This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCoronavirus infections have , setting the United States on a than other wealthy nations.There are many reasons our response to the pandemic tied to more than 120,000 U.S. deaths has faltered, experts say, including the, missteps on , and a national culture .In recent weeks, three studies have focused on conservative media’s role in fostering confusion about the seriousness of the coronavirus. Taken together, they paint a picture of a media ecosystem that amplifies misinformation, entertains conspiracy theories and...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCoronavirus infections have , setting the United States on a than other wealthy nations.There are many reasons our response to the pandemic tied to more than 120,000 U.S. deaths has faltered, experts say, including the, missteps on , and a national culture .In recent weeks, three studies have focused on conservative media’s role in fostering confusion about the seriousness of the coronavirus. Taken together, they paint a picture of a media ecosystem that amplifies misinformation, entertains conspiracy theories and...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCoronavirus infections have , setting the United States on a than other wealthy nations.There are many reasons our response to the pandemic tied to more than 120,000 U.S. deaths has faltered, experts say, including the, missteps on , and a national culture .In recent weeks, three studies have focused on conservative media’s role in fostering confusion about the seriousness of the coronavirus. Taken together, they paint a picture of a media ecosystem that amplifies misinformation, entertains conspiracy theories and...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCoronavirus infections have , setting the United States on a than other wealthy nations.There are many reasons our response to the pandemic tied to more than 120,000 U.S. deaths has faltered, experts say, including the, missteps on , and a national culture .In recent weeks, three studies have focused on conservative media’s role in fostering confusion about the seriousness of the coronavirus. Taken together, they paint a picture of a media ecosystem that amplifies misinformation, entertains conspiracy theories and...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIn , economists writing for the Brookings Institution estimate that the United States could see “on the order of 300,000 to 500,000 fewer births next year” as a result of the .The economists, Melissa S. Kearney and Phillip Levine, derive their estimates from data on birthrates during the Great Recession and the 1918 flu pandemic. Both of those upheavals had a considerable negative impact on fertility.During the Great Recession, for instance, states that experienced steeper job losses tended to see more dramatic reductions...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIn , economists writing for the Brookings Institution estimate that the United States could see “on the order of 300,000 to 500,000 fewer births next year” as a result of the .The economists, Melissa S. Kearney and Phillip Levine, derive their estimates from data on birthrates during the Great Recession and the 1918 flu pandemic. Both of those upheavals had a considerable negative impact on fertility.During the Great Recession, for instance, states that experienced steeper job losses tended to see more dramatic reductions...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe current was sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody after being . But the anger and despair on display by hundreds of demonstrators underscore a long-simmering disconnect: A city known as is also home to some of the nation’s biggest racial disparities.The typical black family in Minneapolis earns less than half as much as the typical white family in any given year. And homeownership among black people is one-third the rate of white families.As a result, many black families have...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe current was sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody after being . But the anger and despair on display by hundreds of demonstrators underscore a long-simmering disconnect: A city known as is also home to some of the nation’s biggest racial disparities.The typical black family in Minneapolis earns less than half as much as the typical white family in any given year. And homeownership among black people is one-third the rate of white families.As a result, many black families have...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAuthorities criticizing demonstrations against police brutality in the past week have often cited the need to protect property as one of the justifications for cracking down on protesters.“Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” as President Trump put it Monday in a . Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) similarly to “use the police, protect property and people” after a night of looting.Many national commentators have struck a similar tone. Most...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAuthorities criticizing demonstrations against police brutality in the past week have often cited the need to protect property as one of the justifications for cracking down on protesters.“Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” as President Trump put it Monday in a . Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) similarly to “use the police, protect property and people” after a night of looting.Many national commentators have struck a similar tone. Most...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareRepublican officials in recent weeks have sought to portray universal vote-by-mail as a partisan issue.President Trump that the policy would mean “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” Georgia’s Republican speaker of the House would be “extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia.” Partisanship concerns also motivated Wisconsin Republicans’ in the state’s primary election last week.But these notions are patently incorrect, according to that reaffirms and expands upon years of...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareRepublican officials in recent weeks have sought to portray universal vote-by-mail as a partisan issue.President Trump that the policy would mean “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” Georgia’s Republican speaker of the House would be “extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia.” Partisanship concerns also motivated Wisconsin Republicans’ in the state’s primary election last week.But these notions are patently incorrect, according to that reaffirms and expands upon years of...WW…

This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareRunaway inequality is eroding trust in democratic societies and paving the way for authoritarian and nativist regimes to take root, according to from the United Nations.The findings note that solutions — including robust social safety nets, an active redistribution of wealth and the protection of workers rights — “have been recommended for decades” and are well within the capacity of the world’s wealthy nations.But in many countries, including the United States, such initiatives have been blocked by “economic elites”...…This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareRunaway inequality is eroding trust in democratic societies and paving the way for authoritarian and nativist regimes to take root, according to from the United Nations.The findings note that solutions — including robust social safety nets, an active redistribution of wealth and the protection of workers rights — “have been recommended for decades” and are well within the capacity of the world’s wealthy nations.But in many countries, including the United States, such initiatives have been blocked by “economic elites”...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareKey swing states that may well decide the presidential race are recording some of the nation’s most erratic mail service as record numbers of Americans are relying on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their ballots, agency data shows.Consistent and timely delivery remains scattershot as the mail service struggles to right operations after the rollout, then suspension, of a major midsummer restructuring. In 17 postal districts representing 10 battleground states and 151 electoral votes, the average on-time delivery rate...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareKey swing states that may well decide the presidential race are recording some of the nation’s most erratic mail service as record numbers of Americans are relying on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their ballots, agency data shows.Consistent and timely delivery remains scattershot as the mail service struggles to right operations after the rollout, then suspension, of a major midsummer restructuring. In 17 postal districts representing 10 battleground states and 151 electoral votes, the average on-time delivery rate...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThis story was updated Friday, Nov. 5, and includes a correction.*More than 150,000 ballots were caught in U.S. Postal Service processing facilities Wednesday and not delivered by Election Day, agency data shows, including more than 12,000 in five of the states that have yet to be called for either President Trump or Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.Another 39,000 ballots were processed Thursday, agency data shows, including more than 4,000, in the remaining swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThis story was updated Friday, Nov. 5, and includes a correction.*More than 150,000 ballots were caught in U.S. Postal Service processing facilities Wednesday and not delivered by Election Day, agency data shows, including more than 12,000 in five of the states that have yet to be called for either President Trump or Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.Another 39,000 ballots were processed Thursday, agency data shows, including more than 4,000, in the remaining swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and...WW…

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified one of the weapons involved in Sunday’s shooting in Orlando as an AR-15. Orlando Police officials first classified the weapon used in the rampage as an “AR-15-type assault rifle.” On Monday, officials said the weapon used was a Sig Sauer MCX. While in many ways similar to the AR-15 family of rifles, the MCX relies on a different gas system to operate and cannot be fairly classified as an AR-15. Both weapons can fire the same type of ammunition at roughly the same speeds and share a similar history.…Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified one of the weapons involved in Sunday’s shooting in Orlando as an AR-15. Orlando Police officials first classified the weapon used in the rampage as an “AR-15-type assault rifle.” On Monday, officials said the weapon used was a Sig Sauer MCX. While in many ways similar to the AR-15 family of rifles, the MCX relies on a different gas system to operate and cannot be fairly classified as an AR-15. Both weapons can fire the same type of ammunition at roughly the same speeds and share a similar history.WW…