newsweek--2020-12-04--There's No Stopping America's Political Realignment | Opinion

With a month in the rearview mirror since November 's presidential election , we now have sufficient perspective to offer some broad conclusions about the state and nature of our politics .
This election confirmed and crystallized many already-ascendant political trends .
Partisans of multiculturalism and the Orwellian `` anti-racism '' movement suggest an America increasingly balkanized along racial lines , but the emerging reality is quite a bit different .
President Donald Trump , despite the Left 's four-year effort to tar him as a uniquely menacing bigot , made substantial inroads among both young Black men and Hispanics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elites—Wall Street , Silicon Valley and corporate America writ large—broke overwhelmingly for the Democratic challenger , Joe Biden .
To those who , Rip Van Winkle-like , may have been asleep for the past 20 years , this may come as a bit of a surprise .
And for those octogenarians who grew up in the New Deal era , the bemusement may be even more stark .
Long , long gone are the days where the Democratic Party was the political vehicle for the downtrodden , oppressed `` little guy '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Burns-esque plutocrats .
The reality is something roughly resembling the precise opposite .
Today , it is the Democratic Party that disproportionately comprises and represents the college-educated elite—purveyors of the addlebrained `` woke '' catechism , dispensers of redistributionist noblesse oblige .
And it is the Republican Party that disproportionately comprises and represents a multiethnic , non-college-educated working class—the Rust Belt and Sun Belt `` deplorables '' of Hillary Clinton 's ire who , pace Barack Obama , still cling to their guns and their religion .
Though it is true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hispanics did not quite mirror whites in breaking so sharply along educated lines , the conclusion is nonetheless apt that our partisan duopoly now fractures more along lines of class than along lines of race .
Elites are often puzzled by this .
Democratic elites , prone to word-vomit the full litany of social justice `` woke '' -isms , are often in denial as to how unpopular `` defund the police '' and the Green New Deal are with the public .
And Republican elites , stubbornly moored to laissez-faire fundamentalism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than instrumental means , are often in denial as to how miniscule the political constituency is for a corporatist right-liberalism detached from the day-to-day needs of the working class .
But there is no putting this genie back in the bottle .
Our now-rapidly accelerating political realignment will not slow down any time soon .
Presuming the Electoral College formalizes Joe Biden as our next president , the next four years are potentially ripe for crossover opportunity .
The beauty of an unfolding political realignment in which so much is in flux is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagram overlap than meets the eye .
Conservatives must remain constantly vigilant about a far-left capture of the frail and deteriorating Biden , but it would also be a mistake to preemptively write off the possibility of any bipartisan cooperation whatsoever .
On economic matters , there is room for legislative deal-making on the need for an industrial policy that reshores strategic supply chains and spurs greater domestic investment in advanced manufacturing , pharmaceuticals and semiconductors .
The GOP 's more populist wing , which was already vocal about hawkishness on China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for a greater economic resilience on the home front , was buoyed by a global pandemic that saw its worst fears realized .
Biden has expressed support for some variety of a pro-manufacturing industrial policy—and it is incumbent upon Republican watchdogs to ensure such a policy , if enacted , does not manifest itself in the form of venal , Solyndra-like crony capitalist boondoggles .
On Big Tech , too , there is strong bipartisan outrage at the status quo .
Conservatives and progressives may be angry at Facebook 's Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different reasons , but it is still easily foreseeable that there might be room to collaborate on antitrust reform or on reform of Section 230—the 1990s-era legal immunity giveaway to the Big Tech giants .
Partisans from both sides are increasingly coming around to the view that these goliaths must be reined in .
It is deeply unfortunate that Trump appears headed for an Electoral College defeat .
The next four years could be rough .
But there are always silver linings to be found amidst the rubble .
Josh Hammer is Newsweek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

With a month in the rearview mirror since November's presidential election, we now have sufficient perspective to offer some broad conclusions about the state and nature of our politics.
This election confirmed and crystallized many already-ascendant political trends. Partisans of multiculturalism and the Orwellian "anti-racism" movement suggest an America increasingly balkanized along racial lines, but the emerging reality is quite a bit different. President Donald Trump, despite the Left's four-year effort to tar him as a uniquely menacing bigot, made substantial inroads among both young Black men and Hispanics. On the other hand, donor-class elites—Wall Street, Silicon Valley and corporate America writ large—broke overwhelmingly for the Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.
To those who, Rip Van Winkle-like, may have been asleep for the past 20 years, this may come as a bit of a surprise. And for those octogenarians who grew up in the New Deal era, the bemusement may be even more stark. Long, long gone are the days where the Democratic Party was the political vehicle for the downtrodden, oppressed "little guy" and the Republican Party the vehicle for conniving, Mr. Burns-esque plutocrats.
The reality is something roughly resembling the precise opposite. Today, it is the Democratic Party that disproportionately comprises and represents the college-educated elite—purveyors of the addlebrained "woke" catechism, dispensers of redistributionist noblesse oblige. And it is the Republican Party that disproportionately comprises and represents a multiethnic, non-college-educated working class—the Rust Belt and Sun Belt "deplorables" of Hillary Clinton's ire who, pace Barack Obama, still cling to their guns and their religion. Though it is true that exit polling data suggest Blacks and Hispanics did not quite mirror whites in breaking so sharply along educated lines, the conclusion is nonetheless apt that our partisan duopoly now fractures more along lines of class than along lines of race.
Elites are often puzzled by this. Democratic elites, prone to word-vomit the full litany of social justice "woke"-isms, are often in denial as to how unpopular "defund the police" and the Green New Deal are with the public. And Republican elites, stubbornly moored to laissez-faire fundamentalism and limited government as intrinsic ends, rather than instrumental means, are often in denial as to how miniscule the political constituency is for a corporatist right-liberalism detached from the day-to-day needs of the working class.
But there is no putting this genie back in the bottle. Our now-rapidly accelerating political realignment will not slow down any time soon.
North Dakota prairie In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images
Presuming the Electoral College formalizes Joe Biden as our next president, the next four years are potentially ripe for crossover opportunity. The beauty of an unfolding political realignment in which so much is in flux is that there may well be more Venn diagram overlap than meets the eye. Conservatives must remain constantly vigilant about a far-left capture of the frail and deteriorating Biden, but it would also be a mistake to preemptively write off the possibility of any bipartisan cooperation whatsoever.
On economic matters, there is room for legislative deal-making on the need for an industrial policy that reshores strategic supply chains and spurs greater domestic investment in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. The GOP's more populist wing, which was already vocal about hawkishness on China, the downsides of free trade absolutism and the need for a greater economic resilience on the home front, was buoyed by a global pandemic that saw its worst fears realized. Biden has expressed support for some variety of a pro-manufacturing industrial policy—and it is incumbent upon Republican watchdogs to ensure such a policy, if enacted, does not manifest itself in the form of venal, Solyndra-like crony capitalist boondoggles.
On Big Tech, too, there is strong bipartisan outrage at the status quo. Conservatives and progressives may be angry at Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter's Jack Dorsey for different reasons, but it is still easily foreseeable that there might be room to collaborate on antitrust reform or on reform of Section 230—the 1990s-era legal immunity giveaway to the Big Tech giants. Partisans from both sides are increasingly coming around to the view that these goliaths must be reined in.
It is deeply unfortunate that Trump appears headed for an Electoral College defeat. The next four years could be rough. But there are always silver linings to be found amidst the rubble.
Josh Hammer is Newsweek opinion editor, a syndicated columnist and a research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation. He also volunteers with the Internet Accountability Project as a counsel and policy advisor. Twitter: @josh_hammer.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
Note: This byline has been updated to reflect the writer's volunteer, unpaid consulting role with the Internet Accountability Project.


newsweek--2020-12-04--13 Unique Cookies from Around the World to Celebrate World Cookie Day

What better way to end the week is there than by celebrating World Cookie Day ?
The holiday ( which I observe and consider as such ) takes place every year on December 4 , and its celebrates these sweet treats .
Although classic cookies like the chocolate chip or Oreo may be the first cookies that come to mind , there are dozens of tasty desserts around the world that deserve just as much love ( and consumption ) .
Filled with jams , caramel , almonds and covered in powdered sugar , these cookies from around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your horizons .
Biscotti are also popular to have with tea or coffee in Italy .
They can be plain , or filled with almonds , chocolate chips , pistachios ... or all three !
In China , a sweet treat to check out is the Chinese Almond Cookie .
These crispy cookies are heavy on the almond aspect — made with almond flour , almond extract , and sliced almond .
Danish Butter Cookies are a Dutch holiday staple .
They famously come in those blue tins ( the ones that your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and are baked with vanilla and almond flour .
In Finland , Finnish Pinwheels get their name for their whimsical shape , with a sugary plum filling baked into them .
Kueh Tarts are super popular in Malaysia and Singapore .
Sometimes called Pineapple Tarts , these cookies are crumbly and packed with homemade pineapple filling .
Contrary to what its name may have you believe , the Italian rainbow flag cookies originated in New York .
Each almond-based sponge cake layer is separated by a light fruity spread ( typically apricot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ icing .
Macarons are very popular in France .
These sandwich cookies are light and filled with ganache .
Madeleines are another popular French cookie .
They look like seashells , and require a special pan to bake them to perfection .
Mexican Cinnamon Cookies , also known as Reganadas , are traditionally offered on during the Day of the Dead .
Pizzelles are a classic Italian dessert during the holidays .
These delicate cookies are covered in powdered sugar , and look like snowflakes .
They 're made with an iron similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much thinner .
Raspberry Linzer Cookies are traditional Austrian fare .
They usually include a star , flower or heart shape ( whether it is the shape of the cookie or the fruity filling ) .
Shiroi Koibito , light biscuits with white chocolate filling , are popular in Japan .
In the Netherlands , Stroopwafels are sweet and gooey .
These sandwich-like treats are filled with a caramel center .

What better way to end the week is there than by celebrating World Cookie Day? The holiday (which I observe and consider as such) takes place every year on December 4, and its celebrates these sweet treats. Although classic cookies like the chocolate chip or Oreo may be the first cookies that come to mind, there are dozens of tasty desserts around the world that deserve just as much love (and consumption).
Filled with jams, caramel, almonds and covered in powdered sugar, these cookies from around the world will find the nearest bakery and expand your horizons.
PLATES OF COOKIES SUGAR RAISIN-WALNUT AND FROSTED-RAISIN BARS J. Graham/ClassicStock/Getty Images
Biscotti are also popular to have with tea or coffee in Italy. They can be plain, or filled with almonds, chocolate chips, pistachios...or all three!
I made biscotti for the first time ever today. So, so yummy ☺ pic.twitter.com/vAAJi15hP3 — Danielle 🌸 (@daniellelane24) November 29, 2020
In China, a sweet treat to check out is the Chinese Almond Cookie. These crispy cookies are heavy on the almond aspect — made with almond flour, almond extract, and sliced almond.
Happy Chinese Almond Cookie Day! Where have you had your best Chinese almond cookie? #Cookie pic.twitter.com/MGOCT3fwPM — GeneralHotelRestSply (@GeneralHotel) April 9, 2013
Danish Butter Cookies are a Dutch holiday staple. They famously come in those blue tins (the ones that your grandma may keep sewing supplies in), and are baked with vanilla and almond flour.
In difficult times, Danish Butter Cookies are undeniably the answer.... 😎 #danishbuttercookies pic.twitter.com/nqfVLe3wOQ — Lothrek (@lothrek) October 31, 2020
In Finland, Finnish Pinwheels get their name for their whimsical shape, with a sugary plum filling baked into them.
Practicing Finnish joulutorttu (Christmas tarts puff pastry pinwheels with plum jam). pic.twitter.com/5pI0VMj0aF — Sarianna Sherwin (@SherwinSarianna) August 9, 2018
Kueh Tarts are super popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Sometimes called Pineapple Tarts, these cookies are crumbly and packed with homemade pineapple filling.
It's a must to ice this during Raya Festival. My homemade Kueh tart. Cantikkan ?? pic.twitter.com/ptq0PEiccd — Yani Alawi (@yani_alawi) June 22, 2016
Contrary to what its name may have you believe, the Italian rainbow flag cookies originated in New York. Each almond-based sponge cake layer is separated by a light fruity spread (typically apricot or raspberry) and topped with chocolate icing.
Macarons are very popular in France. These sandwich cookies are light and filled with ganache.
Gave a macaron masterclass today!! So proud of the students - JUST LOOK AT THESE pic.twitter.com/ElZlGFVPq1 — DoodleBob (@cordonblues09) November 27, 2020
Close-up view of cookies baked with hard-shell candies (similar to M&Ms) on display during the Chocolate Expo at the Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, November 3, 2013. Chuck Fishman/Getty Images
Madeleines are another popular French cookie. They look like seashells, and require a special pan to bake them to perfection.
Our favorite meal is breakfast for dinner - so as a treat I’m baking 👩🍳💕
The Madeleine French Butter Cookie pic.twitter.com/d8dvZ7cFsL — maison d’ ami (@maison_d_ami) October 3, 2020
Mexican Cinnamon Cookies, also known as Reganadas, are traditionally offered on during the Day of the Dead.
Mexican Cinnamon Sugar Heart Cookies pic.twitter.com/cKC5g2R3Bj — NotSafeForWaistline (@NSFWaistline) January 26, 2015
Pizzelles are a classic Italian dessert during the holidays. These delicate cookies are covered in powdered sugar, and look like snowflakes. They're made with an iron similar to ones used for waffles, but much thinner.
Pizelle cookies....oh man, can’t be beat!!! Only come out once a year! pic.twitter.com/vfd5eLc9QF — Steven Lynch (@StevenLynch8) December 24, 2019
Raspberry Linzer Cookies are traditional Austrian fare. They usually include a star, flower or heart shape (whether it is the shape of the cookie or the fruity filling).
Love little Linzer cookies with raspberry jam pic.twitter.com/uJia1pen7a — alex guarnaschelli (@guarnaschelli) April 20, 2014
Shiroi Koibito, light biscuits with white chocolate filling, are popular in Japan.
My first attempt at Shiroi Koibito ☺ pic.twitter.com/BnEVaWmR9L — no one, really⁷ (@moonchild_1095) November 30, 2020
In the Netherlands, Stroopwafels are sweet and gooey. These sandwich-like treats are filled with a caramel center.


newsweek--2020-12-04--11 Things You Don't Know About JAY-Z on His 51st Birthday

Shawn Corey Carter , better known as JAY-Z , was born 51 years ago today in Brooklyn , New York .
The list of accomplishments he 's achieved since his 1996 debut release , Reasonable Doubt , are too long to list here .
Instead , here are 11 little-known facts about the influential rapper .
1 ) He made Grammy history last month .
JAY-Z recently became tied for the most Grammy nominations in history with 80 .
He shares that distinction with legendary producer Quincy Jones .
He 's also married to the person who currently holds the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beyoncé 's 9 nominations at the end of November put her at 79 over the course of her career .
2 ) His childhood friends also became stars .
He attended Brooklyn 's George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School with future rappers The Notorious B.I.G.
, DMX , and Busta Rhymes .
He remained close with Biggie throughout the late rapper 's life and was one of the last people to speak with him on the phone prior to the shooting that took his life in 1997 .
3 ) He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
JAY-Z wanted to use a NASA space shuttle as a stage prop during his 2011 `` Watch the Throne '' tour with Kanye West .
However , the plan was scrapped due to the prohibitive cost of buying and transporting it .
( At 180 feet tall , the spacecraft was also too large to fit into music venues . )
4 ) He was a child prodigy .
His sixth grade teacher , Renee Rosenblum-Lowden , told The Washington Post in 2018 that HOVA tested at a twelfth grade reading level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always had a knack for remembering things , as well .
He supposedly never writes down his lyrics but composes and remembers them all .
5 ) There was fear that The Blueprint would flop .
Label executives fretted over the album 's release on September 11 , 2001 due to the World Trade Center attacks .
Instead , The Blueprint went on to sell 420,000 copies that first week and is now considering by many to be his masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of the genre .
6 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Along with selling tons of albums and merchandise , JAY-Z has always made wise investments , including owning a share of Uber and a stake in the Brooklyn Nets basketball team as well as in the streaming service Tidal .
( On the eve of his birthday , he released his latest year-end playlist on the service . )
Kanye recently joined him on the billionaire list with a wealth that may edge out his former mentor 's thanks to his successful Yeezy clothing line .
7 ) He ca n't decide how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of performing as Jay-Z , he dropped the hyphen from his name in 2013 .
Then four years later , the hyphen returned , and he reformatted his name to be in all capital letters .
The origins of his moniker has also been disputed over the years .
He 's said in interviews that it 's a play on his childhood nickname `` Jazzy , '' but he 's also claimed its an homage to his rap mentor Jaz-O .
( Another popular theory , though never verified by him , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up near the J/Z subway line in Brooklyn . )
8 ) He once shot his brother -- when he was 12 .
Before he says he was shot three times himself while selling crack before finding success in music , JAY-Z—at the tender age of 12—shot his older brother in the shoulder over some stolen jewelry .
His brother , addicted to crack at the time , did not press charges and later apologized while hospitalized .
9 ) He bent the truth a little—okay , a lot—for a sample .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 1998 hit `` Hard Knock Life ( Ghetto Anthem ) , '' JAY lied to the song 's composer , Charles Strouse .
The rapper falsely told Strouse that he 'd seen the musical on Broadway as a child and written a competition-winning essay on it at school .
10 ) He has his own color .
In 2007 , JAY-Z spent tens of thousands of dollars for the Pantone Color Institute to create a hue just for him .
Described as a pearly blue with platinum dust , the color was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line of GM Yukon Denali later that year .
Blue is obviously a color that means a lot to him ( daughter Blue Ivy , The Blueprint etc. )
.
11 ) He may have bought Beyoncé a dragon egg .
Actress Emilia Clarke , who portrayed `` Queen of Dragons '' Daenerys Targaryen on HBO 's Game of Thrones , was talking with Harper 's Bazaar in 2015 about the show 's richly-detailed faux dragon eggs when she revealed this interesting tidbit : `` I tried unsuccessfully to steal one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JAY-Z bought one for Beyoncé .
I do n't know . ''

Shawn Corey Carter, better known as JAY-Z, was born 51 years ago today in Brooklyn, New York. The list of accomplishments he's achieved since his 1996 debut release, Reasonable Doubt, are too long to list here. Instead, here are 11 little-known facts about the influential rapper.
JAY-Z attends 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty
1) He made Grammy history last month. JAY-Z recently became tied for the most Grammy nominations in history with 80. He shares that distinction with legendary producer Quincy Jones. He's also married to the person who currently holds the record for second most Grammy nominations: Beyoncé's 9 nominations at the end of November put her at 79 over the course of her career.
2) His childhood friends also became stars. He attended Brooklyn's George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School with future rappers The Notorious B.I.G., DMX, and Busta Rhymes. He remained close with Biggie throughout the late rapper's life and was one of the last people to speak with him on the phone prior to the shooting that took his life in 1997.
3) He has lofty ambitions--sometimes too lofty. JAY-Z wanted to use a NASA space shuttle as a stage prop during his 2011 "Watch the Throne" tour with Kanye West. However, the plan was scrapped due to the prohibitive cost of buying and transporting it. (At 180 feet tall, the spacecraft was also too large to fit into music venues.)
4) He was a child prodigy. His sixth grade teacher, Renee Rosenblum-Lowden, told The Washington Post in 2018 that HOVA tested at a twelfth grade reading level while in the sixth grade. He has always had a knack for remembering things, as well. He supposedly never writes down his lyrics but composes and remembers them all.
5) There was fear that The Blueprint would flop. Label executives fretted over the album's release on September 11, 2001 due to the World Trade Center attacks. Instead, The Blueprint went on to sell 420,000 copies that first week and is now considering by many to be his masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of the genre.
6) He was hip-hop's first billionaire. Along with selling tons of albums and merchandise, JAY-Z has always made wise investments, including owning a share of Uber and a stake in the Brooklyn Nets basketball team as well as in the streaming service Tidal. (On the eve of his birthday, he released his latest year-end playlist on the service.) Kanye recently joined him on the billionaire list with a wealth that may edge out his former mentor's thanks to his successful Yeezy clothing line.
7) He can't decide how to write his name. After years of performing as Jay-Z, he dropped the hyphen from his name in 2013. Then four years later, the hyphen returned, and he reformatted his name to be in all capital letters. The origins of his moniker has also been disputed over the years. He's said in interviews that it's a play on his childhood nickname "Jazzy," but he's also claimed its an homage to his rap mentor Jaz-O. (Another popular theory, though never verified by him, is that that name comes from him growing up near the J/Z subway line in Brooklyn.)
8) He once shot his brother--when he was 12. Before he says he was shot three times himself while selling crack before finding success in music, JAY-Z—at the tender age of 12—shot his older brother in the shoulder over some stolen jewelry. His brother, addicted to crack at the time, did not press charges and later apologized while hospitalized.
9) He bent the truth a little—okay, a lot—for a sample. In order to clear the Annie sample on his 1998 hit "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)," JAY lied to the song's composer, Charles Strouse. The rapper falsely told Strouse that he'd seen the musical on Broadway as a child and written a competition-winning essay on it at school.
10) He has his own color. In 2007, JAY-Z spent tens of thousands of dollars for the Pantone Color Institute to create a hue just for him. Described as a pearly blue with platinum dust, the color was first introduced on his own limited edition line of GM Yukon Denali later that year. Blue is obviously a color that means a lot to him (daughter Blue Ivy, The Blueprint etc.).
The ultimate power couple: Beyoncé (L) and JAY-Z perform onstage during at the Rose Bowl in 2018.
11) He may have bought Beyoncé a dragon egg. Actress Emilia Clarke, who portrayed "Queen of Dragons" Daenerys Targaryen on HBO's Game of Thrones, was talking with Harper's Bazaar in 2015 about the show's richly-detailed faux dragon eggs when she revealed this interesting tidbit: "I tried unsuccessfully to steal one of the egg props for myself, but apparently JAY-Z bought one for Beyoncé. I don't know."


newsweek--2020-12-04--Two U.S. Marshals Shot in New York, Suspect Killed During Bronx Firefight

A fugitive has been killed during a shootout with U.S. marshals who were trying to detain him in the Bronx area of New York .
At least two marshals sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the shootout in the early hours of Friday morning on Ely Avenue in the Wakefield section of The Bronx , according to WABC .
The marshals were attempting to apprehend 35-year-old Andre Sterling , wanted in connection with the shooting of a Massachusetts state trooper , who was struck in the hand during a traffic stop on November 20 .
The suspect was killed after exchanging fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken to Jacobi Hospital for treatment , reported ABC .
Sterling was facing charges of armed assault with intent to murder , possession of a firearm , assault and battery with a firearm , larceny of a motor vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle .
He also had two additional Massachusetts warrants for charges including identity fraud , A & B on a police officer , fail to stop for police , as well as being wanted in Wyoming for narcotics charges .
The trooper injured in November , Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released from hospital on November 23 following the shooting which occurred at around 11:30 p.m. during a traffic stop on Camp Street in Hyannis .
`` First and foremost , I commend our Trooper who suffered a serious injury in the performance of his duty , and his classmate and barracks-mate , Trooper Shields , who took quick and decisive action to get his wounded brother Trooper to the emergency room immediately , '' Colonel Christopher Mason , Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police said in a statement at the time .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a highly stressful situation , and both did what they had to do without delay—behavior that speaks volumes about their character , courage , and the quality of their training at the State Police Academy .
`` We are grateful that the outcome was not worse . ''
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available .

A fugitive has been killed during a shootout with U.S. marshals who were trying to detain him in the Bronx area of New York.
At least two marshals sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the shootout in the early hours of Friday morning on Ely Avenue in the Wakefield section of The Bronx, according to WABC.
The marshals were attempting to apprehend 35-year-old Andre Sterling, wanted in connection with the shooting of a Massachusetts state trooper, who was struck in the hand during a traffic stop on November 20.
Fugitive Andre Sterling has bene shot and killed by U.S. Marshals in New York. Mass. State Troopers
The suspect was killed after exchanging fire with the marshals. A second suspect was taken to Jacobi Hospital for treatment, reported ABC.
Sterling was facing charges of armed assault with intent to murder, possession of a firearm, assault and battery with a firearm, larceny of a motor vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
He also had two additional Massachusetts warrants for charges including identity fraud, A&B on a police officer, fail to stop for police, as well as being wanted in Wyoming for narcotics charges.
Breaking sources confirm Andre Sterling was shot and killed by US Marshals in New York this morning #7news pic.twitter.com/Yab3HkjDrx — Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) December 4, 2020
The trooper injured in November, Massachusetts State Police Trooper John Lennon, was released from hospital on November 23 following the shooting which occurred at around 11:30 p.m. during a traffic stop on Camp Street in Hyannis.
"First and foremost, I commend our Trooper who suffered a serious injury in the performance of his duty, and his classmate and barracks-mate, Trooper Shields, who took quick and decisive action to get his wounded brother Trooper to the emergency room immediately," Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police said in a statement at the time.
"Both Troopers remained calm and composed in a highly stressful situation, and both did what they had to do without delay—behavior that speaks volumes about their character, courage, and the quality of their training at the State Police Academy.
"We are grateful that the outcome was not worse."
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.


newsweek--2020-12-04--The Time Is Now for Saudi Arabia To Normalize Relations With Israel | Opinion

Here 's a news flash for Saudi Arabia : Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is looking to fundamentally restructure the U.S.-Saudi relationship .
The only way for Riyadh to stop what 's coming might be to normalize relations with Israel right now .
Biden 's nominee for secretary of state , Tony Blinken , reportedly held regular calls with far-left foreign policy activists during the presidential campaign and expressed an openness to cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia .
In an interview shortly before the election , Blinken announced that a Biden administration would `` undertake a strategic review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that it is truly advancing our interests and is consistent with our values . ''
Translation for Riyadh : Buckle up for a rough ride .
Absent a seismic shift—like a normalization agreement with Israel—the Saudis should prepare for the worst .
Congress has the votes to send a bill to the president 's desk to halt U.S. arms sales to the kingdom .
Such a bill passed the Senate just last year , when Republicans held a wider margin than they will in 2021—and before the kingdom angered a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price of oil and pummeling the U.S. energy industry .
This time around , when that same bill reaches the Oval Office , there will be nobody to veto it .
The incoming State Department brass will also likely reopen an investigation into the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to determine whether U.S. human rights sanctions should be imposed on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , or `` MbS , '' as he is known .
To preserve the bilateral relationship , the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019—a decision likely to be reversed in a Biden administration .
Against the backdrop of a complete reset in U.S.-Saudi relations , President-elect Joe Biden is also making it clear that he will press for a full re-entry into the Iran nuclear deal without any preconditions .
He could very well turn back the clock four years and flood the Islamic Republic with billions of dollars in sanctions relief , which would enable Tehran to recapitalize both its Revolutionary Guard and its sprawling terror operations throughout the Middle East .
Biden could renew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Iranian soil and acquiesce to the expiration of international restrictions on transferring advanced arms to the mullahs .
The Biden administration , with bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate , will likely open a diplomatic assault on Riyadh to end its military involvement in Yemen , where it is fighting the Iranian-backed Houthis .
The end of Saudi operations there would effectively cede the Saudi-Yemeni border to Iranian proxies .
The pace of Iranian-sponsored , Yemen-based missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia could grow—and there may even be an effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political organization , rather than designate them as an Iranian-backed terror proxy .
But what if Saudi King Salman gave MbS the green light to take a leap—to do something dramatic that could prompt the incoming Biden administration to reframe its strategic perception of Saudi Arabia ?
That `` something '' is normalization with Israel .
It 's already happened for the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) .
Last year , Congress was pressing to cut off arms sales to the UAE .
In the wake of the Abraham Accords , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling Abu Dhabi the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter .
A trilateral U.S.-Israel-UAE intergovernmental investment fund has been established , while venture capitalists in Israel and America are racing to find deals in the UAE .
Talk about a pendulum swing .
This is not a new phenomenon .
Middle East peace is a big deal .
It 's something the world has waited more than 70 years to see .
When an Arab nation takes a risk in the name of peace , Washington responds with support .
U.S. support for Egypt and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owing to those countries ' long-standing peace treaties with Israel .
The same will be true for the UAE , Bahrain , Sudan and others that follow suit .
There 's no reason Saudi Arabia ca n't have this future , too .
It is a future where U.S. arms sales to the kingdom continue and members of Congress view the U.S.-Saudi strategic relationship as an integral underpinning for regional normalization , given Riyadh 's leadership role in the Middle East .
It is a future with a trilateral Saudi-Israeli-American investment fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallel .
It is a future where Israeli and American start-up accelerators descend on Neom —the planned Saudi smart city on the Red Sea—and bring together Israeli technology , American investors and Saudi capital to resurrect MbS 's Vision 2030 plan for economic innovation .
Bipartisan concerns about human rights and counter-extremism will never disappear—nor should they .
But the U.S.-Saudi strategic and economic relationship would be secured for a generation—much to the chagrin of Iran , Qatar and Turkey .
Secret meetings between MbS and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are intriguing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stave off the Biden administration 's intended reset in U.S.-Saudi relations .
It 's time for Saudi Arabia to take control of its future .
That starts by normalizing relations with Israel .
Richard Goldberg is a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies .
He served on Capitol Hill , on the U.S. National Security Council , as the governor of Illinois 's chief of staff and as a Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Here's a news flash for Saudi Arabia: Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is looking to fundamentally restructure the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The only way for Riyadh to stop what's coming might be to normalize relations with Israel right now.
Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Tony Blinken, reportedly held regular calls with far-left foreign policy activists during the presidential campaign and expressed an openness to cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia. In an interview shortly before the election, Blinken announced that a Biden administration would "undertake a strategic review of our bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia to make sure that it is truly advancing our interests and is consistent with our values." Translation for Riyadh: Buckle up for a rough ride.
Absent a seismic shift—like a normalization agreement with Israel—the Saudis should prepare for the worst. Congress has the votes to send a bill to the president's desk to halt U.S. arms sales to the kingdom. Such a bill passed the Senate just last year, when Republicans held a wider margin than they will in 2021—and before the kingdom angered a number of oil state Republicans by crashing the price of oil and pummeling the U.S. energy industry. This time around, when that same bill reaches the Oval Office, there will be nobody to veto it.
The incoming State Department brass will also likely reopen an investigation into the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to determine whether U.S. human rights sanctions should be imposed on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or "MbS," as he is known. To preserve the bilateral relationship, the Trump administration shielded MbS from direct sanctions retribution in 2019—a decision likely to be reversed in a Biden administration.
Against the backdrop of a complete reset in U.S.-Saudi relations, President-elect Joe Biden is also making it clear that he will press for a full re-entry into the Iran nuclear deal without any preconditions. He could very well turn back the clock four years and flood the Islamic Republic with billions of dollars in sanctions relief, which would enable Tehran to recapitalize both its Revolutionary Guard and its sprawling terror operations throughout the Middle East. Biden could renew American support for the enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil and acquiesce to the expiration of international restrictions on transferring advanced arms to the mullahs.
The Biden administration, with bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate, will likely open a diplomatic assault on Riyadh to end its military involvement in Yemen, where it is fighting the Iranian-backed Houthis. The end of Saudi operations there would effectively cede the Saudi-Yemeni border to Iranian proxies. The pace of Iranian-sponsored, Yemen-based missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia could grow—and there may even be an effort to normalize U.S. ties with the Houthis as a political organization, rather than designate them as an Iranian-backed terror proxy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
But what if Saudi King Salman gave MbS the green light to take a leap—to do something dramatic that could prompt the incoming Biden administration to reframe its strategic perception of Saudi Arabia? That "something" is normalization with Israel.
It's already happened for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Last year, Congress was pressing to cut off arms sales to the UAE. In the wake of the Abraham Accords, Congress is now debating the merits of selling Abu Dhabi the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. A trilateral U.S.-Israel-UAE intergovernmental investment fund has been established, while venture capitalists in Israel and America are racing to find deals in the UAE. Talk about a pendulum swing.
This is not a new phenomenon. Middle East peace is a big deal. It's something the world has waited more than 70 years to see. When an Arab nation takes a risk in the name of peace, Washington responds with support. U.S. support for Egypt and Jordan remains a foundational foreign policy bedrock, owing to those countries' long-standing peace treaties with Israel. The same will be true for the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and others that follow suit.
There's no reason Saudi Arabia can't have this future, too. It is a future where U.S. arms sales to the kingdom continue and members of Congress view the U.S.-Saudi strategic relationship as an integral underpinning for regional normalization, given Riyadh's leadership role in the Middle East. It is a future with a trilateral Saudi-Israeli-American investment fund that dwarfs the size of its Emirati parallel. It is a future where Israeli and American start-up accelerators descend on Neom —the planned Saudi smart city on the Red Sea—and bring together Israeli technology, American investors and Saudi capital to resurrect MbS's Vision 2030 plan for economic innovation.
Bipartisan concerns about human rights and counter-extremism will never disappear—nor should they. But the U.S.-Saudi strategic and economic relationship would be secured for a generation—much to the chagrin of Iran, Qatar and Turkey.
Secret meetings between MbS and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are intriguing, but they will not be enough to stave off the Biden administration's intended reset in U.S.-Saudi relations. It's time for Saudi Arabia to take control of its future. That starts by normalizing relations with Israel.
Richard Goldberg is a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He served on Capitol Hill, on the U.S. National Security Council, as the governor of Illinois's chief of staff and as a Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-04--Is Letitia Wright an Anti-Vaxxer? What 'Black Panther' Star Said About Vaccines

Twitter this Friday morning is alight with tweets about actress Letitia Wright who has tweeted her views on vaccines in a move that has seen the Black Panther star branded an `` anti-vaxxer . ''
The 27-year-old Guyanese-British star is facing criticism for posting an anti-vaccination video on her Twitter account .
Best known for playing T'Challa 's sister Shuri in Black Panther and other Marvel films , Wright is also noted for her Emmy-winning role in the `` Black Museum '' episode of Black Mirror .
Most recently , Wright has starred in the historical drama film , Mangrove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine in London for the BBC 's Small Axe series .
However , Wright 's blossoming career is not being celebrated today as she faces backlash for tweeting about vaccines .
But what did she say exactly ?
Well , it 's more what was said in the video she shared .
Wright posted a video from Invazion Media Network questioning the value of vaccinations .
She accompanied the tweet with the hands in prayer emoji which is mostly used to signify praise .
The video , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour-long episode from a YouTube series called `` On the Table '' in which a panel discuss the topic of vaccination .
At one point , presenter Tomi Arayomi says : `` I do n't understand vaccines medically , but I 've always been a little bit of a skeptic of them . ''
Amid criticism from Twitter users , Wright has responded to a number of tweets defending her posting of the video .
`` If you do n't conform to popular opinions .
but ask questions and think for yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted shortly after .
One response reads : `` 'Popular opinions , ' you mean scientific evidence ? ''
One person tweeted to say that Wright would be `` made an example of '' for expressing anti-vax views to which she replied : `` make an example out of me for asking if something is right for my body before taking it .
interesting world we live in . ''
She also replied : `` please note I never said anything .
I simply posted a video and I think his point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' One person asked : `` Letitia Wright I hate it had to be you sis WHY , '' to which Wright replied : `` just interested to know what 's in it .
Guess I 'm wrong for asking that . ''
In another exchange , a Twitter user suggested that Wright should have asked if the vaccine was safe rather than just simply share the video to which she replied : `` Understood .
Guess it 's the longer version of what you suggested . ''
Author Roxane Gay replied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled for her views to say : `` Thinking for yourself does n't mean you 're right .
And you are n't canceled .
But damn .
Promoting anti-vaccine propaganda and shrouding it in intellectual curiosity is asinine .
And dangerous . ''

Twitter this Friday morning is alight with tweets about actress Letitia Wright who has tweeted her views on vaccines in a move that has seen the Black Panther star branded an "anti-vaxxer."
The 27-year-old Guyanese-British star is facing criticism for posting an anti-vaccination video on her Twitter account.
Best known for playing T'Challa's sister Shuri in Black Panther and other Marvel films, Wright is also noted for her Emmy-winning role in the "Black Museum" episode of Black Mirror.
Most recently, Wright has starred in the historical drama film, Mangrove, directed by Steve McQueen which follows the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine in London for the BBC's Small Axe series.
Letitia Wright attends the "Mangrove" opening film and European Premiere during the 64th BFI London Film Festival at BFI Stephen Street on October 07, 2020 in London, England. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
However, Wright's blossoming career is not being celebrated today as she faces backlash for tweeting about vaccines.
But what did she say exactly? Well, it's more what was said in the video she shared.
Wright posted a video from Invazion Media Network questioning the value of vaccinations. She accompanied the tweet with the hands in prayer emoji which is mostly used to signify praise.
The video, hosted by minister Tomi Arayomi, is an hour-long episode from a YouTube series called "On the Table" in which a panel discuss the topic of vaccination.
At one point, presenter Tomi Arayomi says: "I don't understand vaccines medically, but I've always been a little bit of a skeptic of them."
Amid criticism from Twitter users, Wright has responded to a number of tweets defending her posting of the video.
"If you don't conform to popular opinions. but ask questions and think for yourself....you get canceled," she tweeted shortly after.
One response reads: "'Popular opinions,' you mean scientific evidence?"
if you don’t conform to popular opinions. but ask questions and think for yourself....you get cancelled 😂 — Letitia Wright (@letitiawright) December 4, 2020
One person tweeted to say that Wright would be "made an example of" for expressing anti-vax views to which she replied: "make an example out of me for asking if something is right for my body before taking it. interesting world we live in."
Girl, I love the shit out of you and I couldn't agree more. But they are going to make an example out of you. — 🦄 (@darthvrou) December 4, 2020
She also replied: "please note I never said anything. I simply posted a video and I think his point of asking about it before is valid."
One person asked: "Letitia Wright I hate it had to be you sis WHY," to which Wright replied: "just interested to know what's in it. Guess I'm wrong for asking that."
In another exchange, a Twitter user suggested that Wright should have asked if the vaccine was safe rather than just simply share the video to which she replied: "Understood. Guess it's the longer version of what you suggested."
You keep saying saying “so I’m not allowed to ask”. You are, that’s not the point.
Babe, if you said- “should we trust this vaccine” instead of linking that silly video with the caption- “🙏🏾” there’d be less mess right now. — my tranquility needs to be refurbished (@CasaDupre) December 4, 2020
Author Roxane Gay replied to Wright's claims that she is being canceled for her views to say: "Thinking for yourself doesn't mean you're right. And you aren't canceled. But damn. Promoting anti-vaccine propaganda and shrouding it in intellectual curiosity is asinine. And dangerous."


newsweek--2020-12-04--Iran's Rouhani Vows Revenge for Scientist Assassination As Israel Braces for Possible Terror Attacks

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has again vowed revenge for the assassination of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last week , an operation for which Tehran blames Israel .
Rouhani made the comments during a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyipp Erdogan on Thursday , Iran 's state-run Mehr News Agency reported .
The president—whose term is ending next summer—also said Iran remains open to rejoining the beleaguered Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal if projected President-elect Joe Biden restores U.S. compliance .
`` The assassination of this scientist was a great crime and inhumane act , '' Rouhani said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was widely considered the father of Iran 's nuclear project , and his killing marks a serious escalation in Israeli-American efforts to undermine Tehran 's nuclear program and undermine a potential revival of dialogue under the incoming Biden administration .
Israel has denied to confirm or deny its involvement , per longstanding policy .
Multiple reports have cited unnamed U.S. intelligence officials who credit Israel with the operation .
The White House , Pentagon , National Security Council and State Department have thus far refused to comment on the killing or clarify whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave approval to , the plan .
`` Undoubtedly , this terrorist act shows the helplessness and inability of the sworn enemies of the Iranian nation against the scientific and research movements of our scientists and it is the right of the Iranian government to take revenge on the blood of this martyr from the perpetrators at the right time , '' Rouhani said .
Biden has said it is `` hard to tell '' how much the Fakhrizdeh assassination would impact his efforts to revive the JCPOA .
He also told CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ca n't allow Iran to get nuclear weapons , '' and said his push to prevent this would involve American allies and other JCPOA signatories .
Despite the killing , Rouhani said Tehran is still open to discussions .
`` We have repeatedly emphasised that if the other parties to this agreement fulfil their obligations , we will fulfil our obligations as well , '' he said Thursday .
But President Donald Trump will remain in office until January 20 , in which time he and his Israeli allies may choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Israel are now bracing for potential Iranian retaliation .
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad—regularly targeted by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—is reportedly temporarily reducing staff numbers amid security concerns , for example .
And Israel 's counter-terrorism bureau said Thursday that Iran may launch attacks against Israeli interests and civilians in regional nations including Georgia , Azerbaijan , Turkey , the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain .
`` In light of threats recently coming from Iranian agents and in light of Iranian agents ' past involvement in terror attacks in various countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to act in such a way against Israeli targets , '' the bureau said .
Tehran has previously targeted Israelis abroad in retaliation for Israeli attacks inside Iran .
In 2012 , for example , Israel blamed Iranian-linked Hezbollah militants for blowing up a tourist bus in Bulgaria killing five Israelis .
Iran has always denied involvement and Hezbollah has refused to comment .
The attack was believed to be retaliation for Israeli killings of Iranian nuclear scientists .

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has again vowed revenge for the assassination of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last week, an operation for which Tehran blames Israel.
Rouhani made the comments during a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyipp Erdogan on Thursday, Iran's state-run Mehr News Agency reported.
The president—whose term is ending next summer—also said Iran remains open to rejoining the beleaguered Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal if projected President-elect Joe Biden restores U.S. compliance.
"The assassination of this scientist was a great crime and inhumane act," Rouhani said of Fakhrizadeh's assassination.
The scientist was widely considered the father of Iran's nuclear project, and his killing marks a serious escalation in Israeli-American efforts to undermine Tehran's nuclear program and undermine a potential revival of dialogue under the incoming Biden administration.
Israel has denied to confirm or deny its involvement, per longstanding policy. Multiple reports have cited unnamed U.S. intelligence officials who credit Israel with the operation.
The White House, Pentagon, National Security Council and State Department have thus far refused to comment on the killing or clarify whether the U.S. was aware of, or gave approval to, the plan.
"Undoubtedly, this terrorist act shows the helplessness and inability of the sworn enemies of the Iranian nation against the scientific and research movements of our scientists and it is the right of the Iranian government to take revenge on the blood of this martyr from the perpetrators at the right time," Rouhani said.
Biden has said it is "hard to tell" how much the Fakhrizdeh assassination would impact his efforts to revive the JCPOA. He also told CNN: "The bottom line is that we can't allow Iran to get nuclear weapons," and said his push to prevent this would involve American allies and other JCPOA signatories.
Despite the killing, Rouhani said Tehran is still open to discussions. "We have repeatedly emphasised that if the other parties to this agreement fulfil their obligations, we will fulfil our obligations as well," he said Thursday.
But President Donald Trump will remain in office until January 20, in which time he and his Israeli allies may choose to apply more pressure on Iran.
Both the U.S. and Israel are now bracing for potential Iranian retaliation. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad—regularly targeted by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—is reportedly temporarily reducing staff numbers amid security concerns, for example.
And Israel's counter-terrorism bureau said Thursday that Iran may launch attacks against Israeli interests and civilians in regional nations including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
"In light of threats recently coming from Iranian agents and in light of Iranian agents' past involvement in terror attacks in various countries, there is concern that Iran will try to act in such a way against Israeli targets," the bureau said.
Tehran has previously targeted Israelis abroad in retaliation for Israeli attacks inside Iran. In 2012, for example, Israel blamed Iranian-linked Hezbollah militants for blowing up a tourist bus in Bulgaria killing five Israelis.
Iran has always denied involvement and Hezbollah has refused to comment. The attack was believed to be retaliation for Israeli killings of Iranian nuclear scientists.


newsweek--2020-12-04--Don't Lower the Medicare Eligibility Age | Opinion

President-elect Joe Biden wants Congress to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60 .
That 's long been a goal of Democrats .
But even 7 in 10 Republicans have expressed support for expanding Medicare in the direction Biden has suggested , according to polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Opening up Medicare to more people is a bad idea .
It would waste scarce taxpayer dollars on millions of disproportionately affluent Americans who already have health insurance—and would do so at a time when the entitlement program faces imminent insolvency .
Medicare can ill afford to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those between the ages of 60 and 65 .
It 's already in dire financial straits , and according to an analysis from a public health expert at Harvard , expanding it would cost up to another $ 100 billion .
Job losses induced by COVID-19 , meanwhile , have strained the program 's balance sheet by causing payroll tax receipts to plummet .
A September report from the Congressional Budget Office predicted Medicare Part A 's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund—which covers in-patient care for nearly 60 million people—will run dry by 2024 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program 's trustees had forecast before the pandemic struck .
If that trust fund is depleted , it 's unclear whether Medicare would be able to pay hospitals and other health care providers .
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has estimated that Congress would need to hike payroll taxes from 2.9 percent to 3.7 percent or permanently slash reimbursements for in-patient care by roughly 17 percent in order to stave off insolvency .
Neither approach would be popular .
Increasing the payroll tax by 0.8 percentage points might not sound like much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 700 billion out of workers ' pockets over the next decade .
Cutting Medicare 's payment rates , on the other hand , would cripple our health care system .
The program already underpays hospitals , relative to what private insurers pay .
For every dollar spent caring for Medicare beneficiaries , hospitals receive just 87 cents in reimbursement .
Hospitals respond by charging private insurers more .
Private health insurers reimbursed hospitals 247 percent more than Medicare did in 2018 , according to a recent study from the RAND Corporation .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many hospitals may go under .
The fiscal outlook for rural hospitals in particular has been bad for years , with more than 170 closing since 2005 .
In recent months , by forcing people to stay home and postpone care , the pandemic has further damaged health care systems ' finances .
The American Hospital Association estimates that hospitals will lose more than $ 320 billion in 2020 .
Adding the roughly 23 million Americans between the ages of 60 and 64 to Medicare 's rolls would hasten the entitlement program 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sake of covering the age group that needs government help the least .
The vast majority of 60-to-64-year-olds already have coverage , either through their employers , Medicaid or Obamacare 's exchanges .
Only 8 percent lack insurance—a lower uninsured rate than that of any other age group .
These Americans are also wealthier than average , since older workers tend to be more senior and command higher wages .
Americans aged 55 to 65 have median incomes of $ 57,000 a year , compared to $ 43,000 for those between the ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 make under $ 50,000 annually .
In other words , the president-elect wants to offer taxpayer-funded health coverage to a group that is wealthier and better insured than the average American .
Medicare is already facing financial trouble .
If we want to preserve it for the elderly , retired folks who truly need it , raising the eligibility age is the better option .
Sally C. Pipes is president , CEO and Thomas W. Smith fellow in health care policy at the Pacific Research Institute .
Her latest book is False @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reality of Medicare for All , ( Encounter 2020 ) .
Follow her on Twitter @ sallypipes .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

President-elect Joe Biden wants Congress to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60. That's long been a goal of Democrats. But even 7 in 10 Republicans have expressed support for expanding Medicare in the direction Biden has suggested, according to polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Opening up Medicare to more people is a bad idea. It would waste scarce taxpayer dollars on millions of disproportionately affluent Americans who already have health insurance—and would do so at a time when the entitlement program faces imminent insolvency.
Medicare can ill afford to cover its current recipients, much less those between the ages of 60 and 65. It's already in dire financial straits, and according to an analysis from a public health expert at Harvard, expanding it would cost up to another $100 billion. Job losses induced by COVID-19, meanwhile, have strained the program's balance sheet by causing payroll tax receipts to plummet. A September report from the Congressional Budget Office predicted Medicare Part A's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund—which covers in-patient care for nearly 60 million people—will run dry by 2024. That's two years earlier than the program's trustees had forecast before the pandemic struck.
If that trust fund is depleted, it's unclear whether Medicare would be able to pay hospitals and other health care providers. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has estimated that Congress would need to hike payroll taxes from 2.9 percent to 3.7 percent or permanently slash reimbursements for in-patient care by roughly 17 percent in order to stave off insolvency.
Neither approach would be popular. Increasing the payroll tax by 0.8 percentage points might not sound like much. But it would take roughly $700 billion out of workers' pockets over the next decade.
Cutting Medicare's payment rates, on the other hand, would cripple our health care system. The program already underpays hospitals, relative to what private insurers pay. For every dollar spent caring for Medicare beneficiaries, hospitals receive just 87 cents in reimbursement.
A view of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital ambulance entrance during the coronavirus pandemic on May 18, 2020 in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty
Hospitals respond by charging private insurers more. Private health insurers reimbursed hospitals 247 percent more than Medicare did in 2018, according to a recent study from the RAND Corporation.
If Medicare reduced its reimbursements any further, many hospitals may go under. The fiscal outlook for rural hospitals in particular has been bad for years, with more than 170 closing since 2005. In recent months, by forcing people to stay home and postpone care, the pandemic has further damaged health care systems' finances. The American Hospital Association estimates that hospitals will lose more than $320 billion in 2020.
Adding the roughly 23 million Americans between the ages of 60 and 64 to Medicare's rolls would hasten the entitlement program's day of reckoning, all for the sake of covering the age group that needs government help the least. The vast majority of 60-to-64-year-olds already have coverage, either through their employers, Medicaid or Obamacare's exchanges. Only 8 percent lack insurance—a lower uninsured rate than that of any other age group.
These Americans are also wealthier than average, since older workers tend to be more senior and command higher wages. Americans aged 55 to 65 have median incomes of $57,000 a year, compared to $43,000 for those between the ages of 25 and 34. Americans over 65 make under $50,000 annually.
In other words, the president-elect wants to offer taxpayer-funded health coverage to a group that is wealthier and better insured than the average American.
Medicare is already facing financial trouble. If we want to preserve it for the elderly, retired folks who truly need it, raising the eligibility age is the better option.
Sally C. Pipes is president, CEO and Thomas W. Smith fellow in health care policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All, (Encounter 2020). Follow her on Twitter @sallypipes.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-04--Netflix's 'Mank': Who's Who in David Fincher's Beautiful Tribute to 'Citizen Kane'

David Fincher 's latest film , Mank , tells the story of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz ( played by Gary Oldman ) and how he put together the first draft of Citizen Kane .
Even if you have n't actually seen it , you know Kane—it 's generally considered to be the greatest film of all time , remains a singular achievement nearly 80 years after its release , has been parodied endlessly and has ensured that we ca n't ever hear the word `` rosebud '' without thinking of a certain object .
As seen in Mank , which lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orson Welles ( Tom Burke ) hires Mankiewicz—who 's known around the industry simply as `` Mank , '' per the title—to write the script for what will be Welles ' directorial debut .
What Mankiewicz comes up with is a sprawling yet intimate character study that doubles as an indictment of power in America , all famously modeled ( conventional wisdom goes ) on the life of real-world newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst .
Welles knows Hearst by reputation , but Mankiewicz knew him personally .
Together , writer and director use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mogul Charles Foster Kane to life onscreen .
Fincher 's film floats between scenes of Mankiewicz working tirelessly on the script in a ranch in Victorville , California , and flashbacks to the scribe 's time writing for the Hollywood studio system and trading bon mots with Hearst ( Charles Dance ) and his inner circle , including actress Marion Davies ( Amanda Seyfried ) .
Over the course of two hours , we see how those experiences inform Mankiewicz 's script for Kane .
Regardless of whether people find it to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mank is sure to be a serious Oscars contender next year .
It 's shot in crisp black-and-white , set to period-appropriate sound and filled with rich performances that capture major figures in Hollywood history .
That said , the movie 's own screenplay—credited to Fincher 's late father , Jack—is best enjoyed if you 've got a sense of who all the players are and how they related to one another .
Which is why we 've put together this primer on all of the key characters in Mank .
Herman Mankiewicz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wittiest guy in the room '' by his grandson , TCM host Ben Mankiewicz , during a recent piece on CBS Sunday Morning .
( `` Also the drunkest , '' the younger Mankiewicz added . )
The New York-based journalist was called over to Hollywood in 1926 , and became one of the highest-paid screenwriters for Paramount Pictures , and subsequently Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .
By 1936 , many of the films he wrote for did not actually credit him .
Along with Kane , Mankiewicz worked on 60 other films , including The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World , Dinner at Eight , Pride of the Yankees and The Pride of St. Louis .
During his time on the West Coast , Mankiewicz became good friends with fellow screenwriter Charles Lederer , who was the nephew of Marion Davies , Hearst 's mistress .
Mankiewicz was invited to Hearst 's castle in San Simeon several times , and found Hearst to be `` a finagling , calculating , machiavellian figure , '' as per Richard Meryman 's 1978 book , Mank .
In 1939 , after Mankiewicz broke his leg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited him in the hospital with the proposition of writing Citizen Kane , according to Slate .
Mankiewicz , whose career was in jeopardy because of his drinking and gambling problems , agreed , and initially signed away his screenwriting credit .
According to The New Yorker , the battle over proper screenwriting credit for Kane began in 1940 .
Mankiewicz apparently realized that the script was worth having his name on , and appealed to the Screen Writers Guild .
He later withdrew his appeal , but RKO ultimately gave Mankiewicz screenwriting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's screenwriting Oscar , the only Academy Award that the iconic film won .
In the 2004 book The New Biographical Dictionary of Film , David Thomson said of the script : `` No one can now deny Herman Mankiewicz credit for the germ , shape , and pointed language of the screenplay . ''
Despite the Academy Award he won for Kane , Mankiewicz never worked with Welles again .
He continued to write movies , though , and his career experienced an upswing in the wake of Kane , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mankiewicz died in 1953 of uremic poisoning and kidney failure .
He was 55 years old .
Hearst , the newspaper tycoon who built an immense media empire throughout the early 20th century , is widely understood to be the inspiration for Citizen Kane 's titular character .
Per Britannica , he entered the media world in the 1890s and became a competitive publisher , owning several newspapers throughout the United States by 1925 .
During his rise to power , he had a brief political career , but his real influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his slew of magazines , along with various production companies and radio stations that he also owned .
Hearst was already in the media business for over 30 years when he met Mankiewicz in the early 1930s , according to Meryman 's Mank .
Mankiewicz and his wife were dinner guests at the opulent Hearst Castle several times , according to Slate .
Hearst reportedly enjoyed Mankiewicz 's presence and conversation , until Mankiewicz 's alcoholism made him an unwelcome guest at Hearst 's property .
As noted recently by The New Yorker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little doubt , by now , that Mankiewicz 's Hearst connection provided the essential substance for the film ; it also nearly destroyed the film before it could be released . ''
After Hearst heard that aspects of the film were similar to parts of his life , he reportedly forbade his newspapers from featuring ads promoting Kane and tried to paint Welles as a communist , to name just a couple of Hearst 's purported attempts at sabotage .
During the Great Depression , Hearst 's empire began to fail ( unrelated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resurgence during World War II .
David Nasaw 's 2000 book The Chief : The Life of William Randolph Hearst also notes that he focused on philanthropy in his later years .
Hearst developed an irregular heartbeat in 1947 , and doctors demanded he stop working and seek medical attention , which forced him to leave San Simeon for Beverly Hills .
He died in 1951 from a heart attack and a stroke at age 88 .
In 1939 , Orson Welles signed a high-profile contract with RKO Pictures , giving him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially for a hotshot upstart in his 20s .
Welles was coming off of his legendary 1938 `` War of the Worlds '' radio broadcast , which famously had some listeners convinced that space invaders had actually touched down in New Jersey .
For his first feature-length film , the young auteur set his sights on a picture about a powerful man similar to Hearst , and approached Mankiewicz to work on the script , as per Deadline .
Welles and Mankiewicz apparently had an understanding , when the work began , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screenplay , according to The Hollywood Reporter .
But the dynamic between the two seemed to get tense as they got further into the creative process , with Mankiewicz reportedly attempting to get the Writers Guild involved , to recognize him as the film 's only writer .
Mankiewicz was eventually awarded credit for the film ( top billing credit , above Welles ) from RKO Pictures in early 1941 .
Mankiewicz 's spite towards Welles intensified for the rest of his life , according to Barton Whaley 's 2005 book , Orson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eventually , though , Welles did note the impact that Mankiewicz had on the film .
Decades after making Kane , he said ( via Harlan Lebo 's 2016 book , Citizen Kane : A Filmmaker 's Journey ) , `` Without Mank it would have been a totally different picture .
It suits my self-esteem to think it might have been almost as good , but I could never have arrived at Citizen Kane as it was without Herman . ''
Many feel that Welles peaked with Kane ; at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another movie with as much authoritative control , as noted by The New Yorker .
Still , he continued acting in dozens of films , and worked as a director and screenwriter for decades .
Welles suffered a fatal heart attack in 1985 , at 70 years old .
At the start of Mank , Mankiewicz casually mentions that he knew Marion Davies very well .
In real life , they were friends , introduced by Davies ' nephew , screenwriter Charles Lederer .
Davies became Hearst 's mistress after he saw her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York in 1917 , according to The New York Times .
The following year , the newspaper mogul created Cosmopolitan Pictures to produce her films , and kept her under a tight , exclusive contract .
Hearst used his media empire to promote Davies ' career , reportedly spending $ 7 million .
Slate notes that Mank is pretty accurate in its depiction of Mankiewicz 's friendship with Davies , since they `` bonded over their shared alcoholism . ''
Mankiewicz 's wife , Sara , apparently insisted that her husband mostly felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audiences and historians believe that Charles Foster Kane 's onscreen mistress , Susan Alexander , was inspired by Davies .
According to You Must Remember This host Karina Longworth , Davies claimed that she and Welles never actually saw Citizen Kane .
Throughout her career , Davies acted in over 50 movies , including Lights of Old Broadway ( 1925 ) , Blondie of the Follies ( 1932 ) and Peg O ' My Heart ( 1933 ) .
However , her film career began to wane in later in the 1930s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media empire .
During the Depression , Davies had to lend Hearst $ 1 million to bail him out , according to The New York Times .
And after her acting career was long over , Davies devoted her time to help an ailing Hearst .
She married not long after Hearst 's death , and then focused on real estate investments and philanthropy .
Later in life , Davies was diagnosed with cancer .
She died of malignant osteomyelitis ( cancer of the jaw ) in 1961 at age 64 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idolized Herman , '' a biographer of the Mankiewicz brothers , Sydney Ladensohn Stern , said recently to Texas Public Radio .
But Joe 's career would ultimately eclipse his brother 's .
Joe went to Hollywood in 1929 , when Herman secured him a contract at Paramount Pictures , per The New York Times .
Ultimately , Joe became a far more distinguished Hollywood presence than Herman , who was 11 years his senior .
He was a screenwriter for Paramount , a producer at MGM and eventually directed at Twentieth Century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of films throughout his career and won four Academy Awards , for writing and directing both A Letter to Three Wives ( 1949 ) and All About Eve ( 1950 ) .
Speaking to TPR , Stern explained that Joe and Herman 's relationship was `` complicated . ''
`` Joe was competitive with Herman , even though he admired him .
( But ) I do n't think Herman was particularly competing with Joe .
When Joe surpassed him , he certainly had mixed feelings , but he was always , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1951 , Life ran an article that showed a drastic difference between the two , 10 years after Herman 's success with Kane .
`` Somewhere along the way , '' the article reads ( via Los Angeles Review of Books ) , `` the two brothers passed each other , one going up , the other going down . ''
Following Herman 's death , Joe continued writing and directing until 1972 , according to The New York Times .
He died of heart failure days before his 84th birthday , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mank , Mankiewicz says of Mayer , `` If I ever go to the electric chair , I 'd like him to be sitting on my lap . ''
This quip was reflective of the poor relationship that Mayer and Mankiewicz had in real life .
In September 1939 , while working for MGM , Mankiewicz begged Mayer for advance pay after losing his money while gambling , according to that aforementioned Life article .
Mayer agreed , but only if Mankiewicz gave up gambling .
The following day , Mayer caught the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left MGM immediately .
Mayer 's biographer , Scott Eyman , noted in his 2005 book , Lion of Hollywood : The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer , that Mayer was often compared to Hearst , whom he was friends with .
Hearst ( who affectionately called Mayer his son ) , financed the studio executive 's films , while MGM films received rave reviews in Hearst 's newspapers .
It was a smart and profitable relationship .
The New Yorker noted recently that Mayer and other studio heads tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase and destroy the negative of Kane .
Schaefer refused , but Mayer was successful in getting the studios , which owned the majority of the `` first-run movie houses in major cities , '' to not run the film .
As a result , Kane did not make much of an impact at the box office .
Clearly , however , that has n't stopped it from living well beyond its initial release .
Mayer was famous for packing his studio with `` more stars than there are in heaven , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the films that came out of his studio under his supervision include Ben-Hur ( 1925 ) , Fury ( 1936 ) , The Wizard of Oz ( 1939 ) , Gone With the Wind ( 1939 ) , The Philadelphia Story ( 1941 ) and An American in Paris ( 1951 ) .
Perhaps his greatest contribution to the world of cinema is thought to be MGM 's movie musicals , Eyman noted , which grew in popularity in the 1940s and 1950s .
Following World War II , Mayer 's studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted more sophisticated plots than the sentimental films that MGM offered .
According to The New York Times , Mayer resigned from the studio in 1951 , and died in 1957 of leukemia , leaving behind an enduring legacy .
The Golden Age of Hollywood would not have been the same without Mayer .
As Eyman probably put it , `` Louis B. Mayer defined MGM , just as MGM defined Hollywood , and Hollywood defined America . ''
Another Boy Wonder of sorts , Irving Thalberg was a producer during the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age of 20 , he was hired to oversee production at Universal Studios in Los Angeles .
Three years later , Thalberg was invited for a meeting with studio head Louis B. Mayer .
After their meeting , according to Karina Longworth , Mayer called Thalberg 's lawyer , saying : `` Tell him if he comes to work for me , I 'll look after him like my own son . ''
He then hired Thalberg as vice president and head of production at a film company that eventually became Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arts and Sciences .
Thalberg was bright , wildly successful , and a workaholic who suffered a heart attack at a very young age , according to a 1933 article published in The Hollywood Reporter .
He had a history of poor health , and doctors told him that he would n't make it past the age of 30 , according to Britannica .
Despite this , he worked long days and mingled with the stars all night .
Thalberg and his wife were friends of Hearst , and were invited over for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in the 1938 film Marie Antoinette , which Thalberg produced , according to Slate .
The producer resisted , and cast his wife , actress Norma Shearer , instead .
Hearst reacted by pulling Davies from MGM , and moving her to Warner Bros. in 1935 .
The young producer also dabbled in politics .
As noted by Slate , Thalberg produced a series of fake newsreels to help tip California 's 1934 gubernatorial election in favor of Republican Frank Merriam , and away from author Upton Sinclair , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story hinges on the staged newsreels , in a way : In the film , Mankiewicz discovers that the reels—which feature bogus testimonials and interviews designed to make Sinclair look like the candidate of lower-class folks angling for a handout—are being put together by Thalberg and funded by Hearst .
The way Fincher tells it , seeing what some people will do to cling to power stays with Mankiewicz , and eventually colors his script for Citizen Kane .
Slate points out , though , that while Thalberg did actually produce such material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was appalled by the newsreels , or if he was moved in part to write Kane because of them .
Thalberg died in 1936 , after he caught pneumonia .
He was 37 , according to The Los Angeles Times .
In critic Pauline Kael 's famous 1971 New Yorker essay `` Raising Kane , '' about the writing of Citizen Kane and Mankiewicz 's authorship ( which itself was no doubt an influence on Mank ) , it 's said that Rita Alexander `` took dictation from Mankiewicz , from the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the screenwriter recovered from his 1939 car crash .
Not too much is known about Alexander , compared to the other principal figures in Mank , but she apparently served as some sort of inspiration to Mankiewicz .
Barton Whaley 's Orson Welles : The Man Who Was Magic , notes that Mankiewicz paid homage to her by naming Kane 's mistress after her : Susan Alexander Kane .
That might not necessarily seem all that flattering , since Susan Alexander Kane is a tragic alcoholic in Citizen Kane , but , hey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest films of all time named after you should be considered an honor .
Think of it as her very own credit .

David Fincher's latest film, Mank, tells the story of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (played by Gary Oldman) and how he put together the first draft of Citizen Kane. Even if you haven't actually seen it, you know Kane—it's generally considered to be the greatest film of all time, remains a singular achievement nearly 80 years after its release, has been parodied endlessly and has ensured that we can't ever hear the word "rosebud" without thinking of a certain object.
As seen in Mank, which lands on Netflix on December 4, wunderkind Orson Welles (Tom Burke) hires Mankiewicz—who's known around the industry simply as "Mank," per the title—to write the script for what will be Welles' directorial debut. What Mankiewicz comes up with is a sprawling yet intimate character study that doubles as an indictment of power in America, all famously modeled (conventional wisdom goes) on the life of real-world newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Welles knows Hearst by reputation, but Mankiewicz knew him personally. Together, writer and director use him as inspiration to bring fictional media mogul Charles Foster Kane to life onscreen.
Fincher's film floats between scenes of Mankiewicz working tirelessly on the script in a ranch in Victorville, California, and flashbacks to the scribe's time writing for the Hollywood studio system and trading bon mots with Hearst (Charles Dance) and his inner circle, including actress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried). Over the course of two hours, we see how those experiences inform Mankiewicz's script for Kane.
Regardless of whether people find it to be a worthy companion to Citizen Kane, Mank is sure to be a serious Oscars contender next year. It's shot in crisp black-and-white, set to period-appropriate sound and filled with rich performances that capture major figures in Hollywood history. That said, the movie's own screenplay—credited to Fincher's late father, Jack—is best enjoyed if you've got a sense of who all the players are and how they related to one another. Which is why we've put together this primer on all of the key characters in Mank.
Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz and Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies in "Mank." Courtesy of Netflix
Herman Mankiewicz (Played by Gary Oldman)
Herman Mankiewicz was described as "the smartest and wittiest guy in the room" by his grandson, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, during a recent piece on CBS Sunday Morning. ("Also the drunkest," the younger Mankiewicz added.)
The New York-based journalist was called over to Hollywood in 1926, and became one of the highest-paid screenwriters for Paramount Pictures, and subsequently Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. By 1936, many of the films he wrote for did not actually credit him. Along with Kane, Mankiewicz worked on 60 other films, including The Wizard of Oz, Man of the World, Dinner at Eight, Pride of the Yankees and The Pride of St. Louis.
During his time on the West Coast, Mankiewicz became good friends with fellow screenwriter Charles Lederer, who was the nephew of Marion Davies, Hearst's mistress. Mankiewicz was invited to Hearst's castle in San Simeon several times, and found Hearst to be "a finagling, calculating, machiavellian figure," as per Richard Meryman's 1978 book, Mank.
In 1939, after Mankiewicz broke his leg in a horrific car crash, Welles visited him in the hospital with the proposition of writing Citizen Kane, according to Slate. Mankiewicz, whose career was in jeopardy because of his drinking and gambling problems, agreed, and initially signed away his screenwriting credit.
According to The New Yorker, the battle over proper screenwriting credit for Kane began in 1940. Mankiewicz apparently realized that the script was worth having his name on, and appealed to the Screen Writers Guild. He later withdrew his appeal, but RKO ultimately gave Mankiewicz screenwriting credit. Mankiewicz and Welles shared Kane's screenwriting Oscar, the only Academy Award that the iconic film won.
In the 2004 book The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, David Thomson said of the script: "No one can now deny Herman Mankiewicz credit for the germ, shape, and pointed language of the screenplay."
Despite the Academy Award he won for Kane, Mankiewicz never worked with Welles again. He continued to write movies, though, and his career experienced an upswing in the wake of Kane, even if he never matched that film's heights. Mankiewicz died in 1953 of uremic poisoning and kidney failure. He was 55 years old.
Charles Dance as William Randolph Hearst in Netflix film "Mank."
William Randolph Hearst (Played by Charles Dance)
Hearst, the newspaper tycoon who built an immense media empire throughout the early 20th century, is widely understood to be the inspiration for Citizen Kane's titular character. Per Britannica, he entered the media world in the 1890s and became a competitive publisher, owning several newspapers throughout the United States by 1925. During his rise to power, he had a brief political career, but his real influence came from his nearly 30 newspapers and his slew of magazines, along with various production companies and radio stations that he also owned. Hearst was already in the media business for over 30 years when he met Mankiewicz in the early 1930s, according to Meryman's Mank.
Mankiewicz and his wife were dinner guests at the opulent Hearst Castle several times, according to Slate. Hearst reportedly enjoyed Mankiewicz's presence and conversation, until Mankiewicz's alcoholism made him an unwelcome guest at Hearst's property.
As noted recently by The New Yorker's Richard Brody, "There's little doubt, by now, that Mankiewicz's Hearst connection provided the essential substance for the film; it also nearly destroyed the film before it could be released." After Hearst heard that aspects of the film were similar to parts of his life, he reportedly forbade his newspapers from featuring ads promoting Kane and tried to paint Welles as a communist, to name just a couple of Hearst's purported attempts at sabotage.
During the Great Depression, Hearst's empire began to fail (unrelated to Kane), but it experienced a resurgence during World War II. David Nasaw's 2000 book The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst also notes that he focused on philanthropy in his later years. Hearst developed an irregular heartbeat in 1947, and doctors demanded he stop working and seek medical attention, which forced him to leave San Simeon for Beverly Hills. He died in 1951 from a heart attack and a stroke at age 88.
Tom Burke as Orson Welles in "Mank." Courtesy of Netflix
Orson Welles (Played by Tom Burke)
In 1939, Orson Welles signed a high-profile contract with RKO Pictures, giving him a remarkable amount of creative freedom, especially for a hotshot upstart in his 20s. Welles was coming off of his legendary 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, which famously had some listeners convinced that space invaders had actually touched down in New Jersey. For his first feature-length film, the young auteur set his sights on a picture about a powerful man similar to Hearst, and approached Mankiewicz to work on the script, as per Deadline.
Welles and Mankiewicz apparently had an understanding, when the work began, that Welles would be receiving credit for the screenplay, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But the dynamic between the two seemed to get tense as they got further into the creative process, with Mankiewicz reportedly attempting to get the Writers Guild involved, to recognize him as the film's only writer. Mankiewicz was eventually awarded credit for the film (top billing credit, above Welles) from RKO Pictures in early 1941.
Mankiewicz's spite towards Welles intensified for the rest of his life, according to Barton Whaley's 2005 book, Orson Welles: The Man Who Was Magic. Eventually, though, Welles did note the impact that Mankiewicz had on the film. Decades after making Kane, he said (via Harlan Lebo's 2016 book, Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey), "Without Mank it would have been a totally different picture. It suits my self-esteem to think it might have been almost as good, but I could never have arrived at Citizen Kane as it was without Herman."
Many feel that Welles peaked with Kane; at the very least, he never again made another movie with as much authoritative control, as noted by The New Yorker. Still, he continued acting in dozens of films, and worked as a director and screenwriter for decades. Welles suffered a fatal heart attack in 1985, at 70 years old.
Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies in "Mank." Courtesy of Netflix
Marion Davies (Played by Amanda Seyfried)
At the start of Mank, Mankiewicz casually mentions that he knew Marion Davies very well. In real life, they were friends, introduced by Davies' nephew, screenwriter Charles Lederer.
Davies became Hearst's mistress after he saw her dancing in the Ziegfeld Follies in New York in 1917, according to The New York Times. The following year, the newspaper mogul created Cosmopolitan Pictures to produce her films, and kept her under a tight, exclusive contract. Hearst used his media empire to promote Davies' career, reportedly spending $7 million.
Slate notes that Mank is pretty accurate in its depiction of Mankiewicz's friendship with Davies, since they "bonded over their shared alcoholism." Mankiewicz's wife, Sara, apparently insisted that her husband mostly felt sorry for the actress.
Many film audiences and historians believe that Charles Foster Kane's onscreen mistress, Susan Alexander, was inspired by Davies. According to You Must Remember This host Karina Longworth, Davies claimed that she and Welles never actually saw Citizen Kane.
Throughout her career, Davies acted in over 50 movies, including Lights of Old Broadway (1925), Blondie of the Follies (1932) and Peg O' My Heart (1933). However, her film career began to wane in later in the 1930s, around the same time as Hearst's media empire.
During the Depression, Davies had to lend Hearst $1 million to bail him out, according to The New York Times. And after her acting career was long over, Davies devoted her time to help an ailing Hearst. She married not long after Hearst's death, and then focused on real estate investments and philanthropy. Later in life, Davies was diagnosed with cancer. She died of malignant osteomyelitis (cancer of the jaw) in 1961 at age 64.
Joseph Mankiewicz. Movie producer in 1937. Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images
Joe Mankiewicz (Played by Tom Pelphrey)
"For many years, (Joe) idolized Herman," a biographer of the Mankiewicz brothers, Sydney Ladensohn Stern, said recently to Texas Public Radio.
But Joe's career would ultimately eclipse his brother's. Joe went to Hollywood in 1929, when Herman secured him a contract at Paramount Pictures, per The New York Times. Ultimately, Joe became a far more distinguished Hollywood presence than Herman, who was 11 years his senior. He was a screenwriter for Paramount, a producer at MGM and eventually directed at Twentieth Century Fox. The younger Mankiewicz worked on dozens of films throughout his career and won four Academy Awards, for writing and directing both A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950).
Speaking to TPR, Stern explained that Joe and Herman's relationship was "complicated."
"Joe was competitive with Herman, even though he admired him. (But) I don't think Herman was particularly competing with Joe. When Joe surpassed him, he certainly had mixed feelings, but he was always, also proud of him."
In 1951, Life ran an article that showed a drastic difference between the two, 10 years after Herman's success with Kane. "Somewhere along the way," the article reads (via Los Angeles Review of Books), "the two brothers passed each other, one going up, the other going down."
Following Herman's death, Joe continued writing and directing until 1972, according to The New York Times. He died of heart failure days before his 84th birthday, in 1993.
Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz, Arliss Howard as Louis B. Mayer and Tom Pelphrey as Joe Mankiewicz in Netflix film "Mank." Courtesy of Netflix
Louis B. Mayer (Played by Arliss Howard)
At one point early into Mank, Mankiewicz says of Mayer, "If I ever go to the electric chair, I'd like him to be sitting on my lap." This quip was reflective of the poor relationship that Mayer and Mankiewicz had in real life.
In September 1939, while working for MGM, Mankiewicz begged Mayer for advance pay after losing his money while gambling, according to that aforementioned Life article. Mayer agreed, but only if Mankiewicz gave up gambling. The following day, Mayer caught the screenwriter gambling once again; Mankiewicz reportedly left MGM immediately.
Mayer's biographer, Scott Eyman, noted in his 2005 book, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer, that Mayer was often compared to Hearst, whom he was friends with. Hearst (who affectionately called Mayer his son), financed the studio executive's films, while MGM films received rave reviews in Hearst's newspapers. It was a smart and profitable relationship.
The New Yorker noted recently that Mayer and other studio heads tried to pay off RKO chief George Schaefer to purchase and destroy the negative of Kane. Schaefer refused, but Mayer was successful in getting the studios, which owned the majority of the "first-run movie houses in major cities," to not run the film. As a result, Kane did not make much of an impact at the box office. Clearly, however, that hasn't stopped it from living well beyond its initial release.
Mayer was famous for packing his studio with "more stars than there are in heaven," and dominated Hollywood for decades. Some of the films that came out of his studio under his supervision include Ben-Hur (1925), Fury (1936), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Gone With the Wind (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1941) and An American in Paris (1951). Perhaps his greatest contribution to the world of cinema is thought to be MGM's movie musicals, Eyman noted, which grew in popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. Following World War II, Mayer's studio began a slow decline, as audiences wanted more sophisticated plots than the sentimental films that MGM offered.
According to The New York Times, Mayer resigned from the studio in 1951, and died in 1957 of leukemia, leaving behind an enduring legacy. The Golden Age of Hollywood would not have been the same without Mayer. As Eyman probably put it, "Louis B. Mayer defined MGM, just as MGM defined Hollywood, and Hollywood defined America."
Half-length portrait of Irving Thalberg. Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images
Irving Thalberg (Played by Ferdinand Kingsley)
Another Boy Wonder of sorts, Irving Thalberg was a producer during the early years of Hollywood. At the young age of 20, he was hired to oversee production at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Three years later, Thalberg was invited for a meeting with studio head Louis B. Mayer. After their meeting, according to Karina Longworth, Mayer called Thalberg's lawyer, saying: "Tell him if he comes to work for me, I'll look after him like my own son." He then hired Thalberg as vice president and head of production at a film company that eventually became Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Thalberg was bright, wildly successful, and a workaholic who suffered a heart attack at a very young age, according to a 1933 article published in The Hollywood Reporter. He had a history of poor health, and doctors told him that he wouldn't make it past the age of 30, according to Britannica. Despite this, he worked long days and mingled with the stars all night.
Thalberg and his wife were friends of Hearst, and were invited over for dinner parties. Hearst pushed for Davies to be in the 1938 film Marie Antoinette, which Thalberg produced, according to Slate. The producer resisted, and cast his wife, actress Norma Shearer, instead. Hearst reacted by pulling Davies from MGM, and moving her to Warner Bros. in 1935.
The young producer also dabbled in politics. As noted by Slate, Thalberg produced a series of fake newsreels to help tip California's 1934 gubernatorial election in favor of Republican Frank Merriam, and away from author Upton Sinclair, who was running as a Democrat. Mank's story hinges on the staged newsreels, in a way: In the film, Mankiewicz discovers that the reels—which feature bogus testimonials and interviews designed to make Sinclair look like the candidate of lower-class folks angling for a handout—are being put together by Thalberg and funded by Hearst. The way Fincher tells it, seeing what some people will do to cling to power stays with Mankiewicz, and eventually colors his script for Citizen Kane.
Slate points out, though, that while Thalberg did actually produce such material, it's not clear if Mankiewicz was appalled by the newsreels, or if he was moved in part to write Kane because of them.
Thalberg died in 1936, after he caught pneumonia. He was 37, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Lily Collins as Rita Alexander and Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz in Netflix film "Mank" Courtesy of Netflix
Rita Alexander (Played by Lily Collins)
In critic Pauline Kael's famous 1971 New Yorker essay "Raising Kane," about the writing of Citizen Kane and Mankiewicz's authorship (which itself was no doubt an influence on Mank), it's said that Rita Alexander "took dictation from Mankiewicz, from the first paragraph to the last," while the screenwriter recovered from his 1939 car crash.
Not too much is known about Alexander, compared to the other principal figures in Mank, but she apparently served as some sort of inspiration to Mankiewicz. Barton Whaley's Orson Welles: The Man Who Was Magic, notes that Mankiewicz paid homage to her by naming Kane's mistress after her: Susan Alexander Kane. That might not necessarily seem all that flattering, since Susan Alexander Kane is a tragic alcoholic in Citizen Kane, but, hey, having a character in one of the greatest films of all time named after you should be considered an honor. Think of it as her very own credit.