newsweek--2020-12-10--'I Am an International Dominatrix'

'I Am an International Dominatrix'

I began my professional career as a performance artist with a circus in Spain , but I 've worked in so many fields .
In my early 20s I worked for the UNHCR in South East Asia doing research and then moved on to carrying out research for various organisations and people in places like Afghanistan .
Eventually , I decided to make a corporate career out of that work and at 25 I joined an agency in Sydney , Australia , where I was living at the time .
But I hated the corporate world .
An ex from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a time , had once told me that I would make an interesting dominatrix , but during those years working in various different jobs , I never considered myself to be sexually adventurous .
I have just always been very vocal about what I want sexually and ready to ask for it .
I understand now that it 's not really the norm to say what you want , which is perhaps why my ex said what he did .
I 'm now 36 and I 've been working for ten years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from corporate work into the sex industry in Sydney in 2010 .
In the state of New South Wales , sex work is decriminalised ; there is an industry there , a support system and online advertising for sex workers .
So , I was able to safely dip my toe into the work and see if it was for me or not .
I found Salon Kitty 's , a dominatrix `` dungeon '' in Sydney and on my first day there , just sitting in the waiting room of the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taught me the most .
I was surrounded by 20 women who were very opinionated , ready to share their frustrations and debrief their sessions .
After I had interviewed , I sat in on a lot of sessions with mistresses .
In some of my first sessions I was able to see the clients respond , and it was so visceral .
I was in awe of how intense human connection can look .
At Salon Kitty 's there were a number of very popular sessions , including anything to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versed in those things initially and then in corporal punishment and medical play .
We would do workshops sometimes ; the head mistress Amanda would organise different masters and mistresses to lead us in different skills—using rope , for example .
At the end of that first day of shadowing other mistresses , a Scottish man came in and asked to see the new Asian mistresses—which was , of course , me .
I initially said no , but the other mistresses told me to ask him what he wanted and let him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tie him up , and I ended up getting pretty into the session .
I remember the room was mirrored and I could see myself laughing and looking so happy .
I still have that reaction now , but I had n't seen myself like that before .
Because I have always been willing to speak up about what I want sexually , I think my personality suits this role as a dominatrix and mistress , but it actually took a while for me to start feeling comfortable calling myself a mistress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as I 'm very hard on myself and I set very high standards for how I should perform and achieve .
I worked at Salon Kitty 's for a year and a half before they closed and then spent another year and a half working on my own before I felt comfortable with the title .
After Salon Kitty 's closed , I decided to try working as a dominatrix in Singapore and Hong Kong .
I had spent some time in both places growing up and I felt comfortable there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I still have some of my best clients in those cities—although with COVID-19 I have n't seen them for a while .
When I first started working as a dominatrix in Sydney , my clients were very varied .
We had everyone from students who were just legally allowed to walk through our door , to workmen and office workers who were ducking out for their lunch break .
And I had mixed gender clients .
Now , because of my high price point my clients are normally white collar , C-suite professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationally at least twice a month , if not once a week .
They have to have the flexibility to meet me where I want , because I will tell a client when I am going to be in a certain city and that I want them to be there and book hotels or locations .
You need to have a certain income to be able to do that .
I usually do n't meet people in their own country , but my best clients are now in Switzerland , New York in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong .
Right now I have 10 or 12 clients who I see on a regular basis , and they are all men apart from one woman .
These clients are considered my slaves , and are typically people who are a little more ready to serve me long-term .
Some people are not ; perhaps Americans who have never left America and may not be as aware of hierarchy or the strictness of how I run things .
I am quite a high protocol mistress with my slaves—which means I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be followed .
I definitely have some married clients but I do n't see them as often as my divorced or single clients , because I demand more than just an hour here or there .
To get into my inner circle of slaves is pretty difficult .
I have an application process rather than just accepting appointments and I do n't accept a lot of people .
My application form asks lots of questions and as the years have passed I have become really picky .
If someone passes that first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a location of my choosing for lunch , and pay for the lunch and my time .
Then I spend the afternoon with them , which they also pay for .
If I 'm OK with them after that , they can start coming to me for maybe one day to five days at a time .
A day with me is US $ 10,000 , so I will probably do a week of dominatrix work a month , as well as having online revenue streams .
I earn more than I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first started , I was only working an hour here or there and I kept the boundaries very strict ; no intimate contact and various other rules .
Now , it 's really on a case-by-case basis and it changes over time .
I consider myself polyamorous , but if I see people getting too attached I may need to create some space if it 's not mutual , or , if it is mutual I might invite them in a little more in certain ways .
The one rule I am very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me through the professional application route there will always be payments .
I let that go into a grey area once and it got confusing .
Currently , I have my slaves who exist in that professional/personal relationship capacity .
I have professional clients who I only see for an hour or so here or there and I am also just coming out of a marriage that I was in for a few years .
When I first met my husband he understood what I did as a dominatrix , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that I have previously done escort work .
However , over the five years of our relationship and marriage it seemed that he was very supportive , and I think for the most part , he was .
Perhaps ultimately , it was just too challenging to be with someone so practiced in being assertive when he seemingly was not .
Now , as well as my slaves and other professional clients I have two partners who did n't come to me through the professional route , here in Bali where I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it depends how authoritarian you want to be .
I tell my partners , slaves and other clients what I need from them , how I need it and what I want .
I think it would be harder and more time consuming if I was more flexible .
It took me seven years and the support of a therapist to tell my parents that I was a dominatrix—I think I was scared I was going to disappoint them .
I was going to organize a trip to Singapore and tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news over WhatsApp in a family group chat .
My stepdad has n't said very much about it , but about a month after those messages , I took my mom on a trip to Margaret River in Australia and when we were on our own , she immediately started asking really great questions like : What the client 's motivations are ?
What my motivations are ?
What do I get out of it and how often did I see the clients ?
She wanted to build a bigger picture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more credit ?
She loves me and cares about me so much , so she pushed past her own barriers as a bible school teacher .
I have had so many friends in so many different places , and the majority of them did n't react well when I told them about my dominatrix work when I came out to them about it , which is sad .
For the longest time , I only had friends who were in the sex industry .
But in the past year or so , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the industry .
I have no plans on stopping dominatrix work any time soon , because I want these people and these dynamics in my life for a long while .
There are other things I want to do but because of how stigmatized sex work is , my options are limited .
I think it 's unlikely I will end up on any boards of the charities that I try to work clandestinely with any time soon .
I 'm actually working on a project at the moment where I 'm collecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the questions I ask them is : What is the one thing that you would say about sex work ?
I answered that question myself in my own recording and my feeling is that people should be aware that each sex worker is an individual , we all have a different perspective .
People have different feelings about their profession to someone else in the same industry , and sex workers also all have different feelings about our profession .
To paint sex workers with a specific brush based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual experiences , emotions and reality .
Like everyone else , from day to day or week to week we have different motivations .
Consider how complex as you feel as an individual—we are the same .
Mistress Eva Oh is an international dominatrix currently based in Bali .
You can follow her on Twitter @ youwillpleaseME All views expressed in this article are the author 's own .

I began my professional career as a performance artist with a circus in Spain, but I've worked in so many fields. In my early 20s I worked for the UNHCR in South East Asia doing research and then moved on to carrying out research for various organisations and people in places like Afghanistan. Eventually, I decided to make a corporate career out of that work and at 25 I joined an agency in Sydney, Australia, where I was living at the time. But I hated the corporate world.
An ex from Shanghai, where I had also lived for a time, had once told me that I would make an interesting dominatrix, but during those years working in various different jobs, I never considered myself to be sexually adventurous. I have just always been very vocal about what I want sexually and ready to ask for it. I understand now that it's not really the norm to say what you want, which is perhaps why my ex said what he did.
I'm now 36 and I've been working for ten years as a dominatrix. I initially transitioned from corporate work into the sex industry in Sydney in 2010. In the state of New South Wales, sex work is decriminalised; there is an industry there, a support system and online advertising for sex workers. So, I was able to safely dip my toe into the work and see if it was for me or not.
I found Salon Kitty's, a dominatrix "dungeon" in Sydney and on my first day there, just sitting in the waiting room of the house (as we called it) probably taught me the most. I was surrounded by 20 women who were very opinionated, ready to share their frustrations and debrief their sessions. After I had interviewed, I sat in on a lot of sessions with mistresses.
In some of my first sessions I was able to see the clients respond, and it was so visceral. I was in awe of how intense human connection can look.
At Salon Kitty's there were a number of very popular sessions, including anything to do with the a** or feet. I became versed in those things initially and then in corporal punishment and medical play. We would do workshops sometimes; the head mistress Amanda would organise different masters and mistresses to lead us in different skills—using rope, for example.
At the end of that first day of shadowing other mistresses, a Scottish man came in and asked to see the new Asian mistresses—which was, of course, me. I initially said no, but the other mistresses told me to ask him what he wanted and let him teach me. He showed me how to tie him up, and I ended up getting pretty into the session. I remember the room was mirrored and I could see myself laughing and looking so happy. I still have that reaction now, but I hadn't seen myself like that before.
Because I have always been willing to speak up about what I want sexually, I think my personality suits this role as a dominatrix and mistress, but it actually took a while for me to start feeling comfortable calling myself a mistress. Perhaps it was imposter's syndrome, as I'm very hard on myself and I set very high standards for how I should perform and achieve. I worked at Salon Kitty's for a year and a half before they closed and then spent another year and a half working on my own before I felt comfortable with the title.
After Salon Kitty's closed, I decided to try working as a dominatrix in Singapore and Hong Kong. I had spent some time in both places growing up and I felt comfortable there. That was around eight years ago and I still have some of my best clients in those cities—although with COVID-19 I haven't seen them for a while.
Eva Oh has been a professional dominatrix for a decade. She has worked with clients all over the world. Lanee Bird
When I first started working as a dominatrix in Sydney, my clients were very varied. We had everyone from students who were just legally allowed to walk through our door, to workmen and office workers who were ducking out for their lunch break. And I had mixed gender clients. Now, because of my high price point my clients are normally white collar, C-suite professionals, definitely people who are typically travelling internationally at least twice a month, if not once a week.
They have to have the flexibility to meet me where I want, because I will tell a client when I am going to be in a certain city and that I want them to be there and book hotels or locations. You need to have a certain income to be able to do that. I usually don't meet people in their own country, but my best clients are now in Switzerland, New York in the U.S., Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Right now I have 10 or 12 clients who I see on a regular basis, and they are all men apart from one woman. These clients are considered my slaves, and are typically people who are a little more ready to serve me long-term. Some people are not; perhaps Americans who have never left America and may not be as aware of hierarchy or the strictness of how I run things. I am quite a high protocol mistress with my slaves—which means I am strict and have a lot of rules to be followed.
Mistress Eva Oh has been a dominatrix for more than a decade. She works with clients all around the world. Evelyn Hunt
I definitely have some married clients but I don't see them as often as my divorced or single clients, because I demand more than just an hour here or there. To get into my inner circle of slaves is pretty difficult. I have an application process rather than just accepting appointments and I don't accept a lot of people.
My application form asks lots of questions and as the years have passed I have become really picky. If someone passes that first stage, they have to meet me at a location of my choosing for lunch, and pay for the lunch and my time. Then I spend the afternoon with them, which they also pay for. If I'm OK with them after that, they can start coming to me for maybe one day to five days at a time. A day with me is US$10,000, so I will probably do a week of dominatrix work a month, as well as having online revenue streams. I earn more than I ever thought I would.
When I first started, I was only working an hour here or there and I kept the boundaries very strict; no intimate contact and various other rules. Now, it's really on a case-by-case basis and it changes over time. I consider myself polyamorous, but if I see people getting too attached I may need to create some space if it's not mutual, or, if it is mutual I might invite them in a little more in certain ways. The one rule I am very strict with is that if people come to me through the professional application route there will always be payments. I let that go into a grey area once and it got confusing.
Currently, I have my slaves who exist in that professional/personal relationship capacity. I have professional clients who I only see for an hour or so here or there and I am also just coming out of a marriage that I was in for a few years.
When I first met my husband he understood what I did as a dominatrix, but he did have an issue initially with the fact that I have previously done escort work. However, over the five years of our relationship and marriage it seemed that he was very supportive, and I think for the most part, he was. Perhaps ultimately, it was just too challenging to be with someone so practiced in being assertive when he seemingly was not.
Now, as well as my slaves and other professional clients I have two partners who didn't come to me through the professional route, here in Bali where I live. I am busy, but I think it depends how authoritarian you want to be. I tell my partners, slaves and other clients what I need from them, how I need it and what I want. I think it would be harder and more time consuming if I was more flexible.
It took me seven years and the support of a therapist to tell my parents that I was a dominatrix—I think I was scared I was going to disappoint them. I was going to organize a trip to Singapore and tell them, but I ended up sharing the news over WhatsApp in a family group chat. My stepdad hasn't said very much about it, but about a month after those messages, I took my mom on a trip to Margaret River in Australia and when we were on our own, she immediately started asking really great questions like: What the client's motivations are? What my motivations are? What do I get out of it and how often did I see the clients? She wanted to build a bigger picture, so maybe I should have given her more credit? She loves me and cares about me so much, so she pushed past her own barriers as a bible school teacher.
I have had so many friends in so many different places, and the majority of them didn't react well when I told them about my dominatrix work when I came out to them about it, which is sad. For the longest time, I only had friends who were in the sex industry. But in the past year or so, I have started to find accepting friends outside the industry.
I have no plans on stopping dominatrix work any time soon, because I want these people and these dynamics in my life for a long while. There are other things I want to do but because of how stigmatized sex work is, my options are limited. I think it's unlikely I will end up on any boards of the charities that I try to work clandestinely with any time soon.
I'm actually working on a project at the moment where I'm collecting voice stories from sex workers in Asia. One of the questions I ask them is: What is the one thing that you would say about sex work?
I answered that question myself in my own recording and my feeling is that people should be aware that each sex worker is an individual, we all have a different perspective. People have different feelings about their profession to someone else in the same industry, and sex workers also all have different feelings about our profession.
To paint sex workers with a specific brush based on their industry isn't fair to our individual experiences, emotions and reality. Like everyone else, from day to day or week to week we have different motivations.
Consider how complex as you feel as an individual—we are the same.
Mistress Eva Oh is an international dominatrix currently based in Bali. You can follow her on Twitter @youwillpleaseME
All views expressed in this article are the author's own.
As told to Jenny Haward.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Hijab-Wearing Mother and Daughter Attacked by Man in Mall Parking Lot

A man has been charged after a `` hate-motivated '' attack on a Muslim mother and daughter in a mall parking lot in Canada , police said .
The assault took place in the parking lot of the Southgate center in Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon .
Richard Bradley Stevens , 41 , allegedly approached two Somali women sitting in their vehicle at around 3.40 p.m. and began yelling racial abuse at them , Edmonton Police said in a news release .
Police said the mother and her adult daughter were both wearing hijabs—a head covering used by some Muslim women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the passenger-side window , causing it to shatter .
`` Fearing for her safety , the passenger then ran from the vehicle , '' police said in the statement .
`` The male ran after the complainant , pushed her to the ground and began assaulting her . ''
The other woman was also shoved to the ground by the suspect after attempting to assist .
Several people intervened and stopped the attack , according to police .
Police said officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and took Stevens into custody .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two counts of assault and one count of mischief .
`` The attack on these women is horrific and our hearts go out to them , '' Sgt .
Gary Willits , of the Edmonton Police Service 's Hate Crime and Violent Extremism Unit , said .
`` These individuals were targeted due to their race , therefore making this a hate-motivated crime . ''
He added that police were using Section 718.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada , which allows courts to consider increased sentencing .
Willits told CTV News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police department , but not in relation to any hate crimes .
He added the women were `` extremely rattled '' and had feared for their lives .
`` They were fearful .
They thought they were going to die .
And it just kept escalating , '' he said .
He said he was concerned that the attack would make women in the city 's Somali community feel unsafe .
`` I would assume other women in the Somali community tonight , they 're probably sitting there thinking , you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? '
`` I want people to know that Edmonton is a great city .
It 's a strong city .
We do stand up for each other , '' he said .
Willits added that although police do not want bystanders to put themselves in harm 's way , `` if there 's an opportunity where you can render aid and help that person , by all means you got ta find that balance yourself . ''

A man has been charged after a "hate-motivated" attack on a Muslim mother and daughter in a mall parking lot in Canada, police said.
The assault took place in the parking lot of the Southgate center in Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon.
Richard Bradley Stevens, 41, allegedly approached two Somali women sitting in their vehicle at around 3.40 p.m. and began yelling racial abuse at them, Edmonton Police said in a news release.
Police said the mother and her adult daughter were both wearing hijabs—a head covering used by some Muslim women.
Eyewitnesses told police the man punched the passenger-side window, causing it to shatter.
"Fearing for her safety, the passenger then ran from the vehicle," police said in the statement. "The male ran after the complainant, pushed her to the ground and began assaulting her."
The other woman was also shoved to the ground by the suspect after attempting to assist. Several people intervened and stopped the attack, according to police.
Police said officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and took Stevens into custody.
Stevens, of Edmonton, is charged with two counts of assault and one count of mischief.
"The attack on these women is horrific and our hearts go out to them," Sgt. Gary Willits, of the Edmonton Police Service's Hate Crime and Violent Extremism Unit, said. "These individuals were targeted due to their race, therefore making this a hate-motivated crime."
He added that police were using Section 718.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which allows courts to consider increased sentencing.
Willits told CTV News Edmonton that Stevens was known to the police department, but not in relation to any hate crimes.
He added the women were "extremely rattled" and had feared for their lives. "They were fearful. They thought they were going to die. And it just kept escalating," he said.
He said he was concerned that the attack would make women in the city's Somali community feel unsafe.
"I would assume other women in the Somali community tonight, they're probably sitting there thinking, you know, 'Am I safe in my own city?'
"I want people to know that Edmonton is a great city. It's a strong city. We do stand up for each other," he said.
Willits added that although police do not want bystanders to put themselves in harm's way, "if there's an opportunity where you can render aid and help that person, by all means you gotta find that balance yourself."


newsweek--2020-12-10--North Korea 'Squandered' Trump Term, U.S. Envoy Says Amid Coronavirus Spat

The U.S. envoy to North Korea has accused Pyongyang of having `` squandered '' the opportunity to improve ties with President Donald Trump 's administration , with grand promises of denuclearization and sanctions relief remaining unfulfilled as the president prepares to leave the White House .
Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun , who has served as the special envoy to North Korea since 2018 , said Thursday that Pyongyang had chosen `` obstacles '' over `` opportunities '' during Trump 's term .
Biegun made the comments at a think tank event in Seoul during a visit to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was disappointed at the failure to push forward on denuclearization , but said he would encourage President-elect Joe Biden 's administration to continue engagement with Pyongyang .
`` Regrettably , much opportunity has been squandered by our North Korean counterparts over the past two years , who too often have devoted themselves to the search for obstacles to negotiations instead of seizing opportunities for engagement , '' Biegun said , according to his prepared remarks reported by Reuters .
Biegun defended Trump 's decision to engage with dictator Kim Jong Un @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handing the leader a priceless propaganda win for little in return .
The sudden detente came as a surprise , and followed threats of war from both leaders early in Trump 's term .
Though Trump often lauded his close personal relationship with Kim and celebrated his three historic meetings with the North Korean dictator , the two leaders ' public commitments to denuclearization and sanctions relief came to nothing after working-level discussions stalled repeatedly .
`` This vision was a bold one , and it made the many advocates of incrementalism uncomfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will pursue denuclearization of the North , and vowed to take a tougher line on Kim than Trump .
During the election campaign , Biden called Kim a `` thug '' and said the `` days of cozying up to dictators are over . ''
Biden was part of President Barack Obama 's administrations that pursued `` strategic patience , '' i.e .
tough sanctions on Pyongyang to try and force its leaders to comply with American demands .
The North has been dismissive of Biden .
Last year , Pyongyang branded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that needed to be `` beaten to death with a stick . ''
Biegun on Thursday urged dialog between the North and the incoming administration .
`` The war is over ; the time for conflict has ended , and the time for peace has arrived , '' he said .
But peace appears elusive , as cross border tensions continue despite President Moon Jae-in 's ongoing efforts to build closer cooperation with Pyongyang .
This week , a new row has erupted over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic , which North Korea claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely .
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told an event in Bahrain last week it was difficult to believe Pyongyang 's assertion that it has no coronavirus cases .
Kang also said the North has refused to engage with Southern offers of cross-border antivirus cooperation .
Kim Yo Jong , Kim 's younger sister and a close aide to the young dictator , released a scathing statement on Wednesday warning Seoul would `` pay dearly '' for maligning Pyongyang 's antivirus campaign .
`` It can be seen from the reckless remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences that she is too eager to further chill the frozen relations between the north and south of Korea , '' Kim Yo Jong said of Kang 's remarks .
`` We will never forget her words and she might have to pay dearly for it , '' Kim Yo Jong said .

The U.S. envoy to North Korea has accused Pyongyang of having "squandered" the opportunity to improve ties with President Donald Trump's administration, with grand promises of denuclearization and sanctions relief remaining unfulfilled as the president prepares to leave the White House.
Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who has served as the special envoy to North Korea since 2018, said Thursday that Pyongyang had chosen "obstacles" over "opportunities" during Trump's term.
Biegun made the comments at a think tank event in Seoul during a visit to meet with South Korean security officials. Biegun said he was disappointed at the failure to push forward on denuclearization, but said he would encourage President-elect Joe Biden's administration to continue engagement with Pyongyang.
"Regrettably, much opportunity has been squandered by our North Korean counterparts over the past two years, who too often have devoted themselves to the search for obstacles to negotiations instead of seizing opportunities for engagement," Biegun said, according to his prepared remarks reported by Reuters.
Biegun defended Trump's decision to engage with dictator Kim Jong Un, a strategy that critics warned was handing the leader a priceless propaganda win for little in return. The sudden detente came as a surprise, and followed threats of war from both leaders early in Trump's term.
Though Trump often lauded his close personal relationship with Kim and celebrated his three historic meetings with the North Korean dictator, the two leaders' public commitments to denuclearization and sanctions relief came to nothing after working-level discussions stalled repeatedly.
"This vision was a bold one, and it made the many advocates of incrementalism uncomfortable," Biegun said.
Biden said he will pursue denuclearization of the North, and vowed to take a tougher line on Kim than Trump. During the election campaign, Biden called Kim a "thug" and said the "days of cozying up to dictators are over."
Biden was part of President Barack Obama's administrations that pursued "strategic patience," i.e. tough sanctions on Pyongyang to try and force its leaders to comply with American demands.
The North has been dismissive of Biden. Last year, Pyongyang branded the president-elect a "rabid dog" that needed to be "beaten to death with a stick."
Biegun on Thursday urged dialog between the North and the incoming administration. "The war is over; the time for conflict has ended, and the time for peace has arrived," he said.
But peace appears elusive, as cross border tensions continue despite President Moon Jae-in's ongoing efforts to build closer cooperation with Pyongyang. This week, a new row has erupted over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which North Korea claims to have kept out of the country entirely.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told an event in Bahrain last week it was difficult to believe Pyongyang's assertion that it has no coronavirus cases. Kang also said the North has refused to engage with Southern offers of cross-border antivirus cooperation.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim's younger sister and a close aide to the young dictator, released a scathing statement on Wednesday warning Seoul would "pay dearly" for maligning Pyongyang's antivirus campaign.
"It can be seen from the reckless remarks made by her without any consideration of the consequences that she is too eager to further chill the frozen relations between the north and south of Korea," Kim Yo Jong said of Kang's remarks.
"We will never forget her words and she might have to pay dearly for it," Kim Yo Jong said.


newsweek--2020-12-10--LSU Self-imposes Bowl Ban in Latest Sanction Following NCAA Investigation

LSU has self-imposed a one-year ban on bowl games in the latest addition to a growing list of sanctions that follow the NCAA 's investigation into improper payments made to Tigers players .
In a statement released on Wednesday night , LSU said the ban would be effective from this season , adding that it regretted the impact this would have on players .
`` LSU leadership made this decision after careful deliberation and review of the NCAA rules violations that have been discovered in the university 's cooperative investigation with the NCAA and the Independent Accountability Resolution Process , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects LSU 's commitment to compliance with NCAA regulations and maintenance of institutional control .
We regret the impact that this decision has on our current student-athletes , but we make it in the best interest of the football program and university . ''
The LSU Tigers program was charged with a Level III violation of the NCAA 's code of conduct after Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. handed $ 2,000 in cash to four LSU players on the field after the Tigers defeated Clemson in the College Football Playoff National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin were among the players who received the bills from Beckham—a former Tigers star—as seen in a now deleted video that surfaced on Twitter .
An LSU athletic official initially told The Advocate the money was fake , but Beckham 's stunt was investigated after real banknotes were found on the field during the postgame celebration .
The NCAA 's investigation into the football program is just one aspect of a wide-ranging inquiry into some of the school 's athletic programs , which began three years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by ESPN , Jonathan Duncan , the NCAA vice president of enforcement , indicated that `` impermissible payments '' were made to players on LSU football and basketball programs .
Among several allegations , the document indicated that John Paul Funes , one of LSU 's football program boosters and the former CEO of a hospital foundation , had provided `` funds to families of current and former student-athletes '' and offered `` internships to football student-athletes . ''
Funes was sentenced to 33 months in a federal prison in October , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 500,000 from the hospital foundation and using part of the sum as payment for the parents of two former LSU players .
In a statement on Wednesday , Tigers coach Ed Orgeron praised the school 's decision but acknowledged it would come as a blow to the players .
`` I respect the university 's decision to proactively address NCAA issues from the past , '' he said .
`` I share the disappointment of our student-athletes who will not be able to compete this season in a bowl game .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' dedication to the program during these unprecedented times in our country .
Their pride in LSU will be the driving force as we continue to build a championship program . ''
After going 15-0 last season en route to the national title , LSU is 3-5 this season and , with two games left on its schedule , the best-case scenario is a 5-5 finish .
Even with a .500 record , however , the Tigers could have played in a bowl game this season as the NCAA waived bowl eligibility requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic .
LSU lost 14 players to the NFL draft in April , with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick .
Linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson and Patrick Queen , wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire were also selected in the first round .
The exodus was compounded by passing game coordinator Joe Brady joining the Carolina Panthers as offensive coordinator , while defensive coordinator Dave Aranda took over at Baylor as head coach .
The Tigers have also missed star wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shelvin , who were among the players opting out of the season .

LSU has self-imposed a one-year ban on bowl games in the latest addition to a growing list of sanctions that follow the NCAA's investigation into improper payments made to Tigers players.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, LSU said the ban would be effective from this season, adding that it regretted the impact this would have on players.
"LSU leadership made this decision after careful deliberation and review of the NCAA rules violations that have been discovered in the university's cooperative investigation with the NCAA and the Independent Accountability Resolution Process," it said.
"This decision reflects LSU's commitment to compliance with NCAA regulations and maintenance of institutional control. We regret the impact that this decision has on our current student-athletes, but we make it in the best interest of the football program and university."
The LSU Tigers program was charged with a Level III violation of the NCAA's code of conduct after Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. handed $2,000 in cash to four LSU players on the field after the Tigers defeated Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 13.
Junior wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin were among the players who received the bills from Beckham—a former Tigers star—as seen in a now deleted video that surfaced on Twitter.
An LSU athletic official initially told The Advocate the money was fake, but Beckham's stunt was investigated after real banknotes were found on the field during the postgame celebration.
The NCAA's investigation into the football program is just one aspect of a wide-ranging inquiry into some of the school's athletic programs, which began three years ago.
In August, in a document published by ESPN, Jonathan Duncan, the NCAA vice president of enforcement, indicated that "impermissible payments" were made to players on LSU football and basketball programs.
Among several allegations, the document indicated that John Paul Funes, one of LSU's football program boosters and the former CEO of a hospital foundation, had provided "funds to families of current and former student-athletes" and offered "internships to football student-athletes."
Funes was sentenced to 33 months in a federal prison in October, after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $500,000 from the hospital foundation and using part of the sum as payment for the parents of two former LSU players.
In a statement on Wednesday, Tigers coach Ed Orgeron praised the school's decision but acknowledged it would come as a blow to the players.
"I respect the university's decision to proactively address NCAA issues from the past," he said. "I share the disappointment of our student-athletes who will not be able to compete this season in a bowl game.
"I am especially proud of our players' dedication to the program during these unprecedented times in our country. Their pride in LSU will be the driving force as we continue to build a championship program."
After going 15-0 last season en route to the national title, LSU is 3-5 this season and, with two games left on its schedule, the best-case scenario is a 5-5 finish.
Even with a .500 record, however, the Tigers could have played in a bowl game this season as the NCAA waived bowl eligibility requirements to tackle the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
LSU lost 14 players to the NFL draft in April, with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick.
Linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson and Patrick Queen, wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire were also selected in the first round. The exodus was compounded by passing game coordinator Joe Brady joining the Carolina Panthers as offensive coordinator, while defensive coordinator Dave Aranda took over at Baylor as head coach.
The Tigers have also missed star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin, who were among the players opting out of the season.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Rush Limbaugh Says Conservative States Are 'Trending Toward Secession' From U.S.

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has suggested that some American states could soon breakaway from the United States and declare independence .
Speaking on his program , The Rush Limbaugh Show , on Wednesday , Limbaugh claimed that `` there can not be a peaceful coexistence '' between liberal and conservative America , which he said had increasingly different cultures .
Some states are `` trending toward secession '' as a result , he said , adding that there was `` sizable and growing sentiment '' for declaring independence from the U.S. in those which have a majority of conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presenter made the remarks in response to a question from his show 's official program observer about whether Republicans could ever win major national elections `` without taking back blue cities . ''
Limbaugh said that the party had already won many elections without doing so in the past , before discussing whether conservatives could `` dominate ... the culture ? ''
`` I actually think that we 're trending toward secession , '' he said .
`` I see more and more people asking what in the world do we have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , say , New York ?
`` What is there that makes us believe that there is enough of us there to even have a chance at winning New York ?
Especially if you 're talking about votes . ''
He went on to suggest that liberal and conservative political cultures had become `` much more separated '' and that things `` ca n't go on this way , '' although noting that he was undecided on whether entire states should breakaway .
`` There can not be a peaceful coexistence of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government , theories of how we manage our affairs , '' he added .
`` We ca n't be in this dire a conflict without something giving somewhere along the way .
Responding to John Dean , a Limbaugh 's comments , John Dean , who served as White House Counsel for United States President Richard Nixon , questioned how red , Republican , states would progress economically if they left the Union .
He wrote on Twitter : `` If the red states seceded they would be a third world nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the red state 's financially afloat .
Generally , blue states pay more taxes than they receive in federal benefits ! ''
TV producer , Jay Svoboda , responded by quote tweeting Limbaugh 's remarks and writing : `` I mean , I know one person trending toward secession . ''
The radio host 's comments came the day after Texas Rep. Kyle Biedermann , a Republican , announced his plans to introduce the Texas Independence Referendum Act , which he said allow the state to `` reassert its status as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is out of control and does n't represent the values of Texans , '' Biedermann said in a statement posted on Twitter .
`` That is why I am committing to file legislation that will allow a referendum to give Texans a vote for the State of Texas to reassert its status as an independent nation .
# Texit # txlege '' In last month 's U.S. presidential election , Republican incumbent Donald Trump 's vote share in Texas fell by about one percent from the 2016 to 52.1 % , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of voters in the state backing Democrat Joe Biden .
On Tuesday , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against four states states—Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin—which voted for Biden , in a bid to prevent their electors casting their ballots , stopping the Democrat taking the 270 ballots needed to enter the White House .
Limbaugh made his feelings about the 2020 election clear last month when he said there was `` no way Joe Biden was legitimately elected president . ''
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have officially certified their election results , paving the way for the Electoral College to cast their ballots on December 14 .
Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes to Trump 's projected tally of 232 .

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has suggested that some American states could soon breakaway from the United States and declare independence.
Speaking on his program, The Rush Limbaugh Show, on Wednesday, Limbaugh claimed that "there cannot be a peaceful coexistence" between liberal and conservative America, which he said had increasingly different cultures.
Some states are "trending toward secession" as a result, he said, adding that there was "sizable and growing sentiment" for declaring independence from the U.S. in those which have a majority of conservative or right-wing voters.
The talk show presenter made the remarks in response to a question from his show's official program observer about whether Republicans could ever win major national elections "without taking back blue cities."
Limbaugh said that the party had already won many elections without doing so in the past, before discussing whether conservatives could "dominate...the culture."
"I actually think that we're trending toward secession," he said. "I see more and more people asking what in the world do we have in common with the people who live in, say, New York?
"What is there that makes us believe that there is enough of us there to even have a chance at winning New York? Especially if you're talking about votes."
He went on to suggest that liberal and conservative political cultures had become "much more separated" and that things "can't go on this way," although noting that he was undecided on whether entire states should break away.
"There cannot be a peaceful coexistence of two completely different theories of life, theories of government, theories of how we manage our affairs," he added. "We can't be in this dire a conflict without something giving somewhere along the way.
Responding to Limbaugh's comments, John Dean, who served as White House Counsel for United States President Richard Nixon, questioned how red, Republican, states would progress economically if they left the Union.
Rush Limbaugh: "I actually think that we're trending toward secession." If the red states seceded they would be a third world nation. It is the blue states that keep the red state's financially afloat. Generally, blue states pay more taxes than they receive in federal benefits! — John W. Dean (@JohnWDean) December 10, 2020
He wrote on Twitter: "If the red states seceded they would be a third world nation. It is the blue states that keep the red state's financially afloat. Generally, blue states pay more taxes than they receive in federal benefits!"
TV producer, Jay Svoboda, responded by quote tweeting Limbaugh's remarks and writing: "I mean, I know one person trending toward secession."
The radio host's comments came the day after Texas Rep. Kyle Biedermann, a Republican, announced his plans to introduce the Texas Independence Referendum Act, which he said would allow the state to "reassert its status as an independent nation."
The federal government is out of control & doesn't represent the values of Texans. That is why I am committing to file legislation that will allow a referendum to give Texans a vote for the State of Texas to reassert its status as an independent nation. #Texit #txlege — Kyle Biedermann (@KyleBiedermann) December 8, 2020
"The federal government is out of control and doesn't represent the values of Texans," Biedermann said in a statement posted on Twitter. "That is why I am committing to file legislation that will allow a referendum to give Texans a vote for the State of Texas to reassert its status as an independent nation. #Texit #txlege"
In last month's U.S. presidential election, Republican incumbent Donald Trump's vote share in Texas fell by about one percent from the 2016 to 52.1%, according to the Associated Press, with 46.5 percent of voters in the state backing Democrat Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against four states states—Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin—which voted for Biden, in a bid to prevent their electors casting their ballots, stopping the Democrat taking the 270 ballots needed to enter the White House.
Limbaugh made his feelings about the 2020 election clear last month when he said there was "no way Joe Biden was legitimately elected president."
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have officially certified their election results, paving the way for the Electoral College to cast their ballots on December 14. Biden is projected to win 306 electoral votes to Trump's projected tally of 232.


newsweek--2020-12-10--'Cyberpunk 2077' Crashing on Base PS4 as Players Joke About Graphics

Cyberpunk 2077 was released for consoles at 12 a.m. local time on December 10 , but gamers playing on the base PS4 have encountered some early problems .
The CD Projekt Red game has been a long time coming , so fans were understandably looking forward to its release .
However , early players of the game have experienced low-resolution graphics , crashes , freezes , bugs , and glitches , leading many to joke about their experience of Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS4 with memes on Twitter .
Gamers have taken to comparing the experience of playing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1990s , while others have compared the struggle to tough scenes from Marvel movies .
Twitter user TXA Smoove compared `` A Base PS4 trying to play Cyberpunk '' to Tony Stark dying in Avengers : Endgame .
Another Twitter user said : `` Looks like my copy of Cyberpunk 2077 is running pretty poorly on a base PS4 '' and shared an image from Grand Theft Auto : Vice City , which was released in 2002 .
Twitter user @ M0RR1S90 said : `` Cyberpunk is running fine on my base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about , '' and attached an image from Duke Nukem N64 , which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997 .
Moesha on Twitter said : `` When Cyberpunk [ is ] finally done installing on your base ps4 '' and shared a Spider-Man explosion meme .
Twitter use @ AGivenSoul said : `` Base Ps4 and Xbox one handling Cyberpunk 2077 : '' and shared a GIF of Captain America fighting Thanos in Avengers : Endgame .
@ BrysonGrau on Twitter said : `` Playing new Cyberpunk game , everyone looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening for anyone else ? ''
and included a screenshot of the 2003 video game The Simpsons : Hit and Run .
These memes have other gamers concerned about playing the game themselves , like one Twitter user who said : `` Me knowing I just wasted $ 60 on Cyberpunk for my base ps4 after seeing the memes , '' with an image of a sad Dexter from Dexter 's Laboratory in the shower .
Bugs in Cyberpunk 2077 have included characters walking through walls and other characters , limbs separating from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PS4 players are not the first to spot the glitches , however .
Reviewers—who played the game on PC—have also commented on the bugs , with IGN 's Tom Marks saying that they derail some of the game 's enjoyment , and GameSpot 's Kallie Plagge saying that sometimes she was n't sure if a visual glitch was intentional or whether she was supposed to reload the game .
The team behind Cyberpunk 2077 seem to be aware of the problems , however , and tweeted : `` We are truly humbled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to support Cyberpunk 2077 before the release !
`` Even 8 million thank yous is n't enough !
The journey has just begun and we are hard at work on the upcoming fixes and updates to the game .
See you in Night City ! ''

Cyberpunk 2077 was released for consoles at 12 a.m. local time on December 10, but gamers playing on the base PS4 have encountered some early problems.
The CD Projekt Red game has been a long time coming, so fans were understandably looking forward to its release. However, early players of the game have experienced low-resolution graphics, crashes, freezes, bugs, and glitches, leading many to joke about their experience of Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS4 with memes on Twitter.
Gamers have taken to comparing the experience of playing on the older PS4 console to playing games from the 1990s, while others have compared the struggle to tough scenes from Marvel movies.
Twitter user TXA Smoove compared "A Base PS4 trying to play Cyberpunk" to Tony Stark dying in Avengers: Endgame.
A Base PS4 trying to play Cyberpunk pic.twitter.com/5EaxlopmT4 — TXA Smoove (@SneakySmoove) December 10, 2020
Another Twitter user said: "Looks like my copy of Cyberpunk 2077 is running pretty poorly on a base PS4" and shared an image from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which was released in 2002.
Looks like my copy of #Cyberpunk2077 is running pretty poorly on a base PS4 pic.twitter.com/vIdBDH8S5X — Travi$ Scott $tapp {LP 💔} (@LASERDISC420) December 9, 2020 <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8">
Twitter user @M0RR1S90 said: "Cyberpunk is running fine on my base PS4. idk what everyone was worried about," and attached an image from Duke Nukem N64, which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997.
Cyberpunk is running fine on my base PS4. idk what everyone was worried about. #PS4share pic.twitter.com/YNl3XD4nFi — M0RR1S90 (@M0RR1S90) December 9, 2020
Moesha on Twitter said: "When Cyberpunk [is] finally done installing on your base ps4" and shared a Spider-Man explosion meme.
When cyberpunk finally done installing on your base ps4 pic.twitter.com/2sX43zU4h2 — Moesha (@Gorillazoey101) December 10, 2020
Twitter use @AGivenSoul said: "Base Ps4 and Xbox one handling Cyberpunk 2077:" and shared a GIF of Captain America fighting Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
Base Ps4 and Xbox one handling #Cyberpunk2077 pic.twitter.com/En3g3FiDXx — ĀGivenSoul 🎮 | BLM (@AGivenSoul) December 10, 2020 <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8">
@BrysonGrau on Twitter said: "Playing new Cyberpunk game, everyone looks like Simpsons characters? Is this glitch happening for anyone else?" and included a screenshot of the 2003 video game The Simpsons: Hit and Run.
Playing new Cyberpunk game, everyone looks like Simpsons characters? Is this glitch happening for anyone else? pic.twitter.com/8HYmKdzmiH — brucion grew (@BrysonGrau) December 10, 2020
These memes have other gamers concerned about playing the game themselves, like one Twitter user who said: "Me knowing I just wasted $60 on Cyberpunk for my base ps4 after seeing the memes," with an image of a sad Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory in the shower.
Me knowing I just wasted $60 on Cyberpunk for my base ps4 after seeing the memes pic.twitter.com/jLDCaUoEqO — idk (@justpain22) December 10, 2020
Bugs in Cyberpunk 2077 have included characters walking through walls and other characters, limbs separating from bodies, and disappearing vehicles.
These PS4 players are not the first to spot the glitches, however. Reviewers—who played the game on PC—have also commented on the bugs, with IGN's Tom Marks saying that they derail some of the game's enjoyment, and GameSpot's Kallie Plagge saying that sometimes she wasn't sure if a visual glitch was intentional or whether she was supposed to reload the game.
The team behind Cyberpunk 2077 seem to be aware of the problems, however, and tweeted: "We are truly humbled that so many of you trusted us and decided to support Cyberpunk 2077 before the release!
"Even 8 million thank yous isn't enough! The journey has just begun and we are hard at work on the upcoming fixes and updates to the game. See you in Night City!"


newsweek--2020-12-10--Ohio Nurse and Mother-of-Seven Dies From COVID Weeks After Giving Birth

A pregnant nurse from Ohio who contracted COVID died in the hospital shortly after giving birth .
Tawauna Averette , who had six children and was pregnant with a seventh , became ill with coronavirus earlier in the fall .
When her symptoms worsened she was admitted to hospital where doctors performed an emergency c-section .
Her daughter was delivered safely , but that would be the only time Averette saw the newborn .
Friend Kellye Albes-Fisher told local news network WHIO TV 7 : `` [ Nurses ] took the baby out of the room—that was it .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ the baby ] , anything .
She got a couple pictures , videos , hoping she would get out .
It did n't work that way . ''
In multiple Facebook posts Averette documented her illness .
Her page is not publicly available but according to WHIO , she wrote in a post on November 6 : `` Y'all do n't understand what it means to not hug and kiss your kids until you ca n't . ''
Eight days later , she wrote : `` They took me off the ventilator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send up prayers . ''
Averette , who was employed as a nurse on Kettering Medical Center 's cardiac unit , stuck strictly to COVID guidelines , friends said .
`` If there was anyone who followed every rule , it was her , '' Albes-Fisher told WHIO .
Kettering Health Network said in a statement : `` We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tawauna Averette .
`` She was a beloved and valued member of our Kettering Health Network team , and our thoughts and prayers are with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of loss . ''
The company recently instigated strict COVID rules , including a ban on visitors except for a handful of reasons , including maternity patients and end-of-life care situations .
Dozens of people paid tribute to Averette on Facebook .
One wrote : `` Rip Angel .
Thank you for all you did for the patients . ''
Another said : `` See you on the other side .
Prayers to her family .
She really was SPECIAL !
!
You fought a good fight !
! ''
There were 10,094 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday and 84 more deaths , according to the Ohio Department of Health .
In total , there have been 7,187 deaths and 520,112 cases of coronavirus across the state , and more than 5,000 people are currently in hospital with the disease .
On Tuesday , Ohio health officials reported 25,721 new COVID cases , a record that was said to have been set after a backlog of tests were cleared .

A pregnant nurse from Ohio who contracted COVID died in the hospital shortly after giving birth.
Tawauna Averette, who had six children and was pregnant with a seventh, became ill with coronavirus earlier in the fall. When her symptoms worsened she was admitted to hospital where doctors performed an emergency c-section.
Her daughter was delivered safely, but that would be the only time Averette saw the newborn.
Friend Kellye Albes-Fisher told local news network WHIO TV 7: "[Nurses] took the baby out of the room—that was it.
"She never got to bond, hold [the baby], anything. She got a couple pictures, videos, hoping she would get out. It didn't work that way."
In multiple Facebook posts Averette documented her illness. Her page is not publicly available but according to WHIO, she wrote in a post on November 6: "Y'all don't understand what it means to not hug and kiss your kids until you can't."
Eight days later, she wrote: "They took me off the ventilator today about 5:30... please continue to send up prayers."
Averette, who was employed as a nurse on Kettering Medical Center's cardiac unit, stuck strictly to COVID guidelines, friends said.
"If there was anyone who followed every rule, it was her," Albes-Fisher told WHIO.
Kettering Health Network said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tawauna Averette.
"She was a beloved and valued member of our Kettering Health Network team, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends in this time of loss."
The company recently instigated strict COVID rules, including a ban on visitors except for a handful of reasons, including maternity patients and end-of-life care situations.
Dozens of people paid tribute to Averette on Facebook. One wrote: "Rip Angel. Thank you for all you did for the patients."
Another said: "See you on the other side. Prayers to her family. She really was SPECIAL!! You fought a good fight!!"
A file photo of a healthcare professional suiting up to enter a COVID-19 patient's room in the ICU at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio on November 20. As COVID-19 numbers spike across Ohio, rural hospitals and staff take on the rising number of patients being admitted. MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images
There were 10,094 new coronavirus cases in Ohio confirmed on Wednesday and 84 more deaths, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
In total, there have been 7,187 deaths and 520,112 cases of coronavirus across the state, and more than 5,000 people are currently in hospital with the disease.
On Tuesday, Ohio health officials reported 25,721 new COVID cases, a record that was said to have been set after a backlog of tests were cleared.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Sanders Urges Biden to Appoint More Progressives as Without Them 'Joe Would Not Have Won'

Democratic Party progressives have not yet received the reward they were expecting for their campaign support for President-elect Joe Biden , Sen. Bernie Sanders said .
After the Vermont senator suspended his campaign during the Democratic Party primaries , he endorsed Biden 's run for the presidency in April , despite their clashes over issues ranging from health care to social security .
Sanders said that Biden should remember that the liberal wing of the party had worked to ensure that President Donald Trump would only serve one term .
He told Axios that without the backing from progressives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is unhappy that their key role in his success has not been reflected in top positions in the incoming administration .
`` The progressive movement deserves a number of seats—important seats— in the Biden administration .
Have I seen that at this point ?
I have not , '' Sanders told Axios .
Last month , a coalition of online liberal groups launched a campaign to urge the Biden transition team to `` keep corporate insiders out of your administration '' and asked for Biden to put progressives in his Cabinet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xavier Becerra as health and human services secretary on Monday .
But they want to see more from their political persuasion in Biden 's top ranks , especially as Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are no longer being considered for top posts .
Groups like the NAACP want Biden to appoint more minorities to cabinet posts .
So far , Cecilia Rouse has been nominated to chair the White House council of economic advisers and Linda Thomas-Greenfield is Biden 's choice for UN ambassador .
Retired General Lloyd Austin has been nominated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans say his recent military service means he needs a waiver to take the role , which may not be approved by the Senate armed services committee .
Progressives have also criticized Biden 's decision to pick former Obama administration Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to lead the Department of Agriculture again instead of Rep. Marcia Fudge ( D-Ohio ) who has championed protecting food stamps and other food insecurity programs .
The advocacy group People 's Action said in a statement that Fudge , who instead has been made secretary of housing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historic first at USDA—a secretary on the side of everyday people , not corporate agriculture lobbyists . ''
Sanders told Axios : `` I 've told the Biden people , the progressive movement is 35-40 percent of the Democratic coalition .
Without a lot of other enormously hard work on the part of grassroots activists and progressives , Joe would not have won the election . ''
Newsweek has contacted the Biden transition team for comment .
The graphic below provided by Statista shows the amounts spent in election campaigns this century @

Democratic Party progressives have not yet received the reward they were expecting for their campaign support for President-elect Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders said.
After the Vermont senator suspended his campaign during the Democratic Party primaries, he endorsed Biden's run for the presidency in April, despite their clashes over issues ranging from health care to social security. Sanders said that Biden should remember that the liberal wing of the party had worked to ensure that President Donald Trump would only serve one term.
He told Axios that without the backing from progressives, Biden would not have won the election and is unhappy that their key role in his success has not been reflected in top positions in the incoming administration.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and President-elect Joe Biden in a live streaming broadcast on April 13. Sanders says Biden has not chosen enough progressives for his cabinet. Getty Images
"The progressive movement deserves a number of seats—important seats— in the Biden administration. Have I seen that at this point? I have not," Sanders told Axios.
Last month, a coalition of online liberal groups launched a campaign to urge the Biden transition team to "keep corporate insiders out of your administration" and asked for Biden to put progressives in his Cabinet.
Progressives welcomed the nomination of ex-California attorney-general Xavier Becerra as health and human services secretary on Monday. But they want to see more from their political persuasion in Biden's top ranks, especially as Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are no longer being considered for top posts.
Groups like the NAACP want Biden to appoint more minorities to cabinet posts. So far, Cecilia Rouse has been nominated to chair the White House council of economic advisers and Linda Thomas-Greenfield is Biden's choice for UN ambassador.
Retired General Lloyd Austin has been nominated to serve as Defense Secretary but progressives and Republicans say his recent military service means he needs a waiver to take the role, which may not be approved by the Senate armed services committee.
Progressives have also criticized Biden's decision to pick former Obama administration Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to lead the Department of Agriculture again instead of Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) who has championed protecting food stamps and other food insecurity programs.
The advocacy group People's Action said in a statement that Fudge, who instead has been made secretary of housing and urban development, "would have been a historic first at USDA—a secretary on the side of everyday people, not corporate agriculture lobbyists."
Sanders told Axios: "I've told the Biden people, the progressive movement is 35-40 percent of the Democratic coalition. Without a lot of other enormously hard work on the part of grassroots activists and progressives, Joe would not have won the election." Newsweek has contacted the Biden transition team for comment.
The graphic below provided by Statista shows the amounts spent in election campaigns this century.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Elon Musk Says 'Mars, Here We Come!' After SpaceX Starship Test Rocket Explodes

Although its latest test launch ended in a fiery explosion , SpaceX boss Elon Musk has praised the Starship rocket project , tweeting : `` Mars , here we come !
! ''
On Wednesday , the launch came to a dramatic end as Starship serial number 8 , or SN8 , erupted into a massive ball of flames while preparing to land—in stunning footage that has been widely shared across social media .
The unmanned prototype lifted off from the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica , Texas , and lasted for about seven minutes , collecting data for future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Twitter , Musk praised SpaceX as viewers lauded the launch as a milestone in the development of space travel .
Musk wrote : `` SN8 did great !
Even reaching apogee would 've been great , so controlling all way to putting the crater in the right spot was epic !
! ''
He said there was a successful ascent , switchover to header tanks and good flap control to the landing point .
`` Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn , causing touchdown velocity to be high & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion ] but we got all the data we needed !
Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah !
! ''
Musk added .
SpaceX says Starship will be a reusable transportation system that can carry crew to orbit , the Moon , Mars and beyond—and will be able to lift more than 100 metric tonnes of cargo .
It reached 40,000 feet altitude on Wednesday , CNBC reported .
In a statement on its website , the company said : `` Thank you to all the locals supporting our efforts in Cameron County and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SpaceX teams on today 's test !
Serial number 9 ( SN9 ) is up next—Mars , here we come ! ''
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said the Starship launch had ultimately been a `` huge success , '' tweeting on Wednesday : `` Congrats on the test flight .
So many things learned-a big step .
Hopefully no one hurt in the hard landing and explosion . ''
SpaceX did not report injuries and has been contacted for comment by Newsweek .
Before the launch , Musk cautioned that it might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Probably 1/3 chance of completing all mission objectives . ''
SpaceX had echoed Musk 's warning , saying : `` Success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn . ''
While schedules are unclear , it has been reported that the SN9 prototype is well into development .
The billionaire SpaceX and Tesla boss , who this week confirmed that he had personally moved to Texas , described the state on Twitter as a `` gateway to Mars . ''
Musk has repeatedly suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Planet in the future .
`` If there 's something terrible that happens on Earth , either made by humans or natural , we want to have , like , life insurance for life as a whole , '' Musk said during a conference in August , CNN reported .
`` Then , there 's the kind of excitement and adventure . ''

Although its latest test launch ended in a fiery explosion, SpaceX boss Elon Musk has praised the Starship rocket project, tweeting: "Mars, here we come!!"
On Wednesday, the launch came to a dramatic end as Starship serial number 8, or SN8, erupted into a massive ball of flames while preparing to land—in stunning footage that has been widely shared across social media.
The unmanned prototype lifted off from the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas, and lasted for about seven minutes, collecting data for future tests and conducting critical flight maneuvers.
On Twitter, Musk praised SpaceX as viewers lauded the launch as a milestone in the development of space travel.
Musk wrote: "SN8 did great! Even reaching apogee would've been great, so controlling all way to putting the crater in the right spot was epic!!" He said there was a successful ascent, switchover to header tanks and good flap control to the landing point.
"Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD [rapid unscheduled disassembly—another term for explosion] but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!" Musk added.
Starship landing flip maneuver pic.twitter.com/QuD9HwZ9CX — SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 10, 2020
SpaceX's #Starship prototype SN8 explodes on impact during its attempted landing pic.twitter.com/bnmC6SqqAc — Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 9, 2020
Thank you, South Texas for your support! This is the gateway to Mars. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2020
SpaceX says Starship will be a reusable transportation system that can carry crew to orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond—and will be able to lift more than 100 metric tonnes of cargo. It reached 40,000 feet altitude on Wednesday, CNBC reported.
In a statement on its website, the company said: "Thank you to all the locals supporting our efforts in Cameron County and beyond. Congratulations to the Starship and SpaceX teams on today's test! Serial number 9 (SN9) is up next—Mars, here we come!"
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said the Starship launch had ultimately been a "huge success," tweeting on Wednesday: "Congrats on the test flight. So many things learned-a big step. Hopefully no one hurt in the hard landing and explosion."
SpaceX did not report injuries and has been contacted for comment by Newsweek.
Before the launch, Musk cautioned that it might not be successful, writing on Twitter: "Probably 1/3 chance of completing all mission objectives."
SpaceX had echoed Musk's warning, saying: "Success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn."
While schedules are unclear, it has been reported that the SN9 prototype is well into development.
The billionaire SpaceX and Tesla boss, who this week confirmed that he had personally moved to Texas, described the state on Twitter as a "gateway to Mars." Musk has repeatedly suggested that humans should aim to colonize the Red Planet in the future.
"If there's something terrible that happens on Earth, either made by humans or natural, we want to have, like, life insurance for life as a whole," Musk said during a conference in August, CNN reported. "Then, there's the kind of excitement and adventure."


newsweek--2020-12-10--'The Grinch Musical' Reactions: 'Disturbing' and 'Uncomfortably Sexual'

The Grinch got the live ( or live-ish ) musical treatment this December on NBC , but many critics and social media commentators slightly disturbed by the Dr. Seuss adaptation starring Matthew Morrison alongside a cast of west end veterans , Denis O'Hare and Booboo Stewart .
The Glee actor spent three and a half hours putting on the green make-up to turn him into the famous Christmas hater , but many viewers found themselves wishing he had not bothered .
Reactions to Morrison 's appearance as the Grinch ran the gamut from those who found him disturbing , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can not WAIT to tell my therapist about my Morrison Grinch nightmares , '' to ... well , those who got a different feeling from his role .
The jury is out , however , about whether Morrison was any less disturbing than Jim Carrey and the nightmarish prosthetics he wore in How the Grinch Stole Christmas , which might be one of the highest-grossing Christmas movies of all time but still provided nightmare fuel to a whole generation .
Viewers can watch that 2000 version on Netflix now if they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , tweeted : `` Tbh after watching 6 seasons of Glee I should not be this surprised at how uncomfortably sexual Matthew Morrison 's Grinch is . ''
Particularly , viewers disliked a moment where the character broke the fourth wall and addressed the audience directly .
One viewer of The Grinch Musical summed up a lot of the sentiment when they wrote : `` This is deeply , deeply disturbing .
Bone-chilling .
Matthew Morrison must be detained . ''
Another moment was not popular with viewers , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I could 've lived without seeing a Matt Morrison Grinch grotesquely fart in Booboo Stewart Max 's face . ''
The critics , however , had wider problems with the musical .
Particularly , they thought that the story was an unnecessary padding-out of a story that was at its best in the 30-minute '60s TV special and the 70-page Dr. Seuss book .
Ben Travers of IndieWire , for example , noted that `` The Grinch Musical !
just feels like it 's trying to expand a short story . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dug deeper into the musical 's problems .
He wrote : `` Even with a whole lot of commercials padding out the two hours , the show felt bloated and flat , with scant sense of the magic in all the fluff employed to flesh out the Grinch 's journey from Christmas-stealing curmudgeon to his the spirit-of-the-holiday epiphany . ''
Viewers did have some praise for The Grinch Musical , with O'Hare and Stewart particularly praised .
TVLine 's Andy Swift said of the Tony-winning former actor , `` Watching Denis O'Hare ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an older version of The Grinch 's beloved hench-dog was a trip , '' while a viewer tweeted , `` Denis O'Hare being the one to sing 'You 're a Mean One Mr. Grinch ' just saved this entire thing for me . ''
However , the general feeling was that the musical failed to make most viewers ' hearts expand anything close to three sizes .
The Grinch Musical will repeat on Monday , December 21 at 8 p.m .
ET on NBC .

The Grinch got the live (or live-ish) musical treatment this December on NBC, but many critics and social media commentators slightly disturbed by the Dr. Seuss adaptation starring Matthew Morrison alongside a cast of west end veterans, Denis O'Hare and Booboo Stewart. The Glee actor spent three and a half hours putting on the green make-up to turn him into the famous Christmas hater, but many viewers found themselves wishing he had not bothered.
Reactions to Morrison's appearance as the Grinch ran the gamut from those who found him disturbing, like one Twitter user who wrote, "I cannot WAIT to tell my therapist about my Morrison Grinch nightmares," to...well, those who got a different feeling from his role.
The jury is out, however, about whether Morrison was any less disturbing than Jim Carrey and the nightmarish prosthetics he wore in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which might be one of the highest-grossing Christmas movies of all time but still provided nightmare fuel to a whole generation. Viewers can watch that 2000 version on Netflix now if they want to compare the two.
One viewer, for example, tweeted: "Tbh after watching 6 seasons of Glee I should not be this surprised at how uncomfortably sexual Matthew Morrison's Grinch is."
Matthew Morrison in 'The Grinch Musical Live'. NBC
Particularly, viewers disliked a moment where the character broke the fourth wall and addressed the audience directly. One viewer of The Grinch Musical summed up a lot of the sentiment when they wrote: "This is deeply, deeply disturbing. Bone-chilling. Matthew Morrison must be detained."
Another moment was not popular with viewers, as summed up by one Twitter user: "I could've lived without seeing a Matt Morrison Grinch grotesquely fart in Booboo Stewart Max's face."
The critics, however, had wider problems with the musical. Particularly, they thought that the story was an unnecessary padding-out of a story that was at its best in the 30-minute '60s TV special and the 70-page Dr. Seuss book.
Ben Travers of IndieWire, for example, noted that "The Grinch Musical! just feels like it's trying to expand a short story."
CNN's Brian Lowry, meanwhile, dug deeper into the musical's problems. He wrote: "Even with a whole lot of commercials padding out the two hours, the show felt bloated and flat, with scant sense of the magic in all the fluff employed to flesh out the Grinch's journey from Christmas-stealing curmudgeon to his the spirit-of-the-holiday epiphany."
Viewers did have some praise for The Grinch Musical, with O'Hare and Stewart particularly praised. TVLine's Andy Swift said of the Tony-winning former actor, "Watching Denis O'Hare ... attempt to tone down his inherent intensity as an older version of The Grinch's beloved hench-dog was a trip," while a viewer tweeted, "Denis O'Hare being the one to sing 'You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch' just saved this entire thing for me."
However, the general feeling was that the musical failed to make most viewers' hearts expand anything close to three sizes.
The Grinch Musical will repeat on Monday, December 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Kim Kardashian Urges Trump to Stop Brandon Bernard's Execution

Just hours before Brandon Bernard is due to be executed , Kim Kardashian West urged President Donald Trump to spare his life in a series of appeals posted to Twitter .
Bernard , 40 , is scheduled to die by lethal injection at the federal penitentiary at Terre Haute , Indiana , on Thursday .
He was sentenced to death over his role in the 1999 murder of two youth ministers , Todd and Stacie Bagley , at Fort Hood in Texas .
In a last-ditch bid to save Bernard , the reality television star turned criminal justice reform activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president to grant him clemency .
`` Brandon Bernard , a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government , '' she tweeted on Wednesday .
`` Having gotten to know Brandon , I am heartbroken about this execution .
I 'm calling on @ realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison . ''
In another tweet , she added : `` Most of the time executions happen , in our names , without a lot of attention given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next 24 hours I will be tweeting about Brandon and his case and why his life should be spared by @ realDonaldTrump . ''
In another tweet , she listed the reasons why Bernard should not be executed—including noting that he was just 18 at the time of the crime , that he was not the one who shot the couple and that five jurors who condemned him to death now support a life sentence .
`` He 's spent decades in prison w/out a write up , helping at risk youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that if Bernard 's execution goes ahead , he `` will die having never been able to touch his children .
All his visits with them have been behind glass , though this has not deterred him from being the best father he can be from prison . ''
Kardashian West also urged her followers to tweet Trump to urge him to halt Bernard 's execution .
It 's not the first time Kardashian West has brought attention to Bernard 's plight .
She first tweeted about his case in late November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' but noting that Bernard 's role was `` minor compared to the of the other teens involved , two of whom are home from prison now . ''
Those accomplices were under 18 at the time of the offense and ineligible for the federal death penalty .
But Christopher Vialva , who shot the Bagleys , was executed in September .
The Department of Justice ( DoJ ) , announcing Bernard 's execution , said he and his accomplices had `` brutally murdered '' the couple after Todd Badley agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The abductors eventually parked on the Fort Hood military reservation , where Bernard and another accomplice doused the car with lighter fluid as the couple , still locked in the trunk , sang and prayed , '' the DoJ said .
Vialva shot the couple , killing Todd Bagley and knocking Stacie Bagley unconscious .
`` Bernard then lit the car on fire , killing Stacie through smoke inhalation , '' the DoJ said .
But Bernard 's defenders argue that expert evidence about how he occupied the lowest rung of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by prosecutors during his trial and would have spared him from receiving a death verdict .
On Wednesday , they asked the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to halt the execution to pursue the claim .
A group of almost two dozen current and former prosecutors filed a brief supporting the stay of execution , writing that `` when the government cheats to obtain a conviction and a sentence of death , it undermines our entire system of justice . ''
Kardashian West , meanwhile , has had success advocating for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump commuted Alice Johnson 's life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime shortly after meeting with Kardashian West .
Earlier this year , Trump granted the woman a full pardon .
But it 's not clear if her efforts will have the same impact this time .
The Trump administration has already executed eight inmates since resuming federal executions over the summer , ending a 17-year moratorium .
Five federal executions , including Bernard 's , are planned to take place before President-elect Joe Biden , a death penalty opponent , takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been contacted for comment .

Just hours before Brandon Bernard is due to be executed, Kim Kardashian West urged President Donald Trump to spare his life in a series of appeals posted to Twitter.
Bernard, 40, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at the federal penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana, on Thursday. He was sentenced to death over his role in the 1999 murder of two youth ministers, Todd and Stacie Bagley, at Fort Hood in Texas.
In a last-ditch bid to save Bernard, the reality television star turned criminal justice reform activist took to Twitter to call on the president to grant him clemency.
Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government. Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution. I’m calling on @realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison. https://t.co/soccUQFmac — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 9, 2020
"Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government," she tweeted on Wednesday.
"Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution. I'm calling on @realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison."
In another tweet, she added: "Most of the time executions happen, in our names, without a lot of attention given to them. This is unacceptable. For the next 24 hours I will be tweeting about Brandon and his case and why his life should be spared by @realDonaldTrump."
In another tweet, she listed the reasons why Bernard should not be executed—including noting that he was just 18 at the time of the crime, that he was not the one who shot the couple and that five jurors who condemned him to death now support a life sentence.
"He's spent decades in prison w/out a write up, helping at risk youth," she added.
#BrandonBernard should not be executed:
1. He was 18 at the time.
2. He was not the shooter.
3. The prosecutor and 5 of the jurors now support clemency.
4. He’s spent decades in prison w/out a write up, helping at risk youth.
5. There’s bipartisan support for his commutation. pic.twitter.com/18GugdtuOs — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2020
Most of the time executions happen, in our names, without a lot of attention given to them. This is unacceptable. For the next 24 hours I will be tweeting about Brandon and his case and why his life should be spared by @realDonaldTrump. — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 9, 2020
She also said that if Bernard's execution goes ahead, he "will die having never been able to touch his children. All his visits with them have been behind glass, though this has not deterred him from being the best father he can be from prison."
Kardashian West also urged her followers to tweet Trump to urge him to halt Bernard's execution.
It's not the first time Kardashian West has brought attention to Bernard's plight. She first tweeted about his case in late November, describing the crime as "terrible," but noting that Bernard's role was "minor compared to the of the other teens involved, two of whom are home from prison now."
Those accomplices were under 18 at the time of the offense and ineligible for the federal death penalty. But Christopher Vialva, who shot the Bagleys, was executed in September.
The Department of Justice (DoJ), announcing Bernard's execution, said he and his accomplices had "brutally murdered" the couple after Todd Badley agreed to give some of them a ride.
How can you help save Brandon’s life? You can tweet @realDonaldTrump and ask him to #SaveBrandonBernard. pic.twitter.com/kAfoi4oFxP — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2020
24 hours until Brandon Bernard is executed. Please keep calling and asking @realDonaldTrump to commute his sentence!
(202) 456-1414https://t.co/EuUlsrjF7v — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2020
"The abductors eventually parked on the Fort Hood military reservation, where Bernard and another accomplice doused the car with lighter fluid as the couple, still locked in the trunk, sang and prayed," the DoJ said.
Vialva shot the couple, killing Todd Bagley and knocking Stacie Bagley unconscious. "Bernard then lit the car on fire, killing Stacie through smoke inhalation," the DoJ said.
But Bernard's defenders argue that expert evidence about how he occupied the lowest rung of the gang involved in the crime was withheld by prosecutors during his trial and would have spared him from receiving a death verdict.
On Wednesday, they asked the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to halt the execution to pursue the claim. A group of almost two dozen current and former prosecutors filed a brief supporting the stay of execution, writing that "when the government cheats to obtain a conviction and a sentence of death, it undermines our entire system of justice."
Kardashian West, meanwhile, has had success advocating for inmates in the past.
In 2018, Trump commuted Alice Johnson's life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime shortly after meeting with Kardashian West. Earlier this year, Trump granted the woman a full pardon.
But it's not clear if her efforts will have the same impact this time.
The Trump administration has already executed eight inmates since resuming federal executions over the summer, ending a 17-year moratorium.
Five federal executions, including Bernard's, are planned to take place before President-elect Joe Biden, a death penalty opponent, takes office in January.
The White House has been contacted for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Bipartisan Stimulus Proposal Offers $25 Billion Rent Assistance as Millions in Arrears

A bipartisan stimulus deal worth $ 908 billion would offer rental assistance and an eviction moratorium until the end of January as millions of Americans face severe rent arrears and the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt .
The deal backed by Sens .
Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , Joe Manchin ( D-WV . )
and a handful of other lawmakers would offer $ 25 billion in rental assistance to state and local governments , as well as Native Americans tribes .
An outline of the proposal revealed earlier this week stated that 90 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent payments , arrears , utility bills and `` related housing stability services '' offered at the local level .
It is expected that households with earnings at 50 percent or below the average local income would be first in line to receive funds from the proposed $ 25 billion pot , with support covering as much as 18 months of arrears and future assistance .
As well as offering up direct funds for rent , the bipartisan deal would offer an eviction moratorium until the end of January next year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on the street for failure to keep up with rent .
However , the bill does not include plans for a second round of direct stimulus payments , which were a key feature of the CARES Act passed in late March .
The proposals for renter relief were set out in the outline of the bipartisan plan as Moody 's Analytics warned that millions of Americans could owe thousands in rent and utilities arrears by January .
The Washington Post reported that the financial services firm had warned that almost 12 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rent and utility arrears on average by next year if no assistance is provided .
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data , a little more than 11 million Americans are faced with housing insecurity—meaning they are not current on their rent or mortgage , or fear that they will slip into arrears within a month 's time .
Over 5 million Americans are also very or `` somewhat '' likely to face eviction or foreclosure within the next two months , per the Census Bureau 's most recent household survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mounts for Americans across the country , Congress has still not been able to agree on the outline of a second stimulus package almost nine months after the first relief bill was passed .
Reacting to a Trump administration proposal for a $ 916 billion stimulus package that would include $ 600 stimulus checks to most Americans , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was `` unacceptable '' as she seemed to indicate progress was being made with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
But a plan put forward by the Kentucky Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , prompting Sen. Chuck Schumer to accuse McConnell of deliberately trying to sabotage negotiations .

A bipartisan stimulus deal worth $908 billion would offer rental assistance and an eviction moratorium until the end of January as millions of Americans face severe rent arrears and the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt.
The deal backed by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV.) and a handful of other lawmakers would offer $25 billion in rental assistance to state and local governments, as well as Native Americans tribes.
An outline of the proposal revealed earlier this week stated that 90 percent of the funds would be used on rent payments, arrears, utility bills and "related housing stability services" offered at the local level.
It is expected that households with earnings at 50 percent or below the average local income would be first in line to receive funds from the proposed $25 billion pot, with support covering as much as 18 months of arrears and future assistance.
A homeless man stands outside tents on Skid Row, November 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California, one day ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
As well as offering up direct funds for rent, the bipartisan deal would offer an eviction moratorium until the end of January next year. The ban would block landlords from putting tenants out on the street for failure to keep up with rent.
However, the bill does not include plans for a second round of direct stimulus payments, which were a key feature of the CARES Act passed in late March. The proposals for renter relief were set out in the outline of the bipartisan plan as Moody's Analytics warned that millions of Americans could owe thousands in rent and utilities arrears by January.
The Washington Post reported that the financial services firm had warned that almost 12 million tenants could owe more than $5,800 in rent and utility arrears on average by next year if no assistance is provided.
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, a little more than 11 million Americans are faced with housing insecurity—meaning they are not current on their rent or mortgage, or fear that they will slip into arrears within a month's time.
Over 5 million Americans are also very or "somewhat" likely to face eviction or foreclosure within the next two months, per the Census Bureau's most recent household survey.
As the prospect of financial ruin mounts for Americans across the country, Congress has still not been able to agree on the outline of a second stimulus package almost nine months after the first relief bill was passed.
Reacting to a Trump administration proposal for a $916 billion stimulus package that would include $600 stimulus checks to most Americans, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was "unacceptable" as she seemed to indicate progress was being made with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
But a plan put forward by the Kentucky Republican was turned down by Democratic leaders on Tuesday, prompting Sen. Chuck Schumer to accuse McConnell of deliberately trying to sabotage negotiations.