huffpost--2020-06-16--Trump Says He Gave Out 1 Million Tickets To His Tulsa Rally. That Means 980,801 Fans Won't Fit.

Such is the absurdist situation President Donald Trump and his campaign are boasting about as he resumes hosting political rallies on Saturday at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa .
“ Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma !
” Trump wrote in a statement he posted to Twitter Monday .
Later , during a White House photo opportunity , the president said an additional 40,000 would be able to watch the rally from the convention center next door on television screens .
“ Which would mean they would have over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to go .
But hopefully , they ’ ll be watching , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t know why they ’ re having a rally there at all , to be honest , ” said one Republican adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity .
“ They ’ re fine , if you ’ re actually doing them in places that matter.
” If past is prologue , Trump may well get on stage Saturday and simply claim that those with tickets who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marshal restrictions are waiting outside – all 981,000 of them .
In reality , it is unlikely that many or even most of those who signed up for tickets on the Trump campaign ’ s website have any intention of making their way to Tulsa – a city with a population of 406,000 in a state of only 4 million .
In any event , the Trump campaign has long admitted that its rallies are a tool for harvesting cellphone numbers and email addresses of people who sign up to attend .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text messages asking for campaign donations and targeted with ads on Facebook and Instagram .
“ It ’ s about the signing up , rather than the showing up , ” the White House adviser said , adding that each Trump rally generates thousands of new names , including many people who are not even registered to vote yet .
“ That ’ s the only thing that helps organize this campaign , is a rally.
” David Axelrod , an architect of former President Barack Obama ’ s campaign that set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering the names and contact information means little unless that information can be translated into persuading those people to influence their social circle to vote for Trump .
In the case of Trump , he added , there is likely an alternate rationale , as well : “ It ’ s also about aggrandizing the president ’ s fragile ego and need , in this vulnerable moment , to be bathed in the love and approval he desperately craves.
” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has alluded to voter mobilization efforts along those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 , following one attended by 8,000 in Wildwood , New Jersey , Parscale bragged on Twitter that 158,632 tickets had been requested and 73,482 voters had been identified , of whom 10.4 % had not voted in 2016 , and 26.3 % were Democrats .
How much of that money wound up in Parscale ’ s pocket can not be determined from FEC records , but it was enough to allow him to buy a $ 1.4 million waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , a $ 400,000 boat to tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Land Rover and a pair of $ 1 million condos .
Weaver ridiculed the idea that Trump was getting anything useful by staging a rally in Oklahoma , a state he won by 36 percentage points in 2016 .
“ Do you think any of these people are undecided ?
” he asked .
“ Do they need Facebook ads aimed at them ?
” Among all the people with confirmations , the first who show up are admitted , until the venue fills to capacity .
Trump ’ s most loyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a day or two early to make sure they would be close enough to the front of the line to get good seats .
That , in turn , led to a staple of Trump campaign media coverage of interviewing supporters in lines , sometimes blocks long , waiting for the doors to open .
Handing out more tickets than there is room also gives Trump a standard line at the start of each speech about how many people can not get in and have to remain outside ― although his claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranged from somewhat exaggerated to downright laughable .

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WASHINGTON ― What happens when 1 million people RSVP to say they are coming to a venue that only holds 19,199?
Such is the absurdist situation President Donald Trump and his campaign are boasting about as he resumes hosting political rallies on Saturday at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa. “Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma!” Trump wrote in a statement he posted to Twitter Monday.
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Later, during a White House photo opportunity, the president said an additional 40,000 would be able to watch the rally from the convention center next door on television screens. “Which would mean they would have over 900,000 people that won’t be able to go. But hopefully, they’ll be watching,” he said.
It is unclear why Trump’s campaign – which has already spent three-quarters of a billion dollars since January 2017, only to trail in the polls to Democratic challenger Joe Biden – is even holding a rally in Oklahoma, a deeply Republican state nearly completely surrounded by other Republican states.
“I don’t know why they’re having a rally there at all, to be honest,” said one Republican adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They’re fine, if you’re actually doing them in places that matter.”
If past is prologue, Trump may well get on stage Saturday and simply claim that those with tickets who could not get in because of fire marshal restrictions are waiting outside – all 981,000 of them. In reality, it is unlikely that many or even most of those who signed up for tickets on the Trump campaign’s website have any intention of making their way to Tulsa – a city with a population of 406,000 in a state of only 4 million.
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In any event, the Trump campaign has long admitted that its rallies are a tool for harvesting cellphone numbers and email addresses of people who sign up to attend. Those individuals are then bombarded with emails and text messages asking for campaign donations and targeted with ads on Facebook and Instagram.
“It’s about the signing up, rather than the showing up,” the White House adviser said, adding that each Trump rally generates thousands of new names, including many people who are not even registered to vote yet. “That’s the only thing that helps organize this campaign, is a rally.”
David Axelrod, an architect of former President Barack Obama’s campaign that set the standard for data-based microtargeting, said merely gathering the names and contact information means little unless that information can be translated into persuading those people to influence their social circle to vote for Trump.
“It’s about activating them as digital organizers to get friends and family to vote, wherever they may be,” Axelrod said.
In the case of Trump, he added, there is likely an alternate rationale, as well: “It’s also about aggrandizing the president’s fragile ego and need, in this vulnerable moment, to be bathed in the love and approval he desperately craves.”
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Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has alluded to voter mobilization efforts along those lines for previous rallies. On Jan. 28, following one attended by 8,000 in Wildwood, New Jersey, Parscale bragged on Twitter that 158,632 tickets had been requested and 73,482 voters had been identified, of whom 10.4% had not voted in 2016, and 26.3% were Democrats.
“Mind boggling,” Parscale wrote, adding an emoji of a surprised face.
Other Republican consultants, though, had a different explanation of all the hype Parscale and the campaign are using to boost Saturday’s rally in Tulsa.
“You think a Ferrari buys itself?” asked John Weaver, who worked on the presidential campaigns of John McCain and John Kasich.
President Donald Trump arrives at a rally at Bojangles' Coliseum on March 2, 2020, in Charlotte, North Carolina. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images
Parscale, who became close to Trump’s adult children when he designed websites for Trump family businesses nearly a decade ago, has grown renowned for becoming wealthy off his work for both the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, despite no previous experience in politics.
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Federal Election Commission filings show that Parscale’s companies were paid $93.9 million for the 2016 election, and $38.9 million for the 2020 election through the March 31 reporting period.
How much of that money wound up in Parscale’s pocket cannot be determined from FEC records, but it was enough to allow him to buy a $1.4 million waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a $400,000 boat to tie up behind it, a Ferrari, a Land Rover and a pair of $1 million condos.
Weaver ridiculed the idea that Trump was getting anything useful by staging a rally in Oklahoma, a state he won by 36 percentage points in 2016. “Do you think any of these people are undecided?” he asked. “Do they need Facebook ads aimed at them?”
Stuart Stevens, who worked on the campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, said Parscale is merely trying to show Trump that he is doing something as his boss’s approval ratings slide from the coronavirus pandemic and anti-racism protests.
“I think it’s Parscale trying to save his job by bragging about it,” Stevens said. “Parscale is a process guy, not a message guy. So, when threatened, he doubles down on process.”
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The practice of “overselling” tickets to Trump’s rallies goes back to his 2016 run.
Among all the people with confirmations, the first who show up are admitted, until the venue fills to capacity. Trump’s most loyal fans adjusted by showing up hours or even a day or two early to make sure they would be close enough to the front of the line to get good seats. That, in turn, led to a staple of Trump campaign media coverage of interviewing supporters in lines, sometimes blocks long, waiting for the doors to open.
Handing out more tickets than there is room also gives Trump a standard line at the start of each speech about how many people cannot get in and have to remain outside ― although his claims as to how many are outside have ranged from somewhat exaggerated to downright laughable.
On Oct. 22, 2018, for example, Trump held a rally at the Toyota Center in Houston, which holds 18,300. He told his audience that there were “about 50,000 people outside.” According to the Houston police, there were about 3,000 people outside.
Rick Tyler, a GOP consultant who worked on Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 campaign, said he doesn’t understand why Trump and his people keep bragging about their rally attendance in the first place.
“Free tickets to a freak show are not hard to give away and a good time will be had by all,” Tyler noted. “But there is a reason the circus only comes to town until the crowds thin and it’s time to move on. The problem for team Trump is that his market share of voters has not expanded beyond people who love clown shows.”


huffpost--2020-05-07--Tips For Hand-Washing Clothes In The Tub

Even if you ’ ve spent the past two months of the coronavirus lockdown in pajamas , you have undoubtedly accumulated at least some laundry during that time .
And without handy access to an in-home washer or dryer , you might be tempted to start hand-washing your leggings .
Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd know a thing or 30 about washing by hand .
They are the co-founders of The Laundress , an all-things-laundry-all-the-time brand that offers a wealth of products and knowledge about how to clean just about anything .
Now they ’ re sharing some of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before you put the clothes in .
Without the machine-operated , suds-making mechanisms available in a washing machine , it ’ s important to make sure the water is soapy before putting the clothes in .
“ Agitate the water with your hands to create a soapy solution , ” Whiting said , “ then let the garments soak in the soapy water for 30 minutes.
” You might be inclined to let your garments soak while you take care of other things around the house , but Whiting and Boyd say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rinsing .
“ Remove the laundry from the tub by pressing each garment against the edge of the tub and placing in a clean bucket or sink , ” Boyd explained .
“ Then , open the drain to release the soapy water and close the drain again before filling with clean , warm water .
Swirl to thoroughly rinse away the suds and drain once more.
” Your clothes might still have some suds left over , even after rinsing .
If that ’ s the case , Whiting and Boyd advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them under the faucet instead until the water runs clear .
“ Wringing will cause damage to the fibers , ” Boyd said .
“ Instead , press garments against the edge of the tub to get rid of excess water.
” You *can* hand-wash dry clean items , but not all of them .
“ Fur with skin can not be washed , as the skin can shrink or dry out with wet washing , ” Whiting said .
“ Another tricky fabric is viscose .
Viscose is a type of rayon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ washed , viscose has been known to shrink to extreme proportions.
” Whiting also noted that rayon and viscose are often not labeled properly , so she doesn ’ t recommend washing either at home because shrinkage , elongation , distortion or puckering is not reversible .
“ We also don ’ t recommend washing structured materials like blazers with shoulder pads , as they can become distorted in the wash .
Instead , you can spot treat and freshen.
” Not sure about a material ?
Test it .
Whiting and Boyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wool and cashmere can and should be washed in the tub , but if you ’ re not sure , there ’ s a way to see how the material will react to hand-washing .
“ Find an inconspicuous area on the item , such as a seam or hem , and submerge it in warm water , ” Boyd said .
“ Look for changes in character or texture in the wet area : tightening , shrinking , stretching , warping or the formation of ripples or wrinkles .
Also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which may not happen instantly .
If you encounter any of these problems , dry clean the item.
” Whiting and Boyd are partial to line drying for its energy-saving and fabric preservation properties ― but not everyone has access to an outdoor space to do that .
In that case , they have a few tips for in-home drying .

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Even if you’ve spent the past two months of the coronavirus lockdown in pajamas, you have undoubtedly accumulated at least some laundry during that time. And without handy access to an in-home washer or dryer, you might be tempted to start hand-washing your leggings.
Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd know a thing or 30 about washing by hand. They are the co-founders of The Laundress, an all-things-laundry-all-the-time brand that offers a wealth of products and knowledge about how to clean just about anything. Now they’re sharing some of that knowledge with us.
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Below, their tips for hand-washing your clothes in the tub.
Start with a clean slate.
This one might sound like a no-brainer, but your bathtub is likely covered in germs. Whiting and Boyd recommend doing a deep clean before stopping the drain and filling it with water for your laundry.
Consider the temperature.
Different materials require different water temperatures, Whiting and Boyd explained. Items like woolens, faux fur, down jackets, bedding, delicates and denim should be washed in cool water. Activewear and everyday laundry, on the other hand, can be washed in warm water.
Be discerning with detergent.
Prepare the water before you put the clothes in.
Without the machine-operated, suds-making mechanisms available in a washing machine, it’s important to make sure the water is soapy before putting the clothes in. “Agitate the water with your hands to create a soapy solution,” Whiting said, “then let the garments soak in the soapy water for 30 minutes.”
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Watch the clock.
You might be inclined to let your garments soak while you take care of other things around the house, but Whiting and Boyd say they should sit only for 30 minutes before rinsing. “Remove the laundry from the tub by pressing each garment against the edge of the tub and placing in a clean bucket or sink,” Boyd explained. “Then, open the drain to release the soapy water and close the drain again before filling with clean, warm water. Swirl to thoroughly rinse away the suds and drain once more.”
Aryo Hadi via Getty Images Don't do this.
Resist the urge to wring.
Your clothes might still have some suds left over, even after rinsing. If that’s the case, Whiting and Boyd advise against wringing them out and suggest running them under the faucet instead until the water runs clear. “Wringing will cause damage to the fibers,” Boyd said. “Instead, press garments against the edge of the tub to get rid of excess water.”
You *can* hand-wash dry clean items, but not all of them.
“Fur with skin cannot be washed, as the skin can shrink or dry out with wet washing,” Whiting said. “Another tricky fabric is viscose. Viscose is a type of rayon, and although many rayons can be washed, viscose has been known to shrink to extreme proportions.”
Whiting also noted that rayon and viscose are often not labeled properly, so she doesn’t recommend washing either at home because shrinkage, elongation, distortion or puckering is not reversible. “We also don’t recommend washing structured materials like blazers with shoulder pads, as they can become distorted in the wash. Instead, you can spot treat and freshen.”
Advertisement
Not sure about a material? Test it.
Whiting and Boyd insist that materials like silk, lace, wool and cashmere can and should be washed in the tub, but if you’re not sure, there’s a way to see how the material will react to hand-washing.
“Find an inconspicuous area on the item, such as a seam or hem, and submerge it in warm water,” Boyd said. “Look for changes in character or texture in the wet area: tightening, shrinking, stretching, warping or the formation of ripples or wrinkles. Also be on the lookout for fabric elongation, which may not happen instantly. If you encounter any of these problems, dry clean the item.”
Finally, hang it out.
Whiting and Boyd are partial to line drying for its energy-saving and fabric preservation properties ― but not everyone has access to an outdoor space to do that. In that case, they have a few tips for in-home drying.
“Most everyday garments can be hung on a hanger,” Whiting said. “But be sure the hanger is properly shaped to prevent annoying shoulder bumps.”
For delicates and larger items like bedding, Whiting and Boyd recommend laying them flat on a table or surface, if possible, or hanging a blanket over a chair. Hanging something like a blanket on a shower rod, they said, could cause rust.
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huffpost--2020-05-07--Chemical Gas Leak From India Industrial Plant Kills At Least 8, Sickens Nearly 1,000

WARNING : GRAPHIC CONTENT - At least nine people have died after a chemical gas leak at an LG Polymers facility in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh https : //t.co/FSpnmfq0wk pic.twitter.com/sX9X6MW5Ka HYDERABAD , India ( AP ) — A chemical gas leaked from an industrial plant in southern India early Thursday , leaving people struggling to breathe and collapsing in the streets as they tried to flee .
At least eight people were killed and nearly 1,000 suffered breathing difficulties and other reactions .
The synthetic chemical styrene leaked from the LG Polymers plant in a city on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while workers were preparing to restart the plant after the coronavirus lockdown was eased , Administrator Vinay Chand said .
A fire that broke out before the gas leak has been extinguished , and police said the gas leak was later stopped and the air had cleared .
Authorities deployed 25 ambulances to shift the sick to hospitals and others away from the accident site .
The dead included an 8-year-old girl .
Meena said one person died falling into a well while running away and another person died after he jumped from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape .
The others died in a hospital South Korean company LG Chem operates the plant in Vishakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh state .
The company said it is cooperating with Indian authorities to help residents and employees .
“ The gas leakage is now under control , but the leaked gas can cause nausea and dizziness , so we are investing every effort to ensure proper treatment is provided swiftly , ” LG Chem said in a statement .
# UPDATE At least five dead , hundred hospitalised after gas leak at India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two 5,000-tonne tanks that had been unattended due to the coronavirus lockdown in place since late Marchhttps : //t.co/ORBua1DepK pic.twitter.com/yMmCZAtkW5 — AFP news agency ( @ AFP ) May 7 , 2020 LG Chem is looking into what caused the leak of styrene monomer gas , which is used for producing plastic , but wouldn ’ t exactly know until Indian authorities complete their investigation , company official Song Chun-seob said .
It employs around 300 workers at the Vishakhapatnam plant , but Song said the victims mostly appeared to be local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of 3 kilometres ( 1.8 miles ) complained of breathing difficulties and burning sensation in their eyes , Chand said .
Authorities deployed 25 ambulances to shift the sick to hospitals and others away from the accident site .
Images from television showed people lying in the streets after they collapsed while trying to flee .
An eyewitness said there was a total panic as a mist-like gas enveloped the area .
“ People felt breathless in their homes and tried to run away .
Darkness added to the confusion , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name wan ’ t given by the channel .
Srijana Gummala , the local municipal commissioner , said water was sprayed in the area to minimize the impact of the gas .
“ Through public address system , the people are being asked to use wet masks , ” he said .

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - At least nine people have died after a chemical gas leak at an LG Polymers facility in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh https://t.co/FSpnmfq0wk pic.twitter.com/sX9X6MW5Ka — Reuters (@Reuters) May 7, 2020
HYDERABAD, India (AP) — A chemical gas leaked from an industrial plant in southern India early Thursday, leaving people struggling to breathe and collapsing in the streets as they tried to flee. At least eight people were killed and nearly 1,000 suffered breathing difficulties and other reactions.
The synthetic chemical styrene leaked from the LG Polymers plant in a city on India’s Bay of Bengal coast while workers were preparing to restart the plant after the coronavirus lockdown was eased, Administrator Vinay Chand said.
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A fire that broke out before the gas leak has been extinguished, and police said the gas leak was later stopped and the air had cleared.
Chand said several people fainted on the road and were rushed to a hospital.
Authorities deployed 25 ambulances to shift the sick to hospitals and others away from the accident site. - via Getty Images
Nearly 100 people are hospitalized in non-life-threatening condition, Police Commissioner R.K. Meena said.
The dead included an 8-year-old girl. Meena said one person died falling into a well while running away and another person died after he jumped from the second story of his house to escape. The others died in a hospital
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South Korean company LG Chem operates the plant in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh state. The company said it is cooperating with Indian authorities to help residents and employees.
“The gas leakage is now under control, but the leaked gas can cause nausea and dizziness, so we are investing every effort to ensure proper treatment is provided swiftly,” LG Chem said in a statement.
#UPDATE At least five dead, hundred hospitalised after gas leak at India chemicals plant.
Gas had leaked out of two 5,000-tonne tanks that had been unattended due to the coronavirus lockdown in place since late Marchhttps://t.co/ORBua1DepK pic.twitter.com/yMmCZAtkW5 — AFP news agency (@AFP) May 7, 2020
LG Chem is looking into what caused the leak of styrene monomer gas, which is used for producing plastic, but wouldn’t exactly know until Indian authorities complete their investigation, company official Song Chun-seob said.
It employs around 300 workers at the Vishakhapatnam plant, but Song said the victims mostly appeared to be local residents.
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Nearly 1,000 people in an area of 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) complained of breathing difficulties and burning sensation in their eyes, Chand said.
Authorities deployed 25 ambulances to shift the sick to hospitals and others away from the accident site.
Meena said nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from a village near the plant.
People stand near dead cows in Visakhapatnam following the gas leak from a nearby LG Polymers plant.
The Indian city and surrounding area are home to around five million people pic.twitter.com/ecowy2u63f — AFP news agency (@AFP) May 7, 2020
Images from television showed people lying in the streets after they collapsed while trying to flee.
An eyewitness said there was a total panic as a mist-like gas enveloped the area. “People felt breathless in their homes and tried to run away. Darkness added to the confusion,” he told a television channel. His name wan’t given by the channel.
Srijana Gummala, the local municipal commissioner, said water was sprayed in the area to minimize the impact of the gas. “Through public address system, the people are being asked to use wet masks,” he said.
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India imposed a strict, nationwide lockdown on March 25 to control the spread of coronavirus. Measures were eased on Monday, allowing neighborhood shops and manufacturing units to reopen to resume economic activity.


huffpost--2020-05-07--Sources: US Investigating Ex-Green Beret For Botched Venezuela Raid

The investigation into Jordan Goudreau is in its initial stages and it ’ s unclear if it will result in charges , according to a U.S. law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations .
The probe stems from a frenzy of contradictory comments Goudreau has made since a small cadre of volunteer combatants he was advising on Sunday launched an impossible raid aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro .
An AP investigation published prior to the failed raid places Goudreau at the center of a plot hatched with a rebellious former Venezuelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretly train dozens of Venezuelan military deserters in secret camps in Colombia to carry out a swift operation against Maduro .
The U.S. has offered a $ 15 million reward for information leading to Maduro ’ s arrest or conviction .
He was indicted by the Trump administration in March on narcoterrorist charges .
The men were being readied for combat at three rudimentary camps in Colombia with the help of Goudreau and his Florida-based company , Silvercorp USA , multiple Maduro opponents and aspiring freedom fighters told the AP .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it lacked the support of the Trump administration and was infiltrated by Maduro ’ s vast , Cuban-trained intelligence network , the AP found .
The law enforcement official said Goudreau ’ s possible involvement in weapons smuggling stems from the March 23 seizure by police in Colombia of a stockpile of weapons being transported in a truck .
Alcalá claimed ownership of the cache shortly before surrendering to face U.S. narcotics charges in the same case for which Maduro was indicted .
High-End Defense Solutions is the same company that Goudreau visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source weapons , according to two former Venezuelan soldiers who claim to have helped the American select the gear but later had a bitter falling out with Goudreau amid accusations they were moles for Maduro .
The AP could not independent verify their account .
Two former law enforcement officials said an informant approached the Drug Enforcement Administration in Colombia prior to the weapons ’ seizure with an unsubstantiated tip about Goudreau ’ s alleged involvement in weapons smuggling .
The anti-narcotics agency , not knowing who Goudreau was at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but suspected that any weapons would ’ ve been destined for leftist rebels or criminal gangs in Colombia — not a ragtag army of Venezuelan volunteers , the former officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations .
One of the officials said the information was later passed on to the Department of Homeland Security .
Meanwhile , officials in U.S. Congress are expressing concern .
Democratic congressional staff contacted the State Department multiple times on Monday seeking information about any possible contacts with Goudreau or knowledge of his activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated International Traffic in Arms Regulations , according to a staffer on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private outreach .
“ If we ’ d have been involved , it would have gone differently , ” he joked .
“ As for who bankrolled it , we ’ re not prepared to share any more information about what we know took place .
We ’ ll unpack that at an appropriate time , we ’ ll share that information if it makes good sense.
” “ You ’ ve got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a phone interview with the AP Monday from Florida .
“ By no means am I saying that 60 guys can come in and topple a regime .
I ’ m saying 60 guys can go in and inspire the military and police to flip and join in the liberation of their country , which deep down is what they want.
” Goudreau has said he was hired by Juan Guaidó , who the U.S. considers Venezuela ’ s rightful leader .
To back his claim , he ’ s produced an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the signature of Guaidó .
The opposition leader has refused to say whether the signature on the “ general services agreement ” is authentic .
On Wednesday what some 60 nations recognize as Venezuela ’ s legitimate government denied having signed any “ alleged contract ” and insisted it has no ties or commitments to Silvercorp .
In a statement it accused Maduro of infiltrating the so-called “ Operation Gideon ” and using a “ false document as justification to try and kidnap and illegally detain the interim president Juan Guaidó.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ account as well .
In a televised interview with “ Factores de Poder , ” a Miami media outlet popular with Venezuelan exiles , he claims he never received a “ single cent ” for his work yet continued to prepare the men for battle , in the process going deep into debt .
JJ Rendon , a Miami-based adviser to Guaidó , said he gave Goudreau $ 50,000 as requested to cover some expenses .
Goudreau acknowledged the payment to the AP and other media .
A few days later , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realizing he was unable to deliver what he had promised and because they were not getting along , the person said .
An attempt to reactivate the accord fell through in November because the opposition had abandoned support for a private military incursion , the person said .
The last contact with Goudreau was a few weeks ago when a lawyer on the veteran ’ s behalf wrote Rendon seeking to collect a promised $ 1.5 million retainer .
Goudreau , through intermediaries , made it known that if they didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the press , the person said .

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MIAMI (AP) — A former Green Beret who has claimed responsibility for an ill-fated military incursion into Venezuela is under federal investigation for arms trafficking, according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials.
The investigation into Jordan Goudreau is in its initial stages and it’s unclear if it will result in charges, according to a U.S. law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The probe stems from a frenzy of contradictory comments Goudreau has made since a small cadre of volunteer combatants he was advising on Sunday launched an impossible raid aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
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Members of the U.S. Congress are also asking the State Department about its knowledge of Goudreau’s plans and raised concerns that he possibly violated arms trafficking rules.
An AP investigation published prior to the failed raid places Goudreau at the center of a plot hatched with a rebellious former Venezuelan Army Gen., Cliver Alcalá, to secretly train dozens of Venezuelan military deserters in secret camps in Colombia to carry out a swift operation against Maduro. The U.S. has offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction. He was indicted by the Trump administration in March on narcoterrorist charges.
The men were being readied for combat at three rudimentary camps in Colombia with the help of Goudreau and his Florida-based company, Silvercorp USA, multiple Maduro opponents and aspiring freedom fighters told the AP. But the plot seemed doomed from the start because it lacked the support of the Trump administration and was infiltrated by Maduro’s vast, Cuban-trained intelligence network, the AP found.
The law enforcement official said Goudreau’s comments suggests his work on behalf of the volunteer army may have violated laws that require any U.S. company supplying weapons or military equipment, as well as military training and advice, to foreign persons to seek State Department approval.
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Experts agree.
“Goudreau’s public comments alone show he was exporting his lethal expertise into a foreign country,” said Sean McFate, a former U.S. Army paratrooper who worked as a private military contractor and is the author of a book, “The New Rules of War,” on the foreign policy implications of privatized warfare. “This is a serious violation.”
Goudreau declined to comment Tuesday. The State Department said it is restricted under law from confirming licensing activities.
The law enforcement official said Goudreau’s possible involvement in weapons smuggling stems from the March 23 seizure by police in Colombia of a stockpile of weapons being transported in a truck. Alcalá claimed ownership of the cache shortly before surrendering to face U.S. narcotics charges in the same case for which Maduro was indicted.
The stockpile, worth around $150,000, included spotting scopes, night vision goggles, two-way radios and 26 American-made assault rifles with the serial numbers rubbed off. Fifteen brown-colored helmets seized by police were manufactured by High-End Defense Solutions, a Miami-based military equipment vendor owned by a Venezuelan immigrant family, according to Colombian police.
High-End Defense Solutions is the same company that Goudreau visited in November and December, allegedly to source weapons, according to two former Venezuelan soldiers who claim to have helped the American select the gear but later had a bitter falling out with Goudreau amid accusations they were moles for Maduro. The AP could not independent verify their account.
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Company owner Mark Von Reitzenstein has not responded to repeated email and phone requests seeking comment.
Two former law enforcement officials said an informant approached the Drug Enforcement Administration in Colombia prior to the weapons’ seizure with an unsubstantiated tip about Goudreau’s alleged involvement in weapons smuggling. The anti-narcotics agency, not knowing who Goudreau was at the time, didn’t open a formal probe but suspected that any weapons would’ve been destined for leftist rebels or criminal gangs in Colombia — not a ragtag army of Venezuelan volunteers, the former officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. One of the officials said the information was later passed on to the Department of Homeland Security.
The DEA said it does not comment on ongoing potential investigations.
Authorities in Colombia are also looking into Goudreau as part of their investigation into the seized weapons shipment, a Colombian official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing case.
Meanwhile, officials in U.S. Congress are expressing concern. Democratic congressional staff contacted the State Department multiple times on Monday seeking information about any possible contacts with Goudreau or knowledge of his activities, and whether his work may have violated International Traffic in Arms Regulations, according to a staffer on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private outreach.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday reiterated President Donald Trump’s claims a day earlier that there was no direct U.S. government involvement in Goudreau’s brazen operation.
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“If we’d have been involved, it would have gone differently,” he joked. “As for who bankrolled it, we’re not prepared to share any more information about what we know took place. We’ll unpack that at an appropriate time, we’ll share that information if it makes good sense.”
Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star recipient, has insisted that his work providing only strategic advice to the combatants doesn’t require special licensing. Still, he acknowledged sending into battle two special forces buddies associated with Silvercorp and who are now in Venezuelan custody.
“You’ve got to introduce a catalyst,” he said in a phone interview with the AP Monday from Florida. “By no means am I saying that 60 guys can come in and topple a regime. I’m saying 60 guys can go in and inspire the military and police to flip and join in the liberation of their country, which deep down is what they want.”
Goudreau has said he was hired by Juan Guaidó, who the U.S. considers Venezuela’s rightful leader. To back his claim, he’s produced an 8-page agreement he signed with what appears to be the signature of Guaidó. The opposition leader has refused to say whether the signature on the “general services agreement” is authentic.
On Wednesday what some 60 nations recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate government denied having signed any “alleged contract” and insisted it has no ties or commitments to Silvercorp. In a statement it accused Maduro of infiltrating the so-called “Operation Gideon” and using a “false document as justification to try and kidnap and illegally detain the interim president Juan Guaidó.”
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Contradictions abound in Goudreau’s account as well. In a televised interview with “Factores de Poder,” a Miami media outlet popular with Venezuelan exiles, he claims he never received a “single cent” for his work yet continued to prepare the men for battle, in the process going deep into debt. JJ Rendon, a Miami-based adviser to Guaidó, said he gave Goudreau $50,000 as requested to cover some expenses. Goudreau acknowledged the payment to the AP and other media.
A person familiar with the situation said the agreement was signed by Rendon and another U.S.-based aide to Guaidó, lawmaker Sergio Vergara, in October. Guaidó at one point briefly greeted Goudreau via video conference — as evidenced by an audio recording made on a hidden cellphone by Goudreau and which he shared with the Venezuelan journalist.
“Let’s get to work!” said a voice that appears to be Guaidó in the leaked recording. He makes no mention of any military incursion.
A few days later, the team cut off contact with Goudreau, realizing he was unable to deliver what he had promised and because they were not getting along, the person said. An attempt to reactivate the accord fell through in November because the opposition had abandoned support for a private military incursion, the person said. The last contact with Goudreau was a few weeks ago when a lawyer on the veteran’s behalf wrote Rendon seeking to collect a promised $1.5 million retainer. Goudreau, through intermediaries, made it known that if they didn’t pay up he would release the agreement to the press, the person said.
It’s unclear how the weapons were smuggled into Colombia. But Silvercorp in December bought a 41-foot fiberglass boat, Florida vessel registration records show, and proceeded in February to obtain a license to install maritime navigation equipment. On his application to the Federal Communications Commission, he said the boat would travel to foreign ports.
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The boat next appeared in Jamaica, where Goudreau had gathered with a few of his special forces buddies looking to participate in the raid, according to a person familiar with the situation on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive dealings.
But as they were readying their assault, the boat broke down at sea on March 28 and an emergency position-indicating radio beacon was activated, alerting naval authorities on the island of Curacao. Goudreau had to return to Florida, prevented from rejoining his troops prior to the landing because of travel restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“He would have 100% gone out in a blaze of gunfire because that’s who he is,” said the person.


huffpost--2020-05-07--Thanks To COVID-19, Zoom Funerals Have Become The Norm

The owner of the Brooklyn-based Nigerian restaurant Amarachi , Adewumi was a staple in his community , so much so that many took to calling him “ Uncle Jonathan.
” He launched the Nigerian Film Festival to promote the rich culture of his birthplace and created a clothing line called Nigerian Fabrics and Fashions that counted Wesley Snipes and Stevie Wonder among its fans .
Aside from being a video stream , the funeral followed the same beats of a traditional service , starting off with a prayer and followed by a soloist who sang a hymn .
Guests hummed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembrances .
( Given the size of the event ― nearly 500 people ended up calling in ― they had to sign up to speak in advance . )
“ We were on the call for approximately three hours , and every minute was spent celebrating and honoring his life , ” said Oswald Osaretin Guobadia , a business strategy consultant and close friend of Adewumi .
“ It was just emotionally packed .
People really got to share what was in their hearts about Jonathan.
” “ I had casual clothes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly rushed up and changed into a formal African attire with shoes and cuff links , ” he told HuffPost .
“ We were ‘ there ’ to honor a good man and friend , and it was imperative that we applied all societal norms for this situation.
” Guobadia is just one of the many people learning to pivot to Zoom funerals during the coronavirus pandemic .
To slow the spread of the virus across the country , a number of U.S. states have banned gatherings of more than 10 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poses an incredibly difficult predicament for those who lose someone , whether from coronavirus or something else entirely : Do you wait out the restrictions and hold a traditional funeral when crowds are able to gather ― and in doing so , put off some of the mourning process ― or do you hold a digital celebration of life ?
To simplify the process , Signorelli sent out a PDF invitation that included in-depth directions on how to use Zoom and dial-ins for locations throughout the country .
To create a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same household gather around the same computer to attend .
“ We use the verbiage ‘ digital life celebration ’ on the invites , ” he told HuffPost .
“ I ’ m considering these online funerals a down payment on a future , physical gathering .
The hope that I have is the deceased will be honored twice as the result of these circumstances.
” “ Personally , I ’ ve officiated many funerals , and most of the healing and comfort that occurs happens in hallways where funny stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It happens in a physical embrace of a trusted loved one .
These are things that Zoom can not necessarily replicate , which people should recognize.
” Later in the week , the extended family logged on to Zoom to watch a service being held at the funeral home .
Sitting at her kitchen table , crying while watching the stream , Dell ’ Accio said she thought , “ We are Italian .
We hug .
This is not how we do things.
” There were plenty of devastating moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her 83-year-old grandmother pull into her driveway and watch the funeral on a laptop she had disinfected .
( Her grandma doesn ’ t have Wi-Fi at home ) .
“ She had to sit in her car alone to watch her sister and brother-in-law be laid to rest , ” Dell ’ Accio said .
“ I can ’ t even imagine what she must have been feeling.
” Dell ’ Accio ’ s mom pulled into the driveway behind and watched the service on her tablet .
“ I was inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ I saw my mom with tears running down her cheeks through a screen .
She held up handwritten notes for the family to read since we couldn ’ t hear each other .
All I wanted to do was to run outside and give her a hug and I couldn ’ t even do that.
” But there were moments of levity , too ― moments where the family felt as close and at home with each other as they would have been if they were in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made us all laugh was one of my great uncles trying to figure out Zoom .
He didn ’ t realize he wasn ’ t on mute and that broke the tension a little bit , ” she said .
“ Another sweet moment was when my cousin ’ s little one un-muted himself and started talking to all of us .
He was so cute , waving and saying ‘ hi everybody !
’ Those two moments were what helped it feel more warm.
” “ We started sharing memories and stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughter , ” Kleiman said .
“ One of the grandchildren is the family archivist , and he had hundreds of photos to share going back to 1920 , which was filmed into a video and sent around to the extended family and friends.
” “ Friends of ours in Manchester dropped off food on our doorstep , and we met with both the close and extended family via Zoom each night , ” Kleiman said .
“ We ’ ve been able to connect with family and old friends throughout the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time.
” “ Despite everything , we have been able to share stories and memories and , importantly , our grief , ” he said .
“ It has been both awful and wonderful.
” There ’ s been an adjustment period for officiants and community religious leaders shifting to Zoom funerals as well .
Jennifer Kaluzny , a rabbi at Temple Israel , West Bloomfield , Michigan , said she ’ s gotten the rhythm of a Zoom funeral down more or less , but she misses the intimate moments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before and after the ceremony , the conversations on the walk back to the cars , congregating in people ’ s homes , holding their hands , being able to look into their eyes .
Still , she said , a Zoom service has its value : In these strange , disconcerting , times , it ’ s an opportunity to let it sink in that the person is really gone ― a moment to completely concentrate on and honor the departed .
She hesitates to use the word “ closure ” when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences , though .
“ I am a big believer that we don ’ t ‘ get over ’ the death of someone we love , but rather , we ‘ get through , ’ ” she said .
“ Getting over , to me , has the subtleties of leaving someone behind .
What happens is you move through the white-hot grief , and over time , you learn to live with their absence , and their love is what remains.
” In the case of deaths from coronavirus , Kaluzny thinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretch out a lot longer than usual .
And at some point , hopefully , when we can gather en masse , there will be public displays of collective mourning .
The candlelit vigils we ’ ve come to expect in the wake of national crises like 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombings have been eerily absent from this shared experience .
“ Right now , people are doing everything they possibly can in this moment to mourn , but that grief won ’ t disappear when the shelter-at home order lifts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much that mourners will need throughout the coming months .
We ’ ll need to continue to support people in so many ways.
” Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time , but it ’ s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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The late Jonathan Adewumi was the kind of person whose church funeral, under normal circumstances, would have been a packed-house affair.
The owner of the Brooklyn-based Nigerian restaurant Amarachi, Adewumi was a staple in his community, so much so that many took to calling him “Uncle Jonathan.” He launched the Nigerian Film Festival to promote the rich culture of his birthplace and created a clothing line called Nigerian Fabrics and Fashions that counted Wesley Snipes and Stevie Wonder among its fans.
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On April 17, he died of COVID-19. Instead of a hosting a vibrant celebration of life ― one where loved ones could come together, hug, and remember Adewumi in person ― his family put on a Zoom funeral.
Aside from being a video stream, the funeral followed the same beats of a traditional service, starting off with a prayer and followed by a soloist who sang a hymn. Guests hummed along, then took turns sharing their remembrances. (Given the size of the event ― nearly 500 people ended up calling in ― they had to sign up to speak in advance.)
“We were on the call for approximately three hours, and every minute was spent celebrating and honoring his life,” said Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, a business strategy consultant and close friend of Adewumi. “It was just emotionally packed. People really got to share what was in their hearts about Jonathan.”
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Guests dressed to the nines, as they would at a non-digital funeral ― a formality that Guobadia admits he didn’t realize would be observed before calling in.
“I had casual clothes on when I logged in, but I quickly rushed up and changed into a formal African attire with shoes and cuff links,” he told HuffPost. “We were ‘there’ to honor a good man and friend, and it was imperative that we applied all societal norms for this situation.”
Guobadia is just one of the many people learning to pivot to Zoom funerals during the coronavirus pandemic. To slow the spread of the virus across the country, a number of U.S. states have banned gatherings of more than 10 people, including religious services like funerals.
That poses an incredibly difficult predicament for those who lose someone, whether from coronavirus or something else entirely: Do you wait out the restrictions and hold a traditional funeral when crowds are able to gather ― and in doing so, put off some of the mourning process ― or do you hold a digital celebration of life?
Many are choosing option two. Religious leaders we spoke to said many are still feeling an implacable need to gather, see and comfort others and bear the burden of the loss collectively.
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“I’ve officiated many funerals, and most of the healing and comfort that occurs happens in hallways where funny stories are being recounted. It happens in a physical embrace of a trusted loved one. These are things that Zoom cannot necessarily replicate.” - Mike Signorelli, pastor
An online funeral may be a half-measure, but it provides some of that closure, said Mike Signorelli, a pastor in the New York City borough of Queens.
Signorelli recently officiated a Zoom funeral for a man who died of COVID-19 complications.
To simplify the process, Signorelli sent out a PDF invitation that included in-depth directions on how to use Zoom and dial-ins for locations throughout the country. To create a sense of communion, the invitation suggests family members in the same household gather around the same computer to attend.
“We use the verbiage ‘digital life celebration’ on the invites,” he told HuffPost. “I’m considering these online funerals a down payment on a future, physical gathering. The hope that I have is the deceased will be honored twice as the result of these circumstances.”
Spencer Platt via Getty Images Orthodox Jewish men move a wooden casket on April 5, 2020, in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, which has seen an upsurge of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.
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Because of the newness of this situation, Signorelli likes to remind mourners of the inherent limitations of a Zoom funeral beforehand.
“Personally, I’ve officiated many funerals, and most of the healing and comfort that occurs happens in hallways where funny stories are being recounted,” he said. “It happens in a physical embrace of a trusted loved one. These are things that Zoom cannot necessarily replicate, which people should recognize.”
Not everyone feels the sense of community and closeness Guobadia said he felt at Adewumi’s service. There are those who leave a digital celebration feeling unsettled ― or that their loved one deserved so much more.
When Leah Irwin, an attorney in Baltimore, laid her 97-year-old grandfather to rest, the only person in attendance at the gravesite was the rabbi officiating the ceremony. (Irwin’s grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, died from COVID complications in April.)
After the burial, Irwin said she felt “extremely pissed off and sad that [her grandpa] who had three children, nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and dozens of nieces, nephews, and friends died alone and was buried alone.”
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Luckily, the rabbi was well-versed in the technology, so the service itself ran smoothly.
“I was extremely nervous about the ceremony but it was better than expected,” Irwin told HuffPost. “Saying goodbye to my grandfather via video conference the day he died was far, far more devastating.”
Turns out my Holocaust survivor grandfather DID die of coronavirus. He was 97 and was buried with only the Rabbi at the grave site. This is what a Zoom funeral looks like pic.twitter.com/XYOr80LLvb — Leah Helene (@LeahHelene3) April 14, 2020
Danielle Dell’Accio, an elementary school teacher in Buffalo, New York, lost both her great aunt and great uncle in April within the course of two days.
Later in the week, the extended family logged on to Zoom to watch a service being held at the funeral home. Sitting at her kitchen table, crying while watching the stream, Dell’Accio said she thought, “We are Italian. We hug. This is not how we do things.” There were plenty of devastating moments: Dell’Accio had to have her 83-year-old grandmother pull into her driveway and watch the funeral on a laptop she had disinfected. (Her grandma doesn’t have Wi-Fi at home). “She had to sit in her car alone to watch her sister and brother-in-law be laid to rest,” Dell’Accio said. “I can’t even imagine what she must have been feeling.” Dell’Accio’s mom pulled into the driveway behind and watched the service on her tablet. “I was inside supervising my kids’ school work,” she said. “I saw my mom with tears running down her cheeks through a screen. She held up handwritten notes for the family to read since we couldn’t hear each other. All I wanted to do was to run outside and give her a hug and I couldn’t even do that.”
Think this is a hoax, a joke, or not that serious? Try having a zoom funeral for a family member. Until you have had to do it you have NO idea what it’s like. You can’t hug your relatives or console one another. (Thread) — ⓓⓐⓝⓘⓔⓛⓛⓔ (@danicumpston) April 27, 2020
But there were moments of levity, too ― moments where the family felt as close and at home with each other as they would have been if they were in the same room.
“One moment that made us all laugh was one of my great uncles trying to figure out Zoom. He didn’t realize he wasn’t on mute and that broke the tension a little bit,” she said. “Another sweet moment was when my cousin’s little one un-muted himself and started talking to all of us. He was so cute, waving and saying ‘hi everybody!’ Those two moments were what helped it feel more warm.”
Paul Kleiman attended a Zoom funeral ― and Zoom shiva ― for his father-in-law, who died of natural causes at 99 in mid-April. Kleiman, a senior consultant at a creative consulting firm in Manchester, England, told HuffPost that watching the funeral stream was “strange and almost dreamlike.”
The burial, held in Toronto with only 10 mourners in attendance, was a fairly depressing affair. For starters, gusty winds made it nearly impossible to hear the video feed.
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But an hour later, Kleiman’s immediate family gathered via Zoom, and the gloominess that had marked the graveside portion of the funeral slowly began to lift.
“We started sharing memories and stories. There were lots of tears and laughter,” Kleiman said. “One of the grandchildren is the family archivist, and he had hundreds of photos to share going back to 1920, which was filmed into a video and sent around to the extended family and friends.”
“Despite everything, we have been able to share stories and memories and, importantly, our grief. It has been both awful and wonderful.” - Paul Kleiman, who attended a Zoom funeral and shiva for his father-in-law
The family was even able to have a socially distanced version of sitting shiva, the Jewish custom of mourning for seven days while people visit and bring food to the family.
“Friends of ours in Manchester dropped off food on our doorstep, and we met with both the close and extended family via Zoom each night,” Kleiman said. “We’ve been able to connect with family and old friends throughout the world we haven’t seen in a long time.” “Despite everything, we have been able to share stories and memories and, importantly, our grief,” he said. “It has been both awful and wonderful.” There’s been an adjustment period for officiants and community religious leaders shifting to Zoom funerals as well. Jennifer Kaluzny, a rabbi at Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, Michigan, said she’s gotten the rhythm of a Zoom funeral down more or less, but she misses the intimate moments of meeting in real life: the hugs before and after the ceremony, the conversations on the walk back to the cars, congregating in people’s homes, holding their hands, being able to look into their eyes. Still, she said, a Zoom service has its value: In these strange, disconcerting, times, it’s an opportunity to let it sink in that the person is really gone ― a moment to completely concentrate on and honor the departed. She hesitates to use the word “closure” when describing what mourners take away from their experiences, though. “I am a big believer that we don’t ‘get over’ the death of someone we love, but rather, we ‘get through,’” she said. “Getting over, to me, has the subtleties of leaving someone behind. What happens is you move through the white-hot grief, and over time, you learn to live with their absence, and their love is what remains.” In the case of deaths from coronavirus, Kaluzny thinks the trauma and period of mourning will stretch out a lot longer than usual. And at some point, hopefully, when we can gather en masse, there will be public displays of collective mourning. The candlelit vigils we’ve come to expect in the wake of national crises like 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombings have been eerily absent from this shared experience. “Right now, people are doing everything they possibly can in this moment to mourn, but that grief won’t disappear when the shelter-at home order lifts,” Kaluzny said. “There is so much that mourners will need throughout the coming months. We’ll need to continue to support people in so many ways.” Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but it’s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


huffpost--2020-05-07--Sarah Michelle Gellar Wears Iconic 'Buffy' Dress 23 Years Later And It's A Slay

No need to beep her ― the apocalypse is already here and Sarah Michelle Gellar is slaying in some “ Buffy ” fashions of yesteryear .
The actor took a stroll down memory lane and into her closet to pull out one of her alter-ego ’ s most iconic looks .
On Thursday , Gellar shared a photo of herself on Instagram in the stunning white gown that the vampire slayer wore during the first season ’ s final episode , “ Prophecy Girl , ” all the way back in 1997 .
“ All dressed up and no where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , ’ ” she wrote alongside the photo , adding the hashtags # safeathome and # prophecygirl .
Fans will , of course , remember the dress as the one Buffy wore when she met her maker ( for the first time , anyway ) after confronting the season ’ s big bad , The Master .
If you still don ’ t remember , perhaps the peak Buffy retort , “ I may be dead but I ’ m still pretty , ” might jog your memory .
The newly pink-haired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same one she wore two decades ago in the WB series , responding “ you know it ” when one follower asked , “ Omg is that THE dress ?
!
?
” But she hinted that it was likely the only outfit she has left from the series , telling a different fan requesting a weekly fashion show that the look “ might be all I have.
” No word , however , if the leather jacket was pulled from Buffy ’ s closet or her own .
The coronavirus lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she ’ s kept the “ Buffy the Vampire Slayer ” content coming on social media as of late , posting a photo of herself holding a giant wooden stake in March .
But don ’ t expect Gellar to reprise her role anywhere else besides her Instagram page .
She told HuffPost last year that seven seasons playing Buffy were enough for her , even as a reboot of the series was in development .
“ My story with Buffy about representing horrors of adolescence has been told , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another story to tell , I think that ’ s awesome and will only eventually trace back to the original and people will probably realize that [ whispers ] it ’ s not as good .
”

Buffy lives! Steve Granitz via Getty Images
No need to beep her ― the apocalypse is already here and Sarah Michelle Gellar is slaying in some “Buffy” fashions of yesteryear.
The actor took a stroll down memory lane and into her closet to pull out one of her alter-ego’s most iconic looks.
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On Thursday, Gellar shared a photo of herself on Instagram in the stunning white gown that the vampire slayer wore during the first season’s final episode, “Prophecy Girl,” all the way back in 1997.
“All dressed up and no where to go. ‘I say we party,’” she wrote alongside the photo, adding the hashtags #safeathome and #prophecygirl.
Fans will, of course, remember the dress as the one Buffy wore when she met her maker (for the first time, anyway) after confronting the season’s big bad, The Master.
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If you still don’t remember, perhaps the peak Buffy retort, “I may be dead but I’m still pretty,” might jog your memory.
The newly pink-haired Gellar confirmed that the gown was indeed the same one she wore two decades ago in the WB series, responding “you know it” when one follower asked, “Omg is that THE dress?!?”
But she hinted that it was likely the only outfit she has left from the series, telling a different fan requesting a weekly fashion show that the look “might be all I have.”
No word, however, if the leather jacket was pulled from Buffy’s closet or her own.
The coronavirus lockdown appears to have Gellar feeling nostalgic, as she’s kept the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” content coming on social media as of late, posting a photo of herself holding a giant wooden stake in March.
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But don’t expect Gellar to reprise her role anywhere else besides her Instagram page. She told HuffPost last year that seven seasons playing Buffy were enough for her, even as a reboot of the series was in development.
“My story with Buffy about representing horrors of adolescence has been told,” she said. “If there’s another story to tell, I think that’s awesome and will only eventually trace back to the original and people will probably realize that [whispers] it’s not as good.”


huffpost--2020-06-10--Anxious About Lockdown Ending? Here’s Why And How To Cope.

“ They ’ ve spent months without much exposure to people and places while consuming a lot of coronavirus-related media , ” she said .
“ But there are so many unknowns : We don ’ t know how bad this will get and we don ’ t know how long this will last .
They don ’ t know what to expect and the unknown can be terrifying , especially because the risk of infection is real , can lead to death and there is no vaccine.
” Recognize that it ’ s entirely natural to feel anxiety about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ it ] , but during the last few months , most of us have only had real , face-to-face interactions with a small subset of people , ” she said .
“ It ’ s going to take some adjustment to go back to ‘ real life.
’ At the very least , we might experience sensory overload , since our brains are no longer used to processing so many social interactions.
” Ask yourself : What can I control now ?
You ’ re living with a lot of unknowns right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections slowly decline in your part of the country , or will it pick up as it has in other parts of the country ?
Will your workplace do enough to ensure employees are social distancing ?
How safe are indoor public places right now ( retail stores , for instance , and restaurants ) ?
Will people remain vigilant about wearing masks ?
When you get stuck in this loop , try to refocus on positive thoughts about things in your life you can control , Chappell Marsh said .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of catching the virus and others ’ chances , too , for instance .
You can talk to your manager at work and slowly reacquaint yourself with going out in public places again .
( No need to rush to make those restaurant reservations ! )
You don ’ t have to rush back out there , but try to take baby steps to get comfortable with being in public again .
“ Stay in touch with your feelings , continuously check in with yourself , and respect where you are , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Yacoob said .
“ That doesn ’ t mean you need to let your feelings completely dictate your actions if you know rationally that they are not serving you well .
As in , just because you feel something is true does not mean that it is.
” ( In other words , sometimes our feelings can convince us of that we ’ re more at risk than we are when , say , we go to the market with a mask . )
When you start to worry , try this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least temporarily if you ’ re feeling a heightened sense of anxiety .
Keep the focus on you and your self-care , not on others and how they ’ re approaching things reopening .

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As states and cities start to ease coronavirus restrictions and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines continues, many are thrilled to get back to business and return to normal — well, normalish — life.
Yet there are just as many people who feel conflicted about these developments. You can be glad to see things reopening but simultaneously, a little anxious about how the next phase of the pandemic will play out.
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After all, the stats are still overwhelming: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world has exceeded 112 million (and counting). In the United States, more than 28 million cases have been recorded and more than 507,000 people have died so far from COVID-19.
If you’re experiencing anxiety over lockdown ending or just the coronavirus in general, know that you’re not alone. Census Bureau data shows that 30% of Americans now show symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
“Many of my clients, most of whom have never previously experienced anxiety about going out, are nervous as states begin to reopen and loosen restrictions,” said Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist in San Diego.
As that happens, Chappell Marsh said many of her clients are reporting generalized social anxiety about resuming their regular lives in public.
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“They’ve spent months without much exposure to people and places while consuming a lot of coronavirus-related media,” she said. “But there are so many unknowns: We don’t know how bad this will get and we don’t know how long this will last. They don’t know what to expect and the unknown can be terrifying, especially because the risk of infection is real and can lead to death.”
Over the last few months, Chappell Marsh has learned on the fly how to address concerns like these. Below, she and other experts share their best advice for managing panic and anxiety as states begin to reopen.
Recognize that it’s entirely natural to feel anxiety about this.
Amelia Aldao is a psychologist and anxiety specialist in New York City. People in big metropolitan areas like NYC may feel heightened concern about the end of isolation since most city dwellers are used to seeing and interacting with hundreds of people in the course of a day (during subway commutes, at the office, walking around the city).
“We were used to [it], but during the last few months, most of us have only had real, face-to-face interactions with a small subset of people,” she said. “It’s going to take some adjustment to go back to ‘real life.’ At the very least, we might experience sensory overload, since our brains are no longer used to processing so many social interactions.”
As the city began to reopen in the spring, even Aldao has said she dealt with some unexpected anxiety while walking around town.
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“I was walking in the park here in NYC and all of a sudden I was feeling very foggy and confused,” she said. “I then realized it was because my brain had a hard time adjusting to seeing that many people outside!”
People at the park were spaced out far enough from each other and wearing masks, but it still felt jarring, Aldao said.
“My brain was just having a hard time adjusting,” she said. “Much like when we are outside on a very bright day and our eyes have a hard time adjusting to the change in light when we go inside.”
Ask yourself: What can I control now?
You’re living with a lot of unknowns right now: Will the vaccine work as well against new strains of the coronavirus? Will your workplace do enough to ensure employees are social distancing? How safe are indoor public places right now (retail stores, for instance, and restaurants)? Will people remain vigilant about wearing masks?
When you get stuck in this loop, try to refocus on positive thoughts about things in your life you can control, Chappell Marsh said. You can wear a mask to lower your chance of catching the virus and others’ chances, too, for instance. You can talk to your manager at work and slowly reacquaint yourself with going out in public places again. (No need to rush to make those restaurant reservations!)
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“In times of uncertainty and overwhelm, it’s best to bring our focus to the here and now, asking ourselves, ‘What can I do?’ said Chappell Marsh. “Shifting our mindset in that way takes us mentally from overwhelm and anxious to empowered and hopeful.”
You don’t have to rush back out there, but try to take baby steps to get comfortable with being in public again.
With the exception of work demands, there is no need to rush into anything as restrictions are loosened, said Julia Yacoob, a psychologist in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. You can still avoid big crowds and say “no” to invitations to a bar or restaurant if you’d rather keep your social circle somewhat small.
“Stay in touch with your feelings, continuously check in with yourself, and respect where you are, given what you’ve just experienced,” Yacoob said. “That doesn’t mean you need to let your feelings completely dictate your actions if you know rationally that they are not serving you well. As in, just because you feel something is true does not mean that it is.” (In other words, sometimes our feelings can convince us of that we’re more at risk than we are when, say, we go to the market with a mask.)
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The goal here is to build emotional tolerance slowly, Chappell Marsh said. Obviously, the risk is real and we can’t ignore that. But avoiding everything that triggers anxiety will only make it worse, she said.
Take baby steps. Start by asking yourself, “What is a small risk I can tolerate today?” the therapist said.
“Then identify one thing that you can do that feels uncomfortable,” she explained. “Keep washing your hands, wearing your mask and maintain good distance when in public while also pushing yourself to take one small step outside your comfort zone. Once there, allow yourself to stay in the discomfort and breathe through it until the discomfort dissipates.”
ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images If you're working on getting yourself back out there, start by asking yourself, "What is a small risk I can tolerate today?" said Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist in San Diego.
When you start to worry, try this simple thought exercise.
Aldao has been telling her clients dealing with COVID-related anxiety to try this simple cognitive behavioral therapy exercise. It might help you, too.
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First, identify what’s at the core of your anxiety.
“What’s triggering it?” she said. “What are the specific worries you’re having?”
Once you’ve identified these worries, ask yourself the following five questions:
What is the evidence for and against the worrisome thought? What’s the usefulness of having this thought? (Is it adding more tension than helping you solve problems?) What would you tell a friend or loved one in a similar situation? Can you set aside time to worry later? Can you breathe through the worry and practice mindfulness?
Lastly, she said, try to identify how the worries and anxiety hold you back.
“Are there specific things that they make you avoid? If so, write these down and every day, try to push yourself to do those things you’re scared of,” she explained. “This is a technique called exposure and we use it in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders.”
Consider counseling at least temporarily if you’re feeling a heightened sense of anxiety.
If your stress is worsening or you’re noticing a major uptick in anxiety, low mood or problematic behavior (substance abuse, for instance), it might be worth talking to a professional. Many people are currently turning to teletherapy ― videoconferencing with a mental health expert ― to get help. “Counseling to help improve mental health in response to this experience can be helpful,” Chicago therapist Anna Poss told HuffPost. “As a society, we haven’t done a great job of normalizing counseling, but it is a great way to get support and does not mean anything is ‘wrong’ with you. It just means that something is hard and you don’t have to go through it alone. That’s certainly the case with a pandemic.”
Keep the focus on you and your self-care, not on others and how they’re approaching things reopening.
Continue to prioritize self-care, including exercise, a healthy diet and sleep, but also self-compassion and compassion toward others, Yacoob said. That means holding back on the judgment when you see your sister-in-law bouncing around from bar to bar on her Instagram story over the weekend or questioning the number of people your neighbor has over.
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huffpost--2020-06-10--With Trump's Approval Plunging, Republicans Say It's Too Early To Panic

Democrats have a real shot at taking control of the Senate this year , but Republican senators , at least publicly , are saying it ’ s too early to panic .
“ It ’ s a long time till November .
November ’ s a lot further in the future than impeachment was in the past , and impeachment seems like it was forever ago , ” Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-Mo . )
, vice chairman of the Senate GOP conference , told HuffPost on Wednesday .
In its latest tracking poll on Wednesday , Gallup found Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , a double-digit drop from two weeks ago when he stood at 49 % .
The collapse in the president ’ s approval was confirmed by other public opinion surveys , including ones conducted by Fox News , The Economist , Rasmussen , Morning Consult and CNN .
In an extraordinary move on Wednesday , Trump ’ s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a recent poll that showed him well behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The poll showed Trump trailing Biden by 14 points , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered voters .
Last week , Trump announced he had retained a pollster with a mixed history of success , McLaughlin & Associates , to push back against CNN ’ s polling , “ which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving , ” he said .
The pollster said the survey was biased against the president and offered an analysis that attempted to “ unskew ” its findings .
Trump ’ s increased focus on his sliding poll numbers follows a meeting last month in which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Parscale for his current standing the 2020 race .
But if Trump is increasingly worried about his reelection prospects , his allies on Capitol Hill aren ’ t showing it ― at least not publicly .
Top Republican senators said it was far too early to be hitting the alarm bells given that the November election is still months away , and the economy has only begun to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Ask me after the [ party ] conventions after both sides have had to make their case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better idea of what the public says , ” Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) said .
Sen. Richard Shelby ( R-Ala. ) , meanwhile , said to check back with him about the state of the race in September , after the Labor Day holiday .
“ I ’ ve long predicted the president will be re-elected .
I continue to believe that ’ s going to be the case , ” Romney , a frequent critic of the president , told HuffPost .
Democrats ’ prospects have begun to brighten in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , Colorado , North Carolina , Maine and even Montana and Georgia .
Democrats probably need to flip four seats and the White House to gain a majority in the upper chamber .
Trump on Wednesday met privately with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to discuss the Senate map at the White House .
McConnell , who has urged GOP senators to stick with Trump in November or risk alienating his core supporters , told reporters afterward they had a “ good discussion.
” While Democrats see plenty of reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate can often turn unpredictable .
Most Senate candidates , for example , have yet to participate in debates that can turn the tide in fortunes for incumbents and challengers alike .
“ Obviously you ’ d be foolish not to look at the current situation and think , ‘ This is fine , ’ ” said CNN commentator and former McConnell adviser Scott Jennings .
“ Still a lot of runway left out there and some undercurrents in the electorate that probably aren ’ t being picked up yet , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats could also overreach , as they often do .
”

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Democrats have a real shot at taking control of the Senate this year, but Republican senators, at least publicly, are saying it’s too early to panic.
“It’s a long time till November. November’s a lot further in the future than impeachment was in the past, and impeachment seems like it was forever ago,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), vice chairman of the Senate GOP conference, told HuffPost on Wednesday.
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Trump’s standing with Americans has dropped sharply following his response to the nationwide protests over police brutality and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In its latest tracking poll on Wednesday, Gallup found Trump’s approval rating falling to 39%, a double-digit drop from two weeks ago when he stood at 49%. The collapse in the president’s approval was confirmed by other public opinion surveys, including ones conducted by Fox News, The Economist, Rasmussen, Morning Consult and CNN.
In an extraordinary move on Wednesday, Trump’s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a recent poll that showed him well behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The poll showed Trump trailing Biden by 14 points, 41% to 55%, among registered voters.
Last week, Trump announced he had retained a pollster with a mixed history of success, McLaughlin & Associates, to push back against CNN’s polling, “which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving,” he said. The pollster said the survey was biased against the president and offered an analysis that attempted to “unskew” its findings.
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Trump’s increased focus on his sliding poll numbers follows a meeting last month in which he reportedly erupted at his campaign manager, Brad Parscale for his current standing the 2020 race.
But if Trump is increasingly worried about his reelection prospects, his allies on Capitol Hill aren’t showing it ― at least not publicly. Top Republican senators said it was far too early to be hitting the alarm bells given that the November election is still months away, and the economy has only begun to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Ask me after the [party] conventions after both sides have had to make their case, then you’ll get a better idea of what the public says,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), meanwhile, said to check back with him about the state of the race in September, after the Labor Day holiday.
But one GOP senator, Mitt Romney of Utah, said he was confident his party would prevail in November.
“I’ve long predicted the president will be re-elected. I continue to believe that’s going to be the case,” Romney, a frequent critic of the president, told HuffPost.
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Democrats’ prospects have begun to brighten in Senate contests in battleground states such as Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Maine and even Montana and Georgia. Democrats probably need to flip four seats and the White House to gain a majority in the upper chamber.
Trump on Wednesday met privately with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to discuss the Senate map at the White House. McConnell, who has urged GOP senators to stick with Trump in November or risk alienating his core supporters, told reporters afterward they had a “good discussion.”
While Democrats see plenty of reason for optimism, the battle for the Senate can often turn unpredictable. Most Senate candidates, for example, have yet to participate in debates that can turn the tide in fortunes for incumbents and challengers alike.


huffpost--2020-06-10--Prince Philip Turns 99, Marks Occasion With New Photo With The Queen

LONDON ( Reuters ) - Prince Philip , the husband of Britain ’ s Queen Elizabeth for more than seven decades , celebrates his 99th birthday on Wednesday , although there will be little public fanfare to mark the occasion .
Philip , the Duke of Edinburgh , will spend the day privately at Windsor Castle , west of London , where he and the 94-year-old monarch have been staying during Britain ’ s coronavirus lockdown .
That means the rest of the royal family will have to send their best wishes to him by video calls .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time .
He ’ s going to be 99 next week , ” heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and the oldest of his four children told Sky News last week .
“ Facetime is all very well ... You really want to give people a hug.
” The royals make little fuss about their birthdays in public but this year celebrations have been even more muted .
Traditionally , the prince ’ s birthday would be celebrated with gun salutes in London but with social gatherings banned , the queen felt it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go ahead and cancelled such tributes for her own birthday in April for the first time in her 68-year reign .
However , Buckingham Palace did release a new photograph of the royal couple to celebrate Philip ’ s birthday , taken last week at the quadrangle inside Windsor Castle .
Philip , a former naval officer renowned for his sometimes brusque manner and occasional verbal gaffes , married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 , five years before she became queen .
He is now by far the longest-serving consort of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ royal duties in August 2017 after completing more than 22,000 solo engagements but in recent years he has been increasingly rarely seen in public .
He did , however , break his retirement silence in April to issue a statement thanking those involved in the fight against COVID-19 .

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LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Philip, the husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth for more than seven decades, celebrates his 99th birthday on Wednesday, although there will be little public fanfare to mark the occasion.
Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will spend the day privately at Windsor Castle, west of London, where he and the 94-year-old monarch have been staying during Britain’s coronavirus lockdown.
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That means the rest of the royal family will have to send their best wishes to him by video calls.
“I haven’t seen my father for a long time. He’s going to be 99 next week,” heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and the oldest of his four children told Sky News last week. “Facetime is all very well ... You really want to give people a hug.”
The royals make little fuss about their birthdays in public but this year celebrations have been even more muted.
Traditionally, the prince’s birthday would be celebrated with gun salutes in London but with social gatherings banned, the queen felt it would be inappropriate for such royal ceremonies to go ahead and cancelled such tributes for her own birthday in April for the first time in her 68-year reign.
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However, Buckingham Palace did release a new photograph of the royal couple to celebrate Philip’s birthday, taken last week at the quadrangle inside Windsor Castle.
Philip, a former naval officer renowned for his sometimes brusque manner and occasional verbal gaffes, married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became queen. He is now by far the longest-serving consort of any British monarch.
He stepped down from royal duties in August 2017 after completing more than 22,000 solo engagements but in recent years he has been increasingly rarely seen in public.
He did, however, break his retirement silence in April to issue a statement thanking those involved in the fight against COVID-19.
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huffpost--2020-06-10--White Parents, Want To Raise Anti-Racist Kids? Be Mindful Of Your Actions.

As the George Floyd protests continue across the United States and around the world , there ’ s been a flurry of articles — including plenty here on HuffPost Parents — about how parents can talk to their kids about racism , racial justice and police brutality .
( A few basics : Do it early , do it often , have a plan — and don ’ t feel like you have to have all the answers . )
1 .
What emotions am I showing when my kid asks me questions ?
That doesn ’ t mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be some kind of robot who displays no emotions when your kid talks to you about what can be really hard , thorny stuff .
But it ’ s important that as a parent you A ) tune into what you ’ re feeling and B ) feel free to be open with your kid about your emotions in the moment , so they ’ re not interpreting what they think they see in a negative way .
Stevenson gave the example of when his own 8-year-old son asked him about why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on TV , which was a conversation he wasn ’ t prepared to have in the moment .
He said it ’ s OK for parents to “ communicate the truth about what you ’ re feeling in the moment — even if it ’ s fear.
” You ’ re trying to explain the nonverbal messaging they ’ re picking up on ( and being aware of it yourself ) , which can go a long way in providing context for your child , and making sure they feel comfortable continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have any diversity in my own network ?
Also , talk about it .
Ignoring the fact that you might not have a lot of diversity around you , or among your friends and colleagues , doesn ’ t mean your kids won ’ t notice .
So spend some time really thinking about why you live where you live , Stevenson urged — and be prepared to talk to your kids about the choices you ’ ve made , even if it requires some pretty uncomfortable soul-searching on your part .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it is an important one .
4 .
What are we reading ?
Watching ?
“ We have to make a conscious effort to be aware of what media we ’ re consuming , ” said Feris .
“ We can make an effort to diversify what we ’ re listening to and what we ’ re reading.
” And the shows and movies you watch , the art hanging on your walls , the magazines you might read and the images they contain , the toys your kids play with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Are we standing up for what we say we believe in ?
Parents may be reluctant to take their children to protests right now for any number of reasons , not least of which is the COVID-19 pandemic .
But there are plenty of actions you can take with your children , to go along with conversations you ’ re having with them about what is happening in the world .
6 .
Am I talking about racism often enough ?

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As the George Floyd protests continue across the United States and around the world, there’s been a flurry of articles — including plenty here on HuffPost Parents — about how parents can talk to their kids about racism, racial justice and police brutality. (A few basics: Do it early, do it often, have a plan — and don’t feel like you have to have all the answers.)
And experts whose work centers around studying and combatting racial bias commend parents for having those conversations. But they’re not enough.
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“Words and action are really related,” said Sachi Feris, a blogger who writes at Raising Race Conscious Children. “The two really go hand in hand.”
With that in mind, here are six important questions for white parents to consider about the ways they might be unintentionally shaping their kids’ understanding of race and racism.
1. What emotions am I showing when my kid asks me questions?
From “why is the sky blue?” to “what happens when we die?” kids have a wonderful ability to spring tough questions on their parents at unexpected moments. And that’s certainly true of questions around race and racism.
As much as possible, it’s important for parents to really tune into what they’re unintentionally broadcasting in those moments when your kid inevitably hits you with a question you weren’t ready for.
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“They’re listening to you, but they’re also watching how you say it,” said Howard Stevenson, a professor of urban education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. If you change the subject, if you answer in a nervous way, if you’re excited — all of that communicates something to your child, he said.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that you should expect to be some kind of robot who displays no emotions when your kid talks to you about what can be really hard, thorny stuff. But it’s important that as a parent you A) tune into what you’re feeling and B) feel free to be open with your kid about your emotions in the moment, so they’re not interpreting what they think they see in a negative way.
Stevenson gave the example of when his own 8-year-old son asked him about why Trayvon Martin’s parents were crying on TV, which was a conversation he wasn’t prepared to have in the moment. He said it’s OK for parents to “communicate the truth about what you’re feeling in the moment — even if it’s fear.” You’re trying to explain the nonverbal messaging they’re picking up on (and being aware of it yourself), which can go a long way in providing context for your child, and making sure they feel comfortable continuing to ask hard questions.
2. Am I acknowledging whiteness?
“When we’re talking about race, we’re not just talking about people of color. We’re talking about whiteness and exposing that whiteness still dominates and tells a story — that is not true — about whiteness being better [and] about whiteness being normal,” said Feris. Ignoring whiteness feeds into the “colorblind” ideology, which can fuel racial bias.
This can play out in subtle ways, like how and when you use certain labels.
“If you only say ‘my Black co-worker said blah blah blah,’ but you never say, ‘my white co-worker said blah blah blah,’ that’s this indirect way that you’re indicating that race only matters for the person who is Black, but not the white person,” said Gabriela Livas Stein, an associate professor of psychology at UNC Greensboro and one of the founders of CAMINOS Lab.
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If you’re going to use identity labels, be mindful that you’re not inadvertently signaling that whiteness is somehow normal and everything else is somehow other.
3. Do I have any diversity in my own network?
This is a really complex question. White parents certainly shouldn’t go out and try to cultivate relationships with parents and families of color simply for the sake of exposing their own children to greater diversity.
“You don’t want to have this, ‘I have to do this because it’s good for my kid’s mentality,’” said Stein. But if there are organic ways to broaden the diversity of your own network — and of your kiddo’s — you should!
“There’s no place that’s 100% white, so in your school, how are families included in different events? Whether or not you’re then going to befriend people, you’re at least showing your kid that you’re actively trying to think about being inclusive and thinking about equity,” Stein said.
Also, talk about it. Ignoring the fact that you might not have a lot of diversity around you, or among your friends and colleagues, doesn’t mean your kids won’t notice. So spend some time really thinking about why you live where you live, Stevenson urged — and be prepared to talk to your kids about the choices you’ve made, even if it requires some pretty uncomfortable soul-searching on your part. It’s not an easy task, but it is an important one.
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4. What are we reading? Watching?
“We have to make a conscious effort to be aware of what media we’re consuming,” said Feris. “We can make an effort to diversify what we’re listening to and what we’re reading.” And the shows and movies you watch, the art hanging on your walls, the magazines you might read and the images they contain, the toys your kids play with ... and on and on.
The experts say you can’t just rely on a kind of osmosis. It’s not enough to just read books that center Black characters, for example, and then kind of hope your child suddenly understands why representation matters and how culture can fuel racial bias.
“The follow-up — and the conversations — are really important,” said Stein.
5. Are we standing up for what we say we believe in?
Parents may be reluctant to take their children to protests right now for any number of reasons, not least of which is the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are plenty of actions you can take with your children, to go along with conversations you’re having with them about what is happening in the world.
“It’s the idea of planting seeds,” said Feris. “I’m not bringing my children to a protest right now for various reasons ... but there are other ways we can participate from home.”
Can you make a sign to hang from your front window or in your yard, and talk about what you’re doing while you do it together? Can you join a virtual protest? Also, are you standing up to racism when you hear a comment from a friend or relative — or are you letting it slide in front of your kids? Those moments send a clear message.
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6. Am I talking about racism often enough?
To combat racial bias, it’s important to have proactive conversations — and those conversations should happen much more frequently than white parents often have them, Feris said. Like, daily. That doesn’t necessarily mean a lecture. It could mean simply hitting pause to call out a stereotype in your son or daughter’s favorite movie. In that way, the daily (or at least frequent) conversation becomes a kind of action, Feris said.
While the country is in turmoil right now, experts who work in this area are hopeful that children will learn from those conversations and confront racial bias head-on.
“Children are remarkable,” said Stevenson. “Once they get a hold of strategies that allow them to have a voice that allows them to speak and not feel shame about what is going on, they are empowered to make change.”