Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 340

New term for Supreme Court means cases on guns, porn access, environmental impacts

By Michael Macagnone, CQ-Roll Call

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court starts a new term Monday that includes cases on guns, e-cigarettes and environmental standards that will give the conservative majority a chance to further tame the power of administrative agencies.

The justices in recent terms have expanded the court’s power to review federal government actions and policies, and several administrative law experts expect more of the same in the coming months.

“The Supreme Court has been, I think it’s not too strong to say, waging war on the administrative state,” Lisa Heinzerling, a law professor at the Georgetown Law Center, said at a Center for American Progress event.

Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western University, said that last term a trio of major cases on agency powers “created a very significant administrative law term overall. I think we should expect something similar this year.”

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The justices also teed up cases for this term on hot-button social issues, such as whether Republican states went too far with laws that ban gender-affirming care for minors or require age verification for access to porn websites.

Deepak Gupta, a founding partner at Gupta Wessler who spoke at a Georgetown Law Center event, called the gender-affirming ban “the blockbuster case” in a term that “seems otherwise to have been designed to be sleepy.”

The justices so far have agreed to decide 28 cases, less than half of the number it decided last year. The court is expected to announce as soon as Monday some other cases it will decide by the conclusion of the term in June.

Fewer of them at this point seem to hold potential to be the kind of major decisions that the court handed down at the end of last term on abortion or criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.

At the same time, experts say a close election in November could thrust the court back into controversy if it is called on to intervene in any election-related challenges, as it was in 2020.

Gupta said that it’s notable there are several potentially impactful cases the court could decide to hear later in the term, but it has a relatively clear docket for now heading into the election.

“I mean, that’s just a theory, but it did seem like they’re being deliberately boring,” at the start of the term, Gupta said.

Election law disputes are possible but unlikely, according to Derek Muller, a law professor at Notre Dame University. He said the Supreme Court generally avoids stepping into the high-stakes litigation surrounding elections, but that may not always be possible.

“I think there’ll be intense pressure for whatever decision or whatever cases they face for them to try to reach unanimous results, or to try to avoid hearing altogether,” Muller said. “But you know, those are the best laid plans until you actually see the cases in front of you.”

The first oral arguments of the term are the first two weeks in October, and they include disputes over procedural filings in state and federal courts, a challenge to a death penalty conviction and a fight over the future of the Biden administration’s effort to regulate so-called “ghost guns” assembled from kits.

In one case, the Biden administration seeks to implement a 2022 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule requiring that gun kits have serial numbers and only be sold with background checks.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit decision halted the regulation, ruling that the agency went too far with a provision in the Gun Control Act of 1968 that allows it to consider a finished “frame or receiver” to be a firearm.

In the Garland v. VanDerStok case at the court, the Biden administration argues that the gun kits can be turned into a working firearm with a few minutes of work and basic power tools, and so should be treated as firearms under federal law.

The case follows an opinion last term where the justices found an ATF rule restricting so-called “bump stocks” went beyond the terms of the law regulating machine guns.

Andrew Willinger, the executive director for the Duke Center for Firearms Law, said the justices adopted an approach that gave little leeway to the agency — and the justices “certainly seem to be using this area of law to kind of test drive their approach to the administrative state generally.”

In another case, the justices are considering the scope of what federal agencies can require for environmental reviews — a major step in many construction and other infrastructure projects.

Heinzerling said the case — Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado — will allow the court “to speak broadly on exactly what kind of impacts are being considered when this comes to climate change, it’s really important.”

Heinzerling said a decision could determine whether federal agencies may look at the bigger picture environmental impact when approving a project, such as whether broader availability of products carried by a new rail line could worsen climate change or be limited to the scope of the project itself.

Adler said the case and others may highlight the justices’ close focus on what Congress actually passed in statutes, and “how do we understand how much power Congress has delegated to an agency in any given case.”

In two cases this term, the Supreme Court will decide to what lengths the government may infringe on constitutional rights under the premise of protecting children.

In U.S. v. Skrmetti, the justices accepted the Biden administration’s challenge to a Tennessee state law that restricts access to gender-affirming care for minors in the state.

The Tennessee case comes as more than two dozen states have passed laws banning or otherwise restricting gender transition care for minors, and several Republicans have pushed to do so at the federal level as well.

The Biden administration argues that the law discriminates against children on the basis of their sex — allowing minors to receive puberty blockers and other drugs for other conditions, but not to transition.

State officials have defended the measure in Supreme Court filings, claiming they are not discriminating against children on the basis of sex, merely protecting them from “unproven and risky” medical procedures.

Medical associations, in briefs in the case, have disputed that characterization and say the procedures are backed by decades of research and recommended by an international standards body.

Chase Strangio, co-director for transgender justice at the ACLU, said a key question is whether the justices will take the same approach as a 2020 decision restricting gender identity discrimination that just applied to employment law. Applying it to a constitutional right could impact LGBT rights in health care, education and other areas.

“I think we can expect the resolution on this case as always to have an impact beyond the health care context,” Strangio said, pointing to laws in states such as Alabama limiting the ability of transgender individuals to change a driver’s license.

In another case, a group of petitioners have challenged a Texas law requiring porn websites verify a user’s age before allowing them to access content “harmful to minors,” arguing the requirements infringe on the rights of adults to access protected speech.

David Cole, legal director for the ACLU, said the court’s cases this term on individual rights could impact broader federal arguments about free speech and equal protection because they involve constitutional rights, not legislation. The organization represents petitioners in both cases.

“I think whatever the court holds will apply across the board,” Cole told reporters at an ACLU event.

©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Horoscopes Oct. 3, 2024: Gwen Stefani, tend to self-care

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Seann William Scott, 48; Neve Campbell, 51; Gwen Stefani, 55; Chubby Checker, 83.

Happy Birthday: Take a fresh look at the past, present and future, and what you want to pursue next will become clear. Address what’s standing in your way. Refuse to let outside influences deter you from implementing the lifestyle and pursuing the prospects that make you feel vibrant. It’s your responsibility to tend to self-care and to manifest dreams that enhance your happiness and peace of mind. Your numbers are 4, 17, 25, 29, 34, 42, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): View what’s unfolding before forging ahead with your plans. Refrain from getting sucked into someone’s pie-in-the-sky ideas when you have aspirations of your own to follow. Speak up, and you’ll be surprised by the input you receive. Turn your thoughts into a reality. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may crave change, but be realistic if your options suggest a financial loss. Be ready to raise your profile, update your qualifications and put your energy into presenting, networking and marketing who you are and the skills you possess. Personal and professional partnerships look promising. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Embrace every chance to expand your interests, friendships and skills. Participation is the name of the game when dealing with expansion and drumming up business. Put your energy into differentiating yourself from any competition to make yourself stand out. Financial and personal gains are apparent. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Think twice before you do or say something you may live to regret. Avoid emotional turmoil and being taken advantage of by manipulative people. Pay attention to detail, look around and do your best. Own the spotlight instead of letting someone dim your aura. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Physical activity will help you turn angst and frustration into self-awareness and achievement. Use your intelligence to sort through information and find experts who offer insight into what’s possible. Refuse to let temptation lead you down the wrong path. Stick to facts and do what’s right. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take care of money matters first, followed by reputation, position and prospects you want to pursue. Set the stage for success and refuse to revert to an unfamiliar path. Follow your dreams, and wish others well in following theirs. A financial gain is within reach. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your heart and soul into what makes you happy, and share your plans with someone who can be instrumental in achieving your goal. Trust your instincts, remain calm and make the most of every situation to ensure you come out on top. Personal gain is within reach. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Start thinking about what makes you happy, and donate more time and energy to making it part of your daily routine. Use your imagination to devise a unique plan combining learning, teaching and sharing with like-minded people. The best is yet to come. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stand your ground and trust your instincts, not someone else’s judgment. Finish what you start and leave no room for outside interference or criticism. Embark on a challenge that promotes personal growth and the desire to participate in something that concerns you or makes you feel passionate. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Learn from past mistakes, observations and educational pursuits. Listen and dissect information carefully before implementing it into your plans. A partnership requires equality to work. Put a schedule in place that divides responsibilities evenly to avoid discontentment. Make romance, love and happiness priorities. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Invest time and effort in sorting through investments and how your money will bring the highest returns. Consider options, agreements and how to overcome something standing in your way. Attend seminars or lectures that offer insight into what’s trending and fruitful. Make health and fitness a priority. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t overdo it or let temptation take over. Look inward and consider how to better care for your health and well-being. A fitness regimen, or dedicating more time to raising your awareness regarding money, financing and how to lower your overhead, will ease your mind and give you hope. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are opportunistic, innovative and responsive. You are disciplined and intentional.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Condoms aren’t a fact of life for young Americans. They’re an afterthought

By DEVNA BOSE

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — It’s hard to miss the overflowing bowl of condoms at the entrance of the gym.

Some University of Mississippi students walking past after their workout snicker and point, and the few who step forward to consider grabbing a condom rethink it when their friends catch up, laughter trailing behind them. Almost no one actually reaches in to take one.

Though officials say they refill the bowl multiple times a day, and condoms are available at multiple places on campus, Ole Miss students say the disinterest is indicative of changing attitudes.

Fewer young people are having sex, but the teens and young adults who are sexually active aren’t using condoms as regularly, if at all. And people ages 15 to 24 made up half of new chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases in 2022.

Students walk around the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

The downward trend in condom usage is due to a few things: medical advancements like long-term birth control options and drugs that prevent sexually transmitted infections; a fading fear of contracting HIV; and widely varying degrees of sex education in high schools.

Is this the end of condoms? Not exactly. But it does have some public health experts thinking about how to help younger generations have safe sex, be aware of their options — condoms included — and get tested for STIs regularly.

“Old condom ads were meant to scare you, and all of us were scared for the longest time,” said Dr. Joseph Cherabie, medical director of the St. Louis HIV Prevention Training Center. “Now we’re trying to move away from that and focus more on what works for you.”

A shift in attitudes

Downtown Oxford was thrumming the day before the first football game of the season. The fall semester had just started.

Lines of college students with tequila-soda breath waited to be let in dim bars with loud music. Hands wandered, drifting into back pockets of jeans, and they leaned on one another.

It’s likely that many of those students didn’t use a condom, said Magan Perry, president of the college’s Public Health Student Association.

“Using a condom is just a big, ‘uh, no,’” the senior said.

Drink protector “condoms” and other sexual wellness items are made available to students at the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

Young women often have to initiate using condoms with men, she said, adding that she’s heard of men who tell a sexual partner they’ll just buy emergency contraception the next day instead.

“I’ve had friends who go home with a guy and say they’re not having sex unless they use a condom, and immediately the reaction is either a reluctant, ‘OK, fine,’ or ‘If you don’t trust me, then I shouldn’t even be here,’” Perry said. “They’re like, ‘Well, I’m not dirty, so why would I use them?’”

Women have long had the onus of preventing pregnancy or STIs, Cherabie said, and buying condoms or emergency contraceptives — which are often in a locked cabinet or behind a counter — can be an uncomfortable experience and “inserts a certain amount of shame,” Cherabie said.

If pregnancy risk has been the driving factor for condom usage among heterosexual couples, the fear of contracting HIV was the motivation for condom use among men who have sex with men.

But as that fear has subsided, so has condom use, according to a recent study that focused on a population of HIV-negative men who have sex with men.

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Grindr, a popular gay dating app, even lists condom use under “kinks” instead of “health.” Things like that make Steven Goodreau, an HIV expert at the University of Washington who led the study, worry that the change in attitudes toward condoms is trickling down to younger generations.

Goodreau believes the promotion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that prevents HIV, is overshadowing condoms as a prevention strategy. A strategic plan for federal HIV research through 2025 doesn’t mention condoms, and neither does the national Ending the HIV Epidemic plan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges that condoms are still an effective tool that can be used “alongside newer prevention strategies.”

“We know that condom use has declined among some groups, but they still have an important role to play in STI prevention,” said Dr. Bradley Stoner, director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “Condoms can be accessed without navigating the health care system, can be used on-demand, are generally affordable and most importantly – they are effective at preventing HIV and STIs when used consistently and correctly.”

Medical advances allow for more options

Pleasure — for both men and women — has long been an undeniable factor for the lack of condom use, according to Dr. Cynthia Graham, a member of the Kinsey Institute team that studies condoms.

But more so, advances in medicine have expanded the options for both STI and pregnancy prevention.

Young cisgender women have been turning to contraceptive implants like intrauterine devices and birth control pills to keep from getting pregnant. And researchers say that once women are in committed relationships or have one sexual partner for a significant amount of time, they often switch to longer-term birth control methods.

A couple holds hands at the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

Ole Miss junior Madeline Webb said she and her partner seem like outliers — they have been seeing each other for four years, but still use condoms. They also share the responsibility of buying condoms.

“People see condoms as an inconvenience … but they do serve a purpose even if you’re on birth control because there is always a chance of an STD,” Webb said.

A new drug on the market could mean even more STI prevention options for men and possibly women.

Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, or doxy PEP, can be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex and can help prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. It has to be prescribed by a doctor. Trials are still being conducted for women, but the drug is gaining traction among men who have sex with men and transgender women.

With widespread uptake, the drug has the potential to make a significant impact in STI prevention strategies.

“When PrEP came out, everyone was excited because it was one less thing to worry about in terms of HIV acquisition,” Cherabie said. “With another thing on board that can help decrease our likelihood of getting other STIs, on top of not having to worry about HIV, it gives our community and patients a little less anxiety about their sex lives.”

Condoms and other sexual wellness items are stored at the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

And in just a decade, PrEP has become a main preventive measure against HIV and other STIs for men who have sex with men – though it is disproportionately used by white men.

Condom use now is “pretty much a thing of the past” for men who have sex with men compared to the 1980s and early 1990s during the AIDS epidemic, said Andres Acosta Ardilla, a community outreach director at an Orlando-based nonprofit primary care clinic that focuses on Latinos with HIV.

“Part of what we have to talk about is that there is something enticing about having condomless sex,” Acosta Ardilla said. “And we have to, as people who are working in public health, plan for the fact that people will choose to have condomless sex.”

The fight over sex ed

Despite the relentless Southern sun, a handful of people representing various student organizations sat at tables in the heart of Ole Miss’ campus. Students walked past and grabbed buttons, wristbands and fidget toys. One table offered gold-packaged condoms – for cups to prevent drinks from being spiked.

Actual condoms are noticeably absent. They’re also absent in the state’s public schools.

Condom demonstrations are banned in Mississippi classrooms, and school districts can provide abstinence-only or “abstinence-plus” sexual education — both of which can involve discussing condoms and contraceptives.

Focus on the Family, an Christian organization that advocates for teaching abstinence until marriage, is concerned that comprehensive sex education “exposes students to explicit materials.” Abstinence-centered education is “age-appropriate” and keeps students safe and healthy, Focus on the Family analyst Jeff Johnston said in an emailed statement.

But Josh McCawley, deputy director of Teen Health Mississippi, an organization that works with youth to increase access to health resources, said the effects are clear.

“The obvious consequence is the rise of sexually transmitted infections, which is what we’re seeing right now, which can be a burden on the health care system,” he said, “but also there could be long-term consequences for young people in terms of thinking about what it means to be healthy and how to protect themselves, and that goes beyond a person’s sexual health.”

Condoms and other sexual wellness items are made available to students at the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

The latest CDC data from 2022 shows Mississippi has the highest teen birth rate in the country.

Scott Clements, who oversees health information for the state education department, was hesitant to criticize Mississippi’s sex education standards because they’re “legislatively mandated.”

“If the legislature wants to make changes to this, we will certainly follow their lead,” he added — though attempts to pass more advanced sexual education standards have died repeatedly in the Mississippi statehouse over the past eight years.

Nationally, there is no set standard for sex education, according to Michelle Slaybaugh, policy and advocacy director for the Sexuality Information and Education Council for the United States, which advocates for comprehensive sex ed.

Not every state mandates sex education. Some states emphasize abstinence. Less than half of states require information on contraception.

“There is no definitive way to describe what sex ed looks like from classroom to classroom, even in the same state, even in the same district,” Slaybaugh said, “because it will really be determined by who teaches it.”

Compare Mississippi to Oregon, which has extensive state standards that require all public school districts to teach medically accurate and comprehensive sexual education. Students in Portland are shown how to put on a condom on a wooden model of a penis starting in middle school and have access to free condoms at most high schools.

Lori Kuykendall of Dallas, who helped write abstinence-focused standards, said condom demonstrations like those in Portland “normalize sexual activity in a classroom full of young people who the majority of are not sexually active.” She also points to increasingly easy access to pornography — in which people typically do not wear condoms — is a contributing factor to the decline in condom use among young people.

Jenny Withycombe, the assistant director for health and physical education at Portland Public Schools, acknowledged the standards see pushback in the more conservative and rural parts of Oregon. But the idea is to prepare students for future interactions.

“Our job is to hopefully build the skills so that even if it’s been a while since the (condom) demo … the person has the skills to go seek out that information, whether it’s from the health center or other reliable and reputable resources,” Withycombe said.

Those standards seem to contribute to a more progressive view of condoms and sex in young adults, said Gavin Leonard, a senior at Reed College in Portland and a former peer advocate for the school’s sexual health and relationship program.

Leonard, who grew up in Memphis – not far from Oxford, Mississippi, said his peers at Reed may not consistently use condoms, but, in his experience, better understand the consequences of not doing so. They know their options, and they know how to access them.

Slaybaugh wants that level of education for Mississippi students — and the rest of the country.

“We would never send a soldier into war without training or the resources they need to keep themselves safe,” she said. “We would not send them into a battle without a helmet or a bulletproof vest. So why is it OK for us to send young people off to college without the information that they need to protect themselves?”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

What position is Jonathan Kuminga? Entering Year 4, answers still diverge

LAIE, Hawaii — Jonathan Kuminga has played small forward his entire life. It’s the position he knows, and the one he’s most comfortable with.

Draymond Green, one of the smartest basketball minds in the sport, emphatically believes Kuminga is a small forward. The skill-set required to scale up from wing to power forward, he said, is more difficult than many teams in the modern NBA assume.

Steve Kerr, among the most decorated coaches in NBA history and the one ultimately setting rotations, has considered Kuminga more of a small-ball four. Kuminga’s shaky 3-point shot limits Golden State’s comfortability to play him simultaneously with other non-shooters, like Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Kuminga, 21, is entering his fourth season. He made a significant leap last year, bumping his scoring average from 9.9 to 16.1 points per game. Yet the consternation of how to fit him into the Warriors’ lineups — especially a starting-five that has three spots up for grabs in training camp — remains.

“I think he’s a three, that’s always been my opinion,” Green said.

“To play the four, it requires a certain skill-set. So often, people approach the four as if it’s not a position. They think, ‘Oh, I could just move a guy there.’ It’s a position that you have to know how to play. It’s like, you don’t think anybody can play point guard. The four is the same thing. It requires a certain skill-set, a certain knowledge, an understanding of the position to do that. He’s never done it. Can he adjust and learn that? I don’t know. Can a receiver learn how to be a quarterback in two years? You know.”

In the age of positionless basketball, which the Warriors helped revolutionize, much of the nuances of the power forward position have been lost. Teams trying to maximize their spacing have frequently downsized their lineups, using traditional wings as their de-facto power forwards.

What has made Golden State different over the years is Green’s ability to feasibly play both power forward and center. He grew up playing point guard offensively and center on defense. He can protect the rim and defend opposing guards on the perimeter. He can initiate offense and, at his best, finish possessions in the paint.

But Draymond Greens don’t grow on trees.

“That’s why you see teams lose to us,” Green said in a fascinating X’s and O’s lesson. “Year after year. Because so many teams go, “Oh man, that guy’s Draymond’s size or he’s bigger. So he can do that.’ No he can’t. And it has nothing to do with how good or not I am. I just know how to play that position. I know how to play the five. I didn’t just end up being able to slide to the five.”

Green’s Ted Talk is relevant to Kuminga. At 6-foot-8, he has the build of a modern four, but he’s not a natural power forward; the nuances of floor spacing, boxing out, screen-setting and defending multiple positions aren’t as easy as many may think.

Green used Kevin Durant as an example. At 6-foot-11, Durant is as tall or taller than many centers. But his game is closer to a shooting guard than that of a traditional center.

“If you try to put him at the five, he’s going to look at you like you’re crazy,” Green said.

For Kuminga to slot into the three, particularly with how Golden State’s roster is built, he’ll have to hone his 3-point stroke. There’s no mistaking that.

Kuminga has been working on his outside shot this summer, often in three-a-day training sessions. Becoming a more accurate catch-and-shoot option would open up even more driving lanes for a player who’s already lethal when he gets downhill.

“I’m just focused on expanding more of the things that I’m doing already,” Kuminga said at Media Day. “Even get better at shooting. Just try to be a full complete player.”

Kuminga shot 32.1% from deep last year, down from 37% a year prior — on the same low volume. His free-throw percentage improved from 65.2% to 74.6%, which is often an indicator of 3-point accuracy.

“I think JK has enough talent and enough IQ to be both (positions),” guard Brandin Podziemski said. “Obviously, I would assume, JK thinks in the broader scheme of things that he’s a small forward. I think he’s capable of doing both. The way he’s developed his game this summer, with him shooting the ball a little more, he’ll be able to do both.”

With the starting lineup, the terms are relatively simple. Kerr is hesitant to start Green at center full-time, preferring to pair him with a center — likely Jackson-Davis, who thrived next to Green in the second half of last season. If Golden State starts two bigs, the choice at small forward likely becomes either Kuminga or Andrew Wiggins, but not both.

Green started a significant amount of time last year at center, and the league’s trend toward pace and space makes it easier for the Warriors to play him heavy minutes there. But many teams have traditional bigs and Kerr doesn’t “love the idea” of Green starting at center full-time.

“There’s part of me that’s like, 82 games of Draymond playing center, there are teams trying to play bigger now, so I don’t love the idea of Draymond being the starting five and playing heavy minutes there game after game.”

So Kuminga’s ability to shoot and play small forward becomes the key to unlocking more versatile lineups.

Perhaps the most naturally gifted scorer on the roster outside of Steph Curry, Kuminga will have a major role this year — regardless of his position. The Warriors want to play faster, which suits him; he’s already a tremendous threat in transition. The Warriors want to play with more structure, which should help young players like Kuminga who aren’t as conducive to the organized chaos the Warriors have trademarked.

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All signs point to Kuminga being featured more and becoming — possibly in a contract year — the Warriors’ best secondary option behind Curry.

All signs except for the fact that the team still doesn’t really know what position he plays.

Notable

– The Warriors split into three groups and ran 5-on-5 scrimmages on Wednesday, successfully implementing some of the new installations from the first day of camp, Kerr said. Kevon Looney ended the scrimmage with a corner 3.

Golden State wants a slimmed-down Looney to keep defenses honest from the perimeter, but in Kerr’s words, he’s not going to be Kevin Love.

“He’s not a pick-and-pop 3-point shooter, right?” Kerr said. “He’s a broken play, he’s on the perimeter, shot clock going down and he’s open, let that thing fly.”

– Andrew Wiggins (illness) got some shots up while wearing a mask, but didn’t practice in full. He missed the team’s first training camp session Tuesday because he was under the weather.

— Trayce Jackson-Davis said he grew a quarter inch over the summer, making him 6-foot-10 in shoes. That makes him the tallest player on Golden State’s roster outside of two-way rookie Quinten Post.

FACT FOCUS: Claims that more than 300,000 migrant children are missing lack context

By MELISSA GOLDIN

Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have recently claimed that hundreds of thousands of migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border unaccompanied are missing, then criticized the border policies of the Biden administration and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, repeated the claim during Tuesday night’s debate.

“We have 320,000 children that the Department of Homeland Security has effectively lost,” he said as he met Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in what is likely the last debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.

But immigration experts say the claims regarding missing migrant children lack significant context.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: The Biden administration has lost more than 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children.

THE FACTS: This claim misrepresents information in an August report published by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, which faulted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for failing to consistently “monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children” once they are released from federal government custody.

The report noted that more than 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children had not, as of May 2024, received a notice to appear in court. Additionally, more than 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children got a notice to appear but then failed to show up for immigration court hearings. Those figures came from ICE and covered a period from October 2018 to September 2023. During that period there were a total of 448,820 unaccompanied children released by ICE to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement.

But experts say it is a stretch to refer to roughly 300,000 children as “lost” or “missing.”

“This is not a ‘missing kids’ problem; it’s a ‘missing paperwork’ problem,” Jonathan Beier, associate director of research and evaluation for the Acacia Center for Justice’s Unaccompanied Children Program, wrote in an email.

Plus, President Joe Biden only entered the White House partway through this period. It includes approximately 15 months when Trump was president and does not specify how many children arrived in the U.S. under each president.

Experts say there are many reasons why the children might not have appeared for hearings or received a notice to appear in the first place. For example, they only get a notice to appear when removal proceedings against them have begun, and if ICE hasn’t started that removal process, they wouldn’t have gotten a notice in the first place.

A lack of communication between government agencies could mean a notice is sent to the wrong address if it has been updated with one agency and not another. A child’s guardian may be unable to take them to court, perhaps because they live on the other side of the state.

The report does not provide any explanations.

“All of these factors can explain some of the deficiencies and a conclusion that the children are missing could be very, very premature,” said Raul Pinto, deputy legal director for transparency at the American Immigration Council.

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“We are concerned that the report’s findings are misleading and may be misconstrued because they fail to acknowledge key facts,” she said.

Hills said ICE does not generally issue court notices to unaccompanied children “until after they have been placed with sponsors who have been vetted by HHS” so that they can get settled and seek legal help.

Representatives for HHS and Vance did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

An unaccompanied migrant child is defined by the U.S. government as someone who is under 18, lacks lawful immigration status and has no parent or guardian in the country to take custody of them. When they’re apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security, they’re transferred to the HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement.

They are then placed “in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interests of the child,” according to the resettlement office. That can mean shelters, foster care or residential treatment centers, among other options. If possible, children are released to sponsors, often family members, who can care for them.

Removal proceedings may be initiated by ICE and the Department of Justice. Some children are able to stay in the U.S. legally if they qualify for asylum, special visas for victims of abuse, trafficking and other crimes, or other types of immigration relief. In those cases, removal proceedings may never start.

___

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

49ers ease into ramp-up for two NFC West games in five days

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ injury list was a lengthy one Wednesday, and only time will tell if they’ll be without some key players in Week 5 or if it was more of a precaution due to the upcoming schedule and a blistering hot day.

Middle linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and tight end George Kittle (ribs) were spared practice in what was the hottest practice of the year at 97 degrees. So were defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).

Those who were limited were defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), defensive tackle Kevin Givens (triceps) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle).

Given that Warner wasn’t able to finish a 30-13 win over New England and Kittle did, his status is of the most concern. He was spotted jogging without a limp off to the side during the media viewing window at practice.

The seventh-year linebacker has been spectacular the first four games of the season, capped by a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown against New England, and is a candidate to win the second NFL Player of the Month award in his career.

Warner, who said Sunday he would have returned to the game if he could, wasn’t making any proclamations either way about his status for the Arizona game. Asked how he was feeling, Warner smiled and said, “Wonderful. Legendary, as they say” and then was understandably vague about the injury.

“My plan is to obviously play,” Warner said. “I’m just going to continue to listen to what the training room wants me to do and take it one day at a time.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan said all injured players were “day to day” as they were on Monday, meaning there hasn’t been any setbacks or additional information which would preclude them from having a chance to play. But he is taking the injuries into account with the Cardinals coming to Levi’s Stadium Sunday and then a quick turnaround to face Seattle on the road Thursday night.

“We’ve got a lot of guys banged up and the heat the way it is, we’re taking some stuff off guys today,” said Shanahan, whose team will play twice in five days. “We probably would have done it regardless, but with another game (so soon), it definitely made that decision easier.”

Defensive end Nick Bosa sees the NFC West games as a crucial stretch and looks forward to some time off after playing Seattle.

“Every game is big, division opponents count twice, and we have a mini-bye after the Thursday game,” Bosa said. “Getting two wins here, obviously it starts with Arizona, would be huge.”

MUSTAPHA’S STARTING DEBUT

Rookie safety Malik Mustapha thought he had a “solid” debut while playing all 64 defensive snaps in place of Hufanga at safety, but the fourth-round pick from Wake Forest enjoyed himself the most while serving as a blocker for Warner on his touchdown.

After Warner made the leaping catch, Mustapha sprinted toward the middle of the field and leveled one unsuspecting potential tackler.

“It felt like playground football, just looking out for my guy trying to score on defense,” Mustapha said. “I saw whoever was in front of me at the time and I just took my shot.”

The only flagrant mistake, other than a dropped interception when the game was already decided, was when Mustapha allowed Rhamondre Stevenson to get outside of him on a third-and-6 play and convert a first down with a 7-yard pass from Jacoby Brissett.

The error wasn’t being overly excited so much as it was being a little too conservative.

“I stopped my feet and that’s why he was able to get outside,” Mustapha said. “It’s on me for not playing the style of football I’m used to play After that I was able to trust my instincts and play as fast as possible.”

Jalen Graham (50) celebrates a sack in a preseason win over New Orleans on Aug. 18 at Levi’s Stadium.

FORTIFYING DEFENSIVE DEPTH

The 49ers made two moves to help compensate for injuries, signing linebacker Jalen Graham off the practice squad of the Washington Commanders and starting the clock on defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who had minor knee surgery late in the preseason.

Graham, a seventh-round draft pick a year ago, knows the system and can pick up where he left off and could end up seeing the field against Arizona depending on the health of Warner, Winters and Flannigan-Fowles. Another linebacker, Curtis Robinson, is out for the year after a torn ACL.

“With his athleticism, his smarts and his feel for the game I think he can help us in a lot of ways,” Warner said.

Graham played in four games for the 49ers as a rookie seventh-round draft pick out of Purdue, exclusively on special teams.

“Monday was the first time I talked to them,” Graham said. “They just let me know they wanted me to come back on the 53-man and it went from there. I’m excited they brought  me back and I’m ready to work.”

Washington’s general manager is Adam Peters, who was the assistant G.M. to John Lynch when the 49ers drafted Graham.

“Jalen was a guy we didn’t want to lose,” Shanahan said. “He was a hard guy to let go of. We were really hoping to keep him on practice squad, but A.P. stole him so we had to steal him back.”

As for Davis, the 49ers have 21 days to either put him on the 53-man roster or on injured reserve. Shanahan isn’t expecting to use the whole 21 days.

“Hopefully this week,” Shanahan said. “We’ll watch him this week, see how he does. But we would love to get him up.”

QUICK HITS

— The 49ers are not yet ready to start the 21-day clock on rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest in a robbery attempt on Aug. 31 in San Francisco.

“We just don’t feel he’s ready this week,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan also said the shoulder subluxation that was nagging at Pearsall during training camp was no longer an issue.

— Will Kyle Juszczyk continue in the role of the NFL’s only fullback who also returns punts? If Cowing can’t play, it’s a possibility.

“He’ll be starting the rest of the year,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan was probably kidding, but Juszczyk, when subbing for Cowing against New England, returned a punt eight yards when it was requested he simply execute a fair catch. Cowing is averaging 5.3 yards on six returns with a long of nine yards.

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“I think Kyle is one of the more poised, clutch or the game’s not too big for him people I’ve ever been around,” Shanahan said. “Ask anybody. I don’t care how good your hands are, but just to get thrown into an NFL game and go catch a punt isn’t very easy.”

— Christian McCaffrey was at the facility but not on the field. Shanahan had no updates on whether the Achilles tendinitis in both legs was subsiding. Although it’s highly unlikely to happen, McCaffery is eligible to come off injured reserve after the Arizona game.

“I don’t have an update on Christian every day, because when guys are on IR, I focus more on what we’re doing that week and that day,” Shanahan said.  “I know he is rehabbing.”

— Wide receiver Terique Owens, son of former 49er Terrell Owens, was signed to the practice squad, as was defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin. Terique Owens was with the 49ers during training camp. Defensive lineman Shakel Brown was released from the practice squad.

Monterey County heat advisory updated

The Monterey Peninsula has managed to stay relatively cool over the summer, but the heat has finally caught up making for a few warmer days than usual.

A heat advisory for Monterey County, in addition to the Bay Area and Santa Cruz, has been extended until 11 p.m. Thursday, detailing hot temperatures that may cause heat illness.

Thursday will be sunny will a high near 75 and calm winds in the afternoon. The evening has a low at about 63 degrees with light wind after midnight.

On Friday the forecast is mostly sunny, but still at 75 degrees and a low near 62 Friday evening.

Though the heat advisory is slated to end Thursday evening, the warm temperatures will likely continue all weekend, and there’s potential for the advisory to be updated.

The National Weather Service recommends drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air conditioned room, staying out of the sun and checking up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should not be left unattended in cars under any circumstances.

For those who work or spend time outside, take extra precautions. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to the early morning or evening. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing, if possible and know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.

Horoscopes Oct. 2, 2024: Kelly Ripa, broaden your vision

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kelly Ripa, 54; Sting, 73; Annie Leibovitz, 75; Donna Karan, 76.

Happy Birthday: Take the necessary steps to initiate change and restructure your investments, lifestyle and purpose to reach your comfort zone. All talk without action will frustrate you and those watching from the sidelines who love and want the best for you. Broaden your vision, create a template and head down a path that encompasses your dreams. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be brave, don’t look back and follow your heart. Your numbers are 3, 9, 14, 26, 32, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Establish what’s important to you and adjust to achieve budget, convenience and comfort levels within reason. Take control of your situation, but be fair to those swept up in your plans. Offer incentives that make it easier to achieve your expectations without guilt. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to how others respond; it will help you make better choices and gain support and hands-on help. Once you begin to transition, dedication will carry you forward. Your strength and momentum are connected to those you surround yourself with and in being a team player. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Get out and explore the possibilities. Network, socialize and participate in events that offer exciting alternatives. Let your mind wander, but don’t buy into someone else’s dream. Research will pay off and encourage you to back yourself. Engage in finishing what you start and saving for the future. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll do best working toward and tidying up loose ends. Someone will interfere with your progress if given the chance. Don’t share information or allow anyone to interfere in your business or progress. Avoid run-ins with associates, friends and relatives. Choose peace over discord. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pay attention to detail, how others respond and broadening your awareness of your pursuits. Facts are vital to decision-making and are best acknowledged before committing time, money or skills. Focus on personal gains, growth and better health while you sort out how you want to proceed with others. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Lower overhead and reduce commitments. Assess your current needs and distribute your energy wisely. Taking on a physical challenge will help alleviate stress and encourage you to adjust your lifestyle to achieve your goals. Love, romance, fitness and self-improvement are on the rise. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Now is not the time to sit on the sideline. Embrace the future with optimism and confidence, and put your energy into a physical move that offers better prospects and returns. Take your skills to the next level and utilize them. Be a forerunner, not a follower. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make your life better by pursuing your goals. Home improvements and expanding your skills to include something you enjoy doing that can bring in cash will give you a new lease on life. Don’t wait for things to come to you. Be adventurous and make things happen. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Integrate what you love into your daily routine. Being a part of something that offers excitement, challenge and expansion will motivate you to mix business with pleasure to ensure you enjoy every aspect of your life. Create a platform that is conducive to your happiness. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen, but refrain from buying into someone else’s plans. Live by your rules and follow your dreams. Learn from your mistakes and be true to yourself. Forget the past and let go of the anger it harbors. It’s forward-thinking and perpetual motion that will encourage solitude and happiness. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pay attention to your investments, health and contracts. Go over every detail and give your stamp of approval to whatever resonates with you. Be open and receptive to embracing new beginnings and updating your skills, qualifications and what you have to offer others. A makeover will be uplifting. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take your time with your next move. Check the facts and any applicable costs, and adjust your plans to meet your demands. Time is essential, especially when dealing with investments, challenges or a physical change you want to pursue. Refuse to let anger displace your drive to reach your destination on time. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are charming, intelligent and forceful. You are imaginative and optimistic.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Warriors took their preseason training camp to Hawaii. But they’re not here to vacation.

LAIE, Hawaii — The Warriors spent their first morning of training camp doing yoga overlooking the Pacific Ocean’s kaleidoscopic blue. They’re staying at the property where the hit 2008 comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” was filmed. Following their first practice, Gary Payton II shot videos on an old-school, handheld camcorder.

After a fairly subdued Media Day at the Chase Center, the vibes are high. On the island of O’ahu, finding peace and serenity isn’t difficult.

But the Warriors aren’t here for mai tais and luaus. They have too much on their plate.

Golden State wants to implement more structure into their offensive system, striking a middle-ground between organized chaos and more set plays to feature younger players. They want to shoot more 3s while figuring out life without Klay Thompson. They want to return to an elite defense and improve in transition on both sides of the ball. They want to fold in three new veterans and hold competitions for, potentially, three spots in the starting lineup — establishing what Steve Kerr calls a “feisty” identity in the process.

“Last year, we spent a lot of the year unable to find certain combinations that fit,” Kerr said after the team’s first practice at BYU Hawaii. “The starting lineup is going to have to be dependent on the first five, but also the second five. I think we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

With how rarely NBA teams, especially the Warriors, practice during the season, training camp and the preseason is a major point in the team’s development. Golden State has five days in Hawaii, so not only is their training camp to-do list long, it must be expedited.

Steph Curry has said repeatedly that he’s open to change to the offensive system. Part of that is due to Thompson’s departure, but also the harsh reality of finishing 10th in the Western Conference last year. The way Golden State has played for years may not maximize this roster’s strengths as much as it had in the past; the personnel’s different.

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“This feels like a new beginning for us in a lot of ways,” Kerr said. “Last year felt like an extension of what we already knew. Part of that is the way that Steph and Klay had each been a part of our heart and soul…it’s a pretty dramatic change. So we have to turn that into a positive.”

In years past, the Warriors had the advantage of rare continuity. Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green were teammates for 12 years, and the rest of the team orbited around them. They didn’t have to reinvent themselves, only tweak things and make some additional installations on top of what they were already running.

This team, with Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski rising, and Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield entering the mix, calls for more experimenting.

Kuminga in particular is expected to be a focal point. Outside of Curry, he’s the team’s most natural scorer as a downhill threat and terror in transition. Pushing the pace should help him, and running more set plays to put him in advantageous spots could juice the offense, too.

But Kuminga is one of the players mired in a competition for a starting spot. Unless the Warriors start Draymond Green at center, the spacing gets clunky with both Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins on the floor. Defense is a primary priority for Kerr, and Kuminga hasn’t always been the most consistent defender.

“It’s definitely more challenging because we’ve got new guys and everyone, of course, wants to start,” Kuminga said. “It’s great, it’s actually great going at each other every day. That’s just going to give us that mentality of going out there and playing hard.”

Kuminga could also be a player to increase his 3-point shooting volume. Podziemski has said he wants to get upwards of eight triples up per game — an admittedly ambitious goal. But Kerr hopes to empower him, as well as Wiggins, Moses Moody and Melton, to let it fly.

“I want to be a high-volume 3-point shooting team,” Kerr said. “I think that’s important for us. The big shift is Klay’s not here. So, we were fourth in the league in 3-point attempts last year, but Klay probably shot eight or 10 of them himself every game. So we’re going to have to fill that void, and that’s going to have to come from multiple people.”

Melton and Podziemski are in the mix to start in the back court next to Curry. When asked what his ideal backcourt partner would be, Curry said he likes the options the team has. Melton the defensive-minded ball hawk, Podziemski the connector who developed some chemistry starting with Curry last year, and Buddy Hield the new movement shooter.

Whatever the combinations, it’s clear the Warriors are committed to some shake-ups. Last year, Curry said you can’t do the same thing over and over again and expect the same results. So, Golden State is going to try out some new looks.

“I’ve said it plenty of times, we need to evolve,” Curry said. “How we’re featuring the talent that we have on this team, this is the roster that we have and I think we have enough, just by putting guys in the right places, to be successful. And leveraging what’s worked with our system over the years. So there’s a fine balance there.”

It’ll be tough to find that balance in a week in Hawaii. But building the foundation in paradise has to be the start.

Notable

– Buddy Hield spent much of the first practice period open to the media shooting with assistant coach Chris DeMarco, who helped recruit him to the Warriors while he coached Hield on the Bahamian National Team. Hield was the last player shooting on the court after practice wrapped up.

– Andrew Wiggins didn’t practice on Tuesday because he was under the weather. Everyone else participated.

– Kyle Anderson’s retooled jumper looks much better than it did last season, particularly off the dribble. He’s never going to have a fast release, but a more fluid motion could help him keep defenses honest from the outside; two seasons ago, he shot a career-best 41% from deep on low-volume.

– Steph Curry brought his Olympic gold medal to training camp. “I keep it on me,” he said.

A look at false and misleading claims during the vice presidential debate

The Associated Press

The vice presidential candidates, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, on Tuesday engaged in a fast-moving, largely civil debate on a wide range of issues. Here’s a look at some false and misleading claims from the debate.

___

Iran has not received $100 billion in unfrozen assets under the Biden-Harris administration

VANCE: “Iran, which launched this attack, has received over $100 billion in unfrozen assets thanks to the Kamala Harris administration. What do they use that money for? They use it to buy weapons that they’re now launching against our allies.”

THE FACTS: The Biden administration agreed last year to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a deal to free five U.S. citizens being held by Iran. But administration officials say not a dollar of that has yet been given to Iran. It was part of a deal negotiated by the Obama administration, before Biden and Harris took office, that could have allowed Iran to access frozen assets in exchange for accepting limits on its nuclear program.

In 2016, Iran said it had received access to more than $100 billion worth of frozen overseas assets following the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal with world powers. The money had been held in banks in China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey since international sanctions were tightened in 2012 over Tehran’s nuclear program. Then-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew told Congress that only about $50 billion of the frozen assets would actually be accessible by Iran.

Walz overstates the cost of insulin before cap

WALZ: “They were charging $800 before this law went into effect.”

THE FACTS: Walz overstated how much Americans were paying for insulin before a new law capped prices at $35 per month for millions of older Americans on Medicare. A December 2022 study found that people who were on Medicare or enrolled in private insurance paid $452 yearly on average before the new law took effect.

Vance links unaffordable housing to immigrants who have come into the country illegally

VANCE: “You’ve got housing that is totally unaffordable because we brought in millions of illegal immigrants to compete with Americans for scarce homes.”

THE FACTS: Most economists blame a long-term decline in the housing supply for the steady increase in home prices. The number of new homes under construction plunged from an annual pace of 1.4 million in April 2006 to barely above 400,000 in August 2011, and didn’t recover to 2006 levels until 2021.

Vance said at least one prominent economic analysis from the Federal Reserve supports his claims that immigrants are pushing up housing costs, but he didn’t provide details. He was likely citing a May 2024 blog post by Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Kashkari says immigration’s long-run effect on inflation is “unclear,” but immigrants need a place to live and their arrival has overlapped with higher prices.

There might be upward pressure on home prices in some markets because of immigrants arriving, but most economists say the issue is a lack of supply of homes on the market. Homebuilders say they need the immigrants to build the homes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a September news conference that high mortgage rates mean people aren’t listing their homes for sale and there has not been enough supply.

Walz wrongly claims Project 2025 creates pregnancy registry

WALZ: “Their Project 2025 is going to have a registry of pregnancies.”

THE FACTS: That’s not true. The conservative initiative calls for the collection of “accurate and reliable statistical data about abortion, abortion survivors, and abortion-related maternal deaths,” but not a record of every pregnancy that occurs.

More specifically, Project 2025 proposes that the Department of Health and Human Services require all states to report detailed information about abortions that are performed within their borders, including the total number of abortions, the age and state of residence of the mother, the gestational age of the fetus, the reason for the abortion and the method used to perform the abortion. It suggests that this data be separated into categories such as spontaneous miscarriages, intentional abortions, stillbirths and other medical treatments that result in the death of the fetus, like chemotherapy.

Vance overstates immigration numbers

VANCE: “We’ve got 20, 25 million illegal aliens who are here in the country.”

THE FACTS: That figure is highly inflated. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports more than 10 million arrests for illegal crossings from Mexico from January 2021 through September 2024.

That’s arrests, not people. Under pandemic-era asylum restrictions, many people crossed more than once until they succeeded because there were no legal consequences for getting turned back to Mexico. So the number of people is lower than the number of arrests.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s latest available estimate, there were approximately 11 million people living illegally in the U.S. as of January 2022, 79% of whom entered prior to January 2010.

Vance distorts Minnesota abortion law

VANCE: “It says that a doctor who presides over an abortion where the baby survives, the doctor is under no obligation to provide lifesaving care to a baby who survives a botched late-term abortion.”

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THE FACTS: This claim misrepresents a bill Walz signed into law in 2023, updating language about the care of newborns.

The new language uses the phrase “an infant who is born alive” instead of “a born alive infant as a result of an abortion.” It states that medical personnel are required to “care for the infant who is born alive” rather than “preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.”

Both the current version of the law and the 2015 version that was amended state that “an infant who is born alive shall be fully recognized as a human person, and accorded immediate protection under the law.”

Infanticide is criminalized in every state, including Minnesota, and the bill does not change that.

Vance on Trump and Jan. 6, 2021

VANCE: “Remember he said that on January the 6th, the protesters ought to protest peacefully.”

THE FACTS: It’s true that Trump told the crowd gathered near the White House, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

But Vance ignored the incendiary language Trump used throughout his speech, during which he urged the crowd to march to the Capitol, where Congress was meeting to certify President Joe Biden’s victory. Trump told the crowd: “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” That’s after his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, declared: “Let’s have trial by combat.”

Associated Press writers Melissa Goldin in New York, and Amanda Seitz, David Klepper, Chris Rugaber, Ellen Knickmeyer and Josh Boak in Washington contributed.