huffpost--2020-05-15--Large-Scale COVID-19 Vaccine Testing Expected By July, NIH Says

Having a COVID-19 vaccine by January is “ a stretch goal , ” but the head of the National Institutes of Health is gearing up for a master experiment to rapidly tell if any really work .
At least four or five possible vaccines “ look pretty promising ” and one or two will be ready to begin large-scale testing by July with others to follow soon , NIH Director Francis Collins told The Associated Press .
“ Your big challenge now is to go big and everybody is about ready for that .
And we want to be sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Collins said in an interview late Thursday .
The NIH in partnership with some of the world ’ s largest pharmaceutical companies is creating a master plan that vaccine makers can follow .
Separately , the Trump administration is working on how to produce possible vaccines now , a huge gamble before anyone knows which ones will pan out .
The goal is to have 300 million doses available to distribute to Americans by January .
But he added : “ If we can get this vaccine out there even a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s going to matter to somebody.
” Despite all the emphasis on speed , Collins stressed that “ no corners are going to be cut ” on safety and scientists will be carefully looking for side effects .
Worldwide , about a dozen vaccine candidates are in the first stages of testing or poised to begin , small safety studies in people to look for obvious problems and whether the shots rev up the immune system .
Among those getting the most attention are one created by the NIH and Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Britain ’ s Oxford University .
Current tests “ are looking pretty good , ” Collins said .
“ But until you put it into the real world and check it out you don ’ t really know .
You can ’ t skip over that really , really hard part of testing this in thousands and thousands of people.
” That ’ s faster than any new vaccine ever has reached this point in development .
For the huge next step , working together so each potential vaccine is tested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own methods will further speed answers and allow accurate comparisons , Collins said .
That partnership — called ACTIV or Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines — is like an umbrella where vaccine makers can sign on to follow the same testing steps and share the same database as each reaches the point of enrolling thousands of study volunteers .
Some key questions are how those at highest risk from COVID-19 , such as older adults and people with chronic health problems , will respond to the shots .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-year-olds and didn ’ t work for 70-year-olds , that would not be a success , ” he said .

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Having a COVID-19 vaccine by January is “a stretch goal,” but the head of the National Institutes of Health is gearing up for a master experiment to rapidly tell if any really work.
At least four or five possible vaccines “look pretty promising” and one or two will be ready to begin large-scale testing by July with others to follow soon, NIH Director Francis Collins told The Associated Press.
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“Your big challenge now is to go big and everybody is about ready for that. And we want to be sure that happens in a coordinated way,” Collins said in an interview late Thursday.
The NIH in partnership with some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies is creating a master plan that vaccine makers can follow. Separately, the Trump administration is working on how to produce possible vaccines now, a huge gamble before anyone knows which ones will pan out. The goal is to have 300 million doses available to distribute to Americans by January.
Collins called it a “very bold plan ... a stretch goal if there ever was one,” but one he’s optimistic the science side can help speed.
But he added: “If we can get this vaccine out there even a day sooner than otherwise we might have, that’s going to matter to somebody.”
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Despite all the emphasis on speed, Collins stressed that “no corners are going to be cut” on safety and scientists will be carefully looking for side effects.
Worldwide, about a dozen vaccine candidates are in the first stages of testing or poised to begin, small safety studies in people to look for obvious problems and whether the shots rev up the immune system. Among those getting the most attention are one created by the NIH and Moderna Inc., and a different type created by Britain’s Oxford University.
Current tests “are looking pretty good,” Collins said. “But until you put it into the real world and check it out you don’t really know. You can’t skip over that really, really hard part of testing this in thousands and thousands of people.”
That’s faster than any new vaccine ever has reached this point in development. For the huge next step, working together so each potential vaccine is tested the same way instead of each company devising its own methods will further speed answers and allow accurate comparisons, Collins said.
That partnership — called ACTIV or Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines — is like an umbrella where vaccine makers can sign on to follow the same testing steps and share the same database as each reaches the point of enrolling thousands of study volunteers.
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Some key questions are how those at highest risk from COVID-19, such as older adults and people with chronic health problems, will respond to the shots.
“If you had a vaccine that only worked for 20-year-olds and didn’t work for 70-year-olds, that would not be a success,” he said.
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huffpost--2020-05-15--VA Continuing To Use Unproven Malaria Drug For COVID-19 For Now

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Facing growing criticism , the Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday that it will not halt use of an unproven malaria drug on veterans with COVID-19 but that fewer of its patients are now taking it .
In responses provided to Congress and obtained by The Associated Press , the VA said it never “ encouraged or discouraged ” its government-run hospitals to use hydroxychloroquine on patients even as President Donald Trump heavily promoted the drug for months without scientific evidence of its effectiveness .
Still , it acknowledged that VA Secretary Robert Wilkie had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug had been shown to benefit younger veterans .
The VA , the nation ’ s largest hospital system , also agreed more study was needed on the drug and suggested its use was now limited to extenuating circumstances , such as last-ditch efforts to save a coronavirus patient ’ s life .
In the first week of May , 17 patients had received the drug for COVID-19 , according to VA data obtained by the AP .
The department declined to say how many patients had been treated with hydroxychloroquine for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of VA hospital data showed that hundreds of veterans had taken it by early April .
“ VA has not endorsed nor discouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients and has left those decisions to providers and their patients , ” the VA said .
“ While all drugs have the potential for adverse events and some drugs in particular , like hydroxychloroquine , are known to have specific risks , when they are used carefully and judiciously , they can be managed safely.
” Trump repeatedly has pushed the malaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ azithromycin , but no large , rigorous studies have found them safe or effective for COVID-19 , and they can cause heart rhythm problems and other side effects .
The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the drug combination and said hydroxychloroquine should only be used for the coronavirus in formal studies .
Two large observational studies , each involving around 1,400 patients in New York , recently found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine .
Two new ones published Thursday in the journal BMJ , one by French researchers and the other from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Any drug used to treat patients with COVID-19 , especially veterans living with debilitating preexisting conditions , must be proven safe and effective before it ’ s administered , ” he said .
“ Given recent studies from both VA and other hospitals , hydroxychloroquine seems to fall short of those requirements.
” Major veterans organizations and Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had called on the VA to explain why it allowed the use of an unproven drug on vets .
Last week , a whistleblower complaint by former Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Trump administration wanted to “ flood ” hot spots in New York and New Jersey with the drug .
Jeremy Butler , CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America , said Friday that his group was heartened by the VA ’ s preliminary explanations and called it imperative that it release additional details .
“ It remains concerning that it took this long to begin to get answers to basic questions , ” he said .
In its response to Congress , the department provided copies of some of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from March to May .
It made clear that hydroxychloroquine should be considered mostly for use in clinical trials or when medically appropriate after a full discussion with the patient about risks .
The VA did not explain the circumstances in which veterans in the recent analysis of hospital data were given the drug , only suggesting that “ it is possible ” they were prescribed as part of last efforts to save a patient ’ s life .
“ Based on the principles of patient-centric care , it would be inappropriate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dire circumstances , ” VA wrote .
It said it had followed the approach of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases by “ summarizing the medical literature regarding unapproved treatments for COVID-19 and making that available to VA clinicians in their shared decision-making with patients.
” That guidance now includes preliminary studies on remdesivir , which has been federally approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 .
The VA acknowledged to Congress that it had placed bulk orders for hydroxychloroquine from Feb. 1 to April 23 for 6.3 million tablets worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of the drug , but that most of it was being used for approved uses , such as treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .
It said it did not have breakdowns .
The department also said it planned further studies and clinical trials on hydroxychloroquine , including whether it could help prevent infection in veterans who were potentially exposed to COVID-19 .
It is in discussions with Novartis to have some VA facilities participate in a national clinical trial that will look at the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing growing criticism, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday that it will not halt use of an unproven malaria drug on veterans with COVID-19 but that fewer of its patients are now taking it.
In responses provided to Congress and obtained by The Associated Press, the VA said it never “encouraged or discouraged” its government-run hospitals to use hydroxychloroquine on patients even as President Donald Trump heavily promoted the drug for months without scientific evidence of its effectiveness.
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Still, it acknowledged that VA Secretary Robert Wilkie had wrongly asserted publicly without evidence that the drug had been shown to benefit younger veterans. The VA, the nation’s largest hospital system, also agreed more study was needed on the drug and suggested its use was now limited to extenuating circumstances, such as last-ditch efforts to save a coronavirus patient’s life.
In the first week of May, 17 patients had received the drug for COVID-19, according to VA data obtained by the AP. The department declined to say how many patients had been treated with hydroxychloroquine for the coronavirus since January, but a recent analysis of VA hospital data showed that hundreds of veterans had taken it by early April.
“VA has not endorsed nor discouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients and has left those decisions to providers and their patients,” the VA said. “While all drugs have the potential for adverse events and some drugs in particular, like hydroxychloroquine, are known to have specific risks, when they are used carefully and judiciously, they can be managed safely.”
As of Friday, 11,883 veterans had been confirmed to be infected with the virus and 985 had died, according to VA statistics.
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Responding to written questions from Sen. Jon Tester, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, the department admitted it had no studies or evidence to back up Wilkie’s claim that hydroxychloroquine had shown effectiveness in younger veterans in particular.
“The use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID has dropped off dramatically,” the VA said.
Trump repeatedly has pushed the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin, but no large, rigorous studies have found them safe or effective for COVID-19, and they can cause heart rhythm problems and other side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the drug combination and said hydroxychloroquine should only be used for the coronavirus in formal studies.
Two large observational studies, each involving around 1,400 patients in New York, recently found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. Two new ones published Thursday in the journal BMJ, one by French researchers and the other from China, reached the same conclusion.
Tester, who received VA’s responses this week, said he remained concerned about the drug’s safety.
“Any drug used to treat patients with COVID-19, especially veterans living with debilitating preexisting conditions, must be proven safe and effective before it’s administered,” he said. “Given recent studies from both VA and other hospitals, hydroxychloroquine seems to fall short of those requirements.”
Major veterans organizations and Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had called on the VA to explain why it allowed the use of an unproven drug on vets. Last week, a whistleblower complaint by former Health and Human Services official Rick Bright alleged that the Trump administration wanted to “flood” hot spots in New York and New Jersey with the drug.
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Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said Friday that his group was heartened by the VA’s preliminary explanations and called it imperative that it release additional details. “It remains concerning that it took this long to begin to get answers to basic questions,” he said.
The analysis of VA hospital data, done by independent researchers at two universities with VA approval, was not a rigorous experiment. Researchers analyzed medical records of 368 older male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at VA medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11.
About 28% of veterans who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone.
In its response to Congress, the department provided copies of some of its guidance issued to VA physicians on hydroxychloroquine from March to May. It made clear that hydroxychloroquine should be considered mostly for use in clinical trials or when medically appropriate after a full discussion with the patient about risks.
The VA did not explain the circumstances in which veterans in the recent analysis of hospital data were given the drug, only suggesting that “it is possible” they were prescribed as part of last efforts to save a patient’s life.
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“Based on the principles of patient-centric care, it would be inappropriate to deny patients access to hydroxychloroquine under these dire circumstances,” VA wrote. It said it had followed the approach of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases by “summarizing the medical literature regarding unapproved treatments for COVID-19 and making that available to VA clinicians in their shared decision-making with patients.” That guidance now includes preliminary studies on remdesivir, which has been federally approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19.
One VA document dated March 25 notes a few “very small cohort studies” showing possible “beneficial effects” but adds “these data have NOT been verified in randomized controlled trials and are extremely preliminary.”
The VA acknowledged to Congress that it had placed bulk orders for hydroxychloroquine from Feb. 1 to April 23 for 6.3 million tablets worth $208,000 in anticipation of a possible shortage of the drug, but that most of it was being used for approved uses, such as treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It said it did not have breakdowns.
The department also said it planned further studies and clinical trials on hydroxychloroquine, including whether it could help prevent infection in veterans who were potentially exposed to COVID-19. It is in discussions with Novartis to have some VA facilities participate in a national clinical trial that will look at the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin in patients with moderate and severe disease.
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huffpost--2020-05-15--How To Cope With The Fact You May Not See Your Parents For A Long Time

“ Ask for advice , ask about their life ― their childhood , their adolescence ― the parts before they had you , ” suggested Zainab Delawalla , a clinical psychologist in Atlanta .
“ Think about how you might be helpful to them from a distance , perhaps by facilitating an online grocery or prescription order , so they don ’ t have to leave the house .
Make them a playlist of popular songs from their youth .
Write them a letter or send them a news article or a comic strip in the mail ― anything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Look Through Photos Of Times You Were Together Focus On What You Can Control Take Stock Of Your Emotions “ Our thoughts can drive our feelings and behaviors , and vice-versa , ” she said .
“ The challenge is when we turn our unhelpful thoughts into facts .
Catch , check and change thoughts that are not helpful .
The ‘ what ifs ’ can start to feel like facts right now as we all try to process what is happening .
Saying ‘ I don ’ t know when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncomfortable and scary , but that would be considered the helpful reform to ‘ I am never going to see my parents again.
’ ” Share Those Feelings With Your Parents Take It One Day At A Time Reach Out To Others

gawrav via Getty Images There are ways to ease the blow of this time of physical separation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many adults feeling isolated as they physically distance from friends, partners and family members. As time passes, some are finding that the hardest part is the separation from their parents.
“Many people are feeling a deep sense of sadness and loss from not being able to see their parents during the pandemic, and the uncertainty around when they will finally be able to see them is exacerbating their despair,” Becky Stuempfig, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Encinitas, California, told HuffPost.
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It’s important to keep your distance from others, particularly vulnerable older people, but this practice takes an emotional toll when your parents fall into that category.
Still, there are ways to deal with this difficult experience and even forge a stronger bond with your loved ones. Below, Stuempfig and other mental health experts share their advice for coping with the fact that you may not see your parents for a long time.
Stay Connected Virtually
“For anyone who is missing a parent during these uncertain times, it is important to remain connected in any way possible,” said Nicole Bentley, a licensed therapist and intake coordinator at Cityscape Counseling in Chicago.
“Via phone or video, letters or emails, some form of contact will be important to maintain the relationship while being apart. Focus on meaningful conversation, and feel free to express that you miss them, your gratitude for them, or reminisce about your favorite memories together.”
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You can acknowledge that the digital experience isn’t the same as seeing your parents in person and sharing warm hugs. Still, consider this an opportunity to get creative and start new family traditions.
“Ask for advice, ask about their life ― their childhood, their adolescence ― the parts before they had you,” suggested Zainab Delawalla, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta. “Think about how you might be helpful to them from a distance, perhaps by facilitating an online grocery or prescription order, so they don’t have to leave the house. Make them a playlist of popular songs from their youth. Write them a letter or send them a news article or a comic strip in the mail ― anything to show them that you think about them.”
Keeping up with each other’s social media accounts may also provide a way to stay updated on current happenings at their homes, share funny content or chat even more throughout the day.
“Focus on meaningful conversation, and feel free to express that you miss them, your gratitude for them, or reminisce about your favorite memories together.” - Nicole Bentley, licensed therapist
Stuempfig noted that some parents may struggle with technology like Zoom, but you can help walk them through the process of setting up an account, using closed captions if they have difficulty hearing, or mailing simple instructions in large font.
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“The idea is to have regular check-ins with parents while making it as user-friendly as possible,” she said. “If parents are resistant to using video technology to communicate, phone calls and letters are a great way to stay in contact. I recommend everyone talks to at least one person a day, either via phone or video, and particularly for those living alone.”
Look Through Photos Of Times You Were Together
It can be therapeutic to look through family photos and videos.
“It helps remind us of the good times we have had together and serves as a healthy escape to joyful moments in our lives,” Stuempfig said. “I encourage families to send each other pictures through text or email and reflect on how much those moments meant to them. This may seem like a small act, but it keeps those moments alive in our hearts and cultivates gratitude. As we increase gratitude, we decrease anxiety.”
Saniyyah Mayo, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, suggested framing and displaying photos of your parents and other loved ones.
“This allows you to have a part of home with you even when you are away,” she said.
Focus On What You Can Control
“I would encourage anyone to focus on what is in their control during these uncertain times,” Stuempfig said.
When it comes to missing your parents, she advised focusing on the ways you can remain connected, express what they mean to you and move your relationship forward through the means you have.
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“This is truly a difficult time for people to be separated from their families, especially from elderly parents,” said Delawalla. “When you’re overcome with the anxiety of not being able to see your elderly parents in person, think about why you’ve made that deliberate choice ― in order to exert some sense of control over the uncertainty this virus poses. By maintaining physical distance, you are increasing the likelihood of a more positive outcome for your family.”
10'000 Hours via Getty Images It's helpful to focus on things you can control, like staying connected via video chats.
Remember That It’s Temporary
Although we do not have an exact end date, we do know that the present situation is not a permanent way of life.
“It may look differently when we initially can see each other again. For example, we may have to wear face coverings for a while and hold back on hugs and kisses,” said Stuempfig. “These gradual steps toward normalcy require us to dig deep with our patience and understand that by staying physically distant, we are keeping our loved ones safe.”
She compared this time of extreme distancing to saving money. Although it can be hard to cut back on spending on a daily basis, there’s a worthwhile reward in the end.
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“This is a temporary sacrifice we can make to protect our future days together,” she said. ”I encourage people to consider this stage an investment in their future memories with their parents, similar to sacrifices you may make to save for a family trip.”
Bentley noted that it can be nice to talk to your parents about the things you can’t wait to do together when you’re reunited.
“Even if we don’t know exactly when that will be, having something to look forward to can help hold the hope during an uncertain time,” she said.
Take Stock Of Your Emotions
It’s normal and OK to feel sad, scared, angry, lonely, or really any difficult emotion right now. Acknowledging those feelings can be immensely helpful.
“Lean into the emotion,” Bentley said. “If you are sad and missing a parent, that likely means that you love them and have a great relationship with them. Feel free to observe all aspects of the emotion and why it is coming up. Decide if talking to them in a moment of sadness will be helpful or hurtful.”
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Looking at these feelings through the lens of grief is also very useful and can help explain the physiological effects on sleep, appetite, energy level and motivation.
“The sadness and disappointment we feel when not being able to see our parents represents our grieving those losses,” Stuempfig explained. “We are grieving the loss of sharing birthdays together, cooking for one another, gathering at restaurants for family meals, sharing hugs and walking hand-in-hand. These are profound losses we are experiencing collectively as a society, and consequently, we are feeling the symptoms of grief.”
Ward recommended using mindfulness exercises to prevent toxic thoughts from exacerbating those difficult emotions.
“Our thoughts can drive our feelings and behaviors, and vice-versa,” she said. “The challenge is when we turn our unhelpful thoughts into facts. Catch, check and change thoughts that are not helpful. The ‘what ifs’ can start to feel like facts right now as we all try to process what is happening. Saying ‘I don’t know when I will see my parents’ may feel uncomfortable and scary, but that would be considered the helpful reform to ‘I am never going to see my parents again.’”
Share Those Feelings With Your Parents
“Grief needs a place to go ― it needs to be heard and expressed,” Stuempfig said.
She advised sharing your feelings with your parents by saying something like, “I’m having such a hard time with not seeing you, and I’m missing you so much. I feel worried about not knowing when all of this will end. How are you doing with it?”
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Not only does that help you process your own feelings, but it also gives your parents a safe space to share their own worries or fears.
“We are grieving the loss of sharing birthdays together, cooking for one another, gathering at restaurants for family meals, sharing hugs and walking hand-in-hand.” - Becky Stuempfig, licensed marriage and family therapist
“It can be especially important to check in with parents regarding their mental health during the pandemic,” said Stuempfig, who noted there is still a stigma among some older people around seeking mental health support.
“It may be viewed as a sign of weakness to need emotional support, and they may feel uncomfortable sharing with others how down they are feeling.”
Take It One Day At A Time
“Make a plan to get through each day. If the longing becomes too much, focus on one day at a time and make a plan for how you will support yourself during that day,” Bentley suggested. “This might include self-care activities, distraction, validation or affirmation, whatever you need to effectively make it through each day as it comes.”
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Staying in the present moment helps reduce the amount of time spent worrying about the future ― particularly the uncertainty about when you might be able to see your parents again. Activities like cooking engage your senses (like smell, taste and touch) and help you remain in the present.
Delawalla noted that you can even involve your parents in these pursuits.
“When you reach out to your parents via text or phone, try not to let COVID-19 talk dominate the conversation,” she said. “Ask your mom to share recipes of your favorite childhood dishes, or tell them about the new TV show or podcast you’ve discovered.”
Reach Out To Others
If your painful emotions start to feel overwhelming, consider seeking mental health support from a professional through teletherapy. In addition to individual therapy, there are also online group options, and many providers are offering reduced rates.
You can also reach out to peers to vent your worries. You may even feel less alone if you connect with friends who are struggling with the same thing or have faced similar challenges in the past.
“Talk to others who have been separated from parents before,” Ward advised. “The pandemic is new territory, but there have been other circumstances within families that have separated adult children from their parents. Hearing how others have coped can help, so the person doesn’t feel so isolated.”


huffpost--2020-05-15--Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Surprised A Bunch Of People During A Zoom Meeting

“ They were just genuinely compassionate , interested individuals who came to visit the kitchens , ” Ayoub said at @ @ @ @ @ they were “ extremely engaged with every single person they met.
” Ayoub said that @ @ @ @ @ Doria Ragland , was the one who suggested the couple help out with the charity @ @ @ @ @ deliver food to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses .

“They were just genuinely compassionate, interested individuals who came to visit the kitchens,” Ayoub said at the time, adding that they were “extremely engaged with every single person they met.”
Ayoub said that Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was the one who suggested the couple help out with the charity, which helps prepare and deliver food to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Pawning During A Pandemic

Pawning During A Pandemic

BRIDGET BENNETT FOR HUFFPOST Allison Lehmann outside an EZPawn on April 13 , 2020 , in Las Vegas .
Lehmann , a Lyft driver , says her work has been severely impacted .
She is attempting to sell some handbags .
“ Don ’ t get me wrong , I would have loved to have kept them , ” she said .
Last week , Allison Lehman gathered three designer handbags from her storage unit and took them to EZ Pawn , a pawnshop just off the Las Vegas strip .
Lehman is one of the thousands of gig economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit during the COVID-19 crisis .
Before , she was making money driving for Lyft , but business is down dramatically .
So she ’ s finding other ways to make some extra cash .
“ Don ’ t get me wrong , ” she said of the handbags , “ I would have loved to have kept them.
” Some visitors are sellers like Lehman , who are pawning their items during lean times or are there to secure small loans for essentials like gas and groceries .
Others are shoppers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still open .
The world has slowed down , but the Las Vegas pawn shop economy is still chugging along .
“ We ’ re always busy , in any economy , ” said Michael Mack , a fourth-generation pawnshop owner in Las Vegas .
“ And I would have figured we ’ d have lines out the door of people needing loans.
” Instead , Mack said , he ’ s getting more buyers than sellers .
His store , Max Pawn , is a high-end pawnshop about 15 minutes from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jewelry and a wide range of firearms .
Many of his customers are residents who have been hit with unemployment or employee furloughs during the coronavirus pandemic , he said .
Still , he ’ s seen an uptick in people coming by to purchase expensive goods .
Over the last few weeks alone , a young couple came in to buy a $ 20,000 wedding ring .
Another customer dropped around $ 2,000 on a designer bag .
“ I hate to see people [ who live paycheck to paycheck ] spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mack said .
“ But it ’ s the American way.
” Mack likened pawnshops to “ the people ’ s bank , ” saying they cater to those who are underserved by the banking community .
During the pandemic , he said , he ’ s implemented new social-distancing measures in the store , but will remain open to serve customers .
Left top : Belongings that have been pawned in a back room at Max Pawn .
Right top : Shoes and computers for sale at Max Pawn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Max Pawn .
Right bottom : Guns at Max Pawn .
Nevada ’ s stay-at-home order went into effect on April 1 to slow the spread of the coronavirus , relegating more than 3 million residents to their homes and keeping open essential businesses only .
There have been nearly 4,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Silver State , with over half of those cases hitting Clark County , which encompasses the Las Vegas area .
Over 150 people have reportedly died from the coronavirus in Nevada .
The economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread job loss .
More than 250,000 people in Nevada are currently out of work due to the crisis and have filed for unemployment .
Sara Lovato , whose work was affected by the stay-at-home orders , visited another EZ Pawn location last week .
She and her husband , Cue Lovato , were hoping to sell a computer and some of their nice shoes .

Last week, Allison Lehman gathered three designer handbags from her storage unit and took them to EZ Pawn, a pawnshop just off the Las Vegas strip.
Lehman is one of the thousands of gig economy workers whose work has taken a huge hit during the COVID-19 crisis. Before, she was making money driving for Lyft, but business is down dramatically. So she’s finding other ways to make some extra cash.
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“Don’t get me wrong,” she said of the handbags, “I would have loved to have kept them.”
And business is booming, according to some pawnshop owners in Nevada.
Some visitors are sellers like Lehman, who are pawning their items during lean times or are there to secure small loans for essentials like gas and groceries. Others are shoppers, visiting some of the few retail stores still open. The world has slowed down, but the Las Vegas pawn shop economy is still chugging along.
Customers wait in line outside an EZPawn on April 13, 2020, in Las Vegas. BRIDGET BENNETT FOR HUFFPOST
“We’re always busy, in any economy,” said Michael Mack, a fourth-generation pawnshop owner in Las Vegas. “And I would have figured we’d have lines out the door of people needing loans.” Instead, Mack said, he’s getting more buyers than sellers.
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His store, Max Pawn, is a high-end pawnshop about 15 minutes from the strip that sells designer handbags, expensive jewelry and a wide range of firearms. Many of his customers are residents who have been hit with unemployment or employee furloughs during the coronavirus pandemic, he said.
Still, he’s seen an uptick in people coming by to purchase expensive goods. Over the last few weeks alone, a young couple came in to buy a $20,000 wedding ring. Another customer dropped around $2,000 on a designer bag.
“I hate to see people [who live paycheck to paycheck] spending all this money with their stimulus checks,” Mack said. “But it’s the American way.”
Mack likened pawnshops to “the people’s bank,” saying they cater to those who are underserved by the banking community. During the pandemic, he said, he’s implemented new social-distancing measures in the store, but will remain open to serve customers.
Left top: Belongings that have been pawned in a back room at Max Pawn. Right top: Shoes and computers for sale at Max Pawn. Left bottom: Designer handbags on display at Max Pawn. Right bottom: Guns at Max Pawn. Bridget Bennett for HuffPost
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Nevada’s stay-at-home order went into effect on April 1 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, relegating more than 3 million residents to their homes and keeping open essential businesses only. There have been nearly 4,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Silver State, with over half of those cases hitting Clark County, which encompasses the Las Vegas area. Over 150 people have reportedly died from the coronavirus in Nevada.
The economic slowdown, meanwhile, has led to widespread job loss. More than 250,000 people in Nevada are currently out of work due to the crisis and have filed for unemployment.
Sara Lovato, whose work was affected by the stay-at-home orders, visited another EZ Pawn location last week. She and her husband, Cue Lovato, were hoping to sell a computer and some of their nice shoes.
“Gotta get some gas,” she said.
Cue and Sara Lovato wait in line with a computer they're hoping to sell at an EZPawn on April 13, 2020. “Gotta get some gas,” said Sara. Her work in behavioral health has been affected by the coronavirus. BRIDGET BENNETT FOR HUFFPOST


huffpost--2020-04-22--Jane Fonda Shows Off Mug With Her Mug Shot On It In Hilarious '9 To 5' TikTok

Jane Fonda may be on lockdown like the rest of us during the coronavirus pandemic , but that doesn ’ t mean she ’ s lost her sense of humor .
On Tuesday , the 82-year-old actor and activist posted a very funny TikTok — backed to the Dolly Parton-sung theme to Fonda , Parton and Lily Tomlin ’ s 1980 comedy “ 9 to 5 ” — that gave fans a brief glimpse into her life in quarantine .
The best part of the video happens after the “ Grace and Frankie ” star tumbles out of bed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herself a cup of ambition into a mug emblazoned with her 1970 mugshot .
Jane Fonda ’ s Nov. 3 , 1970 police mugshot after she was arrested for assault and battery in Cleveland , Ohio , after she allegedly kicked a cop .
All charges were later dropped .
After this little joke , Fonda decides to poke some fun at her rap sheet and proceeds to do a set of full-body wall squats .
“ I did these squats in jail , ” reads text in the video .
Fonda then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one she was wearing when she was arrested outside of Congress in October for protesting that lawmakers take action against climate change — and gets to work on her Fire Drill Friday campaign for the environment with colleagues on Zoom .
At 5:01 p.m. , a very tired Fonda is shown passed out on her laptop ’ s keyboard with an empty martini glass sitting besides her .

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Jane Fonda may be on lockdown like the rest of us during the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean she’s lost her sense of humor.
On Tuesday, the 82-year-old actor and activist posted a very funny TikTok — backed to the Dolly Parton-sung theme to Fonda, Parton and Lily Tomlin’s 1980 comedy “9 to 5” — that gave fans a brief glimpse into her life in quarantine.
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The best part of the video happens after the “Grace and Frankie” star tumbles out of bed, stumbles to the kitchen, and pours herself a cup of ambition into a mug emblazoned with her 1970 mugshot.
Jane Fonda’s Nov. 3, 1970 police mugshot after she was arrested for assault and battery in Cleveland, Ohio, after she allegedly kicked a cop. All charges were later dropped. ASSOCIATED PRESS
It’s truly a thing of glory.
After this little joke, Fonda decides to poke some fun at her rap sheet and proceeds to do a set of full-body wall squats.
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“I did these squats in jail,” reads text in the video.
Fonda then slips on her red protest coat — the one she was wearing when she was arrested outside of Congress in October for protesting that lawmakers take action against climate change — and gets to work on her Fire Drill Friday campaign for the environment with colleagues on Zoom.
At 5:01 p.m., a very tired Fonda is shown passed out on her laptop’s keyboard with an empty martini glass sitting besides her.
“Work hard, play hard,” reads text in the video.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Russian communists defy lockdown with Red Square parade for Lenin's 150th

MOSCOW , April 22 ( Reuters ) - Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow ’ s coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin ’ s tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader .
Led by Gennady Zyuganov , head of Russia ’ s Communist Party , a small group of people , some holding red flags , marched to the granite mausoleum where Lenin ’ s embalmed body lies to pay their respects .
The ritual , which is observed annually on April 22 , comes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the new virus .
Muscovites are only allowed outside to buy food or medicine nearby , receive urgent medical treatment , walk the dog or takeout the trash .
A policeman guarding Red Square , which has been closed off to the public and was otherwise empty as it snowed on Wednesday , told Reuters the communists had received special permission to stage the event .
The Moscow police and the mayor ’ s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Speaking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian authorities ’ efforts to contain the virus were no match for the Soviet approach to fighting a smallpox outbreak in Moscow in 1960 .
“ Now they can ’ t even produce masks in three months , ” he said , referring to the current Russian authorities .
Some Russian regions have experienced shortages of protective gear for medical workers but the country has still exported equipment to countries including the United States , Italy and Serbia .
Moscow , a city of more than 12.5 million , has been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak and on Wednesday recorded 2,548 new cases , pushing the nation wide tally to almost 58,000 .
The initiatives , however , have drawn criticism from people who say the communist events violate lockdowns .
Vladimir Zhirinovsky , the outspoken head of Russia ’ s nationalist Liberal Democratic Party , has said the people laying flowers on Lenin ’ s tomb during lockdown should be arrested .
Russia abandoned communism when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 , but the tomb remains a popular attraction among tourists and Russian communists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attractions last month in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
Lenin died of a stroke in 1924 and is said to have wanted to be buried alongside his mother in St. Petersburg .
Attempts over the years to have his body transferred there have been thwarted by warnings that such a move could split society .

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MOSCOW, April 22 (Reuters) - Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow’s coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin’s tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader.
Led by Gennady Zyuganov, head of Russia’s Communist Party, a small group of people, some holding red flags, marched to the granite mausoleum where Lenin’s embalmed body lies to pay their respects.
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The ritual, which is observed annually on April 22, comes with Moscow in its fourth week of a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the new virus.
Muscovites are only allowed outside to buy food or medicine nearby, receive urgent medical treatment, walk the dog or takeout the trash.
A policeman guarding Red Square, which has been closed off to the public and was otherwise empty as it snowed on Wednesday, told Reuters the communists had received special permission to stage the event.
The Moscow police and the mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Speaking to reporters on Red Square, Zyuganov said the Russian authorities’ efforts to contain the virus were no match for the Soviet approach to fighting a smallpox outbreak in Moscow in 1960.
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“Now they can’t even produce masks in three months,” he said, referring to the current Russian authorities.
Some Russian regions have experienced shortages of protective gear for medical workers but the country has still exported equipment to countries including the United States, Italy and Serbia.
Moscow, a city of more than 12.5 million, has been the hardest-hit of Russia’s regions by the coronavirus outbreak and on Wednesday recorded 2,548 new cases, pushing the nation wide tally to almost 58,000.
Similar events were held across the country to honor Lenin.
The initiatives, however, have drawn criticism from people who say the communist events violate lockdowns.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the outspoken head of Russia’s nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, has said the people laying flowers on Lenin’s tomb during lockdown should be arrested.
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Russia abandoned communism when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but the tomb remains a popular attraction among tourists and Russian communists.
Authorities shuttered the tomb and other attractions last month in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Lenin died of a stroke in 1924 and is said to have wanted to be buried alongside his mother in St. Petersburg. Attempts over the years to have his body transferred there have been thwarted by warnings that such a move could split society.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Chris Cuomo's Son Mario Suffering From Coronavirus, Mom Cristina Reveals

Cristina Cuomo spoke out earlier this month about the impact the virus has had on her entire family , writing on her Instagram : “ You never know how strong you are , until being strong is your only choice .
Covid-19 got me.
” “ A seemingly sinus-related infection was my first symptom .
But the only frustrating part is I can ’ t be there for my kids right now in the way they need me as Chris is in isolation too still , no fever and feeling better .
Bella , Mario and Carolina have grown up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stepped up cleaning , doing laundry , cooking for her siblings and getting them situated with google classroom , and caregiving her mother and father .
Mario , her assistant .
So much gratitude for them .
I can ’ t wait to wrap my arms around them again , ” she wrote of her children .
In her post on Wednesday , Cristina Cuomo explained that she ’ d be “ applying a modified version of my remedies ” for her son and that she ’ s been “ feeding him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get him to touch.
” As of this week , there are more than 2.5 million confirmed cases of the virus worldwide , and more than 178,000 people have died from it , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

Cristina Cuomo spoke out earlier this month about the impact the virus has had on her entire family, writing on her Instagram: “You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice. Covid-19 got me.”
“A seemingly sinus-related infection was my first symptom. But the only frustrating part is I can’t be there for my kids right now in the way they need me as Chris is in isolation too still, no fever and feeling better. Bella, Mario and Carolina have grown up overnight — Bella, our 17-year-old daughter, stepped up cleaning, doing laundry, cooking for her siblings and getting them situated with google classroom, and caregiving her mother and father. Mario, her assistant. So much gratitude for them. I can’t wait to wrap my arms around them again,” she wrote of her children.
In her post on Wednesday, Cristina Cuomo explained that she’d be “applying a modified version of my remedies” for her son and that she’s been “feeding him healthy foods that I normally can’t get him to touch.”
As of this week, there are more than 2.5 million confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, and more than 178,000 people have died from it, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Pope Francis: Humans Have Sinned Against The Earth By Exploiting Its Resources

VATICAN CITY , April 22 ( Reuters ) - Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for protection of the environment on Wednesday ’ s 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day , saying the coronavirus pandemic had shown that some challenges had to be met with a global response .
Francis praised the environmental movement , saying it was necessary for young people to “ take to the streets to teach us what is obvious , that is , that there will be no future for us if we destroy the environment that sustains us.
” The pope , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defense of nature and the dangers of climate change , dedicated his general audience - broadcast from his library because of the coronavirus lockdown - to the theme .
Recounting a Spanish proverb that God always forgives , man sometimes forgives but nature never forgives , Francis said : “ If we have deteriorated the Earth , the response will be very ugly.
” A landmark in the emergence of the environmental movement when it first took place in 1970 , this year ’ s Earth Day has prompted calls from many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for governments to pursue “ green recovery ” in response to coronavirus “ We see these natural tragedies , which are the Earth ’ s response to our maltreatment , ” Francis said .
“ I think that if I ask the Lord now what he thinks about this , I don ’ t think he would say it is a very good thing .
It is we who have ruined the work of God.
” Saying the Earth was not an endless deposit of resources to exploit , he said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against our neighbor and , in the end , against the creator.
” Last year , after a synod of bishops from the Amazon region , Francis said he was considering adding a definition of ” ecological sins ” in the Roman Catholic Church ’ s Catechism , a compendium of teachings and rules .
“ Only together , and looking after the most fragile ( members of society ) can we win global challenges , ” the pope said .
Pope Francis talks to the media after he celebrated Mass behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sassia church in Rome , on April 19 , 2020 .
So far , massive economic stimulus packages launched by the United States , China and European governments have focused mainly on staunching the damage to existing industries and staving off the threat of a global depression .
But ministers from Germany , France and other EU members have signaled their support for subsequent interventions to align with climate goals , a theme taken up by climate campaign groups around the world .

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VATICAN CITY, April 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for protection of the environment on Wednesday’s 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, saying the coronavirus pandemic had shown that some challenges had to be met with a global response.
Francis praised the environmental movement, saying it was necessary for young people to “take to the streets to teach us what is obvious, that is, that there will be no future for us if we destroy the environment that sustains us.”
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The pope, who wrote a major encyclical in 2015 on the defense of nature and the dangers of climate change, dedicated his general audience - broadcast from his library because of the coronavirus lockdown - to the theme.
Recounting a Spanish proverb that God always forgives, man sometimes forgives but nature never forgives, Francis said: “If we have deteriorated the Earth, the response will be very ugly.”
A landmark in the emergence of the environmental movement when it first took place in 1970, this year’s Earth Day has prompted calls from many, including U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for governments to pursue “green recovery” in response to coronavirus
Pope Francis meets with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres at the Vatican on December 20, 2019. POOL New / Reuters
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Both the pope and Guterres have made environmental protection and climate change signature themes of their offices.
“We see these natural tragedies, which are the Earth’s response to our maltreatment,” Francis said. “I think that if I ask the Lord now what he thinks about this, I don’t think he would say it is a very good thing. It is we who have ruined the work of God.”
Saying the Earth was not an endless deposit of resources to exploit, he said: “We have sinned against the Earth, against our neighbor and, in the end, against the creator.”
Last year, after a synod of bishops from the Amazon region, Francis said he was considering adding a definition of”ecological sins” in the Roman Catholic Church’s Catechism, a compendium of teachings and rules.
Francis, like Guterres, has likened the response to environmental dangers to that of the coronavirus.
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“Only together, and looking after the most fragile (members of society) can we win global challenges,” the pope said.
Pope Francis talks to the media after he celebrated Mass behind the closed doors of the Santo Spirito in Sassia church in Rome, on April 19, 2020. ALBERTO PIZZOLI via Getty Images
So far, massive economic stimulus packages launched by the United States, China and European governments have focused mainly on staunching the damage to existing industries and staving off the threat of a global depression.
But ministers from Germany, France and other EU members have signaled their support for subsequent interventions to align with climate goals, a theme taken up by climate campaign groups around the world.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Inside Trump's Proposal To Suspend Legal Immigration Amid The Coronavirus Crisis

WASHINGTON , April 21 ( Reuters ) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will issue an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the United States to protect U.S. workers amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak .
“ It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad , ” Trump said during a White House press briefing .
“ We must first take care of the American worker.
” Still , some questions remained unanswered on Tuesday as the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which follows a series of previous steps the president has taken to clamp down on legal immigration .
Who Will Be Affected ?
Trump said the executive order would only apply to immigrants seeking permanent residency in the United States , a process informally known as obtaining a green card .
The order will not affect people entering on temporary non-immigrant visas , he said .
Such visas are used by tourists , business travelers and foreign workers .
The U.S. Department of State issued roughly 462,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
How many immigrant visa applicants might be affected by Trump ’ s planned executive order remains unclear .
Trump said the order , which could be signed as soon as Wednesday , will have exemptions , but did not provide details .
Trump did not say what the executive order would mean for people who have immigrant visas and jobs secured in the United States but have not yet moved to the United States .
How Long Will The Suspension Last ?
The suspension will last 60 days , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he will review U.S. economic conditions and decide whether it should be extended .
Future extensions could potentially be longer than 60 days , Trump said .
What Will Happen To Temporary Foreign Workers ?
A senior administration official told Reuters the White House was considering a separate action that could deal with skilled workers who enter the country on H-1B visas and others affected by U.S. immigration policy .
The potential executive order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak , including farm workers and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official said .
Trump said at the briefing Tuesday that he may issue a second order at a later date , but did not provide details .
Does Trump Have The Power To Suspend Immigration ?
The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Trump could block the entry of certain foreigners from countries deemed a security threat , an affirmation of the president ’ s power to restrict legal immigration under federal law .
Some legal experts argue the court ’ s ruling does not permit a broad , worldwide ban on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any order to be challenged in court .
Andrea Flores , a deputy policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union , which has sued over a number of Trump immigration policies , said Trump appeared “ more interested in fanning anti-immigrant flames than in saving lives ” with his latest proposal .
How Has Trump Restricted Immigration Before ?
The Trump administration has used several legal avenues to restrict travel to the United States in the past .
Trump issued an executive order in late January that barred entry to certain travelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surfaced .
He similarly blocked certain travelers from Iran in February and Europe in March .
Well before the pandemic , Trump had issued travel bans for national security reasons .
In late January , he added Nigeria and five other countries to a list of countries subject to visa restrictions .
What Does Immigration Look Like Now ?
The United States suspended routine visa services in most countries worldwide on March 18 due to the coronavirus outbreak , which was expected to dramatically slow legal immigration .
In addition , countries around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted quarantines to limit the spread of the virus , greatly reducing travel worldwide .
The State Department issues monthly visa reports that illustrate the latest trends , but that data for March is not yet public .
Would Blocking Immigrants Help The Economy ?
A record 22 million Americans sought unemployment benefits over the past month , nearly wiping out all the job gains since the Great Recession .
Trump said on Tuesday that an immigration suspension would protect U.S. workers , an extension of the message he employed during his 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise and criticism .
Thomas Homan , Trump ’ s former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , said it “ makes sense ” and will keep the country safer while preserving jobs for unemployed Americans .
Giovanni Peri , an economics professor at the University of California , Davis , said researchers generally agree that immigration into the United States has stimulated economic growth , increased the size of the economy and created jobs .
“ The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Ted Hesson ; editing by Ross Colvin , Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler )

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will issue an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the United States to protect U.S. workers amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
“It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad,” Trump said during a White House press briefing. “We must first take care of the American worker.”
Still, some questions remained unanswered on Tuesday as the Trump administration continued to work on the order, which follows a series of previous steps the president has taken to clamp down on legal immigration.
Who Will Be Affected?
Trump said the executive order would only apply to immigrants seeking permanent residency in the United States, a process informally known as obtaining a green card.
The order will not affect people entering on temporary non-immigrant visas, he said. Such visas are used by tourists, business travelers and foreign workers.
The U.S. Department of State issued roughly 462,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019, which began on Oct. 1, 2018. How many immigrant visa applicants might be affected by Trump’s planned executive order remains unclear.
Trump said the order, which could be signed as soon as Wednesday, will have exemptions, but did not provide details.
Trump did not say what the executive order would mean for people who have immigrant visas and jobs secured in the United States but have not yet moved to the United States.
How Long Will The Suspension Last?
The suspension will last 60 days, according to Trump. After that, the president said he will review U.S. economic conditions and decide whether it should be extended. Future extensions could potentially be longer than 60 days, Trump said.
What Will Happen To Temporary Foreign Workers?
A senior administration official told Reuters the White House was considering a separate action that could deal with skilled workers who enter the country on H-1B visas and others affected by U.S. immigration policy.
The potential executive order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including farm workers and those helping to secure U.S. food supplies, the official said.
Trump said at the briefing Tuesday that he may issue a second order at a later date, but did not provide details.
Does Trump Have The Power To Suspend Immigration?
The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Trump could block the entry of certain foreigners from countries deemed a security threat, an affirmation of the president’s power to restrict legal immigration under federal law.
Some legal experts argue the court’s ruling does not permit a broad, worldwide ban on immigration into the United States and expect any order to be challenged in court.
Andrea Flores, a deputy policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union, which has sued over a number of Trump immigration policies, said Trump appeared “more interested in fanning anti-immigrant flames than in saving lives” with his latest proposal.
How Has Trump Restricted Immigration Before?
The Trump administration has used several legal avenues to restrict travel to the United States in the past.
Trump issued an executive order in late January that barred entry to certain travelers from China, where the coronavirus first surfaced. He similarly blocked certain travelers from Iran in February and Europe in March.
Well before the pandemic, Trump had issued travel bans for national security reasons. In late January, he added Nigeria and five other countries to a list of countries subject to visa restrictions.
What Does Immigration Look Like Now?
The United States suspended routine visa services in most countries worldwide on March 18 due to the coronavirus outbreak, which was expected to dramatically slow legal immigration.
In addition, countries around the world have closed their borders and enacted quarantines to limit the spread of the virus, greatly reducing travel worldwide.
The State Department issues monthly visa reports that illustrate the latest trends, but that data for March is not yet public.
Would Blocking Immigrants Help The Economy?
A record 22 million Americans sought unemployment benefits over the past month, nearly wiping out all the job gains since the Great Recession.
Trump said on Tuesday that an immigration suspension would protect U.S. workers, an extension of the message he employed during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The plan drew both praise and criticism.
Thomas Homan, Trump’s former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said it “makes sense” and will keep the country safer while preserving jobs for unemployed Americans.
Giovanni Peri, an economics professor at the University of California, Davis, said researchers generally agree that immigration into the United States has stimulated economic growth, increased the size of the economy and created jobs.
“The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data,” he said. (Reporting by Ted Hesson; editing by Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler)


huffpost--2020-04-22--Missouri Becomes First U.S. State To Sue China For Lying, Not Doing Enough About COVID-19

Missouri on Tuesday became the first U.S. state to sue the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus , saying that China ’ s response to the outbreak that originated in Wuhan city led to devastating economic losses in the state .
The civil lawsuit , filed in federal court by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt , alleges negligence , among other claims .
The complaint alleges Missouri and its residents have suffered possibly tens of billions of dollars in economic damages , and seeks cash compensation .
“ The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblowers , and did little to stop the spread of the disease , ” Schmitt , a Republican , said in a statement .
“ They must be held accountable for their actions.
” The lawsuit also accuses the Chinese government of making the pandemic worse by “ hoarding ” masks and other personal protective equipment .
U.S. President Donald Trump , also a Republican , initially lavished praise on China and his counterpart Xi Jinping for the official response to the outbreak , which has since spread to infect more than 2.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other senior U.S. officials have also referred to it as the “ Chinese virus ” and in recent days have ramped up their rhetoric .
International law experts told Reuters that efforts to hold China liable for the coronavirus in U.S. courts will likely fail .
A legal doctrine called sovereign immunity offers foreign governments broad protection from being sued in U.S. courts , said Tom Ginsburg , a professor of international law at the University of Chicago .
Ginsburg said he thought the recent flurry of lawsuits against China serve a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .
“ We are seeing a lot of people on the political right focus on the China issue to cover up for the U.S. government ’ s own errors , ” Ginsburg said .
Trump initially downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus , which has killed more than 43,000 people in the United States out of nearly 800,000 cases as of Tuesday .
The outbreak has also forced state governors to declare stay-at-home orders that have shuttered businesses and social activities , leading a record 22 million people to seek unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the United States wants to bring claims against China , it will have to do so in an international forum , ” said Chimène Keitner , an international law professor at the University of California , Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco .
“ There is no civil jurisdiction over such claims in U.S. courts .
”

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Missouri on Tuesday became the first U.S. state to sue the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus, saying that China’s response to the outbreak that originated in Wuhan city led to devastating economic losses in the state.
The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, alleges negligence, among other claims. The complaint alleges Missouri and its residents have suffered possibly tens of billions of dollars in economic damages, and seeks cash compensation.
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“The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease,” Schmitt, a Republican, said in a statement. “They must be held accountable for their actions.”
The lawsuit also accuses the Chinese government of making the pandemic worse by “hoarding” masks and other personal protective equipment.
U.S. President Donald Trump, also a Republican, initially lavished praise on China and his counterpart Xi Jinping for the official response to the outbreak, which has since spread to infect more than 2.5 million people worldwide. But he and other senior U.S. officials have also referred to it as the “Chinese virus” and in recent days have ramped up their rhetoric.
China is already facing similar lawsuits filed in U.S. courts on behalf of U.S. business owners.
International law experts told Reuters that efforts to hold China liable for the coronavirus in U.S. courts will likely fail.
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A legal doctrine called sovereign immunity offers foreign governments broad protection from being sued in U.S. courts, said Tom Ginsburg, a professor of international law at the University of Chicago.
Ginsburg said he thought the recent flurry of lawsuits against China serve a political end for Republican leaders facing an election in November.
“We are seeing a lot of people on the political right focus on the China issue to cover up for the U.S. government’s own errors,” Ginsburg said.
Trump initially downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 43,000 people in the United States out of nearly 800,000 cases as of Tuesday.
The outbreak has also forced state governors to declare stay-at-home orders that have shuttered businesses and social activities, leading a record 22 million people to seek unemployment benefits in the past month.
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huffpost--2020-04-12--Larry David's Bernie Sanders Assures 'SNL' Fans He'll Endorse Biden

While portraying Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) on “ Saturday Night Live ” this week , Larry David groused that he ’ s “ always a bridesmaid , never the Democratic nominee.
” “ What the hell happened ?
” he asked .
Sanders dropped his presidential bid on Wednesday .
“ It didn ’ t help that the media lined up behind Joe Biden like he lines up behind the set of ladies ’ shoulders , ” he complained .
But relax , he told viewers .
He will endorse Biden — especially because he would do anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t win a second term .
His level of enthusiasm remains a question , however .
David-as-Sanders also noted that the coronavirus is the real crisis , and health care workers don ’ t have proper protective equipment .
“ They don ’ t have Purell .
They don ’ t even have the little keychain that has the bottle of Purell that goes on your purse .
Their gloves have holes in the fingers like Oliver Twist , ” he said .
As for social distancing best practices , he suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % hello and 50 % ‘ Ehh go away , go away.
’ It ’ s worked for me for years.
” “ Stay safe , stay healthy , and please , whatever you do , stay the hell away from me , ” he added .

While portraying Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on “Saturday Night Live” this week, Larry David groused that he’s “always a bridesmaid, never the Democratic nominee.”
“What the hell happened?” he asked. Sanders dropped his presidential bid on Wednesday.
“It didn’t help that the media lined up behind Joe Biden like he lines up behind the set of ladies’ shoulders,” he complained.
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But relax, he told viewers. He will endorse Biden — especially because he would do anything to make sure President Donald Trump doesn’t win a second term. His level of enthusiasm remains a question, however.
David-as-Sanders also noted that the coronavirus is the real crisis, and health care workers don’t have proper protective equipment.
“They don’t have Purell. They don’t even have the little keychain that has the bottle of Purell that goes on your purse. Their gloves have holes in the fingers like Oliver Twist,” he said.
As for social distancing best practices, he suggested a “half-wave — it’s 50% hello and 50% ‘Ehh go away, go away.’ It’s worked for me for years.”
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huffpost--2020-04-02--Samantha Irby Is Saying ‘Wow, No Thank You’ To Your Tired Coronavirus Hot Takes

There ’ s an essay in Samantha Irby ’ s new book , “ Wow , No Thank You , ” that I just couldn ’ t shake .
In “ Are You Familiar With My Work ?
” Irby takes the reader on this hilarious twisty-turny ride of an introvert recently moved to a small Michigan city who is trying to meet new friends among folks she ’ s not quite sure she even wants to be bothered with .
While trick-or-treating , she finally finds a potential pal in a woman named Emily and asks her out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irby tells us , is totally out of character .
Wanting to impress , Irby offers to pay .
But when the server disappears with her credit card , Irby ’ s anxiety about whether it has been declined goes from 0 to 100 , causing the already paranoid author to spiral out .
To avoid ruining the delicious climax , all I will say is that it hilariously goes downhill from there .
After reading those 15 pages , I cackled myself to sleep at the absurdity of it all , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughing hysterically .
But that ’ s the power of Irby ’ s words .
She has such a sharp eye , a sarcastic tongue and a fierce pen that the 40-year-old can turn the most mundane moments ( like waiting on her bill ) or the grossest moments ( like her “ gerbil-sized ” menstrual blood clots ) or her love for a song ( like Sarah McLachlan ’ s “ Elsewhere ” ) and not only make it resonate but sit with you for hours , even days after you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are crying about having to be in the house for a week , I am truly thriving .
As an introvert , I have prepared for this .
[ Laughs ] No one knocks on the fucking door , which when we moved into this house , neighbors would just stop by , or somebody ’ s kid was always coming over , or they kicked a ball in the yard .
I ’ m anxious and paranoid in general , so it can be a lot .
But now , I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mail ― it ’ s great .
I look outside from the inside .
Plus , there ’ s a new season of “ Ozark ” ?
I am OK .
They are at their dad ’ s this week , so it ’ s been incredible .
[ Laughs ] Now because they are teenagers , I don ’ t mind their presence as much because they don ’ t give a fuck about me .
I guess if I ’ m watching the “ big TV ” in the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with me , where I would tell them to get out of here .
But we have reached the golden age of where they would rather be anywhere than next to me ― doing TikTok , Minecraft , building a bomb , who knows ?
It ’ s like we ’ re all home and a ghost will float past you to get a bag of Oreos and leave without making a noise .
It ’ s interesting when I think about it .
The oldest is 14 .
He and I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would get it , even though he ’ s a minor .
But because he ’ s a blond white man he would get it , despite me having 20 years in customer service .
So the job I have taken on is to remind them there is no excuse for them to turn out mediocre .
There are too many people invested in their lives , including myself , whether I want to admit or not .
But truly the world is theirs .
They are white , blond , maybe they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look at them very closely , so I don ’ t know .
Topic-wise , the last couple of books and my blog , I talked about my dead mom and my dead dad , so approaching this one , we ’ re mostly done with all this old shit .
No more .
In terms of process , with my last book , “ We Are Never Meeting in Real Life , ” I had a full outline of what I thought I wanted to write about , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this book [ pitching to the publisher ] , I was like , “ So basically , I ’ m gon na write something in the future that hasn ’ t happened yet , but it ’ s basically gon na be the same thing I ’ ve been doing for you , so do you want to buy it ?
[ Laughs ] I wish I could change that or maybe I need to go to therapy , but I don ’ t know if you can even think better self-image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the failings or the things that are not great will shine brighter than the good things .
I think that some people think it ’ s an act , like I am just joking , but I truly do see myself as a collection of bad habits that I can ’ t stop .
I ’ m resigned to being flawed , and not that anyone should be perfect , but other than a lobotomy , like here are my flaws .
I do often wonder how sustainable it is to memorialize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books don ’ t go away , they ’ re permanent .
But then I ’ m like , well , if someone else can relate or connect , then it ’ s fine , it ’ s useful .
And I still feel like we ’ re in on the joke together .
I know myself well enough to know when it gets to a point of crossing that very thin line .
It ’ s funny because we ’ ll say , “ You ’ re so open .
Is there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Uh , yeah , the real shit that makes me feel bad .
I don ’ t want to put anything in a book I can ’ t shout out into the street .
But we get stuck in the mentality .
Covering , lying .
I had been performing my work early on in my writing career and when you ’ re reading something to people , it ’ s like you can lie about who you are and be honest later .
But then Crohn ’ s [ disease ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to write more about the hilarious and disgusting things happening to your body than that .
It would be a disservice to not be honest about it .
Of course it does .
It bugs me when people say , well , only white people read your books .
My first allegiance is to whoever will part with their $ 16 for these books .
I will discourage no one from reading them .
But yeah , I ’ m from Evanston , the suburbs [ of Chicago ] , but I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ song of the rejected Oreo either .
We ’ ve heard that one before .
But I am always a Black person .
Everything I do is what a Black person is doing .
My face is on the book .
It ’ s black .
I am not hiding it from anyone .
My hair is natural .
[ Laughs ]

Samantha Irby Eva Blue for Penguin Random House
There’s an essay in Samantha Irby’s new book, “Wow, No Thank You,” that I just couldn’t shake. In “Are You Familiar With My Work?” Irby takes the reader on this hilarious twisty-turny ride of an introvert recently moved to a small Michigan city who is trying to meet new friends among folks she’s not quite sure she even wants to be bothered with. While trick-or-treating, she finally finds a potential pal in a woman named Emily and asks her out to lunch for sushi, which, as Irby tells us, is totally out of character. Wanting to impress, Irby offers to pay. But when the server disappears with her credit card, Irby’s anxiety about whether it has been declined goes from 0 to 100, causing the already paranoid author to spiral out. To avoid ruining the delicious climax, all I will say is that it hilariously goes downhill from there.
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After reading those 15 pages, I cackled myself to sleep at the absurdity of it all, only to wake up the next morning still laughing hysterically. But that’s the power of Irby’s words. She has such a sharp eye, a sarcastic tongue and a fierce pen that the 40-year-old can turn the most mundane moments (like waiting on her bill) or the grossest moments (like her “gerbil-sized” menstrual blood clots) or her love for a song (like Sarah McLachlan’s “Elsewhere”) and not only make it resonate but sit with you for hours, even days after you’ve finished digesting it.
HuffPost recently chatted with Irby about her new collection of essays, surviving the coronavirus pandemic, and the tricky balance of writing about her Blackness, her body and her bowels.
So tell me: What are you saying “wow, no thank you” to?
Definitely “no thank you” to a lot of these hot takes flying around on social media. Everyone has an opinion about going outside, staying outside. I have all of the corona-related and political-related words muted on Twitter. I’m very wary of the opinions of uneducated people on specific topics, which is why I don’t talk about politics because I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about. No one wants to hear my thoughts about it and I don’t want to hear yours.
Did you see those tweets about starting a business with your stimulus check? “Rise and Grind” Twitter and “Roc Nation Brunch” Twitter are the absolute worst.
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The worst. That’s why I’m over these proclamations from regular people. Like [maybe the government will] give me $2,000 a month in stimulus and a perfect credit score, but until then, shut up. I don’t need your advice on my finances. Show me yours first.
So how are you maintaining while holed up at home indefinitely?
While folks are crying about having to be in the house for a week, I am truly thriving. As an introvert, I have prepared for this. [Laughs] No one knocks on the fucking door, which when we moved into this house, neighbors would just stop by, or somebody’s kid was always coming over, or they kicked a ball in the yard. I’m anxious and paranoid in general, so it can be a lot. But now, I don’t even step outside to get the mail ― it’s great. I look outside from the inside. Plus, there’s a new season of “Ozark”? I am OK.
“Detached Parenting” is another one of my favorite chapters in your new book. You are clear that you have a hands-off approach to your wife’s two children. As a matter of fact, you don’t even want them to know that much about you.
I don’t. [Laughs]
So naturally, after reading it during the lockdown, I became very concerned for you and them. [Laughs]
They are at their dad’s this week, so it’s been incredible. [Laughs] Now because they are teenagers, I don’t mind their presence as much because they don’t give a fuck about me. I guess if I’m watching the “big TV” in the family room, they might ask to sit with me, where I would tell them to get out of here. But we have reached the golden age of where they would rather be anywhere than next to me ― doing TikTok, Minecraft, building a bomb, who knows? It’s like we’re all home and a ghost will float past you to get a bag of Oreos and leave without making a noise.
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As a Black woman, how do you navigate your relationship with these two children, who happen to be white?
It’s interesting when I think about it. The oldest is 14. He and I could go for the same job and he would get it, even though he’s a minor. But because he’s a blond white man he would get it, despite me having 20 years in customer service. So the job I have taken on is to remind them there is no excuse for them to turn out mediocre. There are too many people invested in their lives, including myself, whether I want to admit or not. But truly the world is theirs. They are white, blond, maybe they have blue eyes, but I don’t look at them very closely, so I don’t know.
Ma’am?!
What am I going to do? Stare at them all day? You would be like, “Bitch, that’s weird.”
Courtesy of Penguin Random House
No, you’re right, I would. So let’s talk about the writing process. Did you know what topics or experiences you were going to cover in “Wow, No Thank You” ahead of time?
Topic-wise, the last couple of books and my blog, I talked about my dead mom and my dead dad, so approaching this one, we’re mostly done with all this old shit. No more. In terms of process, with my last book, “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life,” I had a full outline of what I thought I wanted to write about, and I stuck to it pretty closely. But with this book [pitching to the publisher], I was like, “So basically, I’m gonna write something in the future that hasn’t happened yet, but it’s basically gonna be the same thing I’ve been doing for you, so do you want to buy it? [Laughs]
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So the outline was less detailed ― like I knew I was going to be 40, but I didn’t know I was going to be moving or working on [the Hulu series] “Shrill” or that “Are You Familiar With My Work?” was even going to happen because I hadn’t met Emily yet. So it was this big leap of faith to go on this journey and end up with this.
That’s the excitement of writing, that discovery, that new plot twist you didn’t see coming in your life and then turning it into something on the page.
Completely. That’s why putting this book together resembles none of the chapters I pitched in the outline or even early drafts of chapters. They are like two different books. But I will say they gave me the freedom, and let’s not fucking sugarcoat it, because I sold a lot of books before. So I was like, I know what to do to get people to buy books, so here’s my plan, just give me some time.
Like your other books, you talk about your bodily functions, your smells and your clots. It’s gross yet refreshing. But when describing some of that, you can be incredibly hard on yourself.
I wish I could change that or maybe I need to go to therapy, but I don’t know if you can even think better self-image, you know? I will always believe the failings or the things that are not great will shine brighter than the good things. I think that some people think it’s an act, like I am just joking, but I truly do see myself as a collection of bad habits that I can’t stop. I’m resigned to being flawed, and not that anyone should be perfect, but other than a lobotomy, like here are my flaws.
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Do you ever worry you might crumble under the weight of all that self-depreciation?
I do often wonder how sustainable it is to memorialize all of these bad thoughts. These books don’t go away, they’re permanent. But then I’m like, well, if someone else can relate or connect, then it’s fine, it’s useful. And I still feel like we’re in on the joke together. I know myself well enough to know when it gets to a point of crossing that very thin line. It’s funny because we’ll say, “You’re so open. Is there anything you don’t share?” Uh, yeah, the real shit that makes me feel bad. I don’t want to put anything in a book I can’t shout out into the street.
Yet, by being you and being open, especially about your vagina and hysterectomy, it gives us Black girls space to be hairy and regular and not all baby-powdered down there. And the pooping in the street. It’s got to be freeing.
It is. Growing up, we were taught that our pussies were not allowed to smell. I’ll never forget the first time someone explained to me that our vaginas were self-cleaning ovens and you could just wash it with normal soap. Meanwhile, my mom was making me pat Shower to Shower down there at 8 years old. Like what should it smell like when nothing was developed down there?
But we get stuck in the mentality. Covering, lying. I had been performing my work early on in my writing career and when you’re reading something to people, it’s like you can lie about who you are and be honest later. But then Crohn’s [disease] happened, and nothing makes you want to write more about the hilarious and disgusting things happening to your body than that. It would be a disservice to not be honest about it.
Before, when I had to shit, there were so many times I would make excuses for it, and now I’m like, “Look. I am gonna shit six times tonight, so don’t pause the movie, we will all be fine.” And I don’t think I am the first person to write about my bowels, but I found a lane I am carving out for myself. People who reject that, it says more about them than it does about me.
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Oftentimes when you are interviewed, it’s by white journalists who don’t ask you about race. I think it creates this complete misconception that you’re one of those Blacks. [Laughs] It’s gotta get under your skin a bit to see those critiques of you.
Of course it does. It bugs me when people say, well, only white people read your books. My first allegiance is to whoever will part with their $16 for these books. I will discourage no one from reading them. But yeah, I’m from Evanston, the suburbs [of Chicago], but I am also not going to sing that sad song of the rejected Oreo either. We’ve heard that one before. But I am always a Black person. Everything I do is what a Black person is doing. My face is on the book. It’s black. I am not hiding it from anyone. My hair is natural. [Laughs]
So instead of focusing the camera on me to ask “Am I Black enough?” we need to turn it back on the person who is asking the questions. Oftentimes when we talk about what is Black, it’s steeped in stereotypes, which I am able to check them all off. [Laughs] I grew up poor, with horrible parents, and a little bit of crack in our house ― it was the ’80s. But I also want to be like give me a little bit of credit too, like my work is not centered on whiteness. It’s centered on me, who is once again Black.
I recognize that everything I do is impacted by my Blackness, especially as a big Black lady struggling in the medical world with my health issues. When writing, the first things on the list are a combination of being a woman and Black, with being fat a close second. This is the lens I see my world through. But also, I am also not Mikki Kendall [author of “Hood Feminism”], who I love. I don’t know shit about feminism and politics like she does, so I can’t write about that. But what I do know about is taking a shit as a Black woman with an autoimmune deficiency. And there are always going to be times when I can’t win with people, but all I can do is keep being myself and writing what I know.


huffpost--2020-03-26--Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Officially Move To Los Angeles: Report

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially relocated back to the Duchess of Sussex ’ s hometown of Los Angeles , People magazine reported on Thursday .
Citing an anonymous source , the outlet said the Sussexes are living in a “ secluded compound and haven ’ t ventured out amid the coronavirus pandemic.
” The couple and their son , Archie , were living on Vancouver Island following their announcement in January that they were stepping back from their royal duties , a change that officially begins on March 31 .
In February , People was the first to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , while reality star Caitlyn Jenner let it slip that the royals were seen shopping around for houses in Malibu .
Meghan ’ s mother , Doria Ragland , still lives in LA .
HuffPost spoke with Elaine Lui , a Canadian television host and co-founder of LaineyGossip.com , in February regarding reports that Harry and Meghan were moving to LA .
She explained why the city could be the perfect spot for the couple since they really stood out on Vancouver Island , where it wasn ’ t “ common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When they ended up there and the world found out about it , they became a heat score , ” she told HuffPost at the time .
“ You stand out .
And so , the paparazzi knew exactly where they were staying on Vancouver Island .
They knew where there were nearby hiking trails .
So there weren ’ t a lot of places for them to hide.
” “ In LA , though , where celebrities have perfected the art of disappearing when they need to and reappearing when they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so set up to cater to celebrity needs , they might have an easier time going underground , ” Lui added .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex cheer on a wedding proposal as they attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5 in London .
Disney confirmed the duchesses ’ first post-royal gig on Thursday : narrating a new documentary , “ Elephant , ” which follows an elephant family ’ s 1,000-mile journey across Africa .
The program will be available for streaming on Disney Plus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first to report in January that the duchess was doing a voiceover deal with Disney in exchange for a donation to Elephants Without Borders .
Subscribe to HuffPost ’ s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor ( and beyond ) .

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially relocated back to the Duchess of Sussex’s hometown of Los Angeles, People magazine reported on Thursday.
Citing an anonymous source, the outlet said the Sussexes are living in a “secluded compound and haven’t ventured out amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
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The couple and their son, Archie, were living on Vancouver Island following their announcement in January that they were stepping back from their royal duties, a change that officially begins on March 31.
In February, People was the first to report that the Sussexes were looking in Los Angeles, while reality star Caitlyn Jenner let it slip that the royals were seen shopping around for houses in Malibu. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, still lives in LA.
Harry and Meghan are reportedly Los Angeles residents now. Illustration: HuffPost, Images: Getty
HuffPost spoke with Elaine Lui, a Canadian television host and co-founder of LaineyGossip.com, in February regarding reports that Harry and Meghan were moving to LA.
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She explained why the city could be the perfect spot for the couple since they really stood out on Vancouver Island, where it wasn’t “common to see celebrities walking around.”
“When they ended up there and the world found out about it, they became a heat score,” she told HuffPost at the time. “You stand out. And so, the paparazzi knew exactly where they were staying on Vancouver Island. They knew where there were nearby hiking trails. So there weren’t a lot of places for them to hide.”
“In LA, though, where celebrities have perfected the art of disappearing when they need to and reappearing when they need to, and the whole town is so set up to cater to celebrity needs, they might have an easier time going underground,” Lui added.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex cheer on a wedding proposal as they attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5 in London. WPA Pool via Getty Images
Disney confirmed the duchesses’ first post-royal gig on Thursday: narrating a new documentary, “Elephant,” which follows an elephant family’s 1,000-mile journey across Africa. The program will be available for streaming on Disney Plus on April 3.
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The U.K. Times was the first to report in January that the duchess was doing a voiceover deal with Disney in exchange for a donation to Elephants Without Borders.


huffpost--2020-04-12--Kate Middleton's Favorite Celebrity Is A Natural Fit For The Royal

But during a video call on Wednesday with the children of essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic , the Duchess of Cambridge was asked to narrow down her favorite celebrity to just one person .
She had a ready answer for the students at the Casterton Primary Academy : broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough , a royal family favorite .
“ The kids ... asked ( the duchess and her husband , Prince William ) what the best famous person was that they had met ― something I bet they don ’ t get asked very often !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pendle Trust told the Mirror ( and confirmed by Kensington Palace ) .
The Pendle Trust oversees Casterton Primary Academy , which is catering to the children of essential workers due to the current health crisis .
“ The Duchess said that George ( the oldest of the couple ’ s three children ) has been watching lots of David Attenborough , ‘ Blue Planet ’ ( the BBC documentary series hosted by the 93-year-old ) and the like , so that would probably be hers , ” Ghidotti said .
The royal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attenborough .
Just last year , the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a naming ceremony for Britain ’ s new polar research ship , aptly called the RRS Sir David Attenborough , with the naturalist himself .
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David Attenborough at the naming ceremony of Britain 's new polar research ship , the RRS Sir David Attenborough , in Birkenhead , England , on Sept. 26 , 2019 .
During other parts of the video call , the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chatted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of the kids ( and teachers ! )
wore bunny ears during the call , where they showed off pictures they ’ d drawn of their parents .
The two spoke about Easter with their three children , Prince George , 6 , Princess Charlotte , 4 , and Prince Louis , 2 , and the duke said that “ there will be a lot of chocolate ” to go around .
Though it ’ s unclear how much chocolate is left in the Cambridge household , Queen Elizabeth delivered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the state of the world , the holiday should be celebrated .
It was the queen ’ s first-ever Easter message .
“ This year , Easter will be different for many of us , but by keeping apart we keep others safe .
But Easter isn ’ t canceled ; indeed , we need Easter as much as ever , ” she said .

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As a royal, Kate Middleton gets to meet all kinds of important people with impressive resumés.
But during a video call on Wednesday with the children of essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Duchess of Cambridge was asked to narrow down her favorite celebrity to just one person.
She had a ready answer for the students at the Casterton Primary Academy: broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, a royal family favorite.
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“The kids ... asked (the duchess and her husband, Prince William) what the best famous person was that they had met ― something I bet they don’t get asked very often!” Anita Ghidotti, chief executive of the Pendle Trust told the Mirror (and confirmed by Kensington Palace). The Pendle Trust oversees Casterton Primary Academy, which is catering to the children of essential workers due to the current health crisis.
“The Duchess said that George (the oldest of the couple’s three children) has been watching lots of David Attenborough, ‘Blue Planet’ (the BBC documentary series hosted by the 93-year-old) and the like, so that would probably be hers,” Ghidotti said.
The royal family has enjoyed a long relationship with Attenborough. Just last year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a naming ceremony for Britain’s new polar research ship, aptly called the RRS Sir David Attenborough, with the naturalist himself.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David Attenborough at the naming ceremony of Britain's new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, in Birkenhead, England, on Sept. 26, 2019. PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
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During other parts of the video call, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chatted with the children and observed their Easter crafts. Some of the kids (and teachers!) wore bunny ears during the call, where they showed off pictures they’d drawn of their parents.
“We should have put our bunny ears on!” Kate said at one point.
“That’s a strong look!” William added.
The two spoke about Easter with their three children, Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 2, and the duke said that “there will be a lot of chocolate” to go around.
“You keep eating it!” Kate quipped.
Though it’s unclear how much chocolate is left in the Cambridge household, Queen Elizabeth delivered an Easter address on Saturday reminding people that despite the state of the world, the holiday should be celebrated. It was the queen’s first-ever Easter message.
“This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe. But Easter isn’t canceled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever,” she said.
“We know that coronavirus will not overcome us. As dark as death can be ― particularly for those suffering with grief ― light and life are greater,” the monarch added. “May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.”
The Queen speaks of light overcoming darkness, and the hope that Easter symbolises, in a special message recorded to mark the Easter weekend. pic.twitter.com/fTFCOSVBtT — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 11, 2020
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