Hundreds of thousands are maxing out unemployment benefits

As state employment benefits run out, the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program has helped COVID-idled American workers get by, but funding for it is expiring. Funding for another program aiding the self-employed, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), expires at the end on December. Congressional action is required to extend the income assistance, and that’s not happening.

More:

“Hundreds of thousands of Americans are about to max out their state unemployment benefits,” Kathryn Krawczyk, The Week

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Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.Hundreds of thousands of Americans are maxing out unemployment benefits

Study: Hydroxychloroquine didn’t protect health care workers

President Donald Trump’s favorite COVID-19 preventing snake oil, Hydroxychloroquine, has been shown to be ineffective against the novel coronavirus in yet another medical study, this one involving health care workers.

More:

“Trump-touted hydroxychloroquine shows no benefit in COVID-19 prevention: study,” Reuters

“Hydroxychloroquine didn’t prevent Covid-19 among health care workers in new study,” Jacqueline Howard, CNN

“No Evidence That Hydroxychloroquine Can Prevent Covid-19, Concludes New Study,” Ed Cara, Gizmodo

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Trump Gives Orders to Armed Street Thug Supporters

During Tuesday night’s presidential debate sh*tshow–foodfight–hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a trainwreck–national embarrassment, U.S. President and  petulant toddler Donald J. Trump was asked if he would denounce white supremacy, and ask racist self-styled armed “militia” gangs like the “Proud Boys” to stand down.The president declined to condemn white supremacy, then ordered his Proud Boy thugs to “stand back and stand by” for future action.

What country is this again?

More:

“Trump tells far-right extremists to ‘stand back and stand by’ during chaotic first debate,” Chris Sommerfeldt, NY Daily News

“Proud Boys celebrate online after Trump’s debate ‘stand back and stand by’ comment,” Brooke Seipel, The Hill

“Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacy fits pattern of extremist rhetoric,” Adam Gabbatt, The Guardian

“Donald Trump, Proud Boy in Chief, Gives His Marching Orders,” Kali Holloway, Daily Beast

Election 2020: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

America’s 2020 presidential election is taking place during a pandemic and a blizzard of disinformation. Mass mail-in voting could delay results. “How ugly could it get?” asks The Economist. 

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CDC: Halloween Has Been Canceled.

Kids, candy manufacturers, and sugar addicts across the country are feeling cursed. First, due to COVID-19, we had an Easter without jellybeans, Peeps, or chocolate bunnies. Now, thanks to the pandemic, the CDC has canceled Halloween parties, indoor haunted houses, and trick-or-treating. Scary. Las fiestas del Día de los Muertos también. ¡Ay, caramba!

Another frightening thought: Halloween is a big, boozy, binge-drinking holiday, and alcohol sales are up already due to the pandemic. That’s not conducive to responsible social distancing.

More:

“CDC’s Halloween Guidelines Warn Against Typical Trick-Or-Treating,” Laurel Wamsley, NPR

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You Pay More In Taxes than Donald Trump

In recent years, Donald Trump paid the IRS $750 in income tax, except in those years when he paid absolutely nothing, records obtained by the New York Times show. He apparently paid 200 times more in taxes to India and the Philippines than U.S. income tax in 2017.

He appears to have paid daughter Ivanka $750,000 in consulting fees while she was also an employee of the Trump Organization. His claim about an IRS audit seems to hinge on his questionable $73 million tax refund in 2010 — a refund to someone who paid no taxes. His charitable write-offs consisted of not developing properties he owns. Mr. Trump’s responds to these revelations by repeatedly whining that”the IRS treats me very badly,”

“Donald Trump’s financial records are the Rosetta stone for understanding the depth of his corruption and crimes,” former Trump attorney Michael Cohen told Yahoo News:

“The more it is unraveled, the more he will unravel. It’s the reason he’s fought so hard to keep it under wraps.”

“His biggest fear is … he will end up with a massive tax bill, fraud penalties, fines, and possibly even tax fraud ….”

More:

“Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses and Years of Tax Avoidance,” Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig and Mike McIntire, New York Times

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George Washington, Mount Vernon Slaveowner

“Brenda Parker’s job is to help shape the narrative of the enslaved people at Mount Vernon. Parker, the head of African American interpretation, says the plantation is now focused as much on the lives of the enslaved people as it is on the life of George Washington.”

“Parker feels a deep, emotional connection to Caroline Branham, the interpretive character she portrays as part of her job.”

“’You know like if your grandmother gave to you a dog, and that dog did have a litter of puppies. It would be your choice to keep one, sell one, and give one away as a gift. That’s how we’re thought about,’ says Parker, as Branham, recalling how she explains to children the way in which enslaved families were torn apart.”

–” George Washington’s Mount Vernon Highlights More Stories Of Enslaved People,” Esther Ciammachilli, WAMU 88.5

More:

“10 Facts About Washington & Slavery,” MountVernon.org

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Honky Tonk, Part 1 & 2

“Honky Tonk,” a 2-part instrumental recording by Billy Butler (guitar), Bill Doggett (organ), Clifford Scott (tenor sax), and Shep Shepherd (drums), 1956.

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Honky Tonk Woman

“Honky Tonk Woman,” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, performed by Leon Russell and Friends on a one-hour TV special on KCET in Los Angeles that aired in December 1970 .

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Heaven Is A Honky Tonk

“Heaven Is A Honky Tonk,” written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Ray LaMontagne, recorded by The Highwomen, 2019. Lead vocalists: Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and guest Sheryl Crow.

The Highwomen website

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