thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Pat Robertson Suggests Same-Sex Marriage, Abortion Among Reasons For COVID-19

Televangelist Pat Robertson agreed that abortion and same-sex marriage are partly to blame for the novel coronavirus that has caused massive social and economic upheaval in the U.S. “ You confess your sins and forsake them .
Then he heals the land .
It ’ s not before , ” he said on an episode of his show , “ The 700 Club , ” earlier this week .
Robertson ’ s comments came during a segment in which he fields questions from viewers .
On Monday , a viewer asked him about how a popular Bible verse , 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness caused by the novel coronavirus .
The verse reads , “ If my people , who are called by my name , will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
” The viewer asked : “ How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel .
Doesn ’ t this prevent his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you put your finger on something very important .
You know the Bible says ― they turn from their wicked ways , ” he said .
“ We are not turning when we have done terrible things.
” Most Christian traditions would agree that abusing the poor is a serious sin .
But Christian denominations in the U.S. have adopted a wide range of positions on issues such as same-sex marriage , abortion and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
Within American evangelicalism , whether Robertson ’ s views are mainstream or fringe is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What isn ’ t up for debate , however , is his network ’ s reach and influence .
“ The 700 Club ” is the flagship program of CBN , the conservative network Robertson founded in 1960 .
The show has considerable reach ― about 650,000 U.S. households watch Robertson ’ s “ 700 Club ” program every day , according to CBN .
The network also maintains close ties to President Donald Trump ’ s administration and regularly features high-ranking White House officials as guests on its shows .
Robertson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention , America ’ s largest Protestant denomination .
But over the years , he has become more closely identified with charismatic Christianity , which emphasizes spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy .
Immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks , Robertson and fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell , Sr. speculated on the “ 700 Club ” that God had allowed the terrorists to succeed because the U.S. had become a nation of abortion , feminism , homosexuality , and secularism .
Faced with withering disapproval from then-President George W. Bush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their comments were taken out of context .
Most evangelical Christians consider abortion and same-sex marriage to be sinful , but many would be hesitant to interpret COVID-19 or similar events as God ’ s judgment on America , according to Thomas Kidd , a historian at Baylor University who studies evangelicalism .
“ Few evangelical leaders or pastors are willing to get as specific as Robertson about the connection between our sins and God ’ s temporal judgments , ” Kidd said .
“ In this sense he is an outlier.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interpretation of 2 Chronicles 7:14 , Kidd said , doubting if this verse should be applied to God ’ s relationship with the U.S. today .
“ Some evangelicals would also note that the verse calls on God ’ s ‘ people , ’ not Americans or all people in general , to pray and repent of their sins , ” Kidd said .

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Televangelist Pat Robertson agreed that abortion and same-sex marriage are partly to blame for the novel coronavirus that has caused massive social and economic upheaval in the U.S.
The 90-year-old Christian Broadcasting Network founder suggested that God won’t end the coronavirus pandemic until people “turn from their wicked ways.”
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“You confess your sins and forsake them. Then he heals the land. It’s not before,” he said on an episode of his show, “The 700 Club,” earlier this week.
Robertson’s comments came during a segment in which he fields questions from viewers. On Monday, a viewer asked him about how a popular Bible verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, applies to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The verse reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The viewer asked: “How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel. Doesn’t this prevent his healing and forgiveness?”
Robertson told the viewer, “You are right.”
“I think you put your finger on something very important. You know the Bible says ― they turn from their wicked ways,” he said. “We are not turning when we have done terrible things.”
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In his response, Robertson explicitly cited abortion and abuse of the poor as some of the reasons why “God would hold us guilty.”
CBN did not return HuffPost’s request for elaboration about Robertson’s statements.
Pat Robertson hosts the "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcast Network. The 700 Club - April 20, 2020 / YouTube
Most Christian traditions would agree that abusing the poor is a serious sin. But Christian denominations in the U.S. have adopted a wide range of positions on issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Within American evangelicalism, whether Robertson’s views are mainstream or fringe is a matter of debate between scholars. What isn’t up for debate, however, is his network’s reach and influence.
“The 700 Club” is the flagship program of CBN, the conservative network Robertson founded in 1960. The show has considerable reach ― about 650,000 U.S. households watch Robertson’s “700 Club” program every day, according to CBN. The network also maintains close ties to President Donald Trump’s administration and regularly features high-ranking White House officials as guests on its shows.
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Robertson’s roots are in the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination. But over the years, he has become more closely identified with charismatic Christianity, which emphasizes spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy.
The televangelist has long drawn criticism for taking inflammatory positions on Islam, LGBTQ issues and feminism. He’s received backlash for appearing to blame national tragedies on culture war issues, such as LGBTQ rights and abortion.
Immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks, Robertson and fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell, Sr. speculated on the “700 Club” that God had allowed the terrorists to succeed because the U.S. had become a nation of abortion, feminism, homosexuality, and secularism. Faced with withering disapproval from then-President George W. Bush and fellow evangelicals, both men later insisted their comments were taken out of context.
A screenshot from The April 20th episode of The 700 Club shows a viewer question about COVID-19 and 2 Chronicles 7:14. "The 700 Club - April 20, 2020" / YouTube
Most evangelical Christians consider abortion and same-sex marriage to be sinful, but many would be hesitant to interpret COVID-19 or similar events as God’s judgment on America, according to Thomas Kidd, a historian at Baylor University who studies evangelicalism.
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“Few evangelical leaders or pastors are willing to get as specific as Robertson about the connection between our sins and God’s temporal judgments,” Kidd said. “In this sense he is an outlier.”
Some evangelical leaders would also question Robertson’s interpretation of 2 Chronicles 7:14, Kidd said, doubting if this verse should be applied to God’s relationship with the U.S. today.
“Some evangelicals would also note that the verse calls on God’s ‘people,’ not Americans or all people in general, to pray and repent of their sins,” Kidd said.
Jason Bivins, a scholar of religion and politics at North Carolina State University, argued that Robertson’s belief that God withholds blessings from nations because of certain sins is “very common” within American evangelicalism, particularly among middle-aged and older white evangelicals.
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The Christian Right’s belief in God’s covenantal relationship with the U.S., and in end-times prophecies about Israel, has helped shape U.S. foreign policy for decades, Bivins said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Rudy Giuliani Acts As If Cancer, Obesity Were Contagious In Fox News Coronavirus Rant

President Donald Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Thursday attempted to dismiss coronavirus contact tracing by noting that other things that can cause death are not traced .
He chose obesity , heart disease and cancer , none of which are contagious , to make his point .
Giuliani , whose Twitter account was temporarily locked last month for sharing misinformation about potential treatments for COVID-19 , riffed on Laura Ingraham ’ s Fox News program about the tri-state area contact-tracing program announced by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and in collaboration with former New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor in that role .
The process , while labor-intensive , has been used as a core disease control method for decades , proving effective in past infectious disease outbreaks and in other countries during the current pandemic .
It identifies people who have tested positive for the virus and tracks anyone they may have had contact with while infectious .
“ That ’ s totally ridiculous .
Then we should trace everybody for cancer , ” Giuliani said of the plan .
“ And heart disease and obesity .
I mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than COVID-19 .
So we should be traced for all those things.
” These conditions , of course , are not infectious and have no need for contact tracing .
He also bashed Democratic governors for “ trying to keep us closed in ” and suggested that they “ try a few experiments ” with restarting businesses .
( Governors from both parties have pushed back on reviving the economies in a number of states prematurely , citing inadequate testing capabilities and not meeting the criteria laid out by the federal government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s get back to work again , because we ’ re ready to get back to work again , ” Giuliani declared .
Ingraham , who did not correct Giuliani for suggesting obesity , heart disease and cancer were infectious , agreed that we “ can ’ t live in a bubble .
”

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President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Thursday attempted to dismiss coronavirus contact tracing by noting that other things that can cause death are not traced. He chose obesity, heart disease and cancer, none of which are contagious, to make his point.
Giuliani, whose Twitter account was temporarily locked last month for sharing misinformation about potential treatments for COVID-19, riffed on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program about the tri-state area contact-tracing program announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and in collaboration with former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Giuliani’s successor in that role.
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The process, while labor-intensive, has been used as a core disease control method for decades, proving effective in past infectious disease outbreaks and in other countries during the current pandemic. It identifies people who have tested positive for the virus and tracks anyone they may have had contact with while infectious.
“That’s totally ridiculous. Then we should trace everybody for cancer,” Giuliani said of the plan. “And heart disease and obesity. I mean, a lot of things kill you more than COVID-19. So we should be traced for all those things.”
These conditions, of course, are not infectious and have no need for contact tracing.
Rudy Giuliani calls extensive tracing ridiculous and says we should do tracing for cancer, heart disease, and obesity because a lot of things kill more than Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/GOFLGTr0SN — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) April 24, 2020
He also bashed Democratic governors for “trying to keep us closed in” and suggested that they “try a few experiments” with restarting businesses. (Governors from both parties have pushed back on reviving the economies in a number of states prematurely, citing inadequate testing capabilities and not meeting the criteria laid out by the federal government to safely begin to reopen).
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“Let’s get back to work again, because we’re ready to get back to work again,” Giuliani declared.
Ingraham, who did not correct Giuliani for suggesting obesity, heart disease and cancer were infectious, agreed that we “can’t live in a bubble.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Melania Trump’s Coronavirus Lockdown Puzzle Goes Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

First lady Melania Trump tweeted a second puzzle for children who are locked down amid the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday .
And it was as badly received as the White House-themed one that she posted online last week .
Trump ’ s latest word search centered around her “ Be Best ” campaign to improve the lives of children .
It featured words such as “ thoughtful , ” “ kind ” and “ loyal.
” Hello children !
While you stay home to help keep yourself & others healthy , you can practice your skills with this # BeBest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/YoXBhVeJux pic.twitter.com/Oglrm8BKoC — Melania Trump ( @ FLOTUS ) April 23 , 2020 Tweeters noted the irony of the words in the puzzle , given President Donald Trump ’ s penchant for vitriolic attacks on people he doesn ’ t agree with .
“ Somebody asked her to make a list of words that don ’ t describe her husband , ” replied the team from the late night TV show “ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
” Somebody asked her to make a list of words that don ’ t describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Full Frontal ( @ FullFrontalSamB ) April 23 , 2020 I spy with my little eye , `` gasp . ''
Used in a sentence : `` Americans gasp for breath as they die of COVID-19 . ''
— Dr. MMC ( @ mckaycanter ) April 23 , 2020 perhaps next time , when creating a children 's word search to pass time during a lethal respiratory pandemic , make sure you do n't include the word `` gaspy '' in the second-to-last row https : //t.co/516yfozVwY — Justin Martin ( @ jmartinwrites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give this to your husband to do while the # coronavirus briefing is going on today ?
— Frances ( @ pennyblab ) April 23 , 2020 Try this @ realDonaldTrump .
Maybe you can learn something .
https : //t.co/MLsi14Ow4m — Charmol ( @ charmol520 ) April 23 , 2020 Children in cages , which she does n't care about , need not apply .
— ( ( ( Mad Bastard ) ) ) ( @ MadBastard_v2 ) April 23 , 2020 She literally made a list of all the qualities her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a puzzle .
So creative.
# BeBest https : //t.co/fnAhK6uLK7 — Melanie Putz 🛣☮🇨🇦🍫💨 ( @ MelaniePutz ) April 24 , 2020 Is the word “ disinfectant ” in there ?
— 1finekitty VOTED BLUE ❄🌊🔜 ( @ 1finekitty ) April 24 , 2020 Can someone help me find `` Tennis Pavilion '' in here ?
https : //t.co/L465ZzSNGE — emptywheel ( @ emptywheel ) April 24 , 2020 Hello Melania !
While you stay home to keep yourself & others healthy , can keep your husband occupied with puzzles & other activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take deadly untested drugs or to try injecting themselves with disinfectant ?
# BeBetter # IncompetenceKills https : //t.co/CNOEjdJ1Qw — Mark Hamill ( @ HamillHimself ) April 23 , 2020

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First lady Melania Trump tweeted a second puzzle for children who are locked down amid the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday.
And it was as badly received as the White House-themed one that she posted online last week.
Trump’s latest word search centered around her “Be Best” campaign to improve the lives of children. It featured words such as “thoughtful,” “kind” and “loyal.”
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Hello children! While you stay home to help keep yourself & others healthy, you can practice your skills with this #BeBest Word Search & other activities: https://t.co/YoXBhVeJux pic.twitter.com/Oglrm8BKoC — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 23, 2020
Tweeters noted the irony of the words in the puzzle, given President Donald Trump’s penchant for vitriolic attacks on people he doesn’t agree with.
“Somebody asked her to make a list of words that don’t describe her husband,” replied the team from the late night TV show “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.”
Somebody asked her to make a list of words that don’t describe her husband. https://t.co/KCaJUU7acp — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) April 23, 2020
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I found COMPLICIT, GRIFT, EMOLUMENTS, NEPOTISM, LYING, RACISM, INCOMPETENCE, and I DON'T REALLY CARE, DO U? https://t.co/98MdFNemKB — S(tay home!) (@vidiot_) April 23, 2020
I don't see "inject disinfectant" on here 😂 — WHERE ARE THE TESTS? Lisa (@Lisa_Battleaxe) April 23, 2020
I spy with my little eye, "gasp." Used in a sentence: "Americans gasp for breath as they die of COVID-19." — Dr. MMC (@mckaycanter) April 23, 2020
perhaps next time, when creating a children's word search to pass time during a lethal respiratory pandemic, make sure you don't include the word "gaspy" in the second-to-last row https://t.co/516yfozVwY — Justin Martin (@jmartinwrites) April 24, 2020
Can you give this to your husband to do while the #coronavirus briefing is going on today? — Frances (@pennyblab) April 23, 2020
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Children in cages, which she doesn't care about, need not apply. — (((Mad Bastard))) (@MadBastard_v2) April 23, 2020
She literally made a list of all the qualities her husband lacks, and formed them into a puzzle. So creative.#BeBest https://t.co/fnAhK6uLK7 — Melanie Putz 🛣☮🇨🇦🍫💨 (@MelaniePutz) April 24, 2020
Is the word “disinfectant” in there? — 1finekitty VOTED BLUE ❄🌊🔜 (@1finekitty) April 24, 2020
Can someone help me find "Tennis Pavilion" in here? https://t.co/L465ZzSNGE — emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 24, 2020
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Hello Melania! While you stay home to keep yourself & others healthy, can keep your husband occupied with puzzles & other activities so he won't keep telling people to take deadly untested drugs or to try injecting themselves with disinfectant? #BeBetter#IncompetenceKills https://t.co/CNOEjdJ1Qw — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Your Survival Of COVID-19 May Depend On How Much Your Governor Fears Trump

“ One explanation is that they fear the Trump base .
Another possibility is that they are the Trump base , ” said Mac Stipanovich , who served as chief of staff to Republican Florida Gov .
Bob Martinez in the late 1980s but who has become increasingly critical of his party under Trump .
“ It may be the case they are as dumb as they appear to be.
” There are notable exceptions to the Democratic-Republican split .
The Democratic governor of Maine , Janet Mills , did not issue a stay-at-home order until April 2 , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonessential businesses nine days earlier .
And Republican Brad Little in Idaho declared an “ extreme emergency ” with an accompanying stay-at-home order on March 25 .
California , Oregon and Washington were among the first states to issue stay-at-home orders , and , as a result , slowed the spread of the virus and COVID-19 , the disease it causes , to a manageable level .
California ’ s order came March 19 , the first in the country , while the other two states followed four days later .
All three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that hospitals in the state would be able to resume elective surgeries .
Meanwhile , a number of Republican governors who have aligned themselves with Trump bought into his false claims that the virus was not as serious as the seasonal flu and would go away on its own come spring .
“ Many Republicans seemingly can ’ t go to the bathroom without being given the implicit OK by the president , ” said David Turner with the Democratic Governors Association .
“ Democrats are making decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advice of medical experts .
I think that ’ s the reason Americans continue to put more faith in their Democratic governor to make the right decision than the president ’ s daily , ad hoc advice.
” Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine issued a stay-at-home order on March 23 , becoming the first GOP governor in the country to do so , followed four days later by New Hampshire ’ s Chris Sununu .
Both won in 2018 despite a wave election that saw Democrats pick up hundreds of legislative seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. House of Representatives .
On Wednesday evening , DeWine posted a series of statements on Twitter criticizing protests against the lockdown that compared it to Nazi Germany , ending with the declaration : “ Ultimately , I am responsible for the decisions in regard to the coronavirus .
The buck stops with me ” – a stunning contrast with Trump ’ s statement on March 13 that he didn ’ t “ take responsibility at all ” for the country ’ s coronavirus response .
DeWine has a decades-old reputation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump , said Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia ’ s Center for Politics .
“ I think he ’ s more free to do what he thinks is right , ” Kondik said , but added that DeWine has avoided antagonizing Trump and thereby endangering the delivery of federal assistance .
“ He ’ s really done a good job of threading the needle.
” Sununu , in New Hampshire , has also taken action that diverged from Trump ’ s message , said Fergus Cullen , a former GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think his tone has been really measured .
He ’ s avoided controversy on it .
He hasn ’ t gotten baited on it , ” Cullen said , referring to a small protest at the state Capitol against the lockdown that Sununu chose not to comment on at all .
Sununu ’ s actions are in marked contrast to those a thousand miles to the south in Trump ’ s new home state , where Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis may have made himself the most notorious Republican chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take any statewide action during the heart of spring break , with thousands of college students gathering in South Florida and many of them taking the virus back to their hometowns all across America .
DeSantis , who won the GOP primary almost entirely on the basis of Trump ’ s endorsement , had nevertheless spent his first year in office governing as a relatively mainstream Republican — until the coronavirus pandemic .
He refused to issue a stay-at-home order until April 1 , by which time the number of COVID-19 cases was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million doses of the anti-malaria drug Trump had been touting despite the lack of scientific evidence that it would work .

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WASHINGTON ― Whether you live or die because of this pandemic could very well depend on how afraid your governor is of President Donald Trump.
Across the country, how readily the coronavirus is spreading in your state roughly correlates with how early your governor issued a stay-at-home order – which in turn tracks how willing your governor was to buck Trump’s attempts to downplay the outbreak.
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And that correlation is showing a strong partisan break, with Democratic governors typically taking action days or weeks before their Republican counterparts. Of the eight states that still do not have stay-at-home orders, all are led by Republicans.
“One explanation is that they fear the Trump base. Another possibility is that they are the Trump base,” said Mac Stipanovich, who served as chief of staff to Republican Florida Gov. Bob Martinez in the late 1980s but who has become increasingly critical of his party under Trump. “It may be the case they are as dumb as they appear to be.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) greets President Donald Trump as he steps off Air Force One on March 6, 2020, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
There are notable exceptions to the Democratic-Republican split. The Democratic governor of Maine, Janet Mills, did not issue a stay-at-home order until April 2, although she had ordered the closure of all nonessential businesses nine days earlier. And Republican Brad Little in Idaho declared an “extreme emergency” with an accompanying stay-at-home order on March 25.
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But in general, the governors who acted promptly are in solidly Democratic states, where they are less affected by Trump’s attacks, or in “purple” states with Republican governors who must be responsive to a broad electorate.
California, Oregon and Washington were among the first states to issue stay-at-home orders, and, as a result, slowed the spread of the virus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, to a manageable level. California’s order came March 19, the first in the country, while the other two states followed four days later. All three have Democratic governors, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that hospitals in the state would be able to resume elective surgeries.
Meanwhile, a number of Republican governors who have aligned themselves with Trump bought into his false claims that the virus was not as serious as the seasonal flu and would go away on its own come spring.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed on March 27: “Y’all, we are not Louisiana. Right now is not the time to order people to shelter in place.” She signed a stay-at-home order a week later, on April 3.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said on March 23: “Mississippi’s never going to be China. Mississippi’s never going to be North Korea.” He, too, instituted a stay-at-home order on April 3.
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And while South Dakota’s Kristi Noem has ordered schools closed and has told the elderly and other at-risk groups to remain home, she has refused to issue a general shelter-in-place order, even though the state is home to a Sioux Falls meatpacking plant that hosted a COVID-19 cluster with hundreds of cases.
“It’s hard to social distance when you’re kissing the ring.” - Kevin Cate, Democratic consultant
“Many Republicans seemingly can’t go to the bathroom without being given the implicit OK by the president,” said David Turner with the Democratic Governors Association. “Democrats are making decisions based on science, facts, and the advice of medical experts. I think that’s the reason Americans continue to put more faith in their Democratic governor to make the right decision than the president’s daily, ad hoc advice.”
Not all GOP governors, though, were waiting on permission from Trump, who from Jan. 22 through March 15 downplayed the lethality and extent of the virus, even calling concerns about it a “hoax” at a Feb. 28 rally.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a stay-at-home order on March 23, becoming the first GOP governor in the country to do so, followed four days later by New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu. Both won in 2018 despite a wave election that saw Democrats pick up hundreds of legislative seats, seven governors mansions, and control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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On Wednesday evening, DeWine posted a series of statements on Twitter criticizing protests against the lockdown that compared it to Nazi Germany, ending with the declaration: “Ultimately, I am responsible for the decisions in regard to the coronavirus. The buck stops with me” – a stunning contrast with Trump’s statement on March 13 that he didn’t “take responsibility at all” for the country’s coronavirus response.
DeWine has a decades-old reputation in Ohio that has nothing to do with Trump, said Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “I think he’s more free to do what he thinks is right,” Kondik said, but added that DeWine has avoided antagonizing Trump and thereby endangering the delivery of federal assistance. “He’s really done a good job of threading the needle.”
Sununu, in New Hampshire, has also taken action that diverged from Trump’s message, said Fergus Cullen, a former GOP state chairman and a frequent Trump critic. “I think his tone has been really measured. He’s avoided controversy on it. He hasn’t gotten baited on it,” Cullen said, referring to a small protest at the state Capitol against the lockdown that Sununu chose not to comment on at all.
Sununu’s actions are in marked contrast to those a thousand miles to the south in Trump’s new home state, where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may have made himself the most notorious Republican chief executive of them all by failing to take any statewide action during the heart of spring break, with thousands of college students gathering in South Florida and many of them taking the virus back to their hometowns all across America.
“It’s hard to social distance when you’re kissing the ring,” joked Kevin Cate, a Democratic consultant who worked for former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, whom DeSantis narrowly defeated in 2018.
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Then Florida Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis (R) sits with President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Dec. 13, 2018. Mark Wilson via Getty Images
DeSantis, who won the GOP primary almost entirely on the basis of Trump’s endorsement, had nevertheless spent his first year in office governing as a relatively mainstream Republican — until the coronavirus pandemic. He refused to issue a stay-at-home order until April 1, by which time the number of COVID-19 cases was already soaring, and then ordered a million doses of the anti-malaria drug Trump had been touting despite the lack of scientific evidence that it would work.
DeSantis’ office did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Gwen Graham, a Democrat who also ran for governor in 2018 and who previously served with DeSantis in Congress, said his handling of the crisis undid any independence from Trump he had achieved in his first year.
“It’s been a disaster. DeSantis is doing what Trump tells him to do,” she said. “He’s there because of Donald Trump, and he returned to the mothership when things got the toughest.”
Of course, a warning for DeSantis and others hoping to stay in Trump’s good graces may well have been issued this week to Florida’s neighbor to the north.
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) was among the first in the country to follow Trump’s suggestions for “re-restarting” the economy by allowing businesses to reopen on Friday, including establishments like nail salons and tattoo parlors.
But rather than back Kemp, Trump said on Thursday that as much as he wants to get the economy going again, he personally could not support Kemp’s actions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Dr. Sanjay Gupta On Trump Claim Injecting Disinfectant Needs Study: 'Actually It Doesn't'

CNN ’ s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shut down President Donald Trump ’ s “ dangerous and counterproductive ” suggestion that doctors should look into the efficacy of injecting disinfectant to cure coronavirus on Thursday .
Trump made the suggestion after a presentation from William Bryan , acting head of the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Science and Technology Directorate , who showed research that indicated the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 survives best indoors and in dry conditions , and appeared to weaken faster when exposed to sunlight and heat .
The research also showed that bleach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus on surfaces and in the air .
During his daily press briefing , Trump subsequently pondered if hitting a human body with “ ultraviolet or just very powerful light ” would work and discussed testing that .
“ And then I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in a minute , one minute , and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning ?
” Trump said .
“ Because you see it gets in the lungs , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so it would be interesting to check that .
So , that you ’ re going to have to use medical doctors with , but it sounds interesting to me.
” Anderson Cooper called Trump ’ s comments about people injecting disinfectant “ wildly irresponsible ” and asked the doctors on his show for their opinions .
Gupta said the suggestion that this idea even needs investigation is wrong .
“ And [ Trump ] also said it needs to be studied .
Actually it doesn ’ t , ” Gupta said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the answer to this one .
There ’ s a lot of things out there that we don ’ t know the answers to and we need to investigate.
” “ But the idea that we would do a trial of some sort , and inject some people with disinfectant , and some people not , and see what happens , I mean as you point out , I think everybody would know that that would be dangerous and counterproductive , and not at all moving us in the right direction , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since weighed in to advise that people should not put disinfectant in their bodies .

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CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shut down President Donald Trump’s “dangerous and counterproductive” suggestion that doctors should look into the efficacy of injecting disinfectant to cure coronavirus on Thursday.
Trump made the suggestion after a presentation from William Bryan, acting head of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, who showed research that indicated the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 survives best indoors and in dry conditions, and appeared to weaken faster when exposed to sunlight and heat. The research also showed that bleach and isopropyl alcohol can quickly kill the virus on surfaces and in the air.
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During his daily press briefing, Trump subsequently pondered if hitting a human body with “ultraviolet or just very powerful light” would work and discussed testing that.
“And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?” Trump said. “Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
Anderson Cooper called Trump’s comments about people injecting disinfectant “wildly irresponsible” and asked the doctors on his show for their opinions. Gupta said the suggestion that this idea even needs investigation is wrong.
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“And [Trump] also said it needs to be studied. Actually it doesn’t,” Gupta said. “I mean, we know the answer to this one. There’s a lot of things out there that we don’t know the answers to and we need to investigate.”
“But the idea that we would do a trial of some sort, and inject some people with disinfectant, and some people not, and see what happens, I mean as you point out, I think everybody would know that that would be dangerous and counterproductive, and not at all moving us in the right direction,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Cuomo Goes After ‘Really Dumb’ McConnell For Saying Some States Should Mull Bankruptcy

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) excoriated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) after the top Republican lawmaker suggested states hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic should consider filing for bankruptcy rather than seek financial aid from the federal government .
“ This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time , ” Cuomo said Thursday at a news conference .
“ I don ’ t believe they want to fund state and local governments , and not to fund state and local governments is incredibly shortsighted .
They want to fund small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I understand that , but state and local government funds police and fire and teachers and schools .
How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis ?
” The governor ’ s comments came a day after McConnell said states around the nation should consider filing for bankruptcy amid budget shortfalls during the pandemic lockdowns , just hours after the Senate passed a $ 484 billion bill to support small businesses and hospitals .
Democrats have called for the federal government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid to some states as part of any future stimulus package , particularly those that have been subject to crushing outbreaks of the coronavirus , forcing the closure of vast sectors of their economies and resulting in historic levels of joblessness .
“ I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated , ” McConnell said Wednesday during a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt .
“ There ’ s not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations.
” Cuomo said such comments were “ vicious , ” noting that New York has the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in the country .
More than 263,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 15,700 have died , although some scientific models have suggested rates of infection could be much higher .
“ How ugly a thought , ” Cuomo said .
“ I mean , just think of what he ’ s saying .
People died .
15,000 people died in New York , but they were predominantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ?
” He added : “ I mean , for crying out loud , if there was ever a time for you to put aside your pettiness and your partisanship and this political lens that you see the world through Democrat and Republican , and we help Republicans , but we don ’ t have Democrats .
That ’ s not who we are .
”

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) excoriated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) after the top Republican lawmaker suggested states hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic should consider filing for bankruptcy rather than seek financial aid from the federal government.
“This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” Cuomo said Thursday at a news conference. “I don’t believe they want to fund state and local governments, and not to fund state and local governments is incredibly shortsighted. They want to fund small business, fund the airlines. …
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“I understand that, but state and local government funds police and fire and teachers and schools. How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis?”
You want to hear a dumb idea? pic.twitter.com/wiUVwO2CTU — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 23, 2020
The governor’s comments came a day after McConnell said states around the nation should consider filing for bankruptcy amid budget shortfalls during the pandemic lockdowns, just hours after the Senate passed a $484 billion bill to support small businesses and hospitals. Democrats have called for the federal government to potentially extend billions of dollars in additional aid to some states as part of any future stimulus package, particularly those that have been subject to crushing outbreaks of the coronavirus, forcing the closure of vast sectors of their economies and resulting in historic levels of joblessness.
The bills would follow up on the landmark $2 trillion stimulus package signed by President Donald Trump last month.
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“I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated,” McConnell said Wednesday during a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt. “There’s not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations.”
McConnell’s office later released a statement reinforcing his calls, titled “Stopping Blue State Bailouts.”
Cuomo said such comments were “vicious,” noting that New York has the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. More than 263,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 15,700 have died, although some scientific models have suggested rates of infection could be much higher.
“How ugly a thought,” Cuomo said. “I mean, just think of what he’s saying. People died. 15,000 people died in New York, but they were predominantly Democrats. So why should we help them?”
He added: “I mean, for crying out loud, if there was ever a time for you to put aside your pettiness and your partisanship and this political lens that you see the world through Democrat and Republican, and we help Republicans, but we don’t have Democrats. That’s not who we are.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Trump Reportedly Approved Of Georgia's Reopen Plan Before Bashing It

The green light from Pence and Trump came in separate private conversations with the Republican governor both before Kemp announced his plan to ease coronavirus restrictions and after it was unveiled on Monday , the officials said .
Trump ’ s sudden shift came only after top health advisers reviewed the plan more closely and persuaded the president that Kemp was risking further spread of the virus by moving too quickly .
The extraordinary reversal — and public criticism of a GOP ally — is only the latest in a series of contradictory and confusing messages from the president on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of the deadly virus .
It demonstrates the political risk for governors in following the unpredictable president ’ s guidance .
Trump has been urging states to begin reopening for two weeks , believing that certain portions of the country were now ready to resume aspects of normal life even against the recommendations of many of his own health experts .
Even though few states have met the benchmarks established by the White House , the president has cheered on efforts to “ Liberate !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the states that announced plans to forge forward .
Behind the scenes , the administration had also been supportive .
The president spoke to Kemp more than once about the plan and both Trump and Pence called Kemp on Tuesday to praise his performance as governor and his plan to reopen , according to the two administration officials , who spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to publicly discuss the conversations .
But on Wednesday , members of the White House ’ s virus task force revisited the plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be difficult to defend in that afternoon ’ s press briefing .
Dr. Deborah Birx , who helps lead the White House ’ s coronavirus response , then spoke to the president after the meeting and suggested that it was too soon to reopen Georgia , an assertion with which the president agreed , according to the officials .
Trump then called Kemp and asked to slow down his plan , to which the governor said no , said the officials .
The governor suggested the two men continue to the discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not speak again before the briefing in which Trump said he opposed some of the particulars of the plan to reopen .
“ I want the states to open more than he does , much more than he does .
But I didn ’ t like to see spas at this early stage nor did the doctors , ” he said .
Kemp said in a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday night that he discussed his plan to reopen businesses with limitations with Trump earlier that day but made no mention of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too quickly .
The Republican governor said the state ’ s “ next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials.
” Public health experts have expressed concern with Kemp ’ s plan and warned that moving too quickly could fuel a resurgence in infections .
The conflicting messages from state and federal officials have left many business owners in Georgia confused .
Some are embracing the governors ’ order and making plans to reopen , while others say it ’ s not worth the potential risk to @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly told Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that they approved of his aggressive plan to allow businesses to reopen, just a day before Trump pulled an about-face and publicly bashed the plan, according to two administration officials.
The green light from Pence and Trump came in separate private conversations with the Republican governor both before Kemp announced his plan to ease coronavirus restrictions and after it was unveiled on Monday, the officials said. Trump’s sudden shift came only after top health advisers reviewed the plan more closely and persuaded the president that Kemp was risking further spread of the virus by moving too quickly.
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“I told the governor of Georgia Brian Kemp that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities,” Trump said Wednesday, just a day after telling reporters that he trusted Kemp’s judgment. “He knows what’s he’s doing.”
On Thursday, he was even harder on the governor: “I wasn’t happy with Brian Kemp, I wasn’t at all happy.”
The extraordinary reversal — and public criticism of a GOP ally — is only the latest in a series of contradictory and confusing messages from the president on how and when he believes governors should ease stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of the deadly virus. It demonstrates the political risk for governors in following the unpredictable president’s guidance.
Trump has been urging states to begin reopening for two weeks, believing that certain portions of the country were now ready to resume aspects of normal life even against the recommendations of many of his own health experts. Even though few states have met the benchmarks established by the White House, the president has cheered on efforts to “Liberate!” some states and has offered encouragement to the states that announced plans to forge forward.
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Kemp was among the first Republican governors to take the cue. His order, announced Monday, allows businesses like gyms, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to open on Friday under certain restrictions.
When asked Tuesday about Kemp’s decision, Trump supported the governor, saying “He’s a very capable man. He knows what he’s doing. He’s done a very good job as governor.”
Behind the scenes, the administration had also been supportive. The president spoke to Kemp more than once about the plan and both Trump and Pence called Kemp on Tuesday to praise his performance as governor and his plan to reopen, according to the two administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to publicly discuss the conversations.
But on Wednesday, members of the White House’s virus task force revisited the plan and felt it was too soon and would be difficult to defend in that afternoon’s press briefing. Dr. Deborah Birx, who helps lead the White House’s coronavirus response, then spoke to the president after the meeting and suggested that it was too soon to reopen Georgia, an assertion with which the president agreed, according to the officials.
Trump then called Kemp and asked to slow down his plan, to which the governor said no, said the officials. The governor suggested the two men continue to the discussion on another call, but they did not speak again before the briefing in which Trump said he opposed some of the particulars of the plan to reopen.
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Trump noted that Kemp’s reopening violated the White House guidelines and suggested he would intervene if he saw “something totally egregious.”
On Thursday, he suggested he was particularly concerned by the idea that Kemp would reopen spas.
“I want the states to open more than he does, much more than he does. But I didn’t like to see spas at this early stage nor did the doctors,” he said.
Trump acknowledged he consulted his health advisers ― Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci ― and considered trying to block the proposal but “I decided, and we all agreed. You’ve got to watch it closely. So we’ll see what happens.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted a denial that Trump had changed his position.
“No one ‘changed’ President Trump’s view. I was with him all throughout the day. His mind was made up. His priority has always been to reopen the country SAFELY,” she posted Thursday.
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Kemp said in a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday night that he discussed his plan to reopen businesses with limitations with Trump earlier that day but made no mention of Trump’s assertion that Georgia was moving too quickly. The Republican governor said the state’s “next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials.”
On Twitter Thursday night, Kemp said Georgia was “taking another measured step forward by opening shuttered businesses for limited operations. I know these hardworking Georgians will prioritize the safety of their employees and customers.”
Public health experts have expressed concern with Kemp’s plan and warned that moving too quickly could fuel a resurgence in infections. The conflicting messages from state and federal officials have left many business owners in Georgia confused. Some are embracing the governors’ order and making plans to reopen, while others say it’s not worth the potential risk to employees and customers.
Confirmed cases of the virus in Georgia surpassed 21,000 on Thursday and at least 870 deaths have been recorded, according to data from the state’s Department of Public Health.
Trump and Kemp have clashed before. The governor appointed Kelly Loeffler to fill an open Senate seat, bypassing Rep. Doug Collins, a close Trump ally.
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Brian Robinson, a Republican political adviser in Georgia who served as communications director under former Gov. Nathan Deal, said that Kemp’s decision to push forward comes with the potential for both risk and reward.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Fox News’ Coronavirus Coverage Is 1 Big Conspiracy In ‘Daily Show’ Parody

Fox News ’ widely criticized coverage of the coronavirus pandemic provided the perfect comic fodder for “ The Daily Show @ @ @ @ @ a mocking clip released online Thursday .
In the video , Lydic claimed to have @ @ @ @ @ conservative network for 48 hours straight .
She then regurgitated right-wing talking points and conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ health crisis , reminscent of some of those propagated by personalities on Fox in recent @ @ @ @ @ , the World Health Organization ?
Or as I like to call it the World @ @ @ @ @ Lydic , later making wild claims about Democrats Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , pot @ @ @ @ @ Noah ’ s monologue from Thursday night ’ s show here :

In the video, Lydic claimed to have binged on the widely watched conservative network for 48 hours straight. She then regurgitated right-wing talking points and conspiracy theories about the ongoing public health crisis, reminscent of some of those propagated by personalities on Fox in recent weeks.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Trump Economic Adviser's Big Idea To End Coronavirus Lockdown? Space Suits.

I know we don ’ t have space outfits [ laughter ] — I mean , just thinking out loud @ @ @ @ @ a crazy idea , but instead of just locking down the economy , putting everybody @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re right .
You have to make 200 million of these , but @ @ @ @ @ cost $ 3 trillion to do that .
And you can have for months people @ @ @ @ @ kind of — I mean , I was looking online , and there are all @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re building now that you ’ re not exposed and you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ .

I know we don’t have space outfits [laughter]— I mean, just thinking out loud, and maybe this is a crazy idea, but instead of just locking down the economy, putting everybody in a kind of — you’re right. You have to make 200 million of these, but it wouldn’t have cost $3 trillion to do that. And you can have for months people just walking around in these kind of — I mean, I was looking online, and there are all these kinds of suits that they’re building now that you’re not exposed and you’re breath — kind of ventilator.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Squad Members Press House Leadership For 'Phase 4' Relief Timeline

But the progressive lawmakers , like many left-wing activists outside Congress , all also denounced the bill as inadequate .
They are calling for additional aid to cities and states , an increase in food stamp assistance , national measures to protect renters from eviction , and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in new benefits .
The lawmakers have privately pressed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) to provide a clear idea of when the House will vote on a more ambitious “ Phase 4 ” bill that includes progressive priorities .
The Squad wants details on that timeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington to vote on Thursday , return to their districts .
Ocasio-Cortez , Pressley and Tlaib all represent urban , working-class communities with large immigrant populations that have become hot spots for the pandemic .
Pressley ’ s district includes Chelsea , the predominantly Latino city outside Boston that local officials contend has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Massachusetts .
Getting aid to the city ’ s undocumented immigrants is thus a particularly high priority for Pressley .
“ Members need to be able to show their constituents that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Jeremy Slevin , a senior aide to Omar .
“ How can we send Congress home without a clear timeline on the next package ?
” The Squad ’ s public stance was notable because it acted as a cohesive unit independent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus , of which they are members .
The CPC has over 90 members of varying ideologies , making it difficult to act as a bloc in order to pressure Democratic leadership in the way that the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has done to Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Reps. Pramila Jayapal ( Wash. ) and Mark Pocan ( Wis. ) , issued a statement on Thursday evening lamenting that the legislation they voted to pass “ comes nowhere close to meeting the needs of families across this country.
” Rather than join the Squad ’ s call for an immediate timeline for voting on new legislation , the two lawmakers reiterated demands they made to Pelosi , together with other CPC leaders , in a letter two weeks ago insisting that new relief legislation protect workers ’ paychecks , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health ” and “ safeguard ” elections .
Pelosi told Washington Post columnist E.J .
Dionne on Wednesday that the Democratic-controlled House will pass its own relief bill first in the next round of lawmaking .
That bill will include liberal priorities like aid to cities and states , food stamp increases , universal voting by mail , and hazard pay for front-line health care workers .
“ If [ the Senate wants ] to pass their own bill , we ’ ll go to conference , ” she said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concrete timeline for such a vote , saying that it depends both on how long it takes to craft the legislation and what the U.S. Capitol ’ s physician advises in terms of public health precautions .
As a result , House Democrats , already wary of returning to Washington to vote in person , could not credibly threaten to reassemble to pass their own bill .
The Republican-controlled Senate shaped the $ 2.2 trillion relief bill , which included relief for small businesses and workers , such as a $ 600-a-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a $ 500 billion corporate bailout fund .
It has since emerged that it has been considerably easier for major corporations to access aid than for small businesses or workers , who have had trouble navigating the Small Business Administration bureaucracy and state unemployment offices , both of which are inundated with historically high demand .
One factor that compounds the challenge for progressives clamoring for more dramatic action is the inability of the House to legislate from afar due to the health risks associated with COVID-19 .
Thursday ’ s vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions to help guard members ’ safety .
Pelosi signed off on a plan last week that would temporarily create a system for members to vote on legislation remotely by instructing lawmakers who can appear in person how to vote on their behalf .
On Monday , Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern ( D-Mass . )
briefed the entire House Democratic Caucus on the new plan , and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-Md . )
advised caucus members that they would be voting Thursday on the rule change .

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The four progressive members of Congress known as the “Squad” are pressing House Democratic leaders to provide a clear timeline for a vote on a more ambitious “Phase 4” relief package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House easily passed an interim stimulus bill on Thursday that was crafted in the Republican-controlled Senate with input from House Democratic leaders.
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Of the four “Squad” members, only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) voted against the legislation. Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) cast votes for the relief bill, which provides nearly $500 billion in new aid for small businesses, hospitals and testing equipment.
But the progressive lawmakers, like many left-wing activists outside Congress, all also denounced the bill as inadequate. They are calling for additional aid to cities and states, an increase in food stamp assistance, national measures to protect renters from eviction, and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in new benefits.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) voted for an interim COVID-19 relief bill on Thursday but is demanding a clear timeline on a vote for a more ambitious bill. Tom Williams/Getty Images
The lawmakers have privately pressed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to provide a clear idea of when the House will vote on a more ambitious “Phase 4” bill that includes progressive priorities. The Squad wants details on that timeline before House members, who came to Washington to vote on Thursday, return to their districts.
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“We need a timeline. We can’t just keep kicking the can down the road,” Pressley’s chief of staff Sarah Groh told HuffPost.
Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley and Tlaib all represent urban, working-class communities with large immigrant populations that have become hot spots for the pandemic. Pressley’s district includes Chelsea, the predominantly Latino city outside Boston that local officials contend has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Massachusetts. Getting aid to the city’s undocumented immigrants is thus a particularly high priority for Pressley.
“Members need to be able to show their constituents that they’re working to get them more relief,” said Jeremy Slevin, a senior aide to Omar. “How can we send Congress home without a clear timeline on the next package?”
The Squad’s public stance was notable because it acted as a cohesive unit independent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which they are members. The CPC has over 90 members of varying ideologies, making it difficult to act as a bloc in order to pressure Democratic leadership in the way that the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has done to Republican leadership.
The co-chairs of the CPC, Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Mark Pocan (Wis.), issued a statement on Thursday evening lamenting that the legislation they voted to pass “comes nowhere close to meeting the needs of families across this country.” Rather than join the Squad’s call for an immediate timeline for voting on new legislation, the two lawmakers reiterated demands they made to Pelosi, together with other CPC leaders, in a letter two weeks ago insisting that new relief legislation protect workers’ paychecks, “provide economic relief,” “protect public health” and “safeguard” elections.
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Pelosi’s office insists that Democrats were able to negotiate significant concessions from Senate Republicans in negotiations. Their professed victories include doubling the funding Republicans originally wanted to offer and implementing a national coronavirus testing system that Republicans had also opposed.
Pelosi told Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne on Wednesday that the Democratic-controlled House will pass its own relief bill first in the next round of lawmaking. That bill will include liberal priorities like aid to cities and states, food stamp increases, universal voting by mail, and hazard pay for front-line health care workers. “If [the Senate wants] to pass their own bill, we’ll go to conference,” she said.
But Pelosi’s office declined to provide a concrete timeline for such a vote, saying that it depends both on how long it takes to craft the legislation and what the U.S. Capitol’s physician advises in terms of public health precautions.
The Squad members “have said that they want to move quickly on doing Phase 4,” a Pelosi spokesperson told HuffPost. “Nancy Pelosi has been saying that for a month.”
Congress should not go home until we have a clear timeline on a relief package that:
- Provides monthly and universal cash assistance
- Cancels Rent and Mortgages
- Fully funds COVID-19 care
- Defends our elections
We need to get people more relief now! #PutPeopleFirst — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 23, 2020
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This is a crisis within a crisis. And what happens in this chamber will determine just how many more lives we are robbed of.
Congress should not adjourn until we have a timeline for a bold & comprehensive Democrat led bill that meets the scale of the crisis.#PutPeopleFirst pic.twitter.com/kca2fqnte9 — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 23, 2020
Progressive activists have, for over a month, been voicing their dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats’ legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last time Congress passed a COVID-19 relief bill, at the end of March, House members had already returned to their districts, but the Senate was still in Washington.
As a result, House Democrats, already wary of returning to Washington to vote in person, could not credibly threaten to reassemble to pass their own bill. The Republican-controlled Senate shaped the $2.2 trillion relief bill, which included relief for small businesses and workers, such as a $600-a-month increase in minimum unemployment benefits as well as a $500 billion corporate bailout fund. It has since emerged that it has been considerably easier for major corporations to access aid than for small businesses or workers, who have had trouble navigating the Small Business Administration bureaucracy and state unemployment offices, both of which are inundated with historically high demand.
Democratic leaders promised at the time that they could address the bill’s deficiencies in subsequent legislation.
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The House’s failure this week to win a greater share of progressive priorities, theoretically by passing their own bill and forcing legislative reconciliation, prompted a rare round of public criticism and calls to vote no from leading figures on the activist left.
A statement from Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, was typical.
“Congress still hasn’t delivered the relief we need or addressed the racial inequalities this crisis has exposed,” Mitchell said. “Members of Congress should vote no and work on a new package that finally puts people first.”
One factor that compounds the challenge for progressives clamoring for more dramatic action is the inability of the House to legislate from afar due to the health risks associated with COVID-19. Thursday’s vote was conducted in stages and with other precautions to help guard members’ safety.
Pelosi signed off on a plan last week that would temporarily create a system for members to vote on legislation remotely by instructing lawmakers who can appear in person how to vote on their behalf. On Monday, Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) briefed the entire House Democratic Caucus on the new plan, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) advised caucus members that they would be voting Thursday on the rule change.
But on Wednesday, Pelosi announced that the House would not be voting on the adoption of such a system when the House assembled this week. Instead, citing the objections of Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), she has tasked a bipartisan group of lawmakers with reviewing the matter.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--After Coronavirus, Nearly Half Of The Day Care Centers In The U.S. Could Be Gone

Some are still paying workers .
But more than 37 % have laid off or furloughed staff , and 41 % expect to do so in the coming weeks , according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children .
This has primarily hurt women , who make up 94 % of child care service providers and have been disproportionately affected by the economic shutdown .
Most of the women working in child care centers are making minimum wage ― and the centers themselves are on shaky financial footing , often operating on razor-thin margins .
Ripple Effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep in contact with our parents .
The first question they ask is : When are you opening ?
” said Kelly , who is an executive board member of the Service Employees International Union , representing family child care providers .
“ We are essential workers ourselves .
Parents feel safe when they know their child is coming to a place that they consistently come to every day.
” So far , Congress hasn ’ t taken the importance of child care into account in its relief efforts .
Child care centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crafting bailouts for critical industries in the travel and hospitality sectors .
Airlines are getting a $ 25 billion bailout .
Early childhood education , meanwhile , got about $ 4 billion in additional funding for block grants to centers and money for Head Start through the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act passed last month .
A pittance , when you consider that Harvard University was offered nearly $ 9 million in relief money as part of the same legislation .
( Harvard said it would turn the money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , child care centers would need $ 9.6 billion per month to make it through the pandemic , according to an analysis that the Center for Law and Social Policy released Thursday .
That money would fund the centers that were forced to close during the crisis and help those places that are remaining open to care for the children of essential workers .
Nola initially tried to keep her center going through the first weeks of her state ’ s shutdown so that essential workers could drop off their kids .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some parents were diagnosed with COVID-19 , and she had to shut down the center .
It reopened , but another case popped up , and Nola had to close again .
The state provided little guidance on how to remain open safely .
Social distancing guidelines don ’ t make sense when working with toddlers .
And taking kids ’ temperatures outside the building , before they entered the school , wasn ’ t workable in the cold Michigan weather ; staff members couldn ’ t read the thermometers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t want people to not be able to work because you ’ re closed , ” Nola said .
“ There are so many hard decisions you have to make.
” Schools will have to figure out new drop-off procedures , where to take kids ’ temperatures and how to question parents about their health .
The ratio of teachers to students may have to shrink to reduce contact between adults and kids .
Frederick expects she ’ ll have to hire more staff to make that happen .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with kids passing around platters of food .
That ’ s over .

Twelve years before the current coronavirus pandemic, Shaun Rose helped save his children’s day care center from closing down. The church that housed the Bethesda, Maryland, center in its basement said the arrangement no longer worked.
Rose sprinted into action, got himself onto the center’s board of directors, helped find a new space and oversaw the construction of the center’s new home.
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Ultimately, he helped grow the Rock Spring Children’s Center into a bigger school, with 176 kids, from infants to preschoolers. Rose, now 48, became the center’s director, leaving his job as a math teacher and fulfilling what felt like a calling.
“That was going to be the story of my lifetime,” Rose said.
Now he’s not so sure. Turns out, the center needs another rescue because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic shutdown.
Rose is one of many child care providers facing the possibility that their centers won’t survive the pandemic. “But I’m going to try,” said Rose, who also does advocacy work for the Maryland State Childcare Association.
Roughly half of all available slots in licensed child care centers and homes are at risk of disappearing because of the pandemic, according to an analysis released Friday morning by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Center for American Progress that looks at data collected by both groups.
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Shaun Rose, 48, director of the Rock Spring Children's Center, at his shuttered day care center Thursday in Bethesda. Rod Lamkey Jr. for HuffPost
Like most small businesses right now, child care centers around the country are struggling to stay alive. More than 60% of licensed child care providers have already shut down because of the crisis, according to a survey by the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Some are still paying workers. But more than 37% have laid off or furloughed staff, and 41% expect to do so in the coming weeks, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This has primarily hurt women, who make up 94% of child care service providers and have been disproportionately affected by the economic shutdown. Most of the women working in child care centers are making minimum wage ― and the centers themselves are on shaky financial footing, often operating on razor-thin margins.
Some child care centers are still open, taking in the children of essential workers ― about 17% are open for this purpose, according to the NAEYC survey ― but those centers are also struggling. They’re seeing fewer kids coming in and are grappling with confusing (and expensive) guidance on how to keep them safe.
The shutdown will eventually end. But many day cares might not survive it, wreaking havoc on their workers and the parents and children who rely on them, eventually affecting the health of the economy.
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Ripple Effects Will Be Felt For Years
Without safe and secure day care options, many parents, particularly women, won’t be able to get back to work. Indeed, school closures are already leading many to consider quitting their jobs.
“If we don’t deal with this now, the repercussions and ripple effects of this crisis, especially for women and women of color, will be felt for years in our economy,” said Katherine Gallagher Robbins, director of child care and early education at the Center for Law and Social Policy, a nonprofit that advocates for policies that alleviate poverty.
Many businesses and workers are now struggling because employees are caring for children who are home from schools. That lack of child care nationwide during the crisis has drawn attention to just how essential it is.
Tosha Kelly runs a day care center on Chicago’s South Side. She said that parents ― postal workers, grocery store workers, a nurse and more ― call her every day to see when her center will reopen. Some are going back to work; another said her child’s current caretaker, a grandparent, has started coughing.
The owner of the Rock Spring Children's Center in Bethesda has gotten a loan, which buys him a few months during the closures. But what happens next is unclear. Rod Lamkey Jr. for HuffPost
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“We keep in contact with our parents. The first question they ask is: When are you opening?” said Kelly, who is an executive board member of the Service Employees International Union, representing family child care providers. “We are essential workers ourselves. Parents feel safe when they know their child is coming to a place that they consistently come to every day.”
So far, Congress hasn’t taken the importance of child care into account in its relief efforts. Child care centers have been largely an afterthought to policymakers crafting bailouts for critical industries in the travel and hospitality sectors. Airlines are getting a $25 billion bailout. Early childhood education, meanwhile, got about $4 billion in additional funding for block grants to centers and money for Head Start through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed last month. A pittance, when you consider that Harvard University was offered nearly $9 million in relief money as part of the same legislation. (Harvard said it would turn the money down.)
In order to survive, child care centers would need $9.6 billion per month to make it through the pandemic, according to an analysis that the Center for Law and Social Policy released Thursday. That money would fund the centers that were forced to close during the crisis and help those places that are remaining open to care for the children of essential workers.
‘We’re The Afterthought’
The fate of day care stands in sharp contrast to the public school system. For the most part, parents with children in K-12 aren’t worried that their kids won’t have a school to return to. That’s not the case for parents with younger children in child care.
“Everything is about elementary and middle school. We are just as important. We educate kids, too. We work,” said Laura M. Nola, the owner of Play and Learn Children’s Place in Saline, Michigan. “We kind of feel like we’re the afterthought.”
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For Shaun Rose, director of the closed Rock Spring Children's Center, the fear is if it does reopen and there's a COVID-19 case, the center would have to close again for two more weeks. Rod Lamkey Jr. for HuffPost
Nola initially tried to keep her center going through the first weeks of her state’s shutdown so that essential workers could drop off their kids. It wasn’t sustainable, she said. Some parents were diagnosed with COVID-19, and she had to shut down the center. It reopened, but another case popped up, and Nola had to close again.
The state provided little guidance on how to remain open safely. Social distancing guidelines don’t make sense when working with toddlers. And taking kids’ temperatures outside the building, before they entered the school, wasn’t workable in the cold Michigan weather; staff members couldn’t read the thermometers. “It’s a Catch-22, because you don’t want people to not be able to work because you’re closed,” Nola said. “There are so many hard decisions you have to make.”
Nola thinks she can keep her business afloat for a few more months. She’s still paying teachers and connecting with parents remotely. After that, perhaps she can get a “super scaled-down” school up and running. “We went through this with the recession, too,” she said.
Nola expects a decline in business even after more services reopen. “When times are tough, people’s relatives are watching their kids.”
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COVID-Era Day Care
For those child care centers that do remain open during the pandemic, it’s going to cost more to keep things running safely.
Nancy Frederick, the director of the Learning Center in Easton, Pennsylvania, has been taking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) training on how to reopen safely. There are a lot of new guidelines and procedures to get used to, she said.
Schools will have to figure out new drop-off procedures, where to take kids’ temperatures and how to question parents about their health. The ratio of teachers to students may have to shrink to reduce contact between adults and kids. Frederick expects she’ll have to hire more staff to make that happen. The center normally does a family-style lunch, with kids passing around platters of food. That’s over.
The CDC guidelines recommend ramping up cleaning and sanitizing, taking toys out of circulation when kids put their mouths on them, spacing kids farther apart during nap times and staggering the times that they are allowed out on the playground. The CDC also recommends masks for children over 3 and all adults.
Since infants and toddlers will still remain infants and toddlers, they will need to be comforted when they cry. To that end, the CDC recommends that teachers wear oversized button-up shirts. If the children cry a lot, teachers would need to change their shirt afterward.
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“Everybody will need to bring a bunch of spare clothes. Children as well,” Frederick said. “It’s hard to visualize what it will look like.” Still, she said she expects her center will be able to reopen ― and will likely see an increase in students coming from other centers that aren’t able to operate.
‘Significant, Unsustainable Losses’
Some day care owners, including Kelly in Chicago, were unable to access the small business loans in the stimulus package passed by Congress last month. There were $349 billion in funds available, and the program ran dry in less than two weeks.
Rose, who operates the child care center in Bethesda, an affluent city just outside of Washington, was luckier.
Rose got a loan, which buys him a few more months. What comes next is unclear. Rose doesn’t see how he could reopen safely with the same number of students, considering the need for social distance. He says he can’t raise tuition anymore, particularly since many families are now seeing job losses or furloughs. Fewer kids means less money. That means operating with “significant, unsustainable financial losses,” he said.
If there’s a positive COVID-19 case when Rose reopens, that would likely mean the center would close for two weeks. And there are more questions: What if there are more lockdowns? What about parents whose incomes are lower, or who are among the many unemployed or furloughed?
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“It makes it hard to reopen and risk the health of everyone if we are just delaying our inevitable permanent shutdown,” he said “Lots of hard choices and no clear answers.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Donald Trump Will 'Somehow' Try To Delay Election, Joe Biden Warns

“ Mark my words I think he is gon na try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it can ’ t be held , ” the former vice president told donors during a virtual fundraiser , according to a pool report cited by multiple outlets .
Biden also suggested Trump is doing “ all he can to make it very hard for people to vote ” in the ballot with his attempts to use an emergency federal loan to the Postal Service as leverage to bring it further under his administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund the post office , ” Biden said at the “ A Fabulous Evening With Vice President Joe Biden ” online event .
“ Now what in God ’ s name is that about ?
” he asked .
“ Other than trying to let the word out that he ’ s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote .
That ’ s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.
” To be clear , Trump himself can not cancel or delay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election date falls to Congress .
And should the vote be postponed , then Trump ’ s term in office would automatically end on Jan. 20 , 2021 anyway , notes Slate .
Biden also warned of Russian interference in the election and said the controversial primary that Republicans pushed ahead with in Wisconsin earlier this month ( which forced thousands to the polls amid a statewide stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic ) had sent a “ giant warning flare to the nation.
” “ Republicans were trying to force in-person voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Biden .
“ We have to figure out how we are going to conduct a full and fair and safe election in November and no one should have to risk their lives to cast a ballot.
” Actor Robert De Niro last year floated a theory that if Trump , who has repeatedly joked about being president for life , won the 2020 election then he could declare war to remain in office for a third term .
The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution , however , prevents a president from @ @ @ @ @ @

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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday warned that President Donald Trump may try to delay the 2020 election.
“Mark my words, I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” the former vice president told donors during a virtual fundraiser, according to a pool report cited by multiple outlets.
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Biden also suggested that Trump is doing “all he can to make it very hard for people to vote” in the ballot with his attempts to use an emergency federal loan as leverage over the Postal Service to bring it further under his administration’s control.
“Imagine threatening not to fund the post office,” Biden said at the online event, titled “A Fabulous Evening With Vice President Joe Biden.”
“Now what in God’s name is that about?” he asked. “Other than trying to let the word out that he’s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote. That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.”
To be clear, Trump himself cannot cancel or delay the election. The power to change the election date falls on Congress. And should the vote be postponed, Trump’s term in office would automatically end on Jan. 20, 2021, anyway, Slate noted.
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During the event, Biden also warned of Russian interference in the election and said the controversial primary that Republicans pushed ahead with in Wisconsin earlier this month (which forced thousands of people to head to the polls despite a statewide stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic) had sent a “giant warning flare to the nation.”
“Republicans were trying to force in-person voting no matter the health cost,” he said. “We have to figure out how we are going to conduct a full and fair and safe election in November, and no one should have to risk their lives to cast a ballot.”
Actor Robert De Niro last year floated a theory that if Trump, who has repeatedly joked about being president for life, won the 2020 election, then he could declare war to remain in office for a third term. The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, however, prevents a president from serving more than two terms.