment three to six months can significantly impact the chance of being pregnant in certain patients.” - Meir Olcha, New Hope Fertility Center
Since we don’t know how long the pandemic or the current ASRM recommendations will last, fertility experts agree that it’s tough to know whether suspended fertility treatments could eliminate the chance of becoming pregnant for some women. Olcha said it’s a possibility given that fertility and ovarian reserve decline with age and sometimes this decline can be steep.
“Postponing treatment three to six months can significantly impact the chance of being pregnant in certain patients,” Olcha said.
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Mark Surrey, a clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and associate director at the Southern California Reproductive Center, said determining how halted treatments will affect fertility is tricky and “sort of like trying to predict the future.”
He explained that there are biological markers that help to assess fertility. One is called Anti-Müllerian hormone and helps predict ovarian reserve, which is basically the number and quality of eggs in a woman’s ovaries. A low AMH marker allows fertility specialists to project that an individual’s ability to get pregnant would be affected by time.
But while the hormone marker helps with clinical judgments, “it’s hard to attach that to a specific time,” Surrey said.
Lost time isn’t the only concern for fertility specialists and people trying to get fertility treatment right now. The financial impact of the pandemic is a worry too. As the economy takes a hit and people lose jobs, money set aside to start a family may need to be diverted elsewhere. Kallen said she has patients who have lost their jobs, leaving uncertainty around whether they’ll be able to start or resume fertility treatments once the world gets back to a place where these treatments are even happening.
“I think the longer this goes on, the more you’re going to see that we’re all even more worried and anxious about the effect that it’s going to have on our patients — not only their chance of success, but also their mental and physical well-being,” Kallen said.
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If this continues for a while, Kallen thinks discussions will evolve about ways to proceed safely with fertility treatments while still protecting health care workers and preserving personal protective equipment.
Both Kristy and Brandon Callaway have medical issues that affect their fertility, and they learned early on that they would need to pursue IVF to have children. Kristy has already undergone two egg retrieval procedures that each yielded only one viable embryo. The next step, whenever it’s safe to do it, will be to transfer the embryo.
“With every previous delay, there was a pill we could take or a procedure we could go through that would get us closer to our goal of parenthood,” Kristy said. “COVID-19 offered us no solutions other than time. So we wait for the day our doctor calls and tells me to start those injections so we can begin the embryo transfer process.”
Until the situation changes, Kristy and others awaiting fertility treatment can only wait.
“I understand why this had to happen, and I know that the smartest thing we can do for our embryos is to leave them where they are ― frozen in a lab, safe from the outside world,” she said. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.”


huffpost--2020-04-22--This 'Quarantine Couture' Instagram Fashion Series Features Incredible Looks From Household Items

It all started on St Patrick ’ s Day 2020 .
There would be no parade .
New York City was quickly becoming the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States , and Governor Andrew Cuomo was taking swift measures , closing schools and canceling mass gatherings .
Laughlin ’ s social circle consists of Broadway actors , ballerinas , dancers , drag queens and comedians .
He remembers the morning that all Broadway theaters officially closed , “ it was just terrifying for everyone because this has literally never happened in history.
” It would seem that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City , but the artists were all at home itching to get creative .
That ’ s when Laughlin came up with “ Quarantine Couture , ” a socially-distanced Instagram fashion series that would feature looks created from household items .
“ I think it really started from the joy of me wanting to be able to celebrate , ” Laughlin explains .
“ I love to celebrate any holiday and especially now that I ’ m a grown queer man in New York , I like to take back holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just being silly and fun.
” Laughlin is a lover of fashion , having also styled stars from RuPaul ’ s Drag Race , and like many of his friends , he was stuck at home with a closet full of clothes .
He made a request to friends and followers : Put together a St Patrick ’ s Day-themed look made only from what you can find in your home , and send a video of yourself walking the “ runway ” to be featured on Laughlin ’ s Instagram .

It all started on St Patrick’s Day 2020. There would be no parade. New York City was quickly becoming the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, and Governor Andrew Cuomo was taking swift measures, closing schools and canceling mass gatherings.
Laughlin’s social circle consists of Broadway actors, ballerinas, dancers, drag queens and comedians. He remembers the morning that all Broadway theaters officially closed, “it was just terrifying for everyone because this has literally never happened in history.”
It would seem that art was indefinitely put on hold in New York City, but the artists were all at home itching to get creative.
That’s when Laughlin came up with “Quarantine Couture,” a socially-distanced Instagram fashion series that would feature looks created from household items.
“I think it really started from the joy of me wanting to be able to celebrate,” Laughlin explains. “I love to celebrate any holiday and especially now that I’m a grown queer man in New York, I like to take back holidays and celebrate them with drag or costumes and just being silly and fun.”
Laughlin is a lover of fashion, having also styled stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and like many of his friends, he was stuck at home with a closet full of clothes.
He made a request to friends and followers: Put together a St Patrick’s Day-themed look made only from what you can find in your home, and send a video of yourself walking the “runway” to be featured on Laughlin’s Instagram.


huffpost--2020-05-20--‘The Lovebirds’ Is Exactly What It Looks Like

If you saw the trailer for “ The Lovebirds ” and thought it looked like a cute , competent , decent but not necessarily groundbreaking rom-com , congratulations , you were right .
The film , starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani , was originally slated for theatrical release in April , until the coronavirus pandemic forced it to be shelved .
Eventually , it was sold to Netflix , where it is set to premiere Friday .
The film follows Leilani and Jibran , a New Orleans-based couple who , four years into an initially sweet romance , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leilani thinks Jibran is unmotivated .
Jibran thinks she ’ s too obsessed with what other people think of their relationship .
At an impasse , they decide to call it quits — only to , minutes later , witness a violent crime ( a stranger hijacks their car and runs over a man multiple times ) .
The rest of the movie is a series of antics and high jinks as the pair goes on the run and tries to find out who the real killer is .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple on the rocks rekindles their dying relationship by trying to solve a murder and clear their names .
Once you can get past the fact that there ’ s no real on-screen sexual chemistry between the two , more of a charming platonic affinity punctuated with looks of supposed longing and two kisses , “ The Lovebirds ” works .
Rae and Nanjiani ’ s comedic strengths and quirks shine when they are given the ability to lean into the qualities we ’ ve grown to know and love them for in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awkwardness .
When the film veers too far away from their comfort zones — for instance , Rae doesn ’ t have a knack for physical comedy — it falters .
It ’ s significant that “ The Lovebirds ” is a comedic romantic film starring a Black woman and South Asian man in love ; it ’ s hard to think of any other movie in recent memory that ticks all those boxes .
But the comedy isn ’ t necessarily driven by racial humor , at least not the overt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excels in a refreshingly subtle way .
At one point , Jibran and Leilani see a police officer eyeing them from a squad car as they wait for an Uber in a parking lot at night .
It taps into a very specific experience which , lo and behold , actually makes the movie funnier .
There ’ s an implicit dark humor in Leilani and Jibran ultimately not going to the cops with their story because they just assume they ’ ll be blamed for the murder they did not commit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and say that to each other , which works .
If this movie starred a white couple , it would probably still be fun to watch , but it would simply hit differently , in that respect .
One other thing , a little random but too striking not to mention ( don ’ t read ahead if you don ’ t want the ending spoiled — though it is hard to exactly “ spoil ” this movie ) : Toward the end of the film , Leilani and Jibran find themselves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They think they are about to be busted for the series of murders they ’ ve witnessed throughout the day , but the detective informs them they simply need to give a statement in an effort to catch the real culprit .
Inadvertently , “ Why would two civilians violently murder a man they ’ ve never met ?
” is one of the funniest moments in the movie , but also oddly the most prescient , highlighting not only the senselessness of Arbery ’ s tragic death , but the absurdity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Beyond that , there are moments in the movie where you may find yourself wanting more and not getting it : more romance , more comedy , more plot .
However , the trick to watching and enjoying “ The Lovebirds , ” and this is truly no shade , is to let go of wanting more and just accept it for what it is : fun , if a little predictable .
As rom-coms go , it is not the best , but it is certainly not the worst , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s as good as anything .

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in Netflix's "The Lovebirds." Netflix
If you saw the trailer for “The Lovebirds” and thought it looked like a cute, competent, decent but not necessarily groundbreaking rom-com, congratulations, you were right. The film, starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, was originally slated for theatrical release in April, until the coronavirus pandemic forced it to be shelved. Eventually, it was sold to Netflix, where it is set to premiere Friday.
The film follows Leilani and Jibran, a New Orleans-based couple who, four years into an initially sweet romance, are facing some roadblocks in their relationship. Leilani thinks Jibran is unmotivated. Jibran thinks she’s too obsessed with what other people think of their relationship. At an impasse, they decide to call it quits — only to, minutes later, witness a violent crime (a stranger hijacks their car and runs over a man multiple times). The rest of the movie is a series of antics and high jinks as the pair goes on the run and tries to find out who the real killer is. It’s a cute premise for a rom-com: A couple on the rocks rekindles their dying relationship by trying to solve a murder and clear their names.
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But is it funny? Often, yes.
Once you can get past the fact that there’s no real on-screen sexual chemistry between the two, more of a charming platonic affinity punctuated with looks of supposed longing and two kisses, “The Lovebirds” works. Rae and Nanjiani’s comedic strengths and quirks shine when they are given the ability to lean into the qualities we’ve grown to know and love them for in other projects: deadpan sarcasm and zany awkwardness. When the film veers too far away from their comfort zones — for instance, Rae doesn’t have a knack for physical comedy — it falters.
It’s significant that “The Lovebirds” is a comedic romantic film starring a Black woman and South Asian man in love; it’s hard to think of any other movie in recent memory that ticks all those boxes. But the comedy isn’t necessarily driven by racial humor, at least not the overt, obvious sort. Instead, the film excels in a refreshingly subtle way. At one point, Jibran and Leilani see a police officer eyeing them from a squad car as they wait for an Uber in a parking lot at night.
“Oh shit. He knows it’s us, he totally knows it’s us,” Leilani whispers.
The cop slowly drives past, then away, all the while staring them down. The couple breathes a sigh of relief.
“Oh, he’s just a regular racist,” Jibran says. “Thank God,” Leilani adds.
It taps into a very specific experience which, lo and behold, actually makes the movie funnier. There’s an implicit dark humor in Leilani and Jibran ultimately not going to the cops with their story because they just assume they’ll be blamed for the murder they did not commit. They never have to come right out and say that to each other, which works. If this movie starred a white couple, it would probably still be fun to watch, but it would simply hit differently, in that respect.
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One other thing, a little random but too striking not to mention (don’t read ahead if you don’t want the ending spoiled — though it is hard to exactly “spoil” this movie): Toward the end of the film, Leilani and Jibran find themselves in an interrogation room at a police station. They think they are about to be busted for the series of murders they’ve witnessed throughout the day, but the detective informs them they simply need to give a statement in an effort to catch the real culprit.
“Wait … you know we didn’t do it?” Leilani asks.
The detective gives them a funny look, smiles, and says, “Of course you didn’t do it. Why would two civilians violently murder a man they’ve never met? It doesn’t make sense!”
Everyone in the room bursts out laughing.
Principal photography began on “The Lovebirds” in January 2019, and ended in February 2019, a whole year before the killing of Ahmaud Arbery by Travis and Gregory McMichael.
Inadvertently, “Why would two civilians violently murder a man they’ve never met?” is one of the funniest moments in the movie, but also oddly the most prescient, highlighting not only the senselessness of Arbery’s tragic death, but the absurdity of the two individuals who killed him.
Beyond that, there are moments in the movie where you may find yourself wanting more and not getting it: more romance, more comedy, more plot. However, the trick to watching and enjoying “The Lovebirds,” and this is truly no shade, is to let go of wanting more and just accept it for what it is: fun, if a little predictable. As rom-coms go, it is not the best, but it is certainly not the worst, and in these “uncertain times” that’s as good as anything.


huffpost--2020-05-20--Charlie Carver Recalled Fearing For Safety As A Young Gay Man In Emotional Speech

Charlie Carver may be proudly living as his authentic self these days , but his path to self-acceptance as a gay man was not without major challenges .
On Monday , the “ Teen Wolf ” and “ Desperate Housewives ” actor was presented with the 2020 GLSEN Gamechanger Award in a virtual ceremony .
In a poignant speech , he recalled spending much of his youth fearing his sexuality would bring about “ something swift and terrible ” even as he received support from family .
“ There was just this abiding sense that school wasn ’ t safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech , viewable below .
“ I recognize now that that thing I was so afraid of , the thing I was sort of running from and trying to manage , was my own shame.
” “ LGBTQ kids really suffer from the shaming they interject on the internet , often at school and sadly sometimes at home , and it affects them for the rest of their lives , ” he continued .
“ But I believe LGBTQ people are resilient and in some ways particularly special .
I think we seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courageously , working creatively and living in community .
But those essential qualities can really only emerge in an affirmative , safe and encouraging environment.
” “ I now believe that by omitting this part of myself from the record , I am complicit in perpetuating the suffering , fear , and shame cast upon so many in the world , ” he wrote in a series of Instagram posts at the time .
“ I owe it to myself , more than anything , to be who I needed when I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said he ’ d hoped sharing the “ simple wonderful fact of who I was ” would encourage others to live as their authentic selves , too .
“ It was my hope that by writing this post and sharing why I ’ d arrived at the decision to come out professionally that some young person out there could feel the change that I felt was coming , ” he said .
“ The change we all hope for and work for and wait for in our lives as LGBTQ folks.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murphy ’ s production of “ The Boys in the Band , ” set to be released this fall on Netflix , and in “ The Batman ” with his twin brother , Max .
He had been expected to receive the award at the 2020 GLSEN Respect Awards this week in New York .
In light of the coronavirus pandemic , organizers decided to make this year ’ s event a virtual one alongside a weeklong series of fundraising initiatives for LGBTQ youth called Respect Everywhere .
The group ’ s annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or individuals who represent “ the next generation making a difference for the LGBTQ community and around the world.
” Prior recipients include Zendaya and the cast of “ Riverdale .
”

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Charlie Carver may be proudly living as his authentic self these days, but his path to self-acceptance as a gay man was not without major challenges.
On Monday, the “Teen Wolf” and “Desperate Housewives” actor was presented with the 2020 GLSEN Gamechanger Award in a virtual ceremony. In a poignant speech, he recalled spending much of his youth fearing his sexuality would bring about “something swift and terrible” even as he received support from family.
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“There was just this abiding sense that school wasn’t safe,” the 31-year-old said in the speech, viewable below. “I recognize now that that thing I was so afraid of, the thing I was sort of running from and trying to manage, was my own shame.”
“LGBTQ kids really suffer from the shaming they interject on the internet, often at school and sadly sometimes at home, and it affects them for the rest of their lives,” he continued. “But I believe LGBTQ people are resilient and in some ways particularly special. I think we seem inherently capable at thinking compassionately, acting courageously, working creatively and living in community. But those essential qualities can really only emerge in an affirmative, safe and encouraging environment.”
(Watch Charlie Carver’s 2020 GLSEN Respect Everywhere speech below.)
Carver first publicly acknowledged his sexuality in 2016.
“I now believe that by omitting this part of myself from the record, I am complicit in perpetuating the suffering, fear, and shame cast upon so many in the world,” he wrote in a series of Instagram posts at the time. “I owe it to myself, more than anything, to be who I needed when I was younger.”
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In his Monday speech, he said he’d hoped sharing the “simple wonderful fact of who I was” would encourage others to live as their authentic selves, too.
“It was my hope that by writing this post and sharing why I’d arrived at the decision to come out professionally that some young person out there could feel the change that I felt was coming,” he said. “The change we all hope for and work for and wait for in our lives as LGBTQ folks.”
Carver will next be seen in Ryan Murphy’s production of “The Boys in the Band,” set to be released this fall on Netflix, and in “The Batman” with his twin brother, Max. He had been expected to receive the award at the 2020 GLSEN Respect Awards this week in New York. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers decided to make this year’s event a virtual one alongside a weeklong series of fundraising initiatives for LGBTQ youth called Respect Everywhere.
Now in its 30th year, GLSEN (originally the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) is a national advocacy group aimed at LGBTQ youth awareness and inclusion.
The group’s annual Gamechanger Award is presented to an individual or individuals who represent “the next generation making a difference for the LGBTQ community and around the world.” Prior recipients include Zendaya and the cast of “Riverdale.”
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huffpost--2020-05-20--Kroger Workers Rip Company For Ending 'Hero Pay' During Pandemic

Kroger employees are blasting the company for taking away a $ 2-per-hour “ hero ” bonus for working during the pandemic , foreshadowing the criticism other employers may face as they try to end pay increases related to the coronavirus .
The grocery chain put the hazard pay premium in place on March 29 and phased it out on May 16 after an earlier extension .
Workers say their hourly pay is dropping now even though they still face the same deadly virus every time they clock in .
“ For them to take away the hazard pay ...
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Debbie Griffin , a Kroger cashier in Lawrenceburg , Indiana .
“ We put ourselves on the line every day .
We don ’ t know who ’ s coming in that store.
” “ The pay cut is being implemented even though the grocery workers are still dying and not a single state , major city or county has returned us to anything resembling the pre-COVID-19 normal , ” Perrone said .
“ These workers did not stop becoming heroes on one particular day .
… They don ’ t deserve less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re still going out there each and every day.
” A Kroger spokesperson said the company gave a separate one-time bonus payment to employees on May 15 ― $ 400 for full-timers and $ 200 for part-timers .
That came on top of a similar bonus payment early in the pandemic , of either $ 300 or $ 150 .
Those payouts , which were separate from the $ 2 premium , were to ” acknowledge their dedication to maintaining safe , clean and stocked stores.
” Essential workers of all kinds have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the unusual risk of working during a pandemic .
Many companies in food , retail and meatpacking have offered small , temporary pay increases of around $ 2 , and sometimes thrown in one-time payments like Kroger ’ s .
Very few employers seem to have implemented the time-and-half or double-time pay that many workers say the pandemic calls for .
Democrats in Congress have called for government-funded hazard pay for front-line workers during the pandemic .
The proposal would give qualifying workers an extra $ 13 per hour , but few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah ) seem interested in hashing out a plan .
That has left it to private employers to provide the pay increases their workers are expecting .
The criticism aimed at Kroger shows how tricky it may be for them to strip away what modest increases they ’ ve made , particularly as the U.S. death count due to COVID-10 is still rising toward 100,000 , though at a slower rate than in previous weeks .
Target announced this week that it will extend its $ 2 bonus through the July 4 holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are keeping their $ 2 premium in place until June , although public pressure could force the company to reevaluate .
Ending the pay hikes may be especially thorny at unionized chains like Kroger , where job protections embolden workers to speak out .
Four workers on the UFCW call Wednesday criticized the company for its decision and called on it to reassess .
“ I don ’ t understand it .
I can ’ t agree with it , ” said Steven Brown , who works at a Kroger in Columbus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the decrease in morale in the co-workers I ’ ve known for years in such a short time .
I ’ d ask you to reconsider that , Kroger.
” “ We ’ re not heroes ; we ’ re sacrificing , ” said Kristine Holtham , who works in a Kroger meat department in Lansing , Michigan .
“ This is a risk we are [ taking ] .
We deserve hazard pay until I no longer have to put on a mask to work at a grocery store.
” Holtham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has not let up , especially as protesters have politicized the use of face coverings .
She said she used to politely offer a mask to shoppers who weren ’ t wearing one , and most would gracefully accept it .
But now she is afraid to even bring up the subject , after reports of verbal and physical assaults on workers trying to enforce social distancing .
The UFCW has been keeping a tally of grocery store workers who have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began .
The union said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in grocery stores had died , and estimated that nearly 10,000 had been sick with or exposed to the coronavirus .
The numbers would be greater for the industry as a whole because the union only represents workers at some chains .

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Kroger employees are blasting the company for taking away a $2-per-hour “hero” bonus for working during the pandemic, foreshadowing the criticism other employers may face as they try to end pay increases related to the coronavirus.
The grocery chain put the hazard pay premium in place on March 29 and phased it out on May 16 after an earlier extension. Workers say their hourly pay is dropping now even though they still face the same deadly virus every time they clock in.
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“For them to take away the hazard pay ... I think really is unjustified,” said Debbie Griffin, a Kroger cashier in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. “We put ourselves on the line every day. We don’t know who’s coming in that store.”
Griffin spoke on a call with reporters Wednesday hosted by her union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents employees at Kroger stores around the country.
Marc Perrone, the union’s president, said several other chains where its members work have extended their pandemic pay premiums, including Albertsons, Safeway and Stop & Shop. The union represents around 900,000 grocery employees.
“The pay cut is being implemented even though the grocery workers are still dying and not a single state, major city or county has returned us to anything resembling the pre-COVID-19 normal,” Perrone said. “These workers did not stop becoming heroes on one particular day. … They don’t deserve less of our appreciation, because they’re still going out there each and every day.”
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“We deserve hazard pay until I no longer have to put on a mask to work at a grocery store.” - Kristine Holtham, Kroger worker
A Kroger spokesperson said the company gave a separate one-time bonus payment to employees on May 15 ― $400 for full-timers and $200 for part-timers. That came on top of a similar bonus payment early in the pandemic, of either $300 or $150. Those payouts, which were separate from the $2 premium, were to ”acknowledge their dedication to maintaining safe, clean and stocked stores.”
“We will continue to listen to our associates and take steps to ensure their safety and well-being,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Essential workers of all kinds have been asking for hazard pay to compensate for the unusual risk of working during a pandemic. Many companies in food, retail and meatpacking have offered small, temporary pay increases of around $2, and sometimes thrown in one-time payments like Kroger’s. Very few employers seem to have implemented the time-and-half or double-time pay that many workers say the pandemic calls for.
Democrats in Congress have called for government-funded hazard pay for front-line workers during the pandemic. The proposal would give qualifying workers an extra $13 per hour, but few Republicans aside from Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) seem interested in hashing out a plan.
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That has left it to private employers to provide the pay increases their workers are expecting. The criticism aimed at Kroger shows how tricky it may be for them to strip away what modest increases they’ve made, particularly as the U.S. death count due to COVID-10 is still rising toward 100,000, though at a slower rate than in previous weeks.
A worker manning the meat department at a Kroger in Bloomington, Indiana. Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Target announced this week that it will extend its $2 bonus through the July 4 holiday. Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods are keeping their $2 premium in place until June, although public pressure could force the company to reevaluate.
Ending the pay hikes may be especially thorny at unionized chains like Kroger, where job protections embolden workers to speak out. Four workers on the UFCW call Wednesday criticized the company for its decision and called on it to reassess.
“I don’t understand it. I can’t agree with it,” said Steven Brown, who works at a Kroger in Columbus, Ohio. “And I can already see the decrease in morale in the co-workers I’ve known for years in such a short time. I’d ask you to reconsider that, Kroger.”
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“We’re not heroes; we’re sacrificing,” said Kristine Holtham, who works in a Kroger meat department in Lansing, Michigan. “This is a risk we are [taking]. We deserve hazard pay until I no longer have to put on a mask to work at a grocery store.”
Holtham said the stress of working during the pandemic has not let up, especially as protesters have politicized the use of face coverings. She said she used to politely offer a mask to shoppers who weren’t wearing one, and most would gracefully accept it. But now she is afraid to even bring up the subject, after reports of verbal and physical assaults on workers trying to enforce social distancing.
“Now masks have become a political war,” Holtham said. “Employees are downright scared and afraid to tell somebody to put on a mask because of retaliation.”
She added, “Kroger wants to return to normal. This is not normal. Preparing for battle every morning is not normal.”
The UFCW has been keeping a tally of grocery store workers who have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The union said Wednesday that 68 of its members who work in grocery stores had died, and estimated that nearly 10,000 had been sick with or exposed to the coronavirus. The numbers would be greater for the industry as a whole because the union only represents workers at some chains.


huffpost--2020-05-01--Congressional Progressives Endorse Mondaire Jones In Hotly Contested New York Primary

Mondaire Jones for Congress If elected , attorney Mondaire Jones would be the first openly gay Black man in Congress .
The Congressional Progressive Caucus ’ political action committee has endorsed attorney Mondaire Jones in the hotly contested Democratic primary for New York ’ s 17th Congressional District , a safe Democratic seat in the suburbs north of New York City .
The group ’ s blessing is a boost for Jones , who would be Congress ’ first openly gay Black person if elected .
He ’ s facing a crowded field of contenders to succeed Rep. Nita Lowey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October that she planned to retire after serving in Congress since 1989 .
“ Especially during this crisis , we need more leaders like Mondaire in Congress who understand first-hand the economic struggles that so many Americans face , ” Pocan said .
Jones , 32 , is one of at least eight Democrats vying to succeed Lowey .
He stands out in the field as the only one who entered the race as a primary challenger , hoping to unseat the powerful House Appropriations Committee chairwoman , before the 82-year-old lawmaker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an insurgent and his embrace of left-wing priorities ― like “ Medicare for All , ” a Green New Deal , tuition-free public college and student debt forgiveness ― have made him the progressive favorite in the race .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
endorsed him in January , and the Working Families Party , a force in New York , followed suit in February .
Although Jones touts those progressive credentials , he is also not shy about his stint as a corporate lawyer .
He spent four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan-headquartered megafirm , before taking a job with the Westchester County Law Department a few years ago .
The deck is stacked against everyday people because of the vast wealth and other resources corporations can command in service of their agenda .
Jones told HuffPost in an October interview that his legal work “ helped me understand how corporations think ” and how “ the deck is stacked against everyday people because of the vast wealth and other resources corporations can command in service of their agenda.
” His best-funded opponents in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal prosecutor and son of a pharmaceutical company founder , and Evelyn Farkas , a former deputy assistant secretary of defense under President Barack Obama .
Farkas has elicited scrutiny on the left for the donations she has received from prominent figures in the defense industry and national security establishment , including John Negroponte , a former ambassador to Iraq under President George W. Bush .
She has taken a pledge not to accept donations from fossil fuel industry lobbyists .
When HuffPost inquired about $ 2,000 that Farkas had received from Caroline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the oil giant ConocoPhillips , the campaign said it would return the money .
Even though Devine is not technically a fossil-fuel lobbyist , the campaign concluded that accepting her support would violate the spirit of the pledge .
New York state Sen. David Carlucci is further behind in fundraising , but he enjoys high name recognition in a congressional district that includes his Rockland County legislative district .
Carlucci was one of eight Democrats in the state Senate who aligned with Republicans until April 2018 , effectively keeping that chamber in Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Progressive challengers unseated six out of eight renegade Democrats in the 2018 Democratic primary , but Carlucci survived .
While progressive candidates who try to unseat incumbent Democrats in Congress garner more attention , the left has had far more success electing candidates in safe Democratic districts when the incumbent has died or retired .
Freshman progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) , Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) and Jesús “ Chuy ” Garcia ( Ill. ) all won open seats .
New York ’ s 17th District is such firmly Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Republican opponent in 2016 and 2018 .
But it is also a largely affluent , suburban district with one of the country ’ s largest populations of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Americans ― a community that sometimes skews more conservative ― and Jones ’ candidacy will test progressives ’ reach .

If elected, attorney Mondaire Jones would be the first openly gay Black man in Congress. Mondaire Jones for Congress
The Congressional Progressive Caucus’ political action committee has endorsed attorney Mondaire Jones in the hotly contested Democratic primary for New York’s 17th Congressional District, a safe Democratic seat in the suburbs north of New York City.
The group’s blessing is a boost for Jones, who would be Congress’ first openly gay Black person if elected. He’s facing a crowded field of contenders to succeed Rep. Nita Lowey (D), who declared in October that she planned to retire after serving in Congress since 1989.
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In a statement announcing Friday’s endorsement, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a co-chair of the progressive caucus, cited Jones’ upbringing as the son of a single mother who overcame childhood poverty to graduate from Harvard Law School.
“Especially during this crisis, we need more leaders like Mondaire in Congress who understand first-hand the economic struggles that so many Americans face,” Pocan said.
Jones, 32, is one of at least eight Democrats vying to succeed Lowey. He stands out in the field as the only one who entered the race as a primary challenger, hoping to unseat the powerful House Appropriations Committee chairwoman, before the 82-year-old lawmaker said she’d retire.
His status as an insurgent and his embrace of left-wing priorities ― like “Medicare for All,” a Green New Deal, tuition-free public college and student debt forgiveness ― have made him the progressive favorite in the race. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) endorsed him in January, and the Working Families Party, a force in New York, followed suit in February.
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Although Jones touts those progressive credentials, he is also not shy about his stint as a corporate lawyer. He spent four years at Davis Polk & Wardwell, a Manhattan-headquartered megafirm, before taking a job with the Westchester County Law Department a few years ago.
“The deck is stacked against everyday people because of the vast wealth and other resources corporations can command in service of their agenda.” - Mondaire Jones
Jones told HuffPost in an October interview that his legal work “helped me understand how corporations think” and how “the deck is stacked against everyday people because of the vast wealth and other resources corporations can command in service of their agenda.”
His best-funded opponents in the primary are Adam Schleifer, a former federal prosecutor and son of a pharmaceutical company founder, and Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense under President Barack Obama.
Farkas has elicited scrutiny on the left for the donations she has received from prominent figures in the defense industry and national security establishment, including John Negroponte, a former ambassador to Iraq under President George W. Bush.
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She has taken a pledge not to accept donations from fossil fuel industry lobbyists. When HuffPost inquired about $2,000 that Farkas had received from Caroline Maury Devine, a board member of the oil giant ConocoPhillips, the campaign said it would return the money. Even though Devine is not technically a fossil-fuel lobbyist, the campaign concluded that accepting her support would violate the spirit of the pledge.
New York state Sen. David Carlucci is further behind in fundraising, but he enjoys high name recognition in a congressional district that includes his Rockland County legislative district. Carlucci was one of eight Democrats in the state Senate who aligned with Republicans until April 2018, effectively keeping that chamber in Republican hands despite Democrats’ numerical majority. Progressive challengers unseated six out of eight renegade Democrats in the 2018 Democratic primary, but Carlucci survived.
While progressive candidates who try to unseat incumbent Democrats in Congress garner more attention, the left has had far more success electing candidates in safe Democratic districts when the incumbent has died or retired. Freshman progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (Ill.) all won open seats.
New York’s 17th District is such firmly Democratic territory that Lowey did not even face a Republican opponent in 2016 and 2018. But it is also a largely affluent, suburban district with one of the country’s largest populations of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Americans ― a community that sometimes skews more conservative ― and Jones’ candidacy will test progressives’ reach.
New York’s congressional primaries are scheduled to take place on June 23.
In light of social-distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) issued an executive order enabling voters to cast absentee ballots without requiring a reason. The state is sending residents absentee ballot request forms by mail.


huffpost--2020-03-24--Progressives Are Divided On Coronavirus Bailouts For Big Business

Progressives active in corporate and economic policymaking have expressed everything from cautious optimism to outright hostility toward the bill .
The more optimistic camp is focusing its energy on ensuring that oversight of the bailout funds is as robust as possible , while the more pessimistic contingent wants members of Congress to try to strip out the corporate giveaways or , barring that , kill the entire bill .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
has published the draft text of legislation requiring corporations to use at least 95 % of the bailout money to meet payroll .
Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to an inquiry about whether she would push to be on any bailout oversight panel that emerges , given her past role as an overseer of the 2008 bailouts , or whether she plans to withhold a “ yes ” vote on a bill that does not meet key conditions .
Barofsky declined to weigh in on the merits of different versions of legislation under consideration , but he said that the success of an inspector general and an oversight panel depend heavily on personnel and the power they have .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspector general and oversight panel with as much authority as possible and to appoint fierce watchdogs to serve on them .
“ That ’ s where it works best : where you have knowledgeable people who understand how to put in the right type of anti-fraud provisions to make these things safe and you have willing policymakers who are willing to listen and compromise and come up with the most effective programs possible ― all in the bright light of day , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As congressional Democrats hammer out a deal with the Trump administration over a bill that would allot $500 billion for the Treasury Department to bail out companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic, progressives are divided on the best strategy for shaping the final legislation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said the package, which would also provide less-controversial aid to hospitals and direct cash payments to households, will include the appointment of an inspector general and a congressionally appointed five-person panel to monitor the distribution of the funds.
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Progressives active in corporate and economic policymaking have expressed everything from cautious optimism to outright hostility toward the bill. The more optimistic camp is focusing its energy on ensuring that oversight of the bailout funds is as robust as possible, while the more pessimistic contingent wants members of Congress to try to strip out the corporate giveaways or, barring that, kill the entire bill.
Indivisible, a network of liberal activists that arose in response to Donald Trump’s election, said it was heartened by the prospect of formal oversight. The group is still demanding that companies that accept federal money adopt a $15-an-hour minimum wage and tough disclosure requirements on political giving, while also prohibiting executive bonuses, stock buybacks, dividends and other investor-targeted payouts until bailout money is repaid. And Indivisible wants strict provisions barring the distribution of bailout money to companies owned by Trump.
The bill “cannot be a no-strings-attached taxpayer-funded giveaway to Donald Trump and his friends,” said Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Indivisible’s director of democracy policy.
Progressives are unsure how to approach a bailout bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are negotiating with Donald Trump. Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
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Alex Lawson, executive director of the progressive lobbying group Social Security Works, expressed a similar view, insisting that legislation creating any would-be panel should ensure it is not a “rubber-stamp operation” for Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Lawson is calling for an organized labor official or another worker representative to be assured one of the five seats.
“The foreclosure king cannot be in charge of the response to this current economic crisis,” said Lawson, referencing Mnuchin’s previous stint as owner of a foreclosure-heavy mortgage bank.
In addition, progressives want to ensure that any panel has, at a bare minimum, the power to subpoena ― or compel ― testimony and the release of key documents, and the authority to call hearings to inform the public about their investigations.
An inspector general, they insist, must have the authority to pursue criminal prosecutions against people or entities that violate the terms of the bailout. Tougher whistleblower protections for government employees might ensure that Trump, Mnuchin or other political leaders are less able to silence those who would speak out about corruption, these advocates say.
But several progressive experts do not see a scenario where an oversight panel would have any ability to stop misconduct before it starts.
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“This is a disaster,” said Matt Stoller, a former Capitol Hill financial policy aide who is now research director of the American Economic Liberties Project, a think tank promoting antitrust regulation. “It will hand the country to big business and not help the pandemic.”
That’s especially true under the Trump administration, which has routinely refused to comply with congressional subpoenas and used the courts to delay compliance, noted Jeff Hauser, who runs the Revolving Door Project, the Center for Economic and Policy Research’s executive branch accountability initiative.
“It’s an impossible task to write an oversight panel in 2020 that is capable of reining in Mnuchin and Trump’s worst instincts,” Hauser said. “It’s not an issue of draftsmanship. It’s an issue of mission.”
“Democrats are doing their best to give Trump a fighting chance in November,” he added.
“It’s an impossible task to write an oversight panel in 2020 that is capable of reining in Mnuchin and Trump’s worst instincts.” - Jeff Hauser, Revolving Door Project
The bailout bill could open the door to trillions of dollars in additional relief from the Federal Reserve, worries Amanda Fischer, policy director for the think tank Equitable Growth who previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
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Under section 13.3 of the Federal Reserve Act, the central bank has authority to authorize emergency loans to corporations, provided that the companies meet a certain list of conditions, including that they are financially solvent. Funds that the Treasury distributes to those companies could shore up a company’s balance sheet and thus serve as a kind of down payment on much larger loans from the Fed with no conditions attached.
Stoller, Hauser and Fischer all argued that Congress should pass a bill that provides immediate aid to hospitals, families, small businesses and other essential entities — and strip out assistance for big business.
The Federal Reserve has already been using drastic measures to prop up markets without additional congressional action, so there is time to slow down and get a potential corporate bailout right, Fischer maintained. “The corporate bailout piece does not seem urgent,” she said.
It is unclear whether progressive members of Congress are more likely to try to improve the bill or are marshaling the votes to kill it, since they do not appear to have a coordinated message or strategy.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been speaking out against the corporate bailouts under consideration and promoting his own plan to provide $2,000 a month to all families for the length of the pandemic. A Sanders spokesperson said they’re waiting on the legislative text before saying how they’ll vote.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has published the draft text of legislation requiring corporations to use at least 95% of the bailout money to meet payroll. Warren’s Senate staff did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether she would push to be on any bailout oversight panel that emerges, given her past role as an overseer of the 2008 bailouts, or whether she plans to withhold a “yes” vote on a bill that does not meet key conditions.
And members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, led by Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Lloyd Doggett of Texas, sent a letter to Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Friday demanding, among other strict conditions on bailout money, that bailout recipients reserve a seat on corporate boards for workers. Asked whether the CPC was corralling votes to stop a bill that did not have those provisions, a spokesperson for the CPC did not immediately respond.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the influential freshman Democrat from New York, blasted the emerging terms of the corporate bailout on Twitter, where she has over 6.6 million followers.
“The developments of this Senate relief bill are concerning,” she wrote. “We are hearing lots of vague statements, but not a single member of Congress has seen actual bill text.”
A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez would not say whether she plans to vote down a corporate bailout bill in its present form, let alone whether she is whipping her colleagues to that effect.
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The prospect of a massive corporate bailout bill that would grant unprecedented authority to the Treasury has inevitably elicited comparisons to the bank bailouts of 2008. At the time, the administration of Republican President George W. Bush requested and received from the Democratic-controlled House and Senate broad authority to create and distribute a $700-billion financial bailout fund known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.
The bill failed on the first vote in the House, eventually passing on the second attempt after the addition of provisions designed to assuage Democrats who wanted to ensure that distressed homeowners got their share of the relief.
Neil Barofsky and Elizabeth Warren testify at a House Financial Services Committee Hearing in July 2009. Their oversight of the 2008 bailout could be a model. Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
As Congress considers creating an inspector general and congressional oversight panel to monitor the distribution of a new corporate bailout, it is looking for inspiration from similar bodies created to oversee the 2008 bailout.
Congress confirmed former federal prosecutor Neil Barofsky to serve as special inspector general for TARP, or SIGTARP, in September 2008. The following month, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) named Warren, at the time a bankruptcy law professor and financial policy expert, to serve as head of a five-member congressional oversight panel of TARP.
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Warren and Barofsky became ferocious critics of both the Bush and Obama administrations’ management of the bailout funds. As Warren leveraged her perch to convene hearings to grill bank executives and administration officials, Barofsky used his investigative power to compile criminal cases against alleged financial malefactors.
Warren would go on to shepherd into existence the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and in 2012, launched a career in the Senate, where she became a fierce Wall Street foe. For his part, Barofsky published a scathing tell-all about his experience as SIGTARP, “Bailout: An Inside Account of How Washington Abandoned Main Street While Rescuing Wall Street,” before embarking on a career as an attorney in the private sector.
In the end though, neither Warren nor Barofsky succeeded in ensuring that homeowners, many of whom had been sold predatory loans ― legally and illegally ― got their promised share of TARP funds.
The Obama administration declared that its $50-billion Home Affordable Mortgage Modification Program, or HAMP, would help 3 to 4 million families obtain mortgage modifications such as lower payments that would allow them to keep their homes. The program was so poorly designed that it wound up providing just 800,000 mortgage modifications. For comparison, Americans lost 10 million homes to foreclosure from 2006 to 2014.
In his book, Barofsky recalls warning then-Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner that HAMP would not provide relief to homeowners unless there were tougher rules and enforcement for the institutions that received the funds. Geithner replied that rather than prevent foreclosures, the program was designed to “foam the runway” for banks inundated with foreclosures so they would have adequate time to process them, Barofsky wrote.
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“We got some reports saying [the bailout] was corrupt,” Stoller said.
But since they were unable to stop some of the worst abuses, he concluded, “Barofsky and Warren failed.”
“In a month, when the oversight mechanisms speak up and say it’s corrupt, Democrats are going to whine,” he added. “But this is the moment when it matters.”
“It’s got to be very clear upfront that [the watchdogs] are going to have unimpeded access.” - Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general for TARP
Warren and Barofsky were one-of-a-kind public servants who leveraged the sense of shame that the Bush and Obama administrations felt about perceived cases of unfairness, according to Hauser. He is not sure that the Trump administration ― or the Republican Senate ― would appoint people of similar integrity, or that this White House is capable of being shamed.
“If Trump’s superpower is shamelessness, the entire premise of oversight is undermined,” Hauser said.
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In an interview, Barofsky emphasized that Congress should also write tough conditions on the aid into the text of the law, rather than rely solely on oversight bodies.
Barofsky declined to weigh in on the merits of different versions of legislation under consideration, but he said that the success of an inspector general and an oversight panel depend heavily on personnel and the power they have. He called on Congress to provide a special inspector general and oversight panel with as much authority as possible and to appoint fierce watchdogs to serve on them.
“It’s got to be very clear upfront that they are going to have unimpeded access,” he said.
And Barofsky cited the Federal Reserve as an example of an institution that heeded his agency’s warnings, unlike Geithner’s Treasury Department. When Barofsky’s office produced a report showing that the Fed’s planned Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility program lacked adequate anti-fraud provisions, the central bank postponed the program’s rollout and invited Barofsky and his team in to help improve it.
“That’s where it works best: where you have knowledgeable people who understand how to put in the right type of anti-fraud provisions to make these things safe and you have willing policymakers who are willing to listen and compromise and come up with the most effective programs possible ― all in the bright light of day,” he said.
Jen Bendery contributed reporting.


huffpost--2020-03-24--What To Do If Your 401(k) Took A Big Hit Thanks To The Coronavirus

My 401 ( k ) Lost A Ton Of Money .
Should I Pull The Rest Out While I Can ?
That ’ s not to say that what we ’ re experiencing now is the same as the decade prior .
It ’ s not .
And though things seem bleak , some experts believe that the financial damage caused by the coronavirus won ’ t be nearly as severe or long-lasting .
But because the future is so uncertain , we can only rely on history to tell us what to do .
Should I Stop Contributing To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Market Stabilizes ?
For example , if you ’ re having trouble keeping up on your bills or at risk of losing your job , you might be better off stopping retirement contributions temporarily to free up more income .
And if you ’ re planning to retire soon , you have hopefully been adjusting your portfolio toward lower-risk investments anyway .
Still , it might be time to talk to a financial adviser about the best place for your remaining contributions .
Should I Borrow From My 401 ( k ) To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To Change How I ’ m Invested ?
“ If your asset allocation was appropriate for your risk tolerance ahead of the turmoil , then there is no need to change it now , ” explained Dejan Ilijevski , president of Sabela Capital Markets .
“ Changing your asset allocation now would be driven by your emotions , rather than on the decisions you made when you were more rational and relaxed.
” How Can I Take Advantage Of This Stock Market Downturn ?
“ It ’ s important to note that investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are limited — you can ’ t just invest in any stock or bond that you like , and for most of us who aren ’ t stock analysts , it ’ s not in your best interest to chase returns in industries or companies that seem ‘ hot ’ right now , ” said Brittney Castro , the in-house certified financial planner for Mint and Turbo , and founder and CEO of Financially Wise , Inc. That said , you can still take advantage of the current situation .
The market has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come close , which makes it a good time to buy low and get more out of every dollar invested .
“ We talk about saving in a 401 ( k ) as a method of dollar cost averaging , ” said Kyle Hill , a certified financial planner and founder of Hill-Top Financial Planning , LLC .
That means you invest the same amount of money every pay period .
When the market is up , you buy fewer shares of an investment , and when the market is down , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same amount of money .
What ’ s The Best Thing I Can Do For My Retirement Savings Right Now ?
And as far as staying mentally equipped to ride out these market ups and downs , Castro said you should avoid checking your account every day .
“ It ’ s very likely going to drop , just as it is very likely going to come back up in the months ahead as the world works to contain this pandemic .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on people’s health, it has also indirectly harmed their retirement savings.
From major corporations to small mom-and-pop operations, companies have lost business, halted operations and laid off employees. As a result, the stock market tumbled more than 30% from its record high in February. The damage is done across the board, with few industries unscathed. Anyone with a 401(k) has undoubtedly felt the blow of this market downturn. And it’s probably not over yet.
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So what should you do? Here are the answers to your biggest questions about how to handle your 401(k) right now, according to experts.
My 401(k) Lost A Ton Of Money. Should I Pull The Rest Out While I Can?
If you’re feeling panicked about a chunk of your retirement savings vanishing overnight, that’s a valid response to the situation. But it’s not one you should act on.
You might remember experiencing a similar situation during the Great Recession. If so, it probably feels like the cruelest form of déjà vu. But remember that the market did recover eventually.
That’s not to say that what we’re experiencing now is the same as the decade prior. It’s not. And though things seem bleak, some experts believe that the financial damage caused by the coronavirus won’t be nearly as severe or long-lasting. But because the future is so uncertain, we can only rely on history to tell us what to do.
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In other words, leave your money where it is. As long as you’re not planning to retire in the next couple of years, you have plenty of time to make up your losses, and then some.
Should I Stop Contributing To My 401(k) Until The Market Stabilizes?
Contributing funds to a 401(k) that’s losing value might feel akin to setting money on fire. But if you can, it’s best to keep your contributions going.
For one, if your employer matches retirement contributions, stopping now would essentially mean giving up free money.
It’s also a good time to buy in. “The market is ‘on sale’ right now,” said Ashlee deSteiger, founder and financial adviser at Gunder Wealth Management, LLC. “You will look back on this moment in time and be thankful you stuck with your retirement savings.”
However, there are a couple of situations when pausing your contributions might be for the best, according to deSteiger. “It depends on cash flow and time horizon,” she said.
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For example, if you’re having trouble keeping up on your bills or at risk of losing your job, you might be better off stopping retirement contributions temporarily to free up more income. And if you’re planning to retire soon, you have hopefully been adjusting your portfolio toward lower-risk investments anyway. Still, it might be time to talk to a financial adviser about the best place for your remaining contributions.
“Leave your money where it is. As long as you’re not planning to retire in the next couple of years, you have plenty of time to make up your losses, and then some.”
Should I Borrow From My 401(k) To Cover The Bills?
Due to varying social distancing orders instituted by federal and local governments, Americans are experiencing unprecedented financial strain. Not only have the markets wiped out years’ worth of savings, but many workers have had their hours cut significantly or been let go from jobs deemed nonessential.
If you’re struggling financially, it might be tempting to dip into your retirement savings to pay bills. Though 401(k) loans can be used strategically when cash flow is tight, it’s not a great option for covering basic living expenses. That’s especially true if your financial situation is unsteady.
“I think it’s prudent to wait,” said Justin Pritchard, a certified financial planner and founder of Approach Financial, Inc. “We’re hearing about new relief efforts every day, and it would be unfortunate to cash out and then find out you have better options.”
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For example, the IRS pushed back the tax filing deadline to July 15. Local governments have placed freezes on evictions and foreclosures. And Congress is currently working on a stimulus package that would send checks to qualifying Americans.
“Retirement accounts are typically protected from creditors, so they can remain intact even if things get worse and you have to declare bankruptcy,” Pritchard added.
Do I Need To Change How I’m Invested?
Considering the volatility that the markets are experiencing right now, you might be wondering if you should change your investing strategy to something lower-risk. The answer: Probably not.
“If your asset allocation was appropriate for your risk tolerance ahead of the turmoil, then there is no need to change it now,” explained Dejan Ilijevski, president of Sabela Capital Markets. “Changing your asset allocation now would be driven by your emotions, rather than on the decisions you made when you were more rational and relaxed.”
That’s not to say you should do absolutely nothing. Instead, this may be a good time to rebalance your portfolio and get it back to your target asset allocation. “It will also satisfy your strong drive to do something,” Ilijevski said. “Anything else would be speculation.”
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“Discipline and consistency will always beat speculation and fear in the long run.” - Kyle Hill, certified financial planner
How Can I Take Advantage Of This Stock Market Downturn?
If you’re on solid financial footing and looking at the market downturn as a potential opportunity, be careful about market timing or stock picking.
“It’s important to note that investment options in 401(k) accounts are limited — you can’t just invest in any stock or bond that you like, and for most of us who aren’t stock analysts, it’s not in your best interest to chase returns in industries or companies that seem ‘hot’ right now,” said Brittney Castro, the in-house certified financial planner for Mint and Turbo, and founder and CEO of Financially Wise, Inc.
For example, she said, a pharmaceutical company could announce it’s close to a vaccine or treatment option, only to have it not pan out and its stock drop sharply. “It’s a gamble, and we don’t recommend gambling with your future retirement.”
That said, you can still take advantage of the current situation. The market has likely bottomed out, or at least come close, which makes it a good time to buy low and get more out of every dollar invested. “We talk about saving in a 401(k) as a method of dollar cost averaging,” said Kyle Hill, a certified financial planner and founder of Hill-Top Financial Planning, LLC. That means you invest the same amount of money every pay period. When the market is up, you buy fewer shares of an investment, and when the market is down, you’re able to acquire more with the same amount of money.
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“It averages out over time, so stick to the process,” Hill said. “Discipline and consistency will always beat speculation and fear in the long run.”
What’s The Best Thing I Can Do For My Retirement Savings Right Now?
If you feel like you need to do something in light of all this market turmoil, Ryan Sterling, a chartered financial analyst and founder of Future You Wealth, has a few suggestions. First, contribute at least enough to your 401(k) to receive your full employer match (assuming you can afford to do so). Keep those contributions consistent and keep fees low. Sterling also recommends committing to being a long-term investor. “Don’t sell out when times get tough,” he said.


huffpost--2020-03-24--China To End Lockdown Of Most Of Coronavirus-Hit Hubei Province

BEIJING ( AP ) — Chinese authorities announced Tuesday they would end a two-month lockdown of most of virus-hit Hubei @ @ @ @ @ with a clean bill of health will be allowed to leave , the provincial government @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , where the outbreak started in late December , will remain locked down until @ @ @ @ @ people from leaving or entering Wuhan starting Jan. 23 in a surprise middle-of-the-night announcement and @ @ @ @ @ the province in succeeding days .
Train service and flights were cancelled and checkpoints set @ @ @ @ @ central province .
The drastic steps came as a new coronavirus began spreading to the @ @ @ @ @ during the Lunar New Year holiday , when many Chinese travel .
The virus raged @ @ @ @ @ the provincial capital , and surrounding cities .
Hospitals overflowed , and temporary ones were @ @ @ @ @ to isolate the growing number of infected patients .
The outbreak gradually was brought under @ @ @ @ @ seen almost no new infections for more than a week .

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities announced Tuesday they would end a two-month lockdown of most of virus-hit Hubei province at midnight.
People with a clean bill of health will be allowed to leave, the provincial government said. The city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started in late December, will remain locked down until April 8.
China barred people from leaving or entering Wuhan starting Jan. 23 in a surprise middle-of-the-night announcement and expanded it to most of the province in succeeding days. Train service and flights were cancelled and checkpoints set up on roads into the central province.
The drastic steps came as a new coronavirus began spreading to the rest of China and overseas during the Lunar New Year holiday, when many Chinese travel.
The virus raged for weeks in Wuhan, the provincial capital, and surrounding cities. Hospitals overflowed, and temporary ones were hastily set up to try to isolate the growing number of infected patients.
The outbreak gradually was brought under control, and Hubei has seen almost no new infections for more than a week.


huffpost--2020-03-24--Award-Winning Playwright Terrence McNally Dies From Complications Due To Coronavirus

Famed playwright Terrence McNally , a four-time Tony Award winner , died on Tuesday at age 81 due to complications from the coronavirus .
McNally , often regarded as “ the bard of American theater , ” is known for works like “ Ragtime , ” “ Master Class , ” “ Love !
Valour !
Compassion !
” and “ Kiss of the Spider Woman.
” He was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , per Broadway News .
McNally died at a hospital in Sarasota , Florida , according to Deadline .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre , he is survived by his husband .
McNally was credited with bringing gay representation onto the stage , including exploring the HIV/AIDS crisis in pieces like “ Mothers and Sons ” and others .
He lost his then-longtime partner , fellow playwright and AIDS research activist Gary Bonasorte , to AIDS-related lymphoma in 2000 .
Last year he was asked in a New York Times interview if coming out as gay “ required a special temperament ” when he did so in the 1950s .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is who I am .
I want to be Terrence McNally , ’ ” the playwright responded .
“ And my life has made me who I am .
So , I didn ’ t think of writing as a gay man as brave , ” he added .
“ I respected the playwrights and artists who chose to remain closeted , but it angered me .
I thought it was morally wrong not to stand up and say , ‘ Hey , I ’ m one of them .
’ ”

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Famed playwright Terrence McNally, a four-time Tony Award winner, died on Tuesday at age 81 due to complications from the coronavirus.
McNally, often regarded as “the bard of American theater,” is known for works like “Ragtime,” “Master Class,” “Love! Valour! Compassion!” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
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He was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, per Broadway News. McNally died at a hospital in Sarasota, Florida, according to Deadline.
The recipient of the 2019 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, he is survived by his husband.
Terrence McNally Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
McNally was credited with bringing gay representation onto the stage, including exploring the HIV/AIDS crisis in pieces like “Mothers and Sons” and others. He lost his then-longtime partner, fellow playwright and AIDS research activist Gary Bonasorte, to AIDS-related lymphoma in 2000.
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Last year he was asked in a New York Times interview if coming out as gay “required a special temperament” when he did so in the 1950s.
“It required the temperament to say, ‘This is who I am. I want to be Terrence McNally,’” the playwright responded.


huffpost--2020-03-24--U.S. Slashes $1 Billion In Aid To Afghanistan Amid Political Chaos

The decision to cut the aid was made on Monday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he made an unannounced , urgent visit to Kabul to meet with Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah , the rival Afghan politicians who have each declared themselves president of the country after disputed elections last year .
Pompeo had hoped to break the deadlock but was unable to .
In an unusually harsh statement , Pompeo slammed the two men for being unable to work together and threatening a potential peace deal that could end America ’ s longest-running conflict .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghan government since it invaded the country in 2001 and overthrew the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks .
“ The United States deeply regrets that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have informed Secretary Pompeo that they have been unable to agree on an inclusive government that can meet the challenges of governance , peace , and security , and provide for the health and welfare of Afghan citizens , ” he said .
Pompeo said the U.S. was “ disappointed ” in both men and their conduct , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations and , sadly , dishonors those Afghan , Americans , and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country.
” Pompeo said their inability to work together posed a “ direct threat ” to U.S. national interests and that the administration would begin an immediate review of all its support programs for Afghanistan , starting with a reduction of $ 1 billion in aid this year .
He said it could be reduced by another billion dollars in 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the return flight home , Pompeo said he was hopeful Ghani and Abdullah “ will get their act together and we won ’ t have to ” cut the assistance .
“ But we ’ re prepared to do that , ” he said .
He defended his written statement from interpretations that it is overly harsh saying it “ is neither hopeful nor threatening .
It is factual .
These are the expectations that we have.
” Pompeo , who after leaving Kabul met with a senior Taliban official in Qatar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconsistent with agreements they made to support a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed last month .
That deal called for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin within 10 days , by March 10 , but they have not begun .
Ghani and Abdullah have not yet even agreed on who should be part of the non-Taliban delegation nor have they agreed to prisoner swaps with the Taliban as envisaged by the deal .
“ It ’ s all got ta come together , ” Pompeo said .
Asked if the Taliban had also been acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he replied : “ No .
They committed to reducing violence and they ’ ve largely done that and they are working towards delivering their team to the ultimate negotiations.
” Pompeo added that the U.S. would be willing to look again at the aid cuts if the two leaders can form an inclusive government and said Washington remained committed to partnership with the people of Afghanistan .
As a demonstration of that , he said , the U.S. would provide $ 15 million in assistance to help Afghanistan fight the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the was no sign the impasse was over and there were reports in Kabul that Pompeo had given Ghani and Abdullah until Tuesday to come up with a compromise .
From Kabul , Pompeo flew to Doha , Qatar , where he had witnessed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban deal on Feb. 29 , to meet Taliban officials , including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar , a co-founder of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar .
Baradar signed the agreement on behalf of the group .
The State Department said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press the Taliban to continue to comply with the agreement signed last month.
” The political turmoil has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban .
Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal , negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace .
The U.S. and NATO have already begun to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan .
The final pullout of U.S. forces is not dependent on the success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by the Taliban to deny space in Afghanistan to other terror groups , such as the insurgents ’ rival Islamic State group .
But within days of the U.S. and the Taliban signing the peace deal in Qatar , Afghanistan sunk into a political crisis with Ghani and Abdullah squaring off over election results and Ghani refusing to fulfill his part of a promise made in the U.S.-Taliban deal to free up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners .
The insurgents were to free 1,000 Afghan officials and soldiers they hold captive .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gesture by both sides to start the negotiations .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is slashing $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and threatening further reductions in all forms of cooperation after the country’s rival leaders failed to agree on forming a new government.
The decision to cut the aid was made on Monday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he made an unannounced, urgent visit to Kabul to meet with Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the rival Afghan politicians who have each declared themselves president of the country after disputed elections last year. Pompeo had hoped to break the deadlock but was unable to.
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In an unusually harsh statement, Pompeo slammed the two men for being unable to work together and threatening a potential peace deal that could end America’s longest-running conflict. The U.S. has been the prime backer of the Afghan government since it invaded the country in 2001 and overthrew the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks.
“The United States deeply regrets that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have informed Secretary Pompeo that they have been unable to agree on an inclusive government that can meet the challenges of governance, peace, and security, and provide for the health and welfare of Afghan citizens,” he said.
Pompeo said the U.S. was “disappointed” in both men and their conduct, which he said had “harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans, and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country.”
Pompeo said their inability to work together posed a “direct threat” to U.S. national interests and that the administration would begin an immediate review of all its support programs for Afghanistan, starting with a reduction of $1 billion in aid this year. He said it could be reduced by another billion dollars in 2021.
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“We have made clear to the leadership that we will not back security operations that are politically motivated, nor support political leaders who order such operations or those who advocate for or support parallel government,” Pompeo said.
Speaking to reporters aboard his plane on the return flight home, Pompeo said he was hopeful Ghani and Abdullah “will get their act together and we won’t have to” cut the assistance. “But we’re prepared to do that,” he said. He defended his written statement from interpretations that it is overly harsh saying it “is neither hopeful nor threatening. It is factual. These are the expectations that we have.”
Pompeo, who after leaving Kabul met with a senior Taliban official in Qatar, also said Ghani and Abdullah were acting inconsistent with agreements they made to support a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed last month. That deal called for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin within 10 days, by March 10, but they have not begun. Ghani and Abdullah have not yet even agreed on who should be part of the non-Taliban delegation nor have they agreed to prisoner swaps with the Taliban as envisaged by the deal.
“It’s all gotta come together,” Pompeo said. Asked if the Taliban had also been acting “inconsistently” with the agreement, he replied: “No. They committed to reducing violence and they’ve largely done that and they are working towards delivering their team to the ultimate negotiations.”
Pompeo said the United States would continue to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan under the terms of its agreement with Taliban, which calls for the reduction in the next several months from about 13,000 to 8,600.
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Pompeo added that the U.S. would be willing to look again at the aid cuts if the two leaders can form an inclusive government and said Washington remained committed to partnership with the people of Afghanistan. As a demonstration of that, he said, the U.S. would provide $15 million in assistance to help Afghanistan fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Pompeo had left Afghanistan earlier Monday without saying whether he was able to broker an agreement between the squabbling political leaders. He’d traveled thousands of miles despite a near-global travel shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel.
But as he departed the was no sign the impasse was over and there were reports in Kabul that Pompeo had given Ghani and Abdullah until Tuesday to come up with a compromise.
From Kabul, Pompeo flew to Doha, Qatar, where he had witnessed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban deal on Feb. 29, to meet Taliban officials, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar. Baradar signed the agreement on behalf of the group. The State Department said Pompeo’s aim was “to press the Taliban to continue to comply with the agreement signed last month.”
Since the U.S.-Taliban deal was signed, the peace process has stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, as Ghani and Abdullah remained deadlocked over who was elected president in last September’s presidential polls. They both declared themselves president in dueling inauguration ceremonies earlier this month.
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Pompeo had met separately with Ghani and then Abdullah on Monday before meeting together with both men together.
The United States pays billions every year toward the Afghan budget, including the country’s defense forces. Afghanistan barely raises a quarter of the revenue it needs to run the country, giving Pompeo considerable financial leverage to force the two squabbling leaders to overcome the impasse.
The political turmoil has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal, negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace.
The U.S. and NATO have already begun to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan. The final pullout of U.S. forces is not dependent on the success of intra-Afghan negotiations but rather on promises made by the Taliban to deny space in Afghanistan to other terror groups, such as the insurgents’ rival Islamic State group.
But within days of the U.S. and the Taliban signing the peace deal in Qatar, Afghanistan sunk into a political crisis with Ghani and Abdullah squaring off over election results and Ghani refusing to fulfill his part of a promise made in the U.S.-Taliban deal to free up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The insurgents were to free 1,000 Afghan officials and soldiers they hold captive. The exchange was meant to be a goodwill gesture by both sides to start the negotiations.
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The urgency of Pompeo’s surprise visit was highlighted by the fact that the State Department has warned American citizens against all international travel, citing the spread of the coronavirus. Pompeo’s last overseas trip in late February was to Doha for the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal he is now trying to salvage.