thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--Powerful #YouClapForMeNow Video Celebrates Crucial Role Of Immigrants Amid Pandemic

The critical role that immigrants are playing on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus in the United Kingdom is being celebrated in a powerful new video .
Nurses , doctors , delivery drivers , teachers , actors and broadcasters take turns reciting lines from Darren Smith ’ s poem “ You Clap For Me Now ” in the clip directed by Sachini Imbuldeniya and edited by Ruben Alvarado that has amassed millions of views and made the hashtag # YouClapForMeNow trend on Twitter since first being shared online Tuesday .
So it ’ s finally happened , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Something ’ s come from overseas , and taken your jobs .
Made it unsafe to walk the streets .
Kept you trapped in your home , a dirty disease , your proud nation .
But not me .
Or me .
Or me .
Or me .
“ No , you clap for me now , ” it continues , in reference to the weekly applause that people in the UK are holding for health care workers and others .
The poem goes on to hope that people “ don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is over .
“ I definitely wasn ’ t expecting it to go viral , but am so glad that it has as I feel like it ’ s such an important message to send out .
Not just for the UK , but globally , ” Imbuldeniya told HuffPost via email on Wednesday .
“ When I read the poem I knew the message needed to be spread as widely as possible , ” she said .
The video was inspired by a creative brief from the United Nations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and solidarity during these uncertain times.
” “ There ’ s obviously been some negative comments from a few narrow-minded individuals on Twitter but overall it seems to be extremely well received , ” Imbuldeniya added , expressing hope that “ after we recover from this pandemic we don ’ t return to the xenophobia and bigotry that we ’ ve seen over the past decade.
” Smith and Imbuldeniya are colleagues at Bridge Studio ( the creative content agency for the Rupert Murdoch-owned News UK ) .
He said they hoped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a political one .
“ When we emerge from our homes blinking in the sunlight and hopefully freed from the grip of COVID-19 , we want to remind people not to go back to old , blind ways of thinking , ” he said .
“ Of assuming that certain jobs are ‘ unskilled ’ and therefore ‘ unworthy.
’ ” Actor and comedian Tez Ilyas , who appears in the video and whose tweet ( above ) sent it viral , described its message as “ so great and so powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s amazing how much it has resonated with people around the world , ” Ilyas said .
“ For me it ’ s so important that people realize that there ’ s no point clapping for people in your time of need , if you are then going to demonize them if/when things go back to normal.
” For broadcaster Mim Shaikh , also in the video , the message “ about solidarity and sticking together especially for all ethnic minority key workers is very important right now because it is these people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout this whole ordeal we are currently in , ” he told HuffPost .
Shaikh didn ’ t expect the video to go viral , he said .
“ But what I ’ ve learnt so far is that during uncertain times is when your light should shine brighter than ever before .
”

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The critical role that immigrants are playing on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus in the United Kingdom is being celebrated in a powerful new video.
Nurses, doctors, delivery drivers, teachers, actors and broadcasters take turns reciting lines from Darren Smith’s poem “You Clap For Me Now” in the clip directed by Sachini Imbuldeniya and edited by Ruben Alvarado that has amassed millions of views and made the hashtag #YouClapForMeNow trend on Twitter since first being shared online Tuesday.
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It begins:
So it’s finally happened, that thing you were afraid of. Something’s come from overseas, and taken your jobs. Made it unsafe to walk the streets. Kept you trapped in your home, a dirty disease, your proud nation. But not me. Or me. Or me. Or me.
“No, you clap for me now,” it continues, in reference to the weekly applause that people in the UK are holding for health care workers and others.
The poem goes on to hope that people “don’t forget” the thanks for immigrants once the pandemic is over.
Check out the full video here:
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“I definitely wasn’t expecting it to go viral, but am so glad that it has as I feel like it’s such an important message to send out. Not just for the UK, but globally,” Imbuldeniya told HuffPost via email on Wednesday.
“When I read the poem I knew the message needed to be spread as widely as possible,” she said. The video was inspired by a creative brief from the United Nations to “spread messages of positivity, kindness and solidarity during these uncertain times.”
“There’s obviously been some negative comments from a few narrow-minded individuals on Twitter but overall it seems to be extremely well received,” Imbuldeniya added, expressing hope that “after we recover from this pandemic we don’t return to the xenophobia and bigotry that we’ve seen over the past decade.”
Nurses, doctors, delivery drivers, teachers, actors and broadcasters take it in turns to recite lines from Darren Smith’s poem “You Clap For Me Now” in the video. Huffington Post
Smith and Imbuldeniya are colleagues at Bridge Studio (the creative content agency for the Rupert Murdoch-owned News UK). He said they hoped the video would make a humanitarian point rather than a political one.
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“When we emerge from our homes blinking in the sunlight and hopefully freed from the grip of COVID-19, we want to remind people not to go back to old, blind ways of thinking,” he said. “Of assuming that certain jobs are ‘unskilled’ and therefore ‘unworthy.’”
Actor and comedian Tez Ilyas, who appears in the video and whose tweet (above) sent it viral, described its message as “so great and so powerful and so important.”
“It’s amazing how much it has resonated with people around the world,” Ilyas said. “For me it’s so important that people realize that there’s no point clapping for people in your time of need, if you are then going to demonize them if/when things go back to normal.”
For broadcaster Mim Shaikh, also in the video, the message “about solidarity and sticking together especially for all ethnic minority key workers is very important right now because it is these people who are constantly still working so hard throughout this whole ordeal we are currently in,” he told HuffPost.
Shaikh didn’t expect the video to go viral, he said. “But what I’ve learnt so far is that during uncertain times is when your light should shine brighter than ever before.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--China Demand For ‘Other Unforeseeable Event’ Out In Trade Deal Was Possible Red Flag

Thomas Peter / Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump and China 's President Xi Jinping arrive at a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing , China , November 9 , 2017 .
But the language insisted upon by China in December , according to an informal adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity , creates an exit path for the entire agreement , and should have been seen as another warning sign about the coronavirus outbreak .
Trump , eager to seal the China deal , did nothing to push China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead praised its dictator , Xi Jinping , for his “ transparency ” about the matter , the adviser said .
“ The whole month of January was lost , ” he said .
The informal adviser and other critics said it should have been seen as yet another red flag missed by Trump in his zeal to finalize a deal to partially unwind his trade war against China ahead of the 2020 presidential election .
Multiple published reports — which Trump ’ s White House has not refuted — have found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new disease outbreak in late November , and that the first mention of the coronavirus threat entered Trump ’ s “ President ’ s Daily Brief ” in early January .
That document is the basis for the president ’ s intelligence briefing , which under previous presidents was a daily , early morning fixture but which under Trump appears to be happening only occasionally , and typically in the mid-afternoons on those days when it does take place .
A HuffPost review of Trump ’ s schedules for January shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total of nine all month .
White House officials claim that just because there was no briefing on the schedule does not mean that Trump did not have one .
But they decline to list the dates that he received one — or to explain why an intelligence briefing shows on the schedule at all on some days but not on others .
“ As the virus spread , Trump wasted crucial weeks neglecting warnings from his own intelligence experts and praising China ’ s containment efforts as successful and transparent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
“ Trump was soft on China during the worst public health crisis in over 100 years , all to protect his trade negotiations with them that he thought would help him win reelection.
” Outside trade experts , though , said they were not particularly surprised that China insisted on such a provision in this deal .
Unlike most trade pacts , which are mutual agreements to lower or eliminate tariffs , the U.S.-China accord is essentially a promise from China to buy a certain quantity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. import tariffs .
Trump , who campaigned on the falsehood that all other countries “ rip off ” American taxpayers by running trade surpluses with the United States , began his trade war with China in 2018 by increasing tariffs on its imports .
That move resulted in higher costs to American consumers and wound up devastating farmers , who lost billions in sales to China after it raised retaliatory tariffs .
While Trump has ordered a total of $ 28 billion in bailouts to farmers thus far — while falsely claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not U.S. taxpayers — those funds have not made up for the losses growers have suffered .
Trump ’ s approval ratings in key agricultural states like Wisconsin and Iowa have suffered , and he had been pushing hard last year for a deal with China as an accomplishment to use in his reelection .
That politically driven effort , critics said , was why Trump declined to criticize China through the signing of the agreement on Jan. 15 , and even through this day , for covering up the severity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the virus with outside health experts .
Trump has repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress , mayors and governors , the news media and Obama for the pandemic , even while he continually praised Xi for his actions to contain the disease — even though Xi did not contain the disease , and , in fact , his coverup efforts led to its spread around the world .
On Tuesday , Trump attacked the World Health Organization for failing to warn the world about the threat , but still continued to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure would have been an unlikely reach for China even before the pandemic .
The deal calls for $ 50 billion in annual agricultural purchases , for example , which is twice what China bought from U.S. farmers in its peak year .
“ Trump placed cementing and selling his trade deal with China , which he immediately touted as evidence he should be re-elected , ahead of preparing the United States for the impending pandemic , ” said former CIA analyst Ned Price , who served as a National Security Council spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to treat Xi with kid gloves for the same reason , namely that he needs to be able to tout the deal in the run-up to November .
”

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WASHINGTON — As negotiators wrapped up the framework of President Donald Trump’s vaunted trade deal in December, China may have provided a missed clue about the coronavirus outbreak already unfolding there: insistence on a provision allowing for an out in case of “a natural disaster or other unforeseeable event.”
Such “force majeure” language, while common in commercial contracts, is rare in trade agreements, particularly between two countries with economies so large that they are essentially immune to localized floods and droughts.
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No such provision existed in the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated under former President Barack Obama, nor in the United States-South Korea agreement modified under Trump. A limited provision was included in the revised North American Free Trade Agreement under Trump in the food export section for the purpose of ensuring “food security.”
But the language insisted upon by China in December, according to an informal adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity, creates an exit path for the entire agreement, and should have been seen as another warning sign about the coronavirus outbreak.
“In the event that a natural disaster or other unforeseeable event outside the control of the parties delays a party from timely complying with its obligations under this agreement, the parties shall consult with each other,” it reads.
Trump, eager to seal the China deal, did nothing to push China for details about the virus, and instead praised its dictator, Xi Jinping, for his “transparency” about the matter, the adviser said. “The whole month of January was lost,” he said.
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The White House, the Treasury Department and the United States Trade Representative’s office did not respond to multiple queries about the provision.
The informal adviser and other critics said it should have been seen as yet another red flag missed by Trump in his zeal to finalize a deal to partially unwind his trade war against China ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Multiple published reports — which Trump’s White House has not refuted — have found that the National Security Council began getting word of the new disease outbreak in late November, and that the first mention of the coronavirus threat entered Trump’s “President’s Daily Brief” in early January.
That document is the basis for the president’s intelligence briefing, which under previous presidents was a daily, early morning fixture but which under Trump appears to be happening only occasionally, and typically in the mid-afternoons on those days when it does take place.
A HuffPost review of Trump’s schedules for January shows no briefing until Jan. 6, and a total of nine all month. White House officials claim that just because there was no briefing on the schedule does not mean that Trump did not have one. But they decline to list the dates that he received one — or to explain why an intelligence briefing shows on the schedule at all on some days but not on others.
“As the virus spread, Trump wasted crucial weeks neglecting warnings from his own intelligence experts and praising China’s containment efforts as successful and transparent,” said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. “Trump was soft on China during the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, all to protect his trade negotiations with them that he thought would help him win reelection.”
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Outside trade experts, though, said they were not particularly surprised that China insisted on such a provision in this deal. Unlike most trade pacts, which are mutual agreements to lower or eliminate tariffs, the U.S.-China accord is essentially a promise from China to buy a certain quantity of U.S. goods in exchange for reduced U.S. import tariffs.
“This is not a trade agreement. This is more like a hostage situation,” said Mary Lovely, an economics professor at Syracuse University specializing in international trade.
Trump, who campaigned on the falsehood that all other countries “rip off” American taxpayers by running trade surpluses with the United States, began his trade war with China in 2018 by increasing tariffs on its imports. That move resulted in higher costs to American consumers and wound up devastating farmers, who lost billions in sales to China after it raised retaliatory tariffs.
While Trump has ordered a total of $28 billion in bailouts to farmers thus far — while falsely claiming that the money came from China, and not U.S. taxpayers — those funds have not made up for the losses growers have suffered. Trump’s approval ratings in key agricultural states like Wisconsin and Iowa have suffered, and he had been pushing hard last year for a deal with China as an accomplishment to use in his reelection.
That politically driven effort, critics said, was why Trump declined to criticize China through the signing of the agreement on Jan. 15, and even through this day, for covering up the severity of the outbreak in Wuhan and not sharing information about the virus with outside health experts.
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Trump has repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress, mayors and governors, the news media and Obama for the pandemic, even while he continually praised Xi for his actions to contain the disease — even though Xi did not contain the disease, and, in fact, his coverup efforts led to its spread around the world. On Tuesday, Trump attacked the World Health Organization for failing to warn the world about the threat, but still continued to defend China.
Asked why he was praising Xi for being “transparent” when he had not been, Trump answered: “Well, I did a trade deal with China, where China is supposed to be spending $250 billion in our country.”
But trade experts said that figure would have been an unlikely reach for China even before the pandemic. The deal calls for $50 billion in annual agricultural purchases, for example, which is twice what China bought from U.S. farmers in its peak year.
“I thought it was always a stretch. But with the coronavirus, it seems even more unobtainable,” said Wendy Cutler, who worked in the USTR’s office for decades and helped craft the TPP under Obama.
And the structure of the agreement leaves Trump with no recourse should China to fail to hit that purchase goal other than simply canceling the agreement and jacking tariffs back up again — which would hurt American manufacturers, consumers and farmers anew.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--George Conway Lays Into Trump For Not Understanding 'Grade-School-Level Civics'

Conservative attorney George Conway shared some fundamental tenets of U.S. constitutional law on Tuesday , following President Donald Trump ’ s declaration that he could assert total authority over governors to lift coronavirus lockdown measures in their states should he wish to do so .
In an op-ed published in The Washington Post , Conway tore into Trump ’ s obvious misapprehensions about the Constitution , which gives states , not the federal government , the power to enact policies to mitigate public health crises .
“ Trump took a solemn oath to preserve , protect and defend the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in the job , he ought to know something about that document , ” Conway wrote .
Conway , who is a vocal Trump critic despite his marriage to senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , noted that Trump ought to understand the relationship between the federal government and the states set out in the 10th Amendment , a measure that conservatives have “ harped on the importance of ” for decades .
“ It ’ s grade-school-level civics that the president carries out laws , not his whims or desires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Conway wrote .
“ Faithfully executing the law means not only enforcing it but also abiding by it — including its limitations , ” he added .
Conway also pointed to the 1952 Supreme Court case Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer .
The decision , in that case , reversed an instance of presidential overreach and affirmed that the president ’ s power to issue orders must stem from the Constitution or an act of Congress .
Trump doesn ’ t seem to realize that he is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that the office he holds doesn ’ t belong to him or designate him with complete authority .
“ Trump would do well to learn these basic tenets of American constitutional law , if only because it ’ s his job to follow them , and because doing so would make him a more effective president , ” Conway wrote .

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Conservative attorney George Conway shared some fundamental tenets of U.S. constitutional law on Tuesday, following President Donald Trump’s declaration that he could assert total authority over governors to lift coronavirus lockdown measures in their states should he wish to do so.
In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, Conway tore into Trump’s obvious misapprehensions about the Constitution, which gives states, not the federal government, the power to enact policies to mitigate public health crises.
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“Trump took a solemn oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. After his years in the job, he ought to know something about that document,” Conway wrote.
Conway, who is a vocal Trump critic despite his marriage to senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, noted that Trump ought to understand the relationship between the federal government and the states set out in the 10th Amendment, a measure that conservatives have “harped on the importance of” for decades.
“It’s grade-school-level civics that the president carries out laws, not his whims or desires, however laudatory or popular they might be,” Conway wrote.
“Faithfully executing the law means not only enforcing it but also abiding by it — including its limitations,” he added.
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Conway also pointed to the 1952 Supreme Court case Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer. The decision, in that case, reversed an instance of presidential overreach and affirmed that the president’s power to issue orders must stem from the Constitution or an act of Congress.
Trump doesn’t seem to realize that he is no longer running the Trump Organization, Conway said, and that the office he holds doesn’t belong to him or designate him with complete authority.
“Trump would do well to learn these basic tenets of American constitutional law, if only because it’s his job to follow them, and because doing so would make him a more effective president,” Conway wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-14--Chris Cuomo Gets Some Bad News About His Coronavirus Battle From Dr. Sanjay Gupta

CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo has been battling COVID-19 for more than two weeks now ― and his fight ’ s not over yet .
Cuomo said on Tuesday night he was getting “ cocky ” when he reached 60 hours without fever , close to the 72-hour goal for patients suffering from the coronavirus infection .
But then it came back , hitting 101 Tuesday .
“ I ’ m still super lucky , super blessed , compared to so many of the other people I ’ ve heard about , ” he told CNN ’ s Dr. Sanjay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to start again , and that ’ s just how it goes.
” Gupta described three things doctors look for before coronavirus patients can stop isolation , including being fever-free for 72 hours , and Cuomo is still falling short .
“ You ’ re not there yet , ” he lamented .
See more of his discussion with Gupta below : Two weeks after first testing positive for coronavirus , @ chriscuomo shares an update on how his battle is progressing : “ My body is not ready until it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) April 15 , 2020

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CNN’s Chris Cuomo has been battling COVID-19 for more than two weeks now ― and his fight’s not over yet.
Cuomo said on Tuesday night he was getting “cocky” when he reached 60 hours without fever, close to the 72-hour goal for patients suffering from the coronavirus infection.
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But then it came back, hitting 101 Tuesday.
“I’m still super lucky, super blessed, compared to so many of the other people I’ve heard about,” he told CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. “But I’ve got to start again, and that’s just how it goes.”
Gupta described three things doctors look for before coronavirus patients can stop isolation, including being fever-free for 72 hours, and Cuomo is still falling short.
“You’re not there yet,” he lamented.
See more of his discussion with Gupta below:
Two weeks after first testing positive for coronavirus, @chriscuomo shares an update on how his battle is progressing: “My body is not ready until it’s ready.” pic.twitter.com/9dP6q6vEbZ — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) April 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--DCCC Says It's Prepared To Help Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fend Off Challenge

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , which helps elect Democrats to the House , says it is prepared to assist Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( N.Y. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) with their reelection should the congresswomen request help from the campaign arm .
“ We stand by all of our incumbents and will continue working with our members to ensure that we protect and expand the House majority in 2020 , ” DCCC spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement .
Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
, another member of the “ Squad ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won their seats in 2018 through successful primary challenges that they maintain might have been harder to achieve if the DCCC policy had then been in place .
Progressive critics identified the DCCC ’ s policy as an effort to stifle a progressive insurgent wave on behalf of the party ’ s conservative wing .
Ocasio-Cortez , a prolific fundraiser , has even cited the policy as a reason to justify her refusal to contribute her share of dues to the party organization .
She instead prefers to raise money for individual House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own PAC in January to further that goal .
In practice , the party has already shown it is willing to follow through on that promise .
New Blue Interactive , a digital consulting firm founded by a former managing director of the DCCC , canceled its contract with Antone Melton-Meaux , an attorney challenging progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota , and refunded the candidate ’ s money when it realized it had run afoul of the new rules .
( Critics still lament that Melton-Meaux was able to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the brief relationship . )
Now the campaign arm is promising to demonstrate the consistency of its policy yet again .
Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib , who make up one half of the Squad , face potentially significant challenges in their Democratic primary elections .
( Both legislators represent districts that are not competitive in the general election . )
Former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera claims to have raised $ 1 million in her bid to unseat Ocasio-Cortez .
She has also landed the influential endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disproportionately supports Republicans .
And Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones , who is taking on Tlaib , trails Tlaib by just 9 percentage points in a recent poll .
Jones , who is Black , is vying to represent a majority-Black district that had been represented by a Black member of Congress until Tlaib ’ s victory .
Tlaib , who narrowly defeated Jones in an open primary to succeed the late Rep. John Conyers in August 2018 , notably did not speak out about the DCCC blacklist on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DCCC as of the end of 2019 .
It ’ s possible that neither candidate feels the need to seek outside help .
Both incumbents boast massive campaign war chests .
Tlaib retained $ 1.2 million in cash on hand as of the end of 2019 , and Ocasio-Cortez had $ 2.9 million .
If Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez decide to call on the DCCC for help , it is likely that it would take the form of advice and distribution of in-kind resources rather than direct cash aid .
The DCCC did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most embattled incumbent House Democrats , Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas and Dan Lipinski of Illinois .
The campaign arm would not comment on its discussions with those two incumbents , and thus , what other help they might have received .
Oftentimes , incumbents benefit from the support of party leadership through less direct means .
For example , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) traveled to Cuellar ’ s district to urge voters to support him shortly before his March 3 primary election .
Cuellar ended up surviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points .
Drew Hammill , a spokesman for Speaker Pelosi , told HuffPost that the two members of Congress have not sought Pelosi ’ s help but that she backs their reelection and looks forward to making herself available should she be asked and public health conditions permit .
“ The Speaker strongly supports Congresswomen Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez ’ s reelection campaigns as they are both valued Members of our Caucus , ” Hammill said by email .
“ Obviously , it ’ s not possible to campaign during the current health crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting back on the campaign trail when possible .
The Speaker works around the clock to help Members who request support in their campaigns .
”

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps elect Democrats to the House, says it is prepared to assist Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) with their reelection should the congresswomen request help from the campaign arm.
Neither candidate has reached out to the DCCC with a request of that kind yet, according to the party body.
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“We stand by all of our incumbents and will continue working with our members to ensure that we protect and expand the House majority in 2020,” DCCC spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement.
The Tlaib campaign declined to comment on its plans. A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The DCCC’s offer of support is notable because Ocasio-Cortez, in particular, has criticized the campaign arm for its policy of blacklisting vendors that work for candidates challenging incumbent House Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), another member of the “Squad” of outspoken progressive, freshman lawmakers, won their seats in 2018 through successful primary challenges that they maintain might have been harder to achieve if the DCCC policy had then been in place.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks in July as fellow Squad members and Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) look on. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
Progressive critics identified the DCCC’s policy as an effort to stifle a progressive insurgent wave on behalf of the party’s conservative wing. Ocasio-Cortez, a prolific fundraiser, has even cited the policy as a reason to justify her refusal to contribute her share of dues to the party organization. She instead prefers to raise money for individual House Democrats who need the help, launching her own PAC in January to further that goal.
But the DCCC made clear at the time that its policy would apply equally to progressive incumbents facing primary challenges from the right.
In practice, the party has already shown it is willing to follow through on that promise. New Blue Interactive, a digital consulting firm founded by a former managing director of the DCCC, canceled its contract with Antone Melton-Meaux, an attorney challenging progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and refunded the candidate’s money when it realized it had run afoul of the new rules. (Critics still lament that Melton-Meaux was able to keep the email list he received as part of the brief relationship.)
Now the campaign arm is promising to demonstrate the consistency of its policy yet again. Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib, who make up one half of the Squad, face potentially significant challenges in their Democratic primary elections. (Both legislators represent districts that are not competitive in the general election.)
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Former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera claims to have raised $1 million in her bid to unseat Ocasio-Cortez. She has also landed the influential endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a deep-pocketed front group for big business that disproportionately supports Republicans.
And Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, who is taking on Tlaib, trails Tlaib by just 9 percentage points in a recent poll. Jones, who is Black, is vying to represent a majority-Black district that had been represented by a Black member of Congress until Tlaib’s victory.
Tlaib, who narrowly defeated Jones in an open primary to succeed the late Rep. John Conyers in August 2018, notably did not speak out about the DCCC blacklist on social media. She had not paid dues to the DCCC as of the end of 2019.
It’s possible that neither candidate feels the need to seek outside help. Both incumbents boast massive campaign war chests. Tlaib retained $1.2 million in cash on hand as of the end of 2019, and Ocasio-Cortez had $2.9 million.
They also have plenty of time to shore up their standing. Ocasio-Cortez’s primary is on June 23, while Tlaib’s is due to take place on Aug. 4.
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If Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez decide to call on the DCCC for help, it is likely that it would take the form of advice and distribution of in-kind resources rather than direct cash aid. The DCCC did not provide cash aid to this election cycle’s most embattled incumbent House Democrats, Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas and Dan Lipinski of Illinois. The campaign arm would not comment on its discussions with those two incumbents, and thus, what other help they might have received.
Oftentimes, incumbents benefit from the support of party leadership through less direct means. For example, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) traveled to Cuellar’s district to urge voters to support him shortly before his March 3 primary election. Cuellar ended up surviving a spirited challenge by just 3.6 percentage points.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Speaker Pelosi, told HuffPost that the two members of Congress have not sought Pelosi’s help but that she backs their reelection and looks forward to making herself available should she be asked and public health conditions permit.
“The Speaker strongly supports Congresswomen Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez’s reelection campaigns as they are both valued Members of our Caucus,” Hammill said by email. “Obviously, it’s not possible to campaign during the current health crisis, but the Speaker looks forward to getting back on the campaign trail when possible. The Speaker works around the clock to help Members who request support in their campaigns.”
This article has been updated with a comment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--Former Jay Inslee 2020 Staffers Form New Group To Promote Climate Plan To Democrats

Thirteen hours before Jay Inslee dropped out of the Democratic presidential race last August , his campaign ― the first in history to make a serious bid for the White House on climate change alone ― rounded out its book-length stack of policy memos with a final 38 pages on rural infrastructure and paying farmers to store carbon dioxide removed from the air .
By the time the Washington governor announced his exit from the race on MSNBC that night , Inslee pointed proudly to a tangible legacy , boasting of having “ left an open-source gold standard of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and really will end our reliance on fossil fuels.
” “ It was not just a campaign document , it was a governing document , and it could be used by anyone who ends up in the White House , ” Inslee told HuffPost that day in August .
Now a group of his former staffers is getting the band back together to promote an expanded version of that manifesto to candidates as the general election begins and to Democratic leaders as Congress weighs its next bill to curb the economic fallout of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit named itself Evergreen , after the roughly 200 pages of campaign proposals Inslee dubbed the Evergreen Action Plan , an allusion to Washington ’ s state nickname .
Inslee , gripped by the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington , is not involved in the effort , as he runs for a third term as governor and grapples with flailing efforts to pass new emissions legislation in his state .
But Evergreen is headed by the former staffers credited with authoring much of the campaign ’ s policy program : Sam Ricketts , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Progress as a senior fellow ; Bracken Hendricks , a long-time Inslee adviser ; and Maggie Thomas , who until recently worked for Elizabeth Warren ’ s presidential campaign .
“ What we need in climate policy , if we want to redefine what the solution is , is details and substantive plans , ” said Leah Stokes , a climate policy expert and assistant professor at the University of California , Santa Barbara , who has been advising Evergreen .
“ These are people who ’ ve been working on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Secretary of State John Kerry launched a new star-studded campaign to push for climate action , though the initiative forwent serious policy proposals in favor of pitching a tent big enough to welcome fossil fuel allies .
Last month , the progressive Roosevelt Institute announced a new Climate and Economic Transformation program .
This week , Data for Progress , the left-leaning think tank and polling operation that drafted one of the first Green New Deal blueprints , added a new deputy to its climate team .
There are less formal efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of former campaign staffers who advised Inslee , Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) published a lengthy open letter to Congress calling for a bailout for public transit systems , a rapid drilling phaseout and the passage of existing Green New Deal proposals as part of the federal stimulus legislation to blunt the effects of the pandemic .
The meat of the plan is a refurbished version of the campaign documents Inslee released during his six months in the primary race .
That includes a regulatory roadmap to completely phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Climate Conservation Corps and a plan to wield the federal government ’ s buying power to boost the clean energy sector and restore the labor movement to its mid-20th-century might .
But Evergreen goes beyond what the Inslee campaign produced .
The memo includes a novel section calling for the establishment of a new White House Office of Climate Mobilization , based on the World War II-era Office of War Mobilization , with a network of chapters in each state .
It explicitly advocates revising the carbon-capture technology sector ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its use by oil drillers .
The proposal also adopts the Warren campaign ’ s sweeping Blue New Deal proposal to regulate fisheries , spur new aquaculture markets and curb the impact of climate change on oceans .
Evergreen declined to name its exact funders , but a spokesman said it included “ multiple environmental foundations.
” Its formal launch , slated for later this year , comes as the Democratic Party seeks to unite its base ahead of what ’ s expected to be a difficult campaign against President Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bungled response to the pandemic and the unprecedented wave of job losses it induced .
Biden ’ s record of support for the 2003 Iraq invasion , opposition to universal health care and deep ties to the fossil fuel industry makes him a difficult sell to progressives whose calls for dramatic expansions of the social safety net look less radical by the day as the pandemic spreads .
Indeed , Inslee himself sparred with Biden on the debate stage last year .
But the urgency of dealing with climate change , a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , could persuade reluctant voters to back Biden in a bid to unseat Trump , a fossil fuel hardliner who ’ s scheduled to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accords the day after the November election .
In a sign of the election ’ s global stakes , China , the world ’ s largest emitter , signaled this week it may postpone submitting its climate plan to the United Nations until after votes are cast .
The former vice president ’ s $ 1.7 trillion proposal to lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Warren or Sanders , whose $ 16 trillion Green New Deal marked easily the most ambitious plan of the race , proposed .
Still , during the Super Tuesday blitz that all but secured Biden the nomination , one exit poll found 34 % of voters who cited climate change as their top concern voted for the former vice president , compared to 28 % who cast ballots for Sanders .

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Thirteen hours before Jay Inslee dropped out of the Democratic presidential race last August, his campaign ― the first in history to make a serious bid for the White House on climate change alone ― rounded out its book-length stack of policy memos with a final 38 pages on rural infrastructure and paying farmers to store carbon dioxide removed from the air.
By the time the Washington governor announced his exit from the race on MSNBC that night, Inslee pointed proudly to a tangible legacy, boasting of having “left an open-source gold standard of what will get us to a cleaner future and really will end our reliance on fossil fuels.”
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“It was not just a campaign document, it was a governing document, and it could be used by anyone who ends up in the White House,” Inslee told HuffPost that day in August.
Now a group of his former staffers is getting the band back together to promote an expanded version of that manifesto to candidates as the general election begins and to Democratic leaders as Congress weighs its next bill to curb the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The new nonprofit named itself Evergreen, after the roughly 200 pages of campaign proposals Inslee dubbed the Evergreen Action Plan, an allusion to Washington’s state nickname. Inslee, gripped by the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington, is not involved in the effort, as he runs for a third term as governor and grapples with flailing efforts to pass new emissions legislation in his state.
But Evergreen is headed by the former staffers credited with authoring much of the campaign’s policy program: Sam Ricketts, who went on to join the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow; Bracken Hendricks, a long-time Inslee adviser; and Maggie Thomas, who until recently worked for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign.
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“What we need in climate policy, if we want to redefine what the solution is, is details and substantive plans,” said Leah Stokes, a climate policy expert and assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has been advising Evergreen. “These are people who’ve been working on this issue for decades.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) last year ran the first major Democratic presidential campaign to focus almost entirely on climate change. JASON REDMOND / Reuters
The nonprofit joins a growing roster of groups jockeying to shape climate policy in the critical next few years that could determine how catastrophic warming becomes in the decades ahead.
In November, former Secretary of State John Kerry launched a new star-studded campaign to push for climate action, though the initiative forwent serious policy proposals in favor of pitching a tent big enough to welcome fossil fuel allies. Last month, the progressive Roosevelt Institute announced a new Climate and Economic Transformation program. This week, Data for Progress, the left-leaning think tank and polling operation that drafted one of the first Green New Deal blueprints, added a new deputy to its climate team.
There are less formal efforts, too. Last month, a group of former campaign staffers who advised Inslee, Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) published a lengthy open letter to Congress calling for a bailout for public transit systems, a rapid drilling phaseout and the passage of existing Green New Deal proposals as part of the federal stimulus legislation to blunt the effects of the pandemic.
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But Evergreen is targeting Democrats’ top brass, hoping to leverage the goodwill Inslee’s campaign garnered from both the establishment and progressive wings of the party to unite warring factions behind an ambitious, if markedly technocratic, approach.
On Tuesday evening, the group made a soft debut, sending its new 85-page memo to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign and to party leaders in the House and Senate. On Wednesday morning, the group planned to loop in several hundred climate activists and policy experts.
The meat of the plan is a refurbished version of the campaign documents Inslee released during his six months in the primary race. That includes a regulatory roadmap to completely phase out fossil fuel production, a blueprint for a Climate Conservation Corps and a plan to wield the federal government’s buying power to boost the clean energy sector and restore the labor movement to its mid-20th-century might.
But Evergreen goes beyond what the Inslee campaign produced. The memo includes a novel section calling for the establishment of a new White House Office of Climate Mobilization, based on the World War II-era Office of War Mobilization, with a network of chapters in each state. It explicitly advocates revising the carbon-capture technology sector’s lone existing federal tax credit to discourage its use by oil drillers. The proposal also adopts the Warren campaign’s sweeping Blue New Deal proposal to regulate fisheries, spur new aquaculture markets and curb the impact of climate change on oceans.
Evergreen declined to name its exact funders, but a spokesman said it included “multiple environmental foundations.” Its formal launch, slated for later this year, comes as the Democratic Party seeks to unite its base ahead of what’s expected to be a difficult campaign against President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has climbed despite a bungled response to the pandemic and the unprecedented wave of job losses it induced.
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“Evergreen is targeting Democrats’ top brass, hoping to leverage the goodwill Inslee’s campaign garnered from both the establishment and progressive wings of the party to unite warring factions behind an ambitious, if markedly technocratic, approach.”
Biden’s record of support for the 2003 Iraq invasion, opposition to universal health care and deep ties to the fossil fuel industry makes him a difficult sell to progressives whose calls for dramatic expansions of the social safety net look less radical by the day as the pandemic spreads. Indeed, Inslee himself sparred with Biden on the debate stage last year.
But the urgency of dealing with climate change, a crisis that requires a response similar to the pandemic, could persuade reluctant voters to back Biden in a bid to unseat Trump, a fossil fuel hardliner who’s scheduled to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accords the day after the November election. In a sign of the election’s global stakes, China, the world’s largest emitter, signaled this week it may postpone submitting its climate plan to the United Nations until after votes are cast.
The former vice president’s $1.7 trillion proposal to lower emissions paled in comparison to what Inslee, Warren or Sanders, whose $16 trillion Green New Deal marked easily the most ambitious plan of the race, proposed. Still, during the Super Tuesday blitz that all but secured Biden the nomination, one exit poll found 34% of voters who cited climate change as their top concern voted for the former vice president, compared to 28% who cast ballots for Sanders.
Evergreen’s approach could offer a palatable compromise.
“It’s smart, politically,” Stokes said. “And it’s also at the scale of the problem.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--Chris Hayes Names The 'Absolutely Deadly' Coronavirus Mistakes Trump Is Repeating

Chris Hayes on Tuesday listed the three “ absolutely deadly errors ” that President Donald Trump ’ s White House made at the start of the coronavirus pandemic , and now is repeating .
The host of MSNBC ’ s “ All In ” criticized Trump and his administration for initially failing to take the virus seriously , inadequate testing , and “ thinking that the problem to be managed is the economy as if that is somehow separate from the public health emergency of fighting the virus.
” “ Those mistakes gave us the whole disastrous response from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The failed test kits , the utter inability for weeks to ramp up testing to know where the virus was and how prevalent it was , the fact they took way too long to recommend social distancing , the fact the president during this entire period as the virus was spreading would come out and do a series of song and dance routines to pump up the stock market as if that was the goal instead of taking action on the virus.
” “ All those errors are what got us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He noted the contagion had killed almost 30,000 people nationwide , and Trump was now repeating the same mistakes .

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Chris Hayes on Tuesday listed the three “absolutely deadly errors” that President Donald Trump’s White House made at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and now is repeating.
The host of MSNBC’s “All In” criticized Trump and his administration for initially failing to take the virus seriously, inadequate testing, and “thinking that the problem to be managed is the economy as if that is somehow separate from the public health emergency of fighting the virus.”
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“Those mistakes gave us the whole disastrous response from the White House,” said Hayes. “The failed test kits, the utter inability for weeks to ramp up testing to know where the virus was and how prevalent it was, the fact they took way too long to recommend social distancing, the fact the president during this entire period as the virus was spreading would come out and do a series of song and dance routines to pump up the stock market as if that was the goal instead of taking action on the virus.”
“All those errors are what got us to this point,” Hayes added.
He noted the contagion had killed almost 30,000 people nationwide, and Trump was now repeating the same mistakes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--‘Too Much Death’: This NYC Councilman Says He’s Lost 8 Friends To COVID

Yes , absolutely .
I think what we have to do is really come to a realization : Who are our essential workers ?
OK .
These folks that live in my district are the essential workers during this COVID crisis .
They ’ re the aides in the hospitals , they ’ re the people who are doing the work in the restaurants .
They ’ re the folks who are driving the buses and operating the trains .
And so , you know , oftentimes when people think about essential workers , maybe they think of an elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rich guy in Manhattan , whatever .
But really what it comes down to are these people , our community , both documented and undocumented , who are risking their lives on a daily basis for everyone else , and to me , that ’ s something that ’ s really jumped out at me .
You know , I have a real policy difference with Gov .
Cuomo on the issue of how he has treated our New York state prisoners .
They ’ re some of the most vulnerable people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into prisons with very , very little to prevent the virus .
They don ’ t have enough soap , they don ’ t have enough sanitizer , they don ’ t have masks , and the most insulting part of it is that the staff does !
The corrections officers have that and have access to that but the poor people who are stuck in jail , don ’ t have access to any of that .
I would .
I would look at all records of people who could potentially be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in New York state prisons are on life terms , and there ’ s no death penalty , but by leaving them in prison at this point , you know , it ’ s really a matter of saving their lives .
And so , the whole thing needs to be examined and we need a real change there .
And overall , I think he has shown a lot of leadership , but this is one of the things that I think just sticks out in my mind .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be looked at .
The other thing I ’ m seeing here in the community is people who are in Elmhurst Hospital , they ’ ve been taken in because they have severe symptoms of the virus , or they have for four or five days , maybe a little longer , but then they ’ re released but they have no place to go to convalesce .
So you know , they go back to their overcrowded conditions where somebody else is infected and who knows , they could infect somebody else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where people don ’ t even want them back into the overcrowded homes to begin with .
I think we have to have a rent freeze and the mayor has called for that by the Rent Guidelines Board , and I think there need to be some federal dollars because even if we have a rent freeze , it ’ s still not going to protect those tenants if they can ’ t catch up for three , six , eight , nine months , whatever it may be .
To expect them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they don ’ t have an income or haven ’ t had an income is going to be a very hard burden , particularly on my constituents , but on anybody who finds themselves in that type of situation .
So a rent freeze and some type of federal balance to help with the payment of rents .

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NEW YORK — As the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged New York City, so far killing over 10,000 people, it’s laid bare the harsh racial and social inequities in the five boroughs.
About 80% of the city’s frontline workers — grocery store cashiers, nurses, bus drivers, food delivery drivers — are Black or Latino. Look at a map of where they live in the city, and then compare it to a map of the most concentrated outbreaks of COVID-19, and you’ll see many of the same neighborhoods highlighted in red.
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One of the hardest-hit working-class neighborhoods is Jackson Heights in Queens — one of the most diverse places on the planet. Daniel Dromm, who’s represented the neighborhood for 10 years in the city council, tweeted earlier this month that he’d already lost five friends in the pandemic, underscoring the desperate situation there.
Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights in Queens, says he's lost eight friends in the pandemic. William Alatriste for New York City Council
Dromm talked to HuffPost about the growing food emergency in his community, how Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) needs to release people in state prisons now, the need for rent relief, and how, sadly, he’s lost even more friends over the last couple of weeks.
You call your district the “epicenter of the epicenter.” What makes your district specifically so vulnerable to all this?
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Well, we have a lot of service workers that live here, undocumented folks that live here, immigrants who are here, and oftentimes, we see that those folks are of lower income, and in order to survive, they have to live in overcrowded, illegally converted homes, which only makes the spread of COVID worse. So there’s really no place for many people who live in my community to self-isolate because sometimes they live 20 to 25 people in a house. We’ve seen this on numerous occasions here in the district.
So that closeness and that density in the neighborhood is, I think, one of the major contributing factors to COVID. Now, even those of us who are as fortunate as I am, I have a one-bedroom apartment for myself, there’s still the density of the neighborhood so that when you walk down on 37th Avenue, which is kind of like one of the main strips in Jackson Heights, it’s very hard to not bump into somebody or meet somebody that wants to talk.
That was always the case before COVID and in a sense, it was very quaint, very nice, because it’s kind of like a small town in the big city. But of course, that type of interaction between people as well is another contributing factor to the spread of COVID.
So something that for years we liked about the neighborhood, which was that social gathering and connections, now we’re being forced to socially distance, and that’s something we in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst are unfamiliar with. And so I think the density, the poverty, the lack of health care, all of those things have been contributing factors to the spread of the virus.
What is the most urgent thing your constituents need from the state or federal government that they’re not getting right now?
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So it’s kind of changed a little bit. Elmhurst Hospital seems to be a little bit better off than it was. Not much, because every single bed is taken — 545 beds taken at Elmhurst. But my on-the-ground type of feeling is that people now are seeking food.
A number of the supermarkets in the neighborhood had closed down, including Patel brothers, two Asian supermarkets on Broadway, most of the fruit stands and food stores along 37th Avenue closed down, so people were short of food simply by virtue of stores closing, but then again on top of that, you have those who can’t even afford it anymore because they’ve lost their job.
Dozens of people stand in line outside of Seatide Fish & Lobster market to purchase fish on Good Friday on April 10, 2020, in Jackson Heights, Queens. David Dee Delgado via Getty Images
So people like taxicab drivers — I have a large constituency of cab drivers — they’re not really working anymore. Many of them are undocumented and don’t have access to SNAP benefits. So food has become last week’s and this week’s biggest issue to conquer. I was lucky that working with Grow NYC, I was able to get 300 boxes of food to be distributed at the United Sherpa Society started this week, and that’s going to last for another 12 weeks.
So finding food and getting access to food is an issue. And then even those who are fortunate enough to have an income or be able to pay for food are facing very, very long lines outside the supermarket, sometimes a block or two long, just waiting to get into the supermarkets that are open. So that is a big issue at this point.
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Is there anything that D.C. or Cuomo in Albany can do to alleviate that problem?
So actually, I’m going to be having a conference call with Sen. [Chuck] Schumer and Sen. [Kirsten] Gillibrand and a few of the congressional delegates tomorrow, and that’s my major concern that I’m going to raise is, particularly for undocumented communities who are not eligible for SNAP benefits, what type of provisions are being made for them?
And also a number of food banks have closed in the area — because, one, of the volunteer shortage and two, because of the lack of food availability, but what type of provisions are going to be made for that?
So you were talking before about how this pandemic has kind of unmasked a lot of racial and economic inequalities that were already there, that maybe people in other neighborhoods or districts weren’t paying attention to. Being in the epicenter of the epicenter of this crisis, has it changed your worldview at all? Are there bigger changes that need to be made after all this is over?
Yes, absolutely. I think what we have to do is really come to a realization: Who are our essential workers? OK. These folks that live in my district are the essential workers during this COVID crisis. They’re the aides in the hospitals, they’re the people who are doing the work in the restaurants. They’re the folks who are driving the buses and operating the trains. And so, you know, oftentimes when people think about essential workers, maybe they think of an elected official, maybe they think of some rich guy in Manhattan, whatever. But really what it comes down to are these people, our community, both documented and undocumented, who are risking their lives on a daily basis for everyone else, and to me, that’s something that’s really jumped out at me.
These delivery men, these delivery men who bring us our takeout orders. They’re essential, OK? They are essential to us and to the economy. And we have to look at that and in the future reward them with paid time off, sick days, etc., because we realize now how essential they are.
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Gov. Cuomo has gotten a lot of accolades, and his poll numbers are up, and I was wondering if you thought that was deserved?
You know, I have a real policy difference with Gov. Cuomo on the issue of how he has treated our New York state prisoners. They’re some of the most vulnerable people in the whole state because they are packed into prisons with very, very little to prevent the virus. They don’t have enough soap, they don’t have enough sanitizer, they don’t have masks, and the most insulting part of it is that the staff does! The corrections officers have that and have access to that but the poor people who are stuck in jail, don’t have access to any of that.
And like Rikers Island, I think today had 383 cases of COVID among the detainees, and I make a differentiation there between detainee and inmates because they haven’t been convicted yet, but upstate, upstate is where the governor has control, and he has done nothing, and he shot down reporters.
So I plead with the governor, to please release the — especially the elderly people who are in prison, and those who are near the end of their term, to release them from prison, because they should not be getting a death sentence simply because they are packed into these prisons. And ultimately, that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t deal with this issue immediately.
OK. And just to be clear, you’re saying he should release elderly people and people near the end of their term but would you even go further than that?
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I would. I would look at all records of people who could potentially be eligible for relief. Because very few people in New York state prisons are on life terms, and there’s no death penalty, but by leaving them in prison at this point, you know, it’s really a matter of saving their lives. And so, the whole thing needs to be examined and we need a real change there. And overall, I think he has shown a lot of leadership, but this is one of the things that I think just sticks out in my mind. They have nowhere to go and it just to be looked at.
“I have a real policy difference with Gov. Cuomo on the issue of how he has treated our New York state prisoners. They’re some of the most vulnerable people in the whole state.” - Daniel Dromm
There’ve been some reports about there being an outbreak among homeless shelters at the moment, and also in NYCHA residences. What solutions do you see for those problems?
Well, yeah, I mean, it’s very similar to the issue that we’re facing here in terms of overcrowding, within our immigrant community, and I’ve been pushing the mayor for about two and a half weeks now to open up these hotels and get people into hotels. There are enough hotels probably to house, I don’t know how many people really because I don’t have a grip on that, but to have a lot of people, let me put it that way.
And there’s been some hesitancy on the part of the De Blasio administration in that direction, although now they are finally moving in that direction…
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The other thing I’m seeing here in the community is people who are in Elmhurst Hospital, they’ve been taken in because they have severe symptoms of the virus, or they have for four or five days, maybe a little longer, but then they’re released but they have no place to go to convalesce. So you know, they go back to their overcrowded conditions where somebody else is infected and who knows, they could infect somebody else or whatever. And in some instances where people don’t even want them back into the overcrowded homes to begin with.
So we’ve been working with Mitch Katz, the head of Health and Hospitals, to at least get those folks who are being released with nowhere to go, to be aware that there is now going to be implemented this program of the availability of a hotel room for a period of convalescence. So that is supposed to be happening as of today.
What needs to be done that’s not being done when it comes to rent?
I think we have to have a rent freeze and the mayor has called for that by the Rent Guidelines Board, and I think there need to be some federal dollars because even if we have a rent freeze, it’s still not going to protect those tenants if they can’t catch up for three, six, eight, nine months, whatever it may be. To expect them then to pay back all that rent when they don’t have an income or haven’t had an income is going to be a very hard burden, particularly on my constituents, but on anybody who finds themselves in that type of situation. So a rent freeze and some type of federal balance to help with the payment of rents.
And so on April 1, you tweeted that you’ve lost five friends to the virus, and I’m very sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
And I hate to ask, but has that number grown since?
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Which is just incredible. And then, of course, I’m the councilman for the area and I’ve heard about, you know, at least two dozen, maybe almost 30 people in the community who have died.
LGBT activist Anne Quashen, right, seen here celebrating shortly before the 2019 Queens Pride Parade kick-off in Jackson Heights, Queens, recently died of the coronavirus. Jim Burke
I just found out this morning that a woman who lives in my building complex, not in my exact building, but within the complex, her name is Gloria Lippman, she died last night. She was only 75 years old. But, you know, I used to see her in the neighborhood all the time. She’d go [puts on thick New York accent] “Dannyyy! How are youuu?”
So you know, I hear of maybe one [death] a day. And it’s just too much death. It’s just too much death for anyone to bear.
Well, that was my next question. How are you bearing it? Like, what kind of toll is it taking on you?
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I try to keep moving forward. One of the people who was in the original batch of five when I tweeted that out, his name was Tarlach MacNiallais, and he was a member of the St. Pat’s For All Parade, you know, the inclusive St. Patrick’s Parade that we have here in Sunnyside, Queens. So I think that one kind of hit me the hardest because he was the one who was I was closest to.
But I also just lost one of the founding members of PFLAG Queens. Her name is Anne Quashen. She was older, she was 88. And she died on Friday afternoon.
So it’s hard to say, you know, I just keep going forward because that’s all you can do, you know. And what makes it worse is that there’s no grieving period that, you know, you can get together with people and hug and console each other.
For Tarlach, we did an online or a virtual funeral, and a virtual Irish funeral, which went on for six hours. ... There were people from Ireland on it, so ... at least you can see people that might not otherwise be able to fly here, but you realize how important those things are, you know, to the grieving process. And so without it, all you can do is just keep going and, you know, try to get up each day and do what you can to get to the end of this.
Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel now? Are we at that point?
Well, I’m always optimistic. You know, I like to say I survived one crisis, the AIDS crisis or the AIDS epidemic, right, and we survived other things as well. 9/11 and other catastrophes. … I’m of the age of Vietnam. I didn’t go to Vietnam, you know, but that was a disaster. I remember the oil crisis where you couldn’t get oil [for] your cars.
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Eventually, we came out of all of that, and it’s part of our lived experience. So, yeah, I’m hopeful. You know, I think we’ll get through this and maybe even be more united as a community, and maybe people will stop sometimes being so ugly, but that’s what I’m hoping.
Yeah, and then the last question, when this is all over and we’re back to life as normal, when you kind of imagine that situation, what’s the first thing you do to enjoy yourself as a New Yorker?
I’m going to go to a Broadway show. [Laughs.] When I heard that the Broadway theaters weren’t gonna open ’til June 7, I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s a gay man’s nightmare.’
I always love my art and my theater and stuff like that. It kind of makes life worth living. So I’m really looking forward to that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-15--Thousands of MLB Employees, Players Participating In Coronavirus Antibody Study

Thousands of Major League Baseball employees are taking part in a massive research study to better understand how widespread cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , are throughout the United States this week .
The testing will use blood obtained via finger pricks to see if participants have antibodies associated with the virus , indicating if the person has had an infection in the past even if they were asymptomatic .
A positive test would mean the person had been infected with COVID-19 , and results would be delivered in just 10 to 15 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a patient has an active coronavirus infection , but not if they have had it in the past .
The study will include up to 10,000 volunteers ranging from players and their families to part-time stadium employees and other staff members .
It is being run jointly by Stanford University , the University of Southern California and the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory , according to ESPN , which first reported the news alongside The Athletic .
Researchers hope the undertaking — which will include participants from 27 teams across the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many people in regions around America have been infected with the virus , a key data point that experts say would be needed to reopen parts of the country under social distancing or stay-at-home orders .
“ This is the first study of national scope where we ’ re going to get a read on a large number of communities throughout the United States to understand how extensive the spread of the virus has been , ” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya , a professor of medicine at Stanford and a researcher behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB was chosen because the organization “ moved by far the fastest ” and had been “ enormously cooperative and flexible.
” “ We ’ re trying to set up a scientific study that would normally take years to set up , and it ’ s going to be a matter of weeks , ” he continued .
The MLB is not paying to take part in the study , which is being funded by donors , and a spokesman for the baseball players ’ union said it was not connected to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times .
The league shut down spring training last month and there are no set plans to resume .
The test results will be gathered later this week , some of which have already been taken .
The news comes as cases of the coronavirus continue to spike around the nation .
More than 609,000 people have been infected in the U.S. , and more than 24,000 have died .

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Thousands of Major League Baseball employees are taking part in a massive research study to better understand how widespread cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, are throughout the United States this week.
The testing will use blood obtained via finger pricks to see if participants have antibodies associated with the virus, indicating if the person has had an infection in the past even if they were asymptomatic. A positive test would mean the person had been infected with COVID-19, and results would be delivered in just 10 to 15 minutes.
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Widely available testing only shows if a patient has an active coronavirus infection, but not if they have had it in the past.
The study will include up to 10,000 volunteers ranging from players and their families to part-time stadium employees and other staff members. It is being run jointly by Stanford University, the University of Southern California and the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, according to ESPN, which first reported the news alongside The Athletic.
Researchers hope the undertaking — which will include participants from 27 teams across the nation — will give a better sense of how many people in regions around America have been infected with the virus, a key data point that experts say would be needed to reopen parts of the country under social distancing or stay-at-home orders.
“This is the first study of national scope where we’re going to get a read on a large number of communities throughout the United States to understand how extensive the spread of the virus has been,” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford and a researcher behind the study, told ESPN.
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Bhattacharya said MLB was chosen because the organization “moved by far the fastest” and had been “enormously cooperative and flexible.”
“We’re trying to set up a scientific study that would normally take years to set up, and it’s going to be a matter of weeks,” he continued.
The MLB is not paying to take part in the study, which is being funded by donors, and a spokesman for the baseball players’ union said it was not connected to any type of resumption in play, per The New York Times. The league shut down spring training last month and there are no set plans to resume.
The test results will be gathered later this week, some of which have already been taken.
The news comes as cases of the coronavirus continue to spike around the nation. More than 609,000 people have been infected in the U.S., and more than 24,000 have died.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-14--Twitter Users Rip Trump For Delaying Coronavirus Stimulus Checks To Add His Name

President Donald Trump ’ s name is being added to the checks many Americans will receive as part of the stimulus package aimed at helping people during the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump is not adding his signature ― he ’ s not authorized to sign such checks ― but the Treasure Department is adding his name to the memo line along with the phrase “ Economic Impact Payment.
” It ’ s the first time a president ’ s name will appear on payments from the IRS .
The money is from a bipartisan deal passed by Congress , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRS has denied that the change will delay the checks .
However , senior officials told The Washington Post that it could slow delivery by several days .
With 17 million filing for unemployment over the past three weeks and food banks overwhelmed by crowds seeking aid as measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 shut down much of the nation , that potential delay has Trump ’ s critics fuming on social media : You are getting your money late because the President thinks it is more important that his name be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to pay your bills on time .
This is not a rhetorical flourish .
The checks are delayed .
Because Trump .
— Brian Schatz ( @ brianschatz ) April 15 , 2020 Naturally Trump the narcissist wants people to think he ’ s giving them the $ 1200 personally , a deal that Democrats negotiated for them ... so he pretends to sign the checks .
https : //t.co/IIswV9jkSY — Barbra Streisand ( @ BarbraStreisand ) April 15 , 2020 If Trump ’ s name is on the check do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realDonaldTrump https : //t.co/tvKt109kh2 — NoelCaslerComedy ( @ CaslerNoel ) April 15 , 2020 Underneath his signature should be the Trump slogan : '' I do n't take responsibility at all . ''
https : //t.co/MNb0UzqeOp — Max Boot ( @ MaxBoot ) April 15 , 2020 We should also print Trump 's name on the pink slips , and the bankruptcy notices , and the eviction and foreclosure notices .
https : //t.co/wsPwL0oGYN — Anna Galland ( @ annagalland ) April 15 , 2020 Trump 's latest act of performative authoritarianism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue here , alarming .
`` The Treasury Department has ordered President Trump ’ s name be printed on stimulus checks ... a process that is expected to slow their delivery by several days .
`` https : //t.co/sKZllriuPA — Bill Kristol ( @ BillKristol ) April 15 , 2020 Americans in financial distress will have to wait longer for financial relief because Trump has ordered the Treasury Dept .
to print his name on stimulus checks .
Also - those checks will be delivered by the United States Postal Service which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Kristen Clarke 866-OUR-VOTE ( @ KristenClarkeJD ) April 15 , 2020 This is a transparent campaign stunt .
Trump knows no one will sue to stop him since people need this money , so let ’ s make sure everyone remembers , as they get their $ 1200 check , that Trump gave his super rich buddies a huge tax cut .
https : //t.co/C7i8ayskx5 — Joyce Alene ( @ JoyceWhiteVance ) April 15 , 2020 “ The addition of his signature is expected to delay the delivery of the paper checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Shannon Watts ( @ shannonrwatts ) April 15 , 2020 Trump could n't legally sign the checks , so he put his name in the `` memo '' field .
Imagine the kind of sad , egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress .
https : //t.co/RAvj8dwdpM — Rep. Jim McGovern ( @ RepMcGovern ) April 15 , 2020 If he 's going to put his name on stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on every death certificate that resulted from his 70-day delay in taking action .
https : //t.co/iX07X0cByT — Chris Lu ( @ ChrisLu44 ) April 15 , 2020 Trump 's insistence that his name appear on the checks is slowing their delivery .
But he wants Americans to be appreciative -- even though it was Congress 's idea , it 's taxpayer 's money , and it 's too little , too late .
https : //t.co/7uyfhFzDB0 — Robert Reich ( @ RBReich ) April 15 , 2020 Put his name on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //t.co/1gribulTiQ — Bonus Also Emotionally Distant Tabatha Southey ( @ TabathaSouthey ) April 15 , 2020 I ca n't think of a better metaphor for this administration .
( BTW , the President 's signature has *never* been on checks like this before .
Adding his signature to these checks was a stipulation that Trump added to the relief bill . )
https : //t.co/ThqFCCs9RO — Dan Slott ( @ DanSlott ) April 15 , 2020 BREAKING : President Trump is ordering the Treasury to print his signature on all the stimulus checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by weeks .
What a sad little man !
— Travis Allen 🇺🇸 ( @ TravisAllen02 ) April 15 , 2020 First Trump wanted to put his signature on the coronavirus assistance checks .
But that was illegal .
So now he wants his name printed in the memo line .
That will delay the checks by weeks .
This is ridiculous.https : //t.co/F86KhsxQjs — Citizens for Ethics ( @ CREWcrew ) April 15 , 2020 Relieved to hear Mr. Trump will print His name on OUR stimulus checks .
Everything He puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
# maga # maga # magma # kaga pic.twitter.com/5aO1pbQekI — Vic Berger IV ( @ VicBergerIV ) April 15 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump’s name is being added to the checks many Americans will receive as part of the stimulus package aimed at helping people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump is not adding his signature ― he’s not authorized to sign such checks ― but the Treasure Department is adding his name to the memo line along with the phrase “Economic Impact Payment.”
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It’s the first time a president’s name will appear on payments from the IRS.
The money is from a bipartisan deal passed by Congress, not a unilateral decision by Trump.
The IRS has denied that the change will delay the checks. However, senior officials told The Washington Post that it could slow delivery by several days.
With 17 million filing for unemployment over the past three weeks and food banks overwhelmed by crowds seeking aid as measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 shut down much of the nation, that potential delay has Trump’s critics fuming on social media:
You are getting your money late because the President thinks it is more important that his name be on the check than that you are able to pay your bills on time. This is not a rhetorical flourish. The checks are delayed. Because Trump. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) April 15, 2020
Naturally Trump the narcissist wants people to think he’s giving them the $1200 personally, a deal that Democrats negotiated for them... so he pretends to sign the checks. https://t.co/IIswV9jkSY — Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) April 15, 2020
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If Trump’s name is on the check do we have to sign an NDA first? @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/tvKt109kh2 — NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) April 15, 2020
Underneath his signature should be the Trump slogan:
"I don't take responsibility at all." https://t.co/MNb0UzqeOp — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) April 15, 2020
We should also print Trump's name on the pink slips, and the bankruptcy notices, and the eviction and foreclosure notices. https://t.co/wsPwL0oGYN — Anna Galland (@annagalland) April 15, 2020
Trump's latest act of performative authoritarianism is trivial--yet, as I argue here, alarming.
"The Treasury Department has ordered President Trump’s name be printed on stimulus checks...a process that is expected to slow their delivery by several days."https://t.co/sKZllriuPA — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 15, 2020
Americans in financial distress will have to wait longer for financial relief because Trump has ordered the Treasury Dept. to print his name on stimulus checks.
Also - those checks will be delivered by the United States Postal Service which is on the verge of financial collapse. — Kristen Clarke 866-OUR-VOTE (@KristenClarkeJD) April 15, 2020
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This is a transparent campaign stunt. Trump knows no one will sue to stop him since people need this money, so let’s make sure everyone remembers, as they get their $1200 check, that Trump gave his super rich buddies a huge tax cut. https://t.co/C7i8ayskx5 — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 15, 2020
“The addition of his signature is expected to delay the delivery of the paper checks by several days.” https://t.co/nd2d6q6EkL — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) April 15, 2020
Trump couldn't legally sign the checks, so he put his name in the "memo" field.
Imagine the kind of sad, egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress. https://t.co/RAvj8dwdpM — Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) April 15, 2020
If he's going to put his name on stimulus checks, then his name also belongs on every death certificate that resulted from his 70-day delay in taking action. https://t.co/iX07X0cByT — Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) April 15, 2020
Trump's insistence that his name appear on the checks is slowing their delivery. But he wants Americans to be appreciative -- even though it was Congress's idea, it's taxpayer's money, and it's too little, too late. https://t.co/7uyfhFzDB0 — Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 15, 2020
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Put his name on the death certificates as well. https://t.co/1gribulTiQ — Bonus Also Emotionally Distant Tabatha Southey (@TabathaSouthey) April 15, 2020
I can't think of a better metaphor for this administration.
(BTW, the President's signature has *never* been on checks like this before. Adding his signature to these checks was a stipulation that Trump added to the relief bill.) https://t.co/ThqFCCs9RO — Dan Slott (@DanSlott) April 15, 2020
BREAKING: President Trump is ordering the Treasury to print his signature on all the stimulus checks which will cause them to be delayed by weeks.
What a sad little man! — Travis Allen 🇺🇸 (@TravisAllen02) April 15, 2020
First Trump wanted to put his signature on the coronavirus assistance checks.
But that was illegal.
So now he wants his name printed in the memo line.
That will delay the checks by weeks.
This is ridiculous.https://t.co/F86KhsxQjs — Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 15, 2020
He signing everything now. pic.twitter.com/LCgZvVRLDw — Dave Pell (@davepell) April 15, 2020
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Relieved to hear Mr. Trump will print His name on OUR stimulus checks. Everything He puts His name on does very very great! #maga #maga #magma #kaga pic.twitter.com/5aO1pbQekI — Vic Berger IV (@VicBergerIV) April 15, 2020
Trump’s going to expect Thank You! cards for those personal checks he’s writing. — Schooley (@Rschooley) April 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-14--Trump's Name Will Appear On Stimulus Checks

President Donald Trump ’ s name will be printed on the economic stimulus checks that will be distributed by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals to help mitigate losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic , The Washington Post reported Tuesday .
The addition , which was ordered by the Treasury Department , is expected to delay the delivery of paper checks by several days , according to the Post , which cited unnamed senior agency officials .
The phrase “ President Donald J. Trump ” will be printed in a memo line on the left side of the checks ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , below a line that says “ Economic Impact Payment.
” After the IRS adjusts its printing technology for this addition , tens of millions of Americans are expected to receive these checks in the mail in the coming weeks .
In response to the reports , the Treasury said in a statement Wednesday that the stimulus checks are scheduled to go out with no delay .
“ Economic Impact Payment checks are scheduled to go out on time and exactly as planned — there is no delay whatsoever , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by The Associated Press .
“ In fact , we expect the first checks to be in the mail early next week , which is well in advance of when the first checks went out in 2008 and well in advance of initial estimates.
” The decision to add Trump ’ s name to the checks was reportedly finalized late Monday and announced to the IRS ’ s information technology team on Tuesday , the Post reported , citing a Treasury Department official .
This is the first time a president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the IRS .
The checks are a part of the government ’ s $ 2 trillion effort to stimulate the tanking economy as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down much of the country .
The IRS will need to add computer coding to include Trump ’ s name in the checks ’ printing process , then test the system before sending out the checks , according to the Post .
The newspaper also reported that Trump privately suggested to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the president should sign the stimulus checks .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized signer for payments made by the Treasury .
Sen. Brian Schatz ( D-Hawaii ) said in a tweet that Trump was directly causing the delay of these checks to Americans who need them to continue paying bills .
“ You are getting your money late because the President thinks it is more important that his name be on the check than that you are able to pay your bills on time , ” Schatz tweeted .
“ This is not a rhetorical flourish .
The checks are delayed .
Because Trump.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President thinks it is more important that his name be on the check than that you are able to pay your bills on time .
This is not a rhetorical flourish .
The checks are delayed .
Because Trump .
— Brian Schatz ( @ brianschatz ) April 15 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump’s name will be printed on the economic stimulus checks that will be distributed by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals to help mitigate losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The addition, which was ordered by the Treasury Department, is expected to delay the delivery of paper checks by several days, according to the Post, which cited unnamed senior agency officials. The phrase “President Donald J. Trump” will be printed in a memo line on the left side of the checks (most will total $1,200 for individuals), below a line that says “Economic Impact Payment.”
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After the IRS adjusts its printing technology for this addition, tens of millions of Americans are expected to receive these checks in the mail in the coming weeks.
NBC News also confirmed the report Tuesday night.
In response to the reports, the Treasury said in a statement Wednesday that the stimulus checks are scheduled to go out with no delay.
“Economic Impact Payment checks are scheduled to go out on time and exactly as planned — there is no delay whatsoever,” the Treasury said in its statement, as reported by The Associated Press. “In fact, we expect the first checks to be in the mail early next week, which is well in advance of when the first checks went out in 2008 and well in advance of initial estimates.”
President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing ceremony March 27 for the CARES Act, an economic stimulus package meant to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Erin Schaff/pool/Getty Images
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The decision to add Trump’s name to the checks was reportedly finalized late Monday and announced to the IRS’s information technology team on Tuesday, the Post reported, citing a Treasury Department official.
This is the first time a president’s name will appear on a payment from the IRS.
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The checks are a part of the government’s $2 trillion effort to stimulate the tanking economy as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down much of the country. The IRS will need to add computer coding to include Trump’s name in the checks’ printing process, then test the system before sending out the checks, according to the Post.
The newspaper also reported that Trump privately suggested to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the president should sign the stimulus checks. However, the U.S. president is not an authorized signer for payments made by the Treasury.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said in a tweet that Trump was directly causing the delay of these checks to Americans who need them to continue paying bills.
“You are getting your money late because the President thinks it is more important that his name be on the check than that you are able to pay your bills on time,” Schatz tweeted. “This is not a rhetorical flourish. The checks are delayed. Because Trump.”
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You are getting your money late because the President thinks it is more important that his name be on the check than that you are able to pay your bills on time. This is not a rhetorical flourish. The checks are delayed. Because Trump. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) April 15, 2020
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) described the addition as an “unprecedented, cheap political stunt.”
Coming to your $1,200 relief check: Donald J. Trump’s name// unprecedented,cheap political stunt by our Barnum’N Bailey ringmaster,our Joe Exotic!Gives Charlatan a bad name.#TrumpMadness #CARESAct https://t.co/BXwKgiWAKz — Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) April 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-14--Pelosi Urges Americans To Ignore Lies And ‘A Weak Person Who Blames Others’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) assailed the Trump administration ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic in a letter to Democratic colleagues on Tuesday , saying the American people must instead “ insist and act on the truth ” as the nation reels from the ongoing crisis .
“ This is an unbearably sad time with all Americans sharing the same devastating experience : we are grieving for those who have died from the coronavirus , we are fearful for our health and especially the health of our loved ones and we are heartbroken for our children who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their friends , ” Pelosi wrote in a “ Dear Colleague ” letter .
“ We will overcome this moment , but success requires one fundamental from which all actions will follow : we need the truth .
To succeed in this crisis , we must insist on the truth , and we must act upon it !
” Now more than ever , we need the truth .
And the truth is that Donald Trump dismantled the infrastructure handed to him which was meant to plan for and overcome a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster .
— Nancy Pelosi ( @ SpeakerPelosi ) April 15 , 2020 The lawmaker ’ s comments come as cases of COVID-19 continue to spread around the nation .
More than 600,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 24,400 have died .
New York City revised its own estimates this week , saying more than 10,000 of those fatalities were among its residents .
At the same time , President Donald Trump has grown increasingly aggressive in his response to the pandemic , casting blame on governors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what critics have said was a slow national response as cases of the coronavirus first appeared in the U.S. On Tuesday he said he planned to temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the pandemic , saying he felt the agency had “ failed in its basic duty ” and “ must be held accountable.
” Pelosi rejected the president ’ s efforts to deflect responsibility on Tuesday , noting that despite cries from health officials who have struggled to obtain testing materials and personal protective equipment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The truth is that in January , Donald Trump was warned about this pandemic , ignored those warnings , took insufficient action and caused unnecessary death and disaster , ” she wrote , later stating : “ The truth is a weak person , a poor leader , takes no responsibility .
A weak person blames others.
” The speaker continued to say she was confident America would elevate “ competent and honest leaders ” who were “ fully capable of making the right choices , ” a nod to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of their states to keep people indoors and tamp down the spread of the virus .
But Pelosi warned that without aggressive action to support the nation ’ s health professionals and heed science , “ more lives will be lost.
” “ If we are not working from the truth … economic hardship and suffering will be extended unnecessarily and our children will not be safe , happy and learning , ” Pelosi warned .
“ Our future will be healthy and prosperous if we no longer tolerate lies and deceit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we must speak the truth , we must insist on the truth and we must and will act upon it .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) assailed the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in a letter to Democratic colleagues on Tuesday, saying the American people must instead “insist and act on the truth” as the nation reels from the ongoing crisis.
“This is an unbearably sad time with all Americans sharing the same devastating experience: we are grieving for those who have died from the coronavirus, we are fearful for our health and especially the health of our loved ones and we are heartbroken for our children who are unable to be in school and with their friends,” Pelosi wrote in a “Dear Colleague” letter. “We will overcome this moment, but success requires one fundamental from which all actions will follow: we need the truth. To succeed in this crisis, we must insist on the truth, and we must act upon it!”
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Now more than ever, we need the truth. And the truth is that Donald Trump dismantled the infrastructure handed to him which was meant to plan for and overcome a pandemic, resulting in unnecessary deaths and economic disaster. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 15, 2020
The lawmaker’s comments come as cases of COVID-19 continue to spread around the nation. More than 600,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 24,400 have died. New York City revised its own estimates this week, saying more than 10,000 of those fatalities were among its residents.
At the same time, President Donald Trump has grown increasingly aggressive in his response to the pandemic, casting blame on governors, reporters and international health officials rather than what critics have said was a slow national response as cases of the coronavirus first appeared in the U.S. On Tuesday he said he planned to temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the pandemic, saying he felt the agency had “failed in its basic duty” and “must be held accountable.”
Pelosi rejected the president’s efforts to deflect responsibility on Tuesday, noting that despite cries from health officials who have struggled to obtain testing materials and personal protective equipment, many of those pleas have gone unanswered.
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“The truth is that in January, Donald Trump was warned about this pandemic, ignored those warnings, took insufficient action and caused unnecessary death and disaster,” she wrote, later stating: “The truth is a weak person, a poor leader, takes no responsibility. A weak person blames others.”
The speaker continued to say she was confident America would elevate “competent and honest leaders” who were “fully capable of making the right choices,” a nod to a network of governors who have leveraged the power of their states to keep people indoors and tamp down the spread of the virus. But Pelosi warned that without aggressive action to support the nation’s health professionals and heed science, “more lives will be lost.”
The truth is a weak person, a poor leader, takes no responsibility. A weak person blames others. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 15, 2020
“If we are not working from the truth … economic hardship and suffering will be extended unnecessarily and our children will not be safe, happy and learning,” Pelosi warned. “Our future will be healthy and prosperous if we no longer tolerate lies and deceit. We must recognize the truth, we must speak the truth, we must insist on the truth and we must and will act upon it.”