crooksandliars--2020-04-23--RANT: Scarborough Rips Trump's Refusal To Prepare For Fall Virus Threat

Joe Scarborough got really furious after watching a segment in which Trump said he did n't believe the coronavirus would return in the fall .
`` I mean , it -- it is just unbelievable .
I can not wrap my arms around the fact that you have networks that screwed up months ago saying this was going to be a hoax , and then they screwed pushing false drugs and now they are screwing up , saying this might magically go away , '' he said .
`` And you 've got a president who said this is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have 15 people , it is down to zero , ' like Willie , when do these people learn ?
Like Donald Trump 's gut , was this is going to magically go away in February .
This is magically going to question away .
'We have 15 cases , could go down to zero . '
We 'll have more people dead next week from COVID-19 than died in the entire Vietnam war .
More Americans dead from COVID-19 .
This thing that he said would magically go away in April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's magic drug and how his gut told him it would work .
`` His gut feeling now is that it is not going to come back in the fall when in fact , as we 've said here for some time , as I tweeted yesterday even before i knew what was going to be happening at the press conference yesterday , the flu pandemic of 1918 was actually stronger in the fall .
I think we said that yesterday on this show .
Was stronger in the fall .
Like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall and winter because it came when it was flu season .
That is what everybody has been warning about for months . ''
He was on a roll .
`` Why am I getting so riled up ?
`` Because the president was n't prepared before .
Right ?
The president was told in January by everybody in his administration that this was coming .
Even Navarro warned him 500,000 people could die .
The president ignored it .
Fifty thousand people are dead now because of it .
There should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most scientists I 'm sure will tell you that if we had prepared better , if the Chinese had not lied , it would have saved a lot of lives .
But this is not looking backwards , this is looking forward .
We have to prepare for the fall .
Children want to go to school in the fall .
Mika 's mother , I want her to be able to resume a normal life in the fall .
I want the White House to prepare for the fall .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is still acting like this is February where he says it is 15 people and it will magically go away .
When will they ever learn ?
When will they ever learn ? ''

Joe Scarborough got really furious after watching a segment in which Trump said he didn't believe the coronavirus would return in the fall.
"I mean, it -- it is just unbelievable. I cannot wrap my arms around the fact that you have networks that screwed up months ago saying this was going to be a hoax, and then they screwed pushing false drugs and now they are screwing up, saying this might magically go away," he said.
"And you've got a president who said this is going to magically go away. 'We only have 15 people, it is down to zero,' like Willie, when do these people learn? Like Donald Trump's gut, was this is going to magically go away in February. This is magically going to question away. 'We have 15 cases, could go down to zero.' We'll have more people dead next week from COVID-19 than died in the entire Vietnam war. More Americans dead from COVID-19. This thing that he said would magically go away in April."
Then he went off on Trump's magic drug and how his gut told him it would work.
"His gut feeling now is that it is not going to come back in the fall when in fact, as we've said here for some time, as I tweeted yesterday even before i knew what was going to be happening at the press conference yesterday, the flu pandemic of 1918 was actually stronger in the fall. I think we said that yesterday on this show. Was stronger in the fall. Like the real tragedy came for three months in the fall and winter because it came when it was flu season. That is what everybody has been warning about for months."
He was on a roll. "Why am I getting so riled up?
"Because the president wasn't prepared before. Right? The president was told in January by everybody in his administration that this was coming. Even Navarro warned him 500,000 people could die. The president ignored it. Fifty thousand people are dead now because of it. There should have been a lot less people dead. Most scientists I'm sure will tell you that if we had prepared better, if the Chinese had not lied, it would have saved a lot of lives. But this is not looking backwards, this is looking forward. We have to prepare for the fall. Children want to go to school in the fall. Mika's mother, I want her to be able to resume a normal life in the fall. I want the White House to prepare for the fall.
"They can't do it if Donald Trump is still acting like this is February where he says it is 15 people and it will magically go away. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"


crooksandliars--2020-04-23--Director Of Key Federal Vaccine Agency Files Whistleblower Complaint

After Dr .
Bright criticized the promotion of untested drugs that Trump and others promoted he was abruptly terminated from his high profile position as head of BARDA .
Now he 's filed a whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration .
Of particular note was his implication that certain members of the Trump administration are profiting off the promotion of chloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 .
The head of the federal agency charged with overseeing the rapid production of a vaccine to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic said Wednesday he was removed from his post after trying to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' infecting the federal effort .
Dr. Rick Bright said he was transferred `` in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions , and not in drugs , vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit . ''
`` I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus , science -- not politics or cronyism -- has to lead the way , '' Bright said in a statement that came less than 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Services circulated an internal memo , reviewed by ABC News , saying he had been promoted to a position in another agency .
`` Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis . ''
...
Bright had been in charge of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , known as BARDA , which recently received more than $ 3 billion in federal funds to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovery of a coronavirus vaccine can be quickly manufactured and distributed to hundreds of millions of Americans .
His removal from the post stunned lawmakers who had been pushing for a more robust vaccine effort .

After Dr. Bright criticized the promotion of untested drugs that Trump and others promoted he was abruptly terminated from his high profile position as head of BARDA. Now he's filed a whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration.
Of particular note was his implication that certain members of the Trump administration are profiting off the promotion of chloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19.
Source: ABC
The head of the federal agency charged with overseeing the rapid production of a vaccine to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic said Wednesday he was removed from his post after trying to push back against what he called "cronyism" infecting the federal effort. Dr. Rick Bright said he was transferred "in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit." "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science -- not politics or cronyism -- has to lead the way," Bright said in a statement that came less than 24 hours after the Department of Health and Human Services circulated an internal memo, reviewed by ABC News, saying he had been promoted to a position in another agency. "Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis."
...
Bright had been in charge of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, known as BARDA, which recently received more than $3 billion in federal funds to help ramp up production capacity so that any discovery of a coronavirus vaccine can be quickly manufactured and distributed to hundreds of millions of Americans. His removal from the post stunned lawmakers who had been pushing for a more robust vaccine effort.
SCOOP - Dr. Rick Bright says in statement he was pushed out of BARDA for a narrower, more limited role at NIH for wanting to use science to test treatments for COVID19, specifically the administration push to get chloroquines in wide use https://t.co/T6DHLIYWnC — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-04-23--Workers Live At Factory For 28 Days To Produce Much-Needed PPE Material

This happened in a gritty small town in the suburbs of Philadelphia , where employees sacrificed a month at home to supply the desperately needed materials to make protective gear for medical workers during the pandemic .
Via the Washington Post : At his factory just off the Delaware River , in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania , Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life .
In his office , an air mattress replaced his desk chair .
He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit , moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it were a makeshift college dormitory .
The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 co-workers turned roommates .
The factory ’ s emergency operations center became their new lounge room .
For 28 days , they did not leave — sleeping and working all in one place .
In what they called a “ live-in ” at the factory , the undertaking was just one example of the endless ways that Americans in every industry have uniquely contributed to fighting coronavirus .
The 43 men went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all day and night for a month straight , producing tens of millions of pounds of the raw materials that will end up in face masks and surgical gowns worn on the front lines of the pandemic .
[ ... ] “ We were just happy to be able to help , ” Boyce , an operations shift supervisor and a 27-year veteran at Braskem America , told The Washington Post .
“ We ’ ve been getting messages on social media from nurses , doctors , EMS workers , saying thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we want to thank them for what they did and are continuing to do .
That ’ s what made the time we were in there go by quickly , just being able to support them .
”

This happened in a gritty small town in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where employees sacrificed a month at home to supply the desperately needed materials to make protective gear for medical workers during the pandemic. Via the Washington Post:
At his factory just off the Delaware River, in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life.
In his office, an air mattress replaced his desk chair. He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit, moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Pa., as if it were a makeshift college dormitory. The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 co-workers turned roommates. The factory’s emergency operations center became their new lounge room.
For 28 days, they did not leave — sleeping and working all in one place.
In what they called a “live-in” at the factory, the undertaking was just one example of the endless ways that Americans in every industry have uniquely contributed to fighting coronavirus. The 43 men went home Sunday after each working 12-hour shifts all day and night for a month straight, producing tens of millions of pounds of the raw materials that will end up in face masks and surgical gowns worn on the front lines of the pandemic.
[...] “We were just happy to be able to help,” Boyce, an operations shift supervisor and a 27-year veteran at Braskem America, told The Washington Post. “We’ve been getting messages on social media from nurses, doctors, EMS workers, saying thank you for what we’re doing. But we want to thank them for what they did and are continuing to do. That’s what made the time we were in there go by quickly, just being able to support them.”


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--CNN Calls BS On Trump Claim His Disinfectant Injection Rec Was ‘Sarcasm’

With the reality-based world aghast at Donald Trump ’ s insane recommendation yesterday , Trump World is trying to gaslight us into disbelieving our own ears .
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany wants us to believe Trump was taken out of context ( he wasn ’ t ) and Trump is pretending he was only being sarcastic .
First , Dr. Sanjay Gupta blasted Trump for wasting scientists ’ time by making them wonder if he really wanted them to conduct a dangerous study , then announcing he didn ’ t really mean it .
COOPER : It ’ s ridiculous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just ludicrous and now the president has just added to it by pretending that we are all morons and we didn ’ t hear what we actually hear .
BORGER : Everybody can watch it with their own eyes and see the president use words like “ very powerful ” when describing the possibility of how these injections could somehow get infused into your system and clean out whatever virus there is .
I mean , people can see this .
This is doublespeak .
This is ridiculous .
This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t tell us what he just told us .
And we ’ ve seen this happen over the last years time and time again .
Very often we have played back the video .
I think the difference this time now is you ’ ve got the medical community aghast at this .
Not politicians , not just journalists whom he despises , most of us .
But doctors who are coming out and saying please , please do not try this .
And he had to find a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there isn ’ t any way .
Cooper brought up even more awfulness .
As the broader medical and scientific community and even Lysol have spoken out against considering such a treatment , Trump ’ s own medical and scientific team have not because “ they are all scared of being removed or being sidelined , being sent into exile like [ HHS ] Secretary Azar , ” Cooper pointed out .
“ The idea that the nation ’ s top scientists have to be careful about the facts that they present to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid of and concerned ” that Trump might “ kneecap them ” essentially , '' makes it all even sadder , Cooper said .

With the reality-based world aghast at Donald Trump’s insane recommendation yesterday, Trump World is trying to gaslight us into disbelieving our own ears. Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany wants us to believe Trump was taken out of context (he wasn’t) and Trump is pretending he was only being sarcastic.
CNN called out the lies.
First, Dr. Sanjay Gupta blasted Trump for wasting scientists’ time by making them wonder if he really wanted them to conduct a dangerous study, then announcing he didn’t really mean it.
Anchor Anderson Cooper also blasted Trump:
COOPER: It’s ridiculous. The whole thing, it’s just ludicrous and now the president has just added to it by pretending that we are all morons and we didn’t hear what we actually hear.
Borger was even sharper:
BORGER: Everybody can watch it with their own eyes and see the president use words like “very powerful” when describing the possibility of how these injections could somehow get infused into your system and clean out whatever virus there is. I mean, people can see this. This is doublespeak. This is ridiculous. This is a president who is telling us now that he didn’t tell us what he just told us. And we’ve seen this happen over the last years time and time again. Very often we have played back the video. I think the difference this time now is you’ve got the medical community aghast at this. Not politicians, not just journalists whom he despises, most of us. But doctors who are coming out and saying please, please do not try this. And he had to find a way to wriggle out of it, only there isn’t any way.
Cooper brought up even more awfulness. As the broader medical and scientific community and even Lysol have spoken out against considering such a treatment, Trump’s own medical and scientific team have not because “they are all scared of being removed or being sidelined, being sent into exile like [HHS] Secretary Azar,” Cooper pointed out.
“The idea that the nation’s top scientists have to be careful about the facts that they present to the American people because they’re afraid of and concerned” that Trump might “kneecap them” essentially," makes it all even sadder, Cooper said.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Joe Biden Worried Trump Will Put A Stop To The November Election

Joe Biden is saying one of the things many of us have feared in our darker moments : that Donald Trump will try to stop the elections from happening in November .
“ Mark my words , I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it ca n't be held , ” the former vice president said during an online fundraiser for his presidential campaign .
“ Imagine threatening not to fund the post office .
Now , what in God ’ s name is that about ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that he ’ s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote , ” Biden added .
“ That ’ s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.
” The Trump campaign responded with a statement that was an incoherent word salad of Trumpist conspiracy theories against Biden and Democrats .
The law doesn ’ t give Trump the power to unilaterally delay elections , but that doesn ’ t mean he won ’ t try—and of course he has Senate Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed to back him up .

Joe Biden is saying one of the things many of us have feared in our darker moments: that Donald Trump will try to stop the elections from happening in November.
“Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held,” the former vice president said during an online fundraiser for his presidential campaign.
“Imagine threatening not to fund the post office. Now, what in God’s name is that about? Other than trying to let the word out that he’s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote,” Biden added. “That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.”
The Trump campaign responded with a statement that was an incoherent word salad of Trumpist conspiracy theories against Biden and Democrats.
The law doesn’t give Trump the power to unilaterally delay elections, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try—and of course he has Senate Republicans and a lot of judges he’s appointed to back him up.
Crossposted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Well-Known Anti-Vaxxer's 'Playdate Protest' Becomes Viral Cause For Far-Right Lockdown Critics

Ammon Bundy didn ’ t waste his opportunity Tuesday : A video began circulating virally that day in far-right circles showing an Idaho mom being arrested at a playground closed under the state ’ s anti-COVID-19 lockdown orders .
By that evening he was leading a cluster of protesters outside the home of the arresting officer .
It didn ’ t matter to either Bundy or the protesters that the mom in question was a well-known Boise-area anti-vaccination activist who had been participating all week in mini-protests against the lockdown , and that the confrontation with police at the playground—including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-right setup that had in fact been planned all along .
What mattered is they had the martyr they needed .
Bundy and his “ Patriot ” movement cohorts have been leading the “ resistance ” to Idaho Gov .
Brad Little ’ s stay-at-home order nearly from the day in mid-March that it was issued , claiming that it was an unconstitutional abridgement of people ’ s rights to free association .
Along the way , he picked up support from the hyper-libertarian Idaho Freedom Foundation ( IFF ) , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the pandemic is mainly a hoax , many of them affiliated with the IFF .
Indeed , anti-vaccination activists—who have a long history of crossover affiliation with the far right , given their shared predilection for conspiracy theories and antigovernment sentiments—have become a significant component of the anti-lockdown protests that have begun organizing over the past few weeks .
As Christopher Mathias at HuffPost observed , “ Public health experts fear the anti-vaxx movement could , once a COVID-19 vaccine is developed , undermine a national inoculation program.
” A rally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an anti-vaccination activist named Ashley Smith who not only advocates ignoring social-distancing and stay-home measures , but will oppose the use of any vaccine to combat it : “ I am against mandatory vaccination , ” Smith wrote to The News & Observer .
“ That is a personal right and as a sovereign citizen I have the right to choose what medical procedures I and my children receive .
Pandemic status/state of emergency doesn ’ t change that.
” Similarly , a popular post at “ Reopen Missouri , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , featured a vow to never take any future coronavirus vaccine .
“ I refuse to receive said vaccine to make others feel more safe , ” it read .
“ I won ’ t set myself—or my children—on fire to keep you warm.
” The mom arrested by Meridian police officers Tuesday was one of these activists : Sara Walton Brady was well known to Boise-area health officials as one of the most assiduous anti-vaccination fanatics .
Her Facebook page , “ Idahoans for Vaccine Freedom , ” organized a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including an appearance at a January legislative panel in Boise aimed at dealing with faith-healing laws in the state that turned the hearing into a circus .
Over the past week , following the appearance of IFF founder/president Wayne Hoffman at Bundy ’ s Easter Sunday service in defiance of the lockdown—at which Hoffman called the pandemic “ the ultimate work of the devil ” —the organization been promoting a “ Disobey Idaho ” campaign aimed at undermining the stay-home orders .
The campaign included such mini-protests as illegal yard sales , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ playdate protests ” in which parents took their children to playgrounds closed by the pandemic .
Brady shared the plan to organize a “ playdate protest ” at Meridian ’ s Kleiner Park on the Idahoans for Vaccine Freedom page , and participants all showed up at the park—which was otherwise open , except for the closed playground area—at the appointed time Tuesday with their children , tore down the yellow police tape that had roped off the equipment , and began playing .
It was all carefully set up , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they inevitably arrived .
The IFF ’ s communications director , Dustin Hurst , acknowledged as much in a Medium post : “ To my understanding , a group of moms decided together to defy the stay-home order by letting their kids play at Kleiner Park in Meridian .
They used social media groups and posts to spread the word.
” However , IFF denied any involvement whatsoever in the protest that Bundy organized afterward .
As a video posted to Facebook by a fellow protester ( and later removed , but preserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they asked Brady and others gathered at the playground several times to leave , explaining that the equipment was closed by city order .
Brady and others objected , demanding to know why .
Eventually , after an officer told her she had five seconds to leave , Brady told the officer to arrest her .
Then she turned her back to him , putting her hands behind her and demanding he arrest her .
“ Arrest me for being difficult .
Do it , ” she said .
So the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brady urged her compatriots to immediately contact the IFF .
In the version of the event that appeared in the viral video , however , all of that context disappears—all viewers see is Brady being handcuffed and led away .
It was promoted on Alex Jones ’ Infowars program , and became widely shared on Facebook among “ Patriot ” movement .
The IFF also organized a protest outside Meridian City Hall later that afternoon , which also included gun activists from the Second Amendment Alliance .
However , the most hair-raising protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arresting officer in Meridian , when Bundy and some of the same people who were at his Easter Sunday shindig—including “ motivational speaker ” Diego Rodriguez—arrived with the intention of serving the officer with a “ constitutionalist ” sovereign citizen-style document .
They were met by several police officers who were guarding the man ’ s home .
Rodriguez led most of the early conversation with the officers , but eventually Bundy stepped forward and confronted them .
“ There was a woman at a park with her children and she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
“ Completely inappropriate.
” It went on for another six minutes or so .
“ The people will not allow you guys to do this for very long !
” Bundy yelled at the cops .
“ You will not go into the park and arrest people !
You will not go into parks and arrest mothers , and you will not go anywhere and arrest us for exercising what our rights are.
” Bundy presented them with a “ Petition for the Redress of Grievance ” —a favorite sovereign citizen-style @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officer ’ s behavior and demand compensation , another version of which Bundy had earlier in the day taped to the door of Gov .
Little ’ s home—and , upon being refused the opportunity to present it to the arresting officer at his door , handed it to the police , who then taped it to the front door .
This seemed to largely satisfy the protesters , who eventually broke up and drifted away .
The sequence of events in Meridian underscored the growing reality that , as Anna Merlan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are leading the paranoid contingent opposing pandemic containment measures are people who fundamentally don ’ t believe in the concept of public health measures .
“ While 'medical freedom ’ may be the rallying cry , the root of their protests are against vaccination , ” observes epidemiologist Tara C. Smith of Kent State .
The protests , Smith said , “ make me very sad .
Odds are good that a number of those who are out protesting will become ill because of their activities , and spread the infection to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think they 're wrong , but no one wants anyone to die over their beliefs , and I see that coming in the next month for some of these protesters .
”

Ammon Bundy didn’t waste his opportunity Tuesday: A video began circulating virally that day in far-right circles showing an Idaho mom being arrested at a playground closed under the state’s anti-COVID-19 lockdown orders. By that evening he was leading a cluster of protesters outside the home of the arresting officer.
It didn’t matter to either Bundy or the protesters that the mom in question was a well-known Boise-area anti-vaccination activist who had been participating all week in mini-protests against the lockdown, and that the confrontation with police at the playground—including the heavy presence of children—was a classic far-right setup that had in fact been planned all along. What mattered is they had the martyr they needed.
Bundy and his “Patriot” movement cohorts have been leading the “resistance” to Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s stay-at-home order nearly from the day in mid-March that it was issued, claiming that it was an unconstitutional abridgement of people’s rights to free association. Along the way, he picked up support from the hyper-libertarian Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), as well as the community of anti-vaccination activists who believe the pandemic is mainly a hoax, many of them affiliated with the IFF.
Indeed, anti-vaccination activists—who have a long history of crossover affiliation with the far right, given their shared predilection for conspiracy theories and antigovernment sentiments—have become a significant component of the anti-lockdown protests that have begun organizing over the past few weeks. As Christopher Mathias at HuffPost observed, “Public health experts fear the anti-vaxx movement could, once a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, undermine a national inoculation program.”
A rally in North Carolina on April 14 was organized by an anti-vaccination activist named Ashley Smith who not only advocates ignoring social-distancing and stay-home measures, but will oppose the use of any vaccine to combat it: “I am against mandatory vaccination,” Smith wrote to The News & Observer. “That is a personal right and as a sovereign citizen I have the right to choose what medical procedures I and my children receive. Pandemic status/state of emergency doesn’t change that.”
Similarly, a popular post at “Reopen Missouri,” a Facebook group devoted to rapidly reopening businesses, featured a vow to never take any future coronavirus vaccine. “I refuse to receive said vaccine to make others feel more safe,” it read. “I won’t set myself—or my children—on fire to keep you warm.”
The mom arrested by Meridian police officers Tuesday was one of these activists: Sara Walton Brady was well known to Boise-area health officials as one of the most assiduous anti-vaccination fanatics. Her Facebook page, “Idahoans for Vaccine Freedom,” organized a series of protests over the past few years, including an appearance at a January legislative panel in Boise aimed at dealing with faith-healing laws in the state that turned the hearing into a circus.
Over the past week, following the appearance of IFF founder/president Wayne Hoffman at Bundy’s Easter Sunday service in defiance of the lockdown—at which Hoffman called the pandemic “the ultimate work of the devil”—the organization been promoting a “Disobey Idaho” campaign aimed at undermining the stay-home orders. The campaign included such mini-protests as illegal yard sales, “Disobey Dodgeball,” and notably, “playdate protests” in which parents took their children to playgrounds closed by the pandemic.
Brady shared the plan to organize a “playdate protest” at Meridian’s Kleiner Park on the Idahoans for Vaccine Freedom page, and participants all showed up at the park—which was otherwise open, except for the closed playground area—at the appointed time Tuesday with their children, tore down the yellow police tape that had roped off the equipment, and began playing. It was all carefully set up, with cell phones ready to record police when they inevitably arrived.
The IFF’s communications director, Dustin Hurst, acknowledged as much in a Medium post: “To my understanding, a group of moms decided together to defy the stay-home order by letting their kids play at Kleiner Park in Meridian. They used social media groups and posts to spread the word.” However, IFF denied any involvement whatsoever in the protest that Bundy organized afterward.
As a video posted to Facebook by a fellow protester (and later removed, but preserved above) showed, when police arrived, they asked Brady and others gathered at the playground several times to leave, explaining that the equipment was closed by city order. Brady and others objected, demanding to know why.
Eventually, after an officer told her she had five seconds to leave, Brady told the officer to arrest her. Then she turned her back to him, putting her hands behind her and demanding he arrest her.
“Arrest me for being difficult. Do it,” she said.
So the officer handcuffed her and led her away. Brady urged her compatriots to immediately contact the IFF.
In the version of the event that appeared in the viral video, however, all of that context disappears—all viewers see is Brady being handcuffed and led away. It was promoted on Alex Jones’ Infowars program, and became widely shared on Facebook among “Patriot” movement. The IFF also organized a protest outside Meridian City Hall later that afternoon, which also included gun activists from the Second Amendment Alliance.
However, the most hair-raising protest came near sundown at the home of the arresting officer in Meridian, when Bundy and some of the same people who were at his Easter Sunday shindig—including “motivational speaker” Diego Rodriguez—arrived with the intention of serving the officer with a “constitutionalist” sovereign citizen-style document. They were met by several police officers who were guarding the man’s home.
Rodriguez led most of the early conversation with the officers, but eventually Bundy stepped forward and confronted them.
“There was a woman at a park with her children and she was arrested!” Bundy screamed at the police. “Completely inappropriate.”
It went on for another six minutes or so. “The people will not allow you guys to do this for very long!” Bundy yelled at the cops. “You will not go into the park and arrest people! You will not go into parks and arrest mothers, and you will not go anywhere and arrest us for exercising what our rights are.”
Bundy presented them with a “Petition for the Redress of Grievance”—a favorite sovereign citizen-style document featuring pseudo-legal language claiming to address the officer’s behavior and demand compensation, another version of which Bundy had earlier in the day taped to the door of Gov. Little’s home—and, upon being refused the opportunity to present it to the arresting officer at his door, handed it to the police, who then taped it to the front door. This seemed to largely satisfy the protesters, who eventually broke up and drifted away.
The sequence of events in Meridian underscored the growing reality that, as Anna Merlan explains, the “coronavirus truthers” who are leading the paranoid contingent opposing pandemic containment measures are people who fundamentally don’t believe in the concept of public health measures. “While 'medical freedom’ may be the rallying cry, the root of their protests are against vaccination,” observes epidemiologist Tara C. Smith of Kent State.
The protests, Smith said, “make me very sad. Odds are good that a number of those who are out protesting will become ill because of their activities, and spread the infection to others in their families and communities. I think they're wrong, but no one wants anyone to die over their beliefs, and I see that coming in the next month for some of these protesters.”
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--King Man-Baby Demands USPS Raise Its Prices With Amazon, Or Be Denied Funding

At today 's signing of the CARES Act part deux , a reporter asked the man-baby-in-chief if he supported funding for the postal service .
Before Trump had a chance to answer , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stepped in to offer his own answer , saying the first CARES act authorized over $ 10 billion for a loan for the USPS .
Mnuchin said his team is working with them to see if they need the money .
Not satisfied with that , of course , the Disinfectant Despot went on to trash the post office 's arrangements with Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help deliver their packages .
He spewed out some venomous argle-bargle about how the USPS needs to raise prices four or five times .
Then he asked Mnuchin if he agreed , and of course , the servile frog lizard did .
Mnuchin even mentioned that they 're putting certain criteria for their `` postal reform program '' as part of the loan , and that they 're recruiting a new Postmaster General .
Then , still unappeased , Commander Clorox issued his threat : TRUMP : I would go a step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the price of the service they give , which is a tremendous service , they do a great job and the postal workers are fantastic , but this thing is losing billions of dollars , it has been for years .
They do n't want to insult for whatever reason you could imagine , they do n't want to insult Amazon , and these other groups .
If they do n't raise the price , I 'm not signing anything .
So , they 'll raise the price so that they become maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
And if they do n't do it , I 'm not signing anything , and I 'm not authorizing you to do anything , Steve .
This is small government for you , right Republicans ?
This is the hands-off governing you envisioned , correct ?
Or does the GOP only prefer to interfere in things if it would benefit them at the ballot box ?
Is it just a coinkikink that since voting by mail ( which tends to favor Democrats ) has become such an urgent priority , attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Lysol Lunatic 's alleged mind ?

At today's signing of the CARES Act part deux, a reporter asked the man-baby-in-chief if he supported funding for the postal service. Before Trump had a chance to answer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stepped in to offer his own answer, saying the first CARES act authorized over $10 billion for a loan for the USPS. Mnuchin said his team is working with them to see if they need the money.
Not satisfied with that, of course, the Disinfectant Despot went on to trash the post office's arrangements with Amazon and other companies with which it contracts to help deliver their packages. He spewed out some venomous argle-bargle about how the USPS needs to raise prices four or five times. Then he asked Mnuchin if he agreed, and of course, the servile frog lizard did. Mnuchin even mentioned that they're putting certain criteria for their "postal reform program" as part of the loan, and that they're recruiting a new Postmaster General.
Then, still unappeased, Commander Clorox issued his threat:
TRUMP: I would go a step further. If they don't raise the price of the service they give, which is a tremendous service, they do a great job and the postal workers are fantastic, but this thing is losing billions of dollars, it has been for years. They don't want to insult for whatever reason you could imagine, they don't want to insult Amazon, and these other groups. If they don't raise the price, I'm not signing anything. So, they'll raise the price so that they become maybe even profitable so they lose much less money. And if they don't do it, I'm not signing anything, and I'm not authorizing you to do anything, Steve.
This is small government for you, right Republicans? This is the hands-off governing you envisioned, correct?
Or does the GOP only prefer to interfere in things if it would benefit them at the ballot box? Is it just a coinkikink that since voting by mail (which tends to favor Democrats) has become such an urgent priority, attacks against the postal service have been front of the Lysol Lunatic's alleged mind?


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Gaslights To Excuse Trump's Lysol Lunacy

Here is our taxpayer-funded Press Secretary to the President of the United States wishing away Donald Trump 's ridiculous comments @ @ @ @ @ Instead of acknowledging that no one should consider disinfectant injections or strange exposure of their @ @ @ @ @ McEnany instead issued a statement .
`` President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus treatment , a point that he emphasized again during yesterday ’ s briefing , @ @ @ @ @ a special tone to her gaslight , she added , “ Leave it to the @ @ @ @ @ Trump out of context and run with negative headlines . ''
Leave it to Donald @ @ @ @ @ .

Here is our taxpayer-funded Press Secretary to the President of the United States wishing away Donald Trump's ridiculous comments about disinfectant and sunlight.
Instead of acknowledging that no one should consider disinfectant injections or strange exposure of their insides to UV light, McEnany instead issued a statement.
"President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing,” McEnany said.
Adding a special tone to her gaslight, she added, “Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines."
Leave it to Donald Trump to be an idiot.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--DUH: Lysol Warns Everyone Not To Inject Disinfectant

On Thursday night , Donald Trump suggested that injecting disinfectant into the human body may be an effective treatment for COVID .
It is not .
Sure , it will kill the coronavirus in your body , but it will also kill you .
Sort of defeats the purpose , right ?
Not only were doctors aghast , but Lysol issued a statement as well .
Lysol maker , Reckitt Benckiser Plc , put out a statement saying that “ under no circumstance ” should its disinfectant products be injected into the human body .
The further said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines . ''
Trump 's newest White House Press Secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , put out a very Orwellian statement , reminiscent of something you 'd have read in the dystopian fiction book , 1984 , accusing `` the media of taking his words out of context . ''
She added : “ President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment , a point that he emphasized again during yesterday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rampage about this snake oil medicine recommendation on Friday morning : People , do not drink Lysol .
Do not inject your body with disinfectant .
Wait , why am I warning YOU GUYS ?
You are reading Crooks and Liars .
You are clearly smart enough to not do this .

On Thursday night, Donald Trump suggested that injecting disinfectant into the human body may be an effective treatment for COVID. It is not. Sure, it will kill the coronavirus in your body, but it will also kill you. Sort of defeats the purpose, right?
Not only were doctors aghast, but Lysol issued a statement as well.
Lysol maker, Reckitt Benckiser Plc, put out a statement saying that “under no circumstance” should its disinfectant products be injected into the human body. The further said: “As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines."
Trump's newest White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, put out a very Orwellian statement, reminiscent of something you'd have read in the dystopian fiction book, 1984, accusing "the media of taking his words out of context." She added: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing."
NARRATOR: That is a lie.
Twitter was still on a rampage about this snake oil medicine recommendation on Friday morning:
On this day in history, April 24th, 2020, the disinfectant company Lysol had to launch a major campaign to dissuade people from injecting their product after the President of the United States once again proved to be an absolute fucking moron. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) April 24, 2020
Imagine being Lysol PR chief at, oh, 6:45 p.m. yesterday... https://t.co/UCjEsAiwFK — Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) April 24, 2020
Okay so maybe Trump said people should inject themselves with Lysol and bleach and other household chemicals but it’s not like he said he enjoyed Grey Poupon or wore a tan suit so everyone needs to seriously calm down. — Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) April 24, 2020
The ol’ Lysol walk back https://t.co/QhnEJfJ176 — Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) April 24, 2020
The President suggested injecting Lysol into the human body to treat #COVID19.
Something is very wrong with this guy.
No really.
We should be very concerned.
Intervention? pic.twitter.com/hOyy8S0wSi — Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) April 24, 2020
The makers of Lysol had to issue a warning to the general public NOT to inject disinfectant into their bodies because our idiot President suggested it. Rudy Giuliani mocks contact tracing by asking why we don't also do it for cancer, &heart disease. They’re trying to kill us. — Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) April 24, 2020
For those just tuning in: We've reached that point in Trump "presidency" where Lysol had to put out a statement warning people to not inject themselves with Lysol despite Trump's recommendation + #DontDrinkBleach is trending as an actual warning for what Trump may recommend next — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 24, 2020
People, do not drink Lysol. Do not inject your body with disinfectant. Wait, why am I warning YOU GUYS? You are reading Crooks and Liars. You are clearly smart enough to not do this.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Friday News Dump: 'Some' Experts Think It's Not Dangerous, And Other News

But what ’ s the deal with those other experts ?
pic.twitter.com/UIYteSotbU In a record low for access journalism , the New York Times implies that `` some '' experts DO N'T BELIEVE INJECTING DISINFECTANTS IS DANGEROUS .
Dear sweet Baby Jesus .
And CNN follows in their footsteps : But how many times has the @ nytimes had to do this over the past three years ?
Dozens ?
Hundreds ?
There 's something deeply broken in that institution .
pic.twitter.com/SiK82g3EMI On Zoom , I was telling a MAGA how *Biden* suggested injecting disinfectant into our bodies & how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He went on to say how Biden is an idiot w dementia .
Then I went in for the kill & said it was trump who actually said it !
It was glorious !
💅🏼 If I were a liberal billionaire I would buy up ad time in every state where there is a Republican Senate incumbent running for reelection and remind viewers that they could have removed this president , chose not to , and these are the consequences .
Bill Gates on coronavirus treatments : “ None of the trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where you stop it early and you go , 'we have to get this out.
’ ” https : //t.co/Zz9jOwEbHh INBOX : @ joniernst calls for local news , TV and radio to be included in Paycheck Protection Program .
The letter mentions `` hurdles in accessing support '' for larger chains whose staffing across the network exceeds the 500 staffing limit -- namely yours truly and the @ DMRegister .
Three nurses showed up to counter-protest the Arizona “ liberate ” rally .
They stood silently .
And the “ liberate ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They stood in their faces and berated them .
These women are heroes , and deserve so much better .
pic.twitter.com/h3NrLfvN13 DEPARTMENT OF DEAR GOD , WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE US SMILE Facts about chickens Chickens dream just like humans do ( REM ) Chickens can distinguish between more than 100 faces of their own species Chickens have full-colour vision Hens defend their young Science has proven chickens to be more intelligent than human toddlers # FeelGoodFriday pic.twitter.com/5lKdBmwUZW Have a nice weekend , and do n't forget to keep washing @ @ @

In a record low for access journalism, the New York Times implies that "some" experts DON'T BELIEVE INJECTING DISINFECTANTS IS DANGEROUS. Dear sweet Baby Jesus. And CNN follows in their footsteps:
At a White House briefing, President Trump theorized — dangerously, in the view of some experts — about the powers of sunlight, ultraviolet light and household disinfectants to kill the coronavirus https://t.co/cm6fyxqQ0O — The New York Times (@nytimes) April 24, 2020
What. the fuck. IS WRONG WITH YOU. — Rebecca Schoenkopf, Wonkette Editrix, King Of You (@commiegirl1) April 24, 2020
But how many times has the @nytimes had to do this over the past three years? Dozens? Hundreds?
There's something deeply broken in that institution. pic.twitter.com/SiK82g3EMI — Joshua Holland 🔥 (@JoshuaHol) April 24, 2020
On Zoom, I was telling a MAGA how *Biden* suggested injecting disinfectant into our bodies & how bummed I was he would say that.
He went on to say how Biden is an idiot w dementia.
Then I went in for the kill & said it was trump who actually said it! It was glorious! 💅🏼 — Shelly Splainin’ (@sheLLbeLL_xo) April 24, 2020
How to medical pic.twitter.com/0EDqJcy38p — Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) April 24, 2020
“President Trump theorized - dangerously, in the view of some experts- about how sticking dynamite up your ass and lighting the fuse will kill the coronavirus.” https://t.co/kkIbDPumWj — The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) April 24, 2020
Only in the MAGA world would this need to be said.
Lysol maker: Please don't drink our cleaning products. https://t.co/9mEBhbrCVb — Shelly Splainin’ (@sheLLbeLL_xo) April 24, 2020
UV light? Injecting disinfectant?
Here’s an idea, Mr. President: more tests. Now. And protective equipment for actual medical professionals. https://t.co/Zv4Mfs2Z4a — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 24, 2020
****
1 in 5 New Yorkers May Have Had #Covid19, Antibody Tests Suggest https://t.co/r7R7XGOluc — Victoria Brownworth ☣ #QuarantineSavesLives (@VABVOX) April 24, 2020
REVEALED: Trump owes tens of millions of dollars to a state-owned Chinese bankhttps://t.co/j9WvsRxK7x — Raw Story (@RawStory) April 24, 2020
“Epidemiologists say that if the US shutdown had taken place two weeks earlier, 90 per cent of the deaths would have been prevented” https://t.co/eeP7gwhgtT — Alexis Goldstein 🏳🌈 (@alexisgoldstein) April 24, 2020
BREAKING: Big scoop from @KatherineEban featuring Trump admin emails pushing to "flood NY and NJ" with chloroquine, to the horror of some career health officials https://t.co/wwFbGGyRKW — Mike Hogan (@mike_hogan) April 24, 2020
"Of course, McConnell has an agenda here: He’s hoping to use the pandemic to force afflicted states to shrink their governments," writes @PaulKrugman https://t.co/8dZ0CUc23S — New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) April 24, 2020
Start with indicting people with off-shore tax hiding accts. What Time Is the Reckoning? https://t.co/FjG5et2FYL via @@gizmodo — John Starbuck (@JCStarbuck3) April 24, 2020
On today's to-do list: inventory the household pharmacy. pic.twitter.com/t8OZqhWA50 — Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) April 24, 2020
Space: NASA chief to space fans: Don't travel to Florida to watch SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch https://t.co/Vd87di6xIE pic.twitter.com/RMLCmjKcqk — UFO Sightings & News (@UFOnetwork_) April 24, 2020
If I were a liberal billionaire I would buy up ad time in every state where there is a Republican Senate incumbent running for reelection and remind viewers that they could have removed this president, chose not to, and these are the consequences. — b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 23, 2020
WOW >> Trump’s praise of China is starting to make sense...
Politico has learned Trump is *tens of millions* in debt to the state-owned Bank of China. https://t.co/LN7xAeM2O7 — Jack Miller (@politicalmiller) April 24, 2020
I tried to warn you guys about this like three weeks ago https://t.co/bzFBx6yepU — Jake Bittle (@jake_bittle) April 24, 2020
"We Were So Young and Naive. And We Got Things Done” Reflections from the first Earth Day, 50 years ago by our science writer Kevin Krajick.https://t.co/qhCtqPPgu2 pic.twitter.com/UFHDCTuOvr — Earth Institute (@earthinstitute) April 23, 2020
Four-month-old daughter of NYC firefighter dies of coronavirus, family says https://t.co/d01NJXyDM2 pic.twitter.com/boUf0Up7PW — The Hill (@thehill) April 24, 2020
Video shows the hot-footed hog, which went wandering around Stamford, sent officers running in circles as they huffed and puffed for 45 minutes trying to chase down the wayward animal.https://t.co/F9GOVSjNvd — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 24, 2020
Bill Gates on coronavirus treatments: “None of the trials have had that kind of amazing result where you stop it early and you go, 'we have to get this out.’”https://t.co/Zz9jOwEbHh — MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 24, 2020
INBOX: @joniernst calls for local news, TV and radio to be included in Paycheck Protection Program. The letter mentions "hurdles in accessing support" for larger chains whose staffing across the network exceeds the 500 staffing limit--namely yours truly and the @DMRegister. — Zachary Oren Smith (@ZacharyOS) April 24, 2020
Three nurses showed up to counter-protest the Arizona “liberate” rally.
They stood silently.
And the “liberate” crowd didn’t leave them alone. They stood in their faces and berated them.
These women are heroes, and deserve so much better.
pic.twitter.com/h3NrLfvN13 — Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) April 21, 2020
DEPARTMENT OF DEAR GOD, WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE US SMILE
Alicia Keys debuted her new song "Good Job" during a #CNNTownHall as a tribute to the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic: Hospital workers, nurses, doctors, grocery store clerks, delivery workers, truck drivers and all who keep the world moving https://t.co/P6LEjSmOTB — CNN (@CNN) April 24, 2020
Kittens so cute, I'm SOLD pic.twitter.com/RBan3C8W6t — Cats Goofy (@CatsGoofy) April 24, 2020
94-yr-old widower's reaction to being given a pillow with his wife's face on it is priceless https://t.co/2lazNUPWiE thx @upworthy #spreadkindness — gscopehoward (@gigihow97) April 22, 2020
Yale's popular 'science of happiness' class is now available for free online.https://t.co/nywRwGHKTe pic.twitter.com/7M8927jwpn — Upworthy (@Upworthy) April 17, 2020
self isolation wont be that bad if it looked like this pic.twitter.com/th3qpcnAqF — Kittens (@kittensfolder) April 22, 2020
This just makes my heart melt!!! We all need love during these uncertain times!!! Call your friends, family, and loved ones!! 💘❣❤💗💌
(link via @Upworthy) https://t.co/YMtCN1pdCH — Robert "Jack" Reynolds (@Jack_Reynolds05) April 23, 2020
Here's a basket of puppies to hopefully bring a little smile and kick-start that #FridayFeeling 🐕
We're still here to listen if you need to talk https://t.co/DzViLfe7of pic.twitter.com/G5iv0Itwln — Samaritans (@samaritans) April 24, 2020
I'm not crying about crabs, YOU ARE crying about crabs.
Via @Upworthy pic.twitter.com/dUcYwcdx4v — Houston Moms Blog (@HoustonMomsBlog) April 23, 2020
Facts about chickens
Chickens dream just like humans do (REM)
Chickens can distinguish between more than 100 faces of their own species
Chickens have full-colour vision
Hens defend their young
Science has proven chickens to be more intelligent than human toddlers #FeelGoodFriday pic.twitter.com/5lKdBmwUZW — MinoValleySanctuary (@MinoValleyFarm) April 24, 2020
Little kittens think that Raylan is their mother 😊
Sound on pic.twitter.com/nwoCrl2ucA — Buitengebieden (@BuitengebiedenB) April 24, 2020
Lauren Leander is a hero and everyone should know her name.https://t.co/2m0BRDOUlF pic.twitter.com/1MfDH8ITBI — Upworthy (@Upworthy) April 22, 2020
Toddler blames Batman for drawing on the mirror pic.twitter.com/5bJKVjMQz0 — The Sun (@TheSun) April 23, 2020
Have a nice weekend, and don't forget to keep washing your hands!


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Maddow Points Out Trump Doesn't Seem To Know The Actual COVID-19 Death Toll

Rachel Maddow opened this segment with the sobering sight of protesters piling up body bags in front of Trump 's Washington hotel .
`` Those are n't real body bags , but they are meant to symbolize the thousands of Americans who have died , '' she said .
`` The U.S. death toll from coronavirus , as of today , is staggering .
As of today , 48,902 Americans have been killed -- and that 's just over the course of about a month .
`` For what it 's worth , and when you 're thinking about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president up , whether it might get the president 's attention a little bit , to have body bags laid out in front of his hotel , for what it 's worth , the president does not really seem up on the fact that 48,902 Americans have already been killed by this epidemic .
We know that he is not really up on this number , '' she said .
`` We know that for sure , because this was the president at the beginning of this week , on Monday of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. death toll would end up being . ''
TRUMP : Now we 're going toward 50 , I 'm hearing , or 60,000 people .
I 'm hearing 60,000 people .
We could end up at 50 . ''
`` That 's this week .
The president , positing that the American death toll in total could be 50,000 people , he thinks that 's where we will end up , that 's what he 's hearing as president .
That 's as bad as it will get .
That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the death toll could be , when this is all over .
`` He said that on Monday .
Barring some kind of miracle , the U.S. death toll will hit 50,000 by this weekend , easy .
But I do n't know if the president knows that .
And so , the people who are mad at the president about this response , people are starting to pile up body bags in front of his hotel .
`` Because maybe that at his hotel , maybe that at least might capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him know that the real body count is apparently beyond his ken , beyond what he understands it to be . ''

Rachel Maddow opened this segment with the sobering sight of protesters piling up body bags in front of Trump's Washington hotel.
"Those aren't real body bags, but they are meant to symbolize the thousands of Americans who have died," she said.
"The U.S. death toll from coronavirus, as of today, is staggering. As of today, 48,902 Americans have been killed -- and that's just over the course of about a month.
"For what it's worth, and when you're thinking about whether a protest like this might wake the president up, whether it might get the president's attention a little bit, to have body bags laid out in front of his hotel, for what it's worth, the president does not really seem up on the fact that 48,902 Americans have already been killed by this epidemic. We know that he is not really up on this number," she said.
"We know that for sure, because this was the president at the beginning of this week, on Monday of this week, talking about what he thought the U.S. death toll would end up being."
TRUMP: Now we're going toward 50, I'm hearing, or 60,000 people. I'm hearing 60,000 people. We could end up at 50."
"That's this week. The president, positing that the American death toll in total could be 50,000 people, he thinks that's where we will end up, that's what he's hearing as president. That's as bad as it will get. That's what he wants people to know, that the death toll could be, when this is all over.
"He said that on Monday. Barring some kind of miracle, the U.S. death toll will hit 50,000 by this weekend, easy. But I don't know if the president knows that. And so, the people who are mad at the president about this response, people are starting to pile up body bags in front of his hotel.
"Because maybe that at his hotel, maybe that at least might capture his attention, maybe that will let him know that the real body count is apparently beyond his ken, beyond what he understands it to be."


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Trump: 'I'm Not A Doctor, I'm A Person Who Has A Good You-Know-What'

`` I guess if you could collapse the last three years of madness into one clip , that would be it , '' Joe Scarborough said .
`` That 's when Fox News or Sean Hannity went crazy on you , could n't bring himself to start with that , '' Mika Brzezinski said .
`` You saw Dr. Birx .
Ron Fournier had the greatest tweet , 'Watch her soul slowly die . '
She was so disgusted with him , '' Scarborough said .
`` So much respect for Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci .
They 're hanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Willie , I know growing up that , with my children , that if I would use scrubbing bubbles to clean the bathtub before they got in there , I would not spray it in my children 's mouth or my own if I had a fever or disease , '' Scarborough said .
`` This is so beyond madness .
You have an America president saying such things about putting disinfectant in the body , putting light in the body .
It is so beyond parody .
If you wrote this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' nobody would believe it .
`` Again , not funny because by probably the end of this month , more people will have died from this coronavirus that Donald Trump said would go away .
Said it was a hoax .
The media 's coverage of it was a hoax .
Sean Hannity said the media 's coverage of it was a hoax .
More people will be dead of this so-called hoax the media was pushing , according to Sean Hannity and Donald Trump , than died in the Vietnam war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The next week , we 'll probably go beyond 57,000 .
Again , the fact that we 're near the end of April , after losing trillions of dollars , after more lives have been lost in the Iraq wars , the Afghanistan war , September 11th , the Revolutionary War , the War of -- I could stack them up .
Donald Trump is now at the point of talking about putting disinfectants inside your body , and putting lights inside people 's bodies , to the embarrassment of those aides sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horror show unfold before their eyes , '' he said .

"I guess if you could collapse the last three years of madness into one clip, that would be it," Joe Scarborough said.
"That's when Fox News or Sean Hannity went crazy on you, couldn't bring himself to start with that," Mika Brzezinski said.
"You saw Dr. Birx. Ron Fournier had the greatest tweet, 'Watch her soul slowly die.' She was so disgusted with him," Scarborough said.
"So much respect for Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci. They're hanging in there, trying to save lives. Willie, I know growing up that, with my children, that if I would use scrubbing bubbles to clean the bathtub before they got in there, I would not spray it in my children's mouth or my own if I had a fever or disease," Scarborough said.
"This is so beyond madness. You have an America president saying such things about putting disinfectant in the body, putting light in the body. It is so beyond parody. If you wrote this for, let's say 'Veep," nobody would believe it.
"Again, not funny because by probably the end of this month, more people will have died from this coronavirus that Donald Trump said would go away. Said it was a hoax. The media's coverage of it was a hoax. Sean Hannity said the media's coverage of it was a hoax. More people will be dead of this so-called hoax the media was pushing, according to Sean Hannity and Donald Trump, than died in the Vietnam war, over the next week.
"The next week, we'll probably go beyond 57,000. Again, the fact that we're near the end of April, after losing trillions of dollars, after more lives have been lost in the Iraq wars, the Afghanistan war, September 11th, the Revolutionary War, the War of -- I could stack them up. Donald Trump is now at the point of talking about putting disinfectants inside your body, and putting lights inside people's bodies, to the embarrassment of those aides sitting on the sidelines, listening to this horror show unfold before their eyes," he said.


crooksandliars--2020-04-24--Rachel Maddow Rips Fox News Hydroxychloroquine Hype: ‘Show Some Responsibility’

Rachel Maddow aired a devastating mashup of Fox News hosts and Donald Trump sounding like late night TV hucksters promoting hydroxychloroquine as a miracle drug for COVID-19 , right up until they had an unexplained change of heart .
“ Most likely you never heard of this drug until last month when the prime time Fox News hosts and then the president started incessantly promoting it on a daily , sometimes hourly basis , ” Maddow said .
They promoted it as if to say the coronavirus is no big deal , there ’ s a cure already , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials and next to no evidence of its effectiveness .
But boy were they insistent.
” She then played more than two minutes of soundbites of Fox Trumpers and Dear Leader , himself , singing the praises of the drug with endorsements such as “ in a lot of ways , hydroxychloroquine is the ideal medicine , ” from Tucker Carlson and “ After all I ’ ve read , I would ” take it , from Sean Hannity .
Starting in the middle of March , hydroxychloroquine was mentioned “ hundreds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News Channel , particularly by its prime time hosts , and by the president , from the White House podium , ” Maddow noted .
Fox and Trump suddenly went radio silent on the subject about a week ago .
This week , a not-so-promising study came out .
It found the drug was found to have no benefit and there were more deaths among those who took it than among those given standard care .
“ The authors of the study write quote , these findings highlight the importance of awaiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , controlled studies , before widespread adoption of these drugs , ” Maddow read .
She added sarcastically , “ Yeah , you think ?
” Meanwhile , Dr. Rick Bright , who had been in charge of developing a coronavirus vaccine for the Department of Health and Human Services has been demoted after questioning the advocacy of hydroxychloroquine and limiting its “ broad use.
” Maddow summed up this despicable perversion of science : MADDOW : Now , that doctor is now no longer in charge of the search for a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
… It is one thing to not have leadership at the federal level in response to this crisis .
It is actually a whole 'nother thing to have the president putting American lives at risk every time he blurts something made up , or that he thought he understood from TV , into the microphone at the White House Briefing Room .
And that really is happening every day .
… I think we should all agree that there perhaps should be a more concerted effort to stop the spread of misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is potentially deadly misinformation .
If somebody is repeatedly misinforming the American public , about important things having to do with this disease , do n't broadcast that .
Do n't listen to people who are lying to you about this disease .
Do n't broadcast their comments , certainly do n't keep doing it day after day , when they 've proven themselves to be lying day after day .
And honestly , it does n't matter who it is , show some responsibility , honestly .
Unfortunately , there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time soon .

Rachel Maddow aired a devastating mashup of Fox News hosts and Donald Trump sounding like late night TV hucksters promoting hydroxychloroquine as a miracle drug for COVID-19, right up until they had an unexplained change of heart.
“Most likely you never heard of this drug until last month when the prime time Fox News hosts and then the president started incessantly promoting it on a daily, sometimes hourly basis,” Maddow said. They promoted it as if to say the coronavirus is no big deal, there’s a cure already, she pointed out, “despite zero clinical trials and next to no evidence of its effectiveness. But boy were they insistent.”
She then played more than two minutes of soundbites of Fox Trumpers and Dear Leader, himself, singing the praises of the drug with endorsements such as “in a lot of ways, hydroxychloroquine is the ideal medicine,” from Tucker Carlson and “After all I’ve read, I would” take it, from Sean Hannity.
Starting in the middle of March, hydroxychloroquine was mentioned “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times on the Fox News Channel, particularly by its prime time hosts, and by the president, from the White House podium,” Maddow noted.
Fox and Trump suddenly went radio silent on the subject about a week ago. This week, a not-so-promising study came out. It found the drug was found to have no benefit and there were more deaths among those who took it than among those given standard care.
“The authors of the study write quote, these findings highlight the importance of awaiting the results of ongoing prospective, randomized, controlled studies, before widespread adoption of these drugs,” Maddow read. She added sarcastically, “Yeah, you think?”
Meanwhile, Dr. Rick Bright, who had been in charge of developing a coronavirus vaccine for the Department of Health and Human Services has been demoted after questioning the advocacy of hydroxychloroquine and limiting its “broad use.”
Maddow summed up this despicable perversion of science:
MADDOW: Now, that doctor is now no longer in charge of the search for a vaccine to save us from the deadly coronavirus. … It is one thing to not have leadership at the federal level in response to this crisis. It is actually a whole 'nother thing to have the president putting American lives at risk every time he blurts something made up, or that he thought he understood from TV, into the microphone at the White House Briefing Room. And that really is happening every day. … I think we should all agree that there perhaps should be a more concerted effort to stop the spread of misinformation about this disease, particularly if it is potentially deadly misinformation. If somebody is repeatedly misinforming the American public, about important things having to do with this disease, don't broadcast that. Don't listen to people who are lying to you about this disease. Don't broadcast their comments, certainly don't keep doing it day after day, when they've proven themselves to be lying day after day. And honestly, it doesn't matter who it is, show some responsibility, honestly.
Unfortunately, there is no sign that is about to happen any time soon.


Open Up Vegas!

CNN ’ s Gloria Borger perfectly summed up Trump ’ s lie today , that he did not seriously recommend @ @ @ @ @ cure yesterday : `` This is a president who is telling us now that he @ @ @ @ @ he just [ ... ]

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crooksandliars--2020-04-25--Gordon Sondland's Boutique Hotel Chain And Others Getting 'Small Business' Loans

Remember Gordon Sondland ?
Of course you do , from back in the before time when the national crisis was impeachment .
He ’ s the now-former ambassador to the European Union , who got that cushy job by being a big donor to Donald Trump 's inaugural committee .
Trump might have fired him from that sweet gig , but that does n't mean Sondland 's out of the money loop with Republicans at all .
Because guess who got some of that `` small business '' coronavirus emergency loan money ?
Provenance Hotels , the hotel chain Sondland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money according to a spokeswoman , along with some very wealthy , very connected to Republican lawmaker hoteliers .
How much Sondland landed is n't clear , but the company spokesperson told the Portland Business Journal : `` Now that we have been approved for our SBA PPP loan , we hope to bring back a significant portion of those employees and retain them for as long as possible . ''
Let 's certainly hope so .
Not all business are doing so , figuring the terms of the loans are so good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flout the rules and spend the money on other costs .
One of the biggest winners was Dallas hotel executive Monty Bennett , also a Trump major donor .
He got a combined $ 59 million for three of his companies—Braemar Hotels & Resorts , which operates a Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas ; Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. , which operates 100 or so hotel properties around the country ; and finally the management firm that oversees both chains .
Bennett 's given Trump $ 150,000 just in the last six months , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group said in a statement that the loan program `` is working exactly as intended by providing much needed capital to small businesses and larger businesses that have been the hardest hit—hotels and restaurants . ''
The Bloomberg article does n't say whether Ashford also claimed to be retaining its employees .
It does , however , report that Ashford expects to get more loans on top of the $ 30 million it got in the first round .
If Bennett is spending all that money on keeping his 1,000 or so employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the main thing .
But when this is all over ?
There had better damned well be a wealth tax that claws this money back .

Remember Gordon Sondland? Of course you do, from back in the before time when the national crisis was impeachment. He’s the now-former ambassador to the European Union, who got that cushy job by being a big donor to Donald Trump's inaugural committee. Trump might have fired him from that sweet gig, but that doesn't mean Sondland's out of the money loop with Republicans at all. Because guess who got some of that "small business" coronavirus emergency loan money?
Provenance Hotels, the hotel chain Sondland owns, got some of that loan money according to a spokeswoman, along with some very wealthy, very connected to Republican lawmaker hoteliers. How much Sondland landed isn't clear, but the company spokesperson told the Portland Business Journal: "Now that we have been approved for our SBA PPP loan, we hope to bring back a significant portion of those employees and retain them for as long as possible." Let's certainly hope so. Not all business are doing so, figuring the terms of the loans are so good that it doesn't matter if they flout the rules and spend the money on other costs.
One of the biggest winners was Dallas hotel executive Monty Bennett, also a Trump major donor. He got a combined $59 million for three of his companies—Braemar Hotels & Resorts, which operates a Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas; Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc., which operates 100 or so hotel properties around the country; and finally the management firm that oversees both chains. Bennett's given Trump $150,000 just in the last six months, and was rewarded nicely. Ashford’s group said in a statement that the loan program "is working exactly as intended by providing much needed capital to small businesses and larger businesses that have been the hardest hit—hotels and restaurants." The Bloomberg article doesn't say whether Ashford also claimed to be retaining its employees.
It does, however, report that Ashford expects to get more loans on top of the $30 million it got in the first round. If Bennett is spending all that money on keeping his 1,000 or so employees paid, great—keeping people afloat right now is the main thing.
But when this is all over? There had better damned well be a wealth tax that claws this money back.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-04-25--Meet Palantir: A Surveillance Company Founded By Trump Crony Thiel To Track COVID-19

Reporter Spencer Ackerman appeared on AM Joy today to expand on a frightening article in The Daily Beast about Thiel and Palantir ’ s involvement in the creation of a government coronavirus data platform .
A top donor to conservative causes and the first outside investor in Facebook , Thiel was , according to The Wall Street Journal , instrumental in pushing the social networking giant to allow politicians to lie in advertisements on the platform .
It ’ s a policy that many outside observers believe will help the Trump campaign—which Thiel has again pledged to support .
Palantir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sizeable stake in — has watched its already-lucrative government business skyrocket in the Trump era .
Now , as Ackerman explained to host Joy Reid , Palantir is integrating data for the Department of Health and Human Services “ from a staggering amount of data sets from around the country.
” ACKERMAN : Palantir isn ’ t saying anything on the record about this contract , Joy .
What we ’ ve found is that Palantir is building the Department of Health and Human Services a platform to integrate data from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
HHS says 187 data sets , basically things like supply chain management for hospitals , bed space in hospitals dealing with coronavirus , information as well on where new instances of the outbreak may be and their intensity .
What we do n't have a clear picture on is what access Palantir itself will have to that information .
Reid noted that Palantir has previously worked for HHS to detect Medicare fraud , for the FBI in criminal probes , the Department of Homeland Security to screen air travelers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thiel ’ s stance against truth on Facebook , Reid pointed out , “ This is not a guy who 's on the side of the public.
” ACKERMAN : Palantir is basically the weaponization of what Shoshana Zuboff at Harvard Business School calls surveillance capitalism .
All of the data that we generate from nearly everything we do , particularly in an economic sphere these days , all of it being digital , has a huge amount of implication for our privacy .
And what that really means , it has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has built , with CIA start-up money from its In-Q-Tel investment arm , a really incredible suite of tools that a variety of both law enforcement , intelligence , military , commercial and civilian government sector entities use to monitor a tremendous amount of what we do .
The implications of this are really profound and they 're only going to grow the more data we all generate .
Under Donald Trump , it 's really been super-sized .
They 've gotten something like upwards of $ 800 million already in federal contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're sending to HHS , this thing called Foundry , we found a contract for that basically a drop in the bucket for Palantir , $ 7.5 million , but now what we all have to find out is where that data actually goes and what happens to that data when they no longer need it .
The history of surveillance over the past generation is that once you build these tools and the government has them , they do n't want to give them up , and they migrate into being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity .
That ’ s the same HHS , by the way , where the coronavirus response team is led by a former dog breeder and the spokesman is a racist conspiracy theorist .
What could go wrong ?

Reporter Spencer Ackerman appeared on AM Joy today to expand on a frightening article in The Daily Beast about Thiel and Palantir’s involvement in the creation of a government coronavirus data platform.
A top donor to conservative causes and the first outside investor in Facebook, Thiel was, according to The Wall Street Journal, instrumental in pushing the social networking giant to allow politicians to lie in advertisements on the platform. It’s a policy that many outside observers believe will help the Trump campaign—which Thiel has again pledged to support. Palantir, which Thiel helped found—and still retains a sizeable stake in — has watched its already-lucrative government business skyrocket in the Trump era.
Now, as Ackerman explained to host Joy Reid, Palantir is integrating data for the Department of Health and Human Services “from a staggering amount of data sets from around the country.”
ACKERMAN: Palantir isn’t saying anything on the record about this contract, Joy. What we’ve found is that Palantir is building the Department of Health and Human Services a platform to integrate data from a staggering amount of data sets from around the country. HHS says 187 data sets, basically things like supply chain management for hospitals, bed space in hospitals dealing with coronavirus, information as well on where new instances of the outbreak may be and their intensity. What we don't have a clear picture on is what access Palantir itself will have to that information.
Reid noted that Palantir has previously worked for HHS to detect Medicare fraud, for the FBI in criminal probes, the Department of Homeland Security to screen air travelers and to keep tabs on immigrants. Given Thiel’s stance against truth on Facebook, Reid pointed out, “This is not a guy who's on the side of the public.”
Ackerman agreed.
ACKERMAN: Palantir is basically the weaponization of what Shoshana Zuboff at Harvard Business School calls surveillance capitalism. All of the data that we generate from nearly everything we do, particularly in an economic sphere these days, all of it being digital, has a huge amount of implication for our privacy. And what that really means, it has a huge implication for our freedom. Palantir has built, with CIA start-up money from its In-Q-Tel investment arm, a really incredible suite of tools that a variety of both law enforcement, intelligence, military, commercial and civilian government sector entities use to monitor a tremendous amount of what we do. The implications of this are really profound and they're only going to grow the more data we all generate. … Under Donald Trump, it's really been super-sized. They've gotten something like upwards of $800 million already in federal contracting money, and this one particular tool they're sending to HHS, this thing called Foundry, we found a contract for that basically a drop in the bucket for Palantir, $7.5 million, but now what we all have to find out is where that data actually goes and what happens to that data when they no longer need it. The history of surveillance over the past generation is that once you build these tools and the government has them, they don't want to give them up, and they migrate into being a permanent fixture of government life and activity.
That’s the same HHS, by the way, where the coronavirus response team is led by a former dog breeder and the spokesman is a racist conspiracy theorist.
What could go wrong?


crooksandliars--2020-04-25--Astroturf Group FreedomWorks Applies For $300,000 In COVID-19 Small Business Loans

FreedomWorks , one of the astroturf groups created in the previous decade primarily to not let a Black president create anything nice for this country , has been doing its astroturf thing in the past week by encouraging its members to protest Democratic governors trying to save lives .
They even have a `` # ReopenAmerica Rally Planning Guide '' in which they advise members to : `` Maintain proper social distancing ; Wear a protective face mask ; Follow hygiene and disinfection practices . ''
Or they could , you know , just stay home .
While they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of their economic philosophy which includes shutting down government and defaulting on the national debt because deficits , they are also applying for that `` bail-out '' small business loan money .
Yes , those sweet , sweet taxpayer funded loans ostensibly intended to keep the people who do the work in America funded for the duration .
They 've applied for $ 300,000 because as Adam Brandon , the president of FreedomWorks , says `` I would love someone to give us free cash . ''
FreedomWorks does n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhat murky these days , but we do know that it had $ 4,040,000 to spend in 2019 lobbying for lower taxes for rich people and for slashing domestic spending .
But by all means , give them their free cash .
So they can keep on lobbying to make sure the undeserving people do n't have too much food , or health care , or housing or unemployment benefits or the ability to sustain life .
Because it is The New York Times reporting on this , we know that liberal groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media Matters for America have also applied for the loans .
So has Liberty Counsel , `` a conservative legal group supporting Mr. Trump 's plan to reopen the country . ''
The Southern Poverty Law Center designates Liberty Counsel as a hate group , `` advocating for anti-LGBT discrimination under the guise of religious liberty . ''
It is closely affiliated with Liberty University and the Liberty Center for Law and Policy .
In addition to fighting LGBTQ equality , it provides legal counsel in cases dealing with `` the sanctity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic governors are protested against while they try to actually protect human life .
As for the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center ?
They 'll keep working to make the next round of emergency funding provide more assistance for working America .
`` We have not laid anyone off yet , and we 're hoping not to , but we 're facing significant financial uncertainty right now , as are a lot of other nonprofits , '' Liz Watson , the center 's executive director told the Times .
`` If we do get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep people in their jobs '' lobbying for help for everyone .

FreedomWorks, one of the astroturf groups created in the previous decade primarily to not let a Black president create anything nice for this country, has been doing its astroturf thing in the past week by encouraging its members to protest Democratic governors trying to save lives. They even have a "#ReopenAmerica Rally Planning Guide" in which they advise members to: "Maintain proper social distancing; Wear a protective face mask; Follow hygiene and disinfection practices." Or they could, you know, just stay home.
While they're making war on Democratic governors, all part of their economic philosophy which includes shutting down government and defaulting on the national debt because deficits, they are also applying for that "bail-out" small business loan money. Yes, those sweet, sweet taxpayer funded loans ostensibly intended to keep the people who do the work in America funded for the duration. They've applied for $300,000 because as Adam Brandon, the president of FreedomWorks, says "I would love someone to give us free cash."
FreedomWorks doesn't have to disclose its donors and its finances are somewhat murky these days, but we do know that it had $4,040,000 to spend in 2019 lobbying for lower taxes for rich people and for slashing domestic spending. But by all means, give them their free cash. So they can keep on lobbying to make sure the undeserving people don't have too much food, or health care, or housing or unemployment benefits or the ability to sustain life.
Because it is The New York Times reporting on this, we know that liberal groups like the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center and Media Matters for America have also applied for the loans. So has Liberty Counsel, "a conservative legal group supporting Mr. Trump's plan to reopen the country." The Southern Poverty Law Center designates Liberty Counsel as a hate group, "advocating for anti-LGBT discrimination under the guise of religious liberty." It is closely affiliated with Liberty University and the Liberty Center for Law and Policy. In addition to fighting LGBTQ equality, it provides legal counsel in cases dealing with "the sanctity of human life." And making sure Democratic governors are protested against while they try to actually protect human life.
As for the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center? They'll keep working to make the next round of emergency funding provide more assistance for working America. "We have not laid anyone off yet, and we're hoping not to, but we're facing significant financial uncertainty right now, as are a lot of other nonprofits," Liz Watson, the center's executive director told the Times. "If we do get a loan, this will help us keep people in their jobs" lobbying for help for everyone.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-04-25--Rev. Barber Blasts COVID-19 Relief Bills: Congress ‘Too Comfortable With Other Peoples’ Deaths’

On AM Joy this morning , Barber was asked by host Joy Reid what he ’ d like to see Democrats push for in the next coronavirus relief package , if there is one .
His remarks combined a forceful denunciation of government ’ s neglect of the poor with an urgent plea for their help .
BARBER : The problem is what have we fought for ?
And we have to start before the pandemic .
Even before the pandemic , Republicans racialized poverty , Democrats ran from poverty .
When Democrats had a majority , we did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken place .
The issue is what should we be fighting for ?
And if we are saying that people are heroes and they ’ re frontline workers – you know , we used to call them service workers 45 days ago , now we call them essential workers .
They have not been provided guaranteed health care .
We found $ 3 trillion for corporations .
We ca n't find the money for them to be guaranteed health care ?
It 's in our bloated defense budget .
It ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billionaires have actually made money during this pandemic and the poor have gotten worse .
We are choosing these long lines .
We are choosing people not having money during this period of time .
Germany said they would pick up the salary of their people during this pandemic .
Where is the permanent sick leave ?
Where is the salary protection ?
Where is the rent forgiveness ?
Where is the guarantee that utilities ca n't be shut off ?
Where is the money for undocumented workers and the homeless ?
Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people of color that are being hurt the most and poor communities like up in Appalachia in Kentucky ?
Joy , we are making a fundamental mistake because the scientists tell us , the data tells us that pandemics spread through the fissures of this society and these type deals are a dereliction of duty .
It says that too many people are still too comfortable with too many other people 's deaths .
And that is a psychosis that is a part of the American reality .
We have to admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the genocide of natives , it ’ s what caused slavery and lynching and lies about Vietnam with people in power keep saying the next bill , the next bill , the next bill or no deal , and we do n't fight for it .
And people in power are too comfortable with other people 's deaths and it 's time to stop this foolishness and do right from the bottom up if we ’ re gon na deal with this pandemic .

On AM Joy this morning, Barber was asked by host Joy Reid what he’d like to see Democrats push for in the next coronavirus relief package, if there is one. His remarks combined a forceful denunciation of government’s neglect of the poor with an urgent plea for their help.
BARBER: The problem is what have we fought for? And we have to start before the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, Republicans racialized poverty, Democrats ran from poverty. When Democrats had a majority, we did not vote on certain things that should have taken place.
The issue is what should we be fighting for? And if we are saying that people are heroes and they’re frontline workers – you know, we used to call them service workers 45 days ago, now we call them essential workers. They have not been provided guaranteed health care. We found $3 trillion for corporations. We can't find the money for them to be guaranteed health care? It's in our bloated defense budget. It’s in the wealthy paying their fair share.
Billionaires have actually made money during this pandemic and the poor have gotten worse. We are choosing these long lines. We are choosing people not having money during this period of time. Germany said they would pick up the salary of their people during this pandemic.
Where is the permanent sick leave? Where is the salary protection? Where is the rent forgiveness? Where is the guarantee that utilities can't be shut off? Where is the money for undocumented workers and the homeless? Where is the direct money for those communities, people of color that are being hurt the most and poor communities like up in Appalachia in Kentucky?
Joy, we are making a fundamental mistake because the scientists tell us, the data tells us that pandemics spread through the fissures of this society and these type deals are a dereliction of duty. It says that too many people are still too comfortable with too many other people's deaths. And that is a psychosis that is a part of the American reality. We have to admit that. It’s what caused the genocide of natives, it’s what caused slavery and lynching and lies about Vietnam with people in power keep saying the next bill, the next bill, the next bill or no deal, and we don't fight for it. And people in power are too comfortable with other people's deaths and it's time to stop this foolishness and do right from the bottom up if we’re gonna deal with this pandemic.


crooksandliars--2020-04-25--Trump Sold America A Malaria Drug Bill Of Goods To Please His Big Donor

I 've said on a couple of occasions that I suspect the president promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 for some reason other than personal profit -- I understand why so many people assumed he must have been doing it because sales of the drug would earn him money , but the evidence did n't seem to be there , and even Walter Shaub , the former director of the Office of Government Ethics , who 's a fierce Trump critic , does n't believe Trump 's small investment in a mutual fund that includes a hydroxychloroquine manufacturer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because the potential profits are too meager .
Well , now we have more possible evidence that Trump was n't hyping the drug for personal profit : A top Health and Human Services official who said he was transferred from his post for pushing back on `` efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections '' felt pressured to rush access to chloroquine treatments for the coronavirus after President Donald Trump had a conversation about it with a mega-rich donor , a source close to the doctor told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was instructed to implement a national program aimed at expanding access to the drug without proper controls and despite the lack of peer-reviewed clinical data on the drug 's effectiveness following a conversation Trump had with Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison , the source said .
Ellison , one of the president 's top supporters in the tech industry , is a member of the White House economic recovery task force .
He hosted a big-money fundraiser for Trump at his home in Rancho Mirage , California , in February .
If this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a kleptocrat -- he 's just an ordinary bootlicking politician who 'll say or do whatever a big-money donor wants .
This is true even though Trump is supposedly a rich guy who does n't need the campaign cash ( which does n't prevent him from trying to raise boatloads of it ) .
We know that Trump is completely lacking in empathy and does n't care about the tens of thousands of people who are suffering and dying as a result of this pandemic -- all he cares about is personal gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's not even out for that much gain .
He does n't seem to want to make a dime off this drug .
All he wants is to please someone richer than himself and to be reelected .
That 's how little it takes to override the interests of the American people , as far as Trump is concerned .
Published with permission of No More Mr. Nice Blog UPDATE ( Karoli ) : Here 's a whole feature Forbes did on Larry Ellison 's plan to fight 'rona right alongside Trump @

I've said on a couple of occasions that I suspect the president promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 for some reason other than personal profit -- I understand why so many people assumed he must have been doing it because sales of the drug would earn him money, but the evidence didn't seem to be there, and even Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics, who's a fierce Trump critic, doesn't believe Trump's small investment in a mutual fund that includes a hydroxychloroquine manufacturer is sufficient explanation for Trump's actions, because the potential profits are too meager.
Well, now we have more possible evidence that Trump wasn't hyping the drug for personal profit:
A top Health and Human Services official who said he was transferred from his post for pushing back on "efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections" felt pressured to rush access to chloroquine treatments for the coronavirus after President Donald Trump had a conversation about it with a mega-rich donor, a source close to the doctor told NBC News. Dr. Rick Bright said he was instructed to implement a national program aimed at expanding access to the drug without proper controls and despite the lack of peer-reviewed clinical data on the drug's effectiveness following a conversation Trump had with Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, the source said. Ellison, one of the president's top supporters in the tech industry, is a member of the White House economic recovery task force. He hosted a big-money fundraiser for Trump at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, in February.
If this is correct, then Trump isn't a kleptocrat -- he's just an ordinary bootlicking politician who'll say or do whatever a big-money donor wants. This is true even though Trump is supposedly a rich guy who doesn't need the campaign cash (which doesn't prevent him from trying to raise boatloads of it).
We know that Trump is completely lacking in empathy and doesn't care about the tens of thousands of people who are suffering and dying as a result of this pandemic -- all he cares about is personal gain. But as it turns out, he's not even out for that much gain. He doesn't seem to want to make a dime off this drug. All he wants is to please someone richer than himself and to be reelected. That's how little it takes to override the interests of the American people, as far as Trump is concerned.
Published with permission of No More Mr. Nice Blog
UPDATE (Karoli): Here's a whole feature Forbes did on Larry Ellison's plan to fight 'rona right alongside Trump.