Over 90 Beach Rescues Over The Weekend – whnt.com

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Rip currents and heavy surf led to over 90 water rescues in Pensacola Beach over the weekend.

93 people. 93 times where, if things had gone differently, a family could be mourning a death. All that in 2 days. Please, please dont become a statistic. People die from this every year. And its usually tourists, and its usually in nice weather. https://t.co/X8Frosctn8 https://t.co/xj51RVYhR9

This is the reason youve seen us talking about this a good bit in the leadup to spring break. Its dangerous, and its a pretty big deal.

While the rip current risk wont be as high this week, the threat is still elevated.

You can check the forecast for the Alabama Gulf Coast and check the daily rip current forecast as well as learn about beach safety on our website. Just click the weather drop-down menu and select Gulf Coast Forecast, or just visit the link here.

Download Live Alert 19 foriOSorAndroid.

Alex PuckettFollow me onTwitterandFacebook

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Over 90 Beach Rescues Over The Weekend - whnt.com

Escape the island with a staycation on a smaller one – BreakingNews.ie

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Desperate to escape the island of Ireland after the past year?

With international travel unlikely this summer, there may be a way to holiday away from the mainland in line with Covid-19 restrictions.

Uninhabited islands dotted along the length of Irelands coast provide the perfect solution for a socially-distanced staycation, and provide the illusion that you're somehow getting away. Quarantining never looked so idyllic.

Described as an idyllic getaway on a wild Irish island, Inishcoo House is a restored eighteenth-century coastguard house standing on an uninhabited 109-acre island off the Donegal coast.

The unspoilt car-free island boasts four natural sand beaches, an inland lake and a shipwreck. Accessible only by private boat, it is a five-minute trip from the mainlands fishing village of Burtonport.

With unlimited potential for walking, boating and swimming activities, Inishcoo's boatman is also available for trips to scout seals, cliffs or the caves of neighbouring islands during your stay.

The house can sleep up to 24 guests across eight bedrooms, and has six acres of enclosed private gardens home to wild flowers, along with an old stone boathouse now equipped with table-tennis.

The base rate for up to eight guests, with additional guests costing 7 per person after that, is 700 per night during the high season of July and August visit AirBnB or its website.

This private island retreat is set among an archipelago of islands in the heart of Mayo's Clew Bay and is just a couple of minutes by high-speed boat from the mainland and the town of Westport.

The 600-acre island is the largest in the bay and is home to beaches, rolling green hills, fascinating wildlife and 360-degree views of Clew Bay from its highest point.

Guests of the lodge, which sleeps up to 22 people, gain exclusive use of the island during their stay and will be met with their own private bar, hot tub, steam room and private beach metres from the lodge.

Activities on offer include paddle-boarding, kayaking and a guided sea safari that promises potential sightings of dolphins, whales, orcas and sharks.

There's even assurances that Chinese takeaway can be delivered to the island.

Visit AirBnB or its website for rates.

Not quite ready for total isolation? Home to a population of around 600 people, Valentia Island is one of Ireland's most westerly points and is linked to the mainland by a bridge at the village of Portmagee.

The island is located on the Skellig ring, an extension of the famousRingof Kerry, and is just a short boat trip away from the monastic Skellig Island, a filming site for Star Wars.

A stay in the Bosss Farmhouse within the heart of the small island gives you full run of the traditional restored house and its garden, just a four-minute drive from the islands main village.

With Valentia described as a walkers paradise, one road from the house leads to the islands shore just a kilometre away, while another leads to a breath-taking cliff area on the island's north-facing side.

The rustic farmhouse can sleep six guests across three bedrooms, housing a potbelly stove in the kitchen and a living room with an open fireplace for cosy evenings and turf supplied free of charge.

Visit AirBnB for rates.

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Escape the island with a staycation on a smaller one - BreakingNews.ie

The private islands you can rent in France, Spain and Greece from just 12pp a night… – The Sun

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FAMILIES who want a bit of space for their next holiday don't have to splash the cash for a private island, surprisingly.

Head across to Europe and you can find some bargains for just 12 each, per night - here are the best places to book for your next holiday with friends and family members.

7

Located off the coast of Vis island, the villa has modern bathrooms and two bedrooms, as well as amazing views of the sea.

An outdoor terrace area has almost panoramic views of the ocean.

There is nothing else on the island, which is accessible by private boat or transfer.

Costing around 640 per night, it means you could pay just 106 a night each if staying with five people.

7

Saponohoma Greek Island Villa is located on the Greek Island of Ios - just next door to Santorini.

On the island is a traditional blue and white vila, with room for 13 people.

There is also a housekeeper and cook to assist you when staying, with fresh coffee and fruits for breakfast.

It costs 450 (382) per person for a week, working out to 54 each.

7

Located near Venice in Italy, the 50 acre island is called Valle Falconera, and is home to a 6-bedroom pink farmhouse.

The Airbnb propertyis accessible by boat which goes across the lagoon surrounding the land.

While rustic, the rooms can welcome up to 16 guests at a time, but you can rent each of the private rooms separately as well.

It costs 516 per night - but if you can find 15 friends, will set you back just 32 each a night.

7

A tiny laakeside chalet is a more modest island stay, surrounde dby water and trees.

Inside is just a bedrom and shower, so don't expect much luxury, but is perfect to get away from everyone for a quiet trip.

There is WiFi, however, as well as a Finnish hot tub and the house caretaker will also organise breakfast include croissants and juice in the mornings.

It is ideal for couples, and will cost you 81 each per night.

7

Head to Spain and you can rent an entire island with a castle.

Located near Madrid, the castle and glamping tents can welcome up to 38 people.

Inside the castle are four bedrooms, sleeping eight, with five luxury bell tents outside for six people, and starts from 428 per night.

Perfect for events or large holidays, there are beaches with water sports activities to keep everyone entertained, while not seeing another soul during the stay.

7

An hour from Oslo is Vestery, where you will find a tiny cabin, which sleeps up to eight people.

Don't expect luxury here either - there is no running water and electricity is unreliable but you can get free drinking water at the grocery store.

However anyone who wants to be closer to nature can cook over the bonfire and do a food shop using the boat.

If you can find seven mates who don't mind bunking on the floor, it will cost just 190 a night, or 23 each.

7

Scotland's many islands are uninhabited, but Isle of Skye has a former staff house open to visitors.

The cottage sleeps up to eight people with four bedrooms.

You won't see anyone else, apart from some wild animals, but it is easy to get to by boat and you can cross the shore for a visit to the nearby pub.

Stays start from around 550 per night, so get five friends and you can pay 91 each a night.

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If money isn't the problem, Sun Online Travel has also previously rounded up theluxury private islands you can buy.

A private island in the Bahamas is also up for sale, with six miles of private beach.

Earlier this year, we also reported on what's reportedly theworld's most expensive resort.

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The private islands you can rent in France, Spain and Greece from just 12pp a night... - The Sun

A New Private-Island Resort in the US Virgin Islands – Caribbean Journal

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Theres a new private-island destination resort in the Caribbean.

Its called Lovango Resort + Beach Club, and its set on Lovango Cay just off the coast of St John.

The resort among the first new-build properties in the destination in three decades; its also home to a luxury beach club open to visitors traveling by yacht, ferry or boat.

Its the first Caribbean property for Little Gem Resorts, which is best known for owning and operating the Nantucket Hotel and Resort and the Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Marthas Vineyard.

The new resort is completely sustainable, powered by wind and solar energy, while converting seawater to potable water for drinking, bathing and cooking.

The resort is also partnering with the University of the Virgin Islands to restore the coral around the island.

The Beach Club restaurant, which is also now open, is helmed by Chef Stephen Belle, whose previous experience includes leading Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys.

The resort also includes Villa Lovango, a 5,400-square-foot villa with three bedrooms, an outdoor shower, a private patio and a private pool, among other amenities.

Over the course of 2021, the property will begin building a glamping offering that will consist of luxury tents; Lovango additionally plans to open new accommodations on the island each year through 2025.

Theres also a real estate component, with 14 private lots for sale, according to the company.

For more, visit Lovango Resort and Beach Club.

CJ

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A New Private-Island Resort in the US Virgin Islands - Caribbean Journal

Camping Returns To Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – National Parks Traveler

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Camping will be allowed at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore this year./NPS file

Camping on the islands of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin will return this summer.

To protect the health of those who work and visit national parks, face masks are required on NPS-administered lands where physical distancing cannot be maintained and in all NPS facilities. With the support of public health professionals, park operations will be regularly evaluated and adjusted based on local conditions.

Reservations for all camping must be made in advance throughRecreation.govor parkvisitor centers.

Campsites within the park have size limits and specific reservation timelines:

There is no car or RV camping within Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Campsites within the national lakeshore must be reached by boat, except for the Mainland 1 campsite, which can also be accessed by hiking 6 miles.

Avariety of state park and private campgroundswith facilities for car and RV camping are available in the Bayfield area and on Madeline Island. Madeline Island is not part of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and access is by private boat or ferry.

Due to the advanced nature of kayaking and varying weather conditions on Lake Superior,proper planning is required. Kayakers with little or no experience on Lake Superior are encouraged to go with professional guides authorized tooperate within the park. If you need boat transportation, private water taxis are available from many companies authorized toprovide services in the park.

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Camping Returns To Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - National Parks Traveler

Royal Caribbean Thanks Emergency Services, NHS And Armed Forces With UK Homecoming, Set For This Summer – KPVI News 6

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LONDON, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Royal Caribbean International is setting a spectacular soundtrack this summer with its return to the UK. The cruise line has announced that Anthem of the Seas, a firm favorite in the region, will begin sailing from Southampton, England as soon as this 7th July. UK families can choose from a combination of 4-night Ocean Getaways in early July and 5- to 8-night British Isles cruises, starting 15th July, that feature visits to destinations such as Liverpool, England, Kirkwall in Scotland and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Plus, in recognition of the tremendous efforts of the emergency services, National Health Service (NHS), social care sector and armed forces over the last year, Royal Caribbean will offer 999 free staterooms on its first Ocean Getaways to those UK residents in these professions.

The new summer itineraries open for bookingson 7th April. Sailing with fully vaccinated crew, the cruises at this time will be available to UK residents above the age of 18 who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results. These current health and safety measures, like others, may evolve as they are evaluated on an ongoing basis. Pre-registration for guests eligible for one of the 999 free staterooms open on 13th April, and final names will be drawn from a ballot by the end of April.

"The UK is a place we hold near and dear to our heart at Royal Caribbean. We miss our UK guests and are as eager as they are to get back to cruising from Southampton,"said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International."We are delighted with the UK government's recent announcements regarding cruising and excited to set sail again with a phenomenal ship and favorite such asAnthem of the Seas.After a tough year, we all need a holiday, but no one more so than the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces who will have the long-awaited opportunity to get away and relax with total peace of mind."

Welcoming guests of all ages, each and every aspect of Anthem of the Seas has been designed to repeatedly make this ship a top hit and favorite in the UK.From globally renowned entertainment and high-adrenaline activities, to a variety of cuisines from around the world, the award-winning ship makes for the perfect high-tech playground and relaxing getaway that will consistently wow and delight from bow to stern. Top highlights on board include:

On land there is adventure to be had in Liverpool, Scotland and Belfast. Liverpool is not only the birthplace of The Beatles and home to Premier League football clubs, but also a vibrant, cosmopolitan city that boasts a wealth of maritime history and modern art. Plus in Kirkwall, on north Scotland's enchanting Orkney Islands, guests have in store some of the most picturesque landscapes in the UK and the opportunity to discover and learn about the Viking heritage of this ancient Norse town. Belfast presents the perfect gateway to exploring Northern Ireland, known for its historic landmarks, ancient Irish castles and stunning natural terrain.

Guests can rest assured their well-being and that of the crew members and communities visited are Royal Caribbean's top priorities. Details on the health and safety measures to be implemented for the summer cruises in the UK will be announced at a later date. The comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures will continue to be led by science and leverage expert guidance from theHealthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group's Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, and local government and health authorities.

Royal Caribbean's new UK sailings continue the cruise line's measured and safe return to cruising the world once again. They follow months of successful cruises in Singapore, with more than 50,000 guests to date who have sailed aboard Quantum of the Seas, as well as the recently announced plans for the highly anticipated Odyssey of the Seas to cruise from Haifa, Israel, and cruises from The Bahamas with Adventure of the Seas, Bermudawith Vision of the Seas and Cyprus with Jewel of the Seas. For more information on Anthem's limited series of summer cruises, visit RoyalCaribbean.uk.

Notes to Editors

To be eligible for one of the free sailings, UK residents must be able to show proof of an official Blue Light Card, which is available to those working in the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces.Free sailings can be secured by pre-registering through the Royal Caribbean International website starting 13th April 2021. Pre-registrations will be entered into a ballot to be drawn by the end of April. Further terms, conditions and information on how to pre-register for the free sailings will be available from 7th April on the Royal Caribbean website.

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean Internationalhas been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The Bahamas,Perfect Day at CocoCay,the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 18 consecutive years in theTravel WeeklyReaders' Choice Awards.

Media can stay up to date by following@RoyalCaribPRon Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of itsHealthy Sail Panelof public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation onall ofits sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements.U.S. cruises and guests: Formore information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-thanks-emergency-services-nhs-and-armed-forces-with-uk-homecoming-set-for-this-summer-301259261.html

SOURCE Royal Caribbean International

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Royal Caribbean Thanks Emergency Services, NHS And Armed Forces With UK Homecoming, Set For This Summer - KPVI News 6

Immunity pods of family and friends start to venture out on private vaxications – The Boston Globe

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Traveling together in vaccinated pods is giving people an increased level of confidence, said Kristin Hughes, a travel health and wellness expert. Theyre excited to go back out there, but its also a matter of control.

Travelers who are already vaccinated are 20 percent more likely than those who arent to have already booked their next vacation, a survey by the travel agency association Travel Leaders Network found.

But many are returning to the world with caution.

One of the most exciting parts of travel is interacting with locals, meeting new people, trying new foods, and even the mishaps, Hughes said. But right now I think people are easing into travel after taking a big break. And this is at least something.

Pods of family or friends are renting cottages together in the Catskills, cabins at family camps, entire inns and lodges, and even self-piloted houseboats on the Erie Canal. All-inclusive resorts are rebounding, since they preclude the need to travel off the property for drinks or dining. So are private home swaps.

The travel industry has taken note. Accommodations are adding pod concierges and arranging private pod excursions. Attractions are inviting pods to buy them out on certain days and times for private use.

Boston-based Overseas Adventure Travel has launched personalized private adventures for groups of as few as five and up to 16. The travel company Naya Traveler has come out with bubble trips to secluded destinations for small groups, from a private island in Belize to a villa at the edge of a nature preserve in the Turks and Caicos. Charter aviation company VistaJet has compiled a list of safe havens.

Montana and Wyoming, the least densely populated states after Alaska, are suddenly hot escapes. Dude ranches in particular are getting new business, including at luxury settings such as Red Reflet Ranch, a 28,000-acre guest ranch in Wyoming that has fully stocked cabins, private hiking, mountain biking and ATVing, and its own airport.

Canyon Ranch spas have seen an increase in group bookings, a spokeswoman said; Canyon Ranch in Lenox, along with other locations, lets pods book rooms, meals, activities, and fitness classes together.

Adventure travel companies report big increases in the number of people who want private tours; Heli, which offers adventure trips worldwide, said 90 percent reserved so far this year are private or semi-private, including a kite-surfing excursion to the Red Sea for which clients and crew will all be COVID-tested and live on a boat. In other cases, its arranging for immunity pods to book entire lodges.

People are calling and asking, Where can I go and do a full takeover? said Clark Winter, chief operating officer. A lot of lodges are starting to organize their dates in pods or groupings where different groups can take over the whole lodge.

The Inns of Aurora in New Yorks Finger Lakes region is letting pods fully book three of its inns, which have from seven to 11 guest rooms, and offers grocery delivery, private hiking and fishing, and lakeside fire pits; so far eight families have booked the inns for private pod vacations in the next few months, at $1,500 to $2,500 a night.

The Foundry Hotel in Asheville, N.C., which consists of five buildings, has seen guests ask for clusters of rooms in one or another of them so they can be on their own, said Nikki Phillips Stewart, director of sales.

They have their private entryways and exits, Stewart said. Its definitely a trend, and we think its going to stick around at least for this year.

Secret Bay, whose biggest markets include Boston, reports 19 inquiries from immunity pods just since the beginning of the year. Eleven have booked cabins there, which start at $838 a night.

A lot of other secluded travel options also tend to cater to the well-heeled. For $130,000 a week, for instance, pods can book Quasar Expeditions motor yacht Grace for a private Galapagos Cruise. At the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, guests can call the pod concierge to arrange private beach parties and private tours of nearby El Yunque National Forest. The Ritz-Carlton Residences on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu also has a pod concierge who can organize private cocktail hours, meals, and activities.

Private activities, away from crowds and strangers, are in high demand. Norris Hot Springs, a geothermal pool in Montana, can now be booked for two hours at a time by groups of 15 or fewer. Bruliam Wines in Sonoma County, Calif., is offering private group tastings.

As people emerge from COVID and their desire to travel expands, theyre going to be selective about what they choose to do and who they choose to travel with, proprietor and winemaker Kerith Overstreet said.

Private home-swapping is also trending. Home-swap company HomeExchange, in a survey of its members, found theyre looking for less crowded destinations and 85 percent prefer to stay in single-family homes. The UK-based Love Home Swap reports a 282 percent year-to-year increase in home exchanges.

People want to be able to control the environment theyre in, said Celia Pronto, managing director. They dont doubt that staying in a hotel will give them safety in their bedrooms. What they dont like is the public spaces, such as the lobbies and the pools.

Among the biggest beneficiaries of the vaxication craze are resorts with free-standing cabins or cottages. Chatham Bars Inn has homes with kitchens and gas grills. So does the Winnetu on Marthas Vineyard. The Roxbury, in the Catskills, has added cottages with pop-culture themes Draculas lair, comic book superheroes, Austin Powers created by a theatrical set designer. The Sagamore Resort on New Yorks Lake George has debuted its newly renovated First House, and will deliver prepared meals to it. And the Chalet at Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills has added a new freestanding cabin.

These types of destinations that have separate units are positioning themselves as places where a group of friends can travel safely, said Leora Halpern Lanz, chair of the masters in management hospitality program at Boston Universitys School of Hospitality Administration.

Conventional resorts arent the only places that have cabins. So do family camps. Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, Wisc., has had so many bookings that its building new cabins, owner Tereasa Surratt said. Its also setting aside separate coves, picnic tables, and even beach zones for visiting pods.

People have been isolated in a home for so long and this is a chance for them to get out with their bubble, Surratt said.

Winnetu owner Mark Snider and his wife, Gwenn, had the good timing to add a private island to their portfolio (the Sniders also own the Nantucket Hotel); their Lovango Resort + Beach Club opened in December in the US Virgin Islands, with a private villa and more planned.

Though guests can travel the 10 minutes by ferry to St. John and St. Thomas, said Snider, half of them never leave the grounds.

People do like the fact that they can travel again and feel a sense of freedom, he said. But safely.

Jon Marcus can be reached at jonmarcusboston@gmail.com.

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Immunity pods of family and friends start to venture out on private vaxications - The Boston Globe

Staycation in Scotland: 6 remote and beautiful Scottish Island escapes – HeraldScotland

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Looking for a post-lockdown getaway? Let Andrea Pearsonbe your guide with this selection of hotels on some ofScotlands most remote and beautiful islands...

Contrast the romance of the Orkneys Islands ancient past with the taste of contemporary Scottish cuisine at The Foveran, the islands beloved restaurant with rooms overlooking the sparkling waters of Scapa Flow.

The family-run hotel is a foodie paradise having twice won the Orkney Food Festival Best Evening Meal Award. Chef and proprietor Paul Doull sources local livestock, fish, and a surprising array of fruit and vegetables grown in the long hours of summer daylight to create seasonal menus. Kirkwall Bay scallops, lobsters and langoustines are among the star attractions, along with grass-fed beef, Grimbister Farm cheese and North Ronaldsay mutton which gets its distinctive texture and flavour from feeding on seaweed along the rugged island shoreline.

Finish the day with a dram of famous Highland Park whisky from Kirkwall. The kitchen also keeps the tradition of baking bere bunno or bannock, using stone-ground beremeal flour from the Barony Mill.

All eight of the rooms have recently been renovated to create the perfect stop between visits to some of the islands Neolithic sites.

http://www.thefoveran.com/

2. Jurassic lark

Perhaps Scotlands most romantic island, Skye offers rocky skylines, sandy beaches, castles, ancient monuments, and other-worldly geology if you are very lucky you might spot an actual dinosaur footprint. The four-star Marmalade hotel in Portree is a beautiful blend of historic manor house and contemporary architecture. Any time here is best spent sitting back to allow the dramatic landscapes envelop you like a huge tartan blanket.

The rooms and suites are contemporary and exquisitely stylish, but it is the views from the generously-sized windows that really make you realise that you are not in Kansas any more. Drink in the wonderful landscapes while enjoying complete comfort in your room with Nespresso coffee machines, Bose music systems, and beds draped in luxurious linens.

And new for this year is a stylish and Covid-safe outdoor seating area where the evening can be enjoyed around a roaring fire in the firepit.

By day, explore the lush gardens to enjoy the views over the harbour village and the Cuillins. Every stay in the hotel is completed by fine dining in the hotels excellent Chargrill restaurant.

perlehotels.com/marmalade

3.Remote control

Scarista House on Harris is quite simply one of the most beautiful and remote places to stay in Scotland, with amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean, heather-covered mountains, and a three-mile long sandy beach.

This comfortable, elegant hotel and restaurant is set within a 200-year-old manse with 3ft-thick walls, atmospherically creaky floorboards, and real fires.

Cooking is a serious business, and the menu is meticulously created using as much organic, wild and homegrown produce as is possible, while all bread, cakes, biscuits and ice cream are homemade.

Scarista House is the only Outer Hebrides restaurant to be featured in Alastair Sawdays Eat Slow Britain, and it is listed in the Michelin Guide. It is also the kind of place to bring the dog (by arrangement) for a good run on the beach and resident pooches Brodie and Maud are very welcoming.

scaristahouse.com

4.Private property

Ever dreamed about having your own island? A stay at the Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island can make this a reality.

And you dont even need to negotiate yourself on and off the CalMac ferry this island is joined to the mainland, just north of Oban, via a small, private bridge. Relax in your private island hideaway as Highland cattle graze, badgers visit, and otters and grey seals swim in and out of the sparkling seaweed along the shorelines.

Or live the sporting life by joining in traditional activities such clay pigeon shooting, archery or Viking-inspired axe throwing. With a nine-hole golf course and the chance of croquet on the lawn, it is very much a lairds weekend.

eriska-hotel.co.uk

5. For peats sake

For a truly indulgent break away filled with luxuries and seven miles of bleached white sands, it might be hard to beat the wonder that is the Machrie Hotel & Golf Links. Islay is, of course, peated whisky heaven and a birdwatchers paradise, but The Machrie now adds a championship links golf course into the mix.

Originally an 18th-century farmhouse, The Machrie reopened in 2018 with 47 new rooms, suites and lodges enjoying stunning views across the links or to the sea. Find apres-golf (or even anti-golf) treats at the hotels gym and spa or book a trip with Islay Sea Adventure to see seals, white-tailed sea eagles, and occasionally a basking shark.

On fine evenings, dine on the outdoor terrace overlooking the sea and top the day off with some of Scotland very finest whiskies. Slainte.

campbellgrayhotels.com/machrie-islay-scotland

6. Coll of the wild

The little island of Coll, all 13 miles by three miles of it, offers the epitome of social distancing. And if the call of Coll gets you in summer 2021, The Coll Hotel as the only hotel and pub on the island is where you will probably find yourself.

The hotel is known for delicious, freshly-caught seafood expect lobster, crab and langoustine as well as delicious Hebridean grass-fed lamb. As is the case with many a small island kitchen, homemade just about everything is the order of the day.

A stunning array of chutneys, marmalade, jams, pickles, breads, ice cream, and pastas are all made at the hotel. By day, explore the could-be-the-Caribbean beaches or take the binoculars to spot birds in the remote but spectacular RSPB reserve.

collhotel.com

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Staycation in Scotland: 6 remote and beautiful Scottish Island escapes - HeraldScotland

Ghislaine Maxwell Faces Two New Trafficking Charges, Raising Pressure On Prince Andrew And Others Listed In Jeffrey Epsteins Little Black Book -…

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Party Like It's 1999: A February 2000 event at Mar-a-Lago. From left, then-real estate developer ... [+] Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

Ghislaine Maxwell has had a tough winter. During January and February this year, her attorneys have filed serial motions to dismiss part or all of the charges against her that have yet to succeed. For their part, the prosecutors of the Southern District of New York have been hard at work digging up evidence to do the exact opposite, namely, to widen the scope of the case she faces at trial, still foreseen to begin in Manhattan on July 12. The new now-eight-count indictment of the British socialite, pictured above at a Mar-a-Lago party with Epstein and Donald Trump in 2000, was released on March 29.

Specifically, federal attorneys have increasedthe time frame of her alleged criminal activity by seven years, to 2004 from 1997, and, based on evidence from a new witness, have added two significant new charges, the first, conspiracy to sex traffic (with Jeffrey Epstein), and the second, sex-trafficking of a minor. Both charges are based on the government's evidence obtained from an alleged victim named by the prosecutors as "minor victim-4." In other words, the new charges do more than just bring the number of counts she faces up by a third. The indictment now brings to four the number of minor females that the government has found who allege that they were recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein's subsequent exploitation.

Royal Ascot Race Meeting, Ladies Day: Prince Andrew, Duke Of York and Ghislaine Maxwell At Ascot. ... [+] (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Maxwell's attorneys have yet to respond, but the increase in time frame in which her alleged criminal behavior occurred and the existence of minor victim-4, who was reportedly recruited by Maxwell when she was fourteen, presents Maxwell and her legal team with yet another direct accusation of tremendous gravity with which they must contend. As first submitted in summer 2020, the indictment presented the Maxwell team with a highly complex, multi-pronged fight. Now, that will be layered with, presumably, a believable then-young witness who reportedly underwent serial abuse from Epstein and Maxwell at the beginning of her teenage years. Suffice it to say that any jury would be moved by listening to testimony such as that.

Drinks With Friends: Ghislaine Maxwell and Piers Morgan attend a party in 2013 in New York City. ... [+] (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Unlike that of Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, whose testimony is not included in the trial, the narrative of minor victim-4 does not include national or international travel, but that, according to the indictment, was only because she turned down the invitation from Ghislaine Maxwell to help her get a passport.

For her part in further investigating Epstein, U.S. Attorney Denise George is not done with her assessment of the many Epstein flight logs into and out of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in whose jurisdiction Little Saint James, Epstein's private island, falls. What that means for Prince Andrew and many other denizens of Epstein's 'little black book' who visited Little Saint James at Epstein's invitation, remains to be seen.

Despite that unresolved flight-log investigation, the redoubled pretrial federal pressure on his good friend Ghislaine Maxwell means that Andrew's difficulties in being able to find ways to delay his cooperation with the U.S. prosecutors will grow rather than diminish. The Southern District of New York prosecutors have also announced that they will be submitting at the Maxwell trial evidence from their investigation of Epstein, himself, that includes statements from an extraordinary 250-plus additional witnesses, which, as in the Virgin Islands inquiry, will include service staff.

In short, in addition to the hard, direct accusations of criminal behavior within the March 29 amended indictment, Ghislaine Maxwell's prosecutors are literally bringing a mountain of circumstantial evidence that places their quarry firmly at the center of Epstein's operations. In other words, the prosecutors will present a detailed schematic of the Epstein procurement operation's reporting structure, in which Ghislaine Maxwell reportedly exercised a tremendous amount of responsibility. That will increase the likelihood of Andrew's presence at this or that Epstein venue or event coming into the courtly discussion, for instance, his presence at the dinner held in his honor in Epstein's mansion in December 2010, attended by, among other denizens of the Epstein black book, Woody Allen, Katie Couric, disgraced former broadcaster Charlie Rose, and political pundit George Stephanopolous.

The indictment raised the question of whether Ghislaine Maxwell's defense team would have the time to prepare to fight these additional charges by the July 12 start of the proceeding. Clearly, by releasing the amended indictment more than 90 days before that courtroom date, the government's opinion is that three-plus months is sufficient. In light of their to date unsuccessful attempts at winnowing the charges facing their storied client, it's considered likely that Ms. Maxwell's attorneys will be arguing that point differently.

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Ghislaine Maxwell Faces Two New Trafficking Charges, Raising Pressure On Prince Andrew And Others Listed In Jeffrey Epsteins Little Black Book -...

Private Plane Vacation Packages Are the Big New Thing in Resort Travel – InsideHook

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Crowded airports. Long lines. Jam-packed seating. Nuisances in the best of times; nightmares during a pandemic. With much of global travel grinding to a halt over the course of 2020, a safer, and swankier, solution has arisen: private plane vacation packages. While far from a new idea, theyve never been more popular and prudent, and theres a growing contingent of hotels, resorts and tour operators who are looking to whisk you away.

So it was that with a fresh negative COVID-19 test stashed in my pocket and a mask on my face, I hopped aboard a Makers Air private flight at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport bound for Andros Island in the Bahamas. There were four passengers on the plane, including myself, and two bottles of sparkling wine. I liked my odds. The destination was Caerula Mar Club, a luxury resort on South Andros offering private beachfront villas and suites with direct pool or beach access.

If the hotel sounds familiar, then youve been keeping up to speed with your reality television during lockdown. The resort and its owners, Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, are the subject and stars or vice-versa, depending on your perspective of HGTVs Renovation Island, a show which follows the couples hands-on transformation of the property from shuttered and out of date to a classy, modern and now finally reopened boutique hotel.

A Makers Air flight sailing over the Caribbean

Makers Air

Caerula Mar is currently offering the Caerula in Style package, which includes round-trip private flights from FXE airport and five nights in a private villa for up to eight guests, as well as all meals and alcohol, and a number of other inclusions, starting at $40,000 for travel through the end of August 2021. From private plane to private villa, the idea is that you can vacation with your family (or whomever youve ensnared in your pandemic pod) and be as safe and isolated as possible while still capitalizing on a supremely luxe travel experience.

People still want to travel, but they have a much higher expectation of safety and security than in the past, says Sarah Baeumler. Instead of leaving things to chance with commercial air carriers, flying private gives travelers control. Its also perfect for groups who have been quarantined together to get away safely. Its much easier to get where youre going, its more comfortable and isolated.

Her resort has partnered with Makers Air for flights from Florida as well as Apollo Jets for flights from across the U.S. All you have to do is show up with the appropriate negative PCR test and matching health certificate visa from the Bahamas, and the rest will be taken care of for you.

The private flights allow our guests to get here hassle-free, so they can spend more of their vacation relaxing and enjoying the island, Baeumler says. Were definitely seeing an uptick in requests and bookings for villa accommodations, particularly extended villa stays, so it seemed natural to pair the villas with our private flight offering.

With only a few dozen rooms including the villas, Caerula Mar feels like your own private paradise even when your personal pod crosses paths with one or two others. Youll basically have the run of the joint and its pristine, white sandy beachfront, and all the while, you can fill your days with snorkeling or diving excursions, sailing trips, secluded beach picnics, hikes to one of the islands blue holes or even cooking classes with the chef, Sebastian Perez, who makes it his mission to interact with every group and cook something special based upon their preferences. (Cheat code: Lobster mac n cheese.)

Whether it was a mid-flight sip of Champagne while looking down on strings of small islands or the first taste of a toes-in-the-sand pia colada while observing the impossibly blue Bahamian waters, early on in this endeavor something clicked. A major stress relief valve was opened deep in the interiors of my psyche, and a wave of contented relaxation crashed down upon me. Its what Baeumler refers to as experiencing the essence of their barefoot luxury approach, and what I call simply savoring the moment. Unhinged Twitter timelines, vaccine waiting lists and political conspiracy theories seemed millions of miles away.

Such a mental escape, momentary as it may be, feels more important and more necessary than ever, and all the better if you can experience it while taking proper precautions to keep yourself and those around you safe. A private plane vacation was always thought of as a nicer option, but I think now its been rebranded as a safer one, Baeumler says.

When it comes to private plane vacations, youre always encouraged to dream big. Thankfully, theres no shortage of options as you prepare to plan for your 2021 adventures.

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Private Plane Vacation Packages Are the Big New Thing in Resort Travel - InsideHook

How The War On Drugs Reinforced Structural Racism – Benzinga

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This article by Haley Giuliano was originally published onNisonCo, and appears here with permission.

NisonCo takes pride in supporting causes that better the lives of marginalized and persecuted people in our nation. This includes standing up for the rights of minority communities and gaining a better understanding of the history that has created inequitable situations for them. February is Black History Month and another chance to review the past in the hopes of understanding and changing the present. In that pursuit, this article seeks to explore how the War on Drugs molded black culture and reinforced structural racism in American culture.

The War on Drugs played a pivotal role in the history of cannabis and continues to impact society today. The government initiative, presented under the guise of creating a safer America for all, led to disproportionate incarceration rates and further strengthened the questionable underpinnings of an already-racist nation. Policing primarily minority communities while pretending not to do so reinforced the structural racism at the heart of political campaigns for the time. It also led to decades of continued unjust imprisonment for people of color. The War on Drugs played a huge part in the embedding of structural racism in the United States today.

From theOpium Exclusion Actin 1909 to theMarihuana Tax Act of 1937, regulations on drugs became all the more standard with the procession of time. In 1970, theControlled Substances Actsigned into law by Richard Nixon sought to classify drugs according to their addictive nature and medical benefits by separating them into schedules. This scheduling is still used today, although some drugs have changed classifications as science continues to explore various substances medical benefits.

In June of 1971, the drug climate changed when Nixon announced theWar on Drugs, declaring substance abuse as public enemy number one. Illegal drug use would now label someone a criminal and result in extensive prison time. Nixon even went on to create one of todays best-known governmental agencies, theDrug Enforcement Administration, as part of his continued crusade on drugs, drug sellers, and users.

In a perfect world, having a government fight toward the eradication of illegal acts in the hopes of creating safer lives for all Americans sounds virtuous. However, this was not the intent of Nixon and the United States government, despite their political advertisements. John Ehrlichman, President Nixons domestic policy chief, gave an interview in 1994 which explained the true motives behind the War on Drugs. Ehrlichmanstatedthat the government, couldnt make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin[,] and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities.

And the War on Drugs did just that. Cannabis became stigmatized despite its previously common usage, and heroin was policed largely only in minority communities. Racism was still rampant, and now law enforcement agencies had even more cause to arrest minorities. Black neighborhoods were devoured by drug busts, and more and morepeople of color entered the correctional system. In 1986, years after Nixon declared his War on Drugs, people of color were still being unjustly but legally persecuted through the1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which allocatedlonger prison sentencesfor offenses involving the same amount of crack cocaine (used more often by black Americans) as powder cocaine (used more often by white Americans).

The disproportionate amount of black to white convictions wasnt the only outcome of the War on Drugs, though. It also strengthened the roots that structural racism already had in America. Imprisoning people of color at such an alarming rate left a generation without parents and the guidance all children need. It brought individuals with no previous criminal background into the realm of crime, whichexpertssay is a cycle that is hard to escape. It also created a perception of people of color as delinquents simply because their faces were the ones more often apprehended, despite their lauded white counterparts committing the same crimes.

Of course, structural racism goes far beyond the War on Drugs and its legal implications. Structural racism is an infestation in the United States that goes back to the days of slavery and through to present-day prejudices. But Nixons rampage against minority communities through his substance abuse agenda surely left a mark on colored communities that is hard to escape and could have been avoided. The War on Drugs was just one of the many unethical and biased legislations of the past century. It is the responsibility of the people to continue fighting its racist ramifications and remember that, though created equal, people of color are seldom treated as such.

Looking forward as we have a chance to build, shape and form the new cannabis industry its important to remember the effects of lead us here so we may grow and facilitate a representative industry. NisonCo providespro bono cannabis seo and public relations servicesto advocacy groups and individuals engaged in activism, as well as companies that are advancing socially responsible and ethical practices in innovative, impactful, and systemic ways. In this way and many others, we seek to be not just a company that operates for profit, but a company that cares. Happy Black History Month, and remember that every month is a chance to celebrate culture and acceptance.

Read the original Article on NisonCo.

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End the War on Drugs Lobby Day | News | komu.com – KOMU 8

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JEFFERSON CITY The End the War on Drugs Lobby Day is taking place at the Capitol Tuesday.

The event is being hosted by Crossing Paths. Crossing Paths Executive Director/Treasurer/lobbyist, Bharani Kumar is leading those in attendance around the capitol.

The purpose of the event is to show state representatives and senators that citizens support issues in the Missouri Capitol such as the legalization of marijuana, psychedelic medicine, defelonizing drug possession and other criminal justice reforms.

This event comes after legislation was filed to possibly legalize these topics in 2022.

Executive Director for PreventEd, an organization that focuses on reducing and preventing the harms of drug and alcohol addictions, Nichole Dawsey said she does not agree with everything the group seems to represent, but is glad the event is taking place.

The fact that we have politicians paying attention is wonderful. We always want folks to pay attention and to make sure that any policy is implemented is transparent. Legitimate, and promotes public health, said Dawsey.

Dawsey encourages everyone attending the event or not to take the time and do their own research regarding these topics.

She also believes the state has a long way to go.

Right now, the research is very limited, Dawsey said in regard to drugs, including marijuana.

Marijuana or cannabis should absolutely be rescheduled. Right now, it's a Schedule 1 substance, we know that if it were recycled more research could be conducted, said Dawsey.

The event will begin at the capitol at 8:30 AM and will go on until 6 PM.

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Philippines drug war victims land in leased graves that expire – Los Angeles Times

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There isnt much in the way of dignity for the dead in Navotas Public Cemetery.

Remains are stacked in cinder-block holes five levels high. Their openings are cemented shut and painted in blue, yellow or pink pastels. Those whose families cant afford a plaque have their names scrawled in black ink. On days when the humidity and breeze conspire, the stench of decomposing bodies hangs over grounds strewn with trash and uncollected bones.

Such is death for the poor and the accused in an unforgiving land. Yet one more humiliation awaits scores of those buried at the cemetery along Manila Bay. In a few months, the first wave of victims of Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs will be exhumed and left for loved ones to relocate.

July marks the fifth anniversary of the bloody campaign in which thousands of mostly urban poor were killed in nightly sweeps by authorities and vigilantes. The raids in alleys and homes claimed the guilty and the innocent. So many of those gunned down are believed to be interred at Navotas that the site has been dubbed Tokhang Village, after the name given to the campaign, Knock and plead.

Like many burial sites in Manila, remains can be interred at Navotas only for a maximum of five years because of chronic overcrowding. After that, its up to families to pay for a permanent burial plot or a bone crypt. That was a burden few could afford the average monthly salary in the Philippines is about $300 even before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed millions more into poverty.

Many of those felled in the drug war are expected to meet the same ending as generations of impoverished Filipinos before: stuffed in rice sacks and stored in charnel houses or dumped in piles, mixed with rubble and gravel on the cemetery floor.

It is only the poor who have this problem because the rich have spaces in private cemeteries and they rest there forever, said Danny Pilario, a priest who founded an organization to care for widows and orphans left behind by the drug war. The poor have to be evicted from their abodes, not only in life but also in death. They are homeless forever.

With the deadline approaching, family members are frantically assessing their finances in hopes of avoiding a similar fate for their husbands, sons, cousins and uncles.

It is a cruel math shared by many who come to Navotas, a place of few flowers, no repose and whispered words to saints. A 28-year-old woman whose father and brother were fatally shot on the same day in the summer of 2016 arrived on a recent afternoon.

She wiped away tears and sweat in the glare of a beating sun. She bowed her head and prayed, placing candles before the tombs.

She had come to see if a gravedigger had marked the site with an X, the common way families are alerted that exhumation is imminent. Ten years ago, she was stunned to discover a tomb belonging to another brother, this one killed in a gang fight, had been smashed open and his remains removed. She did not know then to look for an X. She didnt want to make that mistake again.

On this day, there was no marking, but she was told that it wouldnt be long before the remains of her father and her brother would be removed. Not only was their lease expiring, but the land she stood on also would soon make way for a building development.

The woman was one of 15 family members of victims of extrajudicial killings who spoke to The Times for this report. Like most of them, she recounted her ordeal on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the police.

Family members grieve over the death of a suspected drug dealer in 2016.

(Linus Guardian Escandor II / For The Times)

Her father, 53, and brother, 27, were drug dealers in their neighborhood when they were killed the elder by police in a raid and the younger by unknown gunmen. The two sold shabu, a cheap methamphetamine known as the poor mans cocaine that is ubiquitous in the Philippines, a major international transit hub for narcotics.

National disgust for that trade propelled Dutertes political ascent and unleashed a wave of extrajudicial killings. As with most drug war fatalities, authorities claimed the womans father had resisted arrest. But the woman said he was asleep when police stormed their house and executed him. Guns were planted at the crime scene to support claims that he fought back. The womans 12-year-old sister witnessed the killing.

The family tumbled into crisis. The womans mother abandoned the family and moved in with another man. The woman not only had to care for her three children, but also four younger siblings and her brothers two children.

To pay for the funeral and tombs, she sold her parents house and the family motorcycle. A former drug dealer, the woman these days lives on church donations and money earned selling tea. Jobs are scarce in Manila, which has been under months of COVID-19-related restrictions, contributing to the worst economic times in the Philippines since the country started publishing national data after World War II.

She needs hundreds of dollars she does not have for a permanent burial site for her father and her brother.

I have to keep trying because Im not sure if we can ever attain justice, she said. But knowing they have a decent resting place in the cemetery gives me peace of mind somehow.

A woman prays near a section of La Loma Cemetery in Manila for unclaimed remains.

(Aie Balagtas See / For The Times)

The systematic execution of thousands of suspected drug abusers and dealers has shaken the country but has not deterred Duterte, whose term ends next year.

Rather than sink the mercurial leaders allure, his often vulgar pledges of street justice only made him more popular to his followers. The impunity of the drug war, which peaked in 2016 and 2017, emboldened Duterte to jail political rivals, silence independent media organizations and violently suppress human rights workers.

Amnesty International said an average of 34 people a day, or about 7,000 in all, were killed by police and vigilantes from July 1, 2016, to Jan. 21, 2017. There are no exact figures as to how many people have been killed since the drug war began. But human rights groups say the total number may be between 20,000 and 40,000.

At least 3,000 killings are under investigation by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. Last year, Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court at The Hague, said her office may investigate later this year to determine whether crimes against humanity had been committed.

In a move widely viewed as a bid to head off international scrutiny, Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra acknowledged to the United Nations Human Rights Council in a speech last month that police had failed to follow standard protocols in thousands of drug-related deaths. That includes examining recovered guns, verifying ownership of firearms or conducting ballistic examinations.

Government critics say the remarks were short of an admission that guns found at crime scenes were planted as evidence.

As more proof of official wrongdoing emerges, calls are growing to keep the dead at Navotas and other cemeteries from being taken from their cinder-block graves.

Its enraging that families of drug war victims have to endure this in the middle of a pandemic, said Rubilyn Litao, the coordinator of Rise Up, an ecumenical group that has documented hundreds of drug war cases. They cannot even put food on the table.... Their loved ones should not have been killed in the first place.

With seven children to feed, Rodalyn Adan has no way of paying $67 for her late husbands remains to be exhumed and transferred to a permanent bone crypt, a resting spot that will eventually cost $21 a year to maintain.

Adan, 32, does not have a stable job but wants to keep her husband at Bagbag Cemetery in Quezon City so that her children can visit his tomb regularly. Her husband, Crisanto Abliter, was 32 when he was rounded up by police on Oct. 4, 2016, and never seen alive again.

Our [youngest] child was still a baby when my husband was killed, Adan said. Our baby is 6 years old now and hes always asking why his father refuses to get out of the niche. I tell him that it was because he was cemented inside the tomb.

The improper handling of cases such as Abliters should prompt the government to stop or delay exhumations, said the Commission on Human Rights, an independent constitutional office.

Mandatory disinterment of remains from public cemeteries after five years could potentially hinder current and prospective investigations into extrajudicial killings by complicating access to remains whose deaths are in question, said Jacqueline De Guia, a spokeswoman for the commission.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave shoot-to-kill orders against drug dealers.

(Eugene Hoshiko / Associated Press)

Marissa Lazaros 20-year-old son Christopher was shot dead by police after he was mistaken for a drug-addled thief as he was on his way home Aug. 4, 2017, in Bulacan province, north of Manila. A medical examiner told Lazaro that her sons hands were tied when he was killed.

The lease for Christophers tomb will expire next year. She wants him to be reburied in a cemetery near the familys home and a park where he used to play. She traveled thousands of miles and took a job as a domestic helper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to help pay for it all. But her employer was abusive. She quit her contract and returned home deeper in debt.

Lazaro knows what its like for a body to be forever lost. Her father died when she was 9. She does not know where his remains are.

They were exhumed without her mothers permission. As a child, she often asked her aunts why they never paid respects to him in Manila North Cemetery. They said his body had been turned into vetsin powder, or monosodium glutamate. Traumatized by this joke, Lazaro refused to use MSG in her cooking for years, thinking they were sourced from human bones.

She needs $4,000 to move Christopher to a permanent place. It seems an impossible sum.

My other children tell me: Ma, stop prioritizing the dead. But I cannot allow my son to suffer the same fate as my father, Lazaro said. People killed by the police already died a gruesome death. Cant they not have a decent repose?

She doesnt know if this will happen. But she is signing up to work overseas again.

Special correspondent Balagtas See reported from Manila and Times staff writer Pierson from Singapore.

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Philippines drug war victims land in leased graves that expire - Los Angeles Times

UConn will never be drug free – UConn Daily Campus

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A bottle of prescription drugs. The Daily Digest has recently announced the University of Connecticuts Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act, this act, however, does not do much good for struggling addicts. Photo byKevin BidwellfromPexels

For the past few weeks, the Daily Digest has published anannouncementaboutthe University of ConnecticutsDrug Free Schools and Campuses Actwhich is shared this way biannually. While it includes some information about the risk of using various drugs and the schools philosophy on the matter, the document is mostly an affirmation of the schools compliance with federal drug laws, as is reflected by ourStudent Code. In this way, campus and local police enforce the criminalization of a host of substance use and possession for UConn students.

Whatever their opinion about it, this policy isnt ouradministrationsdesign. Colleges around the United States owe this stance on mind-altering substances to Congress1989Drug Free Campus and Communities Act, which mandates universitiestoadminister policy symmetric with federal drug laws. School enforcement of these laws has become tied to university funding from the Department of Education and fines in cases of noncompliance. As a result of this, drug policy at most American universities mirrors drug policy nationally.

Drug policy in the United States has deep andfundamental ties to white supremacy and social control in general. Launching the War on Drugs in 1971, Richard Nixon empowered and expanded federal drug control agencies, increased funding and weapons of police forces and generally doubled-down on the criminalization of drug users of all kindsother than alcohol, cigarettes and prescription opioids of course. Former Nixon aide,John Ehrlichman is famously quoted saying the administration knew we couldnt make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.

TheDrug Free Schools and Campuses Actinherits this legacy and is equally unrelated to helping those struggling with abuse. A drug free policy of any kind ignores the reality that drugsincluding alcohol in the United Statescan beintegral to many cultures, thatcriminalization and incarceration have always been tools for identity-based violence and most importantlythat people addicted to drugs arenot deterred by the threat of punishment. Then again, as stated in the 2021 DFSCA, perhaps helping those struggling with substance abuse is secondary to The Universitys principal role[which]is to engage in education that leads to high standards, respectful conduct and a healthy,productiveenvironmentwhen those are compromised, the University will take disciplinary action against organizations and individuals violatingThe Student Code.

Treatment available for those struggling with addiction at UConn is limited in some ways. The UConn Recovery Community offers important student care and resources to continue life here in supportive environments free from drugs and alcohol, andStudent Health and Wellnessoffers important screening and intervention resources. But professional treatment is still neither free nor on-demand;it is not in unlimited supply, and the same stigma and criminalization that drives sick peopleawayfrom seeking help exists atUConnas it does in every similar environment.

Furthermore, there are many barriers to recovery that have nothing to do with the accessibility of treatment. Simply put, a miserable life is one of the greatest barriers to overcoming addictions, and widespread among college students arefood and housing insecurity,poverty,social isolation,sexual violenceandmental health concernsin general. AtUConn,the worst of these unaddressed problems have literally deadly consequences.

Whether its about care accessibility or another concern of quality of life for those who may be struggling, were discussing a question of limited funding and resources which every administrative body must decide where to allocate. This is why,if governments including the UConn administration are concerned firstly with helping those struggling with substance abuse, they will redirect all resources currently used for the criminalization and punishment of users toward free, on-demand,no-questions-asked treatment in cases of abuse or addiction.

The great expenditure on this criminalization is most obvious within the UConn Police Department who makesarrests on campus and confersthose who violate laws to local and state legal systems. Asnoted bythecommunity movement Defund UCPD, in 2019 UCPD spent $121,021 per crime, 78% of which were instances of drug and alcohol conduct. If78%percent of UCPDs$18,000,000budget were redirected into treatment, education and other community institutions rather than policing,how many more therapists andcounselorscould UConnafford? How many people could be saved from addiction?

Even if criminal charges for substance use or possession as a college student are limited to a fine or a mark on ones record, these add up.Theirgreatest effect in the case of those struggling with addiction is decreasing the individuals access to treatment. In general, the main outcome of charges or penalties for the use of drugs is a nuisance or worse,preventingpeoplefrom leading comfortable lives and independently developing a healthy relationship with mind-altering substances. There is nothingthathelps the community in general.

We need to hold the UConn administration accountable for the harmful misallocation of resources to institutions focused on criminalizing members of our community from ones which save lives. We need to consider the humanity of those struggling with substance abuse. We need to develop well-funded treatment avenues which arent means-tested or linked to insurance but available to all community members. Most importantly, we need to decriminalize drug use and possession, and begin treatment of drug addiction as a mental health illness.

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UConn will never be drug free - UConn Daily Campus

Why It’s Time to Abandon Drug Courts – Crime Report

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Drug overdoses dramatically rose during the pandemic to make 2020 our deadliest year so far.

Overdoses claimed the lives of81,000 Americansin the 12 months up to May 2020. In San Francisco, for example, fatal overdoses killedthree timesas many people as the coronavirus. The overdose crisis is an epidemic, and we must invest in proven life-saving solutions.

And this crisis is requiring us to bring new thinking to drug policy.

President Joe Bidencommittedto end incarceration for drug use, explaining that no one should be imprisoned for the use of illegal drugs alone.

As a former prosecutor and a public health researcher, we agree with this starting point, having seen that incarcerating people for drug use doesnt make communities safer or healthier.

In lieu of incarceration, Biden has embraced drug courts and other forms of coerced or forced drug treatment to address the mounting crises of overdose and addiction in the United States. Although we agree with the presidents diagnosis, we part company with his prescription.

Drug courts are part of a failed system that presumes we can punish our way out of addiction. Instead, research shows that people who use drugs need community-based harm reduction and treatment services, not the threat of criminal sanction.

If we want to move beyond the discredited War on Drugs and save lives, we must abandon the fixation on drug courts, invest in proven solutions, and let healthcare professionals not lawyers and judges guide treatment.

Drug courts arent new. For the last 30 years, the primary way the criminal justice system has attempted to connect people with substance use disorders to healthcare is via drug courts. In drug courts, people undergo court-monitored inpatient or outpatient treatment, often featuring frequent drug testing and stepped sanctions for noncompliance, such as failing a drug test or missing a court date, generally in exchange for a reduction or dismissal of charges.

Stepped sanctions can range from extra court appearances for periods of incarceration and the process of graduating from drug court may take six months to two years or more.

Many of the over3,000drug courts across the U.S. are supported by substantial federal spending. Some $40 million is invested in drug courts and drug court technical assistance every year by the federal government and president Biden haspledgedto increase that funding.

But that investment address neither the evidence nor the needs of our communities.

Drug courtsclaim to reduce recidivism when operating according to best practices, but the research supporting these claims warrants closer scrutiny. The evidence is highly skewed by the common practice of cherry-picking individuals most likely to succeed and excluding those most in need of care.

For example, a study found that although over half of the 907 individuals who died from overdoses in Philadelphia in 2016 had prior contact with the criminal legal system in the last two years,only ninewere deemed eligible to participate in drug court.

Additionally, many drug courtsarentrun according to best practices, juvenile drug courts in particular appear to actuallyincreaserecidivism, and some research shows that when individuals dont succeed in drug court they becomemorelikelyto be rearrested than if theyd just had their case handled conventionally.

And most importantly, reducing recidivism isnt the same as ending the criminalization of drug use, improving the health of people who use drugs, or improving community welfare and thoseshould be our primary goals when it comes to drug policy.

The evidence is clear that drug courts dont decrease incarceration rates.

While drug courts reduce initial sentences, that reduction in incarceration isoffsetby the time participants spend behind bars for sanctions as well as lengthier sentences imposed on people who fail to graduate from drug courts.

And studies have found that people who fail drug court programs receive sentences up totwo to five times longerthan conventionally sentenced defendants facing the same charges.

Many practitioners similarly have observed that drug courts expand the footprint of the justice system. Well-intentioned prosecutors or judges may sweep lower levels of cases into the drug court in the interest of forcing people into the intensive treatment drug courts entail, even when the burden of drug court is out of proportion with the offense they committed.

Meanwhile, drug courts are run by judges, not doctors, and that means they can befar from clinically sound, particularly when prosecutors or judges deny participants access to lifesaving opioid substitution therapies like methadone.

Jail sanctions arent treatment.

In fact, incarceration is linked with higher rates of suicide, the worsening of co-morbid mental health conditions, lower life expectancy, blood-borne virus transmission and the initiation of intravenous drug use.

Few drug courts even measuretheir impact on health outcomes like overdoses and mortality illustrating that improving health is not their primary concern.

There are multiple other criticisms that drug courts have facedfrom their fines and fees to the ethics of coerced treatment as a whole. We should invest in proven strategies and devote resources to live-savingharm reduction services, like street outreach, overdose prevention sites, and alternative first responders.

We need free easily accessible methadone and buprenorphine. And when people do come into contact with the criminal legal system, we need off-ramps from incarceration models thatdeflectpeople out of the legal system and into appropriate services, ensuring people receive evidence-based care without criminalizing them.

In the immediate future, drug courts remain a political reality. Theyre popular with judges, and sometimes have strong community buy-in because they offer a satisfying, if illusory, narrative of redemption.

There arethings prosecutors can doto make existing drug courts better, like ensuring they comport with best practices, incorporating harm reduction principles, and avoiding using them to punish drug use alone.

But in the longer term, drug courts arent the solution to reducing drug-related incarceration or saving lives. Criminal justice leaders must look at the evidence, and embrace a public health approach to drugswe urge the new administration to follow suit.

America deserves better. Weve lost too many lives already.

Miriam Krinsky is a former federal prosecutor and executive director ofFair and Just Prosecution.Leo Beletsky is a professor of law and health sciences and the faculty director of Northeastern University School of LawsHealth in Justice Action Lab.

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Why It's Time to Abandon Drug Courts - Crime Report

Adagio Therapeutics Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1 Trial of ADG20, its Lead Monoclonal Antibody Candidate for the Treatment and…

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Feb. 16, 2021 12:00 UTC

-ADG20 is uniquely engineered to maximize potency, duration of effect, and ease of use in the community setting, and has shown outstanding manufacturability to meet global demand-

-ADG20 binds to a highly conserved region of the spike protein not targeted by other antibodies, enabling potent neutralization to all known SARS-CoV-2 variants and several pre-emergent coronavirus threats-

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adagio Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing best-in-class antibodies to broadly neutralize coronaviruses, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating its lead monoclonal antibody product candidate, ADG20. The Phase 1 trial will be conducted in the United States and will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ADG20, including serum SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels, in healthy participants. Once adequate safety data are evaluated, Adagio plans to advance ADG20 into global pivotal trials for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, including in countries with high rates of resistant variants.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210216005243/en/

Tillman Gerngross, Co-Founder and CEO, Adagio Therapeutics, Inc. (Photo: Business Wire)

We are in the unique position of having a monoclonal antibody that binds to and protects against common circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as SARS-related viruses with pandemic potential. This broadly neutralizing activity was intentionally designed into ADG20, as we anticipated the continued emergence of resistance mutations, and we took deliberate steps to engineer ADG20 to maximize its potential to avoid viral escape. This design feature also enables ADG20 to target and neutralize coronaviruses that may emerge in the future, said Tillman Gerngross, Chief Executive Officer of Adagio. Were very proud of the impressive work the team at Adagio has done, rapidly moving from lead identification and manufacturing into clinical trials within eight months.

This Phase 1 study is the first step in the clinical development of ADG20, our broadly-neutralizing antibody for coronavirus threats, and we expect it to provide key information regarding safety, pharmacokinetics and serum SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels, said Lynn Connolly, Chief Medical Officer of Adagio. We plan to evaluate intramuscular administration of ADG20, which could be a critical differentiator for patients and providers, allowing for administration in the community setting for both prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We will be evaluating ADG20 across multiple clinical settings on a global basis from pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis to treatment. We are currently focused on outpatient populations, including an emphasis on addressing unmet needs in vulnerable groups such as the immune compromised and children.

In this Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, single ascending-dose study, healthy adult participants will either receive an intramuscular or intravenous dose of ADG20 or placebo. The primary endpoint of the study is safety and tolerability, while secondary endpoints include evaluations of pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. The study will also explore the serum neutralizing activity of ADG20 ex vivo against SARS-CoV-2.

In closing, Gerngross notes, We believe ADG20 is poised to address the endemic nature of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the pandemic potential of future coronaviruses. We are excited to initiate clinical trials and potentially commercialize a differentiated antibody whose combined attributes address key limitations of other antibody programs and have the potential to address the significant unmet need that remains in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

About Adagio Therapeutics

Adagio is developing best-in-class antibodies that can broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and additional pre-emergent coronaviruses. Our candidates are optimized using Adimabs industry-leading antibody engineering capabilities and are designed to provide patients and clinicians with an unsurpassed combination of potency, breadth, durable protection (via half-life extension), manufacturability, tolerability, and affordability. Our portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies includes multiple, non-competing antibodies with distinct binding epitopes. Pre-clinical data show that our lead antibody ADG20 matches or exceeds the potency and coverage of other clinical SARS-CoV-2 antibody programs. We plan to advance ADG20 aggressively through global clinical trials for both the prevention and treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 and anticipate data from both prevention and treatment clinical trials in 2021. Adagio has secured manufacturing capacity for the production of ADG20 with third party contract manufacturers through the completion of clinical trials and, if approved by regulatory authorities, through initial commercial launch. For more information: http://www.adagiotx.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210216005243/en/

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Adagio Therapeutics Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1 Trial of ADG20, its Lead Monoclonal Antibody Candidate for the Treatment and...

What Is This ‘QAnon’ Thing They’re Talking About? – Calbuzz

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Recent focus on the deranged views voiced by U.S. Rep Marjorie Taylor (Marge) Greene has elevated QAnon to a household word.

Attempting to understand precisely what QAnon is, however, represents a slippery and elusive task, because this shadowy, nut-case umbrella term has no universally accepted description.

The best nuts and bolts description, in a grueling Calbuzz internets investigation, comes from the global crowd source scholars of Wikipedia, who write in part:

QAnon[a](/kjunn/) is a disproven and discreditedfar-rightconspiracy theory[1]alleging that a secretcabalofSatan-worshipping,cannibalistic[2][3][4]pedophilesis running a global childsex-traffickingring and plotted against former U.S. presidentDonald Trumpwhile he was in office.[5]According to U.S. prosecutors, QAnon is commonly called acult.[6]

the conspiracy theory began with an October 2017 post on the anonymousimageboard4chanby Q (or QAnon), who was presumably an American individual;[22]it is now more likely that Q has become a group of people acting under the same name.[23][24]

Astylometricanalysis of Q posts claims to have uncovered that at least two people wrote as Q in different periods.[25][26]Q claimed to be a high-level government official withQ clearance, who has access to classified information involving theTrump administrationand its opponents in the United States.[27]

Fair enough, but thats a lot to process, and yet barely scratches the surface in terms of the wakadoodle ideas that QAnon adherents believe to be true. Consider just one of those ideas known as, um, Frazzledrip as outlined by Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times:

The lurid fantasy of Frazzledrip refers to an imaginary video said to show Hillary Clinton and her former aide, Huma Abedin, assaulting and disfiguring a young girl and drinking her blood. It holds that several cops saw the video and Clinton had them killed.

Because: of course.

Digging deeper. Here are several other descriptions that a variety of credible writers have employed in bids to wresle the nature, scope and meaning of QAnon to the ground:

At its heart, QAnon is a wide-ranging, completely unfounded theory that says that President Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business and the media: QAnon: What is it and where did it come from? BBC News Mike Wendling

Named after Q, who posts anonymously on the online bulletin board 4chan, QAnon alleges that President Donald Trump and military officials are working to expose a deep state pedophile ring with links to Hollywood, the media and the Democratic Party: QAnon: The alternative religion thats coming to your church (religionnews.com) Katelyn Beaty

baseless belief an anonymous person called Q was revealing secrets about a child trafficking ring orchestrated by Democrats and global elites: (Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, QAnon conspiracy promoter, rose with support from key Republicans, The Washington Post Michael Kranish, Reis Thebault and Sephanie McCrummen

a wild conspiracy theory that alleges a massive global pedophile cabal: ( Tucker Carlson stands up for QAnon supporters, The Washington Post Aaron Blake

QAnon is the umbrella term for a set of internet conspiracy theories that allege, falsely, that the world is run by a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles: What Is QAnon, the Viral Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theory? - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Kevin Roose

Key, but mostly unspoken, point: QAnon is not an organization, like the Republican Party, the John Birch Society, Students for Democratic Society, the Catholic Church or the Black Panther Party, or others which the MSM has described at various times as extremist.

Rather, its an uncertain, inconstant and shifting collection of conspiracy theories: One doesnt belong to QAnon. Theres no sign-up sheet, list of members, leadership structure or regular meetings.

Saying someone associates with QAnon is like saying someone associates with pantheism: the belief thatrealityis identical withdivinity,[1]or thatall-thingscompose an all-encompassing,immanentgod.[2].

Delusion goes mainstream. To be sure, there always have been tinfoil-hat and survivalist weirdos who believe Elvis is still alive, the Moon landing was faked or that the Holocaust never happened. But inevitably they were fringe people, widely regarded as delusional, out-of-the-mainstream wackos to whom nobody paid much attention.

Now, however, significant portions of the Republican Party have defended and spread ideas common among QAnon theorists like the belief that the Clintons and George Soros killed JFK or that the Sandy Hill School shootings were a false flag operation by anti-Second Amendment haters.

Or as Marge Greene who holds a seat in the United States House of Representatives (and let that sink in) famously retweeted, that Jewish space lasers set off the wildfires in California. Because: of course

In short, delusion has gone mainstream, the culmination of the Death of Truth trend in politics and culture of which we are among the first to write more than a decade ago.

Of course, the Delusionist in Chief, Donald Trump, played a pivotal role in spreading ideas like this and others, including denial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election or that Hydroxychloroquine prevents Coronavirus.

When the Commander in Chief, the Leader of the Free World the elected president of the United States holds, spreads and spins an entire alternative reality, the effect is like aggressive cancer consuming the country.

The bottom line change. For decades, crazy thinking, virulent racism, corrosive xenophobia and crushing misogynism all were part of the American political landscape. But all the flying monkeys, biting insects and snarling monsters were tamped down and stuffed into a box by mainstream politics, media and social decency.

Then along came Donald Trump, who not only unlocked forever our American Pandoras Box, but who endorsed, cheered and promoted virtually every one of the most dangerous and disgusting creatures and ideas that common sense had marginalized.

Now Qanon has become the unified theory of all the false and slanderous conspiracy stories. Which at least for the moment is being debunked, repudiated and de-legitimatized under the Biden-Harris administration.

That crazy uncle has been sent back to the basement. Whether or not he stays there is an open question.

Excerpt from:

What Is This 'QAnon' Thing They're Talking About? - Calbuzz

The American ‘Populist Right’ After Trump – The Wire

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Abiding by his campaign promise as well as his 2020 election adversarys nickname for him, US President Joe Biden during his first week in office slashed cable news viewership nearly in half. The ratings slump coincided with a Wall Street story for the ages, where a large group of small money investors coordinated on the Reddit forum Wall Street Bets and blew up the stock value of GameStop in a gleeful act of rebellion, after discovering that numerous hedge funds had been deliberately undervaluing the video game retailers stock by betting against it. As the cable news audience moved over from politics to business, to watch finance speculators howling for more regulation now that the tables had turned, consumers of internet news turned, as they always do, to a mixed martial arts cage fight announcers take on the matter.

The five million viewers who showed up to watch Joe Rogans video clip in the past week were referred to fellow podcaster Saagar Enjetis revelry in the collective act of Average Joes taking on people he despises the most, as the 28-year-old conservative commentator observed in his screed against those waking up now after having been silent on the crimes of actually influential people who rig our economy on a daily basis. Saagar himself recently surpassed a million subscribers on the morning news hour Rising with Krystal and Saagar, an internet program run by The Hill newspaper, which gained notoriety for its (rightly) favourable coverage of anti-establishment presidential candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang when corporate-owned cable news was hostile to both. Soon after, Saagar a social conservative and fiscal liberal and avowed socialist co-host Krystal Ball co-authored The Populists Guide to 2020 (Strong Arm Press), their bestselling companion to the elections told from what they call populist left and populist right perspectives.

If the American populist left was animated by the emerging socialist consciousness from #Occupy through Sanderss 2016 and 2020 runs for the highest office, the populist right was left to contend with former president Donald Trumps cult of personality; while the Sanders movement now asserts itself through a growing body of Democratic Socialists elected to the US House of Representatives, Trumps insurgency has derailed into conspiracy-mongering carried out by elite Republican politicians claiming like the man himself that the 2020 election was stolen. Can one realign this party, which continues to induce its working class voters into acting against their own interests, towards fighting for unions and a welfare state?

Heres what Saagar had to say.

Thank you for doing this interview, Saagar. First of all, congrats, Rising just got 1 million YouTube subscribers. Ive been one since back when your videos got 1,000 views on average. I was drawn to the fact that youre upfront about your ideological positions, which to me seems better than being a news show that pretends to be neutral. Can you give me a glimpse of these ideological beliefs and talk about the formative stages of your politics?

Its a misconception that I started out as a rock-ribbed Republican. Theres a pipeline that most people who call themselves conservative pundits, come from. They would have attended one of a few colleges and been part of some youth student organisation. That just wasnt it for me. Ideologically, 9/11 made me politically active. Although growing up in Texas, I rejected GOP normative orthodoxy. The original formulation of my politics was embedded in this guy who used to represent the district I grew up in. Called Chet Edwards, he was a Democrat representing one of the most conservative districts in the US. Growing up thinking of him as the conception of the Democratic party, I got to Washington at 18 interning for him, and realised, Oh man, he was so far out of step with the rest of the Democratic party.

So, I was not a Republican, and Im not a Democrat. I didnt feel like I had any home whatsoever, which is how a lot of people feel. Ive always been anti-woke, although that wasnt really a thing ten years ago, but there were inklings of the rejection of identity politics. I never fetishised fiscal conservatism, so the only thing that I encountered and thought, Wow, thats me, was this burgeoning movement embodied by Reihan Salaam and Ross Douthats book The Grand New Party, about the working class GOP and how the majority of people who vote Republican do not benefit from the partys economic policies. So, the rejection of identity politics and embrace of pro-worker economic policy is central. When I say rejection of identity politics, I dont mean in a glib way. I mean maximising the unit thats most important, which I think is family, having children, and having traditional values.

Krystall Ball and Saagar Enjeti host Rising with Krystal & Saagar for The Hill. Photo: Twitter/@esaagar

How do you ensure that you represent the views of working class conservatives both on Rising, as well as your podcast The Realignment referring to the realignment of the Republican coalition based on class rather than identity, if I see it right? Who are some activists and organisers whose views and research you represent or share?

I dont want to be seen as a spokesperson for certain people. I have an ideology and a guiding set of principles. I praise people who occasionally align with them, and Ill criticise them when I dont. Josh Hawley was somebody who on policy, I was aligning with, in a lot of different ways. But he was also someone who pursued Stop the Steal, president Donald Trumps election fraud claims, and I dissented very strongly. I dont see it as my job to be a spokesperson or representative for anybody, and if anything, I see it as my job to say what I think, and Im fortunate that a million people care. Its great if activists or politicians want to be talked about or want to collaborate, but I dont look at it the other way around.

Imagine a world where president Donald Trump did not happen. Can you trace the steps an ideal populist right candidate might take, from the lowest rung on the ladder? How would such a candidate campaign, to what offices, and how would he/she govern?

Thats a great question. I dont honestly know the answer because the truth is, Im not sure anyone but Trump could have done it. I think you did need somebody who was so bombastic, and the other side of it, which everybody underestimated is, he was just so famous. He was a household name. He needed billions of dollars of free advertising in order to overcome the deficit of the biases within the media, you know what Im saying?

Cache, you mean.

Yeah, exactly. So, Im not sure what the answer to that is.

Youve worked for a Democrat politician, you use the word heterodox a lot, and you liked Andrew Yang among Democratic presidential candidates in the 2020 US Primary election. If Yang was up against a standard fiscally conservative and socially posturing as liberal Republican politician, would you vote Democrat? And if youre embracing heterodoxy, why are you still with the Republican party?

This is a very tough question, Karthik. Ill answer it honestly. Why do I like Yang? He has done the best to transform the culture wars and cut through to whats the core rot in American society. Yang is one of a few who had the courage to call out pharma companies for their publicity during the opioid crisis. He is one of the few people willing to talk about class disparity. The third thing I love about Yang is the universality of his message. A universal basic income applies to everybody. Yang is focused on lifting up people, no matter race or religion.

The flipside of the coin, though, is what else does Yang say? He calls out pharma companies, but he also says, we should legalise heroin. I dont agree with that. While he says we have a mass depression and suicide epidemic, he seems to be calling for being more socially libertine. Those are not things I support at all, and in fact, I think it will dramatically contribute to exacerbating the problem.

I will always appreciate people like Yang, Bernie Sanders, AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], even Ilhan Omar, or any progressive leftist who talks with compassion about poor people in this country. But I think that their solutions would be dramatically destructive to people they claim to want to represent.

So, I dont know all that the Republican in your question supports, but if he/she really aligned with me on the social stuff, then Id feel compelled to vote. For sure less so against Yang, because Yang legitimately does want to help people raise their families. I believe that, but I think hes mistaken when it comes to a lot of socially liberal policies. Yang is at his best when hes describing the problems we have. The reason I praise him or Bernie, or anyone, is because I want somebody to talk about them. Thats it. That doesnt mean I agree with their solutions to those problems.

Andrew Yang. Photo: Reuters

Interestingly, this is the situation on both sides of the aisle. On both populist right and populist left, politicians agree on the diagnosis of problems but disagree on solutions. Because theres definitely bipartisanship between Democratic and Republican establishments, how do you think there can be bipartisanship between the populist right and left?

This is funny, people ask me this all the time, and I have a stock answer now its not going to happen. One of us has to win because were diametrically opposed. The left wants to legalise all drugs. The right says, no actually, drugs are bad, and punitive measures are important so that the populace doesnt get hooked on addictive substances and falling into destructive patterns. This comes into play, frankly, after the Black Lives Matter protests, and Im sure that Ill get some heat for this, but the beating heart of all liberalism, both progressive and normie leftism in America is a socially progressive ideology to the extent that progressive leftists believe in universal programs in order to solve racial inequities. Im not saying there are no racial inequities Im saying they use their justification of neoliberal race theory in order to push their programmes. When I talk about income inequality and student debt, I am talking about freeing up people in order to get married in America. The left is talking about just being free to do whatever the hell you want.

This diametric opposition of the goal makes it so that you cant work together. Let me give you another example childcare. Im not saying this is representative of my view, but I see the left being like, we need universal childcare so that everybody can get out to the workforce and go work. The right is like, we need tax credits for stay-at-home moms in order to take care of the kid. So, in one case you get a more productive free person to produce economic value and achieve individual actualisation, and in the other, you get similar type policy to maximise family formation in the US.

Its crazy how youre saying you want to get politics out of the culture war, but youre also saying it has to keep it going. How do you engage with the culpability of politicians and media personalities animating violence among the electorate, whose provocations are oftentimes purely performative or worse, cynically exploitative?

We dont talk nearly enough about the culpability of the people who got us to where we are, and to the extent that there is an alliance between left and right, this is where it should be lets tear down the people who got us into the war in Iraq, got us into NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement], and wrote the WTO rule so we could be dominated by China. These are the people who set the conditions that got us to where we are today, and I blame them more than I blame anybody.

To the extent that theres a right-wing critique of me that Im too cozy with the left and probably the same thing from the left of my co-host Krystal look at the people who want to take us down. So whenever there are calls to de-platform me, functionally, what makes them different from those by a libertarian billionaires who wants to make sure I dont have a voice. Its always important to know your enemies, and to the extent that we can unite, it should be to tear down the figures who got us to where we are. Then we can have the Battle Royale.

How do you plan to build alternative institutions that can contest Bush-era figures? Also, since you talk about its importance, how do you spread this family consciousness, or are you reflecting an already-growing awareness? On the left, we talk about education as an important aspect of organising. What does that involve on the right?

You dont have to educate people on how to form families and have kids, man. Its innate in all of us. In fact, education in America functionally teaches you not to value those things but instead to value the money in your bank account more than having a kid, getting married, and being around your parents. You dont need promotion of that. All you have to do is build up institutions that already exist, and that were then destroyed by neoliberalism.

Let me give you another example, which is again a very conservative point. People who have stable jobs with income to support a family of four, will have children, were generally happier, and reported greater satisfaction with their lives. How do you do that? You need unionisation. You need to have collective bargaining through non-governmental institutions to achieve the desired policy outcome. In 2018, we had the lowest marriage rate on record. Its not that people dont want to get married. They cant afford it. You know how much it costs to have a kid in America? It can be up to $10,000, depending on what your deductible is. Its crazy.

How would GOP and conservatives writ large regain trust on unionisation, when the Republican party is arguably responsible for the destruction of unions in the first place?

Thats a good question. You dont need to regain their trust, because liberals are losing their trust through pursuing identity politics. In 2016, Trump won 40% of the union vote, man. We dont have the vote totals in 2020 yet, but Im willing to bet it was higher. What does that tell you? If you try and take away the bedrock of what they value, people are not going to vote for you. Thats increasingly been the trend with the Democratic party. You want to get that union vote to 65-70. Youre never going to get to 100%. Politics is about margins. For example, everyone says the GOP only won 35% of the Latino vote, but it was 17% last time. Thats how you saw Florida go from GOP +0.8 to +3% in 2020. Trump won Florida by more than Obama in 2008. So, all you have to do is improve performance on the margins.

How do you engage with legitimate concerns of racism, especially among the working class GOP electorate, regardless of the culpability of politicians in stoking them?

I grew up in a town that was essentially segregated between people affiliated with the university system, and the working class people who served them. I chalk up the racial discrimination that I experienced to the fact that theres a deep-seated frustration with the idea of this foreign elite living in the city whose parents their parents work for. And you know what, thats as much a race story as it is a class story. You cant unbundle those things. So, when I think about the people who even gave me a hard time, some of them are not doing so well. Maybe they still hold onto their beliefs. My thinking is that, its the responsibility of any elite class and this applies to Asians more than any other immigrant group in America to understand the problems that poverty can bring, and the horrible ways that they can manifest themselves. A lot of people will be mad and say Im making excuses for racists. Theres always going to be a section of the population that will be racist in a multiethnic democracy, but I believe that people are good people, and to make society marginally more harmonious, you have to give people equitability and buy-in into the system by reducing economic disparities.

A demonstrator holds a sign during a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Hemel Hempstead, Britain, June 13, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

An American journalist would have led with this given we live in the so-called post-truth age; I love how they talk like they havent contributed to that. How can either political party be held accountable if the media ecosystem is entirely hijacked by this intra-K-street politics? Does anybody care about being accountable to independent media like you?

No, they dont care at all. To the extent that they do, its because they recognise that I have an actual audience. I will tell you the one thing that woke everybody up. People in DC dont care about YouTube. You and I know that a million viewers is a lot. Here, they dont care about that. They equate YouTube with guys sitting in basements, as in its not legitimate. Thats what Eric Weinstein calls the gated institutional narrative. They would rather be well-known among the 400,000 CNN viewers, than they would among my viewers. But when the book did really well, a lot of people started paying attention. Nevertheless, nobody on Capitol Hill is like, did you hear what Saagar said. Hugh Hewitt, who has way less listeners than I do, his voice matters much more. If somebody were to write a Wall Street Journal column, they would have much more impact on Capitol Hill than anything I have to say. What Im doing is fringe, and even if they might be shocked by the numbers, they would never even admit to listening to anything I do. I think that might be changing as the new generation grows up, because while a Congressman might not care what I think, their staff do, but I dont want to exaggerate my power.

China is a favourite topic of yours, which you briefly alluded to earlier. Recently, China nationalised Alibaba and ANT, their largest tech companies. I think recently Jacobin had made their separate argument for nationalising US Big Tech firms as an anti-monopolist measure. Can you share your thoughts on China in general as well as this specific instance?

Should you allow groups of firms to have massive economic, political and social control over your country? No, but that doesnt mean you have to silence one of the most successful people who has ever come out of your country. Look, I dont want the government nationalising everything. The problem is, the libertarians would say, then the alternative is that you must allow a massive Google. Theres a midway here. Its deep in the American tradition to pursue anti-monopoly policy and have regulation, which is not the same thing as Xi Jinping silencing Jack Ma because he realises that Ma could use his influence to counter the goals of the Chinese Communist Party.

So, I dont believe and never will, in the Chinese model or anything, even though its obviously more efficient. But what I think makes us great is our ability to have actual balance. And to the extent that theres an argument here, its that we have fallen way out of balance. The debate should be about what the strictures and the balance looks like. We have to tear down the current infrastructure, and then I want to have a war on what that looks like.

Jack Ma and Mark Zuckerberg. Photo: Reuters

Last question. What would the populist right foreign and immigration policy be? Does it believe in an America of the poor and huddled masses?

Its not mutually exclusive, but I also hate the Statue of Liberty question, because what do you want to do, run your immigration policy based on a Statue that got here in 1885? I think that immigration should enrich the nation. I dont think its primary goal should be enriching people who are not your citizens. Immigration policy should be geared towards a win-win situation, and not a lose-lose one as it stands in many cases. The way we talk about immigration is largely a function of the lack of familiarity with history, the lack of respect for cultural friction, the lack of respect for peoples wages, and in many ways its driven by an elite hatred of the people who live here, and an apathy for their suffering. The foreign policy would be a rejection of military adventurism for the sake of adventurism, and seethis is where I differ so much from the left. When I say I want troops out of Afghanistan, me and leftists agree, but then theyre like, its because Americas an irredeemably evil racist nation. And Im like, do you know what Afghanistan does to its people? So, I want to get out of Afghanistan, retool our military in a productive capacity so we can take on China, our geopolitical competitor for the next 40-50 years. I dont want to go to war with China. I dont want to see regime change in China at the USs hand; I think that would be bad because were bad at it. But we need to be able to defend ourselves. So, its about recognition of Americas military adventurist limits, and not seeking out ideological wars like, for example, invading Iraq, or staying in Afghanistan for 17 years hoping we can turn a 12th century society into a Western liberal democracy overnight.

Karthik Purushothaman is a writer who grew up in Tamil Nadu and now lives in the United States. His work has appeared in journals such asBoulevard,HyperallergicandRattle.

Originally posted here:

The American 'Populist Right' After Trump - The Wire

Guest Column: Is There A Place For Conservative Populism In America? – FITSNews

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byBILL WILSON|| The Republican partyis struggling to define itself, and the elephant in the room is populism. With corporate Democrats in the White House and an establishment GOP eager to return to defending corporations and policing the globe, is there a place for conservative populists?

One theory posits that conservative populism was a fleeting fad, championed by the charismatic larger than-life Donald Trump, and that it will fizzle without him. The theory is that the almost 75 million Americans who voted for Trump adopted his populist ideas on immigration, trade policy, and scaling down U.S. military operations overseas, more because they liked Trumps rhetoric and less because they held populist beliefs.

Now with Trump defeated, at least until the 2024 election cycle when he is cleared to run again, Democrats are speaking about unity and offering to work with Republicans who distance themselves from Trump. Corporate Republicans like Lindsey Graham, Mitt Romney, and John Kasich are promising Trump was a fluke who does not represent the party and distancing themselves rapidly from populism.

This narrative concludes that without Trump in the spotlight, conservative populists will lose interest, and make their way back to the corporate GOP, or perhaps back into political nonparticipation.

A related theory is that populism always belonged to the left, most notably to big-name progressives like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and AOC. This theory posits that populism is relegated to the realm of Wall Street regulation, transfer payments, and infrastructure spending. It asserts that the natural manifestation of anti-elitist sentiment is progressive left-wing populism and the right has no real business drumming up populist sentiment.

Proponents of this narrative can point to the fact that it has historically been progressives who have been hammering away about the wealth gap and inequality for years. Now, with Biden-Harris in the White House and progressive voices like Warren and Sanders dragging the party leftward on economic issues, the GOP should stay in its place.

These topical arguments are extremely compelling to both parties, who are understandably looking forward to returning to their status-quo roles and activities.

DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO RECOUP THE PRO-WORKING CLASS POPULIST IDENTITY (AND SEVERAL MIDWESTERN STATES), AND CORPORATIST REPUBLICANS SEEM ALL TOO HAPPY TO HAND POPULISM BACK TO THE LEFT AND RETURN TO FIGHTING DOMESTIC SPENDING AND EXPANDING THE MILITARY.

New York Timescolumnist Ross Douthats recent op-ed How Trump ate Populism sums up both arguments perfectly. Douthat argues that populism was a movement defined entirely by Trump, and that Trump,was defining, in his own selfish and demagogic way, what a conservative populism meant.

Reducing populism to its economic core Douthat argues that the right has never been successful at integrating working-class populist policies into its platform: the American right doesnt usually move leftward on economics in a thoughtful, coherent and sustainable way that the move is usually ad hoc, undercooked and cheerfully unprincipled, which makes it more likely to be abandoned once the party is out of power, treated as rubble instead of a foundation.

Douthat concludes that,over the next few years, this will have two likely implications for the rights sincere economic populists. First, they will watch the Biden administration poach issues that they once hoped to own, from big tax breaks for families to big spending on domestic infrastructure. Second, they will watch their party nominate self-proclaimed populists, in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Arkansas that should be the base for a working-class conservatism, who are just acolytes for the cult of Trumpwith a policy agenda condensed to owning the libs and dog whistling to the QAnoners.

There is a possibility, or perhaps a risk, that Douthats predictions for right-wing populism are correct. It is certainly a neat and tidy narrative: populism can be reduced to traditionally left-wing economic policies, and with a Democrat president and Democrat-controlled House and Senate, Democrats can easily charter a path as the real economic populists. Republicans, to remain relevant, will revert back to opposing Democrats, and the cycle will spin on.

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Where does this leave the working-class coalition of conservative populists who were Trumps strongest supporters?

The working-class blue-collar coalition that elected Trump based on his America first platform is not just going to disappear. Assuming these voters will quietly rejoin the corporatist GOP is optimistic, to say the least. Significant numbers of Trumps white-no college supporters in both 2016 and 2020 were political newcomers, disenfranchised Americans who chose to vote for Trump because he spoke directly to their needs. Trump remains extremely popular in polling withwhite no college, with men, with Midwesterners, and with middle income Americans.

The latest YouGov survey shows 37 percent of Americans think Trump should run again, and that number climbs to 44 percent among men and53 percent among white men without a college degree, though a substantial 49 percent of white menwitha college degree also support him running again. As with previous polling, middle-income Americans support Trumps next bid at the highest rate. Forty-seven percent of those making between $50K and $100K annually support Trump running again, compared to 31 percent of those making under $50K and 35 percent of those making over $100K.

Trumps support remains highest in the Midwest and South where 43 percent and 41 percent support him running again, compared to 32 percent in the West and 30 percent in the Northeast. What is more, 38 percent of Independents want Trump to run again, as do 27 percent of moderates. Thirty-six percent of Americans overall maintain that Biden did not legitimately win the election, and that climbs to 39 percent of men and 49 percent of white men without a degree, though 43 percent of white men with a degree feel this way too.

Of course, these numbers tell only the story of Trumps popularity, but do white working-class Americans lean populist on real issues? The answer appears to be, a lot do. The same YouGov survey shows widespread support among equal or larger shares of core Trump supporter groups for proposals including the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package, and the $1400 stimulus checks. Sixty-four percent of Americans somewhat or strongly support the aid package, including 60 percent of men, 56 percent of white men without a degree, and 51 percent of white men with a degree. Note the breakdown there white menwithouta degree (core Trump supporters) support the stimulus bill at a higher rate than white menwitha degree. Not a surprise from an economic perspective, but somewhat of a shift from a political one.

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Support for the aid package is highest among the lowest income groups, with 73 percent of those making under $50K a year supporting it, compared to 57 percent of middle-income groups and 56% of higher income groups. It is supported by 32 percent of Republicans, 32 percent of conservatives, and 59 percent of Independents. The stimulus checks are supported by 79 percent of Americans, including 76 percent of men, and 73 percent of white men without a degree compared to 71 percent of white men with a degree. Strong support for the stimulus checks is highest in the Midwest, with 43 percent strongly approving of them and 80 percent net approving of them.

Most notably, 61 percent of Trump voters support the stimulus checks, as do 63 percent of Republicans, and 59 percent of conservatives.

Now, these are unprecedented economic times, with states shutting down entire sectors of the economy in response to the coronavirus, and rising Republican and conservative acceptance of increased government spending and aid could be more a sign of desperation than it is an ideological shift. However, the numbers are clear: increasing shares of Trumps core supporters are open to, and in fact supportive of, government solutions.

However, what analysts on both the left and right seem to miss is this

ECONOMICS IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF A MUCH MORE NUANCED SET OF PRIORITIES FOR CONSERVATIVE POPULISTS.

While populism has a core economic imperative, it also has a cultural one. Populists on the right are staunchly pro-American and anti-globalism. They dont want to merely benefit from wealth redistribution schemes or up infrastructure spending, although they are not as opposed to these ideas as the vigilant libertarian wing of the GOP.

What populists seek is for political leaders to put American citizens first and that is something the Biden administration, the Democrat Party, and the Establishment GOP, are not doing.

IF THERE IS A PLACE ON THE RIGHT FOR POPULISM IT IS IN THAT PRECISE AREA: OPPOSING GLOBALISM AND EMBRACING AN AMERICA FIRST SET OF PRIORITIES.

Populists want to reestablish a robust American manufacturing sector, and incentivize corporations to keep jobs inside the United States instead of offshoring, they want to cut foreign aid, reduce foreign intervention andbring American troops home.

Populists want to see politicians follow in Trumps footsteps and continue to restructure trade deals in the U.S.s favor. In 2020 Trump signed a new trade dealthat forced China to commit to buying an additional $200 billion worth of American goodsand services by 2021, while maintaining most of the tariffs he placed on $360 billion worth of Chinese goods. Populists want more of that kind of thinking.

Populists want to pull out of dubious international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord that punishes the U.S. while forcing taxpayers tosubsidize polluting countries like China and Indiajust to get them to participate.

Populists want to deport illegal aliens whose first act on American soil was to break the law, and they want to ensure a strong border and a legal immigration system. Populists want a robust police force, and they want to ensure the fundamental rights to life and property are protected.

Sure, maybe populists want to up teacher pay or weigh the pros of domestic spending projects now and again. But what many populists are looking for long-term is not necessarily a handout, but the removal of the vast number of anti-American policies stacked against the average citizen.

The core of conservative populism is putting America first, rejecting globalism, and restoring a nation where politicians work for the people. It is about much more than transfer payments or tax cuts.

WHAT LEFTWING POPULISTS FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEIR GLOBALIST PRIORITIES ARE ACTUALLY HURTING THE POPULISTS WHO SUPPORT THEM, AND THIS IS WHERE THE RIGHT CAN DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF WITH AN AMERICA-FIRST AGENDA.

If there is a place on the right for conservative populists, it is a place where they successfully differentiate themselves from the globalists and corporatists on the left and the right and demand a domestic agenda that puts the American people first.

(Via: Provided)

Bill Wilsonis the President of the Market Research Foundation and a former board member and former president of Americans for Limited Government. His column, reprinted with permission,originally appearedon the Market Research Foundation website.

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Guest Column: Is There A Place For Conservative Populism In America? - FITSNews

Divided over Draghi, Italy’s 5-Star has an identity crisis – Reuters

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ROME (Reuters) - Italys 5-Star Movement, once a prototype for successful populist and anti-establishment parties around Europe, is at a crossroads. Does it fully embrace the political mainstream, or revert to being an outsider?

FILE PHOTO: Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi drinks a beverage during a debate at the Senate ahead of a confidence vote for the government, in Rome, Italy, February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/Pool/File Photo

With support ebbing, its fate could shape Italian politics for years to come, and the battle lines over its future have been drawn.

When the head of state asked former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi on Feb. 2 to try to form a government, and so end Italys political stalemate, 5-Stars leadership immediately ruled out supporting him.

But its founder, 72-year-old former comedian Beppe Grillo, had other ideas. Four days later, he rushed from his home in Genoa for a crisis meeting in Rome with about 30 of 5-Stars top lawmakers.

At the encounter in a conference room in the capitals labyrinthine Chamber of Deputies, he made clear 5-Stars initial decision should be reversed, according to a lawmaker who was present.

When we walked in Grillo was pretending to talk to someone on the telephone; it was a kind of comedy act, said the source, who declined to be named because the meeting was private. He was discussing ... why we should be part of the government.

Some 5-Star politicians and voters are deeply unhappy with the line imposed by Grillo.

At Draghis first vote of confidence in parliament on Wednesday, 23 of 5-Stars 92 senators defied the party line and refused to back him. 5-Stars caretaker leader Vito Crimi said most of them would be expelled.

If 5-Star emerges from its crisis further weakened or transformed into a mainstream progressive party, it could mark the end of the populist wave which swept Italy at the last election and which alarmed financial markets and its European partners.

Matteo Salvinis League has already shifted out of the far-right camp to get behind Draghi.

In some ways, 5-Star has followed a similar trajectory to other populist parties in southern Europe such as Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

All three achieved power, but have been absorbed into the mainstream they vowed to fight and seen their support wither.

I dont know what you should call us now. Maybe the anti-anti-establishment party?, 5-Star lawmaker Raphael Raduzzi told Reuters. We have to ask ourselves what we want to become.

Grillo gave up day-to-day involvement in 5-Stars affairs about five years ago, but when crucial decisions are to be made he is still the one who calls the shots.

Shortly before his meeting with 5-Star parliamentarians, he wrote a blog post calling for the new government to name a minister for ecological transition with full responsibility for energy policy.

Grillo had already spoken to Draghi and received an assurance this ministry would be created in return for 5-Stars backing, a source close to the 5-Star founder told Reuters.

Grillo, who communicates with the public mainly through his blog, declined to comment for this article.

Draghis spokeswoman confirmed Grillo and Draghi spoke about the governments formation.

They agreed over the importance of creating a government with a strong emphasis on ecological transition, she said.

Ecology has always been a central part of 5-Stars platform. It is one of the five policy stars from which it takes its name. Sustainable transport is another.

Italy, unlike Germany and France, has never had a successful Green party and Grillo is eyeing that gap in the hope of saving his party from gradual extinction.

Huge sums as well as high ideals are involved. The European Commission has ordered that policies to fight climate change must account for 37% of its Recovery Fund set up to help the blocs battered economies, the largest single component.

In Italys case that means 70 billion euros ($85 billion) to spend on green transition over the next six years.

Now the environment. Whatever it takes, Grillo tweeted this week under an Andy Warhol-style multicolour diptych of Draghi, in reference to the former ECB chiefs famous 2012 pledge to do whatever it takes to save the euro.

5-Star is the largest force in parliament thanks to its triumph at a 2018 election when it took 33% of the vote, double the tally of its nearest rival.

It now has less than 15%, making it Italys fourth largest party, and desperately needs a new identity.

It has four ministers in Draghis newly formed cabinet, but for many members, supporting the government of a former ECB chief is unacceptable. Doing so in a coalition with sworn enemies makes matters worse.

Founded in 2009 as a channel for protest against the perceived corruption and cronyism of Italys political and business elite, 5-Star espoused internet-based direct democracy and vowed never to form alliances with traditional parties.

In the last three years it has ruled in two coalitions, with the right and centre-left, and is now set to govern with both at once.

For me this is a step too far, said Raduzzi, a lower house deputy who opposed joining the government of technocrats and career politicians.

Raduzzi has not left the party, unlike one of its most popular figures - Alessandro Di Battista - who writes frequent articles attacking Draghi or members of his government.

Di Battista, a charismatic 42-year-old firebrand, walked out after the decision to back Draghi, but his followers expect him to return when the time is right and see him as a future leader.

The battle for 5-Stars future is likely to be fought over the opposing visions of Di Battista on the one hand and Grillo on the other.

Grillo, for now in the driving seat, wants to transform 5-Star into an environmentalist, pro-EU party allied with the centre-left Democratic Party to compete with Salvinis rightist bloc.

Di Battista wants 5-Star to avoid a structural alliance with the left and to regain its old anti-establishment spirit, with a more critical stance towards the EU and big business.

I believe this government is suicide for the 5-Star Movement and is bad for Italy, Di Battista told Reuters. He did not rule out a return to 5-Stars ranks in the future.

The risk for 5-Star, currently in the hands of the uncharismatic Crimi, is that whatever path the party takes, by the time of the next election in 2023 its decline will be irreversible.

The slump in 5-Stars support was not altogether surprising, given it is an anti-establishment party also in government. Without sufficient seats in parliament to rule alone, the movement also joined forces with either the left or right.

Unlike the leftist Syriza and Podemos, or the far-right National Rally in France and Austrias Freedom Party, 5-Star has always presented itself as an ideology-free movement with voters from the left and right alike.

Some political commentators believe its best chance of revival lies with former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who has no party affiliation but is close to 5-Star.

The message Conte posted on Facebook on his last day as prime minister received more than a million likes, a record for an Italian politician. He promised to continue the path of his 16-month, left-leaning government in future.

Millions of 5-Star voters, and some of its politicians, hope he does so as their leader.

($1 = 0.8275 euros)

Writing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Mike Collett-White

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Divided over Draghi, Italy's 5-Star has an identity crisis - Reuters