thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Michigan Is Facing An ‘All-Out Assault On Water.’ Will It Swing The State In 2020?

Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters and a super PAC tied to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , the ad does not directly tell voters to cast ballots for Slotkin this year .
Instead , it highlights bills she ’ s introduced to curb contamination from the family of water-tainting substances known as PFAS or “ forever chemicals , ” which are linked to cancer and other diseases .
The narrator urges voters in the district to “ thank ” Slotkin and “ tell her to continue fighting to keep our water safe.
” This is likely just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Great Lake State ’ s airwaves this year as the subject heats up .
Whether it ’ s gurgling from underground pipes into faucets , bottled in plastic and sold in supermarkets or lapping on the second most expansive shoreline of any state in the union , this state ’ s water is in crisis .
Michigan has identified more sites contaminated by PFAS ― short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances ― than any other state .
An aging oil pipeline risks polluting vital fisheries and freshwater reserves .
Poor residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pipes or face service shut-offs as a cash-strapped public agency looks to sell itself to a private company .
Corporate giants pay “ practically nothing ” to tap state water supplies , bottle it in nature-destroying packaging and sell it at a premium .
Swollen lakes and rivers devour coastlines , destroying homes , sewage systems and other infrastructure in what scientists say is a sign of a changing climate .
A New Theater In The Water Wars The best known example is Flint ’ s lead disaster .
In spring 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit started pumping water from the Flint River into its municipal water supply in a bid to save money .
The water corroded old pipes , and rust-colored , lead-laced water gushed from taps , creating a national firestorm over environmental racism in the mostly Black city and raising awareness of the threats to drinking water .
But resulting state rules on water testing led officials to detect dozens of sites where PFAS from firefighting foam and industrial uses has leached into the water .
Of the 610 PFAS contamination sites the Environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a study published last year , 192 were located in Michigan , more than in any other state .
That , the nonprofit said , was the result of better state testing , not necessarily a more widespread problem .
Yet PFAS has become a heated issue at all levels of the state ’ s ballot .
Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers of the testicles , thyroid and kidneys , and new federal research released in December found some of the chemicals increase the risk of pancreatic , liver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beachy vacation town on the shores of Lake Huron , a PFAS contamination dating back a decade has already started to captivate a local race to replace a handful of trustees on the town board .
The issue has jolted lawmakers from both parties .
Republican state Rep. Sue Allor proposed at least three bills to curb PFAS .
Slotkin passed a law to require PFAS testing in all public water systems .
Rep. Fred Upton ( R-Mich. ) joined Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell and Dan Kildee to pass legislation in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency to regulate the chemicals .
Sen. Gary Peters ( D-Mich. ) made himself a self-styled crusader for the issue , helping to wrangle cleanup funds from the U.S. Air Force and attacking the Trump administration and Republican colleagues for gutting PFAS protections from the budget bill that passed in December .
A more partisan issue is Line 5 .
The nearly 70-year-old oil pipeline runs under the Straits of Mackinac , a narrow waterway connecting Lake Michigan to Lake Huron .
For nearly 70 years , the conduit has carried crude drilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the pipeline builder Enbridge has proposed replacing the structure with a new project drilled into the bedrock below the strait .
Republicans are overwhelmingly in favor of the new pipeline .
Democrats , meanwhile , say the project risks spilling oil into a system that contains one-fifth of the planet ’ s surface freshwater .
It ’ s an all-out assault on our water in Michigan .
It ’ s just abominable .
This should not be happening .
Cathy Wusterbarth , co-leader of Need Our Water In Michigan ’ s biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main concern .
In 2014 , just as the lead crisis in Flint was unfolding , Detroit ’ s bankrupt city government started shutting off water service to accounts that were 60 days behind on payments .
Last October , the city ’ s water department released internal figures showing it had completely cut off service to at least 10,145 occupied homes .
The shut-offs came as part of an effort to balance the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department ’ s books and potentially sell off water delivery services to private companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 60 % more than public utility systems .
Yet as contamination and shut-offs make Michiganders more reliant on bottled water , some in the state have spent the past two years fighting over how little the Swiss food and beverage behemoth Nestlé pays to bottle the freshwater .
In 2018 , the state moved ahead with a deal allowing the nearly $ 300 billion company to pump water from the state in exchange for a paltry $ 200 per facility in minor yearly clerical fees while increasing its water extraction from 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans campaigned on the issue , too , albeit less convincingly to many voters .
Schuette , the former Michigan attorney general , touted his record of leading the investigation into the state employees responsible for the crisis in Flint .
And while he and other Republicans backed former Gov .
Rick Snyder ’ s plan to expand Line 5 , the party did not put an emphasis on it publicly .
PFAS could prove a dicey , too , as the Trump administration promotes its efforts to curb contaminations , which critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polluters off the hook .

EAST LANSING, Mich. ― “They’re called ‘forever chemicals,’” a narrator intones overdramatic music as a little girl sips from a glass of water. “And once these toxins enter your body, they can stay there for the rest of your life.”
This 30-second ad is running across the Republican-leaning 8th Congressional District in central Michigan, where GOP challengers are lining up to take on Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a moderate freshman Democrat whose vote last year to impeach President Donald Trump angered voters.
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Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters and a super PAC tied to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the ad does not directly tell voters to cast ballots for Slotkin this year. Instead, it highlights bills she’s introduced to curb contamination from the family of water-tainting substances known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which are linked to cancer and other diseases. The narrator urges voters in the district to “thank” Slotkin and “tell her to continue fighting to keep our water safe.”
This is likely just the first of many water-related ads to appear on the Great Lake State’s airwaves this year as the subject heats up. Whether it’s gurgling from underground pipes into faucets, bottled in plastic and sold in supermarkets or lapping on the second most expansive shoreline of any state in the union, this state’s water is in crisis.
Michigan has identified more sites contaminated by PFAS ― short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances ― than any other state. An aging oil pipeline risks polluting vital fisheries and freshwater reserves. Poor residents either drink water poisoned by corroded lead pipes or face service shut-offs as a cash-strapped public agency looks to sell itself to a private company. Corporate giants pay “practically nothing” to tap state water supplies, bottle it in nature-destroying packaging and sell it at a premium. Swollen lakes and rivers devour coastlines, destroying homes, sewage systems and other infrastructure in what scientists say is a sign of a changing climate.
Now, as the water stress that has gripped state politics in the American West for more than a decade moves eastward, the confluence of these disparate conflicts in Michigan, a critical swing state that Trump won 2016, could make water emerge as a national political issue in 2020.
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Flint resident Jerry Adkisson and his children carry water bottles from a fire station. Rebecca Cook / Reuters
“It’s an all-out assault on our water in Michigan,” said Cathy Wusterbarth, the co-leader of Need Our Water, a grassroots group campaigning for water protections. “It’s just abominable. This should not be happening.”
Polls suggest she’s not alone in that view. At 25%, a plurality of Michigan voters marked fixing infrastructure as their top concern in a survey from the statewide pollster EPIC-MRA published in January 2019. Three-quarters of Michigan voters listed a candidate’s commitment to “strong investment” in water infrastructure as “very or fairly important” in a Public Policy Polling survey last summer.
A New Theater In The Water Wars
The threat of so-called water wars has hummed ominously in the background of the national debate over climate change and infrastructure for years now. The central premise: Prolonged drought, fueled by warming, and strain from a growing population are significantly draining the freshwater resources of the broader Great Lakes region.
What’s happening in Michigan is more dramatic. While drought afflicted some counties in the state in late summers of 2018 and 2019, the concerns here focus first on what’s in the water, whether it’s safe to drink, and who’s profiting from the supply.
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The best known example is Flint’s lead disaster. In spring 2014, the postindustrial city an hour north of Detroit started pumping water from the Flint River into its municipal water supply in a bid to save money. The water corroded old pipes, and rust-colored, lead-laced water gushed from taps, creating a national firestorm over environmental racism in the mostly Black city and raising awareness of the threats to drinking water.
But resulting state rules on water testing led officials to detect dozens of sites where PFAS from firefighting foam and industrial uses has leached into the water. Of the 610 PFAS contamination sites the Environmental Working Group identified in 43 states as part of a study published last year, 192 were located in Michigan, more than in any other state. That, the nonprofit said, was the result of better state testing, not necessarily a more widespread problem.
Yet PFAS has become a heated issue at all levels of the state’s ballot. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers of the testicles, thyroid and kidneys, and new federal research released in December found some of the chemicals increase the risk of pancreatic, liver and breast cancer. In Oscoda, a beachy vacation town on the shores of Lake Huron, a PFAS contamination dating back a decade has already started to captivate a local race to replace a handful of trustees on the town board.
David Huff, chair of the zoning and planning commission for Osceola Township, stands before Chippewa Creek, shown flowing through a culvert where global food conglomerate Nestle is in a battle with critics in the tiny town over its water extraction. STEVEN M. HERPPICH via Getty Images
The issue has jolted lawmakers from both parties. Republican state Rep. Sue Allor proposed at least three bills to curb PFAS. Slotkin passed a law to require PFAS testing in all public water systems. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) joined Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell and Dan Kildee to pass legislation in the U.S. House to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the chemicals. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) made himself a self-styled crusader for the issue, helping to wrangle cleanup funds from the U.S. Air Force and attacking the Trump administration and Republican colleagues for gutting PFAS protections from the budget bill that passed in December.
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A more partisan issue is Line 5. The nearly 70-year-old oil pipeline runs under the Straits of Mackinac, a narrow waterway connecting Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. For nearly 70 years, the conduit has carried crude drilled in Canada to refineries in Michigan, and the pipeline builder Enbridge has proposed replacing the structure with a new project drilled into the bedrock below the strait. Republicans are overwhelmingly in favor of the new pipeline. Democrats, meanwhile, say the project risks spilling oil into a system that contains one-fifth of the planet’s surface freshwater.
The pipeline filtered up to the Democratic presidential primary. Candidate Bernie Sanders vowed to oppose Line 5. Over the past month, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sanders’ progressive rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) each came out against the project. (Buttigieg dropped out last weekend and Warren left the race on Thursday.)
“It’s an all-out assault on our water in Michigan. It’s just abominable. This should not be happening.” - Cathy Wusterbarth, co-leader of Need Our Water
In Michigan’s biggest city, the affordability of water is the main concern. In 2014, just as the lead crisis in Flint was unfolding, Detroit’s bankrupt city government started shutting off water service to accounts that were 60 days behind on payments. Last October, the city’s water department released internal figures showing it had completely cut off service to at least 10,145 occupied homes. The shut-offs came as part of an effort to balance the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s books and potentially sell off water delivery services to private companies, which one study found charge ratepayers nearly 60% more than public utility systems.
“I’m getting tired of writing it, but: This is nuts,” Detroit Free Press columnist Nancy Kaffer wrote in January. “This is year seven of Detroit’s water crisis, and I think it’s actually getting worse.”
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Yet as contamination and shut-offs make Michiganders more reliant on bottled water, some in the state have spent the past two years fighting over how little the Swiss food and beverage behemoth Nestlé pays to bottle the freshwater. In 2018, the state moved ahead with a deal allowing the nearly $300 billion company to pump water from the state in exchange for a paltry $200 per facility in minor yearly clerical fees while increasing its water extraction from 250 to 400 gallons per minute.
The deal prompted a wave of backlash, including a series of bills to limit bottlers’ power. In December, the state’s second-highest court ruled that Nestlé’s bottling operation was “not an essential public service,” handing a victory to the small town of Osceola, which is attempting to block the company from opening a new facility there.
Then there’s the issue of erosion from the Great Lakes. Three of the lakes ― Michigan, Huron and Superior ― hit record water levels in January, the result of increased precipitation, a key threat, according to the federal government’s National Climate Assessment, of climate change in the Midwest. As a result, flooding and powerful waves are demolishing lakefront properties, causing millions in damages, The Wall Street Journal reported.
2018’s Lessons
The 2018 election already offered a preview of how water can turn an election. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both of whom flipped seats previously held by Republicans, campaigned aggressively on water issues. Whitmer, who ultimately prevailed over Republican Bill Schuette, cited Flint as her primary reason for running and vowed to shut down Line 5. Nessel made the fight over Line 5 the centerpiece of her campaign, and filed a lawsuit last June to shutter the pipeline.
But Republicans campaigned on the issue, too, albeit less convincingly to many voters. Schuette, the former Michigan attorney general, touted his record of leading the investigation into the state employees responsible for the crisis in Flint. And while he and other Republicans backed former Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to expand Line 5, the party did not put an emphasis on it publicly. PFAS could prove a dicey, too, as the Trump administration promotes its efforts to curb contaminations, which critics say commit too few resources and let polluters off the hook.
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A bigger problem may be that terms like “forever chemicals” are gripping, but relatively few voters understand the scope and details of the PFAS crisis.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Sen. Cory Booker Endorses Joe Biden For 2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination

Sen. Cory Booker ( D-N.J. ) on Monday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination , adding the voice of another former presidential candidate to Biden ’ s campaign .
“ The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose , ” Booker wrote .
Biden “ won ’ t only win ― he ’ ll show there ’ s more that unites us than divides us .
He ’ ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
” The answer to hatred & division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose .
@ JoeBiden won ’ t only win - he ’ ll show there 's more that unites us than divides us .
He ’ ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges .
That ’ s why I ’ m proud to endorse Joe .
pic.twitter.com/RcsnZs5mfQ — Cory Booker ( @ CoryBooker ) March 9 , 2020 Booker adds to the flood of high-profile endorsements since last week that have helped revive Biden ’ s once-struggling primary campaign .
Biden ’ s backers include numerous former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris ( D-Calif. ) , who suspended her campaign in November , endorsed the former vice president on Saturday .
Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) threw their support behind Biden ahead of Super Tuesday last week .
Biden won 10 of the 14 states up for grabs during the jam-packed day of primary contests .
Mike Bloomberg quit the race the day after Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden .
Booker is up for reelection in the Senate in November .
After dropping out of the presidential race , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help with his Senate reelection , The New York Times reported .
The endorsements from Harris and Booker , two of the most prominent Black members of Congress , followed Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ ( I-Vt. ) failure to win over the majority Black voters in some states on Super Tuesday .
Biden surpassed Sanders by 40 percentage points or more among Black voters in Texas and North Carolina .
In Alabama and Virginia , Biden had the support of about 7 in 10 Black voters .
Though Sanders has performed well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 30 did not account for more than 20 % of the electorate in any state on Super Tuesday , reported the Times .
“ It ’ s a time for us to beat Donald Trump and it became very clear to me that Joe Biden is the right person to do that , ” Booker said during an interview on “ CBS This Morning ” on Monday .
“ It ’ s about time that we start unifying as a party.
” Despite criticizing Biden on the campaign trail over his role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Booker said Monday that he ’ s “ enthusiastic ” about the former vice president ’ s proposals for criminal justice and economic reform .
“ I think a lot of people are waking up to the reality : African American voters ... have played a pivotal role in choosing the Democratic nominee , ” Booker told CBS News .
“ I ’ m happy about the diversity of our nation .
I ’ m happy to see the coalitions that Joe Biden is building .
”

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Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Monday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, adding the voice of another former presidential candidate to Biden’s campaign.
Booker, who quit the crowded Democratic race in January, announced his endorsement on Twitter.
“The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose,” Booker wrote. Biden “won’t only win ― he’ll show there’s more that unites us than divides us. He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.”
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The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose.@JoeBiden won’t only win - he’ll
show there's more that unites us than divides us.
He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
That’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe. pic.twitter.com/RcsnZs5mfQ — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 9, 2020
Booker adds to the flood of high-profile endorsements since last week that have helped revive Biden’s once-struggling primary campaign. Biden’s backers include numerous former 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who suspended her campaign in November, endorsed the former vice president on Saturday.
Harris and Booker will join Biden at his campaign rally in Detroit on Monday evening, reported Politico.
Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) threw their support behind Biden ahead of Super Tuesday last week. Biden won 10 of the 14 states up for grabs during the jam-packed day of primary contests. Mike Bloomberg quit the race the day after Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden.
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Booker is up for reelection in the Senate in November. After dropping out of the presidential race, he repositioned some of his presidential campaign apparatus to help with his Senate reelection, The New York Times reported.
The endorsements from Harris and Booker, two of the most prominent Black members of Congress, followed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) failure to win over the majority Black voters in some states on Super Tuesday.
Biden surpassed Sanders by 40 percentage points or more among Black voters in Texas and North Carolina. In Alabama and Virginia, Biden had the support of about 7 in 10 Black voters.
Though Sanders has performed well with young Black voters, people younger than 30 did not account for more than 20% of the electorate in any state on Super Tuesday, reported the Times.
“It’s a time for us to beat Donald Trump and it became very clear to me that Joe Biden is the right person to do that,” Booker said during an interview on “CBS This Morning” on Monday. “It’s about time that we start unifying as a party.”
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Despite criticizing Biden on the campaign trail over his role in passing the controversial 1994 crime bill, Booker said Monday that he’s “enthusiastic” about the former vice president’s proposals for criminal justice and economic reform.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Trump 'Can't Bluff His Way Through' This Crisis, Conservative News Site Says

Donald Trump is revealing how “ deeply unsuited he is to deal with a genuine crisis that he can ’ t bluff his way through , ” according to an editorial published Sunday in the Washington Examiner , a conservative political news site and weekly magazine that often has the president ’ s back .
This time , the Examiner had a serious problem with the president ’ s deceitful approach to the coronavirus threat .
“ It ’ s one thing for Trump to insist he had a ‘ perfect ’ phone call [ to Ukraine ] and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s another thing to downplay a growing epidemic as more and more Americans get sick , ” wrote the Examiner ’ s executive editor Philip Klein .
Trump ’ s comments on Friday while touring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were particularly disturbing , the Examiner noted .
Instead of making sober , steadying statements about the concrete steps being taken to protect Americans , Trump attacked CNN , called Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D ) a “ snake ” for criticizing the administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 people in Inslee ’ s state and asked about ratings for his Fox News town hall meeting .
Trump also claimed tests devised by the CDC were perfect and that anyone who needed one could get it , even though CDC and other federal officials revealed that early tests were flawed and that demand for tests had outstripped supply .
Most stunning , Klein noted , was Trump ’ s reluctance to allow the passengers , including some 1,000 Americans , to leave the Grand Princess cruise ship , which is carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with coronavirus , because it would increase the reported numbers of cases .
“ Trump appears to be more concerned with numbers that might make him look bad in the short-term , then [ sic ] he is with actually taking the most prudent measures to save lives over time , ” Klein wrote .
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the coronavirus threat is all but over , even as cases continued to mount .
He also claimed that the 15 domestic cases reported last month would “ go down close to zero.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 500 cases — and 22 deaths .
“ Trump will be judged on his handling of the spread of a virus , ” Klein warned .
“ And the outcome will be clear no matter how many things he makes up , no matter how confident he pretends to be , and no matter how many insults he heaves .
”

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Donald Trump is revealing how “deeply unsuited he is to deal with a genuine crisis that he can’t bluff his way through,” according to an editorial published Sunday in the Washington Examiner, a conservative political news site and weekly magazine that often has the president’s back.
This time, the Examiner had a serious problem with the president’s deceitful approach to the coronavirus threat.
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“It’s one thing for Trump to insist he had a ‘perfect’ phone call [to Ukraine] and have all his Republican minions fall in line. It’s another thing to downplay a growing epidemic as more and more Americans get sick,” wrote the Examiner’s executive editor Philip Klein.
Trump’s comments on Friday while touring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were particularly disturbing, the Examiner noted. Instead of making sober, steadying statements about the concrete steps being taken to protect Americans, Trump attacked CNN, called Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) a “snake” for criticizing the administration’s handling of a disease that has killed 14 people in Inslee’s state and asked about ratings for his Fox News town hall meeting.
Trump also claimed tests devised by the CDC were perfect and that anyone who needed one could get it, even though CDC and other federal officials revealed that early tests were flawed and that demand for tests had outstripped supply.
Most stunning, Klein noted, was Trump’s reluctance to allow the passengers, including some 1,000 Americans, to leave the Grand Princess cruise ship, which is carrying nearly two dozen people who are sick with coronavirus, because it would increase the reported numbers of cases.
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“Trump appears to be more concerned with numbers that might make him look bad in the short-term, then [sic] he is with actually taking the most prudent measures to save lives over time,” Klein wrote.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the coronavirus threat is all but over, even as cases continued to mount. He also claimed that the 15 domestic cases reported last month would “go down close to zero.” As of Sunday, there were more than 500 cases — and 22 deaths.
“Trump will be judged on his handling of the spread of a virus,” Klein warned. “And the outcome will be clear no matter how many things he makes up, no matter how confident he pretends to be, and no matter how many insults he heaves.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Mark Meadows To Self-Quarantine After Potential Contact With Coronavirus Patient

Rep. Mark Meadows ( R-N.C. ) , the incoming White House chief of staff , said Monday he would self-quarantine after potentially coming into contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 , the illness caused by the novel coronavirus , according to media reports .
Meadows was told this weekend he “ may have come in contact ” with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference , or CPAC , last month .
His office said he was tested out of an “ abundance of caution , ” and that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed .
Four other Republican lawmakers , Sen. Ted Cruz ( Texas ) and Reps. Matt Gaetz ( Fla. ) .
Paul Gosar ( Ariz. ) and Doug Collins ( Ga. ) , also attended CPAC and interacted with the infected person .
Two of those , Gaetz and Collins , also interacted directly with the president , and Gaetz rode on Air Force One with Trump on Monday .
Another lawmaker , Rep. Louie Gohmert ( R-Texas ) , said he had also been advised that he may have been exposed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine .
“ I took the advice of the expert and returned to work , ” Gohmert said on Twitter .
“ No one is panicking , and we are observing the recommended precautions.
” Meadows was named Trump ’ s new chief of staff on Friday after the president pushed out Mick Mulvaney .
The lawmaker has been a fierce ally of the administration for years and was a vocal defender during Trump ’ s impeachment inquiry in the House .
Trump sought to allay growing anxiety about the coronavirus during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy was strong despite a precipitous decline on Wall Street .
“ We have a very strong economy , ” Trump said at the time .
“ This blindsided the world , and I think we ’ ve done very , very well.
” He declined to answer if he had been tested for the virus , abruptly leaving the press conference before handing the microphone over to Vice President Mike Pence , who has been tasked with leading the nation ’ s response to the outbreak .
Pence spent his time praising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House was doing a “ remarkable job ” and that the president had shown he was “ putting the health of the American people first.
” In the U.S. , more than 600 people in 35 states and the District of Columbia had been diagnosed with the coronavirus as of Monday .

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Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the incoming White House chief of staff, said Monday he would self-quarantine after potentially coming into contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, according to media reports.
Meadows was told this weekend he “may have come in contact” with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, last month. His office said he was tested out of an “abundance of caution,” and that he would isolate himself until a two-week period had passed.
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“A precautionary test came back negative & he feels great,” Ben Williamson, Meadows’ spokesman, wrote on Twitter. “He’ll be self-quarantined till the 14 day period passes Wednesday.”
Four other Republican lawmakers, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.). Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Doug Collins (Ga.), also attended CPAC and interacted with the infected person. Two of those, Gaetz and Collins, also interacted directly with the president, and Gaetz rode on Air Force One with Trump on Monday.
Another lawmaker, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), said he had also been advised that he may have been exposed at the conference but said he would not self-quarantine.
“I took the advice of the expert and returned to work,” Gohmert said on Twitter. “No one is panicking, and we are observing the recommended precautions.”
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Meadows was named Trump’s new chief of staff on Friday after the president pushed out Mick Mulvaney. The lawmaker has been a fierce ally of the administration for years and was a vocal defender during Trump’s impeachment inquiry in the House.
Trump sought to allay growing anxiety about the coronavirus during a news briefing on Monday, saying the economy was strong despite a precipitous decline on Wall Street.
“We have a very strong economy,” Trump said at the time. “This blindsided the world, and I think we’ve done very, very well.”
He declined to answer if he had been tested for the virus, abruptly leaving the press conference before handing the microphone over to Vice President Mike Pence, who has been tasked with leading the nation’s response to the outbreak.
Pence spent his time praising Trump’s efforts, saying the White House was doing a “remarkable job” and that the president had shown he was “putting the health of the American people first.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Trump Campaign Chief Is Funneling Pay To Eric Trump's Wife, Don Jr.'s Girlfriend: Report

The payments are hidden from public view because they ’ re made through campaign manager Brad Parscale ’ s private company , Parscale Strategy , based in San Antonio , sources told the Times .
Typically , such payments would be part of public filings required by the Federal Election Commission so that donors can find out how their contributions are being used — in this case , to pay members of the president ’ s family .
The family benefits are linked to a network of politically connected private companies — operating with the support and help of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly $ 75 million since 2017 to the Trump reelection campaign , the Republican National Committee and other Republican clients , according to the Times .
Guilfoyle last year angrily confronted Parscale about late checks owed to her , two witnesses told the Times .
He reportedly promised that the situation would be rectified by his wife , Candice Parscale , who often handles his company accounts .
One of Lara Trump ’ s most notorious contributions to her father-in-law ’ s campaign early this year was to mock rival Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with since he was a child .
She was initially hired as a senior consultant in early 2017 by another Parscale company , digital vender Giles-Parscale , also based in San Antonio , The Associated Press reported .
Lara Trump was to serve as a liaison between the company and Donald Trump ’ s campaign , headquartered in Manhattan ’ s Trump Tower , which is owned by the president ’ s Trump Organization .
Parscale was named Trump ’ s reelection campaign manager the following year .
The Trump campaign announced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News personality who stated dating Trump Jr. two years ago , would lead the joint fundraising drive between the campaign and the RNC .
Guilfoyle left Fox News in 2018 following a human resources investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior , including sexual misconduct , HuffPost reported at the time .
An attorney for Guilfoyle denied all accusations as “ unequivocally baseless.
” Parscale declined to comment to the Times “ in detail ” on the article , the paper reported .
He has , however , said in the past that private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given campaign finance law requirements , noted the Times .

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The payments are hidden from public view because they’re made through campaign manager Brad Parscale’s private company, Parscale Strategy, based in San Antonio, sources told the Times. Typically, such payments would be part of public filings required by the Federal Election Commission so that donors can find out how their contributions are being used — in this case, to pay members of the president’s family.
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The family benefits are linked to a network of politically connected private companies — operating with the support and help of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner — that have charged roughly $75 million since 2017 to the Trump reelection campaign, the Republican National Committee and other Republican clients, according to the Times.
Guilfoyle last year angrily confronted Parscale about late checks owed to her, two witnesses told the Times. He reportedly promised that the situation would be rectified by his wife, Candice Parscale, who often handles his company accounts.
One of Lara Trump’s most notorious contributions to her father-in-law’s campaign early this year was to mock rival Joe Biden’s stutter, which he has grappled with since he was a child.
She was initially hired as a senior consultant in early 2017 by another Parscale company, digital vendor Giles-Parscale, also based in San Antonio, The Associated Press reported. Lara Trump was to serve as a liaison between the company and Donald Trump’s campaign, headquartered in Manhattan’s Trump Tower, which is owned by the president’s Trump Organization. Parscale was named Trump’s reelection campaign manager the following year.
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The Trump campaign announced in January that Guilfoyle, a former Fox News personality who started dating Trump Jr. two years ago, would lead the joint fundraising drive between the campaign and the RNC.
Guilfoyle left Fox News in 2018 following a human resources investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior, including sexual misconduct, HuffPost reported at the time. An attorney for Guilfoyle denied all accusations as “unequivocally baseless.”
HuffPost could not immediately reach Parscale for comment.
Parscale declined to comment to the Times “in detail” on the article, the paper reported. He has, however, said in the past that private companies provide greater flexibility in a campaign, given campaign finance law requirements, noted the Times.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Trump Can Keep Lying About Coronavirus, But He Won't Be Able To Hide The Deaths

President Donald Trump has gotten away with a staggering amount of lying over the course of his public life and has been particularly successful at using numbers to mislead and obfuscate .
Trump lied when he said the number of Americans infected with coronavirus was declining even as health officials told him and the public the truth about it rising .
He lied when he said there were enough coronavirus tests for every American even when Vice President Mike Pence ― who ’ s leading the administration ’ s response ― said that wasn ’ t true , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests on former President Barack Obama .
He lied when he compared a year ’ s worth of influenza deaths to a few months ’ worth of coronavirus fatalities in an effort to mislead Americans about the severity of the new disease .
When the number of Americans dying from this virus grows , everyone is going to notice .
Everyone is also going to notice the increasing disruption of their daily lives as schools and businesses close , Americans miss work because they ’ re ill or afraid of getting sick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are paying attention .
More than 90 % of Americans have heard about coronavirus , according to a survey by Public Opinion Strategies , a Virginia-based pollster .
“ This has already become one of the top news events of the last decade in terms of Americans ’ familiarity , ” according to a statement from the firm .
Nobody yet knows how far coronavirus will spread in the United States nor how many people will get seriously ill or die .
A handful of domestic fatalities have already occurred , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering worse outbreaks to date are any guide , there will be more .
There are more than 100,000 reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide , and the death toll is approaching 4,000 .
As of Monday , the entire nation of Italy is locked down as authorities attempt to slow the advance of the virus throughout the country and the rest of Europe .
Public events like sports matches and public spaces like museums are closed .
There are approximately 60 million people in Italy who have been instructed to self-quarantine , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California and Florida .
Covering up that much upheaval would be challenging , even for Trump .
Trump and his surrogates can try to keep lying about it , but it ’ s much easier to trick people into thinking that positive economic indicators during Obama ’ s presidency were fake , that Trump ’ s margin of victory against Hillary Clinton in 2016 was larger than it was , or even that the crowd at his inauguration was bigger than Obama ’ s .
The president ’ s lies about Obama and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign were too varied and numerous to count .
As president , he ’ s lied about his vaunted wall at the U.S.-Mexico border .
And , of course , he lied about Russia and Ukraine .
Those lies , and the many more like them , are qualitatively different from his lies and misinformation about coronavirus .
They can be viewed as political in nature , and , even though proving the falseness of those claims isn ’ t difficult , Trump supporters have demonstrated a willingness to reject any facts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostility toward anyone who challenges them .
That ’ s because about half the country is primed to take Trump ’ s word over that of Democrats or the news media or anyone with actual expertise .
It ’ s also because things like jobless numbers or crowd sizes are abstractions .
But there ’ s nothing abstract about human suffering compounded by a president who ’ s either in denial or so maniacally focused on his reelection that he ’ d rather lose a few citizens that admit things have taken a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abstract about a dead family member , friend , neighbor , co-worker or acquaintance .
What ’ s more , coronavirus is hitting some of Trump ’ s staunchest supporters .
Reports that an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month has been diagnosed with COVID-19 has already caused four Republican lawmakers who attended to self-quarantine .
One of those is Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-Fla. ) , who just last week tried to carry on the failing effort by Trump and his allies to label coronavirus a hoax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House floor .
Trump and several members of his administration also attended CPAC .
Viruses don ’ t care who you voted for in 2016 , and only the most committed Trump supporters may be able to convince themselves that his administration ’ s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak didn ’ t happen once the funeral notices start coming in .

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President Donald Trump has gotten away with a staggering amount of lying over the course of his public life and has been particularly successful at using numbers to mislead and obfuscate.
So far, Trump has lied about coronavirus a lot, and always to make it seem like things are better than they are.
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Trump lied when he said the number of Americans infected with coronavirus was declining even as health officials told him and the public the truth about it rising. He lied when he said there were enough coronavirus tests for every American even when Vice President Mike Pence ― who’s leading the administration’s response ― said that wasn’t true, and he lied when he blamed the shortage of tests on former President Barack Obama. He lied when he compared a year’s worth of influenza deaths to a few months’ worth of coronavirus fatalities in an effort to mislead Americans about the severity of the new disease.
But his constant downplaying of the severity of the coronavirus outbreak is about to run headlong into reality.
When the number of Americans dying from this virus grows, everyone is going to notice. Everyone is also going to notice the increasing disruption of their daily lives as schools and businesses close, Americans miss work because they’re ill or afraid of getting sick, and as the economy suffers.
And people are paying attention. More than 90% of Americans have heard about coronavirus, according to a survey by Public Opinion Strategies, a Virginia-based pollster. “This has already become one of the top news events of the last decade in terms of Americans’ familiarity,” according to a statement from the firm.
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Nobody yet knows how far coronavirus will spread in the United States nor how many people will get seriously ill or die. A handful of domestic fatalities have already occurred, and, if the experiences of other countries suffering worse outbreaks to date are any guide, there will be more. There are more than 100,000 reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide, and the death toll is approaching 4,000.
Countries with more severe coronavirus outbreaks than in the United States are already taking increasingly drastic measures to stop the spread ― measures that may soon be needed in the U.S.
As of Monday, the entire nation of Italy is locked down as authorities attempt to slow the advance of the virus throughout the country and the rest of Europe. Public events like sports matches and public spaces like museums are closed. There are approximately 60 million people in Italy who have been instructed to self-quarantine, which is equivalent to the combined populations of California and Florida. Covering up that much upheaval would be challenging, even for Trump.
Trump and his surrogates can try to keep lying about it, but it’s much easier to trick people into thinking that positive economic indicators during Obama’s presidency were fake, that Trump’s margin of victory against Hillary Clinton in 2016 was larger than it was, or even that the crowd at his inauguration was bigger than Obama’s.
The president’s lies about Obama and Clinton before and during the 2016 presidential campaign were too varied and numerous to count. As president, he’s lied about his vaunted wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. And, of course, he lied about Russia and Ukraine.
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Those lies, and the many more like them, are qualitatively different from his lies and misinformation about coronavirus. They can be viewed as political in nature, and, even though proving the falseness of those claims isn’t difficult, Trump supporters have demonstrated a willingness to reject any facts that contradict Trump’s untruths and a hostility toward anyone who challenges them.
That’s because about half the country is primed to take Trump’s word over that of Democrats or the news media or anyone with actual expertise. It’s also because things like jobless numbers or crowd sizes are abstractions.
But there’s nothing abstract about human suffering compounded by a president who’s either in denial or so maniacally focused on his reelection that he’d rather lose a few citizens that admit things have taken a bad turn. There’s nothing abstract about a dead family member, friend, neighbor, co-worker or acquaintance.
What’s more, coronavirus is hitting some of Trump’s staunchest supporters. Reports that an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month has been diagnosed with COVID-19 has already caused four Republican lawmakers who attended to self-quarantine.
One of those is Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who just last week tried to carry on the failing effort by Trump and his allies to label coronavirus a hoax by mockingly wearing a gas mask on the House floor. Trump and several members of his administration also attended CPAC.
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Viruses don’t care who you voted for in 2016, and only the most committed Trump supporters may be able to convince themselves that his administration’s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak didn’t happen once the funeral notices start coming in.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--D.C. Officials Ask Hundreds To Self-Quarantine After Priest's Coronavirus Diagnosis

Rev .
Timothy Cole , leader of Christ Church , Georgetown , identified himself as a confirmed novel coronavirus patient in a letter to congregants on Sunday .
He received the diagnosis about a week after he participated in Sunday services attended by around 550 people on March 1 , including one service in which he helped distribute Holy Communion .
Parishioners who had contact with Cole have a “ medium risk ” of exposure to the new coronavirus , according to Anjali Talwalkar , senior deputy director for the community health administration at the D.C. Health Department .
Cole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patient .
The department is calling on people who visited Christ Church on Feb. 24 and between Feb. 28 and March 3rd to isolate themselves for 14 days from the last time they visited the church .
“ That is when our case was symptomatic , ” Talwalkar said at a press conference on Monday morning .
“ So anybody who was potentially exposed during that time , out of caution and best practices for disease control , that ’ s the recommendation.
” Cole returned to the capital from a conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 , Volmer said .
The rector felt sick on Feb. 24 but started feeling better later in the week , attending an all-day church council retreat on Feb. 28 .
Cole “ felt fine ” the following Sunday , March 1 , Volmer said .
The rector participated in services that day , handing out Communion at the 11:15 a.m. service .
Cole also urged his parishioners to be diligent about washing their hands to protect themselves from the coronavirus , Volmer said .
On March 3 , Cole visited a doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volmer said .
Two days later , he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia .
By March 7 , he was confirmed to have COVID-19 .
“ I want to assure you that I will be okay , ” Cole wrote to his church on Sunday .
“ I am receiving excellent care and am in good spirits under the circumstances.
” Christ Church is located in D.C. ’ s Georgetown neighborhood , less than two miles from the White House .
Founded in 1817 , the congregation currently includes many government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he is currently in self-quarantine with his family .
He said many fellow Christ Church attendees have also agreed to quarantine .
The church keeps sanitizing gels on hand for parishioners during services , Volmer said .
It ’ s also common practice for its priests to wash their hands before services .
Communion bread is typically placed into parishioners ’ cupped hands , Volmer said .
The wine is usually distributed through a common chalice .
Some sip from the chalice directly , while others dip the bread into the wine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Mariann Edgar Budde , bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington , told HuffPost that she has issued new mandatory guidelines on Monday for churches and schools under her watch .
Budde has suspended the distribution of wine during Communion and is requiring priests to use wafers instead of bread .
Physical contact with fellow churchgoers is no longer allowed before , during and after worship , including during the Peace , a moment in the liturgy when parishioners typically greet each other with handshakes and hugs .

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Health officials in Washington, D.C., are urging hundreds of worshippers who recently visited a local Episcopal church to self-quarantine after the parish’s rector tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
Rev. Timothy Cole, leader of Christ Church, Georgetown, identified himself as a confirmed novel coronavirus patient in a letter to congregants on Sunday. He received the diagnosis about a week after he participated in Sunday services attended by around 550 people on March 1, including one service in which he helped distribute Holy Communion.
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Parishioners who had contact with Cole have a “medium risk” of exposure to the new coronavirus, according to Anjali Talwalkar, senior deputy director for the community health administration at the D.C. Health Department. Cole is the city’s first known coronavirus patient.
The department is calling on people who visited Christ Church on Feb. 24 and between Feb. 28 and March 3rd to isolate themselves for 14 days from the last time they visited the church.
“That is when our case was symptomatic,” Talwalkar said at a press conference on Monday morning. “So anybody who was potentially exposed during that time, out of caution and best practices for disease control, that’s the recommendation.”
Cole is currently in stable condition at a local hospital, church spokesperson Rob Volmer told HuffPost.
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In his letter, the priest urged his congregants to follow the CDC’s coronavirus prevention guidelines.
“There is no need to panic,” the rector wrote.
Mayor Muriel Bowser asked hundreds of Christ Church, Georgetown, parishioners to stay home for 14 days after a rector at the house of worship tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Cole returned to the capital from a conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 22, Volmer said. The rector felt sick on Feb. 24 but started feeling better later in the week, attending an all-day church council retreat on Feb. 28.
Cole “felt fine” the following Sunday, March 1, Volmer said. The rector participated in services that day, handing out Communion at the 11:15 a.m. service. Cole also urged his parishioners to be diligent about washing their hands to protect themselves from the coronavirus, Volmer said.
On March 3, Cole visited a doctor and was diagnosed with the flu, Volmer said. Two days later, he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. By March 7, he was confirmed to have COVID-19.
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“I want to assure you that I will be okay,” Cole wrote to his church on Sunday. “I am receiving excellent care and am in good spirits under the circumstances.”
Christ Church canceled services on March 8 and has indefinitely suspended future gatherings. It’s the first time the church has been shuttered since a fire in the 1800s, CBS reports.
Christ Church is located in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood, less than two miles from the White House. Founded in 1817, the congregation currently includes many government officials, according to CBS.
Volmer said he is currently in self-quarantine with his family. He said many fellow Christ Church attendees have also agreed to quarantine.
The church keeps sanitizing gels on hand for parishioners during services, Volmer said. It’s also common practice for its priests to wash their hands before services. Communion bread is typically placed into parishioners’ cupped hands, Volmer said. The wine is usually distributed through a common chalice. Some sip from the chalice directly, while others dip the bread into the wine, he said.
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Christ Church has suspended services and meetings after Rev. Timothy Cole tested positive for COVID-19. Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Five people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maryland. At least three D.C. public schools closed Monday over concerns about the virus.
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, told HuffPost that she has issued new mandatory guidelines on Monday for churches and schools under her watch.
Budde has suspended the distribution of wine during Communion and is requiring priests to use wafers instead of bread. Physical contact with fellow churchgoers is no longer allowed before, during and after worship, including during the Peace, a moment in the liturgy when parishioners typically greet each other with handshakes and hugs.
Budde has also instructed parishes to drain water from baptismal fonts and ensure that those leading worship and administering Communion are sanitizing their hands.
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Other religious communities have also made changes to their worship practices in light of the global outbreak of COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus has infected at least 600 people in the U.S., resulting in 26 deaths, The Associated Press reported Monday. Worldwide, over 113,000 people have tested positive for the disease and nearly 4,000 people have died.
Volmer said that Christ Church parishioners are praying for “all those affected, all those in fear, and all those working to find solutions.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Fox Business Host Claims Coronavirus Is ‘Impeachment All Over Again’ In Bonkers Rant

On Monday , Regan claimed that Democrats “ blame him and only him for a virus that originated halfway around the world.
” She said they were trying to “ create mass hysteria to encourage a market selloff ” and “ stop our economy dead in its tracks.
” And she said Democrats , the media and even investors were allowing their hate to “ spiral out of control ” and cause markets to crash .
We ’ ve reached a tipping point .
The chorus of hate being leveled at # PresidentTrump is nearing a crescendo as # Dems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a # virus that originated halfway around the world !
This is yet another attempt to # impeach THE PRESIDENT .
# TrishRegan pic.twitter.com/nU3P4zcONA — Trish Regan ( @ trish_regan ) March 10 , 2020 Regan ’ s comments were at odds with those of Tucker Carlson , the Fox News host who on Monday night seemed to call out other Fox voices and even the president , saying they “ have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem.
” Regan ’ s monologue also created a false impression that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when , in fact , criticism has focused on his delayed response to the crisis as well as his release of misinformation .
For example , on Feb. 26 , Trump said there were just 15 cases in the country and within a couple of days , that number was “ going to be down to close to zero.
” There are now more than 750 cases in the United States .
“ President Trump ’ s bombastic style has served him well through many stages of his political career , but as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , it is exposing how deeply unsuited he is to deal with a genuine crisis that he can ’ t bluff his way through , ” wrote The Washington Examiner ’ s executive editor Philip Klein .
Regan ’ s wild defense of the president caused her name to trend on Twitter and much of the reaction wasn ’ t complimentary : @ trish_regan you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself and have zero career as a “ journalist ” after this segment .
It is a virus .
It is apolitical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selfish perceived benefit .
And it is sadly biting us in the ass as a result .
— Suzanne Lindbergh ( @ suzannebuzz ) March 10 , 2020 I don ’ t know what show you were trying out for but you aren ’ t getting a callback .
I mean , I assume this was an audition for something ... something terrible .
— The Hoarse Whisperer ( @ HoarseWisperer ) March 10 , 2020 Omg.. no one is blaming the president for the virus.. he is being blamed for his response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ tammyharrington ) March 10 , 2020 Dear @ trish_regan , You really made a fool of yourself today .
Not in the normal way that you do every day as a @ FoxNews commentator , but in especially awful way .
People are dying .
This is real .
Stop posting selfies , wake the fuck up and start telling your viewers the truth .
— Don Winslow ( @ donwinslow ) March 10 , 2020

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Fox Business host Trish Regan claims the coronavirus outbreak is just “another attempt to impeach” President Donald Trump.
On Monday, Regan claimed that Democrats “blame him and only him for a virus that originated halfway around the world.” She said they were trying to “create mass hysteria to encourage a market selloff” and “stop our economy dead in its tracks.” And she said Democrats, the media and even investors were allowing their hate to “spiral out of control” and cause markets to crash.
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As she spoke, a graphic reading “CORONAVIRUS IMPEACHMENT SCAM” appeared on the screen:
We’ve reached a tipping point. The chorus of hate being leveled at #PresidentTrump is nearing a crescendo as #Dems blame him—and only him—for #coronavirus - a #virus that originated halfway around the world! This is yet another attempt to #impeach THE PRESIDENT. #TrishRegan pic.twitter.com/nU3P4zcONA — Trish Regan (@trish_regan) March 10, 2020
Regan’s comments were at odds with those of Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host who on Monday night seemed to call out other Fox voices and even the president, saying they “have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem.”
Regan’s monologue also created a false impression that Trump was being blamed for the virus when, in fact, criticism has focused on his bungled response to the crisis as well as his spreading of misinformation. For example, on Feb. 26, Trump said there were just 15 cases in the country and within a couple of days, that number was “going to be down to close to zero.”
There are now more than 750 cases in the United States.
Even conservative media has slammed Trump’s response.
“President Trump’s bombastic style has served him well through many stages of his political career, but as the coronavirus spreads rapidly throughout the United States, it is exposing how deeply unsuited he is to deal with a genuine crisis that he can’t bluff his way through,” wrote The Washington Examiner’s executive editor Philip Klein.
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Regan’s wild defense of the president caused her name to trend on Twitter ― and much of the reaction wasn’t complimentary:
@trish_regan you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself and have zero career as a “ journalist” after this segment. It is a virus. It is apolitical. Trump ignored it for his own selfish perceived benefit. And it is sadly biting us in the ass as a result. — Suzanne Lindbergh (@suzannebuzz) March 10, 2020
I don’t know what show you were trying out for but you aren’t getting a callback.
I mean, I assume this was an audition for something... something terrible. — The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) March 10, 2020
Omg.. no one is blaming the president for the virus.. he is being blamed for his response. Hello!? — Tammy Harrington (@tammyharrington) March 10, 2020
You seem mad — andy lassner (@andylassner) March 10, 2020
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You should talk to a therapist because you're suffering from severe delusions. I mean that. — Thor Benson (@thor_benson) March 10, 2020
Dear @trish_regan,
You really made a fool of yourself today.
Not in the normal way that you do every day as a @FoxNews commentator, but in especially awful way.
People are dying.
This is real.
Stop posting selfies, wake the fuck up and start telling your viewers the truth. — Don Winslow (@donwinslow) March 10, 2020
Guys, Trish Regan is a character actress pretending to be a newscaster... https://t.co/CMhUjPiinD — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) March 10, 2020
You should maybe see a doctor, this was unhinged even by Fox news standards. — Midnight in Washington (@DerpStateActor) March 10, 2020
It's as if Kate McKinnon is performing an SNL skit of Trish Regan. She's roasting herself. — Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) March 10, 2020
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Does Trish Regan think she is on a telenovela? https://t.co/He8rBibEAZ — Red *WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS* Painter (@Redpainter1) March 10, 2020
.@trish_regan is my least favorite SNL cast member. This skit needs work. https://t.co/tDWobXuYnk — Jon Zal (@OfficialJonZal) March 10, 2020
I watched it and I’ve come to the Conclusion that Trish is not smart and maybe a little nutso. — Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) March 10, 2020
Trish Regan is a bad actor, both in the idiomatic sense and the performing arts sense.
This kind of ineptly portrayed drama is usually seen in 17-year olds explaining to their parents why a midnight curfew is "unfair and deeply hurtful." https://t.co/awbVhBftAh — Craig Mazin (@clmazin) March 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--White House: We're Doing A ‘Remarkable Job,’ Can’t Say How Many Tested For Coronavirus

Vice President Mike Pence , who was tapped last month to lead the country ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak , touted the leadership of President Donald Trump while saying officials were still unclear how many people had actually been tested for the virus .
“ The men and women standing behind me and all the men and women standing behind them have done a remarkable job responding to this , ” Pence said during a news briefing .
“ I really do believe that the American people can see that this president is putting the health of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid skyrocketing anxiety both at home and abroad .
Officials were preparing to quarantine thousands of people stranded aboard a second cruise ship linked to the outbreak that docked in Oakland , California .
Schools in multiple states have shut down , others have said they may soon do the same , and some universities have announced classes will be moved online for the foreseeable future .
Two Republican lawmakers who interacted with the president in recent days also said they would self-quarantine for two weeks after coming into contact with a carrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday there were now more than 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 35 states and the District of Columbia , but said the risk to the American public remained low .
Officials stressed that populations most at risk included people over the age of 60 and those with underlying health issues , in line with previous guidance .
“ Right now , I could not give you a number of how many Americans ... have received a test , ” Azar said , noting the government was “ actively building ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those figures .
He said the Centers for Disease Control and prevention had shipped 75,000 test kits around the country and that private companies had developed another 900,000 or so .
Pence said he was unsure if Trump himself had been tested , but pledged to get reporters an answer by the end of the day .
The president is 73 and has interacted with the lawmakers who had contact with a coronavirus patient .
Trump spoke briefly at the press conference on Monday , teasing a bevy of economic measures meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street ’ s worst day in a decade , including a program to extend loans to small businesses and some sort of payroll tax relief .
He also suggested that he could move to protect hourly wage-earners — a vast portion of America ’ s workforce — so they don ’ t fear calling in sick to work .
“ We have a great economy .
We have a very strong economy , ” the president said , before handing the spotlight over to Pence and abruptly leaving the briefing .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve done very , very well.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , said it was premature for any type of ban on group activities , but said he wouldn ’ t criticize any local leaders for doing so out of an “ abundance of caution.
” He refused to give any guidance in terms of campaign rallies , which are at their peak and a favored activity of Trump throughout his presidency .
“ I can ’ t comment on campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a reporter ’ s question .
“ It really depends .
As we all said , this is something in motion , this is an evolving thing .
”

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The White House sought to quell growing anxiety on Monday as financial markets wobbled and cases of COVID-19 continued to surge around the country.
Vice President Mike Pence, who was tapped last month to lead the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, touted the leadership of President Donald Trump while saying officials were still unclear how many people had actually been tested for the virus.
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“The men and women standing behind me and all the men and women standing behind them have done a remarkable job responding to this,” Pence said during a news briefing. “I really do believe that the American people can see that this president is putting the health of the American people first.”
The assurances came amid skyrocketing anxiety both at home and abroad. Officials were preparing to quarantine thousands of people stranded aboard a second cruise ship linked to the outbreak that docked in Oakland, California. Schools in multiple states have shut down, others have said they may soon do the same, and some universities have announced classes will be moved online for the foreseeable future. Two Republican lawmakers who interacted with the president in recent days also said they would self-quarantine for two weeks after coming into contact with a carrier of the disease.
The Trump administration said Monday there were now more than 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 35 states and the District of Columbia, but said the risk to the American public remained low. Officials stressed that populations most at risk included people over the age of 60 and those with underlying health issues, in line with previous guidance.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Brady press briefing room of the White House on March, 9, 2020, about the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
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At the same time, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar couldn’t say how many Americans had actually been tested for the coronavirus.
“Right now, I could not give you a number of how many Americans ... have received a test,” Azar said, noting the government was “actively building” the computer systems to allow HHS to see those figures. He said the Centers for Disease Control and prevention had shipped 75,000 test kits around the country and that private companies had developed another 900,000 or so.
But those claims come amid reports that test kits and other medical equipment like face masks are in short supply around the nation.
Pence said he was unsure if Trump himself had been tested, but pledged to get reporters an answer by the end of the day. The president is 73 and has interacted with the lawmakers who had contact with a coronavirus patient.
Trump spoke briefly at the press conference on Monday, teasing a bevy of economic measures meant to avert economic unease that led to Wall Street’s worst day in a decade, including a program to extend loans to small businesses and some sort of payroll tax relief. He also suggested that he could move to protect hourly wage-earners — a vast portion of America’s workforce — so they don’t fear calling in sick to work.
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“We have a great economy. We have a very strong economy,” the president said, before handing the spotlight over to Pence and abruptly leaving the briefing. “This blindsided the world, and I think we’ve done very, very well.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said it was premature for any type of ban on group activities, but said he wouldn’t criticize any local leaders for doing so out of an “abundance of caution.” He refused to give any guidance in terms of campaign rallies, which are at their peak and a favored activity of Trump throughout his presidency.
“I can’t comment on campaign rallies,” Fauci said in response to a reporter’s question. “It really depends. As we all said, this is something in motion, this is an evolving thing.”
Pence closed the briefing by urging Americans to unify in the face of the outbreak, once again trumpeting Trump’s efforts to combat the virus.
“The president’s leadership has made the difference here… We literally are working seamlessly on behalf of the health of the American people,” he said. “Together, we’ll get through the coronavirus.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Nobel Economist Nails Why Right-Wingers' Coronavirus Tactics Are Scarily Familiar

The point is that Trump ’ s luridly delusional response to the coronavirus and his conspiracy theorizing about Democrats and @ @ @ @ @ t really that different from the way the right dealt with the financial crisis a @ @ @ @ @ , last time the crazy talk wasn ’ t coming directly from the president of @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not the important distinction between then and now .
No , what @ @ @ @ @ that denial and the resulting delay are likely to have deadly consequences .

The point is that Trump’s luridly delusional response to the coronavirus and his conspiracy theorizing about Democrats and the news media aren’t really that different from the way the right dealt with the financial crisis a dozen years ago. True, last time the crazy talk wasn’t coming directly from the president of the United States. But that’s not the important distinction between then and now. No, what’s different now is that denial and the resulting delay are likely to have deadly consequences.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Donald Trump's Coronavirus Response Will 'Cost Lives,' Washington Post Board Warns

The Washington Post editorial board pulled no punches with its prediction about how President Donald Trump ’ s haphazard handling of the coronavirus outbreak will play out .
“ Mr Trump ’ s counter messaging does more than cause confusion , ” the newspaper warned in an editorial published Monday .
Trump has peddled multiple falsehoods and repeatedly sought to downplay the threat of the virus , which has infected more than 700 people in the U.S. and killed 26 nationwide .
In its editorial — titled “ Trump is endangering lives with his contempt for truth ” — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ constant minimizing of the seriousness of the crisis ” and for being “ more concerned with his own image than the well-being of the nation , ” citing the president ’ s suspicion of federal agencies who should be working together to combat the crisis .
“ President Trump has spent three years demeaning and weakening the U.S. government , ” the paper wrote .
“ Now that the United States desperately needs that government to function well , we are paying a steep price.
” The New York Times opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ column declared Trump “ unfit ” to lead the country through the crisis , calling his narcissism “ a grave danger to our health.
” “ When it comes to Trump , truth , decency and self-possession have been in quarantine from the start , ” Senior added .

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The Washington Post editorial board pulled no punches with its prediction about how President Donald Trump’s haphazard handling of the coronavirus outbreak will play out.
“Mr Trump’s counter messaging does more than cause confusion,” the newspaper warned in an editorial published Monday.
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“It will cost lives,” it said.
Trump has peddled multiple falsehoods and repeatedly sought to downplay the threat of the virus, which has infected more than 700 people in the U.S. and killed 26 nationwide.
In its editorial — titled “Trump is endangering lives with his contempt for truth” — the newspaper’s board bashed Trump’s “constant minimizing of the seriousness of the crisis” and for being “more concerned with his own image than the well-being of the nation,” citing the president’s suspicion of federal agencies who should be working together to combat the crisis.
“President Trump has spent three years demeaning and weakening the U.S. government,” the paper wrote. “Now that the United States desperately needs that government to function well, we are paying a steep price.”
The New York Times opinion columnist Jennifer Senior in a similarly scathing column declared Trump “unfit” to lead the country through the crisis, calling his narcissism “a grave danger to our health.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Bernie Sanders Slams Trump For Saying 'Stupid' Things As Coronavirus Spreads

“ You got millions of people in this country today who may feel they have a symptom — but you know what ?
They can not afford to go to a doctor .
And then they ’ re gon na go to work , ” Sanders said at the Detroit event a day before Michigan ’ s Democratic primary .
The senator is trailing Former Vice President Joe Biden in national polls , and notably in Michigan .
Sanders appeared to be referring to Trump ’ s interview last week with Fox News ’ Sean Hannity , in which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could still go to work .
“ So , if you know , we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by , you know , sitting around and even going to work .
Some of them go to work , but they get better , ” Trump added .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected individuals stay home .
There were at least 26 people dead from COVID-19 across the U.S. as of Monday , with over 600 reported cases in at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With the spread of coronavirus , we have already seen people hit with massive medical bills , simply for doing the right thing by getting tested .
Others may face massive bills for hospitalization , treatment and quarantine if they need it .
This must end .
We need Medicare for All .
— Bernie Sanders ( @ BernieSanders ) March 9 , 2020 During his Fox News town hall event , Sanders pushed his tentpole “ Medicare for All ” policy as much-needed during a public health crisis .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal paid sick leave , which means some people may have to choose between going to work sick or going without a paycheck to support their families .
Last week , Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to ensure U.S. workers get paid sick leave during the coronavirus outbreak , with the proposed legislation requiring employers to grant 14 paid sick days for use in a public health emergency .
Several states , including California and Washington , have also ordered health insurers to waive deductibles and copayments associated with getting tested for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Monday town hall , Sanders broadly attacked the Trump administration for “ not believ [ ing ] in science ” and for thinking climate change is a “ hoax , ” adding : “ How do we trust this administration ?
” Sanders also criticized Trump ’ s decision to appoint Vice President Mike Pence as the administration ’ s lead on its coronavirus response , saying : “ You need scientists leading the effort , not politicians.
” Pence has no medical background and as governor of Indiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanders then criticized Trump for promoting “ xenophobic ” ideas in response to the virus and said that a president should listen to what scientists recommend is “ appropriate , ” whether it ’ s self-quarantines or limiting public gatherings .
At a rally late last month , Trump touted the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border as he discussed the threat of the coronavirus , saying : “ Border security is also health security.
” Health experts told HuffPost a wall at the southern U.S. border has no relation to preventing the @ @ @ @ @

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus in a Fox News town hall on Monday, describing some of the president’s remarks as “absurd” and “stupid.”
“You got millions of people in this country today who may feel they have a symptom — but you know what? They cannot afford to go to a doctor. And then they’re gonna go to work,” Sanders said at the Detroit event a day before Michigan’s Democratic primary. The senator is trailing Former Vice President Joe Biden in national polls, and notably in Michigan.
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“You have a president of the United States: ‘You know, doesn’t matter, go to work.’ We have a president who says absurd things,” Sanders added.
Later at the event, Sanders denounced Trump’s statement in a recent press conference that “maybe” he had a “natural ability” to understand issues like the coronavirus.
“As a president, I don’t claim I’m the world’s greatest scientific expert,” Sanders said. “You listen to the scientists, you don’t stay stupid things. You don’t suggest people go to work.”
Sanders appeared to be referring to Trump’s interview last week with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, in which the president suggested people with mild coronavirus symptoms could still go to work.
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“A lot of people will have this and it’s very mild. They’ll get better very rapidly,” Trump told Fox News.
“So, if you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work. Some of them go to work, but they get better,” Trump added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected individuals stay home. There were at least 26 people dead from COVID-19 across the U.S. as of Monday, with over 600 reported cases in at least 35 states, reported The Associated Press.
The White House and Trump’s re-election campaign team did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment.
With the spread of coronavirus, we have already seen people hit with massive medical bills, simply for doing the right thing by getting tested.
Others may face massive bills for hospitalization, treatment and quarantine if they need it.
This must end.
We need Medicare for All. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 9, 2020
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During his Fox News town hall event, Sanders pushed his tentpole “Medicare for All” policy as much-needed during a public health crisis. He also called out America’s lack of federal paid sick leave, which means some people may have to choose between going to work sick or going without a paycheck to support their families.
Last week, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to ensure U.S. workers get paid sick leave during the coronavirus outbreak, with the proposed legislation requiring employers to grant 14 paid sick days for use in a public health emergency.
Several states, including California and Washington, have also ordered health insurers to waive deductibles and copayments associated with getting tested for the virus if a doctor deems it necessary.
In the Monday town hall, Sanders broadly attacked the Trump administration for “not believ[ing] in science” and for thinking climate change is a “hoax,” adding: “How do we trust this administration?”
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Sanders also criticized Trump’s decision to appoint Vice President Mike Pence as the administration’s lead on its coronavirus response, saying: “You need scientists leading the effort, not politicians.” Pence has no medical background and as governor of Indiana, oversaw an HIV crisis in his state.
When asked by Fox News’ moderators if, in response to the coronavirus, Sanders would close the nation’s borders, the candidate had a blunt answer: “No.”
Sanders then criticized Trump for promoting “xenophobic” ideas in response to the virus and said that a president should listen to what scientists recommend is “appropriate,” whether it’s self-quarantines or limiting public gatherings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Joe Biden Says Trump Should Just Shut Up About Coronavirus, Leave It To The Experts

Former Vice President Joe Biden wishes President Donald Trump would “ be quiet ” about coronavirus and stop spewing muddled and unreliable misinformation that ’ s unsettling Americans and adding to the stock market implosion .
“ There ’ s no confidence in the president and anything he says or does , ” the front-running candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination said on MSNBC .
“ He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself , and he ’ s actually imploding in the process.
” “ But there ’ s a lot of innocent bystanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden added .
“ I wish he would just be quiet .
I really mean it ... .
Just let the experts speak and acknowledge that whatever they suggest to him is what we should be doing.
” Asked by MSNBC news host Lawrence O ’ Donnell if the stock market is plunging in part because investors are “ realizing the president simply does not tell them , or the world , or this country the truth about the situation ” amid the spread of the disease , Biden said he thinks “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It doesn ’ t mean the markets wouldn ’ t still go down , but it wouldn ’ t collapse , I don ’ t think , ” he added .
Biden also said his campaign would follow experts ’ recommendations concerning coronavirus precautions .
“ If they conclude that there shouldn ’ t be big indoor rallies , then we ’ ll stop ... big indoor rallies , ” he said .
“ We ’ re going to do whatever they say.
” Housing Secretary Ben Carson , a member of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday on ABC that there ’ s “ no reason ” a “ healthy person ” shouldn ’ t attend a Trump campaign rally .
The president has said he will continue to hold the events .
Trump has also consistently downplayed the threat of the virus and on Monday compared it to little more than the disruption of a typical flu season .
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu .
It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year .
Nothing is shut down , life & the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus , with 22 deaths .
Think about that !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) March 9 , 2020 Trump continued to present a positive perspective on coronavirus as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 2,000 points Monday before trading was suspended .

Former Vice President Joe Biden wishes President Donald Trump would “be quiet” about coronavirus and stop spewing muddled and unreliable misinformation that’s unsettling Americans and adding to the stock market implosion.
“There’s no confidence in the president and anything he says or does,” the front-running candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination said on MSNBC. “He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself, and he’s actually imploding in the process.”
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“But there’s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt,” Biden added. “I wish he would just be quiet. I really mean it .... Just let the experts speak and acknowledge that whatever they suggest to him is what we should be doing.”
Asked by MSNBC news host Lawrence O’Donnell if the stock market is plunging in part because investors are “realizing the president simply does not tell them, or the world, or this country the truth about the situation” amid the spread of the disease, Biden said he thinks “that’s the case.”
“It doesn’t mean the markets wouldn’t still go down, but it wouldn’t collapse, I don’t think,” he added.
Biden also said his campaign would follow experts’ recommendations concerning coronavirus precautions.
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“If they conclude that there shouldn’t be big indoor rallies, then we’ll stop ... big indoor rallies,” he said. “We’re going to do whatever they say.”
Housing Secretary Ben Carson, a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, said Sunday on ABC that there’s “no reason” a “healthy person” shouldn’t attend a Trump campaign rally. The president has said he will continue to hold the events.
Trump has also consistently downplayed the threat of the virus and on Monday compared it to little more than the disruption of a typical flu season.
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
Trump continued to present a positive perspective on coronavirus as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 2,000 points Monday before trading was suspended.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-09--Rep. Paul Gosar's Strange Tweet On How He'd Prefer To Die Gets The Meme Treatment

Rep. Paul Gosar ( R-Ariz. ) is in self-imposed quarantine over coronavirus concerns , and it apparently has him contemplating life and death .
The congressman announced Sunday that he and his staff had no symptoms but would take the cautionary step to isolate at home in Arizona after interacting with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference .
Three other Republican members of Congress ― Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas , Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida ― are taking the precaution after interacting with the infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first day of quarantine , Gosar seemed to be feeling a little melodramatic Monday , tweeting that he ’ d been pondering “ life and mortality today.
” He ’ d rather “ die gloriously in battle than from a virus , ” he decided .
Attached to the tweet was a still of a battle scene from the 2018 South Korean historical drama “ The Great Battle.
” “ In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does , ” Gosar concluded .
Been thinking about life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/m6vU5RTQHJ — Paul Gosar ( @ DrPaulGosar ) March 9 , 2020 The congressman was a dentist for more than 20 years before taking office in 2011 , and Twitter users were a little confused about when he might actually be presented with an opportunity to take that route .
I thought when dentists want to prove what badass warriors they are they just flew to game reserves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's taking a nap then pose for photos next to it https : //t.co/7qd5ehYOQ0 — Matt Oswalt ( @ MattOswaltVA ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/wyVXibh1df — maya kosoff ( @ mekosoff ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/rg2nFpwMHR — Christopher Ingraham ( @ _cingraham ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/GQJUR6mQOV — Philip Bump ( @ pbump ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
pic.twitter.com/GTjkbzu2hY — Mark Joseph Stern ( @ mjs_DC ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/AZOj6hGkwp — RemainCalmAllIsWellHat ( @ Popehat ) March 9 , 2020 '' Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ darth ) March 9 , 2020 '' Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does . ''
pic.twitter.com/n1lc1iQMDp — James Morden ( @ JamesMorden ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus .
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
pic.twitter.com/7a9QSWIV9m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GenePark ) March 9 , 2020 Been thinking about life and mortality today .
Rather vote for ANYBODY else than some dentist so dense he thinks war is cool and romantic .
Recuse yourself from voting on military issues , or enlist .
Does your wife know you ’ re a douche ?
In a way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does https : //t.co/HwgjruCy76 — Christopher 2020 Titus ( @ TitusNation ) March 9 , 2020

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Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) is in self-imposed quarantine over coronavirus concerns, and it apparently has him contemplating life and death.
The congressman announced Sunday that he and his staff had no symptoms but would take the cautionary step to isolate at home in Arizona after interacting with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference.
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Three other Republican members of Congress ― Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida ― are taking the precaution after interacting with the infected individual at the Maryland event.
Following his first day of quarantine, Gosar seemed to be feeling a little melodramatic Monday, tweeting that he’d been pondering “life and mortality today.” He’d rather “die gloriously in battle than from a virus,” he decided.
Attached to the tweet was a still of a battle scene from the 2018 South Korean historical drama “The Great Battle.”
“In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does,” Gosar concluded.
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/m6vU5RTQHJ — Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 9, 2020
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The congressman was a dentist for more than 20 years before taking office in 2011, and Twitter users were a little confused about when he might actually be presented with an opportunity to take that route.
millions of people die from cavities every day, andrew — jordan (@JordanUhl) March 9, 2020
If you really want to die "gloriously in battle" pic.twitter.com/moFrizEWNA — Murder Paws (@barefootboomer) March 9, 2020
I thought when dentists want to prove what badass warriors they are they just flew to game reserves in Africa and shot a lion while it's taking a nap then pose for photos next to it https://t.co/7qd5ehYOQ0 — Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) March 9, 2020
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Others felt his words were meme-worthy:
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/wyVXibh1df — maya kosoff (@mekosoff) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/rg2nFpwMHR — Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/GQJUR6mQOV — Philip Bump (@pbump) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/GTjkbzu2hY — Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) March 9, 2020
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Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/AZOj6hGkwp — RemainCalmAllIsWellHat (@Popehat) March 9, 2020
"Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does." pic.twitter.com/8iE7WJ9zrx — darth™ (@darth) March 9, 2020
"Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does." pic.twitter.com/n1lc1iQMDp — James Morden (@JamesMorden) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/7a9QSWIV9m — Gene Park VII Remake (@GenePark) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. Rather vote for ANYBODY else than some dentist so dense he thinks war is cool and romantic. Recuse yourself from voting on military issues, or enlist. Does your wife know you’re a douche? In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does https://t.co/HwgjruCy76 — Christopher 2020 Titus (@TitusNation) March 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-10--Conservative Columnist Max Boot Says Trump's Turning Into 'Baghdad Bob' Over Coronavirus

Conservative columnist Max Boot called out President Donald Trump on Monday for delivering misinformation instead of the calm and steady leadership needed as the nation faces the twin crises of the coronavirus outbreak and sinking stocks .
“ Panic is spreading even faster than the coronavirus because there is no leader to reassure a jittery public , ” Boot wrote in The Washington Post , Boot noted that Trump already lacked credibility before the crisis .
Now , Trump “ has stayed true to incredible form.
” Last month when speaking about the outbreak , Trump claimed to have “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to zero ” cases in the U.S. within a couple of days .
And just last week , Trump claimed : “ We closed it down ; we stopped it.
” Boot even compared Trump to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf , the ex-Iraqi information minister better known as “ Baghdad Bob ” for his consistent denials about the grim reality of the situation during the U.S.-led invasion in the early ’ oughts : “ This is a time that calls for the candor and reassurance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president who is emulating ‘ Baghdad Bob ’ — the Iraqi minister of information who was claiming complete victory even as Saddam Hussein ’ s regime was collapsing in 2003 .
”

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Conservative columnist Max Boot called out President Donald Trump on Monday for delivering misinformation instead of the calm and steady leadership needed as the nation faces the twin crises of the coronavirus outbreak and spasming financial markets.
“Panic is spreading even faster than the coronavirus because there is no leader to reassure a jittery public,” Boot wrote in The Washington Post,
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Boot noted that Trump already lacked credibility before the crisis. Now, Trump “has stayed true to incredible form.”
Last month when speaking about the outbreak, Trump claimed to have “shut it down” and predicted “close to zero” cases in the U.S. And just last week, Trump claimed: “We closed it down; we stopped it.”
Boot even compared Trump to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, the ex-Iraqi information minister better known as “Baghdad Bob” for his comically false denials about the grim reality of the situation during the U.S.-led invasion in the early 2000s: