newsweek--2020-12-07--Steelers No Longer Unbeaten, Lose to Washington and Standings Get Crazy

The Washington , ahem , Football Team pulled off an improbable football feat Monday night in Pittsburgh .
Washington knocked off the previously unbeaten Steelers , 23-17 .
It was more than a win of a David versus Goliath .
It shakes up the standings in both conferences with just four weeks remaining in regular season .
And Washington did it on hobbled legs .
The Washington Football Team improved to 5-7 on the season and a tie in the NFC East with the New York Giants .
The Steelers are now tied for the No .
1 seed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who are 11-1 along with the Steelers .
The Steelers could have wrapped up the first playoff spot in the AFC on Monday with a win , but that instead went to the Chiefs .
The New Orleans Saints secured the NFC 's first playoff spot on Sunday with their 21-16 win over NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons .
After a scoreless first quarter Monday , the Steelers jumped out to a 14-0 lead after a pair of Ben Roethlisberger touchdown passes .
The first went for 3 yards to Diontae Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 50 yards .
Washington got on the board with a Dustin Hopkins 49-yard field goal at the end of the first half .
Washington 's Peyton Barber dashed in for a 1-yard run midway through the third quarter to cut Pittsburgh 's lead to 14-10 , setting up the fantastic finish .
Pittsburgh booted a field goal to start the fourth quarter , setting up a Washington comeback Washington quarterback Alex Smith , who injured his left leg in bloody fashion earlier in the game , returned and connected with Logan Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game at 17-17 .
Washington got the ball back and kicked two more Hopkins 45-yard field goals to give Washington a 23-17 win .
Washington beat Pittsburgh for the first time since the 1991 season , according to FOX , which aired the game to about 40 percent of the country early on Monday .
The Washington Football Team next travels to Arizona to play the San Francisco 49ers , who are playing home games in Glendale because of COVID issues in their California home county ( Santa Clara ) .
Pittsburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday night .

The Washington, ahem, Football Team pulled off an improbable football feat Monday night in Pittsburgh. Washington knocked off the previously unbeaten Steelers, 23-17. It was more than a win of a David versus Goliath. It shakes up the standings in both conferences with just four weeks remaining in regular season.
And Washington did it on hobbled legs.
The Washington Football Team improved to 5-7 on the season and a tie in the NFC East with the New York Giants. The Steelers are now tied for the No. 1 seed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC, who are 11-1 along with the Steelers. If the season ended today, the Steelers would have the top spot based on their record in conference play, in which they are undefeated. The Chiefs lost to the Raiders earlier this season before avenging that loss.
The Steelers could have wrapped up the first playoff spot in the AFC on Monday with a win, but that instead went to the Chiefs. The New Orleans Saints secured the NFC's first playoff spot on Sunday with their 21-16 win over NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons.
After a scoreless first quarter Monday, the Steelers jumped out to a 14-0 lead after a pair of Ben Roethlisberger touchdown passes. The first went for 3 yards to Diontae Johnson, and the second to James Washington for 50 yards.
Washington got on the board with a Dustin Hopkins 49-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Washington's Peyton Barber dashed in for a 1-yard run midway through the third quarter to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 14-10, setting up the fantastic finish.
Pittsburgh booted a field goal to start the fourth quarter, setting up a Washington comeback
Washington quarterback Alex Smith, who injured his left leg in bloody fashion earlier in the game, returned and connected with Logan Thomas on a 15-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17.
Washington got the ball back and kicked two more Hopkins 45-yard field goals to give Washington a 23-17 win.
Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team celebrates win teammate Cornelius Lucas III #78 following their 23-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 07, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Washington beat Pittsburgh for the first time since the 1991 season, according to FOX, which aired the game to about 40 percent of the country early on Monday. The Washington Football Team next travels to Arizona to play the San Francisco 49ers, who are playing home games in Glendale because of COVID issues in their California home county (Santa Clara).
Pittsburgh next travels to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
Alex Smith, quarterback of the Washington Football Team, suffered a bloody leg injury during the first half Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury occured on his good leg.
Smith, who broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg a little more than two years ago, faced 17 surgeries to repair that leg and the possibility of never again playing football. He returned to the starting lineup last month, and now has his Washington team competing for an NFC East title.
Smith appeared to be ok throughout the remainder of the game.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Twitter Flooded With Jokes After Cuomo Compares Himself and Fauci to 'Modern Day De Niro and Pacino'

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was criticized on social media Monday after comparing infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and himself to actors Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino .
Cuomo made the comments during a coronavirus press briefing where Fauci made a guest appearance encouraging some New Yorkers to take the coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available .
DeNiro and Pacino , both of whom are New York actors , are known for their appearances in The Godfather Part II and Heat .
During the press conference , Cuomo implied he would recruit Fauci to co-star in a television ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do an ad telling New Yorkers it 's safe to take the vaccine , '' Cuomo said .
`` Put us together .
We can be the modern-day De Niro and Pacino .
You can choose whichever you want .
You can be De Niro or Pacino .
Which one do you want to be ? ''
`` I love 'em both , '' Fauci said .
`` I do n't want to insult one or the other .
If I say one , I hurt the feeling of the other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media users compared Cuomo 's coronavirus response to the violent actions portrayed by De Niro in his films .
`` Who is responsible more Kills ? ''
said Republican strategist Guy Short .
`` Cuomo in NYC or DeNiro in the movies ? ''
`` is Cuomo basing his own personal comparison on the total number of people dead at the hands of Pacino and De Niro 's characters in their respective movies combined , '' tweeted journalist Matt Binder .
Twitter user The Cookie Queen tweeted that `` Fauci and Cuomo are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I 'm glad Cuomo and Fauci are having the time of their lives with their bromance , '' tweeted Twitter user @ cmartellaro .
`` It 's not like there 's a pandemic trapping millions in their homes or shutting down 1000s of businesses . ''
Newsweek reached out to Governor Cuomo 's office for comment .
Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in New York .
As of December 7 , the state of New York had reported 752,073 positive cases of COVID-19 with 8,197 deaths attributable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,602 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized throughout New York .
Cuomo said Monday that if the hospitalization rate does not decrease , he would move to close down indoor dining in New York City .
Currently , restaurants with indoor service within New York City are allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity .
On Wednesday , Cuomo announced that enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine from pharmaceutical firm Pfizer would arrive in New York to vaccinate 170,000 individuals .
However , Cuomo said during a Friday news briefing that some New Yorkers may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Yes , the vaccine is here , '' Cuomo said .
`` But you 're not going to get it in December , January , February or March , or even early April unless you 're in one of the high risk areas . ''

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was criticized on social media Monday after comparing infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and himself to actors Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.
Cuomo made the comments during a coronavirus press briefing where Fauci made a guest appearance encouraging some New Yorkers to take the coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available. DeNiro and Pacino, both of whom are New York actors, are known for their appearances in The Godfather Part II and Heat.
During the press conference, Cuomo implied he would recruit Fauci to co-star in a television ad about the vaccine.
"Maybe we will do an ad telling New Yorkers it's safe to take the vaccine," Cuomo said. "Put us together. We can be the modern-day De Niro and Pacino. You can choose whichever you want. You can be De Niro or Pacino. Which one do you want to be?"
"I love 'em both," Fauci said. "I don't want to insult one or the other. If I say one, I hurt the feeling of the other, so either one."
Some social media users compared Cuomo's coronavirus response to the violent actions portrayed by De Niro in his films.
"Who is responsible more Kills?" said Republican strategist Guy Short. "Cuomo in NYC or DeNiro in the movies?"
Who is responsible more Kills? Cuomo in NYC or DeNiro in the movies? pic.twitter.com/Y39QVzfO5G — Guy Short (@Shortguy1) December 7, 2020
"is Cuomo basing his own personal comparison on the total number of people dead at the hands of Pacino and De Niro's characters in their respective movies combined," tweeted journalist Matt Binder.
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York suggested on Monday that he collaborate with Dr. Anthony Fauci on an advertisement touting the coronavirus vaccine. Spencer Platt/Getty
Twitter user The Cookie Queen tweeted that "Fauci and Cuomo are The Joker and The Riddler of Covid-19."
Fauci and Cuomo are The Joker and The Riddler of Covid-19. https://t.co/LlBf9rogGx pic.twitter.com/Ep3yELOL6B — The Cookie Queen (@voddyvu) December 7, 2020
"I'm glad Cuomo and Fauci are having the time of their lives with their bromance," tweeted Twitter user @cmartellaro. "It's not like there's a pandemic trapping millions in their homes or shutting down 1000s of businesses."
I’m glad Cuomo and Fauci are having the time of their lives with their bromance. It’s not like there’s a pandemic trapping millions in their homes or shutting down 1000s of businesses. — cmartellaro (@cmartellaro) December 7, 2020
In a statement sent to Newsweek on Tuesday, Cuomo senior adviser Richard Azzopardi responded to the social media reaction.
"Twitter isn't real life and we're focused on combatting the pandemic," Azzopardi wrote.
Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in New York. As of December 7, the state of New York had reported 752,073 positive cases of COVID-19 with 8,197 deaths attributable to the virus. As of Sunday, 4,602 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized throughout New York. Cuomo said Monday that if the hospitalization rate does not decrease, he would move to close down indoor dining in New York City. Currently, restaurants with indoor service within New York City are allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity.
On Wednesday, Cuomo announced that enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine from pharmaceutical firm Pfizer would arrive in New York to vaccinate 170,000 individuals. However, Cuomo said during a Friday news briefing that some New Yorkers may not receive the vaccine until 2021.
"Yes, the vaccine is here," Cuomo said. "But you're not going to get it in December, January, February or March, or even early April unless you're in one of the high risk areas."
Updated 12/08/2020 9:10 p.m. EST: This story has been updated with a statement from the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Syria's New Top Diplomat Goes to Iran for Closer Ties As They Face US, Israel

Syria 's new top diplomat has traveled to Iran in his debut trip abroad , using the visit as an opportunity to emphasize close relations between the two allies as they face U.S. pressure , attacks attributed to Israel , as well as strife at home and across the region .
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad , who was appointed to the post last month after the death of his longtime predecessor Walid al-Muallem , arrived Sunday in Tehran and met Monday with a number of senior Iranian officials to whom he stressed the need for close cooperation among their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the death late last month of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , whose assassination Iranian officials have blamed on Israel , a common foe of both Damascus and Tehran .
Mekdad told his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif that the killing of the individual credited with pioneering the Iranian military 's nuclear program `` does not represent a loss to Iran only , but to Syria , the world and humanity as a whole , considering that this terrorist crime is a crime against humanity and comes in the context of a scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a readout shared by the Syrian Foreign Ministry .
He also hit out at Washington , arguing `` America 's anomalous activities in the region have escalated the tensions , saying they reveal that the Zionist regime 's interests have priority over the American interests in the region , '' according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry readout .
A similar sentiment was expressed to Newsweek by the Syrian mission to the United Nations in response to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 's visit to the Golan Heights , a southwestern Syrian territory occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run high between the two countries to this day , Israel has focused on Iran as an archfoe in the region .
`` Expounding on the situation and the recent developments in the region , Foreign Minister Zarif stressed the need for vigilance and consultations among Iran , Syria and other countries , '' according to the Iranian account of his meeting with Mekdad .
Both Iranian and Israeli officials have communicated to Newsweek that they remain vigilant and prepared to defend their countries in the wake of Fakhrizadeh 's slaying .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but its program has been the target of mostly unclaimed attacks , both on equipment and personnel , for a decade , as well as international sanctions lifted by a 2015 nuclear deal with China , France , Germany , Russia , the United Kingdom and the United States .
The U.S. left the agreement in May 2018 , as President Donald Trump accused Iran of pursuing missile development and funding foreign militias across the Middle East , including in Syria .
Syria has also had nuclear sites struck , with Israel only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raid on a site in the country 's east .
Today , Israel conducts regular air attacks on suspected sites associated with Iran in Syria , as well as government positions defending them .
While in the Iranian capital on Monday , Mekdad and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf `` confirmed the cooperation between the two countries in order to thwart all plans to divide the country and break it up in service of the Zionist-American project in the region , '' according to the Syrian version of events .
The Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad and his efforts to stamp out an insurgency once backed by the U.S. and other major powers but now mainly supported by Turkey , and to defeat the Islamic State militant group ( ISIS ) .
Mekdad told Ali Akbar Velayati , senior adviser to supreme leader Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , that `` the victory achieved in Syria against terrorism and its supporters is a joint victory for Syria , Iran , Russia and their allies , stressing the importance of investing the opportunity that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work toward reaching a political settlement to the crisis in Syria that preserves Syria 's unity and sovereignty over all its territories without any outside interference . ''
Russia joined the Syrian civil war in 2015 , further bolstering government forces and allowing them to retake much of the country .
A third of the nation remains in the hands of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces , a mostly Kurdish group also battling ISIS but seeking more autonomy from Damascus .
Stretches of Syria 's border with Turkey , including much of Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed by both the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces .
Syria , Iranian and Russian officials have told Newsweek they seek an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country as they operate without Damascus ' permission .
The U.S. does not recognize Assad 's administration , having accused the leader of orchestrating human rights abuses , though officials from both countries have engaged in diplomacy in hopes of a deal as recently as October , as Newsweek reported at the time .
Velayati , for his part Monday , commended Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Resistance , '' comprising the two countries and partnered militias opposed to the U.S. , Israel and Saudi Arabia .
`` Undoubtedly , Syria has a fundamental and decisive role in the resistance front , '' Velayati said , `` and it has paid a heavy price for playing this role , although today , more than ever , it continues the path of dignity and independence with power , aware of the plans of the enemies . ''

Syria's new top diplomat has traveled to Iran in his debut trip abroad, using the visit as an opportunity to emphasize close relations between the two allies as they face U.S. pressure, attacks attributed to Israel, as well as strife at home and across the region.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad, who was appointed to the post last month after the death of his longtime predecessor Walid al-Muallem, arrived Sunday in Tehran and met Monday with a number of senior Iranian officials to whom he stressed the need for close cooperation among their governments.
Mekdad also conveyed his condolences for the death late last month of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, whose assassination Iranian officials have blamed on Israel, a common foe of both Damascus and Tehran.
Mekdad told his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif that the killing of the individual credited with pioneering the Iranian military's nuclear program "does not represent a loss to Iran only, but to Syria, the world and humanity as a whole, considering that this terrorist crime is a crime against humanity and comes in the context of a scheme targeting both countries," according to a readout shared by the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
He also hit out at Washington, arguing "America's anomalous activities in the region have escalated the tensions, saying they reveal that the Zionist regime's interests have priority over the American interests in the region," according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry readout.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad and the Iranian supreme leader's senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati meet in Syria in this photo shared December 7. The two countries have vowed to boost economic and security ties as they face staunch pressure from the United States. Ali Akbay Velayati/Instagram
A similar sentiment was expressed to Newsweek by the Syrian mission to the United Nations in response to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to the Golan Heights, a southwestern Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. While tensions run high between the two countries to this day, Israel has focused on Iran as an archfoe in the region.
"Expounding on the situation and the recent developments in the region, Foreign Minister Zarif stressed the need for vigilance and consultations among Iran, Syria and other countries," according to the Iranian account of his meeting with Mekdad.
Both Iranian and Israeli officials have communicated to Newsweek that they remain vigilant and prepared to defend their countries in the wake of Fakhrizadeh's slaying.
Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons, but its program has been the target of mostly unclaimed attacks, both on equipment and personnel, for a decade, as well as international sanctions lifted by a 2015 nuclear deal with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The U.S. left the agreement in May 2018, as President Donald Trump accused Iran of pursuing missile development and funding foreign militias across the Middle East, including in Syria.
Syria has also had nuclear sites struck, with Israel only last year admitting to a brazen 2007 raid on a site in the country's east. Today, Israel conducts regular air attacks on suspected sites associated with Iran in Syria, as well as government positions defending them.
While in the Iranian capital on Monday, Mekdad and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf "confirmed the cooperation between the two countries in order to thwart all plans to divide the country and break it up in service of the Zionist-American project in the region," according to the Syrian version of events.
The Syrian officials also thanked his hosts for their intervention on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad and his efforts to stamp out an insurgency once backed by the U.S. and other major powers but now mainly supported by Turkey, and to defeat the Islamic State militant group (ISIS).
A woman walks by a billboard in honor of slain nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in the Iranian capital Tehran, on November 30. Iran laid to rest a nuclear scientist in a funeral befitting a top "martyr," vowing to redouble his work after an assassination pinned on arch-foe Israel and Iranian dissident group based overseas. ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images
Mekdad told Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to supreme leader Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that "the victory achieved in Syria against terrorism and its supporters is a joint victory for Syria, Iran, Russia and their allies, stressing the importance of investing the opportunity that resulted from the victory over terrorism to work toward reaching a political settlement to the crisis in Syria that preserves Syria's unity and sovereignty over all its territories without any outside interference."
Russia joined the Syrian civil war in 2015, further bolstering government forces and allowing them to retake much of the country. A third of the nation remains in the hands of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, a mostly Kurdish group also battling ISIS but seeking more autonomy from Damascus. Stretches of Syria's border with Turkey, including much of Idlib, is controlled by Ankara-backed opposition forces opposed by both the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces.
Syria, Iranian and Russian officials have told Newsweek they seek an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country as they operate without Damascus' permission.
The U.S. does not recognize Assad's administration, having accused the leader of orchestrating human rights abuses, though officials from both countries have engaged in diplomacy in hopes of a deal as recently as October, as Newsweek reported at the time.
Velayati, for his part Monday, commended Syria's position in the so-called "Axis of Resistance," comprising the two countries and partnered militias opposed to the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia.
"Undoubtedly, Syria has a fundamental and decisive role in the resistance front," Velayati said, "and it has paid a heavy price for playing this role, although today, more than ever, it continues the path of dignity and independence with power, aware of the plans of the enemies."


newsweek--2020-12-07--Lloyd Austin, Biden's Pick for Defense Secretary, Expected to Face Bipartisan Opposition Over Retire

Lloyd Austin, Biden's Pick for Defense Secretary, Expected to Face Bipartisan Opposition Over Retired General Waiver

Lloyd Austin , a retired four-star Army general who President-elect Joe Biden is set to pick as his Secretary of Defense , is expected to face bipartisan opposition during his congressional approval process .
While Austin would make history as the first-ever Black Secretary of Defense , candidates are expected to have spent seven years out of the military before serving in what is supposed to be a civilian position , otherwise , they require a congressional waiver to be appointed—Austin retired from the military in 2016 , barely four years ago .
Only two other people have been given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Jim Mattis and former President Harry S. Truman 's George C. Marshall .
The rule about the waiver was established in the National Security Act of 1947 , the federal law that created the Secretary of Defense position .
The rule is meant to ensure that the secretary wo n't always favor the military when it comes to advising on foreign conflicts , defense funding and the service requirements for current and future soldiers .
During Mattis ' confirmation hearings , Democratic Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed , the top-ranking Democrat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he would oppose future waivers after Mattis because Congress should only issue such waivers `` no more than once in a generation . ''
Only one senator voted against Mattis ' confirmation , Democratic Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York .
At the time , she said , `` Civilian control of our military is a fundamental principle of American democracy . ''
Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri , also a member of the Armed Services Committee , told Newsweek , `` I really do think it 's important that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans feel they have representation in defense matters at the highest level of government .
Hawley told Newsweek that the past four years of Trump 's critics calling for military leaders to speak out against or even defy the president 's policies was `` alarming '' and `` incredibly dangerous , '' and said they demonstrated the need for elected civilian leadership to the position .
Fred Wellman , a retired Army officer and senior adviser to the Lincoln Project—a Republican-led , anti-Trump political action committee—also told Newsweek , `` I feel very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly civilian secretary of defense . ''
`` This is n't a criticism of any of the candidates that have been mentioned , but civilian control balances the military culture of those who serve a lifetime in uniform , '' he continued .
`` A retired general with 40 years of service , even with a short gap as a civilian , comes with a military approach which leans towards being can-do at all costs , making do with what you 're given and not necessarily a firm grasp of the political machinations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Defense ] . ''

Lloyd Austin, a retired four-star Army general who President-elect Joe Biden is set to pick as his Secretary of Defense, is expected to face bipartisan opposition during his congressional approval process.
While Austin would make history as the first-ever Black Secretary of Defense, candidates are expected to have spent seven years out of the military before serving in what is supposed to be a civilian position, otherwise, they require a congressional waiver to be appointed. Austin retired from the military in 2016, barely four years ago.
Only two other people have been given such a waiver: President Donald Trump's Jim Mattis and former President Harry S. Truman's George C. Marshall. The rule about the waiver was established in the National Security Act of 1947, the federal law that created the Secretary of Defense position.
The rule is meant to ensure that the secretary won't always favor the military when it comes to advising on foreign conflicts, defense funding and the service requirements for current and future soldiers.
During Mattis' confirmation hearings, Democratic Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that he would oppose future waivers after Mattis because Congress should only issue such waivers "no more than once in a generation."
Only one senator voted against Mattis' confirmation, Democratic Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York.
"Civilian control of our military is a fundamental principle of American democracy," she said at the time.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, also a member of the Armed Services Committee, told Newsweek, "I really do think it's important that there be civilian leadership" so that non-military Americans feel they have representation in defense matters at the highest level of government.
Hawley told Newsweek that the past four years of Trump's critics calling for military leaders to speak out against or even defy the president's policies was "alarming" and "incredibly dangerous," and said they demonstrated the need for elected civilian leadership to the position.
Fred Wellman, a retired Army officer and senior adviser to the Lincoln Project—a Republican-led, anti-Trump political action committee—also told Newsweek, "I feel very strongly it's time to have a truly civilian secretary of defense."
"This isn't a criticism of any of the candidates that have been mentioned, but civilian control balances the military culture of those who serve a lifetime in uniform," he continued. "A retired general with 40 years of service, even with a short gap as a civilian, comes with a military approach which leans towards being can-do at all costs, making do with what you're given and not necessarily a firm grasp of the political machinations needed to advocate for the [Department of Defense]."
Elana Duffy, retired Army sergeant first class and Purple Heart recipient, said of former Defense Secretaries Charles Erwin Wilson and Neil H. McElroy, "[Former President Dwight D.] Eisenhower appointed two non-military personnel to the post, both who did a fair job of considering new technologies and post-war recovery efforts while maintaining budgets."
"We are entering a similar period now," Duffy told Newsweek, speaking of the rise of new weapons systems and the need to recover U.S. society from the damage of the coronavirus pandemic. "So it makes sense to consider civilians for the position."
"The Joint Chiefs can and do handle most military functions anyway," Duffy continued, "and as long as the person has expertise in defense policy, I have more comfort in the Secretary of Defense being a civilian than, say, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs."
Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the ongoing U.S. military operations to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) during a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill September 16, 2015 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty
However, while Christopher Preble, co-director of the New American Engagement Initiative of the Atlantic Council think tank's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said that the U.S. has previously had many excellent civilian Secretaries of Defense, he told Newsweek, "I do worry that the ever-increasing size and complexity of the Department of Defense can be intimidating, discouraging even highly capable civilians from taking on the daunting but necessary task of bringing the military-industrial complex to heel."
Maggie Seymour—a Foreign Policy Research Institute fellow and Marine veteran explained to Newsweek, "This is absolutely critical for a democracy, to have civilian control over the armed forces, for a number of reasons and especially so now."
"Our foreign policy has become hypermilitarized, with the Department of Defense often serving as the lead in international relations, when it should be the civilians at Department of State," she said. "The military is a tool of a nation, it's one tool, and having civilian oversight and a leader who understands that they are just one piece of a puzzle is critical to getting our foreign policy on track for the future."
Georgetown University Law Center professor Rosa Brooks—who served as counselor to Michèle Flournoy, one of Biden's other reported top choice for the Pentagon, during her time as under secretary of defense for policy—told Newsweek that Trump's appointing Mattis, a former general, as Defense Secretary, and the Trump Administration's leaving so many top tier positions at the Pentagon unappointed, has upset the balance between civilian and military fields in the Department of Defense.
"Mattis reportedly relied very heavily on his own network of former military subordinates and colleagues–understandable, from his perspective–but the effect was to increasingly sideline civilian experts at all levels within the Defense Department during his tenure," Brooks said. "And the Joint Staff and Mattis' personal staff were increasingly the locus of policy decision-making. That balance urgently needs to be reset."
Rather than continuing the shift toward militarizing U.S. policy, Brooks said Biden should allow civilians to take charge of the department once more as the original law intended.
"The Pentagon is a vast but delicate machine. It can't run effectively without both military expertise and civilian expertise, and if either is weakened, the whole thing starts getting shakier," Brooks said. "This is a moment when DoD really needs someone who can come in, hit the ground running, play that vital role as translator and restore that crucial civil-military balance."


newsweek--2020-12-07--Pro-Trump Pastor Claims Coronavirus Vaccine 'Conditioning' Americans for 'Mark of the Beast'

Jack Hibbs—a pastor and supporter of President Donald Trump—said in a recent sermon that he believes the COVID-19 vaccine is a means of social control that will `` condition '' people into accepting the mark of the beast , a Biblical prophecy of an anti-Christian marker that will be required to buy necessities and participate in modern secular life .
`` Do n't be tricked into thinking , 'Oh my goodness the vaccine 's come in , and that 's the mark of the beast , ' '' Hibbs said during his sermon .
`` It 's not the mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you for it . ''
Hibbs compared a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine to other types of social `` conditioning '' during the pandemic such as handwashing , mask use and use of plexiglass dividers which all prevent the spread of coronavirus .
None of these preventative measures have been uniformly required by the federal government .
President-elect Joe Biden has said he wo n't make vaccines mandatory nationwide , although employers and states may require people to get vaccinated before allowing them back into workplaces , schools and colleges , USA Today reports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in chapter 13 , verse 18 of the Biblical Book of Revelation .
The verse reads : `` Here is wisdom .
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast : for it is the number of a man ; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six . ''
The verse has been interpreted in different ways throughout history .
While some Christian sects believe that the mark refers to a literal a tattoo , branding or identification marker that anti-Christian followers will impose to control all world citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbolically as any allegiance to a secular government or monetary system .
A smaller group of Biblical scholars think the numbers 666 could be a numeric code to refer to a specific world leader or time span .
Hibbs is the senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills , a conservative fundamentalist in Chino , California that believes in a real and literal devil named Satan .
His church opposes gay marriage , transgender medical care and comprehensive sex education in schools , according to the church 's website .
In November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a now-viral video streamed live online the day after Election Day where he wept at the thought of a Joe Biden presidency .
In the video , Hibbs prayed for Trump 's victory .
`` Please God you are pro-life .
And one man is and one man is not .
If you 'd be pro-life for us . ''
Hibbs said sobbing .
`` Jesus , lord .
One man is for Israel and one is not .
You are for Isreal .
Lord , one man is for our military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You are . ''
`` Lord , have you brought Mike Pompeo to become Secretary of State only for that to end now ? ''
Hibbs continued .
`` Have you brought , Lord , Amy Coney Barrett unto the court and that 's it ?
We 're done ?
God , we in this room we 're still pro-life here . ''
Even though his prayer later acknowledged that God is n't affiliated with a mainstream political party , he nevertheless asked God to install a president who is `` pro-Israel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ] pro-military . ''

Jack Hibbs—a pastor and supporter of President Donald Trump—said in a recent sermon that he believes the COVID-19 vaccine is a means of social control that will "condition" people into accepting the mark of the beast, a Biblical prophecy of an anti-Christian marker that will be required to buy necessities and participate in modern secular life.
"Don't be tricked into thinking, 'Oh my goodness the vaccine's come in, and that's the mark of the beast,'" Hibbs said during his sermon. "It's not the mark of the beast. It's conditioning you for it."
Hibbs compared a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine to other types of social "conditioning" during the pandemic such as handwashing, mask use and use of plexiglass dividers which all prevent the spread of coronavirus. None of these preventative measures have been uniformly required by the federal government.
In a recent sermon, Trump-supporting pastor Jack Hibbs said that the COVID-19 vaccine is "conditioning" people for the Mark of the Beast, a Biblical prophecy of a bodily mark that will be forced upon all people during the end of the world. In this photo illustration, a man wearing a facemask lifts up his shirt sleeve to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from a doctor pulling the serum from a vial into a syringe. Manjurul/Getty
President-elect Joe Biden has said he won't make vaccines mandatory nationwide, although employers and states may require people to get vaccinated before allowing them back into workplaces, schools and colleges, USA Today reports.
The mark of the beast is mentioned in chapter 13, verse 18 of the Biblical Book of Revelation. The verse reads: "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six."
The verse has been interpreted in different ways throughout history. While some Christian sects believe that the mark refers to a literal a tattoo, branding or identification marker that anti-Christian followers will impose to control all world citizens, others interpret the "mark" symbolically as any allegiance to a secular government or monetary system. A smaller group of Biblical scholars think the numbers 666 could be a numeric code to refer to a specific world leader or time span.
Hibbs is the senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, a conservative fundamentalist in Chino, California that believes in a real and literal devil named Satan. His church opposes gay marriage, transgender medical care and comprehensive sex education in schools, according to the church's website.
In November, Hibbs made headlines by appearing in a now-viral video streamed live online the day after Election Day where he wept at the thought of a Joe Biden presidency. In the video, Hibbs prayed for Trump's victory.
"Please God you are pro-life. And one man is and one man is not. If you'd be pro-life for us." Hibbs said sobbing. "Jesus, lord. One man is for Israel and one is not. You are for Isreal. Lord, one man is for our military and our police and one is not. You are."
"Lord, have you brought Mike Pompeo to become Secretary of State only for that to end now?" Hibbs continued. "Have you brought, Lord, Amy Coney Barrett unto the court and that's it? We're done? God, we in this room we're still pro-life here."
Even though his prayer later acknowledged that God isn't affiliated with a mainstream political party, he nevertheless asked God to install a president who is "pro-Israel, pro-life, pro-religious freedom, pro-police [and] pro-military."
Newsweek contacted Hibbs for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Sean Hannity Predicts Americans Will 'Regret' Voting for Biden When they Start Missing Trump's Tweet

Sean Hannity Predicts Americans Will 'Regret' Voting for Biden When they Start Missing Trump's Tweets

Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday predicted that Americans that voted for President-elect Joe Biden will have `` buyer 's regret '' when they start missing President Donald Trump 's tweets .
Speaking on Premiere Radio Networks ' The Sean Hannity Show , the host claimed that U.S. voters have a complicated relationship with the president 's tweeting habits , but will ultimately miss it after Biden takes office .
`` Look at how many Republicans ran from Trump the whole 4 years .
'Oh , he 's controversial .
Oh , he , you know , he—he speaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' '' he said .
`` Well , I think America 's gon na have buyers regret pretty quick missing the tweets that so greatly offended them .
They were n't offended by it , it was feigned outrage . ''
Newsweek reached out to Sean Hannity 's representatives for further comment .
Trump was the most tweeted about person worldwide in 2020 , followed by Biden , Georgia Floyd , Kobe Bryant and Barack Obama , according to a new Twitter analysis .
However , he did not make it onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liked and retweeted posts .
Since Election Day , Hannity , one of Trump 's most loyal supporters , has spent large portions of his week-nightly Fox News show airing the president 's allegations of widespread voter fraud .
Most media outlets called the election for Biden about four weeks ago , but Trump has refused to concede .
Over the past month , the president has repeatedly insisted that the election was `` rigged '' and stolen from him .
His campaign has filed nearly 40 lawsuits in swing states seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but so far , most of the suits have been unsuccessful and routinely tossed out of court .
Trump has routinely taken to Twitter to push his election fraud claims , but the social media platform has flagged many of the posts as misleading .
Between November 2 and November 16 , Twitter flagged at least 100 tweets from the president .
`` We won Michigan by a lot ! ''
he wrote on December 2 , in a tweet that the platform labeled as `` disputed . ''
Last week , Hannity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself and his entire family before leaving the Oval Office to protect from potential prosecution by Biden 's administration .
`` The president out the door needs to pardon his whole family and himself , because [ the Democrats ] want this witch hunt to go on in perpetuity .
They 're so full of rage and insanity against the president , '' the conservative host said .
`` I assume that the power of the pardon is absolute and that he should be able to pardon anybody that he wants to .
@

Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday predicted that Americans that voted for President-elect Joe Biden will have "buyer's regret" when they start missing President Donald Trump's tweets.
Speaking on Premiere Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show, the host claimed that U.S. voters have a complicated relationship with the president's tweeting habits, but will ultimately miss it after Biden takes office.
"Look at how many Republicans ran from Trump the whole 4 years. 'Oh, he's controversial. Oh, he, you know, he—he speaks his mind. Oh, he tweets,'" he said. "Well, I think America's gonna have buyers regret pretty quick missing the tweets that so greatly offended them. They weren't offended by it, it was feigned outrage."
President Donald Trump's supporters watch Hannity at a Michigan campaign rally on October 30, 2020. John Moore/Getty
Newsweek reached out to Sean Hannity's representatives for further comment.
Trump was the most tweeted about person worldwide in 2020, followed by Biden, Georgia Floyd, Kobe Bryant and Barack Obama, according to a new Twitter analysis. However, he did not make it onto the list of the top 10 most liked and retweeted posts.
Since Election Day, Hannity, one of Trump's most loyal supporters, has spent large portions of his week-nightly Fox News show airing the president's allegations of widespread voter fraud.
Most media outlets called the election for Biden about four weeks ago, but Trump has refused to concede. Over the past month, the president has repeatedly insisted that the election was "rigged" and stolen from him. His campaign has filed nearly 40 lawsuits in swing states seeking to overturn the results in his favor, but so far, most of the suits have been unsuccessful and routinely tossed out of court.
Trump has routinely taken to Twitter to push his election fraud claims, but the social media platform has flagged many of the posts as misleading. Between November 2 and November 16, Twitter flagged at least 100 tweets from the president. "We won Michigan by a lot!" he wrote on December 2, in a tweet that the platform labeled as "disputed."
Last week, Hannity urged Trump to issue presidential pardons for himself and his entire family before leaving the Oval Office to protect from potential prosecution by Biden's administration. "The president out the door needs to pardon his whole family and himself, because [the Democrats] want this witch hunt to go on in perpetuity. They're so full of rage and insanity against the president," the conservative host said.
"I assume that the power of the pardon is absolute and that he should be able to pardon anybody that he wants to."


newsweek--2020-12-07--Potential Trouble Looms for Biden HHS Pick Xavier Becerra with Senate Republicans

Although Xavier Becerra is a former decades-long member of Congress , the Republican lawmakers who will have the power to confirm or deny the Californian as President-elect Joe Biden 's Health and Human Services secretary know little about him .
But the few things they do know about the Democrat and California attorney general they do n't particularly like .
Becerra has been instrumental in defending the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) against a lawsuit from Republican attorneys general and the Trump administration seeking to dismantle the Obama-era health insurance law .
However , perhaps more problematic for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeled him a `` radical , '' are Becerra 's pro-choice stance on abortion , support for single-payer health care and lack of experience in the medical field .
`` I think it 'd be controversial , to maybe just state the obvious , '' Sen. John Cornyn ( R-Texas ) said .
`` I think most of us feel like there should be some deference in the president-elect 's choice for his cabinet , but some of these folks are pretty radical , and he 's pretty radical . ''
Likewise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becerra as someone with a `` pretty hardcore left position . ''
`` I 'd want to know what his health care background is other than being married to a health care professional ... Lots of questions for me , '' Lankford said .
Becerra 's wife , Carolina Reyes , is a perinatologist , someone who specializes in high-risk pregnancies .
One of several members in the upper chamber with a medical background , former-doctor-turned-senator Bill Cassidy ( R-La . )
also questioned the depth of Becerra 's medical knowledge beyond what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Admittedly , Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) lacked a familiarity with Becerra .
But the moderate also expressed some doubt .
`` I was surprised that it was n't an individual who had a health care background , '' Collins said .
`` But I truly do n't know him . ''
The skepticism around Becerra with Senate Republicans foreshadowed what could be a turbulent confirmation process for the Biden nominee , should the GOP hold onto control of the chamber .
The pick appeased many Democrats , particularly Hispanics , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees .
If confirmed , Becerra would become the first Latino to lead HHS , a crucial agency amid the pandemic that will be tasked with distributing hundreds of millions of coronavirus vaccines .
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) —the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee , the panel that has jurisdiction over whether Becerra 's nomination advances to the full floor—vehemently pushed back against the notion that Becerra was inexperienced with health care .
`` That 's simply not true , '' Wyden said .
`` He 's consistently been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big lobbies . ''
Among other things , he cited Becerra 's `` passionate '' legal work fighting for the ACA 's survival , which affords pre-existing condition protections for tens of millions of people .
`` When you 're the secretary of Health and Human Services , the real key is getting the intersection of policy and politics , '' Wyden added .
`` [ Becerra ] is a person who gets that . ''

Although Xavier Becerra is a former decades-long member of Congress, the Republican lawmakers who will have the power to confirm or deny the Californian as President-elect Joe Biden's Health and Human Services secretary know little about him.
But the few things they do know about the Democrat and California attorney general they don't particularly like.
Becerra has been instrumental in defending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against a lawsuit from Republican attorneys general and the Trump administration seeking to dismantle the Obama-era health insurance law.
However, perhaps more problematic for the 62-year-old, suggested Senate Republicans as they labeled him a "radical," are Becerra's pro-choice stance on abortion, support for single-payer health care and lack of experience in the medical field.
"I think it'd be controversial, to maybe just state the obvious," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. "I think most of us feel like there should be some deference in the president-elect's choice for his cabinet, but some of these folks are pretty radical, and he's pretty radical."
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra speaks following arguments about ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, November 12, 2019. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty
Likewise, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) described Becerra as someone with a "pretty hardcore left position."
"I'd want to know what his health care background is other than being married to a health care professional... Lots of questions for me," Lankford said.
Becerra's wife, Carolina Reyes, is a perinatologist, someone who specializes in high-risk pregnancies.
One of several members in the upper chamber with a medical background, former-doctor-turned-senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also questioned the depth of Becerra's medical knowledge beyond what has arisen in his legal cases.
Admittedly, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) lacked a familiarity with Becerra. But the moderate also expressed some doubt.
"I was surprised that it wasn't an individual who had a health care background," Collins said. "But I truly don't know him."
The skepticism around Becerra with Senate Republicans foreshadowed what could be a turbulent confirmation process for the Biden nominee, should the GOP hold onto control of the chamber.
The pick appeased many Democrats, particularly Hispanics, who were lobbying Biden to select more Hispanic nominees. If confirmed, Becerra would become the first Latino to lead HHS, a crucial agency amid the pandemic that will be tasked with distributing hundreds of millions of coronavirus vaccines.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)—the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, the panel that has jurisdiction over whether Becerra's nomination advances to the full floor—vehemently pushed back against the notion that Becerra was inexperienced with health care.
"That's simply not true," Wyden said. "He's consistently been in the consumer's corner up against big lobbies."
Among other things, he cited Becerra's "passionate" legal work fighting for the ACA's survival, which affords pre-existing condition protections for tens of millions of people.
"When you're the secretary of Health and Human Services, the real key is getting the intersection of policy and politics," Wyden added. "[Becerra] is a person who gets that."


newsweek--2020-12-07--GOP State Commissioner GOP State Commissioner Won't Impose COVID Workplace Measures, Says Virus 'Not

GOP State Commissioner GOP State Commissioner Won't Impose COVID Workplace Measures, Says Virus 'Not Proven Likely to Cause Serious Physical Harm'

Republican North Carolina Department of Labor ( NCDOL ) Commissioner Cherie Berry said in a November letter that her department would not issue any new regulations as safety measures against COVID-19 in the workplace .
In October , worker 's advocacy groups in North Carolina asked the NCDOL to institute more stringent safety measures against the virus .
In September , Governor Roy Cooper announced an executive order that would put additional safety measures in place for North Carolina agricultural workers .
After labor officials claimed they would not be able to enforce the new regulations , Cooper 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In her November letter , Berry said that COVID-19 could not be proven to be a workplace hazard .
`` While I am not dismissing the tragic deaths that have occurred as a result of this virus , '' Berry wrote , `` statistically , the virus has not been proven likely to cause death or serious physical harm from the perspective of an occupational hazard . ''
`` Because the virus is so pervasive , it may be very difficult if not impossible to prove that the illness is work-related , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citation and be unable to provide evidence sufficient to uphold the citation , means that the citation will be dismissed . ''
Newsweek reached out to Governor Cooper 's office for comment .
In their October petition , advocacy groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center called for the NCDOL to require employers to make certain COVID-19 safety measures standard .
Among their recommendations were providing workers with face masks , ensuring adequate air-handling systems were in place where applicable and establishing proper sanitization protocols .
According to the petition , since NCDOL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` it is necessary that NDCOL adopt new protections through rulemaking in order to effectively protect employees from the spread of COVID-19 . ''
Berry 's response to the petition said that imposing `` new regulations is not the most efficient means to help control the virus . ''
Information from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Monday indicated over 300 clusters of COVID-19 traceable to workplaces .
In the meat and poultry processing industry , 41 clusters of the virus had been reported with 4,122 cases associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a mask mandate in place since June , although some county officials claimed they would not enforce it .
In November , after an executive order which tightened restrictions in the state , Cooper asked local governments for their help in enforcing the order .
`` We want people to follow the safety guidelines to slow the spread , '' Cooper said during a press conference .
`` If they do n't , the rules need to be enforced and we 're working with state and local governments to do just that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , employees at farming , manufacturing and construction sites are required to wear face masks when social distancing is deemed difficult or when workers `` are either with six ( 6 ) feet of another person or indoors . ''
As of December 7 , North Carolina has reported 399,362 positive cases of COVID-19 with 5,560 deaths attributable to the virus .

Republican North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) Commissioner Cherie Berry said in a November letter that her department would not issue any new regulations as safety measures against COVID-19 in the workplace.
In October, worker's advocacy groups in North Carolina asked the NCDOL to institute more stringent safety measures against the virus. In September, Governor Roy Cooper announced an executive order that would put additional safety measures in place for North Carolina agricultural workers. After labor officials claimed they would not be able to enforce the new regulations, Cooper's office chose not to enact the order. In her November letter, Berry said that COVID-19 could not be proven to be a workplace hazard.
"While I am not dismissing the tragic deaths that have occurred as a result of this virus," Berry wrote, "statistically, the virus has not been proven likely to cause death or serious physical harm from the perspective of an occupational hazard."
"Because the virus is so pervasive, it may be very difficult if not impossible to prove that the illness is work-related," Berry added. "To issue a citation and be unable to provide evidence sufficient to uphold the citation, means that the citation will be dismissed."
In a statement emailed to Newsweek on Tuesday, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Communications Manager Kelly Haight Connor said COVID-19 is "not a disease to gamble with."
"NCDHHS has developed comprehensive guidance to support businesses in keeping their employees and patrons as safe as possible and to slow the spread of the virus," Connor wrote. "With our trends moving in the wrong direction, it is critical that we follow the guidance to help keep people from getting sick and ensuring our hospitals are able to care for those that have serious illness."
"NCDHHS continues to work with the NC Department of Labor and the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to support North Carolina's farmworkers and food processing workers," Connor added.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper rescinded an executive order in September which would have put greater coronavirus safety measures in place for some workers. Jeff Hahne/Getty
In their October petition, advocacy groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center called for the NCDOL to require employers to make certain COVID-19 safety measures standard. Among their recommendations were providing workers with face masks, ensuring adequate air-handling systems were in place where applicable and establishing proper sanitization protocols.
According to the petition, since NCDOL declined to enforce Cooper's executive order, "it is necessary that NDCOL adopt new protections through rulemaking in order to effectively protect employees from the spread of COVID-19."
Berry's response to the petition said that imposing "new regulations is not the most efficient means to help control the virus."
Information from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Monday indicated over 300 clusters of COVID-19 traceable to workplaces. In the meat and poultry processing industry, 41 clusters of the virus had been reported with 4,122 cases associated with those clusters.
North Carolina has had a mask mandate in place since June, although some county officials claimed they would not enforce it. In November, after an executive order which tightened restrictions in the state, Cooper asked local governments for their help in enforcing the order.
"We want people to follow the safety guidelines to slow the spread," Cooper said during a press conference. "If they don't, the rules need to be enforced and we're working with state and local governments to do just that."
According to Cooper's November order, employees at farming, manufacturing and construction sites are required to wear face masks when social distancing is deemed difficult or when workers "are either with six (6) feet of another person or indoors."
As of December 7, North Carolina has reported 399,362 positive cases of COVID-19 with 5,560 deaths attributable to the virus.
Updated (12/08/2020 9:16 p.m. EST): This story has been updated with a statement from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Georgia Candidates Spent 14 Times More on TV Ads Over Few Weeks than UK Prime Minister Did for Entir

Georgia Candidates Spent 14 Times More on TV Ads Over Few Weeks than UK Prime Minister Did for Entire Campaign

U.S. spending on political campaign advertising dwarfs that of any other nation , with spending on Georgia 's upcoming Senate runoffs already reaching unprecedented levels after one month .
Between November 5 and December 4 , spending on advertising for the two Senate contests exceeded $ 315 million , according to advertising tracking firm Adimpact .
Money spent on advertising during all stages of the election , including leading up the November 3 election that saw no candidates receiving a majority of votes , totaled $ 516.8 million .
In comparison , the U.K. 's Conservative party , headed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £16 million , or about $ 21.4 million USD , on its entire 2019 general election campaign , according to The Independent .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's Liberal party spent around $ 26.2 million CAD , or $ 20.5 million USD , during its 2019 campaign .
Unlike the U.S. , both countries have caps on the amount of money political campaigns are allowed to spend .
Not including the Georgia runoffs , advertising spending in the U.S. during the 2019-2020 election cycle reached a staggering $ 8.5 billion , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races throughout the country .
The total spent is greater than the gross domestic product ( GDP ) of at least 49 countries , exceeding the combined GDP of the bottom 15 countries , according to United Nations data compiled by Worldometer .
Although spending large amounts of money on advertising is common in U.S. politics , the amount being spent on the Georgia runoff races is likely especially high because the outcome will determine which party controls the Senate .
If either of the races is won by incumbent GOP Senators David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain control of the upper chamber despite remaining in the minority in the House and losing the White House .
Dual wins by Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock would result in the Senate being split 50-50 , but Democrats would take control for the first time since 2014 due to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holding the power to break any ties .
The $ 86.6 million in advertising already spent by the Ossoff campaign makes it the most expensive in Senate history , eclipsing the record that had recently been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to unseat GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina .
`` While the GOP 's billionaire mega-donors are dumping tens of millions of dollars into Mitch McConnell 's super PAC network to try to buy these seats , Democrats are counting on small-dollar grassroots donors to support our candidates and help them fight back , '' Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Shea Necheles said in a statement to Newsweek .
Newsweek reached out to the National Republican Senatorial Committee for comment .
Polling suggests that both of the high-stakes races , set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be decided by razor-thin margins .
A RealClearPolitics average shows Warnock with a slim advantage over Loeffler of 0.5 percent as of Friday , while Perdue is ahead of Ossoff by an even smaller margin of 0.2 percent .

U.S. spending on political campaign advertising dwarfs that of any other nation, with spending on Georgia's upcoming Senate runoffs already reaching unprecedented levels after one month.
Between November 5 and December 4, spending on advertising for the two Senate contests exceeded $315 million, according to advertising tracking firm Adimpact. Money spent on advertising during all stages of the election, including leading up the November 3 election that saw no candidates receiving a majority of votes, totaled $516.8 million.
In comparison, the U.K.'s Conservative party, headed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, spent roughly £16 million, or about $21.4 million USD, on its entire 2019 general election campaign, according to The Independent. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal party spent around $26.2 million CAD, or $20.5 million USD, during its 2019 campaign. Unlike the U.S., both countries have caps on the amount of money political campaigns are allowed to spend.
Not including the Georgia runoffs, advertising spending in the U.S. during the 2019-2020 election cycle reached a staggering $8.5 billion, with 9.3 million television ads being bought for races throughout the country.
The total spent is greater than the gross domestic product (GDP) of at least 49 countries, exceeding the combined GDP of the bottom 15 countries, according to United Nations data compiled by Worldometer.
Relaxed rules in the U.S. have resulted in billions being spent on advertising for national political campaigns during each election cycle. Steven White/Getty
Although spending large amounts of money on advertising is common in U.S. politics, the amount being spent on the Georgia runoff races is likely especially high because the outcome will determine which party controls the Senate.
If either of the races is won by incumbent GOP Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, Republicans will maintain control of the upper chamber despite remaining in the minority in the House and losing the White House.
Dual wins by Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock would result in the Senate being split 50-50, but Democrats would take control for the first time since 2014 due to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holding the power to break any ties.
The $86.6 million in advertising already spent by the Ossoff campaign makes it the most expensive in Senate history, eclipsing the record that had recently been set during Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison's unsuccessful attempt to unseat GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
"While the GOP's billionaire mega-donors are dumping tens of millions of dollars into Mitch McConnell's super PAC network to try to buy these seats, Democrats are counting on small-dollar grassroots donors to support our candidates and help them fight back," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Shea Necheles said in a statement to Newsweek.
Newsweek reached out to the National Republican Senatorial Committee for comment.
Polling suggests that both of the high-stakes races, set to take place January 5, could be decided by razor-thin margins. A RealClearPolitics average shows Warnock with a slim advantage over Loeffler of 0.5 percent as of Friday, while Perdue is ahead of Ossoff by an even smaller margin of 0.2 percent.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Washington QB Alex Smith Has Bloody Leg Injury and Returns to Game, Social Media Lauds His Toughness

Alex Smith , quarterback of the Washington Football Team , suffered a bloody leg injury during the first half Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers .
The injury occured on his good leg .
Smith , who broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg a little more than two years ago , faced 17 surgeries to repair that leg and the possibility of never again playing football .
He returned to the starting lineup last month , and now has his Washington team competing for an NFC East title .
In Monday night 's game delayed one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured his left leg—his good leg—during the first half .
His shin area could be seen with blood gushing from inside his maroon sock and splattering onto his white cleat .
No one would probably blame him for leaving the field , but he did n't .
Instead , he made a return to the field , and it left Twitter buzzing about his toughness .
Smith had many life-threatening surgeries over the last year and a half , and then a grueling rehabilitation process .
Once a budding prospect from the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the west coast to the east coast , setting his teams up for future success before leaving .
After his departure in San Francisco , the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl , but lost to the Baltimore Ravens .
In Kansas City , he was the starter before getting shipped away and replaced by Patrick Mahomes , who guided the Chiefs to the Super Bowl title last season .
For his career—entering Monday night , Smith has passed for 35,135 yards and 196 touchdowns with 106 interceptions .
His career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 67 losses and one tie .
Washington coach Ron Rivera said Smith can still be the long-term solution to the team 's quarterback woes .
`` That 's something we as coaches and as an organization have to talk about most certainly if he continues to play at this level , '' Rivera said on ESPN last month .
`` He 's back as a player . ''
Washington ( 4-7 ) is a half game back to the New York Giants ( 5-7 ) entering Monday night .
The winner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team from that division to make the playoffs this season .
The Bleacher Report wrote hours before the game , `` Alex Smith has overcome adversity throughout his career .
...
The 36-year-old is back and has Washington competing for a playoff spot . ''
Here are some of the words about the toughness of Smith , who began his career with the San Francisco 49ers and made a stop with the Kansas City Chiefs before getting sent to the then-Washington Redskins .

Alex Smith, quarterback of the Washington Football Team, suffered a bloody leg injury during the first half Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury occured on his good leg.
Smith, who broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg a little more than two years ago, faced 17 surgeries to repair that leg and the possibility of never again playing football. He returned to the starting lineup last month, and now has his Washington team competing for an NFC East title.
Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team is pressured by Marcus Allen #27 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of their game at Heinz Field on December 07, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
In Monday night's game delayed one day because of COVID-19 issues, he injured his left leg—his good leg—during the first half.
His shin area could be seen with blood gushing from inside his maroon sock and splattering onto his white cleat. No one would probably blame him for leaving the field, but he didn't.
This is Alex Smith’s GOOD leg. pic.twitter.com/t7yTzMIHwL — Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 7, 2020
Instead, he made a return to the field, and it left Twitter buzzing about his toughness.
Smith had many life-threatening surgeries over the last year and a half, and then a grueling rehabilitation process. Once a budding prospect from the University of Utah, he has bounced around from the west coast to the east coast, setting his teams up for future success before leaving.
After his departure in San Francisco, the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens. In Kansas City, he was the starter before getting shipped away and replaced by Patrick Mahomes, who guided the Chiefs to the Super Bowl title last season.
For his career—entering Monday night, Smith has passed for 35,135 yards and 196 touchdowns with 106 interceptions. His career record as a starter is 96 wins, 67 losses and one tie.
Washington coach Ron Rivera said Smith can still be the long-term solution to the team's quarterback woes.
"That's something we as coaches and as an organization have to talk about most certainly if he continues to play at this level," Rivera said on ESPN last month. "He's back as a player."
Washington (4-7) is a half game back to the New York Giants (5-7) entering Monday night. The winner of the NFC East is likely the only team from that division to make the playoffs this season.
The Bleacher Report wrote hours before the game, "Alex Smith has overcome adversity throughout his career. ... The 36-year-old is back and has Washington competing for a playoff spot."
Here are some of the words about the toughness of Smith, who began his career with the San Francisco 49ers and made a stop with the Kansas City Chiefs before getting sent to the then-Washington Redskins.
If Alex Smith isn't your pick for Comeback Player of the Year I don't know what to say — Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 7, 2020
"If you're wondering, the leg from which Alex Smith is spewing blood is not the leg he had 17 surgeries on," was a sentence I was hoping not to hear tonight. Although I guess it beats "the leg from which Alex Smith is spewing blood IS the leg he had 17 surgeries on." — Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 7, 2020
Alex Smith might be the toughest player of all time pic.twitter.com/YsLl3z3hnY — Cody Tapp (@codybtapp) December 7, 2020
please tell Alex Smith that nobody will think any less of him if he stops playing football — Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 7, 2020
Alex Smith just casually bleeding everywhere. — Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 7, 2020


newsweek--2020-12-07--Nearly a Third of Washington, D.C.'s COVID-19 Outbreaks in Last 4 Months Tied to Daycare, K-12 Schoo

Nearly a Third of Washington, D.C.'s COVID-19 Outbreaks in Last 4 Months Tied to Daycare, K-12 Schools

Public data provided by DC Health shows that almost 60 percent of the COVID-19 outbreaks reported to Washington , D.C. health officials between early August and late November were linked to colleges , K-12 schools and childcare or daycare centers .
Thirty outbreaks were reported in connection with college and university campuses , buildings and off-campus residences , representing about 27.5 percent of Washington , D.C. 's total outbreaks .
Nineteen outbreaks were tied to K-12 schools—which the health department noted can include staff and student activities conducted in and out of the classroom—and another 15 were linked to daycare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health 's data .
The numbers represent a new era of COVID-19 reporting by DC Health , with expanded transparency regarding virus outbreaks as previously requested by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor ( ODCA ) .
`` We welcome the new data on COVID outbreaks shared today , and the new information on exposure activity , '' D.C .
Auditor Kathleen Patterson told Newsweek .
`` In the COVID environment each of us has to make our own risk assessment—what we can and ca n't do , safely , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report on November 23 assessing Washington , D.C. 's reporting of COVID-19 data throughout the pandemic .
Though the ODCA said the nation 's capital conducted `` strong '' COVID-19 data gathering thus far , the report suggested additional data points that might be helpful for residents .
Among those suggestions were recommendations to detail the settings of identified virus outbreaks and the demographics of those impacted .
While Patterson praised the latest data expansions , she said further improvements to the breakdown of COVID-19 information were possible and would help residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaQuandra ] Nesbitt made the point at today 's press conference that DC residents are paying attention to the guidance they 're getting—she mentioned DC 's track record at mask-wearing , '' Patterson said .
`` With more and better information people make better decisions . ''
The health department 's current data breaks down the type of outbreak reported and the week in which it was reported to health officials .
`` We 'd like to see more detail on the outbreaks : which campuses , what childcare facilities and are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for safety ?
Deeper and more granular data on outbreaks would be even better to inform our personal decision-making , '' Patterson told Newsweek .
Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is one of several government officials who has worked to balance the risk of COVID-19 exposure in school settings with the social , physical and mental benefits children get out of attending classes in person .
Over the summer , Bowser announced that the first term of the 2020-2021 school year would begin virtually , with in-person instruction possible in November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with school administrators issuing school-wide alerts whenever someone within the school community tested positive for COVID-19 .
According to DC Health 's data , more than 23,000 residents had tested positive for the virus in total by December 6 , with 701 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 .
An estimated 6 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in children 14 or younger , while 4 percent of the cases were reported in teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 .
Another 9 percent of the area 's confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the health department 's data .

Public data provided by DC Health shows that almost 60 percent of the COVID-19 outbreaks reported to Washington, D.C. health officials between early August and late November were linked to colleges, K-12 schools and childcare or daycare centers.
Thirty outbreaks were reported in connection with college and university campuses, buildings and off-campus residences, representing about 27.5 percent of Washington, D.C.'s total outbreaks. Nineteen outbreaks were tied to K-12 schools—which the health department noted can include staff and student activities conducted in and out of the classroom—and another 15 were linked to daycare and childcare facilities, according to DC Health's data. The numbers represent a new era of COVID-19 reporting by DC Health, with expanded transparency regarding virus outbreaks as previously requested by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA).
"We welcome the new data on COVID outbreaks shared today, and the new information on exposure activity," D.C. Auditor Kathleen Patterson told Newsweek. "In the COVID environment each of us has to make our own risk assessment—what we can and can't do, safely, or relatively safely."
DC Health data shows that nearly one-third of the COVID-19 outbreaks reported to health officials since August have been in K-12 and daycare or childcare settings. In the photo above, people walk along the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, near the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument, as the sun sets on December 6, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Al Drago/Getty
The ODCA published a report on November 23 assessing Washington, D.C.'s reporting of COVID-19 data throughout the pandemic. Though the ODCA said the nation's capital conducted "strong" COVID-19 data gathering thus far, the report suggested additional data points that might be helpful for residents. Among those suggestions were recommendations to detail the settings of identified virus outbreaks and the demographics of those impacted.
While Patterson praised the latest data expansions, she said further improvements to the breakdown of COVID-19 information were possible and would help residents.
"DC Health's Dr. [LaQuandra] Nesbitt made the point at today's press conference that DC residents are paying attention to the guidance they're getting—she mentioned DC's track record at mask-wearing," Patterson said. "With more and better information people make better decisions."
The health department's current data breaks down the type of outbreak reported and the week in which it was reported to health officials.
"We'd like to see more detail on the outbreaks: which campuses, what childcare facilities and are the facilities with outbreaks following the best practices for safety? Deeper and more granular data on outbreaks would be even better to inform our personal decision-making," Patterson told Newsweek.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is one of several government officials who has worked to balance the risk of COVID-19 exposure in school settings with the social, physical and mental benefits children get out of attending classes in person. Over the summer, Bowser announced that the first term of the 2020-2021 school year would begin virtually, with in-person instruction possible in November. Some public schools began reopening in mid-November, with school administrators issuing school-wide alerts whenever someone within the school community tested positive for COVID-19.
According to DC Health's data, more than 23,000 residents had tested positive for the virus in total by December 6, with 701 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19. An estimated 6 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in children 14 or younger, while 4 percent of the cases were reported in teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. Another 9 percent of the area's confirmed cases were reported within the 20-24 age bracket, according to the health department's data.


newsweek--2020-12-07--Will President Donald Trump Get COVID-19 Vaccine?

It 's unclear whether President Donald Trump will join the growing list of officials hoping to instill public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines by being among the first to publicly take them .
`` That 's something that 's certainly under consideration , '' a senior White House official told reporters on Monday .
`` He 's expressed his willingness . ''
But the official added a caveat : Trump may not be a priority for the vaccine because he 's already contracted COVID-19 .
`` I think there 's an open question as to whether ultimately he will be one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air , '' the White House official said .
`` That 's simply a function of whether it would serve the desired purpose given that he 's a recovered patient . ''
Multiple vaccine candidates are in late stages of development with two potentially gaining final approval this week after being fast-tracked to curb the ongoing pandemic that has killed more than 280,000 people in the United States as numbers continue to surge throughout the country .
The White House is set to host a summit promoting the vaccine creation on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was briefly hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 in October .
He received an experimental treatment before recovering .
Several people in Trump 's orbit , including first lady Melania Trump and top White House aides , also have tested positive .
After his recovery , Trump has repeatedly claimed that he 's now `` immune '' to COVID-19 , though it remains unclear how long such `` immunity '' lasts and experts say it 's likely for just a few months .
The official said the White House is considering other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines when the Food and Drug Administration grants final approval—possibly in the coming days .
Former Presidents Barack Obama , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have said they will get COVID-19 vaccines on camera to aid public confidence and promote awareness .
President-elect Joe Biden also has said he will get the vaccine , as has Dr. Anthony Fauci , a leading member of the Trump administration 's White House Coronavirus Task Force viewed as a top expert on the pandemic .
Fauci , who has been tapped as a top health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be attending this week 's summit and members of Biden 's administration also do n't appear on the meeting agenda .
A White House official said Fauci had a scheduling conflict .
None of the drugmakers involved in the vaccine development will be taking part either because Dr. Peter Marks , the FDA 's top vaccine regulator , will be leading one session .
`` It was more appropriate not to have one or more vaccine companies with pending applications before the FDA , '' one Trump administration official said .

It's unclear whether President Donald Trump will join the growing list of officials hoping to instill public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines by being among the first to publicly take them.
"That's something that's certainly under consideration," a senior White House official told reporters on Monday. "He's expressed his willingness."
But the official added a caveat: Trump may not be a priority for the vaccine because he's already contracted COVID-19.
"I think there's an open question as to whether ultimately he will be one of the ones to take it on air," the White House official said. "That's simply a function of whether it would serve the desired purpose given that he's a recovered patient."
Multiple vaccine candidates are in late stages of development with two potentially gaining final approval this week after being fast-tracked to curb the ongoing pandemic that has killed more than 280,000 people in the United States as numbers continue to surge throughout the country.
The White House is set to host a summit promoting the vaccine creation on Tuesday, with leading experts expected to attend.
Trump was briefly hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 in October. He received an experimental treatment before recovering. Several people in Trump's orbit, including first lady Melania Trump and top White House aides, also have tested positive.
President Donald Trump attends a rally on December 05, 2020 in Valdosta, Georgia. Spencer Platt/Getty
After his recovery, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he's now "immune" to COVID-19, though it remains unclear how long such "immunity" lasts and experts say it's likely for just a few months.
The official said the White House is considering other "influencers" who could help promote vaccines when the Food and Drug Administration grants final approval—possibly in the coming days.
Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have said they will get COVID-19 vaccines on camera to aid public confidence and promote awareness. President-elect Joe Biden also has said he will get the vaccine, as has Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the Trump administration's White House Coronavirus Task Force viewed as a top expert on the pandemic.
Fauci, who has been tapped as a top health adviser to the incoming Biden administration, won't be attending this week's summit and members of Biden's administration also don't appear on the meeting agenda. A White House official said Fauci had a scheduling conflict.
None of the drugmakers involved in the vaccine development will be taking part either because Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA's top vaccine regulator, will be leading one session.
"It was more appropriate not to have one or more vaccine companies with pending applications before the FDA," one Trump administration official said.


newsweek--2020-12-07--America's Defiance of Trump's Trade War Fuels China's Most Export Income Ever Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Despite President Donald Trump 's trade war with the People 's Republic , Chinese exports have hit an all-time high .
These record sales come as the West suffers the ravages of a resurgent pandemic , with the U.S. leading the world with more than 280,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
Data released Monday by China 's General Administration of Customs showed Chinese exports witnessed their biggest boom in nearly three years last month , growing 21.1 % as compared to November of last year .
The result was valued at some $ 268 billion , the largest export sales ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , raising the country 's trade surplus to $ 75.42 billion – more than double the figure from this same time last year .
In spite of the pandemic , the U.S. topped the list of importers , with Chinese imports valued at $ 51.9 billion , up 46 % from last November .
The Chinese trade surplus with the U.S. rose by more than half to $ 37.3 billion this November , the same month in which Donald Trump lost the election .
China also bought more U.S. goods , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficit for the Trump administration since first taking office nearly four years ago .
The U.S. president adopted tough policies against China , imposing tariffs to foster domestic industries and calling on Beijing to confront accusations of currency manipulation and other alleged trade abuses .
China has denied U.S. claims of trade malpractice , but agreed earlier this year to a phase-in trade deal designed to cool heated tensions between the world 's top two economies .
The agreement was sidelined , however , as COVID-19 sent China into the first of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to halt the spread of a disease that is now largely under control in China , where it was first observed .
China 's success in battling COVID-19 has allowed it to reopen its industries to pre-pandemic levels as other countries struggle to keep pace with production needs , especially for medical goods and electronics , two areas in which Chinese exports surged .
In another stark difference between the Chinese and U.S. experience with the illness , a YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research published Friday indicated that more than 68 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation had become more united as a result of COVID-19 as compared to 24 other countries .
The U.S. was last on the list , with just 19 % saying that the virus had united their country .
Responding to this and other international reports that supported the narrative of China outdoing the U.S. in its handling of the crisis , including U.S. Census figures showing between 10 % and 12 % of U.S. households reporting food insecurity , Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Monday that Chinese officials were `` following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. with a heavy heart . ''
`` We feel for the American people and convey condolences and sympathy to them , '' Hua told a regular press conference in Beijing .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic has stricken home in such a memorable way that human beings are closely connected and live in a community with a shared future , and only by standing together in solidarity can we tide over difficult times . ''
She said China has and will continue to work to support other countries , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and illustrated that support by noting the billions of masks and millions of surgical gloves and protective suits her country has exported to the U.S. '' China stands ready to cooperate with the rest of the world , including the U.S. , on epidemic prevention and control and provide as much support and assistance as possible , '' Hua said .
`` No one is safe until everyone is safe .
We will strive for an early and complete victory against COVID-19 with solidarity and cooperation as our weapon . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing , which U.S. officials have designated the country 's leading strategic competitor , as well as Washington 's foremost threat .
In addition to the president blaming Chinese leadership directly for the global spread of COVID – which he continues to call the `` China virus '' – senior administration figures such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have led a public charge against Chinese officials charged with human rights abuses , as well as Chinese businesses and civil organizations accused of having links to the country 's extensive security apparatus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while operating in the U.S .
The State Department issued a release on Saturday urging U.S. investors to boycott `` malign '' Chinese companies .
`` The Chinese Communist Party 's threat to American national security extends into our financial markets and impacts American investors , '' the release said .
The above graphic was provided by Statista .
Pompeo has also urged the international community to rethink their relationship with China , calling for greater `` reciprocity '' by demanding Beijing offer more transparency in its interactions with the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. economy from that of China from the Trump administration have been accompanied by a tougher line on Chinese geopolitical activities in and around areas such as self-ruling Taiwan , semi-autonomous Hong Kong and the disputed waters of the South China Sea .
But COVID-19 appears to have strained the White House 's efforts to contain the rise of China , which in another milestone this year surpassed the U.S. as the top trading partner for the European Union .
Speaking Monday at the U.S.-China Business Council in Beijing , Chinese Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two countries rather than less .
`` On the whole , China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and has achieved win-win results , '' Wang said .
`` We can not agree with the saying that China is taking advantage of the United States unilaterally in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries . ''
Wang urged Americans to look at the progress made in relations between the two superpowers in recent decades .
`` We also do not agree with the attempts by a few people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of Sino-U.S. relations over the past 40 years , '' he said .
`` This is neither fact nor logical . ''

Despite President Donald Trump's trade war with the People's Republic, Chinese exports have hit an all-time high. These record sales come as the West suffers the ravages of a resurgent pandemic, with the U.S. leading the world with more than 280,000 deaths from COVID-19.
Data released Monday by China's General Administration of Customs showed Chinese exports witnessed their biggest boom in nearly three years last month, growing 21.1% as compared to November of last year. The result was valued at some $268 billion, the largest export sales ever recorded by China in a single month, raising the country's trade surplus to $75.42 billion – more than double the figure from this same time last year.
In spite of the pandemic, the U.S. topped the list of importers, with Chinese imports valued at $51.9 billion, up 46% from last November. The Chinese trade surplus with the U.S. rose by more than half to $37.3 billion this November, the same month in which Donald Trump lost the election.
China also bought more U.S. goods, but the jump in exports contributed to the highest deficit for the Trump administration since first taking office nearly four years ago.
The U.S. president adopted tough policies against China, imposing tariffs to foster domestic industries and calling on Beijing to confront accusations of currency manipulation and other alleged trade abuses.
China has denied U.S. claims of trade malpractice, but agreed earlier this year to a phase-in trade deal designed to cool heated tensions between the world's top two economies. The agreement was sidelined, however, as COVID-19 sent China into the first of many lockdowns that would follow worldwide in an effort to halt the spread of a disease that is now largely under control in China, where it was first observed.
China's success in battling COVID-19 has allowed it to reopen its industries to pre-pandemic levels as other countries struggle to keep pace with production needs, especially for medical goods and electronics, two areas in which Chinese exports surged.
This photo taken on June 16 shows employees sorting packages at a logistics center in Nantong, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. The value of China's exports hit an all time high in November 2020, capitalizing on global turmoil wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP/Getty Images
In another stark difference between the Chinese and U.S. experience with the illness, a YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research published Friday indicated that more than 68% of the Chinese population felt their nation had become more united as a result of COVID-19 as compared to 24 other countries. The U.S. was last on the list, with just 19% saying that the virus had united their country.
Responding to this and other international reports that supported the narrative of China outdoing the U.S. in its handling of the crisis, including U.S. Census figures showing between 10% and 12% of U.S. households reporting food insecurity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Monday that Chinese officials were "following reports on the epidemic situation at home in the U.S. with a heavy heart."
"We feel for the American people and convey condolences and sympathy to them," Hua told a regular press conference in Beijing. "The COVID-19 pandemic has stricken home in such a memorable way that human beings are closely connected and live in a community with a shared future, and only by standing together in solidarity can we tide over difficult times."
She said China has and will continue to work to support other countries, including the U.S., as they battle the disease, and illustrated that support by noting the billions of masks and millions of surgical gloves and protective suits her country has exported to the U.S.
"China stands ready to cooperate with the rest of the world, including the U.S., on epidemic prevention and control and provide as much support and assistance as possible," Hua said. "No one is safe until everyone is safe. We will strive for an early and complete victory against COVID-19 with solidarity and cooperation as our weapon."
But the Trump administration continues to rail against Beijing, which U.S. officials have designated the country's leading strategic competitor, as well as Washington's foremost threat.
In addition to the president blaming Chinese leadership directly for the global spread of COVID – which he continues to call the "China virus" – senior administration figures such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have led a public charge against Chinese officials charged with human rights abuses, as well as Chinese businesses and civil organizations accused of having links to the country's extensive security apparatus, or of taking part in exploitative practices while operating in the U.S.
The State Department issued a release on Saturday urging U.S. investors to boycott "malign" Chinese companies.
"The Chinese Communist Party's threat to American national security extends into our financial markets and impacts American investors," the release said.
A graph shows the number of total confirmed COVID-19 cases by country for the top 10 most infected nations as of December 7, according to John Hopkins University. As of December 7, there have been nearly 64.5 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, and more than 1.5 million deaths. Statista
The above graphic was provided by Statista.
Pompeo has also urged the international community to rethink their relationship with China, calling for greater "reciprocity" by demanding Beijing offer more transparency in its interactions with the rest of the world.
Threats of "decoupling" the U.S. economy from that of China from the Trump administration have been accompanied by a tougher line on Chinese geopolitical activities in and around areas such as self-ruling Taiwan, semi-autonomous Hong Kong and the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
But COVID-19 appears to have strained the White House's efforts to contain the rise of China, which in another milestone this year surpassed the U.S. as the top trading partner for the European Union.
Speaking Monday at the U.S.-China Business Council in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Yi urged for more collaboration between the two countries rather than less.
"On the whole, China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and has achieved win-win results," Wang said. "We cannot agree with the saying that China is taking advantage of the United States unilaterally in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries."
Wang urged Americans to look at the progress made in relations between the two superpowers in recent decades.
"We also do not agree with the attempts by a few people in the United States to completely deny the development of Sino-U.S. relations over the past 40 years," he said. "This is neither fact nor logical."