huffpost--2020-03-12--Coronavirus Tag? The Pandemic Has Become Part Of Kids' Playtime

Although research suggests the coronavirus may not affect children as severely as adults , the COVID-19 pandemic is still impacting the lives of American kids .
In addition to school closures , strict hand-washing rules , disruption of routine and a general sense of fear and uncertainty , it seems the news of the coronavirus has made its way into playtime .
Why Coronavirus Play Is Normal And Healthy It ’ s only natural that kids would pick up on the fact of the coronavirus pandemic from observing the adults in their lives , seeing news clips and even talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommended that parents talk to their children about the illness in age-appropriate ways to clear up any misconceptions or fears and offer a source of reliable information and support .
“ During this heightened panic around the coronavirus , it is completely normal and expected that kids , especially young children , will incorporate themes of the virus into their play , ” said Natasha Daniels , a child therapist and creator of AnxiousToddlers.com .
“ As adults , we often ‘ talk things out ’ to process our emotions and explore our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out ’ to work through their feelings.
” Many people point to “ Ring Around the Rosie ” as proof that children have incorporated pandemics into their play in the past ( though the widespread claim that the folk song is about the Black Plague appears to be false ) .
Plus , the lyrics to many old children ’ s songs and lullabies are quite dark .
Classic fairytales also tend to involve a fair amount of death and danger .
This can actually be a good thing .
By playing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories with wicked villains , kids learn coping skills to deal with their fears and master their emotions in a safe environment .
Sometimes kids will even take on the role of the “ bad guys ” to feel empowered and gain a sense of control over the things that scare them .
What Parents Should Pay Attention To Daniels advises parents to not take a child ’ s play literally or read too much into it .
Rather , they should pay attention and ask themselves a few questions : What are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through ?
What fears are showing up in these themes ?
Is their play doom and gloom or is there a happy ending ?
If a frequent theme is them getting sick , focus your conversations on the data suggesting that children are less likely to catch the virus and more likely to recover quickly .
If it ’ s the idea of you getting sick , then focus your talks on the steps you ’ re taking to stay healthy and the limited likelihood that the virus would cause you to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all doom and gloom and repetitive for a period of time , you can gently incorporate yourself into their play , ” said Daniels .
“ I wouldn ’ t suggest this immediately , but it would be a good idea if you are seeing ‘ stuck ’ play for a period of time .
When you join their play , you gently shift the play to a productive and happy ending.
” Parents should try not to directly discuss their children ’ s play with them , as it could make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re being watched .
They may shut down and stop playing out their feelings altogether , which would remove a healthy outlet from their lives .
When It Becomes Worrisome “ My son ( 10 ) has talked about kids in school using ‘ so-and-so has the coronavirus ’ as a way of excluding and shaming others , ” wrote Catherine Charan .
“ He said he ’ s trying to stop it by telling these kids it ’ s a real thing , not a joke , in hopes it will stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
( Super proud of that ) The flip side is he has a cold and cried yesterday when I said he needed to stay home from school tomorrow .
He said when he goes back to school the kids will make fun of him saying he has it now.
” “ Although the play itself is normal , adults need to intervene if children are using play to exclude or target other children , ” she said , noting that prejudice against Asian Americans due to the origin of the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children from using stereotypes to unfairly target peers , we need to talk to our children about how there is no one group to blame for the illness.
” “ So focus on the good , ” she said .
“ Acknowledge that bad things do happen but help your child to think about the brave helpers such as the doctors and nurses , the acts of kindness and the way people come together in challenging times .
”

damircudic via Getty Images Big, scary events in the adult world tend to show up in children's play.
Although research suggests the coronavirus may not affect children as severely as adults, the COVID-19 pandemic is still impacting the lives of American kids. In addition to school closures, strict hand-washing rules, disruption of routine and a general sense of fear and uncertainty, it seems the news of the coronavirus has made its way into playtime.
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“When I tucked my 8-year-old daughter into bed the other night, she put one of her stuffed animals in a shoebox. When I asked her why, she said it was under quarantine due to the coronavirus,” mom Christy Fitzwater commented.
“Our kids were playing doctor last week and everyone was diagnosed with coronavirus,” Alli Chase wrote. Jess Alya Chaudhry, a mother under quarantine with her family in China, noted that her 4-year-old has also played doctor and treated stuffed animals for the virus.
Christie Pham shared a photo of her daughter’s COVID-19 game. “My daughter and I were playing school with her Shopkins yesterday,” she wrote. “There was a big line at the sink to wash hands because of ‘Cantaloupe virus.’”
Courtesy of Christie Pham Christie Pham shared a photo of her daughter's Shopkins lined up to wash their hands at the sink due to the "Cantaloupe virus."
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Several parents said their children were playing “coronavirus tag” ― with one version requiring the tagged kids to tag someone else in 20 seconds or they would be “dead.”
COVID-19 is also offering some musical inspiration. Katie Newman commented, “My kids are singing to the tune of the Moana song ‘Corona! Make way! Make way! Corona, it’s time you knew!’”
Why Coronavirus Play Is Normal And Healthy
It’s only natural that kids would pick up on the fact of the coronavirus pandemic from observing the adults in their lives, seeing news clips and even talking to each other. Child psychologists have recommended that parents talk to their children about the illness in age-appropriate ways to clear up any misconceptions or fears and offer a source of reliable information and support.
As for those coronavirus games, experts believe that’s a natural response as well.
“During this heightened panic around the coronavirus, it is completely normal and expected that kids, especially young children, will incorporate themes of the virus into their play,” said Natasha Daniels, a child therapist and creator of AnxiousToddlers.com. “As adults, we often ‘talk things out’ to process our emotions and explore our feelings. Children often ‘play things out’ to work through their feelings.”
Playtime is a common outlet for kids working through fears and processing difficult emotions and situations. This is why play therapy is a popular tool for helping children deal with trauma.
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“As disturbing as it may sound, I have seen kids act out and incorporate themes around school shootings in their play,” said Daniels, noting that it’s a healthy and productive way to deal with a tough topic, especially for kids who don’t have the language skills to adequately verbalize what they’re feeling.
Many people point to “Ring Around the Rosie” as proof that children have incorporated pandemics into their play in the past (though the widespread claim that the folk song is about the Black Plague appears to be false). Plus, the lyrics to many old children’s songs and lullabies are quite dark. Classic fairytales also tend to involve a fair amount of death and danger. This can actually be a good thing.
“What you observe can provide you with a blueprint of where to focus when explaining what is going on with the coronavirus.” - Natasha Daniels, a child therapist
By playing a game with dark themes and consuming age-appropriate stories with wicked villains, kids learn coping skills to deal with their fears and master their emotions in a safe environment. Sometimes kids will even take on the role of the “bad guys” to feel empowered and gain a sense of control over the things that scare them.
What Parents Should Pay Attention To
Although it may be upsetting these days for parents to observe their kids playing games with themes like illness and death, it can also offer insight into their children’s perceptions of the coronavirus and shed light on how they’re coping.
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Daniels advises parents to not take a child’s play literally or read too much into it. Rather, they should pay attention and ask themselves a few questions: What are the common themes the kids are working through? What fears are showing up in these themes? Is their play doom and gloom or is there a happy ending?
“What you observe can provide you with a blueprint of where to focus when explaining what is going on with the coronavirus,” said Daniels.
If a frequent theme is them getting sick, focus your conversations on the data suggesting that children are less likely to catch the virus and more likely to recover quickly. If it’s the idea of you getting sick, then focus your talks on the steps you’re taking to stay healthy and the limited likelihood that the virus would cause you to become deathly ill.
“If their play is all doom and gloom and repetitive for a period of time, you can gently incorporate yourself into their play,” said Daniels. “I wouldn’t suggest this immediately, but it would be a good idea if you are seeing ‘stuck’ play for a period of time. When you join their play, you gently shift the play to a productive and happy ending.”
Parents should try not to directly discuss their children’s play with them, as it could make the kids feel self-conscious to know they’re being watched. They may shut down and stop playing out their feelings altogether, which would remove a healthy outlet from their lives.
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When It Becomes Worrisome
There are situations where coronavirus-related play may enter harmful territory like bullying.
Multiple readers responded to the HuffPost Parents callout by noting that their kids have witnessed or been victims of bullying based around COVID-19.
“My son (10) has talked about kids in school using ‘so-and-so has the coronavirus’ as a way of excluding and shaming others,” wrote Catherine Charan. “He said he’s trying to stop it by telling these kids it’s a real thing, not a joke, in hopes it will stop them from having an audience laughing with them. (Super proud of that) The flip side is he has a cold and cried yesterday when I said he needed to stay home from school tomorrow. He said when he goes back to school the kids will make fun of him saying he has it now.”
Clinical psychologist John Mayer was not surprised by that kind of response from children.
“Using it as a bullying technique is not surprising because we use anything that is perceived as ‘different’ or sets us apart from the norms of our social group as a tool for bullying,” he said.
Ariel Skelley via Getty Images Coronavirus-themed play can become worrisome when it's used to exclude or bully other children or interferes with safety measures like hand-washing.
Emily Edlynn, a child psychologist who runs the Art and Science of Mom blog, told HuffPost these are situations when adults should step in.
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“Although the play itself is normal, adults need to intervene if children are using play to exclude or target other children,” she said, noting that prejudice against Asian Americans due to the origin of the outbreak has reached children. “To prevent children from using stereotypes to unfairly target peers, we need to talk to our children about how there is no one group to blame for the illness.”
Adults should also intervene if coronavirus play is getting in the way of important safety measures for preventing infection like hand-washing.
“Using it in playful ways as with tag, which is about what they are learning (re: people can get it from touching), can be helpful to make it less scary,” said Robin Goodman, a clinical psychologist and art therapist who works with children on stress-related issues. “But you need to be careful about minimizing the serious message about needing to be careful.”
Ultimately, parents play a big role in shaping their children’s response to COVID-19.
“This global pandemic provides us with an opportunity to teach our children to learn and practice kindness and recognize that we have more in common than that which separates us. In uncertain times, these situations can bring up much fear but they can also bring out the best in us as humans, including our natural altruistic qualities,” said Genevieve von Lob, a psychologist and author of “Happy Parent, Happy Child.”
“So focus on the good,” she said. “Acknowledge that bad things do happen but help your child to think about the brave helpers such as the doctors and nurses, the acts of kindness and the way people come together in challenging times.”


huffpost--2020-04-17--Trump Urges Supporters To Rally Against Coronavirus Restrictions

The president took to Twitter with the kind of rhetoric some of his supporters have used to demand the lifting of the orders that have thrown millions of Americans out of work .
On Thursday , the president detailed a three-step set of guidelines for methodically easing the restrictions over a span of several weeks in places that have robust testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases , assuring the nation ’ s governors : “ You ’ re going to call your own shots.
” “ The federal government can not wipe its hands of this and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are responsible for testing.′ We can not do it .
We can not do it without federal help , ” the governor said .
Many Americans , especially in rural areas and other parts of the country that have not seen major outbreaks , have urged governors to reopen their economies .
Protesters have taken to the streets in Ohio , Texas , North Carolina , Kentucky , Virginia and Michigan , where more than 3,000 turned out on Wednesday in what looked like one of the president ’ s rallies , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts have warned that lifting the restrictions too soon could enable the virus to come back with a vengeance .
And they have said that an easing of the stay-at-home measures must be accompanied by wider testing and tracing of infected people to keep the scourge in check .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat who has been critical of the federal government ’ s response to the crisis , said that she hopes to begin reopening parts of the state ’ s economy May 1 , but that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to avoid a second wave of infections .
The clash between Trump and Cuomo was personal , with the president complaining he hasn ’ t heard the governor say thanks for the help he has received from Washington .
Cuomo countered by saying : “ I don ’ t know what I ’ m supposed to do , send a bouquet of flowers ?
` Thank you to the federal government for participating in a federal emergency.
’ ” Meanwhile , China acknowledged that the coronavirus death toll in the one-time epicenter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than reported , underscoring just how seriously the official numbers of infections and deaths around the world may be understating the dimensions of the disaster .
In Britain , the official death toll of about 14,600 come under increasing scrutiny because it likewise does not include any deaths at home or in nursing homes .
The country ’ s statistics agency has said the actual number of dead could be around 15 % higher ; others think it will be far more .
And in Spain , the country ’ s 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria on counting the dead .
The country has recorded more than 19,000 deaths , but the system leaves out patients who had symptoms but were not tested before they died .
“ There is a general feeling that the epidemiologists don ’ t have a clue of what ’ s going on , that experts know even less and that governments are concealing information , but I don ’ t think that ’ s true , ” said Hermelinda Vanaclocha , an epidemiologist on Spain ’ s top virus advisory panel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” China raised its overall death toll to over 4,600 after Wuhan , where the outbreak first took hold , added nearly 1,300 deaths .
Questions have long swirled around the accuracy of China ’ s case reporting , with critics saying officials sought to minimize the outbreak that began in December .
That has been a struggle around the world , though .
The official death toll in New York City soared by more than half earlier this week when health authorities began including people who probably had COVID-19 but died without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to the city ’ s count .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after laying out a roadmap for gradually reviving economic activity, President Donald Trump urged his supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors Friday, in effect encouraging protests against the stay-at-home restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus.
The president took to Twitter with the kind of rhetoric some of his supporters have used to demand the lifting of the orders that have thrown millions of Americans out of work.
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“LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” Trump said in a tweet-storm in which he also lashed out at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for criticizing the federal response. Cuomo “should spend more time `doing’ and less time `complaining,’” he said, adding: ”Less talk and more action!”
Responding to pleas from some governors for help in ramping up testing for the virus, Trump put the burden on them, tweeting: “The States have to step up their TESTING!”
On Thursday, the president detailed a three-step set of guidelines for methodically easing the restrictions over a span of several weeks in places that have robust testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases, assuring the nation’s governors: “You’re going to call your own shots.”
But some governors made it clear they are not ready to break out the roadmap, saying they badly need help from Washington in expanding testing.
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Cuomo, whose state is the most lethal hot spot in the nation and is still seeing over 600 deaths a day, accused the federal government of “passing the buck without passing the bucks.”
“The federal government cannot wipe its hands of this and say, `Oh, the states are responsible for testing.′ We cannot do it. We cannot do it without federal help,” the governor said.
Many Americans, especially in rural areas and other parts of the country that have not seen major outbreaks, have urged governors to reopen their economies. Protesters have taken to the streets in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia and Michigan, where more than 3,000 turned out on Wednesday in what looked like one of the president’s rallies, with MAGA hats and Trump flags.
The protests have brought together small-government groups, anti-vaccine advocates, gun rights backers and supporters of right-wing causes.
Public health experts have warned that lifting the restrictions too soon could enable the virus to come back with a vengeance. And they have said that an easing of the stay-at-home measures must be accompanied by wider testing and tracing of infected people to keep the scourge in check.
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has been critical of the federal government’s response to the crisis, said that she hopes to begin reopening parts of the state’s economy May 1, but that it would be done in “smart way” to avoid a second wave of infections.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, announced he was extending the state’s stay-at-home order through May 3 but planned to gradually begin lifting restrictions after that.
The clash between Trump and Cuomo was personal, with the president complaining he hasn’t heard the governor say thanks for the help he has received from Washington. Cuomo countered by saying: “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, send a bouquet of flowers? `Thank you to the federal government for participating in a federal emergency.’”
Meanwhile, China acknowledged that the coronavirus death toll in the one-time epicenter city of Wuhan was nearly 50% higher than reported, underscoring just how seriously the official numbers of infections and deaths around the world may be understating the dimensions of the disaster.
In Italy, Spain, Britain, the United States and elsewhere, similar doubts emerged as governments revised their death tolls or openly questioned the accuracy of them.
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“We are probably only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” said Barcelona University epidemiologist Antoni Trilla, who heads the Spanish government’s expert panel on the crisis.
Worldwide, the outbreak has infected nearly 2.2 million people and killed over 145,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally based on figures supplied by government health authorities around the globe. The death toll in the U.S. neared 34,000, with more than 670,000 confirmed infections.
A patient is loaded into the back of an ambulance by emergency medical workers outside Cobble Hill Health Center, Friday, April 17, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Britain, the official death toll of about 14,600 come under increasing scrutiny because it likewise does not include any deaths at home or in nursing homes. The country’s statistics agency has said the actual number of dead could be around 15% higher; others think it will be far more.
And in Spain, the country’s 17 autonomous regions were ordered to adopt uniform criteria on counting the dead. The country has recorded more than 19,000 deaths, but the system leaves out patients who had symptoms but were not tested before they died.
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“There is a general feeling that the epidemiologists don’t have a clue of what’s going on, that experts know even less and that governments are concealing information, but I don’t think that’s true,” said Hermelinda Vanaclocha, an epidemiologist on Spain’s top virus advisory panel. “It’s simply not easy.”
China raised its overall death toll to over 4,600 after Wuhan, where the outbreak first took hold, added nearly 1,300 deaths. Questions have long swirled around the accuracy of China’s case reporting, with critics saying officials sought to minimize the outbreak that began in December.
That has been a struggle around the world, though. The official death toll in New York City soared by more than half earlier this week when health authorities began including people who probably had COVID-19 but died without being tested. Nearly 3,800 deaths were added to the city’s count.
Such figures can have a huge influence on governments’ actions, as medical staffs struggle to figure out how to cope with surges of sick people and officials make crucial decisions about where to devote resources and how to begin easing lockdowns to resuscitate their economies.
China’s economy shrank 6.8% in the quarter ending in March compared with the same period a year ago, its worst contraction since market-style economic reforms began in 1979.
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The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the U.S. rose by 5.2 million, bringing the four-week total to a staggering 22 million. U.S. unemployment could reach 20% in April, the highest since the Depression of the 1930s. Layoffs are spreading well beyond stores, restaurants and hotels to white-collar professionals such as software programmers and legal assistants.
___
Sedensky reported from Philadelphia. Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-04-16--Prince Harry Currently Finds Life 'A Bit Challenging,' Jane Goodall Says

The primatologist said that the Duke of Sussex , who recently stepped back from the royal family and relocated to Los Angeles , is finding his new life “ a bit challenging.
” “ I don ’ t know how his career is going to map out , but yes , I ’ ve been in touch , though I think he ’ s finding life a bit challenging just now , ” Goodall told Radio Times in an interview released Tuesday .
While that could be a reference to Harry and Meghan Markle ’ s new life , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that his father , Prince Charles , recently tested positive for , and is recovering from , the coronavirus .
The interviewer later brought up the prince again and added that Harry and his brother , Prince William , are “ champions of the natural world.
” Goodall said that both brothers “ hunt and shoot ” but added , “ I think Harry will stop because Meghan doesn ’ t like hunting , so I suspect that is over for him.
” In a previous interview with Daily Mail ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alluded to his royal exit many months ago , when she got to visit with the duke and duchess and meet their son , Archie , just after his birth .
“ He was very tiny and very sleepy — not too pleased to be passed from his mummy , ” she said .
“ I think I was one of the first to cuddle him outside the family.
” Both Harry and the queen have said in the past that the couple ’ s royal exit was discussed over many months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ having lots of “ family time ” during the coronavirus pandemic in a video call over the weekend with caregivers who belong to the UK-based charity Wellchild .
The prince is a longtime patron of the organization , which supports children with serious illnesses and their parents .
“ There ’ s a hell of a lot of positives that are happening at the same time and being able to have family time — so much family time — that you almost think , ‘ Do I feel guilty for having so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to smiles and laughs on the call .
“ You ’ ve got to celebrate those moments where you are just on the floor rolling around in hysterics , ” he continued .
“ Inevitably , half an hour later , maybe a day later , there ’ s going to be something that you have to deal with and there ’ s no way that you can run away from it.
” Both Harry and Meghan are continuing their charity work both in the UK and in their new home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Country reported that the couple contributed over $ 100,000 in excess profits from their BBC wedding broadcast to the UK charity Feeding Britain .
The couple is “ delighted to be able to ensure this money is donated to such a great cause , ” a spokesperson for the Sussexes told HuffPost .
Meghan and Harry were also spotted in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday , helping deliver meals on behalf of the charity Project Angel Food .
“ They wanted to help us relieve some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angel Food ’ s Executive Director Richard Ayou told local publication WeHoVille .
“ So they made deliveries in West Hollywood today .
It ’ s really , really amazing .
We loved having them and they are the most down-to-earth people .
”

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Dr. Jane Goodall gave some insight into her friend Prince Harry’s new life in an interview released earlier this week.
The primatologist said that the Duke of Sussex, who recently stepped back from the royal family and relocated to Los Angeles, is finding his new life “a bit challenging.”
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“I don’t know how his career is going to map out, but yes, I’ve been in touch, though I think he’s finding life a bit challenging just now,” Goodall told Radio Times in an interview released Tuesday. While that could be a reference to Harry and Meghan Markle’s new life, the prince might also be talking about the fact that his father, Prince Charles, recently tested positive for, and is recovering from, the coronavirus.
The interviewer later brought up the prince again and added that Harry and his brother, Prince William, are “champions of the natural world.”
Goodall said that both brothers “hunt and shoot” but added, “I think Harry will stop because Meghan doesn’t like hunting, so I suspect that is over for him.”
Prince Harry and Dr. Jane Goodall at Goodall's Roots & Shoots Global Leadership Meeting at Windsor Castle on July 23, 2019. WPA Pool via Getty Images
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In a previous interview with Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine, Goodall said that Harry alluded to his royal exit many months ago, when she got to visit with the duke and duchess and meet their son, Archie, just after his birth.
“He was very tiny and very sleepy — not too pleased to be passed from his mummy,” she said. “I think I was one of the first to cuddle him outside the family.”
The 86-year-old said she “made Archie do the queen’s wave, saying, ‘I suppose he’ll have to learn this.’ Harry said, ‘No, he’s not growing up like that.’”
Both Harry and the queen have said in the past that the couple’s royal exit was discussed over many months.
The Duke and Duches of Sussex attend the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5 in London. Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
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Harry recently spoke about little Archie and having lots of “family time” during the coronavirus pandemic in a video call over the weekend with caregivers who belong to the UK-based charity Wellchild. The prince is a longtime patron of the organization, which supports children with serious illnesses and their parents.
“There’s a hell of a lot of positives that are happening at the same time and being able to have family time — so much family time — that you almost think, ‘Do I feel guilty for having so much family time?’” the duke said to smiles and laughs on the call.
“You’ve got to celebrate those moments where you are just on the floor rolling around in hysterics,” he continued. “Inevitably, half an hour later, maybe a day later, there’s going to be something that you have to deal with and there’s no way that you can run away from it.”
Both Harry and Meghan are continuing their charity work both in the UK and in their new home, Los Angeles.
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On Wednesday, Town & Country reported that the couple contributed over $100,000 in excess profits from their BBC wedding broadcast to the UK charity Feeding Britain.
The couple is “delighted to be able to ensure this money is donated to such a great cause,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes told HuffPost. Meghan and Harry were also spotted in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday, helping deliver meals on behalf of the charity Project Angel Food. “They wanted to help us relieve some of the drivers from their workload,” Project Angel Food’s Executive Director Richard Ayou told local publication WeHoVille. “So they made deliveries in West Hollywood today. It’s really, really amazing. We loved having them and they are the most down-to-earth people.”


huffpost--2020-04-16--Anti-Abortion Protesters Secure Right To Flout Michigan's Stay-At-Home Order

The activists settled a lawsuit against Detroit and Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) on Tuesday , after the city agreed to drop a misdemeanor ticket against one protester , Andrew Belanger , for violating Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order by demonstrating outside of the Scotsdale Women ’ s Center .
The settlement acknowledges that Belanger and two fellow plaintiffs have a First Amendment right to engage in “ expressive religious activities ” outside the clinic , as long as they remain six feet away from each other .
Whitmer also issued a public statement on April 7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all Michigan residents partaking in free speech activities are exempted from her March 24 stay-at-home order , with the caveat that they adhere to social distancing guidelines recommended by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Belanger is part of the anti-abortion organization ONElife for Life .
He appears to have made it his mission to pursue “ full time abortion ministry ” at this specific clinic .
According to his organization ’ s website , Belanger is “ present every hour the clinic is open.
” “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming constitutional protection from punishment while harassing and intimidating people getting care that is expressly protected by the constitution , ” Vasquez-Giroux said .
“ That they ’ re continuing in the midst of a global pandemic , in the hot spot of the entire state , shows questionable judgment , at best.
” This isn ’ t the only controversy that Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order has sparked .
On Wednesday , thousands attended a protest against the order outside the state ’ s Capitol .
Meanwhile , the Scotsdale Women ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller told HuffPost she ’ s feeling “ exhausted.
” The pandemic has caused “ stressful ” and significant changes at the center , Miller said .
They are seeing the same amount of patients as usual , but it ’ s taking the clinic longer to treat them while implementing safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Patients now have to wait outside before being screened and taken into the clinic one at a time , Miller said , which means they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer .
Belanger has been a regular fixture outside the clinic for months , she said , and he is sometimes joined by other protesters .
Miller said she saw protesters outside the clinic on Thursday without socially distancing from each other .
“ I ’ m all about their right to protest , I ’ m all about everybody ’ s personal feelings and rights and ability to agree and disagree , ” Miller said .
“ But this is about people ’ s health and safety .
”

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Anti-abortion activists in Michigan have won permission to continue protesting outside a Detroit abortion clinic during the coronavirus pandemic.
The activists settled a lawsuit against Detroit and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Tuesday, after the city agreed to drop a misdemeanor ticket against one protester, Andrew Belanger, for violating Whitmer’s stay-at-home order by demonstrating outside of the Scotsdale Women’s Center.
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The settlement acknowledges that Belanger and two fellow plaintiffs have a First Amendment right to engage in “expressive religious activities” outside the clinic, as long as they remain six feet away from each other.
Whitmer also issued a public statement on April 7, after the lawsuit was filed, clarifying that all Michigan residents partaking in free speech activities are exempted from her March 24 stay-at-home order, with the caveat that they adhere to social distancing guidelines recommended by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Belanger is part of the anti-abortion organization ONElife for Life. He appears to have made it his mission to pursue “full time abortion ministry” at this specific clinic. According to his organization’s website, Belanger is “present every hour the clinic is open.”
American Freedom Law Center, the conservative religious law firm that represented Belanger, called the settlement a “clear victory” for their clients’ First Amendment rights.
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Angela Vasquez-Giroux, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, told HuffPost that she believes clinic patients are accustomed to the “abusive” behavior of anti-abortion activists.
“It’s interesting that these anti-abortion extremists are claiming constitutional protection from punishment while harassing and intimidating people getting care that is expressly protected by the constitution,” Vasquez-Giroux said. “That they’re continuing in the midst of a global pandemic, in the hot spot of the entire state, shows questionable judgment, at best.”
This isn’t the only controversy that Whitmer’s stay-at-home order has sparked. On Wednesday, thousands attended a protest against the order outside the state’s Capitol.
People take part in a protest against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on April 15, 2020. JEFF KOWALSKY via Getty Images
Meanwhile, the Scotsdale Women’s Center’s executive director Shelly Miller told HuffPost she’s feeling “exhausted.” The pandemic has caused “stressful” and significant changes at the center, Miller said. They are seeing the same amount of patients as usual, but it’s taking the clinic longer to treat them while implementing safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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Patients now have to wait outside before being screened and taken into the clinic one at a time, Miller said, which means they will have to face protesters’ moralizing for longer.
Belanger has been a regular fixture outside the clinic for months, she said, and he is sometimes joined by other protesters.
Miller said she saw protesters outside the clinic on Thursday without socially distancing from each other.
HuffPost has reached out to the American Freedom Law Center for comment.


huffpost--2020-04-16--DOJ Watchdog To Inspect Prisons After Hundreds Of Inmates Sickened With COVID-19

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Justice Department ’ s inspector general will conduct remote inspections of Bureau of Prisons facilities to ensure they are following best practices to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus after hundreds of federal inmates tested positive for the virus .
The review , announced Wednesday , comes as the federal prison system struggles with a growing number of coronavirus cases and complaints from inmates , advocacy groups and correction officers about how officials are handling the pandemic among their 122 facilities .
Attorney General William Barr recently sent some of his closest advisers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including FCC Oakdale in Louisiana , where six inmates have died , a Justice Department official said .
The attorney general ’ s counselors were sent to observe the conditions on the ground firsthand and report back to Barr .
They also visited FCI Elkton in Ohio , where five inmates have died , and FCC Butner , a prison complex in North Carolina that has seen four inmate deaths , and are expected to visit other hot spot prisons in the near future , the official said .
The official could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity .
Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of epidemics in jails and prisons , which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks .
As of Wednesday evening , 451 federal inmates and 280 Bureau of Prisons staff members had tested positive for the virus .
Seventeen infected inmates have died at federal prisons across the U.S. since late March .
Weeks ago , Barr reached out to Inspector General Michael Horowitz and asked him to take a look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot spots and identify any concerns and ways the Justice Department could improve the work being done , a person familiar with the matter said .
Barr has continued to consult with Horowitz since then , said the person , who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations .
The inspector general ’ s office is conducting what it described as a “ series of remote inspections ” at Bureau of Prisons facilities , as well as residential reentry centers , commonly known as halfway houses , and prisons that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review is meant to ensure the agency is complying with the government ’ s guidance and best practices to prevent , manage and contain a coronavirus outbreak behind bars , according to a posting on the watchdog ’ s website .
The inspector general ’ s office did not immediately provide additional details about how the inspections would work .
“ The Bureau of Prisons is working hard to prevent , contain , and mitigate the spread of this global pandemic in its correctional settings , and we look forward to the OIG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” spokesman Justin Long said in a statement .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department’s inspector general will conduct remote inspections of Bureau of Prisons facilities to ensure they are following best practices to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus after hundreds of federal inmates tested positive for the virus.
The review, announced Wednesday, comes as the federal prison system struggles with a growing number of coronavirus cases and complaints from inmates, advocacy groups and correction officers about how officials are handling the pandemic among their 122 facilities.
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Attorney General William Barr recently sent some of his closest advisers to federal prisons identified as coronavirus hot spots, including FCC Oakdale in Louisiana, where six inmates have died, a Justice Department official said.
The attorney general’s counselors were sent to observe the conditions on the ground firsthand and report back to Barr. They also visited FCI Elkton in Ohio, where five inmates have died, and FCC Butner, a prison complex in North Carolina that has seen four inmate deaths, and are expected to visit other hot spot prisons in the near future, the official said. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of epidemics in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks.
As of Wednesday evening, 451 federal inmates and 280 Bureau of Prisons staff members had tested positive for the virus. Seventeen infected inmates have died at federal prisons across the U.S. since late March.
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Weeks ago, Barr reached out to Inspector General Michael Horowitz and asked him to take a look at the federal prisons that were emerging as hot spots and identify any concerns and ways the Justice Department could improve the work being done, a person familiar with the matter said. Barr has continued to consult with Horowitz since then, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
The inspector general’s office is conducting what it described as a “series of remote inspections” at Bureau of Prisons facilities, as well as residential reentry centers, commonly known as halfway houses, and prisons that are contracted to hold federal inmates. The review is meant to ensure the agency is complying with the government’s guidance and best practices to prevent, manage and contain a coronavirus outbreak behind bars, according to a posting on the watchdog’s website. The inspector general’s office did not immediately provide additional details about how the inspections would work.
A spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons said the agency welcomed the remote inspections.


huffpost--2020-05-13--Stephen Colbert Calls Out Hypocrisy Of 'Germaphobe' Donald Trump

Stephen Colbert wants President Donald Trump to act like the “ total germaphobe ” he ’ s known to be ― with all Americans .
The “ Late Show ” host said Tuesday that the president is “ freaking out ” after a second White House staffer tested positive for the coronavirus .
Even though Trump himself still refuses to wear a mask , the administration has imposed “ stringent ” measures to protect him , The Washington Post reported , citing a former official who called him a “ total germaphobe.
” In the midst of stricter White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a hypocrite in encouraging states to reduce social distancing and get back to business .
“ For a germaphobe , Trump sure is anxious to get the rest of us out in the hot zone , ” the comedian said .
“ It ’ s the ultimate ‘ This milk smells funny .
You drink it.
’ Also , ‘ This bleach smells funny .
Drink that too.
’ ” Watch Colbert ’ s full takedown above , in which he explains why the country hasn ’ t quite “ prevailed ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has .

Stephen Colbert wants President Donald Trump to act like the “total germaphobe” he’s known to be ― with all Americans.
The “Late Show” host said Tuesday that the president is “freaking out” after a second White House staffer tested positive for the coronavirus. Even though Trump himself still refuses to wear a mask, the administration has imposed “stringent” measures to protect him, The Washington Post reported, citing a former official who called him a “total germaphobe.”
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In the midst of stricter White House protections, Colbert roasted Trump for being such a hypocrite in encouraging states to reduce social distancing and get back to business.
“For a germaphobe, Trump sure is anxious to get the rest of us out in the hot zone,” the comedian said. “It’s the ultimate ‘This milk smells funny. You drink it.’ Also, ‘This bleach smells funny. Drink that too.’”
Watch Colbert’s full takedown above, in which he explains why the country hasn’t quite “prevailed” against the pandemic the way Trump boasts it has.
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huffpost--2020-05-13--Jared Kushner Walks Back Alarming Comments On Election Postponement

Jared Kushner , son-in-law to President Donald Trump and a senior White House adviser , has clarified his recent comments causing speculation that the White House may try to push back the November election .
By law , the general election must take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November , and the president ― let alone a single staffer ― does not have sole authority to change that .
It would require an act of Congress .
But Kushner raised eyebrows with his comments in a video interview released Tuesday about the economic crisis wrought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Time magazine reporter asked whether the election could be postponed past Nov. 3 , Kushner replied : “ It ’ s not my decision to make , and I ’ m not sure I can commit one way or the other , but right now that ’ s the plan.
” He continued : “ Hopefully by the time we get to September , October , November , we ’ ve done enough work with testing and with all the different things we ’ re trying to do to prevent a future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us shut down again.
” Kushner issued a clarifying statement to NBC News , saying that he has “ not been involved in ” nor is he “ aware of any discussions about trying to change the date of the Presidential election.
” “ Mark my words , I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it can ’ t be held , ” Biden told supporters during an online fundraiser .
As the coronavirus crashed plans for the Summer Olympics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic National Convention , some have wondered whether the U.S. general election will be held as planned .
Experts say that massive , widespread testing — to identify even asymptomatic people with the virus so they can be quarantined to protect the general population — is the key to returning to a more normal life .
But the U.S. has lagged so far in its testing capabilities , which are now focused mainly on essential workers and people with symptoms .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading expert on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see “ a real degree of normality ” in American life by Nov. 3 .
To protect people who might still feel uncomfortable going to the polls even if testing is adequate by then , however , congressional Democrats are pushing for greater access to mail-in voting .
While Trump has responded to Biden ’ s assertion by stating that the election will definitely occur as scheduled , he has repeatedly brought up unsubstantiated concerns that mail-in voting will lead to voter fraud , sparking fear that he may challenge the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Jared Kushner, son-in-law to President Donald Trump and a senior White House adviser, has clarified his recent comments causing speculation that the White House may try to push back the November election.
By law, the general election must take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and the president ― let alone a single staffer ― does not have sole authority to change that. It would require an act of Congress.
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But Kushner raised eyebrows with his comments in a video interview released Tuesday about the economic crisis wrought by the coronavirus in America.
When a Time magazine reporter asked whether the election could be postponed past Nov. 3, Kushner replied: “It’s not my decision to make, and I’m not sure I can commit one way or the other, but right now that’s the plan.”
He continued: “Hopefully by the time we get to September, October, November, we’ve done enough work with testing and with all the different things we’re trying to do to prevent a future outbreak of the magnitude that would make us shut down again.”
Kushner issued a clarifying statement to NBC News, saying that he has “not been involved in” nor is he “aware of any discussions about trying to change the date of the Presidential election.”
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Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic party’s presumed presidential nominee, warned late last month that Trump may try to postpone the election.
“Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Biden told supporters during an online fundraiser.
As the coronavirus crashed plans for the Summer Olympics, a number of festivals and even the Democratic National Convention, some have wondered whether the U.S. general election will be held as planned.
Experts say that massive, widespread testing — to identify even asymptomatic people with the virus so they can be quarantined to protect the general population — is the key to returning to a more normal life. But the U.S. has lagged so far in its testing capabilities, which are now focused mainly on essential workers and people with symptoms.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading expert on infectious disease, has said he hopes to see “a real degree of normality” in American life by Nov. 3.
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To protect people who might still feel uncomfortable going to the polls even if testing is adequate by then, however, congressional Democrats are pushing for greater access to mail-in voting.


huffpost--2020-05-13--Rick Bright To Testify That Trump Admin Was Unprepared For COVID-19

Rick Bright , the recently ousted government vaccine official , will testify before Congress on Thursday that the Trump administration was unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic and that the U.S. may soon face its “ darkest winter in modern history.
” CNN and Axios were the first to report on Bright ’ s testimony on Wednesday , after a copy of his prepared remarks was published on the House website .
“ The world is confronting a great public health emergency which has the potential to eclipse the devastation wrought by the 1918 influenza which globally claimed over 50 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say in his prepared remarks .
He also lays out the need for a coordinated national response , as opposed to President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to push the burden onto states and local leaders .
He will testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ’ s health subcommittee .
“ Our window of opportunity is closing , ” he says .
“ If we fail to develop a national coordinated response , based in science , I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged , causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whistleblower complaint with the Office of Special Counsel after he was ousted from his role as the head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) , in which he oversaw the federal government ’ s search for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines .
He has alleged that his removal was in retaliation for his opposition of the broad use of a drug that Trump frequently touted as a coronavirus treatment despite no evidence it worked .
“ I spoke out then and I am testifying today because science — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way to combat this deadly virus , ” Bright says .
In the testimony he prepared , Bright recounts pushing the Department of Health and Human Services to get a head start on preparing a for a potential coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. early this year , only to be shot down .
“ In January of this year , I pushed for our government to obtain virus samples from China and to secure more funding for BARDA to be able to get started quickly on the development of critical medical countermeasures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership was dismissive about my dire predictions about what I assumed would be a broader outbreak and the pressing need to act , and were therefore unwilling to act with the urgency that the situation required.
” He will also testify that when he warned throughout the first three months of the year that the U.S. needed to increase “ production of masks , respirators and other critical supplies , such as medicine , syringes and swabs , ” HHS again dismissed his urgency and cut him out of high-level meetings regarding a @ @ @ @

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Rick Bright, the recently ousted government vaccine official, will testify before Congress on Thursday that the Trump administration was unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic and that the U.S. may soon face its “darkest winter in modern history.”
CNN and Axios were the first to report on Bright’s testimony on Wednesday, after a copy of his prepared remarks was published on the House website.
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“The world is confronting a great public health emergency which has the potential to eclipse the devastation wrought by the 1918 influenza which globally claimed over 50 million lives,” Bright is expected to say in his prepared remarks.
He also lays out the need for a coordinated national response, as opposed to President Donald Trump’s efforts to push the burden onto states and local leaders. He will testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee.
“Our window of opportunity is closing,” he says. “If we fail to develop a national coordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities.”
Bright filed a whistleblower complaint with the Office of Special Counsel after he was ousted from his role as the head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), in which he oversaw the federal government’s search for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. He has alleged that his removal was in retaliation for his opposition of the broad use of a drug that Trump frequently touted as a coronavirus treatment despite no evidence it worked.
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“I spoke out then and I am testifying today because science — not politics or cronyism — must lead the way to combat this deadly virus,” Bright says.
In the testimony he prepared, Bright recounts pushing the Department of Health and Human Services to get a head start on preparing a for a potential coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. early this year, only to be shot down.
“In January of this year, I pushed for our government to obtain virus samples from China and to secure more funding for BARDA to be able to get started quickly on the development of critical medical countermeasures,” he says. “HHS leadership was dismissive about my dire predictions about what I assumed would be a broader outbreak and the pressing need to act, and were therefore unwilling to act with the urgency that the situation required.”
He will also testify that when he warned throughout the first three months of the year that the U.S. needed to increase “production of masks, respirators and other critical supplies, such as medicine, syringes and swabs,” HHS again dismissed his urgency and cut him out of high-level meetings regarding a COVID-19 response plan.


huffpost--2020-05-13--Trump Cites Virus As Reason To Expel Migrant Youths, Asylum Seekers

HOUSTON ( AP ) — The young migrants and asylum seekers swim across the Rio Grande and clamber into the dense brush of Texas .
Many are teens who left Central America on their own ; others were sent along by parents from refugee camps in Mexico .
They are as young as 10 .
Under U.S. law they would normally be allowed to live with relatives while their cases wind through immigration courts .
Instead the Trump administration is quickly expelling them under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus pandemic , with 600 minors expelled in April alone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two recently expelled teens said border agents told them they wouldn ’ t be allowed to request asylum .
They were placed in cells , fingerprinted and given a medical exam .
Then , after four days , they were flown back to their home country of Guatemala .
The AP is withholding the teens ’ last names to protect their privacy .
“ I did ask to talk to my brother because he wanted to get a lawyer , because he wanted to fight for my case , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not letting people talk to anyone .
No matter how much I fought , they were not letting anyone stay.
” Similarly , Osvaldo , 17 , said agents wouldn ’ t let him call his father .
He was held with other children in a cold room and issued a foil blanket as well as a new mask and pair of gloves each of the four days he was in custody .
Someone took his temperature before he was deported , but he wasn ’ t tested for the coronavirus until he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given no immigration paperwork , just the medical report from his examination .
A 10-year-old boy and his mother , whom the AP is not identifying because she fears retribution for speaking publicly , spent months at a squalid camp in Matamoros , Mexico , across from Brownsville , Texas , waiting for their immigration court dates under the Trump administration program known as “ Remain in Mexico.
” The woman expected he would be be treated the same as before , when such children were picked up by the U.S. Border Patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Services facilities for eventual placement with a sponsor , usually a relative .
The boy now lives with a family member in the capital , Tegucigalpa .
Another relative has agreed to take him back to the family ’ s rural village , if the mother returns to care for him .
But she fears her former partner , who abused and threatened both of them .
“ This boy has gone through multiple traumas , ending with the experience of being placed on a plane by himself and flown to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , ” she said .
Under a 2008 anti-trafficking law and a federal court settlement known as the Flores agreement , children from countries other than Canada and Mexico must have access to legal counsel and can not be immediately deported .
They are also supposed to be released to family in the U.S. or otherwise held in the least restrictive setting possible .
The rules are intended to prevent children from being mistreated or falling into the hands of criminals .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection began the expulsions in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for disregarding the Flores rules .
CBP said it processed 166 children last month as “ unaccompanied ” minors , meaning they would be taken to HHS youth holding facilities and allowed to stay in the U.S. at least temporarily , and the remaining 600 were expelled .

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HOUSTON (AP) — The young migrants and asylum seekers swim across the Rio Grande and clamber into the dense brush of Texas. Many are teens who left Central America on their own; others were sent along by parents from refugee camps in Mexico. They are as young as 10.
Under U.S. law they would normally be allowed to live with relatives while their cases wind through immigration courts. Instead the Trump administration is quickly expelling them under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus pandemic, with 600 minors expelled in April alone.
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The expulsions are the latest administration measure aimed at preventing the entry of migrant children, following other programs such as the since-rescinded “zero tolerance” policy that resulted in thousands of family separations.
Border agencies say they have to restrict asylum claims and border crossings during the pandemic to prevent the virus’ spread. Migrants’ advocates call that a pretext to dispense with federal protections for children.
In interviews with The Associated Press, two recently expelled teens said border agents told them they wouldn’t be allowed to request asylum. They were placed in cells, fingerprinted and given a medical exam. Then, after four days, they were flown back to their home country of Guatemala. The AP is withholding the teens’ last names to protect their privacy.
Brenda, 16, left Guatemala in hopes of reaching the U.S. to eventually work and help her family. Her father works on a farm, but it’s not enough.
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“We barely eat,” she said.
Her family borrowed $13,000 to pay a smuggler and months later she crossed illegally. Authorities later took her into custody in April at a Texas stash house, she said.
“I did ask to talk to my brother because he wanted to get a lawyer, because he wanted to fight for my case,” she said. “But they told me they were not letting people talk to anyone. No matter how much I fought, they were not letting anyone stay.”
She is now under quarantine at her family’s home.
Similarly, Osvaldo, 17, said agents wouldn’t let him call his father. He was held with other children in a cold room and issued a foil blanket as well as a new mask and pair of gloves each of the four days he was in custody.
Someone took his temperature before he was deported, but he wasn’t tested for the coronavirus until he was back in Guatemala. Osvaldo was given no immigration paperwork, just the medical report from his examination.
“I thought they would help me or let me fight my case,” Osvaldo said, “but no.”
A 10-year-old boy and his mother, whom the AP is not identifying because she fears retribution for speaking publicly, spent months at a squalid camp in Matamoros, Mexico, across from Brownsville, Texas, waiting for their immigration court dates under the Trump administration program known as “Remain in Mexico.”
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When she lost an initial decision, she decided he would be better off temporarily with her brother in the United States. She watched him swim across the Rio Grande.
The woman expected he would be be treated the same as before, when such children were picked up by the U.S. Border Patrol and taken to Department of Health and Human Services facilities for eventual placement with a sponsor, usually a relative.
But the mother heard nothing until six days later, when her family received a call from a shelter in Honduras.
“They had thrown him out to Honduras,” she said. “We didn’t know anything.”
The boy now lives with a family member in the capital, Tegucigalpa. Another relative has agreed to take him back to the family’s rural village, if the mother returns to care for him. But she fears her former partner, who abused and threatened both of them.
“He doesn’t want to eat. All he does is cry,” the woman said. “I never imagined they would send him back there.”
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Their case was first reported by CBS News.
Amy Cohen, a psychiatrist who works with the family and leads the advocacy group Every Last One, criticized the government’s treatment of the boy and other children.
“This boy has gone through multiple traumas, ending with the experience of being placed on a plane by himself and flown to a country where no one knew he was coming,” she said.
Under a 2008 anti-trafficking law and a federal court settlement known as the Flores agreement, children from countries other than Canada and Mexico must have access to legal counsel and cannot be immediately deported. They are also supposed to be released to family in the U.S. or otherwise held in the least restrictive setting possible. The rules are intended to prevent children from being mistreated or falling into the hands of criminals.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection began the expulsions in late March, using the emergency as justification for disregarding the Flores rules. CBP said it processed 166 children last month as “unaccompanied” minors, meaning they would be taken to HHS youth holding facilities and allowed to stay in the U.S. at least temporarily, and the remaining 600 were expelled.
But HHS says it received just 58 unaccompanied minors in April. Spokesmen for both agencies were not immediately able to address the discrepancy.
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CBP says it exempts children from expulsion on a “case-by-case basis, such as when return to the home country is not possible or an agent suspects trafficking or sees signs of illness.” An agency spokesman declined to provide more specifics.
CBP acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said last week that the U.S. may keep expelling migrants even as states begin to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Meanwhile, as the virus has spread through immigration detention facilities, the U.S. has deported at least 100 people with COVID-19 to Guatemala, including minors.
Michelle Brané, director of migrant rights at the Women’s Refugee Commission, said the virus is an excuse for expelling children, and the Trump administration could admit them and still counter its spread through measures like temperature checks and quarantines.
“At the very heart of it,” she said, “it has always been about trying to block access to protection for children and families and asylum seekers.”
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huffpost--2020-04-20--Congress Actually Wanted Huge Restaurant Chains To Get Small Business Loans

WASHINGTON ― The fast-food chain Shake Shack on Sunday said it would return a $ 10 million forgivable loan it received through a new federal program that is supposed to help small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus downturn .
But the giant company did not receive the loan by mistake .
The program was intended to reduce job losses from the economic shutdown undertaken to slow the spread of the virus , but the inequitable distribution of funds among businesses has become a political flashpoint .
And the complaints about bigger companies getting the money echo other criticisms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to corporate America with too few restrictions and too little oversight .
“ The big corporations got all the money , ” said Tosha Kelly , who owns a child care center in Chicago with room for about 20 kids .
Kelly said she applied for a loan for her center , but learned on Friday that the program was out of money .
“ I never understood how they can compare us with companies that have 15 , 20 , 30 , 40 stores .
That right there was not fair .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were written for small businesses , how is it possible that so many independent restaurants whose employees needed just as much help were unable to receive funding ?
” Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer and CEO Randy Garutti said in a statement .
“ Everyone agreed that we wanted to open this up to more than the traditional small business , ” Rubio said Monday in a Twitter video , noting that independent contractors and nonprofits are also eligible .
“ And that ’ s why we expanded this to include restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Nevertheless , Rubio said , some of the companies that qualified for loans “ were not what we intended.
” He said that the program was put together in a matter of days and that he hoped things would work better with the second tranche of money Congress is contemplating .
The program ’ s guidance for borrowers stated that they must certify in good faith that “ economic uncertainty makes the loan necessary to support your ongoing operations , ” which turned out not to be the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chain , which is publicly traded and employs 8,000 people in 189 restaurants , was able to raise $ 75 million from shareholders .
“ That ’ s the point of being publicly traded ― you don ’ t have to rely on people you know or a bank loan .
You got out and you sell shares , ” Fischer said .
“ Everybody invested in the stock market can get a piece of you.
” She said that if Congress pours more funding into this program , it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fischer also pointed out that some hedge funds have also applied for loans , and she suggested that any financial institutions should be blocked from getting government grants and loans .
Congressional leaders are racing to hammer out a deal this week that would add billions more to the Paycheck Protection Program .
Their tentative agreement would offer another $ 300 billion in loans with a portion set aside for rural and minority-owned businesses , as well as funds for hospitals , coronavirus testing and disaster relief .
But key sticking points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include aid for states and cities , whose budgets have been badly hit by the crisis , while Republicans and the White House prefer doing so in the next relief package .
The Paycheck Protection Program covers two months of payroll costs through a forgivable loan of up to $ 10 million per company .
If the borrower avoids layoffs and uses at least 75 % of the funds for payroll during those two months , then it doesn ’ t have to pay the money back .

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WASHINGTON ― The fast-food chain Shake Shack on Sunday said it would return a $10 million forgivable loan it received through a new federal program that is supposed to help small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus downturn. But the giant company did not receive the loan by mistake.
When Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, a $350 billion anti-layoff initiative, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, lawmakers made specific accommodations for the hospitality and food service industries.
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Before it ran out of money last week, the program was open to any business with fewer than 500 employees, and that employee count was per location for businesses like hotels and restaurants. That meant individual restaurants that are part of large publicly owned companies and locally owned outlets with deep-pocketed franchisors qualified for loans.
Franchises of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Potbelly and Taco Cabana and chains like Shake Shack got millions of dollars in loans. Millions of true small businesses were locked out of the program.
“It’s just bad public policy to allow these deep-pocketed franchise operations to get access to this money,” said Amanda Fischer, policy director at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
Banks and large corporations used the program as written, she emphasized. “Congress contemplated this and wrote it into the legislation and now these businesses are taking advantage of it,” Fischer said.
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The program was intended to reduce job losses from the economic shutdown undertaken to slow the spread of the virus, but the inequitable distribution of funds among businesses has become a political flashpoint. And the complaints about bigger companies getting the money echo other criticisms that the CARES Act has unduly funneled money to corporate America with too few restrictions and too little oversight.
Small business owners who are actually on their own are up in arms.
“The big corporations got all the money,” said Tosha Kelly, who owns a child care center in Chicago with room for about 20 kids. Kelly said she applied for a loan for her center, but learned on Friday that the program was out of money. “I never understood how they can compare us with companies that have 15, 20, 30, 40 stores. That right there was not fair. Really misleading.“
Even executives at some bigger firms agreed.
“If this act were written for small businesses, how is it possible that so many independent restaurants whose employees needed just as much help were unable to receive funding?” Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer and CEO Randy Garutti said in a statement.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) were the two lawmakers in charge of drafting the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides relief to small businesses. Barcroft Media via Getty Images
As Republicans and Democrats fight over whether to attach new rules to a fresh round of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), one of its main architects, has been trying to explain what happened.
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“Everyone agreed that we wanted to open this up to more than the traditional small business,” Rubio said Monday in a Twitter video, noting that independent contractors and nonprofits are also eligible. “And that’s why we expanded this to include restaurants and hotels who are part of chains,” he said.
Nevertheless, Rubio said, some of the companies that qualified for loans “were not what we intended.” He said that the program was put together in a matter of days and that he hoped things would work better with the second tranche of money Congress is contemplating.
The program’s guidance for borrowers stated that they must certify in good faith that “economic uncertainty makes the loan necessary to support your ongoing operations,” which turned out not to be the case for Shake Shack. In the end, the chain, which is publicly traded and employs 8,000 people in 189 restaurants, was able to raise $75 million from shareholders.
That’s precisely why franchise chains and public companies should have been left out of this program, critics argue. Those companies have other ways of raising money.
“That’s the point of being publicly traded ― you don’t have to rely on people you know or a bank loan. You got out and you sell shares,” Fischer said. “Everybody invested in the stock market can get a piece of you.”
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She said that if Congress pours more funding into this program, it should specify that public companies do not qualify. Fischer also pointed out that some hedge funds have also applied for loans, and she suggested that any financial institutions should be blocked from getting government grants and loans.
Florida’s junior Republican senator, Rick Scott, sounded less sanguine than Rubio about the situation, saying millions of dollars are being wasted.
“Right now, companies that are not being harmed at all by the Coronavirus crisis have the ability to receive taxpayer-funded loans that can be forgiven,” Scott said in a statement.
Congressional leaders are racing to hammer out a deal this week that would add billions more to the Paycheck Protection Program. Their tentative agreement would offer another $300 billion in loans with a portion set aside for rural and minority-owned businesses, as well as funds for hospitals, coronavirus testing and disaster relief.
But key sticking points remain. Democrats are still pushing to include aid for states and cities, whose budgets have been badly hit by the crisis, while Republicans and the White House prefer doing so in the next relief package.
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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has urged Congress to immediately replenish the aid to small businesses under the CARES Act. Pool via Getty Images
The Paycheck Protection Program covers two months of payroll costs through a forgivable loan of up to $10 million per company. If the borrower avoids layoffs and uses at least 75% of the funds for payroll during those two months, then it doesn’t have to pay the money back.
But Congress put banks in charge of taking applications and has allowed them to set some rules of their own, such as restricting these paycheck loans to existing customers.
And despite the program’s first-come, first-served design, some companies that applied on the first day said they’re still waiting to be approved.
Tony Roug, owner of a San Francisco bakery, said he applied to Bank of America as soon as the program opened and has no idea whether he’ll receive the funds.
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A spokesman for the bank told HuffPost last week that it has “a team of more than 3,000 people working full-time to process those applications as quickly as possible, including reviewing documents to verify the information provided by each applicant.”
Roug, meanwhile, has dipped into his own savings to pay his 20 employees. He thinks Democratic lawmakers should hold firm on setting more conditions for the loans since banks seem to be setting their own priorities.
“Start from the smallest ones and go up from there,” Roug said. “That would have been a simple way to solve the problem.”


huffpost--2020-04-20--Forget A Recession. Are We Headed Toward A Full-Blown Depression?

Although there are some people who still remember the Great Depression firsthand , most of us have to rely on history books and stories from our grandparents to know what life was like during the greatest economic downturn in modern history .
But given the severe impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on businesses and workers around the world , it ’ s less difficult to imagine it happening again .
Nonessential businesses have been forced to shut down operations , some of which declared bankruptcy or plan to go out of business as a result .
Tens of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of whom can ’ t afford to pay their rent or mortgages and other living expenses .
Schools are closed , and struggling parents are now forced to juggle family finances , child care and homeschooling .
In other words , it ’ s a mess out there .
And many people are wondering if this downward slide will stop at a recession , or worse , cause a depression .
But what does that actually mean ?
Here ’ s a look at the difference between a recession vs. depression , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
However , there are other common indicators as well , such as high unemployment and negative impacts on trade , industrial output , credit availability , the stock market and other variables that measure the health of an economy , according to Ibrahim Shikaki , an assistant professor of economics at Trinity College .
Though it sounds dire , Shikaki explained that economic recessions are actually a normal part of the business cycle in most cases .
In fact , since 1900 , we ’ ve experienced a recession about every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War II , the average recession has lasted 11 months , and that number is skewed longer by the Great Recession , which lasted 18 months .
In other words , we were likely due for a recession soon , even before the pandemic hit .
“ Although there is no exact definition , most economists agree that depressions entail little to no growth for more than a couple of years , significant increases in unemployment , a fall in production and a drastic decline in aggregate demand , ” Shikaki said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and have severe social and psychological repercussions .
Although individual countries have witnessed varied forms of depressions in the last few decades , including Japan , Argentina and Greece , the last global depression was the Great Depression of the 1930s .
During its height , production in the U.S. fell 47 % and the GDP dropped 30 % .
Unemployment exceeded 20 % .
And though the Great Depression lasted about 10 years , from 1929 to 1939 , its impact on economic structures and policy can still be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Depression Of 2020 ?
“ There is no doubt that a recession is underway during this year , with the International Monetary Fund expecting it to be the worst recession since the 1930s , ” Shikaki said .
According to the IMF , global growth in 2020 is projected to fall to -3 % , a sharp downgrade of 6.3 percentage points from January 2020 .
But because of the unique nature of this recession ― namely , the fact that major segments of the economy have been intentionally shut down due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not easy to predict if it will transform into a depression .
Former Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen warned that unemployment numbers in the U.S. could soon reach Depression-era levels .
However , she also believes we should remain hopeful that the country will see a much faster economic recovery because of how strong the U.S. economy was prior to the pandemic .
Eric Sims , a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame , agreed .
“ Generally speaking , the U.S. economy is better positioned to recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than much of the rest of the world , ” he said .
“ The population is , on average , younger than much of the rest of the world , with more mobility , and labor market restrictions are generally lighter , thereby facilitating greater labor reallocation.
” Sims added that the Federal Reserve has a bit more space to provide monetary accommodation than other central banks around the world , such as the European Central Bank or the Bank of Japan .
For example , the Fed recently lowered its target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the Great Recession ― and implemented a $ 700 billion quantitative easing program to stimulate borrowing and investing .
However , how effective those measures are against an unprecedented global pandemic is yet to be determined .
From a glass-half-empty perspective , the number of jobs lost today far exceed any previous recession .
More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits within the last four weeks .
“ To put this into context , the Great Recession of 2008 resulted in less than 9 million jobs lost , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to forecast how many of these workers will return to the job market and how fast.
” The outcome will rely on how long the closure lasts , how confident the private sector and consumers are in the government ’ s response , and whether there will be serious disruptions in the global supply chain .
“ With many recoveries that followed recessions , there is an ever-increasing level of economic and income inequality , ” Shikaki said .
Why ?
First , he said , many of the workers who return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower-paying jobs .
Second , the majority of money disbursed as part of economic stimulus packages eventually ends up in the hands of those who need it least .
“ In a society where the top 1 % earns more than a quarter of total income and owns almost half of total wealth , it would not be surprising that these assets will benefit the upper-income classes , deepening the inequality problem even more , ” Shakiki said .
The old adage is that a recession is when your neighbor loses his job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose yours .
Regardless of which one we officially reach , it ’ s becoming clear that low interest rates and a $ 1,200 check won ’ t be enough to fix the financial hardship that millions of Americans are experiencing today .

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Although there are some people who still remember the Great Depression firsthand, most of us have to rely on history books and stories from our grandparents to know what life was like during the greatest economic downturn in modern history. But given the severe impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on businesses and workers around the world, it’s less difficult to imagine it happening again.
Nonessential businesses have been forced to shut down operations, some of which declared bankruptcy or plan to go out of business as a result. Tens of millions of Americans are out of work, many of whom can’t afford to pay their rent or mortgages and other living expenses. Schools are closed, and struggling parents are now forced to juggle family finances, child care and homeschooling.
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In other words, it’s a mess out there. And many people are wondering if this downward slide will stop at a recession, or worse, cause a depression. But what does that actually mean? Here’s a look at the difference between a recession vs. depression, and which one is most likely to happen.
Definition Of A Recession
At a high level, a recession is defined as a period of economic decline within a certain region. More specifically, the most common marker of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, as measured by the gross domestic product, or GDP.
However, there are other common indicators as well, such as high unemployment and negative impacts on trade, industrial output, credit availability, the stock market and other variables that measure the health of an economy, according to Ibrahim Shikaki, an assistant professor of economics at Trinity College.
Though it sounds dire, Shikaki explained that economic recessions are actually a normal part of the business cycle in most cases. In fact, since 1900, we’ve experienced a recession about every four years, on average. Since World War II, the average recession has lasted 11 months, and that number is skewed longer by the Great Recession, which lasted 18 months. In other words, we were likely due for a recession soon, even before the pandemic hit.
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A Depression Is Tougher To Define
Economic depressions are much less common and more severe than recessions. Because they happen so infrequently, the definition is harder to nail down.
“Although there is no exact definition, most economists agree that depressions entail little to no growth for more than a couple of years, significant increases in unemployment, a fall in production and a drastic decline in aggregate demand,” Shikaki said. Depressions also produce structural distortions in the economy and have severe social and psychological repercussions.
Although individual countries have witnessed varied forms of depressions in the last few decades, including Japan, Argentina and Greece, the last global depression was the Great Depression of the 1930s. During its height, production in the U.S. fell 47% and the GDP dropped 30%. Unemployment exceeded 20%. And though the Great Depression lasted about 10 years, from 1929 to 1939, its impact on economic structures and policy can still be seen today.
Are We Headed Toward A Great Depression Of 2020?
“There is no doubt that a recession is underway during this year, with the International Monetary Fund expecting it to be the worst recession since the 1930s,” Shikaki said. According to the IMF, global growth in 2020 is projected to fall to -3%, a sharp downgrade of 6.3 percentage points from January 2020.
But because of the unique nature of this recession ― namely, the fact that major segments of the economy have been intentionally shut down due to the public health crisis ― it’s not easy to predict if it will transform into a depression.
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Former Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen warned that unemployment numbers in the U.S. could soon reach Depression-era levels. However, she also believes we should remain hopeful that the country will see a much faster economic recovery because of how strong the U.S. economy was prior to the pandemic.
“On the optimistic side, one can argue that the 1930s taught us much about the role of fiscal and monetary policies, both of which have been utilized (relatively) successfully,” Shikaki said.
Eric Sims, a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame, agreed. “Generally speaking, the U.S. economy is better positioned to recover from large shocks and potential longer-run shifts than much of the rest of the world,” he said. “The population is, on average, younger than much of the rest of the world, with more mobility, and labor market restrictions are generally lighter, thereby facilitating greater labor reallocation.”
Sims added that the Federal Reserve has a bit more space to provide monetary accommodation than other central banks around the world, such as the European Central Bank or the Bank of Japan. For example, the Fed recently lowered its target rate to 0% ― its lowest since the Great Recession ― and implemented a $700 billion quantitative easing program to stimulate borrowing and investing. However, how effective those measures are against an unprecedented global pandemic is yet to be determined.
From a glass-half-empty perspective, the number of jobs lost today far exceed any previous recession. More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits within the last four weeks. “To put this into context, the Great Recession of 2008 resulted in less than 9 million jobs lost,” Shikaki said. “There is no way to forecast how many of these workers will return to the job market and how fast.” The outcome will rely on how long the closure lasts, how confident the private sector and consumers are in the government’s response, and whether there will be serious disruptions in the global supply chain.
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Regardless of whether the looming recession eventually transforms into a depression, irreversible damage is already being done, as is the case with most major downturns.
“With many recoveries that followed recessions, there is an ever-increasing level of economic and income inequality,” Shikaki said. Why? First, he said, many of the workers who return to the labor market end up in lower-paying jobs. Second, the majority of money disbursed as part of economic stimulus packages eventually ends up in the hands of those who need it least. “In a society where the top 1% earns more than a quarter of total income and owns almost half of total wealth, it would not be surprising that these assets will benefit the upper-income classes, deepening the inequality problem even more,” Shakiki said.