thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Pence Shrugs Off Trump's Call To 'LIBERATE' States Despite Own Guidelines

In a series of tweets Friday , Trump tweeted all-caps calls to “ LIBERATE ” Minnesota , Michigan and Virginia ― three swing states led by Democratic governors ― in an echo of protesters ’ demands .
A day earlier , Trump had outlined a three-phase set of guidelines for easing the social distancing restrictions in some areas over a span of several weeks .
“ All three states have issued guidelines that follow the national advice that you have been giving them , ” Todd told Pence .
“ They are following the president ’ s guidelines to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain what the president is trying to ‘ liberate ’ Minnesota from ?
” “ We have to make sure that the cure isn ’ t worse than the disease , ” he said , repeating a talking point often used by Trump .
“ The truth is that there are real costs , including the health and well-being of the American people , to continue to go through the shutdown that we are in today.
” “ I don ’ t accept your premise , ” Pence said .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either .
The president ’ s made it clear , he wants to reopen America .
And we laid out guidelines for every state in the country to safely and responsibly reopen their economy at the time and manner of their choosing.
” But the protesters who Trump appears to be encouraging are demanding that stay-at-home orders be lifted immediately .
Despite warnings from public health officials that easing measures too early could be disastrous , thousands of protesters ― a mix of right-wing followers , anti-vaccine advocates and gun rights activists ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen states last week .
“ From the moment President Trump asked me to lead the coronavirus task force two months ago , he made it clear that we had one objective , and that was to save lives , ” Pence said .
“ We are slowing the spread .
We ’ re hastening the day we can put the coronavirus in the past and reopen the American economy.
” “ In the president ’ s tweets and public statements , I can assure you he ’ s going to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely and responsibly let Americans go back to work , ” he said .
“ And the guidelines for opening up America give a road map for doing just that.
” The U.S. has the most known infections of any country in the world , with over 742,000 confirmed cases and at least 39,000 deaths as of Sunday .
Michigan , one of the states Trump wants to “ LIBERATE , ” has the sixth highest number of confirmed cases in the country with over 30,000 .
At least 40 states , led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under stay-at-home orders .
Trump ’ s new guidelines recommend that state and local officials register a two-week downward trend in confirmed cases , as well as secure adequate testing capabilities and medical equipment availability , before easing restrictions .
“ I understand the frustration among the people that want to get things open right away , ” Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) told CNN on Sunday .
“ I ’ m frustrated also .
... We ’ re doing everything we possibly can to reopen in a safe manner.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen under his plan until you have declining numbers for 14 days , which those states and my state do not have , ” Hogan said .
“ We ’ re sending completely conflicting messages out , to the governors and to the people , as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations .
”

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Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday defended President Donald Trump after NBC’s Chuck Todd accused the president of “trying to undermine” his own coronavirus guidelines by encouraging protests of some states’ stay-at-home orders.
In a series of tweets Friday, Trump tweeted all-caps calls to “LIBERATE” Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia ― three swing states led by Democratic governors ― in an echo of protesters’ demands. A day earlier, Trump had outlined a three-phase set of guidelines for easing the social distancing restrictions in some areas over a span of several weeks.
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“All three states have issued guidelines that follow the national advice that you have been giving them,” Todd told Pence. “They are following the president’s guidelines to the best of their ability. Can you explain what the president is trying to ‘liberate’ Minnesota from?”
Pence responded that “no one wants to reopen America more than” Trump.
“We have to make sure that the cure isn’t worse than the disease,” he said, repeating a talking point often used by Trump. “The truth is that there are real costs, including the health and well-being of the American people, to continue to go through the shutdown that we are in today.”
WATCH: Why is President Trump trying to undermine guidance for states on social distancing with tweets about "liberating" Minnesota and Michigan? #MTP #IfItsSunday@VP: "The president has made it clear — he wants to reopen America." pic.twitter.com/s39u5tQPzI — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 19, 2020
Todd continued to press the vice president, asking why Trump is “trying to undermine” the White House’s own recommendations.
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“I don’t accept your premise,” Pence said. “And I don’t think most Americans do either. The president’s made it clear, he wants to reopen America. And we laid out guidelines for every state in the country to safely and responsibly reopen their economy at the time and manner of their choosing.”
But the protesters who Trump appears to be encouraging are demanding that stay-at-home orders be lifted immediately. Despite warnings from public health officials that easing measures too early could be disastrous, thousands of protesters ― a mix of right-wing followers, anti-vaccine advocates and gun rights activists ― took to the streets in more than a dozen states last week.
In photos, protesters can be seen standing side by side without masks or gloves, in defiance of social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
When asked during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” what he thinks about the protests, Pence danced around the question.
“From the moment President Trump asked me to lead the coronavirus task force two months ago, he made it clear that we had one objective, and that was to save lives,” Pence said. “We are slowing the spread. We’re hastening the day we can put the coronavirus in the past and reopen the American economy.”
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Host Chris Wallace asked Pence to explain what Trump meant with his calls to “LIBERATE” Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia, despite federal guidelines recommending those states continue social distancing given their rates of infection. Pence offered another vague response.
“In the president’s tweets and public statements, I can assure you he’s going to continue to encourage governors to find ways to safely and responsibly let Americans go back to work,” he said. “And the guidelines for opening up America give a road map for doing just that.”
The U.S. has the most known infections of any country in the world, with over 742,000 confirmed cases and at least 39,000 deaths as of Sunday. Michigan, one of the states Trump wants to “LIBERATE,” has the sixth highest number of confirmed cases in the country with over 30,000.
At least 40 states, led by Republicans and Democrats alike, are under stay-at-home orders. Trump’s new guidelines recommend that state and local officials register a two-week downward trend in confirmed cases, as well as secure adequate testing capabilities and medical equipment availability, before easing restrictions.
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Trump said during a press briefing Saturday that he’s aware of “a lot of protests” about coronavirus measures, and said he believes some governors have gotten “carried away.”
But several governors said Sunday that their states do not meet the criteria for lifting restrictions outlined in Trump’s new guidelines.
“I understand the frustration among the people that want to get things open right away,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) told CNN on Sunday. “I’m frustrated also. ... We’re doing everything we possibly can to reopen in a safe manner.”
Hogan, chair of the National Governors Association, said it’s “not helpful” and “doesn’t make any sense” for Trump to encourage demonstrations that go against his own policy.
“You can’t start to reopen under his plan until you have declining numbers for 14 days, which those states and my state do not have,” Hogan said. “We’re sending completely conflicting messages out, to the governors and to the people, as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Mnuchin: Adding Trump’s Name To Stimulus Checks Was ‘My Idea’

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday took credit for President Donald Trump ’ s name being added to stimulus checks being mailed to Americans , following a report that the last-minute addition would cause a delay in their delivery .
“ That was my idea .
He is the president and I think it ’ s a terrific symbol to the American public , ” Mnuchin said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” Trump ’ s name will appear in a memo line on the printed checks since he is not authorized to sign them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ history that a president ’ s name will appear on a payment from the Internal Revenue Service .
`` That was my idea '' -- Steve Mnuchin tells Jake Tapper that he , not Trump , was the one who wanted to put Trump 's name on coronavirus relief checks pic.twitter.com/ubk40UUK75 — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) April 19 , 2020 Mnuchin said the checks , which are being sent out to those who forego direct deposit , have yet to be mailed out , but said the delay was not caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Treasury Department has also disputed a report suggesting that was why .
“ The reason why the checks have not gone out is we ’ re hoping that more people , as I said , will go to IRS.gov , ” Mnuchin said .
“ It ’ s much safer to send out direct deposits.
” The White House initially said the payments would go out by early April .
Direct deposits began to hit peoples ’ bank accounts last week .
Trump had been widely criticized over news that his name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-Tenn. ) called the move an “ unprecedented , cheap political stunt .
”

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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday took credit for President Donald Trump’s name being added to stimulus checks being mailed to Americans, following a report that the last-minute addition would cause a delay in their delivery.
“That was my idea. He is the president and I think it’s a terrific symbol to the American public,” Mnuchin said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
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Trump’s name will appear in a memo line on the printed checks since he is not authorized to sign them. It will be the first time in history that a president’s name will appear on a payment from the Internal Revenue Service.
"That was my idea" -- Steve Mnuchin tells Jake Tapper that he, not Trump, was the one who wanted to put Trump's name on coronavirus relief checks pic.twitter.com/ubk40UUK75 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2020
Mnuchin said the checks, which are being sent out to those who forego direct deposit, have yet to be mailed out, but said the delay was not caused by adding Trump’s name. The Treasury Department has also disputed a report suggesting that was why.
“The reason why the checks have not gone out is we’re hoping that more people, as I said, will go to IRS.gov,” Mnuchin said. “It’s much safer to send out direct deposits.”
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The White House initially said the payments would go out by early April. Direct deposits began to hit peoples’ bank accounts last week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Senator Reportedly Tells VP Mike Pence Failed Coronavirus Testing A 'Dereliction Of Duty'

At one point in the Friday call , Maine Sen. Angus King , an independent and former governor , told Pence the administration ’ s failure to develop an adequate national testing regime is a “ dereliction of duty , ” according to a person who joined the hour-long call but was unauthorized to discuss it and granted anonymity .
The outburst came as Republicans signaled Friday they are willing to accept Democratic demands for additional federal funding for hospitals as part of an effort to break a stalemate over the Trump administration ’ s $ 250 billion emergency request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s out of money .
But he said Republicans would draw the line at Democratic demands for additional tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for state and local governments suffering from plummeting tax revenues .
McCarthy said Republicans also want replenishment of another Small Business Administration program that offers disaster loans .
“ I think it ’ ll be ( paycheck protection ) , the other SBA ... the disaster portion .
And probably some hospital money , ” McCarthy said in an interview Friday with the AP .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll see any money for states in there because states already have it.
” State and local governments were awarded $ 150 billion last month .
The House met in a pro forma session Friday in which no business was conducted .
A Senate session quickly adjourned Thursday without any progress .
The next meeting of either the House or Senate is a Senate session Monday that could be used for legislative action if all sides agree .
At issue is the Paycheck Protection Program that was a centerpiece of last month ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives grants to businesses with fewer than 500 workers so they can maintain payroll and pay rent while shutting down their businesses during social distancing edicts .
But it has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and has reached its appropriations limit .
Frustrated businesses are demanding more help , and pressure is intense on Democrats to deliver more .
“ Many of these businesses — which together comprise the backbone of our economy — are on the precipice of insolvency .
Congress must cast aside partisan affiliations and pass relief for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No excuses , ” Phillips said in a statement .
“ This is for our country ’ s small business owners , their employees , and their families .
We simply can not afford to let them down.
” Republican senators also discussed testing on their own private call earlier this week with the president and administration officials .
But they counter that plenty of money has already been appropriated for testing .
“ In the last month , Congress has given federal agencies up to $ 38 billion to develop tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lamar Alexander , chairman of the Senate health panel .
“ We should start by using the money Congress has already provided , put politics aside , and work together on more tests with quick results.
” The Senate is away from Washington through May 4 , but it convenes twice each week for pro forma sessions that could be used to pass more coronavirus aid — though only if no senator objects .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Frustration boiled over into anger on a private call with Vice President Mike Pence as Democratic senators questioned administration officials about coronavirus testing plans but left without adequate answers.
At one point in the Friday call, Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent and former governor, told Pence the administration’s failure to develop an adequate national testing regime is a “dereliction of duty,” according to a person who joined the hour-long call but was unauthorized to discuss it and granted anonymity.
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“I have never been so mad about a phone call in my life,” King told the administration officials, the person said.
The plea for more testing before implementing President Donald Trump’s new guidelines to ease stay-home restrictions is a top priority for Democrats. They are heeding the warnings of health officials worried the virus will simply boomerang into prolonged national crisis.
The outburst came as Republicans signaled Friday they are willing to accept Democratic demands for additional federal funding for hospitals as part of an effort to break a stalemate over the Trump administration’s $250 billion emergency request for a small-business paycheck subsidy program that’s out of money.
Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy told The Associated Press he is also willing to meet a demand by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to set aside some of the requested “paycheck protection” funding for community lenders.
But he said Republicans would draw the line at Democratic demands for additional tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for state and local governments suffering from plummeting tax revenues. McCarthy said Republicans also want replenishment of another Small Business Administration program that offers disaster loans.
“I think it’ll be (paycheck protection), the other SBA ... the disaster portion. And probably some hospital money,” McCarthy said in an interview Friday with the AP. “I don’t think you’ll see any money for states in there because states already have it.” State and local governments were awarded $150 billion last month.
The House met in a pro forma session Friday in which no business was conducted. A Senate session quickly adjourned Thursday without any progress. The next meeting of either the House or Senate is a Senate session Monday that could be used for legislative action if all sides agree.
Negotiations are continuing into the weekend and pressure is mounting since the SBA announced Thursday it has reached its $349 billion lending limit and is no longer accepting applications.
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At issue is the Paycheck Protection Program that was a centerpiece of last month’s massive rescue bill. The program gives grants to businesses with fewer than 500 workers so they can maintain payroll and pay rent while shutting down their businesses during social distancing edicts.
But it has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and has reached its appropriations limit. Frustrated businesses are demanding more help, and pressure is intense on Democrats to deliver more.
“They can’t sustain this any longer,” McCarthy predicted, citing unrest among rank-and-file Democrats like Dean Phillips, a freshman from Minnesota.
“Many of these businesses — which together comprise the backbone of our economy — are on the precipice of insolvency. Congress must cast aside partisan affiliations and pass relief for these companies NOW. No delay. No excuses,” Phillips said in a statement. “This is for our country’s small business owners, their employees, and their families. We simply cannot afford to let them down.”
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said more money is needed for widespread, accessible testing for the coronavirus before the economy can be reopened with confidence.
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“Right now the testing regime is scattershot and totally inadequate for the job that’s needed to get the country back to work,” Schumer said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Republican senators also discussed testing on their own private call earlier this week with the president and administration officials. But they counter that plenty of money has already been appropriated for testing.
“In the last month, Congress has given federal agencies up to $38 billion to develop tests, treatments and vaccines,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate health panel. “We should start by using the money Congress has already provided, put politics aside, and work together on more tests with quick results.”
Thursday’s Senate session featured a short speech by a frustrated majority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said he had cleared the $250 billion package on the GOP side but Democrats would have stopped it.
“Democrats would not let us reopen the program,” McConnell said. “This really should be above politics.”
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On Friday, Trump added his voice, tweeting that the “Do Nothing Democrats” should immediately return to Washington and approve the legislation. “End ENDLESS VACATION!” he wrote.
The Capitol is largely shuttered, requiring consensus from all sides for any legislation to pass, and top GOP leaders are vowing to stick closely to Trump’s request despite Democrats’ additional demands.
The Senate is away from Washington through May 4, but it convenes twice each week for pro forma sessions that could be used to pass more coronavirus aid — though only if no senator objects.
McConnell, asked by a reporter whether he could support any agreement reached by Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was noncommittal.
“Well, look, we’d take a look at it. My members want to plus up the small-business program. We think the need is obvious,” he told reporters.
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Democrats want money for hospitals burdened under COVID-19 caseloads and additional funding for states and local governments straining as the economy slides into recession.
They also want to make sure the Paycheck Protection Program is opened up more to businesses that don’t have established relationships with banks that have been accepting applications for rescue funding.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--There’s No Real Oversight Of The $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Law

Three weeks later , none of the three options ― a special inspector general appointed by President Donald Trump , a council of existing inspectors general , or a special oversight panel set up by Congress ― are active .
Sabotage by the Trump administration , combined with congressional apathy and gridlock , means the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are spending hundreds of millions of dollars with no real watchdogs .
The oversight commission , which is supposed to oversee the $ 500 billion that Congress handed to the Federal Reserve to help local governments and businesses survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five members : one appointed by each congressional leader , plus a chairman agreed upon by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) .
“ Her leadership as Secretary of Health and Human Services will serve the American people extremely well , as she works to ensure that this historic coronavirus relief package is being used wisely and efficiently to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people , and not be exploited by profiteers and price-gougers , ” Pelosi said in announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has little to do with health care , and Shalala does not serve on the House Oversight or the House Financial Services committees , leading progressives to fear she ’ ll be outgunned by Toomey and Hill , both of whom have more expertise on financial services issues .
Adding to progressives ’ frustration is that Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Calif. ) , another Warren protege who serves on both the Oversight and Financial Services committees , was open about her desire for the job .
“ Overseeing the CARES Act is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedication to unearthing the truth , regardless of what powerful bank or corporation wants to keep the truth hidden amidst complex accounting , ” said progressive strategist Jeff Hauser , citing scandals during Shalala ’ s tenure as president of the University of Miami , including an ill-conceived hospital acquisition .
“ I would have strongly preferred a finance expert skilled at finding financial fraud , like Katie Porter , to someone whose primary experience with complex economic scandals is to try to claim that the buck stopped below her , like Donna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview not long after his appointment , is troublesome .
The commission is required to deliver its first report 30 days after the Federal Reserve begins spending money ― which means it has just under three weeks to organize itself , hire staffers and write an initial report .
In the interim , Ramamurti is using his Twitter account to ask questions of the Fed .
Oversight advocates are conflicted about Miller .
Most believe he was an effective and fair overseer of the GSA ― his investigations helped force the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GSA head in 2008 ― but more recent comments , indicating he believes that inspectors general have little responsibility to answer to Congress , have worried them .
( Inspectors general are somewhat unique in federal law : They ’ re part of the executive branch but also have an explicit requirement to report to Congress . )
“ If you ’ re reporting to the Congress in that fashion , your independence is jeopardized , ” Miller said during a talk at Patrick Henry College , an evangelical college in Virginia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political agenda is for the Congress or the Senate , and being used basically as a tool for them.
” ( Miller ’ s comments were first reported by The New York Times . )
Just three days after the other IGs picked Fine , Trump removed him from his post as the acting inspector general at the Pentagon by picking someone else for the job .
While Fine , a well-respected former IG at the Justice Department , simply reverted to his old job as the principal deputy inspector general at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title meant he was no longer eligible to lead the pandemic commission .
Democrats have tried to make political hay out of Trump ’ s move , one of several he ’ s taken against inspectors general in recent weeks .
He also fired the inspector general for the intelligence community , blaming him for acting on a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump ’ s impeachment , and criticized an HHS investigator general for a report critical of how the administration handled the run-up to the pandemic .

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When Congress passed the largest spending law in American history, a $2 trillion outlay aimed at offsetting the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, it set up three different ways to look after the enormous sums and root out corruption or mismanagement of the cash.
Three weeks later, none of the three options ― a special inspector general appointed by President Donald Trump, a council of existing inspectors general, or a special oversight panel set up by Congress ― are active. Sabotage by the Trump administration, combined with congressional apathy and gridlock, means the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are spending hundreds of millions of dollars with no real watchdogs.
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The special inspector general appointed by Trump has views of executive power that have alarmed Democrats, and stands little chance of confirmation until May. Trump shoved aside the leader of the council of existing inspectors general. And the congressional oversight panel’s roster remains unfilled.
Meanwhile, the government program to loan money to small businesses to keep workers on the job has already burned through more than $300 billion, and the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department have unveiled a slew of programs to push trillions more into the economy.
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on April 18. Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
The shambolic state of efforts to oversee the relief efforts has left government accountability advocates dismayed and progressives frustrated with the oversight of a massive spending deal that Democrats and Republican teamed up to pass with almost no objections.
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“We can’t really afford to be behind the ball on oversight right now, because we will miss a crucial opportunity to stop waste, fraud and abuse before it happens,” said Liz Hempowicz, director of public policy at the Project On Government Oversight.
Here’s a breakdown of how each part of the oversight triad is failing:
The Congressional Oversight Commission
The oversight commission, which is supposed to oversee the $500 billion that Congress handed to the Federal Reserve to help local governments and businesses survive the pandemic, is made up of five members: one appointed by each congressional leader, plus a chairman agreed upon by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) moved quickly with his pick, naming Bharat Ramamurti, a former aide to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), to the commission. But the rest of the congressional leaders didn’t name their picks until late on Friday. McConnell picked Sen. Pat Toomey (D-Pa.), a former banker and longtime ally of the financial services industry. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) picked Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), another former banker.
But it was Pelosi’s pick that irritated progressives the most. She selected Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), citing the first-term, 79-year-old representative’s experience as Health and Human Services secretary under President Bill Clinton.
“Her leadership as Secretary of Health and Human Services will serve the American people extremely well, as she works to ensure that this historic coronavirus relief package is being used wisely and efficiently to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people, and not be exploited by profiteers and price-gougers,” Pelosi said in announcing the appointment.
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But the oversight job has little to do with health care, and Shalala does not serve on the House Oversight or the House Financial Services committees, leading progressives to fear she’ll be outgunned by Toomey and Hill, both of whom have more expertise on financial services issues. Adding to progressives’ frustration is that Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), another Warren protege who serves on both the Oversight and Financial Services committees, was open about her desire for the job.
“Overseeing the CARES Act is an almost impossible job that requires a ferocious dedication to unearthing the truth, regardless of what powerful bank or corporation wants to keep the truth hidden amidst complex accounting,” said progressive strategist Jeff Hauser, citing scandals during Shalala’s tenure as president of the University of Miami, including an ill-conceived hospital acquisition. “I would have strongly preferred a finance expert skilled at finding financial fraud, like Katie Porter, to someone whose primary experience with complex economic scandals is to try to claim that the buck stopped below her, like Donna Shalala.”
Meanwhile, Pelosi and McConnell have yet to agree on a chair for the commission, though Pelosi on Thursday said the two leaders were exchanging names about whom they could appoint.
The delay, Ramamurti said in an interview not long after his appointment, is troublesome. The commission is required to deliver its first report 30 days after the Federal Reserve begins spending money ― which means it has just under three weeks to organize itself, hire staffers and write an initial report. In the interim, Ramamurti is using his Twitter account to ask questions of the Fed.
I sent a letter to the Fed on Wednesday requesting they disclose detailed and timely information about the companies getting taxpayer-backed support.
The New York Fed posted this last night. It offers some answers but raises new questions too. 1/ pic.twitter.com/ncg6IyvMt2 — Bharat Ramamurti (@BharatRamamurti) April 18, 2020
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“The congressional oversight commission is the only one Trump can’t interfere with directly,” Ramamurti said. “It underscores the importance of this panel and of getting it up and running as quickly as possible.”
The Special Inspector General
Trump moved quickly to nominate a special inspector general, choosing Brian Miller, an associate White House counsel who had formerly served as the inspector general of the General Services Administration. (The GSA, as the agency is known, is essentially the federal government’s office manager, overseeing real estate, the motor pool and other functions.)
But he was even quicker to undermine that inspector general. In a signing statement attached to the law, Trump asserted he could limit what information the new inspector general, who is supposed to oversee a $500 billion Treasury bailout fund, would be able to share with Congress.
Oversight advocates are conflicted about Miller. Most believe he was an effective and fair overseer of the GSA ― his investigations helped force the resignation of the Bush administration’s GSA head in 2008 ― but more recent comments, indicating he believes that inspectors general have little responsibility to answer to Congress, have worried them. (Inspectors general are somewhat unique in federal law: They’re part of the executive branch but also have an explicit requirement to report to Congress.)
“If you’re reporting to the Congress in that fashion, your independence is jeopardized,” Miller said during a talk at Patrick Henry College, an evangelical college in Virginia. “You’re looking at whatever the political agenda is for the Congress or the Senate, and being used basically as a tool for them.” (Miller’s comments were first reported by The New York Times.)
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Hempowicz said Miller’s views on the executive branch are “something the Senate should consider strongly when weighing his nomination.”
Democrats have signaled they’ll oppose Miller’s nomination, noting that he was also part of the White House’s efforts to obstruct Congress during Trump’s impeachment. “A member of the president’s own staff is exactly the wrong type of person to choose for this position,” Schumer said when Trump nominated Miller.
Republicans, with their 53-47 majority in the Senate, could confirm Miller on a party-line vote. But the earliest that vote can happen is May 4, the next time the full Senate is set to meet.
The Pandemic Response Accountability Commission
Trump’s most blatant interference with the oversight so far has been his move to oust Glenn Fine, a longtime government watchdog whom the nation’s inspectors general had picked to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Commission, a collection of IGs who would team up to oversee the spending.
Just three days after the other IGs picked Fine, Trump removed him from his post as the acting inspector general at the Pentagon by picking someone else for the job. While Fine, a well-respected former IG at the Justice Department, simply reverted to his old job as the principal deputy inspector general at the Defense Department, the change in title meant he was no longer eligible to lead the pandemic commission.
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Democrats, led by House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), have introduced legislation that would allow Fine to lead the commission anyway, but the proposal is unlikely to become law. And there’s been no clear movement toward picking a new leader for the commission.
Democrats have tried to make political hay out of Trump’s move, one of several he’s taken against inspectors general in recent weeks. He also fired the inspector general for the intelligence community, blaming him for acting on a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s impeachment, and criticized an HHS investigator general for a report critical of how the administration handled the run-up to the pandemic.
Senate Democrats’ campaign arm released a statement pressuring Republican incumbents to speak out against Trump’s move, but few in the president’s own party have made any noise about the issue. During a tele-town hall this week, Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), who is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Mark Kelly, brushed off a voter’s question about Fine’s removal.
“I’m not dialed into the Washington, D.C., drama and those things that are happening,” she said during a discussion with voters of Coconino County. “So I can’t speak specifically to that decision and the dynamics behind it.”
McSally added that she was worried about the potential for “abuse or scams or price gouging” with the massive spending law.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Deal On Small Business Loan Package Expected This Week, Mnuchin Says

A bill to replenish a depleted federal loan program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus is likely to be passed this week , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Democratic lawmakers said Sunday .
Mnuchin , appearing on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” said a tentative agreement has been reached on the amount of money that will be added to the Paycheck Protection Program , which ran out of funds last week .
This depletion came after more than 1.6 million small businesses applied for financial aid due to the economic havoc triggered by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 billion , that ’ s what we ’ re talking about , should be sufficient to reach almost everybody , ” Mnuchin said .
The forgivable loans would allow businesses to cover employee payroll as well as some rent and utility costs .
About 60 % of loan applicants were approved , Mnuchin said .
“ I ’ m hopeful that we can reach an agreement that the Senate can pass this tomorrow , and that the House can take it up on Tuesday , ” he said .
“ Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running.
” In addition to expanding this payroll loan program , the current deal in the works would make available another $ 50 billion for economic disaster loans , $ 75 billion for hospitals , and $ 25 billion to invest in COVID-19 testing , Mnuchin said .
The very things that we Democrats had been fighting for are now going into the bill .
“ Overwhelmingly , my caucus , and we ’ re working closely with the Senate Democrats , know that we have an opportunity , and an urgency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our teachers and firefighters and the rest , right now , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , in a later interview on CNN , also expressed optimism that a deal will be passed early this week , after additional loans for hospitals and disaster relief was added .
“ The very things that we Democrats had been fighting for are now going into the bill , ” he said .
These additions would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fewer connections and weaker relationships with banks , he said .
“ If you had a connection with a bank it was pretty easy to get a loan .
If you didn ’ t , from one end of the country to the other , we have been hearing that people can ’ t get loans , ” Schumer said .
“ So we Democrats said yes , we want to put more money in but let ’ s set aside some money to make sure that it goes to the rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the unbanked.
” The first iteration of the loan plan has been criticized after large restaurant chains received substantial loans and smaller businesses were left with nothing .
The company behind Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House , which employs more than 5,000 workers , was one bigger business that secured $ 20 million in money , The Wall Street Journal reported .

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A bill to replenish a depleted federal loan program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus is likely to be passed this week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Democratic lawmakers said Sunday.
Mnuchin, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said a tentative agreement has been reached on the amount of money that will be added to the Paycheck Protection Program, which ran out of funds last week. This depletion came after more than 1.6 million small businesses applied for financial aid due to the economic havoc triggered by the pandemic.
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“We think that another $300 billion, that’s what we’re talking about, should be sufficient to reach almost everybody,” Mnuchin said.
"I think we're making a lot of progress," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says about the next tranche of money set to be funneled into the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/qtui3jyCi2 — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) April 19, 2020
The forgivable loans would allow businesses to cover employee payroll as well as some rent and utility costs. About 60% of loan applicants were approved, Mnuchin said.
“I’m hopeful that we can reach an agreement that the Senate can pass this tomorrow, and that the House can take it up on Tuesday,” he said. “Wednesday, we would be back up and running.”
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In addition to expanding this payroll loan program, the current deal in the works would make available another $50 billion for economic disaster loans, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion to invest in COVID-19 testing, Mnuchin said.
“The very things that we Democrats had been fighting for are now going into the bill.” - Sen. Chuck Schumer
“Overwhelmingly, my caucus, and we’re working closely with the Senate Democrats, know that we have an opportunity, and an urgency, to do something for our hospitals, our teachers and firefighters and the rest, right now,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), in a later interview on CNN, also expressed optimism that a deal will be passed early this week, after additional loans for hospitals and disaster relief was added.
“The very things that we Democrats had been fighting for are now going into the bill,” he said.
“I’m very hopeful we could come to an agreement tonight or early tomorrow morning,” Sen. Chuck Schumer says about talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to funnel more money into the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/3SjJscjA6x — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) April 19, 2020
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These additions would level the playing field for businesses that have fewer connections and weaker relationships with banks, he said.
“If you had a connection with a bank it was pretty easy to get a loan. If you didn’t, from one end of the country to the other, we have been hearing that people can’t get loans,” Schumer said. “So we Democrats said yes, we want to put more money in but let’s set aside some money to make sure that it goes to the rural areas, to the minority areas, to the unbanked.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--A COVID-19 Doctor In Detroit Applies Lessons He Learned From Hurricane Maria

Courtesy Steven Rockoff Steven Rockoff , emergency room physician , at the Puerto Rico hospital where he and other members of Michigan 's Medical Disaster Assistance Team helped treat patients after Hurricane Maria struck in 2017 .
Upon arrival , they broke up into teams and scattered across the island .
Rockoff ’ s destination was a hospital in San Germán , in the island ’ s southwest corner , where the storm had severed transportation and communication lines and taken down the cellphone towers .
Eight military Black Hawk helicopters ferried Rockoff and his colleagues to the site and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff they were coming , they effectively announced their arrival when the aircraft set down noisily on the lawn .
The hospital structure was relatively new , and because it had a generator , it still had power .
But that was about the only thing working right , Rockoff recalls .
Workers , pharmaceuticals , equipment ― all were in short supply .
The only thing that the hospital had in surplus was patients , who were coming from all over that part of the island .
At one point , Rockoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would have to decide whether to use the hospital ’ s last available ventilator on an elderly man who was in severe distress and had little chance of survival .
Somebody finally found an extra ventilator , sparing Rockoff and his colleagues the painful choice .
And that elderly patient with the bleak odds went on to survive .
Ventilator shortages in Detroit have been a major fear ever since the novel coronavirus gained a foothold in the U.S. and the first cases appeared in Michigan .
Even before the surge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they might have to make the very sorts of rationing decisions that confronted Rockoff ’ s DMAT team in Puerto Rico .
A month later , it still hasn ’ t happened .
The supply of available ventilators got down to a handful at a few junctures , according to Rockoff , but the system always had others available ― which is a credit , he says , to the Henry Ford supply managers who made sure to acquire equipment while it was still possible to buy it .
Personal protective gear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable protection against COVID-19 transmission , was also a worry .
The hospital came close to running out of gowns on several occasions , he says , and switched N95 protocol to follow guidelines , from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , allowing for greater reliance on traditional surgical masks in some situations .
Rockoff has faith in the CDC guidance , he says , but he has heard enough stories from elsewhere in Detroit , as well as from New York and other parts of the country , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places don ’ t always have what they need ― and that , following exposure to the virus , some are getting sick .
Among the shifts , Rockoff says , are new efforts to treat patients early with steroids and place them “ prone ” ― that is , on their bellies ― because that allows them to get more air in their lungs .
So far , he says , it ’ s helping to keep people off ventilators , which is good for them and leaves more machines for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barely made it with the stay-at-home order , and I mean barely , ” he adds , noting that the hospital had to increase its intensive care unit capacity by more than 50 % to accommodate all the COVID-19 patients .
Even then , according to Rockoff , the hospital had to transfer patients because it had no more room .

Steven Rockoff, emergency room physician, at the Puerto Rico hospital where he and other members of Michigan's Medical Disaster Assistance Team helped treat patients after Hurricane Maria struck in 2017. Courtesy Steven Rockoff
DETROIT ― Emergency room physician Steven Rockoff has spent the last month in one of the nation’s most intense COVID-19 hot spots, trying desperately to figure out the disease even as he scrambles to manage supplies, people and patients.
“We don’t even know the treatments yet,” Rockoff says, “and it’s scary because we’re seeing healthy people taken out by this virus.”
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This is not his first encounter with a large-scale medical crisis. Rockoff, 49, is also part of Michigan’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team, a squad of frontline workers that the federal government dispatches to emergency situations around the country.
In 2017, Rockoff was part of a mission to help staff a hospital in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. During that two-week stint, Rockoff learned some valuable lessons about how to handle mass casualties and make the best of a difficult medical situation.
Rockoff, who is chief of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital’s emergency department, says he never imagined he’d be applying those lessons in one of Detroit’s more upscale suburbs. Although there are obvious differences between Michigan’s coronavirus outbreak and Puerto Rico’s health crisis after Maria, there are plenty of similarities, too.
The Mission To Puerto Rico
Helping people in crisis moments is a calling for Rockoff. As a teenager growing up in western Pennsylvania, he says, he would stop for roadside accidents, to offer comfort and whatever aid he could until emergency crews arrived. After college, Rockoff worked for several years as a paramedic before going back to medical school.
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Emergency medicine felt like a natural fit, and, even today, he works with a Life Flight team that transports trauma patients across the state. That impulse led him to join Michigan’s disaster team, which is what put him on a charter flight to San Juan with more than 200 fellow health care workers from around the country.
Upon arrival, they broke up into teams and scattered across the island. Rockoff’s destination was a hospital in San Germán, in the island’s southwest corner, where the storm had severed transportation and communication lines and taken down the cellphone towers. Eight military Black Hawk helicopters ferried Rockoff and his colleagues to the site and, with no way to warn hospital staff they were coming, they effectively announced their arrival when the aircraft set down noisily on the lawn.
Dr. Steven Rockoff of Detroit on the military helicopter that ferried him and members of his team across Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Courtesy Steven Rockoff
The hospital structure was relatively new, and because it had a generator, it still had power. But that was about the only thing working right, Rockoff recalls. Workers, pharmaceuticals, equipment ― all were in short supply. The only thing that the hospital had in surplus was patients, who were coming from all over that part of the island.
Some had injuries, frequently from efforts to clear debris or make home repairs. But mostly, he says, it was people whose chronic conditions had turned into emergencies because of the strain or an inability to get routine care and medication. Diabetes complications were especially common.
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Rockoff and his colleagues had to improvise treatments. When a drug to slow a racing heart wasn’t available, Rockoff says, he used a treatment in which the patient blew into the the tube of a pen. While hardly perfect, it worked well enough.
At one point, Rockoff says, he and his staff thought they would have to decide whether to use the hospital’s last available ventilator on an elderly man who was in severe distress and had little chance of survival. Somebody finally found an extra ventilator, sparing Rockoff and his colleagues the painful choice. And that elderly patient with the bleak odds went on to survive.
The Disaster In Detroit
Ventilator shortages in Detroit have been a major fear ever since the novel coronavirus gained a foothold in the U.S. and the first cases appeared in Michigan. Even before the surge of patients hit, hospitals began discussing how they might have to make the very sorts of rationing decisions that confronted Rockoff’s DMAT team in Puerto Rico.
The public got a glimpse of this thinking in late March, when an internal document about triage decisions from Henry Ford was leaked to the press. It was, administrators said later, a draft document designed to explain how the system would ration ventilators in a “worst-case scenario” ― one, they emphasized, that hadn’t happened yet.
A month later, it still hasn’t happened. The supply of available ventilators got down to a handful at a few junctures, according to Rockoff, but the system always had others available ― which is a credit, he says, to the Henry Ford supply managers who made sure to acquire equipment while it was still possible to buy it.
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“We’ve changed our treatment algorithms probably four or five times already.” - Steven Rockoff, emergency room physician
Personal protective gear, especially the N95 masks that offer more reliable protection against COVID-19 transmission, was also a worry. The hospital came close to running out of gowns on several occasions, he says, and switched N95 protocol to follow guidelines, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allowing for greater reliance on traditional surgical masks in some situations.
Rockoff has faith in the CDC guidance, he says, but he has heard enough stories from elsewhere in Detroit, as well as from New York and other parts of the country, to know that health care workers in those places don’t always have what they need ― and that, following exposure to the virus, some are getting sick.
“It’s unthinkable and unconscionable, to be honest, that our frontline providers don’t have the means to care for our citizens with proper equipment,” he says.
A Little Innovation, A Little Improvisation
Dealing with a brand-new pathogen creates its own challenges, since, as Rockoff puts it, “there’s no playbook yet.” The system’s infectious disease experts keep close track of patient progress, and then, after comparing with studies and what they’re hearing from counterparts at other hospitals, they sometimes change guidelines for how to approach COVID-19.
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Among the shifts, Rockoff says, are new efforts to treat patients early with steroids and place them “prone” ― that is, on their bellies ― because that allows them to get more air in their lungs. So far, he says, it’s helping to keep people off ventilators, which is good for them and leaves more machines for those who still need them.
“We’ve changed our treatment algorithms probably four or five times already,” Rockoff says. “When we find something that is better, they will update it and they’ll put it out to the frontline teams and we will do it.”
Like other health care workers in southeast Michigan, Rockoff feels like the surge of patients may be starting to subside. And he says the state’s stay-at-home order deserves a lot of the credit because, without it, “our health system would have collapsed.”
“We barely made it with the stay-at-home order, and I mean barely,” he adds, noting that the hospital had to increase its intensive care unit capacity by more than 50% to accommodate all the COVID-19 patients. Even then, according to Rockoff, the hospital had to transfer patients because it had no more room.
The stay-at-home order has become the subject of political controversy lately, with some business and Republican leaders pushing to loosen it as quickly as possible. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has said she is consulting with them, along with fellow governors and public health experts, about when and how to dial back the restrictions.
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Whatever the decision, Rockoff says he is already preparing for the possibility of a resurgence. He fears that people will ease up on social distancing and other practices that are slowing the pandemic’s spread, even though the virus will still be in circulation.
That is one way the pandemic is different from the storm that ravaged Puerto Rico. “A hurricane, you know, it comes through, it does its damage, and then it’s gone ― one and done,” Rockoff says. “This may simmer now for months.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Critics Appalled Trump Adviser Compared Gun-Toting White Guys To Rosa Parks

Critics were reeling after right-wing White House adviser and economist Stephen Moore compared gun-toting white guys protesting COVID-19 safety measures to Rosa Parks and her historic battle for racial equality .
The comments were particularly galling because Moore once commented that when President Donald Trump took office , he was evicting the Obamas from public housing — a dig that was widely considered racist .
Moore said Friday that those protesting COVID-19 social distancing measures — many of whom were also brandishing pro-Trump signs and carrying assault rifles — were just like Parks , whose refusal to give her bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seminal moment in the Civil Rights Movement .
When asked about the comment at his Saturday press briefing , Trump claimed he didn ’ t know what Moore said .
But he agreed with Moore that there was a “ lot of injustice ” regarding regulations intended to help stem the spread of COVID-19 .
Some opposed to COVID-19 safety measures have also compared their struggle with stay-at-home restrictions to the plight of Anne Frank , who hid in her home for two years until she was captured by the Nazis .
Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attic and we ’ ve been home for just over a month with Netflix , food delivery & video games and there are people risking viral death by storming state capital buildings & screaming , “ Open Fuddruckers !
” — Patton Oswalt ( @ pattonoswalt ) April 18 , 2020 Many other Twitter users joined Oswalt in expressing their horror at Moore ’ s comments : no the quarantine is not the same as anne frank hiding from the nazis in the secret annex for two years , i am begging you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ koshersemite ) April 19 , 2020 Congratulations to Trump adviser Stephen Moore on a comment at once strikingly stupid and deeply offensive .
“ I call these people the modern-day Rosa Parks — they are protesting against injustice and a loss of liberties.
” https : //t.co/2V1mhWFDC9 pic.twitter.com/TJIa4EZnap — Bill Kristol ( @ BillKristol ) April 18 , 2020 .
@ StephenMoore is a dangerous charlatan and fool .
He calls the protesters he 's egging on , modern-day Rosa Parks .
Seems he knows less about history than he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonsalves ( @ gregggonsalves ) April 18 , 2020 I don ’ t know who needs to hear this .
But the right to eat inside an Applebee ’ s should not be and never compared to Rosa Parks and the Civil Right ’ s Movement .
No innocent person got lynched by a racist mob because you couldn ’ t get fucking Fiesta Lime Chicken .
— Solomon Balaam-Reed ( @ ReedBalaam ) April 19 , 2020 Rosa Parks showed genuine courage in risking her life to pursue equal justice in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorized and lynched black Americans .
How arrogant and ignorant it is for @ StephenMoore to try to equate his Trump-fueled mobs with her .
https : //t.co/zbZL5nfdlO — Lisa Graves ( @ thelisagraves ) April 18 , 2020 When Rosa Parks wouldn ’ t give up her seat on a bus in 1955 , she wasn ’ t risking the lives of every person within six feet of her .
Just saying .
— Nicholas Ponticello ( @ NickPonticello ) April 19 , 2020 # RosaParks couldn ’ t eat where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get jobs she was qualified for or vote .
The right-wing protesters incited by # Trump demand the right to endanger everyone so they lawn fertilizer and get their roots dyed .
# Coronavirus https : //t.co/CxjA50a9Fx — Maya Wiley ( @ mayawiley ) April 18 , 2020 Stephen Moore is a despicable , ignorant ass who insults generations of suffering that led to the courage and sacrifice of Rosa Parks and many many more .
Yet another reflection of Trump ’ s vile admiration of low life , unqualified , zealot morons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charlie_adler ) April 18 , 2020 Could you have imagined the outcome if Rosa brought a gun to the bus ?
White House adviser Stephen Moore repeatedly compared right-wing protesters who oppose coronavirus safety measures to Rosa Parks , the civil rights icon who fought for racial equality .
https : //t.co/u9ozzAtXpO — Scott Huffman For Congress ( @ HuffmanForNC ) April 18 , 2020 When people like Stephen Moore make comparisons to Ross Parks we should treat it as the cynical , calculated form of race baiting that it is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ slaves .
Segregationists adopted Civil Rights mvmt language to fight policies to help black people .
— Ida Bae Wells ( @ nhannahjones ) April 18 , 2020 Moore is a member of Trump ’ s council focused on reopening the economy , and is also part of a coalition of conservatives called “ Save Our Country , ” which has been opposing coronavirus-related business shutdowns and stay-at-home measures .
He dropped out of consideration to serve on the Federal Reserve Board last year due to concerns about his qualifications — and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Critics were reeling after right-wing White House adviser and economist Stephen Moore compared gun-toting white guys protesting COVID-19 safety measures to Rosa Parks and her historic battle for racial equality.
The comments were particularly galling because Moore once commented that when President Donald Trump took office, he was evicting the Obamas from public housing — a dig that was widely considered racist.
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Moore said Friday that those protesting COVID-19 social distancing measures — many of whom were also brandishing pro-Trump signs and carrying assault rifles — were just like Parks, whose refusal to give her bus seat to a white passenger was a seminal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
When asked about the comment at his Saturday press briefing, Trump claimed he didn’t know what Moore said. But he agreed with Moore that there was a “lot of injustice” regarding regulations intended to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
The President gets a chance to distance himself from Stephen Moore’s Rosa Parks statements and doesn’t take it pic.twitter.com/XSLYgha7n6 — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) April 18, 2020
Some opposed to COVID-19 safety measures have also compared their struggle with stay-at-home restrictions to the plight of Anne Frank, who hid in her home for two years until she was captured by the Nazis.
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Comedian Patton Oswalt quickly turned that one around:
Anne Frank spent 2 years hiding in an attic and we’ve been home for just over a month with Netflix, food delivery & video games and there are people risking viral death by storming state capital buildings & screaming, “Open Fuddruckers!” — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 18, 2020
Many other Twitter users joined Oswalt in expressing their horror at Moore’s comments:
no the quarantine is not the same as anne frank hiding from the nazis in the secret annex for two years, i am begging you to shut the fuck up — samantha✡🏳🌈🌹🔥 (@koshersemite) April 19, 2020
Congratulations to Trump adviser Stephen Moore on a comment at once strikingly stupid and deeply offensive.
“I call these people the modern-day Rosa Parks — they are protesting against injustice and a loss of liberties.” https://t.co/2V1mhWFDC9 pic.twitter.com/TJIa4EZnap — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 18, 2020
.@StephenMoore is a dangerous charlatan and fool. He calls the protesters he's egging on, modern-day Rosa Parks. Seems he knows less about history than he does about economics. #coronavirus — Gregg Gonsalves (@gregggonsalves) April 18, 2020
I don’t know who needs to hear this.
But the right to eat inside an Applebee’s should not be and never compared to Rosa Parks and the Civil Right’s Movement.
No innocent person got lynched by a racist mob because you couldn’t get fucking Fiesta Lime Chicken. — Solomon Balaam-Reed (@ReedBalaam) April 19, 2020
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Rosa Parks showed genuine courage in risking her life to pursue equal justice in an era of violent, racist mobs who terrorized and lynched black Americans. How arrogant and ignorant it is for @StephenMoore to try to equate his Trump-fueled mobs with her. https://t.co/zbZL5nfdlO — Lisa Graves (@thelisagraves) April 18, 2020
When Rosa Parks wouldn’t give up her seat on a bus in 1955, she wasn’t risking the lives of every person within six feet of her. Just saying. — Nicholas Ponticello (@NickPonticello) April 19, 2020
#RosaParks couldn’t eat where she wanted, sit where she wanted, get jobs she was qualified for or vote. The right-wing protesters incited by #Trump demand the right to endanger everyone so they lawn fertilizer and get their roots dyed. #Coronavirus https://t.co/CxjA50a9Fx — Maya Wiley (@mayawiley) April 18, 2020
Stephen Moore is a despicable, ignorant ass who insults generations of suffering that led to the courage and sacrifice of Rosa Parks and many many more. Yet another reflection of Trump’s vile admiration of low life,unqualified,zealot morons! #VoteBlueNoMatterWho — Charlie Adler (@charlie_adler) April 18, 2020
Could you have imagined the outcome if Rosa brought a gun to the bus?
White House adviser Stephen Moore repeatedly compared right-wing protesters who oppose coronavirus safety measures to Rosa Parks, the civil rights icon who fought for racial equality. https://t.co/u9ozzAtXpO — Scott Huffman For Congress (@HuffmanForNC) April 18, 2020
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When people like Stephen Moore make comparisons to Ross Parks we should treat it as the cynical, calculated form of race baiting that it is. Enslavers said *they* were in fact the slaves. Segregationists adopted Civil Rights mvmt language to fight policies to help black people. — Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) April 18, 2020
Well, they’re close to Rosa Parks. They would have been driving the bus. https://t.co/GIC52px7RA — Peter Sagal (@petersagal) April 18, 2020
Moore is a member of Trump’s council focused on reopening the economy, and is also part of a coalition of conservatives called “Save Our Country,” which has been opposing coronavirus-related business shutdowns and stay-at-home measures. He dropped out of consideration to serve on the Federal Reserve Board last year due to concerns about his qualifications — and his controversial comments about women and race.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Michelle Obama, Laura Bush Share Message Of Hope During WHO Fundraising Event

Former first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush joined forces to offer a virtual bipartisan message of hope during the COVID-19 crisis , as part of the “ One World : Together at Home ” international concert on Saturday evening .
The women hailed the courage of front-line workers — including health care staff , grocery store clerks , pharmacists and sanitation workers — during the event organized by the World Health Organization and the nonprofit organization Global Citizen .
“ You ’ re the fabric of our country and your strength will carry us through this crisis , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courage of the American people is most evident in times of crisis , and during this period of physical separation , we ’ ve never been closer .
Not just in our great country , but tonight we stand with the people of the world , ” she added .
Obama warned that the “ coming days will not be easy , ” but assured viewers that “ this global family of ours is strong .
We will continue to be here for one another and we will get through this crisis .
@ @ @

Former first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush joined forces to offer a virtual bipartisan message of hope during the COVID-19 crisis, as part of the “One World: Together at Home” international concert on Saturday evening.
The women hailed the courage of front-line workers — including health care staff, grocery store clerks, pharmacists and sanitation workers — during the event organized by the World Health Organization and the nonprofit organization Global Citizen. “You’re the fabric of our country and your strength will carry us through this crisis,” said Bush.
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“The spirit and courage of the American people is most evident in times of crisis, and during this period of physical separation, we’ve never been closer. Not just in our great country, but tonight we stand with the people of the world,” she added.
Obama warned that the “coming days will not be easy,” but assured viewers that “this global family of ours is strong. We will continue to be here for one another and we will get through this crisis. Together.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Health Care Workers Block Denver Protesters Calling For End To Stay-At-Home Orders

As tensions continue to boil over amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has placed large swaths of the nation at a standstill , a small group of health care workers blocked hundreds of protestors in Denver on Sunday afternoon , resulting in a dramatic showdown .
Alyson McClaran , a photojournalist based in Denver , said the medical workers stood in the street to counter hundreds who had gathered at the Colorado capitol in an event dubbed “ Operation Gridlock.
” The event was meant to express frustration with Gov .
Jared Polis ’ ( D ) stay-at-home orders as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people around the country .
Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the state Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver .
HuffPost has not been able to identify the health care workers seen in the photographs , but video taken at the scene showed one man dressed in scrubs standing calmly in front of a line of cars as a woman holding a banner reading “ Land of the Free ” screamed at him .
Colorado is currently under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denver has an extended version in place until the end of the month .
To date , Colorado has experienced more than 9,700 cases of COVID-19 and at least 420 deaths .
The U.S. as a whole has seen more than 761,000 cases and more than 35,000 deaths .
In addition to deaths and sicknesses , the outbreak has wreaked havoc on the economy .
Some 22 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the past four weeks , the worst period of joblessness in American history .
Despite a landmark $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain of a financial crisis , some Americans who are running out of money have grown frustrated with a slate of social distancing measures designed to save lives and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , and launched protests in Michigan and Washington .
“ It ’ s gone from frustration into anger , ” Cañon City , Colorado , Mayor Ashley Smith wrote to Polis this month , per Colorado Public Radio .
“ It will definitely be the breaking point for folks and I ’ m really worried ... that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my city .
And I don ’ t want it to be that way.
” President Donald Trump has continued to call for the country to reopen .
He said the U.S. has adequate testing capabilities and last week unveiled a three-phase plan that governors could enact to help Americans start “ our life again.
” However , several governors said the U.S. does not have the testing capacity needed for states to relax social distancing measures .
And many health officials have warned against jumpstarting society too soon , saying doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a renewed outbreak .
“ We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on , and we ’ re not there yet , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , told The Associated Press last week .

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As tensions continue to boil over amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has placed large swaths of the nation at a standstill, a small group of health care workers blocked hundreds of protestors in Denver on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a dramatic showdown.
Alyson McClaran, a photojournalist based in Denver, said the medical workers stood in the street to counter hundreds who had gathered at the Colorado capitol in an event dubbed “Operation Gridlock.” The event was meant to express frustration with Gov. Jared Polis’ (D) stay-at-home orders as coronavirus continues to infect tens of thousands of people around the country.
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Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the state Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver. REUTERS/Alyson McClaran
HuffPost has not been able to identify the health care workers seen in the photographs, but video taken at the scene showed one man dressed in scrubs standing calmly in front of a line of cars as a woman holding a banner reading “Land of the Free” screamed at him.
“You go to work, why can’t I go to work?!” the woman yelled in the footage. “I’ve saved people’s lives too!”
Two nurses, who have witnessed first hand the toll Covid is taking in Colorado, stood up and peacefully counter protested. Here is how they were treated. I had join them. pic.twitter.com/iJnNcqZxSv — Marc Zenn (@MarcZenn) April 19, 2020
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Colorado is currently under a stay-at-home order until April 26 and Denver has an extended version in place until the end of the month. To date, Colorado has experienced more than 9,700 cases of COVID-19 and at least 420 deaths. The U.S. as a whole has seen more than 761,000 cases and more than 35,000 deaths.
In addition to deaths and sicknesses, the outbreak has wreaked havoc on the economy. Some 22 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the past four weeks, the worst period of joblessness in American history. Despite a landmark $2 trillion stimulus package meant to avert some pain of a financial crisis, some Americans who are running out of money have grown frustrated with a slate of social distancing measures designed to save lives and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, and launched protests in Michigan and Washington.
“It’s gone from frustration into anger,” Cañon City, Colorado, Mayor Ashley Smith wrote to Polis this month, per Colorado Public Radio. “It will definitely be the breaking point for folks and I’m really worried ... that there could be some protesting and mutiny in my city. And I don’t want it to be that way.”
Hundreds gathered in Denver on Sunday for what they called "Operation Gridlock." A small cadre of health care workers opposed them. REUTERS/Alyson McClaran
“You go to work, why can’t I go to work,” a woman yelled at a man dressed in scrubs during a protest on Sunday. REUTERS/Alyson McClaran
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Colorado has more than 9,700 cases of COVID-19 and at least 420 deaths. REUTERS/Alyson McClaran
Protesters gathered in Denver for about four hours on Sunday, carrying banners and honking horns throughout the capitol, The Denver Post reported.
President Donald Trump has continued to call for the country to reopen. He said the U.S. has adequate testing capabilities and last week unveiled a three-phase plan that governors could enact to help Americans start “our life again.” However, several governors said the U.S. does not have the testing capacity needed for states to relax social distancing measures. And many health officials have warned against jumpstarting society too soon, saying doing so could be catastrophic and result in a renewed outbreak.
“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told The Associated Press last week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--Nancy Pelosi Gives Fox News Viewers An Earful On Why Trump's A 'Weak Leader'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) didn ’ t hold back on Sunday when asked why she called President Donald Trump a “ weak leader , ” especially in his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Speaking on Fox News , Pelosi said she reflected in prayer on Easter before her comments .
“ What I decided was the president has made many mistakes , ” she said on the right-wing network .
Trump ignored science , dismissed criticism of his early inaction as a “ hoax ” and claimed the virus would “ miraculously ” go away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reviewed later , Pelosi said .
But now , she said , Trump is blaming others , including her and the nation ’ s governors ― and that prompted her to call him weak .
“ Leaders take responsibility , ” Pelosi told Chris Wallace .
“ So I said he ’ s a weak leader .
He doesn ’ t take responsibility .
He places blame on others .
Trump later fired back at the speaker , calling her “ dumb ” and saying she will be “ overthrown.
” Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of its most prominent hosts initially downplayed the threat of the pandemic , echoing Trump .
More recently , the network has come under criticism for giving voice to those who want to end the shutdowns and reopen the economy , even at the expense of American lives .

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) didn’t hold back on Sunday when asked why she called President Donald Trump a “weak leader,” especially in his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on Fox News, Pelosi said she reflected in prayer on Easter before her comments.
“What I decided was the president has made many mistakes,” she said on the right-wing network. Trump ignored science, dismissed criticism of his early inaction as a “hoax” and claimed the virus would “miraculously” go away, she said.
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But those issues can be reviewed later, Pelosi said.
But now, she said, Trump is blaming others, including her and the nation’s governors ― and that prompted her to call him weak.
“Leaders take responsibility,” Pelosi told Chris Wallace. “So I said he’s a weak leader. He doesn’t take responsibility. He places blame on others.”
Pelosi called on Trump to make decisions based on science:
Trump later fired back at the speaker, calling her “dumb” and saying she will be “overthrown.”
Fox News has come under fire because a number of its most prominent hosts initially downplayed the threat of the pandemic, echoing Trump. More recently, the network has been criticized for giving voice to those who want to end the shutdowns and reopen the economy, even at the expense of American lives.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Trump Defends Right-Wing Protesters Fighting Coronavirus Restrictions: 'These Are Great People'

Since last week , thousands of protesters in more than a dozen states have taken to the streets to demand stay-at-home orders be lifted .
Public health officials have warned that lifting restrictions too early could lead to a spike in cases .
The protesters have been mostly right-wing followers , anti-vaccination advocates and gun rights activists who in some photos can be seen standing close together without masks or gloves , in defiance of the social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the virus .
At Sunday ’ s White House coronavirus briefing ― events the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation ― Trump was asked for his advice to protesters who want to lift states ’ stay-at-home orders .
“ You ’ re allowed to protest .
… I watched a protest and they were all six feet apart , I mean it was a very orderly group of people , ” Trump said , although photos from the rallies show otherwise .
“ But you know , some governors have gone too far .
Some of the things that happened are , uh , maybe not so appropriate , and I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na matter because we ’ re starting to open up our states .
In a series of tweets on Friday , Trump called to “ LIBERATE ” Minnesota , Michigan and Virginia ― three election swing states with Democratic governors ― in an echo of the protesters ’ demands .
A day earlier , the president outlined guidelines in three phases for reopening the economy in some areas over a period of several weeks .
Asked on Sunday if he was concerned that his tweets helped incite violence against the governors ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from protesters ― Trump immediately denied it .
“ I ’ ve seen the people , I ’ ve seen the interviews of people .
These are great people , ” Trump said .
“ Look they want to get ― they call cabin fever , you ’ ve heard the term ― they ’ ve got cabin fever .
They wan na get back .
They want their life back .
Their life was taken away from them .
And you know , they learned a lot during this period .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have in the past .
And you know , they ’ ll do it hopefully until the virus has passed .
“ They ’ re who ?
Well that I totally would say , no way , ” the president said .
“ But I ’ ve seen ― I didn ’ t see that .
I see all ― of course I ’ m sure the news plays that up .
I ’ ve seen American flags all over the place .
I have never seen so many American flags at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These people love our country and they wan na get back to work.
” Keith Weber of Centralia , Washington , holds a flag that combines a Gadsden flag from the American Revolution with a Confederate flag from the American Civil War as people demonstrate against Washington state 's stay-home order at the state capitol in Olympia , Washington , on April 19 , 2020 .
Trump ’ s enabling response to the protesters echoed his handling of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville , Virginia ― where neo-Nazis protested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent white supremacist rally that left one counter-protester dead and dozens injured .
After the Charlottesville violence , Trump refused to single out the activity of white supremacists and instead falsely claimed that there was “ bigotry and violence on many sides.
” He then doubled down on his comments , equating Nazis with people who are against fascism by saying there were “ very fine people on both sides ” at the rally .
In the United States , at least 40,666 people have died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The death toll in the U.S. is almost twice as high as Spain ’ s , the country with the world ’ s second-most virus-related deaths .

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President Donald Trump on Sunday defended right-wing protesters he has encouraged to rally against state coronavirus restrictions.
Since last week, thousands of protesters in more than a dozen states have taken to the streets to demand stay-at-home orders be lifted. Public health officials have warned that lifting restrictions too early could lead to a spike in cases.
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The protesters have been mostly right-wing followers, anti-vaccination advocates and gun rights activists who in some photos can be seen standing close together without masks or gloves, in defiance of the social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the virus.
At Sunday’s White House coronavirus briefing ― events the president has often used to campaign and push misinformation ― Trump was asked for his advice to protesters who want to lift states’ stay-at-home orders.
“You’re allowed to protest. … I watched a protest and they were all six feet apart, I mean it was a very orderly group of people,” Trump said, although photos from the rallies show otherwise. “But you know, some governors have gone too far. Some of the things that happened are, uh, maybe not so appropriate, and I think in the end it’s not gonna matter because we’re starting to open up our states.
“I see protesters for all sorts of things, and I’m with everybody,” he said.
Trump on his advice to anti-stay-at-home protesters: "You're allowed to protest ... I'm with everybody." pic.twitter.com/XQYMRpwFjF — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2020
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In a series of tweets on Friday, Trump called to “LIBERATE” Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia ― three election swing states with Democratic governors ― in an echo of the protesters’ demands. A day earlier, the president outlined guidelines in three phases for reopening the economy in some areas over a period of several weeks.
Asked on Sunday if he was concerned that his tweets helped incite violence against the governors ― some of whom are receiving death threats from protesters ― Trump immediately denied it.
“I’ve seen the people, I’ve seen the interviews of people. These are great people,” Trump said. “Look they want to get ― they call cabin fever, you’ve heard the term ― they’ve got cabin fever. They wanna get back. They want their life back. Their life was taken away from them. And you know, they learned a lot during this period. They learned to do things differently than they have in the past. And you know, they’ll do it hopefully until the virus has passed.
“I think these people are ― I’ve never seen so many American flags,” he continued. “I’m seeing the same thing you’re seeing.”
"I've seen the interviews of people. These are great people" -- asked if he's concerned that he's inciting violence with his tweets in support of anti-stay-at-home protesters, Trump defends the protesters and says he's not worried about it pic.twitter.com/roLTWAL2Ik — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2020
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When the reporter who asked the question pointed out there have also been Nazi flags flown at these rallies, Trump repeated: “No, no.”
“They’re who? Well that I totally would say, no way,” the president said. “But I’ve seen ― I didn’t see that. I see all ― of course I’m sure the news plays that up. I’ve seen American flags all over the place. I have never seen so many American flags at a rally as I have at these rallies. These people love our country and they wanna get back to work.”
Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver on April 19, 2020. JASON CONNOLLY via Getty Images
Keith Weber of Centralia, Washington, holds a flag that combines a Gadsden flag from the American Revolution with a Confederate flag from the American Civil War as people demonstrate against Washington state's stay-home order at the state capitol in Olympia, Washington, on April 19, 2020. JASON REDMOND via Getty Images
Trump’s enabling response to the protesters echoed his handling of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia ― where neo-Nazis protested against taking down Confederate monuments in a violent white supremacist rally that left one counter-protester dead and dozens injured.
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After the Charlottesville violence, Trump refused to single out the activity of white supremacists and instead falsely claimed that there was “bigotry and violence on many sides.” He then doubled down on his comments, equating Nazis with people who are against fascism by saying there were “very fine people on both sides” at the rally.
In the United States, at least 40,666 people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, with nearly 760,000 confirmed cases, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The death toll in the U.S. is almost twice as high as Spain’s, the country with the world’s second-most virus-related deaths.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-20--'Guy Is Bananas': Nicolle Wallace Dogs Trump Over Latest Twitter Rant

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace called out President Donald Trump over his latest Twitter meltdown and said anyone else would ’ @ @ @ @ @ intervention ” by now .
Trump ripped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) on @ @ @ @ @ “ weak leader ” during a Fox News interview for deflecting blame over his administration @ @ @ @ @ with the coronavirus pandemic .
He described Pelosi as an “ inherently ‘ dumb ’ @ @ @ @ @ would be “ overthrown , ” then for good measure warned that Fox News was @ @ @ @ @ ” for even having her on the air .

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace called out President Donald Trump over his latest Twitter meltdown and said anyone else would’ve had a “Zoom intervention” by now.
Trump ripped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Twitter for calling him a “weak leader” during a Fox News interview for deflecting blame over his administration’s shortcomings in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. He described Pelosi as an “inherently ‘dumb’ person,” predicted she would be “overthrown,” then for good measure warned that Fox News was on a “bad path” for even having her on the air.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Harvard, America's Richest University, Grabs Nearly $9 Million In Taxpayer CARES Aid

Harvard University , already supported by a massive $ 41 billion endowment , is getting nearly $ 9 million in taxpayer aid from the federal Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act , the U.S. Department of Education announced .
Under the terms of the payout from CARES ’ Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund , at least half of the $ 8.7 million earmarked for Harvard must be reserved for emergency financial grants to students , according to the Harvard Crimson , which was the first to report the aid .
But at least some of that money — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments and course materials — would also end up in Harvard coffers .
The funds would also likely be spent on extra technology , food and housing costs that students incurred amid “ disruptions in their education ” due to COVID-19 , according to CARES provisions .
Though Education Secretary Betsy DeVos hailed the program in a statement earlier this month , a spokesperson later told Newsweek that DeVos “ shares the concern that sending millions to schools with significant endowments is a poor use of taxpayer money.
” The money is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2 trillion CARES package allocated for higher education institutions and students as colleges and universities across the nation have shut classrooms and launched online learning .
Aid amounts for universities and colleges were based on a formula set by Congress weighted heavily in favor of institutions with significant proportions of low-income students on federally funded Pell grants .
The formula apparently does not take into account the financial need of an institution .
Institutions like Harvard might have to dip into their endowments — a pool of assets and investments — or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvard ’ s endowment is the largest of any university in the world , but is at risk of losing value amid the economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 crisis .
Harvard has already announced salary and hiring freezes , cost cuts , and deferred capital projects as the COVID-19 crisis depresses its income , the Crimson reported .
Harvard came under fire in March for firing subcontracted cafeteria workers and offering no unemployment benefits , according to the Washington Free Beacon .
It also gave students in university housing just days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to colleges and universities , asking officials to forward their aid to other , needier institutions if they could get by without the funds , her spokesperson told Newsweek .
But a Harvard representative indicated to Newsweek that its federal aid isn ’ t going anywhere else , but will be used to address “ substantial costs ” incurred by the university due to COVID-19 .
Among private Ivy League Universities , Columbia University and Cornell University are set to each receive $ 12.8 million .
Yale will get $ 7 million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , according to the Department of Education ’ s tally .
The department ’ s list is the first information Americans have about where their federal stimulus money is going .
Critics on Twitter were furious that such a wealthy institution would receive a publicly funded windfall as an army of unemployed Americans are struggling to meet expenses for housing and food .
Because it 's just so difficult for Harvard to survive on the mere $ 40 billion endowment they 've racked up .
So yeah , they really need that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just think of all the school children and homeless people that could be fed .
— WeDem5SuperBowlBoyz ( @ JeffDuPas ) April 19 , 2020

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Harvard University, already supported by a massive $41 billion endowment, is getting nearly $9 million in taxpayer aid from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the U.S. Department of Education announced.
Under the terms of the payout from CARES’ Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, at least half of the $8.7 million earmarked for Harvard must be reserved for emergency financial grants to students, according to the Harvard Crimson, which was the first to report the aid.
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But at least some of that money — which could be used to cover tuition payments and course materials — would also end up in Harvard coffers. The funds would also likely be spent on extra technology, food and housing costs that students incurred amid “disruptions in their education” due to COVID-19, according to CARES provisions.
Though Education Secretary Betsy DeVos hailed the program in a statement earlier this month, a spokesperson later told Newsweek that DeVos “shares the concern that sending millions to schools with significant endowments is a poor use of taxpayer money.”
The money is part of nearly $14 billion in the $2 trillion CARES package allocated for higher education institutions and students as colleges and universities across the nation have shut classrooms and launched online learning.
Aid amounts for universities and colleges were based on a formula set by Congress weighted heavily in favor of institutions with significant proportions of low-income students on federally funded Pell grants. The formula apparently does not take into account the financial need of an institution.
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Even with the aid, several smaller, financially struggling colleges may be forced to close permanently, Bloomberg reported.
Institutions like Harvard might have to dip into their endowments — a pool of assets and investments — or step up fundraising to cover costs. Harvard’s endowment is the largest of any university in the world, but is at risk of losing value amid the economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition to its endowment, Harvard ended the 2019 fiscal year with a nearly $300 million operating surplus, according to Newsweek.
Harvard has already announced salary and hiring freezes, cost cuts, and deferred capital projects as the COVID-19 crisis depresses its income, the Crimson reported. Harvard came under fire in March for firing subcontracted cafeteria workers and offering no unemployment benefits, according to the Washington Free Beacon. It also gave students in university housing just days to get out.
The university sold a $1.1 billion bond for additional funds early this month to take advantage of plunging interest rates, Bloomberg reported.
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DeVos sent a letter to colleges and universities, asking officials to forward their aid to other, needier institutions if they could get by without the funds, her spokesperson told Newsweek. But a Harvard representative indicated to Newsweek that its federal aid isn’t going anywhere else, but will be used to address “substantial costs” incurred by the university due to COVID-19.
The top 20 universities getting the largest amounts of CARES funds are public institutions. Arizona State University is set to receive the biggest grant: $63 million.
Among private Ivy League Universities, Columbia University and Cornell University are set to each receive $12.8 million. Yale will get $7 million, and Princeton University expects some $2.5 million, according to the Department of Education’s tally. The department’s list is the first information Americans have about where their federal stimulus money is going.
Critics on Twitter were furious that such a wealthy institution would receive a publicly funded windfall as an army of unemployed Americans are struggling to meet expenses for housing and food.
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Harvard has an endowment valued at $40.9 billion as of 2019. The largest endowment in the world. Along with Harvard's pension assets, working capital, and non-cash gifts, there is no freaking way Harvard needs $9 million in aid from the Federal government. — China Did This (@FeistyMonk) April 16, 2020
Great! Meanwhile, my kids aren't eating today, I haven't paid my electric or water, and my phones gonna get cut off. Thanks, gov't! — Lisa H Turnage (@LisaTurnage12) April 19, 2020
I am an alum and I am furious. This is disgusting given our $41 fucking billion dollar endowment. — Demagogue Run Amok Alert (@DemagogueWatch) April 19, 2020
Because it's just so difficult for Harvard to survive on the mere $40 billion endowment they've racked up. So yeah, they really need that extra $9 mil from the government.
Just think of all the school children and homeless people that could be fed. — WeDem5SuperBowlBoyz (@JeffDuPas) April 19, 2020
How big is Harvard's endowment? It could probably give aid to the Government!! — AMC (@Truthbuster) April 19, 2020
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Whew, the 41 Billion endowment is saved! — Hudson River Croc (@HudsonRiverCroc) April 15, 2020
Harvard, the hedge fund with a small college attached. — Stay home & wash your hands (@V1Tervitused) April 19, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-19--Asked About Task Force Snub, Trump Says He's Still Got A Grudge Against Mitt Romney

President Donald Trump on Sunday agreed that he still holds a grudge against Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah . )
after he was asked about the senator ’ s exclusion from the congressional coronavirus task force for reopening the U.S. economy .
Romney , a longtime businessman and onetime Republican nominee for president , was the only GOP senator not invited to join the bipartisan committee of lawmakers tasked with opening back up the nation , the members of which were announced by the White House on Thursday .
Earlier this year , he was the sole Republican to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Senate impeachment trial .
“ Yeah , it does , ” Trump told a reporter during a White House press briefing Sunday when asked if Romney ’ s exclusion from the task force meant he continued to hold a grudge against the senator .
“ I ’ m not a fan of Mitt Romney .
I don ’ t really want his advice , ” he added , when the journalist noted Romney ’ s experience as the former governor of Massachusetts .
“ Yeah it does , ” Trump says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grudge against Mitt Romney after he was the only GOP senator excluded from congressional task force for reopening America .
“ I ’ m not a fan of Mitt Romney .
I don ’ t really want his advice , ” he adds .
https : //t.co/XZjy4W2xnx pic.twitter.com/AbqGSJyrpE — ABC News Politics ( @ ABCPolitics ) April 20 , 2020 Following Romney ’ s impeachment vote , he faced fierce backlash on the right and from his GOP colleagues .
Trump , with whom he already had a contentious relationship , cast him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last week , the White House tapped House and Senate lawmakers to serve on the committee , termed the “ Opening Up America Again Congressional Group.
” The members of the task force include 52 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the Senate , as well as 22 GOP representatives and 10 Democrats from the House .
The group is one of several created by the Trump administration as it pushes ahead with its efforts to resuscitate the economy , even as governors , health experts and economists warn a premature opening could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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President Donald Trump on Sunday acknowledged he still holds a grudge against Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah.), who was the only Republican senator excluded from the congressional coronavirus task force for reopening the U.S. economy.
Romney, a longtime businessman and onetime Republican nominee for president, was the lone GOP senator not invited to join the bipartisan committee of lawmakers announced by the White House on Thursday. Earlier this year, he was the sole Republican to vote to convict Trump for abuse of power during the Senate impeachment trial.
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“Yeah, it does,” Trump told a reporter during a White House press briefing Sunday when asked if Romney’s exclusion from the task force meant he continued to hold a grudge against the senator.
“I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney. I don’t really want his advice,” Trump added when the journalist noted Romney’s experience as the former governor of Massachusetts.
“Yeah it does,” Trump says when asked if he still holds a grudge against Mitt Romney after he was the only GOP senator excluded from congressional task force for reopening America.
“I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney. I don’t really want his advice,” he adds. https://t.co/XZjy4W2xnx pic.twitter.com/AbqGSJyrpE — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 20, 2020
Romney faced fierce backlash for his impeachment vote from Republicans. Trump, with whom he already had a contentious relationship, cast him as a fake Republican and a traitor.
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Last week, the White House tapped House and Senate lawmakers to serve on the committee, termed the “Opening Up America Again Congressional Group.” The members of the task force include 52 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the Senate, as well as 22 GOP representatives and 10 Democrats from the House.