newsweek--2020-11-18--Alex Jones Leads 'Stop the Steal' Rally at Georgia's Capitol to Protest Election Results

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a `` Stop the Steal '' demonstration at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday amid a manual recount of the state 's ballots in the presidential election .
Footage posted to Twitter by Brendan Gutenschwager , an independent journalist , showed Jones , activist Ali Alexander and right-wing media personality Nick Fuentes occupying the rotunda of the Capitol building in Atlanta along with supporters of President Donald Trump .
`` This is a major moment .
You guys are the literal vanguard , and Georgia is a key battleground state in all of this , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that state lawmakers call a special session to investigate alleged instances of fraud , even though Republican state officials have steadfastly defended the handling of the election and have found no evidence of widespread irregularities .
President-elect Joe Biden has been projected by multiple news outlets as the winner of Georgia 's 16 electoral votes—the first Democratic presidential nominee to triumph in the Peach State since 1992 .
As of Wednesday afternoon , Biden was leading Trump in Georgia by roughly 14,000 votes .
The deadline to complete the audit and recount is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State officials have said they are on track to meet the deadline .
Georgia must certify the election results by the end of the day on Friday .
Jones indicated he would be traveling to Georgia during a broadcast of his Infowars radio program on Monday , according to the watchdog site Media Matters .
Jones told listeners that `` everyone must go to the capital of Georgia now and you must surround the governor 's mansion now . ''
Protesters were seen Wednesday waving Trump campaign flags and holding signs that read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proud Boys , a far-right extremist group , were also in Georgia on Wednesday .
A video clip posted from Gutenschwager showed Enrique Tarrio , the group 's chairman , addressing the crowd .
`` We 're going to keep coming out until something gets fixed , '' Tarrio said .
`` And if they steal this election , we 'll be out every day . ''
Trump has repeatedly criticized the Georgia recount , calling it a `` joke . ''
The president has also suggested , without evidence , that Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he spread unfounded theories attacking the election-technology vendor used by the state .
The demonstration in Georgia was not the first time Jones has attempted to boost Trump 's allegations of election fraud .
On November 5 , Jones appeared at a demonstration outside of a counting station in Phoenix .
Speaking into a megaphone , Jones yelled , `` You ai n't stealing s*** '' as poll workers tallied votes .
`` We do n't know how this is going to end , but if they want a fight , they better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones told the crowd in a video posted by Randy Perez of activist group LUCHA Arizona .
`` We 're not going to fight their little meth-head Antifa scum ... .
We 're going to take it directly to those scumbag Nazi b******* . ''

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a "Stop the Steal" demonstration at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday amid a manual recount of the state's ballots in the presidential election.
Footage posted to Twitter by Brendan Gutenschwager, an independent journalist, showed Jones, activist Ali Alexander and right-wing media personality Nick Fuentes occupying the rotunda of the Capitol building in Atlanta along with supporters of President Donald Trump.
"This is a major moment. You guys are the literal vanguard, and Georgia is a key battleground state in all of this," Jones told the crowd.
Jones demanded that state lawmakers call a special session to investigate alleged instances of fraud, even though Republican state officials have steadfastly defended the handling of the election and have found no evidence of widespread irregularities.
President-elect Joe Biden has been projected by multiple news outlets as the winner of Georgia's 16 electoral votes—the first Democratic presidential nominee to triumph in the Peach State since 1992. As of Wednesday afternoon, Biden was leading Trump in Georgia by roughly 14,000 votes.
The deadline to complete the audit and recount is 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday. State officials have said they are on track to meet the deadline. Georgia must certify the election results by the end of the day on Friday.
Jones indicated he would be traveling to Georgia during a broadcast of his Infowars radio program on Monday, according to the watchdog site Media Matters. Jones told listeners that "everyone must go to the capital of Georgia now and you must surround the governor's mansion now."
Protesters were seen Wednesday waving Trump campaign flags and holding signs that read "STOP THE STEAL."
Alex Jones, host of "Infowars," a right-wing radio program that often traffics in conspiracy theories, is seen inside the Georgia Capitol during a "Stop the Steal" rally on November 18. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty
The Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, were also in Georgia on Wednesday. A video clip posted from Gutenschwager showed Enrique Tarrio, the group's chairman, addressing the crowd.
"We're going to keep coming out until something gets fixed," Tarrio said. "And if they steal this election, we'll be out every day."
Trump has repeatedly criticized the Georgia recount, calling it a "joke." The president has also suggested, without evidence, that Georgia's signature-verification process is unconstitutional, and he spread unfounded theories attacking the election-technology vendor used by the state.
The demonstration in Georgia was not the first time Jones has attempted to boost Trump's allegations of election fraud.
On November 5, Jones appeared at a demonstration outside of a counting station in Phoenix. Speaking into a megaphone, Jones yelled, "You ain't stealing s***" as poll workers tallied votes.
"We don't know how this is going to end, but if they want a fight, they better believe they've got one," Jones told the crowd in a video posted by Randy Perez of activist group LUCHA Arizona. "We're not going to fight their little meth-head Antifa scum.... We're going to take it directly to those scumbag Nazi b*******."


newsweek--2020-11-19--'A Million Little Things' Season 3: When It Starts and How to Watch Online

A Million Little Things Season 3 is coming back to ABC , months after leaving fans with the cliffhanger of Eddie 's ( played by David Giuntoli ) car accident .
Fans will get to see what happened to him from November , when episodes will start airing on Thursday nights , and on Fridays when they start streaming online .
When will A Million Little Things Season 3 air ?
The first episode of the new season of A Million Little Things comes to ABC on Thursday , November 19 , with the first episode airing at 10 p.m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While other shows are reacting to the increased costs or filming during a pandemic by slashing their episode numbers for their current seasons , showrunner DJ Nash has confirmed that the show is getting 18 episodes this year , airing from now until Spring 2020 .
How to watch A Million Little Things Season 3 online As episodes are airing on ABC , they will be available to watch online via the network 's live stream .
All viewers have to do to watch it is visit the ABC website and/or app and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Live stream service with ABC like Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTubeTV also will allow viewers to watch A Million Little Things Season 3 as it airs on TV .
Shortly after airing , episodes will be available to watch free with ads ( and without users having to put their TV provider details in ) on the ABC website and app .
As an ABC show , A Million Little Things ' streaming home is Hulu .
The streamer currently has the first two seasons , and will get episodes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air on ABC , meaning subscribers can watch them on Friday mornings .
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial , allowing viewers plenty of time to watch A Million Little Things for free .
After that point , packages cost $ 5.99 a month ( or $ 59.99 a year ) with ads or $ 11.99 a month without .
What will happen on A Million Little Things Season 3 ?
The synopsis for the first episode of A Million Little Things Season 3 reads : `` In the aftermath of Eddie 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] leans on their beloved group of friends for support .
Meanwhile , Rome [ Romany Malco ] and Regina [ Christina Moses ] face a tough decision about the future of their family , and Delilah sees how her kids are thriving and wants the same for herself .
Maggie [ Allison Miller ] jump starts her new life in Oxford , while Gary [ James Roday Rodriguez ] continues to navigate his new relationship with Darcy [ Floriana Lima ] . ''
Speaking in an interview with TVInsider , showrunner DJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Season 3 : `` Katherine and Theo 's life will never be the same , '' before hinting that the character is dead . ''
However , that does not mean that Giuntoli is leaving the show .
As the showrunner added : `` Jon [ Ron Livingston ] died in the cold open up the pilot and Ron is still an active part of our series .
We could n't imagine saying goodbye to David Giuntoli .
Whether or not Eddie is actively part of their friends ' lives going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A Million Little Things Season 3 airs Thursdays at 10 p.m .
ET / 9 p.m. CT on ABC .

A Million Little Things Season 3 is coming back to ABC, months after leaving fans with the cliffhanger of Eddie's (played by David Giuntoli) car accident. Fans will get to see what happened to him from November, when episodes will start airing on Thursday nights, and on Fridays when they start streaming online.
When will A Million Little Things Season 3 air?
The first episode of the new season of A Million Little Things comes to ABC on Thursday, November 19, with the first episode airing at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT.
While other shows are reacting to the increased costs or filming during a pandemic by slashing their episode numbers for their current seasons, showrunner DJ Nash has confirmed that the show is getting 18 episodes this year, airing from now until Spring 2020.
'A Million Little Things' Season 3 is coming this November to ABC. ABC
How to watch A Million Little Things Season 3 online
As episodes are airing on ABC, they will be available to watch online via the network's live stream. All viewers have to do to watch it is visit the ABC website and/or app and log in with their TV provider details. Live stream service with ABC like Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTubeTV also will allow viewers to watch A Million Little Things Season 3 as it airs on TV.
Shortly after airing, episodes will be available to watch free with ads (and without users having to put their TV provider details in) on the ABC website and app.
As an ABC show, A Million Little Things' streaming home is Hulu. The streamer currently has the first two seasons, and will get episodes of Season 3 from the day after they air on ABC, meaning subscribers can watch them on Friday mornings.
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial, allowing viewers plenty of time to watch A Million Little Things for free. After that point, packages cost $5.99 a month (or $59.99 a year) with ads or $11.99 a month without.
What will happen on A Million Little Things Season 3?
The synopsis for the first episode of A Million Little Things Season 3 reads: "In the aftermath of Eddie's car accident, Katherine [Grace Park] leans on their beloved group of friends for support. Meanwhile, Rome [Romany Malco] and Regina [Christina Moses] face a tough decision about the future of their family, and Delilah sees how her kids are thriving and wants the same for herself. Maggie [Allison Miller] jump starts her new life in Oxford, while Gary [James Roday Rodriguez] continues to navigate his new relationship with Darcy [Floriana Lima]."
Speaking in an interview with TVInsider, showrunner DJ Nash says of Eddie's status coming into Season 3: "Katherine and Theo's life will never be the same," before hinting that the character is dead."
However, that does not mean that Giuntoli is leaving the show. As the showrunner added: "Jon [Ron Livingston] died in the cold open up the pilot and Ron is still an active part of our series. We couldn't imagine saying goodbye to David Giuntoli. Whether or not Eddie is actively part of their friends' lives going forward is what our premiere's all about."
A Million Little Things Season 3 airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT on ABC.


newsweek--2020-11-19--What We Know About Naya Rivera's 'Wrongful Death' Lawsuit Filed by Ryan Dorsey

Ryan Dorsey , husband of the late Naya Rivera , has filed a wrongful death lawsuit regarding the Glee star 's death .
The actress drowned in July while on a boating trip with her four-year-old son on California 's Lake Piru .
The suit was filed by Dorsey , who shares the son in question with Rivera , on behalf of her estate over the accident .
It blames Ventura County and managers of Lake Piru , alleging that visitors were not adequately warned of the risks of swimming there .
Lake Piru is located in Ventura County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forest , over 50 miles north of Los Angeles .
At least 26 people have drowned there since the lake opened in 1959 .
Rivera , who was swimming with her son in the lake on July 8 , apparently never resurfaced , her four-year-old son Josey Dorsey told authorities after he was found alone in the boat .
The rescue mission soon turned to a recovery one thereafter .
Ventura County Sheriff 's Capt .
Eric Buschow said at the time that Rivera 's body had been floating near the surface , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rivera 's remains were found in a 30ft-deep area of the lake five days later .
The local sheriff 's office said her body was most likely trapped in thick vegetation under the water for a number of days before floating to the surface .
The autopsy report highlighted that Rivera was a strong swimmer , with her death ultimately listed as an accident .
However , the lawsuit seeks to determine that negligence contributed to her death .
It alleges that the boat in question was `` not equipped with a safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anchor , a radio , or any security mechanisms to prevent swimmers from being separated from their boats . ''
Documents also say that no flotation devices were provided .
The boat rental company said she declined a life vest , but they put one on the boat anyway .
Other claims included in the court filing include a lack of warning signs alerting swimmers about the dangers of bathing in the deep lake .
`` While Naya and Josey were swimming , the boat started to be carried away—likely by the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21mph ( 34km/h ) that afternoon , '' the lawsuit says .
The suit alleges that Josey managed to climb back aboard the boat and heard his mother cry for help as she struggled to get back on the vessel , before disappearing .

Ryan Dorsey, husband of the late Naya Rivera, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit regarding the Glee star's death.
The actress drowned in July while on a boating trip with her four-year-old son on California's Lake Piru.
The suit was filed by Dorsey, who shares the son in question with Rivera, on behalf of her estate over the accident. It blames Ventura County and managers of Lake Piru, alleging that visitors were not adequately warned of the risks of swimming there.
Lake Piru is located in Ventura County, California, in the Los Padres National Forest, over 50 miles north of Los Angeles. At least 26 people have drowned there since the lake opened in 1959.
Rivera, who was swimming with her son in the lake on July 8, apparently never resurfaced, her four-year-old son Josey Dorsey told authorities after he was found alone in the boat. The rescue mission soon turned to a recovery one thereafter.
Naya Rivera (L) and Ryan Dorsey (R) attend the "Raising The Bar To End Parkinson's" at Laurel Point on July 27, 2016, in Studio City, California. Dorsey issued a statement about his ex-wife's presumed death on July 9, 2020. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Eric Buschow said at the time that Rivera's body had been floating near the surface, and there was no life jacket.
Rivera's remains were found in a 30ft-deep area of the lake five days later. The local sheriff's office said her body was most likely trapped in thick vegetation under the water for a number of days before floating to the surface.
The autopsy report highlighted that Rivera was a strong swimmer, with her death ultimately listed as an accident.
However, the lawsuit seeks to determine that negligence contributed to her death.
It alleges that the boat in question was "not equipped with a safely accessible ladder, adequate rope, an anchor, a radio, or any security mechanisms to prevent swimmers from being separated from their boats." Documents also say that no flotation devices were provided.
The boat rental company said she declined a life vest, but they put one on the boat anyway.
Other claims included in the court filing include a lack of warning signs alerting swimmers about the dangers of bathing in the deep lake.
"While Naya and Josey were swimming, the boat started to be carried away—likely by the current and wind, which gusted up to 21mph (34km/h) that afternoon," the lawsuit says.
The suit alleges that Josey managed to climb back aboard the boat and heard his mother cry for help as she struggled to get back on the vessel, before disappearing.


newsweek--2020-11-19--NBA Free Agency 2020: When Can Teams Sign Players and Who's Available?

After a history-making season and this week 's NBA draft , the league will now turn its attention to free agency .
Although several notable trades have already been completed since the NBA lifted its moratorium at the beginning of the week , the annual free agency extravaganza officially begins on Friday .
Sandwiched between a free agency class that significantly altered the league 's landscape last year and one with a similar potential impact coming next summer , the class of 2020 may feel slightly underwhelming .
There are , however , plenty of storylines worth following over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to know ahead of free agency .
Free agency officially begins at 6 p.m .
ET on Friday , November 20 .
From then on , free agents and their representatives will be allowed to speak with teams .
Players will not be allowed to sign contracts with teams until 12:01 p.m .
ET on Sunday , November 22. Who are the main free agents available ?
The free agent class is n't as stacked with talent as it was last year , when Kevin Durant , Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by far the best player available this year , but the Los Angeles Lakers star is almost guaranteed to re-sign with the franchise with which he won his first NBA title last month .
Earlier this week , Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Davis will opt out of a player option that would have paid him $ 28.7 million this year and is expected to sign a lucrative new deal with the Lakers .
The main question is how long he will sign for .
With the league and the NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salary cap will remain at $ 109 million , Davis wo n't make more than $ 32.7 million in the upcoming season .
He has options when it comes to contract length , however .
He can sign a three-year deal with a player option to opt out in 2023 , when he will qualify as a 10-year veteran and be eligible to get 35 percent of that year 's cap as his salary in the first year of a new deal .
He could also sign a two-year deal with a player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him with LeBron James .
Davis could sign a five-year deal , but that seems extremely unlikely .
While stardust is thin on the ground aside from Davis , this year 's free agent class includes a number of solid players who could command interest from several teams .
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet and Los Angeles Clippers power forward Montrezl Harrell are unrestricted free agents , as are Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic and forwards Davis Bertans of the Washington Wizards , Danilo Gallinari of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jerami Grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a priority for the Raptors this offseason , but the 2019 NBA champions are mindful of doing so while leaving as much salary cap room as possible for next year 's loaded free-agent class .
According to ESPN , Toronto could do so with a four-year deal worth about $ 80 million .
If VanVleet receives higher offers , however , the Raptors will have to decide whether to hold on to one of their best players or leave themselves space to pursue a top free agent in 2021 .
New Orleans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard Bogdan Bogdanovic are the two most high-profile players among restricted free agents .
Bogdanovic looked set to be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo , Ersan Ilyasova and D.J .
Wilson .
On Wednesday , however , The Athletic reported the deal was in jeopardy and Bodganovic , who averaged 15.1 points , 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season , may not join two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee .
Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has a player option worth $ 34.1 million .
While the 30-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him—he started 52 games last season , after being in the starting line-up for just 18 of his 72 games the previous season as he recovered from a broken tibia—he is unlikely to test the market this season .

After a history-making season and this week's NBA draft, the league will now turn its attention to free agency. Although several notable trades have already been completed since the NBA lifted its moratorium at the beginning of the week, the annual free agency extravaganza officially begins on Friday.
Sandwiched between a free agency class that significantly altered the league's landscape last year and one with a similar potential impact coming next summer, the class of 2020 may feel slightly underwhelming. There are, however, plenty of storylines worth following over the coming days.
Here's what you need to know ahead of free agency.
When does NBA free agency start?
Free agency officially begins at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, November 20. From then on, free agents and their representatives will be allowed to speak with teams.
Players will not be allowed to sign contracts with teams until 12:01 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 22.
Who are the main free agents available?
The free agent class isn't as stacked with talent as it was last year, when Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving all changed teams. Anthony Davis is by far the best player available this year, but the Los Angeles Lakers star is almost guaranteed to re-sign with the franchise with which he won his first NBA title last month.
Earlier this week, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Davis will opt out of a player option that would have paid him $28.7 million this year and is expected to sign a lucrative new deal with the Lakers.
The main question is how long he will sign for. With the league and the NBA Players Association confirming this month that the salary cap will remain at $109 million, Davis won't make more than $32.7 million in the upcoming season.
He has options when it comes to contract length, however. He can sign a three-year deal with a player option to opt out in 2023, when he will qualify as a 10-year veteran and be eligible to get 35 percent of that year's cap as his salary in the first year of a new deal. He could also sign a two-year deal with a player option for 2022, which would align him with LeBron James.
Davis could sign a five-year deal, but that seems extremely unlikely.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate winning the 2020 NBA championship on October 11. Davis is expected to sign a new deal with the Lakers. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty
While stardust is thin on the ground aside from Davis, this year's free agent class includes a number of solid players who could command interest from several teams. Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet and Los Angeles Clippers power forward Montrezl Harrell are unrestricted free agents, as are Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic and forwards Davis Bertans of the Washington Wizards, Danilo Gallinari of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jerami Grant of the Denver Nuggets.
Re-signing VanVleet is a priority for the Raptors this offseason, but the 2019 NBA champions are mindful of doing so while leaving as much salary cap room as possible for next year's loaded free-agent class. According to ESPN, Toronto could do so with a four-year deal worth about $80 million. If VanVleet receives higher offers, however, the Raptors will have to decide whether to hold on to one of their best players or leave themselves space to pursue a top free agent in 2021.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram and Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic are the two most high-profile players among restricted free agents. Bogdanovic looked set to be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson. On Wednesday, however, The Athletic reported the deal was in jeopardy and Bodganovic, who averaged 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season, may not join two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has a player option worth $34.1 million. While the 30-year-old has seemingly put his injury troubles past him—he started 52 games last season, after being in the starting line-up for just 18 of his 72 games the previous season as he recovered from a broken tibia—he is unlikely to test the market this season.


newsweek--2020-11-19--McConnell 'Holding the Whole Nation Hostage' on Stimulus: Seattle Mayor

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of `` holding the whole nation hostage '' over a further COVID-19 stimulus package as she called for more relief to be signed off .
It has been nearly eight months since the last such bill , the CARES Act , was signed off—with an ongoing stalemate surrounding more measures being approved .
Democrat figureheads have called for McConnell to negotiate further to facilitate a bipartisan deal , with plans thus far having failed to garner enough cross-party support to make their way through both the House and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blame for this to Democrats , who have rejected slimmed-down deals , though they have criticized his lack of compromise .
In comments reported by KOMO News , Durkan said : `` The person who is holding up right now is Mitch McConnell .
`` It 's a single individual , from Kentucky , who is holding the whole nation hostage .
I think it 's unforgivable . ''
Regarding what Congress should do , she called upon lawmakers to `` push it through , '' referring to a fresh package of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs more support , she said : `` It 's small businesses , people who are trying to make the mortgage for small businesses and keep their workers on the payrolls .
`` That 's where we need help right now , and the sooner they can get it , the sooner our city and every city across America will be better . ''
In recent comments , having been asked to partake in further talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried for weeks to pass another targeted rescue package .
It would send hundreds of billions of dollars to schools , unemployment aid , another round of the job-saving PPP , and healthcare .
`` Democrats repeatedly blocked it all .
Let 's hope they let us make law soon . ''
Though there has been support for a stimulus of some kind from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle , demands from each side have led to an impasse .
A Democrat-led package , the $ 3.4 trillion HEROES Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An updated version—marking a reduction on topline spend to $ 2.2 trillion—also passed in October .
These plans have been met with pushback from the GOP-controlled Senate—with Republican leadership in the upper chamber pushing for less spend .
Democrats have disputed the issue being over spend per se , but have suggested the Republican proposals have not met the needs of the crisis .
Newsweek has contacted Durkan and McConnell for further comment .
The dispute comes with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. throughout the pandemic having surpassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University figures .
The below graphic from Statista shows the nations with the most confirmed cases as of November 16 .

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of "holding the whole nation hostage" over a further COVID-19 stimulus package as she called for more relief to be signed off.
It has been nearly eight months since the last such bill, the CARES Act, was signed off—with an ongoing stalemate surrounding more measures being approved.
Democrat figureheads have called for McConnell to negotiate further to facilitate a bipartisan deal, with plans thus far having failed to garner enough cross-party support to make their way through both the House and the Senate.
McConnell has looked to shift the blame for this to Democrats, who have rejected slimmed-down deals, though they have criticized his lack of compromise.
In comments reported by KOMO News, Durkan said: "The person who is holding up right now is Mitch McConnell.
"It's a single individual, from Kentucky, who is holding the whole nation hostage. I think it's unforgivable."
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) leaves after a Senate Republican policy luncheon at the Hart Senate Office Building November 18, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He has faced criticism over the delay in a further relief package. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Regarding what Congress should do, she called upon lawmakers to "push it through," referring to a fresh package of stimulus measures.
Outlining who she feels needs more support, she said: "It's small businesses, people who are trying to make the mortgage for small businesses and keep their workers on the payrolls.
"That's where we need help right now, and the sooner they can get it, the sooner our city and every city across America will be better."
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan speaks at a news conference about the coronavirus outbreak Monday, March 16, 2020, in Seattle. She has criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) over the delay in further stimulus being agreed. Elaine Thompson/Pool/Getty Images
In recent comments, having been asked to partake in further talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), McConnell said: "Republicans have tried for weeks to pass another targeted rescue package. It would send hundreds of billions of dollars to schools, unemployment aid, another round of the job-saving PPP, and healthcare.
"Democrats repeatedly blocked it all. Let's hope they let us make law soon."
Though there has been support for a stimulus of some kind from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, demands from each side have led to an impasse.
A Democrat-led package, the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act, passed the House of Representatives in May. An updated version—marking a reduction on topline spend to $2.2 trillion—also passed in October.
Read more McConnell Blames Stimulus Delay on Pelosi, Schumer After Letter Urges Talks McConnell Blames Stimulus Delay on Pelosi, Schumer After Letter Urges Talks
These plans have been met with pushback from the GOP-controlled Senate—with Republican leadership in the upper chamber pushing for less spend. Democrats have disputed the issue being over spend per se, but have suggested the Republican proposals have not met the needs of the crisis.
Newsweek has contacted Durkan and McConnell for further comment.
The dispute comes with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. throughout the pandemic having surpassed 11 million, according to Johns Hopkins University figures.
The below graphic from Statista shows the nations with the most confirmed cases as of November 16.


newsweek--2020-11-19--An Antitrust Lawsuit is the Least of Google's Worries | Opinion

In late October , the Department of Justice filed a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Google .
Most experts agree that it will continue under a Biden presidency—potentially strengthened with additional support from several Democratic attorneys general .
But there 's another lawsuit filed against Google that has already been litigated all the way to the Supreme Court—Google v. Oracle—and it gets to the core of how the company unfairly became what it is today .
When Google launched Android , it wanted to attract more developers , so it used Oracle 's Java software platform .
The Java application programming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which enables developers to call up pre-written programs to perform an array of functions .
More developers building Android applications would entice more phone manufacturers to build—and more consumers to use—Android devices .
And that would preserve Google 's data collection and advertising business as computing migrated to mobile .
Google could have created its own declaring code .
But the time it would have taken for developers to learn the new code would have slowed Android 's rollout , and developers might even have resisted learning it altogether .
Companies license code @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't want to agree to an Oracle license condition that would have required Android to be compatible with Java .
Google wanted tight control of the Android platform .
Of course , Google is not required to accept license terms it does not like .
But it can not reject a license and then use the copyrighted material anyway .
Yet that 's exactly what it did .
Google copied more than 11,000 lines of the declaring code without Oracle 's permission anyway .
Google claims that its use of the Java declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Google , that makes its copying `` transformative , '' which is one consideration in determining whether potential copyright infringement is a fair use .
But that argument is a red herring , wrong on both the facts and the law .
Google was not the first to use Java in mobile devices , as many competing devices used Java ( under license ) .
And as the DOJ 's lawyer argued before the Supreme Court in support of Oracle , copying Java for use in the mobile context is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it available over the internet .
The Supreme Court said in 1994 that in analyzing transformativeness , the question is `` whether the new work merely supersedes the objects of the original creation , or instead adds something new , with a further purpose or different character , altering the first with new expression , meaning , or message . ''
Google did n't change the declaring code it took from Oracle .
It used the code verbatim , and for the very same purpose : enabling developers to shortcut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court rules against Google in this clear case of copyright infringement , the damages could be on par with , or maybe even greater than , that of an antitrust judgment .
But whatever those damages are , just remember : it 's only a fraction of what Google should have been paying Oracle for years .
And apart from monetary damages , a ruling in Oracle 's favor would help address the fundamental inequity of how Google has built its business—unlawfully profiteering off the intellectual property of not just Oracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small .
Neil Fried was SVP for Congressional and Regulatory Affairs at the Motion Picture Association from 2013 to 2020 .
For 10 years before that he was Communications and Technology Counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee .
He recently launched DigitalFrontiers Advocacy , assisting clients on media , copyright and technology policy .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

In late October, the Department of Justice filed a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Google. Most experts agree that it will continue under a Biden presidency—potentially strengthened with additional support from several Democratic attorneys general.
But there's another lawsuit filed against Google that has already been litigated all the way to the Supreme Court—Google v. Oracle—and it gets to the core of how the company unfairly became what it is today.
When Google launched Android, it wanted to attract more developers, so it used Oracle's Java software platform. The Java application programming interface includes "declaring code," which enables developers to call up pre-written programs to perform an array of functions. More developers building Android applications would entice more phone manufacturers to build—and more consumers to use—Android devices. And that would preserve Google's data collection and advertising business as computing migrated to mobile.
Google could have created its own declaring code. But the time it would have taken for developers to learn the new code would have slowed Android's rollout, and developers might even have resisted learning it altogether.
Companies license code all the time, but Google didn't want to agree to an Oracle license condition that would have required Android to be compatible with Java. Google wanted tight control of the Android platform.
A picture taken on September 3, 2019 shows the US multinational technology and Internet-related services company Google logo, displayed on a tablet screen, in Lille, northern France. DENIS CHARLET/AFP/Getty
Of course, Google is not required to accept license terms it does not like. But it cannot reject a license and then use the copyrighted material anyway. Yet that's exactly what it did. Google copied more than 11,000 lines of the declaring code without Oracle's permission anyway.
Google claims that its use of the Java declaring code in a smartphone was novel. According to Google, that makes its copying "transformative," which is one consideration in determining whether potential copyright infringement is a fair use.
But that argument is a red herring, wrong on both the facts and the law. Google was not the first to use Java in mobile devices, as many competing devices used Java (under license). And as the DOJ's lawyer argued before the Supreme Court in support of Oracle, copying Java for use in the mobile context is no more transformative than copying a theatrical movie to make it available over the internet.
The Supreme Court said in 1994 that in analyzing transformativeness, the question is "whether the new work merely supersedes the objects of the original creation, or instead adds something new, with a further purpose or different character, altering the first with new expression, meaning, or message." Google didn't change the declaring code it took from Oracle. It used the code verbatim, and for the very same purpose: enabling developers to shortcut the programming of specific device functions.
If the Supreme Court rules against Google in this clear case of copyright infringement, the damages could be on par with, or maybe even greater than, that of an antitrust judgment. But whatever those damages are, just remember: it's only a fraction of what Google should have been paying Oracle for years. And apart from monetary damages, a ruling in Oracle's favor would help address the fundamental inequity of how Google has built its business—unlawfully profiteering off the intellectual property of not just Oracle, but many copyright holders large and small.
Neil Fried was SVP for Congressional and Regulatory Affairs at the Motion Picture Association from 2013 to 2020. For 10 years before that he was Communications and Technology Counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He recently launched DigitalFrontiers Advocacy, assisting clients on media, copyright and technology policy.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-11-19--Trump's Rhetoric Is 'So Similar' to Jim Jones, Says Woman Who Fled Jonestown Cult

Forty-two years after the Jonestown massacre , a former Peoples Temple member says President Donald Trump 's rhetoric reminds her of cult leader Jim Jones .
Jones established The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project , a remote settlement informally known as Jonestown , in Guyana , in a bid to avoid mounting scrutiny in San Francisco , where his Peoples Temple had been based .
But when a California congressman and a group of journalists arrived to investigate allegations of abuse there , Jones orchestrated the killing on November 18 , 1978 .
Rep. Leo Ryan had been preparing to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen defectors when he was shot dead in an ambush on a jungle airstrip .
Three journalists and a defector also died , while several others were injured .
Hours later , Jones urged hundreds of his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch in what he called a `` revolutionary suicide . ''
Children were killed first and while some adults willingly drank the poisoned drink , others were forced to or shot .
A total of 918 people died that day , around a third of them babies and children , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in a deliberate act until the September 11 , 2001 attacks .
Yulanda Williams , who fled Jonestown a year before the massacre and later rose to the rank of acting captain in the San Francisco Police Department , told KRON-TV that she sees similarities to Jonestown in 2020 .
She believes Trump is `` responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people '' from COVID-19—and says his rhetoric is `` so similar '' to that of Jones .
Williams recalled realizing soon after arriving in Jonestown with her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` grave mistake . ''
She said their passports and money were taken away when they arrived , but she eventually convinced Jones to let her family leave .
Williams recalled how members were malnourished , physically and verbally abused .
`` There was consistent brainwashing going on because all day long and all night long when you try to sleep , all you would hear was him on the PA system yelling and screaming , '' she told the station .
Now , when she listens to the president , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes listen to our commander in chief , he sounds so much and the rhetoric is so similar to that of Jim Jones , '' Williams said .
`` But it is absolutely eerie for me and I think that over 240,000 people have lost their lives due to COVID . ''
`` When we say Jonestown is the most tragic incident of a massacre of people , I say do n't forget about the commander in chief who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people , '' Williams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a former Peoples Temple member , died after contracting the virus in July .
Williams has been contacted for additional comment .

Forty-two years after the Jonestown massacre, a former Peoples Temple member says President Donald Trump's rhetoric reminds her of cult leader Jim Jones.
Jones established The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, a remote settlement informally known as Jonestown, in Guyana, in a bid to avoid mounting scrutiny in San Francisco, where his Peoples Temple had been based.
But when a California congressman and a group of journalists arrived to investigate allegations of abuse there, Jones orchestrated the killing on November 18, 1978.
Rep. Leo Ryan had been preparing to return to the U.S. along with more than a dozen defectors when he was shot dead in an ambush on a jungle airstrip. Three journalists and a defector also died, while several others were injured.
Hours later, Jones urged hundreds of his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch in what he called a "revolutionary suicide." Children were killed first and while some adults willingly drank the poisoned drink, others were forced to or shot.
A total of 918 people died that day, around a third of them babies and children, in what was the largest loss of American life in a deliberate act until the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Yulanda Williams, who fled Jonestown a year before the massacre and later rose to the rank of acting captain in the San Francisco Police Department, told KRON-TV that she sees similarities to Jonestown in 2020.
She believes Trump is "responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people" from COVID-19—and says his rhetoric is "so similar" to that of Jones.
Williams recalled realizing soon after arriving in Jonestown with her husband and one-year-old daughter that they had made a "grave mistake."
She said their passports and money were taken away when they arrived, but she eventually convinced Jones to let her family leave.
Williams recalled how members were malnourished, physically and verbally abused.
"There was consistent brainwashing going on because all day long and all night long when you try to sleep, all you would hear was him on the PA system yelling and screaming," she told the station.
Now, when she listens to the president, she is reminded of Jones.
"I sometimes listen to our commander in chief, he sounds so much and the rhetoric is so similar to that of Jim Jones," Williams said.
"But it is absolutely eerie for me and I think that over 240,000 people have lost their lives due to COVID."
"When we say Jonestown is the most tragic incident of a massacre of people, I say don't forget about the commander in chief who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people," Williams added.
Her mother, who was also a former Peoples Temple member, died after contracting the virus in July.
Williams has been contacted for additional comment.


newsweek--2020-11-19--Bette Midler Takes Aim at Kayleigh McEnany, Says Harvard 'Has a Lot to Answer For'

Bette Midler told Kayleigh McEnany to `` go f*** '' herself in a scathing tweet mocking the education and qualifications of the White House press secretary .
It 's no secret that the actress and singer is not a fan of President Donald Trump and the spat erupted when McEnany tweeted about allegations of voter fraud in Michigan .
`` After presenting 234 pages of sworn affidavits raising allegations of fraud in Wayne County , Michigan voting , the Wayne County Board of Canvassers has DECLINED to certify their portion of the Michigan vote , '' McEnany tweeted Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wayne County board 's actions had aided the Trump administration 's attempts to hang on to power .
`` With all due respect , Kayleigh , go f*** yourself , '' Midler responded .
The 74-year-old Hocus Pocus actress then mocked McEnany 's education , adding : `` IMHO , Harvard has a lot to answer for . ''
McEnany 's pleasure at the news from Michigan was shortlived , however .
The county board reversed its decision and the results—more than 800,000 votes—were certified .
Wayne County , the most populous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden .
Midler is not one to hold back when it comes to sharing her feelings on social media and she has been criticized this year for posts about everything from Donald and Melania Trump to coronavirus .
Last month , Midler called Trump `` cruel and bloodthirsty '' in a lengthy Twitter rant .
`` He 's utterly schizoid , somedays he 's a 'good-humored moron , ' other days , he 's a 'cruel and bloodthirsty fiend , ' '' she wrote in response to a tweet that suggested Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was purposefully doing damage before leaving the White House .
`` He will topple the Republic , and walk away unscathed . ''
In 2019 , the president engaged in an exchange with the `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' singer , labeling her a `` washed up psycho . ''
Midler was criticized for taking aim at Melania Trump while she delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention in August .
The actress mocked her accent and joked that the Slovenian-born first lady `` still ca n't speak English . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was xenophobic .
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment on Midler 's post about McEnany .

Bette Midler told Kayleigh McEnany to "go f***" herself in a scathing tweet mocking the education and qualifications of the White House press secretary.
It's no secret that the actress and singer is not a fan of President Donald Trump and the spat erupted when McEnany tweeted about allegations of voter fraud in Michigan.
"After presenting 234 pages of sworn affidavits raising allegations of fraud in Wayne County, Michigan voting, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers has DECLINED to certify their portion of the Michigan vote," McEnany tweeted Wednesday.
The Harvard-educated White House official boasted that the Wayne County board's actions had aided the Trump administration's attempts to hang on to power.
"With all due respect, Kayleigh, go f*** yourself," Midler responded. The 74-year-old Hocus Pocus actress then mocked McEnany's education, adding: "IMHO, Harvard has a lot to answer for."
With all due respect, Kayleigh, go fuck yourself. IMHO, Harvard has a lot to answer for. https://t.co/FkEeNaBTst — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) November 18, 2020
McEnany's pleasure at the news from Michigan was shortlived, however. The county board reversed its decision and the results—more than 800,000 votes—were certified. Wayne County, the most populous in the state, voted overwhelmingly for Joe Biden.
Midler is not one to hold back when it comes to sharing her feelings on social media and she has been criticized this year for posts about everything from Donald and Melania Trump to coronavirus.
Bette Midler attends an awards ceremony at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on November 06, 2019. The actress and singer has blasted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Twitter. Mark Sagliocco/WireImage/Getty Images
Last month, Midler called Trump "cruel and bloodthirsty" in a lengthy Twitter rant.
"He's utterly schizoid, somedays he's a 'good-humored moron,' other days, he's a 'cruel and bloodthirsty fiend,'" she wrote in response to a tweet that suggested Trump knew he would lose the election and was purposefully doing damage before leaving the White House. "He will topple the Republic, and walk away unscathed."
In 2019, the president engaged in an exchange with the "Wind Beneath My Wings" singer, labeling her a "washed up psycho."
Midler was criticized for taking aim at Melania Trump while she delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention in August. The actress mocked her accent and joked that the Slovenian-born first lady "still can't speak English." Other Twitter users said Midler's tweet was xenophobic.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment on Midler's post about McEnany.


newsweek--2020-11-19--Why Prince William Wants a Judge to 'Establish the Truth' Behind Princess Diana Affair Interview

Prince William has backed a judge-led inquiry into Princess Diana 's tell-all 1995 interview in which she spoke publicly about Prince Charles ' affair .
The Duke of Cambridge indicated he wants an investigation into whether BBC journalist Martin Bashir spun a web of lies to coax his mother into the landmark TV broadcast .
At the time , the princess was separated from her husband but not yet divorced and still within the institution of the royal family .
However , her brother Charles Spencer claims Bashir whipped up her paranoia by claiming palace aides were plotting against her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke .
The BBC has announced former U.K. Supreme Court judge Lord John Dyson will lead an investigation into how Bashir secured the scoop , described as the `` interview of the decade '' within the BBC .
Prince William said in a statement : `` The independent investigation is a step in the right direction .
`` It should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions taken by those in the BBC at the time . ''
The inquiry comes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Season Four have had Prince Charles ' affair with Camila brought to life as Emma Corrin portrayed her bulimia , anger and loneliness .
They will likely see Diana 's interview with Bashir play out during Season Five when it airs in 2022 , with Elizabeth Debicki cast as Diana .
During her extraordinary account , she famously said : `` Well , there were three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded . ''
She also admitted being unfaithful having fallen in love with Captain James Hewitt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crown and in real life first revealed in biography Princess in Love , by Anna Pasternak .
Diana told Bashir : `` Well , there was a lot of fantasy in that book , and it was very distressing for me that a friend of mine , who I had trusted , made money out of me .
I really minded about that .
`` And he 'd rung me up 10 days before it arrived in the bookshops to tell me that there was nothing to worry about , and I believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it did arrive the first thing I did was rush down to talk to my children .
`` And William produced a box of chocolates and said , 'Mummy , I think you 've been hurt .
These are to make you smile again ' . ''
Asked if she 'd been unfaithful , she replied : `` Yes , I adored him .
Yes , I was in love with him .
But I was very let down . ''
Earl Spencer claims Bashir supplied forged financial records to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ royal aides as part of his strategy for securing the interview .
He also supplied a fax from Bashir claiming nanny Legge-Bourke was poised to publicly suggest Princess Diana had been bombarding her with nuisance messages .
Tim Davie , BBC director-general , said in a statement : `` The BBC is determined to get to the truth about these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation . ''
Lord Dyson said : `` This is an important investigation which I will start straight away .
I will ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Prince William has backed a judge-led inquiry into Princess Diana's tell-all 1995 interview in which she spoke publicly about Prince Charles' affair.
The Duke of Cambridge indicated he wants an investigation into whether BBC journalist Martin Bashir spun a web of lies to coax his mother into the landmark TV broadcast.
At the time, the princess was separated from her husband but not yet divorced and still within the institution of the royal family.
However, her brother Charles Spencer claims Bashir whipped up her paranoia by claiming palace aides were plotting against her and the prince was in love with nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
The BBC has announced former U.K. Supreme Court judge Lord John Dyson will lead an investigation into how Bashir secured the scoop, described as the "interview of the decade" within the BBC.
Prince William views tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, at the gates of Kensington Palace, in London, on August 30, 2017, the day before the 20th anniversary of her death. Max Mumby/Getty
Prince William said in a statement: "The independent investigation is a step in the right direction.
"It should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions taken by those in the BBC at the time."
The inquiry comes at a time when viewers of The Crown Season Four have had Prince Charles' affair with Camila brought to life as Emma Corrin portrayed her bulimia, anger and loneliness.
They will likely see Diana's interview with Bashir play out during Season Five when it airs in 2022, with Elizabeth Debicki cast as Diana.
During her extraordinary account, she famously said: "Well, there were three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded."
She also admitted being unfaithful having fallen in love with Captain James Hewitt, an affair that was depicted in The Crown and in real life first revealed in biography Princess in Love, by Anna Pasternak.
Diana told Bashir: "Well, there was a lot of fantasy in that book, and it was very distressing for me that a friend of mine, who I had trusted, made money out of me. I really minded about that.
"And he'd rung me up 10 days before it arrived in the bookshops to tell me that there was nothing to worry about, and I believed him, stupidly.
Read more Prince Charles Confession Before Wedding Day was 'Devastating' for Diana Prince Charles Confession Before Wedding Day was 'Devastating' for Diana
"And then when it did arrive the first thing I did was rush down to talk to my children.
"And William produced a box of chocolates and said, 'Mummy, I think you've been hurt. These are to make you smile again'."
Asked if she'd been unfaithful, she replied: "Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down."
Earl Spencer claims Bashir supplied forged financial records to make it look like Diana had been betrayed by royal aides as part of his strategy for securing the interview.
He also supplied a fax from Bashir claiming nanny Legge-Bourke was poised to publicly suggest Princess Diana had been bombarding her with nuisance messages.
Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said in a statement: "The BBC is determined to get to the truth about these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation."
Lord Dyson said: "This is an important investigation which I will start straight away. I will ensure it is both thorough and fair."


newsweek--2020-11-19--Trump Spoiling Biden's America Rebuild by 'Blocking a Normal Transition,' Says Bill Clinton

President Donald Trump is hindering President-elect Joe Biden 's chances of rebuilding America 's relationship with key allies by `` blocking a normal transition , '' Bill Clinton said on Monday .
Clinton made the remarks while attending virtually the Bloomberg New Economy Forum , where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also involved in a separate discussion about the economy the following day .
Bill Clinton was in conversation with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair , who asked whether Biden 's win meant that a shift in U.S. foreign policy back toward the traditional transatlantic alliance was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I thought all the way through this pandemic is , we think back to the time where you and I were in power , and indeed when President [ George W. ] Bush was in power and I was in office , there would 've been a constant dialog on what we could do together , how we handled it , what was the right strategy , '' Blair said .
`` There would 've been a sense of America and the European side sticking together , '' said the former U.K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first term in Downing Street in 1997 shortly after Clinton was re-elected to the White House .
The former president spoke disapprovingly of Trump 's failure to concede the election , and what implications that would have on Biden 's transition into the Oval Office .
`` I agree with that , '' Clinton said .
`` Look , I do n't want to say too much right now because over on our side of the Atlantic , the current government in America is blocking a normal transition . ''
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his team , basically , to announce a whole slew of projects because they need to get in there to see what facts they need to see , and do basic things , '' he added .
While deciding not to speculate on the nature of the outward policies the new administration would favor , the former president had high praise for Biden 's multilateral and cooperative approach to building relationships .
`` If you look at the life that Joe Biden lived , '' he said , `` it 's clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oriented toward working with and through a lot of these international organizations , and that he believes in NATO and he believes in strengthening all this . ''
Citing Biden 's promise to rejoin the Paris Agreement and reverse Trump 's decision to withdraw from the WHO , Clinton said the former vice president will `` put American back in the business of working with other countries . ''
`` I think it 's a good thing that Joe Biden is not a kid , '' he noted , explaining : `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's much older—a generation older—than we were when we took office , because we need now a sense of husbanding our time and devoting it to the major challenges of the moment . ''
The two former heads of state also spoke at length about how best to work with China and Xi Jinping , who has abolished the presidential term limit , effectively allowing him to stay in power indefinitely .
`` For the new administration in the U.S. , I think the big challenge with China is to get what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with China , rather than a series of ad hoc reactions to whatever the Chinese may be doing , '' Prime Minister Blair argued .
`` The power of China today is a fact , '' he added .
`` China is and should be one of the great powers of the world for the 21st century . ''
Blair said he had hoped and personally expected a `` political evolution '' in China toward more liberalism as the country continued to develop and join the global economy .
The current Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , he argued .
The former PM disagreed with analogies likening the West 's current relationship with China to the Cold War , but admitted that decoupling would be `` painful for both of us . ''
`` But you 've got to say in the last few years , there 's been more external aggression and more internal repression .
That 's just a fact .
That 's what we 're dealing with now , '' he added .
`` The old Chinese system , which was by no means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and play and openness because there was a regular rotation of leadership , '' Clinton responded .
`` Now that it appears that a person is in charge of China who intends to stay there for life , in essence , that changes things . ''
`` But we should n't accept or assume that it 's all going to be bad without working to make it better , '' he said , adding that the new administration should be given a chance to try its own approach .
On dealing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the Biden administration could seek to re-establish ties with principal partners in Asia and Southeast Asia , such as those involved in the now-scrapped Trans-Pacific Partnership that Donald Trump `` killed . ''
During his campaign , the president-elect voiced a desire to form a coalition of democracies in order to counter Beijing 's regional influence .
At the same forum Monday , however , former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger , who served under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford , suggested that forming such an alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake .
The U.S. under Trump has been at loggerheads with China over issues such as trade and , more recently , the coronavirus pandemic .
Beijing 's heavy-handed tactics against pro-democracy sentiment in Hong Kong , as well as the Chinese government 's treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang , have both been consistent points of criticism raised by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Despite not wishing to involve the U.S. in any new military conflicts , Clinton said : `` We ca n't walk away from manifest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to alleviate , so there is still going to be a lot of hard decisions to make .
These hard decisions wo n't go away '' Secretary Hillary Clinton , who was among a panel discussing the economy on Tuesday , spoke from the same desk used by the former president the day before .
She told Bloomberg 's Caroline Hyde that Trump 's unemployment stimulus was `` not sufficient , '' and that she expected the Biden-Harris administration to shift its focus to helping small and medium businesses survive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the downturn would bring `` economic and political consequences '' from an `` already shaky market system , '' she predicted .
The former secretary of state said she believed Biden would come forward with a comprehensive relief package for workers and especially small and medium-sized enterprises if the lame-duck session in Congress fails to agree on a COVID bill .

President Donald Trump is hindering President-elect Joe Biden's chances of rebuilding America's relationship with key allies by "blocking a normal transition," Bill Clinton said on Monday.
Clinton made the remarks while attending virtually the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also involved in a separate discussion about the economy the following day.
Bill Clinton was in conversation with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who asked whether Biden's win meant that a shift in U.S. foreign policy back toward the traditional transatlantic alliance was likely.
"One of the things that I thought all the way through this pandemic is, we think back to the time where you and I were in power, and indeed when President [George W.] Bush was in power and I was in office, there would've been a constant dialog on what we could do together, how we handled it, what was the right strategy," Blair said.
"There would've been a sense of America and the European side sticking together," said the former U.K. head of state, who began his first term in Downing Street in 1997 shortly after Clinton was re-elected to the White House.
The former president spoke disapprovingly of Trump's failure to concede the election, and what implications that would have on Biden's transition into the Oval Office.
"I agree with that," Clinton said. "Look, I don't want to say too much right now because over on our side of the Atlantic, the current government in America is blocking a normal transition."
"It's slowed down the ability of the president-elect and his team, basically, to announce a whole slew of projects because they need to get in there to see what facts they need to see, and do basic things," he added.
While deciding not to speculate on the nature of the outward policies the new administration would favor, the former president had high praise for Biden's multilateral and cooperative approach to building relationships.
"If you look at the life that Joe Biden lived," he said, "it's clear that he's going to be more oriented toward working with and through a lot of these international organizations, and that he believes in NATO and he believes in strengthening all this."
Citing Biden's promise to rejoin the Paris Agreement and reverse Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO, Clinton said the former vice president will "put American back in the business of working with other countries."
"I think it's a good thing that Joe Biden is not a kid," he noted, explaining: "I think it's a good thing that he's much older—a generation older—than we were when we took office, because we need now a sense of husbanding our time and devoting it to the major challenges of the moment."
Clinton described Biden's age as a "psychological advantage."
China
The two former heads of state also spoke at length about how best to work with China and Xi Jinping, who has abolished the presidential term limit, effectively allowing him to stay in power indefinitely.
"For the new administration in the U.S., I think the big challenge with China is to get what I would call a strategic framework for dealing with China, rather than a series of ad hoc reactions to whatever the Chinese may be doing," Prime Minister Blair argued.
"The power of China today is a fact," he added. "China is and should be one of the great powers of the world for the 21st century."
Blair said he had hoped and personally expected a "political evolution" in China toward more liberalism as the country continued to develop and join the global economy. The current Chinese political system meant that could not be the case, he argued.
The former PM disagreed with analogies likening the West's current relationship with China to the Cold War, but admitted that decoupling would be "painful for both of us."
"But you've got to say in the last few years, there's been more external aggression and more internal repression. That's just a fact. That's what we're dealing with now," he added.
"The old Chinese system, which was by no means a democracy, still guaranteed enough debate, and play and openness because there was a regular rotation of leadership," Clinton responded. "Now that it appears that a person is in charge of China who intends to stay there for life, in essence, that changes things."
"But we shouldn't accept or assume that it's all going to be bad without working to make it better," he said, adding that the new administration should be given a chance to try its own approach.
On dealing with Indo-Pacific challenges such as China, Clinton said the Biden administration could seek to re-establish ties with principal partners in Asia and Southeast Asia, such as those involved in the now-scrapped Trans-Pacific Partnership that Donald Trump "killed."
During his campaign, the president-elect voiced a desire to form a coalition of democracies in order to counter Beijing's regional influence.
At the same forum Monday, however, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, who served under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, suggested that forming such an alliance for the sake of targeting China was a mistake.
Read more Listen to Henry Kissinger, China State Media Chief Warns Joe Biden Listen to Henry Kissinger, China State Media Chief Warns Joe Biden
The U.S. under Trump has been at loggerheads with China over issues such as trade and, more recently, the coronavirus pandemic. Beijing's heavy-handed tactics against pro-democracy sentiment in Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese government's treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, have both been consistent points of criticism raised by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Despite not wishing to involve the U.S. in any new military conflicts, Clinton said: "We can't walk away from manifest, urgent, immediate human suffering we have a chance to alleviate, so there is still going to be a lot of hard decisions to make. These hard decisions won't go away"
Economy
Secretary Hillary Clinton, who was among a panel discussing the economy on Tuesday, spoke from the same desk used by the former president the day before.
She told Bloomberg's Caroline Hyde that Trump's unemployment stimulus was "not sufficient," and that she expected the Biden-Harris administration to shift its focus to helping small and medium businesses survive the economic slump caused by COVID-19.
Failure to address the downturn would bring "economic and political consequences" from an "already shaky market system," she predicted.
The former secretary of state said she believed Biden would come forward with a comprehensive relief package for workers and especially small and medium-sized enterprises if the lame-duck session in Congress fails to agree on a COVID bill.


newsweek--2020-11-19--House Democrats are Poised to Lose Big in 2022 | Opinion

As the House Democrats try to understand why their expected gains in 2020 turned out to be substantial losses , they should take a minute to reflect on the disastrous results of the midterms of 1994 and 2010—the last midterm elections that followed the inaugurations of new Democratic presidents .
In 1994 , I led the House GOP as we won a majority for the first time in 40 years .
At the ballot boxes , the American people repudiated the Democrats ' left-wing policies , including tax increases , a huge health care proposal ( Hillarycare ) and efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a statement against President Bill Clinton , who shifted dramatically to the left as president after he had campaigned as a moderate .
In 1994 , Republicans gained 6.4 percent to reach 51.5 percent of the total vote , while the Democrats dropped 5.4 percent to end up with 44.7 percent of the vote .
I went from minority whip to Speaker of the House while Democratic speaker Tom Foley was defeated in his race .
While the Republicans had not been reelected as a majority since 1930 ( 64 years prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our word with the Contract with America .
Reforming welfare , passing the largest capital gains tax cut in history , reforming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , overhauling federal communication laws and balancing the budget for four straight years gave House Republicans enough support from the American people to hold the majority for 12 years .
In the second midterm under President George W Bush , the House Republicans collapsed .
With an aggressive campaign led by then-minority leader Nancy Pelosi , House Democrats earned 52.3 percent of the vote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democratic majority lasted only four years .
Two years after President Barack Obama was elected , his party 's left-wing policies on taxes , social issues and health care led to a sharp return for the House Republicans .
In 2010 , Republicans gained 9.1 percent of the vote to a total of 51.7 percent while the Democrats were down 8.3 percent to 44.9 percent of the vote .
Speaker Pelosi again became Minority Leader Pelosi , and Minority Leader John Boehner became Speaker Boehner .
After Obama 's second election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats overall—but that created the largest Republican majority since 1928 .
The 2020 House elections may prove to be a harbinger of things to come .
The Democrats and their left-wing media allies had been cheerfully predicting that they would gain 15 seats or more because of President Donald Trump 's unpopularity .
Instead , the brilliant recruiting by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and his team ( including Whip Steve Scalise , Conference Chair Liz Cheney , National Republican Congressional Committee chair Tom Emmer and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik ) —and the resources they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republican gain of at least eight seats .
Speaker Pelosi is now being forced to try to lead the House with ( currently ) a 219-205 lead—and Republicans appear to be leading in eight of the 11 undecided races in California , Iowa and New York .
If these races go as expected , it will be a 222-213 Democratic majority .
That means losing five Democratic seats in 2022 will give Kevin McCarthy control of the floor .
In a similar circumstance in 1998 , when we expected to gain 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton and instead lost five seats , I resigned because the House GOP conference was deeply disappointed in the outcome .
They were afraid of sliding into the minority ( four years of being chairpersons rather than ranking members had taught them the value of majority status ) .
Now , Speaker Pelosi must face a Democratic Caucus whose members have not yet absorbed the fact that they control far fewer seats than they had expected the day before the election .
The Democrats who care about being in the majority must ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain a majority when the historical precedents indicate they will have a disastrous 2022 .
As a sign of the remarkable House Republican dominance at the polls , the Cook Political Report had listed 27 House races as `` toss-ups '' because they were too close to predict .
Of those 27 House races , Republicans won every single one .
They also won every GOP-leaning race .
Even more exciting for long-term House Republican supporters like me , these victories came with a much broader and more competitive set of candidates .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post : At least 33 House Republicans will be either women or non-White when the new body sits in January .
This includes 27 women , six Hispanics , and two Black men , Burgess Owens of Utah and Byron Donalds of Florida .
They come from all regions of the country and represent urban , suburban and rural seats .
In fact , every seat Republicans have flipped from blue to red has been captured by a woman or a minority .
This was n't an accident .
Aided by efforts by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elise Stefanik ( R-N.Y. ) , GOP officials strenuously tried to recruit capable female and non-White candidates for as many pickup opportunities as possible .
These efforts could bear even more fruit , as two other women and one Hispanic — Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa , Claudia Tenney in New York and Mike Garcia in California — might still win the seats they are contesting .
The story of a positive , inclusive , idea- and solution-oriented House Republican Party is going to make both candidate recruitment and fundraising much easier .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are to a Speaker McCarthy era , his ability to recruit candidates and to fund those candidates is going to go up dramatically .
Conversely , Speaker Pelosi will appear increasingly embattled in a House she presides over but can not lead .
She will be hamstrung by her narrow partisan margin—and by the deep and increasingly angry split between the radical wing and the moderates ( who know that socialism and the Green New Deal are going to defeat Democrats if these principles define them ) .
Finally , just as President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a common focus , the Biden-Harris administration and its radical appointees ( most of them unaware of how destructive their views are outside their own circles ) will make it much easier for House Republicans to hang together .
I do n't know if the House Democratic losses in 2022 will be as big as 1994 or 2010 , but I am convinced they will be big enough to make McCarthy the next Speaker of the House .
To read , hear , and watch more of Newt 's commentary , visit Gingrich360.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the writer 's own .

As the House Democrats try to understand why their expected gains in 2020 turned out to be substantial losses, they should take a minute to reflect on the disastrous results of the midterms of 1994 and 2010—the last midterm elections that followed the inaugurations of new Democratic presidents.
In 1994, I led the House GOP as we won a majority for the first time in 40 years. At the ballot boxes, the American people repudiated the Democrats' left-wing policies, including tax increases, a huge health care proposal (Hillarycare) and efforts at gun control. Their vote was also a statement against President Bill Clinton, who shifted dramatically to the left as president after he had campaigned as a moderate.
In 1994, Republicans gained 6.4 percent to reach 51.5 percent of the total vote, while the Democrats dropped 5.4 percent to end up with 44.7 percent of the vote. I went from minority whip to Speaker of the House while Democratic speaker Tom Foley was defeated in his race.
While the Republicans had not been reelected as a majority since 1930 (64 years prior) we established a reputation for keeping our word with the Contract with America. Reforming welfare, passing the largest capital gains tax cut in history, reforming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, overhauling federal communication laws and balancing the budget for four straight years gave House Republicans enough support from the American people to hold the majority for 12 years.
In the second midterm under President George W Bush, the House Republicans collapsed. With an aggressive campaign led by then-minority leader Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats earned 52.3 percent of the vote and gained 31 seats. However, the House Democratic majority lasted only four years.
Two years after President Barack Obama was elected, his party's left-wing policies on taxes, social issues and health care led to a sharp return for the House Republicans. In 2010, Republicans gained 9.1 percent of the vote to a total of 51.7 percent while the Democrats were down 8.3 percent to 44.9 percent of the vote. Speaker Pelosi again became Minority Leader Pelosi, and Minority Leader John Boehner became Speaker Boehner. After Obama's second election in 2012, House Republicans only gained 13 seats overall—but that created the largest Republican majority since 1928.
The 2020 House elections may prove to be a harbinger of things to come. The Democrats and their left-wing media allies had been cheerfully predicting that they would gain 15 seats or more because of President Donald Trump's unpopularity. Instead, the brilliant recruiting by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and his team (including Whip Steve Scalise, Conference Chair Liz Cheney, National Republican Congressional Committee chair Tom Emmer and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik)—and the resources they amassed to offset the Democrats—led to a House Republican gain of at least eight seats.
Speaker Pelosi is now being forced to try to lead the House with (currently) a 219-205 lead—and Republicans appear to be leading in eight of the 11 undecided races in California, Iowa and New York. If these races go as expected, it will be a 222-213 Democratic majority. That means losing five Democratic seats in 2022 will give Kevin McCarthy control of the floor.
In a similar circumstance in 1998, when we expected to gain 15 seats during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and instead lost five seats, I resigned because the House GOP conference was deeply disappointed in the outcome. They were afraid of sliding into the minority (four years of being chairpersons rather than ranking members had taught them the value of majority status).
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) talks to reporters after she was re-elected to lead her conference at the U.S. Capitol November 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Now, Speaker Pelosi must face a Democratic Caucus whose members have not yet absorbed the fact that they control far fewer seats than they had expected the day before the election. The Democrats who care about being in the majority must ask themselves what they need to do to maintain a majority when the historical precedents indicate they will have a disastrous 2022.
As a sign of the remarkable House Republican dominance at the polls, the Cook Political Report had listed 27 House races as "toss-ups" because they were too close to predict. Of those 27 House races, Republicans won every single one. They also won every GOP-leaning race.
Even more exciting for long-term House Republican supporters like me, these victories came with a much broader and more competitive set of candidates.
As Henry Olsen wrote in The Washington Post:
At least 33 House Republicans will be either women or non-White when the new body sits in January. This includes 27 women, six Hispanics, and two Black men, Burgess Owens of Utah and Byron Donalds of Florida. They come from all regions of the country and represent urban, suburban and rural seats. In fact, every seat Republicans have flipped from blue to red has been captured by a woman or a minority. This wasn't an accident. Aided by efforts by the National Republican Congressional Committee and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), GOP officials strenuously tried to recruit capable female and non-White candidates for as many pickup opportunities as possible. These efforts could bear even more fruit, as two other women and one Hispanic — Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa, Claudia Tenney in New York and Mike Garcia in California — might still win the seats they are contesting.
The story of a positive, inclusive, idea- and solution-oriented House Republican Party is going to make both candidate recruitment and fundraising much easier.
As donors and supporters realize how close we are to a Speaker McCarthy era, his ability to recruit candidates and to fund those candidates is going to go up dramatically.
Conversely, Speaker Pelosi will appear increasingly embattled in a House she presides over but cannot lead. She will be hamstrung by her narrow partisan margin—and by the deep and increasingly angry split between the radical wing and the moderates (who know that socialism and the Green New Deal are going to defeat Democrats if these principles define them).
Finally, just as President Trump drove Democrats together and gave them a common focus, the Biden-Harris administration and its radical appointees (most of them unaware of how destructive their views are outside their own circles) will make it much easier for House Republicans to hang together.
I don't know if the House Democratic losses in 2022 will be as big as 1994 or 2010, but I am convinced they will be big enough to make McCarthy the next Speaker of the House.
To read, hear, and watch more of Newt's commentary, visit Gingrich360.com.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-11-19--Christmas Will Be 'as Close To Normal as Possible' U.K. Advisers Say

The British government is looking to relax strict COVID restrictions over the holiday season a top COVID medical adviser has said , giving hope to families looking forward to spending Christmas together .
Current COVID measures differ across the four U.K. nations - England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland - but household mixing is currently either banned or against guidance .
The four nations are said to be trying to work out a common approach to Christmas so that families living across Britain can still meet up .
The government 's medical adviser on COVID , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson is planning for a `` Christmas as close to normal as possible '' .
At a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday , she said : `` Hopefully the government will make the decision that will allow us to have some mixing , but we will wait and see what that is . ''
But she said that `` for every day we release [ measures ] we will need two days of tighter restrictions '' and suggested the cost of socializing at Christmas would be stricter restrictions in January .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against mixing would last for just a few days .
Government minister Alok Sharma said it was too early for `` conclusions '' but added that he wanted to see his family for Christmas .
Downing Street is clear that `` no decisions have been made '' .
It comes after The Sun reported that families may be able to mix indoors for five days from Christmas Eve .
Johnson has repeatedly stated his intention to return England to a tier system on December 2 when the current nationwide lockdown ends , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on `` new tiers '' after a low level of restrictions proved ineffective .
The government is expected to decide on its end-of-lockdown package for England at the end of this month .
Dr. Julian Tang , a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester , tells Newsweek it 's not clear what level of reproduction number ( R ) the Prime Minister will use to lift the lockdown and therefore still not clear if lockdown will need to extend beyond December 2 .
`` If it is not low enough then he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save Christmas , '' Dr. Tang says .
`` If we do get the R number down to below 1 to release the lockdown on December 2 we will still need a relatively strict tiered approach to maintain that R number so that we might be able to relax for five days over Christmas .
`` If we achieve all of this and get a more relaxed level of restrictions , we may see a surge in cases after Christmas due to the increased mixing - especially if there are no restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus to some areas with still relatively low numbers of cases '' It needs to be clear how many households in total can mix throughout this whole period , e.g .
if one household A can mix with one set of in-laws and friends ( households B , C , D ) on a Monday , then mix with the other set of in-laws ( households X , Y , Z ) on Wednesday , then household A may have effectively mixed with 6 different households with a few days .
Ideally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The glaring problem with a five-day break , Dr. Tang explains , is that this just happens to be the average incubation period of COVID-19 .
He says : `` If you visit elderly parents or grandparents on Christmas Eve and infect them , they may not develop noticeable symptoms until after all family has left five days later - leaving them to fend for themselves when they are alone again . ''
Dr. Tang says a break will be important for the mental health of families and individuals who may otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but adds : `` Unfortunately , if we have this five-day Christmas break there will likely be a surge of cases detectable over the following two to three weeks just due to the enhanced contacts we will have had over the festive period . ''
Reports that the first round of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines could be rolled out by mid-December had sparked hopes of a more `` normal '' Christmas but health chiefs are still waiting to see whether cases have started to come down during the lockdown .
The latest R number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while 176,957 people have tested positive for COVID in the past seven days across the U.K. Dr. Hopkins , from Public Health England , said people would need to be `` very careful '' about the contacts they have in the lead-up to Christmas and would have to be `` responsible '' and reduce contacts again after the festive period .
She said she knew ministers were `` working hard to develop an outline '' of what new tiers would look like after December 2 and what the festive break would look like @

The British government is looking to relax strict COVID restrictions over the holiday season a top COVID medical adviser has said, giving hope to families looking forward to spending Christmas together.
Current COVID measures differ across the four U.K. nations - England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland - but household mixing is currently either banned or against guidance. The four nations are said to be trying to work out a common approach to Christmas so that families living across Britain can still meet up.
The government's medical adviser on COVID, Dr. Susan Hopkins, suggested Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning for a "Christmas as close to normal as possible". At a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday, she said: "Hopefully the government will make the decision that will allow us to have some mixing, but we will wait and see what that is."
But she said that "for every day we release [measures] we will need two days of tighter restrictions" and suggested the cost of socializing at Christmas would be stricter restrictions in January. It is expected that any break in the rules against mixing would last for just a few days.
Government minister Alok Sharma said it was too early for "conclusions" but added that he wanted to see his family for Christmas. Downing Street is clear that "no decisions have been made". It comes after The Sun reported that families may be able to mix indoors for five days from Christmas Eve.
Johnson has repeatedly stated his intention to return England to a tier system on December 2 when the current nationwide lockdown ends, but Dr. Hopkins said ministers are now working on "new tiers" after a low level of restrictions proved ineffective. The government is expected to decide on its end-of-lockdown package for England at the end of this month.
Dr. Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, tells Newsweek it's not clear what level of reproduction number (R) the Prime Minister will use to lift the lockdown and therefore still not clear if lockdown will need to extend beyond December 2.
"If it is not low enough then he may extend the lockdown with a promise to save Christmas," Dr. Tang says. "If we do get the R number down to below 1 to release the lockdown on December 2 we will still need a relatively strict tiered approach to maintain that R number so that we might be able to relax for five days over Christmas.
Christmas shoppers in masks outside Selfridges department store in central London Tolga Akmen/Getty
"If we achieve all of this and get a more relaxed level of restrictions, we may see a surge in cases after Christmas due to the increased mixing - especially if there are no restrictions in travel, allowing the importation of the virus to some areas with still relatively low numbers of cases
"It needs to be clear how many households in total can mix throughout this whole period, e.g. if one household A can mix with one set of in-laws and friends (households B, C, D) on a Monday, then mix with the other set of in-laws (households X, Y, Z) on Wednesday, then household A may have effectively mixed with 6 different households with a few days. Ideally, there should be some limit."
The glaring problem with a five-day break, Dr. Tang explains, is that this just happens to be the average incubation period of COVID-19.
He says: "If you visit elderly parents or grandparents on Christmas Eve and infect them, they may not develop noticeable symptoms until after all family has left five days later - leaving them to fend for themselves when they are alone again."
Dr. Tang says a break will be important for the mental health of families and individuals who may otherwise be very lonely and isolated at Christmas, but adds: "Unfortunately, if we have this five-day Christmas break there will likely be a surge of cases detectable over the following two to three weeks just due to the enhanced contacts we will have had over the festive period."
Reports that the first round of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines could be rolled out by mid-December had sparked hopes of a more "normal" Christmas but health chiefs are still waiting to see whether cases have started to come down during the lockdown.
The latest R number is estimated at 1 to 1.2, while 176,957 people have tested positive for COVID in the past seven days across the U.K.
Dr. Hopkins, from Public Health England, said people would need to be "very careful" about the contacts they have in the lead-up to Christmas and would have to be "responsible" and reduce contacts again after the festive period.
She said she knew ministers were "working hard to develop an outline" of what new tiers would look like after December 2 and what the festive break would look like.