thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--Trump’s Do-What-My-Experts-Say-Not-As-I-Do Pandemic Response Ready For More Golf

Alex Brandon/ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus on April 1 , 2020 , as ( left to right ) Adm. Karl Leo Schultz , commandant of the Coast Guard , national security adviser Robert O'Brien and Attorney General William Barr listen closely .
And as all Americans are advised to stay at least 6 feet away from one another , Trump appears ready to hit the golf course , forcing his staff to again work in close proximity to one another .
It would be the latest example of Trump ’ s do-what-my-experts-say-not-as-I-do response to the deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the president conducting daily press briefings on a crowded podium and casually touching co-participants as they pass .
“ He has consistently failed to lead by example in this crisis and is continuing to do so , ” said Jeremy Konyndyk , who worked on the 2014 Ebola response under then-President Barack Obama .
“ And that sends a bigger signal to his followers than anything he reads off a TelePrompTer.
” When Trump will resume playing golf is unclear .
He has not played a round since March 8 , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Palm Beach , Florida , resort .
But the Secret Service recently signed an expedited contract to rent 30 golf carts in Sterling , Virginia , where Trump owns a golf course .
Under the contract terms , taxpayers will spend $ 45,000 over the next six months .
A Secret Service spokesman said the agency does not comment on activities pertaining to people it protects .
Traveling via presidential motorcade to Northern Virginia would force dozens of agents and other White House employees to work close to one another ― just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of Trump ’ s visit to Norfolk , Virginia , last weekend for a photo opportunity at the departure of a Navy hospital ship on its way to New York City .
Secret Service agents ; members of the White House advance team ; staff from the White House medical unit , communications agency and military office ; and more had to travel and work within 6 feet of each other , against guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , to support the day trip where Trump gave a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tugboats pulled the 900-foot U.S.N.S .
Comfort from her berth .
Trump ’ s last golf weekend in Florida coincided with two large functions that he hosted at Mar-a-Lago , his for-profit club .
A 900-person campaign fundraising dinner on Friday , March 6 , was followed the next night by a 200-guest birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle , the girlfriend of his eldest son and an adviser to his reelection campaign .
Those events took place even though public health experts were already advising against large gatherings and urging elderly people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Organization , the profits of which flow entirely to a trust benefiting only Trump , appeared to continue collecting fees for buildings it manages and keeping its golf courses and hotels open to the extent possible under local closure orders .
According to a report by Spectrum News NY1 , residents of a luxury apartment building in Manhattan were asked for April ’ s monthly fees early because of the coronavirus and warned that late payments would be subject to penalties .
And while many Trump resorts ― such as Doral near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close , the golf club in Sterling for which the Secret Service rented the carts remains open .
On Thursday morning , it posted a photo of a tee along the Potomac River with the message : “ The perfect social distancing view and sport at @ trumpgolfdc !
” While many public parks in Virginia have closed following Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s executive orders , private courses are not required to shut down , so long as groups do not gather in numbers exceeding 10 and clubhouses and restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s a hindrance to the effort , ” said Juliette Kayyem , who helped handle the responses to the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak and the British Petroleum oil spill in Obama ’ s Department of Homeland Security and now lectures on emergency management at Harvard College .
“ To be successful , we should stop hoping he changes and start figuring out fail-safe systems to protect ourselves and minimize harm .
”

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus on April 1, 2020, as (left to right) Adm. Karl Leo Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, national security adviser Robert O'Brien and Attorney General William Barr listen closely. Alex Brandon/ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON ― Even as health experts were warning against large gatherings, President Donald Trump hosted a fundraising dinner for 900 and a birthday party in honor of his son’s girlfriend for 200 at his private Florida resort.
As mayors and governors began ordering nonessential businesses to shut down, Trump’s hotels and golf courses continued to solicit customers.
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And as all Americans are advised to stay at least 6 feet away from one another, Trump appears ready to hit the golf course, forcing his staff to again work in close proximity to one another.
It would be the latest example of Trump’s do-what-my-experts-say-not-as-I-do response to the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which to this day has the president conducting daily press briefings on a crowded podium and casually touching co-participants as they pass.
“He has consistently failed to lead by example in this crisis and is continuing to do so,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, who worked on the 2014 Ebola response under then-President Barack Obama. “And that sends a bigger signal to his followers than anything he reads off a TelePrompTer.”
When Trump will resume playing golf is unclear. He has not played a round since March 8, during his last weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida, resort. But the Secret Service recently signed an expedited contract to rent 30 golf carts in Sterling, Virginia, where Trump owns a golf course.
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Under the contract terms, taxpayers will spend $45,000 over the next six months. A Secret Service spokesman said the agency does not comment on activities pertaining to people it protects.
Traveling via presidential motorcade to Northern Virginia would force dozens of agents and other White House employees to work close to one another ― just as hundreds of them had to in support of Trump’s visit to Norfolk, Virginia, last weekend for a photo opportunity at the departure of a Navy hospital ship on its way to New York City. Secret Service agents; members of the White House advance team; staff from the White House medical unit, communications agency and military office; and more had to travel and work within 6 feet of each other, against guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support the day trip where Trump gave a 15-minute speech and then waved goodbye as tugboats pulled the 900-foot U.S.N.S. Comfort from her berth.
“Those people are all working in close proximity to one another,” said a former White House advance team member on condition of anonymity. “It’s a big operation.”
Trump’s last golf weekend in Florida coincided with two large functions that he hosted at Mar-a-Lago, his for-profit club. A 900-person campaign fundraising dinner on Friday, March 6, was followed the next night by a 200-guest birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of his eldest son and an adviser to his reelection campaign. Those events took place even though public health experts were already advising against large gatherings and urging elderly people to avoid contact with others entirely.
“Whether it’s a matter of national security, economic prosperity or public health, President Trump has consistently placed his own personal interests ahead of the national interest,” said Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and a National Security Council spokesman under Obama.
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Neither the Trump campaign, which organized the fundraising dinner, nor the Trump Organization, which handled the birthday party, responded to HuffPost queries.
The Trump Organization, the profits of which flow entirely to a trust benefiting only Trump, appeared to continue collecting fees for buildings it manages and keeping its golf courses and hotels open to the extent possible under local closure orders.
According to a report by Spectrum News NY1, residents of a luxury apartment building in Manhattan were asked for April’s monthly fees early because of the coronavirus and warned that late payments would be subject to penalties.
And while many Trump resorts ― such as Doral near the Miami airport ― were ultimately forced to close, the golf club in Sterling for which the Secret Service rented the carts remains open. On Thursday morning, it posted a photo of a tee along the Potomac River with the message: “The perfect social distancing view and sport at @trumpgolfdc!”
While many public parks in Virginia have closed following Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive orders, private courses are not required to shut down, so long as groups do not gather in numbers exceeding 10 and clubhouses and restaurants on site are not open.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-04--New York Daily News Muzzles Donald Trump On Silencing Front Page

“ This is voluntary .
I don ’ t think I am going to be doing it , ” Trump told reporters during his daily coronavirus task force press briefing .
The New York Daily News slammed the president for his comment with its Saturday cover .
“ IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE , ” the tabloid headlined its front page featuring an image of a mask superimposed on Trump ’ s mouth : IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE Trump urges Americans to wear face masks in public to fight coronavirus — but says he ‘ won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //t.co/K4YxYt58O7 pic.twitter.com/6Mzy5GT7tG — New York Daily News ( @ NYDailyNews ) April 4 , 2020 The U.S. is now the country with the most confirmed number of coronavirus cases in the world .
Some 277,000 people have been sickened nationwide and more than 7,400 killed .
The Daily News frequently uses its front page to call out Trump and his political allies .
Only last week , the publication scorned the president ’ s stated hope to ease social distancing measures by Easter ( against the advice of public health officials ) in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this cover : Easter basket case Trump wants U.S. up and running by Easter or thousands could commit suicide — https : //t.co/anf7nY67DV Noah Syndergaard needs Tommy John surgery — https : //t.co/xnTE1k69bm pic.twitter.com/ey6gWxzk3O — New York Daily News ( @ NYDailyNews ) March 25 , 2020 Vice President Mike Pence later appeared to walk back Trump ’ s Easter wish , calling it “ really an aspirational goal .
”

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“This is voluntary. I don’t think I am going to be doing it,” Trump told reporters during his daily coronavirus task force press briefing.
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The New York Daily News slammed the president for his comment with its Saturday cover. “IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE,” the tabloid headlined its front page featuring an image of a mask superimposed on Trump’s mouth:
IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE
Trump urges Americans to wear face masks in public to fight coronavirus — but says he ‘won’t be doing it’https://t.co/K4YxYt58O7 pic.twitter.com/6Mzy5GT7tG — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 4, 2020
The U.S. is now the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the world. Some 277,000 people have been sickened nationwide and more than 7,400 killed.
The Daily News frequently uses its front page to call out Trump and his political allies. Only last week, the publication scorned the president’s stated hope to ease social distancing measures by Easter (against the advice of public health officials) in a bid to boost the economy, with this cover:
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Easter basket case
Trump wants U.S. up and running by Easter or thousands could commit suicide — https://t.co/anf7nY67DV
Noah Syndergaard needs Tommy John surgery — https://t.co/xnTE1k69bm pic.twitter.com/ey6gWxzk3O — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) March 25, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-04--Katrina Commander Rips 'Totally Clueless' Jared Kushner's Coronavirus Comments

Russel Honoré on Friday made it crystal clear what he thinks of Jared Kushner and his role in President Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus task force .
” I don ’ t believe he know what the hell he ’ s talking about , ” the retired lieutenant general said of Trump ’ s son-in-law and adviser , who has no medical experience , in an interview with MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes .
“ He ’ s totally clueless as to what he ’ s talking about , ” added Honoré , who is credited with correcting the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that struck New Orleans in 2005 .
Honoré ’ s comments came in response to Kushner ’ s declaration , during Thursday ’ s task force update , that life-saving supplies in the federal Strategic National Stockpile weren ’ t actually for the states .
“ The notion of the federal stockpile was it ’ s supposed to be our stockpile , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not supposed to be states ’ stockpiles that they then use.
” The president later attempted to defend his son-in-law ’ s comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our ” means “ the United States of America .
And then we take that ‘ our ’ and we distribute it to the states.
” Language on the Strategic National Stockpile ’ s website was also later amended to back up Kushner ’ s assertion .
Honoré , in his interview with Hayes , further suggested how he ’ d get much-needed medical equipment to where it is needed the most , by giving the Department of Defense a much larger role and positioning the National Guard at every hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House ’ s “ slow and not decisive ” response to the pandemic .
“ It ’ s hard to get the speed you need to save lives if you ’ re slow at making decisions and you ’ re not decisive , ” he said .

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Russel Honoré on Friday made crystal clear what he thinks of Jared Kushner and his role in President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force.
“I don’t believe he know what the hell he’s talking about,” the retired lieutenant general said of Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, who has no medical experience, in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
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“He’s totally clueless as to what he’s talking about,” added Honoré, who is credited with correcting the initially botched federal recovery response to Hurricane Katrina that struck New Orleans in 2005.
Honoré’s comments came in response to Kushner’s declaration, during Thursday’s task force update, that lifesaving supplies in the federal Strategic National Stockpile weren’t actually for the states.
“The notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile,” he said. “It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”
Kushner’s remarks drew fierce criticism.
The president later attempted to defend his son-in-law’s comments in Friday’s briefing, saying “our” means “the United States of America. And then we take that ‘our’ and we distribute it to the states.” Language on the Strategic National Stockpile’s website was also later amended to back up Kushner’s assertion.
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Honoré, in his interview with Hayes, further suggested how he’d get medical equipment to where it is needed the most, by giving the Department of Defense a much larger role and positioning the National Guard at every hospital.
Last month, Honoré criticized the Trump White House’s “slow and not decisive” response to the pandemic. “It’s hard to get the speed you need to save lives if you’re slow at making decisions and you’re not decisive,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--Trump Fires Inspector General Who Sounded Alarm On Ukraine Call

President Donald Trump has notified the Senate Intelligence Committee that he is firing Michael Atkinson , the inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community who was the first to alert Congress to an urgent whistleblower complaint about Trump ’ s phone call with Ukraine ’ s president last year .
In a July 25 phone call , Trump pressured President Volodymyr Zelensky to open an investigation into unfounded accusations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son .
At the time , Trump was withholding military aid from Ukraine , a form of coercion for political gain that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump notified the Senate committee of his intention to fire Atkinson and remove him from his post as inspector general of U.S. intelligence agencies , which will be effective 30 days from Friday , according to congressional officials and a copy of Trump ’ s notification in a letter obtained by several media outlets .
“ As is the case with regard to other positions where I , as President , have the power of appointment ... it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.
” Atkinson was appointed by Trump , but the president blamed him for exposing the July 25 phone call , The New York Times has reported .
Trump was surprised Atkinson alerted Congress about the call , he told confidants , according to the Times , which said Trump considered the action disloyal and accused Atkinson of working with the Democrats to undermine his presidency .
Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) called the “ dead of night decision ” a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Intelligence community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing.
” Trump ’ s dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing .
It puts our country and national security at even greater risk .
pic.twitter.com/Pnm7chdIkl — Adam Schiff ( @ RepAdamSchiff ) April 4 , 2020

President Donald Trump has notified the Senate Intelligence Committee that he is firing Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community who was the first to alert Congress to an urgent whistleblower complaint about Trump’s phone call with Ukraine’s president last year.
In a July 25 phone call, Trump pressured President Volodymyr Zelensky to open an investigation into unfounded accusations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. At the time, Trump was withholding military aid from Ukraine, a form of coercion for political gain that led to his impeachment in the House.
Trump notified the Senate committee of his intention to fire Atkinson and remove him from his post as inspector general of U.S. intelligence agencies, which will be effective 30 days from Friday, according to congressional officials and a copy of Trump’s notification in a letter obtained by several media outlets.
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“As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have the power of appointment ... it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general,” Trump wrote. “That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
Trump is removing the inspector general of the intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, per letter sent to lawmakers tonight. pic.twitter.com/myPDqoJ8G4 — Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) April 4, 2020
Atkinson was appointed by Trump, but the president blamed him for exposing the July 25 phone call, The New York Times has reported. Trump was surprised Atkinson alerted Congress about the call, he told confidants, according to the Times, which said Trump considered the action disloyal and accused Atkinson of working with the Democrats to undermine his presidency.
Critics slammed the move.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called the “dead of night decision” a “blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--Trump Calls Reporter's Tone 'Nasty' While Defending Kushner's Stockpile Remark

President Donald Trump snapped at a reporter during Friday night ’ s coronavirus task force update after she asked him to clarify what his son-in-law Jared Kushner meant by saying the federal stockpile of medical equipment was “ our ” stockpile and not the states ’ stockpile .
“ Our .
Our .
It means the United States of America .
And then we take that ‘ our ’ and we distribute it to the states , ” the president continued .
Jiang continued to push Trump on the issue , asking him to clarify if the states should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stockpile .
“ To keep for our country because the federal government needs it , too .
Not just the states , ” Trump replied , adding that the medical stockpile had nearly 10,000 ventilators that were going to be sent across the country .
“ It ’ s such a basic , simple question and you try to make it sound so bad .
You ought to be ashamed of yourself , ” he told her .
“ You know what ?
You ought to be ashamed.
” “ You just asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added while trying to move on to the next reporter .
“ I gave you a perfect answer .
You know it.
” Trump has a habit of using the word “ nasty ” when he ’ s interacting with women who do not agree with him or who question him .
Just last month , he told PBS News reporter Yamiche Alcindor that her question was “ nasty ” when she asked why the administration disbanded a pandemics team on the National Security Council in 2018 .
Kushner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of criticism at the task force update on Thursday after he said that the medical supplies in the national stockpile were not meant for state governors to use .
“ The notion of the federal stockpile was it ’ s supposed to be our stockpile , ” Kushner said .
“ It ’ s not supposed to be states ’ stockpiles that they then use.
” So say you 're in a state that needs ventilators .
And you 'll die if you do n't get one .
And the state does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Even though `` federal '' stockpiles really belong to all of us . )
And then you die because Jared decides to send the ventilator elsewhere ?
— David Rothkopf ( @ djrothkopf ) April 3 , 2020 After Trump ’ s exchange with Jiang on Friday , another reporter followed her line of questioning and asked , “ The federal stockpile , isn ’ t that designed to be able to distribute to the states ?
” “ We also want to keep some because when that surge comes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to have the flexibility to take those ventilators and bring them to Louisiana , New York , Detroit , ” he said .
Before Kushner declared that the federal stockpile was only meant for the federal government , the official website for the Department of Health and Human Services said it was designed to support “ state , local , tribal and territorial responders.
” But by Friday morning , the summary on that webpage had been deleted and replaced with a description that reflected Kusher ’ s comments , as GQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bassett pointed out .

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President Donald Trump snapped at a reporter during Friday night’s coronavirus task force update after she asked him to clarify what his son-in-law Jared Kushner meant by saying the federal stockpile of medical equipment was “our” stockpile and not the states’ stockpile.
“‘Our’ means the United States of America. That’s what it means,” Trump told CBS News’ Weijia Jiang after accusing her of trying to stage a “gotcha” moment.
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“Our. Our. It means the United States of America. And then we take that ‘our’ and we distribute it to the states,” the president continued.
Jiang continued to push Trump on the issue, asking him to clarify if the states should be able to have access to the federal stockpile.
“So,” she asked, “who are we giving it to if it’s not for the states?”
“To keep for our country because the federal government needs it, too. Not just the states,” Trump replied, adding that the medical stockpile had nearly 10,000 ventilators that were going to be sent across the country.
Apparently frustrated with Jiang’s line of questioning, Trump told her that she should be ashamed for asking the question.
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“It’s such a basic, simple question and you try to make it sound so bad. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” he told her. “You know what? You ought to be ashamed.”
“You just asked your question in a very nasty tone,” he added while trying to move on to the next reporter. “I gave you a perfect answer. You know it.”
Trump has a habit of using the word “nasty” when he’s interacting with women who do not agree with him or who question him. Just last month, he told PBS News reporter Yamiche Alcindor that her question was “nasty” when she asked why the administration disbanded a pandemics team on the National Security Council in 2018.
WATCH: @weijia presses President Trump on Jared Kushner's comment that the federal stockpile is not meant for states https://t.co/b9FtmY5sM4 pic.twitter.com/IWfuxXPb7Q — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 3, 2020
Kushner, a White House adviser, faced a wave of criticism at the task force update on Thursday after he said that the medical supplies in the national stockpile were not meant for state governors to use.
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He suggested that states should use their own stockpiles instead of the one managed by the federal government.
“The notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile,” Kushner said. “It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”
Many people who watched that press conference wondered what Kushner meant by that.
So say you're in a state that needs ventilators. And you'll die if you don't get one. And the state doesn't convince Jared it really needs one. (Even though "federal" stockpiles really belong to all of us.) And then you die because Jared decides to send the ventilator elsewhere? — David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) April 3, 2020
After Trump’s exchange with Jiang on Friday, another reporter followed her line of questioning and asked, “The federal stockpile, isn’t that designed to be able to distribute to the states?”
Trump reiterated that the federal government needed the stockpile and said that the states “were totally unprepared” for this pandemic.
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“We’re not an ordering clerk. They have to fend for themselves,” Trump said.
The president also defended Kushner later, assuring a reporter that he did not “misspeak” when explaining how the stockpile works on Thursday.
Trump then said the federal government needed to keep supplies in the stockpile in anticipation of another surge in COVID-19 cases.
“We also want to keep some because when that surge comes, when you hit those peaks, we need to have the flexibility to take those ventilators and bring them to Louisiana, New York, Detroit,” he said.
Jared Kushner is in charge of the medical supply chain that delivers critical items to the doctors and nurses who are on the frontlines everyday. Yesterday he said it was “OURS”, so I asked what he meant. Trump did not like the question. https://t.co/pZfQiNVWne — Weijia Jiang (@weijia) April 3, 2020
Before Kushner declared that the federal stockpile was only meant for the federal government, the official website for the Department of Health and Human Services said it was designed to support “state, local, tribal and territorial responders.”
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But by Friday morning, the summary on that webpage had been deleted and replaced with a description that reflected Kusher’s comments, as GQ political columnist and former HuffPost reporter Laura Bassett pointed out.
The original summary of the stockpile read:
“When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency.”
On Friday, it read:
“The Strategic National Stockpile’s role is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies. Many states have products stockpiled, as well. The supplies, medicines, and devices for life-saving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of these materials may not be immediately available.”
Oh my god... it took the government less than 24 hours to change the copy on its website about stockpiles to make it look like Kushner was right. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/TWAOVbttD5 — Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) April 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-04--Scathing Supercut Hails The Fox News Hosts, Republicans Who Are 'Heroes Of The Pandumbic'

“ The Daily Show with Trevor Noah ” hails the “ Heroes of the Pandumbic ” in a critical new @ @ @ @ @ prominent conservatives ― including President Donald Trump ― who for weeks played down the threat @ @ @ @ @ , Fox News personalities Sean Hannity , Laura Ingraham and Geraldo Rivera , White House @ @ @ @ @ Devin Nunes ( R-Calif. ) and others who pushed dismissive and sometimes conspiratorial talking points @ @ @ @ @ in the 3-minute video .
The supercut ends with footage of the recent U-turn performed @ @ @ @ @ ally , Hannity , who now claim they ’ d always acknowledged the severity of @ @ @ @ @ the montage here :

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“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” hails the “Heroes of the Pandumbic” in a critical new montage that features footage of prominent conservatives ― including President Donald Trump ― who for weeks played down the threat of the coronavirus.
Trump, Fox News personalities Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Geraldo Rivera, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and others who pushed dismissive and sometimes conspiratorial talking points about the pandemic all appear in the three-minute video.
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The supercut ends with footage of the recent U-turn performed by Trump and his staunch ally Hannity, who now claim they’d always acknowledged the severity of the outbreak.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--Trump Announces CDC Mask Guidelines But Says He Probably Won't Follow Them

When it comes to following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , President Donald Trump is using a “ do as I say , not as I do ” approach .
On Friday , the CDC revised its guidelines , advising Americans to wear a mask at all times when out in public .
But when the president announced the recommendation at the coronavirus task force press briefing on Friday evening , he emphasized that the mask measure is “ voluntary ” and went out of his way to say he wouldn ’ t be complying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think I am going to be doing it , ” he told reporters , according to PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor .
IT 'S OFFICIAL .
President Trump : `` The CDC is recommending Americans wear a basic cloth or fabric mask . ''
He adds : `` This is voluntary .
I do n't think I am going to be doing it . ''
( New mask coronavirus guidelines are not for N95 masks used by health professionals . )
— Yamiche Alcindor ( @ Yamiche ) April 3 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept reiterating that he would not be covering his face regardless of what his team of experts said .
President Trump stressed several times that the CDC 's new guidelines are `` voluntary . ''
He said : `` You can do it .
You do n't have to it ...
It may be good ...
It 's only a recommendation ...
Voluntary . ''
Trump repeatedly said he would not be wearing the masks CDC is now recommending .
— Yamiche Alcindor ( @ Yamiche ) April 3 , 2020 After reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t follow the CDC recommendation , his answer suggested he was more concerned with vanity than the virus : “ I just don ’ t want to wear one myself ...
I ’ m feeling good .
...
Somehow sitting in the Oval Office ... the great Resolute Desk ...
I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents , dictators ...
I don ’ t know , I don ’ t see it.
” Asked why he wo n't wear a covering , Trump : `` I just do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm feeling good ...
I just do n't want to ... somehow sitting in the Oval Office ... the great Resolute Desk ...
I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents ... dictators ...
I dunno , I do n't see it . ''
— Daniel Dale ( @ ddale8 ) April 3 , 2020 BREAKING- Some @ CDCgov public health experts felt `` pressured '' by the White House to draft recommendations that all Americans wear masks or facial coverings while in public .
“ The CDC would not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House.
” : Official — Nick Valencia ( @ CNNValencia ) April 3 , 2020 But some people were more concerned about the reason he cited for not wanting to wear a mask .

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When it comes to following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, President Donald Trump is using a “do as I say, not as I do” approach.
On Friday, the CDC revised its guidelines, advising Americans to wear a mask at all times when out in public.
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But when the president announced the recommendation at the coronavirus task force press briefing on Friday evening, he emphasized that the mask measure is “voluntary” and went out of his way to say he wouldn’t be complying.
“This is voluntary. I don’t think I am going to be doing it,” he told reporters, according to PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor.
IT'S OFFICIAL.
President Trump: "The CDC is recommending Americans wear a basic cloth or fabric mask."
He adds: "This is voluntary. I don't think I am going to be doing it."
(New mask coronavirus guidelines are not for N95 masks used by health professionals.) — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 3, 2020
In fact, Alcindor said the president kept reiterating that he would not be covering his face regardless of what his team of experts said.
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President Trump stressed several times that the CDC's new guidelines are "voluntary."
He said: "You can do it. You don't have to it...It may be good...It's only a recommendation...Voluntary."
Trump repeatedly said he would not be wearing the masks CDC is now recommending. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 3, 2020
After reporters pressed the president on why he wouldn’t follow the CDC recommendation, his answer suggested he was more concerned with vanity than the virus:
“I just don’t want to wear one myself ... I’m feeling good. ... Somehow sitting in the Oval Office ... the great Resolute Desk ... I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, dictators ... I don’t know, I don’t see it.”
Asked why he won't wear a covering, Trump: "I just don't want to wear one myself...I'm feeling good...I just don't want to...somehow sitting in the Oval Office...the great Resolute Desk...I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents...dictators...I dunno, I don't see it." — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 3, 2020
Ironically, the CDC said the mask recommendations were made at the behest of the White House.
BREAKING- Some @CDCgov public health experts felt "pressured" by the White House to draft recommendations that all Americans wear masks or facial coverings while in public. “The CDC would not have gone this direction if not for the White House.”: Official — Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) April 3, 2020
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As you might expect, many Twitter users had strong opinions about the president’s unwillingness to follow the advice issued by his own administration.
I’d prefer he wear this 👇 pic.twitter.com/9rdqOAAeSt — Baligubadle (@Baligubadle1) April 3, 2020
Same guy who stared into the sun during an eclipse. — Kristi Helvig (@KristiHelvig) April 3, 2020
Someone make a muzzle for him. Please. Forget the mask. — Philly Pub Alum (@vegasexpats) April 3, 2020
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But some people were more concerned about the reason he cited for not wanting to wear a mask.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-04--Erin Burnett Cries In Heart-Wrenching Interview With Coronavirus Victim's Wife

CNN ’ s Erin Burnett was on Friday brought to tears during an emotional interview with the widow of a man who died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The “ Outfront ” host repeatedly welled up as Maura Lewinger recalled her 42-year-old husband Joe ’ s battle with the virus and highlighted the importance of social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders in combating its spread .
“ I ’ m sorry it made me cry , ” Burnett said at one point in the 17-minute chat in which she also aired heart-wrenching tributes to father-of-three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Mary Louis Academy in Queens , New York .
In recent days , Burnett ’ s fellow CNN anchors Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin have also choked up on air while reporting on the pandemic that has now sickened more than 1.1 million people worldwide .
There are more than 277,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. where upwards of 7,400 have also died .
Lemon was on Tuesday visibly emotional while talking about the positive diagnosis of his friend and CNN colleague Chris Cuomo .
Baldwin , meanwhile , welled up Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman who ’ d died from the disease .
Baldwin revealed Friday she ’ d also tested positive for coronavirus .

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CNN’s Erin Burnett was brought to tears Friday during an emotional interview with the widow of a man who died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The “OutFront” host repeatedly welled up as Maura Lewinger recalled her 42-year-old husband Joe’s battle with the virus and highlighted the importance of social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders in combating its spread.
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“I’m sorry, it made me cry,” Burnett said at one point in the 17-minute chat in which she also aired heart-wrenching tributes to father-of-three Joe Lewinger, an assistant principal at The Mary Louis Academy in Queens, New York.
In recent days, Burnett’s fellow CNN anchors Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin have also choked up on air while reporting on the pandemic that has now sickened more than 1.1 million people worldwide. There are more than 277,000 confirmed cases in the U.S., where upwards of 7,400 have also died.
Lemon was on Tuesday visibly emotional while talking about the positive diagnosis of his friend and CNN colleague Chris Cuomo.
Baldwin, meanwhile, welled up Monday during an interview with the daughter of a woman who’d died from the disease. Baldwin revealed Friday she’d also tested positive for the coronavirus.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-04--Melania Trump Issues Pandemic Safety Advice That POTUS Says He’ll Likely Ignore

Melania Trump on Friday tweeted for people to “ take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously ” in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus : As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously .
# COVID19 is a virus that can spread to anyone - we can stop this together .
— Melania Trump ( @ FLOTUS ) April 3 , 2020 The first lady ’ s appeal may be ignored by her own husband , however , as President Donald Trump around the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ update that he likely won ’ t follow new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that urge citizens to don masks in public at all times .
“ This is voluntary .
I don ’ t think I am going to be doing it , ” said Trump , who later claimed he just didn ’ t see himself wearing one while greeting other world leaders in the Oval Office .
The mixed messages did not go unnoticed on Twitter : # BeBest n talk to the man u live with .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'd bolt if I were u .
Save urself .
# COVID19Pandemic https : //t.co/qhggtKzWJo — Kathleen Madigan ( @ kathleenmadigan ) April 3 , 2020 Except near the Resolute desk , which magically prevents dictators from catching it .
— Devin Nunes ’ cow 🐮 ( @ DevinCow ) April 4 , 2020 have you talked to your husband about these recommendations https : //t.co/OAc682nPay — Jessica Huseman ( @ JessicaHuseman ) April 3 , 2020 Your husband told everyone today he wo n't lead by example by wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use social distancing .
Did you miss it ?
— D Villella ❄ ( @ dvillella ) April 4 , 2020 Ummmm did you not catch your boy on TV right now ?
— SuperNintendo Chalmers ( @ Joeguzman22 ) April 3 , 2020 this is a joke , right .
@ potus just said he 's not doing it .
What tf kind of alternate universe have you people imposed on us ?
— I 'm not OK with death of 100k ( @ bmcginthenrv ) April 3 , 2020 Do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run a crappy # BeBestMyAss campaign while he bullies .
You post about adhering to guidelines that he wont follow .
Maybe y'all ought to have a chat some day .
— T has a nasty tone ( @ Whateva691 ) April 3 , 2020 You know your husband said wearing a mask was “ voluntary , ” right ?
And that he was probably “ not going to wear one , ” right ?
Seems liked a mixed message ya ’ ll are giving .
— Fohtohgirl💎 ( @ fohtohgirl ) April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes ago , said he does n't think he 's going to be wearing a face mask .
https : //t.co/i6IHnhVLMS — Geoff Bennett ( @ GeoffRBennett ) April 3 , 2020

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Melania Trump on Friday tweeted for people to “take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously” in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus:
As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously. #COVID19 is a virus that can spread to anyone - we can stop this together. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 3, 2020
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The first lady’s appeal may be ignored by her own husband, however, as President Donald Trump around the same time told reporters at the daily task force update that he likely won’t follow new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that urge citizens to don masks in public at all times.
“This is voluntary. I don’t think I am going to be doing it,” said Trump, who later claimed he just didn’t see himself wearing one while greeting other world leaders in the Oval Office.
The mixed messages did not go unnoticed on Twitter:
#BeBest n talk to the man u live with. The orange one who wont wear one. I'd bolt if I were u. Save urself. #COVID19Pandemic https://t.co/qhggtKzWJo — Kathleen Madigan (@kathleenmadigan) April 3, 2020
Except near the Resolute desk, which magically prevents dictators from catching it. — Devin Nunes’ cow 🐮 (@DevinCow) April 4, 2020
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have you talked to your husband about these recommendations https://t.co/OAc682nPay — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) April 3, 2020
Your husband told everyone today he won't lead by example by wearing a mask, just as he refuses to use social distancing. Did you miss it? — D Villella ❄ (@dvillella) April 4, 2020
Ummmm did you not catch your boy on TV right now? — SuperNintendo Chalmers (@Joeguzman22) April 3, 2020
this is a joke, right. @potus just said he's not doing it. What tf kind of alternate universe have you people imposed on us? — I'm not OK with death of 100k (@bmcginthenrv) April 3, 2020
Do you even talk to each other?
You run a crappy #BeBestMyAss campaign while he bullies.
You post about adhering to guidelines that he wont follow.
Maybe y'all ought to have a chat some day. — T has a nasty tone (@Whateva691) April 3, 2020
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You know your husband said wearing a mask was “voluntary,” right? And that he was probably “not going to wear one,” right? Seems liked a mixed message ya’ll are giving. — Fohtohgirl💎 (@fohtohgirl) April 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--DOJ: Fears Of COVID-19 In Prisons Are ‘Unsubstantiated and Unwarranted’

Aitor Diago/Getty Images DOJ prosecutors call concerns about contracting COVID-19 in prison `` unsubstantiated and unwarranted , ” despite overwhelming evidence that people who are incarcerated are at an exceptionally high risk of contracting the virus .
It is impossible for most incarcerated people to follow guidelines on social distancing , hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces .
People incarcerated at San Diego ’ s Metropolitan Correctional Center and the Western Region Detention Facility ( a private prison run by the GEO Group ) have told defense lawyers they sleep in shared cells , often on bunk beds .
They report inconsistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and having access to neither .
They don ’ t have reliable access to soap and are sometimes forced to buy their own from the commissary , which isn ’ t always well-stocked .
They have observed other prisoners with severe coughs and fevers who have been unable to get timely medical care or are reluctant to report symptoms out of fear of losing their jobs .
But DOJ attorneys in the Southern District of California have continued fighting the release of even low-level , nonviolent offenders .
A defendant ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost entirely on the speculative prospect of a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility where he is being detained pending trial , ” U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer Jr. wrote in a court filing last week , using similar language in at least two other cases .
“ Defendant ’ s speculation is both unsubstantiated and unwarranted , ” Brewer continued .
One of these defendants is a man who has been imprisoned longer than the six-month maximum sentence for the charge he is facing .
He was arrested in August and is currently facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge former Democratic presidential candidates Julián Castro and Elizabeth Warren have supported repealing .
The man has been told that because of the coronavirus crisis , normal court calendars will not resume until April 16 — a date that is likely to get extended .
“ Because the Court can not provide [ him ] with a bench trial in the near future , he is in a situation where he must either remain in custody for several months or plead guilty involuntarily to this misdemeanor charge because that is the only way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Diego federal defender Eric Fish wrote in a court filing .
Even if the man loses his misdemeanor bench trial , there is no way to give him additional time in custody since he has already served more time than the maximum sentence .
“ To keep him in custody longer without releasing him on bond would be a miscarriage of justice , ” Fish wrote .
DOJ is also fighting for the continued imprisonment of a 56-year-old woman charged with attempting to illegally enter the country after being deported .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shortness of breath , was kidnapped when she was 14 years old and “ held as a sex slave by a vicious drug kingpin for many decades , ” federal defender Sean McGuire wrote in a court filing earlier this month .
Her association with the drug kingpin , McGuire wrote , led to her convictions for conspiring to distribute cocaine .
To be sure , the Bail Reform Act instructs the Court to consider a defendant ’ s own ‘ physical and mental health ' ... but the general existence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that assessment .
Robert Brewer Jr. , U.S. Attorneyfor the Southern District of California .
Another defendant whose “ speculation ” about COVID-19 is , according to the government , “ both unsubstantiated and unwarranted ” is a 64-year-old man who has diabetes and high blood pressure .
He had a heart procedure shortly before he was arrested in February on a felony charge of importing methamphetamine across the border .
He can ’ t afford his $ 25,000 bond so he has remained in custody , even after a visit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart condition .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is currently considering an appeal from a 73-year-old man who is being held in pretrial detention solely because he does not have a family member in the U.S. to stay with as he awaits trial .
The man , a U.S. citizen , was arrested in February after Customs and Border Protection discovered methamphetamine in the gas tank of his car when he crossed into the U.S. from Mexico .
He was initially denied pretrial release .
But in mid-March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of emergency , the government agreed he should be released on a $ 10,000 bond secured by his own signature .
A magistrate judge granted the order but required him to live with a family member as he awaited trial .
The man , who has no close familial relationships , asked a district judge for permission to live in a halfway house instead — he even found a facility that was accepting new residents .
According to the bond motion filed in the 9th Circuit , Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Pettit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that although she understood his age put him at high-risk of COVID-19 complications , she believed he was safer in jail than if he were released , especially to a halfway house .
The district judge rejected the man ’ s request and he remains in prison .

DOJ prosecutors call concerns about contracting COVID-19 in prison "unsubstantiated and unwarranted,” despite overwhelming evidence that people who are incarcerated are at an exceptionally high risk of contracting the virus. Aitor Diago/Getty Images
Prosecutors at the Department of Justice have repeatedly argued in recent weeks that being incarcerated does not put individuals at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus — despite overwhelming evidence that detention facilities are among the most dangerous places to be during the current public health crisis.
The federal prosecutors’ arguments came in response to motions from federal public defenders in San Diego, California, on behalf of several of their clients requesting modified bail conditions in response to COVID-19, which is spreading rapidly through the country’s crowded jails and prisons.
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The defendants seeking modified bail have not been convicted of a crime in connection to their current imprisonment and are currently facing nonviolent immigration or drug charges. Most are at high risk of becoming severely ill or dying if infected with COVID-19 because of their age or health conditions.
It is impossible for most incarcerated people to follow guidelines on social distancing, hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces. People incarcerated at San Diego’s Metropolitan Correctional Center and the Western Region Detention Facility (a private prison run by the GEO Group) have told defense lawyers they sleep in shared cells, often on bunk beds. They report inconsistent use of gloves and masks by guards and having access to neither. They don’t have reliable access to soap and are sometimes forced to buy their own from the commissary, which isn’t always well-stocked. They have observed other prisoners with severe coughs and fevers who have been unable to get timely medical care or are reluctant to report symptoms out of fear of losing their jobs.
“I feel like I’m going to die here,” one GEO detainee told federal public defender Joshua Jones.
When COVID-19 enters jails and prisons, it has spread much faster than in even the hardest-hit cities. At Rikers Island, New York City’s main jail complex, the rate of infection is nearly nine times higher than the city’s, according to data analysis by the Legal Aid Society.
As of Friday, there are at least 91 prisoners and 50 staffers in Bureau of Prisons facilities who have tested positive for the disease — a number that is probably an undercount due to extremely limited testing. Four people incarcerated at a federal prison in Louisiana and one in Ohio have died from COVID-19.
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But DOJ attorneys in the Southern District of California have continued fighting the release of even low-level, nonviolent offenders. A defendant’s “request for release from custody is based almost entirely on the speculative prospect of a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility where he is being detained pending trial,” U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer Jr. wrote in a court filing last week, using similar language in at least two other cases. “Defendant’s speculation is both unsubstantiated and unwarranted,” Brewer continued.
One of these defendants is a man who has been imprisoned longer than the six-month maximum sentence for the charge he is facing. He was arrested in August and is currently facing an illegal entry misdemeanor — a criminal charge former Democratic presidential candidates Julián Castro and Elizabeth Warren have supported repealing. The man has been told that because of the coronavirus crisis, normal court calendars will not resume until April 16 — a date that is likely to get extended.
He was granted pretrial release on a $30,000 bond, secured by “two financially responsible adults with a $3,000 cash deposit.” Unable to meet those requirements, however, he asked to be released on a $10,000 bond secured by his signature.
“Because the Court cannot provide [him] with a bench trial in the near future, he is in a situation where he must either remain in custody for several months or plead guilty involuntarily to this misdemeanor charge because that is the only way for him to be released,” San Diego federal defender Eric Fish wrote in a court filing. Even if the man loses his misdemeanor bench trial, there is no way to give him additional time in custody since he has already served more time than the maximum sentence. “To keep him in custody longer without releasing him on bond would be a miscarriage of justice,” Fish wrote.
DOJ is also fighting for the continued imprisonment of a 56-year-old woman charged with attempting to illegally enter the country after being deported. The woman, who experiences high blood pressure and shortness of breath, was kidnapped when she was 14 years old and “held as a sex slave by a vicious drug kingpin for many decades,” federal defender Sean McGuire wrote in a court filing earlier this month. Her association with the drug kingpin, McGuire wrote, led to her convictions for conspiring to distribute cocaine.
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She “recognizes that remaining out of custody is a matter of life and death, providing significant incentive for [her] to comply with any conditions of release set by the court and not risk a bench warrant and further detention,” her lawyer continued.
The woman was denied pretrial release at her initial court appearance in December. She asked the court on March 18 to reconsider her pretrial detention in light of the COVID-19 public health crisis. The government opposed her request, but she was granted pretrial release last week with a $20,000 bond.
“To be sure, the Bail Reform Act instructs the Court to consider a defendant’s own ‘physical and mental health' ... but the general existence of a pandemic does not have significant bearing on that assessment.” - Robert Brewer Jr., U.S. Attorneyfor the Southern District of California.
Another defendant whose “speculation” about COVID-19 is, according to the government, “both unsubstantiated and unwarranted” is a 64-year-old man who has diabetes and high blood pressure. He had a heart procedure shortly before he was arrested in February on a felony charge of importing methamphetamine across the border. He can’t afford his $25,000 bond so he has remained in custody, even after a visit to a local medical facility because of his heart condition.
Earlier this month, he asked to be released on his own recognizance, citing the increased risk of severe illness or death from the coronavirus for people of his age and health condition. The government fought the request.
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“To be sure, the Bail Reform Act instructs the Court to consider a defendant’s own ‘physical and mental health,’” Brewer conceded, referring to a 1984 law that established new conditions for pretrial detention or release, “but the general existence of a pandemic does not have significant bearing on that assessment.”
At the time, March 18, Brewer cited the fact that there were no reported COVID-19 cases at any facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons. But that’s no longer true. As of Friday, at least five federal prisoners have died after contracting COVID-19.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is currently considering an appeal from a 73-year-old man who is being held in pretrial detention solely because he does not have a family member in the U.S. to stay with as he awaits trial. The man, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in February after Customs and Border Protection discovered methamphetamine in the gas tank of his car when he crossed into the U.S. from Mexico. He was initially denied pretrial release.
But in mid-March, after California’s governor declared a state of emergency, the government agreed he should be released on a $10,000 bond secured by his own signature. A magistrate judge granted the order but required him to live with a family member as he awaited trial. The man, who has no close familial relationships, asked a district judge for permission to live in a halfway house instead — he even found a facility that was accepting new residents.
According to the bond motion filed in the 9th Circuit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Pettit told the man’s defense lawyer that although she understood his age put him at high-risk of COVID-19 complications, she believed he was safer in jail than if he were released, especially to a halfway house. The district judge rejected the man’s request and he remains in prison.
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Pettit was nominated last year by President Donald Trump to serve as a federal judge in San Diego; her nomination is currently pending before the Senate.
The Federal Defenders of San Diego summarized their efforts to get modified bail for their clients in a letter sent to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Tuesday.
“The dramatic spread of COVID-19 on Rikers Island is an instructive lesson that we must learn from. In the Southern District of California, it is not too late,” Kathryn Nester, the group’s executive director warned. The U.S. attorney’s office “is uniquely positioned to save many lives in California, and we urge you to investigate whether they wield this power wisely and, if not, to take legislative action that will speed up the immediate release of as many inmates as possible.”
One possible fix, Nester proposed, would be amending the Bail Reform Act to include COVID-19 as an acceptable factor to consider when making decisions about pretrial release.
Read the San Diego Federal Defenders letter to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-03--'S**t Sandwich': Florida GOP Reportedly Rigged Jobless Site To Block Applicants

A Florida lawmaker is demanding an investigation into the state ’ s unemployment benefits website , which an adviser to current Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis claims was deliberately designed by the prior GOP administration to block applicants , Politico reported .
As thousands of newly unemployed Floridians were unable to obtain benefits in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic — because the cumbersome and overwhelmed web application system was constantly freezing up — the DeSantis adviser laid the blame on former GOP Gov .
Rick Scott .
“ It ’ s a shit sandwich , and it was designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnamed adviser told Politico .
“ It wasn ’ t about saving money .
It was about making it harder for people to get benefits or keep benefits so that the unemployment numbers were low to give the governor something to brag about.
” The adviser added : “ Everyone we talk to in that office when we ask them what happened tells us : ‘ The system was designed to fail.
’ That ’ s not a problem when unemployment is 2.8 percent , but it ’ s a problem now.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former governor took action to ensure that the state helped only those “ who truly needed the assistance.
” “ Despite using $ 77 million of taxpayers dollars , the DEO [ Department of Economic Opportunity ] website has been unprepared to handle citizen applications for the several years that it has been active , leaving Floridians without sustenance in a time of crisis , ” she wrote .
Toledo said problems with the site have been know since 2015 .
Tampa Democratic state Sen. Janet Cruz called for the resignation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the massive problems .
DeSantis signed an executive order on Thursday in a bid to improve the situation by instituting paper applications , creating a mobile app , and boosting the number of staffers to deal with the mammoth boost in applications for benefits .
But even with changes intended to ease the process , most Floridians who submit applications likely won ’ t qualify for aid , according to Politico .
And the maximum state benefits are only $ 275 a week , among the lowest in the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched in 2013 after a 2011 unemployment law increased barriers for eligibility and cut the number of weeks of unemployment benefits from 26 to 12 .
The state legislature estimated that the changes would save businesses more than $ 2.3 billion in unemployment payments to 2020 .
Miami Democratic state Rep. José Javier Rodríguez agreed that Scott is “ the most culpable ... for the failed system.
” But he also told Politico : “ I don ’ t know of any Republican who resisted these efforts to make Florida the most Scrooge-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part , DeSantis finally instituted a statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday that took effect Thursday , saying he had been waiting for a White House recommendation to do so ( which never came ) .
He undercut the order by exempting religious services , including mass gatherings at evangelical megachurches .
DeSantis was criticized for his delay cracking down on spring-breakers mobbing Florida beaches last month .

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A Florida lawmaker is demanding an investigation into the state’s unemployment benefits website, which an adviser to current Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis claims was deliberately designed by the prior GOP administration to block applicants, Politico reported.
As thousands of newly unemployed Floridians were unable to obtain benefits in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic — because the cumbersome and overwhelmed web application system was constantly freezing up — the DeSantis adviser laid the blame on former GOP Gov. Rick Scott.
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“It’s a shit sandwich, and it was designed that way by Scott,” the unnamed adviser told Politico. “It wasn’t about saving money. It was about making it harder for people to get benefits or keep benefits so that the unemployment numbers were low to give the governor something to brag about.”
The adviser added: “Everyone we talk to in that office when we ask them what happened tells us: ‘The system was designed to fail.’ That’s not a problem when unemployment is 2.8 percent, but it’s a problem now.”
Scott spokesman Chris Hartline told Politico that the former governor took action to ensure that the state helped only those “who truly needed the assistance.”
Republican state Rep. Jackie Toledo called for an investigation in a letter Friday to the Florida legislature’s bipartisan auditing committee.
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“Despite using $77 million of taxpayers dollars, the DEO [Department of Economic Opportunity] website has been unprepared to handle citizen applications for the several years that it has been active, leaving Floridians without sustenance in a time of crisis,” she wrote. Toledo said problems with the site have been know since 2015.
Tampa Democratic state Sen. Janet Cruz called for the resignation of the head of the DEO on Thursday because of the massive problems.
Florida’s 6,256 jobless claims the week ending March 14 surged to 152,687 last week, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
DeSantis signed an executive order on Thursday in a bid to improve the situation by instituting paper applications, creating a mobile app, and boosting the number of staffers to deal with the mammoth boost in applications for benefits.
But even with changes intended to ease the process, most Floridians who submit applications likely won’t qualify for aid, according to Politico. And the maximum state benefits are only $275 a week, among the lowest in the nation.
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Florida’s controversial online system was launched in 2013 after a 2011 unemployment law increased barriers for eligibility and cut the number of weeks of unemployment benefits from 26 to 12. The state legislature estimated that the changes would save businesses more than $2.3 billion in unemployment payments to 2020.
Miami Democratic state Sen. José Javier Rodríguez agreed that Scott is “the most culpable ... for the failed system.” But he also told Politico: “I don’t know of any Republican who resisted these efforts to make Florida the most Scrooge-like state in the nation.”
For his part, DeSantis finally instituted a statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday that took effect Thursday, saying he had been waiting for a White House recommendation to do so (which never came). He undercut the order by exempting religious services, including mass gatherings at evangelical megachurches. DeSantis was criticized for his delay cracking down on spring-breakers mobbing Florida beaches last month.