newsweek--2020-12-29--COVID Pandemic 'Not Necessarily the Big One' Says WHO's Mike Ryan As New Strains Spread

A World Health Organization ( WHO ) expert has warned the COVID pandemic has been `` very severe '' but is `` not necessarily the big one '' when it comes to future outbreaks of infectious diseases .
Dr. Mike Ryan , the head of the WHO emergencies program , made the comments during a media briefing on Monday .
His remarks came amid concern about how two new strains of COVID detected in the U.K. and South Africa , named B.1.1.7 and 501.V2 respectively , may affect the course of the pandemic that has already seen over 81.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both variants of COVID contain what is known as the N501Y mutation , and are thought to be better at spreading than past forms .
Ryan said : `` This pandemic has been very severe , has spread around the world extremely quickly , it has affected every corner of this planet .
But this is not necessarily the big one . ''
`` This virus is very transmissible ... and it kills people and it has deprived so many people of loved ones .
But its current case fatality is reasonably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a wake-up call . ''
Ryan went on : `` From our perspective the planet is fragile .
We live in an increasingly complex global society .
These threats will continue .
If there 's one thing we need to take from this pandemic with all of the tragedy and loss is that we need to get our act together , we need to get ready for something that may even be more severe in future .
In this we must honor those we 've lost by getting better at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His comments came at a turning point in the pandemic , as vaccines are gradually being rolled out but countries face the prospect of dealing with the new , potentially more transmissible strains of the virus .
Over a dozen countries have reported COVID cases caused by the U.K. variant , including Australia , Canada , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Lebanon , the Netherlands , Singapore , South Korea , Spain , Sweden , and Switzerland .
On Tuesday , India 's health ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. were carrying the B.1.1.7 variant and were being quarantined .
The strain from South Africa was detected in Australia for the first time in an individual who was quarantined in a hotel and has since been taken to hospital , according to Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath .
Parts of the virus were also found in five wastewater facilities in Brisbane , she said .
On Monday , Japan 's health ministry confirmed it had found the variant from South Africa in a woman in her 30s who arrived in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been found in the U.K. and Finland .
Neither strain has been detected in the U.S. , but last week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the U.K. variant `` could already be in the United States without having been detected . ''
Dr. Nahid Bhadelia , the medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center , told CNBC on Monday the variant may not have been picked up in the U.S. due to testing capacity .
`` To find that strain , what we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the samples that are diagnosed and do deep genetic analysis , and [ in ] the U.S. , our capacity has n't been spectacular , '' she said .
Bhadelia cited a CDC report from December 22 that said the genetic make-up of around 51,000 of the 17 million U.S. cases had been examined .
`` If the strain is here , we might just be missing it because the holes in our net are too wide , '' said Bhadelia .
She said it is therefore important to continue with public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC advises people take measures including washing their hands often , staying 6 feet away from people outside of their household , and wearing a mask in public settings particularly when it is difficult to socially distance .

A World Health Organization (WHO) expert has warned the COVID pandemic has been "very severe" but is "not necessarily the big one" when it comes to future outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of the WHO emergencies program, made the comments during a media briefing on Monday. His remarks came amid concern about how two new strains of COVID detected in the U.K. and South Africa, named B.1.1.7 and 501.V2 respectively, may affect the course of the pandemic that has already seen over 81.2 million people infected and killed over 1.7 million.
Both variants of COVID contain what is known as the N501Y mutation, and are thought to be better at spreading than past forms.
Ryan said: "This pandemic has been very severe, has spread around the world extremely quickly, it has affected every corner of this planet. But this is not necessarily the big one."
"This virus is very transmissible... and it kills people and it has deprived so many people of loved ones. But its current case fatality is reasonably low in comparison to other emerging diseases. This is a wake-up call."
Ryan went on: "From our perspective the planet is fragile. We live in an increasingly complex global society. These threats will continue. If there's one thing we need to take from this pandemic with all of the tragedy and loss is that we need to get our act together, we need to get ready for something that may even be more severe in future. In this we must honor those we've lost by getting better at what we do every day."
His comments came at a turning point in the pandemic, as vaccines are gradually being rolled out but countries face the prospect of dealing with the new, potentially more transmissible strains of the virus.
Over a dozen countries have reported COVID cases caused by the U.K. variant, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
On Tuesday, India's health ministry said six people who had travelled from the U.K. were carrying the B.1.1.7 variant and were being quarantined.
The strain from South Africa was detected in Australia for the first time in an individual who was quarantined in a hotel and has since been taken to hospital, according to Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath. Parts of the virus were also found in five wastewater facilities in Brisbane, she said.
On Monday, Japan's health ministry confirmed it had found the variant from South Africa in a woman in her 30s who arrived in the country on December 19. B.1.1.7 has also been found in the U.K. and Finland.
Neither strain has been detected in the U.S., but last week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the U.K. variant "could already be in the United States without having been detected."
Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, the medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center, told CNBC on Monday the variant may not have been picked up in the U.S. due to testing capacity.
"To find that strain, what we need to do is to take a percentage of the samples that are diagnosed and do deep genetic analysis, and [in] the U.S., our capacity hasn't been spectacular," she said.
Bhadelia cited a CDC report from December 22 that said the genetic make-up of around 51,000 of the 17 million U.S. cases had been examined.
"If the strain is here, we might just be missing it because the holes in our net are too wide," said Bhadelia.
She said it is therefore important to continue with public health measures that prevent the spread of COVID. The CDC advises people take measures including washing their hands often, staying 6 feet away from people outside of their household, and wearing a mask in public settings particularly when it is difficult to socially distance.


newsweek--2020-12-29--In MAGAland, Mitch McConnell, Not Trump, is the Hero of the Stimulus Battle

Supporters of President Donald Trump praised Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Twitter Tuesday after the Republican introduced a new proposal to approve $ 2000 stimulus checks with additional measures that could kill the larger checks .
Conservatives had criticized Trump for allegedly siding with Democrats after the president signed the stimulus package on Sunday .
Some MAGA supporters claimed that Trump had caved into pressure after he had initially suggested that he would n't sign the package unless it removed `` pork '' spending for `` wasteful '' projects .
Trump drew further conservative ire when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 checks for each American adult rather than the $ 600 allotted , something congressional Democrats had long sought .
On Tuesday , McConnell introduced his own proposal for $ 2,000 checks , adding in measures that would repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act—a law shielding social media companies from liability for posts shared by users—and establish a commission to study voter fraud , fulfilling two long-time wishes of some Republican voters who believe that both social media companies and the election were biased against Trump .
If McConnell 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democrats could be forced to vote on the measure , and most are expected to vote against .
Republicans could then claim that Democrats killed an effort to approve $ 2,000 checks along with GOP attempts to stem foreign disinformation by repealing Section 230 and safeguarding elections by establishing a voter fraud commission .
McConnell is facing a barrage of backlash from Democrats and Democratic voters on social media for blocking the $ 2,000 checks , but some MAGA supporters praised him for turning the stimulus cudgel on Democrats .
Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senatemajldr cleverly offers Senate vote on @ realDonaldTrump priorities- # 2k relief , repeal 230 protections & voter fraud - tied together .
Protects GOP from tough vote '' .
In a post that misspells the word `` sane '' , Twitter user @ GiantRobot wrote , `` Thank you @ senatemajldr for being the same [ sic ] one in the room .
The entire covid relief needs cancelled .
It 's government overreach .
We ca n't afford this .
It 's not the job of the government to 'warp speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts . ''
Twitter user @ Ray04709159 wrote , `` Nope .
Mitch McConnell made a great choice .
People need to make money on there [ sic ] own .
No more government help .
Mitch McConnell is an American Hero .
🇺🇸🇺🇸 '' A user named @ TomSwick wrote , `` Damn it I cant take anymore .
Just when I thought @ senatemajldr was a traitor and backstabber to us .
He goes and does something like this and makes me like him .
Good move . ''
Conservative Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
@ senatemajldr we 'd like a chair at the election fraud study .
@ realDonaldTrump '' tagging both the Senate Majority Leader 's and Trump 's Twitter accounts .
Twitter user @ America_1always wrote , `` @ senatemajldr nice job .
I like the new bill .
Thank you ! ''
Last Wednesday , Trump vetoed the $ 740 billion National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , stating that its lack of a Section 230 repeal would enable Russia and China to use U.S. social media to spread disinformation without any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their use .
Trump has long sought a repeal of Section 230 , stating without evidence that enables social media companies to broadcast negative messages about him and other conservatives .
Months before the election , Trump said he would only lose if there were widespread voter fraud , a claim that his re-election campaign and other Republicans have continually repeated since Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden .
As of December 13 , the Trump campaign and Republicans had lost 59 out of 60 court challenges alleging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Supporters of President Donald Trump praised Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Twitter Tuesday after the Republican introduced a new proposal to approve $2000 stimulus checks with additional measures that could kill the larger checks.
Conservatives had criticized Trump for allegedly siding with Democrats after the president signed the stimulus package on Sunday. Some MAGA supporters claimed that Trump had caved into pressure after he had initially suggested that he wouldn't sign the package unless it removed "pork" spending for "wasteful" projects. Trump drew further conservative ire when he said that the package should include $2,000 checks for each American adult rather than the $600 allotted, something congressional Democrats had long sought.
On Tuesday, McConnell introduced his own proposal for $2,000 checks, adding in measures that would repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act—a law shielding social media companies from liability for posts shared by users—and establish a commission to study voter fraud, fulfilling two long-time wishes of some Republican voters who believe that both social media companies and the election were biased against Trump.
If McConnell's measure is passed by Senate Republicans, House Democrats could be forced to vote on the measure, and most are expected to vote against. Republicans could then claim that Democrats killed an effort to approve $2,000 checks along with GOP attempts to stem foreign disinformation by repealing Section 230 and safeguarding elections by establishing a voter fraud commission.
McConnell is facing a barrage of backlash from Democrats and Democratic voters on social media for blocking the $2,000 checks, but some MAGA supporters praised him for turning the stimulus cudgel on Democrats.
Right-wing Republicans on Twitter are praising Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky over President Donald Trump after a McConnell introduced a Senate proposal which could deny Trump and Democrats an increase in COVID-19 stimulus checks intended for American adults economically harmed by the ongoing pandemic. In this September 30, 2020 photo, McConnell talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Fox News contributor Liz Peek wrote, "@senatemajldr cleverly offers Senate vote on @realDonaldTrump priorities- #2k relief, repeal 230 protections & voter fraud - tied together. Protects GOP from tough vote".
@senatemajldr cleverly offers Senate vote on @realDonaldTrump priorities- #2k relief, repeal 230 protections & voter fraud - tied together. Protects GOP from tough vote — Liz Peek (@lizpeek) December 29, 2020
In a post that misspells the word "sane", Twitter user @GiantRobot wrote, "Thank you @senatemajldr for being the same [sic] one in the room. The entire covid relief needs cancelled. It's government overreach. We can't afford this. It's not the job of the government to 'warp speed' medicine. This is how dependency starts."
Thank you @senatemajldr for being the same one in the room.
The entire covid relief needs cancelled. It's government overreach. We can't afford this.
It's not the job of the government to "warp speed" medicine. This is how dependency starts. @seanhannity Preach on! — GiantTalkingRobot (@GiantTalking) December 30, 2020
Twitter user @Ray04709159 wrote, "Nope. Mitch McConnell made a great choice. People need to make money on there [sic] own. No more government help. Mitch McConnell is an American Hero. 🇺🇸🇺🇸"
Nope. Mitch McConnell made a great choice. People need to make money on there own. No more government help. Mitch McConnell is an American Hero. 🇺🇸🇺🇸 — Ray (@Ray04709159) December 29, 2020
A user named @TomSwick wrote, "Damn it I cant take anymore. Just when I thought @senatemajldr was a traitor and backstabber to us. He goes and does something like this and makes me like him. Good move."
Damn it I cant take anymore. Just when I thought @senatemajldr was a traitor and backstabber to us. He goes and does something like this and makes me like him. Good move. — Dr. President Elect - Tom Swick (@TomSwick) December 29, 2020
Conservative Georgia group True the Vote wrote, ".@senatemajldr we'd like a chair at the election fraud study. @realDonaldTrump" tagging both the Senate Majority Leader's and Trump's Twitter accounts.
Verified user @AdelleNaz succinctly wrote, "Well played @senatemajldr".
Twitter user @America_1always wrote, "@senatemajldr nice job. I like the new bill. Thank you!"
@senatemajldr nice job. I like the new bill. Thank you! — Processing ❌ (@America_1always) December 29, 2020
Last Wednesday, Trump vetoed the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), stating that its lack of a Section 230 repeal would enable Russia and China to use U.S. social media to spread disinformation without any way to hold social media companies accountable for their use.
Trump has long sought a repeal of Section 230, stating without evidence that enables social media companies to broadcast negative messages about him and other conservatives.
Months before the election, Trump said he would only lose if there were widespread voter fraud, a claim that his re-election campaign and other Republicans have continually repeated since Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden.
As of December 13, the Trump campaign and Republicans had lost 59 out of 60 court challenges alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 elections.
Newsweek contacted McConnell's office for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Wuhan May Have Nearly 10 Times More COVID Cases Than Official Figure—Antibodies Study

A new study suggests that the number of COVID-19 cases in Wuhan , China could be ten times higher than the official count , indicating that over half a million people may have been infected in the city where the virus first emerged .
The study from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , based on blood samples taken in mid-April , found that 4.43 percent of a sample of the city 's 11 million residents had antibodies for the coronavirus , according to South China Morning Post .
That could potentially translate to nearly 500,000 cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city 's official tally of about 50,000 cases recorded around the same time .
Researchers sampled blood from 34,000 people in China , including 11,000 in Wuhan , before testing for the antibodies , which are usually produced by immune systems that are attempting to fight off infections after encountering the virus .
Blood samples of 17,000 Wuhan residents were tested for antibodies in a study published by the journal Nature Medicine in June , which found a slightly lower infection rate between 3.2 percent and 3.8 percent .
Antibody tests are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count .
The accuracy of testing can vary , while samples can be taken from areas with higher or lower infection rates than average .
Regardless , the true number of infections in Wuhan is almost certainly more than the number of cases officially counted , especially considering that many of those exhibiting clear symptoms of COVID-19 during the city 's outbreak earlier this year were not able to be tested .
There have been 87,003 total COVID-19 infections and 4,634 associated deaths in all of China since the virus was first detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official website of China 's National Health Commission .
Many have suspected the that actual Chinese case counts could be far higher official government figures , a notion that the antibody test results would seem to reinforce .
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Washington , D.C. for comment .
However , the Chinese antibody numbers are not far off from what antibody testing has revealed in other countries , with studies in the U.S. and Europe sometimes showing significantly higher figures .
When assuming that testing detecting the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not entirely clear , official case counts are probably lower than the true number of infections in nearly every country in the world .
Wuhan 's outbreak still pales in comparison to some other hard-hit cities .
For example , an August study testing for antibodies in a sample of 1.5 million New York City residents suggested that 27 percent may have contracted the virus .
That figure that would amount to over 2.26 million people when applied to the city 's entire population , which is around 10 times the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
Although China had the first cases , the U.S. has had by far the most COVID-19 infections and deaths of any country in the world , reporting almost 24 percent of the global total despite consisting of around 4 percent of the population .
Over 19.3 million cases and almost 335,000 deaths had been confirmed in the country as of Tuesday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Worldwide , there have been about 81.8 million confirmed cases and more than 1.78 million associated deaths .

A new study suggests that the number of COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China could be ten times higher than the official count, indicating that over half a million people may have been infected in the city where the virus first emerged.
The study from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, based on blood samples taken in mid-April, found that 4.43 percent of a sample of the city's 11 million residents had antibodies for the coronavirus, according to South China Morning Post. That could potentially translate to nearly 500,000 cases, an order of magnitude more than the city's official tally of about 50,000 cases recorded around the same time.
Researchers sampled blood from 34,000 people in China, including 11,000 in Wuhan, before testing for the antibodies, which are usually produced by immune systems that are attempting to fight off infections after encountering the virus. Blood samples of 17,000 Wuhan residents were tested for antibodies in a study published by the journal Nature Medicine in June, which found a slightly lower infection rate between 3.2 percent and 3.8 percent.
A gloved hand holds a small model of the earth with China highlighted in red and the region containing the city of Wuhan marked with a pin. OlegKov/Getty
Antibody tests are not likely to provide an entirely accurate case count. The accuracy of testing can vary, while samples can be taken from areas with higher or lower infection rates than average. Regardless, the true number of infections in Wuhan is almost certainly more than the number of cases officially counted, especially considering that many of those exhibiting clear symptoms of COVID-19 during the city's outbreak earlier this year were not able to be tested.
There have been 87,003 total COVID-19 infections and 4,634 associated deaths in all of China since the virus was first detected, according to information provided on the official website of China's National Health Commission. Many have suspected the that actual Chinese case counts could be far higher official government figures, a notion that the antibody test results would seem to reinforce.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. for comment.
However, the Chinese antibody numbers are not far off from what antibody testing has revealed in other countries, with studies in the U.S. and Europe sometimes showing significantly higher figures. When assuming that testing detecting the presence of antibodies indicates prior infections, something that is not entirely clear, official case counts are probably lower than the true number of infections in nearly every country in the world. Wuhan's outbreak still pales in comparison to some other hard-hit cities.
For example, an August study testing for antibodies in a sample of 1.5 million New York City residents suggested that 27 percent may have contracted the virus. That figure that would amount to over 2.26 million people when applied to the city's entire population, which is around 10 times the number of infections that were officially recorded at the time.
Although China had the first cases, the U.S. has had by far the most COVID-19 infections and deaths of any country in the world, reporting almost 24 percent of the global total despite consisting of around 4 percent of the population. Over 19.3 million cases and almost 335,000 deaths had been confirmed in the country as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been about 81.8 million confirmed cases and more than 1.78 million associated deaths.


newsweek--2020-12-29--18 NFL Teams Still in Contention For Super Bowl LV With One Game Remaining

With one week remaining in the NFL regular season , more than half the league still has a shot at advancing all the way to the Super Bowl .
Heading into the final Sunday , there are 18 teams that have that shot .
Of the 14 total playoff spots available overall , only seven spots have been claimed—three in the AFC and four in the NFC .
That means 11 teams are playing for the final seven spots .
And , there could likely be an 11-win team missing the playoffs while a team with a losing record makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoffs , anything can happen—especially in 2020 .
First , here are the teams that have clinched playoff spots so far .
Should Buffalo and Pittsburgh finish tied , Buffalo would get the No .
2 seed because of its win over Pittsburgh this season .
The top seed is dicey if Green Bay loses this weekend at Chicago .
Here are scenarios for the top seed : • Green Bay gets the No .
1 seed and first-round bye with a win , or a loss by both them and the Seahawks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 seed with a win , a Seattle win and Green Bay loss .
• Seahawks get No .
1 seed with a win , a Green Bay loss and Saints loss .
Here are the teams in contention for playoff spots in the AFC and how they can clinch spots : • Baltimore Ravens ( 10-5 ) — a win at Cincinnati ( 4-10-1 ) will nail down their third consecutive trip to the playoffs .
• Cleveland Browns ( 10-5 ) — a home victory over Pittsburgh ( 12-3 ) will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Miami Dolphins ( 10-5 ) — a win at Buffalo ( 12-3 ) will clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016 .
• Tennessee Titans ( 10-5 ) — a win at Houston ( 4-11 ) will cement their first division title since 2008 .
• Indianapolis Colts ( 10-5 ) — a home win against Jacksonville ( 1-14 ) , combined with a Tennessee loss , gives them the AFC title .
Otherwise , a Colts win combined with a loss from Baltimore , Cleveland or Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Wild Card .
Here are the teams in contention for playoff spots in the NFC : • Los Angeles Rams ( 9-6 ) — a home win over the Cardinals ( 8-7 ) puts the Rams in the playoffs • Chicago Bears ( 8-7 ) — a home win over the Packers ( 12-3 ) puts the Bears in • Arizona Cardinals ( 8-7 ) — a road win over the Rams ( 9-6 ) puts the Cardinals in • Washington FT ( 6-9 ) — a win over the Eagles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loss and they 're out • Dallas Cowboys ( 6-9 ) — a win over the Giants ( 5-10 ) and Washington loss puts Dallas in • New York Giants ( 5-10 ) — a win over the Cowboys ( 6-9 ) and Washington loss puts NYG in

With one week remaining in the NFL regular season, more than half the league still has a shot at advancing all the way to the Super Bowl.
Heading into the final Sunday, there are 18 teams that have that shot. Of the 14 total playoff spots available overall, only seven spots have been claimed—three in the AFC and four in the NFC. That means 11 teams are playing for the final seven spots. And, there could likely be an 11-win team missing the playoffs while a team with a losing record makes it.
Once a team makes the playoffs, anything can happen—especially in 2020.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed for the upcoming NFL playoffs. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
First, here are the teams that have clinched playoff spots so far.
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) — Clinched No. 1 seed, first-round bye
(14-1) — Clinched No. 1 seed, first-round bye Buffalo Bills (12-3) — Clinched AFC East title
(12-3) — Clinched AFC East title Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) — Clinched AFC North title
Should Buffalo and Pittsburgh finish tied, Buffalo would get the No. 2 seed because of its win over Pittsburgh this season.
NFC
Green Bay Packers (12-3) — Clinched NFC North title
(12-3) — Clinched NFC North title New Orleans Saints (11-4) — Clinched NFC South title
(11-4) — Clinched NFC South title Seattle Seahawks (11-4) — Clinched NFC West title
(11-4) — Clinched NFC West title Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5) — Clinched Wild Card spot
The top seed is dicey if Green Bay loses this weekend at Chicago. Here are scenarios for the top seed:
Green Bay gets the No. 1 seed and first-round bye with a win, or a loss by both them and the Seahawks.
and first-round bye with a win, or a loss by both them and the Seahawks. Saints get the No. 1 seed with a win, a Seattle win and Green Bay loss.
with a win, a Seattle win and Green Bay loss. Seahawks get No. 1 seed with a win, a Green Bay loss and Saints loss.
Here are the teams in contention for playoff spots in the AFC and how they can clinch spots:
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) — a win at Cincinnati (4-10-1) will nail down their third consecutive trip to the playoffs.
(10-5) — a win at Cincinnati (4-10-1) will nail down their third consecutive trip to the playoffs. Cleveland Browns (10-5) — a home victory over Pittsburgh (12-3) will have their first playoff berth since 2002.
(10-5) — a home victory over Pittsburgh (12-3) will have their first playoff berth since 2002. Miami Dolphins (10-5) — a win at Buffalo (12-3) will clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.
(10-5) — a win at Buffalo (12-3) will clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. Tennessee Titans (10-5) — a win at Houston (4-11) will cement their first division title since 2008.
(10-5) — a win at Houston (4-11) will cement their first division title since 2008. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) — a home win against Jacksonville (1-14), combined with a Tennessee loss, gives them the AFC title. Otherwise, a Colts win combined with a loss from Baltimore, Cleveland or Miami gets the Colts in the playoffs as a Wild Card.
Here are the teams in contention for playoff spots in the NFC:
Los Angeles Rams (9-6) — a home win over the Cardinals (8-7) puts the Rams in the playoffs
(9-6) — a home win over the Cardinals (8-7) puts the Rams in the playoffs Chicago Bears (8-7) — a home win over the Packers (12-3) puts the Bears in
(8-7) — a home win over the Packers (12-3) puts the Bears in Arizona Cardinals (8-7) — a road win over the Rams (9-6) puts the Cardinals in
(8-7) — a road win over the Rams (9-6) puts the Cardinals in Washington FT (6-9) — a win over the Eagles (4-10-1) and they're in, a loss and they're out
(6-9) — a win over the Eagles (4-10-1) and they're in, a loss and they're out Dallas Cowboys (6-9) — a win over the Giants (5-10) and Washington loss puts Dallas in
(6-9) — a win over the Giants (5-10) and Washington loss puts Dallas in New York Giants (5-10) — a win over the Cowboys (6-9) and Washington loss puts NYG in
Week 17 NFL Schedule — Sunday, January 3, 2021
(All times Eastern)


newsweek--2020-12-29--Homeless Occupying Washington Hotel Facing Eviction Over Inability to Pay Room Bills

Homeless residents of western Washington are occupying a Travelodge Motel near the Port of Tacoma , where local activists booked 16 rooms last week .
Members of Tacoma Housing Now , an advocacy group whose work focuses on ending homelessness in the city , secured the rooms with an initial payment for one night 's stay on Christmas Eve .
They have not compensated the inn since then , although organizers say upwards of 40 individuals experiencing homelessness remained in the rooms originally booked on Tuesday .
An employee at the Travelodge , located in Fife , a suburb of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 people still occupying rooms late Tuesday afternoon .
The employee could not confirm whether this number was lower than it had been during previous days .
His estimate differs from those published by Tacoma Housing Now and several local news outlets , which reported upwards of 40 occupants present at the motel .
Earlier Tuesday , the advocacy group thanked supporters and donors for helping to protect 43 people residing at the Travelodge in one of numerous updates shared to Twitter .
Activists intend to continue using the motel 's rooms as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the advocacy organization is heard saying in a video accompanying a News Tribune report covering the initiative .
The Tribune is a daily newspaper based in Tacoma .
However , Shawn Randhawa , the Travelodge Motel 's manager , warned that continued occupation of the inn would inevitably cause it to cease operations .
`` I have no business now , '' Randhawa told the Tribune .
`` I 'll be forced to close [ the motel ] , and there will be 10 more people unemployed . ''
Tacoma Housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Fife , should subsidize its initiative using COVID-19 relief funds and prevent those occupying the Travelodge from being evicted .
On Tuesday , the organization announced that one of its members , and one individual occupying the motel , tested positive for the respiratory disease .
The group is now asking for a moratorium on any planned evictions until free COVID-19 tests are provided to everyone involved in the occupation .
`` If anyone tests positive , the only rational response would be to keep them where they are , '' wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
City officials declared homelessness , and the conditions affecting those experiencing homeless in Tacoma , a public health emergency in 2017 .
Almost three years later , county workers reported the incidence of homelessness increased by nearly 30 percent between 2019 and 2020 .
Calls for additional government resources became louder during the pandemic , given the increased risks of contracting COVID-19 for individuals who do not have access to shelter .
At least five people experiencing homelessness have died in the Tacoma area this winter .
Fife police reportedly plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary shelter to the individuals currently occupying the Travelodge Motel .
Hyun Kim , the city manager in Fife , told KOMO , a radio station licensed to Seattle , that his colleagues will meet to determine `` what we can do to get these folks that are staying here ... the help they need . ''
Newsweek reached out to Tacoma Housing Now , the Fife Police Department and Kim 's office for comments .

Homeless residents of western Washington are occupying a Travelodge Motel near the Port of Tacoma, where local activists booked 16 rooms last week. Members of Tacoma Housing Now, an advocacy group whose work focuses on ending homelessness in the city, secured the rooms with an initial payment for one night's stay on Christmas Eve.
They have not compensated the inn since then, although organizers say upwards of 40 individuals experiencing homelessness remained in the rooms originally booked on Tuesday. An employee at the Travelodge, located in Fife, a suburb of Tacoma, told Newsweek the staff counted 16 people still occupying rooms late Tuesday afternoon. The employee could not confirm whether this number was lower than it had been during previous days.
His estimate differs from those published by Tacoma Housing Now and several local news outlets, which reported upwards of 40 occupants present at the motel. Earlier Tuesday, the advocacy group thanked supporters and donors for helping to protect 43 people residing at the Travelodge in one of numerous updates shared to Twitter.
Activists intend to continue using the motel's rooms as "emergency pandemic housing," one member of the advocacy organization is heard saying in a video accompanying a News Tribune report covering the initiative. The Tribune is a daily newspaper based in Tacoma. However, Shawn Randhawa, the Travelodge Motel's manager, warned that continued occupation of the inn would inevitably cause it to cease operations.
"I have no business now," Randhawa told the Tribune. "I'll be forced to close [the motel], and there will be 10 more people unemployed."
Tacoma Housing Now believes government officials, in Tacoma and Fife, should subsidize its initiative using COVID-19 relief funds and prevent those occupying the Travelodge from being evicted. On Tuesday, the organization announced that one of its members, and one individual occupying the motel, tested positive for the respiratory disease. The group is now asking for a moratorium on any planned evictions until free COVID-19 tests are provided to everyone involved in the occupation.
"If anyone tests positive, the only rational response would be to keep them where they are," wrote Tacoma Housing Now in a press release.
The Exhibition Hall at the Seattle Center, shown on April 6, was turned into a temporary men's shelter. Karen Ducey/Getty
City officials declared homelessness, and the conditions affecting those experiencing homelessness in Tacoma, a public health emergency in 2017. Almost three years later, county workers reported the incidence of homelessness increased by nearly 30 percent between 2019 and 2020. Calls for additional government resources became louder during the pandemic, given the increased risks of contracting COVID-19 for individuals who do not have access to shelter. At least five people experiencing homelessness have died in the Tacoma area this winter.
Fife police reportedly plan to work with local agencies that can provide temporary shelter to the individuals currently occupying the Travelodge Motel. Hyun Kim, the city manager in Fife, told KOMO, a radio station licensed to Seattle, that his colleagues will meet to determine "what we can do to get these folks that are staying here...the help they need."
In comments emailed to Newsweek Tuesday night, Kim said the city's primary goal was to find "appropriate accommodations" for the individuals occupying Fife's Travelodge. At the same time, he underscored officials' concern about how the motel's continued occupation would ultimately affect its staff.
"As much as the city and community are concerned with the plight of the homeless, we do not feel that this group's [Tacoma Housing Now] stated goal is served well in their actions that lead to gainfully employed individuals losing their jobs," Kim said. "It will be the responsibility of the individuals to move to alternative housing locations or check out. Barring compliance, the city will move to enforcement."
Rebecca Parson, a lead organizer at Tacoma Housing Now, told Newsweek that Kim previously indicated the city's intentions to provide those occupying the Travelodge with vouchers to allow for their ongoing stay. However, when the public official arrived at the motel alongside Fife police on Wednesday, his housing assistance proposals required the group to vacate. While counterprotesters gathered at the Travelodge to call for an end to the occupation, Kim said he knocked on each motel door to inform those inside that they had to leave or risk arrest otherwise.
No arrests were made, and individuals were not forcibly removed from their rooms at the motel, Kim said. Still, a majority of the people who sought shelter at the Travelodge did not receive alternative housing offers that seemed viable and declined to accept them as a result. According to Parson, most returned to the camps where they had been sleeping before the motel occupation.
Fife's city manager proposed two options for housing assistance when he approached the Travelodge on Wednesday. The first, coordinated with the nonprofit Low Income Housing Institute, was to offer some members of the occupying group shelter in the institute's tiny house development in Tacoma. Many of the individuals involved in the Travelodge occupation did not meet the development's criteria for tenancy.
Kim's second proposal offered local shelter beds to the motel's occupants, which Parson said they likely declined because of apprehension about coronavirus transmission in congregate indoor settings. She estimated that 35 of the 43 individuals involved in the Travelodge occupation were again unsheltered on Thursday.
Newsweek reached out to the Fife Police Department for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
This story was updated on December 31 to reflect updates related to the Travelodge occupation and to include Hyun Kim's and Rebecca Parson's comments.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Fact Check: Would Repealing Section 230 Promote Free Speech as Trump Says?

President Donald Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act on December 23 in part because lawmakers did not include a measure to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 .
The House voted Monday to override the veto , which is now on its way to the Senate .
The president threatened to veto the sweeping $ 740 billion defense bill earlier in the month if Section 230 was not repealed .
According to CNN , the defense bill would include funds to increase American soldiers ' pay , modernize equipment and provide provisions for stricter scrutiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday evening , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a parallel pandemic relief bill to the one passed by Congress last week that would offer increased direct payments of $ 2,000 ( up from $ 600 ) to individuals , as sought by Trump and Democrats , as well as a repeal of Section 230 and legislation pertaining to election fraud studies .
Section 230 has been criticized as a means for social media companies to censor speech on their platforms .
Trump , who has had several posts flagged or removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation 's repeal on several occasions .
He said repealing Section 230 would promote free speech .
In May , an executive order on preventing online censorship was issued , which stated , `` section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate , and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they dislike . ''
The executive order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decid [ ing ] to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias . ''
`` As has been reported , Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician 's tweet .
As recently as last week , Representative Adam Schiff [ D-Calif. ] was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax , and Twitter did not flag those tweets .
Unsurprisingly , its officer in charge of so-called 'Site Integrity ' has flaunted his political bias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Reuters , the Center for Democracy and Technology ( CDT ) , which is funded by Facebook , Google and Twitter , filed a lawsuit in June against the executive order .
The complaint argues that the order violates the First Amendment .
Reuters reported earlier this month that the lawsuit was dismissed because the order was directed at federal agencies , not social media companies , to limit the scope of Section 230 .
In September , Senators Marsha Blackburn ( R-Tenn. ) , Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) attempted to reform instead of repeal Section 230 to limit the type of content that social media companies could moderate while maintaining freedom from liability .
`` We do think that it is important that there be a revisit and not a repeal of Section 230 , '' Blackburn said .
Recently , Trump has received support to repeal Section 230 from other elected officials including Representative Lance Gooden ( R-Texas ) and Graham , who have both pledged not to override the veto of the defense bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aisle , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also opposed Section 230 , calling it `` a real gift to Big Tech . ''
Pelosi did , however , vote to overturn the veto of the defense bill .
Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act was written by then Representatives Chris Cox ( R-Calif. ) and Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) to allow internet companies to regulate themselves , limiting government control of what is now the massive industry of internet service providers .
According to the Council on Foreign relations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be treated as publishers , meaning they serve as hosts and are not liable for what people post on their platforms but can act as moderators in `` good faith . ''
Some politicians feel that the ability for platforms to be their own moderators allows social media companies to censor speech while others have claimed that social media companies have not done enough to respond to misinformation and other issues on their platforms .
In an interview with The Atlantic in November , former President Barack Obama addressed the dangers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't hold the tech companies entirely responsible , '' Obama said , `` because this predates social media .
It was already there .
But social media has turbocharged it ... if we do not have the capacity to distinguish what 's true from what 's false , then by definition the marketplace of ideas does n't work .
And by definition our democracy does n't work . ''
The bottom line is that social media companies ca n't be sued for content posted on their platforms but can remove content that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines and policies .
For example , Twitter has the right to flag or take down posts that encourage violence , promote terrorism , involve child sexual exploitation or include a litany of other safety concerns .
On October 28 , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about Section 230 .
He stated , `` Without Section 230 , platforms could potentially be held liable for everything people say .
Platforms would likely censor more content to avoid legal risk and would be less likely to invest in technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ways . ''
Zuckerberg went on to say that Congress should update the law to ensure it 's `` working as intended . ''
Jeff Kosseff , an assistant professor of cybersecurity law at the United States Naval Academy , echoed Zuckerberg 's testimony , saying , `` I think that if you eliminate Section 230 , you 're going to see all the platforms , from the largest tech companies to small community news sites , be much more restrictive in terms of user content that they allow to be posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to face a substantial amount of liability for those comments . ''
Many people who consider flagging as a form of stifling freedom of speech have turned to Parler , which is a platform that considers itself an unbiased social networking service .
So far , Trump has not expressed displeasure with the site .
Parler states in its community guidelines that , `` We prefer to leave decisions about what is seen and who is heard to each individual .
In no case will Parler decide what content will be removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed , on the basis of the opinion expressed within the content at issue . ''
The First Amendment of the Constitution states , `` Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; or abridging the freedom of speech , or of the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble , and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances . ''
The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech but does not guarantee freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the 1919 Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States , Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes concluded that the First Amendment does not protect speech that creates a `` clear and present danger of a significant evil . ''
In other words , if people are promoting violence or harm against others , then that use of speech is exempt from constitutional protections .
Repealing Section 230 would not promote greater free speech because social media companies and other internet platforms likely will restrict the content on their sites to avoid liability and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clear and present danger rule exempts speech that promotes violence from Constitutional protections .
Social media companies do not limit First Amendment rights by flagging or removing posts that promote harm or violence to other users .

President Donald Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act on December 23 in part because lawmakers did not include a measure to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The House voted Monday to override the veto, which is now on its way to the Senate.
The president threatened to veto the sweeping $740 billion defense bill earlier in the month if Section 230 was not repealed. According to CNN, the defense bill would include funds to increase American soldiers' pay, modernize equipment and provide provisions for stricter scrutiny before troops withdraw from Afghanistan and Germany.
On Tuesday evening, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a parallel pandemic relief bill to the one passed by Congress last week that would offer increased direct payments of $2,000 (up from $600) to individuals, as sought by Trump and Democrats, as well as a repeal of Section 230 and legislation pertaining to election fraud studies.
Twitter is going wild with their flags, trying hard to suppress even the truth. Just shows how dangerous they are, purposely stifling free speech. Very dangerous for our Country. Does Congress know that this is how Communism starts? Cancel Culture at its worst. End Section 230! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
The Claim
Section 230 has been criticized as a means for social media companies to censor speech on their platforms. Trump, who has had several posts flagged or removed from Twitter, has called for the legislation's repeal on several occasions. He said repealing Section 230 would promote free speech.
In May, an executive order on preventing online censorship was issued, which stated, "section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate, and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they dislike."
The executive order specifically called out Twitter for "selectively decid[ing] to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias."
"As has been reported, Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician's tweet. As recently as last week, Representative Adam Schiff [D-Calif.] was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax, and Twitter did not flag those tweets. Unsurprisingly, its officer in charge of so-called 'Site Integrity' has flaunted his political bias in his own tweets."
Twitter is out of control, made possible through the government gift of Section 230! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2020
According to Reuters, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), which is funded by Facebook, Google and Twitter, filed a lawsuit in June against the executive order. The complaint argues that the order violates the First Amendment. Reuters reported earlier this month that the lawsuit was dismissed because the order was directed at federal agencies, not social media companies, to limit the scope of Section 230.
In September, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) attempted to reform instead of repeal Section 230 to limit the type of content that social media companies could moderate while maintaining freedom from liability.
"We do think that it is important that there be a revisit and not a repeal of Section 230," Blackburn said.
Today I will be voting NO on the override of @realDonaldTrump's veto of the NDAA.
Here's why:
The act fails to terminate Section 230 and is a gift to our enemies like communist China! — Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) December 28, 2020
Recently, Trump has received support to repeal Section 230 from other elected officials including Representative Lance Gooden (R-Texas) and Graham, who have both pledged not to override the veto of the defense bill.
Congress should vote to Repeal Section 230 as requested by President @realDonaldTrump.
I will not vote to override presidential veto unless effort is made to wind down Section 230. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020
According to Roll Call, across the aisle, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also opposed Section 230, calling it "a real gift to Big Tech." Pelosi did, however, vote to overturn the veto of the defense bill.
The Facts
Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act was written by then Representatives Chris Cox (R-Calif.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to allow internet companies to regulate themselves, limiting government control of what is now the massive industry of internet service providers.
According to the Council on Foreign relations, companies such as Twitter and Facebook cannot be treated as publishers, meaning they serve as hosts and are not liable for what people post on their platforms but can act as moderators in "good faith."
Some politicians feel that the ability for platforms to be their own moderators allows social media companies to censor speech while others have claimed that social media companies have not done enough to respond to misinformation and other issues on their platforms.
In an interview with The Atlantic in November, former President Barack Obama addressed the dangers of misinformation on social media.
"I don't hold the tech companies entirely responsible," Obama said, "because this predates social media. It was already there. But social media has turbocharged it...if we do not have the capacity to distinguish what's true from what's false, then by definition the marketplace of ideas doesn't work. And by definition our democracy doesn't work."
The bottom line is that social media companies can't be sued for content posted on their platforms but can remove content that doesn't adhere to their rules, guidelines and policies. For example, Twitter has the right to flag or take down posts that encourage violence, promote terrorism, involve child sexual exploitation or include a litany of other safety concerns.
On October 28, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about Section 230. He stated, "Without Section 230, platforms could potentially be held liable for everything people say. Platforms would likely censor more content to avoid legal risk and would be less likely to invest in technologies that enable people to express themselves in new ways."
Zuckerberg went on to say that Congress should update the law to ensure it's "working as intended."
Jeff Kosseff, an assistant professor of cybersecurity law at the United States Naval Academy, echoed Zuckerberg's testimony, saying, "I think that if you eliminate Section 230, you're going to see all the platforms, from the largest tech companies to small community news sites, be much more restrictive in terms of user content that they allow to be posted on their sites because they're suddenly going to face a substantial amount of liability for those comments."
On November 17, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Section 230.
"Completely eliminating Section 230 or prescribing reactionary government speech mandates will neither address concerns nor align with the First Amendment," he said.
"Indeed, such actions could have the opposite effect, likely resulting in increased removal of speech, the proliferation of frivolous lawsuits, and severe limitations on our collective ability to address harmful content and protect people online."
Many people who consider flagging as a form of stifling freedom of speech have turned to Parler, which is a platform that considers itself an unbiased social networking service. So far, Trump has not expressed displeasure with the site.
Parler not only criticized Section 230 but some lawmakers, as well.
"As it stands now, Section 230 protects digital publishers such as Facebook and Twitter when they choose to restrict the flow of speech—which they do by selecting from, and giving disparate treatment to, the various types of content submitted for publication on their platforms," Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Wernick said in a statement to Newsweek. "Ominously, some politicians actively encourage this throttling of free expression: in hearings conducted this year, these politicians have repeatedly harangued the CEOs of these online publishers for failing to remove enough 'hate speech' or enough 'misinformation.'
"These politicians are apparently hoping to expand Section 230, so that it essentially requires private companies to serve as de facto censors, and thereby hinder the publication of speech that they find abhorrent, but that is clearly protected by the First Amendment. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has often expressed sympathy with such an approach. Repealing Section 230 outright would prevent this censorship-by-proxy scheme from coming to fruition, and so would protect freedom of expression."
Wernick also attacked the media as being allied with Twitter and Facebook. He said they all feel threatened by Parler's free-speech model.
"Moreover, repealing Section 230 would encourage any new market entrants to embrace a "bulletin-board" model, which reliably enjoyed broad legal immunity in the years leading up to the enactment of Section 230. Parler would go from being under constant siege by Facebook, Twitter, and their allies in the mainstream media—all of whom apparently feel threatened by the existence of a neutral free-speech platform—to competing on a relatively free market with other free-speech platforms.
"The possibilities of Social Media 3.0 could be fully explored without the specter of an 'improved' Section 230 being enacted, and effectively regulating free-speech platforms out of existence."
The First Amendment of the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech but does not guarantee freedom from the consequences of that speech.
In the 1919 Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes concluded that the First Amendment does not protect speech that creates a "clear and present danger of a significant evil." In other words, if people are promoting violence or harm against others, then that use of speech is exempt from constitutional protections.
In 1969, the Supreme Court case Brandenburg v. Ohio built on the clear and present danger test by concluding that speech is not protected "if it is directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action" and is "likely to incite or produce such action."
The Ruling
False.
Repealing Section 230 would not promote greater free speech because social media companies and other internet platforms likely will restrict the content on their sites to avoid liability and the associated overwhelming legal fees.
Further, the clear and present danger rule and the imminent lawless action test exempt speech that promotes violence or illegal action from Constitutional protections. Social media companies do not limit First Amendment rights by flagging or removing posts that promote harm or violence to other users.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Southern California Morgues Fill to Capacity as State Extends Regional Stay-at-Home Order

At least one hospital morgue in San Diego County exceeded its capacity over the weekend and several others were approaching that same mark as state health officials extended regional stay-at-home orders into the new year on Tuesday .
The interim medical examiner in San Diego County , Dr. Steven Campman , told The San Diego Union-Tribune the county stepped in on Sunday to relieve a hospital morgue of some deceased patients for the first time during the state 's recent COVID-19 surge .
Officials said five bodies were removed from Sharp Grossmont Hospital , located in La Mesa .
Campman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks with concerns about the space left in their morgues , but said those hospitals were previously able to solve spacing issues by collaborating with local morgues .
Newsweek reached out to the San Diego County Medical Examiner 's Office for comment on the current morgue capacities of the other three hospitals .
California became the first U.S. state last week to report more than 2 million total COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic .
The state 's governor , Gavin Newsom , announced regional stay-at-home orders in early December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's five regions once that area reported less than 15 percent ICU availability .
Though Newsom said the orders would tentatively last three weeks , he said state health officials could extend the orders if ICU units remained under strain .
California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly announced an extension of the stay-at-home orders for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions during a Tuesday news conference .
The stay-at-home orders will remain in effect until the regions ' four-week projections show ICU capacities rising above 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions ' ICU capacities were at 0 percent on Tuesday , Ghaly said .
Health experts anticipated the COVID-19 surge that began this fall would worsen following the Thanksgiving holiday .
In anticipation of rising virus-related death counts , Newsom said the state purchased 5,000 extra body bags earlier this month to distribute to Southern California counties in need , including San Diego and Los Angeles .
An official with the Governor 's Office for Emergency Services told Newsweek at the time that the purchase was notable because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bags , but were expected to need extra supplies amid the latest virus surge .
As hospital morgues were filling in San Diego County , hospitals further north in Los Angeles County were reportedly turning ambulance transfers away due to limited capacities .
Officials in Orange County also began using mobile field hospitals to take some of the strain off their local health care system , according to The Los Angeles Times .
By Monday , December 28 , health officials reported more than 24,500 virus-related deaths throughout California since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were reported in San Diego County , according to state data .

At least one hospital morgue in San Diego County exceeded its capacity over the weekend and several others were approaching that same mark as state health officials extended regional stay-at-home orders into the new year on Tuesday.
The interim medical examiner in San Diego County, Dr. Steven Campman, told The San Diego Union-Tribune the county stepped in on Sunday to relieve a hospital morgue of some deceased patients for the first time during the state's recent COVID-19 surge. Officials said five bodies were removed from Sharp Grossmont Hospital, located in La Mesa.
Campman said four hospitals contacted the county in recent weeks with concerns about the space left in their morgues, but said those hospitals were previously able to solve spacing issues by collaborating with local morgues.
At least one hospital morgue in San Diego County exceeded capacity over the weekend, shortly before state officials extended the region's stay-at-home order. In the photo above, registered nurse Dan Puckett (L) wears personal protective equipment as a patient is wheeled into the emergency room at Sharp Memorial Hospital on December 15, 2020 in San Diego, California. Mario Tama/Getty
Newsweek reached out to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office for comment on the current morgue capacities of the other three hospitals.
California became the first U.S. state last week to report more than 2 million total COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic. The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, announced regional stay-at-home orders in early December, which kicked in for each of the state's five regions once that area reported less than 15 percent ICU availability. Though Newsom said the orders would tentatively last three weeks, he said state health officials could extend the orders if ICU units remained under strain.
California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly announced an extension of the stay-at-home orders for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions during a Tuesday news conference. The stay-at-home orders will remain in effect until the regions' four-week projections show ICU capacities rising above 15 percent, he said.
The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions' ICU capacities were at 0 percent on Tuesday, Ghaly said.
Health experts anticipated the COVID-19 surge that began this fall would worsen following the Thanksgiving holiday. In anticipation of rising virus-related death counts, Newsom said the state purchased 5,000 extra body bags earlier this month to distribute to Southern California counties in need, including San Diego and Los Angeles. An official with the Governor's Office for Emergency Services told Newsweek at the time that the purchase was notable because local coroners usually purchase their own body bags, but were expected to need extra supplies amid the latest virus surge.
As hospital morgues were filling in San Diego County, hospitals further north in Los Angeles County were reportedly turning ambulance transfers away due to limited capacities. Officials in Orange County also began using mobile field hospitals to take some of the strain off their local health care system, according to The Los Angeles Times.
By Monday, December 28, health officials reported more than 24,500 virus-related deaths throughout California since the start of the pandemic, at least 1,400 of which were reported in San Diego County, according to state data.


newsweek--2020-12-29--'Goddamn Disgrace': Cornered McConnell Turns $2000 Stimulus Cudgel on Democrats

After blocking a Senate motion to vote on boosting stimulus checks to $ 2,000 on Tuesday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a proposal that connected fattening direct payments to some of President Donald Trump 's requests , including investigating election fraud and removing protections for social media platforms .
Presented with the original COVID-19 economic stimulus bill , Trump indicated that he would not sign the legislation without large changes being made to the bill , including boosting checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
Trump also wanted a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from being sued over third-party content .
Additionally , Trump asked for investigations into his claims of election fraud , which have been described by many as unsubstantiated .
McConnell 's proposed legislation gives the president what he wants while still allowing the $ 2,000 direct payments , a measure endorsed by lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle .
Some Republicans have also come out in support of the higher stimulus checks including Georgia Republican Senate candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue .
By introducing the legislation , McConnell may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a corner .
Democrats quickly opposed his legislation and called for clean $ 2,000 direct payments to be passed without any `` funny business attached . ''
`` To block you from getting $ 2000 mitch mcconnell is demanding a 'commission ' to spew lies about the election trump lost and attack democracy , '' tweeted New Jersey Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell , Jr. `` This is a goddamn disgrace .
The depravity of republican leaders has no bottom . ''
`` People are furious with Mitch McConnell for blocking a vote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2,000 checks , so now he 's planning to try to kill it by adding poison pills that have nothing to do with Covid relief , '' tweeted Virginia Congressman Don Beyer .
`` Do n't be fooled . ''
`` I think it 's a big mistake to not approve a clean bill sending $ 2k checks out to people , so let 's call it even .
Keep going @ BernieSanders !
Make the Senate countdown the New Year on the Senate floor until they pass $ 2k checks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted .
`` Mitch McConnell , Kelley Loeffler & David Perue are standing between your family and a $ 2,000 survival check Georgia , '' tweeted Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley .
`` Vote @ ReverendWarnock @ ossoff likes lives depend on it because they do . ''
In a Tuesday statement , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said McConnell 's proposal was filled with `` partisan provisions . ''
`` Senator McConnell knows how to make $ 2,000 survival checks reality and he knows how to kill them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell tries loading up bipartisan House-passed CASH Act with unrelated , partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country , it will not pass the House and can not become law . ''
McConnell 's move has put Democrats in a difficult position .
The party will likely kill the bill , which could allow Republicans to claim that the opposition ended an effort to approve the popular $ 2,000 checks .
However , if Democratic leaders allow the measure , the accompanying voter fraud commission and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump 's unproven claims that widespread voter fraud caused his election loss to President-elect Joe Biden .
Perdue and Loeffler could also stand to benefit if McConnell 's legislation passes .
Most Senate Republicans oppose bigger stimulus checks , but Loeffler and Perdue 's endorsement of the $ 2,000 payments could boost their chances at reelection , which would deny Democrats control of the Senate .
When McConnell 's legislation will receive a vote is unclear .
He indicated on Tuesday that the Senate would `` begin a process '' to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Newsweek reached out to McConnell 's office for comment .

After blocking a Senate motion to vote on boosting stimulus checks to $2,000 on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a proposal that connected fattening direct payments to some of President Donald Trump's requests, including investigating election fraud and removing protections for social media platforms.
Presented with the original COVID-19 economic stimulus bill, Trump indicated that he would not sign the legislation without large changes being made to the bill, including boosting checks from $600 to $2,000. Trump also wanted a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects social media platforms from being sued over third-party content. Additionally, Trump asked for investigations into his claims of election fraud, which have been described by many as unsubstantiated.
McConnell's proposed legislation gives the president what he wants while still allowing the $2,000 direct payments, a measure endorsed by lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle. Some Republicans have also come out in support of the higher stimulus checks including Georgia Republican Senate candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
By introducing the legislation, McConnell may be trying to work his way out of a corner. Democrats quickly opposed his legislation and called for clean $2,000 direct payments to be passed without any "funny business attached."
In a surprise move on Tuesday, Senator Mitch McConnell introduced legislature tying $2,000 stimulus checks to other requests from President Donald Trump. Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty
"To block you from getting $2000 mitch mcconnell is demanding a 'commission' to spew lies about the election trump lost and attack democracy," tweeted New Jersey Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. "This is a goddamn disgrace. The depravity of republican leaders has no bottom."
To block you from getting $2000 mitch mcconnell is demanding a “commission” to spew lies about the election trump lost and attack democracy.
This is a goddamn disgrace. The depravity of republican leaders has no bottom. https://t.co/EKeBjpmVJR — Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) December 29, 2020
"People are furious with Mitch McConnell for blocking a vote on the bill we passed to send Americans $2,000 checks, so now he's planning to try to kill it by adding poison pills that have nothing to do with Covid relief," tweeted Virginia Congressman Don Beyer. "Don't be fooled."
People are furious with Mitch McConnell for blocking a vote on the bill we passed to send Americans $2,000 checks, so now he's planning to try to kill it by adding poison pills that have nothing to do with Covid relief. Don't be fooled. — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) December 29, 2020
"I think it's a big mistake to not approve a clean bill sending $2k checks out to people, so let's call it even. Keep going @BernieSanders! Make the Senate countdown the New Year on the Senate floor until they pass $2k checks, no funny business attached," New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
Well I think it’s a big mistake to not approve a clean bill sending $2k checks out to people, so let’s call it even.
Keep going @BernieSanders!
Make the Senate countdown the New Year on the Senate floor until they pass $2k checks, no funny business attached. https://t.co/7PD9M0RMvI — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 29, 2020
"Mitch McConnell, Kelley Loeffler & David Perue are standing between your family and a $2,000 survival check Georgia," tweeted Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley. "Vote @ReverendWarnock @ossoff likes lives depend on it because they do."
Mitch McConnell, Kelley Loeffler & David Perue are standing between your family and a $2,000 survival check Georgia.
Vote @ReverendWarnock @ossoff likes lives depend on it because they do. — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) December 30, 2020
In a Tuesday statement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said McConnell's proposal was filled with "partisan provisions."
"Senator McConnell knows how to make $2,000 survival checks reality and he knows how to kill them," Schumer said. "If Sen. McConnell tries loading up bipartisan House-passed CASH Act with unrelated, partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country, it will not pass the House and cannot become law."
McConnell's move has put Democrats in a difficult position. The party will likely kill the bill, which could allow Republicans to claim that the opposition ended an effort to approve the popular $2,000 checks. However, if Democratic leaders allow the measure, the accompanying voter fraud commission and repeal of Section 230 could lend credence to Trump's unproven claims that widespread voter fraud caused his election loss to President-elect Joe Biden.
Perdue and Loeffler could also stand to benefit if McConnell's legislation passes. Most Senate Republicans oppose bigger stimulus checks, but Loeffler and Perdue's endorsement of the $2,000 payments could boost their chances at reelection, which would deny Democrats control of the Senate.
When McConnell's legislation will receive a vote is unclear. He indicated on Tuesday that the Senate would "begin a process" to focus on the issues outlined in his proposal this week.
Newsweek reached out to McConnell's office for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Fed Judge Says 'Criminal' Trump Only Pardons Republicans, Child Murderer Or Turkey

Federal Judge Robert Pratt recently called President Donald Trump `` a criminal '' and criticized Trump 's wave of presidential pardons , stating , `` Apparently to get a pardon , one has to be either a Republican , a convicted child murderer or a turkey . ''
Pratt 's comment referred to the December 23 pardons that Trump gave to fellow Republicans , security contractors convicted of killing a child and other Iraqi civilians and the literal turkeys that Trump annually pardons as part of the Thanksgiving presidential tradition .
`` It 's not surprising that a criminal like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a Monday interview with the Associated Press .
Pratt , a judge in the U.S. Court of the Southern District of Iowa , made the comments when asked about Trump 's pardon of two former top aides of Ron Paul 's 2012 presidential campaign who were convicted for corruption .
The aides , campaign chairman Jesse Benton and campaign manager John Tate , were found guilty of concealing $ 73,000 in payments used to bribe state Senator Kent Sorenson into endorsing Paul during his 2012 presidential campaign .
Both aides were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and probation .
Pratt , appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997 , oversaw Sorenson 's case .
Sorenson 's testimony helped convict Benton , Tate and Paul 's former deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari , the AP reported .
In 2017 , Pratt sentenced Sorenson to 15 years in prison , partly to discourage other elected officials from similar bribe-taking .
Among the 25 pardons issued by Trump on December 23 were Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard , four contractors with the Blackwater firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iraq .
In 2007 , the four military veterans opened fire in a crowded traffic circle killing 13 Iraqis and a child , and wounding over a dozen more , according to Military.com .
All four men pleaded innocent , claiming to have been returning gunfire after being ambushed by Iraqi insurgents .
Nevertheless , Slatten was convicted of murder and the three others were convicted of manslaughter in 2014 .
Trump 's other pardons included former Trump adviser Roger Stone and Trump 's former campaign manager Paul Manafort , both of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election .
Pratt is n't the only government official criticizing Trump 's pardons .
On December 24 , Democratic California Representative Adam Schiff tweeted a message alleging that Trump had used a pardon to get silence from Manafort during the investigation into possible Russian influence over the 2016 elections .
`` During the Mueller investigation , Trump 's lawyer floated a pardon to Manafort , '' Schiff wrote .
`` Manafort withdrew his cooperation with prosecutors , lied , was convicted , and then Trump praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's pardon now completes the corrupt scheme .
Lawless until the bitter end . ''

Federal Judge Robert Pratt recently called President Donald Trump "a criminal" and criticized Trump's wave of presidential pardons, stating, "Apparently to get a pardon, one has to be either a Republican, a convicted child murderer or a turkey."
Pratt's comment referred to the December 23 pardons that Trump gave to fellow Republicans, security contractors convicted of killing a child and other Iraqi civilians and the literal turkeys that Trump annually pardons as part of the Thanksgiving presidential tradition.
"It's not surprising that a criminal like Trump pardons other criminals," Pratt said during a Monday interview with the Associated Press. Pratt, a judge in the U.S. Court of the Southern District of Iowa, made the comments when asked about Trump's pardon of two former top aides of Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign who were convicted for corruption.
On Monday, a federal judge criticized US President Donald Trump's recent pardons, stating that Trump only pardons fellow Republicans, a child murderer or a turkey. In this November 21, 2017 photo, the president waves after he pardoned the turkey, Drumstick, as First Lady Melania Trump (R) and their son Barron look on during the turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP/Getty
The aides, campaign chairman Jesse Benton and campaign manager John Tate, were found guilty of concealing $73,000 in payments used to bribe state Senator Kent Sorenson into endorsing Paul during his 2012 presidential campaign. Both aides were sentenced to six months of home confinement and probation.
Pratt, appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997, oversaw Sorenson's case. Sorenson's testimony helped convict Benton, Tate and Paul's former deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari, the AP reported. In 2017, Pratt sentenced Sorenson to 15 years in prison, partly to discourage other elected officials from similar bribe-taking.
Among the 25 pardons issued by Trump on December 23 were Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard, four contractors with the Blackwater firm hired to provide security for U.S. diplomats in Iraq. In 2007, the four military veterans opened fire in a crowded traffic circle killing 13 Iraqis and a child, and wounding over a dozen more, according to Military.com.
All four men pleaded innocent, claiming to have been returning gunfire after being ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. Nevertheless, Slatten was convicted of murder and the three others were convicted of manslaughter in 2014.
Trump's other pardons included former Trump adviser Roger Stone and Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, both of whom were sentenced in relation to the investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election.
Pratt isn't the only government official criticizing Trump's pardons. On December 24, Democratic California Representative Adam Schiff tweeted a message alleging that Trump had used a pardon to get silence from Manafort during the investigation into possible Russian influence over the 2016 elections.
"During the Mueller investigation, Trump's lawyer floated a pardon to Manafort," Schiff wrote. "Manafort withdrew his cooperation with prosecutors, lied, was convicted, and then Trump praised him for not 'ratting.' Trump's pardon now completes the corrupt scheme. Lawless until the bitter end."
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Sanders Delaying Senate Recess for $2K Stimulus Checks Could Undermine GOP Ga. Incumbents

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders ' expected prolonged attempt to push the U.S. Senate to vote for $ 2,000 stimulus checks , an increase endorsed by President Donald Trump from the original $ 600 stimulus checks Trump signed into law on Sunday , could have a negative effect on Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , both of whom are running in a special election for their seats in January .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked the Senate on Tuesday to vote on overriding Trump 's veto on the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , which details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders objected to McConnell 's request .
When Sanders stated that he wanted the Senate to vote on the $ 2,000 stimulus checks , McConnell objected .
Sanders 's move to delay the vote on the veto override could keep the Senate in session until January 1 .
Massachusetts Democrat Senator Ed Markey said in floor remarks on Tuesday that he agreed with Sanders .
`` We should have a vote , '' Markey said .
`` It should be yes or no and we should do this before the end of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sanders made plain the stakes of the vote .
`` Today @ SenMarkey and I demanded a vote on $ 2,000 for working people , '' Sanders tweeted Tuesday .
`` It 's simple—no vote , no new year 's break for Senators . ''
Newsweek reached out to the offices of Sanders and Perdue for comment .
Remaining in Washington could keep Loeffler and Perdue out of the public eye during the days leading up to Georgia 's January 5 runoff .
Both Democratic candidates—Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock—have previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks .
Loeffler and Perdue , both of whom have aligned themselves closely with Trump , did not express public support for the higher stimulus checks until Tuesday .
In a Tuesday interview with Fox News , Perdue said he was `` delighted '' to support Trump 's call for $ 2,000 stimulus checks .
`` This appropriation we are talking about right now , brings money for distribution for vaccines , for our hospitals , our schools , it helps us get our lives back to normal , '' Perdue said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to do is to make sure that we get this done .
He does n't trust that there might be another step in another couple of months .
He wants to get this done now . ''
`` I 've stood by the president 100 percent of the time , '' Loeffler told Fox News on Tuesday .
`` I 'm proud to do that and I 've said absolutely , we need to get relief to Americans now and I will support that . ''
Both Democrat Senate candidates in Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a focal point of their respective campaigns .
Ossoff and Warnock criticized Loeffler and Perdue 's sudden support for the increased direct payments on Tuesday .
`` Perdue does n't care if it 's $ 600 or $ 2000 , '' Ossoff tweeted .
`` He 'd vote for $ 0 if it meant he 'd win .
And he 'll just as easily change his mind the minute this election is over . ''
`` You could have gotten a $ 2,000 relief check this week , if @ KLoeffler had n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock tweeted .
According to FiveThirtyEight , polling averages indicate a close race in Georgia .
As of Tuesday , Perdue held 48 percent of support while Ossoff was trailing with 47.6 percent of support .
Warnock was polling at 48.2 percent to Loeffler 's 47.7 percent .
Many Georgians have already cast their ballots .
Information from the U.S .
Elections Project shows that 2,337,477 Georgia voters have participated in early voting , a number that translates into 30.2 percent of all registered voters in the state .
McConnell and other Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win in Georgia 's election to retain control of the Senate .
If both Ossoff and Warnock win their elections , then the Senate will be evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats .
Democrats would have an edge with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would become the President of the Senate .
Any tie-breaking votes would be cast by Harris .

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' expected prolonged attempt to push the U.S. Senate to vote for $2,000 stimulus checks, an increase endorsed by President Donald Trump from the original $600 stimulus checks Trump signed into law on Sunday, could have a negative effect on Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, both of whom are running in a special election for their seats in January.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked the Senate on Tuesday to vote on overriding Trump's veto on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which details funding for all U.S. Defense operations. Sanders objected to McConnell's request. When Sanders stated that he wanted the Senate to vote on the $2,000 stimulus checks, McConnell objected. Sanders's move to delay the vote on the veto override could keep the Senate in session until January 1.
Massachusetts Democrat Senator Ed Markey said in floor remarks on Tuesday that he agreed with Sanders. "We should have a vote," Markey said. "It should be yes or no and we should do this before the end of this year."
In a Tuesday tweet, Sanders made plain the stakes of the vote. "Today @SenMarkey and I demanded a vote on $2,000 for working people," Sanders tweeted Tuesday. "It's simple—no vote, no new year's break for Senators."
Today @SenMarkey and I demanded a vote on $2,000 for working people. It’s simple—no vote, no new year's break for Senators. — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 29, 2020
Newsweek reached out to the offices of Sanders and Perdue for comment.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said Tuesday that he was ready to keep Senate in session over the New Year's recess to force a vote on $2,000 stimulus checks. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Care In Action/Getty
Remaining in Washington could keep Loeffler and Perdue out of the public eye during the days leading up to Georgia's January 5 runoff. Both Democratic candidates—Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock—have previously voiced support of the $2,000 stimulus checks. Loeffler and Perdue, both of whom have aligned themselves closely with Trump, did not express public support for the higher stimulus checks until Tuesday.
In a Tuesday interview with Fox News, Perdue said he was "delighted" to support Trump's call for $2,000 stimulus checks.
"This appropriation we are talking about right now, brings money for distribution for vaccines, for our hospitals, our schools, it helps us get our lives back to normal," Perdue said. "So, what the president is trying to do is to make sure that we get this done. He doesn't trust that there might be another step in another couple of months. He wants to get this done now."
"I've stood by the president 100 percent of the time," Loeffler told Fox News on Tuesday. "I'm proud to do that and I've said absolutely, we need to get relief to Americans now and I will support that."
Georgia Republican Kelly Loeffler said on Tuesday that she supported the $2,000 stimulus checks. Jessica McGowan/Getty
Both Democrat Senate candidates in Georgia have made the $2,000 stimulus checks a focal point of their respective campaigns. Ossoff and Warnock criticized Loeffler and Perdue's sudden support for the increased direct payments on Tuesday. "Perdue doesn't care if it's $600 or $2000," Ossoff tweeted. "He'd vote for $0 if it meant he'd win. And he'll just as easily change his mind the minute this election is over."
"You could have gotten a $2,000 relief check this week, if @KLoeffler hadn't stalled relief for nine months," Warnock tweeted.
You could have gotten a $2,000 relief check this week, if @KLoeffler hadn't stalled relief for nine months. — Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) December 29, 2020
According to FiveThirtyEight, polling averages indicate a close race in Georgia. As of Tuesday, Perdue held 48 percent of support while Ossoff was trailing with 47.6 percent of support. Warnock was polling at 48.2 percent to Loeffler's 47.7 percent.
Many Georgians have already cast their ballots. Information from the U.S. Elections Project shows that 2,337,477 Georgia voters have participated in early voting, a number that translates into 30.2 percent of all registered voters in the state.
McConnell and other Republicans are counting on at least one GOP win in Georgia's election to retain control of the Senate. If both Ossoff and Warnock win their elections, then the Senate will be evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats would have an edge with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would become the President of the Senate. Any tie-breaking votes would be cast by Harris.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Anthony Fauci Says 'Out of Control' COVID Is Probably 'Going to Get Worse'

Dr. Anthony Fauci expects the already `` out of control '' COVID-19 pandemic to `` get worse '' in the wake of a holiday season that has seen many ignore the advice of public health experts .
Fauci made the remarks during a Tuesday appearance on CNN .
He said that the `` surge '' of infections that the country has experienced in December had `` gotten out of control '' and severely hampered efforts at slowing the spread of the virus .
He warned that sustained levels of over 200,000 new cases per day , seen for multiple days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into many more deaths due to the `` staggered '' nature of the delay between contracting the virus and possibly dying due to the infection .
`` I think we just have to assume that it 's going to get worse , '' Fauci said .
`` We 're between 100,000 and 200,000 new infections each day ...
I hope we do n't just get to that level of continually seeing over 200,000 . ''
`` As you know , it staggers , '' he added .
`` You get cases , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's highly predictable that once you increase in those number of cases , in a staggered way , every couple of weeks you get increase in the hospitalization . ''
Fauci suggested that the country had missed an opportunity to effectively control the virus because those who ignored public health advice had helped new infections spread too fast for public health officials to track and contain outbreaks using measures like contact tracing .
`` We 're in a very difficult situation , '' said Fauci .
`` We never got down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually control community spread by identification , isolation and contact tracing .
When you get to the numbers that we are in right now it really is very , very difficult to do effective identification , isolation and contact tracing . ''
Fauci urged Americans to fight the surge by `` sticking to the public health guidelines , '' including following `` the basics '' of wearing masks , washing hands and physically distancing from others in public .
He expressed disappointment that attempts to `` try to get people to just tone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season had been ignored by some , while offering that there were still further opportunities to limit the spread of the virus .
`` For those who have already done the travel , the thing to do now is to try not to congregate with large numbers of people in social settings , like dinners , '' said Fauci .
`` Try to keep it restricted to the immediate family and the immediate household .
Because once you get to large numbers of people at a dinner inside , poor air ventilation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into trouble . ''
`` [ Not following public health advice ] could make January even worse than December , '' he added .
`` I hope that does n't happen but it certainly is possible . ''
There were 168,817 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 , along with 1,718 new deaths caused by the virus recorded on Tuesday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
New cases hit a high mark on December 18 , when just under 250,000 cases were reported , while the daily death count peaked at 3,682 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 19.3 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began , by far the most infections of any country in the world .
The country with the second most infections , India , has around 10.2 million cases with a population that is more than four times the size .
The 334,836 total U.S. deaths caused by the virus are also far and away the most in the world .

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci is pictured before receiving his first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Bethesda, Maryland on December 22, 2020. Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty
Dr. Anthony Fauci expects the already "out of control" COVID-19 pandemic to "get worse" in the wake of a holiday season that has seen many ignore the advice of public health experts.
Fauci made the remarks during a Tuesday appearance on CNN. He said that the "surge" of infections that the country has experienced in December had "gotten out of control" and severely hampered efforts at slowing the spread of the virus. He warned that sustained levels of over 200,000 new cases per day, seen for multiple days earlier in the month, would translate into many more deaths due to the "staggered" nature of the delay between contracting the virus and possibly dying due to the infection.
"I think we just have to assume that it's going to get worse," Fauci said. "We're between 100,000 and 200,000 new infections each day... I hope we don't just get to that level of continually seeing over 200,000."
"As you know, it staggers," he added. "You get cases, you get hospitalizations and then you get deaths. It's highly predictable that once you increase in those number of cases, in a staggered way, every couple of weeks you get increase in the hospitalization."
Fauci suggested that the country had missed an opportunity to effectively control the virus because those who ignored public health advice had helped new infections spread too fast for public health officials to track and contain outbreaks using measures like contact tracing.
"We're in a very difficult situation," said Fauci. "We never got down to a low baseline where you can actually control community spread by identification, isolation and contact tracing. When you get to the numbers that we are in right now it really is very, very difficult to do effective identification, isolation and contact tracing."
Fauci urged Americans to fight the surge by "sticking to the public health guidelines," including following "the basics" of wearing masks, washing hands and physically distancing from others in public. He expressed disappointment that attempts to "try to get people to just tone down the travel" during the holiday season had been ignored by some, while offering that there were still further opportunities to limit the spread of the virus.
"For those who have already done the travel, the thing to do now is to try not to congregate with large numbers of people in social settings, like dinners," said Fauci. "Try to keep it restricted to the immediate family and the immediate household. Because once you get to large numbers of people at a dinner inside, poor air ventilation and circulation, that's when you get into trouble."
"[Not following public health advice] could make January even worse than December," he added. "I hope that doesn't happen but it certainly is possible."
There were 168,817 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, along with 1,718 new deaths caused by the virus recorded on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. New cases hit a high mark on December 18, when just under 250,000 cases were reported, while the daily death count peaked at 3,682 on December 16.
The U.S. has seen more than 19.3 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, by far the most infections of any country in the world. The country with the second most infections, India, has around 10.2 million cases with a population that is more than four times the size. The 334,836 total U.S. deaths caused by the virus are also far and away the most in the world.