thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Texas Democrats Plan To Mail Registration Forms And Postage To Potential Voters

The Texas Democratic Party announced on Tuesday that it plans to send voter registration applications and postage stamps to every Texan looking to vote in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic makes in-person get-out-the-vote efforts nearly impossible .
Texas is one of 10 states that doesn ’ t currently allow potential voters to register online , meaning they must either submit applications in person or print and mail applications on their own .
The state Democratic Party said it created a website , RegisterTexas.com , that will allow supporters of any party to request that an application and a stamp be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to come with a pre-addressed envelope addressed to each voter ’ s county clerk , so prospective voters will only need to drop the application in the mailbox to register .
Luke Warford , voter expansion director for the Texas Democratic Party , said the Register Texas website is designed to mimic the ease of in-person voter registration at a time when health officials are encouraging Americans to practice self-isolation to help curb the spread of the coronavirus .
“ In a state where online voter registration is impossible , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that removes as many barriers as possible , ” Warford said , adding that not having supplies ― like a printer , for example ― can be insurmountable for some people wishing to vote .
“ The more of those barriers you can reduce for people , the higher the likelihood that folks are actually going to get registered , ” he added .
Although Register Texas is not the first digital voter registration effort , Texas Democrats say the fact they are mailing the registration forms along with pre-addressed envelopes and postage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiatives like Vote.org or Rock the Vote .
“ The process is just us mailing voter registration applications , and people mail them in themselves , which is already something we were doing in the state , ” Warford said .
“ The innovation here is combining that with an online request.
” Texas Democrats told HuffPost that Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs ( R ) is aware the site exists .
In recent weeks , Texas Democrats and voting rights activists have debated Republicans over the need for more voter protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute in court on April 16 , a Texas judge appeared to side with Democrats , who argued every voter should be allowed to vote by mail in the state ’ s upcoming elections .
Republicans in the state , including State Attorney General Ken Paxton , claim state law permits voting by mail only for people over age 65 , people who are incarcerated but not yet convicted , residents who are outside the country and those who are sick or disabled .

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The Texas Democratic Party announced on Tuesday that it plans to send voter registration applications and postage stamps to every Texan looking to vote in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic makes in-person get-out-the-vote efforts nearly impossible.
Texas is one of 10 states that doesn’t currently allow potential voters to register online, meaning they must either submit applications in person or print and mail applications on their own. The state Democratic Party said it created a website, RegisterTexas.com, that will allow supporters of any party to request that an application and a stamp be mailed to them. The application is designed to come with a pre-addressed envelope addressed to each voter’s county clerk, so prospective voters will only need to drop the application in the mailbox to register.
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Luke Warford, voter expansion director for the Texas Democratic Party, said the Register Texas website is designed to mimic the ease of in-person voter registration at a time when health officials are encouraging Americans to practice self-isolation to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“In a state where online voter registration is impossible, we’ve essentially come up with a system that removes as many barriers as possible,” Warford said, adding that not having supplies ― like a printer, for example ― can be insurmountable for some people wishing to vote.
“The more of those barriers you can reduce for people, the higher the likelihood that folks are actually going to get registered,” he added. Although Register Texas is not the first digital voter registration effort, Texas Democrats say the fact they are mailing the registration forms along with pre-addressed envelopes and postage is what sets their site apart from initiatives like Vote.org or Rock the Vote.
“The process is just us mailing voter registration applications, and people mail them in themselves, which is already something we were doing in the state,” Warford said. “The innovation here is combining that with an online request.”
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He said the party is discussing the plan with other state Democratic parties.
Texas Democrats told HuffPost that Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs (R) is aware the site exists. In recent weeks, Texas Democrats and voting rights activists have debated Republicans over the need for more voter protection measures amid the pandemic.
During one dispute in court on April 16, a Texas judge appeared to side with Democrats, who argued every voter should be allowed to vote by mail in the state’s upcoming elections.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--‘Go To Work And Die?’ Ex-RNC Chair Fact-Checks Trump On Coronavirus Protests

President Donald Trump defended those protesting stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
But a former official of his own party is calling him out over it .
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says those demonstrators aren ’ t just putting their own lives at risk , they ’ re also endangering the lives of vulnerable people around them .
Trump claimed the demonstrators ― who are being goaded by right-wing media ― “ love our country ” and “ want to get back to work.
” “ Go to work and die ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and get sick ?
What is the point of that ?
” Steele said the governors who put the restrictions into place are trying to protect their citizens from COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re trying to get healthy , ” he said , adding : “ And if you weigh your job greater than you weigh your grandparents ’ lives or your children ’ s lives or your own life , maybe that ’ s your individual choice , but that ’ s not something that I ’ m willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He said the president should give Americans clarity and a sense of purpose so they ’ re willing to stay home .
“ But that ’ s not what this president has done , ” he said .

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President Donald Trump defended those protesting stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. But a former official of his own party is calling him out over it.
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says those demonstrators aren’t just putting their own lives at risk, they’re also endangering the lives of vulnerable people around them.
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Trump claimed the demonstrators ― who are being goaded by right-wing media ― “love our country” and “want to get back to work.”
But Steele stepped in with a reality check.
“Go to work and die?” he asked. “Go to work and get sick? What is the point of that?”
Steele said the governors who put the restrictions into place are trying to protect their citizens from COVID-19.
“We’re trying to get healthy,” he said, adding:
“And if you weigh your job greater than you weigh your grandparents’ lives or your children’s lives or your own life, maybe that’s your individual choice, but that’s not something that I’m willing to take a risk with my life on.”
He said the president should give Americans clarity and a sense of purpose so they’re willing to stay home.
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“But that’s not what this president has done,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Trump's New Press Secretary's Attempt At Twitter Sass Backfires Spectacularly

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany ’ s attempt to deflect criticism from President Donald Trump backfired in a big way on Monday .
McEnany , who replaced Stephanie Grisham earlier this month , quoted a tweet from ABC White House journalist Katherine Faulders , calling her out for referring to the president by name .
The journalist ’ s tweet was highlighting Trump ’ s earlier claim that Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) “ didn ’ t really understand ” the federal testing capacity , despite the fact there is documented evidence suggesting the governor did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of the Trump administration ’ s testing claims , followed Trump ’ s advice to take his state ’ s testing into his own hands and announced earlier Monday that he secured 500,000 kits from South Korea ) .
The White House press secretary responded to that assertion as follows : McEnany ― who has a long history of sharing misinformation about coronavirus , birther conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama , racist content and other problematic remarks ― was immediately served up one of her own tweets from 2012 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
So maybe sit this one out .
pic.twitter.com/YQYYM5guEH — Brian Tyler Cohen ( @ briantylercohen ) April 21 , 2020 Twitter users were quick to thoroughly evidence the double standard .
Yes , @ PressSec , it ’ s very important that we show our presidents the respect their office commands .
pic.twitter.com/LhGNj8SlHI — Janet Johnson ( @ JJohnsonLaw ) April 20 , 2020 To you , he 's not Biden .
He 's FORMER VICE PRESIDENT Biden !
Have several seats , Kayleigh .
( and since you 're the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place a comma . )
https : //t.co/f3RF3vlFEq — Tami Burages ( @ tburages ) April 21 , 2020

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s attempt to deflect criticism from President Donald Trump backfired in a big way on Monday.
McEnany, who replaced Stephanie Grisham earlier this month, quoted a tweet from ABC White House journalist Katherine Faulders, calling her out for referring to the president by name.
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The journalist’s tweet was highlighting Trump’s earlier claim that Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) “didn’t really understand” the federal testing capacity, despite the fact there is documented evidence suggesting the governor did. (Hogan, who has been critical of the Trump administration’s testing claims, followed Trump’s advice to take his state’s testing into his own hands and announced earlier Monday that he secured 500,000 kits from South Korea).
The White House press secretary responded to that assertion as follows:
To you, he’s not Trump, he’s PRESIDENT Trump! https://t.co/EIgPTPDIuO — Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) April 20, 2020
McEnany ― who has a long history of sharing misinformation about coronavirus, birther conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama, racist content and other problematic remarks ― was immediately served up one of her own tweets from 2012:
You called the last president "son." So maybe sit this one out. pic.twitter.com/YQYYM5guEH — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) April 21, 2020
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Twitter users were quick to thoroughly evidence the double standard.
No Karen, he’s Impeached President Trump. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 21, 2020
Hey Kayleigh: “Nice and easy, nice and easy. Just relax. You’ve got a nasty tone.” — Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 21, 2020
Yes, @PressSec, it’s very important that we show our presidents the respect their office commands. pic.twitter.com/LhGNj8SlHI — Janet Johnson (@JJohnsonLaw) April 20, 2020
Nice to check from inside of Trump's colon. — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) April 21, 2020
To you, he's not Biden. He's FORMER VICE PRESIDENT Biden!
Have several seats, Kayleigh.
(and since you're the press secretary, you should learn where to place a comma.)https://t.co/f3RF3vlFEq — Tami Burages (@tburages) April 21, 2020
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To you, he's not Obama. He's PRESIDENT OBAMA.
Have another seat.https://t.co/IVAq9OqxDv — Tami Burages (@tburages) April 21, 2020
To you he "has no clue" Trump 😂 https://t.co/AxDnRPktrO — Comfortably Numb🏠 (@YGalanter) April 21, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Donald Trump Jr. Erupts As Facebook Cuts Dangerous COVID-19 Protest Posts

Facebook has removed posts and some event pages promoting protests against COVID-19 safety measures — and Donald Trump Jr. is having a meltdown about it .
The action was taken Monday for planned protests against stay-at-home measures in California , New Jersey and Nebraska .
Facebook removed the pages after the company was informed by state officials that the gatherings would violate state orders limiting crowds and requiring social distancing to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases .
Pages for protests in other states were allowed to remain up for the time being .
The first son accused Facebook of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s free speech.
” He called it a “ chilling and disturbing government-directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights .
Very dangerous !
” Why is @ Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech ?
Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them , this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights .
Very dangerous !
https : //t.co/rnG09TSVhI — Donald Trump Jr. ( @ DonaldJTrumpJr ) April 20 , 2020 The relevant state guidelines concern health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws restrict the number of people who can safely pack into a performance venue because of safety issues .
Facebook , which is a publicly traded corporation not legally required to provide a platform for everyone , is blocking people from using its social network to encourage violating state safety guidelines .
Where no such regulations exist , organizers are still allowed to promote protests .
“ Unless government prohibits the event during this time , we allow it to be organized on Facebook , ” a company representative told Politico .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defy government ’ s guidance on social distancing aren ’ t allowed on Facebook.
” State officials and Democrats see the action as safeguarding social distancing health measures , which are also supported by the Trump administration .
Sen. Richard Blumenthal ( D-Conn. ) praised Facebook ’ s action .
“ Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19 , ” he warned on Twitter .
Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19 .
Facebook is right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All tech companies must act forcefully to protect public health.https : //t.co/WaAszc0b3G — Richard Blumenthal ( @ SenBlumenthal ) April 21 , 2020 Despite protests in several cities against COVID-19 safety measures , polls reveal broad public support for social distancing efforts .
A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that 58 % of voters were more worried that lifting restrictions would lead to more COVID-19 deaths than they were about continued stay-at-home orders harming the economy .
A HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 86 % of Americans said they were trying to stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 % said they ’ d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area .

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Facebook has removed posts and some event pages promoting protests against COVID-19 safety measures — and Donald Trump Jr. is having a meltdown about it.
The action was taken Monday for planned protests against stay-at-home measures in California, New Jersey and Nebraska. Facebook removed the pages after the company was informed by state officials that the gatherings would violate state orders limiting crowds and requiring social distancing to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases.
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Pages for protests in other states were allowed to remain up for the time being.
The first son accused Facebook of “colluding with state governments to quash people’s free speech.” He called it a “chilling and disturbing government-directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous!”
Why is @Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech?
Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them, this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous! https://t.co/rnG09TSVhI — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 20, 2020
The relevant state guidelines concern health issues, not speech, much as laws restrict the number of people who can safely pack into a performance venue because of safety issues.
Facebook, which is a publicly traded corporation not legally required to provide a platform for everyone, is blocking people from using its social network to encourage violating state safety guidelines. Where no such regulations exist, organizers are still allowed to promote protests.
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“Unless government prohibits the event during this time, we allow it to be organized on Facebook,” a company representative told Politico. “For this same reason, events that defy government’s guidance on social distancing aren’t allowed on Facebook.”
State officials and Democrats see the action as safeguarding social distancing health measures, which are also supported by the Trump administration.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) praised Facebook’s action. “Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19,” he warned on Twitter.
Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19. Facebook is right to take a stand against harmful misinformation. All tech companies must act forcefully to protect public health.https://t.co/WaAszc0b3G — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) April 21, 2020
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Despite protests in several cities against COVID-19 safety measures, polls reveal broad public support for social distancing efforts. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that 58% of voters were more worried that lifting restrictions would lead to more COVID-19 deaths than they were about continued stay-at-home orders harming the economy. A HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 86% of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible, and about 65% said they’d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area.
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear scrubs pic.twitter.com/fisnLdZxWU — NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 20, 2020
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Chris Cuomo's 1st Day Out Of Coronavirus Isolation Was Tougher Than He Expected

CNN host Chris Cuomo emerged from his basement on Monday to rejoin his family as he recovers from the coronavirus infection he ’ s been battling for three weeks .
“ This is what I ’ ve been dreaming of , literally , for weeks , ” he said after he was cleared to end his self-isolation .
“ Just to be back up here , doing normal things.
” But the day wasn ’ t as easy as he had hoped .
First , he cracked that his family wasn ’ t exactly thrilled as he rejoined them ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site The Onion : “ This has spooked the family , ” he said .
“ We ’ re spooked by this.
” Cuomo said his wife , Cristina , who was also diagnosed with COVID-19 , now meets CDC guidelines for being with the family .
However , he said the dual illness hasn ’ t been easy on their household .
“ There ’ s a little bit of a trauma , and a recovery process , that we ’ re going to have to go through , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no longer sick , it ’ s clear he still has a long road ahead , telling CNN ’ s Dr. Sanjay Gupta that he struggled with the exercises he ’ s supposed to do now .
“ I could barely breathe doing a walk for 25 minutes , ” he said .
“ I felt like I was exhausted.
” He said he also felt pain using exercise bands .
“ This really knocks people sideways in a way that ’ ll take weeks , ” he said , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lucky guy ” to come through the infection .
See more of his conversation with Gupta below : Here 's the very moment @ ChrisCuomo emerged from his basement , where he 's been riding out coronavirus for the last several weeks .
pic.twitter.com/tugkXCGZD7 — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) April 21 , 2020

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CNN host Chris Cuomo emerged from his basement on Monday to rejoin his family as he recovers from the coronavirus infection he’s been battling for three weeks.
“This is what I’ve been dreaming of, literally, for weeks,” he said after he was cleared to end his self-isolation. “Just to be back up here, doing normal things.”
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But the day wasn’t as easy as he had hoped.
First, he cracked that his family wasn’t exactly thrilled as he rejoined them ― and referenced this headline from the parody site The Onion:
Fully Recovered Chris Cuomo Gradually Realizing Family Never Going To Let Him Out Of Basement https://t.co/iS5TLR6EjP pic.twitter.com/zFO6CbcYXc — The Onion (@TheOnion) April 20, 2020
“This has spooked the family,” he said. “We’re spooked by this.”
Cuomo said his wife, Cristina, who was also diagnosed with COVID-19, now meets CDC guidelines for being with the family.
However, he said the dual illness hasn’t been easy on their household.
“There’s a little bit of a trauma, and a recovery process, that we’re going to have to go through,” he said.
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But he said, although he’s no longer sick, it’s clear he still has a long road ahead, telling CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta that he struggled with the exercises he’s supposed to do now.
“I could barely breathe doing a walk for 25 minutes,” he said. “I felt like I was exhausted.”
He said he also felt pain using exercise bands.
“This really knocks people sideways in a way that’ll take weeks,” he said, but he added that he’s a “lucky guy” to come through the infection.
See more of his conversation with Gupta below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Trump Dismisses Concerns About Coronavirus Testing As Some States Prepare To Reopen

President Donald Trump again insisted that the country was in “ very good shape ” in its coronavirus testing , even as some governors say their states don ’ t have adequate supplies .
Meanwhile , other governors have already announced the reopening of certain businesses as early as this week .
At Monday ’ s White House coronavirus briefing , Trump claimed the U.S. was testing people “ at a number nobody thought possible.
” When “ PBS NewsHour ” reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked the president about the “ outcry ” from both Republican and Democratic governors about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot back that “ it ’ s not bipartisan , it ’ s mostly partisan .
More important , it ’ s incorrect.
” “ No matter what I do ... no matter how well we do , if I came up with a tablet , you take it and this plague is gone , they ’ ll say Trump did a terrible job because that ’ s the political sound bite , ” Trump said , after insisting that “ we ’ ve done a really good job with testing.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much testing , ” the president continued , after Adm. Brett Giroir , assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services , had detailed the government ’ s goal of ramping up testing to the point of being “ over-prepared.
” “ You don ’ t need so much , ” Trump added .
“ The reason that the Democrats and some others maybe… they want maximum because they want to be able to criticize , because it ’ s almost impossible to get to the maximum number , and yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it already.
” For weeks , governors have decried the lack of supplies needed to carry out adequate testing .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam ( D ) on Sunday said it was “ delusional ” for Trump to claim the U.S. currently has the testing capacity needed for states to relax social distancing measures .
Maryland ’ s Republican governor , Larry Hogan , told CNN that Trump ’ s claim that states have enough tests “ is just absolutely false.
” Experts have called out inefficiencies in the ways tests are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from unclear federal guidelines on who can get tested to a lack of swabs and other supplies needed to complete the tests .
Meanwhile , Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee ( R ) and Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) announced Monday that their states will begin to reopen parts of the economy as soon as Friday .
In Georgia , gyms , barbers and hairstylists , will be allowed to return to business Friday , with restaurants allowed to open April 27 .
Their announcements came as dozens of protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists , popped up across the country .
TRUMP : “ Not everybody believes we should do so much testing .
You don ’ t need so much .
… Democrats and some others … want maximum because they want to be able to criticize because it 's almost impossible to get to the maximum number and yet we ’ ve been able to do it already . ''
pic.twitter.com/HzOtION0uj — JM Rieger ( @ RiegerReport ) April 20 , 2020 Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that the country has “ enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start “ phase one ” of reopening economies once they reach the criteria of 14 days of decreased infections .
Giroir echoed that the U.S. was “ ready right now to enter phase one.
” But Giroir also acknowledged that , although there are millions of tests “ in the marketplace , ” there have been “ end-to-end issues ” given the multiple elements needed , from swabs to “ transport media.
” Brad Smith , the director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services , walked through the complex , disparate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s White House briefing .
Those elements include supplies to conduct tests , ways to transport tests to labs and equipment to process them , which “ sometimes they come together , sometimes they come separate , ” as he put it .
Trump said Sunday , and Smith echoed it Monday , that the president will use the Defense Production Act to increase the production of swabs necessary for coronavirus testing in the coming weeks .
As expanded testing and “ contract tracing ” of COVID-19 cases will be key to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be deploying teams to every state to assist in the tracing .
As some states announced a gradual reopening of businesses , other states are being notably more cautious .
Though New York has apparently passed its peak of cases , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said the state was “ not out of the woods , ” and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city , which is the epicenter of COVID-19 in the country , won ’ t reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

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President Donald Trump again insisted that the country was in “very good shape” in its coronavirus testing, even as some governors say their states don’t have adequate supplies. Meanwhile, other governors have already announced the reopening of certain businesses as early as this week.
At Monday’s White House coronavirus briefing, Trump claimed the U.S. was testing people “at a number nobody thought possible.” When “PBS NewsHour” reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked the president about the “outcry” from both Republican and Democratic governors about a lack of access to testing, Trump shot back that “it’s not bipartisan, it’s mostly partisan. More important, it’s incorrect.”
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“No matter what I do... no matter how well we do, if I came up with a tablet, you take it and this plague is gone, they’ll say Trump did a terrible job because that’s the political sound bite,” Trump said, after insisting that “we’ve done a really good job with testing.”
“Not everybody believes we should do so much testing,” the president continued, after Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, had detailed the government’s goal of ramping up testing to the point of being “over-prepared.”
“You don’t need so much,” Trump added. “The reason that the Democrats and some others maybe… they want maximum because they want to be able to criticize, because it’s almost impossible to get to the maximum number, and yet we’ve been able to do it already.”
For weeks, governors have decried the lack of supplies needed to carry out adequate testing. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Sunday said it was “delusional” for Trump to claim the U.S. currently has the testing capacity needed for states to relax social distancing measures. Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan, told CNN that Trump’s claim that states have enough tests “is just absolutely false.”
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Experts have called out inefficiencies in the ways tests are currently being administered around the country, from unclear federal guidelines on who can get tested to a lack of swabs and other supplies needed to complete the tests.
Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said the U.S. had not yet developed the testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the economy.
TRUMP: “Not everybody believes we should do so much testing. You don’t need so much. … Democrats and some others … want maximum because they want to be able to criticize because it's almost impossible to get to the maximum number and yet we’ve been able to do it already." pic.twitter.com/HzOtION0uj — JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) April 20, 2020
The White House released criteria last week for states to assess how to reopen their economies in phases, including first reaching 14 days of declining cases and strong testing before any reopening.
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Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that the country has “enough testing capacity today” for states to start “phase one” of reopening economies once they reach the criteria of 14 days of decreased infections. Giroir echoed that the U.S. was “ready right now to enter phase one.” But Giroir also acknowledged that, although there are millions of tests “in the marketplace,” there have been “end-to-end issues” given the multiple elements needed, from swabs to “transport media.”
Brad Smith, the director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, walked through the complex, disparate elements that make up testing at Monday’s White House briefing. Those elements include supplies to conduct tests, ways to transport tests to labs and equipment to process them, which “sometimes they come together, sometimes they come separate,” as he put it.
Trump said Sunday, and Smith echoed it Monday, that the president will use the Defense Production Act to increase the production of swabs necessary for coronavirus testing in the coming weeks.
As expanded testing and “contract tracing” of COVID-19 cases will be key to reopening the economy, Pence said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be deploying teams to every state to assist in the tracing.
As some states announced a gradual reopening of businesses, other states are being notably more cautious. Though New York has apparently passed its peak of cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the state was “not out of the woods,” and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city, which is the epicenter of COVID-19 in the country, won’t reopen for “weeks, if not months.”
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Similarly, in California, as right-wing protests against the stay-home order took place around the state in recent days, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) tweeted Monday for people to “stay home.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Dr. Fauci Warns Protests May 'Backfire': Economy Can't Recover Until People Do

Top White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Monday that protests against coronavirus safety measures could “ backfire ” and that the economy can not recover until the virus is under control .
“ Clearly this is something that is hurting from the standpoint of economics ... but unless we get the virus under control , the real recovery economically is not going to happen , ” Fauci told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” “ If you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , ” Fauci warned .
“ So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening , it ’ s going to backfire ” if the process is rushed .
“ That ’ s the problem.
” Protests have erupted in various cities against stay-at-home restrictions to stem the surge of COVID-19 .
The largest protest last week in Michigan was organized by a reelection campaign group for President Donald Trump , who has encouraged the actions .
Trump has also urged his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Virginia , which some view as a call to armed insurrection .
Each of those states is headed by a Democratic governor .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , also discussed the national need for far more testing before people can start going back to safe workplaces .
In addition , he said there needs to be “ a partnership ” between the federal government and states on testing .
Trump has largely blamed testing shortfalls on governors , who have been pleading for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of tests .
Check out Fauci ’ s interview in the video above .
He addresses the protests at 5:27 .

Top White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Monday that protests against coronavirus safety measures could “backfire” and that the economy cannot recover until the virus is under control.
“Clearly this is something that is hurting from the standpoint of economics ... but unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery economically is not going to happen,” Fauci told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
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“If you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike, you’re going to set yourself back,” Fauci warned. “So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening, it’s going to backfire” if the process is rushed. “That’s the problem.”
Protests have erupted in various cities against stay-at-home restrictions to stem the surge of COVID-19. The largest protest last week in Michigan was organized by a reelection campaign group for President Donald Trump, who has encouraged the actions. Trump has also urged his supporters to “liberate” Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia, which some view as a call to armed insurrection. Each of those states is headed by a Democratic governor.
Hundreds of protesters turned out in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
The protesters often ignore social distancing guidelines recommended by Trump’s own administration.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also discussed the national need for far more testing before people can start going back to safe workplaces. In addition, he said there needs to be “a partnership” between the federal government and states on testing. Trump has largely blamed testing shortfalls on governors, who have been pleading for help from the Trump administration to boost the number of tests.
Check out Fauci’s interview in the video above. He addresses the protests at 5:27.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Trump Says He'll Suspend All Immigration Into The United States Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

President Donald Trump said Monday he would suspend all immigration into the United States for an undisclosed amount of time as the nation reels from the ongoing spread of COVID-19 .
“ In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy , as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens , ” Trump wrote on Twitter .
“ I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States !
” “ As President Trump has said , ‘ Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Latino workers , ’ ” she said .
“ At a time when Americans are looking to get back to work , action is necessary.
” Prior to the pandemic , Trump frequently boasted that Black and Hispanic unemployment numbers were near record lows .
In her statement , McEnany did not address how halting immigration would curb the spread of the virus .
As of Monday , by comparison , fewer than 9,000 known infections had been reported in Mexico , the top origin country of the U.S. immigrant population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. immigrants and where the virus was first documented in December , has recorded more than 83,000 cases .
It ’ s unclear how wide-ranging Trump ’ s order would be , and the White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately reply to HuffPost ’ s requests for clarification .
Administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that it wouldn ’ t make substantial changes to current U.S policy .
Still , the order will likely face legal challenges .
Trump has been forced to rein in his sweeping proclamations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president has touted what he called a total “ ban ” on travel from China as cases of the coronavirus began to soar in the United States , but the mandate had notable exceptions for residents of Hong Kong , Macao and Taiwan , and for U.S. citizens and permanent residents .
Many flights continued to operate for weeks , ferrying nearly 40,000 people to America from China .
The White House also banned all travel from Europe only to announce that the United Kingdom was exempt , but then banned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has been moving aggressively to reopen parts of the U.S. even as cases of the virus continue to grow , despite warnings from some lawmakers and public health officials that doing so too early could prove catastrophic for Americans .
A day after announcing his guidelines to “ reopen America , ” Trump called for three Democratic-led states under stay-at-home orders ― Minnesota , Michigan and Virginia ― to “ LIBERATE.
” None of the three states meet the criteria for easing restrictions yet under Trump ’ s new guidelines , Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out Sunday on CNN .
The president has expressed support for stay-at-home order protests that have popped up in more than a dozen states in the last week .
He said Sunday during a news briefing that he believes “ some governors have gone too far.
” But a majority of Americans have said they are worried the U.S. will return to normal too soon , according to recent polls .
The White House has already moved to enact some pillars of the president ’ s hard-line immigration policies during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 migrants to Mexico with minimal if any processing , citing the virus and saying doing so protects Americans ’ health .
Some of those people were asylum seekers looking for protection , according to reports .
“ This is not about immigration , ” Mark Morgan , the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection , said earlier this month , according to the Los Angeles Times .
“ Right now this is purely about infectious disease and public health.
” The Washington Post noted that if Trump ’ s immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a first in U.S. history , noting that even during the devastating Spanish flu outbreak in 1918 , the U.S. let in tens of thousands of immigrants .

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President Donald Trump said Monday he would suspend all immigration into the United States for an undisclosed amount of time as the nation reels from the ongoing spread of COVID-19.
“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!”
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In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement Tuesday that Trump is “committed to protecting the health and economic well-being of American citizens as we face unprecedented times.”
“As President Trump has said, ‘Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers,’” she said. “At a time when Americans are looking to get back to work, action is necessary.”
Prior to the pandemic, Trump frequently boasted that Black and Hispanic unemployment numbers were near record lows. In her statement, McEnany did not address how halting immigration would curb the spread of the virus.
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The U.S. has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases (over 800,000) and deaths (at least 43,000) of any country in the world.
As of Monday, by comparison, fewer than 9,000 known infections had been reported in Mexico, the top origin country of the U.S. immigrant population. China, the second-largest origin country for U.S. immigrants and where the virus was first documented in December, has recorded more than 83,000 cases.
It’s unclear how wide-ranging Trump’s order would be, and the White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s requests for clarification. Administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that it wouldn’t make substantial changes to current U.S policy. Still, the order will likely face legal challenges.
The initiative is expected to include broad exceptions for refugees, migrant farmworkers, health care workers and “any alien whose entry would be in the national interest,” Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
Trump has been forced to rein in his sweeping proclamations related to the outbreak several times before. The president has touted what he called a total “ban” on travel from China as cases of the coronavirus began to soar in the United States, but the mandate had notable exceptions for residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Many flights continued to operate for weeks, ferrying nearly 40,000 people to America from China.
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The White House also banned all travel from Europe only to announce that the United Kingdom was exempt, but then banned it once again days later.
The president has been moving aggressively to reopen parts of the U.S. even as cases of the virus continue to grow, despite warnings from some lawmakers and public health officials that doing so too early could prove catastrophic for Americans.
“We’re starting our life again,” Trump said last week while announcing a three-phase plan that governors could use to jumpstart their state economies. “We’re starting rejuvenation of our economy again.”
A day after announcing his guidelines to “reopen America,” Trump called for three Democratic-led states under stay-at-home orders ― Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia ― to “LIBERATE.” None of the three states meet the criteria for easing restrictions yet under Trump’s new guidelines, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) pointed out Sunday on CNN.
The president has expressed support for stay-at-home order protests that have popped up in more than a dozen states in the last week. He said Sunday during a news briefing that he believes “some governors have gone too far.”
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But a majority of Americans have said they are worried the U.S. will return to normal too soon, according to recent polls.
The White House has already moved to enact some pillars of the president’s hard-line immigration policies during the pandemic. The U.S. has expelled more than 10,000 migrants to Mexico with minimal if any processing, citing the virus and saying doing so protects Americans’ health. Some of those people were asylum seekers looking for protection, according to reports.
“This is not about immigration,” Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said earlier this month, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Right now this is purely about infectious disease and public health.”
Human rights groups have decried the measures, calling them illegal and claiming the Trump administration is using the virus as a backdoor to enact the president’s priorities.
The Washington Post noted that if Trump’s immigration suspension order is signed, it would be a first in U.S. history, noting that even during the devastating Spanish flu outbreak in 1918, the U.S. let in tens of thousands of immigrants.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--CNN's Brooke Baldwin Details Just How Different Coronavirus Feels From The Flu

Brooke Baldwin on Monday broke down the various ways that her fight against COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , felt different from a seasonal flu infection .
The CNN anchor dialed into her own program for a chat about her ongoing recovery .
Brianna Keilar , who has hosted Baldwin ’ s program in her absence , recalled also substituting for “ Newsroom ” a few years ago when Baldwin was sick with the seasonal flu .
Keilar asked Baldwin how the experiences compared .
“ You go into the flu , it ’ s awful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a finite five days , knock-down drag-out fight with your body , you know .
It ’ s a virus , you know you can ’ t take anything for it , and you just sit in bed , ” Baldwin responded .
Echoing her previous descriptions of the virus ’ “ relentless ” attacks on her body , Baldwin said her body “ gave me the middle finger , ” and that she was one of the lucky ones whose lungs held up .
“ Then you get a little bit better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at around night 9 .
You just don ’ t know what you ’ re headed for.
” Lastly , she said , the scary part is not knowing how the coronavirus will affect you .
“ This is not a cookie-cutter virus , it affects everyone differently , and I had no idea what I was getting into .
And I think that was part of the fear , it was that and the isolation and just not knowing when it would end.
” Baldwin announced on April 3 that she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken time off work since to recover and quarantine .
Over the weekend , she shared a detailed and personal reflection of the “ two-week beating ” and emotional distress the virus inflicted on her but said she ’ s much better and hopes to be back at work by April 27 .

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Brooke Baldwin on Monday broke down the various ways that her fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, felt different from a seasonal flu infection.
The CNN anchor dialed into her own program for a chat about her ongoing recovery. Brianna Keilar, who has hosted Baldwin’s program in her absence, recalled also substituting for “Newsroom” a few years ago when Baldwin was sick with the seasonal flu. Keilar asked Baldwin how the experiences compared.
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“You go into the flu, it’s awful, but you know it’s basically a finite five days, knock-down drag-out fight with your body, you know. It’s a virus, you know you can’t take anything for it, and you just sit in bed,” Baldwin responded.
“With coronavirus, it’s like ‘Oh I’m kinda ok,’ in the beginning and then ‘Oh no you’re not.’”
Echoing her previous descriptions of the virus’ “relentless” attacks on her body, Baldwin said her body “gave me the middle finger,” and that she was one of the lucky ones whose lungs held up. “Then you get a little bit better, and then my worst night came at around night 9. You just don’t know what you’re headed for.”
Lastly, she said, the scary part is not knowing how the coronavirus will affect you.
“This is not a cookie-cutter virus, it affects everyone differently, and I had no idea what I was getting into. And I think that was part of the fear, it was that and the isolation and just not knowing when it would end.”
Baldwin announced on April 3 that she had tested positive for the virus and has taken time off work since to recover and quarantine. Over the weekend, she shared a detailed and personal reflection of the “two-week beating” and emotional distress the virus inflicted on her but said she’s much better and hopes to be back at work by April 27.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--MSNBC's Katy Tur Skewers Protesters' 'Plain Dumb' Comments About Coronavirus

MSNBC host Katy Tur blasted comments from Arizona protesters calling for an end to stay-at-home orders on Monday , labeling a series of claims from demonstrators downplaying the risks of the coronavirus as “ just plain dumb ” and a danger to public health .
NBC News journalist Vaughn Hillyard told Tur that people at the Phoenix rally expressed frustrations with Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey ( R ) , as well as with President Donald Trump ’ s administration , “ but not with Donald Trump.
” Hillyard said he spoke with one woman who wanted to lift restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assist her two children with special needs , however , she also “ does not believe ” the numbers coming from the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak in New York .
″She does not believe the rate of contagion is any more than the flu ― a lot of these theories that are pushed by the president of the United States.
” Hillyard also reported that the event ’ s organizer was pushing for “ a serious look within the administration ” into two leading medical experts on the coronavirus task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , and Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator ― whom he claimed were part of an effort to incite fear .
“ Well Vaughn , that is just plain dumb , frankly .
It ’ s just plain dumb , ” Tur responded .
“ I don ’ t think any of us would be standing on street corners wearing masks if it was just the flu.
” “ Also , the flu has a vaccine , ” she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine .
The flu is not as contagious as this seems to be , according to everybody that has experienced it.
” Tur added that she hated giving attention to these protests , given the small turnouts , but she recognized that the dangerous message is amplified on social media and by the president .
Trump encouraged similar protests in other states , despite the protesters ’ demands to “ open up now ” undermining his own administration ’ s guidance for gradually reviving the economy .
“ They ’ re not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re putting everybody around them in danger , ” Tur added .
“ Everybody at a grocery store they might go to .
Their family members still at home .
Their friends , their loved ones .
It ’ s not just an individual problem.
” Arizona , where 5,068 cases of the virus have been recorded and 191 people have died , is under a stay-at-home order enforced from March 31 through to the end of the month .
The protest in Phoenix is one of more than a dozen around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought together right-wing groups , including Trump supporters , pro-gun and anti-vaccine activists , calling for an end to the economic shutdown .
Demonstrations have turned out anywhere from an estimated few hundred people to a few thousand .

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MSNBC host Katy Tur blasted comments from Arizona protesters calling for an end to stay-at-home orders on Monday, labeling a series of claims from demonstrators downplaying the risks of the coronavirus as “just plain dumb” and a danger to public health.
NBC News journalist Vaughn Hillyard told Tur that people at the Phoenix rally expressed frustrations with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), as well as with President Donald Trump’s administration, “but not with Donald Trump.”
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Hillyard said he spoke with one woman who wanted to lift restrictions because she relied on schools’ services to assist her two children with special needs, however, she also “does not believe” the numbers coming from the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak in New York.
″She does not believe the rate of contagion is any more than the flu ― a lot of these theories that are pushed by the president of the United States.”
Phoenix, Arizona — Several hundred protesters do exact opposite of social distancing & at least 95% of folks are not wearing masks. Organizers calling it “Patriots Day Rally.”
To note, pop. of greater Phx area is almost 5 mil. AZ’s GOV implemented stay-at-home policy 3 wks ago. pic.twitter.com/Be61TFb1Kp — Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) April 20, 2020
Hillyard also reported that the event’s organizer was pushing for “a serious look within the administration” into two leading medical experts on the coronavirus task force ― Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator ― whom he claimed were part of an effort to incite fear.
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“Well Vaughn, that is just plain dumb, frankly. It’s just plain dumb,” Tur responded. “I don’t think any of us would be standing on street corners wearing masks if it was just the flu.”
“Also, the flu has a vaccine,” she added. “This does not have a vaccine. The flu is not as contagious as this seems to be, according to everybody that has experienced it.”
Tur added that she hated giving attention to these protests, given the small turnouts, but she recognized that the dangerous message is amplified on social media and by the president. Trump encouraged similar protests in other states, despite the protesters’ demands to “open up now” undermining his own administration’s guidance for gradually reviving the economy.
“They’re not just putting themselves in danger, they’re putting everybody around them in danger,” Tur added. “Everybody at a grocery store they might go to. Their family members still at home. Their friends, their loved ones. It’s not just an individual problem.”
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Arizona, where 5,068 cases of the virus have been recorded and 191 people have died, is under a stay-at-home order enforced from March 31 through to the end of the month. The protest in Phoenix is one of more than a dozen around the country in the past week that have brought together right-wing groups, including Trump supporters, pro-gun and anti-vaccine activists, calling for an end to the economic shutdown. Demonstrations have turned out anywhere from an estimated few hundred people to a few thousand.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--White Evangelicals Most Likely To Support Religious Exemptions To Stay-At-Home Orders

Most Americans of faith agree that houses of worship shouldn ’ t be allowed to evade state and local authorities ’ stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic ― but there ’ s a notable anomaly within that trend , a new survey suggests .
About one-third of white evangelical Protestants ― a religious group with strong ties to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party ― support the idea of granting religious exemptions to stay-at-home-orders , according to a Public Religion Research Institute report published last Wednesday .
White evangelicals were more likely than other religious Americans to favor allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person services , according to the survey .
About one-quarter of nonwhite Protestants said the same , along with 18 % of both white Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated of all races , and 15 % of white mainline Protestants .
More broadly , only about 21 % of all Americans favor religious exemptions to stay-at-home orders for churches .
Most Americans ( 77 % ) oppose allowing churches and religious organizations to hold in-person services , with 40 % strongly opposing the exemptions .
PRRI conducted its survey just before Easter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only 3 % of Americans who typically attend religious services at least a few times a year reported that they planned to attend in-person services for Easter or other religious occasions , according to PRRI .
States have approached religious exemptions to stay-at-home orders in a variety of ways .
Some states ― such as Florida , Michigan and New Mexico ― have added such exemptions to their stay-at-home orders , allowing houses of worship to hold religious services while encouraging ( or requiring ) worshippers to practice social distancing .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering in large numbers , prompting a showdown with some religious leaders , many of whom argue they can worship in person and practice social distancing at the same time .
Evangelical Christian pastors in California and Kentucky have gone to court to seek religious exemptions for stay-at-home orders , arguing that allowing people to go to grocery stores and laundromats while banning them from church is a violation of the First Amendment .
Attorney General William Barr has also intervened to support members of a small evangelical church in Greenville , Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-in service with their car windows rolled up .
In a statement of interest issued last week , the Justice Department accused the city of Greenville of discriminating against these congregants , since the city allowed customers to eat at a nearby drive-in restaurant .
The city later withdrew the fines .
In Kansas , a Trump-appointed federal judge sided with two Baptist churches challenging Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly ’ s 10-person limit on in-person attendance at religious services .
The Saturday ruling found that the governor ’ s stay-at-home order likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kelly claims that at least four clusters of coronavirus cases in Kansas have been linked to “ church settings.
” Her office says that six deaths and 80 cases of the novel coronavirus are tied to religious gatherings in Kansas .

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Most Americans of faith agree that houses of worship shouldn’t be allowed to evade state and local authorities’ stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic ― but there’s a notable anomaly within that trend, a new survey suggests.
About one-third of white evangelical Protestants ― a religious group with strong ties to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party ― support the idea of granting religious exemptions to stay-at-home-orders, according to a Public Religion Research Institute report published last Wednesday.
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White evangelicals were more likely than other religious Americans to favor allowing churches and other religious organizations to hold in-person services, according to the survey.
About one-quarter of nonwhite Protestants said the same, along with 18% of both white Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated of all races, and 15% of white mainline Protestants.
More broadly, only about 21% of all Americans favor religious exemptions to stay-at-home orders for churches. Most Americans (77%) oppose allowing churches and religious organizations to hold in-person services, with 40% strongly opposing the exemptions.
PRRI conducted its survey just before Easter, a Sunday when churches are usually packed. Only 3% of Americans who typically attend religious services at least a few times a year reported that they planned to attend in-person services for Easter or other religious occasions, according to PRRI.
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A woman prays during a communion service at the Godspeaker Calvary Chapel sanctuary on April 5, 2020, in Thousand Oaks, California. APU GOMES via Getty Images
States have approached religious exemptions to stay-at-home orders in a variety of ways. Some states ― such as Florida, Michigan and New Mexico ― have added such exemptions to their stay-at-home orders, allowing houses of worship to hold religious services while encouraging (or requiring) worshippers to practice social distancing. Other states have explicitly banned religious groups from gathering in large numbers, prompting a showdown with some religious leaders, many of whom argue they can worship in person and practice social distancing at the same time.
Evangelical Christian pastors in California and Kentucky have gone to court to seek religious exemptions for stay-at-home orders, arguing that allowing people to go to grocery stores and laundromats while banning them from church is a violation of the First Amendment.
Attorney General William Barr has also intervened to support members of a small evangelical church in Greenville, Mississippi, who were fined for attending a drive-in service with their car windows rolled up. In a statement of interest issued last week, the Justice Department accused the city of Greenville of discriminating against these congregants, since the city allowed customers to eat at a nearby drive-in restaurant. The city later withdrew the fines.
A worshipper holds a sign to alert drivers to a drive-in service at On Fire Christian Church on April 5, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. Andy Lyons via Getty Images
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In Kansas, a Trump-appointed federal judge sided with two Baptist churches challenging Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s 10-person limit on in-person attendance at religious services. The Saturday ruling found that the governor’s stay-at-home order likely violated the churchgoers’ First Amendment rights.
Kelly claims that at least four clusters of coronavirus cases in Kansas have been linked to “church settings.”
Her office says that six deaths and 80 cases of the novel coronavirus are tied to religious gatherings in Kansas.
“This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis,” Kelly told The Associated Press.
PRRI's telephone survey of 1,007 adults took place between April 6 and 11 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Trump Golf Company Shares Video By PGA Player Touting Vodka 'Cure' For COVID-19

After reports of the tweet appeared in the media , Daly said Monday that the video was done “ in fun , ” angrily adding : “ Grow up , reporters.
” Trump Golf ’ s tweet sharing Daly ’ s video is still up .
“ John , thank you for the friendship .
Everyone at Trump Golf loves you , ” the golf company ’ s message reads .
It ends with the hashtag “ stay safe.
” Daly begins the video by plugging all the Trump golf courses and offering some words of encouragement before announcing : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 .
He says he only drinks one drink a day , then holds up a full bottle of Belvedere Vodka — and a cup of McDonald ’ s Diet Coke to sip it with .
“ And that ’ s the way you kill this coronavirus , I believe , ” he adds .
“ Be safe , y ’ all.
” A big thank you to @ PGA_JohnDaly who has always been one of our biggest fans .
John thank you for the friendship .
Everyone at @ TrumpGolf truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/coWifMSa3W — Trump Golf ( @ TrumpGolf ) April 9 , 2020 Daly lashed out after the video was first reported Sunday in Golfweek , which called the PGA player either “ ignorant ” or responsible for a “ lame attempt at humor.
” “ WHO ” really did a lot for us didn ’ t they ?
Grow up reporters , I did a video for fun to put some laughter in us through this tough time !
Y ’ all are a joke !
— John Daly ( @ PGA_JohnDaly ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message , even if it was meant in jest , is a potentially dangerous one , with the added weight of being promoted by a brand owned by the president .
The crackpot theory circulating on social media that liquor is a coronavirus cure has made the World Health Organization ’ s “ myth-busters ” site .
In fact , alcohol consumption can make people even more vulnerable to COVID-19 because it can weaken the immune system , experts have warned .
“ Consuming alcohol will not destroy the virus , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks if a person becomes infected with the virus , ” says a WHO fact sheet .
Twitter followers were stunned .
One said she reported the tweet to Twitter for promoting a false coronavirus cure , and another quipped that Daly could soon be added to the president ’ s coronavirus “ response team.
” Over 15,000 Americans have died , but as w/ everything trump , here ’ s @ TrumpGolf promoting an old white man that looks more dead than alive , telling everyone that drinking a bottle of vodka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” at a time , washed down with Diet Coke is a way to fight corona .
pic.twitter.com/O3PnAV9Zvt — Julie 🇨🇺🇺🇸 ( @ jargfar ) April 10 , 2020

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President Donald Trump’s golf company posted a YouTube video of PGA player John Daly touting vodka as a “cure” for COVID-19 earlier this month.
After reports of the tweet appeared in the media, Daly said Monday that the video was done “in fun,” angrily adding: “Grow up, reporters.”
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Trump Golf’s tweet sharing Daly’s video is still up. “John, thank you for the friendship. Everyone at Trump Golf loves you,” the golf company’s message reads. It ends with the hashtag “stay safe.”
Daly begins the video by plugging all the Trump golf courses and offering some words of encouragement before announcing: “I kinda got a cure” for COVID-19. He says he only drinks one drink a day, then holds up a full bottle of Belvedere Vodka — and a cup of McDonald’s Diet Coke to sip it with.
“And that’s the way you kill this coronavirus, I believe,” he adds. “Be safe, y’all.”
A big thank you to @PGA_JohnDaly who has always been one of our biggest fans. John thank you for the friendship. Everyone at @TrumpGolf truly loves you! #StaySafe #AmericaTogether pic.twitter.com/coWifMSa3W — Trump Golf (@TrumpGolf) April 9, 2020
Daly lashed out after the video was first reported Sunday in Golfweek, which called the PGA player either “ignorant” or responsible for a “lame attempt at humor.”
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“WHO” really did a lot for us didn’t they? Grow up reporters, I did a video for fun to put some laughter in us through this tough time! Y’all are a joke! — John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly) April 20, 2020
Daly’s message, even if it was meant in jest, is a potentially dangerous one, with the added weight of being promoted by a brand owned by the president. The crackpot theory circulating on social media that liquor is a coronavirus cure has made the World Health Organization’s “myth-busters” site.
In fact, alcohol consumption can make people even more vulnerable to COVID-19 because it can weaken the immune system, experts have warned. “Consuming alcohol will not destroy the virus, and its consumption is likely to increase the health risks if a person becomes infected with the virus,” says a WHO fact sheet.
Twitter followers were stunned. One said she reported the tweet to Twitter for promoting a false coronavirus cure, and another quipped that Daly could soon be added to the president’s coronavirus “response team.”
Over 15,000 Americans have died, but as w/ everything trump, here’s @TrumpGolf promoting an old white man that looks more dead than alive, telling everyone that drinking a bottle of vodka a-day, a “sippy, sippy” at a time, washed down with Diet Coke is a way to fight corona. pic.twitter.com/O3PnAV9Zvt — Julie 🇨🇺🇺🇸 (@jargfar) April 10, 2020
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Apparently, Vodka doesn't prevent the moronavirus.... — Just Annie (@Annie7516) April 20, 2020
Trump Golf could not immediately be reached for comment.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--The American Public Isn't Ready To Reopen America

Allen J. Schaben via Getty Images UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers bang on the windows in a return of gratitude as they watch Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade to show support for them on April 14 , 2020 .
Instead , a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves .
Most respondents say that they ’ d continue to stay home even with no limitations in place .
And far more are concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too long to do so .
This consensus , polling suggests , hasn ’ t diminished in recent days , even as Americans ’ personal concerns about contracting the virus appear to have ticked down from their peak at the start of April .
In four surveys over the past month , the share of Americans staying home has remained between 86 % and 89 % , and the share supporting states ’ decisions to issue stay-at-home orders has stayed between 77 % and 81 % .
In the most recent HuffPost/YouGov survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 86 % of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible , and about 65 % said they ’ d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area .
Just 15 % said there are too many coronavirus-related restrictions in place where they live , with 53 % saying restrictions are at the right level , and 23 % that there are not enough restrictions .
A 78 % majority said state governments that have told residents to stay at home unless they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making the right decision by issuing such orders , with just 9 % saying those states are making the wrong decision .
Americans said , 60 % to 24 % , that they ’ re more concerned that states will lift the restrictions too quickly than that they will not lift the restrictions quickly enough .
Americans were evenly split in their attitudes toward Trump ’ s handling of coronavirus , the poll found , with 46 % approving and an equal percentage disapproving .
Polling was slightly more positive toward the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % approving and 43 % disapproving of how it has handled the virus .
The HuffPost/YouGov survey is just one of a number of new polls to find widespread support for continued , aggressive social distancing .
Taken as a whole , the surveys suggest the response to the coronavirus crisis has to some extent defied the hyperpartisan pattern of public opinion so often seen during Trump ’ s presidency .
As of yet , this crisis has not massively affected overall views of Trump ; but neither have Trump ’ s sporadic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect public unwillingness to do so .
Concerns about the coronavirus intensified rapidly , and across party lines , as the crisis grew .
And while there are still significant partisan divides on the subject ― Democrats are more seriously worried about the virus and far unhappier with the government ’ s response ― there ’ s also substantial agreement .
In the latest HuffPost/YouGov poll , 87 % of Democrats and 77 % of Republicans said that state stay-at-home orders remain the right decision ; 91 % of Democrats and 85 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making an effort to remain at home .
Although Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be primarily concerned that states will reopen too slowly , that ’ s hardly the consensus of the party .
Rather , the poll finds , Republicans themselves are closely divided on the issue — and , if anything , lean slightly toward concerns about reopening too quickly .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the latest HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by subgroups : HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls .
You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov ’ s nationally representative opinion polling .
More details on the polls ’ methodology are available here .
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors .
YouGov ’ s reports include a model-based margin of error , which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate .
Click here for a more detailed explanation of the model-based margin of error .

UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers bang on the windows in a return of gratitude as they watch Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade to show support for them on April 14, 2020. Allen J. Schaben via Getty Images
There’s a new silent majority in America: the millions of people who have remained quietly withdrawn from public life in an effort to stem the nation’s coronavirus outbreak.
Over the past week, small protests against stay-at-home orders ― obliquely encouraged by President Donald Trump ― have dotted the nation. Their highly visible frustration, however, doesn’t reflect a wider groundswell of public opposition to those orders.
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Instead, a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves. Most respondents say that they’d continue to stay home even with no limitations in place. And far more are concerned about states reopening too quickly than taking too long to do so.
This consensus, polling suggests, hasn’t diminished in recent days, even as Americans’ personal concerns about contracting the virus appear to have ticked down from their peak at the start of April. In four surveys over the past month, the share of Americans staying home has remained between 86% and 89%, and the share supporting states’ decisions to issue stay-at-home orders has stayed between 77% and 81%.
The overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves, a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
In the most recent HuffPost/YouGov survey, conducted last Friday through Sunday, 86% of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible, and about 65% said they’d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area.
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Just 15% said there are too many coronavirus-related restrictions in place where they live, with 53% saying restrictions are at the right level, and 23% that there are not enough restrictions.
A 78% majority said state governments that have told residents to stay at home unless they have an essential reason for going out are making the right decision by issuing such orders, with just 9% saying those states are making the wrong decision. Americans said, 60% to 24%, that they’re more concerned that states will lift the restrictions too quickly than that they will not lift the restrictions quickly enough.
Americans were evenly split in their attitudes toward Trump’s handling of coronavirus, the poll found, with 46% approving and an equal percentage disapproving. Polling was slightly more positive toward the U.S. government as a whole, with 47% approving and 43% disapproving of how it has handled the virus.
The HuffPost/YouGov survey is just one of a number of new polls to find widespread support for continued, aggressive social distancing. Taken as a whole, the surveys suggest the response to the coronavirus crisis has to some extent defied the hyperpartisan pattern of public opinion so often seen during Trump’s presidency. As of yet, this crisis has not massively affected overall views of Trump; but neither have Trump’s sporadic calls to reopen the country appeared to affect public unwillingness to do so.
Concerns about the coronavirus intensified rapidly, and across party lines, as the crisis grew. And while there are still significant partisan divides on the subject ― Democrats are more seriously worried about the virus and far unhappier with the government’s response ― there’s also substantial agreement.
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In the latest HuffPost/YouGov poll, 87% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans said that state stay-at-home orders remain the right decision; 91% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans said they’re personally making an effort to remain at home.
Although Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be primarily concerned that states will reopen too slowly, that’s hardly the consensus of the party. Rather, the poll finds, Republicans themselves are closely divided on the issue — and, if anything, lean slightly toward concerns about reopening too quickly.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the latest HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
The HuffPost/YouGov polls each consisted of 1,000 completed interviews, conducted April 10-12 and April 17-19, among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
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HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Hazard Pay Plan Makes Little Progress In Congress During Coronavirus Stimulus Talks

A Democratic plan released three weeks ago would increase front-line workers ’ wages by as much as $ 25,000 for the year , but the proposal is unlikely to make it into the next piece of stimulus legislation .
Congressional leaders have been racing to hammer out a deal this week on an interim coronavirus relief package centered around additional aid to small businesses .
Democrats have used their leverage in the negotiations to try and secure more funding for cities and states , as well as hospitals and coronavirus testing programs .
But hazard pay for essential workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a back seat in talks with Republicans .
The pay premiums would have to go into a subsequent relief package , if they materialize at all .
The Senate could pass the latest measure for small businesses as early as Tuesday , provided the two sides reach an agreement on including aid to cities and states , one of the outstanding issues remaining .
The House would take action shortly afterward and would send the bill to Trump ’ s desk for signing .
On Monday , New York Gov .
Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for an increase in pay for front-line workers , saying such a provision should be funded by the federal government and included in upcoming stimulus legislation .
“ This crisis is not over yet , and as long as these workers continue to work and expose themselves to the virus , they should be properly compensated , ” Cuomo said in a press conference .
“ I am calling on the federal government to provide hazard pay to these frontline workers and give them a 50 percent bonus because they are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay ― the idea that a worker who ’ s put in unusual danger should be compensated extra for it ― has emerged as a top demand by employees putting their health , and the health of their families , on the line amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Workers in health care facilities , grocery stores , meatpacking plants , transit systems and other workplaces are itching for a pay premium as they clock in during a nearly nationwide lockdown .
Essential workers : Has your employer given you extra pay for working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about hazard pay with us .
Please include a phone number if you ’ re willing to be interviewed .
Many companies have boosted worker pay temporarily during the pandemic by varying amounts .
Grocery chains like Whole Foods and Kroger , for instance , have increased wages by $ 2 per hour .
The poultry processor Sanderson Farms has offered a dollar-per-hour “ attendance bonus.
” The meat processor JBS , which has had to close plants due to outbreaks among its workforce , has negotiated a $ 4-per-hour increase with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union said Sunday .
But many workers have seen no pay increases at all , and those who have don ’ t necessarily feel their pay raises are commensurate with the dangers of working in the middle of COVID-19 .
Some have launched petitions calling on their employers to match or surpass temporary pay hikes instituted by their competitors .
Others have asked for time-and-a-half pay during the pandemic .
The Democratic plan would go far beyond what most employers have done so far , although the proposal is still a work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) and his colleagues unveiled earlier this month would provide front-line workers with an extra $ 13 per hour worked , from the start of the pandemic through the end of this year .
The pay boost would be capped at $ 25,000 for those earning below $ 200,000 per year and at $ 5,000 for those earning more .
The same proposal includes a one-time incentive payment of $ 15,000 for new employees who choose to work in health care , home care and emergency response during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaged in “ essential work ” could apply for the funds , which would be added to workers ’ paychecks as a line item .
The entire fund would be funded by the federal government , not by employers .
Democrats did not specify all the occupations eligible for the “ Heroes Fund , ” as it was billed , but in addition to health care workers , they singled out grocery store employees , postal workers , sanitation workers and others as examples of employees who would qualify .

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Essential workers hoping to see bigger paychecks during the pandemic will have to wait as Congress tackles issues other than hazard pay.
A Democratic plan released three weeks ago would increase front-line workers’ wages by as much as $25,000 for the year, but the proposal is unlikely to make it into the next piece of stimulus legislation. Congressional leaders have been racing to hammer out a deal this week on an interim coronavirus relief package centered around additional aid to small businesses.
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Democrats have used their leverage in the negotiations to try and secure more funding for cities and states, as well as hospitals and coronavirus testing programs. But hazard pay for essential workers, like many other Democratic proposals, has taken a back seat in talks with Republicans. The pay premiums would have to go into a subsequent relief package, if they materialize at all.
“Hazard pay for essential workers, like many other Democratic proposals, has taken a back seat in talks with Republicans.”
The Senate could pass the latest measure for small businesses as early as Tuesday, provided the two sides reach an agreement on including aid to cities and states, one of the outstanding issues remaining. The House would take action shortly afterward and would send the bill to Trump’s desk for signing.
On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) joined the chorus calling for an increase in pay for front-line workers, saying such a provision should be funded by the federal government and included in upcoming stimulus legislation.
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“This crisis is not over yet, and as long as these workers continue to work and expose themselves to the virus, they should be properly compensated,” Cuomo said in a press conference. “I am calling on the federal government to provide hazard pay to these frontline workers and give them a 50 percent bonus because they are the true heroes in this crisis.”
Hazard pay ― the idea that a worker who’s put in unusual danger should be compensated extra for it ― has emerged as a top demand by employees putting their health, and the health of their families, on the line amid the coronavirus outbreak. Workers in health care facilities, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, transit systems and other workplaces are itching for a pay premium as they clock in during a nearly nationwide lockdown.
Essential workers: Has your employer given you extra pay for working during the pandemic? Share your thoughts about hazard pay with us. Please include a phone number if you’re willing to be interviewed.
Many companies have boosted worker pay temporarily during the pandemic by varying amounts. Grocery chains like Whole Foods and Kroger, for instance, have increased wages by $2 per hour. The poultry processor Sanderson Farms has offered a dollar-per-hour “attendance bonus.” The meat processor JBS, which has had to close plants due to outbreaks among its workforce, has negotiated a $4-per-hour increase with the United Food and Commercial Workers, the union said Sunday.
But many workers have seen no pay increases at all, and those who have don’t necessarily feel their pay raises are commensurate with the dangers of working in the middle of COVID-19. Some have launched petitions calling on their employers to match or surpass temporary pay hikes instituted by their competitors. Others have asked for time-and-a-half pay during the pandemic.
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The Democratic plan would go far beyond what most employers have done so far, although the proposal is still a work in progress. The measure Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his colleagues unveiled earlier this month would provide front-line workers with an extra $13 per hour worked, from the start of the pandemic through the end of this year.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) says the federal government should pony up for hazard pay. Pacific Press via Getty Images
The pay boost would be capped at $25,000 for those earning below $200,000 per year and at $5,000 for those earning more. The same proposal includes a one-time incentive payment of $15,000 for new employees who choose to work in health care, home care and emergency response during the pandemic.
Under the plan, employers engaged in “essential work” could apply for the funds, which would be added to workers’ paychecks as a line item. The entire fund would be funded by the federal government, not by employers.
Democrats did not specify all the occupations eligible for the “Heroes Fund,” as it was billed, but in addition to health care workers, they singled out grocery store employees, postal workers, sanitation workers and others as examples of employees who would qualify.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--Republican Group Endorses Biden With Anti-Trump Ad In Battleground States

A conservative group critical of President Donald Trump is going on the attack with a new ad endorsing former Vice @ @ @ @ @ ’ s election .
The spot from The Lincoln Project , titled “ Ready , @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan leader who puts good ideas ahead of party politics ” and praises his @ @ @ @ @ America knows Joe Biden , ” the narrator states .
“ He is the man @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump has left America in a state of danger , despair and economic depression @ @ @ @ @ too high to allow him another term , ” Jennifer Horn , one of the @ @ @ @ @ , said in a news release .
The group ’ s other leaders include conservative @ @ @ @ @ of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway , along with GOP strategists Rick Wilson , @ @ @ @ @ .
The ad is airing in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , and in Grand Rapids , @ @ @ @ @ in swing states Trump won in 2016 .

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A conservative group critical of President Donald Trump is going on the attack with a new ad endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden for November’s election.
The spot from The Lincoln Project, titled “Ready,” lauds Biden as “a bipartisan leader who puts good ideas ahead of party politics” and praises his strength and character.
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“America knows Joe Biden,” the narrator states. “He is the man for this moment.”
“Donald Trump has left America in a state of danger, despair and economic depression, and the risks are too high to allow him another term,” Jennifer Horn, one of the co-founders of The Lincoln Project, said in a news release.
The group’s other leaders include conservative attorney George Conway, husband of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, along with GOP strategists Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt and John Weaver.
The ad is airing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in Grand Rapids, Michigan, both key markets in swing states Trump won in 2016.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-22--Jeanine Pirro Accidentally Gave Tucker Carlson A Savage New Nickname On Live TV

There was an awkward moment Tuesday evening on Fox News when weekend host Jeanine Pirro called Tucker Carlson “ Gretchen ” during an interview on his prime-time show : The two had been talking about Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who is quickly becoming a favorite target of right-wing media .
However , on social media , others thought of another Gretchen : former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson .
Carlson was forced out at the network in 2016 after she rebuffed the sexual advances of then-boss Roger Ailes .
The move caused other women to step forward with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately resigned .
She sued the network in a case settled out of court for a reported $ 20 million .
The network also apologized to her .
“ When I read what was clearly absurdities , in this complaint , I said to myself , ‘ How sad that you ’ ve got this woman who is making these complaints when there are real victims out there , ’ ” she told The Wrap in 2016 .
Given that history , a number of Twitter users tagged Carlson ― Gretchen Carlson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She responded to the “ Freudian slip ” on Twitter : Will never forget how @ JudgeJeanine tried to take me down from within Fox but she just can ’ t seem to forget my name .
Freudian slip because she knew i was telling the truth ?
I live rent free in their brains .
Me and Whitmer .
Ghost of Gretchen !
— Gretchen Carlson ( @ GretchenCarlson ) April 22 , 2020 It was Pirro ’ s second unusual moment on the air in a matter of weeks after an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late March .
Twitter users were quick to comment on Tuesday night ’ s name flub : Is she as insufferable in person as she appears on TV ?
I hoped for her sake it was all an act .
— Wajahat `` Social Distance Yourself '' Ali ( @ WajahatAli ) April 22 , 2020

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There was an awkward moment Tuesday evening on Fox News when weekend host Jeanine Pirro called Tucker Carlson “Gretchen” during an interview on his prime-time show:
Jeanine mistakingly calls Tucker Carlson “Gretchen” pic.twitter.com/Vf0lm746iD — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) April 22, 2020
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The two had been talking about Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is quickly becoming a favorite target of right-wing media.
However, on social media, others thought of another Gretchen: former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.
Carlson was forced out at the network in 2016 after she rebuffed the sexual advances of then-boss Roger Ailes. The move caused other women to step forward with their own allegations against Ailes, who ultimately resigned.
She sued the network in a case settled out of court for a reported $20 million. The network also apologized to her.
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Pirro was a staunch Ailes defender.
“When I read what was clearly absurdities, in this complaint, I said to myself, ‘How sad that you’ve got this woman who is making these complaints when there are real victims out there,’” she told The Wrap in 2016.
Given that history, a number of Twitter users tagged Carlson ― Gretchen Carlson, that is ― with the clip.
She responded to the “Freudian slip” on Twitter:
Will never forget how @JudgeJeanine tried to take me down from within Fox but she just can’t seem to forget my name. Freudian slip because she knew i was telling the truth? I live rent free in their brains. Me and Whitmer. Ghost of Gretchen! — Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) April 22, 2020
It was Pirro’s second unusual moment on the air in a matter of weeks after an eyebrow-raising appearance on her own show in late March.
Twitter users were quick to comment on Tuesday night’s name flub:
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So Tucker Carlson’s new nickname is Gretchen?https://t.co/tbTJq1DEym — Adam Rifkin 🐼 (@ifindkarma) April 22, 2020
😂hahahahaha 😂👍👏
I’m going to refer to Tucker as Gretchen forever! — Steven O (@GoHappyAlways) April 22, 2020
Narrator: And, because Fox never issued retractions, Tucker was thenceforth known as Gretchen. — Amy F Howard (@AmyFHoward) April 22, 2020
Is she as insufferable in person as she appears on TV? I hoped for her sake it was all an act. — Wajahat "Social Distance Yourself" Ali (@WajahatAli) April 22, 2020
She’s what u think — Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) April 22, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-21--GOP Gov. Hogan On Trump's Snub: 'I Have No Idea What He's Upset About'

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) expressed confusion on Tuesday after President Donald Trump targeted him a day earlier for taking his state ’ s coronavirus testing into his own hands ― per the president ’ s advice .
“ I ’ m really not sure what he ’ s upset about , ” Hogan said during an interview with “ America ’ s Newsroom ” host Sandra Smith on Fox News .
“ We did what he told us to do , which was go out and get our testing .
And we had a great call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was leading the call on behalf of all the governors.
” On Monday , Trump took a swipe at Hogan , who is chair of the National Governors Association , after Hogan sourced 500,000 extra test kits for his state from South Korea .
His wife Yumi Hogan , who is a Korean immigrant , worked with him to negotiate the shipment .
Hogan recently rebutted Trump ’ s claim that adequate testing was available in the U.S. , and in a New York Times interview about obtaining the tests from abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have been this difficult.
” Trump subsequently singled Hogan out during a press briefing .
“ He really didn ’ t know about the federal laboratories , ” Trump said , referring to a call Vice President Mike Pence held with governors earlier on Monday to address testing .
“ He didn ’ t really understand too much about what was going on , so now I think he ’ ll be able to do that ; it ’ s pretty simple.
” Hogan has actually been pushing for extra testing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanked Trump for providing Maryland access to federal labs to process the test kits acquired from South Korea .
I ’ m grateful to President Trump for sending us a list of federal labs and generously offering Maryland use of them for # COVID19 testing .
Accessing these federal labs will be critical for utilizing the 500,000 tests we have acquired from South Korea .
— Governor Larry Hogan ( @ GovLarryHogan ) April 21 , 2020 Hogan noted on Tuesday that his state had been attempting to use federal labs for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So we got a commitment yesterday from the vice president and from the president that we can now use federal labs — which is terrific.
” Remarking that Trump “ was not on the call ” with governors , Hogan suggested that perhaps he “ got confused in the press conference.
” “ It was a great call , ” he said .
“ I have no idea what he was upset about.
” He also publicly released a letter on Tuesday to formally accept the use of federal labs and mentioned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ralph Northam ( D ) and Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser ( D ) had requested federal help with testing in the capital region over a month ago .
He asked for guidance on how to immediately proceed with accessing the facilities .

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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) expressed confusion on Tuesday after President Donald Trump targeted him a day earlier for taking his state’s coronavirus testing into his own hands ― per the president’s advice.
“I’m really not sure what he’s upset about,” Hogan said during an interview with “America’s Newsroom” host Sandra Smith on Fox News. “We did what he told us to do, which was go out and get our testing. And we had a great call with his entire team yesterday, and I was leading the call on behalf of all the governors.”
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On Monday, Trump took a swipe at Hogan, who is chair of the National Governors Association, after Hogan sourced 500,000 extra test kits for his state from South Korea. His wife Yumi Hogan, who is a Korean immigrant, worked with him to negotiate the shipment.
Hogan recently rebutted Trump’s claim that adequate testing was available in the U.S., and in a New York Times interview about obtaining the tests from abroad, he noted, “It should not have been this difficult.”
Trump subsequently singled Hogan out during a press briefing. “He really didn’t know about the federal laboratories,” Trump said, referring to a call Vice President Mike Pence held with governors earlier on Monday to address testing. “He didn’t really understand too much about what was going on, so now I think he’ll be able to do that; it’s pretty simple.”
Hogan has actually been pushing for extra testing for weeks. After the briefing, he thanked Trump for providing Maryland access to federal labs to process the test kits acquired from South Korea.
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I’m grateful to President Trump for sending us a list of federal labs and generously offering Maryland use of them for #COVID19 testing. Accessing these federal labs will be critical for utilizing the 500,000 tests we have acquired from South Korea. — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) April 21, 2020
Hogan noted on Tuesday that his state had been attempting to use federal labs for “more than a month now.”
“So we got a commitment yesterday from the vice president and from the president that we can now use federal labs — which is terrific.”
Remarking that Trump “was not on the call” with governors, Hogan suggested that perhaps he “got confused in the press conference.”
“It was a great call,” he said. “I have no idea what he was upset about.”
He also publicly released a letter on Tuesday to formally accept the use of federal labs and mentioned that he, along with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) had requested federal help with testing in the capital region over a month ago. He asked for guidance on how to immediately proceed with accessing the facilities.
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