thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Bernie Sanders Spells Out How Bad Things Are For U.S. With Historical Comparison

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) on Friday declared the United States is likely enduring its “ worst moment ” since the Civil War , as he revealed that many of the stories his supporters have shared with him about the coronavirus pandemic are just too painful to read .
“ It is important for us to take a very deep breath and to understand that we are in the worst moment , the worst moment in American history maybe since the Civil War , ” Sanders told MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes .
“ We are in a terrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing the soaring nationwide death toll and job losses resulting from the public health crisis .
The contagion has now killed more than 77,000 people in the U.S. and sickened at least 1.3 million others .
Sanders , who dropped out of the Democratic presidential race in April , said he had asked his “ large email following ” to reply with stories about what was happening to them during the pandemic .
“ What we received from people by the thousands was literally so painful , I couldn ’ t read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , ‘ I lost my mother , I lost my job , I have no money , I can ’ t feed my kids , I don ’ t know what to do , ’ mental illness taking place , enormous anxiety , ” he said .
“ People are hurting in a way we have never ever seen in our lifetimes , ” added Sanders .
“ And to top it all , we have somebody so irresponsible , so not understanding the current reality as president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday declared the United States is likely enduring its “worst moment” since the Civil War, as he revealed that many of the stories his supporters have shared with him about the coronavirus pandemic are just too painful to read.
“It is important for us to take a very deep breath and to understand that we are in the worst moment, the worst moment in American history maybe since the Civil War,” Sanders told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
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“We are in a terrible, terrible moment,” he continued, citing the soaring nationwide death toll and job losses resulting from the public health crisis. The contagion has now killed more than 77,000 people in the U.S. and sickened at least 1.3 million others.
Sanders, who dropped out of the Democratic presidential race in April, said he had asked his “large email following” to reply with stories about what was happening to them during the pandemic.
“What we received from people by the thousands was literally so painful, I couldn’t read it. I mean, the stories are, ‘I lost my mother, I lost my job, I have no money, I can’t feed my kids, I don’t know what to do,’ mental illness taking place, enormous anxiety,” he said.
“People are hurting in a way we have never ever seen in our lifetimes,” added Sanders. “And to top it all, we have somebody so irresponsible, so not understanding the current reality as president of the United States, that it is just incredibly painful.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Elon Musk Threatens To Move Tesla Because He’s Not Allowed To Reopen During Pandemic

Tesla CEO Elon Musk threatened Saturday to pull the company ’ s factory and headquarters out of California in an escalating spat with local officials who have stopped the company from reopening its electric vehicle factory .
He wrote that whether the company keeps any manufacturing in Fremont depends on how Tesla is treated in the future .
Frankly , this is the final straw .
Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately .
If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all , it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left in CA .
— Elon Musk ( @ elonmusk ) May 9 , 2020 An order in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area forced Tesla to close the Fremont plant starting March 23 to help prevent the virus ’ spread , and it was extended until the end of May .
Public health experts say the orders have reduced the number of new coronavirus cases nationwide .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom allowed the Bay Area counties to continue restrictions while easing them in other areas of the state .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Department said it has been working with Tesla to develop a safety plan allowing the Fremont plant to reopen while protecting workers .
“ We look forward to coming to an agreement on an appropriate safety plan very soon , ” the statement said .
But the statement also said residents and businesses have made sacrifices to protect the health of people in the region .
“ It is our collective responsibility to move through the phases of reopening and loosening the restrictions of the shelter-in-place order in the safest way possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the department said .
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei wrote in a statement that she is growing concerned about the regional economy without provisions for major manufacturing to resume operations .
“ We know many essential businesses have proven they can successfully operate using strict safety and social distancing practices , ” the statement said .
Despite Musk ’ s threat , it would be costly and difficult to quickly shift production from Fremont to Texas or Nevada .
The Fremont facility , which was formerly run jointly by General Motors and Toyota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. vehicle assembly plant , and the company would lose critical production if it shut the plant down to move equipment .
“ Moving away from Fremont would take at least 12 to 18 months and could add risk to the manufacturing and logistics process in the meantime , ” Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives wrote in a note to investors .
But Musk plans another U.S. factory to increase output , possibly in Texas , and could move production once that plant is up and running .
The lack of production in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is a big financial strain .
On a conference call last month , Musk said the company only has assembly plants in Fremont and Shanghai , and the Fremont facility produces the majority of its vehicles .
He called the closure of Fremont a “ serious risk.
” The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people .
But it has killed more than 77,000 people in the U.S. , with the death toll rising .
Ives wrote that there ’ s now a high-stakes poker game between Musk and county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Now all eyes move to the courts and the response from Alameda County and potentially California state officials.
” Musk ’ s tweets come as competing automakers are starting to reopen factories in the U.S. Toyota will restart production on Monday , while General Motors , Ford and Fiat Chrysler all plan to restart their plants gradually on May 18 .
Tesla is the only major automaker with a factory in California .
Musk ’ s threats came after a series of bizarre tweets earlier this month including one that said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high .
Musk also posted parts of the U.S. national anthem and wrote that he would sell his houses and other possessions .

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk threatened Saturday to pull the company’s factory and headquarters out of California in an escalating spat with local officials who have stopped the company from reopening its electric vehicle factory.
On Twitter, Musk also threatened to sue over Alameda County Health Department coronavirus restrictions that have stopped Tesla from restarting production at its factory in Fremont south of San Francisco.
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“Frankly, this is the final straw,” he tweeted. “Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately.”
He wrote that whether the company keeps any manufacturing in Fremont depends on how Tesla is treated in the future.
Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020
Musk has been ranting about the stay-home order since the company’s April 29 first-quarter earnings were released, calling the restrictions fascist and urging governments to stop taking people’s freedom.
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An order in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area forced Tesla to close the Fremont plant starting March 23 to help prevent the virus’ spread, and it was extended until the end of May. Public health experts say the orders have reduced the number of new coronavirus cases nationwide. California Gov. Gavin Newsom allowed the Bay Area counties to continue restrictions while easing them in other areas of the state.
In a statement Saturday, Alameda County’s Health Department said it has been working with Tesla to develop a safety plan allowing the Fremont plant to reopen while protecting workers. “We look forward to coming to an agreement on an appropriate safety plan very soon,” the statement said.
But the statement also said residents and businesses have made sacrifices to protect the health of people in the region. “It is our collective responsibility to move through the phases of reopening and loosening the restrictions of the shelter-in-place order in the safest way possible, guided by data and science,” the department said.
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei wrote in a statement that she is growing concerned about the regional economy without provisions for major manufacturing to resume operations. “We know many essential businesses have proven they can successfully operate using strict safety and social distancing practices,” the statement said.
Emails seeking from Newsom have not been returned.
Despite Musk’s threat, it would be costly and difficult to quickly shift production from Fremont to Texas or Nevada. The Fremont facility, which was formerly run jointly by General Motors and Toyota, currently is Tesla’s only U.S. vehicle assembly plant, and the company would lose critical production if it shut the plant down to move equipment.
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“Moving away from Fremont would take at least 12 to 18 months and could add risk to the manufacturing and logistics process in the meantime,” Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives wrote in a note to investors.
But Musk plans another U.S. factory to increase output, possibly in Texas, and could move production once that plant is up and running.
The lack of production in Fremont cuts off Tesla’s revenue and is a big financial strain. On a conference call last month, Musk said the company only has assembly plants in Fremont and Shanghai, and the Fremont facility produces the majority of its vehicles. He called the closure of Fremont a “serious risk.”
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. But it has killed more than 77,000 people in the U.S., with the death toll rising.
Ives wrote that there’s now a high-stakes poker game between Musk and county officials — and Musk showed his cards. “Now all eyes move to the courts and the response from Alameda County and potentially California state officials.”
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Musk’s tweets come as competing automakers are starting to reopen factories in the U.S. Toyota will restart production on Monday, while General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler all plan to restart their plants gradually on May 18. Tesla is the only major automaker with a factory in California.
Musk’s threats came after a series of bizarre tweets earlier this month including one that said Tesla’s stock price was too high. Musk also posted parts of the U.S. national anthem and wrote that he would sell his houses and other possessions.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Anthony Fauci Enters 'Modified Quarantine' After 'Low Risk' COVID-19 Contact

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert and member of the White House coronavirus task force , says he ’ s going into a “ modified quarantine ” after coming into contact with an administration staff member who contracted COVID-19 , CNN reported Saturday .
Fauci told CNN that his contact with the staff member is considered “ low risk , ” meaning he did not come into close proximity with the infected person , who remains unnamed .
At least two members of the administration who have close contact with President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus .
Vice President Mike Pence ’ s press secretary , Katie Miller , tested positive for the virus on Friday .
One day earlier , the White House reported that a personal military valet who comes into contact with Trump and his family had also tested positive for COVID-19 .
While Fauci is only doing a “ modified quarantine , ” other high-level administration officials have had to go into a full quarantine .
Stephen Hahn , the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , went into a two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tested positive , an FDA spokesperson revealed to NPR on Saturday .
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield entered a similar two-week quarantine after making contact with a “ person at the White House ” who contracted COVID-19 .
The Trump administration has been criticized for not appearing to take the federal guidelines designed to prevent spread of the virus seriously .
In early April , Trump announced that new CDC guidelines suggest that people wear a mask when they are out in public .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and said he wouldn ’ t be wearing a mask .
Later that month , Pence didn ’ t wear a mask while touring the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and meeting with staff members and patients , apparently shirking the clinic ’ s policies requiring the protective gear .
Pence defended his decision to forgo the mask , saying that he and his regular contacts are tested regularly for COVID-19 .
In the aftermath of the criticism , Pence wore a mask during a tour of the General Motors plant days later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be working remotely from home and will be tested daily for the next 14 days .
He also said he might work from his office at the National Institutes of Health , where he would be the only one in office , the news network reported .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and member of the White House coronavirus task force, says he’s going into a “modified quarantine” after coming into contact with an administration staff member who contracted COVID-19, CNN reported Saturday.
Fauci told CNN that his contact with the staff member is considered “low risk,” meaning he did not come into close proximity with the infected person, who remains unnamed.
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At least two members of the administration who have close contact with President Donald Trump’s inner circle have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for the virus on Friday.
Miller is married to Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller.
One day earlier, the White House reported that a personal military valet who comes into contact with Trump and his family had also tested positive for COVID-19.
While Fauci is only doing a “modified quarantine,” other high-level administration officials have had to go into a full quarantine.
Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, went into a two-week self-quarantine after making contact with a person who tested positive, an FDA spokesperson revealed to NPR on Saturday.
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Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield entered a similar two-week quarantine after making contact with a “person at the White House” who contracted COVID-19.
Fauci and Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, will still appear in person before the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday, CBS News reported Sunday. Hahn and Redfield will reportedly appear remotely.
The Trump administration has been criticized for not appearing to take seriously the federal guidelines designed to prevent the spread of the virus.
In early April, Trump announced that new CDC guidelines suggest that people wear a mask when they are out in public. He also noted that the measure was “voluntary” and said he wouldn’t be wearing a mask.
Later that month, Pence didn’t wear a mask while touring the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and meeting with staff members and patients, apparently shirking the clinic’s policies requiring the protective gear.
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Pence defended his decision to forgo the mask, saying that he and his regular contacts are tested regularly for COVID-19. In the aftermath of the criticism, Pence wore a mask during a tour of the General Motors plant days later.
Fauci told CNN that he would be working remotely from home and will be tested daily for the next 14 days. He also said he might work from his office at the National Institutes of Health, where he would be the only one in office, the news network reported.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Vicious R.E.M. Music Video Parody Takes Down D.O.N. On COVID-19

A no-holds-barred “ music video ” parody of the 1991 R.E.M .
hit “ Losing My Religion ” skewers Donald Trump ’ s approach to COVID-19 in a bit entitled “ Losing My Civilians.
” The blast — created and posted by British media site Politics Joe — uses some of the same memorable images from the original R.E.M video , but twisted into today ’ s dark times , with a winged Vice President Mike Pence and a faux-tormented Trump .
The lyrics “ I thought that I heard you laughing , ” have been changed to “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president “ sings ” in the spoof : “ That ’ s me with corona.
” He adds : “ I don ’ t care if you get it .
Oh no , I ’ ve said too much.
” The video , posted Friday , was hit on Twitter , and grabbed several American fans .
Former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics , Walter Shaub , said simply : “ Wow.
” Some thought the subject was too grim for a cheeky parody .
The video is sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now-defunct Georgia band .
R.E.M.
’ s one-time bass player Mike Mills said early this year that the band — which broke up in 2011 after decades of success ― was “ exploring all legal avenues ” to prevent Trump from using their music at re-election campaign rallies .
Mills called the president a “ con man ” and a “ fraud.
” He has also called Trump an Adderal-deranged idiot .
We are aware that the President* @ realDonaldTrump continues to use our music at his rallies .
We are exploring all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if that ’ s not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man .
— Mike Mills 🌿 ( @ m_millsey ) January 15 , 2020 R.E.M.
’ s “ Everybody Hurts ” and “ Losing My Religion ” were played at a rally in Milwaukee in January before Trump took the stage to celebrate his administration ’ s assassination of Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani .
Trump also played “ Everybody Hurts ” over a video of dejected-looking Democrats at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump used R.E.M.
’ s “ It ’ s the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) ” in his 2016 election campaign .
Check out the Trump parody video up top .
The original video from R.E.M .
is below :

A no-holds-barred music video parody of the 1991 R.E.M. hit “Losing My Religion” skewers Donald Trump’s approach to COVID-19 in a bit entitled “Losing My Civilians.”
The blast — created and posted by British media site Politics Joe — uses some of the same memorable images from the original R.E.M video, but twisted into today’s dark times, with a winged Vice President Mike Pence and a faux-tormented Trump.
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The lyrics “I thought that I heard you laughing,” have been changed to “I thought that I heard you coughing.” The president “sings” in the spoof: “That’s me with corona.” He adds: “I don’t care if you get it. Oh no, I’ve said too much.”
Donald Trump x REM - Losing My Civilians pic.twitter.com/vFmKpbOErT — PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) May 8, 2020
The video, posted Friday, was hit on Twitter, and grabbed several American fans. Former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub, said simply: “wow!”
wow! — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) May 8, 2020
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Some thought the subject was too grim for a cheeky parody.
The video is sweet revenge for the former members of the now-defunct Georgia band. R.E.M.’s one-time bass player Mike Mills said early this year that the band — which broke up in 2011 after decades of success ― was “exploring all legal avenues” to prevent Trump from using their music at reelection campaign rallies. Mills called the president a “con man” and a “fraud.” He has also called Trump an Adderal-deranged idiot.
We are aware that the President* @realDonaldTrump continues to use our music at his rallies. We are exploring all legal avenues to prevent this, but if that’s not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man. — Mike Mills 🌿 (@m_millsey) January 15, 2020
R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” were played at a rally in Milwaukee in January before Trump took the stage to celebrate his administration’s assassination of Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani. Trump also played “Everybody Hurts” over a video of dejected-looking Democrats at his 2019 State of the Union address.
Trump used R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” in his 2016 election campaign.
Check out the Trump parody video up top. The original video from R.E.M. is below:
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Critics Lash Penn. GOP House Speaker After Questionable COVID-19 Post

Twitter critics piled on Pennsylvania ’ s Republican speaker of the House Saturday after he tweeted the percentage of people who died after contracting COVID-19 who had underlying health issues , as part of a “ Reopening Pennsylvania ” campaign .
The stats posted by Rep. Mike Turzai ended with urging the state to get back to business “ safely , compassionately ” and “ urgently.
” People on Twitter appeared to interpret the tweet in the worst possible way : that people who died after coronavirus were already sick , so it ’ s not a huge concern if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopens .
Turzai ’ s Chief of Staff Neal Lesher told HuffPost in an email that the tweet is “ simply reporting public health data that the Pennsylvania Department of Health should be reporting to the public , but is not.
” The data “ exposes the vulnerability of Pennsylvania ’ s most vulnerable population in nursing homes , personal care facilities , and assisted living facilities , ” he added .
“ For anyone to suggest that the Speaker does not care about our vulnerable populations is either playing politics or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , ” Lesher insisted .
The Pennsylvania death toll was already up 582 Saturday from the outdated Wednesday data Turzai used in the tweet .
Turzai unveiled a bill Thursday with extra protections for nursing homes , following the deaths of more than 2,300 residents in Pennsylvania nursing or personal care facilities .
But he ’ s also a staunch backer of reopening the state as quickly as possible , and has blasted as “ outrageous ” the possibility that schools might not open in the fall .
The underlying health conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet are relatively common among Americans , which several comments pointed out .
Other critics found it a strange message from a party associated with the “ pro-life ” movement .
“ Over 65 ?
” one meme asked slyly .
“ Consider becoming a MAGA martyr.
” Are you trying to say people with pre-existing conditions should die so you can go to Denny 's , Mike ?
Cause that 's what I 'm reading .
— Brian , the unforecasted storm ( @ TheBrianest ) May 9 , 2020 Please stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues & pre-existing conditions your life is somehow less important , and can be spent to save an economy .
— Nicole 🌼🌼🌼 ( @ idealskeptic ) May 9 , 2020 These people had health issues that they struggled with , and lived with !
, for many years until coronavirus killed them .
Not only do you dismiss their very lives , you imply that means somehow COVID isn ’ t a threat ?
So much for pro-life .
— Jeremy Wilcox ( @ jwilcox79 ) May 9 , 2020 Turzai announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election this year , and will instead pursue unspecified work in the private sector .

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Twitter critics piled on Pennsylvania’s Republican speaker of the House Saturday after he tweeted the percentage of people who died after contracting COVID-19 who had underlying health issues, as part of a “Reopening Pennsylvania” campaign.
The stats posted by Rep. Mike Turzai ended with urging the state to get back to business “safely, compassionately” and “urgently.”
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People on Twitter appeared to interpret the tweet in the worst possible way: that people who died after coronavirus were already sick, so it’s not a huge concern if more of them die as the state reopens.
Turzai’s Chief of Staff Neal Lesher told HuffPost in an email that the tweet is “simply reporting public health data that the Pennsylvania Department of Health should be reporting to the public, but is not.” The data “exposes the vulnerability of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable population in nursing homes, personal care facilities, and assisted living facilities,” he added.
“For anyone to suggest that the Speaker does not care about our vulnerable populations is either playing politics or not paying attention to what’s going on,” Lesher insisted.
The Pennsylvania death toll was already up 582 Saturday from the outdated Wednesday data Turzai used in the tweet.
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Turzai unveiled a bill Thursday with extra protections for nursing homes, following the deaths of more than 2,300 residents in Pennsylvania nursing or personal care facilities.
But he’s also a staunch backer of reopening the state as quickly as possible, and has blasted as “outrageous” the possibility that schools might not open in the fall.
The underlying health conditions cited by Turzai in his Reopening Pennsylvania tweet are relatively common among Americans, which several comments pointed out. Other critics found it a strange message from a party associated with the “pro-life” movement. “Over 65?” one meme asked slyly. “Consider becoming a MAGA martyr.”
1/3 of Pennsylvanians have high blood pressure. Should 1/3 be ready to die because you’re all incompetent? pic.twitter.com/oVicQobAKA — Alex Leo (@AlexMLeo) May 9, 2020
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Well that escalated quickly... pic.twitter.com/1GvCE6gWI7 — Iridescent Ashes (@IridescentAshes) May 9, 2020
Are you trying to say people with pre-existing conditions should die so you can go to Denny's, Mike?
Cause that's what I'm reading. — Brian, the unforecasted storm (@TheBrianest) May 9, 2020
Gotta love GOP eugenics. — Lucy Kwiatek (@MandHF) May 9, 2020
Please stop arguing that if you've got health issues & pre-existing conditions your life is somehow less important, and can be spent to save an economy. — Nicole 🌼🌼🌼 (@idealskeptic) May 9, 2020
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I fixed it for ya, Mike. pic.twitter.com/YUyVTvtF8S — Tell Gov Wolf: restore $ to PA Council on the Arts (@jwbussmann) May 9, 2020
So, you’re saying people with these issues are expendable? In PA, almost 4 million people have hypertension & over 1.5 million have diabetes.... — Vito Quaglia (@LombardiTime) May 9, 2020
These people had health issues that they struggled with, and lived with!, for many years until coronavirus killed them. Not only do you dismiss their very lives, you imply that means somehow COVID isn’t a threat?
So much for pro-life. — Jeremy Wilcox (@jwilcox79) May 9, 2020
Turzai announced in January that he is not seeking re-election this year, and will instead pursue unspecified work in the private sector.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Mike Pence ‘Plans To Be At White House’ Amid Reports He Is Self-Isolating

Vice President Mike Pence will not self-isolate after one of his aides tested positive for the coronavirus and plans to return to the White House on Monday , his office said in a statement amid reports that he had entered self-quarantine .
“ Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine , ” a Pence spokesperson told HuffPost .
“ Additionally , Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow.
” Both Bloomberg News and the Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s coronavirus task force , had been self-isolating after he was exposed to an aide that tested positive for the virus on Friday .
Pence spokesperson Katie Miller , whose husband , Stephen Miller , also works in the White House , confirmed she has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the virus .
The previous day , the White House confirmed a valet frequently in close contact with President Donald Trump tested positive , as well .
A source told Bloomberg News , which first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the vice president has been tested for the disease as recently as today .
A number of other Trump administration officials have entered self-isolation after being exposed to the coronavirus .
On Saturday , Anthony Fauci , the administration ’ s top infectious disease expert and a member of Trump ’ s coronavirus task force , said he would enter “ modified quarantine ” after coming in contact with a staffer who had COVID-19 .
The directors of both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control also announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being exposed .

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Vice President Mike Pence will not self-isolate after one of his aides tested positive for the coronavirus and plans to return to the White House on Monday, his office said in a statement amid reports that he had entered self-quarantine.
“Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine,” a Pence spokesperson told HuffPost. “Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow.”
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Both Bloomberg News and the Associated Press reported Sunday that Pence, who leads the nation’s coronavirus task force, had been self-isolating after he was exposed to an aide that tested positive for the virus on Friday.
Pence spokesperson Katie Miller, whose husband, Stephen Miller, also works in the White House, confirmed she has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The previous day, the White House confirmed a valet frequently in close contact with President Donald Trump tested positive, as well.
A source told Bloomberg News, which first reported Pence was self-isolating on Sunday, that the vice president has been tested for the disease as recently as today.
A number of other Trump administration officials have entered self-isolation after being exposed to the coronavirus.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Democrats Are Prepared To Lose The First Special Election Of The Pandemic Era

Win McNamee via Getty Images Rep. Katie Hill answers questions from reporters at the U.S. Capitol following her final speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Oct. 31 , 2019 .
It now looks like Democrats are going to lose the special election to replace her .
“ There are no two ways to slice it .
We are down right now , ” Smith ’ s campaign wrote in a fundraising email to supporters on Friday .
“ Republicans are turning in their ballots faster than Democrats .
We might just lose this toss-up election.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district , Republicans have greatly outnumbered Democrats in returning the ballots that were mailed to every voter in the district because of the pandemic .
Democrats in both D.C. and California believe the party will have a better chance of winning the seat in November , when the electorate will be larger and more focused on the president .
Still , there is a possibility Smith will be able to close the gap in the final days .
Democrats successfully fought to open a voting center in a minority-majority city in the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― a development that has infuriated Trump , who spread falsehoods about the decision on Saturday .
“ So in California , the Democrats , who fought like crazy to get all mail in only ballots , and succeeded , have just opened a voting booth in the most Democrat area in the State , ” Trump wrote on Twitter .
“ They are trying to steal another election .
It ’ s all rigged out there .
These votes must not count .
SCAM !
” A Smith loss would be tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Trump remains deeply unpopular .
But while the 2018 cycle saw a slew of close special elections that functioned as previews for the Democratic wave in that year ’ s midterm elections , operatives in both parties agree this election is more of a standalone event than a harbinger of things to come .
Garcia , a veteran and first-generation American , is the type of candidate Republicans often talk about recruiting but rarely convince to run .
While other swing districts in Southern California are located in Orange County , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 25th is inland , exurban and less educated , with agriculture , aerospace and defense as significant industries .
And Smith has made embarrassing missteps and struggled with fundraising in an ultra-expensive district .
Democrats were initially confident of holding onto the seat after Hill ’ s resignation following a messy scandal where nude photos of her were leaked on the internet and she admitted to an affair with a campaign staffer .
( She denied having an affair with a member of congressional staff , which would have violated House ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill , a bisexual , gun-owning , nonprofit founder and daughter of a policeman , was able to portray herself as part of a “ new generation of leaders , ” Smith has a more conventional political background as a staffer for the federal Department of Education , a local school board member and an assemblywoman .
Republicans have hammered that more traditional record , with Garcia and the National Republican Congressional Committee labeling her “ Sacramento Smith , ” attacking her for laying off teachers following the Great Recession and for failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature .
And while Hill was considered a good fit for the district when she ran , her favorability ratings there are now deeply unpopular .
National Democrats grimaced when Hill used leftover campaign funds to run an ad featuring herself speaking direct-to-camera and encouraging people to vote .
There are some disagreements between Democrats over how Smith found herself in a weakened position .
While most of the Democrats who ran in special elections during the 2018 cycle found themselves raking in online small-dollar money hand over fist , Smith ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcia ’ s .
While the DCCC has spent $ 3 million on ads , research and aid to the campaign , House Majority PAC ― a super PAC controlled by allies of Speaker Nancy Pelosi ― said this week it had decided not to spend and was focused on winning the seat in November .
HMP , as the group is known , spent about $ 1 million before the primary trying to keep Garcia from finishing in the top two of the all-party primary .
( The other major Republican in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lost to Hill in 2018 . )
Trump rapidly stepped up his involvement in the race on Saturday , focused on the opening of an in-person voting center in Lancaster ― a city where 58 % of residents are Black or Latino , according to census data .
In a slew of misleading Twitter missives on Saturday morning , he said votes cast at the center should be thrown out and falsely claimed the election was “ rigged.
” ( The mayor of Lancaster , a Republican who is supporting Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting center . )

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National Democrats are now prepared to lose in a special election to replace California Rep. Katie Hill in Congress, a stinging defeat in a district Democrats flipped less than two years ago and where the party’s candidate has relentlessly hammered President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Absentee ballot returns and internal polling from both parties indicate that Mike Garcia, a GOP former fighter pilot and defense industry executive running with Trump’s endorsement, is now a clear favorite over Assemblywoman Christy Smith.
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The race was set after Hill, a Democrat, resigned from Congress following reports she had an affair with a staffer – a messy scandal that still looms over the election and is hurting Smith’s chances of victory, Democrats said.
“There are no two ways to slice it. We are down right now,” Smith’s campaign wrote in a fundraising email to supporters on Friday. “Republicans are turning in their ballots faster than Democrats. We might just lose this toss-up election.”
Rep. Katie Hill answers questions from reporters at the U.S. Capitol following her final speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Oct. 31, 2019. It now looks like Democrats are going to lose the special election to replace her. Win McNamee via Getty Images
Even though Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district, Republicans have greatly outnumbered Democrats in returning the ballots that were mailed to every voter in the district because of the pandemic. Democrats in both D.C. and California believe the party will have a better chance of winning the seat in November, when the electorate will be larger and more focused on the president.
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Still, there is a possibility Smith will be able to close the gap in the final days. Democrats successfully fought to open a voting center in a minority-majority city in the district for the final days of the contest ― a development that has infuriated Trump, who spread falsehoods about the decision on Saturday.
“So in California, the Democrats, who fought like crazy to get all mail in only ballots, and succeeded, have just opened a voting booth in the most Democrat area in the State,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “They are trying to steal another election. It’s all rigged out there. These votes must not count. SCAM!”
A Smith loss would be tough to take for Democrats in a district where Trump remains deeply unpopular. But while the 2018 cycle saw a slew of close special elections that functioned as previews for the Democratic wave in that year’s midterm elections, operatives in both parties agree this election is more of a standalone event than a harbinger of things to come.
Garcia, a veteran and first-generation American, is the type of candidate Republicans often talk about recruiting but rarely convince to run. While other swing districts in Southern California are located in Orange County, more upscale and trending sharply toward Democrats, the 25th is inland, exurban and less educated, with agriculture, aerospace and defense as significant industries. And Smith has made embarrassing missteps and struggled with fundraising in an ultra-expensive district.
Democrats were initially confident of holding onto the seat after Hill’s resignation following a messy scandal where nude photos of her were leaked on the internet and she admitted to an affair with a campaign staffer. (She denied having an affair with a member of congressional staff, which would have violated House ethics rules.)
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Hill and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quickly backed Smith to replace her. Smith finished first in the all-party jungle primary, earning 36 percent of the vote. (Her main Democratic competition, Young Turks host Cenk Uygur, earned just 6 percent.)
But while the 32-year-old Hill, a bisexual, gun-owning, nonprofit founder and daughter of a policeman, was able to portray herself as part of a “new generation of leaders,” Smith has a more conventional political background as a staffer for the federal Department of Education, a local school board member and an assemblywoman.
Republicans have hammered that more traditional record, with Garcia and the National Republican Congressional Committee labeling her “Sacramento Smith,” attacking her for laying off teachers following the Great Recession and for failing to hold hearings on pandemic preparedness in the legislature.
And while Hill was considered a good fit for the district when she ran, her favorability ratings there are now deeply unpopular. National Democrats grimaced when Hill used leftover campaign funds to run an ad featuring herself speaking direct-to-camera and encouraging people to vote.
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There are some disagreements between Democrats over how Smith found herself in a weakened position. While most of the Democrats who ran in special elections during the 2018 cycle found themselves raking in online small-dollar money hand over fist, Smith’s fundraising has been roughly parallel with Garcia’s.
After a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee briefing on the race in February, several California House Democrats said they planned to call Smith to push her to raise more cash, according to a Democratic source who attended the briefing.
While the DCCC has spent $3 million on ads, research and aid to the campaign, House Majority PAC ― a super PAC controlled by allies of Speaker Nancy Pelosi ― said this week it had decided not to spend and was focused on winning the seat in November. HMP, as the group is known, spent about $1 million before the primary trying to keep Garcia from finishing in the top two of the all-party primary. (The other major Republican in the race was former Rep. Steve Knight, who lost to Hill in 2018.)
Some Democrats in Southern California have grumbled that the money would’ve been better spent boosting Smith’s name identification in a district where it can be difficult to generate news media coverage ― the Los Angeles media market includes parts of 28 congressional districts.
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Smith has tried to keep the focus on Garcia’s ties to Trump, and on Trump’s poor response to the coronavirus.
“Donald Trump’s record on coronavirus?” a narrator asks in one of Smith’s ads. “Delays, dishonesty, failure. And Mike Garcia attacks everyone who doesn’t agree with Trump.”
Trump rapidly stepped up his involvement in the race on Saturday, focused on the opening of an in-person voting center in Lancaster ― a city where 58% of residents are Black or Latino, according to census data. In a slew of misleading Twitter missives on Saturday morning, he said votes cast at the center should be thrown out and falsely claimed the election was “rigged.” (The mayor of Lancaster, a Republican who is supporting Garcia, supported the decision to open the voting center.)
Garcia and the NRCC have echoed those comments. “Even after every voter received a ballot, they are desperate and trying to change the rules to steal an election,” Garcia wrote on Twitter. “We can’t let them succeed!!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Steve Mnuchin: Actual U.S. Unemployment Rate 'Could Be' Close To 25%

The Labor Department reported this week that the unemployment rate has hit a record 14.7 % , but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that the actual rate could be closer to 25 % .
The latter figure would match the joblessness rate during the Great Depression , which is estimated to have peaked at 24.9 % in 1933 .
On “ Fox News Sunday , ” host Chris Wallace asked Mnuchin about the Labor Department ’ s report , which excluded the 7 million jobs lost since April 18 , the millions of people not currently looking for work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace noted that a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the rate actually hit 22.8 % in April .
That report accounted for workers not looking for jobs and the underemployed ; however , it did not include the millions of jobs lost after mid-April .
“ Chris , we could be , ” Mnuchin said .
“ But let me just emphasize : Unlike the Great Depression where you had economic issues that led to this , we closed down the economy .
So it wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy that in half of the workforce , half the people didn ’ t work.
” He continued : “ That ’ s why we ’ re very focused on rebuilding this economy and getting back to where it was .
This is no fault of American business .
This no fault of American workers .
This is the result of a virus .
... You are correct .
The reported numbers are probably going to get worse before they get better.
” White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CBS ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview that aired Sunday that the unemployment rate could climb to “ north ” of 20 % because of the coronavirus pandemic , which has caused businesses across the country to shut down .
“ The fact is we ’ re burning up initial claims for unemployment insurance right now at a rate of about 3 million a week running through the rest of the month , ” he said .
President Donald Trump and some Republican governors have been pushing to rapidly reopen the U.S. economy , bucking some of the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced last month .
Michael Osterholm , the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota , said Sunday that social distancing measures should eventually loosen , but not until certain criteria are met .
“ We can ’ t stay locked down for 18 months , ” he told NBC ’ s “ Meet The Press.
” “ But at the same time , when you have cases increasing , deaths increasing , health care workers without adequate protective equipment and we ’ re suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal lives ― that ’ s not a safe place to be.
” As of Sunday , there are more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , in the U.S. , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
At least 78,800 people nationwide have died .
WATCH : Michael Osterholm , Director of @ CIDRAP says `` we ca n't stay locked down for 18 months , '' but ca n't suddenly go `` back to what was once our normal lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` We ca n't do that and not expect to see a major increase in cases . ''
pic.twitter.com/Y7j3jb34E4 — Meet the Press ( @ MeetThePress ) May 10 , 2020

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The Labor Department reported this week that the unemployment rate has hit a record 14.7%, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that the actual rate could be closer to 25%.
The latter figure would match the joblessness rate during the Great Depression, which is estimated to have peaked at 24.9% in 1933.
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On “Fox News Sunday,” host Chris Wallace asked Mnuchin about the Labor Department’s report, which excluded the 7 million jobs lost since April 18, the millions of people not currently looking for work, and people who are underemployed.
Wallace noted that a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the rate actually hit 22.8% in April. That report accounted for workers not looking for jobs and the underemployed; however, it did not include the millions of jobs lost after mid-April.
“Aren’t we talking close to 25% at this point, which is Great Depression neighborhood?” Wallace asked.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
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“Chris, we could be,” Mnuchin said. “But let me just emphasize: Unlike the Great Depression where you had economic issues that led to this, we closed down the economy. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if you closed down the economy that in half of the workforce, half the people didn’t work.”
He continued: “That’s why we’re very focused on rebuilding this economy and getting back to where it was. This is no fault of American business. This no fault of American workers. This is the result of a virus. ... You are correct. The reported numbers are probably going to get worse before they get better.”
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CBS’ “Face The Nation” in an interview that aired Sunday that the unemployment rate could climb to “north” of 20% because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused businesses across the country to shut down.
“The fact is we’re burning up initial claims for unemployment insurance right now at a rate of about 3 million a week running through the rest of the month,” he said.
NEWS: @WhiteHouse Economic Adviser projects #unemployment rate could climb to “north” of 20% by next month due to #COVID19
See more of Hassett's interview on @facethenation at 10:30 EST pic.twitter.com/6Qv4DeedEn — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 10, 2020
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President Donald Trump and some Republican governors have been pushing to rapidly reopen the U.S. economy, bucking some of the federal guidelines for doing so that Trump himself announced last month.
Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said Sunday that social distancing measures should eventually loosen, but not until certain criteria are met.
“We can’t stay locked down for 18 months,” he told NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “But at the same time, when you have cases increasing, deaths increasing, health care workers without adequate protective equipment and we’re suddenly going back to what was once our normal lives ― that’s not a safe place to be.”
“We can’t do that and not expect to see a major increase in cases,” he added.
As of Sunday, there are more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 78,800 people nationwide have died.
WATCH: Michael Osterholm, Director of @CIDRAP says "we can't stay locked down for 18 months," but can't suddenly go "back to what was once our normal lives." #MTP #IfItsSunday@Mtosterholm: "We can't do that and not expect to see a major increase in cases." pic.twitter.com/Y7j3jb34E4 — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) May 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Here's Why The Coronavirus Death Toll Is Likely Underreported

There was a massive testing shortage early on in the crisis .
We know the virus does not affect everyone the same way .
Some people can become infected and pass it on without exhibiting any symptoms .
The first confirmed case in the U.S. was a man who had a fever and a dry cough , but not the shortness of breath that has been widely reported .
At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic , the Centers for Disease Control held the nation ’ s health care system on a tight leash .
In late January and early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the testing criteria patients needed to meet to certain symptoms paired with recent travel to China ( or contact with someone who recently traveled there ) .
Testing was expanded at the end of February to people who ’ d recently been to other places , including Italy and Japan , but you generally still needed to have certain symptoms , like a fever .
Tests were doled out so sparingly in part because there were so few of them early on .
The agency botched the process of a nationwide rollout by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the existing designs other countries were using .
The CDC ’ s test was flawed , and fixing it took precious weeks while the agency refused to permit labs to find other solutions .
With so few tests , the agency essentially had to ration them .
There are certainly more people who got sick with COVID-19 toward the beginning of the crisis than are part of the official record , and some of them probably died .
Just how many more is unclear .
We don ’ t know exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it went .
Precisely how long the virus has been spreading in the United States and what paths it has taken are also unknown factors .
The country saw its first confirmed case in late January , when a Washington state man who had returned from visiting family in China sought urgent care .
New York state got its first confirmed case over a month later , on March 1 .
Residents were initially told the virus migrated to them from China , too , but researchers out of Northeastern University now say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be difficult to decide how to fill out a death certificate when someone with the virus had a major underlying illness , and states aren ’ t all doing it the same way .
“ If you have somebody who dies of a heart attack and tests positive for COVID-19 , is the death due to COVID-19 ?
Or is the death due to the heart attack , and the COVID-19 was completely just a bystander ?
” Klein said .
“ If you have somebody who is unwell already , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , how do you measure that impact ?
” With so many variables , public health experts say that looking at “ excess deaths ” may actually be the key to understanding the virus ’ true impact .
Based on historical data and population trends , we can generally predict how many people are expected to die over time .
Subtracting those “ expected deaths ” from the number of actual deaths gives you “ excess deaths.
” Epidemiologists believe this metric , measured on a weekly basis , “ may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of assessing the scale of the pandemic and formulating lessons to be learned , ” according to an article in the medical journal The Lancet .

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President Donald Trump thinks the coronavirus death toll figures are being inflated, with officials around him nodding in agreement, Axios reported this week. The outlet suggested the president may soon launch a sustained public attack on the numbers as the 2020 election gets closer.
Over at Fox News, political commentator Sean Hannity picked up a video casting heavy doubt on the figures. In the footage, produced by conservative activist group Project Veritas, several funeral home directors are shown opining that hospitals are defrauding the government by overreporting deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
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Fueling the fire, conspiracy theories and misinformation have permeated social media, falsely suggesting the pandemic was manufactured for the purpose of controlling people.
But the crisis is devastatingly real. And far from being exaggerated, experts believe the true number of people who have died from COVID-19 is actually higher than what’s been reported ― more than 80,000 in the U.S. so far.
Here are some reasons why the coronavirus death toll is most likely an undercount — not an overcount.
There was a massive testing shortage early on in the crisis.
We know the virus does not affect everyone the same way. Some people can become infected and pass it on without exhibiting any symptoms. The first confirmed case in the U.S. was a man who had a fever and a dry cough, but not the shortness of breath that has been widely reported.
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At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held the nation’s health care system on a tight leash. In late January and early February, the agency was severely limiting the testing criteria patients needed to meet to certain symptoms paired with recent travel to China (or contact with someone who recently traveled there). Testing was expanded at the end of February to people who’d recently been to other places, including Italy and Japan, but you generally still needed to have certain symptoms, like a fever.
Tests were doled out so sparingly in part because there were so few of them early on. The agency botched the process of a nationwide rollout by designing its own test instead of using one of the existing designs other countries were using. The CDC’s test was flawed, and fixing it took precious weeks while the agency refused to permit labs to find other solutions.
With so few tests, the agency essentially had to ration them. There are certainly more people who got sick with COVID-19 toward the beginning of the crisis than are part of the official record, and some of them probably died. Just how many more is unclear.
We don’t know exactly when the virus arrived here and where it went.
Precisely how long the virus has been spreading in the United States and what paths it has taken are also unknown factors. The country saw its first confirmed case in late January, when a Washington state man who had returned from visiting family in China sought urgent care. New York state got its first confirmed case over a month later, on March 1. Residents were initially told the virus migrated to them from China, too, but researchers out of Northeastern University now say it came over from Europe.
While restrictions on travel from China went into place in late January, it was several weeks before the Trump administration blocked travel from Europe, where the virus was wreaking havoc on Italy.
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has estimated that more than 10,000 residents may have contracted the disease by the time his state confirmed its first official case. A CDC analysis released Monday suggested the virus’ death toll in New York City is likely several thousands higher than what has been reported.
“There are probably lots of unreported deaths in March in the big cities in the northeast and maybe Southern California,” Dr. Eili Klein, a professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins, told HuffPost.
“There are probably very, very few unreported deaths in other parts of the country,” he added.
It can be difficult to decide how to fill out a death certificate when someone with the virus had a major underlying illness, and states aren’t all doing it the same way.
“If you have somebody who dies of a heart attack and tests positive for COVID-19, is the death due to COVID-19? Or is the death due to the heart attack, and the COVID-19 was completely just a bystander?” Klein said. “If you have somebody who is unwell already, and this precipitates a more rapid decline, you know, how do you measure that impact?”
What exactly killed a patient can sometimes be a tough question for doctors and medical examiners in charge of filling out the certificates in normal times. In the current crisis, figuring out how many people have died because of the virus is complicated by inconsistent reporting practices between the states.
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“Those numbers are only as good as the death certificates that they’re based on. And that depends upon the people who are filling them out,” Dr. James Gill, Connecticut’s chief medical examiner and vice president of the National Association of Medical Examiners told NBC News.
Florida’s health department, for example, has only been adding confirmed COVID-19 cases to its death toll. Medical examiners there have been keeping more detailed records, but the state has been trying to keep them under wraps. Meanwhile, New York’s health department began adding in presumed COVID-19 deaths last month as the number of people dying at home skyrocketed.
Even though testing capability has improved vastly across the country since February, tests are prioritized for the living ― meaning that it can be difficult to confirm a patient had COVID-19 after their death.
The CDC’s tally can be influenced by the Trump administration.
As a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC falls under the purview of the executive branch. A May 13 report from the Daily Beast suggested that Trump and some members of his coronavirus task force are pushing CDC officials to change how the agency works with states to report COVID-19 deaths. The changes could lead to fewer deaths than the agency previously reported by excluding those without confirmed lab results, according to five officials with knowledge of the matter cited in the report.
But there are other organizations keeping track of COVID-19 numbers.
Many news outlets have been publishing coronavirus statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University, which uses its own data along with data from the Red Cross, the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also reliable is The New York Times’ tally, compiled from state and local agencies and hospitals, according to the Yale School of Public Health. Both update more than once per day.
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With so many variables, public health experts say that looking at “excess deaths” may actually be the key to understanding the virus’ true impact.
Based on historical data and population trends, we can generally predict how many people are expected to die over time. Subtracting those “expected deaths” from the number of actual deaths gives you “excess deaths.” Epidemiologists believe this metric, measured on a weekly basis, “may be the most objective and comparable way of assessing the scale of the pandemic and formulating lessons to be learned,” according to an article in the medical journal The Lancet.
The CDC produces data on excess deaths, highlighting how many are COVID-19 cases in a series of interactive charts on its website. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the U.S. has logged thousands of excess deaths over the past several weeks, and data is still being collected.
In many states, the number of recorded COVID-19 deaths is actually smaller than the number of excess deaths from any other cause during certain weeks. New Jersey documented around 5,500 excess deaths over a four-week span between March and April, but only about 2,200 of them were categorized as COVID-19 deaths, according to a New York Times analysis. That leaves a gap of some 3,300 deaths.
Several factors could be at play. People may be scared about going into hospitals during the crisis, meaning that they may put off seeking potentially lifesaving care. Hospital resources, including care for non-COVID-19 conditions, may also be stretched too thin. In New York City, the number of people dying at home is six times higher than normal, according to a mid-April ProPublica report. In Detroit, the number is almost four times higher.
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“Is that because people were getting infected and the disease is causing more problems?” Klein asked. “Or was that because people were not going to the hospital and then dying at home or calling EMS late? It’s really hard to disentangle those two questions.”
COVID-19 has been known to have strange effects on the body, such as blood clotting and dangerously low oxygen levels, and patients can go from feeling relatively fine to deteriorating with alarming speed. Higher rates of suicide, domestic violence and substance overdoses in these anxious times may also explain some of the gap. Adding to the puzzle is the likelihood that, with so many Americans staying home, some causes of death, such as traffic accidents, may have plummeted.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Trump Adviser: It's 'Scary To Go To Work' As Coronavirus Spreads Through White House

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said it is “ scary to go to work ” in the White House after several officials were diagnosed with COVID-19 and several others entered self-quarantine to avoid spreading coronavirus .
“ It is scary to go to work , ” Hassett said on “ Face the Nation ” on Sunday .
“ I think that I ’ d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing .
But , you know , it ’ s the time when people have to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two members of the Trump administration who typically have close contact with the president have tested positive for coronavirus .
On Thursday , the White House revealed that a military valet frequently in contact with President Donald Trump and his family had tested positive for the virus , stoking concerns that the president himself may have been exposed .
On Friday , Katie Miller , a spokesperson for Vice President Mike Pence , tested positive for the virus as well .
The White House said Trump tested negative for the virus after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An administration official told CNN that it has confirmed that everyone who came in contact with Katie Miller , including senior White House adviser Stephen Miller , her husband , tested negative .
On Saturday , Anthony Fauci , the administration ’ s top infectious disease expert and a member of Trump ’ s coronavirus task force , said he would enter “ modified quarantine ” after coming in contact with a staffer who had COVID-19 .
The directors of both the Food and Administration and the Centers for Disease Control announced they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being exposed .
Multiple outlets have reported that Trump responded angrily when officials warned him about his exposure to the coronavirus .
A source told CNN the president was upset when he was told that his valet tested positive .
An administration official told NBC that Trump was “ lava level mad ” when he heard the news , and the official said Trump claimed his staff isn ’ t doing enough to protect him .
Trump ’ s reported private concerns about his personal health don ’ t match his public statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the president and his conservative allies have urged states to defy public health guidelines and swiftly reopen businesses amid the pandemic .
He has encouraged protests ― some of them armed ― meant to force governors to scrap their social distancing guidelines , and his administration recently suppressed a CDC report designed to help states determine when to safely reopen businesses , according to the Associated Press .

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White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said it is “scary to go to work” in the White House after several officials were diagnosed with COVID-19 and several others entered self-quarantine to avoid spreading coronavirus.
“It is scary to go to work,” Hassett said on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing. But, you know, it’s the time when people have to step up and serve their country.”
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WATCH: "It is scary to go to work," @WhiteHouse Economic adviser Kevin Hassett told @margbrennan.
This week a White House staffer and an aide to @VP Pence tested positive for #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/e2ncWmluWT — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 10, 2020
At least two members of the Trump administration who typically have close contact with the president have tested positive for coronavirus. On Thursday, the White House revealed that a military valet frequently in contact with President Donald Trump and his family had tested positive for the virus, stoking concerns that the president himself may have been exposed. On Friday, Katie Miller, a spokesperson for Vice President Mike Pence, tested positive for the virus as well.
The White House said Trump tested negative for the virus after his valet’s positive test. An administration official told CNN that it has confirmed that everyone who came in contact with Katie Miller, including senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, her husband, tested negative.
On Saturday, Anthony Fauci, the administration’s top infectious disease expert and a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, said he would enter “modified quarantine” after coming in contact with a staffer who had COVID-19. The directors of both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control announced they would begin two-week quarantines on Saturday after being exposed.
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Multiple outlets have reported that Trump responded angrily when officials warned him about his exposure to the coronavirus. A source told CNN the president was upset when he was told that his valet tested positive. An administration official told NBC that Trump was “lava level mad” when he heard the news, and the official said Trump claimed his staff isn’t doing enough to protect him.
Trump’s reported private concerns about his personal health don’t match his public statements about the virus. Over the last month, the president and his conservative allies have urged states to defy public health guidelines and swiftly reopen businesses amid the pandemic. He has encouraged protests ― some of them armed ― meant to force governors to scrap their social distancing guidelines, and his administration recently suppressed a CDC report designed to help states determine when to safely reopen businesses, according to The Associated Press.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--For Full-Time RVers, Sheltering In Place Is Not An Option

Denny Winkowski and his wife , Veronica Ibañes , were still asleep on the morning of March 20 when they heard a knock on the door of their RV in Marfa , Texas .
It was a city official , telling them they had to vacate the small RV park where they had decided to stay through the state ’ s shelter-in-place order .
The county had just made the decision to close down all RV parks and hotels , and the couple had 72 hours to pack up and leave .
There are only 1,700 residents in Marfa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want transient residents coming in and out , using its tiny grocery stores and other local businesses .
But Denny and Veronica , who have lived full-time in their RV for the last seven years , felt like they ’ d hit a dead end .
They are just one example of the many full-time RVer families who have had to scramble for a place to settle down somewhat indefinitely as the coronavirus pandemic puts city after city on lockdown across the United States .
Those lockdowns have resulted in businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” being temporarily shuttered ― including , in many cases , the state parks where families like Denny and Veronica could set up shop .
They were able to settle briefly at the RV park in Medina Lake ― only because of the kindness of the park management for letting them extend their stay .
Otherwise , they would have been forced out again , sleeping on the side of the road or at a Walmart parking lot without access to a sewage system , electrical hookups , fuel for propane , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now en route to North Carolina .
The two have lived on the road for about five and a half years , Jean said .
They were staying at an RV park in Arizona when the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S. , so they decided to cut their time in the Southwest short and head up to stay near their kids and grandkids in Idaho .
“ Typically , we take our time , maybe a couple weeks , getting from Arizona to Idaho , ” Jean said .
But they wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road as little as possible and get there as soon as they could .
They attempted to stay in a casino parking lot just north of Las Vegas but were met with blockades .
They considered themselves lucky to find a large dirt parking lot on the side of the freeway to sleep instead .
They drove all day the next day , making it to southern Idaho around 6 p.m. , where they managed to find an Elks Lodge just before the facility stopped letting people in .
“ We were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not have been able to make arrangements to do so , ” Jean said .
“ We were informed that they were being shut down that evening , as an ‘ essential business only ’ order was going into effect.
” “ We live a pretty normal life , with the exception of choosing to live and work in a home on wheels , ” Jean said .
“ We are self-contained and can social distance very easily .
Like many people , we were just looking for a safe place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , and it seems our needs have been overlooked or forgotten by the authorities setting the guidelines.
” Because of this , many RV residents were eager to follow the CDC guidelines and stick to their RVs and RV parks , which are usually secluded from neighboring cities and towns , and certainly have more than six feet of distance from one vehicle to another .
Escapees has had to jump in and help its members find suitable short- and long-term solutions .
The organization owns one RV park in New Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests and said that , per their interpretation of state mandate , it had to be at 25 % occupancy .
At the time , the park was at 100 % percent capacity , with some tenants there for the long term .
“ We were trying to encourage people to stay in place , but [ the state official ] was trying to get us to kick out 75 % or our guests , ” Austin said .
“ We were able to make quick contact with that police department and negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Denny Winkowski and his wife, Veronica Ibañes, were still asleep on the morning of March 20 when they heard a knock on the door of their RV in Marfa, Texas. It was a city official, telling them they had to vacate the small RV park where they had decided to stay through the state’s shelter-in-place order. The county had just made the decision to close down all RV parks and hotels, and the couple had 72 hours to pack up and leave.
“They abruptly displaced us,” Winkowski said. “But we sort of expected it. Understandably, they have to protect their own.”
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There are only 1,700 residents in Marfa, and officials in the small community didn’t want transient residents coming in and out, using its tiny grocery stores and other local businesses. But Denny and Veronica, who have lived full-time in their RV for the last seven years, felt like they’d hit a dead end.
They are just one example of the many full-time RVer families who have had to scramble for a place to settle down somewhat indefinitely as the coronavirus pandemic puts city after city on lockdown across the United States. Those lockdowns have resulted in businesses that aren’t considered “essential” being temporarily shuttered ― including, in many cases, the state parks where families like Denny and Veronica could set up shop.
Denny Winkowski and Veronica Ibañes by their RV at Carolina Landing RV Resort in Fair Play, South Carolina, on May. The couple, who have lived and worked full time from an RV since 2013, have run into difficulty while attempting to adhere to shelter-in-place protocols. Casey Sykes for HuffPost
Through a support network of other full-time RVers, Winkowski and Ibañes learned of an RV park in Medina Lake, a six-hour drive from Marfa, and headed out right away. They stayed near a lake on the Texas-Mexico border for a night en route.
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They were able to settle briefly at the RV park in Medina Lake ― only because of the kindness of the park management for letting them extend their stay. Otherwise, they would have been forced out again, sleeping on the side of the road or at a Walmart parking lot without access to a sewage system, electrical hookups, fuel for propane, or dumping sites for water. They are now en route to North Carolina.
“It was dicey,” Winkowski said. “People are being displaced, and then displaced again.”
State and federal parks have been deemed “nonessential” to maintain social distancing and shelter-in-place measures ― but the couple says that they, and families like them, aren’t using the parks for a vacation.
“As full-time RVers, our RV is our only home,” said Jean Mathes, who lives on wheels with her husband, Duane, full time.
The two have lived on the road for about five and a half years, Jean said. They were staying at an RV park in Arizona when the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S., so they decided to cut their time in the Southwest short and head up to stay near their kids and grandkids in Idaho.
Jean and Duane Mathes with their RV home at the Hi Valley RV Park in Eagle, Idaho. Jean and Duane made it to their reservation at Hi Valley but found many RV parks closed on their way to Idaho from Arizona. Kyle Green for HuffPost
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“Typically, we take our time, maybe a couple weeks, getting from Arizona to Idaho,” Jean said. But they wanted to do their best to be on the road as little as possible and get there as soon as they could.
They attempted to stay in a casino parking lot just north of Las Vegas but were met with blockades. They considered themselves lucky to find a large dirt parking lot on the side of the freeway to sleep instead. They drove all day the next day, making it to southern Idaho around 6 p.m., where they managed to find an Elks Lodge just before the facility stopped letting people in.
“We were able to stay, but anyone after us would not have been able to make arrangements to do so,” Jean said. “We were informed that they were being shut down that evening, as an ‘essential business only’ order was going into effect.”
“We were just looking for a safe place to stay at home and ride out the pandemic, and it seems our needs have been overlooked or forgotten by the authorities.” - Jean Mathes, full-time RVer
They’re now safely in Idaho at a private RV park that has remained open to visitors and where they plan on staying at least through the early summer.
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But like the Winkowskis, they’re frustrated that their best attempts to responsibly shelter in place were met with such frustrating obstacles.
“We live a pretty normal life, with the exception of choosing to live and work in a home on wheels,” Jean said. “We are self-contained and can social distance very easily. Like many people, we were just looking for a safe place to stay at home and ride out the pandemic, and it seems our needs have been overlooked or forgotten by the authorities setting the guidelines.”
Many full-time RVers are retirees and particularly susceptible to contracting COVID-19, said Georgianne Austin, communications director for Escapees, an RVer support organization.
Because of this, many RV residents were eager to follow the CDC guidelines and stick to their RVs and RV parks, which are usually secluded from neighboring cities and towns, and certainly have more than six feet of distance from one vehicle to another.
But instead, they’ve been continually punted all over the country.
“They’re being pushed out onto the roads, increasing the likelihood of exposure and exposing others,” said Austin. “It’s a tough situation and terrifying reality.”
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Jean and Duane Mathes take a walk through the Hi Valley RV Park in Eagle, Idaho. Kyle Green for HuffPost
Escapees has had to jump in and help its members find suitable short- and long-term solutions. The organization owns one RV park in New Mexico, where local law enforcement officials approached guests and said that, per their interpretation of the county mandate, it had to be at 25% occupancy. At the time, the park was at 100% percent capacity, with some tenants there for the long-term.
“We were trying to encourage people to stay in place, but [the state official] was trying to get us to kick out 75% or our guests,” Austin said. “We were able to make quick contact with that police department and negotiate with them and find a compromise.”
In the end, the visitors already on site were able to stay, but future reservations had to be canceled. That was great for those visitors ― but not for the many who were en route for their long-term stays.
Above all, full-time RVers want to be able to shelter in place for their safety and the safety of everyone else ― and that means city and state officials should deem RV parks essential.
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“They don’t realize the magnitude of people who live in this alternative lifestyle,” Winkowski said.
“By displacing us, we’re putting people in harm’s way, and we’re in harm’s way.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said law enforcement in New Mexico were acting on a state mandate to clear RVers from state parks. It was a county mandate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--Pence On Michael Flynn's Possible Return To Admin: 'I'd Be Happy’ To See Him Again

Vice President Mike Pence said he would be “ happy to see Michael Flynn again ” when asked during an interview Friday with Axios if he would be fine with the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general returning to work in the government .
To the shock of legal experts nationwide , the Justice Department on Thursday dropped charges against Flynn , a former White House national security adviser who previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia .
Prior to the Justice Department dropping the charges , President Donald Trump had hinted at potentially pardoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that he would “ certainly consider ” bringing Flynn back into his administration .
Asked Friday if he would be okay with such a move , Pence appeared to say yes .
“ I think Gen. Michael Flynn is an American patriot , ” the vice president said .
“ He served this country with great distinction in uniform .
And now I believe a decision by the Justice Department lays bare what was clearly prosecutorial abuse .
And for my part , I ’ d be happy to see Michael Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak .
Flynn initially said he had not discussed possible changes to U.S. foreign policy toward Russia with Kislyak prior to Trump ’ s inauguration .
Flynn later admitted that he had .
A day after Flynn ’ s guilty plea , Trump tweeted that he “ had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI.
” Flynn has tried to withdraw his guilty plea in recent months , claiming that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI agents who had questioned him .
A federal judge rejected that argument in December .
The Justice Department inspector general wrote in a report that same month that the FBI has sufficient evidence to investigate Flynn as part of its probe into the Trump campaign ’ s ties to Russia .
But in a court filing last week , Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea said that even if Flynn lied about his conversations with Kislyak , Flynn ’ s lies were irrelevant to the FBI ’ s probe into his Russia contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was “ more inclined ” to believe Flynn unintentionally misled him in 2017 about communications with Kislyak .

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Vice President Mike Pence said he would be “happy to see Michael Flynn again” when asked during an interview Friday with Axios if he would be fine with the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general returning to work in the government.
To the shock of legal experts nationwide, the Justice Department on Thursday dropped charges against Flynn, a former White House national security adviser who previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
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Prior to the Justice Department dropping the charges, President Donald Trump had hinted at potentially pardoning Flynn. The president said late last month that he would “certainly consider” bringing Flynn back into his administration.
Asked Friday if he would be okay with such a move, Pence appeared to say yes.
“I think Gen. Michael Flynn is an American patriot,” the vice president said. “He served this country with great distinction in uniform. And now I believe a decision by the Justice Department lays bare what was clearly prosecutorial abuse. And for my part, I’d be happy to see Michael Flynn again.”
A representative for Pence did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. Flynn initially said he had not discussed possible changes to U.S. foreign policy toward Russia with Kislyak prior to Trump’s inauguration. Flynn later admitted that he had.
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A day after Flynn’s guilty plea, Trump tweeted that he “had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI.”
Flynn has tried to withdraw his guilty plea in recent months, claiming that he had been illegally entrapped by the FBI agents who had questioned him. A federal judge rejected that argument in December. The Justice Department inspector general wrote in a report that same month that the FBI has sufficient evidence to investigate Flynn as part of its probe into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.
But in a court filing last week, Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea said that even if Flynn lied about his conversations with Kislyak, Flynn’s lies were irrelevant to the FBI’s probe into his Russia contacts.
Pence told reporters last month that he was “more inclined” to believe Flynn unintentionally misled him in 2017 about communications with Kislyak.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Vicious R.E.M. Music Video Parody Takes Down Trump On COVID-19

A no-holds-barred music video parody of the 1991 R.E.M .
hit “ Losing My Religion ” skewers Donald Trump ’ s approach to COVID-19 in a bit entitled “ Losing My Civilians.
” The blast — created and posted by British media site Politics Joe — uses some of the same memorable images from the original R.E.M video , but twisted into today ’ s dark times , with a winged Vice President Mike Pence and a faux-tormented Trump .
The lyrics “ I thought that I heard you laughing , ” have been changed to “ I thought that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ sings ” in the spoof : “ That ’ s me with corona.
” He adds : “ I don ’ t care if you get it .
Oh no , I ’ ve said too much.
” The video , posted Friday , was hit on Twitter , and grabbed several American fans .
Former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics , Walter Shaub , said simply : “ wow !
” Some thought the subject was too grim for a cheeky parody .
The video is sweet revenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia band .
R.E.M.
’ s one-time bass player Mike Mills said early this year that the band — which broke up in 2011 after decades of success ― was “ exploring all legal avenues ” to prevent Trump from using their music at reelection campaign rallies .
Mills called the president a “ con man ” and a “ fraud.
” He has also called Trump an Adderal-deranged idiot .
We are aware that the President* @ realDonaldTrump continues to use our music at his rallies .
We are exploring all legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man .
— Mike Mills 🌿 ( @ m_millsey ) January 15 , 2020 R.E.M.
’ s “ Everybody Hurts ” and “ Losing My Religion ” were played at a rally in Milwaukee in January before Trump took the stage to celebrate his administration ’ s assassination of Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani .
Trump also played “ Everybody Hurts ” over a video of dejected-looking Democrats at his 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used R.E.M.
’ s “ It ’ s the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) ” in his 2016 election campaign .
Check out the Trump parody video up top .
The original video from R.E.M .
is below :


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-09--Critics Lash Pennsylvania GOP House Speaker After Questionable COVID-19 Post


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-10--CEOs, Farm Bureau President Told To Remove Face Masks Before Meeting With Mike Pence

Four CEOs of food companies and the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation were told to remove their face masks before a meeting in Iowa Friday with Vice President Mike Pence , a startling video posted by The Intercept reveals .
Pence — also without a mask — appeared a short time later at the headquarters of the Hy-Vee grocery chain in West Des Moines for a roundtable discussion with the men in front of an audience .
Just hours earlier Pence was informed that his press secretary , Katie Miller , had tested positive for COVID-19 .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entourage with suspected exposure to Miller were pulled from Pence ’ s flight to Iowa just before takeoff .
Pence ’ s office denied news reports Sunday that he was self-isolating because of his exposure to Miller .
Video before the Hy-Vee roundtable shows an unidentified woman walking up to two groups of the men , all wearing face masks .
She can be seen speaking to them and mimicking a gesture as if she ’ s removing a face mask .
All of the men remove their masks .
It isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but going face-mask free is a hallmark of the Trump administration .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing masks in groups .
But Pence and President Donald Trump have not complied with those guidelines in an apparent effort to make it appear that things are heading back to normal despite ongoing cases of COVID-19 .
The audience watching the Iowa roundtable practiced social distancing in the wide spacing of seating , but almost no one wore masks .
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds ( R ) all participated in the roundtable , but none wore a mask .
Pence traveled to Iowa to hail the state ’ s “ success story ” in getting back to business amid the COVID-19 crisis .
But the Sioux City metro area had the most cases per capita of any county in the nation , according to a data analysis Sunday by The New York Times .
Iowa has also been struggling mightily with major outbreaks of the disease among workers in five meatpacking plants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down for two weeks but reopened Thursday in time for Pence ’ s visit after Trump signed an executive order declaring meat processing plants essential operations .
As of Sunday , there were close to 12,000 COVID-19 cases and 265 deaths in Iowa .
The cases are still on the rise , according to the state health department .
The men in the Pence roundtable who were instructed to remove their masks were American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall , and CEOs Rodney McMullen of Kroger , Ron Cameron of Mountaire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Noel White of Tyson .
Sullivan called workers at meatpacking plants “ heroes ” at the roundtable .
A worker and a nonprofit workers ’ rights group last month filed a federal lawsuit against a Missouri meat processing plant operated by Smithfield , accusing the company of maintaining dangerous conditions .
The meatpackers union said in a statement that Pence , Perdue , the senators and governor should have worked a shift at a processing plant to experience the dangerous conditions .
“ They should work in the same conditions and under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their fellow Iowans work under every day , ” the United Food and Commercial Workers union said in a statement .

Four CEOs of food companies and the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation were told to remove their face masks before a meeting in Iowa Friday with Vice President Mike Pence, a startling video posted by The Intercept reveals.
Pence — also without a mask — appeared a short time later at the headquarters of the Hy-Vee grocery chain in West Des Moines for a roundtable discussion with the men in front of an audience.
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Just hours earlier Pence was informed that his press secretary Katie Miller had tested positive for COVID-19. She and six others in Pence’s entourage with suspected exposure to Miller were pulled from Pence’s flight to Iowa just before takeoff. Pence’s office denied news reports Sunday that he was self-isolating because of his exposure to Miller.
Video before the Hy-Vee roundtable shows an unidentified woman walking up to two groups of the men, all wearing face masks. She can be seen speaking to them and mimicking a gesture as if she’s removing a face mask. All of the men remove their masks. It isn’t clear who she was representing, but going maskless is a hallmark of the Trump administration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing masks in groups and in public. But Pence and President Donald Trump have not complied with those guidelines in an apparent effort to make it appear that things are heading back to normal despite the ongoing pandemic.
The audience watching the Iowa roundtable practiced social distancing in the wide spacing of seating, but almost no one wore masks. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) all participated in the roundtable, but none wore a mask.
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Pence traveled to Iowa to hail the state’s “success story” in getting back to business amid the COVID-19 crisis. But the Sioux City metro area had the most cases per capita of any county in the nation, according to a data analysis Sunday by The New York Times.
Iowa has also been struggling mightily with major outbreaks of the disease among workers in five meatpacking plants in the state.
The plant was shut down for two weeks but reopened Thursday in time for Pence’s visit after Trump signed an executive order declaring meat processing plants essential operations.
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As of Sunday, there were close to 12,000 COVID-19 cases and 265 deaths in Iowa. The cases are still on the rise, according to the state health department.
The men in the Pence roundtable who were instructed to remove their masks were American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, and CEOs Rodney McMullen of Kroger, Ron Cameron of Mountaire Farms, Ken Sullivan of Smithfield Foods and Noel White of Tyson.
Sullivan called workers at meatpacking plants “heroes” at the roundtable. A worker and a nonprofit workers’ rights group last month filed a federal lawsuit against a Missouri meat processing plant operated by Smithfield, accusing the company of maintaining dangerous conditions.
The meatpackers union said in a statement that Pence, Perdue, the senators and governor should have worked a shift at a processing plant to experience the dangerous conditions.
“They should work in the same conditions and under the same fear that our members and their fellow Iowans work under every day,” the United Food and Commercial Workers union said in a statement.
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Tyson, Smithfield, Kroger, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Pence did not respond to requests for comment from HuffPost about the removed face masks.
Here’s the entire roundtable after Pence arrived:
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--As COVID-19 Deaths Near 80,000, Trump Touts His Private Golf Business

No tests are available for us .
No tracing is being implemented .
You have done nothing to make it @ @ @ @ @ out .
The virus has killed 80,125 people so far , 2000 more will be @ @ @ @ @ by all means promote your golf course

No tests are available for us. No tracing is being implemented. You have done nothing to make it safe for us to go out. The virus has killed 80,125 people so far, 2000 more will be dead by tomorrow. But by all means promote your golf course


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Atlanta Mayor On Ahmaud Arbery Killing: White House Rhetoric Emboldens Racists

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ( D ) on Sunday described the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery as a lynching and characterized rhetoric from the White House as emboldening people with racist beliefs .
Arbery , a 25-year-old unarmed Black man , was jogging through a Brunswick , Georgia neighborhood on Feb. 23 when he was shot and killed .
Two armed white men , father Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his son Travis McMichael , 34 , were arrested last week and charged with murder and aggravated assault after graphic cellphone footage of the shooting surfaced online .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union , ” Bottoms said Arbery ’ s killing was “ part of a bigger issue that we ’ re having in this country.
” “ With the rhetoric that we hear coming out of the White House , in so many ways , I think that many who are prone to being racist are given permission to do it in an overt way that we otherwise would not see in 2020 , ” she added .
Bottoms also said that the nation normally relies on the Justice Department to intervene and ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fails , “ but we don ’ t have that leadership at the top right now.
” She also said the suspects were only arrested because the video of the killing was made public .
“ I think had we not seen that video , I don ’ t believe that they would be charged , ” Bottoms said .
Her remarks echoed those of Arbery ’ s mother , Wanda Cooper-Jones , who said last week that without the national attention it received , her son ’ s death “ would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for justice last week , Arbery ’ s father , Marcus Arbery , begged for the McMichaels ’ arrest “ before they try to lynch anybody else ’ s kids.
” According to police reports , the McMichaels claimed they believed Arbery matched the appearance of a burglary suspect and had pursued him in their truck .
They were denied bond Friday .
On Sunday , Georgia ’ s attorney general called on the Department of Justice to formally investigate the handling of the case .

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) on Sunday described the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery as a lynching and characterized rhetoric from the White House as emboldening people with racist beliefs.
Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man, was jogging through a Brunswick, Georgia neighborhood on Feb. 23 when he was shot and killed. Two armed white men, father Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, were arrested last week and charged with murder and aggravated assault after graphic cellphone footage of the shooting surfaced online.
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In an interview on “State of the Union,” Bottoms said Arbery’s killing was “part of a bigger issue that we’re having in this country.”
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s 2020 and this was a lynching of an African-American man,” Bottoms told CNN.
“With the rhetoric that we hear coming out of the White House, in so many ways, I think that many who are prone to being racist are given permission to do it in an overt way that we otherwise would not see in 2020,” she added.
“It’s heartbreaking that it’s 2020 and this was a lynching of an African American man,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says about the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery. https://t.co/GGX09XO2Ra #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/GiEUoqozF0 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 10, 2020
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Bottoms also said that the nation normally relies on the Justice Department to intervene and ensure people are appropriately prosecuted if local leadership fails, “but we don’t have that leadership at the top right now.”
She also said the suspects were only arrested because the video of the killing was made public.
“I think had we not seen that video, I don’t believe that they would be charged,” Bottoms said.
Her remarks echoed those of Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, who said last week that without the national attention it received, her son’s death “would have been a coverup.” In a plea for justice last week, Arbery’s father, Marcus Arbery, begged for the McMichaels’ arrest “before they try to lynch anybody else’s kids.”
According to police reports, the McMichaels claimed they believed Arbery matched the appearance of a burglary suspect and had pursued him in their truck. They were denied bond Friday.