huffpost--2020-06-01--Stop Confusing The Stock Market With The Economy

By all the usual measures , stocks should be going down in value .
The coronavirus pandemic still has many businesses shuttered , some of which have been forced to file for bankruptcy or go out of business completely .
Unemployment rose sharply over the past two months , reaching nearly 20 % , the highest it ’ s been since the Great Depression .
And we likely haven ’ t experienced the full financial ripple effect of the shutdown .
One of the most widely recognized measures of economic activity is gross domestic product , which represents the monetary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country during a specific time period .
GDP essentially provides a snapshot of the economy ’ s size and growth rate .
An ideal GDP growth rate is around 2 % -3 % per year .
However , the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that U.S. GDP actually decreased by 5 % in the first quarter of 2020 .
According to the latest report , the number of unemployed Americans rose by 15.9 million to 23.1 million in April .
That ’ s the sharpest month-over-month increase since the BLS started tracking this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , new unemployment claims are still highly elevated , though they are substantially down from the 6.9 million claims filed in the last full week of March .
“ Typically , new unemployment claims peak about two months before the economy hits bottom , ” Milan said .
“ Should that hold true with the current April high , we should see the bottom in June.
” Daily federal tax receipts are also a good gauge of overall economic health , according to Milan , because they show the depth and breadth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first quarter of 2020 , before the COVID-19 crisis really took hold , receipts were up 19.7 % compared to 2015 , a range used for comparison because the date/month cycle is identical .
Why Is The Stock Market On The Rise ?
“ Tying the performance of the economy to the performance of the stock market assumes that what happens in the economy is accurately and promptly reflected in stock prices , ” said Mark Carlton , a chartered financial analyst and portfolio manager at Trademark Financial Management .
As you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presently the case .
Indeed , industries that took a major dive after the coronavirus hit are crawling their way back .
Hotel occupancy is back up as of May , as are gas purchases .
On May 31 , airport security checkpoints cleared 352,947 passengers , more than four times as many travelers as the lowest point on April 14 .
The number of prospective homebuyers contacting affiliated agents is now above pre-COVID-19 levels , while there were also two straight weekly increases in mortgage applications in May .
Uber , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the pandemic , stated rides were up for three consecutive weeks in early May and on track to continue increasing .
Why The Stock Market Isn ’ t Representative Of The Overall Economy The market reflects the circumstances of the largest companies in the economy .
The Dow Jones , for instance , is made up of just 30 major corporations .
The five largest U.S. companies ( all mega-growth technology companies ) make up 20 % of the S & P 500 Index and have been holding up much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
“ These firms may be experiencing conditions far different from much smaller companies , ” Carlton said .
“ Access to credit , multiple business lines , product and labor adaptability are just some of the advantages that larger companies have.
” And in the age of companies with $ 1 trillion market capitalization , such as Apple and Amazon , that may be truer than ever .
Small businesses ― independent companies with fewer than 500 employees ― are considered the lifeblood of the U.S. economy .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of net new jobs and generate 44 % of U.S. economic activity , according to data from the Small Business Administration .
Yet they don ’ t have the same representation in the stock market , Cobb said .
“ That means the U.S. stock market only represents a portion of U.S. employment and does not entirely reflect how economic gains are distributed throughout the economy.
” Measures taken by the government and Federal Reserve have also done a lot to bolster confidence for investors , but not necessarily for consumers .
Particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut rates back down to 0 % is good news for the stock market , as low interest rates boost the present value of future earnings .
In theory , low rates can also help consumers by making it cheaper to borrow money , which frees up funds to spend and invest .
But if people don ’ t have jobs ( i.e.
, income ) , their money goes to putting food on the table and paying bills before buying homes and stocks .
The stock market is also often driven by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing objectively .
“ Narrative pulls investor dollars in or it scares [ them ] out , and the prevailing narrative can change in a hurry , ” Carlton said .
“ We always attribute gains and losses to something concrete , like China or retail sales .
But in truth , it is about the willingness of buyers and sellers at that time to accept a trade on the other ’ s terms .
”

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Stock market performance has long been used as a barometer for the health of the overall economy. For example, the president regularly points to the Dow Jones Industrial Average performance as evidence that Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of wealth.
The stock market crash that occurred in early March as a response to the coronavirus pandemic appears to be more of a correction now that stocks are back on the rise. So all must be well with the economy, right?
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If you ask the nearly 40 million workers who have filed for unemployment benefits, or the third of Americans who were unable to pay their rent or mortgage last month, nothing could be further from the truth.
“Right now, it seems there are two rather stark American realities,” said Daniel Milan, managing partner of Cornerstone Financial Services. “In one, investors are experiencing a prosperous and promising outlook. The other one, felt by millions of American workers, is fraught with economic loss and vast uncertainty.”
By all the usual measures, stocks should be going down in value. The coronavirus pandemic still has many businesses shuttered, some of which have been forced to file for bankruptcy or go out of business completely. Unemployment rose sharply over the past two months, reaching nearly 20%, the highest it’s been since the Great Depression. And we likely haven’t experienced the full financial ripple effect of the shutdown.
Even so, stocks have essentially recovered from March lows, making the three-day bear market from March 23-26 the shortest one in history, Milan said. In fact, over the last two months, major U.S. stock indices have averaged a 34% return from the depths of the market downturn on March 23.
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“Frankly, the market is in a confusing spot right now,” Milan said. So how can it be that the stock market appears in great shape while the U.S. economy is still sputtering?
Defining ‘The Economy’
“At the most basic level, the economy is the production and consumption of goods and services. It encompasses all individuals, companies and the government,” explained Lacey Cobb, a chartered financial analyst, certified financial planner and director of advice solutions at Personal Capital.
One of the most widely recognized measures of economic activity is gross domestic product, which represents the monetary value of all finished goods within a country during a specific time period. GDP essentially provides a snapshot of the economy’s size and growth rate. An ideal GDP growth rate is around 2%-3% per year. However, the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that U.S. GDP actually decreased by 5% in the first quarter of 2020.
Another indicator that’s probably most relevant to the average American is the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This shows the net total of jobs gained minus jobs lost.
According to the latest report, the number of unemployed Americans rose by 15.9 million to 23.1 million in April. That’s the sharpest month-over-month increase since the BLS started tracking this data in 1948. As a result, new unemployment claims are still highly elevated, though they are substantially down from the 6.9 million claims filed in the last full week of March. “Typically, new unemployment claims peak about two months before the economy hits bottom,” Milan said. “Should that hold true with the current April high, we should see the bottom in June.”
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Daily federal tax receipts are also a good gauge of overall economic health, according to Milan, because they show the depth and breadth of our employment income situation. In the first quarter of 2020, before the COVID-19 crisis really took hold, receipts were up 19.7% compared to 2015, a range used for comparison because the date/month cycle is identical.
However, receipts in April 2020 were up just 2.6% versus 2015 data. In other words, “economic activity fell off a cliff,” Milan said. Even so, he noted that these economic indicators that lag equity markets are starting to show progress.
Why Is The Stock Market On The Rise?
The stock market is an exchange where the buying, selling and issuance of shares in publicly held companies takes place. Stock values are largely based on what is expected to happen in the future rather than what’s occurring right now.
“Tying the performance of the economy to the performance of the stock market assumes that what happens in the economy is accurately and promptly reflected in stock prices,” said Mark Carlton, a chartered financial analyst and portfolio manager at Trademark Financial Management. As you might have noticed, that’s not presently the case.
Because the market is forward-looking, it explains why stock values are on their way back up despite our weak economy. As cities begin to open back up and businesses resume operations, there is optimism that production and jobs will return to pre-crisis levels.
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Indeed, industries that took a major dive after the coronavirus hit are crawling their way back. Hotel occupancy is back up as of May, as are gas purchases. On May 31, airport security checkpoints cleared 352,947 passengers, more than four times as many travelers as the lowest point on April 14. The number of prospective homebuyers contacting affiliated agents is now above pre-COVID-19 levels, while there were also two straight weekly increases in mortgage applications in May. Uber, which lost 80% of its business in the wake of the pandemic, stated rides were up for three consecutive weeks in early May and on track to continue increasing.
Why The Stock Market Isn’t Representative Of The Overall Economy
The fact that the stock market is a leading economic indicator isn’t the only reason there’s often a disconnect between it and the overall economy.
The market reflects the circumstances of the largest companies in the economy. The Dow Jones, for instance, is made up of just 30 major corporations. The five largest U.S. companies (all mega-growth technology companies) make up 20% of the S&P 500 Index and have been holding up much better than the majority of other companies during the pandemic.
“These firms may be experiencing conditions far different from much smaller companies,” Carlton said. “Access to credit, multiple business lines, product and labor adaptability are just some of the advantages that larger companies have.” And in the age of companies with $1 trillion market capitalization, such as Apple and Amazon, that may be truer than ever.
Small businesses ― independent companies with fewer than 500 employees ― are considered the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. In fact, small businesses account for two-thirds of net new jobs and generate 44% of U.S. economic activity, according to data from the Small Business Administration. Yet they don’t have the same representation in the stock market, Cobb said. “That means the U.S. stock market only represents a portion of U.S. employment and does not entirely reflect how economic gains are distributed throughout the economy.”
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Measures taken by the government and Federal Reserve have also done a lot to bolster confidence for investors, but not necessarily for consumers. Particularly, the Fed’s decision to cut rates back down to 0% is good news for the stock market, as low interest rates boost the present value of future earnings. In theory, low rates can also help consumers by making it cheaper to borrow money, which frees up funds to spend and invest. But if people don’t have jobs (i.e., income), their money goes to putting food on the table and paying bills before buying homes and stocks.
The stock market is also often driven by narrative and not necessarily how the economy is doing objectively. “Narrative pulls investor dollars in or it scares [them] out, and the prevailing narrative can change in a hurry,” Carlton said. “We always attribute gains and losses to something concrete, like China or retail sales. But in truth, it is about the willingness of buyers and sellers at that time to accept a trade on the other’s terms.”
Not to mention, individual stocks are largely held by the most affluent investors ― the same people who are least likely to be impacted by an economic downturn. In fact, a staggering 84% of all stocks owned by Americans belong to the wealthiest 10% of households.


huffpost--2020-06-02--Of Course Donald Trump Gassed Americans For A Photo-Op

Standing in front of the historic St. John ’ s Episcopal Church on H Street across from the White House , President Donald Trump held a Bible in his hand like one of his patented Trump Steaks .
The church , which every president since James Madison has attended at least once , suffered minor damage after a fire was set amid protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police .
“ It ’ s a Bible , ” Trump said as he shifted the book into different positions for the photographers .
The cameras had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he ’ d delivered an address to the American public , promising to send the U.S. military into states that did not deploy “ an overwhelming law enforcement presence ” to end protests , whether governors asked for troops or not .
In order for Trump to be able to walk to the church ― and to provide a backing track for his menacing speech ― National Guardsmen opened fire with tear gas , flash-bang grenades and pepper pellets on a peaceful demonstration just outside the White House .
Protesters were gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and others to stop police brutality and anti-Black racism ; instead , they wound up being pushed off the street by military police on horseback and driving back by tear gas well before the city ’ s 7 p.m. curfew .
Staging presentations for television is what the president does .
Trump , who played upon his image as a successful businessman on a reality TV show before becoming president , does not see himself as anything but the lead actor in a drama about himself .
He does not see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World leaders are supporting actors .
The rest of us are extras .
He gasses us and sets the military against us to color the background of his speeches .
Our cries are just off-camera background .
The same president boasted about TV ratings of his White House coronavirus briefings as more than 100,000 Americans died of COVID-19 , showing that human lives aren ’ t as important as his image .
He does this because this is who he is ― and only who he is .
The only way to explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen .
Trump ’ s career as a real estate mogul and cosmopolitan Manhattan playboy launched just as television had conquered American news and with it the American mind in the mid-1970s .
The destructive intrusion into the news business by corporate executives is best captured in the brilliant 1976 film “ Network , ” written by Paddy Chayefsky , in which unscrupulous executives ride the ratings success of their storied newscaster ’ s mental breakdown until he causes them too much trouble and they have him assassinated by similarly unscrupulous left-wing radicals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hell , ” but he ’ s is not like Network ’ s central character , Howard Beale , the “ mad prophet of the airwaves , ” played by Peter Finch , who is seduced by the right-wing utopian corporate ideology of his station ’ s owner , Arthur Jensen , before being murdered for turning his rants against Saudi investments in Jensen ’ s businesses .
No , Trump is the amoral , manic and attention deficit disordered network executive Diana Christensen ( a peak Faye Dunaway role ) .
Christensen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate gratification ― whether it be from the ratings of her shows or in the bedroom .
She corrupts left-wing radicals with promises to bring their message to the silver screen .
And she takes on Max Schumacher ( William Holden ) , the grizzled veteran reporter and friend of Beale , as a lover .
He leaves his wife for her , but he ’ s just another brief interruption .
Before the film ’ s climax with Christensen orchestrating the assassination of Beale ― for ratings and to appease corporate higher-ups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his devastating break-up speech , he explains what the obsession of television does to the human soul .
His monologue also perfectly captures Trump .
“ You ’ re television incarnate , ” Max says .
“ Indifferent to suffering ; insensitive to joy .
All of life is reduced to the common rubble of banality .
War , murder , death are all the same to you as bottles of beer .
And the daily business of life is a corrupt comedy.
” Schumacher ’ s assault on Christensen ends as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ happy ending.
” He ’ ll return to his wife , “ with whom he has established a long and sustaining love .
Heartless young woman left alone in her arctic desolation .
Music up with a swell ; final commercial .
And here are a few scenes from next week ’ s show .
”

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Standing in front of the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on H Street across from the White House, President Donald Trump held a Bible in his hand like one of his patented Trump Steaks. The church, which every president since James Madison has attended at least once, suffered minor damage after a fire was set amid protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. “It’s a Bible,” Trump said as he shifted the book into different positions for the photographers.
The cameras had followed him from the White House, where he’d delivered an address to the American public, promising to send the U.S. military into states that did not deploy “an overwhelming law enforcement presence” to end protests, whether governors asked for troops or not.
Advertisement
In order for Trump to be able to walk to the church ― and to provide a backing track for his menacing speech ― National Guardsmen opened fire with tear gas, flash-bang grenades and pepper pellets on a peaceful demonstration just outside the White House. Protesters were gathered in Lafayette Park to plead for the president and others to stop police brutality and anti-Black racism; instead, they wound up being pushed off the street by military police on horseback and driving back by tear gas well before the city’s 7 p.m. curfew.
All so Trump could get the perfect image to show he’s not hiding in a bunker as America is in crisis.
Staging presentations for television is what the president does. Trump, who played upon his image as a successful businessman on a reality TV show before becoming president, does not see himself as anything but the lead actor in a drama about himself. He does not see the world as anything but a set. World leaders are supporting actors. The rest of us are extras. He gasses us and sets the military against us to color the background of his speeches. Our cries are just off-camera background. The same president boasted about TV ratings of his White House coronavirus briefings as more than 100,000 Americans died of COVID-19, showing that human lives aren’t as important as his image.
He does this because this is who he is ― and only who he is. The only way to explain him, therefore, is through the screen.
Advertisement
Trump’s career as a real estate mogul and cosmopolitan Manhattan playboy launched just as television had conquered American news and with it the American mind in the mid-1970s. The destructive intrusion into the news business by corporate executives is best captured in the brilliant 1976 film “Network,” written by Paddy Chayefsky, in which unscrupulous executives ride the ratings success of their storied newscaster’s mental breakdown until he causes them too much trouble and they have him assassinated by similarly unscrupulous left-wing radicals.
President Donald Trump walks past police in riot gear in Lafayette Park after he stood for photos Monday in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. Patrick Semansky/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trump might be “mad as hell,” but he’s is not like Network’s central character, Howard Beale, the “mad prophet of the airwaves,” played by Peter Finch, who is seduced by the right-wing utopian corporate ideology of his station’s owner, Arthur Jensen, before being murdered for turning his rants against Saudi investments in Jensen’s businesses.
No, Trump is the amoral, manic and attention deficit disordered network executive Diana Christensen (a peak Faye Dunaway role). Christensen doesn’t care about anything except immediate gratification ― whether it be from the ratings of her shows or in the bedroom. She corrupts left-wing radicals with promises to bring their message to the silver screen. And she takes on Max Schumacher (William Holden), the grizzled veteran reporter and friend of Beale, as a lover. He leaves his wife for her, but he’s just another brief interruption.
Before the film’s climax with Christensen orchestrating the assassination of Beale ― for ratings and to appease corporate higher-ups ― Schumacher breaks up with her. In his devastating break-up speech, he explains what the obsession of television does to the human soul. His monologue also perfectly captures Trump.
Advertisement
“You’re television incarnate,” Max says. “Indifferent to suffering; insensitive to joy. All of life is reduced to the common rubble of banality. War, murder, death are all the same to you as bottles of beer. And the daily business of life is a corrupt comedy.”
“You’re madness,” Max finishes. “Virulent madness. And everything you touch dies with you.”
Schumacher’s assault on Christensen ends as he says that it’s a “happy ending.” He’ll return to his wife, “with whom he has established a long and sustaining love. Heartless young woman left alone in her arctic desolation. Music up with a swell; final commercial. And here are a few scenes from next week’s show.”


huffpost--2020-06-02--Reggie Watts Breaks Down In Heartbreaking Chat With James Corden About Racism

Reggie Watts , the bandleader on “ The Late Late Show , ” broke down in tears on Monday ’ s episode during an emotional conversation with host James Corden about racism .
Watts cried after recalling his family ’ s experiences of discrimination , noting his father had to reenlist in the U.S. Army and return to Vietnam after failing to find a job because he was Black .
“ I ’ m so sorry that you ’ re feeling this , ” he told his colleague .
“ I would give anything to be in a room with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I would so much .
I would give anything to put my arm around you.
” Corden started the broadcast by commenting on the wave of anger that has spread nationwide following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week .
Floyd , a Black man , died after a white police officer knelt on his neck .
Corden acknowledged he ’ d been “ struggling all weekend wondering what to say to you here tonight , because who needs my opinion ?
Why is my voice relevant ?
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s part of the problem .
People like me have to speak up , ” Corden said , noting that “ white people can not just say anymore , ‘ yeah I am not racist ’ and think that that ’ s enough , because it ’ s not .
It ’ s not enough .
Because make no mistake this is our problem to solve .
”

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Reggie Watts, the bandleader on “The Late Late Show,” broke down in tears on Monday’s episode during an emotional conversation with host James Corden about racism.
Watts cried after recalling his family’s experiences of discrimination, noting his father had to reenlist in the U.S. Army and return to Vietnam after failing to find a job because he was Black.
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“It’s hard,” said Watts. “There’s so much happening.”
Corden also teared up.
“I’m so sorry that you’re feeling this,” he told his colleague. “I would give anything to be in a room with you and put my arm around you. I would so much. I would give anything to put my arm around you.”
The late night show is being produced remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Corden started the broadcast by commenting on the wave of anger that has spread nationwide following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. Floyd, a Black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Corden acknowledged he’d been “struggling all weekend wondering what to say to you here tonight, because who needs my opinion? Why is my voice relevant?”
“And then I realized that that’s part of the problem. People like me have to speak up,” Corden said, noting that “white people cannot just say anymore, ‘yeah I am not racist’ and think that that’s enough, because it’s not. It’s not enough. Because make no mistake this is our problem to solve.”
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huffpost--2020-06-02--7 Races To Watch On The First Big Primary Day Of The Pandemic

Indiana , Iowa , Maryland , Montana , New Mexico , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island and South Dakota are all holding primaries on Tuesday .
Races across the eight states will point to additional signs about the direction of both the Democratic and Republican parties .
Will Republicans tolerate Trump-like rhetoric on race from a candidate other than Donald Trump ?
Does Democrats ’ preference for Joe Biden-like moderation translate down-ballot ?
How does the shift to vote-by-mail impact pandemic-era turnout ?
The highest-profile contest is likely in rural northwest Iowa , where GOP Rep. Steve King , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is trying to fend off a challenge from a fellow Republican .
Meanwhile , the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is up for grabs , with Washington Democrats spending heavily to get their favored candidate over the finish line .
None of Tuesday ’ s contests are likely to reveal much about how American politics will shift following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody and the resulting protests .
Mail-in ballots mean many people voted before Floyd ’ s death , and most of the races are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mainstream Republicans have had it with GOP Rep. Steve King , whose embrace of white nationalist rhetoric has made him one of the House ’ s best-known and least-powerful members .
King , who nearly lost his deeply conservative district in rural Northwest Iowa to Democrat J.D .
Scholten in 2018 , is now facing a well-financed challenger , Iowa state Senate President Randy Feenstra , who has the backing of nearly every establishment Republican whose endorsement matters .
As HuffPost ’ s Christopher Mathias wrote this week , the effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his racist rhetoric , instead arguing King would hurt other Republicans politically and is unable to effectively advocate for his district because he no longer serves on committees .
( King has claimed he may be able to reclaim his committee spots in the next Congress . )
Third-party nominations almost never matter in American politics , but the race in Montana might be a rare exception .
Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock ’ s late entrance into the race against GOP Sen. Steve Daines instantly moved this reelection contest from afterthought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has a high approval rating and has won statewide twice , is seen as the only Democrat in the state who could defeat Daines .
Operatives in both parties believe the race could make or break control of the Senate .
This primary is expected to be close , and third-party voters could be crucial .
Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester won in both 2006 and 2012 with less than half of the vote because Libertarian candidates drew small but significant percentages .
Republicans are hoping to damage Bullock ’ s chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP spent at least $ 100,000 to help the Green Party qualify for the ballot , hoping to draw away a crucial sliver of liberal-leaning voters .
Here ’ s the twist : Two people are running for the Green Party ’ s nomination .
One , retired college professor Dennis Daneke , has promised to drop out of the race if nominated in order to clear the way for Bullock .
Go Green Montana , a PAC linked to a GOP consulting firm , meanwhile , has spent tens of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling Daneke a “ puppet of big Democrats.
” One of the toughest House seats for Democrats to hold in 2020 will be New Mexico ’ s 2nd District , which covers the rural southern half of the state , where the economy is based around oil and gas production .
Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small , a 35-year-old Latina lawyer , defeated Republican Yvette Herrell by fewer than 4,000 votes in 2018 , one of the best years for Democrats in recent political memory .
This time around , Herrell is battling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Democrats have decided Herrell would be the weaker candidate because of her voting record in New Mexico ’ s legislature .
Two Democratic outside groups ― one affiliated with EMILY ’ s List , the other a little-known super PAC ― have paid for advertising highlighting Facebook posts Chase made insulting Trump as an “ asshole unworthy of the office.
” Will Valerie Plame Make It To Congress ?
Instead , it appears a relative moderate ― 16-year Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. ― is the clear favorite to claim the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name identification advantage .
McDermott , a charter school backer who was considering a primary challenge to Viscloscky because of the incumbent ’ s support for Trump ’ s impeachment , has the support of both former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg and former Sen. Joe Donnelly , and has raised twice as much as his closest competitor .

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Tuesday marks the first major multistate election day since the earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, with the nominations for critical House and Senate races up for grabs and a number of nationally known politicians at risk of losing their seats.
Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota are all holding primaries on Tuesday. Races across the eight states will point to additional signs about the direction of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Will Republicans tolerate Trump-like rhetoric on race from a candidate other than Donald Trump? Does Democrats’ preference for Joe Biden-like moderation translate down-ballot? How does the shift to vote-by-mail impact pandemic-era turnout?
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The highest-profile contest is likely in rural northwest Iowa, where GOP Rep. Steve King, who has a long history of racist remarks, is trying to fend off a challenge from a fellow Republican. Meanwhile, the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is up for grabs, with Washington Democrats spending heavily to get their favored candidate over the finish line.
In New Mexico, former CIA agent Valerie Plame ― a Bush-era liberal darling ― is struggling to win the Democratic nomination in a district centered around Santa Fe. In the state’s southern half, Democrats are interfering in an already brutal Republican primary, hoping to pick an opponent for one of the GOP’s most vulnerable House members.
And in Montana, a third-party primary where it’s unlikely more than a few thousand votes will be cast could play a crucial role in determining control of the U.S. Senate.
None of Tuesday’s contests are likely to reveal much about how American politics will shift following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody and the resulting protests. Mail-in ballots mean many people voted before Floyd’s death, and most of the races are taking place far from major urban centers.
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Here are seven races to watch on Tuesday:
Can Rep. Steve King Survive?
Mainstream Republicans have had it with GOP Rep. Steve King, whose embrace of white nationalist rhetoric has made him one of the House’s best-known and least-powerful members. King, who nearly lost his deeply conservative district in rural Northwest Iowa to Democrat J.D. Scholten in 2018, is now facing a well-financed challenger, Iowa state Senate President Randy Feenstra, who has the backing of nearly every establishment Republican whose endorsement matters.
As HuffPost’s Christopher Mathias wrote this week, the effort to oust King has largely avoided focusing on his racist rhetoric, instead arguing King would hurt other Republicans politically and is unable to effectively advocate for his district because he no longer serves on committees. (King has claimed he may be able to reclaim his committee spots in the next Congress.)
There’s been limited public polling of the race, but what is available shows a tight contest, with the possibilities that minor candidates could deny Feenstra the votes to seize the nomination from King.
Democrats would prefer that Scholten face King, a weaker candidate, in the November general election.
The Tiny Primary With A Big Sky Impact
Third-party nominations almost never matter in American politics, but the race in Montana might be a rare exception. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s late entrance into the race against GOP Sen. Steve Daines instantly moved this reelection contest from afterthought to the political center stage. Bullock, who has a high approval rating and has won statewide twice, is seen as the only Democrat in the state who could defeat Daines. Operatives in both parties believe the race could make or break control of the Senate.
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This primary is expected to be close, and third-party voters could be crucial. Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester won in both 2006 and 2012 with less than half of the vote because Libertarian candidates drew small but significant percentages. Republicans are hoping to damage Bullock’s chances in a similar fashion ― the Montana GOP spent at least $100,000 to help the Green Party qualify for the ballot, hoping to draw away a crucial sliver of liberal-leaning voters.
Here’s the twist: Two people are running for the Green Party’s nomination. One, retired college professor Dennis Daneke, has promised to drop out of the race if nominated in order to clear the way for Bullock. Go Green Montana, a PAC linked to a GOP consulting firm, meanwhile, has spent tens of thousands of dollars promoting rival candidate Wendie Fredrickson and calling Daneke a “puppet of big Democrats.”
In 2018, a mere 1,500 people voted in the Green Party primary for Senate. A similar number of people could end up having an enormous sway over which party ends up controlling the Senate in 2021.
Elsewhere in Montana, there are competitive primaries in both parties for the gubernatorial nomination ― Democrats have held the state’s governorship for the past 16 years, even as Republicans have dominated on the presidential level and seized control of the state legislature.
On the GOP side, Rep. Greg Gianforte ― who made national news for assaulting a reporter in 2017 ― has deployed his personal fortune and is now favored against Attorney General Tim Fox. The Democratic primary, meanwhile, pits Lt. Gov Mike Cooney against businessperson Whitney Williams. Cooney has the backing of Tester and Bullock, while EMILY’s List has spent aggressively for Williams.
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Iowa’s Democratic Senate Primary
Theresa Greenfield, the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is expected to win. But she needs to earn more than 35% of the vote in a four-way race to avoid having to secure the nomination at a convention later this summer.
Iowa, where GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is running for reelection, is expected to be a major Senate battleground ― both parties have reserved millions of dollars of television time in the state for the fall. Republicans hope a weaker-than-expected performance by Greenfield could prevent the party from focusing its fire on Ernst early.
The DSCC’s early endorsement of Greenfield, a political neophyte and small-business owner who made an aborted run for Congress in 2018, irritated some local Democrats. Two men have succeeded in running relatively serious campaigns for the nomination: retired Navy Vice Adm. Mike Franken and businessperson Eddie Mauro.
While national Democratic groups allied with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have spent more than $10 million boosting Greenfield, Franken managed to generate buzz by earning the endorsement of the Des Moines Register, and Mauro has run ads attacking her. EMILY’s List ― rare among Democratic groups for its willingness to go negative during primaries ― has aired ads attacking both men.
Democrats Meddle in New Mexico
One of the toughest House seats for Democrats to hold in 2020 will be New Mexico’s 2nd District, which covers the rural southern half of the state, where the economy is based around oil and gas production. Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, a 35-year-old Latina lawyer, defeated Republican Yvette Herrell by fewer than 4,000 votes in 2018, one of the best years for Democrats in recent political memory.
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This time around, Herrell is battling businessperson Claire Chase for the GOP nomination, and Democrats have decided Herrell would be the weaker candidate because of her voting record in New Mexico’s legislature. Two Democratic outside groups ― one affiliated with EMILY’s List, the other a little-known super PAC ― have paid for advertising highlighting Facebook posts Chase made insulting Trump as an “asshole unworthy of the office.”
At the same time, Republicans allied with Chase have fired back with ads alleging Herrell plotted to deny Trump the GOP nomination. Democrats are hoping the contentious primary, which was already nasty before their meddling, will increase Torres Small’s chances of holding the seat.
Will Valerie Plame Make It To Congress?
The battle between former CIA agent Valerie Plame and local activist Teresa Leger Fernandez for the Democratic nomination in New Mexico’s 3rd District, which covers Santa Fe and the state’s north, is essentially a ticket to Congress.
It’s a race where the battle lines have been clear for a while: Leger Fernandez has paired her stronger ties to the district with endorsements from Washington-based liberal groups and progressive politicians ― Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorsed her on Monday ― while Plame has used her fame to gain a financial advantage and air additional television ads.
The most recent polling in the race shows Leger Fernandez with a slight edge.
A Moderate Might Walk Into Congress
Indiana Democratic Rep. Pete Viscloscky’s retirement after more than three decades in Congress should have provided a major opportunity for the left to seize his safely Democratic seat representing Northwest Indiana, an area known simply as “the region” that has more ties to Chicago than it does to Indianapolis.
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Instead, it appears a relative moderate ― 16-year Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. ― is the clear favorite to claim the seat, thanks to a financial and name identification advantage. McDermott, a charter school backer who was considering a primary challenge to Viscloscky because of the incumbent’s support for Trump’s impeachment, has the support of both former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg and former Sen. Joe Donnelly, and has raised twice as much as his closest competitor.
Viscloscky, however, is backing North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan, and also helped Mrvan secure the support of the influential steelworkers’ union. Meanwhile, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ BOLD PAC is supporting state Sen. Mara Candelaria Reardon, who is seen as the most progressive candidate in the race with a shot at winning. Reardon made news when she was one of the first women to accuse Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of sexual harassment. There are 11 other candidates on a crowded primary ballot.
Steny Hoyer Faces His Version Of AOC
House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer, who represents a Maryland district centered around the majority-black Washington suburb of Prince George’s County, is facing a challenge from the left from McKayla Wilkes, a 29-year-old African American mother of two. The race has drawn comparisons with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s successful primary challenge of Joe Crowley during the 2018 midterms.


huffpost--2020-06-02--Josina Anderson And ESPN Parting Ways, Report Says

NFL reporter Josina Anderson is out at ESPN after almost nine years with the sports network , the New York Post reported Monday .
Her departure has nothing to do with cost-cutting tied to the coronavirus pandemic , the tabloid said .
Anderson had remained publicly silent on the matter as of Tuesday morning .
The network declined to comment on Tuesday and Anderson did not immediately return a request for comment .
In November , Anderson apologized after a pair of controversial tweets about an ugly incident in which Cleveland ’ s Myles Garrett hit Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who appears on the network ’ s “ SportsCenter , ” “ NFL Live , ” “ Sunday NFL Countdown ” and “ Fantasy Football Now , ” will be replaced en masse by Field Yates , Jeremy Fowler , Dan Graziano , Dianna Russini and former Yahoo Sports reporter Kimberley Martin , the Post noted .
Josina Anderson has been with ESPN for nearly nine years .
USA Today noted that the news of Anderson parting ways with the outlet follows the recent departures of Adam Amin and Emmanuel Acho for Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jason Whitlock ’ s expired contract was not renewed for his co-host gig on Fox Sports 1′s “ Speak for Yourself.
” “ We wish him the best in his future endeavors , ” a Fox Sports spokesperson told The Wrap on Monday .

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NFL reporter Josina Anderson is out at ESPN after almost nine years with the sports network, the New York Post reported Monday.
Her departure has nothing to do with cost-cutting tied to the coronavirus pandemic, the tabloid said.
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Anderson had remained publicly silent on the matter as of Tuesday morning. The network declined to comment on Tuesday and Anderson did not immediately return a request for comment.
In November, Anderson apologized after a pair of controversial tweets about an ugly incident in which Cleveland’s Myles Garrett hit Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with his own helmet.
Anderson, who appears on the network’s “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live,” “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “Fantasy Football Now,” will be replaced en masse by Field Yates, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Dianna Russini and former Yahoo Sports reporter Kimberley Martin, the Post noted.
Josina Anderson has been with ESPN for nearly nine years. Mike Windle via Getty Images
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Anderson, 41, previously worked at Fox 31 in Denver.
USA Today noted that the news of Anderson parting ways with the outlet follows the recent departures of Adam Amin and Emmanuel Acho for Fox Sports.


huffpost--2020-05-26--California Issues Guidelines For Safe Reopening Of Houses Of Worship

On Monday , the state released a framework that will permit counties to allow in-person worship services .
They include limiting worshipers to 100 or less , taking everyone ’ s temperature , limiting singing and group recitations and not sharing prayer books or other items .
“ We can do it , it ’ s just a question of how , ” he said , noting that Orthodox believers are barred from using technology or carrying many personal items on the Sabbath .
Houses of worship are the latest focus as the state eases mid-March stay-at-home orders that shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 million Californians at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Social distancing precautions are cited for reducing rates of hospitalizations and deaths and most of California ’ s 58 counties are deep into phase two of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s four-stage plan to restart the battered economy .
The state on Monday cleared the way for in-store shopping to resume statewide with social distancing restrictions , although counties get to decide whether to permit it .
Individual counties also will decide whether to allow the reopening of in-person services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other religious institutions .
In-person religious services are relegated to phase three , which Newsom had said could be weeks away .
But they could come much sooner under the guidelines .
Counties that are having success controlling the virus are likely to move quickly .
Others with outbreaks — such as Los Angeles County , which has about 60 % of California ’ s roughly 3,800 deaths — may choose to delay .
Worshippers who are allowed to return will find some jarring changes .
The state guidelines limit gatherings to 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whichever is lower .
Choirs aren ’ t recommended .
Neither are shaking hands or hugging .
Worshipers are urged to wear masks , avoid sharing prayer books or prayer rugs , keep their distance in pews and skip the collection plate .
Large gatherings such as for concerts , weddings and funerals should be avoided .
Each county will have to adopt rules for services to resume within their jurisdictions and then the guidelines will be reviewed by state health officials after 21 days .
“ We are not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said by phone , noting that many leaders of his denomination have been sickened or died nationwide .
Freedom of religion is “ not the freedom to kill folks , not the freedom to put people in harm ’ s way .
That ’ s insane , ” he said .
But a few churches have defiantly reopened their doors already , a handful have sued the governor , and several thousand were threatening to ignore his orders and reopen for Pentecost on May 31 .
“ Our church and places of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our leaders chose to marginalize and criminalize faith-based gatherings , ” Pastor Jon Duncan said in a statement .
“ If we are to remain free , we must never allow this to happen again.
” The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange announced last week that it is phasing in public Masses beginning June 14 , starting with restricted numbers of worshipers .
At first , choirs will be banned , fonts won ’ t contain holy water and parishioners won ’ t perform rituals where they must touch each other .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but at the same time we have to be careful and make sure that we protect each other in this challenging time , ” Bishop Kevin Vann said Friday .

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rabbi Shalom Rubanowitz looks forward to reopening his synagogue doors — if his congregation can balance the laws of God and California during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, the state released a framework that will permit counties to allow in-person worship services. They include limiting worshipers to 100 or less, taking everyone’s temperature, limiting singing and group recitations and not sharing prayer books or other items.
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The Orthodox congregation of Shul on the Beach in Los Angeles County’s Venice Beach will follow the guidelines, consulting with rabbinical authorities who place a high importance on preservation of life, Rubanowitz said.
“We can do it, it’s just a question of how,” he said, noting that Orthodox believers are barred from using technology or carrying many personal items on the Sabbath.
The path of reopening provides “a great deal of hope,” he added. “That’s what people need.”
Houses of worship are the latest focus as the state eases mid-March stay-at-home orders that shut down all but essential services and kept 40 million Californians at home to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Social distancing precautions are cited for reducing rates of hospitalizations and deaths and most of California’s 58 counties are deep into phase two of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage plan to restart the battered economy. The state on Monday cleared the way for in-store shopping to resume statewide with social distancing restrictions, although counties get to decide whether to permit it.
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Individual counties also will decide whether to allow the reopening of in-person services for churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious institutions. In-person religious services are relegated to phase three, which Newsom had said could be weeks away.
But they could come much sooner under the guidelines. Counties that are having success controlling the virus are likely to move quickly. Others with outbreaks — such as Los Angeles County, which has about 60% of California’s roughly 3,800 deaths — may choose to delay.
Orange County supervisors may consider a resolution being introduced Tuesday to reopen houses of worship next weekend under federal and state health guidelines.
Worshippers who are allowed to return will find some jarring changes. The state guidelines limit gatherings to 25% of building capacity or 100 people, whichever is lower. Choirs aren’t recommended. Neither are shaking hands or hugging. Worshipers are urged to wear masks, avoid sharing prayer books or prayer rugs, keep their distance in pews and skip the collection plate. Large gatherings such as for concerts, weddings and funerals should be avoided.
The guidelines say even with physical distancing, in-person worship carries a higher risk of transmitting the virus and increasing the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths and recommend houses of worship shorten services.
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Each county will have to adopt rules for services to resume within their jurisdictions and then the guidelines will be reviewed by state health officials after 21 days.
Some church leaders aren’t eager to reopen. The Rev. Amos Brown, pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco and head of the local NAACP chapter, led a protest Monday against reopening.
“We are not going to be rushing back to church,” he said by phone, noting that many leaders of his denomination have been sickened or died nationwide. Freedom of religion is “not the freedom to kill folks, not the freedom to put people in harm’s way. That’s insane,” he said.
But a few churches have defiantly reopened their doors already, a handful have sued the governor, and several thousand were threatening to ignore his orders and reopen for Pentecost on May 31.
Cross Culture Christian Center, a Lodi church that defied the governor and then sued him, said the guidelines were welcome but didn’t change anything.
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“Our church and places of worship across California have suffered greatly because our leaders chose to marginalize and criminalize faith-based gatherings,” Pastor Jon Duncan said in a statement. “If we are to remain free, we must never allow this to happen again.”
Demonstrators protest during a rally to re-open California and against Stay-At-Home directives on May 1, 2020 in San Diego, California. SANDY HUFFAKER via Getty Images
Some places of worship around the country opened over the weekend after President Donald Trump declared them essential and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for reopening faith organizations.
But some of the largest religious institutions in California are taking a more cautious approach.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange announced last week that it is phasing in public Masses beginning June 14, starting with restricted numbers of worshipers. At first, choirs will be banned, fonts won’t contain holy water and parishioners won’t perform rituals where they must touch each other.
“We know that God is with us, but at the same time we have to be careful and make sure that we protect each other in this challenging time,” Bishop Kevin Vann said Friday.
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Two church services that already were held without authorization have been sources of outbreaks; one in Mendocino County and the other in Butte County.


huffpost--2020-05-26--Some COVID-19 Victims Developing Dangerous And Perplexing Blood Clots

Darlene Gildersleeve thought she had recovered from COVID-19 .
Doctors said she just needed rest .
And for several days , no one suspected her worsening symptoms were related — until a May 4 video call , when her physician heard her slurred speech and consulted a specialist .
Blood clots that can cause strokes , heart attacks and dangerous blockages in the legs and lungs are increasingly being found in COVID-19 patients , including some children .
Even tiny clots that can damage tissue throughout the body have been seen in hospitalized patients and in autopsies , confounding doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainly a respiratory infection .
“ I have to be humble and say I don ’ t know what ’ s going on there , but boy we need to find that out because unless you know what the pathogenic ( disease-causing ) mechanism is , it ’ s going to be tough to do intervention , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , remarked during a medical journal interview last month .
Scientists believe the coronavirus enters the body through enzyme-receptors found throughout the body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of blood vessels .
Some theorize that it may promote clotting by somehow injuring those vessels as it spreads .
That injury may cause a severe immune response as the body tries to fight the infection , resulting in inflammation that may also damage vessels and promote clotting , said Dr. Valentin Fuster , director of Mount Sinai Heart hospital in New York .
Prevalence in patients with mild disease is unknown and the agency says there isn ’ t enough evidence to recommend routine clot screening for all virus patients without clotting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain or reddish discoloring in an arm or leg .
Cases there have dropped by almost half in the past month , allowing more time for research before an expected second and maybe third wave of infections , he said , adding : “ We ’ re racing against time to answer the key clinical questions.
” A few have used powerful clot-busting medicines typically used to treat strokes , with mixed results .
In guidance issued May 12 , the NIH said more research is needed to show whether that approach has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preliminary research on nearly 2,800 COVID-19 patients at five hospitals in the Mount Sinai system .
A look at their outcomes suggests slightly better survival chances for virus patients on ventilators who received blood thinners than among those who didn ’ t .
Although the results are not conclusive , all COVID-19 patients at Mount Sinai receive blood thinners for clot prevention unless they are at risk for bleeding , a potential side effect , Fuster said .
Some COVID-19 patients , like Gildersleeve , develop dangerous clots when their infections seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated at Northwell for severe disease are sent home with a once-a-day blood thinner and a soon to be published study will detail their experiences .
Spyropoulos has been a paid consultant to Janssen Pharmaceuticals , makers of Xarelto , the drug ’ s brand name .
In a small study published May 15 , University of Colorado doctors found that combined scores on two tests measuring clotting markers in the blood can help determine which patients will develop large dangerous clots .
One test measures a protein fragment called D-dimer , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes indicate dangerous clots that form deep in leg veins and travel to the lungs or other organs .
It says that testing to find clots that require treatment includes X-rays or ultrasound exams , but poses a risk for health care workers because the virus is so contagious .
Bikdeli said he fears when protective gear was more scarce , some dangerous clots were undiagnosed and untreated .
Social distancing may make people more sedentary and more vulnerable to clots , particularly older adults , so doctors should encourage activity or exercises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a preventive measure , the statement says .
Warnell Vega got that advice after collapsing at home April 19 from a large clot blocking a lung artery .
Doctors at Mount Sinai Morningside think it was coronavirus-related .
Vega , 33 , a lunch maker for New York City school children , spent a week in intensive care on oxygen and blood thinners , which he ’ s been told to continue taking for three months .

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First came a high fever, drenching sweats and muscle aches. Then, almost a month later, a weird numbness that spread down the right side of her body.
Darlene Gildersleeve thought she had recovered from COVID-19. Doctors said she just needed rest. And for several days, no one suspected her worsening symptoms were related — until a May 4 video call, when her physician heard her slurred speech and consulted a specialist.
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“You’ve had two strokes,’’ a neurologist told her at the hospital. The Hopkinton, New Hampshire, mother of three is only 43.
Blood clots that can cause strokes, heart attacks and dangerous blockages in the legs and lungs are increasingly being found in COVID-19 patients, including some children. Even tiny clots that can damage tissue throughout the body have been seen in hospitalized patients and in autopsies, confounding doctors’ understanding of what was once considered mainly a respiratory infection.
“I have to be humble and say I don’t know what’s going on there, but boy we need to find that out because unless you know what the pathogenic (disease-causing) mechanism is, it’s going to be tough to do intervention,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, remarked during a medical journal interview last month.
Doctors and scientists at dozens of hospitals and universities around the globe are seeking answers while trying to measure virus patients’ risks for clots and testing drugs to treat or prevent them.
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Gildersleeve said health authorities “need to put out an urgent warning about strokes” and coronavirus. Not knowing the possible link “made me doubt myself” when symptoms appeared, she said.
Some conditions that make some COVID-19 patients vulnerable to severe complications, including obesity and diabetes, can increase clot risks. But many authorities believe how the virus attacks and the way the body responds both play a role.
“COVID-19 is the most thrombotic (clot-producing) disease we’ve ever seen in our lifetime,” said Dr. Alex Spyropoulos, a clot specialist and professor at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York.
Clotting has been seen in other coronavirus infections, including SARS, but on a much smaller scale, he said.
Scientists believe the coronavirus enters the body through enzyme-receptors found throughout the body, including in cells lining the inside of blood vessels. Some theorize that it may promote clotting by somehow injuring those vessels as it spreads. That injury may cause a severe immune response as the body tries to fight the infection, resulting in inflammation that may also damage vessels and promote clotting, said Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart hospital in New York.
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It’s unclear how many COVID-19 patients develop clots. Studies from China, Europe and the United States suggest rates ranging from 3% to 70% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients; more rigorous research is needed to determine the true prevalence, the National Institutes of Health says.
Prevalence in patients with mild disease is unknown and the agency says there isn’t enough evidence to recommend routine clot screening for all virus patients without clotting symptoms, which may include swelling, pain or reddish discoloring in an arm or leg.
Some hospitals have found 40% of deaths in COVID-19 patients are from blood clots. Spyropoulos said that’s been true at his 23-hospital system in the New York City area, Northwell Health, which has treated over 11,000 COVID-19 patients.
Cases there have dropped by almost half in the past month, allowing more time for research before an expected second and maybe third wave of infections, he said, adding: “We’re racing against time to answer the key clinical questions.”
Patients hospitalized with any severe illness face increased risks for clots, partly from being bedridden and inactive. They commonly receive blood-thinning drugs for prevention. Some doctors are trying higher-than-usual doses for prevention in hospitalized coronavirus patients.
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A few have used powerful clot-busting medicines typically used to treat strokes, with mixed results. In guidance issued May 12, the NIH said more research is needed to show whether that approach has any benefits.
Fuster was involved in preliminary research on nearly 2,800 COVID-19 patients at five hospitals in the Mount Sinai system. A look at their outcomes suggests slightly better survival chances for virus patients on ventilators who received blood thinners than among those who didn’t. Although the results are not conclusive, all COVID-19 patients at Mount Sinai receive blood thinners for clot prevention unless they are at risk for bleeding, a potential side effect, Fuster said.
Some COVID-19 patients, like Gildersleeve, develop dangerous clots when their infections seem to have subsided, Spyropoulos said. Patients treated at Northwell for severe disease are sent home with a once-a-day blood thinner and a soon to be published study will detail their experiences. Spyropoulos has been a paid consultant to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, makers of Xarelto, the drug’s brand name.
In addition, Northwell is taking part in a multi-center study that will test using blood thinners for clot prevention in COVID-19 patients not sick enough to require hospitalization.
In a small study published May 15, University of Colorado doctors found that combined scores on two tests measuring clotting markers in the blood can help determine which patients will develop large dangerous clots. One test measures a protein fragment called D-dimer, a remnant of dissolved clots. High levels sometimes indicate dangerous clots that form deep in leg veins and travel to the lungs or other organs.
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Dr. Behnood Bikdeli of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, said D-dimer levels in many of his COVID-19 patients have been alarmingly high, as much as 50 times higher than normal.
Concerns about blood clots in COVID-19 patients prompted a recent 30-page consensus statement from an international group of physicians and researchers. Bikdeli is the lead author.
It says that testing to find clots that require treatment includes X-rays or ultrasound exams, but poses a risk for health care workers because the virus is so contagious. Bikdeli said he fears when protective gear was more scarce, some dangerous clots were undiagnosed and untreated.
Social distancing may make people more sedentary and more vulnerable to clots, particularly older adults, so doctors should encourage activity or exercises that can be done in the home as a preventive measure, the statement says.
Warnell Vega got that advice after collapsing at home April 19 from a large clot blocking a lung artery. Doctors at Mount Sinai Morningside think it was coronavirus-related. Vega, 33, a lunch maker for New York City school children, spent a week in intensive care on oxygen and blood thinners, which he’s been told to continue taking for three months.
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“I just have to watch out for any bleeding, and have to be careful not to cut myself,” Vega said.
Gildersleeve, the New Hampshire stroke patient, was also sent home with a blood thinner. She gets physical therapy to improve strength and balance. She still has some numbness and vision problems that mean driving is out, for now.
Doctors are unable to predict when or whether she’ll regain all her abilities.
’’I’m trying to remain positive about recovering,” she said. ’’I just have to be patient and listen to my body and not push too hard.”
___
Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at @LindseyTanner.
___


huffpost--2020-05-26--HHS Watchdog Defends Report About Coronavirus Crisis In Hospitals

Christi Grimm , a Department of Health and Human Services official whose report revealing supply shortages in hospitals battling coronavirus across the United States angered President Donald Trump , defended her work during a House committee hearing on Tuesday .
“ The report provided quick and reliable data from the ground , ” Grimm said during a teleconference with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Tuesday .
“ The goal of the work was to help provide comprehensive information from the front lines at a time of national crisis.
” Grimm , who currently serves as the principal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report in April outlining the “ substantial challenges ” hospitals have faced in obtaining the supplies and funding needed to combat coronavirus .
For example , the report found that “ hospitals reported that they were unable to keep up with COVID-19 testing demands because they lacked complete kits and/or the individual components and supplies needed to complete tests.
” When the report was released , Trump , who has attempted to muzzle health officials and tamp down reports conveying the grim realities about the pandemic and its costs , called it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Twitter rant .
Grimm has served as the agency ’ s inspector general since the previous inspector general , Daniel Levinson , resigned in June 2019 .
On May 2 , the White House announced Jason Weida , a U.S. attorney in Boston , as Trump ’ s nomination to replace Grimm as the lead watchdog at HHS .
Although Grimm noted Tuesday that she had been preparing for Trump to nominate a permanent replacement for Levinson , a number of health advocates and Democratic lawmakers see the move as Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general he deems disloyal to him personally .
Grimm is the fifth inspector general Trump has removed in the past two months .
Speaking before the House Tuesday , she defended calls for inspectors general to remain independent from political influence .
“ It ’ s what allows us to bring our objective judgment to bear on problems without worrying whether those who run the programs are hearing what they want to hear , ” she said .
“ Anything that is done that could impair independence , I think , compromises the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there to serve the American public .
”

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Christi Grimm, a Department of Health and Human Services official whose report revealing supply shortages in hospitals battling coronavirus across the United States angered President Donald Trump, defended her work during a House committee hearing on Tuesday.
“The report provided quick and reliable data from the ground,” Grimm said during a teleconference with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Tuesday. “The goal of the work was to help provide comprehensive information from the front lines at a time of national crisis.”
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Grimm, who currently serves as the principal deputy inspector general for HHS, released a report in April outlining the “substantial challenges” hospitals have faced in obtaining the supplies and funding needed to combat coronavirus. For example, the report found that “hospitals reported that they were unable to keep up with COVID-19 testing demands because they lacked complete kits and/or the individual components and supplies needed to complete tests.”
When the report was released, Trump, who has attempted to muzzle health officials and tamp down reports conveying the grim realities about the pandemic and its costs, called it “Another Fake Dossier!” in a Twitter rant.
Grimm has served as the agency’s inspector general since the previous inspector general, Daniel Levinson, resigned in June 2019. On May 2, the White House announced Jason Weida, a U.S. attorney in Boston, as Trump’s nomination to replace Grimm as the lead watchdog at HHS.
Although Grimm noted Tuesday that she had been preparing for Trump to nominate a permanent replacement for Levinson, a number of health advocates and Democratic lawmakers see the move as Trump’s latest effort to purge an inspector general he deems disloyal to him personally.
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Grimm is the fifth inspector general Trump has removed in the past two months.
Speaking before the House Tuesday, she defended calls for inspectors general to remain independent from political influence.
“It’s what allows us to bring our objective judgment to bear on problems without worrying whether those who run the programs are hearing what they want to hear,” she said.


huffpost--2020-05-26--31 Relatable Tweets About Our New Reality Wearing Face Masks

Dear diary , I wish I was smart enough to realize the worst idea is to carefully apply red lipstick @ @ @ @ @ .
Not one person saw my lipstick & when I took the mask off I @ @ @ @ @ blew someone I liked .
Which brought up other feelings Bye 4 now , Nicole

Dear diary,
I wish I was smart enough to realize the worst idea is to carefully apply red lipstick then put on a mask. Not one person saw my lipstick & when I took the mask off I look like I had feverishly blew someone I liked. Which brought up other feelings
Bye 4 now,
Nicole


huffpost--2020-05-26--When You Should See A Dermatologist During COVID-19, And When To Wait

If nothing else , the coronavirus pandemic ’ s stay-at-home orders have forced many of us to reevaluate what we define as essential and nonessential services .
If you were used to getting your nails done every other week or a hair appointment every other month , you ’ ve likely reconsidered how necessary those trips were after the last few months .
And the same thing can apply to dermatologist appointments during quarantine , as they often serve an aesthetic purpose .
But dermatologists provide many more services than just Botox and fillers , and it ’ s important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch with your derm right now — whether it be for a virtual or an in-person appointment .
When it comes to things like new freckles , dark spots , rashes or other skin reactions , it ’ s worth getting in touch with a trusted and board certified dermatologist .
This way you can feel confident that everything is OK with your skin and treat any legitimate skin issues effectively and safely .
And remember , there are certain procedures you should always save for the professionals , whether they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not quite sure if your skin worry is worth making an appointment , we spoke to three dermatologists about the symptoms and conditions to keep an eye out for .
Make an appointment ASAP for : changing brown spots and moles , nonhealing scabs or lesions , rapidly progressing rashes , signs of infection “ In some cases your dermatologist may be able to tell you immediately if the spot is harmless , ” Zeichner said .
“ In other cases your dermatologist may recommend coming into the office for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microscope in the lab.
” New or changing brown spots are especially important to get checked as soon as possible .
“ We would not want to delay diagnosis of a possible melanoma , which is a deadly form of skin cancer , ” Zeichner said .
If your skin issue doesn ’ t fall into any of the above categories but you ’ re still wondering if you should make an appointment , Debra Jaliman , a New York dermatologist and author of “ Skin Rules : Trade Secrets from a Top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few major red flags .
“ If your skin is inflamed , red and painful , and [ the issue is ] not going away , that should be a ‘ must book ’ skin issue , ” Jaliman said .
“ Anything that seems like it ’ s infected is a ‘ must book ’ skin issue .
Some signs of infection are pus , fever , red swollen skin and pain.
” Schedule a less-urgent virtual appointment for : all elective procedures , nonurgent medical dermatology and annual skin checks “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rosacea , hair loss and actinic keratoses are routinely being deferred , as are chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis .
In-person evaluation of limited rashes and stable skin lesions can similarly be delayed , ” King explained .
“ Teledermatology visits can be scheduled for these concerns .
And regular skin checks for patients without a history of melanoma or other aggressive skin cancer are also being deferred.
” Do this at home in the meantime : virtual consultations , consistent skin care routine “ Video visits are easy to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and for the overwhelming majority of people , there is no co-pay .
Plus , interstate licensing rules have been relaxed in many states , so I now can treat patients in some other states , ” Zeicher said .
“ If you have a skin question , speak to your dermatologist who will tell you whether it can be remotely or whether you will need to come into the office when possible.
” If you ’ re someone who is less concerned about a specific skin care symptom but still want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you wait for elective procedures to be a possibility again , Zeicher said a consistent and effective skin care routine is the best option .

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If nothing else, the coronavirus pandemic’s stay-at-home orders have forced many of us to reevaluate what we define as essential and nonessential services. If you were used to getting your nails done every other week or a hair appointment every other month, you’ve likely reconsidered how necessary those trips were after the last few months.
And the same thing can apply to dermatologist appointments during quarantine, as they often serve an aesthetic purpose. But dermatologists provide many more services than just Botox and fillers, and it’s important to know when you should get in touch with your derm right now — whether it be for a virtual or an in-person appointment.
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When it comes to things like new freckles, dark spots, rashes or other skin reactions, it’s worth getting in touch with a trusted and board certified dermatologist. This way you can feel confident that everything is OK with your skin and treat any legitimate skin issues effectively and safely.
Liliia Kyrylenko via Getty Images “Video visits are easy to set up, covered by almost every insurance, and for the overwhelming majority of people, there is no co-pay," New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeicher says.
And remember, there are certain procedures you should always save for the professionals, whether they’re considered essential or not. If you’re not quite sure if your skin worry is worth making an appointment, we spoke to three dermatologists about the symptoms and conditions to keep an eye out for.
Make an appointment ASAP for: changing brown spots and moles, nonhealing scabs or lesions, rapidly progressing rashes, signs of infection
Most dermatologists agree that there are a few things you should call your dermatologist about ASAP. New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeicher told HuffPost that things like “changing moles, pink spots and nonhealing scabs” should be evaluated during a video appointment for initial evaluation.
“In some cases your dermatologist may be able to tell you immediately if the spot is harmless,” Zeichner said. “In other cases your dermatologist may recommend coming into the office for a biopsy to test the spot under the microscope in the lab.”
New or changing brown spots are especially important to get checked as soon as possible. “We would not want to delay diagnosis of a possible melanoma, which is a deadly form of skin cancer,” Zeichner said.
Similarly, New York dermatologist Hadley King said to pay extra attention “if a mole is changing in size, shape, color or symptoms, particularly if there is a personal or strong family history of melanoma.”
If you have an unexpected rash, King said it could require an in-person or a virtual appointment, depending on the severity.
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“Many rashes can be diagnosed and treated via teledermatology, but a rash that is rapidly progressing or accompanied by other systemic symptoms may require an in-person visit,” King said.
If your skin issue doesn’t fall into any of the above categories but you’re still wondering if you should make an appointment, Debra Jaliman, a New York dermatologist and author of “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist,″ shared a few major red flags.
“If your skin is inflamed, red and painful, and [the issue is] not going away, that should be a ‘must book’ skin issue,” Jaliman said. “Anything that seems like it’s infected is a ‘must book’ skin issue. Some signs of infection are pus, fever, red swollen skin and pain.”
Schedule a less-urgent virtual appointment for: all elective procedures, nonurgent medical dermatology and annual skin checks
All experts agree that any elective cosmetic procedures should wait until stay-at-home orders are completely lifted for the safety of all involved.
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“Even if doctors’ offices are starting to open, I do not recommend putting yourself in a high-risk environment for voluntary procedures,” Zeichner said.
Prostock-Studio via Getty Images Dermatologists say that any elective cosmetic procedures, such as Botox or fillers, should wait until stay-at-home orders are completely lifted for the safety of all involved.
King also said that all elective procedures should be postponed to a later date. Such voluntary procedures include things like Botox, fillers, elective mole removals, laser treatments and noninvasive fat removal.
“Nonurgent medical dermatology conditions such as acne, rosacea, hair loss and actinic keratoses are routinely being deferred, as are chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis. In-person evaluation of limited rashes and stable skin lesions can similarly be delayed,” King explained. “Teledermatology visits can be scheduled for these concerns. And regular skin checks for patients without a history of melanoma or other aggressive skin cancer are also being deferred.”
Do this at home in the meantime: virtual consultations, consistent skin care routine
If you do have a nonurgent skin care concern, scheduling an appointment virtually has “never been easier,” Zeichner pointed out.
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“Video visits are easy to set up, covered by almost every insurance, and for the overwhelming majority of people, there is no co-pay. Plus, interstate licensing rules have been relaxed in many states, so I now can treat patients in some other states,” Zeicher said. “If you have a skin question, speak to your dermatologist who will tell you whether it can be remotely or whether you will need to come into the office when possible.”
If you’re someone who is less concerned about a specific skin care symptom but still want to keep your skin in tip-top shape as you wait for elective procedures to be a possibility again, Zeicher said a consistent and effective skin care routine is the best option.
“I usually recommend an antioxidant serum plus sunscreen in the morning with a moisturizer and retinol in the evening. I also have seen an uptick in the number of patients seeing me over a video to design a custom skin care routine for their skin needs,” Zeichner said.
Bottom line? If you’re unsure about a skin issue, call your dermatologist and be completely honest about your symptoms and the severity. Odds are, they can walk you through the next steps — whether that means an in-person visit, video consultation or both.


huffpost--2020-05-26--Florida's Gatorland Theme Park Reopens With Wild New Social Distancing Mascot

Florida ’ s Gatorland theme park reopened over Memorial Day weekend ― with a new mascot that encourages social distancing @ @ @ @ @ local legend at the same time .
A costumed version of this regional take on @ @ @ @ @ the benefits of being distant and elusive ― and sharing some basic health and safety @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus : The Social Distancing Skunk Ape will be available for meet and @ @ @ @ @ a suitable distance , according to a news release .
The company said it has @ @ @ @ @ operating in the coronavirus era , which includes temperature checks and masks for staff , @ @ @ @ @ .
Coronavirus-related shutdowns have hit the theme park industry especially hard .
Central Florida depends @ @ @ @ @ of its tourist industry .
Disney World remains closed , although parts of its Disney @ @ @ @ @ week .
Universal Orlando will begin reopening its theme parks next week , while Legoland @ @ @ @ @ and SeaWorld is reportedly aiming for mid-June .

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Florida’s Gatorland theme park reopened over Memorial Day weekend ― with a new mascot that encourages social distancing and pays homage to a local legend at the same time.
Meet the Social Distancing Skunk Ape.
A costumed version of this regional take on Sasquatch is reminding people of the benefits of being distant and elusive ― and sharing some basic health and safety tips to prevent the spread of the coronavirus:
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The Social Distancing Skunk Ape will be available for meet and greets ― but only from a suitable distance, according to a news release.
The company said it has created a 31-page manual for operating in the coronavirus era, which includes temperature checks and masks for staff, and encourages masks for visitors.
Coronavirus-related shutdowns have hit the theme park industry especially hard. Central Florida depends on the resorts for much of its tourist industry. Disney World remains closed, although parts of its Disney Springs shopping district reopened last week.
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huffpost--2020-05-26--I Had To Decide Whether To Recommend My Rapist Be Paroled During The Pandemic

I opened the letter and saw at the top the boldfaced name of the man who had raped me 37 years ago , a name I doubt I could ever forget .
The letter requested my input with regard to the prisoner ’ s discretionary parole .
The last time I had looked him up on the Department of Justice offender locator , his earliest projected release date was 2026 .
I thought I had several more years until I needed to think about him being released .
No mention was made of whether COVID-19 had influenced the parole board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an odd coincidence , but both my rape and prisoners had been on my mind far more than usual .
Only a few days before the letter arrived , an essay I ’ d written about the rape was published in a women ’ s journal .
I had written the piece primarily for myself , an effort to control the indelible memories from that night .
After the piece was accepted for publication , the editor asked me to write a note about the experience of having written the piece .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ seemed an important part of reclaiming myself .
It was a way to create a vessel to contain the experience and make the memories of it more manageable.
” The images etched in my memory around that event were not all unpleasant ― the first visit to my new home by my brother , sister-in-law and their infant son the evening before , the afternoon light on the newly refinished heart pine floor , the feeling of satisfaction as I made curtains for the guest room before I went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images — the terror of waking up with the feeling of a knife in my side and the muttered “ Don ’ t make a sound , or I ’ ll kill you , ” the nauseating smell of stale sweat , the chill of the emergency room in the middle of the night as I waited for the rape kit to be done .
I did not hesitate to call the police and to cooperate with the legal process .
I considered it my responsibility .
It took weeks for him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court proceedings still went on for months .
For me , there was no other path than to see the process through all the way to sentencing .
Even then I was aware that I was far more fortunate than many rape survivors .
He was convicted and received a long sentence .
I was haunted by images of inmates crowded together .
Something had to be done .
I considered writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper .
When I thought about the issue , I admit I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the prisoner whose name appeared on the letter from the parole board , a prisoner whose voice and smell and words I could recall so many years later .
From the start , the pandemic presented me with a frustrating dilemma .
I wanted to help ; merely staying home did not feel like enough .
I wanted to do more , but playing a role in freeing the man who raped me was not the opportunity I wanted .
It was not him I was thinking of when I considered prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not what I was imagining when I said prison populations should be reduced .
Surely I owed him no favors after what he had done .
In addition to the rape , he broke into my house the night after , stole jewelry and food , and ransacked clothing drawers .
What had he intended to do if I had been there ?
How did he know I wasn ’ t ?
My car was still parked outside .
Afterward , he bragged to his friend about raping me .
What kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a short time , his actions took me from a strong and independent woman to one so fearful that I scarcely recognized the person looking back at me in the mirror .
With support from family , friends , therapy ... and time , I worked my way back , more careful than before , sometimes less trusting , but finally reclaiming the person I once was .
It ’ s not that I thought he should stay in prison and run the risk of infection from the virus , but how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When I called the parole office for details on what treatment he ’ d had while in prison and what his plans were for release , the woman I spoke with quoted him as saying he was a “ new man.
” Any prisoner knows to say that .
Did I want to be the one to put other women at risk of being victimized by his dangerous behavior ?
Didn ’ t I have some responsibility ?
Had 37 years in prison made him less dangerous or more ?
I sat with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleepless nights .
It had been a long time since that kind of fear had kept me awake .
How could I play a part in freeing him ?
How could I not ?
Recommending that he stay in prison would feel like revenge .
Was that who I was ?
On the day I ’ d opened the letter , however , I ’ d had a gut impulse to support his early release .
With all the considerations , it was still the only course of action I could live with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deserve my compassion , but he was a human being .
He had gone to prison a young man and was now 60 years old .
A lifetime had passed .
As the deadline approached , I finally wrote my letter .
I said I would make no recommendation that would interfere with his discretionary parole .
“ I hope he has made good use of the treatment and services offered to him during his incarceration , ” I wrote , “ and that he will use the resources to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom could certainly cause me some anxiety , I can not in good conscience recommend further incarceration , especially not during this time when COVID-19 makes prison populations especially vulnerable.
” Maybe this effort , writing a letter in support of his parole , would give positive closure to my experience , the final piece of the vessel to contain the memories .
Or it might break the vessel wide open .
I decided to take a chance on the first outcome .
It would not make the awful incident positive , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could come of it .

Hans Neleman via Getty Images
We were only a few weeks into a coronavirus stay-at-home order when the letter from the parole board arrived. The return address got my attention.
I opened the letter and saw at the top the boldfaced name of the man who had raped me 37 years ago, a name I doubt I could ever forget. The letter requested my input with regard to the prisoner’s discretionary parole. The last time I had looked him up on the Department of Justice offender locator, his earliest projected release date was 2026. I thought I had several more years until I needed to think about him being released. No mention was made of whether COVID-19 had influenced the parole board to consider his early release.
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It was an odd coincidence, but both my rape and prisoners had been on my mind far more than usual. Only a few days before the letter arrived, an essay I’d written about the rape was published in a women’s journal. I had written the piece primarily for myself, an effort to control the indelible memories from that night.
After the piece was accepted for publication, the editor asked me to write a note about the experience of having written the piece. “Writing about it,” I said, “seemed an important part of reclaiming myself. It was a way to create a vessel to contain the experience and make the memories of it more manageable.”
The images etched in my memory around that event were not all unpleasant ― the first visit to my new home by my brother, sister-in-law and their infant son the evening before, the afternoon light on the newly refinished heart pine floor, the feeling of satisfaction as I made curtains for the guest room before I went to bed. And there were the other images — the terror of waking up with the feeling of a knife in my side and the muttered “Don’t make a sound, or I’ll kill you,” the nauseating smell of stale sweat, the chill of the emergency room in the middle of the night as I waited for the rape kit to be done.
I did not hesitate to call the police and to cooperate with the legal process. I considered it my responsibility. It took weeks for him to be arrested. He confessed but the court proceedings still went on for months. For me, there was no other path than to see the process through all the way to sentencing. Even then I was aware that I was far more fortunate than many rape survivors. He was convicted and received a long sentence.
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In the early days of the pandemic, I was also distressed by reports of how quickly COVID-19 could spread in a crowded prison, where social distancing was almost impossible. Under such conditions, all prisoners, it seemed, had possible death sentences.
I was haunted by images of inmates crowded together. Something had to be done. I considered writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. When I thought about the issue, I admit I was thinking of prisoners in general ― certainly not the prisoner whose name appeared on the letter from the parole board, a prisoner whose voice and smell and words I could recall so many years later.
From the start, the pandemic presented me with a frustrating dilemma. I wanted to help; merely staying home did not feel like enough. I wanted to do more, but playing a role in freeing the man who raped me was not the opportunity I wanted. It was not him I was thinking of when I considered prisoners living in dangerous conditions. His release was not what I was imagining when I said prison populations should be reduced.
Surely I owed him no favors after what he had done. In addition to the rape, he broke into my house the night after, stole jewelry and food, and ransacked clothing drawers. What had he intended to do if I had been there? How did he know I wasn’t? My car was still parked outside. Afterward, he bragged to his friend about raping me. What kind of person would do that?
In such a short time, his actions took me from a strong and independent woman to one so fearful that I scarcely recognized the person looking back at me in the mirror. With support from family, friends, therapy ... and time, I worked my way back, more careful than before, sometimes less trusting, but finally reclaiming the person I once was.
Advertisement
It’s not that I thought he should stay in prison and run the risk of infection from the virus, but how could I know he had changed? When I called the parole office for details on what treatment he’d had while in prison and what his plans were for release, the woman I spoke with quoted him as saying he was a “new man.” Any prisoner knows to say that. Did I want to be the one to put other women at risk of being victimized by his dangerous behavior? Didn’t I have some responsibility? Had 37 years in prison made him less dangerous or more?
I sat with the dilemma for a few days and sleepless nights. It had been a long time since that kind of fear had kept me awake. How could I play a part in freeing him? How could I not? Recommending that he stay in prison would feel like revenge. Was that who I was?
He’d had opportunity to apologize. He could have done it at his trial, and I’m sure his treatment group would have given him the chance to write a letter to ask for forgiveness. Those gestures never came.
In my mind, I built the cases for recommending that he stay behind bars and that he be released, imagining how each option would feel to me. I shared my quandary with loved ones, who acknowledged my concerns but had no answers.
On the day I’d opened the letter, however, I’d had a gut impulse to support his early release. With all the considerations, it was still the only course of action I could live with. He may not have done anything to deserve my compassion, but he was a human being. He had gone to prison a young man and was now 60 years old. A lifetime had passed.
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As the deadline approached, I finally wrote my letter. I said I would make no recommendation that would interfere with his discretionary parole. “I hope he has made good use of the treatment and services offered to him during his incarceration,” I wrote, “and that he will use the resources to make a successful transition to freedom. Although his freedom could certainly cause me some anxiety, I cannot in good conscience recommend further incarceration, especially not during this time when COVID-19 makes prison populations especially vulnerable.”
Writing the letter felt risky, but that risk seemed inconsequential compared to the risks that thousands of others were taking every day with their acts of compassion during this extraordinary time. My own gesture felt like such a small step.
The letter continued, “I wish him well and extend him my forgiveness.”
Maybe this effort, writing a letter in support of his parole, would give positive closure to my experience, the final piece of the vessel to contain the memories. Or it might break the vessel wide open. I decided to take a chance on the first outcome. It would not make the awful incident positive, but maybe, after all, something good could come of it.
Of course it was a risk, but I did what I could. And I extended forgiveness, not because he asked for it, but because it was something I chose to do. The realization dawned on me gradually: This time I had the control.
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