thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Texas Lt. Gov. On Reopening U.S. Economy: 'More Important Things Than Living'

Texas Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick ( R ) on Monday made the eyebrow-raising claim that “ there are more important things than living ” as part of his continued push to reopen the U.S. economy , despite warnings from public health experts .
“ We ’ re crushing the average worker , ” Patrick told Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson .
“ We ’ re crushing small businesses .
We ’ re crushing the markets .
We ’ re crushing this country .
...
There are more important things than living , and that ’ s saving this country.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to die , nobody wants to die , ” he added .
“ But we got ta take some risks and get back in the game and get this country back up and running.
” With more than 788,000 confirmed cases , the U.S. has the most known coronavirus infections in the world by far .
At least 42,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 .
Texas has the 10th-highest number of confirmed cases of any state in the U.S. , with more than 20,000 .
There have been at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) announced plans to allow some retail businesses to reopen this Friday .
Texans have been under statewide stay-at-home order since April 2 .
The coronavirus has indeed devastated the U.S. economy .
More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March .
Retail sales fell a record 8.7 % last month , far outpacing the previous record decline of 3.9 % , which occurred during the Great Recession in November 2008 .
But medical experts and public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb the spread of the virus too early could have disastrous effects .
Per President Donald Trump ’ s guidelines for reopening parts of the U.S. announced last week , state officials must confirm a two-week downward trend in documented cases , as well as ensure adequate hospital and testing capacity .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) , chair of the National Governors Association , told CNN on Sunday that Trump ’ s claim that states have enough tests to ease restrictions was “ absolutely false.
” Patrick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told Fox News that there are “ lots of grandparents ” who would be willing to die to save the U.S. economy .
“ My message is that let ’ s get back to work , let ’ s get back to living , let ’ s be smart about it , ” Patrick said at the time .
“ And those of us who are 70-plus , we ’ ll take care of ourselves.
” “ I ’ m sorry to say that I was right on this , ” Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are now , Tucker , finally beginning to open up Texas and other states because it ’ s been long overdue.
” “ Let ’ s face reality of where we are : In Texas , we have 29 million people .
We ’ ve lost 495 , ” he added .
“ Every life is valuable , but 500 people out of 29 million and we ’ re locked down .
”

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Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) on Monday made the eyebrow-raising claim that “there are more important things than living” as part of his continued push to reopen the U.S. economy, despite warnings from public health experts.
“We’re crushing the average worker,” Patrick told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. “We’re crushing small businesses. We’re crushing the markets. We’re crushing this country. ... There are more important things than living, and that’s saving this country.”
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“I don’t want to die, nobody wants to die,” he added. “But we gotta take some risks and get back in the game and get this country back up and running.”
TX Lt Gov Dan Patrick: "There are more important things than living ... I dont want to die, nobody wants to die but man we've got to take some risks" pic.twitter.com/dRTF8Moav4 — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 21, 2020
With more than 788,000 confirmed cases, the U.S. has the most known coronavirus infections in the world by far. At least 42,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19. Texas has the 10th-highest number of confirmed cases of any state in the U.S., with more than 20,000. There have been at least 523 virus-related deaths in the state.
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced plans to allow some retail businesses to reopen this Friday. Texans have been under statewide stay-at-home order since April 2.
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The coronavirus has indeed devastated the U.S. economy. More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March. Retail sales fell a record 8.7% last month, far outpacing the previous record decline of 3.9%, which occurred during the Great Recession in November 2008.
But medical experts and public health officials have warned that easing social distancing measures meant to curb the spread of the virus too early could have disastrous effects.
Per President Donald Trump’s guidelines for reopening parts of the U.S. announced last week, state officials must confirm a two-week downward trend in documented cases, as well as ensure adequate hospital and testing capacity.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), chair of the National Governors Association, told CNN on Sunday that Trump’s claim that states have enough tests to ease restrictions was “absolutely false.”
Patrick, 70, sparked backlash last month when he told Fox News that there are “lots of grandparents” who would be willing to die to save the U.S. economy.
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“My message is that let’s get back to work, let’s get back to living, let’s be smart about it,” Patrick said at the time. “And those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves.”
Patrick told Carlson on Monday that he had been “right” about the economy.
“I’m sorry to say that I was right on this,” Patrick said. “I’m thankful that we are now, Tucker, finally beginning to open up Texas and other states because it’s been long overdue.”
“Let’s face reality of where we are: In Texas, we have 29 million people. We’ve lost 495,” he added. “Every life is valuable, but 500 people out of 29 million and we’re locked down.”
Experts say the stay-at-home orders have helped Texas and other states avoid overwhelming their health care systems, reported The Texas Tribune.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Republican-Led Senate Panel Backs Intelligence Findings On Russian Interference

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A bipartisan Senate report released Tuesday confirms the U.S. intelligence community ’ s conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to sow chaos .
Senators warned that it could happen again this presidential election year .
The heavily redacted report from the Senate Intelligence Committee is part of the panel ’ s more than three-year investigation into the Russian interference .
The intelligence agencies concluded in January 2017 that Russians had engaged in cyber-espionage and distributed messages through Russian-controlled propaganda outlets to undermine public faith in the democratic process , hurt Democratic candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump has repeatedly questioned the assessment , which was also confirmed by former special counsel Robert Mueller in his report last year .
Mueller concluded that Russian interference was “ sweeping and systematic , ” but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign .
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr , R-N.C. , said in a statement that his panel “ found no reason to dispute ” the intelligence community ’ s conclusions , saying they reflected strong tradecraft and analytical reasoning .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ the new normal ” has been borne out in the three years since it was published .
“ With the 2020 presidential election approaching , it ’ s more important than ever that we remain vigilant against the threat of interference from hostile foreign actors , ” Burr said .
The Senate report endorsed the core conclusions of the intelligence community assessment that Russia had interfered on a grand scale in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the interference .
“ The Committee found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessments support the assessment that President Putin approved and directed aspects of this influence campaign , ” the Senate report states .
The panel also said it found that the intelligence community had presented sufficient information to support its conclusion that Russia had developed a preference for Trump over Clinton in the election .
The Senate report includes a two-page statement from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden , who says the committee ’ s work makes clear that the intelligence community ’ s findings on Russian interference are “ not a ‘ hoax ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Russian interference in the 2016 election is a fact , and Donald Trump ’ s deference to Putin only serves to further Russian disinformation and undermine efforts to defend the United States against ongoing attacks , ” Wyden wrote .
The final report comes almost two years after the panel first released its findings agreeing with the intelligence community ’ s 2017 conclusions .
The report was delayed as intelligence agencies reviewed it for declassification , and much of the report remains redacted .
To write the report , the committee reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews with intelligence officials .
This is the fourth of five reports the Senate panel will release on the meddling .
Previous reports reviewed Russian efforts to breach state election systems and manipulate social media , and made recommendations to prevent more interference in the future .
Another examined the mistakes of former President Barack Obama ’ s administration as Russia interfered .
The committee ’ s fifth , and final , report will examine counterintelligence findings , including whether Trump ’ s campaign conspired with Russia .
It ’ s unclear when @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate report released Tuesday confirms the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to sow chaos. Senators warned that it could happen again this presidential election year.
The heavily redacted report from the Senate Intelligence Committee is part of the panel’s more than three-year investigation into the Russian interference. The intelligence agencies concluded in January 2017 that Russians had engaged in cyber-espionage and distributed messages through Russian-controlled propaganda outlets to undermine public faith in the democratic process, hurt Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump.
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President Trump has repeatedly questioned the assessment, which was also confirmed by former special counsel Robert Mueller in his report last year. Mueller concluded that Russian interference was “sweeping and systematic,” but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., said in a statement that his panel “found no reason to dispute” the intelligence community’s conclusions, saying they reflected strong tradecraft and analytical reasoning. He said the agencies’ conclusion that such election interference is “the new normal” has been borne out in the three years since it was published.
“With the 2020 presidential election approaching, it’s more important than ever that we remain vigilant against the threat of interference from hostile foreign actors,” Burr said.
The Senate report endorsed the core conclusions of the intelligence community assessment that Russia had interfered on a grand scale in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the interference. “The Committee found that specific intelligence as well as open source assessments support the assessment that President Putin approved and directed aspects of this influence campaign,” the Senate report states.
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The panel also said it found that the intelligence community had presented sufficient information to support its conclusion that Russia had developed a preference for Trump over Clinton in the election.
The Senate report includes a two-page statement from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who says the committee’s work makes clear that the intelligence community’s findings on Russian interference are “not a ‘hoax’” just because Putin denies it.
“Russian interference in the 2016 election is a fact, and Donald Trump’s deference to Putin only serves to further Russian disinformation and undermine efforts to defend the United States against ongoing attacks,” Wyden wrote.
The final report comes almost two years after the panel first released its findings agreeing with the intelligence community’s 2017 conclusions. The report was delayed as intelligence agencies reviewed it for declassification, and much of the report remains redacted. To write the report, the committee reviewed thousands of pages of documents and conducted interviews with intelligence officials.
This is the fourth of five reports the Senate panel will release on the meddling. Previous reports reviewed Russian efforts to breach state election systems and manipulate social media, and made recommendations to prevent more interference in the future. Another examined the mistakes of former President Barack Obama’s administration as Russia interfered.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Congress Reaches Deal On New Coronavirus Small Business Loan Package

WASHINGTON ― After nearly two weeks of partisan blame games , Republicans and Democrats in Congress announced a deal on Tuesday that would replenish the new loan program for small businesses struggling from the coronavirus pandemic .
On top of $ 310 billion for small business loans , the tentative agreement would also provide $ 75 billion for hospitals , $ 60 billion for economic disaster loans , and $ 25 billion to expand coronavirus testing .
Despite President Donald Trump ’ s claim that “ anybody that wants a test can get a test , ” the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing .
Democrats had insisted on getting more than just a replenishment of money for small businesses in this round of coronavirus relief , which lawmakers are calling “ Phase 3.5.
” The hospital funding , increased money for testing , and economic disaster loans were all important Democratic priorities .
But Democrats didn ’ t get some key elements they wanted in this round of aid .
The new deal does not include a boost to food benefits for the financially needy , nor does it provide additional aid to city and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in debt amid the stalled economy But at $ 480 billion , the “ interim ” coronavirus relief package is nearly twice as large as Republicans initially proposed .
And despite already passing three bills related to coronavirus relief ― this would be the fourth ― congressional leaders are already saying there will need to be an even larger response measure in the coming weeks .
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program , a $ 350 billion anti-layoff initiative , as part of last month ’ s $ 2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program was open to any business with fewer than 500 employees , provided they keep workers on their payroll .
Dozens of large publicly owned companies and some restaurant chains were also approved for loans , however , prompting bipartisan criticism of the program on Capitol Hill .
“ It is absolutely surreal to see Democratic leaders treat support for workers and small businesses as something they need to be goaded into supporting , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said last week .
But Democrats held firm and prevailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserved for minority communities and businesses that didn ’ t have prior relationships with lenders .
Under the terms of the agreement , $ 60 billion will be set aside for lending institutions with assets under $ 50 billion such as community banks ― and $ 30 billion of that money is set aside for banks with less than $ 10 billion .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) said Monday she would not support the bill , though she may still change her mind after seeing the actual deal .
And Progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said liberals in Congress had “ real concerns ” about giving away leverage on this deal without addressing issues like relief for state and local governments .
The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday under a unanimous consent request .
And the full House could take action on the package as early as Thursday , sending it to Trump ’ s desk for his signature .
( Rep. Thomas Massie ( R-Ky. ) has signaled that he will insist on a recorded vote , requiring at least half of House lawmakers to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , are warning lawmakers that the program will be quickly exhausted even with the new injection of funds ― perhaps only in a matter of days .
“ This is going to go within , at most , 72 hours , ” said Consumer Bankers Association President Richard Hunt , who represents large banks .
“ But the odds are more like 48 hours .
”

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WASHINGTON ― After nearly two weeks of partisan blame games, Republicans and Democrats in Congress announced a deal on Tuesday that would replenish the new loan program for small businesses struggling from the coronavirus pandemic.
On top of $310 billion for small business loans, the tentative agreement would also provide $75 billion for hospitals, $60 billion for economic disaster loans, and $25 billion to expand coronavirus testing. Despite President Donald Trump’s claim that “anybody that wants a test can get a test,” the United States has continually lagged behind other countries in testing.
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Democrats had insisted on getting more than just a replenishment of money for small businesses in this round of coronavirus relief, which lawmakers are calling “Phase 3.5.” The hospital funding, increased money for testing, and economic disaster loans were all important Democratic priorities.
But Democrats didn’t get some key elements they wanted in this round of aid. The new deal does not include a boost to food benefits for the financially needy, nor does it provide additional aid to city and state governments who have taken on billions in debt amid the stalled economy
“We will fight for that [in the next bill] very strongly,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday on MSNBC.
But at $480 billion, the “interim” coronavirus relief package is nearly twice as large as Republicans initially proposed. And despite already passing three bills related to coronavirus relief ― this would be the fourth ― congressional leaders are already saying there will need to be an even larger response measure in the coming weeks.
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Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, a $350 billion anti-layoff initiative, as part of last month’s $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The program was open to any business with fewer than 500 employees, provided they keep workers on their payroll. Dozens of large publicly owned companies and some restaurant chains were also approved for loans, however, prompting bipartisan criticism of the program on Capitol Hill.
Republicans excoriated Democrats for blocking quick action to approve more funds to the program, which ran dry and ceased functioning last week.
“It is absolutely surreal to see Democratic leaders treat support for workers and small businesses as something they need to be goaded into supporting,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said last week.
But Democrats held firm and prevailed in their demands that new funds be reserved for minority communities and businesses that didn’t have prior relationships with lenders. Under the terms of the agreement, $60 billion will be set aside for lending institutions with assets under $50 billion such as community banks ― and $30 billion of that money is set aside for banks with less than $10 billion.
It’s an open question, however, whether the concessions Democrats won will be enough for some progressives.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Monday she would not support the bill, though she may still change her mind after seeing the actual deal. And Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said liberals in Congress had “real concerns” about giving away leverage on this deal without addressing issues like relief for state and local governments.
Still, the measure should garner broad bipartisan support and pass easily.
The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday under a unanimous consent request. And the full House could take action on the package as early as Thursday, sending it to Trump’s desk for his signature. (Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has signaled that he will insist on a recorded vote, requiring at least half of House lawmakers to be in town to vote.)
Banks, meanwhile, are warning lawmakers that the program will be quickly exhausted even with the new injection of funds ― perhaps only in a matter of days.
“This is going to go within, at most, 72 hours,” said Consumer Bankers Association President Richard Hunt, who represents large banks. “But the odds are more like 48 hours.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Officials Link 7 Wisconsin Coronavirus Cases To In-Person Voting

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) — Officials have identified seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus through activities related to the April 7 election in Wisconsin .
Shawn Benjamin , a spokesman for the Milwaukee health department , said in an email to The Associated Press that his agency has confirmed the infections .
Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik said six of the cases involve Milwaukee voters and one is a Milwaukee poll worker , the Journal Sentinel reported .
Officials hope to have additional information on the cases by the end of the week , including whether any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s five polling places or if any resulted in death , Kowalik said Monday .
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Monday that there were no signs of a surge in cases related to the election as some feared .
Palm noted , however , that if cases do exist symptoms may not have appeared yet .
Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers ’ spokeswoman , Melissa Baldauff , didn ’ t immediately respond to an email Tuesday morning seeking comment on the Milwaukee infections .
Health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks of exposure to the virus , and Tuesday is the 14th day since the election .
That means more voters and poll workers could come forward with infections in the coming days .
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people , but for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or death .
To date , 230 people have died in Wisconsin and nearly 4,500 have tested positive .
Wisconsin officials refused to postpone the spring election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Evers and Republicans initially agreed that in-person voting should go on as scheduled .
Both Evers and the GOP said the ballot included hundreds of local officials whose terms end in April and a delay could leave crucial local offices vacant during the pandemic .
Democrats and their allies ramped up pressure on Evers to postpone the proceedings as election day drew near .
Evers issued an executive order the day before the election pushing in-person voting back to June but the conservative-leaning state Supreme Court struck it down within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls in Milwaukee stood in long lines , many for several hours , to cast their ballots .
Many had no protective gear .
And thousands of Wisconsin voters stayed home , unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived .
Wisconsin ’ s election has been a flashpoint of contention as Democrats and Republicans grapple with how to conduct elections in the coronavirus era as the November presidential race approaches .
Democrats and voting rights groups have filed lawsuits to expand mail and absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra $ 2 billion to help states adjust their election systems .
National Republicans are fighting those efforts , while President Donald Trump claims without evidence that mail-in voting is vulnerable to fraud .

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Officials have identified seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus through activities related to the April 7 election in Wisconsin.
Shawn Benjamin, a spokesman for the Milwaukee health department, said in an email to The Associated Press that his agency has confirmed the infections. Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik said six of the cases involve Milwaukee voters and one is a Milwaukee poll worker, the Journal Sentinel reported.
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Officials hope to have additional information on the cases by the end of the week, including whether any of them were concentrated in any of the city’s five polling places or if any resulted in death, Kowalik said Monday.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Monday that there were no signs of a surge in cases related to the election as some feared. Palm noted, however, that if cases do exist symptoms may not have appeared yet. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ spokeswoman, Melissa Baldauff, didn’t immediately respond to an email Tuesday morning seeking comment on the Milwaukee infections.
Health officials say symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear within two weeks of exposure to the virus, and Tuesday is the 14th day since the election. That means more voters and poll workers could come forward with infections in the coming days.
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. To date, 230 people have died in Wisconsin and nearly 4,500 have tested positive.
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Wisconsin officials refused to postpone the spring election to protect voters and poll workers from the virus. Evers and Republicans initially agreed that in-person voting should go on as scheduled. Both Evers and the GOP said the ballot included hundreds of local officials whose terms end in April and a delay could leave crucial local offices vacant during the pandemic.
Democrats and their allies ramped up pressure on Evers to postpone the proceedings as election day drew near. Evers issued an executive order the day before the election pushing in-person voting back to June but the conservative-leaning state Supreme Court struck it down within hours.
Voters who went to the polls in Milwaukee stood in long lines, many for several hours, to cast their ballots. Many had no protective gear. And thousands of Wisconsin voters stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.
Aides for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald — both Republicans — didn’t respond to emails Tuesday seeking comment on the seven election-related infections.
Wisconsin’s election has been a flashpoint of contention as Democrats and Republicans grapple with how to conduct elections in the coronavirus era as the November presidential race approaches.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Trump's Hoax: Obama Didn't Predict This Coronavirus And Design A Test For It

Or so claims President Donald Trump , who in his struggles to explain why he downplayed a deadly new virus for two months as his administration failed to come up with a robust testing plan has resorted to blaming predecessor Obama ― for failing to develop a test for a disease that would not come into existence until three years after he left office .
One GOP pollster who spoke on condition of anonymity said blaming Obama is clearly designed for consumption by Trump ’ s hard-core supporters .
Trump and his political team “ are all about the care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ That ’ s who he is.
” Douglas Brinkley , a historian at Rice University , said presidents have long blamed predecessors to explain away their own troubles .
“ But Trump ’ s taking it to where anything he does wrong is Barack Obama ’ s fault is beyond childish , ” Brinkley said .
“ It ’ s just kind of Trump ’ s insanity unspooling right in front of us.
” Trump has lied repeatedly about the pandemic and his handling of it , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take responsibility at all ” for the federal response and the more than 43,000 Americans the disease has killed so far .
But his blaming of Obama for not devising a suitable test defies both common sense and the laws of temporal physics .
Tests for viruses are unique to each particular strain .
And this new coronavirus , believed to have originated in bats , did not infect its first human until October or November 2019 .
Chinese scientists did not publish its gene sequence until Jan. 10 of this year – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama left office .
It remains unclear why , under Trump , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not adopt that test , at least as a back-up , while it struggled over the next month to develop a working version of its own .
But those lost weeks crippled U.S. efforts to contain the virus to cities where it first emerged in the U.S. , and could wind up leading to tens of thousands of more deaths than might have occurred had there been a timely deployment of tests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these folks .
It ’ s sad .
Former Rep. Joe Walsh ( R-Ill. ) , who briefly sought the 2020 GOP presidential nomination .
Trump , nevertheless , continues to insist he has done a great job .
Each time he has been asked about the problems with testing , he has blamed Obama .
Early on , he falsely blamed him for a regulation that he claimed slowed the production of tests , even though that regulation had never been formally adopted .
But that soon transitioned to repeated ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left a “ broken ” and “ obsolete system ” for developing and manufacturing tests , which then went even further to claims that Obama failed to develop a test for this particular virus .
“ The original test , the ones we inherited … they were broken .
They were obsolete .
They were not good tests , ” Trump said at an April 3 White House coronavirus briefing , a venue the president frequently turns into a lengthy session to complain about negative press coverage and to deflect blame .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving a fully-stocked national stockpile of medical supplies ― “ Our cupboards were bare , ” he said Saturday , as he has in many of his briefings .
But he failed to acknowledge that Republicans in Congress refused to approve Obama administration requests to replenish the stockpile of N95 respirator masks depleted in the 2009-10 H1N1 swine flu pandemic .
More important , Trump fails to address why his administration did not act to replenish that stockpile in the three-plus years he has been in office .
Jason Miller , a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who remains an informal adviser , said the president was able to blame “ career politicians ” from both parties in the past , but that doing so for this pandemic is much harder .
“ People understand decades of terrible trade deals , ” he said .
“ Tougher job to explain lack of preparedness during Obama-Biden years.
” Ornstein pointed to Trump ’ s willingness to ride the lie that Obama was an illegitimate president because he was actually born in Kenya to a prominent role within the modern GOP .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disdain for Obama , so it is another way for him to get resonance with that base , ” Ornstein said .

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WASHINGTON ― On top of being a bad president and possibly a Kenyan, Barack Obama was also a terrible psychic.
Or so claims President Donald Trump, who in his struggles to explain why he downplayed a deadly new virus for two months as his administration failed to come up with a robust testing plan has resorted to blaming predecessor Obama ― for failing to develop a test for a disease that would not come into existence until three years after he left office.
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“Maybe (Obama) knew it was coming, but he and the ‘Deep State’ kept the cupboards bare,” joked Joe Walsh, a former Republican House member from Illinois who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 GOP nomination.
White House officials did not respond to HuffPost queries on the matter.
One GOP pollster who spoke on condition of anonymity said blaming Obama is clearly designed for consumption by Trump’s hard-core supporters. Trump and his political team “are all about the care and feeding of his base,” he said. “That’s who he is.”
Douglas Brinkley, a historian at Rice University, said presidents have long blamed predecessors to explain away their own troubles. “But Trump’s taking it to where anything he does wrong is Barack Obama’s fault is beyond childish,” Brinkley said. “It’s just kind of Trump’s insanity unspooling right in front of us.”
Trump has lied repeatedly about the pandemic and his handling of it, and has already stated that he does not “take responsibility at all” for the federal response and the more than 43,000 Americans the disease has killed so far. But his blaming of Obama for not devising a suitable test defies both common sense and the laws of temporal physics.
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Tests for viruses are unique to each particular strain. And this new coronavirus, believed to have originated in bats, did not infect its first human until October or November 2019. Chinese scientists did not publish its gene sequence until Jan. 10 of this year – just days shy of three years after Obama left office.
The first test was created by German researchers and made available by the World Health Organization to the international community on Jan. 17.
It remains unclear why, under Trump, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not adopt that test, at least as a back-up, while it struggled over the next month to develop a working version of its own. But those lost weeks crippled U.S. efforts to contain the virus to cities where it first emerged in the U.S., and could wind up leading to tens of thousands of more deaths than might have occurred had there been a timely deployment of tests.
“Obama will always be the perfect boogeyman for these folks. It’s sad.” - Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who briefly sought the 2020 GOP presidential nomination.
Trump, nevertheless, continues to insist he has done a great job. Each time he has been asked about the problems with testing, he has blamed Obama. Early on, he falsely blamed him for a regulation that he claimed slowed the production of tests, even though that regulation had never been formally adopted.
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But that soon transitioned to repeated ― and false ― claims that Obama had left a “broken” and “obsolete system” for developing and manufacturing tests, which then went even further to claims that Obama failed to develop a test for this particular virus.
“The original test, the ones we inherited … they were broken. They were obsolete. They were not good tests,” Trump said at an April 3 White House coronavirus briefing, a venue the president frequently turns into a lengthy session to complain about negative press coverage and to deflect blame.
“We inherited broken testing. We inherited nothing. What we inherited from the previous administration was totally broken,” he said at a briefing 10 days later.
At last Saturday’s briefing, he said: “I inherited broken junk.”
Trump has also repeatedly blamed Obama for not leaving a fully-stocked national stockpile of medical supplies ― “Our cupboards were bare,” he said Saturday, as he has in many of his briefings. But he failed to acknowledge that Republicans in Congress refused to approve Obama administration requests to replenish the stockpile of N95 respirator masks depleted in the 2009-10 H1N1 swine flu pandemic. More important, Trump fails to address why his administration did not act to replenish that stockpile in the three-plus years he has been in office.
Jason Miller, a top aide to Trump’s 2016 campaign who remains an informal adviser, said the president was able to blame “career politicians” from both parties in the past, but that doing so for this pandemic is much harder. “People understand decades of terrible trade deals,” he said. “Tougher job to explain lack of preparedness during Obama-Biden years.”
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Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, has an alternative theory about why Trump continues to blame and attack Obama: “He is a racist.”
Ornstein pointed to Trump’s willingness to ride the lie that Obama was an illegitimate president because he was actually born in Kenya to a prominent role within the modern GOP. “He knows that his base has disdain for Obama, so it is another way for him to get resonance with that base,” Ornstein said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Joe Biden Says He'd Pick Michelle Obama As Running Mate 'In A Heartbeat'

Joe Biden said Monday he ’ d pick former first lady Michelle Obama as his running mate “ in a heartbeat ” if she were willing .
“ I ’ d take her in a heartbeat , ” Biden told KDKA in an online interview Monday .
( Watch portions above . )
“ She ’ s brilliant .
She knows the way around .
She is a really fine woman.
” However , Biden added : “ I don ’ t think she has any desire to live near the White House again.
” The former first lady has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in running for office , but her name has been bandied about as a vice president on the Democratic ticket .
As for more realistic choices , Biden said he ’ s committed to choosing a woman but is not focused on a woman of color .
“ There are a number of qualified women out there , ” he said .
The Hill noted that Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass ) said she would say yes and Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) said she ’ d be “ honored ” if @ @ @ @ @ @

Joe Biden said Monday he’d pick former first lady Michelle Obama as his running mate “in a heartbeat” if she were willing.
“I’d take her in a heartbeat,” Biden told KDKA in an online interview Monday. (Watch portions above.) “She’s brilliant. She knows the way around. She is a really fine woman.”
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However, Biden added: “I don’t think she has any desire to live near the White House again.”
The former first lady has repeatedly said she’s not interested in running for office, but her name has been bandied about as a vice president on the Democratic ticket.
As for more realistic choices, Biden said he’s committed to choosing a woman but is not focused on a woman of color.
“There are a number of qualified women out there,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--William Barr: Feds Could Challenge States If Stay-At-Home Orders Go 'Too Far'

Barr said he was wary of speaking about “ hypothetical ” situations , but that the Justice Department would have to intervene if governors “ impinge ” on civil rights or the economy .
“ To the extent that governors don ’ t and impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce ... then we ’ ll have to address that , ” the attorney general said in an interview with “ The Hugh Hewitt Show.
” Barr noted that stay-at-home orders were necessary , but said they were “ strong measures ” that had a “ limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These are unprecedented burdens on civil liberties right now .
...
The idea that you have to stay in your house is disturbingly close to house arrest , ” Barr said .
“ I ’ m not saying it wasn ’ t justified .
I ’ m not saying in some places it might still be justified .
But it ’ s very onerous , as is shutting down your livelihood.
” Barr also stated that voters would provide a “ much greater check ” over governors and state officials than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials would have to answer to them during elections .
Even as health officials have emphasized the dire need for people across the U.S. to maintain social distance to avoid another spike in COVID-19 cases , President Donald Trump has resisted enacting a federal stay-at-home order in an attempt to slow the spread , insisting that state leaders should make those decisions independently .
He has also vowed to reopen the country to reenergize the economy by forming an economic task force called the Opening the Country Council and enlisting the help of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Groups of right-wing protesters ― apparently emboldened by the president ― have stormed state capitols in California , Colorado , Wisconsin , Texas and Michigan in the last week in defiance of stay-at-home orders .
Trump defended them on Sunday , calling them “ very orderly ” and claiming that some governors have taken their stay-at-home orders too far .
If the Justice Department determines a state has gone “ too far ” with its coronavirus-related orders , Barr said , it may “ try to jawbone ” governors into “ rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t work , the attorney general indicated federal prosecutors could get involved with civil lawsuits .
He said Justice Department would “ file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs ” if a state ’ s residents were to file civil lawsuits because of the orders .
“ And at this stage , and we ’ re at sort of a sensitive stage where we ’ re really transitioning to starting a process of trying to get the nation back up and running , you know , I think that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As lawsuits develop , as specific cases emerge in the states , we ’ ll take a look at them.
” Justice Department officials regularly file statements of interest in lawsuits that outside parties file against states or local governments , particularly in civil rights cases .
Under the Trump administration , the Justice Department ’ s Civil Rights Division has taken a special interest in religious liberty cases .
Last week , DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit that a small Mississippi church filed against the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the church from holding drive-in church services over a low-power FM station .
In a press release issued along with DOJ ’ s statement of interest in the Mississippi case , Barr said the U.S. Constitution “ does allow some temporary restriction on our liberties that would not be tolerated in normal circumstances.
” However , he said , the government “ may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity .
”

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The Justice Department could join legal action against states if it deems that their coronavirus-related orders, including social distancing and stay-at-home rules, go “too far,” Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday.
Barr said he was wary of speaking about “hypothetical” situations, but that the Justice Department would have to intervene if governors “impinge” on civil rights or the economy.
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“To the extent that governors don’t and impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce ... then we’ll have to address that,” the attorney general said in an interview with “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
Barr noted that stay-at-home orders were necessary, but said they were “strong measures” that had a “limited purpose of slowing down the spread.”
“These are unprecedented burdens on civil liberties right now. ... The idea that you have to stay in your house is disturbingly close to house arrest,” Barr said. “I’m not saying it wasn’t justified. I’m not saying in some places it might still be justified. But it’s very onerous, as is shutting down your livelihood.”
Barr also stated that voters would provide a “much greater check” over governors and state officials than the federal government could, suggesting that state officials would have to answer to them during elections.
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“The first line of defense for people is the political process in their states,” Barr said.
Even as health officials have emphasized the dire need for people across the U.S. to maintain social distance to avoid another spike in COVID-19 cases, President Donald Trump has resisted enacting a federal stay-at-home order in an attempt to slow the spread, insisting that state leaders should make those decisions independently.
He has also vowed to reopen the country to reenergize the economy by forming an economic task force called the Opening the Country Council and enlisting the help of a bipartisan group of members of Congress.
Groups of right-wing protesters ― apparently emboldened by the president ― have stormed state capitols in California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas and Michigan in the last week in defiance of stay-at-home orders. Trump defended them on Sunday, calling them “very orderly” and claiming that some governors have taken their stay-at-home orders too far.
Hundreds of people demonstrated outside Washington's state Capitol over the weekend in protest of Gov. Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
If the Justice Department determines a state has gone “too far” with its coronavirus-related orders, Barr said, it may “try to jawbone” governors into “rolling them back.”
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If that doesn’t work, the attorney general indicated federal prosecutors could get involved with civil lawsuits. He said Justice Department would “file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs” if a state’s residents were to file civil lawsuits because of the orders.
“And at this stage, and we’re at sort of a sensitive stage where we’re really transitioning to starting a process of trying to get the nation back up and running, you know, I think that’s the best approach,” Barr said. “As lawsuits develop, as specific cases emerge in the states, we’ll take a look at them.”
Justice Department officials regularly file statements of interest in lawsuits that outside parties file against states or local governments, particularly in civil rights cases. Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has taken a special interest in religious liberty cases.
Last week, DOJ filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit that a small Mississippi church filed against the city of Greenville, which had tried to stop the church from holding drive-in church services over a low-power FM station.
In a press release issued along with DOJ’s statement of interest in the Mississippi case, Barr said the U.S. Constitution “does allow some temporary restriction on our liberties that would not be tolerated in normal circumstances.” However, he said, the government “may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Activists Are Fighting To Keep Bernie Sanders On The New York Ballot

Kellner , who was appointed by then-Gov .
George Pataki ( R ) in 2005 at the behest of the Democratic-controlled state assembly , told HuffPost on Monday that his job is to interpret the statute .
While the law only states that election officials “ may ” determine that a candidate is no longer eligible , Kellner interprets that language to mean they ’ re effectively required to remove Sanders .
On the one hand , Spano would prefer if the state ’ s county governments did not have to organize elections that could jeopardize public health due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state adopts mail-in ballots ― as Cuomo is expected to ― administering elections requires personnel and costs a significant amount of money , he noted .
( More than a dozen New York counties would not be holding any elections in June if it were not for the presidential primary . )
At the same time , he said , “ I recognize that Sanders and his people have done a lot of work over the years and they ’ d like a voice and this is one way they get a voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceeds with the removal , it will effectively cancel New York ’ s June 23 presidential primaries , depriving Sanders ’ supporters in the state of the chance to cast votes for him that would give them a greater say over the direction of the Democratic Party .
When Sanders withdrew from the primary earlier this month , he promised to remain on the ballot in states that had yet to cast votes to maximize his influence over the Democratic Party platform and nominating rules .
( He endorsed former Vice President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee , a few days after dropping out . )
Sanders partisans are hoping , for example , to make permanent a rule change in effect in the 2020 cycle that bars the party officials known as “ superdelegates ” from backing a presidential candidate on the first convention ballot that differs from the candidate their state ’ s voters chose in a primary election or caucus .
Sanders ’ base in New York would still have the opportunity to send delegates to the national convention , but it would be up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is controlled by Cuomo , to determine how many Sanders would get and who the delegates are .
Since New York ’ s convention delegation is one of the largest in the country , progressive activists worry that Cuomo may want to ensure that the delegation represents his interests in the national party .
To that end , Cuomo ’ s allies in the state party could screen out more vocal Sanders supporters or make adherence to his agenda the price of participation .
“ We think this is a power play on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control the entire delegation , ” said George Albro , a retired labor union official and a candidate to be a convention delegate who is leading grassroots efforts to keep Sanders on the ballot .
“ Bernie ’ s delegates like me are running mutual aid efforts in the hardest hit areas like Jackson Heights and Jamaica Queens , ” she wrote on Twitter .
“ Medicare for All needs to be a [ conversation ] at the DNC .
Let Bernie Sanders stay on the ballot in NY.
” Albro and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear it could hurt progressive candidates for Congress and the state legislature who stand to benefit from being on the ballot with Sanders .
( Responding to the growing pandemic in late March , Cuomo pushed back the date for the presidential primary to coincide with the congressional and legislative elections . )
Albro is nonetheless pressing ahead with his efforts .
He organized an April 15 letter to Cuomo and the board of elections from all 184 New Yorkers due to represent Sanders at the national convention , calling for Sanders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar letter from a host of major liberal organizations and grassroots leaders in the state .

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New York election officials are poised to remove Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) from the state’s primary ballot on Monday, thanks to an obscure provision in the state budget law enacted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) earlier this month.
The provision empowers the state’s election officials to remove from the ballot any candidate who has announced they have stopped running and is thus “no longer eligible” to win the nomination.
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New York’s two Democratic election officials, Board of Elections Co-Chair Douglas Kellner and Commissioner Andrew Spano, are due to meet on Monday to discuss the matter.
Kellner, who was appointed by then-Gov. George Pataki (R) in 2005 at the behest of the Democratic-controlled state assembly, told HuffPost on Monday that his job is to interpret the statute. While the law only states that election officials “may” determine that a candidate is no longer eligible, Kellner interprets that language to mean they’re effectively required to remove Sanders.
“It’s not very controversial that Bernie Sanders has suspended his campaign,” Kellner said. “I anticipate that we will be removing him.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) introduces Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Cuomo's budget could limit Sanders' leverage at the 2020 convention. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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The decision to remove Sanders must be unanimous, however. If, for example, Spano disagrees with Kellner, Sanders stays on the ballot.
Spano, a former Westchester County Executive, told HuffPost on Tuesday that he is “still wrestling with it.”
“I’m torn,” he said.
On the one hand, Spano would prefer if the state’s county governments did not have to organize elections that could jeopardize public health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the state adopts mail-in ballots ― as Cuomo is expected to ― administering elections requires personnel and costs a significant amount of money, he noted. (More than a dozen New York counties would not be holding any elections in June if it were not for the presidential primary.)
At the same time, he said, “I recognize that Sanders and his people have done a lot of work over the years and they’d like a voice and this is one way they get a voice at the convention.”
If the board proceeds with the removal, it will effectively cancel New York’s June 23 presidential primaries, depriving Sanders’ supporters in the state of the chance to cast votes for him that would give them a greater say over the direction of the Democratic Party.
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When Sanders withdrew from the primary earlier this month, he promised to remain on the ballot in states that had yet to cast votes to maximize his influence over the Democratic Party platform and nominating rules. (He endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, the party’s presumptive nominee, a few days after dropping out.)
Sanders partisans are hoping, for example, to make permanent a rule change in effect in the 2020 cycle that bars the party officials known as “superdelegates” from backing a presidential candidate on the first convention ballot that differs from the candidate their state’s voters chose in a primary election or caucus.
Sanders’ base in New York would still have the opportunity to send delegates to the national convention, but it would be up to a state Democratic Party committee, which is controlled by Cuomo, to determine how many Sanders would get and who the delegates are.
Since New York’s convention delegation is one of the largest in the country, progressive activists worry that Cuomo may want to ensure that the delegation represents his interests in the national party. To that end, Cuomo’s allies in the state party could screen out more vocal Sanders supporters or make adherence to his agenda the price of participation.
“We think this is a power play on the part of the governor who wants to control the entire delegation,” said George Albro, a retired labor union official and a candidate to be a convention delegate who is leading grassroots efforts to keep Sanders on the ballot.
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“If they cancel, this is going to be horrific,” added Albro, who is active in the New York Progressive Action Network, a pro-Sanders coalition. “Trump will use this against Biden.”
Moumita Ahmed, a Queens-based Sanders supporter and candidate for convention delegate, blasted Cuomo for the budget provision enabling Sanders’ removal.
“Bernie’s delegates like me are running mutual aid efforts in the hardest hit areas like Jackson Heights and Jamaica Queens,” she wrote on Twitter. “Medicare for All needs to be a [conversation] at the DNC. Let Bernie Sanders stay on the ballot in NY.”
“If they cancel, this is going to be horrific.” - George Albro, New York-based Sanders supporter
Albro and other progressive activists in New York also fear it could hurt progressive candidates for Congress and the state legislature who stand to benefit from being on the ballot with Sanders. (Responding to the growing pandemic in late March, Cuomo pushed back the date for the presidential primary to coincide with the congressional and legislative elections.)
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In Congress, Jamaal Bowman, a middle school principal, is seeking to unseat Rep. Eliot Engel (D), a foreign policy hawk who has represented parts of the Bronx and Westchester County since 1989. And in the legislature, Queens housing counselor and radical activist Zohran Mamdani is vying to replace Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D), a mainstream liberal with ties to party leaders.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, did not elaborate on why the election provision was included in the state budget but rejected the notion that it was politically motivated.
“We’re fighting a pandemic and have no time for conspiracy theories,” he said.
Spokespeople for New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, both of whom are Democrats, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Albro is nonetheless pressing ahead with his efforts. He organized an April 15 letter to Cuomo and the board of elections from all 184 New Yorkers due to represent Sanders at the national convention, calling for Sanders to stay on the ballot, and a similar letter from a host of major liberal organizations and grassroots leaders in the state.
“We are genuinely concerned about the suspension of democracy as proposed in a last-minute clause tucked into the budget,” the signers of the latter letter wrote.
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Under pressure, New York Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs agreed in correspondence with Sanders supporters to argue against removing him if Sanders wants to stay on the ballot.
Sanders has already articulated that he wants to stay on the ballot, but as of Tuesday, he had yet to weigh in on the specific case being debated in New York. The Sanders campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
“If Bernie says he wants to stay on, they’re not going to take him off because that would be asking for trouble,” said state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, who endorsed Sanders in October.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Trump's Excuse For Holding Rallies Amid Growing Pandemic: He Can't Remember Them

President Donald Trump on Monday resorted to questioning whether a campaign rally he held in March had actually taken place after he was caught in a lie claiming that he hadn ’ t left the White House in months .
“ I don ’ t know about rallies , I really don ’ t know about rallies , ” Trump said at his press briefing when PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor mentioned his continued campaign events during the worsening coronavirus pandemic .
“ I know one thing , I haven ’ t left the White House in months , except for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship , the [ USNS ] Comfort , ” he said .
When Alcindor pointed out that he had held a campaign rally on March 3 , Trump said : “ I don ’ t know , did I hold a rally ?
I ’ m sorry , I hold a rally .
Did I hold a rally ?
” Trump held five campaign events in February and one in March .
WATCH : @ Yamiche asked President Trump why he held a campaign rally in March as the coronavirus pandemic intensified if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted very early '' to combat virus .
`` Did I hold a rally ?
I 'm sorry I hold a rally . ''
pic.twitter.com/4Vn3uzRTrx — PBS NewsHour ( @ NewsHour ) April 21 , 2020 The exchange occurred after Alcindor asked Trump to acknowledge whether he believed his downplaying of coronavirus in the early stages of the outbreak had resulted in people getting sick .
She cited an interviewee who said they ’ d attended a funeral in mid-March and their family members fell ill because they were following cues from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seriously , wearing a mask or telling people to stay home .
Trump responded to this question by saying : “ A lot of people love Trump , right ?
” He then patted himself on the back for issuing travel restrictions on China on Jan. 31 and declared that “ people should say I acted very early.
” Critics noted that the Jan. 31 move , which banned foreigners who had been in China in the last 14 days from entering the United States , made sense , but required a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equip hospitals with proper medical supplies and limit the spread of the virus .
Yet in late February , Trump labeled the virus a “ hoax ” during a South Carolina rally .
On March 9 , when more than 500 people had been diagnosed with COVID-19 , he compared coronavirus to the “ common flu.
” The outbreak was declared a global pandemic two days later and Trump subsequently canceled his upcoming rallies “ out of an abundance of caution .
”

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President Donald Trump on Monday resorted to questioning whether a campaign rally he held in March had actually taken place after he was caught in a lie claiming that he hadn’t left the White House in months.
“I don’t know about rallies, I really don’t know about rallies,” Trump said at his press briefing when PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor mentioned his continued campaign events during the worsening coronavirus pandemic.
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“I know one thing, I haven’t left the White House in months, except for a brief moment to give a wonderful ship, the [USNS] Comfort,” he said.
When Alcindor pointed out that he had held a campaign rally on March 3, Trump said: “I don’t know, did I hold a rally? I’m sorry, I hold a rally. Did I hold a rally?”
Trump held five campaign events in February and one in March.
WATCH: @Yamiche asked President Trump why he held a campaign rally in March as the coronavirus pandemic intensified if, as he says, he "acted very early" to combat virus.
"Did I hold a rally? I'm sorry I hold a rally." pic.twitter.com/4Vn3uzRTrx — PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) April 21, 2020
The exchange occurred after Alcindor asked Trump to acknowledge whether he believed his downplaying of coronavirus in the early stages of the outbreak had resulted in people getting sick. She cited an interviewee who said they’d attended a funeral in mid-March and their family members fell ill because they were following cues from the president, who wasn’t taking it seriously, wearing a mask or telling people to stay home.
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Trump responded to this question by saying: “A lot of people love Trump, right?” He then patted himself on the back for issuing travel restrictions on China on Jan. 31 and declared that “people should say I acted very early.”
Critics noted that the Jan. 31 move, which banned foreigners who had been in China in the last 14 days from entering the United States, made sense, but required a simultaneous effort to establish widespread testing, equip hospitals with proper medical supplies and limit the spread of the virus.
Yet in late February, Trump labeled the virus a “hoax” during a South Carolina rally. On March 9, when more than 500 people had been diagnosed with COVID-19, he compared coronavirus to the “common flu.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--‘Don’t Give Me That!’: Don Lemon Nails Biggest Hypocrisy Of Coronavirus Protests

Don Lemon called out the protesters who ’ ve been demonstrating against the stay-at-home orders in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus infection on Monday .
The CNN host said the protesters were “ slapping the faces ” of the health care workers , first responders and other essential employees who are risking their lives to help others .
“ Who the hell do you think you are ?
What is wrong with people ?
” he asked , then attacked the biggest hypocrisy of all : a number of the demonstrators in various cities were armed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and said they could no longer criticize anyone for taking a knee during a peaceful protest at a sports event .
“ Don ’ t give me that when you ’ re out there protesting with guns and saying ‘ I want to get back to work , I want my liberty , ’ ” he said .
If the protest was truly about liberty , the demonstrators should also defend anyone taking a knee .
Encouraged by right-wing media , the protesters have repeated many of the talking points heard on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as talk radio host Rush Limbaugh .
Many demonstrators wear the signature red caps of President Donald Trump ’ s campaign and carry signs and flags with Trump/Pence on them .
The president has refused to condemn the protests despite the fact that they violate the guidelines issued by his own administration , claiming the demonstrators “ love our country.
” “ They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion , and my opinion is the same as just about all of the governors , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he came to criticizing the demonstrations .
However , he also said “ some governors have gone too far ” and tweeted bizarre “ LIBERATE ” messages at several states with protests that many interpreted as encouragement for the demonstrations .

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Don Lemon called out the protesters who’ve been demonstrating against the stay-at-home orders in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus infection on Monday.
The CNN host said the protesters were “slapping the faces” of the health care workers, first responders and other essential employees who are risking their lives to help others.
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“Who the hell do you think you are? What is wrong with people?” he asked, then attacked the biggest hypocrisy of all: a number of the demonstrators in various cities were armed.
Lemon called that a “threatening look” and said they could no longer criticize anyone for taking a knee during a peaceful protest at a sports event.
“Don’t give me that when you’re out there protesting with guns and saying ‘I want to get back to work, I want my liberty,’” he said.
If the protest was truly about liberty, the demonstrators should also defend anyone taking a knee.
“Don’t be a hypocrite,” Lemon said. “Stand up for those people as well.”
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Encouraged by right-wing media, the protesters have repeated many of the talking points heard on Fox News as well as from sources such as talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. Many demonstrators wear the signature red caps of President Donald Trump’s campaign and carry signs and flags with Trump/Pence on them.
The president has refused to condemn the protests despite the fact that they violate the guidelines issued by his own administration, claiming the demonstrators “love our country.”
“They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion, and my opinion is the same as just about all of the governors,” Trump said.
That was about as close as he came to criticizing the demonstrations.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Banks Funneled Stimulus Funds To Largest Companies To Fatten Fees, Lawsuits Say

Four class-action lawsuits have been filed against banks doling out federal stimulus funds earmarked for small businesses , accusing them of channeling funds to the largest companies to collect bigger fees .
Wells Fargo , Bank of America , JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bancorp “ rigged the loan process to benefit their bottom line , ” the Stalwart Law Group , which filed the lawsuits Sunday in federal court in Los Angeles , said in a statement .
The banks failed to process applications for the taxpayer money on a first-come , first-served basis ― as the Trump administration required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest companies because they would get larger loans and generate bigger banking fees , according to the complaints .
Banks collect a percentage based on the size of the loan .
That left thousands of small businesses — 90 % of applicants , according to the suits — with nothing as the $ 349 billion in funds for the Paycheck Protection Program ran dry on Friday , less than 14 days after it launched .
The program is part of the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , and Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House obtained a $ 20 million payout , BuzzFeed News reported .
Potbelly paid a $ 100,000 signing bonus to a new executive the same day it nabbed the taxpayer funds , according to BuzzFeed .
Though the Paycheck Protection funds begin as a loan , the debt is forgiven if companies use the money to keep workers on the payroll and cover rent and other approved expenses for about two months .
That means well-heeled companies can collect millions of dollars in what amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rick Scott , who voted for the stimulus package , on Monday complained that millions of dollars are being wasted on the wrong businesses , and demanded changes .
“ Right now , companies that are not being harmed at all by the coronavirus crisis have the ability to receive taxpayer-funded loans that can be forgiven .
That ’ s wrong , and it takes money out of the hands of those Americans who really need it , ” Scott said in a statement .
U.S. Bancorp told Bloomberg that the lawsuit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment , but said on its website that its smallest clients received more than twice as many loans — close to 18,000 — than larger customers .
It did not compare the amount of money doled out to the different groups .
Wells Fargo and Bank of America didn ’ t comment .
“ While I ’ m not involved with this new class-action , my company is one of the millions who have continued paying our employees full salary , plus benefits — all because President Trump asserted that if you apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid as quickly as the same day , ” said Goldstone .
“ That was a month ago .
Since then , we haven ’ t even heard the sound of chirping crickets from the Small Business Administration , ” which is in charge of the process .
Challenged at his press briefing Monday about taxpayer funds going to Harvard and restaurant chains , President Donald Trump complained that he didn ’ t get any of the stimulus money for his business .
He added that “ some people ” will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inappropriate .
”

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Four class-action lawsuits have been filed against banks doling out federal stimulus funds earmarked for small businesses, accusing them of channeling funds to the largest companies to collect bigger fees.
Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bancorp “rigged the loan process to benefit their bottom line,” the Stalwart Law Group, which filed the lawsuits Sunday in federal court in Los Angeles, said in a statement.
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The banks failed to process applications for the taxpayer money on a first-come, first-served basis ― as the Trump administration required ― and instead prioritized requests from the biggest companies because they would get larger loans and generate bigger banking fees, according to the complaints. Banks collect a percentage based on the size of the loan.
That left thousands of small businesses — 90% of applicants, according to the suits — with nothing as the $349 billion in funds for the Paycheck Protection Program ran dry on Friday, less than 14 days after it launched. The program is part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Revelations that taxpayer handouts intended for small businesses have gone to major companies have triggered public outrage in recent days.
Fast-food chain Shake Shack decided Monday to return its $10 million loan amid mounting criticism of the program.
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Restaurant chains Potbelly also got $10 million, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House obtained a $20 million payout, BuzzFeed News reported. Potbelly paid a $100,000 signing bonus to a new executive the same day it nabbed the taxpayer funds, according to BuzzFeed.
Though the Paycheck Protection funds begin as a loan, the debt is forgiven if companies use the money to keep workers on the payroll and cover rent and other approved expenses for about two months. That means well-heeled companies can collect millions of dollars in what amounts to taxpayer grants.
We will be returning our Paycheck Protection Program loan. More information from our founder @dhmeyer + CEO @randygarutti here: https://t.co/gXNsO1RfKf pic.twitter.com/tMtVNlY6ou — SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) April 20, 2020
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who voted for the stimulus package, on Monday complained that millions of dollars are being wasted on the wrong businesses, and demanded changes.
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“Right now, companies that are not being harmed at all by the coronavirus crisis have the ability to receive taxpayer-funded loans that can be forgiven. That’s wrong, and it takes money out of the hands of those Americans who really need it,” Scott said in a statement.
U.S. Bancorp told Bloomberg that the lawsuit is “without merit.” JPMorgan refused to comment, but said on its website that its smallest clients received more than twice as many loans — close to 18,000 — than larger customers. It did not compare the amount of money doled out to the different groups. Wells Fargo and Bank of America didn’t comment.
A California company that applied for the funds the very first day hasn’t heard a word from anyone, Mitch Goldstone, CEO and co-founder of ScanMyPhotos, told HuffPost.
“While I’m not involved with this new class-action, my company is one of the millions who have continued paying our employees full salary, plus benefits — all because President Trump asserted that if you apply for PPP, you’ll get paid as quickly as the same day,” said Goldstone. “That was a month ago. Since then, we haven’t even heard the sound of chirping crickets from the Small Business Administration,” which is in charge of the process.
Challenged at his press briefing Monday about taxpayer funds going to Harvard and restaurant chains, President Donald Trump complained that he didn’t get any of the stimulus money for his business. He added that “some people” will have to return money if we “think it’s inappropriate.”
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Asked about large companies benefitting from coronavirus stimulus legislation, Trump complains that the business he still owns and profits from didn't get any pic.twitter.com/5gn5Ske3g8 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 20, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Widespread Voting By Mail Isn’t Guaranteed In 6 States That Could Determine The Election

Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , the six states most likely to decide the Electoral College winner , all allow voters to obtain and cast ballots through the mail without an excuse .
Even if the current wave of COVID-19 infections abates due to stay-at-home efforts , a second wave could hit the U.S. in the fall , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns .
In each state , however , there are new battles over access to mail-in ballots and how they will be counted in November .
And Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has “ [ t ] remendous potential for voter fraud ” might yet warp those debates and make it harder for people to vote in November .
Trump ’ s false assertions aim to block political consensus on how to conduct a safe presidential election in which everyone is able to vote .
The stakes couldn ’ t be more clear , even when the policies under consideration sound like minor technical adjustments like sending every voter a mail-in ballot application , or minor budget questions like providing enough funding to count votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s county recorders responded to Bolick with their own op-ed noting that mail-in ballots present a minimal threat of fraud ( Arizona has prosecuted 22 cases of absentee voter fraud since 2010 ) and that in-person elections are far more complicated and expensive to plan and staff , particularly when the sites need to be constantly sanitized due to a viral pandemic .
Another lingering issue in Arizona is the deadline for when absentee ballots can be returned and counted .
Arizona currently requires voters to return absentee ballots by close of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , a progressive group , and Priorities USA , an arm of the Democratic Party super PAC Priorities USA Action , are suing the state to force it to count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but that arrive later .
Michigan is the state to most recently allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail of the six swing states .
It did so after adopting a ballot initiative in the 2018 elections and saw a surge in absentee ballots mailed in for its March 10 presidential preference primary election .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state of emergency due to the pandemic .
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson ( D ) announced a plan to send every registered voter an absentee ballot request form on March 23 for the upcoming May 5 local elections .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) backed Benson ’ s announcement with an executive order on March 27 that empowered the secretary of state to send absentee ballot applications to voters and to automatically count any new voter registration as an application for an absentee ballot , among other things .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , county election officials in Michigan had requested increased funds from the state legislature to properly handle the surge in absentee ballots .
The Republicans who control the legislature refused to approve the funds , instead taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if they would be necessary .
This delayed the vote count for the March 10 primary , with results not posted until the afternoon of March 11 .
The issue will likely resurface as the state increasingly encourages absentee voting .
Voters in North Carolina have the option to vote by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason , but few have chosen to do so in the past .
That is expected to change with the coronavirus pandemic .
The state ’ s board of elections put forward a list of 15 recommendations to Gov .
Roy Cooper ( D ) and the Republican-controlled state legislature on March 26 .

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President Donald Trump wants Republicans to “fight very hard” against “horrible,” “corrupt” proposals allowing voters to cast their ballots by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. But the states that matter most for Trump’s reelection campaign already allow voters to do just that.
Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the six states most likely to decide the Electoral College winner, all allow voters to obtain and cast ballots through the mail without an excuse. Even if the current wave of COVID-19 infections abates due to stay-at-home efforts, a second wave could hit the U.S. in the fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.
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In each state, however, there are new battles over access to mail-in ballots and how they will be counted in November. And Trump’s evidence-free claims that mail-in voting has “[t]remendous potential for voter fraud” might yet warp those debates and make it harder for people to vote in November.
Trump’s false assertions aim to block political consensus on how to conduct a safe presidential election in which everyone is able to vote. The stakes couldn’t be more clear, even when the policies under consideration sound like minor technical adjustments like sending every voter a mail-in ballot application, or minor budget questions like providing enough funding to count votes on election night.
Some state-level Republicans, even in places where voters have used mail-in ballots for years, are beginning to echo Trump’s rhetoric while opposing the expansion of voting by mail in these states.
If they succeed in blocking reform, the 2020 presidential election may not be free, fair nor safe.
Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin all allow voters to cast ballots by mail without an excuse. Isabella Carapella/HuffPost
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Arizona
Of the six most important swing states, Arizona has adopted voting by mail most widely, with nearly 80% of votes cast through the mail in the 2018 election. Voters can opt to receive a mailed ballot for every election by signing up for the state’s permanent absentee ballot list.
The option has long been popular with key Republican Party constituencies in the state like the elderly. Republicans control most levers of power in the state, including the governor’s office and the state legislature.
Still, Republicans do not want to expand Arizona’s vote-by-mail program, as Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, and officials in multiple counties have requested. Republicans ignored a proposal from the Arizona Association of Counties to allow counties to order all-mail elections and send every voter an absentee ballot during the latest legislative budget session. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) remains opposed.
All-mail elections would “only compromise the integrity of elections,” state Rep. Shawnna Bolick (R) wrote in an op-ed for the Arizona Republic on April 2.
Representatives for Arizona’s county recorders responded to Bolick with their own op-ed noting that mail-in ballots present a minimal threat of fraud (Arizona has prosecuted 22 cases of absentee voter fraud since 2010) and that in-person elections are far more complicated and expensive to plan and staff, particularly when the sites need to be constantly sanitized due to a viral pandemic.
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Another lingering issue in Arizona is the deadline for when absentee ballots can be returned and counted. Arizona currently requires voters to return absentee ballots by close of business on Election Day. Voto Latino Foundation, a progressive group, and Priorities USA, an arm of the Democratic Party super PAC Priorities USA Action, are suing the state to force it to count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but that arrive later.
In a memo to the court filed on April 15, the groups cited a recent Supreme Court decision regarding Wisconsin’s April 7 election, which was held amid the coronavirus pandemic. The court’s decision overruled an extension of absentee balloting in the state while upholding the extended deadline for absentee ballots postmarked on Election Day and received up to one week later.
It is this latter portion of the court’s controversial decision that progressive groups are citing to extend the deadline for absentee ballots to be counted in Arizona.
Florida
“Florida is not in a position, at this time, to conduct an all-mail ballot election this year,” the state’s election supervisors warned in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on April 7.
The letter called on the governor to give election officials the authority to consolidate in-person polling places, extend early voting and provide funding to accommodate an increase in absentee ballots. DeSantis has not responded yet.
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Florida Democrats, meanwhile, are urging the state to move to a nearly total vote-by-mail election for 2020, or at the very least, expand absentee voting as it currently exists.
Florida already has a fairly easy-to-access vote-by-mail system. Created in 2002 following the 2000 election debacle, voting by mail has become popular among Republican constituencies. Around 30% of Florida voters cast mail-in ballots in the 2016 and 2018 elections. Trump voted by mail in the state’s March 17 primaries from his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach County.
County officials aren’t waiting on the governor’s decision to take action. The Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office plans to mail every registered voter a form they can return to request an absentee ballot. Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County are also looking to either mail request forms to voters or otherwise increase voter education on the subject.
Volusia County held an all-mail election for a sales tax increase in 2019. “For our county, it is doable,” Volusia supervisor Lisa Lewis told the Orlando Sentinel about holding an all-mail election. “We did it.”
Michigan
Michigan is the state to most recently allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail of the six swing states. It did so after adopting a ballot initiative in the 2018 elections and saw a surge in absentee ballots mailed in for its March 10 presidential preference primary election. That was the same day the governor declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic.
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Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) announced a plan to send every registered voter an absentee ballot request form on March 23 for the upcoming May 5 local elections. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) backed Benson’s announcement with an executive order on March 27 that empowered the secretary of state to send absentee ballot applications to voters and to automatically count any new voter registration as an application for an absentee ballot, among other things.
The governor may extend the executive order to cover the state’s August primary elections and November general election, depending on the danger the pandemic presents at that time.
King County Election workers collect ballots from a dropbox in the Washington state primary on March 10, 2020, in Seattle. Washington is a vote-by-mail state. AP Photo/John Froschauer
Prior to the March presidential primary elections, county election officials in Michigan had requested increased funds from the state legislature to properly handle the surge in absentee ballots. The Republicans who control the legislature refused to approve the funds, instead taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if they would be necessary. This delayed the vote count for the March 10 primary, with results not posted until the afternoon of March 11. The issue will likely resurface as the state increasingly encourages absentee voting.
North Carolina
Voters in North Carolina have the option to vote by mail with an absentee ballot for any reason, but few have chosen to do so in the past. That is expected to change with the coronavirus pandemic. The state’s board of elections put forward a list of 15 recommendations to Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and the Republican-controlled state legislature on March 26.
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Elections board executive director Karen Brinson Bell’s recommendations included allowing voters to submit an absentee ballot by fax or email, waiving or reducing the state’s stringent witness requirement, allowing anyone to collect and return absentee ballots, providing prepaid return envelopes, making it easier to request an absentee ballot and register to vote online, and making Election Day a holiday, among other things.
Republicans in the state legislature appear uninterested in many of these changes. But there may be support for providing prepaid postage on envelopes to voters who request an absentee ballot.
The proposal to allow anyone to collect and return absentee ballots is the item receiving the most attention among Bell’s proposals.
In 2019, the legislature passed a bipartisan bill banning the collection of absentee ballots and requests for absentee ballots after the election of Republican congressman Mark Harris was overturned due to his campaign’s absentee ballot corruption. Harris’ political consultants were convicted of absentee ballot fraud to help him win the 2018 election. His election was decertified and a new election was called.
Democrats filed a lawsuit against the 2019 law, alleging that it infringes on the political association rights of groups promoting voter turnout, particularly among Black voters. The Democratic Party’s top elections lawyer, Marc Elias, is leading the lawsuit.
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Pennsylvania
It is now easy for Pennsylvania voters to register for the state’s permanent vote-by-mail list, thanks to legislation passed by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2019. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have been sending mail to their voters to get them to sign up for the vote-by-mail list since the bill’s passage.
A bipartisan collection of county officials in three suburban Philadelphia counties is urging Wolf to institute an all-mail election for the state’s June 2 primary, which was originally scheduled for April 28. Wolf is looking into options to encourage voting by mail.
When the legislature voted to move the state’s primary date, Republicans blocked an effort by state Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Democrat from Philadelphia, to require the state to mail every registered voter an application for a mail ballot. They may revisit the issue later, depending on the status of the pandemic.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s April 7 election revealed many of the problems associated with holding elections during a pandemic. Election officials consolidated polling sites and were overwhelmed by absentee ballot requests. Confusion reigned amid legal challenges and last-minute efforts to postpone the election. While the state shattered records for absentee voting, some voters risked their health to vote after their mail-in ballots never arrived. Others who never received their requested ballots simply didn’t vote.
The state now has a long time to prepare for its coming special and primary elections before November’s general election. A special election to fill a vacant congressional seat is set for May 12. The chairs of both the Democratic and Republican parties are looking to Gov. Tony Evers (D) to announce plans for that election far earlier than he did for the April 7 election.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Michigan Gov. Says Trump's Messaging Putting Public In 'Greater Danger'

Trump ’ s pronouncements about freezing immigration are “ scary ” for immigrants , family members hoping to immigrate to the U.S. , farmers who rely on seasonal migrant workers and Canadian nurses who work in Michigan , the Democratic governor said in an interview with The Associated Press .
“ These broad statements that come out I think are are so problematic and counter to I think what we need right now more than anything — which is fact based scientifically proven , best practices and an optimistic vision of where we are headed and the thrust to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who said the focus should be on making swabs for testing .
“ This is what we need right now — not additional new things to be upset about , fearful of or mad about.
” The first-term governor ’ s comments were the latest in a series of criticisms she has directed at the president and his handling of the virus outbreak .
Her high-profile disputes with Trump have put her at the center of the states ’ fight with the federal government over equipment and testing — and helped raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus now is on managing the crisis that has devastated her state ’ s economy and killed 2,700 people .
She said Michigan , along with other states , is struggling to conduct sufficient testing and urged Trump to use all his powers to force manufacturers to produce more test swabs .
She spoke as some Republican governors have begun the process of reopening the economy without waiting for more testing , moves that gives her “ great pause.
” “ I know that we ’ re going to have to be really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our economy we engage in when it is going to be a slow re-entry .
Our biggest concern , of course , is a second wave , ” said Whitmer , who may relax her stay-at-home order beginning May 1 .
“ The worst thing would be for us to spike the football and think we are outside of the danger zone , and to re-engage and find another peak of COVID-19.
” More than 1 million Michigan residents — about a quarter of the state ’ s workforce — have filed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the state has the resources to pay jobless benefits “ for now ” but that Michigan , like every other state , will need more help from the federal government .
“ It ’ s too soon to say if that is precisely going to be the date to that things start re-engaging , ” Whitmer said when asked if she was OK with the carmaker ’ s plan .
“ But we are obviously eager to start engaging sectors responsibly when we ’ re able to safely.
” Whitmer , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would not address the potential political fallout if the unemployment rate does not improve significantly .
Michigan is a critical battleground for the November election , as Democrats try to win back a state that flipped in 2016 to help Trump become president .
“ The politics will take care of themselves , ” she said .
“ We ’ ve got to do the right thing right now ” rather than worry about what it means in November or when she is on the ballot again in 2022 .
Whitmer also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffer in Biden ’ s Senate office that he sexually assaulted her when he was a senator in the early 1990s “ does not comport with the Joe that I know.
” Biden ’ s campaign has denied the allegation by Tara Reade , who said the assault occurred in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the spring of 1993 .

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LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s plan to suspend immigration is distracting from efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and part of “inconsistent messages” that spread fear and put the public in “greater danger.”
Trump’s pronouncements about freezing immigration are “scary” for immigrants, family members hoping to immigrate to the U.S., farmers who rely on seasonal migrant workers and Canadian nurses who work in Michigan, the Democratic governor said in an interview with The Associated Press.
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“These broad statements that come out I think are are so problematic and counter to I think what we need right now more than anything — which is fact based scientifically proven, best practices and an optimistic vision of where we are headed and the thrust to make it a reality,” said Whitmer, who said the focus should be on making swabs for testing. “This is what we need right now — not additional new things to be upset about, fearful of or mad about.”
She said she worries Trump’s daily televised briefings only make things worse.
“I think that the nightly briefing has yielded a lot of inconsistent messages to the public — messages that put people in greater danger,” she said.
The first-term governor’s comments were the latest in a series of criticisms she has directed at the president and his handling of the virus outbreak. Her high-profile disputes with Trump have put her at the center of the states’ fight with the federal government over equipment and testing — and helped raise her political profile.
Whitmer, who is believed to a possible vice presidential contender, told AP she has not been asked by presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to participate in any vetting for the role.
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“Of course I would give whatever they’ve asked for,” she said. “But I’m not auditioning for any different job than the one that I have right now.”
Whitmer insisted her focus now is on managing the crisis that has devastated her state’s economy and killed 2,700 people. She said Michigan, along with other states, is struggling to conduct sufficient testing and urged Trump to use all his powers to force manufacturers to produce more test swabs. She spoke as some Republican governors have begun the process of reopening the economy without waiting for more testing, moves that gives her “great pause.”
“I know that we’re going to have to be really methodical and data-driven about what sectors of our economy we engage in when it is going to be a slow re-entry. Our biggest concern, of course, is a second wave,” said Whitmer, who may relax her stay-at-home order beginning May 1. “The worst thing would be for us to spike the football and think we are outside of the danger zone, and to re-engage and find another peak of COVID-19.”
More than 1 million Michigan residents — about a quarter of the state’s workforce — have filed for unemployment since the outbreak began. Whitmer said the state has the resources to pay jobless benefits “for now” but that Michigan, like every other state, will need more help from the federal government.
Detroit-area automakers, which suspended production roughly a month ago, are pushing to reopen factories. Fiat Chrysler has already announced a May 4 gradual restart date.
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“It’s too soon to say if that is precisely going to be the date to that things start re-engaging,” Whitmer said when asked if she was OK with the carmaker’s plan. “But we are obviously eager to start engaging sectors responsibly when we’re able to safely.”
Whitmer, a national co-chair on Biden’s campaign, would not address the potential political fallout if the unemployment rate does not improve significantly. Michigan is a critical battleground for the November election, as Democrats try to win back a state that flipped in 2016 to help Trump become president.
“The politics will take care of themselves,” she said. “We’ve got to do the right thing right now” rather than worry about what it means in November or when she is on the ballot again in 2022.
Whitmer also said that an allegation by a former staffer in Biden’s Senate office that he sexually assaulted her when he was a senator in the early 1990s “does not comport with the Joe that I know.” Biden’s campaign has denied the allegation by Tara Reade, who said the assault occurred in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the spring of 1993.
“Women should be able to tell their stories,” Whitmer said. “Everything that I know about Joe Biden does not jive with the story that’s been told.”
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