thedailycaller--2020-04-18--President Trump: ‘I Gave Up On Drudge’

President Trump: ‘I Gave Up On Drudge’

President Donald Trump said that he ’ s given up on the Drudge Report in a tweet Saturday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ ( a really nice guy ) long ago , as have many others .
People @ @ @ @ @ !
” the president tweeted .
Trump ‘ s tweet is aimed at the behemoth @ @ @ @ @ by Matt Drudge , who aggregates stories from across the web for tens of millions @ @ @ @ @ : Donald Trump Jr .
Defends Whistleblower Tweet , References Drudge Report ) The president @ @ @ @ @ rally in Colorado in February .
“ Okay , here ’ s Drudge Report , @ @ @ @ @ a poll , adding , “ Drudge , he ’ s starting to treat me @ @ @ @ @ s starting to like me again .
I like him .
”

President Donald Trump said that he’s given up on the Drudge Report in a tweet Saturday.
“I gave up on Drudge (a really nice guy) long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies!” the president tweeted.
I gave up on Drudge (a really nice guy) long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies! https://t.co/L77SXS2mE8 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2020
Trump‘s tweet is aimed at the behemoth site Drudge Report, run by Matt Drudge, who aggregates stories from across the web for tens of millions of readers. (RELATED: Donald Trump Jr. Defends Whistleblower Tweet, References Drudge Report)
The president last referenced Drudge during a rally in Colorado in February.
“Okay, here’s Drudge Report,” Trump said, referencing a poll, adding, “Drudge, he’s starting to treat me good again. He’s starting to like me again. I like him.”


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--‘Fire Fauci!’ — Anti-Lockdown Protesters Erupt At Texas State Capitol

Some protesters demonstrating at the Texas State Capitol on Saturday are demanding the state be reopened and Dr. Anthony Fauci @ @ @ @ @ Fauci !
” a group of people chanted .
A Trump flag and Texas state @ @ @ @ @ crowd .
“ Let us work !
Let us work !
” was another chant @ @ @ @ @ The rally , called “ You Can ’ t Close America , ” is just @ @ @ @ @ of protests taking part in state capitols across the nation .
Protests have broken out @ @ @ @ @ , Michigan , and several other states .
President Donald Trump appeared to show support @ @ @ @ @ series of tweets Friday , where he called for states to be “ liberated.
” @ @ @ @ @ LIBERATE MICHIGAN , ” and “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA ” all appeared in tweets sent by @ @ @ @ @ federal guidelines this week for reopening the country .

Some protesters demonstrating at the Texas State Capitol on Saturday are demanding the state be reopened and Dr. Anthony Fauci be fired.
“Fire Fauci!” a group of people chanted. A Trump flag and Texas state flags are visible in the crowd.
“Let us work! Let us work!” was another chant shouted by the protesters.
Chant of “Let us work!” pic.twitter.com/6dXgDwKn3y — Manny Fernandez (@mannyNYT) April 18, 2020
Rally’s underway on sidewalk outside State Capitol in Austin pic.twitter.com/13EZor2ZCD — Manny Fernandez (@mannyNYT) April 18, 2020
The rally, called “You Can’t Close America,” is just the latest in a number of protests taking part in state capitols across the nation.
Protests have broken out in North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, and several other states.
President Donald Trump appeared to show support to the protesters in a series of tweets Friday, where he called for states to be “liberated.”
“LIBERATE MINNESOTA,” LIBERATE MICHIGAN,” and “LIBERATE VIRGINIA” all appeared in tweets sent by the president.
LIBERATE MINNESOTA! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
LIBERATE MICHIGAN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
Trump announced federal guidelines this week for reopening the country.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--One US City Is Deploying A Chinese Firm’s Drones To Police Americans Who Are Not Social Distancing

• Elizabeth , New Jersey Mayor J. Christian Bollwage is deploying a Chinese company ’ s drones to help police people who violate social distancing mandates .
• The drones will help police officers enact fines as high as $ 1,000 on people who are not keeping their distance amid a global pandemic that has killed tens of thousands in the United States .
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement warned in 2017 that the drones are collecting information on crucial U.S. infrastructure and the U.S. Army has banned their use .
Elizabeth , New Jersey , is using a Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who fail to employ social distancing guidelines .
Past reports suggest the drones are feeding China data .
Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage is deploying drones from Chinese-based company DJI to warn Elizabeth citizens who are walking outdoors not to get too close in physical proximity to other people .
The drones blare sirens and issue this warning : “ Stop gathering , disperse and go home.
” Bollwage is dismissing critics of his approach .
“ If these drones save one life , it is clearly worth the activity and the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mayor said Friday in an MSNBC interview .
New Jersey is considered a coronavirus hotspot — more than 3,000 in the state have died from the virus , which originated in Wuhan , China , before skipping across the globe and landing in the United States , where it has killed more than 30,000 people .
The drones might not be benign .
A 2017 memo from the Los Angeles office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau said officials had “ moderate confidence ” that DJI ’ s commercial drones are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement data to the Chinese government.
” The memo cited first- and second-hand anonymous sources inside the drone industry .
ICE has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment about the memo , which was initially reported in November 2017 by The New York Times .
The memo also stated that officials had “ high confidence the company is selectively targeting government and privately owned entities within these sectors to expand its ability to collect and exploit sensitive U.S. data.
” The U.S. Army banned the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing “ cyber vulnerabilities.
” DJI is dismissing ICE ’ s claims and said the company gives full control over the drones to the users .
“ We debunked the claims in the NYT article a long time ago .
We hired a firm to investigate the claims .
If you want to share the data , then you can .
But if you want to keep it to yourself , then you can.
” Adam Lisberg , corporate communications director for DJI , told the DCNF .
“ DJIs don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s app offers an automatic function to store data , which can be turned off if the user dives into a series of settings .
DJI donated drones to 43 agencies in 22 states to help enforce social distancing , MSNBC reported .
The donations are part of DJI ’ s “ COVID-19 US Disaster Relief Program , ” which provides cities access to the drones for the purpose of surveilling populations during the pandemic .
Elizabeth City Policy is also trying to provide more context to the drone ’ s usage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing is spreading an automated notice about social distance .
No recording or pictures are taken , just a tool of encouragement to follow the rules , ” the Elizabeth City Police Department noted in an April 8 tweet .
The tweet came after the police department wrote a Facebook post the same day that contained a more dire warning .
( RELATED : REPORT : Coronavirus Came From Wuhan Laboratory , Part Of China Trying To ‘ Compete ’ With America ) “ These drones will be around the City with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to STOP gathering , disperse and go home , ” the post noted before issuing a warning that violating the policies subjects them to potential $ 1,000 fines .
“ You have been advised.
” Elizabeth City Hall spokesperson Ruby Contreras told the DCNF that officers “ are not directed to fly over private property , ” and that police officers “ will give a summons ” if people do not heed a drone ’ s warnings .
The technology does not collect facial recognition data from people they warn , she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get ahead of the pandemic .
Many of China ’ s roughly 300 million surveillance cameras contain facial recognition technology , Sophie Richardson , the China director at Human Rights Watch , told The Wall Street Journal in March .
The cameras give authorities the ability “ to track who specifically has gone to which precise location , ” Richardson said .
“ It ’ s another way for the government to gather large amounts of information about people , really , without their consent , and in some cases , without their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Elizabeth, New Jersey Mayor J. Christian Bollwage is deploying a Chinese company’s drones to help police people who violate social distancing mandates.
The drones will help police officers enact fines as high as $1,000 on people who are not keeping their distance amid a global pandemic that has killed tens of thousands in the United States.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement warned in 2017 that the drones are collecting information on crucial U.S. infrastructure and the U.S. Army has banned their use.
Elizabeth, New Jersey, is using a Chinese company’s drones to police citizens who fail to employ social distancing guidelines. Past reports suggest the drones are feeding China data.
Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage is deploying drones from Chinese-based company DJI to warn Elizabeth citizens who are walking outdoors not to get too close in physical proximity to other people. The drones blare sirens and issue this warning: “Stop gathering, disperse and go home.”
Bollwage is dismissing critics of his approach.
“If these drones save one life, it is clearly worth the activity and the information that the drones are sending,” the mayor said Friday in an MSNBC interview.
New Jersey is considered a coronavirus hotspot — more than 3,000 in the state have died from the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, before skipping across the globe and landing in the United States, where it has killed more than 30,000 people. The drones might not be benign.
Past reports suggest DJI poses a substantial security threat to U.S. infrastructure.
A 2017 memo from the Los Angeles office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau said officials had “moderate confidence” that DJI’s commercial drones are giving critical U.S. “infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government.”
The memo cited first- and second-hand anonymous sources inside the drone industry. ICE has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment about the memo, which was initially reported in November 2017 by The New York Times.
The memo also stated that officials had “high confidence the company is selectively targeting government and privately owned entities within these sectors to expand its ability to collect and exploit sensitive U.S. data.” The U.S. Army banned the use of all DJI drones in 2017, citing “cyber vulnerabilities.”
DJI is dismissing ICE’s claims and said the company gives full control over the drones to the users.
“We debunked the claims in the NYT article a long time ago. We hired a firm to investigate the claims. If you want to share the data, then you can. But if you want to keep it to yourself, then you can.” Adam Lisberg, corporate communications director for DJI, told the DCNF. “DJIs don’t perform facial recognition, period.”
DJI’s app offers an automatic function to store data, which can be turned off if the user dives into a series of settings.
DJI donated drones to 43 agencies in 22 states to help enforce social distancing, MSNBC reported. The donations are part of DJI’s “COVID-19 US Disaster Relief Program,” which provides cities access to the drones for the purpose of surveilling populations during the pandemic.
Elizabeth City Policy is also trying to provide more context to the drone’s usage.
“All its [sic] doing is spreading an automated notice about social distance. No recording or pictures are taken, just a tool of encouragement to follow the rules,” the Elizabeth City Police Department noted in an April 8 tweet.
The tweet came after the police department wrote a Facebook post the same day that contained a more dire warning. (RELATED: REPORT: Coronavirus Came From Wuhan Laboratory, Part Of China Trying To ‘Compete’ With America)
“These drones will be around the City with an automated message from the Mayor telling you to STOP gathering, disperse and go home,” the post noted before issuing a warning that violating the policies subjects them to potential $1,000 fines. “You have been advised.”
Elizabeth City Hall spokesperson Ruby Contreras told the DCNF that officers “are not directed to fly over private property,” and that police officers “will give a summons” if people do not heed a drone’s warnings. The technology does not collect facial recognition data from people they warn, she added.
China is employing similar techniques to get ahead of the pandemic. Many of China’s roughly 300 million surveillance cameras contain facial recognition technology, Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, told The Wall Street Journal in March.
The cameras give authorities the ability “to track who specifically has gone to which precise location,” Richardson said. “It’s another way for the government to gather large amounts of information about people, really, without their consent, and in some cases, without their knowledge.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--Democratic Rep. Max Rose Has No Problem With Trump’s Reelection If ‘We Beat COVID’

Democratic New York Rep. Max Rose said in interview published Friday that he has no issue with President Donald Trump winning reelection in November — as long as the coronavirus is beaten .
“ Nothing would make me happier , nothing , than to see this president utilize all the tools at his disposal to win this war as the commander in chief that he is , and to own that success , ” Rose told Politico .
“ And if that success means that we beat COVID [ -19 ] and he wins reelection , then so be it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an officer in the National Guard , won over a right-leaning constituency in New York in the 2018 midterm elections .
He has sided with the Trump administration on issues like the Taliban truce and has shredded the Green New Deal as a “ lie to voters ” that would usher in “ massive socialist ” spending .
( New York Gov .
Cuomo Praises Trump ’ s Handling Of The Coronavirus Crisis ) Although the congressman is supportive of the president ’ s efforts thus far to combat the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
“ We have won the greatest battle of the 21st century .
But I have not seen his administration assert its authority in the ways that it could .
Think back again to the analogy of World War II .
We built factories and then mandated that the private sector take them over , ” Rose told Politico .
( RELATED : NYC Adds Nearly 4000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls ) “ We put people to work in terms of wartime jobs .
That wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was absolutely vital because people needed work .
And we very well might find ourselves in that situation again , ” he said , noting that companies like 3M may not see the wisdom of producing personal protective equipment if there is no foreseeable need for the products after the COVID-19 virus is controlled or eradicated .
“ The federal government needs to step in and make sure that those 10 new factories are built , and make sure they ’ re built in America .
Only the federal government can @ @ @ @

Democratic New York Rep. Max Rose said in interview published Friday that he has no issue with President Donald Trump winning reelection in November — as long as the coronavirus is beaten.
“Nothing would make me happier, nothing, than to see this president utilize all the tools at his disposal to win this war as the commander in chief that he is, and to own that success,” Rose told Politico. “And if that success means that we beat COVID [-19] and he wins reelection, then so be it. God bless him.”
Rose, an officer in the National Guard, won over a right-leaning constituency in New York in the 2018 midterm elections. He has sided with the Trump administration on issues like the Taliban truce and has shredded the Green New Deal as a “lie to voters” that would usher in “massive socialist” spending. (New York Gov. Cuomo Praises Trump’s Handling Of The Coronavirus Crisis)
Although the congressman is supportive of the president’s efforts thus far to combat the coronavirus pandemic, he would also encourage Trump to do more.
“We have won the greatest battle of the 21st century. But I have not seen his administration assert its authority in the ways that it could. Think back again to the analogy of World War II. We built factories and then mandated that the private sector take them over,” Rose told Politico. (RELATED: NYC Adds Nearly 4000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls)
“We put people to work in terms of wartime jobs. That wasn’t just the patriotic thing to do. That was absolutely vital because people needed work. And we very well might find ourselves in that situation again,” he said, noting that companies like 3M may not see the wisdom of producing personal protective equipment if there is no foreseeable need for the products after the COVID-19 virus is controlled or eradicated.
“The federal government needs to step in and make sure that those 10 new factories are built, and make sure they’re built in America. Only the federal government can do that.”


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--Jonathan Taylor Breaks Down His Mindset On The Field, Says Wisconsin Takes Pride Dominating ‘Up Fron

Jonathan Taylor Breaks Down His Mindset On The Field, Says Wisconsin Takes Pride Dominating ‘Up Front’

Former Wisconsin star Jonathan Taylor takes a lot of pride in his aggressive style of play .
Taylor destroyed defenses for three years for the Badgers , and the big boys up front in the trenches helped him get the job done .
During a recent interview with Colin Cowherd , the soon-to-be NFL player broke down his mentality .
( RELATED : David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football ) Taylor told Cowherd the following about his mindset when it comes to dominating defenders on the field : So , really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … In your mind , you know you ’ re ready to go around them , go through them , ready to run past them .
You ’ re really ready to use every tool in your toolbox to get past that defender , but you definitely take pride , especially when you have a program like Wisconsin , of being able to dominate the line up front , the line of scrimmage and assert your dominance .
You can watch his full comments below .
Taylor is 100 % correct .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride yourself on the work that ’ s done up front .
We ’ re not the sexiest football team , but we ’ re damn tough .
We will bully you , push you around , dominate the line of scrimmage and we will make your life a living hell .
Even during a down year for Wisconsin football , we always have one of the best lines in America .
The fact we pump out running back after running back is proof of that fact .
I like the fact we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up front .
We ’ re a tough state full of tough people , and our football team reflects that fact .
I ’ ll take our guys up front and in the backfield against anybody else .
That ’ s a guarantee you can take to the bank !

Former Wisconsin star Jonathan Taylor takes a lot of pride in his aggressive style of play.
Taylor destroyed defenses for three years for the Badgers, and the big boys up front in the trenches helped him get the job done. During a recent interview with Colin Cowherd, the soon-to-be NFL player broke down his mentality. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Taylor told Cowherd the following about his mindset when it comes to dominating defenders on the field:
So, really, it all depends on the situation … In your mind, you know you’re ready to go around them, go through them, ready to run past them. You’re really ready to use every tool in your toolbox to get past that defender, but you definitely take pride, especially when you have a program like Wisconsin, of being able to dominate the line up front, the line of scrimmage and assert your dominance.
You can watch his full comments below.
Taylor is 100% correct. As a Wisconsin man, you have to pride yourself on the work that’s done up front. We’re not the sexiest football team, but we’re damn tough.
We will bully you, push you around, dominate the line of scrimmage and we will make your life a living hell.
Even during a down year for Wisconsin football, we always have one of the best lines in America. The fact we pump out running back after running back is proof of that fact.
I like the fact we take so much pride in the guys up front. We’re a tough state full of tough people, and our football team reflects that fact.
I’ll take our guys up front and in the backfield against anybody else. That’s a guarantee you can take to the bank!


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--Coronavirus Or Not, Homeschooling Is A Great Option For Our Children

With the COVID-19 pandemic closing classrooms across the country and making most students switch to school-at-home , that means a good many parents have had ample opportunity to sample what 2 million American children have been doing all along .
Which no doubt has also led some of these moms and dads to ask : Why would anyone choose to homeschool ?
It ’ s a good question , and one we hope parents caught in the turmoil of a global health crisis will ponder with an open mind .
Families choose to homeschool for many reasons .
Chief among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational option affords .
Homeschooling allows parents to schedule learning in a way that conforms to their families ’ needs .
Its customized , individualized approach lets students spend more time on subjects that challenge and excite them .
Homeschooling frees children from the rigid and artificial classroom environment so they can learn in a real-world setting and interact with people of diverse ages and backgrounds .
It lets children explore while anchored in a place of safety , free from bullies .
Homeschooling is simply a way to empower parents to choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
And it works .
The achievements attained by homeschool parents and students since homeschooling ’ s renaissance in the late 1970s establishes this truth beyond debate .
Homeschooling has produced great athletes like Tim Tebow and Coco Gauff , best-selling authors such as Christopher Paolini , industry-leading entrepreneurs like Robby Berthume , and chart-topping pop stars and award-winning actors .
And of course , homeschooling has also produced many scholars and public servants such as Dr. Grant Colfax , one of the first to graduate from Harvard .
He served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today is serving the people of San Francisco as their director of public health .
Every loving parent wants to be his child ’ s biggest cheerleader .
Moms and dads long for their children to succeed , and to share their values and beliefs .
This is only natural and right .
The Constitution safeguards rights Americans value most — free speech and the free exercise of religion .
Our nation ’ s highest laws also protect the right of parents to guide their children ’ s upbringing .
And this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSLDA ) has been fighting to protect since 1983 .
But despite all the success of its grads , homeschooling still has its critics .
Some point to public schools and the regimented schedules , age segregation , standardized tests , counselors , nurses , administrators and security guards , and wonder how this can possibly be emulated by moms and dads operating on modest budgets augmented with a little ingenuity and a lot of love .
Well , it can ’ t ( and why would anyone want to replicate that ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point .
What the critics ’ arguments boil down to is a matter of control .
The question , then , is this .
Are children better off being managed by experts operating under the strict authority of the state ?
Or are children better served when fit parents have the freedom to raise , nurture and educate them ?
At HSLDA , we ’ ve been believing in and advocating for parents for more than 35 years .
And we think that parents have justified our faith in them .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger said that when it comes to child-raising decisions , the law presumes that parents act in their children ’ s best interests .
So we encourage parents who are getting a taste of homeschooling to explore the full potential and benefits for your kids .
You might find that it ’ s much more than an education — that ’ s it ’ s a lifestyle .
For more information on homeschooling and how to get started , visit mompossible.org .
J. Michael Smith is the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

With the COVID-19 pandemic closing classrooms across the country and making most students switch to school-at-home, that means a good many parents have had ample opportunity to sample what 2 million American children have been doing all along.
Which no doubt has also led some of these moms and dads to ask: Why would anyone choose to homeschool?
It’s a good question, and one we hope parents caught in the turmoil of a global health crisis will ponder with an open mind.
Families choose to homeschool for many reasons. Chief among these is the freedom and flexibility the educational option affords.
Homeschooling allows parents to schedule learning in a way that conforms to their families’ needs. Its customized, individualized approach lets students spend more time on subjects that challenge and excite them.
Homeschooling frees children from the rigid and artificial classroom environment so they can learn in a real-world setting and interact with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. It lets children explore while anchored in a place of safety, free from bullies.
Homeschooling is simply a way to empower parents to choose what they believe is best for their children.
And it works. The achievements attained by homeschool parents and students since homeschooling’s renaissance in the late 1970s establishes this truth beyond debate.
Homeschooling has produced great athletes like Tim Tebow and Coco Gauff, best-selling authors such as Christopher Paolini, industry-leading entrepreneurs like Robby Berthume, and chart-topping pop stars and award-winning actors.
And of course, homeschooling has also produced many scholars and public servants such as Dr. Grant Colfax, one of the first to graduate from Harvard. He served as an aide to President Barack Obama and today is serving the people of San Francisco as their director of public health.
Every loving parent wants to be his child’s biggest cheerleader. Moms and dads long for their children to succeed, and to share their values and beliefs. This is only natural and right.
The Constitution safeguards rights Americans value most — free speech and the free exercise of religion. Our nation’s highest laws also protect the right of parents to guide their children’s upbringing.
And this is what Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has been fighting to protect since 1983.
But despite all the success of its grads, homeschooling still has its critics.
Some point to public schools and the regimented schedules, age segregation, standardized tests, counselors, nurses, administrators and security guards, and wonder how this can possibly be emulated by moms and dads operating on modest budgets augmented with a little ingenuity and a lot of love.
Well, it can’t (and why would anyone want to replicate that?), but that’s not the point. What the critics’ arguments boil down to is a matter of control.
The question, then, is this. Are children better off being managed by experts operating under the strict authority of the state? Or are children better served when fit parents have the freedom to raise, nurture and educate them?
At HSLDA, we’ve been believing in and advocating for parents for more than 35 years. And we think that parents have justified our faith in them.
We’re in good company. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger said that when it comes to child-raising decisions, the law presumes that parents act in their children’s best interests.
So we encourage parents who are getting a taste of homeschooling to explore the full potential and benefits for your kids. You might find that it’s much more than an education — that’s it’s a lifestyle.
For more information on homeschooling and how to get started, visit mompossible.org.
J. Michael Smith is the president of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation. Content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--US, Canada Agree To Keep Border Closed For Another Month

The United States and Canada agreed to extend a ban on all non-essential travel on their shared border for another month , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced .
Trudeau said his government and the Trump administration opted to extend a ban on all non-essential travel between the U.S.-Canada border for an additional 30 days , according to The Associated Press .
The restrictions will likely be extended again , he added .
“ The agreement is the same terms .
It ’ s just extended for another 30 days , ” Trudeau said .
“ It will ensure we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forth across the border.
” The border restrictions will be in place for “ many , many weeks to come , ” he continued .
Per orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on March 20 announced that the administration would be closing all non-essential travel on its Canadian and Mexican borders — and that all illegal entrants would be turned back .
To be sure , many types of international travel is still permitted , for the sake of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some examples of the “ essential ” movement that is permitted include travel for medical and educational purposes , emergency response operations , public health services and anyone engaged in “ lawful cross-border trade.
” “ Every day , over $ 3 billion in trade crosses the borders of the United States , Mexico and Canada , ” Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) acting commissioner Mark Morgan said earlier in April .
“ This trade is essential to the economies and well-being of North America.
” ( RELATED : Senate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Law With Emergency Border Closure ) The border closure was supposed to expire in the coming week , but as the coronavirus pandemic rages on throughout the world , Trudeau and the Trump administration deemed it best to keep the restrictions in place .
As of Saturday morning , the United States reported more than 694,296 cases of coronavirus , and nearly 31,500 deaths .
Canada reported more than 32,800 cases and slightly more than 1,300 deaths .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The United States and Canada agreed to extend a ban on all non-essential travel on their shared border for another month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced.
Trudeau said his government and the Trump administration opted to extend a ban on all non-essential travel between the U.S.-Canada border for an additional 30 days, according to The Associated Press. The restrictions will likely be extended again, he added.
“The agreement is the same terms. It’s just extended for another 30 days,” Trudeau said. “It will ensure we continue to get essential goods and services back and forth across the border.”
The border restrictions will be in place for “many, many weeks to come,” he continued.
Per orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on March 20 announced that the administration would be closing all non-essential travel on its Canadian and Mexican borders — and that all illegal entrants would be turned back.
To be sure, many types of international travel is still permitted, for the sake of economic trade and other important work.
Some examples of the “essential” movement that is permitted include travel for medical and educational purposes, emergency response operations, public health services and anyone engaged in “lawful cross-border trade.”
“Every day, over $3 billion in trade crosses the borders of the United States, Mexico and Canada,” Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting commissioner Mark Morgan said earlier in April. “This trade is essential to the economies and well-being of North America.” (RELATED: Senate Democrats Say Trump Admin ‘Blatantly Misinterpreting’ The Law With Emergency Border Closure)
The border closure was supposed to expire in the coming week, but as the coronavirus pandemic rages on throughout the world, Trudeau and the Trump administration deemed it best to keep the restrictions in place.
As of Saturday morning, the United States reported more than 694,296 cases of coronavirus, and nearly 31,500 deaths. Canada reported more than 32,800 cases and slightly more than 1,300 deaths.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--Brian Stelter Says He ‘Crawled In Bed And Cried For Our Pre-Pandemic Lives’

CNN ’ s Brian Stelter admitted Saturday morning that he “ crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives ” as the novel coronavirus crisis continues .
Stelter wrote that he “ hit a wall ” the night before and was “ gutted by the death toll ” of the novel coronavirus .
He was also “ disturbed , ” “ dismayed ” and “ worried ” because of various things , from how the Trump administration has handled the pandemic to “ political rhetoric that bears no resemblance to reality.
” “ I crawled in bed and cried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ Tears that had been waiting a month to escape .
I wanted to share because it feels freeing to do so.
” ( RELATED : CNN Bashed Trump For Saying The Same Thing About Coronavirus Death Percentage That They ’ re Now Reporting ) Stelter noted the breakdown in his Friday newsletter , too , CNN ’ s entertainment reporter Chloe Melas tweeted .
Stelter added in the newsletter that he thinks “ those tears had been waiting a month to escape.
” The CNN commentator added that he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time in years ” because of it .

CNN’s Brian Stelter admitted Saturday morning that he “crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives” as the novel coronavirus crisis continues.
Stelter wrote that he “hit a wall” the night before and was “gutted by the death toll” of the novel coronavirus. He was also “disturbed,” “dismayed” and “worried” because of various things, from how the Trump administration has handled the pandemic to “political rhetoric that bears no resemblance to reality.”
“I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives,” Stelter wrote. “Tears that had been waiting a month to escape. I wanted to share because it feels freeing to do so.” (RELATED: CNN Bashed Trump For Saying The Same Thing About Coronavirus Death Percentage That They’re Now Reporting)
I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives. Tears that had been waiting a month to escape. I wanted to share because it feels freeing to do so. Now is not a time for faux-invincibility. Journos are living this, hating this, like everyone else. https://t.co/dIDujZZvQZ — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 18, 2020
Stelter noted the breakdown in his Friday newsletter, too, CNN’s entertainment reporter Chloe Melas tweeted. Stelter added in the newsletter that he thinks “those tears had been waiting a month to escape.”
The CNN commentator added that he “missed last night’s deadline for the first time in years” because of it.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--‘China Doesn’t Need To Ask To Be Praised’

World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a journalist during a forum earlier this year that @ @ @ @ @ need to ask to be praised.
” Tedros won his position as director-general after being @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
The organization has since run cover for China as the country tries to @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
A journalist asked Tedros during the Global Research and Innovation Forum on Feb. @ @ @ @ @ “ approached the WHO to ask it to stand up and say that China is @ @ @ @ @ in preventing the outbreak .
“ We should tell the truth , ” Tedros replied @ @ @ @ @ And that ’ s the truth .
China doesn ’ t need to ask to @ @ @ @ @ : Elite American Institutions Keep Bowing To Communist China… Over And Over Again )

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a journalist during a forum earlier this year that “China doesn’t need to ask to be praised.”
Tedros won his position as director-general after being backed by China in May 2017. The organization has since run cover for China as the country tries to shift blame for the novel coronavirus.
A journalist asked Tedros during the Global Research and Innovation Forum on Feb. 14 if the Chinese government “approached the WHO to ask it to stand up and say that China is doing a good job” in preventing the outbreak.
“We should tell the truth,” Tedros replied back in February. “And that’s the truth. China doesn’t need to ask to be praised.” (RELATED: Elite American Institutions Keep Bowing To Communist China… Over And Over Again)


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--FACT CHECK: Did The NBA Tell Trump To ‘Resign Or We’ll Never Play Again’?

An article shared on Facebook claims the NBA told President Donald Trump to “ resign or we ’ ll never play again.
” There is no evidence that NBA players voted to suspend the season until Trump leaves office .
The article originated on a satire news website .
The NBA indefinitely suspended the 2019-2020 season on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first known NBA player to test positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
( RELATED : Did LeBron James Tell The NBA , ‘ Dump The Anthem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) SCE News published an article March 23 that claims the NBA suspended the season , not because of the COVID-19 pandemic , but rather because Trump remains in office .
It cites anonymous sources who supposedly confirmed that the suspension “ has been in the making for months and that they were simply looking for a good excuse to shut it all down.
” “ The players , led by Washington Generals All-Star Power Forward Art Tubolls , held a secret vote prior to the beginning of the season to suspend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump resigns from office or is voted out , ” reads the article .
“ Since much of the league is made up of Hollywood actor and musician wannabes , these millionaire crybabies overwhelmingly voted to approve the measure.
” There is , however , no evidence that NBA players secretly voted to suspend games until Trump leaves office .
The story actually comes from Bustatroll.org , a parody news website that describes itself as part of a network that publishes “ parody , satire , and tomfoolery.
” Yet , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content , SCE News and other websites fail to make that distinction , portraying it as real .
During a recent NBA Board of Governors meeting , commissioner Adam Silver said the league is “ not in a position to make any decisions ” about when games could resume , ESPN reported .

An article shared on Facebook claims the NBA told President Donald Trump to “resign or we’ll never play again.”
Verdict: False
There is no evidence that NBA players voted to suspend the season until Trump leaves office. The article originated on a satire news website.
Fact Check:
The NBA indefinitely suspended the 2019-2020 season on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first known NBA player to test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. (RELATED: Did LeBron James Tell The NBA, ‘Dump The Anthem, Or I’ll Quit’?)
SCE News published an article March 23 that claims the NBA suspended the season, not because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but rather because Trump remains in office. It cites anonymous sources who supposedly confirmed that the suspension “has been in the making for months and that they were simply looking for a good excuse to shut it all down.”
“The players, led by Washington Generals All-Star Power Forward Art Tubolls, held a secret vote prior to the beginning of the season to suspend the league for any credible reason until President Donald Trump resigns from office or is voted out,” reads the article. “Since much of the league is made up of Hollywood actor and musician wannabes, these millionaire crybabies overwhelmingly voted to approve the measure.”
There is, however, no evidence that NBA players secretly voted to suspend games until Trump leaves office. The story actually comes from Bustatroll.org, a parody news website that describes itself as part of a network that publishes “parody, satire, and tomfoolery.” Yet, while Bustatroll.org disclaims the satirical nature of its content, SCE News and other websites fail to make that distinction, portraying it as real.
During a recent NBA Board of Governors meeting, commissioner Adam Silver said the league is “not in a position to make any decisions” about when games could resume, ESPN reported.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--House Republicans Accuse Democrats Of Exploiting Coronavirus Crisis To Push ‘Extreme’ Immigration Ag

House Republicans Accuse Democrats Of Exploiting Coronavirus Crisis To Push ‘Extreme’ Immigration Agenda

Republican members of the House Oversight Committee accused their Democratic colleagues of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to push their own “ extreme ” immigration agenda .
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan said congressional Democrats were attempting to use the COVID-19 outbreak “ to advocate for their extreme changes in immigration policy , ” and commended the White House for enforcing the rule of law while working to stop the spread of the disease .
“ This concept ought to be simple — we should not turn our back on the citizens and lawful immigrants of this great country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and came here illegally or overstayed their visas , ” Jordan , a congressman from Ohio , said in a statement .
The comments came during a conference call with Matthew Albence , the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) , and Mark Morgan , the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
Both agencies are under pressure to dramatically scale back their operations amid the virus outbreak .
Democrats , for example , have called on the Department of Homeland Security to place a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also demanded detainees — including criminals — be released from ICE custody , criticized the DHS decision to turn back all illegal migrants , and want construction on the border wall to cease .
“ While Americans are forced to stay at home and out of work , Democrats want to release detained illegal aliens , the majority of whom have criminal records , and also provide them with stimulus checks , ” said Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jody Hice .
“ It ’ s unthinkable that anyone would push to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more freedoms than law-abiding Americans , ” Hice continued .
To be sure , immigration agencies have taken steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
ICE announced it would focus its enforcement operations on aliens who pose a risk to public safety , and the agency has so far released nearly 700 aliens from its custody .
( RELATED : Democrats Across The Country Are Fighting To Give Coronavirus Aid To Illegal Aliens ) Albence told lawmakers during the committee briefing that ICE has reduced its detainee population to 70 % or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , protecting both detainees and officers .
The agency is implementing screening processes for new detainees , and is spacing out cells and dorms , Albence added .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Republican members of the House Oversight Committee accused their Democratic colleagues of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to push their own “extreme” immigration agenda.
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan said congressional Democrats were attempting to use the COVID-19 outbreak “to advocate for their extreme changes in immigration policy,” and commended the White House for enforcing the rule of law while working to stop the spread of the disease.
“This concept ought to be simple — we should not turn our back on the citizens and lawful immigrants of this great country to favor those that broke the law and came here illegally or overstayed their visas,” Jordan, a congressman from Ohio, said in a statement.
The comments came during a conference call with Matthew Albence, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Both agencies are under pressure to dramatically scale back their operations amid the virus outbreak.
Democrats, for example, have called on the Department of Homeland Security to place a freeze on all deportations. Democratic lawmakers have also demanded detainees — including criminals — be released from ICE custody, criticized the DHS decision to turn back all illegal migrants, and want construction on the border wall to cease. “While Americans are forced to stay at home and out of work, Democrats want to release detained illegal aliens, the majority of whom have criminal records, and also provide them with stimulus checks,” said Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jody Hice. “It’s unthinkable that anyone would push to give those who have broken the law more freedoms than law-abiding Americans,” Hice continued. To be sure, immigration agencies have taken steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. ICE announced it would focus its enforcement operations on aliens who pose a risk to public safety, and the agency has so far released nearly 700 aliens from its custody. (RELATED: Democrats Across The Country Are Fighting To Give Coronavirus Aid To Illegal Aliens)
Albence told lawmakers during the committee briefing that ICE has reduced its detainee population to 70% or less in order to allow more social distancing, protecting both detainees and officers. The agency is implementing screening processes for new detainees, and is spacing out cells and dorms, Albence added.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--‘Enforcement Will Come’ — De Blasio Encourages New Yorkers To Snitch On Each Other For Not Social Di

‘Enforcement Will Come’ — De Blasio Encourages New Yorkers To Snitch On Each Other For Not Social Distancing

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio posted a video to Twitter Saturday encouraging residents to take photos of and report other people for violating social distancing guidelines .
“ When you see a crowd , when you see a line that ’ s not distanced , when you see a supermarket that ’ s too crowded–anything–you can report it right away so we can get there to fix the problem , ” de Blasio said in the video .
“ And now , it ’ s as simple as taking a photo , ” the mayor said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is take the photo and put the location with it , and bang , send a photo like this and we will make sure that enforcement comes right away.
” “ Text the photo to 311-692 and action will ensue.
” “ Enforcement will come to get the help we need , ” he added .
The video quickly was mocked on social media by people across the political spectrum Saturday morning .
Meanwhile , de Blasio ’ s own handling of coronavirus in New York City has come under fire .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls ) In early March he strongly downplayed the virus , telling New Yorkers in a tweet , “ go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus .
”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio posted a video to Twitter Saturday encouraging residents to take photos of and report other people for violating social distancing guidelines.
WATCH:
How do you report places that aren’t enforcing social distancing? It’s simple: just snap a photo and text it to 311-692. #AskMyMayor pic.twitter.com/WQdCcVf1Rl — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 18, 2020
“When you see a crowd, when you see a line that’s not distanced, when you see a supermarket that’s too crowded–anything–you can report it right away so we can get there to fix the problem,” de Blasio said in the video.
“And now, it’s as simple as taking a photo,” the mayor said. “All you’ve got to do is take the photo and put the location with it, and bang, send a photo like this and we will make sure that enforcement comes right away.”
“Text the photo to 311-692 and action will ensue.”
“Enforcement will come to get the help we need,” he added.
The video quickly was mocked on social media by people across the political spectrum Saturday morning.
War is peace, Big Brother loves you. https://t.co/rarHg1Nys5 — Ned Ryun (@nedryun) April 18, 2020
Aside from literal Nazis, who from New York is actually OK with this? Seems like this is the end of de Blasio’s political career. https://t.co/2snOIZyP7e — John Lilic (@JohnLilic) April 18, 2020
The Mayor has his security detail drive him 11 miles round trip so that he can go for a walk in Prospect Park every day. https://t.co/HQ5olb34QY — Tim Fullerton (@TimFullerton) April 18, 2020
Red Bill is on form today. He wants you to call the cops on your neighbors for violating social distancing. “We will make sure that enforcement comes right away.” Evil.https://t.co/zsSE3Xt1VE — Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) April 18, 2020
I don’t want to say this is the dumbest idea anyone’s ever cooked up but this is the dumbest idea anyone’s ever cooked up. https://t.co/zL7X5ZorSV — Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 18, 2020
Corona shaming become corona snitching https://t.co/6kZXKxt8GT — katie rosman (@katierosman) April 18, 2020
I cannot wait for all the pics people get of the mayor breaking the rules. https://t.co/I2wS7vaHRL — Brooke Hammerling (@brooke) April 18, 2020
Meanwhile, de Blasio’s own handling of coronavirus in New York City has come under fire. (RELATED: NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls)
In early March he strongly downplayed the virus, telling New Yorkers in a tweet, “go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus.”


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--Trump Says He’ll End Obama-Era Funding To Chinese Lab That May Have Spawned The Coronavirus

President Donald Trump said Friday he will end federal funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology that some are claiming spawned the coronavirus .
At the daily coronavirus task force news conference , the president was asked why the National Institutes of Health would include the Chinese laboratory in a $ 3.7 million dollar stipend to conduct research .
“ The Obama administration gave them a grant of $ 3.7 million .
I ’ ve been hearing about that .
We ’ ve instructed that if any grants are going to that area , we are looking at it literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the morning , ” Trump said .
( RELATED : Tucker Carlson : ‘ China Continues To Threaten The Rest Of Us With Wet Markets ’ ) “ We will end the grant very quickly .
It was granted quite a while ago .
They were granted a substantial amount of money .
We are going to look at it and take a look .
But I understand it was a number of years ago .
When did you hear the grant was made ?
” The reporter informed the president that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted the date and asked , “ 2015 .
Who was president then ?
I wonder.
” Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz raised the issue of the funding earlier this week during an appearance on Fox News ’ “ Tucker Carlson Tonight.
” “ I ’ m against funding Chinese research in our country , but I ’ m sure against funding it in China .
The NIH gives this $ 3.7 million grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology , they then advertise that they need coronavirus researchers and following that coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( RELATED : ‘ Stop Eating Bats !
’ Lindsey Graham Blasts Wet Markets , Calls on China ’ s President To ‘ Crack Down ’ ) On Friday , Gaetz tweeted his gratitude to Trump and Health Secretary Alex Azar : “ Thank you President @ realDonaldTrump and @ SecAzar for committing to end this America Last grant given to labs in Wuhan by the Obama Administration !
” Reports claiming that the COVID-19 virus originated in the Wuhan lab and was released to the local community have gained traction in @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump said Friday he will end federal funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology that some are claiming spawned the coronavirus.
At the daily coronavirus task force news conference, the president was asked why the National Institutes of Health would include the Chinese laboratory in a $3.7 million dollar stipend to conduct research.
“The Obama administration gave them a grant of $3.7 million. I’ve been hearing about that. We’ve instructed that if any grants are going to that area, we are looking at it literally about an hour ago and also early in the morning,” Trump said. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson: ‘China Continues To Threaten The Rest Of Us With Wet Markets’)
“We will end the grant very quickly. It was granted quite a while ago. They were granted a substantial amount of money. We are going to look at it and take a look. But I understand it was a number of years ago. When did you hear the grant was made?”
The reporter informed the president that the funding was from 2015.
Trump noted the date and asked, “2015. Who was president then? I wonder.”
Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz raised the issue of the funding earlier this week during an appearance on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
“I’m against funding Chinese research in our country, but I’m sure against funding it in China. The NIH gives this $3.7 million grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, they then advertise that they need coronavirus researchers and following that coronavirus erupts in Wuhan,” Gaetz explained. (RELATED: ‘Stop Eating Bats!’ Lindsey Graham Blasts Wet Markets, Calls on China’s President To ‘Crack Down’)
On Friday, Gaetz tweeted his gratitude to Trump and Health Secretary Alex Azar: “Thank you President @realDonaldTrump and @SecAzar for committing to end this America Last grant given to labs in Wuhan by the Obama Administration!”
“The Obama administration gave them a grant of $3.7 million…we will end that grant very quickly.” Thank you President @realDonaldTrump and @SecAzar for committing to end this America Last grant given to labs in Wuhan by the Obama administration! pic.twitter.com/hiubYx0X4K — Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) April 18, 2020
Reports claiming that the COVID-19 virus originated in the Wuhan lab and was released to the local community have gained traction in the last week.


thedailycaller--2020-04-18--‘A Disgraceful Situation’: Trump Blasts Judge’s Denial Of New Trial For Roger Stone

President Donald Trump on Friday called a judge ’ s decision to deny Roger Stone a new trial a “ disgraceful situation , ” and amplified a tweet calling for the GOP operative ’ s pardon .
Stone faces a “ death sentence ” if he is sent to prison due to the coronavirus pandemic , he told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview hours before Trump ’ s tweet .
“ At 67 years old with some underlying health problems including a history of asthma , I believe with the coronavirus it is essentially a death sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal inmates have recently been released from prison due to concerns about COVID-19 , Carlson noted .
The Bureau of Prisons will reportedly allow former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to complete the final 18 months of his prison sentence from home confinement .
As of Saturday , the Bureau of Prisons has placed 1,252 federal inmates on home confinement .
Eighteen inmates have died from coronavirus in federal prison , and another 465 have tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ One person who ’ s on his way to jail , maybe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone , ” Carlson said .
Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied Stone ’ s request for a new trial on Thursday .
( RELATED : Roger Stone Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison ) Stone sought a mistrial after social media posts surfaced of the jury forewoman at his trial tweeting negatively about Trump over the past several years .
The forewoman , who had called all of the president ’ s supporters racist in one Aug. 2 , 2019 , post , denied holding negative views about Stone during the jury selection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the motion for a mistrial in my case based on flagrant and blatant , even egregious , juror misconduct would have won me a new trial , ” Stone told Carlson .
“ In this case it is undisputible [ sic ] that the jury forewoman attacked both me and President Trump in 2019 social media postings , lied about that in jury selection , and then later deleted her Facebook page to cover her trails.
” Jackson sentenced Stone to 40 months in prison on Feb. 20 .
He said Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in two weeks , though he has 14 days to appeal Jackson ’ s latest decision .
Stone was convicted on charges of making false statements to Congress , obstructing an official proceeding , and witness tampering .
All of the charges centered around the House Intelligence Committee ’ s investigation of possible Russian collusion with the Trump campaign .
The special counsel ’ s team charged Stone with lying to Congress about his conversations with Trump campaign officials and other associates about WikiLeaks ’ plans to release Democrats ’ emails during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump associate was found in the special counsel ’ s investigation to have aided Russia or WikiLeaks in stealing or releasing the emails .
Trump has not said whether he will pardon Stone , who he has known for more than four decades , but he has hinted in the past that he is considering it .
On Feb. 12 , he suggested the possibility of “ prosecutorial misconduct ” in Stone ’ s case .
He commented Friday on a tweet from conservative activist Charlie Kirk , who called Jackson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

President Donald Trump on Friday called a judge’s decision to deny Roger Stone a new trial a “disgraceful situation,” and amplified a tweet calling for the GOP operative’s pardon.
Stone faces a “death sentence” if he is sent to prison due to the coronavirus pandemic, he told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview hours before Trump’s tweet.
“At 67 years old with some underlying health problems including a history of asthma, I believe with the coronavirus it is essentially a death sentence,” he said.
Several high-profile federal inmates have recently been released from prison due to concerns about COVID-19, Carlson noted. The Bureau of Prisons will reportedly allow former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to complete the final 18 months of his prison sentence from home confinement.
As of Saturday, the Bureau of Prisons has placed 1,252 federal inmates on home confinement. Eighteen inmates have died from coronavirus in federal prison, and another 465 have tested positive for COVID-19.
“One person who’s on his way to jail, maybe the only one in America, is Roger Stone,” Carlson said.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied Stone’s request for a new trial on Thursday. (RELATED: Roger Stone Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison)
Stone sought a mistrial after social media posts surfaced of the jury forewoman at his trial tweeting negatively about Trump over the past several years. The forewoman, who had called all of the president’s supporters racist in one Aug. 2, 2019, post, denied holding negative views about Stone during the jury selection process.
“I was very hopeful that the motion for a mistrial in my case based on flagrant and blatant, even egregious, juror misconduct would have won me a new trial,” Stone told Carlson.
“In this case it is undisputible [sic] that the jury forewoman attacked both me and President Trump in 2019 social media postings, lied about that in jury selection, and then later deleted her Facebook page to cover her trails.”
WATCH:
Jackson sentenced Stone to 40 months in prison on Feb. 20. He said Friday he is scheduled to report to prison in two weeks, though he has 14 days to appeal Jackson’s latest decision.
Stone was convicted on charges of making false statements to Congress, obstructing an official proceeding, and witness tampering. All of the charges centered around the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation of possible Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.
The special counsel’s team charged Stone with lying to Congress about his conversations with Trump campaign officials and other associates about WikiLeaks’ plans to release Democrats’ emails during the 2016 election.
Neither Stone nor any Trump associate was found in the special counsel’s investigation to have aided Russia or WikiLeaks in stealing or releasing the emails.
Trump has not said whether he will pardon Stone, who he has known for more than four decades, but he has hinted in the past that he is considering it. On Feb. 12, he suggested the possibility of “prosecutorial misconduct” in Stone’s case.
He commented Friday on a tweet from conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who called Jackson’s decision a “disgrace.”
“RT for a FULL PARDON of Roger Stone!” Kirk wrote.
Trump commented: “This is a disgraceful situation!”
This is a disgraceful situation! https://t.co/s2qZSrGw6U — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2020
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-04-19--‘Insulated Hollywood Bubble-Dweller’: Patton Oswalt Dragged For Tone-Deaf Tweet Mocking Shutdown Pro

‘Insulated Hollywood Bubble-Dweller’: Patton Oswalt Dragged For Tone-Deaf Tweet Mocking Shutdown Protesters

“ Anne Frank spent 2 years hiding in an attic and we ’ ve been home for just over a month with Netflix , food delivery & video games and there are people risking viral death by storming state capital buildings & screaming , ‘ Open Fuddruckers ! '
” Oswalt tweeted in a post that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons .
Protests in Michigan , Virginia , Texas and other places have made news of late as many citizens balk at the severity of continued lockdown measures imposed by governors in an effort to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portrayal of protesters as simply wanting to get out of the house and eat at restaurants struck many as tone deaf .
Fox News anchor Greg Gutfeld contrasted Oswalt ’ s own wealth with the actor telling “ you jackasses to suck it up.
” Fox News contributor and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino had a similar take , calling Oswalt an “ insulated Hollywood bubble-dweller.
” ( RELATED : ‘ Gretchen Whitmer Is A Ghoul ’ : Tucker Wonders Why ‘ People Rotting In Wheelchairs ’ Is Allowed But Abortion Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty more where those came from :

Comedian Patton Oswalt drew a heap of criticism for a Saturday tweet mocking people protesting states’ stay-at-home orders.
“Anne Frank spent 2 years hiding in an attic and we’ve been home for just over a month with Netflix, food delivery & video games and there are people risking viral death by storming state capital buildings & screaming, ‘Open Fuddruckers!'” Oswalt tweeted in a post that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Anne Frank spent 2 years hiding in an attic and we’ve been home for just over a month with Netflix, food delivery & video games and there are people risking viral death by storming state capital buildings & screaming, “Open Fuddruckers!” — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 18, 2020
Protests in Michigan, Virginia, Texas and other places have made news of late as many citizens balk at the severity of continued lockdown measures imposed by governors in an effort to fight the spread of coronavirus.
Oswalt’s portrayal of protesters as simply wanting to get out of the house and eat at restaurants struck many as tone deaf. Fox News anchor Greg Gutfeld contrasted Oswalt’s own wealth with the actor telling “you jackasses to suck it up.”
rich fat guy sitting on a mountain of cash tells you jackasses to suck it up https://t.co/jjQdp05CVd — GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) April 18, 2020
Fox News contributor and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino had a similar take, calling Oswalt an “insulated Hollywood bubble-dweller.” (RELATED: ‘Gretchen Whitmer Is A Ghoul’: Tucker Wonders Why ‘People Rotting In Wheelchairs’ Is Allowed But Abortion Is ‘Essential’)
Insulated Hollywood bubble-dweller, with zero awareness of what goes on in the real world, where working men and women don’t get “SWAG” bags for waking up in the morning. #IMBECILE ???????????????? https://t.co/Sr22uNssuU — Dan Bongino (@dbongino) April 18, 2020
And there were plenty more where those came from:
Some of them work at Fuddruckers, or places like it. Not everyone can afford the luxury of staying home, ordering takeout, and watching Netflix for two months. We can’t all be wealthy overrated comedians. https://t.co/YKyJ7OTVlN — Robby Soave (@robbysoave) April 18, 2020
The wealthy comedian would like you to know that he and Anne Frank are morally superior to the ignorant and tasteless peasants who want their jobs and businesses back. https://t.co/TxEH0WFn5C — Thaddeus Russell (@ThaddeusRussell) April 18, 2020
STFU Frodo. Most of this country despises you and all that you ‘stand for’. You’re the definition of entitled white trash. YOU have Netflix, food delivery, video games and little boys at your disposal. Much of this working nation lost their jobs, paychecks and more. https://t.co/PX2rlJWM6h — Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) April 18, 2020
People that get a pay check every week and haven’t had one in three have every right to make their problems known. https://t.co/qAsiIsQrkf — Phil. (@philthatremains) April 19, 2020
Please Patton.. define “home” for you… https://t.co/WFDoU5whyA — Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) April 18, 2020
The only thing worse than rich celebrities sitting in their mansions telling everyone to stay home is rich celebrities crapping on people who want to go to work so they can feed their kids. https://t.co/mC3yVmFeiY — John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) April 18, 2020
That whole freedom thing just is beyond some people. https://t.co/YV068AUfVo — Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) April 18, 2020
The worst human being on the planet speaks. Jesus Christ, could you be more detached from humanity? https://t.co/pU45miN2G3 — Chris Barron (@ChrisRBarron) April 18, 2020


thedailycaller--2020-04-19--Matt Drudge Issues Rare Statement, Takes Aim At Trump

Trump said earlier in the day that he , like “ many others ” had lost faith in Drudge .
“ I gave up on Drudge ( a really nice guy ) long ago , as have many others .
People are dropping off like flies !
” ( RELATED : President Trump : ‘ I Gave Up On Drudge ’ ) Drudge responded by giving a direct statement to CNN , saying in an email , “ The past 30 days has been the most eyeballs in Drudge Report ’ s 26 year-history .
Heartbreaking that it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Drudge is right , as CNN reported : Page view data directly from the Drudge Report ’ s server , provided to CNN by a person with access to the numbers , shows no significant traffic dips since January 2019 .
The data shows a significant traffic surge in March , up to 1.2 billion page views from 781 million page views in February .
In addition , Drudge ’ s traffic for the past 30 days eclipsed even the traffic volume from November 2016 , when Trump won the presidential election @

Conservative media giant Matt Drudge fired back at President Donald Trump, issuing a direct statement Saturday.
Trump said earlier in the day that he, like “many others” had lost faith in Drudge. “I gave up on Drudge (a really nice guy) long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies!” (RELATED: President Trump: ‘I Gave Up On Drudge’)
I gave up on Drudge (a really nice guy) long ago, as have many others. People are dropping off like flies! https://t.co/L77SXS2mE8 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2020
Drudge responded by giving a direct statement to CNN, saying in an email, “The past 30 days has been the most eyeballs in Drudge Report’s 26 year-history. Heartbreaking that it has been under such tragic circumstances.”
Data suggests that Drudge is right, as CNN reported:
Page view data directly from the Drudge Report’s server, provided to CNN by a person with access to the numbers, shows no significant traffic dips since January 2019. The data shows a significant traffic surge in March, up to 1.2 billion page views from 781 million page views in February.
In addition, Drudge’s traffic for the past 30 days eclipsed even the traffic volume from November 2016, when Trump won the presidential election.


thedailycaller--2020-04-19--‘Preposterous On Its Face’: Martha MacCallum Analyzes #MeToo Movement In Light Of Tara Reade

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum criticized the idea of automatically believing accusers without due process as “ preposterous on its face.
” Appearing on Saturday night ’ s edition of “ Watters World ” with Fox News anchor Jesse Watters , MacCallum was asked about the liberal media ’ s virtual silence regarding former Senate staffer Tara Reade ’ s sexual assault accusations against her former boss , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Despite the fact that other former Democratic presidential candidates have been asked about the allegations , Biden “ has not been asked once about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and of itself Jesse just raises so many questions , ” she said .
“ But what really strikes me in this whole story more than anything is something that we ’ ve been talking about for a really long time , and that is with these accusations , which are always troublesome , the idea that you can believe all women or believe all men for that matter is just preposterous on its face.
” The Fox News anchor stressed the importance of analyzing “ the evidence in a situation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ evaluate it regardless of the sex of who the accuser is.
” ( RELATED : Howard Kurtz Rips Media Outlets By Name For Not Covering Biden Accuser ) Referring to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , MacCallum said , “ We ’ ve seen people get raked over the coals in them , sometimes unjustly , and that ’ s devastating.
” Media and silence from the left when their own is accused “ just really smacks of something that is so disingenuous in the way that people have approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it breaks that wide open for the future as well , ” she said .

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum criticized the idea of automatically believing accusers without due process as “preposterous on its face.”
Appearing on Saturday night’s edition of “Watters World” with Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, MacCallum was asked about the liberal media’s virtual silence regarding former Senate staffer Tara Reade’s sexual assault accusations against her former boss, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
WATCH:
Despite the fact that other former Democratic presidential candidates have been asked about the allegations, Biden “has not been asked once about it,” MacCallum noted.
“That in and of itself Jesse just raises so many questions,” she said. “But what really strikes me in this whole story more than anything is something that we’ve been talking about for a really long time, and that is with these accusations, which are always troublesome, the idea that you can believe all women or believe all men for that matter is just preposterous on its face.”
The Fox News anchor stressed the importance of analyzing “the evidence in a situation” regarding each claim’s “credibility” and “evaluate it regardless of the sex of who the accuser is.” (RELATED: Howard Kurtz Rips Media Outlets By Name For Not Covering Biden Accuser)
Referring to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, MacCallum said, “We’ve seen people get raked over the coals in them, sometimes unjustly, and that’s devastating.”
Media and silence from the left when their own is accused “just really smacks of something that is so disingenuous in the way that people have approached these, and I really hope that it breaks that wide open for the future as well,” she said.


thedailycaller--2020-04-19--‘It Kind Of Felt Like I Was Ending His Life’: NY Nurse Shares Heartbreaking Story Of Coronavirus Pat

‘It Kind Of Felt Like I Was Ending His Life’: NY Nurse Shares Heartbreaking Story Of Coronavirus Patient Whose Family Watched Him Die Over FaceTime

• Ally Marcello , 24 , works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York , where the coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 14,000 statewide .
• Early Wednesday morning , while most of America slept , Marcello helped a family say their final goodbye to their father over FaceTime .
• “ We love you and we forgive you for anything , ” she described the family members saying to their father .
“ You can go in peace.
” Nurse Ally Marcello works at the epicenter of New York ’ s coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she held up a FaceTime call to help a family say their final goodbye to their father .
Marcello , 24 , has worked nights as a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park for almost two years , she told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Her hospital began to notice the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of March , and emergency room doctors told staff to brace for impact , she said .
“ Things got bad pretty quickly , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ISeeU Blankets , a project that provides home-made blankets to patients and family members in her ICU ( intensive care unit ) .
“ The surge in the hospital went way up and we started having to float to different units , and you started hearing medical rapid responses being called overhead , which is when they sent the rapid response team to people who are on the regular floors who aren ’ t doing well and might need critical care.
” As of Monday , Long Island Jewish Medical Center had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had tested positive for coronavirus , and 115 of them were on ventilators , Marcello said .
Only about 15 % of those on ventilators will make it off , she added .
Marcello would typically work three days a week with an occasional fourth shift and focus on two very sick patients who need hourly checks and special medication every couple of minutes .
But due to the pandemic , Marcello has been working five days a week and caring for four ventilated patients at a time .
“ We know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it just is so different , ” she added .
“ I never thought I would be taking care of four ventilated patients at a time .
I never thought I would be creating ICUs out of thin air on regular med surge floors that were not meant for critical care at all .
And I never thought we would be staffing nine ICUs at a time .
It just is crazy.
” Marcello and her fellow nurses are no strangers to sickness and death , but they aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that they must tend to every day .
She expressed sadness that the pandemic limits the TLC ( tender loving care ) that nurses wish to show their patients .
This wears on their emotions , she said .
“ Nurses get into that because they love people , ” Marcello said .
“ They want to talk to the families , they want to talk to the patients .
And the fact that now that we don ’ t really have time to do so as much as we would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people.
” Earlier this week , Marcello cared for a patient who had recently been transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center — a patient she identified as A.S. to protect his privacy .
The hospital has received many more patients since Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo deemed the hospital a “ coronavirus hotspot , meaning the hospital would receive more funding and more resources than other hospitals , ” she said .
Marcello can not recall exactly how long the patient was in the ICU , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of days .
One of her fellow nurses had been caring for him , but the nurse could not be on duty that night and Marcello offered to care for him .
“ It ’ s hard to manage these patients , first of all , because we don ’ t exactly know what we ’ re dealing with , ” she said .
“ We were fighting against the clock and trying to do what we could for him and it just , it wasn ’ t really working for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started quickly increasing.
” As Long Island Jewish Medical Center focuses on the pandemic and scales back surgeries and pediatric cases , responsibilities at the hospital have shifted .
Scrub nurses who usually only work in the operating room have been helping out as “ FaceTime facilitators , ” she said , allowing the nurses to give care to all the patients who need it without prohibiting the patients from talking to their families .
When one of these facilitators came through around 8 p.m. , Marcello made sure she got on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravity of the situation — that things were not looking good for their father .
She let the family know that he was requiring more blood pressure medication , that he was not breathing on his own , and that he was on “ pretty significant ventilator settings to help open up his lungs.
” “ They understood that he was very sick , but I don ’ t think they understood exactly how quickly he would pass , ” she said .
As the night progressed , A.S. became worse .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maxed out on all the blood pressure medications to try to keep him alive long enough to FaceTime his family so they could say goodbye .
“ We did a multiple-person FaceTime call , so that way , all of his kids could be on at the same time , ” she said .
The family expressed their love for him and spoke to him in Spanish .
She could understand some of it .
She continued : “ And you know , they were just expressing their love for him and speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mostly what he spoke.
” “ ‘ We love you and we forgive you for anything , ' ” she described the family members saying to their father .
“ ‘ You can go in peace . '
” Their father ’ s heart stopped as they were still speaking to him , she said .
Marcello struggled for words , fearing she would offend the grieving family .
She wanted to show them respect and sympathy .
Usually it would be the doctor who would call and tell the family that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , and this usually happened after the patient had passed .
In this rare coronavirus situation , she said , the family was actually present virtually when their loved one passed .
She stayed by A.S. ’ s bedside and held the phone up for another 30 minutes so the family could see their father ’ s face .
“ Probably the hardest part was finding the best time to kind of hang up so that way I could start the postmortem care , ” she said .
“ When they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they love him , how do you choose when to say , ‘ Okay , I ’ m so sorry but we have to go now ?
’ It kind of felt like I was ending his life in a way , even though he had already passed.
” After she hung up the phone , she broke down and cried .
“ This post was not to make you feel sorry for me , but it was to express my pride , ” Marcello wrote in an Instagram post the morning after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love my job how I get to fill in for them as family when there ’ s can ’ t be present .
I love that I am able to make the patient and his/her family comfortable in their last moments .
I love to give my all to my patients but I pray this virus ends soon.
” Marcello is thankful she has had time to process the situation by talking to her coworkers , friends , family and her boyfriend Tim .
“ It was tough , but you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself together , ” she said .
“ I had a really big cry for 15 minutes and the other nurses picked up my other assignment , my other patient I was taking care of .
So that way I can kind of let it out , collect myself .
And then sadly , you kind of just have to go back to work .
You could still be sad about it , but you got ta think about the other patient that ’ s also in your care.
” As Marcello rests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , she wants people to understand that even though the situation appears to be getting better , things are still bad in the hospital , especially for the ICU .
She encourages everyone to listen to the government on when Americans can resume normal activities .
“ People are still getting worse and you know , there ’ s always the risk for a second wave to hit us when people start going out again , ” she said .
“ You know , people can be carriers and not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could spread it when they start going out ’ cause the weather ’ s getting better.
” Marcello is motivated to keep caring for the sick throughout the pandemic , even at the risk of her own safety , by both her patients and by her coworkers .
( RELATED : Nashville Nurses Pray Over Patients On Hospital Roof During Their Break : ‘ Go To The Helipad And Pray ’ ) “ I work with amazing , amazing people and you know , every time I go in we still somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and keep each other happy and positive , ” she said .
Marcello and her coworkers in the Long Island Jewish Medical Center SICU started a GoFundMe on March 25 , “ Help LIJ ’ s SICU Fight The Pandemic of COVID-19 , ” which has surpassed its goal of $ 2,000 by over $ 3,000 .
“ Everyone ’ s been really supportive , ” she said , describing how almost every shift she works , people donate snacks and food and send pictures and letters .
The nurses have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in letters from students , she said , and her friends send her care packages in the mail .
Someone played bagpipes outside Long Island Jewish Medical Center the other day , she added , and firefighters lined the walkway and clapped for the health care workers .
“ We do it for the patients and their families because we put ourselves in their shoes , ” she said .
“ We want the best care for our family members or for ourselves if we got sick .
It ’ s just little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciation from the community .
It ’ s all those little things that kind of add up together and keep you going even when things seem very frustrating.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Ally Marcello, 24, works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, where the coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 14,000 statewide.
Early Wednesday morning, while most of America slept, Marcello helped a family say their final goodbye to their father over FaceTime.
“We love you and we forgive you for anything,” she described the family members saying to their father. “You can go in peace.”
Nurse Ally Marcello works at the epicenter of New York’s coronavirus outbreak. At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, she held up a FaceTime call to help a family say their final goodbye to their father.
Marcello, 24, has worked nights as a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park for almost two years, she told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Her hospital began to notice the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of March, and emergency room doctors told staff to brace for impact, she said.
“Things got bad pretty quickly,” said Marcello, who is also the founder of ISeeU Blankets, a project that provides home-made blankets to patients and family members in her ICU (intensive care unit). “The surge in the hospital went way up and we started having to float to different units, and you started hearing medical rapid responses being called overhead, which is when they sent the rapid response team to people who are on the regular floors who aren’t doing well and might need critical care.”
As of Monday, Long Island Jewish Medical Center had 790 patients: 592 of these patients had tested positive for coronavirus, and 115 of them were on ventilators, Marcello said. Only about 15% of those on ventilators will make it off, she added.
Marcello would typically work three days a week with an occasional fourth shift and focus on two very sick patients who need hourly checks and special medication every couple of minutes. But due to the pandemic, Marcello has been working five days a week and caring for four ventilated patients at a time.
“We know what to do. We learned about it, but it just is so different,” she added. “I never thought I would be taking care of four ventilated patients at a time. I never thought I would be creating ICUs out of thin air on regular med surge floors that were not meant for critical care at all. And I never thought we would be staffing nine ICUs at a time. It just is crazy.”
Marcello and her fellow nurses are no strangers to sickness and death, but they aren’t used to the sheer amount of sick people that they must tend to every day. She expressed sadness that the pandemic limits the TLC (tender loving care) that nurses wish to show their patients. This wears on their emotions, she said.
“Nurses get into that because they love people,” Marcello said. “They want to talk to the families, they want to talk to the patients. And the fact that now that we don’t really have time to do so as much as we would like to, it can be taxing on a lot of people.”
Earlier this week, Marcello cared for a patient who had recently been transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center — a patient she identified as A.S. to protect his privacy. The hospital has received many more patients since Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo deemed the hospital a “coronavirus hotspot, meaning the hospital would receive more funding and more resources than other hospitals,” she said.
Marcello cannot recall exactly how long the patient was in the ICU, but she believes he was there for a couple of days. One of her fellow nurses had been caring for him, but the nurse could not be on duty that night and Marcello offered to care for him.
“It’s hard to manage these patients, first of all, because we don’t exactly know what we’re dealing with,” she said. “We were fighting against the clock and trying to do what we could for him and it just, it wasn’t really working for him. And his blood pressure medication requirements started quickly increasing.”
As Long Island Jewish Medical Center focuses on the pandemic and scales back surgeries and pediatric cases, responsibilities at the hospital have shifted. Scrub nurses who usually only work in the operating room have been helping out as “FaceTime facilitators,” she said, allowing the nurses to give care to all the patients who need it without prohibiting the patients from talking to their families.
When one of these facilitators came through around 8 p.m., Marcello made sure she got on the call and let the family know the gravity of the situation — that things were not looking good for their father. She let the family know that he was requiring more blood pressure medication, that he was not breathing on his own, and that he was on “pretty significant ventilator settings to help open up his lungs.”
“They understood that he was very sick, but I don’t think they understood exactly how quickly he would pass,” she said.
As the night progressed, A.S. became worse. Around 1 a.m., Marcello said she had maxed out on all the blood pressure medications to try to keep him alive long enough to FaceTime his family so they could say goodbye.
“We did a multiple-person FaceTime call, so that way, all of his kids could be on at the same time,” she said. The family expressed their love for him and spoke to him in Spanish. She could understand some of it.
She continued: “And you know, they were just expressing their love for him and speaking to him in Spanish since that’s mostly what he spoke.”
“‘We love you and we forgive you for anything,'” she described the family members saying to their father. “‘You can go in peace.'”
Their father’s heart stopped as they were still speaking to him, she said.
Marcello struggled for words, fearing she would offend the grieving family. She wanted to show them respect and sympathy. Usually it would be the doctor who would call and tell the family that their loved one had passed, she said, and this usually happened after the patient had passed. In this rare coronavirus situation, she said, the family was actually present virtually when their loved one passed.
She stayed by A.S.’s bedside and held the phone up for another 30 minutes so the family could see their father’s face.
“Probably the hardest part was finding the best time to kind of hang up so that way I could start the postmortem care,” she said. “When they’re all crying and saying how much they love him, how do you choose when to say, ‘Okay, I’m so sorry but we have to go now?’ It kind of felt like I was ending his life in a way, even though he had already passed.”
After she hung up the phone, she broke down and cried.
“This post was not to make you feel sorry for me, but it was to express my pride,” Marcello wrote in an Instagram post the morning after her patient’s death. “I love my job how I get to fill in for them as family when there’s can’t be present. I love that I am able to make the patient and his/her family comfortable in their last moments. I love to give my all to my patients but I pray this virus ends soon.”
Marcello is thankful she has had time to process the situation by talking to her coworkers, friends, family and her boyfriend Tim.
“It was tough, but you know, you kind of have to bring yourself together,” she said. “I had a really big cry for 15 minutes and the other nurses picked up my other assignment, my other patient I was taking care of. So that way I can kind of let it out, collect myself. And then sadly, you kind of just have to go back to work. You could still be sad about it, but you gotta think about the other patient that’s also in your care.”
As Marcello rests up before she heads back to fight the pandemic, she wants people to understand that even though the situation appears to be getting better, things are still bad in the hospital, especially for the ICU. She encourages everyone to listen to the government on when Americans can resume normal activities.
“People are still getting worse and you know, there’s always the risk for a second wave to hit us when people start going out again,” she said. “You know, people can be carriers and not have symptoms and not know it, and they could spread it when they start going out ’cause the weather’s getting better.”
Marcello is motivated to keep caring for the sick throughout the pandemic, even at the risk of her own safety, by both her patients and by her coworkers. (RELATED: Nashville Nurses Pray Over Patients On Hospital Roof During Their Break: ‘Go To The Helipad And Pray’)
“I work with amazing, amazing people and you know, every time I go in we still somehow find a way to have a good time and keep each other happy and positive,” she said.
Marcello and her coworkers in the Long Island Jewish Medical Center SICU started a GoFundMe on March 25, “Help LIJ’s SICU Fight The Pandemic of COVID-19,” which has surpassed its goal of $2,000 by over $3,000.
“Everyone’s been really supportive,” she said, describing how almost every shift she works, people donate snacks and food and send pictures and letters.
The nurses have a wall in the cafeteria that is covered in letters from students, she said, and her friends send her care packages in the mail. Someone played bagpipes outside Long Island Jewish Medical Center the other day, she added, and firefighters lined the walkway and clapped for the health care workers.
“We do it for the patients and their families because we put ourselves in their shoes,” she said. “We want the best care for our family members or for ourselves if we got sick. It’s just little things, little acts of kindness and appreciation from the community. It’s all those little things that kind of add up together and keep you going even when things seem very frustrating.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.