huffpost--2020-04-18--COVID-19 Protesters Just Like Rosa Parks, Says White House Adviser Stephen Moore

The largely white protesters who oppose social distancing measures to protect the public from COVID-19 are like Rosa Parks , who waged a historic battle for racial equality , right-wing economic commentator and White House adviser Stephen Moore repeatedly insisted Friday .
“ I call these people modern-day Rosa Parks .
They are protesting against injustice and a loss of liberties , ” Moore told The Washington Post , in one of at least three instances of this astonishing comparison .
He also told CBS News : “ It ’ s interesting to me that the right has become more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left is.
” He said in a YouTube video quoted by The New York Times : “ We need to be the Rosa Parks here , and protest against these government injustices.
” Protesters carry rifles near the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on April 15 .
Flag-waving , honking protesters drove past the Capitol on Wednesday to demonstrate against Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's social distancing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Moore is a member of President Donald Trump ’ s back-to-work council and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ Save Our Country , ” working against business shutdowns and stay-at-home measures aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19 .
He dropped out of consideration to serve on the Federal Reserve Board last year amid concerns about his qualifications and mounting opposition to his controversial comments about gender and race .
He once quipped that Trump ’ s first act as president would be to kick a Black family ( the Obamas ) out of public housing ( the White House ) , according to The Atlantic .
Critics were furious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to the fight against racial injustice sparked by a black activist icon , who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger 65 years ago .
The largest protest , in Michigan on Wednesday , was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition , which is also known as Michigan Trump Republicans , according to state incorporation papers , the Post reported .
The group ’ s leaders include longtime GOP insiders , according to the newspaper .
A goal of the organizing group was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has been repeatedly attacked by Trump for “ complaining ” about the lack of federal aid to battle COVID-19 in her state .
Whitmer has been rumored to be under consideration as a potential running mate for Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president .
Columbia University historian Nicole Hemmer , author of book “ Messengers of the Right ” on the right-wing media , told the Post that the GOP focus on the “ personal freedom ” fight against health measures “ almost seems like an excuse for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose.
” Trump tweeted an incendiary command to his followers Friday to “ LIBERATE ” Michigan , Minnesota and Virginia — all states with Democratic governors .
He also ominously urged his supporters to fight for their gun rights in Virginia .
Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) accused the president of inciting “ armed rebellion.
” He “ sent this tweet a day after his supporters showed up with assault weapons at state capitols .
He knows what he ’ s doing , ” Murphy tweeted .

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The largely white protesters who oppose social distancing measures to protect the public from COVID-19 are like Rosa Parks, who waged a historic battle for racial equality, right-wing economic commentator and White House adviser Stephen Moore repeatedly insisted Friday.
“I call these people modern-day Rosa Parks. They are protesting against injustice and a loss of liberties,” Moore told The Washington Post, in one of at least three instances of this astonishing comparison.
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He also told CBS News: “It’s interesting to me that the right has become more the Rosa Parks of the world than the left is.” He said in a YouTube video quoted by The New York Times: “We need to be the Rosa Parks here, and protest against these government injustices.”
Protesters carry rifles near the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on April 15. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Capitol on Wednesday to demonstrate against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's social distancing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moore is a member of President Donald Trump’s back-to-work council and part of a coalition of conservative leaders called “Save Our Country,” working against business shutdowns and stay-at-home measures aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19. He dropped out of consideration to serve on the Federal Reserve Board last year amid concerns about his qualifications and mounting opposition to his controversial comments about gender and race. He once quipped that Trump’s first act as president would be to kick a Black family (the Obamas) out of public housing (the White House), according to The Atlantic.
Stephen Moore is one of the least qualified people in America to speak on Rosa Parks. https://t.co/66FPaTyFe9 — Max Burns (@themaxburns) April 18, 2020
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Critics were furious that Moore equated protests against health safety measures to the fight against racial injustice sparked by a black activist icon, who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger 65 years ago.
Unbelievable! Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus to quietly protest institutional racism. Today's radicalized right-wing protests are brazen acts of lawless licentiousness. There are no unfettered rights in America's scheme of ordered liberty. — Michael Box (@xobekim) April 18, 2020
Hey, Stephan Moore, Rosa Parks is an icon. A symbol of the fight against oppression of an entire race. These people are upset because they can't get a haircut and go out to dinner. Two completely different things #jackass — I Don't Have a Middle Name (@michigancheri) April 18, 2020
Rosa Parks was looking out for her fellow citizens. The right wing activists protesting and disregarding stay at home orders (in crowds without social distancing or masks) are jeopardizing the health of friends, family, neighbors and fellow citizens in their community. — True Blue Sea (@true_sea) April 18, 2020
Moore’s astounding claim was part of a new onslaught against Democratic-led states fueled by the Trump campaign.
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The largest protest, in Michigan on Wednesday, was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which is also known as Michigan Trump Republicans, according to state incorporation papers, the Post reported. The group’s leaders include longtime GOP insiders, according to the newspaper.
The Michigan Freedom Fund, which heavily promoted the Michigan protest, has been linked to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
A goal of the organizing group was to target Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has been repeatedly attacked by Trump for “complaining” about the lack of federal aid to battle COVID-19 in her state. Whitmer has been rumored to be under consideration as a potential running mate for Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
Swing state Michigan is critical for Trump in November. He won the state by fewer than 11,000 votes last time around.
Columbia University historian Nicole Hemmer, author of book “Messengers of the Right” on the right-wing media, told the Post that the GOP focus on the “personal freedom” fight against health measures “almost seems like an excuse for getting out and rallying against politicians they oppose.”
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Trump tweeted an incendiary command to his followers Friday to “LIBERATE” Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia — all states with Democratic governors. He also ominously urged his supporters to fight for their gun rights in Virginia.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) accused the president of inciting “armed rebellion.” He “sent this tweet a day after his supporters showed up with assault weapons at state capitols. He knows what he’s doing,” Murphy tweeted.
Let’s not normalize this: the President of the United States is encouraging citizens to engage in armed rebellion.
He sent this tweet a day after his supporters showed up with assault weapons at state capitols. He knows what’s he’s doing. https://t.co/25XGY5BbmA — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 17, 2020
Health experts have warned that too hasty a return to normalcy could cause COVID-19 cases — and deaths ― to skyrocket.
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huffpost--2020-04-05--These Recipes, Crafts And Other Hacks Are Worth Your Time This Week

I ’ m a maker and I stay the sanest when I can keep my hands busy ( less time to stew in my dark thoughts ! )
, so I ’ ve used self-isolation to churn out sweater after sweater after sweater .
I have even made an entire quilt out of my dad ’ s old shirts since lockdown began .
But those projects felt a little meaningless because they weren ’ t helping the greater good .
So this past week , when it became clear that we all should wear masks when we need to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how to sew your own mask , and another on how to make your own no-sew masks .
Since then , I ’ ve sewn several masks for myself , friends , family and even some new nurse friends that I met through Instagram .
This is a new kind of productivity that ’ s helping me feel like I ’ m finally able to contribute something helpful , which is great for my emotional well-being .
― Kristen Aiken , Senior Editor , Food & Style I ’ m taking virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that focusing my energy on trying to get better at something is really helping my anxiety this week .
This is not to say we all need to be spending this time bettering ourselves ― I so do not subscribe to that notion ― but for me , it ’ s been more about focusing on something I ’ m not necessarily getting right and throwing my energy into getting better .
It ’ s frustrating at times , but it feels kind of nice to be pissed off about something other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few minutes .
― Jamie Feldman , lifestyle and personal reporter I added Google ’ s Earth View Chrome extension , and it adds a dreamy image from Google Earth every time you open a new browser tab .
It might not take the place of planning a summer vacation , but it will satisfy my wanderlust for now .
― Kate Palmer , head of HuffPost Life Snap Camera has completely changed the game for my video calls .
The downloadable tool from Snapchat has a built-in camera with countless filters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an instant , I appeared to be wearing full makeup , and seconds later I could switch my look to a rainbow unicorn .
Once installed , it ’ s super easy to switch the filters in and out .
It certainly provided some much-needed laughs this week .
― Lauren Moraski , senior editor of strategic projects I ’ ve been making this recipe for spicy chicken lettuce wraps on repeat .
It calls for a few pantry-staple sauces , and the only fresh vegetable needed is lettuce — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it can be served over rice .
And I ’ ve done some swaps that work too : ground turkey for the chicken , coconut aminos for the soy sauce , regular onion for the scallions , omitting fish sauce and just adding a little more salt or soy ... whatever works !
Plus , it takes all of 10 minutes to whip up .
Win !
― Ashley Rockman , senior relationships editor I have made Athena Calderone ’ s sumac-loaded twist on roast chicken twice during the lockdown , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It calls for a few things that might be hard to find at the moment , but I think you can make a few substitutions and still make it work .
( Sour cream or Greek yogurt for labneh , whatever potatoes you have , etc . )
I ’ ve found it ’ s a great way to use up some of the carrots , onions , garlic and potatoes you might have lying around .
And there ’ s something about this particular recipe that ’ s just so good and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tutorial on Instagram that inspired me to make it !
― Kate Palmer Ho .
Ly .
Burn .
Isaac Boots is a celebrity trainer who will kick your entire ass into shape with his daily 11 a.m. workouts .
It ’ s all teeny tiny movements that you repeat for what feels like FOREVER ― with amazing music and his awesome energy .
I came for the workouts and stay for Lisa Rinna ’ s commentary .
― Jamie Feldman My fiancé and I went out with a basketball in the backyard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good sweat just playing around .
I didn ’ t approach the activity as a workout at first .
I am not talented by any means ― I played the vital position of benchwarmer when I was younger ― but it took my mind off everything for a little while and got my heart rate up .
Highly recommend turning your next outdoor ( socially distant ) venture into something that reminds you of what it feels like to be a kid again .
― Lindsay Holmes , senior wellness editor

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There’s no “right” way to navigate this coronavirus pandemic — everyone lives and copes differently. That being said, fostering a sense of community may make getting through this time a little bit easier.
Enter this weekly guide. Every Sunday, we’ll bring you a short list of products, routines, workouts, recipes, apps and other things we tried the previous week that are making life easier during this universally stressful time. Take a look at this week’s suggestions below:
Routine Recommendations
Kristen Aiken Kristen Aiken, our food and style editor, put her craft skills to work and made face masks.
Making crafts for other people
I’m a maker and I stay the sanest when I can keep my hands busy (less time to stew in my dark thoughts!), so I’ve used self-isolation to churn out sweater after sweater after sweater. I have even made an entire quilt out of my dad’s old shirts since lockdown began. But those projects felt a little meaningless because they weren’t helping the greater good.
So this past week, when it became clear that we all should wear masks when we need to leave the house, HuffPost published a tutorial on how to sew your own mask, and another on how to make your own no-sew masks. Since then, I’ve sewn several masks for myself, friends, family and even some new nurse friends that I met through Instagram. This is a new kind of productivity that’s helping me feel like I’m finally able to contribute something helpful, which is great for my emotional well-being. ― Kristen Aiken, Senior Editor, Food & Style
Taking a virtual class or lesson
I’m taking virtual guitar lessons and I’ve found that focusing my energy on trying to get better at something is really helping my anxiety this week. This is not to say we all need to be spending this time bettering ourselves ― I so do not subscribe to that notion ― but for me, it’s been more about focusing on something I’m not necessarily getting right and throwing my energy into getting better. It’s frustrating at times, but it feels kind of nice to be pissed off about something other than the state of the world for a few minutes. ― Jamie Feldman, lifestyle and personal reporter
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App Recommendations
A web browser extension that helps you travel the globe
I added Google’s Earth View Chrome extension, and it adds a dreamy image from Google Earth every time you open a new browser tab. It might not take the place of planning a summer vacation, but it will satisfy my wanderlust for now. ― Kate Palmer, head of HuffPost Life
A camera feature that helps you find all the funny filters
Snap Camera has completely changed the game for my video calls. The downloadable tool from Snapchat has a built-in camera with countless filters that are everything from useful to downright silly. In an instant, I appeared to be wearing full makeup, and seconds later I could switch my look to a rainbow unicorn. Once installed, it’s super easy to switch the filters in and out. It certainly provided some much-needed laughs this week. ― Lauren Moraski, senior editor of strategic projects
Recipe Recommendations
Fiery lettuce wraps with flexible ingredients
I’ve been making this recipe for spicy chicken lettuce wraps on repeat. It calls for a few pantry-staple sauces, and the only fresh vegetable needed is lettuce — and if you don’t have that, it can be served over rice. And I’ve done some swaps that work too: ground turkey for the chicken, coconut aminos for the soy sauce, regular onion for the scallions, omitting fish sauce and just adding a little more salt or soy ... whatever works! Plus, it takes all of 10 minutes to whip up. Win! ― Ashley Rockman, senior relationships editor
A simple roast chicken that tastes like a luxury
I have made Athena Calderone’s sumac-loaded twist on roast chicken twice during the lockdown, and each time it blew me away. It calls for a few things that might be hard to find at the moment, but I think you can make a few substitutions and still make it work. (Sour cream or Greek yogurt for labneh, whatever potatoes you have, etc.) I’ve found it’s a great way to use up some of the carrots, onions, garlic and potatoes you might have lying around. And there’s something about this particular recipe that’s just so good and easy. Here’s a video tutorial on Instagram that inspired me to make it! ― Kate Palmer
Workout Recommendations
Lindsay Holmes Lindsay Holmes, our wellness editor, dribbled around when it was drizzling outside. (Maybe next time, she'll wait for better weather.)
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A “Real Housewives”-approved daily class on Instagram
Ho. Ly. Burn. Isaac Boots is a celebrity trainer who will kick your entire ass into shape with his daily 11 a.m. workouts. It’s all teeny tiny movements that you repeat for what feels like FOREVER ― with amazing music and his awesome energy. I came for the workouts and stay for Lisa Rinna’s commentary. ― Jamie Feldman
A sweat session that brings back childhood
My fiancé and I went out with a basketball in the backyard the other day, and I got a good sweat just playing around. I didn’t approach the activity as a workout at first. I am not talented by any means ― I played the vital position of benchwarmer when I was younger ― but it took my mind off everything for a little while and got my heart rate up. Highly recommend turning your next outdoor (socially distant) venture into something that reminds you of what it feels like to be a kid again. ― Lindsay Holmes, senior wellness editor


huffpost--2020-04-04--My College Graduation Was Canceled And I Feel Guilty Being Heartbroken About It

Arriving at my off-campus apartment , I stood in the doorway for what felt like an eternity , trying to decide whether I should pack up and leave or stay for a few days to say goodbye to this place I call home .
After talking to my friends and family , I chose to pack up my apartment that same night and head back to my childhood home , about an hour and a half away .
What would I be saying goodbye to if I stayed , anyway ?
A panic-stricken campus full of students and faculty trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face of a pandemic that could alter the course of their lives ?
It wasn ’ t the University of Michigan that I knew nor the one I wanted to say goodbye to .
It was two days later when the senior class received notification that our graduation ceremony was officially canceled .
Most of us had had a glimmer of hope upon receiving our first email from the president of the university stating that classes would continue online without mentioning graduation .
Now that hope quickly dissipated .
I sat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and sobbed .
Hearing my whale-esque sounds of sorrow , worried family members came to my side and shared my pain .
My mother , an immigrant to the U.S. , had been looking forward to seeing me graduate from this university since the day I set foot on campus .
She was 22 years old when the Yugoslav Wars broke out in Croatia , leaving her with a forever incomplete law degree .
My father , a first-generation college graduate who has been steadfast in supporting my academic dreams while paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had yearned for the day that he ’ d see me sport a commencement gown with honors cords and a University of Michigan stole , much like graduation at his alma mater .
Other people have been ( understandably ) less sympathetic .
A common response when I express sadness over my shortened senior year and canceled graduation has been , “ Oh , suck it up .
People are dying.
” Also , “ Well , it ’ s time to make some sacrifices for those who are suffering !
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
The world is at a time when we must collectively step back from all we took for granted for the sake of the greater good .
The negligence of those who are failing to comply with social distancing standards is , in part , perpetuating the pandemic .
My problem is very much a privileged problem , and I am aware of that .
People in the entertainment , hospitality , restaurant and personal service industries are losing their jobs left and right .
People working for once “ steady ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ janitors , grocery store employees , garbage collectors and mail carriers are choosing between their health and a paycheck to support their families .
Health care professionals are putting their lives on the line to save others while the rest of us are urged to stay home .
Weddings are being postponed , and here I am , sitting on the bathroom floor , crying about my college graduation ceremony being canceled .
I ’ m sad that the vision I had crafted in my head of my last days on campus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of academic pressure finally let go , will never come to fruition .
I ’ m sad that I ’ ll miss the chance to thank , in person , the professors who shaped my worldview so pivotally , who helped me to take a step back from my conservative upbringing and understand things about myself that I hadn ’ t known .
I ’ m sad that I ’ ve lost the opportunity to say goodbye to friends whom I might never see again , and I ’ m sad that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the law library working on a Milton analysis and hear the library clerk tell me that no , I can not stay just 30 more minutes .
On March 20 , I decided to head back to campus and pack up the remaining things I failed to take when I abruptly left the first time .
I walked to the Robertson Auditorium where the Michigan Fashion Media Summit , a student event for which I was the chief operating officer and on which I worked with 53 other students for the duration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken place .
Our plans to bridge the gap between our campus and the fashion and media worlds by bringing together 19-plus industry speakers and 650-plus attendees were also canceled .

The author. Courtesy of Katarina Kovac
On March 11, I got the email while walking out of my last English class: “COVID-19 update on University of Michigan classes, travel, study abroad and large events.”
My heart sank as I opened it. I’d already guessed what I’d find in the email: My senior year, as I knew it, would be coming to a close.
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Arriving at my off-campus apartment, I stood in the doorway for what felt like an eternity, trying to decide whether I should pack up and leave or stay for a few days to say goodbye to this place I call home. After talking to my friends and family, I chose to pack up my apartment that same night and head back to my childhood home, about an hour and a half away.
What would I be saying goodbye to if I stayed, anyway? A panic-stricken campus full of students and faculty trying to figure out their next steps in the face of a pandemic that could alter the course of their lives? It wasn’t the University of Michigan that I knew nor the one I wanted to say goodbye to.
It was two days later when the senior class received notification that our graduation ceremony was officially canceled. Most of us had had a glimmer of hope upon receiving our first email from the president of the university stating that classes would continue online without mentioning graduation. Now that hope quickly dissipated.
“All University of Michigan commencement ceremonies are canceled. We will look at ways to celebrate 2020 graduates in the future.”
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I sat on the bathroom floor in my parents’ home and sobbed. Hearing my whale-esque sounds of sorrow, worried family members came to my side and shared my pain. My mother, an immigrant to the U.S., had been looking forward to seeing me graduate from this university since the day I set foot on campus. She was 22 years old when the Yugoslav Wars broke out in Croatia, leaving her with a forever incomplete law degree. My father, a first-generation college graduate who has been steadfast in supporting my academic dreams while paying the interest on my student loans, had yearned for the day that he’d see me sport a commencement gown with honors cords and a University of Michigan stole, much like graduation at his alma mater.
I couldn’t remember the last time I cried like that. This wasn’t just a loss for me. It was a loss for my parents, too.
“I couldn’t remember the last time I cried like that. This wasn’t just a loss for me. It was a loss for my parents, too.”
Other people have been (understandably) less sympathetic. A common response when I express sadness over my shortened senior year and canceled graduation has been, “Oh, suck it up. People are dying.” Also, “Well, it’s time to make some sacrifices for those who are suffering!”
And yes, I couldn’t agree more. The world is at a time when we must collectively step back from all we took for granted for the sake of the greater good. The negligence of those who are failing to comply with social distancing standards is, in part, perpetuating the pandemic. My problem is very much a privileged problem, and I am aware of that.
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People in the entertainment, hospitality, restaurant and personal service industries are losing their jobs left and right. People working for once
“steady” corporations are, too. Meanwhile, janitors, grocery store employees, garbage collectors and mail carriers are choosing between their health and a paycheck to support their families. Health care professionals are putting their lives on the line to save others while the rest of us are urged to stay home. Weddings are being postponed, and here I am, sitting on the bathroom floor, crying about my college graduation ceremony being canceled.
But can’t I be sad? Can’t I acknowledge the magnitude of the horror and suffering this crisis has brought to the world while still allowing myself to grieve what I’ve lost?
I’m sad for this time in my life that I had dreamed of since I was a young girl, when I learned what “Go Blue!” meant.
I’m sad that the vision I had crafted in my head of my last days on campus, celebrating with friends while feeling four years of academic pressure finally let go, will never come to fruition.
“Can’t I acknowledge the magnitude of the horror and suffering this crisis has brought to the world while still allowing myself to grieve what I've lost?”
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I’m sad that I’ll miss the chance to thank, in person, the professors who shaped my worldview so pivotally, who helped me to take a step back from my conservative upbringing and understand things about myself that I hadn’t known.
I’m sad that I’ve lost the opportunity to say goodbye to friends whom I might never see again, and I’m sad that I’ll never close out another night at the law library working on a Milton analysis and hear the library clerk tell me that no, I cannot stay just 30 more minutes.
I’m sad that I won’t be able to celebrate the hard-earned and joyous occasion of my college graduation with my friends and our families in person.
And finally, I’m just sad to realize that my undergraduate experience overlapped with some of the most tumultuous times in our country: Donald Trump’s presidency, a slew of sexual assault allegations, mass shootings and a global pandemic.
On March 20, I decided to head back to campus and pack up the remaining things I failed to take when I abruptly left the first time. I walked to the Robertson Auditorium where the Michigan Fashion Media Summit, a student event for which I was the chief operating officer and on which I worked with 53 other students for the duration of the school year, would have taken place. Our plans to bridge the gap between our campus and the fashion and media worlds by bringing together 19-plus industry speakers and 650-plus attendees were also canceled.
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This past year, during one of the most stressful school years I’ve ever experienced, I kept wishing for college to just be over.
Now I understand why they say you must be careful what you wish for.
Have a compelling first-person story or experience you want to share? Send your story description to pitch@huffpost.com.


huffpost--2020-03-18--How To Survive A Pandemic, According To These Fictional Characters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say as many as 214 million people could become infected with the novel coronavirus if we don ’ t change our behavior ; more than 1 million could die during a pandemic that could last anywhere from a few months to a year .
When you start to feel the stir-crazy pangs of oncoming loneliness , it might be helpful to get some tips from the fictional characters whose creators were nice enough to conjure up our worst-case scenarios and nightmares a while ago .
What you ’ ll find in the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people stay calm and maintain connection instead of perishing alone .
Reaching out is an act of self-preservation .
Maybe don ’ t physically touch anybody , unless it ’ s a fist bump with gloved hands .
Texting and emailing is cool .
Phone calls are also a good look .
Here are some other lessons to be learned from a few fictional characters : “ Parable of the Sower ” by Octavia Butler ( 1993 ) Lauren Oya Olamina , a 15-year-old hyperempathic girl in the year 2024 , leaves her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To survive , she practices her shooting aim .
She learns to control whose emotions she takes on so the pain of other people ’ s feelings doesn ’ t kill her .
She also shaves her head to appear more gender-nonconforming when she travels with an ad-hoc group to a designated safe space in the Pacific Northwest .
This Hugo Award-winning short story features Valerie Rye , a middle-aged writer and history professor traveling alone in Los Angeles after a pandemic referred to as “ the illness ” has killed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what people love most — it took Valerie ’ s ability to read and write .
Like many of Butler ’ s heroines , Rye is armed for protection , carrying a backpack with antiseptic and bandages .
She maintains her compassion and empathy even as she is confronted with the harsh realities of her new world .
“ Love Is The Drug ” by Alaya Dawn Johnson ( 2014 ) In this heralded novel with shades of the FX series “ The Americans , ” Emily Bird slowly comes to realize that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a global pandemic — and possibly worse — that puts Washington , D.C. , under quarantine .
Like all Black girls facing the crises of everyday life , she also changes her hair by way of a home relaxer and ends up with a TWA ( teeny weeny afro ) .
She ’ s pretty cerebral but also kind of a rebellious introvert , so she pops melatonin to help with her anxiety-induced insomnia and breaks up with her obnoxious boyfriend so she can flirt with two mysterious classmates and get to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Love In The Time of Cholera ” by Gabriel Marcia Marquez ( 1985 ) This novel focuses on several characters during a time of cholera that was brought on by poor sanitary conditions in the Caribbean .
Like his father Dr. Marco Aurelio Urbino , who died in quarantine to protect his loved ones , Dr. Juvenal Urbino is fascinated with studying all he can to stop the spread of a cholera epidemic .
One of the major themes of the novel is the way that love and nature persist even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chen , a disaffected millennial and Bible production employee , first thinks she can stress-eat her way out of the Shen Fever pandemic that paralyzes New York City .
In the end , she finds herself traveling west with a kind of post-apocalyptic cult that “ stalks ” the empty homes and buildings where the fever has decimated families .
She survives by continuing some of her behaviors from before the pandemic — moving frequently , albeit now with others .
She is highly adaptable , even as she remains a kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to both discover and lose herself in the work of becoming a survivalist .
“ All The Time in The World ” by Charlotte Nicole Davis ( 2020 ) In one of a number of standout stories in the recently released anthology “ A Phoenix First Must Burn , Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic , Resistance and Hope , ” Jordan Carter is a high school student who realizes that the Contaminant in the city ’ s water — inspired by the ongoing public health emergency that is the Flint , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of other people .
But instead of weakening her , she discovers that this epidemic has given her an extraordinary power .
She double-checks the surreal nature of how crises show us where we are stronger and more magnificent than we could have dreamed with her crush .
Almost everyone has been struck by “ white blindness ” in this novel except for the doctor ’ s wife .
( None of the characters have names — a reminder of the way that catastrophe and disaster can strip us of our identities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal . )
Like many women in fictional pandemic circumstances , the doctor ’ s wife goes hard on the maternal side when she becomes a de facto leader of a group gone wild , one of 300 quarantined in a warehouse .
She kills to protect them and she also cares for the newly vulnerable .
Even in a pandemic ― maybe especially during a pandemic ― shoring up your karma for being a kind human is a good idea .
Mark Spitz is a self-described “ middling talent , ” one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One unit sent to clear an area in Manhattan after a pandemic has devastated the world .
Spitz struggles with hallucination brought on by a condition called Post Apocalyptic Stress Disorder .
His main coping mechanism appears to be learning to adapt to the world as it is now , even if he does have to eat a stand-in for breakfast called “ morning paste.
” He ’ s got a gun and a survival pack to deal with the undead who pop up as they search buildings to resettle New York City @

"Love in the Time of Cholera," "Parable of the Sower," "Love is the Drug." Amazon/Scholastic/Penguin Random House
With all your spring plans officially canceled over the global coronavirus pandemic, maybe it’s time for you to cuddle up with a good book — as the introverts do, united in spirit but in your own home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say as many as 214 million people could become infected with the novel coronavirus if we don’t change our behavior; more than 1 million could die during a pandemic that could last anywhere from a few months to a year.
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So that’s the bad news. The good news is that there are actions we can take to keep ourselves healthy, including social distancing and working from home.
When you start to feel the stir-crazy pangs of oncoming loneliness, it might be helpful to get some tips from the fictional characters whose creators were nice enough to conjure up our worst-case scenarios and nightmares a while ago. What you’ll find in the list below is a resounding theme: Most people stay calm and maintain connection instead of perishing alone.
Reaching out is an act of self-preservation. Maybe don’t physically touch anybody, unless it’s a fist bump with gloved hands. Texting and emailing is cool. Phone calls are also a good look. Here are some other lessons to be learned from a few fictional characters:
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler (1993)
Amazon
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Lauren Oya Olamina, a 15-year-old hyperempathic girl in the year 2024, leaves her Los Angeles-area home during a post-apocalyptic event. To survive, she practices her shooting aim. She learns to control whose emotions she takes on so the pain of other people’s feelings doesn’t kill her. She also shaves her head to appear more gender-nonconforming when she travels with an ad-hoc group to a designated safe space in the Pacific Northwest.
“Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler (1983)
This Hugo Award-winning short story features Valerie Rye, a middle-aged writer and history professor traveling alone in Los Angeles after a pandemic referred to as “the illness” has killed her whole family. The illness takes away what people love most — it took Valerie’s ability to read and write. Like many of Butler’s heroines, Rye is armed for protection, carrying a backpack with antiseptic and bandages. She maintains her compassion and empathy even as she is confronted with the harsh realities of her new world.
“Love Is The Drug” by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2014)
Scholastic
In this heralded novel with shades of the FX series “The Americans,” Emily Bird slowly comes to realize that her scientist parents are likely connected to a global pandemic — and possibly worse — that puts Washington, D.C., under quarantine. Like all Black girls facing the crises of everyday life, she also changes her hair by way of a home relaxer and ends up with a TWA (teeny weeny afro). She’s pretty cerebral but also kind of a rebellious introvert, so she pops melatonin to help with her anxiety-induced insomnia and breaks up with her obnoxious boyfriend so she can flirt with two mysterious classmates and get to the bottom of a U.S. government conspiracy.
“Love In The Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Marcia Marquez (1985)
Penguin Random House
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This novel focuses on several characters during a time of cholera that was brought on by poor sanitary conditions in the Caribbean. Like his father Dr. Marco Aurelio Urbino, who died in quarantine to protect his loved ones, Dr. Juvenal Urbino is fascinated with studying all he can to stop the spread of a cholera epidemic. One of the major themes of the novel is the way that love and nature persist even in times of distress and unease.
“Severance” by Ling Ma (2018)
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Candace Chen, a disaffected millennial and Bible production employee, first thinks she can stress-eat her way out of the Shen Fever pandemic that paralyzes New York City. In the end, she finds herself traveling west with a kind of post-apocalyptic cult that “stalks” the empty homes and buildings where the fever has decimated families. She survives by continuing some of her behaviors from before the pandemic — moving frequently, albeit now with others. She is highly adaptable, even as she remains a kind of sarcastic, lost loner. She seems to both discover and lose herself in the work of becoming a survivalist.
“All The Time in The World” by Charlotte Nicole Davis (2020)
"All The Time in the World" is a short story "A Phoenix Must Burn" anthology. Penguin Random House
In one of a number of standout stories in the recently released anthology “A Phoenix First Must Burn, Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance and Hope,” Jordan Carter is a high school student who realizes that the Contaminant in the city’s water — inspired by the ongoing public health emergency that is the Flint, Michigan, water crisis — has damaged a lot of other people. But instead of weakening her, she discovers that this epidemic has given her an extraordinary power. She double-checks the surreal nature of how crises show us where we are stronger and more magnificent than we could have dreamed with her crush.
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“Blindness” by Jose Saramoga (1995)
Amazon
Almost everyone has been struck by “white blindness” in this novel except for the doctor’s wife. (None of the characters have names — a reminder of the way that catastrophe and disaster can strip us of our identities in the social order when things were normal.) Like many women in fictional pandemic circumstances, the doctor’s wife goes hard on the maternal side when she becomes a de facto leader of a group gone wild, one of 300 quarantined in a warehouse. She kills to protect them and she also cares for the newly vulnerable. Even in a pandemic ― maybe especially during a pandemic ― shoring up your karma for being a kind human is a good idea.
“Zone One” by Colson Whitehead (2011)
Penguin Random House
Mark Spitz is a self-described “middling talent,” one of three survivalist members of a Zone One unit sent to clear an area in Manhattan after a pandemic has devastated the world. Spitz struggles with hallucination brought on by a condition called Post Apocalyptic Stress Disorder. His main coping mechanism appears to be learning to adapt to the world as it is now, even if he does have to eat a stand-in for breakfast called “morning paste.” He’s got a gun and a survival pack to deal with the undead who pop up as they search buildings to resettle New York City.
BONUS: “Blood Quantum,” a film by Jeff Barnaby
This heralded film by the Native American writer and filmmaker Jeff Barnaby flips the genre of zombie pandemics on its head: When a zombie virus spreads, the only people who survive are those with a measure of Native blood. This is a wonderfully restorative and gory alternative history considering all that colonialism and globalism have done to devastate Native and Indigenous people. AMC has picked up the movie to release on its streaming service, Shudder.


huffpost--2020-04-05--We Should Forgive Student Loans For Doctors Risking Their Lives To Fight Coronavirus

NurPhoto via Getty Images A doctor stands in the middle of the makeshift COVID-19 screening center outside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens , New York .
I am a medical resident .
I work six days per week , nights and days , taking care of the people of New York .
Last week , I was asked to join the war and redeploy to the coronavirus units .
While others have been drafted into the war effort with orders to stay home and make incredible economic sacrifices , I will proudly serve alongside the rest of the health care heroes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I accept my redeployment with no increase in salary ― a salary that mostly goes towards rent and loan payments ― and with no expectation of working fewer hours .
I accept that unlike our soldiers who are armed with the most powerful weapons at their disposal , many heroes in this battle will be undersupplied with life-saving personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
When this war is over , I do not want accolades or recognition .
Instead , I want my $ 300,000 in federal medical school loans forgiven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States has become one of the epicenters of this war .
Lessons learned from health care workers fighting COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , in China suggest that the burden of this fight leads to extreme levels of stress , depression , anxiety and insomnia .
I already see distress among my colleagues .
We hear stories of health care workers at other hospitals experiencing mild COVID-like symptoms after viral exposure , who are asked to forgo testing and continue working due to a lack of tests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us have made the choice to move to temporary housing in an effort to protect our families .
Similar to battle outcomes in China and Italy , dozens of our fellow physicians have become seriously ill with COVID-19 .
Some have died as a result of their service .
Healthcare workers at hospitals all over the country are told to reuse their PPE , even though the masks were designed for one-time use .
Desperate to preserve their supplies , doctors and nurses have started keeping their masks in Tupperware .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our health care heroes is to erase the enormous financial burden of their educational debt , a cost that was required to fight and win this war .
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges ( AAMC ) , on average , public medical schools cost $ 37,556 and private medical schools cost $ 60,665 per year .
During these four years , my colleagues and I deferred all income opportunities , as the hours spent studying and learning in the hospital far exceeded a 40-hour work week .
After dedicating eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of dollars of high interest-bound debt , we then spend up to a decade in residency and fellowship working 80 hours per week , often only making slightly above minimum wage .
After I pay my monthly rent and loan bills , a small percentage of my paycheck is left for groceries and personal expenses .
While I feel fortunate to maintain a full salary during this time of economic hardship , eliminating this burden would be especially timely for many other doctors , since some hospitals have reduced physicians ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits and postponed elective procedures .
For some of us , there is hope for loan forgiveness .
Public Service Loan Forgiveness offers to wipe out federal loans after borrowers have worked 10 years in a not-for-profit clinical setting .
However , due to a confusing application process and burdensome documentation requirements , the current approval rate is less than 1 % .
In the author ’ s building , mainly occupied by fellow doctors and nurses , people have started changing their clothes at the hospital and leaving their work shoes outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their families .
I enrolled in the program with the hope that one day my six-figure loans will be erased , which would give me the opportunity to buy a house and eventually retire .
But if I am not granted forgiveness , my debt will be astronomical at the end of the 10 years , since my current monthly payments barely cover the 7 % interest .
How much would complete forgiveness cost the nation ?
There is limited data on total medical education debt in the U.S .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt and percentage of physicians in debt for their training , one could estimate that the cost would be in the range of $ 10 billion .
This might still seem like a large sum of money , but there is precedent for government-funded repayment for heroic work during a time of national crisis .
After Sept. 11 , the federal government approved a $ 7 billion compensation package to first responders .
In 2018 alone , the U.S. government spent $ 10 billion to provide post-GI bill benefits , which included money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought in the Iraq War .
When this war is over , we should treat our front-line health care workers — doctors , nurses , physicians assistants , environmental workers — in the same way we ’ ve rewarded the brave men and women who have served this country in times past .
The way to do this for doctors specifically would be to forgive medical school debt ― all of it .
President Trump , you ’ ve long been an advocate for honoring our veterans and national heroes .
COVID-19 veterans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of camouflage and uniforms , but make no mistake , they will be veterans of war , a world war .
I beg you to honor our veterans and pay the debt our country owes them by forgiving federal medical school debt .

A doctor stands in the middle of the makeshift COVID-19 screening center outside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York. NurPhoto via Getty Images
I am a medical resident. I work six days per week, nights and days, taking care of the people of New York. Last week, I was asked to join the war and redeploy to the coronavirus units. While others have been drafted into the war effort with orders to stay home and make incredible economic sacrifices, I will proudly serve alongside the rest of the health care heroes who have been called to step forward.
I accept my redeployment with no increase in salary ― a salary that mostly goes towards rent and loan payments ― and with no expectation of working fewer hours. I accept that unlike our soldiers who are armed with the most powerful weapons at their disposal, many heroes in this battle will be undersupplied with life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE). When this war is over, I do not want accolades or recognition. Instead, I want my $300,000 in federal medical school loans forgiven.
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In a few short weeks, the United States has become one of the epicenters of this war. Lessons learned from health care workers fighting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in China suggest that the burden of this fight leads to extreme levels of stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia. I already see distress among my colleagues. We hear stories of health care workers at other hospitals experiencing mild COVID-like symptoms after viral exposure, who are asked to forgo testing and continue working due to a lack of tests.
In preparation for COVID-19 exposure, some of us have made the choice to move to temporary housing in an effort to protect our families. Similar to battle outcomes in China and Italy, dozens of our fellow physicians have become seriously ill with COVID-19. Some have died as a result of their service.
Healthcare workers at hospitals all over the country are told to reuse their PPE, even though the masks were designed for one-time use. Desperate to preserve their supplies, doctors and nurses have started keeping their masks in Tupperware. Courtesy of Kate Schertz
The best way we can say thanks to our health care heroes is to erase the enormous financial burden of their educational debt, a cost that was required to fight and win this war. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), on average, public medical schools cost $37,556 and private medical schools cost $60,665 per year.
Advertisement
During these four years, my colleagues and I deferred all income opportunities, as the hours spent studying and learning in the hospital far exceeded a 40-hour work week. After dedicating eight years to higher education and amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars of high interest-bound debt, we then spend up to a decade in residency and fellowship working 80 hours per week, often only making slightly above minimum wage.
After I pay my monthly rent and loan bills, a small percentage of my paycheck is left for groceries and personal expenses. While I feel fortunate to maintain a full salary during this time of economic hardship, eliminating this burden would be especially timely for many other doctors, since some hospitals have reduced physicians’ salaries in light of canceled doctors’ visits and postponed elective procedures.
For some of us, there is hope for loan forgiveness. Public Service Loan Forgiveness offers to wipe out federal loans after borrowers have worked 10 years in a not-for-profit clinical setting. However, due to a confusing application process and burdensome documentation requirements, the current approval rate is less than 1%.
In the author’s building, mainly occupied by fellow doctors and nurses, people have started changing their clothes at the hospital and leaving their work shoes outside for fear of bringing the coronavirus home to their families. Courtesy of Kate Schertz
I enrolled in the program with the hope that one day my six-figure loans will be erased, which would give me the opportunity to buy a house and eventually retire. But if I am not granted forgiveness, my debt will be astronomical at the end of the 10 years, since my current monthly payments barely cover the 7% interest.
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How much would complete forgiveness cost the nation? There is limited data on total medical education debt in the U.S. However, based on the average amount of student debt and percentage of physicians in debt for their training, one could estimate that the cost would be in the range of $10 billion. This might still seem like a large sum of money, but there is precedent for government-funded repayment for heroic work during a time of national crisis. After Sept. 11, the federal government approved a $7 billion compensation package to first responders. In 2018 alone, the U.S. government spent $10 billion to provide post-GI bill benefits, which included money for education, to soldiers who had fought in the Iraq War.
When this war is over, we should treat our front-line health care workers — doctors, nurses, physicians assistants, environmental workers — in the same way we’ve rewarded the brave men and women who have served this country in times past. The way to do this for doctors specifically would be to forgive medical school debt ― all of it.
President Trump, you’ve long been an advocate for honoring our veterans and national heroes. COVID-19 veterans may have worn scrubs and white coats instead of camouflage and uniforms, but make no mistake, they will be veterans of war, a world war. I beg you to honor our veterans and pay the debt our country owes them by forgiving federal medical school debt.
Kate Schertz is a pediatric resident at a New York hospital.
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huffpost--2020-04-05--Selena Gomez Reveals Bipolar Diagnosis To Miley Cyrus: 'It Doesn't Scare Me'

Selena Gomez is speaking out about having bipolar and how the diagnosis empowers her instead of holding her back .
Cyrus has been welcoming celebrities , including fellow former Disney Channel stars Demi Lovato and Hilary Duff , on her makeshift talk show amid the coronavirus pandemic , but her conversation with Gomez was her most revealing yet .
When asked about why so many people are “ afraid to talk about mental health , ” Gomez lead by example and discussed her own struggles like never before .
“ After years of going through a lot of different things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so when I go to know more information , it actually helps me , ” she told Cyrus .
“ It doesn ’ t scare me once I know it .
I think people get scared of that , right ?
” Gomez credited McLean Hospital in Belmont , Massachusetts , for helping her come to the realization , describing the institution as the “ one of the best mental health hospitals ” in the country .
In 2019 , the hospital honored Gomez with the McLean Award , recognizing her as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public ’ s understanding of psychiatric illness and mental health.
” Gomez also revealed to Cyrus that she suspects others in her own family share her condition , which is marked by episodes of depression and hypomania .
“ I ’ ve seen it and I ’ ve seen some of it even in my own family where I ’ m like , ‘ What ’ s going on ?
’ I ’ m from Texas and it ’ s not known to talk about your mental health , ” she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people who think they ’ ve “ got to seem cool ” above everything else .
Gomez went onto explain that she sought out the advice of medical professionals because being informed “ took the fear away.
” “ When I finally said what I was gon na say , I wanted to know everything about it and it took the fear away , ” the 27-year-old said .
“ When I was younger , I was scared of thunderstorms and my mom bought me all these different books on thunderstorms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you educate yourself on this , the more that you ’ re not gon na be afraid.
’ And it completely worked.
” Gomez has been plagued by health-related setbacks since 2016 , when she first took an extended career break to address depression and anxiety , which stemmed from her lupus diagnosis a few years prior .
She most recently sought treatment for an emotional breakdown in 2018 after being hospitalized multiple times following her kidney transplant — which was made possible by her friend Francia Raisa a year before .

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Selena Gomez is speaking out about having bipolar and how the diagnosis empowers her instead of holding her back.
The “Rare” singer, who’s previously discussed her experiences with anxiety and depression, talked about mental health during a particularly candid moment on Miley Cyrus’ Instagram Live talk show, “Bright Minded.”
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Cyrus has been welcoming celebrities, including fellow former Disney Channel stars Demi Lovato and Hilary Duff, on her makeshift talk show amid the coronavirus pandemic, but her conversation with Gomez was her most revealing yet.
When asked about why so many people are “afraid to talk about mental health,” Gomez lead by example and discussed her own struggles like never before.
“After years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar and so when I go to know more information, it actually helps me,” she told Cyrus. “It doesn’t scare me once I know it. I think people get scared of that, right?”
selena gomez on her own mental health and bipolar diagnosis and also young generations mental health #mileyandselenalive pic.twitter.com/dml98SsXwc — 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗒 (fan account) (@sweetersell) April 3, 2020
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Gomez credited McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, for helping her come to the realization, describing the institution as the “one of the best mental health hospitals” in the country.
In 2019, the hospital honored Gomez with the McLean Award, recognizing her as someone who’s “furthered the public’s understanding of psychiatric illness and mental health.”
Gomez also revealed to Cyrus that she suspects others in her own family share her condition, which is marked by episodes of depression and hypomania.
“I’ve seen it and I’ve seen some of it even in my own family where I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ I’m from Texas and it’s not known to talk about your mental health,” she said, adding that stigma weighs especially heavy on young people who think they’ve “got to seem cool” above everything else.
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Gomez went onto explain that she sought out the advice of medical professionals because being informed “took the fear away.”
“When I finally said what I was gonna say, I wanted to know everything about it and it took the fear away,” the 27-year-old said. “When I was younger, I was scared of thunderstorms and my mom bought me all these different books on thunderstorms, [saying], ‘The more that you educate yourself on this, the more that you’re not gonna be afraid.’ And it completely worked.”
Selena Gomez attends the Hollywood Beauty Awards in February. Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images
Gomez has been plagued by health-related setbacks since 2016, when she first took an extended career break to address depression and anxiety, which stemmed from her lupus diagnosis a few years prior.
She most recently sought treatment for an emotional breakdown in 2018 after being hospitalized multiple times following her kidney transplant — which was made possible by her friend Francia Raisa a year before.
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Gomez is among a host of other celebrities who have spoken up about mental health and bipolar disorder diagnoses in recent months, including Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato and Halsey.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Trump-Tied Law Firm Has Lobbied For Saudi Arabia — The Country Crushing U.S. Frackers

The government of Saudi Arabia has paid lobbying giant Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck more than $ 4 million since 2016 to represent its interests in Washington , D.C. Last year , the Colorado-based firm received $ 1.5 million from the Saudi government for “ professional services , ” according to its January regulatory filing to the Department of Justice .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was an attorney and shareholder at BHFS before joining the Trump administration in August 2017 , lobbying on behalf of oil , gas and mining interests that are now benefiting from the administration ’ s aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s domestic clients include oil and gas interests that have been hit hard by the oil market crash .
BHFS hasn ’ t been shy about its access to Trump ’ s team .
In a memo to clients the day after Trump was elected , the firm wrote that it “ has significant relationships across both chambers and party leadership , as well as those who will steer the incoming Trump administration.
” It is unclear if BHFS continues to have a relationship with the Saudi government in 2020 since its next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not due until the middle of this year .
It ’ s also unclear if the firm ’ s work for the kingdom includes lobbying on oil and gas issues specifically , or if BHFS is reconsidering the business ties in light of the ongoing industry crisis .
Riyadh ’ s decision early last month to flood the market with cheap oil to secure more clients and expand its share of the market sent prices tumbling to a nearly 20-year low and frustrated the U.S. fracking industry , which faces a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adding to U.S. frackers ’ woes is a decline in global demand due to the coronavirus pandemic A group of 13 Republican senators sent a letter to the Saudi crown prince , known colloquially as MBS , on March 16 , urging him to stabilize the oil market .
And in an interview this week with CNBC , Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) accused the Saudis of “ engaging in economic warfare against the United States , trying to drive down the price of oil in order to exploit this coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producers out of business.
” BHFS represents a number of oil and gas interests that have been affected by the Saudi-led oil market crash .
Its most recent lobbying disclosure data for domestic clients listed , among others , the American Petroleum Institute , the leading trade association of the U.S. oil and gas industry ; Texas oil exploration and production company Hunt Consolidated ; and Oklahoma-based natural gas company WPX Energy .
The Saudis ’ new policy to flood the oil marketplace led BHFS client API , which represents some 600 members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask Trump for regulatory relief for drilling companies in a March 20 letter .
And a growing number of lawmakers , many of whom have received money from the fossil fuel industry over their political careers , are calling on the Trump administration to reduce or eliminate royalties for offshore drilling operations .
API , WPX Energy and other domestic clients of BHFS did not respond to HuffPost ’ s requests for comment .
The New Mexico Oil & Gas Association , listed in filings as another top client , said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shifted its federal lobbying strategy , but noted that the price war has created a “ challenging price and demand environment ” for its members .
As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation and ravages the U.S. economy , the Trump administration continues its push to lift the U.S. fossil fuel industry and boost production .
The president vowed last month to throw the oil industry a lifeline by purchasing tens of millions of barrels of crude from U.S. producers , enough to fill the nation ’ s emergency reserve , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after that funding was excluded from the $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package .
“ We ’ re going to see what we can do because you don ’ t want to lose an industry , ” Trump said , adding that “ the two countries are discussing it and I am joining at the appropriate time if need be.
” “ I don ’ t see a lot of reason for Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the U.S. or individual U.S. firms , ” Young wrote .
“ We are competitors as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development in US-Saudi ties since the shale revolution .
It upends much of how we have understood our benefits to each other in the past .
”

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A law firm that previously employed President Donald Trump’s interior secretary has, for several years, represented Saudi Arabia, the petroleum-rich nation that recently launched an oil price war that could bankrupt U.S. fossil fuel producers.
The government of Saudi Arabia has paid lobbying giant Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck more than $4 million since 2016 to represent its interests in Washington, D.C. Last year, the Colorado-based firm received $1.5 million from the Saudi government for “professional services,” according to its January regulatory filing to the Department of Justice.
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The revelation comes as Trump has personally waded into the oil dispute, tweeting Thursday that he has asked de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to work with Russia, another top energy producer, to curb oil production so prices can rise again.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was an attorney and shareholder at BHFS before joining the Trump administration in August 2017, lobbying on behalf of oil, gas and mining interests that are now benefiting from the administration’s aggressive environmental rollbacks. The lobbying giant’s domestic clients include oil and gas interests that have been hit hard by the oil market crash.
BHFS hasn’t been shy about its access to Trump’s team. In a memo to clients the day after Trump was elected, the firm wrote that it “has significant relationships across both chambers and party leadership, as well as those who will steer the incoming Trump administration.”
The firm also boasted that Politico named Marc Lampkin, managing partner of BHFS’s Washington, D.C. office, “a ‘need to know’ K Street Power Player inside the Trump transition” and that “other members of our team have also been active advisors to the Trump transition team.”
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Lampkin is one of several BHFS employees who have lobbied on the Saudi government’s behalf, according to DOJ filings.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt worked for eight years at the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he lobbied on behalf of oil, gas, mining and agricultural interests. Aaron Bernstein / Reuters
It is unclear if BHFS continues to have a relationship with the Saudi government in 2020 since its next filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act is not due until the middle of this year. It’s also unclear if the firm’s work for the kingdom includes lobbying on oil and gas issues specifically, or if BHFS is reconsidering the business ties in light of the ongoing industry crisis.
Neither BHFS nor the Saudi Embassy in Washington responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment this week.
Riyadh’s decision early last month to flood the market with cheap oil to secure more clients and expand its share of the market sent prices tumbling to a nearly 20-year low and frustrated the U.S. fracking industry, which faces a higher cost of production than its Saudi counterpart. Adding to U.S. frackers’ woes is a decline in global demand due to the coronavirus pandemic
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“It’s a financial bloodbath,” Clark Williams-Derry, an analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, recently told HuffPost. “With oil prices at the current level, there’s a real risk many of them will simply go bankrupt.”
On Wednesday, Denver-based Whiting Petroleum Corp. became the first major U.S. shale driller to file for bankruptcy amid the price battle and deadly pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reported.
A group of 13 Republican senators sent a letter to the Saudi crown prince, known colloquially as MBS, on March 16, urging him to stabilize the oil market. And in an interview this week with CNBC, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused the Saudis of “engaging in economic warfare against the United States, trying to drive down the price of oil in order to exploit this coronavirus crisis to drive a bunch of American producers out of business.”
A methane gas flare and pump jack at an oil well in the Bakken Oil Fields, North Dakota. Richard Hamilton Smith via Getty Images
Double Dipping
BHFS represents a number of oil and gas interests that have been affected by the Saudi-led oil market crash. Its most recent lobbying disclosure data for domestic clients listed, among others, the American Petroleum Institute, the leading trade association of the U.S. oil and gas industry; Texas oil exploration and production company Hunt Consolidated; and Oklahoma-based natural gas company WPX Energy.
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Meanwhile, the firm has had a relationship with the Saudi regime since 2016, when Riyadh ramped up its U.S. influence operation to combat a bill that allowed victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged role.
BHFS continued the relationship despite growing international criticism of the Saudi regime, including after Saudi officials murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, prompting some lobbyists to pull back from Riyadh.
“We don’t believe it is in our client’s interest, in our interest or in the United States’ interest to abandon them during this crisis,” Al Mottur, a BHFS shareholder and lobbyist, told the Colorado Sun in the wake of Khashoggi’s killing.
The Saudi government paid BHFS nearly $500,000 in 2017 and $1.8 million in 2018, the year of Khashoggi’s murder, according to data from the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics.
The Saudis’ new policy to flood the oil marketplace led BHFS client API, which represents some 600 members in the oil and gas sector, to ask Trump for regulatory relief for drilling companies in a March 20 letter. And a growing number of lawmakers, many of whom have received money from the fossil fuel industry over their political careers, are calling on the Trump administration to reduce or eliminate royalties for offshore drilling operations.
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API, WPX Energy and other domestic clients of BHFS did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment. The New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, listed in filings as another top client, said it “no longer employs” BHFS and has shifted its federal lobbying strategy, but noted that the price war has created a “challenging price and demand environment” for its members.
As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation and ravages the U.S. economy, the Trump administration continues its push to lift the U.S. fossil fuel industry and boost production. The president vowed last month to throw the oil industry a lifeline by purchasing tens of millions of barrels of crude from U.S. producers, enough to fill the nation’s emergency reserve, but the administration backed away from its plan after that funding was excluded from the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.
Trump has since cheered for an industry comeback on Twitter, and during a coronavirus briefing at the White House on Tuesday said he had “great” conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and MBS about the oil price situation.
“We’re going to see what we can do because you don’t want to lose an industry,” Trump said, adding that “the two countries are discussing it and I am joining at the appropriate time if need be.”
President Donald Trump and de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stand side by side in the group picture at the start of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. picture alliance via Getty Images
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Trump Turns To His Friends
Trump is slated to host executives of major oil and gas giants, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corporation, at the White House on Friday to discuss ways to protect their industry. Attendees likely hope the president can use his close ties with Saudi leadership to win concessions.
Karen Young, an analyst of Middle East economics at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, told HuffPost in an email that U.S.-Saudi relations in the current oil glut “are clearly tense,” but that Riyadh has little incentive to take American concerns into account in designing its approach to oil.
“I don’t see a lot of reason for Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the U.S. or individual U.S. firms,” Young wrote. “We are competitors as oil producers. That is a new development in US-Saudi ties since the shale revolution. It upends much of how we have understood our benefits to each other in the past.”
Until this week, the Saudi government showed little sign of slowing down. “As the world demands economic stability, we rise to supply energy,” reads text on a video that Aramco, the state-run fossil fuel company, posted to social media on Wednesday.
Some analysts believe Saudi Arabia will clearly benefit from inking contracts today that will more than make up for the drop in revenue it’s experiencing because of lower oil prices.
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huffpost--2020-04-24--Why 'RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race' Is 'Realer' Than The Original Series

For the next month , the legendary entertainer is expanding his programming slate to rival the runtime of Martin Scorsese ’ s 3½-hour “ The Irishman ” ― de-aged Robert De Niro wishes he looked this good ― as he launches the latest spinoff of the trailblazing reality show .
Who exactly will be blending , beating and , yes , tucking remains a mystery — joins hands in silent prayer for Harry Styles — but each week a trio of celebrities will get in touch with their inner drag queen for charity , with a little help from series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winners Trixie Mattel and Monét X Change .
“ I was there to play the game , but — plot twist — the Grinch ’ s heart grew a few sizes , ” Mattel added .
“ You really watch them struggle with this new skill .
Imagine you ’ re doing drag for the first time , and it ’ s on this scale .
This is high stakes , bitch.
” Instead of sitting pretty at the judges ’ tables , celebrities will now walk in the contestants ’ high heels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be both satisfying and empowering for returning queens .
“ It was a nice little role reversal , because , you know , full tea , sometimes these celebrities come judge ‘ Drag Race , ’ and I ’ m like , ‘ Who is qualifying you to give any critiques on drag ?
’ ” X Change told HuffPost , adding how freeing it was to participate without the fear of being sent home .
“ When you just allow yourself to have a no-fucks-given attitude , it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV , ” X Change said .
“ Drag Race ” has seen many a breakdown and breakthrough in its 11-year run , and it sounds like the celebrity contestants will be transformed from the inside out .
They ’ ll have to work through their own inhibitions to deliver the required charisma , uniqueness , nerve and talent , leading to some unexpected revelations among the cast .
“ People have different hang-ups about dressing up and what their family might have thought of them , ” Mattel said about overcoming obstacles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t volunteering to cross-dress on national television unless they ’ re also looking to get something else out of it , too.
” “ Drag is a scary thing , ” X Change added .
“ Even in 2020 , when we ’ ve opened up our minds a lot about gender and sexuality .
But once you let yourself experience the physical and mental transformation that happens with drag , it just taps something inside of you .
You see it especially in the makeover challenges , where these dudes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are suddenly , like , simulating fellatio and twerking.
” Seeing the power of costumes , jewels and wigs made Mattel realize that he has at times “ lost sight of the transformative qualities ” of drag and gave him a new appreciation of the art form and the series .
“ Remember three months ago , when Twitter gays were like , ‘ They need to stop making so much “ Drag Race ” ’ ?
” Mattel joked .
“ Well , guess what bitch , aren ’ t you happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would watch , like , 11 seasons of a show we don ’ t even like for one gay kiss to complaining about too much gay programming.
” “ When you see these entertainers doing dope things , we should reward them however you can , because they are being creative for you to enjoy yourself at home on your 14th watered-down vodka soda in your apartment by yourself , ” X Change said .

Ross Mathews, RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley on "RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race." VH1
The days might blend together, but RuPaul has staked his claim: Friday nights are for “Drag Race.”
For the next month, the legendary entertainer is expanding his programming slate to rival the runtime of Martin Scorsese’s 3½-hour “The Irishman” ― de-aged Robert De Niro wishes he looked this good ― as he launches the latest spinoff of the trailblazing reality show.
The Emmy-winning series has attracted more star power than a faux-inspirational celebrity quarantine video over the years, with everyone from pop stars, Kardashians, Olympians and even Nancy Pelosi dropping by.
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Now celebrity guests will get a chance to compete on the main stage for themselves in “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race,” a four-part special event premiering on VH1 Friday.
Who exactly will be blending, beating and, yes, tucking remains a mystery — joins hands in silent prayer for Harry Styles — but each week a trio of celebrities will get in touch with their inner drag queen for charity, with a little help from series veterans, including “All Stars” winners Trixie Mattel and Monét X Change.
“Honestly, it was realer than ‘Drag Race,’” Mattel told HuffPost in a recent phone interview. “These celebrities are not performing. They are having authentic, transformative human experiences in front of us.
“I was there to play the game, but — plot twist — the Grinch’s heart grew a few sizes,” Mattel added. “You really watch them struggle with this new skill. Imagine you’re doing drag for the first time, and it’s on this scale. This is high stakes, bitch.”
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Trixie Mattel and Monét X Change on the "X Change Rate." BUILD Series
Instead of sitting pretty at the judges’ tables, celebrities will now walk in the contestants’ high heels through various fan-favorite challenges, which proved to be both satisfying and empowering for returning queens.
“It was a nice little role reversal, because, you know, full tea, sometimes these celebrities come judge ‘Drag Race,’ and I’m like, ‘Who is qualifying you to give any critiques on drag?’” X Change told HuffPost, adding how freeing it was to participate without the fear of being sent home.
“When you just allow yourself to have a no-fucks-given attitude, it’s more fun, and you just get better TV,” X Change said.
“Drag Race” has seen many a breakdown and breakthrough in its 11-year run, and it sounds like the celebrity contestants will be transformed from the inside out. They’ll have to work through their own inhibitions to deliver the required charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, leading to some unexpected revelations among the cast.
Advertisement
“People have different hang-ups about dressing up and what their family might have thought of them,” Mattel said about overcoming obstacles during filming. “But celebrities aren’t volunteering to cross-dress on national television unless they’re also looking to get something else out of it, too.”
“Drag is a scary thing,” X Change added. “Even in 2020, when we’ve opened up our minds a lot about gender and sexuality. But once you let yourself experience the physical and mental transformation that happens with drag, it just taps something inside of you. You see it especially in the makeover challenges, where these dudes, who have never done drag before, are suddenly, like, simulating fellatio and twerking.”
Seeing the power of costumes, jewels and wigs made Mattel realize that he has at times “lost sight of the transformative qualities” of drag and gave him a new appreciation of the art form and the series.
“Remember three months ago, when Twitter gays were like, ‘They need to stop making so much “Drag Race”’?” Mattel joked. “Well, guess what bitch, aren’t you happy? We went from a society who would watch, like, 11 seasons of a show we don’t even like for one gay kiss to complaining about too much gay programming.”
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Mattel added: “Gay people, we get what we want, and then we don’t want it.”
Especially amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, both Mattel and X Change encouraged fans to support queens more fiercely than ever ― be it subscribing to a queer-friendly streaming service or directly supporting LGBTQ artists by tipping via Venmo.
“When you see these entertainers doing dope things, we should reward them however you can, because they are being creative for you to enjoy yourself at home on your 14th watered-down vodka soda in your apartment by yourself,” X Change said.


huffpost--2020-05-02--Pigs Killed, Thrown Away As Farms Face Slaughterhouse Backlogs

Meyer said he and other farmers across the Midwest have been devastated by the prospect of euthanizing hundreds of thousands of hogs after the temporary closure of giant pork production plants due to the coronavirus .
The unprecedented dilemma for the U.S. pork industry has forced farmers to figure out how to kill healthy hogs and dispose of carcasses weighing up to 300 pounds ( 136 kilograms ) in landfills , or by composting them on farms for fertilizer .
“ Believe me , we ’ re double-stocking barns .
We ’ re putting pigs in pens that we never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold them .
We ’ re feeding them diets that have low energy just to try to stall their growth and just to maintain , ” said Meyer , who also grows corn and soybeans on his family ’ s farm near Rock Rapids .
It ’ s all a result of colliding forces as plants that normally process up to 20,000 hogs a day are closing because of ill workers , leaving few options for farmers raising millions of hogs .
Experts describe the pork industry as similar to an escalator that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as it never stops .
More than 60,000 farmers normally send about 115 million pigs a year to slaughter in the U.S. A little less than a quarter of those hogs are raised in Iowa , by far the biggest pork-producing state .
Officials estimate that about 700,000 pigs across the nation can ’ t be processed each week and must be euthanized .
Most of the hogs are being killed at farms , but up to 13,000 a day also may be euthanized at the JBS pork plant in Worthington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wanted out of me was for me to come down here and say I ’ m the one who asked for this , not them .
...
Blame me if you don ’ t like it , ” he said .
It all means that meat can ’ t be delivered to grocery stores , restaurants that now are beginning to reopen or food banks that are seeing record demand from people suddenly out of work .
Some of that demand is being met by high levels of meat in cold storage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly dwindle , likely causing people to soon see higher prices and less selection .
To help farmers , the USDA already has set up a center that can supply the tools needed to euthanize hogs .
That includes captive bolt guns and cartridges that can be shot into the heads of larger animals as well as chutes , trailers and personal protective equipment .
“ It is a tough one , ” he said .
“ We got keep our heads up and try to be resourceful and if we can make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be good opportunities if we ’ re left standing yet.
” The USDA has a program designed to connect farmers with local meat lockers and small processors that can slaughter some hogs and donate the meat to food banks .
However , that effort has been hindered by the fact that small processors already were overwhelmed with customers who have turned away from mass-produced meat and instead bought a hog or cow to be processed locally .
Chris Young , the executive director for the American Association of Meat Processors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meat lockers , said that while some local processors in Indiana , Illinois and Wisconsin have been able to take a few extra hogs , the shortage is being felt nationwide .
“ When the pandemic started , all across the country , a lot of these small processing plants with a retail store in the front were just overrun , ” he said .
“ They ’ re still crazy busy .
It hasn ’ t really backed off.
” However , Howard Roth , a Wisconsin farmer and president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will need to keep euthanizing pigs as the slaughterhouses struggle to resume their full production .
Farmers will definitely need federal help to keep them afloat .
Peterson also said he ’ ll seek a change in the law so that the USDA can retroactively compensate farmers for euthanizing healthy animals in such emergencies .
He said the USDA told him it doesn ’ t have the authority at the moment to do that for healthy animals , just diseased animals , as it did during for chickens and turkeys in the bird @ @ @

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After spending two decades raising pigs to send to slaughterhouses, Dean Meyer now faces the mentally draining, physically difficult task of killing them even before they leave his northwest Iowa farm.
Meyer said he and other farmers across the Midwest have been devastated by the prospect of euthanizing hundreds of thousands of hogs after the temporary closure of giant pork production plants due to the coronavirus.
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The unprecedented dilemma for the U.S. pork industry has forced farmers to figure out how to kill healthy hogs and dispose of carcasses weighing up to 300 pounds (136 kilograms) in landfills, or by composting them on farms for fertilizer.
Meyer, who has already killed baby pigs to reduce his herd size, said it’s awful but necessary.
“Believe me, we’re double-stocking barns. We’re putting pigs in pens that we never had pigs in before just trying to hold them. We’re feeding them diets that have low energy just to try to stall their growth and just to maintain,” said Meyer, who also grows corn and soybeans on his family’s farm near Rock Rapids.
It’s all a result of colliding forces as plants that normally process up to 20,000 hogs a day are closing because of ill workers, leaving few options for farmers raising millions of hogs. Experts describe the pork industry as similar to an escalator that efficiently supplies the nation with food only as long as it never stops.
More than 60,000 farmers normally send about 115 million pigs a year to slaughter in the U.S. A little less than a quarter of those hogs are raised in Iowa, by far the biggest pork-producing state.
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Officials estimate that about 700,000 pigs across the nation can’t be processed each week and must be euthanized. Most of the hogs are being killed at farms, but up to 13,000 a day also may be euthanized at the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota.
U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, went to the plant Wednesday, in part to thank JBS officials for agreeing to kill the hogs at his request.
“The only thing they wanted out of me was for me to come down here and say I’m the one who asked for this, not them. ... Blame me if you don’t like it,” he said.
It all means that meat can’t be delivered to grocery stores, restaurants that now are beginning to reopen or food banks that are seeing record demand from people suddenly out of work. Some of that demand is being met by high levels of meat in cold storage, but analysts say that supply will quickly dwindle, likely causing people to soon see higher prices and less selection.
To help farmers, the USDA already has set up a center that can supply the tools needed to euthanize hogs. That includes captive bolt guns and cartridges that can be shot into the heads of larger animals as well as chutes, trailers and personal protective equipment.
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Iowa officials have asked that federal aid include funding for mental health services available to farmers and the veterinarians who help them.
Meyer said euthanizing healthy animals is a difficult decision for a farmer.
“It is a tough one,” he said. “We got keep our heads up and try to be resourceful and if we can make it through this cloud, I think there will be good opportunities if we’re left standing yet.”
The USDA has a program designed to connect farmers with local meat lockers and small processors that can slaughter some hogs and donate the meat to food banks. However, that effort has been hindered by the fact that small processors already were overwhelmed with customers who have turned away from mass-produced meat and instead bought a hog or cow to be processed locally.
Chuck Ryherd, owner of State Center Locker in State Center, Iowa, said he’s almost completely booked through the end of the year and has been turning away customers.
Chris Young, the executive director for the American Association of Meat Processors, a trade group for about 1,500 smaller meat lockers, said that while some local processors in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have been able to take a few extra hogs, the shortage is being felt nationwide.
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“When the pandemic started, all across the country, a lot of these small processing plants with a retail store in the front were just overrun,” he said. “They’re still crazy busy. It hasn’t really backed off.”
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump used the Defense Production Act to order that large meat processors remain open, giving hog farmers hope the situation could improve.
However, Howard Roth, a Wisconsin farmer and president of the National Pork Producers Council, said farmers will need to keep euthanizing pigs as the slaughterhouses struggle to resume their full production. Farmers will definitely need federal help to keep them afloat.
“We are going to need indemnity money for these farmers,” he said. “This situation is unprecedented.”
Peterson also said he’ll seek a change in the law so that the USDA can retroactively compensate farmers for euthanizing healthy animals in such emergencies. He said the USDA told him it doesn’t have the authority at the moment to do that for healthy animals, just diseased animals, as it did during for chickens and turkeys in the bird flu outbreak.
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“It’s going to be in there, I’ll guarantee you,” he said.
___


huffpost--2020-04-28--Follow The Life Of An EMT During A 2-Week COVID-19 Deployment

Have you ever wondered what it ’ d be like to work as an EMT for two weeks in a city that happens to be a hot spot for a deadly new disease ?
That ’ s why we ’ re grateful for people like Vaughn Miller .
The 25-year-old EMT from Syracuse , New York , volunteered for a two-week deployment to Newark , New Jersey , in early April to help with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Miller was one of “ hundreds ” of EMTs and paramedics who responded to a FEMA request for additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late March as coronavirus cases there soared .
On April 10 , the day of Miller ’ s first shift , New Jersey had 54,588 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,100 deaths ; cases in Newark alone were increasing by 200 a day .
Miller told HuffPost he felt “ a little ragged ” after that first shift , though it was gratifying to be doing such necessary work .
“ It feels good , even though it doesn ’ t at the same time physically , ” he said with a laugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in by day four .
In a video filmed at the start of his early-morning shift , Miller reflected on the prior few days .
“ I ’ ve seen more death , more dying and dead people in my week here than I have in my last year , ” he said .
“ That ’ s not a joke .
It ’ s a very literal sentence .
It ’ s absolutely insane how little help we can offer some of these people , ” he added , his voice cracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be hard .
Very hard .
It ’ s very hard here , but it ’ s very necessary .
We ’ re EMS providers , we ’ re born and raised on ‘ Do good ’ and ‘ Help these people.
’ We can ’ t sometimes .
That ’ s heartbreaking , but ... in the end , we ’ ll get through .
We always have.
” Watch the video above to see all 14 days of Miller ’ s experience .

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Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to work as an EMT for two weeks in a city that happens to be a hot spot for a deadly new disease?
Yeah, neither have we.
That’s why we’re grateful for people like Vaughn Miller. The 25-year-old EMT from Syracuse, New York, volunteered for a two-week deployment to Newark, New Jersey, in early April to help with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Miller was one of “hundreds” of EMTs and paramedics who responded to a FEMA request for additional help in the greater New York area in late March as coronavirus cases there soared.
On April 10, the day of Miller’s first shift, New Jersey had 54,588 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,100 deaths; cases in Newark alone were increasing by 200 a day.
Miller told HuffPost he felt “a little ragged” after that first shift, though it was gratifying to be doing such necessary work.
“It feels good, even though it doesn’t at the same time physically,” he said with a laugh.
The mental toll seemed to sink in by day four. In a video filmed at the start of his early-morning shift, Miller reflected on the prior few days.
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“I’ve seen more death, more dying and dead people in my week here than I have in my last year,” he said.
“That’s not a joke. It’s a very literal sentence. It’s absolutely insane how little help we can offer some of these people,” he added, his voice cracking a bit.
“It’s going to be hard. Very hard. It’s very hard here, but it’s very necessary. We’re EMS providers, we’re born and raised on ‘Do good’ and ‘Help these people.’ We can’t sometimes. That’s heartbreaking, but ... in the end, we’ll get through. We always have.”


huffpost--2020-04-28--Judge Sides With Native Tribes, Limits Distribution Of Coronavirus Relief

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. ( AP ) — A judge has ruled in favor of tribal nations in their bid to keep Alaska Native corporations from getting a share of $ 8 billion in coronavirus relief funding — at least for now .
In a decision issued late Monday , U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington , D.C. , said the U.S. Treasury Department could begin disbursing funding to 574 federally recognized tribes to respond to the coronavirus but not to the corporations .
The ruling comes in a case brought by at least 15 tribes against the Treasury Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the funding to go only to tribal governments and that the corporations don ’ t fit within the definition of “ Indian Tribe ” in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act .
Mehta said the tribes easily showed they would suffer irreparable harm unless he limited the funding temporarily to tribal governments while he awaited more argument on the question of eligibility of Alaska Native corporations .
“ These are monies that Congress appropriated on an emergency basis to assist tribal governments in providing core public services to battle a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including in Indian Country , ” Mehta said .
Justice Department attorney Jason Lynch had argued that the Treasury Department ’ s decision to include Alaska Native corporations wasn ’ t subject to judicial review because the funding is for a public health emergency .
Mehta rejected the argument .
The Treasury Department has said it could start sending payments to tribes Tuesday — two days past the deadline in the coronavirus relief bill .
But it has not said how it would determine who gets what .
Harry Pickernell , Sr. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Washington state , said he was pleased with the judge ’ s decision .
“ This ruling will help tribal governments to lead in the aid and recovery of their people , ” he said in a statement .
Alaska Native corporations are unique to Alaska and own most of the Native land in the state under a 1971 settlement known as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act .
Mehta said neither the corporations nor the Treasury Department showed the corporations are providing public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
The corporations , which are not parties to the lawsuit , have said they support Alaska Natives economically , socially and culturally .
Two associations representing some of the corporations — the ANCSA Regional Association and the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association — said they believe the corporations ultimately will be deemed eligible for funding .
“ This will mean a delay in necessary resources and economic assistance for Alaska Native people in our communities and our state , ” the groups said .
“ However , Alaska Native people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Together we will prevent the spread of COVID-19 , care for those who get sick , and repair our economies.
” For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A judge has ruled in favor of tribal nations in their bid to keep Alaska Native corporations from getting a share of $8 billion in coronavirus relief funding — at least for now.
In a decision issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., said the U.S. Treasury Department could begin disbursing funding to 574 federally recognized tribes to respond to the coronavirus but not to the corporations.
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The ruling comes in a case brought by at least 15 tribes against the Treasury Department. The tribes allege that Congress intended the funding to go only to tribal governments and that the corporations don’t fit within the definition of “Indian Tribe” in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Mehta said the tribes easily showed they would suffer irreparable harm unless he limited the funding temporarily to tribal governments while he awaited more argument on the question of eligibility of Alaska Native corporations.
“These are monies that Congress appropriated on an emergency basis to assist tribal governments in providing core public services to battle a pandemic that is ravaging the nation, including in Indian Country,” Mehta said.
The Treasury Department and the U.S. Justice Department representing the Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
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Justice Department attorney Jason Lynch had argued that the Treasury Department’s decision to include Alaska Native corporations wasn’t subject to judicial review because the funding is for a public health emergency. Mehta rejected the argument.
The Treasury Department has said it could start sending payments to tribes Tuesday — two days past the deadline in the coronavirus relief bill. But it has not said how it would determine who gets what.
Harry Pickernell, Sr., the chairman of the lead plaintiff tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Washington state, said he was pleased with the judge’s decision.
“This ruling will help tribal governments to lead in the aid and recovery of their people,” he said in a statement.
Alaska Native corporations are unique to Alaska and own most of the Native land in the state under a 1971 settlement known as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Mehta said neither the corporations nor the Treasury Department showed the corporations are providing public services comparable to the tribes to combat the coronavirus.
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The corporations, which are not parties to the lawsuit, have said they support Alaska Natives economically, socially and culturally.
Two associations representing some of the corporations — the ANCSA Regional Association and the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association — said they believe the corporations ultimately will be deemed eligible for funding.
“This will mean a delay in necessary resources and economic assistance for Alaska Native people in our communities and our state,” the groups said. “However, Alaska Native people have a history of resilience and strength. Together we will prevent the spread of COVID-19, care for those who get sick, and repair our economies.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death. The vast majority of people recover.