Saturday 29 February 2020

Biden Wins in South Carolina, Adding New Life to His Candidacy


By BY JONATHAN MARTIN AND ALEXANDER BURNS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2I7NCdQ

Joe Biden wins South Carolina primary with overwhelming support.


By BY NICK CORASANITI from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2I5QPKK

After 12 hours, the polls in South Carolina have closed.


By BY LISA LERER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/388KTeQ

A crowd waits for Warren in Houston: ‘I just love her energy.’


By BY MICHAEL HARDY from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/32ER890

Looking to Super Tuesday, Buttigieg campaigns in Nashville.


By BY DANIEL JACKSON from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/32FTaWd

South Carolina primary: Joe Biden projected to win

It comes as a major boost to the former vice-president's flagging presidential campaign.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2PALoaR

Berlin International Film Festival: Iranian film about executions wins top prize

Director Mohammad Rasoulof is banned from leaving Iran and filmed There Is No Evil in secret.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Tdyt14

Afghan conflict: What will Taliban do after signing US deal?

A sense of cautious optimism is rising, but Afghanistan's political future is yet to be decided.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/32BUtFX

More than 10K turn out for Bernie Sanders rally in Elizabeth Warren's backyard - USA TODAY

  1. More than 10K turn out for Bernie Sanders rally in Elizabeth Warren's backyard  USA TODAY
  2. Inside Cambridge, Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren's Hometown  Los Angeles Times
  3. Bernie Sanders Looks to Topple Elizabeth Warren in Her Home State  The New York Times
  4. Bernie Sanders goes for the campaign kill  The Boston Globe
  5. A not-so-super Tuesday and other commentary  New York Post
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


from "news" - Google News https://ift.tt/2vivafW

Trump expands Iran travel ban in wake of first US coronavirus death - Vox.com

Trump expands Iran travel ban in wake of first US coronavirus death  Vox.comView Full Coverage on Google News

from "news" - Google News https://ift.tt/2IaPSRm

Coronavirus outbreak panic spreads globally - CBS This Morning

  1. Coronavirus outbreak panic spreads globally  CBS This Morning
  2. Coronavirus outbreak 'getting bigger'  Al Jazeera English
  3. Case of 'community spread' of coronavirus in US raises concerns | WNT  ABC News
  4. WHO gives briefing on coronavirus outbreak | USA TODAY  USA TODAY
  5. Coronavirus outbreak hits arts and entertainment industries  Al Jazeera English
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


from "news" - Google News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMjWwvmvrJI

Fox News Breaking News Alert

Fox News Breaking News Alert

Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primary, Fox News projects, in crucial boost to campaign after early losses

02/29/20 4:01 PM

New Yahoo News/YouGov poll: Who is strongest against Trump? Must-win states and swing voters show Biden holds edge over Sanders

New Yahoo News/YouGov poll: Who is strongest against Trump? Must-win states and swing voters show Biden holds edge over SandersA new Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggests that Sanders could be a riskier nominee than his supporters are willing to admit.




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Iran reports new surge in coronavirus cases

Iran reports new surge in coronavirus casesIran on Saturday reported a surge in new coronavirus cases as the number of deaths jumped to 43, but it dismissed as "rumours" a report the real toll was much higher. Since it announced its first deaths from COVID-19, Iran has scrambled to bring the outbreak under control, shutting schools, suspending cultural and sporting events and halting meetings of the cabinet and parliament. The health ministry on Saturday reported nine new deaths and a 53 percent jump in infections over the previous 24 hours, taking the overall totals to 43 deaths among 593 cases.




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Nancy Pelosi wants Democrats to calm down about Bernie Sanders

Nancy Pelosi wants Democrats to calm down about Bernie SandersHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) privately urged her caucus Thursday to stay calm as Democratic voters pick the party's presidential nominee, The New York Times reports. A lot of Democratic officials, including dozens of House moderates, have warned of electoral disaster if Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wins the nomination.Pelosi reportedly laughed when one lawmaker suggested she herself could swoop in to lead the presidential ticket if things get ugly, saying, "I like my job — you're not getting rid of me that easily." House Democrats will campaign on their own agenda and need to "keep our eye on the ball," she reportedly told her caucus, adding: "The ball has an orange face." Pelosi's "For the People" agenda focuses on lowering the cost of health care, creating well-paying jobs, and fighting corruption."It is not unusual for a party platform or the candidates for president to have their own agenda that they would put forth, and it's not unusual for the House of Representatives to have its agenda as well," Pelosi told reporters Thursday morning. "The presidential is its own race, and contrary to what you may be hearing or writing, we are all unified. Whoever the nominee is of our party, we will wholeheartedly support." Pelosi has remained rigorously neutral in the presidential contest. When asked Wednesday if she would be comfortable with Sanders as the nominee, Pelosi said, "Yes.""Republicans have already begun working hard to convince voters that there is no distinction between Mr. Sanders and Democratic members of Congress, despite the fact that fewer than 10 House Democrats have endorsed the Vermont senator and many have long records of disagreement with him," the Times reports. But Pelosi's strategy might prevail, Brendan Buck, a counselor to former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in 2016, told the Times. "We were able to run a parallel agenda because people looked at Donald Trump as his own person and didn't necessarily think every Republican is just like Donald Trump."More stories from theweek.com Stock markets are headed for a 40 percent plunge, says economist who predicted financial crisis Trump mocks Bloomberg's height, Biden's age in wild CPAC speech The growing viral threat




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Man whose son was found encased in cement sentenced to 72 years in prison

Man whose son was found encased in cement sentenced to 72 years in prisonA Colorado man whose seven-year-old son was repeatedly abused before being found encased in concrete in a Denver storage unit has been sentenced to 72 years in prison for the death.Leland Pankey received the sentence on Friday, with one count of child abuse landing him 48 years in prison and 24 years for tampering with the body.




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Most Coronavirus Cases Are Mild. That's Good and Bad News.

Most Coronavirus Cases Are Mild. That's Good and Bad News.HONG KONG -- As a dangerous new coronavirus has ravaged China and spread throughout the rest of the world, the outbreak's toll has sown fear and anxiety. Nearly 3,000 deaths. More than 82,000 cases. Six continents infected.But government officials and medical experts, in their warnings about the epidemic, have also sounded a note of reassurance: Although the virus can be deadly, the vast majority of those infected so far have only mild symptoms and make full recoveries.It is an important factor to understand, medical experts said, both to avoid an unnecessary global panic and to get a clear picture of the likelihood of transmission."Many people are now panicking, and some actually are exaggerating the risks," said Dr. Jin Dongyan, a virology expert at the University of Hong Kong. "For governments, for public health professionals -- they also have to deal with these, because these will also be harmful."Much about the virus remains unknown, and the danger could intensify as it travels through the rest of the world. But based on existing information, here's what experts said about the severity of the virus.More than 80% of cases are mild, one large study in China found.Of the 44,672 coronavirus cases that were confirmed in China by Feb. 11, more than 36,000 -- or 81% -- were mild, according to a study published recently by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Cases were considered mild if they did not involve pneumonia, defined as infection of the lungs, or involved only mild pneumonia, the authors wrote in the study, which is among the largest to date of the new coronavirus.There were two other categories of cases, severe and critical. Severe cases featured shortness of breath, low blood oxygen saturation or other lung problems. Critical cases featured respiratory failure, septic shock or multiple organ dysfunction.Just under 14% of patients were severe and just under 5% critical.The overall fatality rate in China was 2.3%. But that number was inflated by the much higher fatality rate in Hubei province of 2.9%, compared with a rate of just 0.4% in the rest of the country. The seasonal flu, by comparison, has a mortality rate of about 0.1%.The true fatality rate could be even lower, given that many mild or asymptomatic cases may not have been reported to authorities.A mild case may look like the common cold.Mild cases are inherently difficult for scientists to describe because those with limited symptoms may not seek medical care. Scientists have also said that people can be infected but not show any symptoms at all.For many with mild infections, the coronavirus could be virtually indistinguishable from the common cold or seasonal flu, said Jin of the University of Hong Kong."Some of these patients, they just go unrecognized," he said. "It could be just as small as a sore throat. Then one day, two days, it's gone."Even among patients who do go see a doctor, "it could still be very mild, just like a flu," he added.As the Chinese Center for Disease Control's study showed, some mild cases may involve pneumonia. They may also include mild fatigue and low fever, according to a treatment plan released by the central Chinese government.A small study of 99 confirmed coronavirus patients in Wuhan, China, published in the medical journal The Lancet found that most of the patients had fever or cough when they were admitted to the hospital, and some had shortness of breath or muscle ache. The study did not distinguish between mild, severe and critical cases.Most people with mild infections recover.There is no doubt that the virus can be dangerous, especially for critical cases. Of those patients, 49% died, according the study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control.But critical cases made up just a tiny fraction of the total caseload in the study.By Thursday, of the 78,487 confirmed cases in China, 32,495, or 41%, had been discharged from the hospital, according to China's National Health Commission. About 8,300 of the remaining patients were in serious condition. More than 2,700 people have died in China.Many of the deaths have occurred in Hubei province, where the outbreak began and where the demand for care has overwhelmed medical staff. The high mortality rate there could have dangerous implications for developing countries. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, has warned repeatedly of the toll the virus could exact in places with weak health systems.But for mild cases, the virus is likely "self-limiting," Jin said, meaning that symptoms will go away on their own, as with the flu and common cold.But the plethora of mild cases can make containment more difficult.The number of mild cases, though, creates its own complications for curbing the virus's spread.Those with mild or no symptoms may not know they have contracted the virus or may pass it off as a seasonal cold. They may then continue in their daily lives -- traveling, kissing, coming into close contact with others -- and spread the virus without anyone knowing."In this manner, a virus that poses a low health threat on the individual level can pose a high risk on the population level, with the potential to cause disruptions of global public health systems and economic losses," a group of five scientists wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine last week.There are, broadly speaking, two possible outcomes of the current outbreak, Jin said. The new virus could, like SARS, another well-known coronavirus, become less and less transmissible as it spreads around the world, eventually dying out.Alternatively, the new coronavirus could become well established in humans, becoming a kind of recurring seasonal nuisance like the flu, Jin said. In that situation, people would learn to live with it and sometimes would contract illnesses from it, but the virus would most likely also lose some of its dangerousness as time went on. Experts could also develop a vaccine, Jin added.Even mild cases could provide immunity from future infection.Several medical experts have said that those who have been infected with the coronavirus will not become infected again, as their bodies will produce antibodies that provide immunity."As long as the virus doesn't evolve, there is no chance of being infected again," Dr. Lu Hongzhou, a public health professor in Shanghai, said Tuesday in an interview with Beijing News.And that immunity should extend even to those who had mild or even asymptomatic infections. "Anyone recovered from the infection should have useful antibodies," Jin said.The body's natural immune response is the reason Chinese authorities have asked recovered patients to donate blood plasma, in the hopes that their antibodies could be used to treat sick patients. The government has also prescribed antiviral drugs and traditional Chinese medicine as treatment methods.This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2020 The New York Times Company




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Americans of all parties agree: Joe Biden is old, Michael Bloomberg is rich

Americans of all parties agree: Joe Biden is old, Michael Bloomberg is richPollsters at The Associated Press and NORC gave the public a chance to describe presidential candidates in one word or short phrase. The results were... telling.Democrats described former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg as nearly equal parts "smart," "young," and "gay." Independents and Republicans were far more likely to describe him as "gay," as well as "inexperienced," and "centrist." Philanthropist Tom Steyer was more overwhelmingly described as "rich" by Democrats, while independents and Republicans opted for "inexperienced."While former Vice President Joe Biden scored some mentions of "good person" among Democrats, he mostly got "old." Independents and Republicans also mostly called him "old," followed by "corrupt" and "creepy."Democrats and independents similarly described Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as "old" at the highest rate, though Republicans went straight for "socialist," followed by "old," and "communist."> How poll respondents described 2020 candidates in one (or a few more) words. https://t.co/I53LZ1dSR1 pic.twitter.com/GbcahfoHCl> > — Philip Bump (@pbump) February 28, 2020Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is older than Biden and just months younger than Sanders, is universally regarded as "rich" (a fair assessment), and Republicans said he's "buying the election."Democrats were split in describing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as "smart" and "strong," though independents and Republicans view her primarily as a "liar," as well as "crazy" and a "woman," which is hardly up for debate.While the Democratic candidates were generally regarded more positively by members of their own party, surveyed Republicans didn't come up with great words for President Trump. Most Republicans simply said "president," followed by "bumbling" and "jerk."The AP-NORC poll was conducted Feb. 12-16 via phone interviews with 1,074 adults. The margin of error is ±4.2 percentage points. View the full results at AP-NORC.More stories from theweek.com Stock markets are headed for a 40 percent plunge, says economist who predicted financial crisis Trump mocks Bloomberg's height, Biden's age in wild CPAC speech The growing viral threat




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Trump Team Testing ‘Off-the-Shelf’ Drugs to Cure Coronavirus

Trump Team Testing ‘Off-the-Shelf’ Drugs to Cure Coronavirus(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration is testing existing “off-the-shelf” drugs to combat the coronavirus, a cabinet official said Saturday.A national lab in Tennessee recently made “an important discovery” involving existing drugs, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.“The scientists at our Oak Ridge National Laboratory were able to look at the protein strains and determine -- perhaps, it’s still early -- that we can find some off-the-shelf drugs that can help us not only cure the disease but stop the spread of the infection,” Brouillette said.Brouillette was responding to a question about what his agency is doing to help combat the virus, which has caused markets to plunge and killed nearly 3,000 people across the globe. In the U.S., where 22 cases have been reported, the virus has killed one person -- a woman from Washington state -- and more cases are likely, President Donald Trump said Saturday.In addition to the laboratory tests, Brouillette said he’s harnessing the power of his agency’s “super computers” as well as artificial intelligence capabilities to assist organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and the World Heath Organization to conduct modeling on the virus.“We want to know how far is this going to spread and at what point might it peak,” he said.To contact the reporter on this story: Ari Natter in Washington at anatter5@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Matthew G. Miller, Virginia Van NattaFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.




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Billionaire Tom Steyer shakes up primary with slavery reparations plan

Billionaire Tom Steyer shakes up primary with slavery reparations planFor centuries, South Carolina’s Charleston was the largest port of entry for the transatlantic slave trade. Now, billionaire presidential candidate Tom Steyer is shaking up the state’s Democratic primary by advocating slavery reparations for African-Americans.




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Turkey raises migrant pressure on Europe over Syria conflict

Turkey raises migrant pressure on Europe over Syria conflictTurkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday threatened to let thousands of refugees cross into Europe and warned Damascus would "pay a price" after dozens of Turkish troops were killed inside Syria. Around 13,000 migrants have gathered along the Turkish-Greek border, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said as several thousand migrants were in skirmishes with Greek police firing tear gas across the frontier. The escalating tensions between Turkey and Russia, who back opposing forces in the Syria conflict, after an air strike killed the Turkish troops sparked fears of a broader war and a new migration crisis for Europe.




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40% of Americans don't think the US government is prepared to handle coronavirus

40% of Americans don't think the US government is prepared to handle coronavirusOnly 7% of Americans said they felt the US government is "extremely prepared" for coronavirus, while 12% said "very prepared."




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South Carolina exit polls: More black, moderate voters turn out

South Carolina exit polls: More black, moderate voters turn outSouth Carolina’s first-in-the-south primary offers a key test for Democrats who have excelled in state with more white, liberal voters.




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Friday 28 February 2020

Johnny Antonelli, Star Pitcher for the Giants, Dies at 89


By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/32zWy5b

How Bad Could It Get? Companies Gauge the Coronavirus Impact


By BY PETER EAVIS from NYT Business https://ift.tt/3cs2CRQ

Photo: Bloomberg has a canine constituency.


By Unknown Author from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2VrZ8Zs

Second Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Northern California

(VACAVILLE, Calif.) — Health officials on Friday confirmed another case of the novel coronavirus in Northern California, raising the tally a day after health officials revealed the first case in the U.S. believed to have been transmitted to a person who didn’t travel internationally or come in close contact with anyone who had it.

Santa Clara County Public Health Department spokesman Maury Kendall said the person is isolated at home and that other details would be provided later Friday.

A day earlier, state health officials had pegged the number of people in California with the virus at 33 after investigators announced that a woman hospitalized in Sacramento contracted it.

Residents of the community where the woman first went to the hospital, in Vacaville, are at the epicenter of what officials are calling a turning point in the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.

Read more: The Trump Administration’s Many Vacancies Could Complicate its Coronavirus Response

As infectious disease experts fanned out in Vacaville, some residents in the city of 100,000 stocked up on supplies amid fears things could get worse despite official reassurances, while others took the news in stride.

Vacaville lies between San Francisco and Sacramento in Solano County, in the agricultural central valley and near California’s famous wine region.

It is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Travis Air Force Base, which has been used as a virus quarantine location. Public health officials said they can find no connection between the infected woman and passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were evacuated to the base when the ship was docked in Japan.

The case of the infected woman marks an escalation of the worldwide outbreak in the U.S. because it means the virus could spread beyond the reach of preventative measures like quarantines, though state health officials said that was inevitable and that the risk of widespread transmission remains low.

Solano County Public Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas said public health officials have identified dozens of people — but less than 100 — who had close contact with the woman. They are quarantined in their homes and a few who have shown symptoms are in isolation, Matyas said.

Officials are not too worried, for now, about casual contact, because federal officials think the coronavirus is spread only through “close contact, being within six feet of somebody for what they’re calling a prolonged period of time,” said Dr. James Watt, interim state epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health.

The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. Health officials think it spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu spreads.

Read more: Will Warmer Weather Stop the Spread of the Coronavirus? Don’t Count on It, Say Experts

Several Vacaville residents said they will try to avoid crowded places for now, while taking other routine and recommended precautions like frequent and thorough hand-washing. But others plan to do more.

“I’m definitely going to wear my mask and gloves at work, because I’m a server,” said bowling alley worker Denise Arriaga, who said she doesn’t care if she’s criticized for the extra precautions. “At the end of the day, it’s my life,” she said.

The case raised questions about how quickly public health officials are moving to diagnose and treat new cases. State and federal health officials disagreed about when doctors first requested the woman be tested.

Doctors at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento said they asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test the woman for the virus on Feb. 19. But they said the CDC did not approve the testing until Sunday “since the patient did not fit the existing CDC criteria” for the virus, according to a memo posted to the hospital’s website.

The woman first sought treatment at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, before her condition worsened and she was transferred to the medical center.

CDC spokesman Richard Quartarone said a preliminary review of agency records indicates the agency did not know about the woman until Sunday, the same day she was first tested.

That’s the kind of confusion that concerns McKinsey Paz, who works at a private security firm in Vacaville. The company has already stockpiled 450 face masks and is scrambling for more “since they’re hard to come by.” The company’s owner bought enough cleaning and disinfectant supplies to both scrub down the office and send home with employees.

But they appeared to be at the extreme for preparations.

Virus Outbreak California
Don Thompson—APEugenia Kendall wears a mask outside of the Vacaville City Hall while standing with her husband Ivan on Feb. 27, 2020, in Vacaville, Calif. Eugenia Kendall says she wears a mask because her immune system has been weakened from the chemotherapy she receives for ovarian cancer. Ivan Kendall says the they are not paranoid, just being practical.

Eugenia Kendall was wearing a face mask, but in fear of anything including the common cold. Her immune system is impaired because she is undergoing chemotherapy, and she has long been taking such precautions.

“We’re not paranoid. We’re just trying to be practical,” said her husband of 31 years, Ivan Kendall. “We wipe the shopping carts if they have them, and when I get back in the car I wipe my hands — and just hope for the best.”

Read more: How to Manage Your Anxiety About Coronavirus

In their investigation of the movements of the hospitalized woman, officials were trying to figure out how she got it and who else she may have unwittingly infected.

They are interviewing immediate family members and expanding their net to include more distant family members who may have been in contact, social gatherings like church that the patient may have attended and any possible time spent at work or events like a concert.

Besides the woman, all the 59 other cases in the U.S. have been for people who traveled abroad or had close contact with others who traveled.

Earlier U.S. cases included 14 in people who returned from outbreak areas in China, or their spouses; three people who were evacuated from the central China city of Wuhan; and 42 American passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The global count of those sickened by the virus hovered Friday around 83,000 and caused more than 2,800 deaths, most of them in China.



from TIME https://ift.tt/395nKeq

Map: Confirmed coronavirus cases, worldwide

Map: Confirmed coronavirus cases, worldwideMore than 81,000 people have been sickened by a coronavirus, mostly in China. This map is updated daily.




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The Sinister Sanders Child-Care Plan

The Sinister Sanders Child-Care PlanBernie Sanders announced a “universal child care” proposal at the end of his wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper. The plan would guarantee “every child in America free full-day, full-week, high-quality child care from infancy through age three,” and the campaign estimates that it would cost taxpayers 1.5 trillion dollars over ten years. But aside from being prohibitively expensive and distressingly vague, the plan looks an awful lot like social engineering.Start with the price tag. After failing to explain how he would pay for his expansive agenda — “I can't rattle off to you every nickel and every dime,” Sanders told Anderson Cooper in a disastrous moment of candor — the Sanders campaign released a partial list of pay-fors the day after the interview, laying out the cost of the senator’s major proposals alongside the tax hikes a Sanders administration would pursue to finance its domestic agenda. The campaign pegged the child-care proposal at a $150 billion annual price tag, more expensive than current federal outlays on unemployment insurance and the SNAP program combined.Add the child-care initiative to the bevy of programs Sanders has already promised to enact as president, and the fiscal feasibility of a child-care proposal grows more uncertain.The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released their analysis of Sanders’s universal child-care plan yesterday, and raised concerns that the Sanders campaign was overestimating federal receipts from its proposed “tax on extreme wealth”:> Based on the work of economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, the Sanders campaign estimates this wealth tax would raise $4.35 trillion. This would be enough to finance Senator Sanders's $1.5 trillion universal child care and pre-K plan, his $2.5 trillion housing plan, and $350 billion of his Medicare for All plan (note that our analysis previously assumed he would dedicate $800 billion, not $350 billion, to Medicare for All).> > In our assessment, however, Senators Sanders’s wealth tax is likely to raise significantly less than advertised due to high levels of tax avoidance and the erosion of taxable wealth over time. We believe the wealth tax is likely to raise roughly $3.3 trillion. Assuming the proceeds are distributed evenly, that would leave the universal child care and pre-K plan nearly $400 billion short.As a point of reference, that $400 billion shortfall is larger than the sum total currently allotted to all federal welfare programs combined.While Sanders’s innumeracy was perhaps to be expected, the senator’s defense of the child-care plan on the merits was surprising. For a candidate with well-documented disdain for corporate America, it was strange to see how much of Sanders’s child-care proposal was concerned with the “career outcomes” of “mothers” who — heaven forfend — make “career sacrifices in order to care for their children.” The Sanders campaign presents female labor participation growth as one of the central selling points for its child-care scheme: “Mothers,” the campaign proclaims, “are 40 percent more likely than fathers to report a negative impact on their career outcomes due to child care considerations,” making the institution of a government-funded child-care scheme a “moral responsibility.” The campaign presents the welfare of the children whose stay-at-home parents enter the workforce as an ancillary concern.The Sanders campaign hardly seemed to consider — or, worse, seemed to have considered and proceeded to ignore — the possibility that those mothers making “career sacrifices” might want to raise their own children. As a 2015 Gallup poll found, 56 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 said they would rather remain at home than enter the workforce, if given the choice. Instead, the socialist appears eager to incentivize more mothers to join the workforce, whereupon they will be presumably “exploited” by the “greedy” corporations the senator has spent a lifetime deriding.Most alarming is the power the senator’s plan vests in the federal government to insert itself into the child-rearing process. Sanders proposes a one-size-fits-all, government-funded child-care model, with no provision for those parents who wish to remain at home. If the Sanders campaign were simply concerned about the costs associated with raising children — both in the home and at a day-care center — it could have proposed a subsidy that also conferred benefits to stay-at-home parents or to relatives providing child care. But the social-engineering component of the plan is unmistakable, as Sanders would essentially create a scheme to augment the “career outcomes” of mothers who might otherwise raise their children at home, thereby boosting enrollment in government-funded child-care centers. Of course, all of those child-care centers will be subject to “quality standards” concocted in Washington.The implications of Sanders’s child-care agenda are clear enough. Right in the heart of the proposal, the Sanders campaign acknowledges that “ages 0 through 4 are the most important years of human life intellectually and emotionally.” Parents ought to be the ones to impart their values to their children in such a formative window, not a Sanders-administration functionary.




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Billionaire Steyer shakes up primary with slavery reparations plan

Billionaire Steyer shakes up primary with slavery reparations planFor centuries, South Carolina's Charleston was the largest port of entry for the transatlantic slave trade. Now, a billionaire activist named Tom Steyer is shaking up the state's Democratic primary by advocating slavery reparations for African Americans. A California financier turned philanthropist and environmental campaigner, Steyer has poured tens of millions of dollars into the state ahead of Saturday's vote -- with a single-minded focus on the black voters who make up 60 percent of its Democratic electorate.




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The 6 largest coronavirus outbreaks outside of China

The 6 largest coronavirus outbreaks outside of ChinaMore new coronavirus cases were reported outside of China than inside the country on Wednesday — the first time since global health officials began tracking the virus.




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Dozens of Turkish soldiers killed in airstrike in Syria

Dozens of Turkish soldiers killed in airstrike in SyriaAt least 33 Turkish military personnel have been killed in an airstrike in Syria’s Idlib province, in a dramatic escalation in the battle for control of the country’s last opposition stronghold.




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Ex-Phoenix area sheriff declares victory despite court loss

Ex-Phoenix area sheriff declares victory despite court lossFormer Phoenix-area Sheriff Joe Arpaio lost a bid to erase his criminal conviction for disobeying a 2011 court order, but claimed victory Thursday after an appeal's court said the verdict no longer has any legal consequence because of President Donald Trump's pardon. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals explained Arpaio was pardoned before he could be sentenced and that the final judgment in the case ended up dismissing the contempt charge. “They can’t use that conviction against me in a court of law,” Arpaio said.




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Police identify victims, shooter in Milwaukee brewery shooting rampage

Police identify victims, shooter in Milwaukee brewery shooting rampagePolice in Milwaukee on Thursday identified the five brewery employees shot and killed by a co-worker who later took his own life in the latest spasm of gun violence plaguing U.S. workplaces and schools. The motive for the carnage was unclear a day after the shooting at the landmark Molson Coors Beverage Co complex shook Wisconsin's largest city. "Reasons for this are still under investigation," Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said.




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Turkey loses 33 soldiers in attack, Russia deploys warships to Syria coast

Turkey loses 33 soldiers in attack, Russia deploys warships to Syria coastTurkish President Recep Erdogan is looking West for support, and at his country's request NATO will be holding a meeting on the situation.




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Don Jr. rep blasts MSNBC anchor, says Dem lawmaker Garamendi 'better suited to represent Antifa' after threat - Fox News

  1. Don Jr. rep blasts MSNBC anchor, says Dem lawmaker Garamendi 'better suited to represent Antifa' after threat  Fox News
  2. John King calls Trump Jr 's coronavirus claim 'fearmongering'  CNN
  3. Trump lashes out at Fox News for new poll showing him losing to Democrats  Vox.com
  4. Trump speaks to press, rips CNN's coronavirus coverage  Fox News
  5. A poll from Trump’s favorite network has him losing to his most likely 2020 opponents  The Washington Post
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


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Ad spending barrels past $1 billion mark as Mike Bloomberg overwhelms airwaves - CNN

Ad spending barrels past $1 billion mark as Mike Bloomberg overwhelms airwaves  CNNView Full Coverage on Google News

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Trump Holds Campaign Rally In South Carolina | NBC News (Live Stream) - NBC News

  1. Trump Holds Campaign Rally In South Carolina | NBC News (Live Stream)  NBC News
  2. Watch Live: President Trump Hosts Campaign Rally In South Carolina  RealClearPolitics
  3. Live: President Trump holds Keep America Great rally in South Carolina  Fox News
  4. Live Stream Trump Rally in SC: How to Watch President's Primary Eve Speech  Newsweek
  5. Watch live: Trump holds a rally in South Carolina | TheHill  The Hill
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


from "news" - Google News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wZeCMRFfGU

Mick Mulvaney: Media is using coronavirus coverage to 'take down' Trump - New York Post

  1. Mick Mulvaney: Media is using coronavirus coverage to 'take down' Trump  New York Post
  2. Trump Criticizes Media for Coverage of Coronavirus  The New York Times
  3. Mulvaney On Coronavirus Precautions: 'We Know How To Handle This' | NBC News  NBC News
  4. Rep. Torres pens letter to VP citing concerns over 'public charge' rule effect on coronavirus outbreak | TheHill  The Hill
  5. Quarantine Idiocy  National Review
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


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Fox News Breaking News Alert

Fox News Breaking News Alert

President Trump holds a rally in North Charleston, S.C., 24 hours before the polls close in the state's Democratic primary. Watc

02/28/20 4:09 PM

Walkout as Polanksi wins 'best director' at Césars

The Polish-French director is wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old in the 1970s.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2wikSfz

Latvia railway: Why I love living in an old train station

Milda Romanova's home is an old rail station, and at 88 she still loves all things trains.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2VvjX6j

Second Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Northern California

(VACAVILLE, Calif.) — Health officials on Friday confirmed another case of the novel coronavirus in Northern California, raising the tally a day after health officials revealed the first case in the U.S. believed to have been transmitted to a person who didn’t travel internationally or come in close contact with anyone who had it.

Santa Clara County Public Health Department spokesman Maury Kendall said the person is isolated at home and that other details would be provided later Friday.

A day earlier, state health officials had pegged the number of people in California with the virus at 33 after investigators announced that a woman hospitalized in Sacramento contracted it.

Residents of the community where the woman first went to the hospital, in Vacaville, are at the epicenter of what officials are calling a turning point in the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.

Read more: The Trump Administration’s Many Vacancies Could Complicate its Coronavirus Response

As infectious disease experts fanned out in Vacaville, some residents in the city of 100,000 stocked up on supplies amid fears things could get worse despite official reassurances, while others took the news in stride.

Vacaville lies between San Francisco and Sacramento in Solano County, in the agricultural central valley and near California’s famous wine region.

It is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Travis Air Force Base, which has been used as a virus quarantine location. Public health officials said they can find no connection between the infected woman and passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were evacuated to the base when the ship was docked in Japan.

The case of the infected woman marks an escalation of the worldwide outbreak in the U.S. because it means the virus could spread beyond the reach of preventative measures like quarantines, though state health officials said that was inevitable and that the risk of widespread transmission remains low.

Solano County Public Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas said public health officials have identified dozens of people — but less than 100 — who had close contact with the woman. They are quarantined in their homes and a few who have shown symptoms are in isolation, Matyas said.

Officials are not too worried, for now, about casual contact, because federal officials think the coronavirus is spread only through “close contact, being within six feet of somebody for what they’re calling a prolonged period of time,” said Dr. James Watt, interim state epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health.

The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. Health officials think it spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu spreads.

Read more: Will Warmer Weather Stop the Spread of the Coronavirus? Don’t Count on It, Say Experts

Several Vacaville residents said they will try to avoid crowded places for now, while taking other routine and recommended precautions like frequent and thorough hand-washing. But others plan to do more.

“I’m definitely going to wear my mask and gloves at work, because I’m a server,” said bowling alley worker Denise Arriaga, who said she doesn’t care if she’s criticized for the extra precautions. “At the end of the day, it’s my life,” she said.

The case raised questions about how quickly public health officials are moving to diagnose and treat new cases. State and federal health officials disagreed about when doctors first requested the woman be tested.

Doctors at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento said they asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test the woman for the virus on Feb. 19. But they said the CDC did not approve the testing until Sunday “since the patient did not fit the existing CDC criteria” for the virus, according to a memo posted to the hospital’s website.

The woman first sought treatment at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, before her condition worsened and she was transferred to the medical center.

CDC spokesman Richard Quartarone said a preliminary review of agency records indicates the agency did not know about the woman until Sunday, the same day she was first tested.

That’s the kind of confusion that concerns McKinsey Paz, who works at a private security firm in Vacaville. The company has already stockpiled 450 face masks and is scrambling for more “since they’re hard to come by.” The company’s owner bought enough cleaning and disinfectant supplies to both scrub down the office and send home with employees.

But they appeared to be at the extreme for preparations.

Virus Outbreak California
Don Thompson—APEugenia Kendall wears a mask outside of the Vacaville City Hall while standing with her husband Ivan on Feb. 27, 2020, in Vacaville, Calif. Eugenia Kendall says she wears a mask because her immune system has been weakened from the chemotherapy she receives for ovarian cancer. Ivan Kendall says the they are not paranoid, just being practical.

Eugenia Kendall was wearing a face mask, but in fear of anything including the common cold. Her immune system is impaired because she is undergoing chemotherapy, and she has long been taking such precautions.

“We’re not paranoid. We’re just trying to be practical,” said her husband of 31 years, Ivan Kendall. “We wipe the shopping carts if they have them, and when I get back in the car I wipe my hands — and just hope for the best.”

Read more: How to Manage Your Anxiety About Coronavirus

In their investigation of the movements of the hospitalized woman, officials were trying to figure out how she got it and who else she may have unwittingly infected.

They are interviewing immediate family members and expanding their net to include more distant family members who may have been in contact, social gatherings like church that the patient may have attended and any possible time spent at work or events like a concert.

Besides the woman, all the 59 other cases in the U.S. have been for people who traveled abroad or had close contact with others who traveled.

Earlier U.S. cases included 14 in people who returned from outbreak areas in China, or their spouses; three people who were evacuated from the central China city of Wuhan; and 42 American passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The global count of those sickened by the virus hovered Friday around 83,000 and caused more than 2,800 deaths, most of them in China.



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New top story on Hacker News: GDC 2020 has been "postponed"

GDC 2020 has been "postponed"
4 by minimaxir | 0 comments on Hacker News.


New top story on Hacker News: Second U.S. coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed in Santa Clara County

Second U.S. coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed in Santa Clara County
27 by beefman | 1 comments on Hacker News.


New top story on Hacker News: If your cipher were secure, this image wouldn't have obvious repeating patterns

If your cipher were secure, this image wouldn't have obvious repeating patterns
7 by EthanHeilman | 1 comments on Hacker News.


Thursday 27 February 2020

Leap years and why we need them

It's a leap year which means there's an extra day in the calendar - 29 February 2020. But why do we need it?

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Democrats thrive in the shadow of a Whole Foods. Here’s why that may be trouble.


By BY DAVID WASSERMAN from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/32AjKQU

No, Not Sanders, Not Ever


By BY DAVID BROOKS from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2I3EIy0

With a Rebel Yell, New York Revs Up Its War on Idling Vehicles


By BY JEFFERY C. MAYS from NYT New York https://ift.tt/3cby1HY

Bloomberg’s claim of persuading lawmakers to legalize gay marriage is ‘demonstrably false,’ Cuomo says.


By BY THOMAS KAPLAN from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/398O8nA

Arlene Shechet Creates Beauty Out of Chaos


By BY MERRELL HAMBLETON from NYT T Magazine https://ift.tt/3acBkN8

Trump's coronavirus response includes many things he criticized President Obama for

Trump's coronavirus response includes many things he criticized President Obama forElements of the response outlined by Trump mirror things he specifically criticized President Barack Obama for during the ebola outbreak in 2014. Yahoo News asked Trump about this contradiction and he argued the coronavirus epidemic is “a much different problem than ebola.”




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The US Navy orders ships in the Pacific to stay at sea at least 14 days between port calls over coronavirus concerns

The US Navy orders ships in the Pacific to stay at sea at least 14 days between port calls over coronavirus concernsShips have been instructed to remain at sea at least 14 days, the maximum incubation period for the coronavirus.




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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says it was 'horrifying' the debate didn't have any climate change questions. Bernie Sanders agrees.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says it was 'horrifying' the debate didn't have any climate change questions. Bernie Sanders agrees.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) watched Tuesday night's Democratic debate, and one thing stood out to her."Not a single climate change question," she tweeted. "Horrifying." One of the participants, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), agreed, responding, "A disgrace." The Democratic candidates don't shy away from talking about climate change on the campaign trail; billionaire investor and environmentalist Tom Steyer told voters in South Carolina on Tuesday that climate change is his "No. 1 priority," and if elected, he will declare a climate emergency on his first day in office.Poll after poll has shown that climate change is a key issue for voters; last week, the Pew Research Center released a survey showing that for the first time in two decades, a majority of Americans believe that tackling climate change should be a main priority for the president and Congress.Another poll released last week by the nonpartisan nonprofit Climate Nexus found that for Democrats, climate change is one of the two most important issues facing the country right now. "This is the first time in American political history where climate change is not just a top-tier issue, it is the top-tier issue," Anthony Leiserowitz, a senior research scientist at Yale who helped conduct the poll, told The Atlantic.More stories from theweek.com Harvard scientist predicts coronavirus will infect up to 70 percent of humanity Naming Mike Pence coronavirus czar with 'zero experience in the medical area' is 'a total joke,' says 2014 Trump Israel is the first country to warn its citizens not to travel abroad over coronavirus fears




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Man gets life for kidnapping stepdaughter, holding her captive for 19 years

Man gets life for kidnapping stepdaughter, holding her captive for 19 yearsHenri Michelle Piette kidnapped his victim in 1997 when she was 12 and subjected her to nearly 20 years of physical and sexual abuse before she escaped.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2T0KyX4

New Mexico governor urges sheriffs to resign if they still refuse to enforce gun laws

New Mexico governor urges sheriffs to resign if they still refuse to enforce gun lawsNew Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a red-flag gun bill Tuesday that will allow state district courts to order the temporary surrender of firearms, and she urged sheriffs to resign if they still refuse to enforce it.




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'We do a lot of crying': American couple in quarantine for coronavirus separated in Japan, US

'We do a lot of crying': American couple in quarantine for coronavirus separated in Japan, USIt seemed like a dream vacation: Six months around Asia and Australia, including a stint on Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess. Then came coronavirus.




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How the Spread of Coronavirus Could Affect Your Travel Plans

How the Spread of Coronavirus Could Affect Your Travel PlansThe coronavirus has now spread well beyond Asia, hitting the Middle East, Europe, and other parts of the globe. As new cases continue to erupt in different countries, what should American consume...




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Mexican state oil firm Pemex losses $18.3 bn in 2019

Mexican state oil firm Pemex losses $18.3 bn in 2019Mexico's state oil company Pemex on Thursday reported losses of 346 billion pesos ($18.3 billion) for 2019, a 92 percent increase on last year's deficit. Pemex said the results were due to the burden of $105 billion in debt, a drop in crude sales and an increase in tax payments. "The most important variables that explain this situation are the fall in the price of the Mexican (crude) mix for export; lower reference prices for petrol and diesel; and the reduction in the volume of sales both nationally and for export," Pemex said in a statement.




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AP-NORC poll: How Americans describe 2020 Democrats, Trump

AP-NORC poll: How Americans describe 2020 Democrats, TrumpAs the 2020 campaign intensifies, a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research asked Americans to say what word or phrase comes to mind when they think of the top candidates, including incumbent President Donald Trump. Many Americans think of the former vice president's job when asked about Joe Biden, but one response ranked above all others: He's “old.” Sixteen percent of those thinking of a phrase to describe Biden mention his age, including comparable shares of Democrats and Republicans.




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Poll: Biden crushing Sanders in South Carolina - POLITICO

Poll: Biden crushing Sanders in South Carolina  POLITICOView Full Coverage on Google News

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Shooter at Milwaukee Molson Coors had a long-running dispute with a co-worker - USA TODAY

  1. Shooter at Milwaukee Molson Coors had a long-running dispute with a co-worker  USA TODAY
  2. Multiple killed in shooting at MillerCoors building in Milwaukee  CBS Evening News
  3. Milwaukee Molson Coors shooter reportedly had long-running dispute with co-worker  New York Post
  4. MillerCoors employee who shot dead five colleagues is identified  Daily Mail
  5. Milwaukee shooting: Beer HQ shooter who gunned down 5 revealed as electrician who worked there 17 years  The Sun
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


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Betsy DeVos orders probe after USA TODAY finds college evidently without faculty, students - USA TODAY

  1. Betsy DeVos orders probe after USA TODAY finds college evidently without faculty, students  USA TODAY
  2. Democrats spar with DeVos at hearing, say Trump budget would 'privatize education' | TheHill  The Hill
  3. Democratic Rep. Slams Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos  Newsweek
  4. View Full Coverage on Google News


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WHO warns failure to prepare for coronavirus now 'could be a fatal mistake' - CNBC

  1. WHO warns failure to prepare for coronavirus now 'could be a fatal mistake'  CNBC
  2. Coronavirus: Outbreak at 'decisive point' as WHO urges action  BBC News
  3. China no longer world's 'greatest concern' amid coronavirus crisis, WHO says  New York Post
  4. 'Fatal mistake' for countries to assume they won't get coronavirus - WHO chief  AOL
  5. Coronavirus threatens global economy as experts warn no country will be spared  Reuters
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News


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Court won't let Trump pardon void guilty verdict against Arpaio - POLITICO

Court won't let Trump pardon void guilty verdict against Arpaio  POLITICOView Full Coverage on Google News

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Coronavirus: On the front line in Wuhan

The BBC speaks to a Chinese doctor who has been on the front line of fighting Coronavirus in Wuhan.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3950UDG

Burst water main leaves drivers stranded

Flooding in Houston led to cars being submerged and people having to take refuge on their roofs.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Tm0Mcf

New top story on Hacker News: Power to the People

Power to the People
10 by pimterry | 1 comments on Hacker News.


Wednesday 26 February 2020

Women in Mexico Are Urged to Disappear for a Day in Protest


By BY PAULINA VILLEGAS AND KIRK SEMPLE from NYT World https://ift.tt/2wci8QQ

Claire Bretécher, Satirical French Cartoonist, Dies at 79


By BY KATHARINE Q. SEELYE from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/2VsfdOz

South Carolina debate drew more than 15 million viewers.


By BY JOHN KOBLIN from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/396aAhs

Tribal Nation Condemns ‘Desecration’ to Build Border Wall


By BY SIMON ROMERO AND ADRIANA ZEHBRAUSKAS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2wbGYRe

Australian Rules Football Confronts C.T.E.


By BY KEN BELSON from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2HVri7d

Obama denounces a Republican super PAC’s deceptive anti-Biden ad.


By BY MAGGIE ASTOR from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2T1wWuC

The 2020 Democratic Primary Is Giving Some Republicans Déjà Vu


By BY NICK CORASANITI AND JEREMY W. PETERS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3abwcJs