newswars--2020-04-27--Ex-ICE Chief: ‘If Biden Becomes President, We Lose the Border’

A Joe Biden presidency will plunge the U.S. southern border into “ chaos ” again , former Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) acting director Tom Homan has warned .
The ex-ICE chief has issued a stark caution to American voters about the choice they face in November , pointing to Biden ’ s radical immigration positions and track record during the Obama administration .
“ Here ’ s a guy who spent two years saying , ‘ President Trump isn ’ t above the law , he needs to be held accountable.
’ President Trump isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ] thinks illegal aliens are above the law , ” Homan told the Daily Caller .
“ I ’ m not guessing at it – these are statements he ’ s actually made and you ’ ve all seen them.
” “ If he becomes president , we lose the border.
” Homan credited policies implemented by the Trump administration as having benefitted Americans and U.S. border security , while also indirectly preventing many would-be migrants from suffering terrible abuses during perilous journeys .
“ For those who hate Trump , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many women did not get raped because of what the president has done ?
” Homan asserted .
“ How many children didn ’ t die because of what the president has done ?
How many immigrants didn ’ t die because of what the president has done ?
How many millions of dollars did the criminal cartels not make because of what the president has done ?
” Homan warned about the far-reaching consequences of Biden ’ s immigration agenda – which includes a 100 day moratorium on all deportations , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highly-successful Migrant Protection Protocols ( also known as ‘ Remain In Mexico ’ ) .
“ When you say we shouldn ’ t be removing illegal aliens unless they commit a felony , you ’ re inviting every illegal alien into our country because they know there are no consequences to entering the country illegally anymore , so long as they don ’ t get arrested for a felony , ” Homan said .
“ Every American should be afraid of what ’ s going to happen to our border if Joe @ @ @ @ @

A Joe Biden presidency will plunge the U.S. southern border into “chaos” again, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting director Tom Homan has warned.
The ex-ICE chief has issued a stark caution to American voters about the choice they face in November, pointing to Biden’s radical immigration positions and track record during the Obama administration.
“Here’s a guy who spent two years saying, ‘President Trump isn’t above the law, he needs to be held accountable.’ President Trump isn’t above the law, but apparently [Biden] thinks illegal aliens are above the law,” Homan told the Daily Caller. “I’m not guessing at it – these are statements he’s actually made and you’ve all seen them.”
“If he becomes president, we lose the border.”
Homan credited policies implemented by the Trump administration as having benefitted Americans and U.S. border security, while also indirectly preventing many would-be migrants from suffering terrible abuses during perilous journeys.
“For those who hate Trump, they need to think about this: How many women did not get raped because of what the president has done?” Homan asserted.
“How many children didn’t die because of what the president has done? How many immigrants didn’t die because of what the president has done? How many millions of dollars did the criminal cartels not make because of what the president has done?”
Homan warned about the far-reaching consequences of Biden’s immigration agenda – which includes a 100 day moratorium on all deportations, a push for mass amnesty, and ending the highly-successful Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as ‘Remain In Mexico’).
“When you say we shouldn’t be removing illegal aliens unless they commit a felony, you’re inviting every illegal alien into our country because they know there are no consequences to entering the country illegally anymore, so long as they don’t get arrested for a felony,” Homan said.
“Every American should be afraid of what’s going to happen to our border if Joe Biden becomes president.”
Federal agencies confirm Chinese and CDC test kits were contaminated.
Dan Lyman: Follow @CitizenAnalyst


newswars--2020-04-27--Howard Stern: Trump Supporters Should All Have a Big Coronavirus Rally, Take Disinfectant and “Drop

Howard Stern: Trump Supporters Should All Have a Big Coronavirus Rally, Take Disinfectant and “Drop Dead”

According to radio host Howard Stern , Trump supporters should gather for a large coronavirus rally , take disinfectant and “ drop dead.
” The SiriusXM host made the remarks while taking a call from a Trump supporter who claimed the president was being “ sarcastic ” when he discussed using disinfectant to kill the novel coronavirus .
“ What ’ s it going to take ?
I don ’ t get it , ” Stern responded , noting that he reacted to Thursday ’ s Trump press conference by telling his wife , “ I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him.
” Stern then suggested that Trump supporters organize a massive protest during which they kill themselves by drinking disinfectant .
“ Hold a big rally – say fuck this coronavirus – with all of his followers – and let them all hug each other and kiss each other and have a big rally…and all take disinfectant and all drop dead , ” said Stern .
Trump had previously appeared on Stern ’ s show numerous times and the two were at least at one time friends , but Trump has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me .
Please sign up for the free newsletter here .
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According to radio host Howard Stern, Trump supporters should gather for a large coronavirus rally, take disinfectant and “drop dead.”
The SiriusXM host made the remarks while taking a call from a Trump supporter who claimed the president was being “sarcastic” when he discussed using disinfectant to kill the novel coronavirus.
“What’s it going to take? I don’t get it,” Stern responded, noting that he reacted to Thursday’s Trump press conference by telling his wife, “I don’t think there is anyone left who will vote for him.”
Wow listen to what Howard Stern thinks about Trump supporters. He says Trump should hold a big rally and have all of his followers essentially give eachother Coronavirus, drink disinfectant, and “drop dead”. Who even jokes like this. Sick. pic.twitter.com/8wkPBvwI6m — Benny (@bennyjohnson) April 27, 2020
Stern then suggested that Trump supporters organize a massive protest during which they kill themselves by drinking disinfectant.
“Hold a big rally – say fuck this coronavirus – with all of his followers – and let them all hug each other and kiss each other and have a big rally…and all take disinfectant and all drop dead,” said Stern.
Trump had previously appeared on Stern’s show numerous times and the two were at least at one time friends, but Trump has not been back on since he ran for president.
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newswars--2020-04-27--Popular Heartburn Drug Studied as Potential COVID-19 Treatment

A common drug called famotidine , which is used to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease , as well as heartburn , is being studied in New York City hospitals as a potential treatment for COVID-19 .
Earlier this month , around 187 coronavirus patients at hospitals operated by Northwell Health in the New York City area started receiving famotidine intravenously .
Famotidine is the active ingredient in Pepcid , an over-the-counter drug .
The patients enrolled in the trial are receiving megadoses of the drug – around nine times higher than the regular over-the-counter dose .
Kevin Tracey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research , which is part of Northwell Health , told CNN that he hopes 1,200 people will eventually be enrolled in the study .
The patients in the trial are also being given hydroxychloroquine , an antimalarial drug that is also being tested as a potential treatment for COVID-19 .
While half of all the patients will be administered famotidine , the other half will be given a placebo of intravenous saline .
Researchers decided to study famotidine as a potential coronavirus treatment after an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many of them who had heartburn and took famotidine survived longer than coronavirus patients who took different drugs to treat heartburn .
Even though researchers and hospitals are still using hydroxychloroquine to treat some patients , the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) on Friday warned against the use of the drug outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial .
“ The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine , often in combination with azithromycin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irregular heart rhythm ] .
We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions .
Therefore , we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine , ” the FDA wrote in its statement .
In a statement to CNN , Tracey said that an independent board monitoring the trial will soon make a decision about whether hydroxychloroquine will continue to be used in the study .
The preliminary results of the research are expected to be released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems .
Humans need fresh air and sunshine !

A common drug called famotidine, which is used to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as heartburn, is being studied in New York City hospitals as a potential treatment for COVID-19.
Earlier this month, around 187 coronavirus patients at hospitals operated by Northwell Health in the New York City area started receiving famotidine intravenously. Famotidine is the active ingredient in Pepcid, an over-the-counter drug.
The patients enrolled in the trial are receiving megadoses of the drug – around nine times higher than the regular over-the-counter dose. Kevin Tracey, president of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, which is part of Northwell Health, told CNN that he hopes 1,200 people will eventually be enrolled in the study.
The patients in the trial are also being given hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug that is also being tested as a potential treatment for COVID-19. While half of all the patients will be administered famotidine, the other half will be given a placebo of intravenous saline.
Researchers decided to study famotidine as a potential coronavirus treatment after an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital who worked with COVID-19 patients in China found that many of them who had heartburn and took famotidine survived longer than coronavirus patients who took different drugs to treat heartburn.
Even though researchers and hospitals are still using hydroxychloroquine to treat some patients, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned against the use of the drug outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial.
“The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT-prolonging medicines [which can cause irregular heart rhythm]. We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine,” the FDA wrote in its statement.
In a statement to CNN, Tracey said that an independent board monitoring the trial will soon make a decision about whether hydroxychloroquine will continue to be used in the study. The preliminary results of the research are expected to be released in the next few weeks.
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems. Humans need fresh air and sunshine!


newswars--2020-04-27--Food Supply Chain Falters Signaling Imminent Famine: Watch Live!

Harrison Smith hosts this Monday edition of War Room , coming to you LIVE weekdays from 3-6PM CT. Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video .
Make sure to follow War Room on Tik Tok : AND tune in tonight for the latest episode of American Countdown , hosted by constitutional attorney Robert Barnes Monday-Thursday 7-9PM CT. Alex Jones Show : The Globalist Guide To Crushing The United States – Monday Live The deep state has launched its fourth coup against the United States !
Tune into the Alex Jones Show to find out how to stop it !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ global axis of evil is making its final – and desperate – assault against national sovereignty : Watch below the report with the same title as today ’ s show : What comes next for the American people ?
On this Monday edition of The David Knight Show , we ’ ll continue examining the destruction of the U.S. Constitution as the establishment moves ahead with their oppressive coronavirus response tactics , all under President Trump ’ s watch .
Spread this censored link to join Infowars in the battle for free speech @

Harrison Smith hosts this Monday edition of War Room, coming to you LIVE weekdays from 3-6PM CT.
Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video.
Make sure to follow War Room on Tik Tok:
AND tune in tonight for the latest episode of American Countdown, hosted by constitutional attorney Robert Barnes Monday-Thursday 7-9PM CT.
Alex Jones Show: The Globalist Guide To Crushing The United States – Monday Live
The deep state has launched its fourth coup against the United States! Tune into the Alex Jones Show to find out how to stop it!
Tune in as we cover how the global axis of evil is making its final – and desperate – assault against national sovereignty:
Watch below the report with the same title as today’s show:
Follow Infowars on Telegram:
David Knight Show: Trump Made A Faucian Bargain With The Devil-State
What comes next for the American people?
On this Monday edition of The David Knight Show, we’ll continue examining the destruction of the U.S. Constitution as the establishment moves ahead with their oppressive coronavirus response tactics, all under President Trump’s watch.
Spread this censored link to join Infowars in the battle for free speech!


newswars--2020-04-27--Coronavirus Infections Top Three Million Cases Worldwide – Johns Hopkins University

The global coronavirus count has just surged past three million , according to newly released statistics by Johns Hopkins University .
The number of registered cases of Covid-19 around the world stands at 3,002,303 as of Monday , April 27 , according to the database maintained by the Baltimore , Maryland-based university .
The global death toll has risen over 208,100 .
Nearly a third of those confirmed coronavirus cases are in the US alone , along with just over a quarter of total deaths , at 54,938 .
This is both more cases and more fatalities than Italy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hardest-hit by the outbreak last month – combined .
Italy has recorded 199,414 cases and 26,644 deaths to date , while Spain has hit 229,422 cases and 23,521 fatalities .
China , where the virus was first registered in November 2019 , has officially reported only 83,912 total cases and 4,637 deaths .
The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11 over the novel coronavirus outbreak .
Since then , more than half of humanity has been placed into some form of lockdown in order to combat the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 ’ ( SARS-CoV-2 ) , the virus is believed to be far more contagious than the ordinary influenza .
In its most severe form , it can cause pneumonia and is more likely to be fatal among the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions .
It doesn ’ t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems .
Humans need fresh air and sunshine !

The global coronavirus count has just surged past three million, according to newly released statistics by Johns Hopkins University.
The number of registered cases of Covid-19 around the world stands at 3,002,303 as of Monday, April 27, according to the database maintained by the Baltimore, Maryland-based university. The global death toll has risen over 208,100.
Nearly a third of those confirmed coronavirus cases are in the US alone, along with just over a quarter of total deaths, at 54,938.
This is both more cases and more fatalities than Italy and Spain – the two European countries that were hardest-hit by the outbreak last month – combined. Italy has recorded 199,414 cases and 26,644 deaths to date, while Spain has hit 229,422 cases and 23,521 fatalities.
China, where the virus was first registered in November 2019, has officially reported only 83,912 total cases and 4,637 deaths.
The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11 over the novel coronavirus outbreak. Since then, more than half of humanity has been placed into some form of lockdown in order to combat the spread of the pathogen.
Officially named ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2’(SARS-CoV-2), the virus is believed to be far more contagious than the ordinary influenza. In its most severe form, it can cause pneumonia and is more likely to be fatal among the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems. Humans need fresh air and sunshine!


newswars--2020-04-27--Video – Teacher Yells At Kids In Closed Park: “I Hope You Both Die a Long, Painful Death!”

A New Jersey high school teacher was caught on film berating a pair of teenagers for daring to walk through a public park that was “ closed ” due to coronavirus .
Nicole Griggs , a math teacher at Steinert High School in Hamilton Township , is seen yelling at the top of her lungs while walking her dog on a sidewalk outside the park .
“ Am I screaming loud enough that you can hear me over her music ?
Parks closed .
You will get arrested if the cops come , ” she says at the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be heard asking , “ Can we go over there ?
” “ Parks closed !
The whole area .
Get it through your thick head , ” she yelled .
“ You are the reason we are in this situation .
You are the problem , not the solution.
” Continuing her tirade , the teacher added , “ Go ahead keep recording .
Who are you going to show it to ?
Post me on social media .
You ’ re the idiot doing the wrong thing.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ass and save your life .
But die , OK .
I hope both of you get the coronavirus .
I hope you both die a long , painful death , ” she shouted , concluding her rant .
The teenagers obeyed her request to post the encounter on social media and it soon went viral on Snapchat and Tik Tok .
The caption of the Tik Tok upload read , “ Y ’ all Mrs Griggs is losing her damn mind how tf is she a teacher # coronavirus.
” A local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook account run by Griggs under the alias Nikki Leigh where the teacher bragged about “ wishing illness ” on parents who allowed their child to play on a “ closed ” playground .
“ Rode our bikes near Kuser Park this afternoon and what [ do we ] see but a younger couple with their daughter maybe 2/3 years old UNDOING the caution tape around the jungle gym so she could slide , ” she wrote .
“ I totally called them out on it , wished illness on them and commented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were parents.
” The media ’ s COVID-19 fear-mongering is turning Americans into angry , belligerent tattletales and it ’ s further dividing the country .

A New Jersey high school teacher was caught on film berating a pair of teenagers for daring to walk through a public park that was “closed” due to coronavirus.
Nicole Griggs, a math teacher at Steinert High School in Hamilton Township, is seen yelling at the top of her lungs while walking her dog on a sidewalk outside the park.
“Am I screaming loud enough that you can hear me over her music? Parks closed. You will get arrested if the cops come,” she says at the beginning of the video.
One of the boys can be heard asking, “Can we go over there?”
“Parks closed! The whole area. Get it through your thick head,” she yelled. “You are the reason we are in this situation. You are the problem, not the solution.”
Continuing her tirade, the teacher added, “Go ahead keep recording. Who are you going to show it to? Post me on social media. You’re the idiot doing the wrong thing.”
“I’m just trying to save your ass and save your life. But die, OK. I hope both of you get the coronavirus. I hope you both die a long, painful death,” she shouted, concluding her rant.
The teenagers obeyed her request to post the encounter on social media and it soon went viral on Snapchat and Tik Tok.
The caption of the Tik Tok upload read, “Y’all Mrs Griggs is losing her damn mind how tf is she a teacher #coronavirus.”
A local newspaper, The Trentonian, uncovered a Facebook account run by Griggs under the alias Nikki Leigh where the teacher bragged about “wishing illness” on parents who allowed their child to play on a “closed” playground.
“Rode our bikes near Kuser Park this afternoon and what [do we] see but a younger couple with their daughter maybe 2/3 years old UNDOING the caution tape around the jungle gym so she could slide,” she wrote. “I totally called them out on it, wished illness on them and commented that it was scary to even think they were parents.”
The media’s COVID-19 fear-mongering is turning Americans into angry, belligerent tattletales and it’s further dividing the country.


newswars--2020-04-27--‘How do you prosecute Assange and not prosecute journalists everywhere?’ – Greenwald to RT on threat

‘How do you prosecute Assange and not prosecute journalists everywhere?’ – Greenwald to RT on threat to journalists worldwide

The US ’ request to extradite and prosecute Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent , the Intercept ’ s founder Glenn Greenwald has told RT , warning that it puts journalists around the world in danger .
The most “ amazing ” fact about Assange ’ s case , as far as Greenwald is concerned , is that the US government is seeking to charge him for violating the Espionage Act .
But the WikiLeaks founder “ is not an American citizen , he never worked with a media outlet in the United States , [ and ] none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on American soil , ” he said during former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa ’ s show on RT Spanish .
If Assange is successfully extradited to the US , Greenwald predicts this will prove the country has the right to “ reach over and grab ” someone “ anywhere in the world ” reporting things they don ’ t like .
Even though the outcome of Assange ’ s case will likely have major effects on the state of journalism in the US and around the world , it has gotten little attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenwald says , is due to Assange being politically unaffiliated and making enemies of both the left and the right in the US .
“ The US media doesn ’ t see Julian Assange as one of them and , therefore , there ’ s almost no coverage of his case , ” he tells Correa .
The WikiLeaks founder even managed to anger both the Obama and Trump administrations with unflattering reporting , but Greenwald says it was Trump ’ s administration that created a narrative villainizing Assange .
“ They just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with his source , Chelsea Manning , to do more than just receive information , that he actually tried to help her actually evade getting caught , ” he says .
However , any protection of Manning , he continues , comes down to journalistic ethics .
“ The reality is that journalists all over the world help their sources not to get caught .
If you go to the New York Times or the Washington Post [ websites ] , you will find a page with instructions to their sources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leak information to us without getting caught.
’ It ’ s not just the right , but the duty of journalists to help their sources to stay safe , ” says Greenwald .
“ What they ’ re now trying to do is turn that into a crime by saying that if you work … to keep your source safe , you become part of a criminal conspiracy .
And that ’ s why the prosecution by the Trump administration of Julian Assange is so dangerous.
” Manning , once a source of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contempt of court in Alexandria , Virginia , for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the WikiLeaks founder .
She was released from custody last month .
She previously spent seven years in military prison for leaking classified information to Assange , but had her sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama just before he left office .
Assange is currently being detained at Belmarsh prison in London , where he is reportedly in ill health , waiting for his extradition hearing .

The US’ request to extradite and prosecute Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent, the Intercept’s founder Glenn Greenwald has told RT, warning that it puts journalists around the world in danger.
The most “amazing” fact about Assange’s case, as far as Greenwald is concerned, is that the US government is seeking to charge him for violating the Espionage Act. But the WikiLeaks founder “is not an American citizen, he never worked with a media outlet in the United States, [and] none of the alleged crimes he committed took place on American soil,” he said during former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa’s show on RT Spanish.
If Assange is successfully extradited to the US, Greenwald predicts this will prove the country has the right to “reach over and grab” someone “anywhere in the world” reporting things they don’t like.
Even though the outcome of Assange’s case will likely have major effects on the state of journalism in the US and around the world, it has gotten little attention from the mainstream media. This, Greenwald says, is due to Assange being politically unaffiliated and making enemies of both the left and the right in the US.
“The US media doesn’t see Julian Assange as one of them and, therefore, there’s almost no coverage of his case,” he tells Correa.
The WikiLeaks founder even managed to anger both the Obama and Trump administrations with unflattering reporting, but Greenwald says it was Trump’s administration that created a narrative villainizing Assange.
“They just created a theory that said that Assange worked with his source, Chelsea Manning, to do more than just receive information, that he actually tried to help her actually evade getting caught,” he says.
However, any protection of Manning, he continues, comes down to journalistic ethics.
“The reality is that journalists all over the world help their sources not to get caught. If you go to the New York Times or the Washington Post [websites], you will find a page with instructions to their sources, ‘Here’s how you can leak information to us without getting caught.’ It’s not just the right, but the duty of journalists to help their sources to stay safe,” says Greenwald.
“What they’re now trying to do is turn that into a crime by saying that if you work … to keep your source safe, you become part of a criminal conspiracy. And that’s why the prosecution by the Trump administration of Julian Assange is so dangerous.”
Manning, once a source of Assange’s, was held in contempt of court in Alexandria, Virginia, for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the WikiLeaks founder. She was released from custody last month.
She previously spent seven years in military prison for leaking classified information to Assange, but had her sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama just before he left office.
Assange is currently being detained at Belmarsh prison in London, where he is reportedly in ill health, waiting for his extradition hearing.


newswars--2020-04-27--US ‘Heading’ for Great Depression 2.0 Amid Coronavirus-Induced Economic and Job Collapse

According to the United States Department of Labor , the US now has 26.5 million people who have filed for initial unemployment claims since mid-March after losing their jobs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic , putting an end to over 100 months of record job growth .
The US is predicted as heading for an unemployment rate comparable to the levels registered during the Great Depression of 1929 – 1939 , as it struggles to deal with the fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic .
“ Around 2008 , we lost 8.7 million jobs and the whole thing .
Right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs about every 10 days , ” said Kevin Hassett , President Donald Trump ’ s economic adviser , on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on 26 April .
The adviser recalled that during the Great Depression , unemployment rate peaked at about 25 per cent , while during the Great Recession of 2007- 2009 it took roughly 10 months for new unemployment claims to spiral as high as they currently have in under a month .
In staggering statistics , 4,427,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the US Department of Labor , bringing the current number of those who filed claims since mid-March to 26.5 million .
The developments triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and measures introduced in an effort to slow the spread of the respiratory disease brought to an end a period of over 100 months of uninterrupted job growth , according to economists .
In a number that experts predict will grow further , the unemployment rate was at 11.3 percent during the week ending 11 April , while just two months ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 percent .
According to James Knightley , chief international economist at ING , if another 10 million Americans file jobless claims in May , that would push the unemployment rate to 22 percent .
“ The initial wave of job losses were concentrated in the retail and hospitality sectors , but that ’ s spreading to suppliers and other industries , ” Knightley was quoted by Business Insider as saying .
Some economists are cited as forecasting a further growth of unemployment claims fuelled by a coronavirus-weakened economy against the backdrop of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While up until now job losses primarily targeted the lower-wage , blue-collar- workers , experts see the dynamics eventually engulfing white-collar professionals as well .
“ At this point it would take a miracle to keep this recession from turning into the Great Depression II .
It is going to take years not months to put these pandemic jobless workers back to work at the shops and malls and factories and restaurants across the country , ” Chris Rupkey , MUFG managing director and chief financial economist , wrote in a note on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , negative unemployment statistics could bring about devastating fallout for the economy , taking into consideration the fact that consumer spending makes up 70 percent of US gross domestic product , which is predicted by JPMorgan to plummet by 40 percent in the second quarter .
Retail and home sales have been slumping as the pandemic shows no sign of abating and job loss continues .
Big banks have been offering their assessment of the looming economic hardships from the pandemic-triggered slowdown .
JPMorgan Chase & Co. predicted gross domestic product could decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 percent this quarter , while Bank of America Corp. forecast a slump that might drag on into next year .
As the Morgan Stanley team of economists expects real GDP contracting 5.5 percent in 2020 – the most significant drop since 1946 , they add : “ We expect the U.S. economic recovery will be more drawn-out than previously anticipated , marked by a deeper drop into recession and slower climb out.
” In an attempt to alleviate the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic , on 23 April US Congress approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help small businesses , hospitals and first responders – the fourth such bill since the beginning of the crisis .
The relief bill amends the bipartisan-backed Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act and provides a $ 310 billion expansion to the authorization level of the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) .
The PPP was set up to prop up small American businesses through loans subsequently forgiven if staff remain on payroll for a period of eight weeks and funds are used for payroll , mortgage interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity dropped to record lows in April as the novel coronavirus disrupted manufacturing and services industries .
According to data firm IHS Markit , on 23 April its flash US Composite Output Index , which tracks manufacturing and services sectors , had dropped to 27.4 in the lowest reading since the series began in late-2009 .
According to an optimistic scenario , growth might begin in the third quarter , but by the end of the year only one third of spring losses could expected to be compensated .
Hopes for a quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down in most official forecasts , are deemed unlikely by many experts .
“ Net , net , jobless claims are warning that the worst isn ’ t over yet for the American economy with businesses and consumers alike being sucked down into the abyss of the pandemic recession .
The risks to the outlook are that the economy is digging itself such a big deep hole that its ill become harder to climb back out of it , ” concludes MUFG managing director Chris Rupkey .

According to the United States Department of Labor, the US now has 26.5 million people who have filed for initial unemployment claims since mid-March after losing their jobs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, putting an end to over 100 months of record job growth.
The US is predicted as heading for an unemployment rate comparable to the levels registered during the Great Depression of 1929 – 1939, as it struggles to deal with the fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Around 2008, we lost 8.7 million jobs and the whole thing. Right now, we’re losing that many jobs about every 10 days,” said Kevin Hassett, President Donald Trump’s economic adviser, on ABC’s “This Week” on 26 April.
The adviser recalled that during the Great Depression, unemployment rate peaked at about 25 per cent, while during the Great Recession of 2007- 2009 it took roughly 10 months for new unemployment claims to spiral as high as they currently have in under a month.
In staggering statistics, 4,427,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs in the week ending 18 April, according to the US Department of Labor, bringing the current number of those who filed claims since mid-March to 26.5 million.
The developments triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and measures introduced in an effort to slow the spread of the respiratory disease brought to an end a period of over 100 months of uninterrupted job growth, according to economists.
In a number that experts predict will grow further, the unemployment rate was at 11.3 percent during the week ending 11 April, while just two months ago, in February, it was at around 3 percent.
According to James Knightley, chief international economist at ING, if another 10 million Americans file jobless claims in May, that would push the unemployment rate to 22 percent.
“The initial wave of job losses were concentrated in the retail and hospitality sectors, but that’s spreading to suppliers and other industries,” Knightley was quoted by Business Insider as saying.
Some economists are cited as forecasting a further growth of unemployment claims fuelled by a coronavirus-weakened economy against the backdrop of closed businesses and a self-isolating population.
While up until now job losses primarily targeted the lower-wage, blue-collar- workers, experts see the dynamics eventually engulfing white-collar professionals as well.
“At this point it would take a miracle to keep this recession from turning into the Great Depression II. It is going to take years not months to put these pandemic jobless workers back to work at the shops and malls and factories and restaurants across the country,” Chris Rupkey, MUFG managing director and chief financial economist, wrote in a note on 23 April.
Repercussions of Job Loss
On a broader scale, negative unemployment statistics could bring about devastating fallout for the economy, taking into consideration the fact that consumer spending makes up 70 percent of US gross domestic product, which is predicted by JPMorgan to plummet by 40 percent in the second quarter.
Retail and home sales have been slumping as the pandemic shows no sign of abating and job loss continues.
Big banks have been offering their assessment of the looming economic hardships from the pandemic-triggered slowdown.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. predicted gross domestic product could decline 40 percent with unemployment spiking to around 20 percent this quarter, while Bank of America Corp. forecast a slump that might drag on into next year.
As the Morgan Stanley team of economists expects real GDP contracting 5.5 percent in 2020 – the most significant drop since 1946, they add:
“We expect the U.S. economic recovery will be more drawn-out than previously anticipated, marked by a deeper drop into recession and slower climb out.”
Rush to Mitigate COVID-19 Impact
In an attempt to alleviate the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, on 23 April US Congress approved the $484 billion aid package to help small businesses, hospitals and first responders – the fourth such bill since the beginning of the crisis.
The relief bill amends the bipartisan-backed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and provides a $310 billion expansion to the authorization level of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The PPP was set up to prop up small American businesses through loans subsequently forgiven if staff remain on payroll for a period of eight weeks and funds are used for payroll, mortgage interests, utilities or rent.
Business Activity at New Lows
US business activity dropped to record lows in April as the novel coronavirus disrupted manufacturing and services industries.
According to data firm IHS Markit, on 23 April its flash US Composite Output Index, which tracks manufacturing and services sectors, had dropped to 27.4 in the lowest reading since the series began in late-2009.
According to an optimistic scenario, growth might begin in the third quarter, but by the end of the year only one third of spring losses could expected to be compensated.
Hopes for a quick, or V-shaped economic recovery, laid down in most official forecasts, are deemed unlikely by many experts.
“Net, net, jobless claims are warning that the worst isn’t over yet for the American economy with businesses and consumers alike being sucked down into the abyss of the pandemic recession. The risks to the outlook are that the economy is digging itself such a big deep hole that its ill become harder to climb back out of it,” concludes MUFG managing director Chris Rupkey.


newswars--2020-04-27--Joe Biden Announces ‘Virtual Women’s Town Hall’ As Sexual Assault Allegation Gains Steam

Joe Biden ’ s campaign has launched into damage control mode announcing that the presumptive Democrat frontrunner would soon hold a “ Virtual Women ’ s Town Hall , ” as sex assault allegations against him by a former staffer have gained traction .
According to a Biden campaign email sent Monday , “ Joe Biden and a special guest will hold a virtual town hall on the impact of COVID-19 on women ” on Tuesday .
The announcement comes after former staffer Tara Reade alleged Biden forcibly penetrated her with his fingers in 1993 when he was a Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied .
“ Women have a right to tell their story , and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims , ” Kate Bedingfield , Biden ’ s campaign manager and communications director said in a statement earlier this month .
“ We encourage them to do so , because these accusations are false.
” “ Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women .
He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully.
” “ Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press .
What is clear about this claim : it is untrue .
This absolutely did not happen , ” she added .
But the credibility of Reade ’ s allegations have only gotten stronger in recent days after a 1993 clip of CNN ’ s Larry King Live resurfaced showing a woman identified as Reade ’ s mother complaining about “ problems ” her daughter experienced while working as Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the footage from its archives .
And on Monday , Reade ’ s former neighbor ( and Biden supporter ) Lynda LaCasse corroborated her sex assault claim , saying she recalled Reade confiding in her about Biden ’ s alleged assault in 1993 .
“ This happened , and I know it did because I remember talking about it , ” Lynda LaCasse said .
“ I remember her saying , here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him .
And he kind of put her up against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her .
She felt like she was assaulted , and she really didn ’ t feel there was anything she could do.
” “ She was crying , ” she continued .
“ She was upset .
And the more she talked about it , the more she started crying .
I remember saying that she needed to file a police report .
“ I don ’ t remember all the details .
I remember the skirt .
I remember the fingers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaCasse added .
Biden was already dogged by perception issues due to his recurring creepy behavior around women and children , which has resulted in a flood of memes across social media .
Owen brainstorms with callers about what could play out with Joe Biden as the November election approaches .

Joe Biden’s campaign has launched into damage control mode announcing that the presumptive Democrat frontrunner would soon hold a “Virtual Women’s Town Hall,” as sex assault allegations against him by a former staffer have gained traction.
According to a Biden campaign email sent Monday, “Joe Biden and a special guest will hold a virtual town hall on the impact of COVID-19 on women” on Tuesday.
INBOX: “Joe Biden to Hold Virtual Women’s Town Hall” Interesting timing… pic.twitter.com/A9mqo2ZQJd — Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) April 27, 2020
The announcement comes after former staffer Tara Reade alleged Biden forcibly penetrated her with his fingers in 1993 when he was a Delaware senator, accusations that his campaign has denied.
“Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,” Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s campaign manager and communications director said in a statement earlier this month. “We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.”
“Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully.”
“Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen,” she added.
But the credibility of Reade’s allegations have only gotten stronger in recent days after a 1993 clip of CNN’s Larry King Live resurfaced showing a woman identified as Reade’s mother complaining about “problems” her daughter experienced while working as Biden’s staffer.
CNN then scrubbed the footage from its archives.
And on Monday, Reade’s former neighbor (and Biden supporter) Lynda LaCasse corroborated her sex assault claim, saying she recalled Reade confiding in her about Biden’s alleged assault in 1993.
“This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it,” Lynda LaCasse said.
“I remember her saying, here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him. And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn’t feel there was anything she could do.”
“She was crying,” she continued. “She was upset. And the more she talked about it, the more she started crying. I remember saying that she needed to file a police report.
“I don’t remember all the details. I remember the skirt. I remember the fingers. I remember she was devastated,” LaCasse added.
Biden was already dogged by perception issues due to his recurring creepy behavior around women and children, which has resulted in a flood of memes across social media.
Twitter: Follow @WhiteIsTheFury
Gab: https://gab.com/WhiteIsTheFury
Minds: https://www.minds.com/whiteisthefury
Owen brainstorms with callers about what could play out with Joe Biden as the November election approaches.


newswars--2020-04-27--What Happened To Kim Jong Un? Top Theories Emerge

North Korea ’ s Kim Jong Un hasn ’ t been seen since April 11 , notably missing the country ’ s most important holiday on April 15 honoring his grandfather , Kim Il Sung .
What we do know is that China dispatched a team of medical experts to North Korea amid conflicting reports that Kim underwent a ‘ botched ’ cardiovascular surgery .
According to the Daily NK , however , Kim has mostly recovered .
Last Monday though , MSNBC ’ s Katie Tur tweeted “ Kim Jong Un is brain dead , ” and that both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She quickly deleted the tweet “ out of an abundance of caution.
” So , with rumors over Kim ’ s fate swirling , here are the top theories as to what ’ s going on , according to Bloomberg .
“ Kim Jong Un is alive and well , ” according to Moon Chung-in , special adviser to South Korea ’ s president .
In a Sunday statement to Fox News , Moon said that Kim had been staying in the coastal resort town of Wonsan since April 13 .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US intelligence suggests that Kim is in “ grave danger ” following the surgery .
Meanwhile , Bloomberg reported that US officials were told Kim is in critical condition , but could not confirm his status .
While U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he believed the CNN report was “ incorrect ” and based on “ old documents , ” rumors about Kim ’ s deteriorating condition only accelerated on social media .
On Saturday , Reuters reported that the Chinese Communist Party ’ s International Department dispatched a team including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advise on Kim .
The news service , which cited three people familiar with the situation , said it was unclear what the delegation signaled about Kim ’ s health .
-Bloomberg According to China ’ s foreign ministry , the ‘ medical team ’ was related to coronavirus testing .
“ That is not the same as a medical team , ” said CCP spokesman Geng Shuang in a Monday night interview from Beijing .
Not wanting to catch coronavirus since the 36-year-old is in a higher risk category on account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the North Korean leader is simply quarantining amid the COVID-19 crisis , despite the fact that North Korea hasn ’ t disclosed any cases .
On Monday , Seoul-based JoongAng Daily newspaper reported that Kim is in self-quarantine , citing an unidentified source in China .
According to the report , one of Kim ’ s bodyguards was confirmed to have contracted the virus , which is why China sent 50 or so medical staff .
Of course , this wouldn ’ t prevent Kim from providing proof-of-life .
One rumor circulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drills in the eastern tourist enclave of Wonsan , where he owns a palatial family compound .
According to satellite photos analyzed by 38 North , Kim ’ s armored train , or one which looks a lot like it , was seen parked at the local railway station last week .
On April 14 , the day before the Day of the Sun celebration in Pyongyang , there was a burst of military activity which included cruise missile tests and fighter jet maneuvers , according to a statement by North Korean defector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US .
Bloomberg suggests this is unlikely , and notes that satellite images from April 15 don ’ t show Kim ’ s train .
Last but not least , Bloomberg cites South Korean lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun , who heads a committee on inter-Korean relations , who suggested that Kim devised his disappearance in order to draw attention to the regime .
Yoon speculated that the North Korean leader would have to show up in public in the next couple of weeks to avoid a destabilizing debate about his grip on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he doesn ’ t , it ’ s a real big issue , ” Yoon told reporters Monday , according to the DongA Daily .
“ Kim is apparently not running the country as he would normally do now.
” -Bloomberg In 2014 , Kim similarly vanished for six weeks , stoking all sorts of rumors ranging from ‘ gout ’ to ‘ overthrown , ’ after which he was seen walking with a cane .

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un hasn’t been seen since April 11, notably missing the country’s most important holiday on April 15 honoring his grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
What we do know is that China dispatched a team of medical experts to North Korea amid conflicting reports that Kim underwent a ‘botched’ cardiovascular surgery. According to the Daily NK, however, Kim has mostly recovered.
Last Monday though, MSNBC’s Katie Tur tweeted “Kim Jong Un is brain dead,” and that both NBC and CNN had confirmed his status. She quickly deleted the tweet “out of an abundance of caution.”
So, with rumors over Kim’s fate swirling, here are the top theories as to what’s going on, according to Bloomberg.
Relax, he’s just fine
“Kim Jong Un is alive and well,” according to Moon Chung-in, special adviser to South Korea’s president. In a Sunday statement to Fox News, Moon said that Kim had been staying in the coastal resort town of Wonsan since April 13.
He’s toast
According to CNN, so who knows, US intelligence suggests that Kim is in “grave danger” following the surgery. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that US officials were told Kim is in critical condition, but could not confirm his status.
While U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he believed the CNN report was “incorrect” and based on “old documents,” rumors about Kim’s deteriorating condition only accelerated on social media. On Saturday, Reuters reported that the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department dispatched a team including medical experts to North Korea on Thursday to advise on Kim. The news service, which cited three people familiar with the situation, said it was unclear what the delegation signaled about Kim’s health. -Bloomberg
According to China’s foreign ministry, the ‘medical team’ was related to coronavirus testing. “That is not the same as a medical team,” said CCP spokesman Geng Shuang in a Monday night interview from Beijing.
Kim is social distancing
Not wanting to catch coronavirus since the 36-year-old is in a higher risk category on account of his obesity, some have suggested that the North Korean leader is simply quarantining amid the COVID-19 crisis, despite the fact that North Korea hasn’t disclosed any cases.
On Monday, Seoul-based JoongAng Daily newspaper reported that Kim is in self-quarantine, citing an unidentified source in China. According to the report, one of Kim’s bodyguards was confirmed to have contracted the virus, which is why China sent 50 or so medical staff.
Of course, this wouldn’t prevent Kim from providing proof-of-life.
Kim was injured during military drills
One rumor circulating is that Kim was injured during military drills in the eastern tourist enclave of Wonsan, where he owns a palatial family compound. According to satellite photos analyzed by 38 North, Kim’s armored train, or one which looks a lot like it, was seen parked at the local railway station last week.
On April 14, the day before the Day of the Sun celebration in Pyongyang, there was a burst of military activity which included cruise missile tests and fighter jet maneuvers, according to a statement by North Korean defector Ri Jong Ho, who currently lives in the US. Bloomberg suggests this is unlikely, and notes that satellite images from April 15 don’t show Kim’s train.
Seeking attention
Last but not least, Bloomberg cites South Korean lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, who heads a committee on inter-Korean relations, who suggested that Kim devised his disappearance in order to draw attention to the regime.
Yoon speculated that the North Korean leader would have to show up in public in the next couple of weeks to avoid a destabilizing debate about his grip on power and potential successors.
“If he doesn’t, it’s a real big issue,” Yoon told reporters Monday, according to the DongA Daily. “Kim is apparently not running the country as he would normally do now.” -Bloomberg
In 2014, Kim similarly vanished for six weeks, stoking all sorts of rumors ranging from ‘gout’ to ‘overthrown,’ after which he was seen walking with a cane.


newswars--2020-04-27--World’s first 3-D simulations of superluminous supernovae

For most of the 20th century , astronomers have scoured the skies for supernovae—the explosive deaths of massive stars—and their remnants in search of clues about the progenitor , the mechanisms that caused it to explode , and the heavy elements created in the process .
In fact , these events create most of the cosmic elements that go on to form new stars , galaxies , and life .
Because no one can actually see a supernova up close , researchers rely on supercomputer simulations to give them insights into the physics that ignites and drives the event .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an international team of astrophysicists simulated the three-dimensional ( 3-D ) physics of superluminous supernovae—which are about a hundred times more luminous than typical supernovae .
They achieved this milestone using Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ’ s ( Berkeley Lab ’ s ) CASTRO code and supercomputers at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center ( NERSC ) .
A paper describing their work was published in Astrophysical Journal .
Astronomers have found that these superluminous events occur when a magnetar—the rapidly spinning corpse of a massive star whose magnetic field is trillions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the center of a young supernova .
Radiation released by the magnetar is what amplifies the supernova ’ s luminosity .
But to understand how this happens , researchers need multidimensional simulations .
“ To do 3-D simulations of magnetar-powered superluminous supernovae , you need a lot of supercomputing power and the right code , one that captures the relevant microphysics , ” said Ken Chen , lead author of the paper and an astrophysicist at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics ( ASIAA ) , Taiwan .
He adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fluid instabilities of these superluminous events in 3-D is very complex and requires a lot of computing power , which is why no one has done it before .
Fluid instabilities occur all around us .
For instance , if you have a glass of water and put some dye on top , the surface tension of the water will become unstable and the heavier dye will sink to the bottom .
Because two fluids are moving past each other , the physics of this instability can not be captured in one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third dimension , perpendicular to height to see all of the instability .
At the cosmic scale , fluid instabilities that lead to turbulence and mixing play a critical role in the formation of cosmic objects like galaxies , stars , and supernovae .
“ You need to capture physics over a range of scales , from very large to really tiny , in extremely high-resolution to accurately model astrophysical objects like superluminous supernovae .
This poses a technical challenge for astrophysicists .
We were able to overcome this issue with a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at NERSC , ” said Chen .
For this work , the researchers modeled a supernova remnant approximately 15-billion kilometers wide with a dense 10-kilometer wide magnetar inside .
In this system , the simulations show that hydrodynamic instabilities form on two scales in the remnant material .
One instability is in the hot bubble energized by the magnetar and the other occurs when the young supernova ’ s forward shock plows up against ambient gas .
“ Both of these fluid instabilities cause more mixing than would normally occur in a typical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the light curves and spectra of superluminous supernovae .
None of this would have been captured in a one-dimensional model , ” said Chen .
They also found that the magnetar can accelerate calcium and silicon elements that were ejected from the young supernova to velocities of 12,000 kilometers per second , which account for their broadened emission lines in spectral observations .
And that even energy from weak magnetars can accelerate elements from the iron group , which are located deep in the supernova remnant , to 5,000 to 7,000 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is observed early in core-collapse supernovae events like SN 1987A .
This has been a long-standing mystery in astrophysics .
“ We were the first ones to accurately model a superluminous supernova system in 3-D because we were fortunate to have access to NERSC supercomputers , ” said Chen .
“ This facility is an extremely convenient place to do cutting-edge science .
”

For most of the 20th century, astronomers have scoured the skies for supernovae—the explosive deaths of massive stars—and their remnants in search of clues about the progenitor, the mechanisms that caused it to explode, and the heavy elements created in the process. In fact, these events create most of the cosmic elements that go on to form new stars, galaxies, and life.
Because no one can actually see a supernova up close, researchers rely on supercomputer simulations to give them insights into the physics that ignites and drives the event. Now for the first time ever, an international team of astrophysicists simulated the three-dimensional (3-D) physics of superluminous supernovae—which are about a hundred times more luminous than typical supernovae. They achieved this milestone using Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s (Berkeley Lab’s) CASTRO code and supercomputers at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC). A paper describing their work was published in Astrophysical Journal.
Astronomers have found that these superluminous events occur when a magnetar—the rapidly spinning corpse of a massive star whose magnetic field is trillions of times stronger than Earth’s—is in the center of a young supernova. Radiation released by the magnetar is what amplifies the supernova’s luminosity. But to understand how this happens, researchers need multidimensional simulations.
“To do 3-D simulations of magnetar-powered superluminous supernovae, you need a lot of supercomputing power and the right code, one that captures the relevant microphysics,” said Ken Chen, lead author of the paper and an astrophysicist at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), Taiwan.
He adds that the numerical simulation required to capture the fluid instabilities of these superluminous events in 3-D is very complex and requires a lot of computing power, which is why no one has done it before.
Fluid instabilities occur all around us. For instance, if you have a glass of water and put some dye on top, the surface tension of the water will become unstable and the heavier dye will sink to the bottom. Because two fluids are moving past each other, the physics of this instability cannot be captured in one dimension. You need a second or third dimension, perpendicular to height to see all of the instability. At the cosmic scale, fluid instabilities that lead to turbulence and mixing play a critical role in the formation of cosmic objects like galaxies, stars, and supernovae.
“You need to capture physics over a range of scales, from very large to really tiny, in extremely high-resolution to accurately model astrophysical objects like superluminous supernovae. This poses a technical challenge for astrophysicists. We were able to overcome this issue with a new numerical scheme and several million supercomputing hours at NERSC,” said Chen.
For this work, the researchers modeled a supernova remnant approximately 15-billion kilometers wide with a dense 10-kilometer wide magnetar inside. In this system, the simulations show that hydrodynamic instabilities form on two scales in the remnant material. One instability is in the hot bubble energized by the magnetar and the other occurs when the young supernova’s forward shock plows up against ambient gas.
“Both of these fluid instabilities cause more mixing than would normally occur in a typical supernova event, which has significant consequences for the light curves and spectra of superluminous supernovae. None of this would have been captured in a one-dimensional model,” said Chen.
They also found that the magnetar can accelerate calcium and silicon elements that were ejected from the young supernova to velocities of 12,000 kilometers per second, which account for their broadened emission lines in spectral observations. And that even energy from weak magnetars can accelerate elements from the iron group, which are located deep in the supernova remnant, to 5,000 to 7,000 kilometers per second, which explains why iron is observed early in core-collapse supernovae events like SN 1987A. This has been a long-standing mystery in astrophysics.
“We were the first ones to accurately model a superluminous supernova system in 3-D because we were fortunate to have access to NERSC supercomputers,” said Chen. “This facility is an extremely convenient place to do cutting-edge science.”


newswars--2020-04-27--Coronavirus, Phase Two: Arbitrarily Expand the Definition of the Disease

As I ’ ve described in previous articles , the CDC and WHO deploy several strategies to pump up the number of COVID cases .
For example , the diagnostic test , which spits out many , many false-positive results .
After all , the authorities must somehow convince the dumbed-down public that the “ epidemic ” is alive and spreading .
Next up : we will see new symptoms added to the list of COVID indicators .
In 1987 , I watched the shameless manufacture of so-called AIDS-related diseases .
The CDC definition of AIDS , which I printed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took up 15 pages .
The only non-AIDS-related disease left after the CDC got through was infection by aliens from the Orion Belt .
So here we go again .
The Washington Post , April 25 , “ Young and middle-aged people , barely sick with covid-19 , are dying from strokes.
” This is a bald attempt to counter the flood of data , from several countries , that indicates the people dying from the purported virus are , overwhelmingly , the elderly , who already have multiple , long-term , serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been treated with toxic drugs .
In other words , these elderly patients aren ’ t dying FROM the purported virus at all .
So according to the Post : “ Doctors sound alarm about patients in their 30s and 40s left debilitated or dead .
Some didn ’ t even know they were infected.
” “ …Many doctors expressed worry that as the New York City Fire Department was picking up four times as many people who died at home as normal during the peak of infection that some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth may never be known because few autopsies were conducted.
” “ …Jabbour said many cases he has treated have unusual characteristics .
Brain clots usually appear in the arteries , which carry blood away from the heart .
But in covid-19 patients , he is also seeing them in the veins , which carry blood in the opposite direction and are trickier to treat .
Some patients are also developing more than one large clot in their heads , which is highly unusual.
” Of course , the Post says nothing about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
The article assumes they are “ infected with COVID-19.
” And the further assumption is , somehow the virus is attacking the heart , or the arteries , or the brain , or the blood .
This sets the stage for expanding the definition of the epidemic disease .
It reminds me a bit of so-called AIDS dementia , a fanciful add-on back in the 1980s .
In that instance , a lunatic doctor could tell a patient , “ I see you informed the nurse you ’ re feeling better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see , the virus is lethal .
You only imagine you ’ re getting better .
Looks like you have AIDS dementia… ” These days , the public reaction to “ unusual cases of stroke among the young , ” will be : THE VIRUS MUST BE CAUSING IT .
WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE ?
” Newsflash : It could be any number of things , none of which is connected to a virus .
The medical literature of the past hundred years is filled with reports of patients falling ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official propagandists ( professional liars ) , it doesn ’ t matter how many people are now perishing of “ unusual strokes.
” It only matters that reports of their dying can stoke fear and find their way into new sprouting branches of the definitional COVID tree .
Young people , teens , babies , pregnant mothers , exhumed bodies from decades ago—whatever the WHO/CDC need to do , to expand the meaning of COVID , whatever they need to invent , they ’ ll be there with “ alarming findings.
” This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rappoport , NoMoreFakeNews.com , called it as a fake news psyop from the beginning .
He joins to deconstructs the new lies about alleged new coronavirus functions as the original narrative unravels .

As I’ve described in previous articles, the CDC and WHO deploy several strategies to pump up the number of COVID cases. For example, the diagnostic test, which spits out many, many false-positive results.
After all, the authorities must somehow convince the dumbed-down public that the “epidemic” is alive and spreading.
Next up: we will see new symptoms added to the list of COVID indicators. In 1987, I watched the shameless manufacture of so-called AIDS-related diseases. The CDC definition of AIDS, which I printed in my book, AIDS INC., took up 15 pages. The only non-AIDS-related disease left after the CDC got through was infection by aliens from the Orion Belt.
So here we go again.
The Washington Post, April 25, “Young and middle-aged people, barely sick with covid-19, are dying from strokes.”
This is a bald attempt to counter the flood of data, from several countries, that indicates the people dying from the purported virus are, overwhelmingly, the elderly, who already have multiple, long-term, serious health conditions, for which they’ve been treated with toxic drugs. In other words, these elderly patients aren’t dying FROM the purported virus at all.
So according to the Post: “Doctors sound alarm about patients in their 30s and 40s left debilitated or dead. Some didn’t even know they were infected.”
“…Many doctors expressed worry that as the New York City Fire Department was picking up four times as many people who died at home as normal during the peak of infection that some of the dead had suffered sudden strokes. The truth may never be known because few autopsies were conducted.”
“…Jabbour said many cases he has treated have unusual characteristics. Brain clots usually appear in the arteries, which carry blood away from the heart. But in covid-19 patients, he is also seeing them in the veins, which carry blood in the opposite direction and are trickier to treat. Some patients are also developing more than one large clot in their heads, which is highly unusual.”
Of course, the Post says nothing about the worthless diagnostic tests on these unusual patients. The article assumes they are “infected with COVID-19.”
And the further assumption is, somehow the virus is attacking the heart, or the arteries, or the brain, or the blood.
This sets the stage for expanding the definition of the epidemic disease.
It reminds me a bit of so-called AIDS dementia, a fanciful add-on back in the 1980s. In that instance, a lunatic doctor could tell a patient, “I see you informed the nurse you’re feeling better. You’re recovering. But you see, the virus is lethal. You only imagine you’re getting better. Looks like you have AIDS dementia…”
These days, the public reaction to “unusual cases of stroke among the young,” will be: THE VIRUS MUST BE CAUSING IT. WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?”
Newsflash: It could be any number of things, none of which is connected to a virus. The medical literature of the past hundred years is filled with reports of patients falling ill and dying in odd ways.
For official propagandists (professional liars), it doesn’t matter how many people are now perishing of “unusual strokes.” It only matters that reports of their dying can stoke fear and find their way into new sprouting branches of the definitional COVID tree.
Young people, teens, babies, pregnant mothers, exhumed bodies from decades ago—whatever the WHO/CDC need to do, to expand the meaning of COVID, whatever they need to invent, they’ll be there with “alarming findings.”
Don’t fall for it.
This article first appeared at NoMoreFakeNews.com.
Jon Rappoport, NoMoreFakeNews.com, called it as a fake news psyop from the beginning. He joins to deconstructs the new lies about alleged new coronavirus functions as the original narrative unravels.


newswars--2020-04-27--Officials Back Down from Enforcing Coronavirus Orders Against Defiant Texas Restaurant Owner

Harris County law enforcement officials backed down as the owner of the Federal American Grill decided to re-open his restaurant @ @ @ @ @ west side despite orders directing restaurants to be closed except for curbside orders .
Multiple @ @ @ @ @ said they were not responsible for enforcing the ordinance .
“ We ’ ve complied @ @ @ @ @ ” Brice told the Houston Chronicle .
“ What I don ’ t like is @ @ @ @ @ and choosing which businesses win or lose .
They are sinking the economy .
We @ @ @ @ @ and get people back to work.
” After he announced the re-opening of his restaurant @ @ @ @ @ to his side .
Brice said he is only seating up to 30 percent of @ @ @ @ @ maintain social distancing .

Harris County law enforcement officials backed down as the owner of the Federal American Grill decided to re-open his restaurant on the city’s west side despite orders directing restaurants to be closed except for curbside orders.
Multiple law enforcement agencies in Houston said they were not responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
“We’ve complied 100 percent until now,” Brice told the Houston Chronicle. “What I don’t like is that the government is picking and choosing which businesses win or lose. They are sinking the economy. We have to stand our ground and get people back to work.”
After he announced the re-opening of his restaurant for dining-in, customers flocked to his side. Brice said he is only seating up to 30 percent of his capacity in order to maintain social distancing.
Read More


newswars--2020-04-27--Watch: Police Arrest Concealed Carry Permit Holder at Reopen America Rally

Footage out of Denver over the weekend shows Colorado State Police arresting a demonstrator who had a concealed pistol during a coronavirus lockdown protest .
The incident , which took place at an Open Up Colorado rally outside the statehouse on Sunday , happened in full view of protesters , who shouted at state troopers as they arrested the man .
“ Why don ’ t you go arrest the criminal scum taking everyone ’ s rights ?
” one onlooker yells at the cops .
“ These are the people who are gon na come give you vaccines one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Video shot by fellow protesters show police taking the man down to the ground , placing his hands behind his back and cuffing him , as they confiscate multiple magazines .
The person who uploaded the footage to Twitter , @ reallouiehuey , reported the man was carrying two concealed pistols and had a concealed carry permit .
“ The man was carrying two pistols .
He is a permitted carrier .
He was on the sidewalk and not starting anything .
He was not brandishing or threatening , ” Huey wrote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the man ’ s weapon when the wind blew , lifting up his shirt and revealing the pistols .
“ His shirt blew in the wind and the cops saw his weapon , ” Huey stated , adding in another tweet , “ We were at the open up Colorado rally and his shirt blew up and the police arrested him.
” Mr. Huey did not return a request for comment from Infowars at time of writing .

Footage out of Denver over the weekend shows Colorado State Police arresting a demonstrator who had a concealed pistol during a coronavirus lockdown protest.
The incident, which took place at an Open Up Colorado rally outside the statehouse on Sunday, happened in full view of protesters, who shouted at state troopers as they arrested the man.
“Why don’t you go arrest the criminal scum taking everyone’s rights?” one onlooker yells at the cops.
“These are the people who are gonna come give you vaccines one day,” another person shouts.
Video shot by fellow protesters show police taking the man down to the ground, placing his hands behind his back and cuffing him, as they confiscate multiple magazines.
The person who uploaded the footage to Twitter, @reallouiehuey, reported the man was carrying two concealed pistols and had a concealed carry permit.
“The man was carrying two pistols. He is a permitted carrier. He was on the sidewalk and not starting anything. He was not brandishing or threatening,” Huey wrote on Twitter.
Huey added police only learned of the man’s weapon when the wind blew, lifting up his shirt and revealing the pistols.
“His shirt blew in the wind and the cops saw his weapon,” Huey stated, adding in another tweet, “We were at the open up Colorado rally and his shirt blew up and the police arrested him.”
Mr. Huey did not return a request for comment from Infowars at time of writing.
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YOU CAN’T CLOSE AMERICA RALLY 2


newswars--2020-04-27--Jemele Hill Slams NFL for Allowing ‘White Supremacist’ in the League While Kaepernick Remains Unempl

Jemele Hill Slams NFL for Allowing ‘White Supremacist’ in the League While Kaepernick Remains Unemployed

Over the weekend , former ESPN personality and extreme left-wing writer Jemele Hill , criticized the NFL for allowing kicker @ @ @ @ @ claimed is a “ white supremacist , ” to be drafted while Colin Kaepernick remains @ @ @ @ @ slew of Tweets attacking the NFL and Rohrwasser after the player was drafted by the @ @ @ @ @ .
Rohrwasser has been questioned repeatedly for the last few years over a particular tattoo @ @ @ @ @ that left-wing watchdog groups claim is a racist “ right-wing militia ” symbol .
After @ @ @ @ @ said that he never intended his tattoo to be about any militias and added that @ @ @ @ @ in the near future .
The explanation did not satisfy Hill .
Without any proof @ @ @ @ @ a broadside against Rohrwasser who she accused outright of being a “ white supremacist .
@

Over the weekend, former ESPN personality and extreme left-wing writer Jemele Hill, criticized the NFL for allowing kicker Justin Rohrwasser, whom Hill claimed is a “white supremacist,” to be drafted while Colin Kaepernick remains unemployed.
Hill unleashed a slew of Tweets attacking the NFL and Rohrwasser after the player was drafted by the New England Patriots on Sunday. Rohrwasser has been questioned repeatedly for the last few years over a particular tattoo he has on is arm that left-wing watchdog groups claim is a racist “right-wing militia” symbol.
After being drafted, Rohrwasser again said that he never intended his tattoo to be about any militias and added that he would cover the ink in the near future.
The explanation did not satisfy Hill. Without any proof, the Atlantic writer launched a broadside against Rohrwasser who she accused outright of being a “white supremacist.”
Read More


newswars--2020-04-27--Next in Coronavirus Tyranny: Forced Vaccinations and ‘Digital Certificates’

In my first week in the House of Representatives in 1976 , I cast one of the two votes against legislation appropriating funds for a swine flu vaccination program .
A swine flu outbreak was then dominating headlines , so most in DC were frantic to “ do something ” about the virus .
Unfortunately , the hastily developed and rushed-into-production swine flu vaccine was not only ineffective , it was dangerous .
Approximately 50 people who received the vaccine subsequently contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome , a potentially fatal form of paralysis .
According to an expert with the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was four times higher among those who received the swine flu vaccine than in the general population .
That sad history may soon repeat itself .
Right now , governments and private industries are working to rapidly develop and deploy a coronavirus vaccine .
Microsoft founder Bill Gates , who is a major funder of these efforts , has suggested everyone who receives a vaccine be issued a “ digital certificate ” proving he has been vaccinated .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , whose record of wrong predictions makes him the Bill Kristol of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some proof they have been vaccinated .
Another authoritarian proposal floated to deal with coronavirus is to force everyone to download a phone app that will track their movements .
This would allow government officials to identify those who may have been near anyone who may have had coronavirus .
Such mandatory “ contact tracing ” is an assault on our privacy and liberty .
Vaccines can improve health .
For example , vaccines helped reduce the incidence of diseases like polio .
But not all vaccines are safe and effective for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as giving infants multiple vaccines at one time , may cause health problems .
The fact that vaccines may benefit some people , or even most people , does not justify government forcing individuals to be vaccinated .
It also does not justify vaccinating children against their parents ’ wishes .
And it certainly does not justify keeping individuals and families in involuntary quarantine because they do not have “ digital certificates ” proving they have had their shots .
If government can force individuals to receive medical treatment against their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why government can not force individuals to buy medical insurance , prohibit them from owning firearms , dictate their terms of employment , and prevent them from taking arguably harmful actions like smoking marijuana or drinking raw milk .
Similarly , if government can override parents ’ wishes regarding medical treatment for their children , then there is no reason why government can not usurp parental authority in other areas , such as education .
Proponents of mandatory vaccines and enhanced surveillance are trying to blackmail the American people by arguing that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthcare surveillance state and make vaccination mandatory .
The growing number of Americans who are tired of not being able to go to work , school , or church , or even to take their children to a park because of government mandates should reject this “ deal.
” Instead , they should demand an immediate end to the lockdowns and the restoration of individual responsibility for deciding how best to protect their health .
The World Is Beginning To Wake Up To The Covid-19 Planned-demic

In my first week in the House of Representatives in 1976, I cast one of the two votes against legislation appropriating funds for a swine flu vaccination program. A swine flu outbreak was then dominating headlines, so most in DC were frantic to “do something” about the virus.
Unfortunately, the hastily developed and rushed-into-production swine flu vaccine was not only ineffective, it was dangerous. Approximately 50 people who received the vaccine subsequently contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome, a potentially fatal form of paralysis. According to an expert with the Centers for Disease Control, the incidence of Guillain-Barré was four times higher among those who received the swine flu vaccine than in the general population.
That sad history may soon repeat itself. Right now, governments and private industries are working to rapidly develop and deploy a coronavirus vaccine. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is a major funder of these efforts, has suggested everyone who receives a vaccine be issued a “digital certificate” proving he has been vaccinated. Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose record of wrong predictions makes him the Bill Kristol of epidemiology, also wants individuals to carry some proof they have been vaccinated.
Another authoritarian proposal floated to deal with coronavirus is to force everyone to download a phone app that will track their movements. This would allow government officials to identify those who may have been near anyone who may have had coronavirus. Such mandatory “contact tracing” is an assault on our privacy and liberty.
Vaccines can improve health. For example, vaccines helped reduce the incidence of diseases like polio. But not all vaccines are safe and effective for all people. Furthermore, certain modern practices, such as giving infants multiple vaccines at one time, may cause health problems. The fact that vaccines may benefit some people, or even most people, does not justify government forcing individuals to be vaccinated. It also does not justify vaccinating children against their parents’ wishes. And it certainly does not justify keeping individuals and families in involuntary quarantine because they do not have “digital certificates” proving they have had their shots.
If government can force individuals to receive medical treatment against their will, then there is no reason why government cannot force individuals to buy medical insurance, prohibit them from owning firearms, dictate their terms of employment, and prevent them from taking arguably harmful actions like smoking marijuana or drinking raw milk. Similarly, if government can override parents’ wishes regarding medical treatment for their children, then there is no reason why government cannot usurp parental authority in other areas, such as education.
Proponents of mandatory vaccines and enhanced surveillance are trying to blackmail the American people by arguing that the lockdown cannot end unless we create a healthcare surveillance state and make vaccination mandatory. The growing number of Americans who are tired of not being able to go to work, school, or church, or even to take their children to a park because of government mandates should reject this “deal.” Instead, they should demand an immediate end to the lockdowns and the restoration of individual responsibility for deciding how best to protect their health.
This article first appeared RonPaulInstitute.org.
The World Is Beginning To Wake Up To The Covid-19 Planned-demic


newswars--2020-04-27--Ending the Lockdowns Isn’t about Saving Money. It’s about Saving Lives

The relationship between ends and means has long been debated .
For instance , the legacy of “ the end justifies the means ” traces back to Sophocles ’ s Electra four centuries before Christ , Ovid ’ s Heroides , and Machiavelli ’ s The Prince .
And more recently , Leonard Read pointed out that if the ends are just hopes that will not , in fact , be achieved , they can not justify means that infringe on others ’ rights .
Currently , the draconian and often arbitrary policies that have been imposed in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less deadly than was originally forecast , have raised a different issue about ends and means .
More and more people have begun protesting that the policies are too costly , perhaps most commonly expressed as “ the cure can ’ t be worse than the disease.
” That , in turn , has led to current policy defenders ’ condemnations , such as New York governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s assertion that “ we ’ re not going to put a dollar figure on human life , ” the New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a moral trade-off between saving lives and sustaining economic livability , ” or even Martin Gak ’ s more extreme characterization that objectors believe “ a few should die so the many can live.
” I even heard a sermon arguing that even one COVID-19 death justifies the continued government shutdown of the economy .
Unfortunately , such lives versus money ( or the economy ) comparisons make the mistake of comparing a particular end ( reducing COVID-19 deaths ) not to another end , but to a means ( additional resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And those alternatives include saving other lives .
Since the means ( money or produced resources ) are not anyone ’ s ultimate end , framing the issue as lives versus money makes it appear that we should stop at nothing to save a COVID-19 life , because that end is more valuable than something that is a “ mere means.
” And not far behind is the implication that those on the “ other side ” are just mean-spirited and selfish .
But those are mischaracterizations .
The most recent edition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addresses this issue well in its very first chapter , devoted to essential principles .
“ Using resources to do one thing leaves fewer resources to do another.
” Using the example of mandatory airbags assumed to save four hundred lives annually a year at a cost of $ 50 billion dollars , Gwartney points out that “ Economic thinking , however , forces us to ask ourselves if the $ 50 billion spent on air bags could have been used in a better way—perhaps , say , for cancer research that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year….In this case , the appropriate analysis is not simply the lives saved with air bags versus dollars spent on them , but also the number of lives that could have been saved ( or other things that could have been accomplished ) if the $ 50 billion had been used differently.
” Translated to the COVID crisis , the relevant tradeoff is not lives lost versus less money ( more accurately , resources ) produced , as it is often portrayed .
It is also a tradeoff between lives lost due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the policies adopted to reduce COVID deaths .
The only real difference from the airbag example is that the COVID deaths come now , to specific people , making them more easily recognized , while the lives lost due to the costs of the policies adopted will come later , to unknown “ statistical ” people , and current policymakers are unlikely to be blamed .
Consequently , saving additional COVID victims today with a particular policy may result in even more avoidable deaths in the future .
If that is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more people dying , and “ we ’ re not going to put a dollar figure on human life ” has nothing to do with it .
Is such a consequence actually conceivable ?
Yes .
For just one illustration , a 2016 analysis of the 2008 economic meltdown in The Lancet estimated that it “ was associated with over 260,000 excess cancer deaths in the OECD alone , between 2008–2010.
” Given the magnitude of the likely COVID death toll , that alone could mean that shutting down the economy kills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added cancer deaths are not the only adverse effect of the economic shutdown and other COVID policies ( as with delayed diagnoses of other diseases and surgeries not done because such cases have been crowded out of hospitals ) .
Further , a United Nations report this month summarized the potential effects of COVID policies on children : “ Children are not the face of this pandemic .
But they risk being among its biggest victims….the crisis is having a profound effect on their wellbeing .
All children , of all ages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected , in particular by the socio-economic impacts and , in some cases , by mitigation measures that may inadvertently do more harm than good .
This is a universal crisis and , for some children , the impact will be lifelong.
” The Issues and Insights editorial board goes even further .
They not only cite the UN study , in which “ Hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths could occur in 2020 , ” but they remind us that “ this is likely a low-ball estimate because it counts only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not the impact shutdowns are having on access to health care , vaccines , prenatal care , food and nutrition , or mental health care.
” One of the most basic of economic principles is that of opportunity costs .
Every time resources are directed to one purpose , those resources are no longer available for other purposes , which might well be more valuable .
That mean we must always weigh the value of the ends accomplished by a policy against alternative ends that the resources involved could have accomplished .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives versus money or production , as with current COVID policies , they are not proof that current policy choices are justified , but a rhetorical cheat that proves that questions which are essential to good policy formation are not being considered .

The relationship between ends and means has long been debated.
For instance, the legacy of “the end justifies the means” traces back to Sophocles’s Electra four centuries before Christ, Ovid’s Heroides, and Machiavelli’s The Prince. And more recently, Leonard Read pointed out that if the ends are just hopes that will not, in fact, be achieved, they cannot justify means that infringe on others’ rights.
Currently, the draconian and often arbitrary policies that have been imposed in response to COVID-19, combined with a result far less deadly than was originally forecast, have raised a different issue about ends and means.
More and more people have begun protesting that the policies are too costly, perhaps most commonly expressed as “the cure can’t be worse than the disease.” That, in turn, has led to current policy defenders’ condemnations, such as New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s assertion that “we’re not going to put a dollar figure on human life,” the New York Times’s characterization of the issue as “a moral trade-off between saving lives and sustaining economic livability,” or even Martin Gak’s more extreme characterization that objectors believe “a few should die so the many can live.” I even heard a sermon arguing that even one COVID-19 death justifies the continued government shutdown of the economy.
Unfortunately, such lives versus money (or the economy) comparisons make the mistake of comparing a particular end (reducing COVID-19 deaths) not to another end, but to a means (additional resources) that can achieve many alternative ends. And those alternatives include saving other lives.
Since the means (money or produced resources) are not anyone’s ultimate end, framing the issue as lives versus money makes it appear that we should stop at nothing to save a COVID-19 life, because that end is more valuable than something that is a “mere means.” And not far behind is the implication that those on the “other side” are just mean-spirited and selfish. But those are mischaracterizations.
The most recent edition of James Gwartney’s economics text addresses this issue well in its very first chapter, devoted to essential principles. “Using resources to do one thing leaves fewer resources to do another.” Using the example of mandatory airbags assumed to save four hundred lives annually a year at a cost of $50 billion dollars, Gwartney points out that “Economic thinking, however, forces us to ask ourselves if the $50 billion spent on air bags could have been used in a better way—perhaps, say, for cancer research that could have saved more than 400 lives per year….In this case, the appropriate analysis is not simply the lives saved with air bags versus dollars spent on them, but also the number of lives that could have been saved (or other things that could have been accomplished) if the $50 billion had been used differently.”
Translated to the COVID crisis, the relevant tradeoff is not lives lost versus less money (more accurately, resources) produced, as it is often portrayed. It is also a tradeoff between lives lost due to COVID and lives that will be lost from the policies adopted to reduce COVID deaths. The only real difference from the airbag example is that the COVID deaths come now, to specific people, making them more easily recognized, while the lives lost due to the costs of the policies adopted will come later, to unknown “statistical” people, and current policymakers are unlikely to be blamed.
Consequently, saving additional COVID victims today with a particular policy may result in even more avoidable deaths in the future. If that is the case, such a policy will result in more people dying, and “we’re not going to put a dollar figure on human life” has nothing to do with it.
Is such a consequence actually conceivable? Yes. For just one illustration, a 2016 analysis of the 2008 economic meltdown in The Lancet estimated that it “was associated with over 260,000 excess cancer deaths in the OECD alone, between 2008–2010.” Given the magnitude of the likely COVID death toll, that alone could mean that shutting down the economy kills more people than it saves. And added cancer deaths are not the only adverse effect of the economic shutdown and other COVID policies (as with delayed diagnoses of other diseases and surgeries not done because such cases have been crowded out of hospitals).
Further, a United Nations report this month summarized the potential effects of COVID policies on children: “Children are not the face of this pandemic. But they risk being among its biggest victims….the crisis is having a profound effect on their wellbeing. All children, of all ages, and in all countries, are being affected, in particular by the socio-economic impacts and, in some cases, by mitigation measures that may inadvertently do more harm than good. This is a universal crisis and, for some children, the impact will be lifelong.”
The Issues and Insights editorial board goes even further. They not only cite the UN study, in which “Hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths could occur in 2020,” but they remind us that “this is likely a low-ball estimate because it counts only the direct impact of a worldwide recession, not the impact shutdowns are having on access to health care, vaccines, prenatal care, food and nutrition, or mental health care.”
One of the most basic of economic principles is that of opportunity costs. Every time resources are directed to one purpose, those resources are no longer available for other purposes, which might well be more valuable. That mean we must always weigh the value of the ends accomplished by a policy against alternative ends that the resources involved could have accomplished. But when life-saving efforts are portrayed as lives versus money or production, as with current COVID policies, they are not proof that current policy choices are justified, but a rhetorical cheat that proves that questions which are essential to good policy formation are not being considered.