thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Congress Sets Up Another Mad Dash For Small Business Cash

Despite mounting criticism of the small business relief scheme , after large and publicly traded firms received huge loans , the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program will have essentially the same structure , with desperate companies scrambling for cash and banks deciding who gets it based on their own preferences .
“ I can count on one hand — literally on one hand — the number of businesses in my district who have received assistance , ” Rep. Adriano Espaillat ( D-N.Y. ) , who represents Upper Manhattan , said Thursday during a hearing on Capitol Hill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mad as hell .
I am mad as hell.
” The National Restaurant Association and the National Federation of Independent Business , for instance , have said Congress should let firms use the forgivable payroll loan for a two month period later this year , after local governments have actually allowed nonessential business to resume .
Under the current terms of the program , funds must be used within eight weeks of the date when the loan is funded .
The trade groups also said more than 25 % of the loan should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as rent and utilities , since payroll is a proportionately smaller share of costs for some firms , such as restaurants .
“ It ’ s kind of unworkable for a lot of businesses , ” said the NFIB ’ s Elizabeth Milito , who noted that there may have been more optimism about the coronavirus outbreak and the extent of its economic effects when lawmakers first created the payroll initiative .
Several business owners told HuffPost they didn ’ t get loans before the program first ran out of money , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come through .
A digital marketing firm in Florida and a brewery in North Carolina both said the money hit their accounts in the last week .
First , there should be a ban on any public company receiving money , Fischer said .
Those businesses have other ways of raising cash — public businesses can easily sell shares .
Shake Shack , for example , was able to turn down its $ 10 million loan because it could tap another line of credit .
More than 80 other publicly traded companies tapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , according to a Financial Times analysis .
“ They definitionally have more access to financial markets , ” she said .
Plus , if a fund shuts down , the overall harm to the public is small .
It ’ s not an essential business .
“ There should be minimal collateral consequences if a hedge fund shuts down no one is going to go without milk or bread.
” Another way to keep the money out of the hands of the biggest and most well-resourced businesses would be to require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the last wave of lending , 4 % of the loans represented 44.5 % of the $ 349 billion lent out .
In other words , close to half the money went to the biggest companies in the form of large loans .
The new bill sets aside $ 60 billion for lending institutions with assets under $ 50 billion — such as community banks — and it reserved $ 30 billion of that money for banks with less than $ 10 billion .
Democrats pushed for the changes to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in minority communities who do not have prior lending relationships .
Fischer said that some restrictions in the program sound be loosened .
For example , the requirements to keep a certain number of staff on payroll may be too onerous for businesses that still have no idea when they ’ ll reopen , and have other costs to maintain .
“ The smallest of small businesses have other costs they need to pay down before they can even think about re-hiring people.
” The Small Business Administration should also be more closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Are minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses getting discriminated against ?
Anecdotally , it would appear so , but there was no tracking under the first tranche of money .
For now , at least , larger companies who applied for loans under the program face no punishment apart from public shaming .
But that might change .
During a press conference earlier this week , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin threatened “ severe consequences ” for firms that improperly take advantage of the program and fail to pay back the government .

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The House on Thursday is set to allocate another $310 billion to a small business loan program it established to provide relief to Americans out of work due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The bill, which the Senate passed earlier this week, also includes additional funding for hospitals, emergency disaster loans, and a national program to expand testing for the disease.
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Despite mounting criticism of the small business relief scheme, after large and publicly traded firms received huge loans, the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program will have essentially the same structure, with desperate companies scrambling for cash and banks deciding who gets it based on their own preferences.
“I can count on one hand — literally on one hand — the number of businesses in my district who have received assistance,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who represents Upper Manhattan, said Thursday during a hearing on Capitol Hill. “They got bamboozled. They are mad as hell. I am mad as hell.”
Business groups pleaded for changes to the program, which covers two months of payroll costs for any company with fewer than 500 employees so long as it doesn’t lay off workers or slash their pay this summer.
The National Restaurant Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, for instance, have said Congress should let firms use the forgivable payroll loan for a two month period later this year, after local governments have actually allowed nonessential business to resume. Under the current terms of the program, funds must be used within eight weeks of the date when the loan is funded.
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The trade groups also said more than 25% of the loan should be allowed to cover non-payroll expenses such as rent and utilities, since payroll is a proportionately smaller share of costs for some firms, such as restaurants.
“It’s kind of unworkable for a lot of businesses,” said the NFIB’s Elizabeth Milito, who noted that there may have been more optimism about the coronavirus outbreak and the extent of its economic effects when lawmakers first created the payroll initiative.
Several business owners told HuffPost they didn’t get loans before the program first ran out of money, but some have said the program has since come through. A digital marketing firm in Florida and a brewery in North Carolina both said the money hit their accounts in the last week.
There are a bunch of things Congress could also do to make this program work more equitably and keep the money out of deep-pocketed companies’ hands, said Amanda Fischer, policy director at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
First, there should be a ban on any public company receiving money, Fischer said. Those businesses have other ways of raising cash — public businesses can easily sell shares. Shake Shack, for example, was able to turn down its $10 million loan because it could tap another line of credit. More than 80 other publicly traded companies tapped the fund before it ran dry last week, according to a Financial Times analysis.
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Fischer also suggested prohibiting financial service companies from tapping the program, following some reports that hedge funds ― which are technically small businesses ― were applying. A hedge fund’s business is raising money.
“They definitionally have more access to financial markets,” she said. Plus, if a fund shuts down, the overall harm to the public is small. It’s not an essential business. “There should be minimal collateral consequences if a hedge fund shuts down no one is going to go without milk or bread.”
Another way to keep the money out of the hands of the biggest and most well-resourced businesses would be to require a certain number of small dollar loans. During the last wave of lending, 4% of the loans represented 44.5% of the $349 billion lent out. In other words, close to half the money went to the biggest companies in the form of large loans.
“It’s a case of a very tiny number of companies making up a very high percentage of the total of money,” she said.
Banks also gave preferential treatment to the most well-resourced and richest companies.
The new bill sets aside $60 billion for lending institutions with assets under $50 billion — such as community banks — and it reserved $30 billion of that money for banks with less than $10 billion. Democrats pushed for the changes to make PPP loans more widely available to individuals in minority communities who do not have prior lending relationships.
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Fischer said that some restrictions in the program sound be loosened. For example, the requirements to keep a certain number of staff on payroll may be too onerous for businesses that still have no idea when they’ll reopen, and have other costs to maintain. “The smallest of small businesses have other costs they need to pay down before they can even think about re-hiring people.”
The Small Business Administration should also be more closely tracking who gets this money, Fischer added. Are minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses getting discriminated against? Anecdotally, it would appear so, but there was no tracking under the first tranche of money.
“We need to know if there are racial or ethnic or gender implications of who got this money to understand its impact on inequality.”
There are no additional reporting requirements for recipients of the loans in the new bill. The Trump administration has so far only provided general data on how many loans were approved.
For now, at least, larger companies who applied for loans under the program face no punishment apart from public shaming. But that might change. During a press conference earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin threatened “severe consequences” for firms that improperly take advantage of the program and fail to pay back the government.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Lawyers For Ousted Top Vaccine Official Announce Plans To File Whistleblower Complaint

Lawyers for Dr. Rick Bright announced Thursday that their client will file a whistleblower complaint based on the top vaccine official ’ s allegations he was ousted from his post for pushing back against President Donald Trump ’ s promotion of hydroxychloroquine .
Bright plans to file the complaint with both the Office of Special Counsel and the Health and Human Services inspector general , according to a statement from attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks .
The complaint will detail Bright ’ s allegation that he was ousted as director of the agency responsible for developing the drugs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising science-based concerns about White House pressure on treatment and vaccines .
“ In our filing we will make clear that Dr .
Bright was sidelined for one reason only ― because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs , including chloroquine , a drug promoted by the Administration as a panacea , but which is untested and possibly deadly when used improperly , ” the attorneys ’ statement read .
“ The facts and concerns raised by Dr .
Bright are compelling and well-documented and soon they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times in a report published Wednesday that he had clashed with HHS “ political leadership ” over his resistance to funding “ potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections.
” According to the Times report , Bright said he specifically limited the “ broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , ” the latter a drug used to treat malaria .
Trump has repeatedly promoted hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , despite scientific evidence not supporting that claim .
At least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no benefits of using hydroxychloroquine , and that more patients who received the drug died than those who received standard care .
The disagreement in drug use , according to Bright , led to his removal as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , which is the HHS agency in charge of the federal government ’ s effort to develop vaccines .
Bright had been with the agency since 2010 and served as its director since 2016 , but was reassigned to the National Institutes of Health in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When asked about Bright during Wednesday ’ s daily coronavirus briefing , Trump told reporters that he had “ never heard ” of the doctor ― a response he ’ s given regarding others in the past .
“ The administration is now making demonstrably false statements about Dr .
Bright , one of the nation ’ s leading vaccine , drug and diagnostic experts , to deflect attention from its retaliatory removal of him as the Director of [ BARDA ] , ” Katz and Banks said in their statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford , who caught the nation ’ s attention when she alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school .
Trump has had a bumpy history with inspectors general , who are tasked with being watchdogs of the federal government .
The intelligence whistleblower in the Ukraine scandal that eventually led to Trump ’ s impeachment had used the same route for his complaint : a report to the appropriate agency ’ s inspector general , who then had to decide whether the complaint was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
The intelligence community ’ s inspector general , Michael Atkinson , was recently fired for deciding to send the whistleblower complaint to Congress .
Earlier this month , Trump questioned the independence of HHS Principal Deputy Inspector General Christi Grimm after the watchdog released a report detailing supply shortages and testing delays at hospitals responding to the pandemic across the country .
The president claimed without evidence that the report was wrong and that Grimm was biased against him .
Just weeks ago , the president removed acting Pentagon Inspector General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide oversight of the government ’ s $ 2 trillion coronavirus response law along with nine other inspectors general .
Trump replaced Fine on the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee with Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General Sean O ’ Donnell .

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Lawyers for Dr. Rick Bright announced Thursday that their client will file a whistleblower complaint based on the top vaccine official’s allegations he was ousted from his post for pushing back against President Donald Trump’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine.
Bright plans to file the complaint with both the Office of Special Counsel and the Health and Human Services inspector general, according to a statement from attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks. The complaint will detail Bright’s allegation that he was ousted as director of the agency responsible for developing the drugs to fight the coronavirus pandemic in retaliation for raising science-based concerns about White House pressure on treatment and vaccines.
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“In our filing we will make clear that Dr. Bright was sidelined for one reason only ― because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs, including chloroquine, a drug promoted by the Administration as a panacea, but which is untested and possibly deadly when used improperly,” the attorneys’ statement read. “The facts and concerns raised by Dr. Bright are compelling and well-documented and soon they will be public.”
JUST IN: Attorneys for Rick BRIGHT who claims he was removed from his post for pushing back against Trump's promotion of hydroxychloroquine, say he'll be filing a whistleblower complaint with the HHS inspector general. pic.twitter.com/aBob3m5vRK — Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 23, 2020
A spokesperson for HHS did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Bright told The New York Times in a report published Wednesday that he had clashed with HHS “political leadership” over his resistance to funding “potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections.” According to the Times report, Bright said he specifically limited the “broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine,” the latter a drug used to treat malaria.
Trump has repeatedly promoted hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, despite scientific evidence not supporting that claim. At least one recent study of 368 patients showed that there were no benefits of using hydroxychloroquine, and that more patients who received the drug died than those who received standard care.
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The disagreement in drug use, according to Bright, led to his removal as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is the HHS agency in charge of the federal government’s effort to develop vaccines. Bright had been with the agency since 2010 and served as its director since 2016, but was reassigned to the National Institutes of Health in what he said was a smaller role.
When asked about Bright during Wednesday’s daily coronavirus briefing, Trump told reporters that he had “never heard” of the doctor ― a response he’s given regarding others in the past.
“The administration is now making demonstrably false statements about Dr. Bright, one of the nation’s leading vaccine, drug and diagnostic experts, to deflect attention from its retaliatory removal of him as the Director of [BARDA],” Katz and Banks said in their statement.
The attorneys both previously represented Christine Blasey Ford, who caught the nation’s attention when she alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school.
Trump has had a bumpy history with inspectors general, who are tasked with being watchdogs of the federal government. The intelligence whistleblower in the Ukraine scandal that eventually led to Trump’s impeachment had used the same route for his complaint: a report to the appropriate agency’s inspector general, who then had to decide whether the complaint was “urgent” enough to send to Congress. The intelligence community’s inspector general, Michael Atkinson, was recently fired for deciding to send the whistleblower complaint to Congress.
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Earlier this month, Trump questioned the independence of HHS Principal Deputy Inspector General Christi Grimm after the watchdog released a report detailing supply shortages and testing delays at hospitals responding to the pandemic across the country. The president claimed without evidence that the report was wrong and that Grimm was biased against him.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Says She'll Vote For Joe Biden For President

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) plans to vote for Joe Biden in the general election , she told the rapper Fat Joe in a livestreamed interview Wednesday night .
“ In November , I ’ m going to be voting for Joe Biden , ” she said , responding to a question about her intent posed by the rapper .
“ I ’ ve been saying this whole time that we got to support the Democratic nominee , ” she continued , adding : “ This is the time where I ’ m saying it declaratively like this.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , Biden ’ s main challenger in this year ’ s race for the Democratic presidential nomination .
Sanders endorsed Biden on April 13 , less than a week after he exited the race .
Earlier in April , Biden ’ s bid to unify his party included embracing aspects of the progressive agenda , announcing his support for canceling student debt for a large portion of Americans who make less than $ 125,000 a year and calling for repeal of a law that tightened the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he once championed .
But on the same day as Sanders ’ endorsement , Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times she thought Biden ’ s policy overtures to progressives at that point had been inadequate .
“ There ’ s this talk about unity as this kind of vague , kumbaya , kind of term , ” she said .
“ Unity and unifying isn ’ t a feeling , it ’ s a process .
And what I hope does not happen in this process is that everyone just tries to shoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the rug as an aesthetic difference of style.
” “ I ’ ve always said that I will support the Democratic nominee , ” she said .
“ But unity is a process , and figuring out what that looks like is part of this whole conversation ” among progressives and the Biden camp .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, Biden ’ s other main progressive challenger in the presidential race , announced her endorsement of the presumptive nominee on April 15 .
Biden “ is committed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , ” Warren said .
“ Now it ’ s up to all of us to help make Joe Biden the next president of the United States .
”

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) plans to vote for Joe Biden in the general election, she told the rapper Fat Joe in a livestreamed interview Wednesday night.
“In November, I’m going to be voting for Joe Biden,” she said, responding to a question about her intent posed by the rapper.
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“I’ve been saying this whole time that we got to support the Democratic nominee,” she continued, adding: “This is the time where I’m saying it declaratively like this.”
Ocasio-Cortez served as a prominent surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Biden’s main challenger in this year’s race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sanders endorsed Biden on April 13, less than a week after he exited the race.
Earlier in April, Biden’s bid to unify his party included embracing aspects of the progressive agenda, announcing his support for canceling student debt for a large portion of Americans who make less than $125,000 a year and calling for repeal of a law that tightened the rules for filing for bankruptcy ― a measure he once championed.
But on the same day as Sanders’ endorsement, Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times she thought Biden’s policy overtures to progressives at that point had been inadequate.
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“There’s this talk about unity as this kind of vague, kumbaya, kind of term,” she said. “Unity and unifying isn’t a feeling, it’s a process. And what I hope does not happen in this process is that everyone just tries to shoo it along and brush real policies ... under the rug as an aesthetic difference of style.”
The lawmaker mentioned health care, climate change and immigration reform as specific policy areas she’d like Biden to address.
“I’ve always said that I will support the Democratic nominee,” she said. “But unity is a process, and figuring out what that looks like is part of this whole conversation” among progressives and the Biden camp.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Biden’s other main progressive challenger in the presidential race, announced her endorsement of the presumptive nominee on April 15.
Biden “is committed to the fight for social, racial and economic justice,” Warren said. “Now it’s up to all of us to help make Joe Biden the next president of the United States.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--White House Correspondent Dodges Falling Lights Like She's In 'The Matrix'

NBC News ’ Kristen Welker swerved to avoid two falling TV light stands during her live broadcast outside the White House Thursday .
The White House correspondent then calmly continued her report about the coronavirus pandemic , like it was no big deal .
Check out the clip here : That time @ kwelkernbc ( an already amazing journalist ) became a legend .
pic.twitter.com/FhxiJp9ATw — Jeevan Vittal ( @ JvittalTV ) April 22 , 2020 Some people on Twitter suggested Welker ’ s moves were straight out of “ The Matrix ” movie franchise , starring Keanu Reeves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a scene from a supernatural thriller !
Bravo Kristen !
— Roger Clark ( @ RogerClark41 ) April 22 , 2020 Welker ’ s sidestep also came to the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles , which tweeted this spoof scouting report in response : Scouting report : Prospect clearly has superior knowledge of the game and raw talent to complement her speed .
Elite ability to avoid contact in small spaces .
— Philadelphia Eagles ( @ Eagles ) April 22 , 2020 NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell , meanwhile , hailed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing a beat during their interview “ despite gusts of wind and falling light stands.
” “ But boy did it scare all of us , ” Mitchell tweeted .
The intrepid @ kwelkernbc doesn ’ t miss a beat despite gusts of wind and falling light stands .
But boy did it scare all of us .
Thanks always to my friend , Kristen , for carrying on .
pic.twitter.com/9lwa5EqyZp — Andrea Mitchell ( @ mitchellreports ) April 22 , 2020

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NBC News’ Kristen Welker swerved to avoid two falling TV light stands during her live broadcast outside the White House Thursday.
The White House correspondent then calmly continued her report about the coronavirus pandemic, like it was no big deal. Check out the clip here:
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That time @kwelkernbc (an already amazing journalist) became a legend. pic.twitter.com/FhxiJp9ATw — Jeevan Vittal (@JvittalTV) April 22, 2020
Some people on Twitter suggested Welker’s moves were straight out of “The Matrix” movie franchise, starring Keanu Reeves, or a supernatural thriller.
Kristen Welker like Neo in The Matrix. — generation jones🍑 (@JoeRhile) April 22, 2020
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That looks like a scene from a supernatural thriller! Bravo Kristen! — Roger Clark (@RogerClark41) April 22, 2020
Welker’s sidestep also came to the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles, which tweeted this spoof scouting report in response:
Scouting report: Prospect clearly has superior knowledge of the game and raw talent to complement her speed. Elite ability to avoid contact in small spaces. — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 22, 2020
NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell, meanwhile, hailed her colleague as “intrepid” for not missing a beat during their interview “despite gusts of wind and falling light stands.”
“But boy did it scare all of us,” Mitchell tweeted.
The intrepid @kwelkernbc doesn’t miss a beat despite gusts of wind and falling light stands. But boy did it scare all of us. Thanks always to my friend, Kristen, for carrying on. pic.twitter.com/9lwa5EqyZp — Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) April 22, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Fox News' Sean Hannity: 'Americans Are Dying To Get Back To Work'

Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday said on his radio show and on his prime-time TV program that Americans are “ dying to get back to work ” amid the coronavirus pandemic ― a claim contradicted by polls showing a majority fear the premature easing of restrictions .
“ You ’ ve seen people , resentment building in a lot of sectors here .
It ’ s percolating , ” Hannity said on his radio show , referring to right-wing protests in some states against stay-at-home orders .
A HuffPost analysis found many of the protests , encouraged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by conspiracy theorists , white nationalists and other fringe groups .
Hannity later repeated the claim on his widely watched TV show .
“ Americans are dying to get back to work , ” Hannity said in a lengthy rant about Democrats , who he accused ( without any hint of irony ) of politicizing the public health crisis and using it to flush U.S. values “ down the drain.
” Hannity has himself politicized the contagion multiple times , accusing Democrats and the media of “ weaponizing ” the virus “ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been in lockstep with Trump on the pandemic , downplaying the threat and defending the president ’ s response .
Check out the clip and Hannity ’ s comments from the 4:45 mark here :

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Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday said on his radio show and on his prime-time TV program that Americans are “dying to get back to work” amid the coronavirus pandemic ― a claim contradicted by polls showing a majority fear the premature easing of restrictions.
“You’ve seen people, resentment building in a lot of sectors here. It’s percolating,” Hannity said on his radio show, referring to right-wing protests in some states against stay-at-home orders.
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A HuffPost analysis found many of the protests, encouraged by President Donald Trump, have been fueled by conspiracy theorists, white nationalists and other fringe groups.
Check out the audio here:
Hannity later repeated the claim on his widely watched TV show.
“Americans are dying to get back to work,” Hannity said in a lengthy rant about Democrats, who he accused (without any hint of irony) of politicizing the public health crisis and using it to flush U.S. values “down the drain.”
Hannity has himself politicized the contagion multiple times, accusing Democrats and the media of “weaponizing” the virus “to bludgeon” Trump.
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The TV host has been in lockstep with Trump on the pandemic, downplaying the threat and defending the president’s response.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--U.S. To Deport 129 Haitians, Despite Coronavirus Risk

The Trump administration is scheduled to deport 129 Haitian migrants on Thursday , despite the fact that many of them have likely been exposed to the coronavirus in detention centers in the United States .
In the weeks leading up to the deportation flight , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained at least 13 of those likely to be deported at Louisiana ’ s Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center , where at least two detainees have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Several of the likely deportees shared a bunk at Pine Prairie with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some are now feeling unwell .
One of the bunkmates , Fredly Charles , is now showing symptoms himself .
He has “ lost his sense of smell , and has a fever , fatigue and is sweating , ” his attorney , Ira Alkalay , told HuffPost .
Charles was told he might be deported this week , and he ’ s been given no indication that his symptoms have changed the plan , Alkalay said , who explained that migrants deported by ICE often don ’ t receive confirmation until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deported .
President Donald Trump has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by clamping down even further on immigration , including shutting down the border to asylum-seekers and barring certain legal immigrants .
His administration has also continued to carry out deportations , even though experts have warned that it increases the risk of spreading the virus , both among the people being deported and those they interact with in their native countries .
The removal flight to Haiti is a prime example ― in its effort to expel immigrants from the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere .
“ The U.S. shouldn ’ t be doing this , ” a Haitian civil servant who works with deportees told HuffPost .
By taking people from different detention centers and putting them together on a plane , particularly without testing them , “ you put everybody at risk , including little children , ” said the official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for his job if he speaks out publicly .
Haiti is already struggling to respond to a growing number of coronavirus cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tested positive for the virus after taking tests administered by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health .
Those deportees were on the same flight from the United States to Haiti as several children , including a 3-year-old girl , according to the Haitian civil servant .
Further U.S. deportations could worsen the COVID-19 outbreak in Haiti , given that U.S. immigration authorities do not systematically test migrant detainees for the virus prior to deporting them .
Public health experts warned that this outbreak could be particularly deadly due to the weaknesses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many Haitians ’ lack of access to basic necessities .
Since April 7 , when ICE deported 61 Haitians , including the three who tested positive for COVID-19 , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Haiti has climbed from 24 to 47 , according to data from the Haitian Ministry of Public Health , which also reported that the disease has caused three deaths so far .
However , given that relatively little testing has been done in the country , the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths could , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official statistics suggest , said the official working on Haiti ’ s pandemic response , who wished to remain anonymous because he fears reprisal .
The official confirmed that the three COVID-positive Haitians deported by the U.S. this month have been placed in isolation in a local hospital .
Given that Haiti has very limited hospital resources , as well as a limited capacity to carry out COVID-19 testing , he warned that “ this is putting an additional burden on all of our fragile systems.
” “ He has been asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he has not been given a test , ” he said , adding that some of the other detainees who believe they have been exposed to the virus have also tried unsuccessfully to get tested .
“ There ’ s a strong likelihood that a lot of these people have been exposed to the coronavirus and would test positive , ” said Phillips of Haiti Bridge Alliance , who , like Alkalay , has begun to suspect that this may be exactly why the U.S. government is not testing deportees for the @ @

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The Trump administration is scheduled to deport 129 Haitian migrants on Thursday, despite the fact that many of them have likely been exposed to the coronavirus in detention centers in the United States.
In the weeks leading up to the deportation flight, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained at least 13 of those likely to be deported at Louisiana’s Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center, where at least two detainees have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Several of the likely deportees shared a bunk at Pine Prairie with one of these coronavirus-infected detainees, and some are now feeling unwell.
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One of the bunkmates, Fredly Charles, is now showing symptoms himself. He has “lost his sense of smell, and has a fever, fatigue and is sweating,” his attorney, Ira Alkalay, told HuffPost. Charles was told he might be deported this week, and he’s been given no indication that his symptoms have changed the plan, Alkalay said, who explained that migrants deported by ICE often don’t receive confirmation until the last minute about when exactly they will be deported.
Children may also be present on Thursday’s deportation flight, according to Nicole Phillips of Haitian Bridge Alliance, who told HuffPost that she has received information that 49 minors will be on the flight.
ICE did not respond to a request for comment on the planned removals.
President Donald Trump has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by clamping down even further on immigration, including shutting down the border to asylum-seekers and barring certain legal immigrants. His administration has also continued to carry out deportations, even though experts have warned that it increases the risk of spreading the virus, both among the people being deported and those they interact with in their native countries. The removal flight to Haiti is a prime example ― in its effort to expel immigrants from the U.S., the nation is endangering public health elsewhere.
“The U.S. shouldn’t be doing this,” a Haitian civil servant who works with deportees told HuffPost. By taking people from different detention centers and putting them together on a plane, particularly without testing them, “you put everybody at risk, including little children,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears for his job if he speaks out publicly.
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer watches as immigrants are deported by plane in 2018. David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Haiti is already struggling to respond to a growing number of coronavirus cases, including three Haitian deportees from the U.S. who tested positive for the virus after taking tests administered by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health. Those deportees were on the same flight from the United States to Haiti as several children, including a 3-year-old girl, according to the Haitian civil servant.
Further U.S. deportations could worsen the COVID-19 outbreak in Haiti, given that U.S. immigration authorities do not systematically test migrant detainees for the virus prior to deporting them. Public health experts warned that this outbreak could be particularly deadly due to the weaknesses of Haiti’s health and sanitation infrastructure and many Haitians’ lack of access to basic necessities.
A Haitian official who is involved in the country’s pandemic response said it would be dangerous to have more deportations “at a time when the domestic rate is rising and may increase exponentially.”
Since April 7, when ICE deported 61 Haitians, including the three who tested positive for COVID-19, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Haiti has climbed from 24 to 47, according to data from the Haitian Ministry of Public Health, which also reported that the disease has caused three deaths so far.
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However, given that relatively little testing has been done in the country, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths could, in reality, be much higher than these official statistics suggest, said the official working on Haiti’s pandemic response, who wished to remain anonymous because he fears reprisal.
“We’re potentially sitting on a ticking time bomb,” he told HuffPost.
The official confirmed that the three COVID-positive Haitians deported by the U.S. this month have been placed in isolation in a local hospital. Given that Haiti has very limited hospital resources, as well as a limited capacity to carry out COVID-19 testing, he warned that “this is putting an additional burden on all of our fragile systems.”
A factory worker counts face masks at the Sonapi Industrial Park in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dieu Nalio Chery/Associated Press
Alkalay, the attorney, said his client has repeatedly asked the authorities at Pine Prairie to test him for the coronavirus.
“He has been asking for a test quite insistently for days, and he has not been given a test,” he said, adding that some of the other detainees who believe they have been exposed to the virus have also tried unsuccessfully to get tested.
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“There’s a strong likelihood that a lot of these people have been exposed to the coronavirus and would test positive,” said Phillips of Haiti Bridge Alliance, who, like Alkalay, has begun to suspect that this may be exactly why the U.S. government is not testing deportees for the virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--New HHS Spokesman Has Deleted Racist Tweets Published As The Coronavirus Spread

Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images Michael Caputo , named earlier this month to head the public affairs office for the Health and Human Services Department , has erased a number of controversial tweets that held forth on the coronavirus pandemic , among other subjects .
Michael Caputo , the former 2016 campaign adviser to President Donald Trump who was recently appointed the top spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department , has deleted a number of racist and offensive tweets he published as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the U.S. Caputo deleted all of the tweets on his personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday , he directed his followers to the official Twitter account of the HHS assistant secretary for public affairs , the job he now has .
But an online archive of Caputo ’ s deleted tweets from as recent as this month marked by profanity , vitriol against the media , attacks on Democrats and racist remarks against Chinese people throughout the coronavirus outbreak .
CNN was the first to report on Caputo ’ s tweets , which can still be viewed on Internet Archive ’ s Wayback Machine that takes snapshots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tweet published on March 12 , Caputo claimed that “ millions of Chinese suck the blood out of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the ass out of anteaters ” ― a post that was in response to a question about how he knew that the novel coronavirus started in Wuhan , China .
Caputo also tweeted the phrase ” # ChineseVirus ” a total of 20 times in one tweet in response to a video of Trump defending the racist phrase during a briefing by the White House ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department spokesperson also previously accused the media of spreading “ intentional media panic ” over COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
And he encouraged conspiracy theories .
In late March , Caputo tweeted a picture of liberal billionaire and philanthropist George Soros , suggesting that he was behind the outbreak .
Soros is often the target of right-wing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories .
Caputo , a fierce Trump supporter , was appointed the HHS assistant secretary for public affairs earlier this month as the administration continues to hold weekly public updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In February , Caputo published a book titled “ The Ukraine Hoax , ” defending Trump against the whistleblower complaint about the president ’ s phone call with Ukraine ’ s president that led to his impeachment .
Earlier this month , Politico reported that Caputo was being moved into the communications position in order to have more control over HHS Secretary Alex Azar ; the story cited two unnamed officials .
The personnel move came after The Washington Post published a report critical of Trump ’ s response to early warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story , U.S. intelligence officials and Azar encouraged the president to take early action on the growing threat , to no avail .
On Thursday , Caputo denied those reports via the official HHS account , tweeting that Azar has told “ many reporters ” that Trump “ responded resolutely to all recommendations from public health experts .
”

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Michael Caputo, the former 2016 campaign adviser to President Donald Trump who was recently appointed the top spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department, has deleted a number of racist and offensive tweets he published as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the U.S.
Caputo deleted all of the tweets on his personal account prior to April 12 and, on Thursday, he directed his followers to the official Twitter account of the HHS assistant secretary for public affairs, the job he now has.
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But an online archive of Caputo’s deleted tweets from as recent as this month marked by profanity, vitriol against the media, attacks on Democrats and racist remarks against Chinese people throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
CNN was the first to report on Caputo’s tweets, which can still be viewed on Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine that takes snapshots of webpages and archives them.
Michael Caputo, named earlier this month to head the public affairs office for the Health and Human Services Department, has erased a number of controversial tweets that held forth on the coronavirus pandemic, among other subjects. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
In a tweet published on March 12, Caputo claimed that “millions of Chinese suck the blood out of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the ass out of anteaters” ― a post that was in response to a question about how he knew that the novel coronavirus started in Wuhan, China.
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Caputo also tweeted the phrase ”#ChineseVirus” a total of 20 times in one tweet in response to a video of Trump defending the racist phrase during a briefing by the White House’s coronavirus task force.
The new health department spokesperson also previously accused the media of spreading “intentional media panic” over COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. And he encouraged conspiracy theories.
In late March, Caputo tweeted a picture of liberal billionaire and philanthropist George Soros, suggesting that he was behind the outbreak. Soros is often the target of right-wing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Caputo, a fierce Trump supporter, was appointed the HHS assistant secretary for public affairs earlier this month as the administration continues to hold weekly public updates on the U.S. response to the pandemic.
In February, Caputo published a book titled “The Ukraine Hoax,” defending Trump against the whistleblower complaint about the president’s phone call with Ukraine’s president that led to his impeachment.
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Earlier this month, Politico reported that Caputo was being moved into the communications position in order to have more control over HHS Secretary Alex Azar; the story cited two unnamed officials.
The personnel move came after The Washington Post published a report critical of Trump’s response to early warnings about the coronavirus. According to the story, U.S. intelligence officials and Azar encouraged the president to take early action on the growing threat, to no avail.
On Thursday, Caputo denied those reports via the official HHS account, tweeting that Azar has told “many reporters” that Trump “responded resolutely to all recommendations from public health experts.”
.@SecAzar is focused on serving the American people alongside @POTUS during this pandemic. Recent reports citing anonymous sources and peddling insults, hearsay, and intentional distortions that attack the work of @POTUS, @HHSGov and the Administration are #FakeNews. — Michael R. Caputo (@SpoxHHS) April 23, 2020
.@SecAzar has clearly told many reporters that @POTUS has responded resolutely to all recommendations from public health experts. The #FakeNews peddlers who heard him say this won’t report it because it proves @POTUS’s early decisive leadership. https://t.co/4pMEa5WtzG — Michael R. Caputo (@SpoxHHS) April 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Maxine Waters Reveals Her Sister Is Dying Of The Coronavirus

Rep. Maxine Waters ( D-Calif. ) revealed Thursday on the House floor that her sister is dying of the coronavirus .
The congresswoman , who chairs the House Financial Services Committee , discussed her sister ’ s condition while speaking in support of the latest coronavirus relief bill , which passed in the Senate earlier this week and passed in the House later Thursday .
“ I ’ m going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis , Missouri , right now , infected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congresswoman , who grew up in St. Louis with 12 siblings , did not name the sister who has COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new virus , during her speech in the House chamber .
.
@ RepMaxineWaters : `` I 'm going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis , Missouri right now , infected by the Coronavirus . ''
Full video here : https : //t.co/IBennHJzF3 pic.twitter.com/YlvwDIZMFK — CSPAN ( @ cspan ) April 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program designated for small businesses .
The initial rollout of the program drew criticism after it was revealed loans went to some large businesses and chains before the program ran out of money .
The new bill also allocates $ 75 billion to health care providers for expenses and lost revenues related to the coronavirus pandemic and $ 25 billion to expand testing .
What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked , it always seemed to generate its own light , one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Elizabeth Warren ( @ ewarren ) April 23 , 2020 “ What made him extra special was his smile — quick and crooked , it always seemed to generate its own light , one that lit up everyone around him , ” Warren tweeted on Thursday .
She noted in a later tweet that she was “ grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him.
” “ But it ’ s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say ‘ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close , ” she added .
“ I ’ ll miss you dearly my brother .
”

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UPDATE: May 12 ― Rep. Maxine Waters’s told The Grio that her sister has died of the coronavirus.
The California congresswoman revealed on the House floor last month that her sister was dying of COVID-19.
“It is one of the most painful things that I’ve ever had to experience in my life,” Waters told the publication in an interview on May 7. “She had suffered. And so we are going through a very difficult time. It was not easy, but in many ways, I’m so glad she’s out of pain.”
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The congresswoman said that her sister was living in a nursing home, noting that long-term care facilities have been especially vulnerable to outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus.
“The nursing home is the only place we have for many of our seniors, many of whom have outlived their families,” Waters told The Grio. “That’s where they go. And now these nursing homes are like a Petri dish for the continued development of this virus that is killing us.”
Previously: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) revealed Thursday on the House floor that her sister is dying of the coronavirus.
The congresswoman, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, discussed her sister’s condition while speaking in support of the latest coronavirus relief bill, which passed in the Senate earlier this week and passed in the House later Thursday.
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“I’m going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, right now, infected by the coronavirus,” Waters said.
The congresswoman, who grew up in St. Louis with 12 siblings, did not name the sister who has COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, during her speech in the House chamber.
.@RepMaxineWaters: "I'm going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri right now, infected by the Coronavirus."
Full video here: https://t.co/IBennHJzF3 pic.twitter.com/YlvwDIZMFK — CSPAN (@cspan) April 23, 2020
The legislation allocates an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program designated for small businesses. The initial rollout of the program drew criticism after it was revealed loans went to some large businesses and chains before the program ran out of money.
The new bill also allocates $75 billion to health care providers for expenses and lost revenues related to the coronavirus pandemic and $25 billion to expand testing.
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On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced that her oldest brother, Don Reed Herring, died Tuesday night due to coronavirus complications.
What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him. pic.twitter.com/SFMOaBVCN3 — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
“What made him extra special was his smile — quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him,” Warren tweeted on Thursday.
She noted in a later tweet that she was “grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him.”
“But it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say ‘I love you’ one more time— and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close,” she added. “I’ll miss you dearly my brother.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Here’s What It's Like To Be Undocumented During The Coronavirus Crisis

Now the 35-year-old mother of three has run out of savings .
She doesn ’ t qualify for unemployment benefits since she ’ s undocumented .
She also got nothing from the federal government ’ s $ 2 trillion relief package last month — which sent $ 1,200 checks to low-income Americans , but excluded millions of immigrants without Social Security numbers .
“ The situation is really bad , ” Brigido said .
She and her kids , ages 15 , 12 and 8 , are scared to go out because they don ’ t have health insurance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time last week , where they got some vegetables , fruit and bread .
Undocumented workers also make up significant portions of the workers who have been deemed “ essential ” — from farmworkers to food delivery people to building cleaners — who are still going to work , risking their lives in a pandemic while millions of Americans stay home .
Only 1 in 6 Latinx workers have jobs that allow them to work from home .
And a staggering 38 % of immigrant workers are in low-income households — many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that often aren ’ t providing hazard pay or paid sick leave .
While immigrants represented 17 % of the 156 million people working in the U.S. in 2018 , they made up a far larger proportion of those in “ front-line ” industries , according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research .
Nearly 60 % of house cleaners were immigrants , as well as 40 % of janitors , building cleaners and packagers , and 24 % of grocery workers and home health care service workers .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Arenas said .
His household ’ s income has plummeted : His husband , a U.S. citizen who worked in hotels , also lost his job as hotels closed their doors , and the money Arenas now earns from working 10 to 15 hours a week is a fraction of what he made before .
Even though his husband is a U.S. citizen , they won ’ t be getting stimulus money : More than 1 million U.S. citizens have been blocked from getting checks because they file taxes jointly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have Social Security numbers .
Millions of U.S. citizen children will similarly not see any relief because their parents are undocumented .
While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention around the race and ethnicity of COVID-19 patients is still emerging , many localities are showing people of color , particularly Black people , are disproportionately affected by the virus .
New York City released preliminary data earlier this month showing COVID-19 was killing Black and Latinx people at twice the rate of white people .
Similarly , in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 % of the population , they represent 25 % of confirmed coronavirus cases so far .
That ’ s the case for Blanca Arroyo , who lives in Monterey , California , and has worked for years as a farmworker cleaning lettuce , strawberries , broccoli , artichokes and other produce in the fields .
She and her husband are two of around 2.4 million farmworkers in the U.S. — of which anywhere from 47 % to 70 % are undocumented .
Even though she ’ s lived in the U.S. since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been in the U.S. for 10 years or longer — she , her husband and their five U.S. citizen kids , ages 3 to 15 , will be getting no relief from federal stimulus checks .
They don ’ t know how they ’ re going to make their $ 2,300 rent due at the end of the month .
Last week , Arroyo had to stop working in the fields to care for her kids , now all home amid school closures .
Their family ’ s income has been cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one able to work now .
“ The fear is constant , ” Arroyo said .
They ’ re afraid of getting the virus , because they don ’ t have health insurance .
Every time she or her husband goes out , they strip down in the laundry room and change into pajamas before coming back into the house .
They ’ re also afraid of seeking help , because they worry someone will ask for their papers and they ’ ll end up getting deported .
Arroyo has to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one where she ’ s been getting treatment for a breast infection shut amid the pandemic .
The new place they referred her to can ’ t see her until June .
Meanwhile she ’ s in pain and worried someone there will ask for her papers .
Joel Alejandro Salazar in Panama City , Florida , has also been risking his health to feed others .
The 32-year-old Venezulan asylum-seeker was working at a hotel before it closed during the pandemic .
Ineligible for unemployment insurance , he ’ s picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopper for grocery delivery company Instacart .
Salazar says he makes trips to grocery stores to collect orders five to seven times a day .
And while the company recommends shoppers use gloves and masks , he said it doesn ’ t provide these .
Instacart workers went on strike last month to protest the lack of hazard pay and its limiting paid leave only to those with confirmed coronavirus cases .
The company said it would be making hand sanitizer available for its shoppers to order for free , but Salazar said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Instacart told HuffPost that its “ health and safety kits , ” including hand sanitizer , were available on a dedicated website , but as of Thursday they ’ d be made accessible directly in the app . )

Alma Brigido has been out of a job for over five weeks after the Pittsburgh restaurant where she cooked for four years closed due to the coronavirus shutdown.
Now the 35-year-old mother of three has run out of savings. She doesn’t qualify for unemployment benefits since she’s undocumented. She also got nothing from the federal government’s $2 trillion relief package last month — which sent $1,200 checks to low-income Americans, but excluded millions of immigrants without Social Security numbers.
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“The situation is really bad,” Brigido said. She and her kids, ages 15, 12 and 8, are scared to go out because they don’t have health insurance. They visited a food bank for the first time last week, where they got some vegetables, fruit and bread.
“I’m worried because I have three mouths to feed,” she added. “Without a job, without money, what am I going to do? When is this going to end?”
Brigido is one of about 11.3 million undocumented people in the U.S. who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis.
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“We just want the government to recognize our humanity,” Brigido said.
Farmworkers pick cabbage before dawn in a field outside of Calexico, California, in March 2018. ASSOCIATED PRESS
While immigrants represented 17% of the 156 million people working in the U.S. in 2018, they made up a far larger proportion of those in “front-line” industries, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Nearly 60% of house cleaners were immigrants, as well as 40% of janitors, building cleaners and packagers, and 24% of grocery workers and home health care service workers.
Jonny (who preferred not to use his last name due to his immigration status) is one of them. The 42-year-old house cleaner living in Seattle lost all upcoming jobs with his 15 clients after the state ordered people to stay home last month. Now he’s working nights sanitizing a grocery store after closing each day.
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“I’m trying to survive in this crisis,” Jonny said. His household’s income has plummeted: His husband, a U.S. citizen who worked in hotels, also lost his job as hotels closed their doors, and the money Jonny now earns from working 10 to 15 hours a week is a fraction of what he made before.
Even though his husband is a U.S. citizen, they won’t be getting stimulus money: More than 1 million U.S. citizens have been blocked from getting checks because they file taxes jointly with their immigrant spouses who don’t have Social Security numbers. Millions of U.S. citizen children will similarly not see any relief because their parents are undocumented.
“I know I’m going to get exposed,” Jonny said of the virus as he cleans a store filled with shoppers daily. He bought his own mask after the store only provided gloves to protect his hands.
While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention around the race and ethnicity of COVID-19 patients is still emerging, many localities are showing people of color, particularly Black people, are disproportionately affected by the virus. New York City released preliminary data earlier this month showing COVID-19 was killing Black and Latinx people at twice the rate of white people. Similarly, in San Francisco, while Latinx people make up only 15% of the population, they represent 25% of confirmed coronavirus cases so far.
Latinx civil rights group the League of United Latin American Citizens noted in a report this month that the Latinx community in the U.S. has significant risk factors for contracting and suffering harsher consequences from the virus, including living in households with more people, having poor access to health care, and working in “essential” industries.
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“We just want the government to recognize our humanity.” - Alma Brigido, undocumented restaurant worker
That’s the case for Blanca Arroyo, who lives in Monterey, California, and has worked for years as a farmworker cleaning lettuce, strawberries, broccoli, artichokes and other produce in the fields. She and her husband are two of around 2.4 million farmworkers in the U.S. — of which anywhere from 47% to 70% are undocumented.
Even though she’s lived in the U.S. since 1999 — about two-thirds of undocumented immigrants have been in the U.S. for 10 years or longer — she, her husband and their five U.S. citizen kids, ages 3 to 15, will be getting no relief from federal stimulus checks.
They don’t know how they’re going to make their $2,300 rent due at the end of the month. Last week, Arroyo had to stop working in the fields to care for her kids, now all home amid school closures. Their family’s income has been cut in half as her husband is the only one able to work now.
“The fear is constant,” Arroyo said. They’re afraid of getting the virus, because they don’t have health insurance. Every time she or her husband goes out, they strip down in the laundry room and change into pajamas before coming back into the house.
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They’re also afraid of seeking help, because they worry someone will ask for their papers and they’ll end up getting deported. Arroyo has to go to a new clinic soon, after the one where she’s been getting treatment for a breast infection shut amid the pandemic. The new place they referred her to can’t see her until June. Meanwhile she’s in pain and worried someone there will ask for her papers.
“Our status in this country isn’t the same as others’,” Arroyo said. “We immigrants are risking our families, our lives, so that other families have food on their tables.”
“We immigrants are risking our families, our lives, so that other families have food on their tables.” - Blanca Arroyo, undocumented farmworker
Joel Alejandro Salazar in Panama City, Florida, has also been risking his health to feed others. The 32-year-old Venezuelan asylum-seeker was working at a hotel before it closed during the pandemic. Ineligible for unemployment insurance, he’s picked up a temporary job as a food shopper for grocery delivery company Instacart. Salazar says he makes trips to grocery stores to collect orders five to seven times a day. And while the company recommends shoppers use gloves and masks, he said it doesn’t provide these.
Instacart workers went on strike last month to protest the lack of hazard pay and its limiting paid leave only to those with confirmed coronavirus cases. The company said it would be making hand sanitizer available for its shoppers to order for free, but Salazar said he wasn’t aware of this. (Instacart told HuffPost that its “health and safety kits,” including hand sanitizer, were available on a dedicated website, but as of Thursday they’d be made accessible directly in the app.)
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With Salazar’s mother, who lives with him, out of work due to the pandemic, they haven’t had enough money to send the usual weekly remittances to his grandmother, who is still in Venezuela.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Joe Biden's Campaign Returns Louis C.K.’s Donation

The presidential nominee ’ s camp told The Associated Press Wednesday that it refunded a $ 2,800 campaign donation made to Biden by the disgraced comedian — presumably to avoid association with someone who engaged in sexual misconduct with multiple women .
Federal Election Commission records show that Louis C.K.
, whose real name is Louis Szekely , made the contribution on March 4 , right after a Super Tuesday winning streak that signaled a presumptive nomination for Biden .
A representative from Biden ’ s campaign confirmed to the AP that the funds from Szekely had been given back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s report .
Biden ’ s rep declined further comment , however .
Although the AP notes that presidential campaigns typically vet who donates to them , it ’ s clear why Biden might want to distance himself from Szekely .
In 2017 , The New York Times published a report that detailed allegations of Louis C.K.
’ s sexual misconduct , which included masturbating in front of five women — four of whom spoke on the record — without their consent .
Shortly after the investigation was published , the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In late March , former Senate aide Tara Reade accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 .
She said the then-senator kissed her and penetrated her with his fingers without her consent .
Several women have come forward and accused the former vice president of unwanted touching that left them feeling uncomfortable .
Many of these women say that Biden placed his hands on an intimate spot on their bodies like their thighs or hugged them “ just a little bit too long.
” Vail Kohnert-Yount , a former White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post in 2019 that when she first met Biden he put his hand on the back of her head and pressed his forehead against hers as he spoke to her and called her “ pretty girl.
” “ I do not consider my experience to have been sexual assault or harassment , ” she told the Post , noting that she felt his intentions were good .
“ But it was the kind of inappropriate behavior that makes many women feel uncomfortable and unequal in the workplace .
”

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Joe Biden’s presidential campaign basically said “thanks, but no thanks” to Louis C.K.
The presidential nominee’s camp told The Associated Press Wednesday that it refunded a $2,800 campaign donation made to Biden by the disgraced comedian — presumably to avoid association with someone who engaged in sexual misconduct with multiple women.
Federal Election Commission records show that Louis C.K., whose real name is Louis Szekely, made the contribution on March 4, right after a Super Tuesday winning streak that signaled a presumptive nomination for Biden.
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Louis C.K. in 2017. Rich Fury via Getty Images
A representative from Biden’s campaign confirmed to the AP that the funds from Szekely had been given back, which will be reflected in May’s report. Biden’s rep declined further comment, however.
Szekely did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Although the AP notes that presidential campaigns typically vet who donates to them, it’s clear why Biden might want to distance himself from Szekely.
In 2017, The New York Times published a report that detailed allegations of Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct, which included masturbating in front of five women — four of whom spoke on the record — without their consent. Shortly after the investigation was published, the “Louie” star admitted to the actions.
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In late March, former Senate aide Tara Reade accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993. She said the then-senator kissed her and penetrated her with his fingers without her consent.
Several women have come forward and accused the former vice president of unwanted touching that left them feeling uncomfortable. Many of these women say that Biden placed his hands on an intimate spot on their bodies like their thighs or hugged them “just a little bit too long.”
Vail Kohnert-Yount, a former White House intern in 2013, told The Washington Post in 2019 that when she first met Biden he put his hand on the back of her head and pressed his forehead against hers as he spoke to her and called her “pretty girl.”
“I do not consider my experience to have been sexual assault or harassment,” she told the Post, noting that she felt his intentions were good. “But it was the kind of inappropriate behavior that makes many women feel uncomfortable and unequal in the workplace.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--House Passes 'Interim' $484 Billion Coronavirus Relief Bill

WASHINGTON ― After weeks of bitter negotiations , Republicans and Democrats in Congress passed a nearly $ 500 billion coronavirus relief package on Thursday that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program , which supports small businesses , and provide emergency money for hospitals .
The package now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature .
The House passed the bill 388-5 , with all but four Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor of it .
The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by “ unanimous consent , ” meaning Senators agreed not to hold up the measure by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , lawmakers weren ’ t so lucky .
A small group of Republicans made it clear earlier this week that they were opposed to the bill and would request a formal vote , requiring at least half of the chamber ’ s members to be present for passage .
Over the course of about an hour and a half , lawmakers took turns coming to the House floor to vote in groups of 40 .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) told representatives she wanted to avoid the usual crowds during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to observe social distancing guidelines by quickly coming to the House chamber , inserting their voting card and then immediately leaving .
During debate of the relief package , a number of Republicans could be spotted in the House chamber without masks ― and an even greater number of lawmakers seemed to take the recommended 6 foot distance between people as a mere suggestion .
The bill itself would provide $ 310 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program , $ 60 billion in economic disaster loans for small businesses , $ 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more for coronavirus testing .
The original funding dedicated to the Paycheck Protection Program , which was established in the $ 2.2 coronavirus relief bill that passed four weeks ago , ran dry after only two weeks ― and most Republicans support emergency loans for small businesses .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said two weeks ago he wouldn ’ t go above $ 250 billion , but he eventually caved to Pelosi ’ s demands for more small business money and funding for hospitals and testing .
( Industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional PPP money to last more than a week . )
The bipartisan committee is tasked with specifically overseeing how the money Congress has appropriated to the crisis will be spent .
But Republicans are interpreting the creation of the committee as a sign that Democrats just want to criticize the Trump administration .
“ I heard the Speaker say we need to move in a bipartisan manner , ” Rep. Louie Gohmert ( R-Texas ) said on the House floor .
“ I believe she meant that .
But then I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same thing about impeachment a year ago.
” Gohmert then went on to argue that people are “ social animals , ” and because of isolation , there had been more suicides in Knox County , Tennessee , than deaths in that area due to coronavirus .
Coronavirus has now killed about as many people in the U.S. in two months as there are suicides in the U.S. every year ― roughly 50,000 ― and coronavirus deaths increased tenfold in the past month with little sign of slowing down .
Rep. Jim Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the creation of a new oversight committee , arguing that there were already eight committees with jurisdiction to look at how relief money is being spent .
“ The ninth is political , ” Jordan said .
“ The ninth is looking out for Joe Biden .
The ninth is to go after President Trump .
This is just a continuation of the attack the Democrats have had on the president for the past four years.
” Instead , the only lawmakers who expressed frustration with the legislation ― known in Congress as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already passed three other bills and Democratic leadership had promised a larger measure for the fourth ― came from the Democratic side .
“ The only folks they have urgency around are folks like Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House and Shake Shack , ” Ocasio-Cortez said , referring to two restaurants that received loans from the original program even though they ’ re collectively worth more than $ 2 billion .
“ Those are the ones getting assistance in this bill .
You are not trying to fix this bill for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight to fund hospitals , fighting to fund testing .
That is what we ’ re fighting for in this bill .
It is unconscionable .

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WASHINGTON ― After weeks of bitter negotiations, Republicans and Democrats in Congress passed a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief package on Thursday that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, which supports small businesses, and provide emergency money for hospitals. The package now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The House passed the bill 388-5, with all but four Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor of it. The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by “unanimous consent,” meaning Senators agreed not to hold up the measure by requiring a recorded vote.
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In the House, lawmakers weren’t so lucky. A small group of Republicans made it clear earlier this week that they were opposed to the bill and would request a formal vote, requiring at least half of the chamber’s members to be present for passage.
Over the course of about an hour and a half, lawmakers took turns coming to the House floor to vote in groups of 40. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told representatives she wanted to avoid the usual crowds during a vote, and most lawmakers were happy to observe social distancing guidelines by quickly coming to the House chamber, inserting their voting card and then immediately leaving.
But there were also lawmakers who took the coronavirus-related precautions less seriously.
During debate of the relief package, a number of Republicans could be spotted in the House chamber without masks ― and an even greater number of lawmakers seemed to take the recommended 6 foot distance between people as a mere suggestion.
Republicans, who have generally supported Trump’s widely derided response to the coronavirus crisis, largely avoided criticizing the actual legislation the House passed on Thursday.
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The bill itself would provide $310 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program, $60 billion in economic disaster loans for small businesses, $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion more for coronavirus testing. The original funding dedicated to the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established in the $2.2 coronavirus relief bill that passed four weeks ago, ran dry after only two weeks ― and most Republicans support emergency loans for small businesses.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said two weeks ago he wouldn’t go above $250 billion, but he eventually caved to Pelosi’s demands for more small business money and funding for hospitals and testing. (Industry experts still don’t expect the additional PPP money to last more than a week.)
Instead of going after Democrats for adding more money to the small business program ― or providing funding for hospitals and testing ― Republicans criticized the creation of a select committee on the coronavirus crisis.
The bipartisan committee is tasked with specifically overseeing how the money Congress has appropriated to the crisis will be spent. But Republicans are interpreting the creation of the committee as a sign that Democrats just want to criticize the Trump administration.
“I heard the Speaker say we need to move in a bipartisan manner,” Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said on the House floor. “I believe she meant that. But then I can’t forget that she said the same thing about impeachment a year ago.”
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Gohmert then went on to argue that people are “social animals,” and because of isolation, there had been more suicides in Knox County, Tennessee, than deaths in that area due to coronavirus.
Coronavirus has now killed about as many people in the U.S. in two months as there are suicides in the U.S. every year ― roughly 50,000 ― and coronavirus deaths increased tenfold in the past month with little sign of slowing down.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) also took offense at the creation of a new oversight committee, arguing that there were already eight committees with jurisdiction to look at how relief money is being spent.
“The ninth is political,” Jordan said. “The ninth is looking out for Joe Biden. The ninth is to go after President Trump. This is just a continuation of the attack the Democrats have had on the president for the past four years.”
The resolution to establish the special committee was adopted along party lines, 212-182.
While four of the five members who voted against the relief package were Republicans ― Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) ― none of them came to the floor to speak.
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Instead, the only lawmakers who expressed frustration with the legislation ― known in Congress as “Phase 3.5,” because Congress has already passed three other bills and Democratic leadership had promised a larger measure for the fourth ― came from the Democratic side.
The co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who nonetheless voted for the bill, said Thursday that the next installment of congressional action needed a “bold paycheck guarantee that stops mass unemployment, an essential workers package, and state and local government funding.”
“Every minute, Madam Speaker, is a death, a family devastated, a business shuttered,” Jayapal continued. “We must think and deliver better.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was the only Democrat to vote against the bill, said it was a joke that Republicans were pretending to want to urgently help small businesses.
“The only folks they have urgency around are folks like Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Shake Shack,” Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to two restaurants that received loans from the original program even though they’re collectively worth more than $2 billion. “Those are the ones getting assistance in this bill. You are not trying to fix this bill for mom and pop. We had to fight to fund hospitals, fighting to fund testing. That is what we’re fighting for in this bill. It is unconscionable.
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With the exception of those five members ― and Justin Amash (I-Mich.), who voted present ― Republicans and Democrats were overwhelmingly supportive of the bill, and intimated their support for additional aid in the future.
Pelosi, who largely wrote the bill through negotiations with McConnell, said Congress was still in the “mitigation” phase of combating coronavirus and that additional action would be needed. And Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said essential workers whose lives are on the line “deserve a government that strives to meet that very same level of dedication.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-23--Trump Ponders Whether Light Or Disinfectant Injections Can 'Cure' Coronavirus

On Friday , the manufacturer of Lysol and other cleaning products issued a statement urging people not to consume the products in any form .
“ We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body through injection , ingestion or any other route , ” the company , RB , said .
Bryan , who is the senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary for science and technology for DHS , gave a presentation during the press conference on experiments testing how solar light affects the coronavirus on surfaces and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humidity may kill the virus more quickly , Bryan claimed .
He warned , however , that “ it would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer is going to totally kill the virus .
... That ’ s not the case.
” Bryan added that these new observations about the virus ’ interactions with light should not take away from the coronavirus guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Other health officials on the coronavirus task force were wary of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
When Trump asked whether sunlight and heat could “ cure ” the virus , task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said no .
“ Not as a treatment , ” Birx told Trump .
“ Certainly , fever is a good thing .
When you have a fever , it helps your body respond .
But not as … I ’ m not seeing heat or light as… ” Trump interjected , saying it would be “ a great thing to look at.
” Earlier this month , Dr. Anthony Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , acknowledged that warmer weather does affect other viruses , but he warned that it wasn ’ t the solution to the pandemic .
“ One should not assume that we are going to be rescued by a change in the weather .
You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing , ” he told ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” on April 9 .
“ If we get some help from the weather , so be it , fine .
But I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to White House science and technology officials this month , the National Academies of Sciences , Engineering , and Medicine said warmer weather wouldn ’ t lead to a significant reduction in the spread of the virus without “ major public health interventions .
”

On Friday, the manufacturer of Lysol and other cleaning products issued a statement urging people not to consume the products in any form.
“We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body through injection, ingestion or any other route,” the company, RB, said.
Bryan, who is the senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary for science and technology for DHS, gave a presentation during the press conference on experiments testing how solar light affects the coronavirus on surfaces and in the air. Higher temperatures and humidity may kill the virus more quickly, Bryan claimed.
He warned, however, that “it would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer is going to totally kill the virus. ... That’s not the case.”
Bryan added that these new observations about the virus’ interactions with light should not take away from the coronavirus guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other health officials on the coronavirus task force were wary of Trump’s suggestions about using light to kill the virus.
When Trump asked whether sunlight and heat could “cure” the virus, task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said no.
“Not as a treatment,” Birx told Trump. “Certainly, fever is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as … I’m not seeing heat or light as…”
Trump interjected, saying it would be “a great thing to look at.”
Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, acknowledged that warmer weather does affect other viruses, but he warned that it wasn’t the solution to the pandemic.
“One should not assume that we are going to be rescued by a change in the weather. You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing,” he told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on April 9. “If we get some help from the weather, so be it, fine. But I don’t think we need to assume that.”
Other leading infectious disease experts gave a similar warning.
In a letter to White House science and technology officials this month, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine said warmer weather wouldn’t lead to a significant reduction in the spread of the virus without “major public health interventions.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Trump’s Bonkers New Coronavirus Comments Get The Treatment On Twitter

President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that disinfectant and light could be potential treatments for the coronavirus infection that has so far claimed nearly 50,000 American lives .
Experts , including those within his own administration , immediately warned against taking such a path .
“ And then I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in a minute , one minute , and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning , ” Trump said .
“ Because you see it gets in the lungs , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so it would be interesting to check that.
” Dr. Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , first defended Trump ’ s “ natural question ” about the use of light to treat the disease .
But he also warned against using disinfectant .
“ I certainly wouldn ’ t recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant , ” he said on CNN .
Trump ’ s comments caused terms such as # Lysol , # Clorox and # TidePods , among others , to trend on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in disbelief : First , it was taking untested malaria drugs for coronavirus .
Now it 's eating moonbeams .
What 's next ?
Incantations ?
Sticking a screw driver in the wall socket while standing in a bucket of water ?
Cherry bubblegum ?
Eye of newt ?
Enough with this king of the stupid people .
https : //t.co/Ddlfv36OOu — Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) April 23 , 2020 Hello Melania !
While you stay home to keep yourself & others healthy , can keep your husband occupied with puzzles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep telling people to take deadly untested drugs or to try injecting themselves with disinfectant ?
# BeBetter # IncompetenceKills https : //t.co/CNOEjdJ1Qw — Mark Hamill ( @ HamillHimself ) April 23 , 2020 A week ago I asked whether it was responsible to carry Trump ’ s nightly stream of consciousness on live TV .
Today , he suggested drinking or injecting disinfectants or “ sunlight ” to kill the virus .
So I will ask again : What value is there to this spectacle ?
https : //t.co/S1ZgRhumxU — Adam Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Im sorry , did he just suggest injecting disinfectant into our lungs ?
I guess Clorox is the new Kool aid for the 24 % who still think tiny hands is their savior .
https : //t.co/j9cPetU84w — Nancy Lee Grahn ( @ NancyLeeGrahn ) April 23 , 2020 Since it apparently no longer goes without saying : Listen to doctors and do n't drink bleach , do n't inject bleach , do n't do anything with bleach other than using it for its specific uses for cleaning while following all safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raja Krishnamoorthi ( @ CongressmanRaja ) April 24 , 2020 Please do n't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant .
If you do need help with # COVID19 issues , we have lots of resources at https : //t.co/C4x8jjWL0x Just do n't make a bad situation worse .
— WA Emergency Management ( @ waEMD ) April 23 , 2020 Fresh off of touting the failed hydroxychloroquine treatment , Trump is now promoting injecting coronavirus patients with disinfectant to kill the virus .
Ca n't see this backfiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cohen ( @ briantylercohen ) April 23 , 2020 By all means though give the most powerful crazy man in the world all the airtime he craves to workshop his science theories .
— Schooley ( @ Rschooley ) April 24 , 2020 The chances that @ realDonaldTrump has an idea to cure # Covid_19 that works better than those of the best & brightest doctors & scientists : 0 % .
The chances that Trump causes one of his supporters to harm himself/herself : higher than 0 % .
Do not inject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Ted Lieu ( @ tedlieu ) April 23 , 2020 It ’ s interesting to me too.. that a person on this planet actually said something like that https : //t.co/tb4NiPcmy1 — Henry Winkler ( @ hwinkler4real ) April 24 , 2020 I find it interesting that the president thinks sunlight is powerful enough to cure # coronavirus but not strong enough to power an appliance .
— Christopher Moloney ( @ Moloknee ) April 24 , 2020 Today he talked about looking into injecting people with a disinfectant , and using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
You ever wonder what it would look & sound like if an ill-behaved three year old child was running the country ?
Watch today ’ s entire briefing .
https : //t.co/mIksuDGfjE — Joe Walsh ( @ WalshFreedom ) April 23 , 2020 Gon na go injest some sunlight while it ’ s still sunny and before I eaten too much dinner !
!
!
!
Should I eat the sunscreen first ?
Or does that matter ?
?
I ’ m new to this !
!
— 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐨 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What if we shrunk a doctor down to the size of an ant and the doctor went inside the body to fight the virus ?
The invisible enemy would n't be so invisible any more https : //t.co/tIclJUibjO — Dan Pfeiffer ( @ danpfeiffer ) April 23 , 2020 If the president ’ s musing about how his constituents might ingest or inject household cleaning chemicals doesn ’ t prompt tv news executives to re-evaluate the propriety of instantly amplifying his every word live , nothing will .
— southpaw ( @ nycsouthpaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no stood up and shouted `` WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT ?
GET OFF THE PODIUM ! ''
at this babbling ignoramus as thousands died in ICUs will puzzle future historians - if there are any .
https : //t.co/XVZknd9ngB — Steve Silberman ( @ stevesilberman ) April 23 , 2020 Missed this episode of the World 's Most Madcap Reality Show today .
Are we now going to have to issue warnings to people not to inject Lysol into their bodies ?
And will approximately 40 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news '' because their president says differently ?
https : //t.co/QoPyTyDI3Q — Joy Reid ( @ JoyAnnReid ) April 24 , 2020 Dear @ realDonaldTrump I 've eaten 7 tide pods and my wife is sticking her head in the oven and neither of us feels any better yet PLEASE EXPLAIN ?
?
— Seth Grahame-Smith ( @ sethgs ) April 23 , 2020

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President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that disinfectant and light could be potential treatments for the coronavirus infection that has so far claimed nearly 50,000 American lives.
Experts, including those within his own administration, immediately warned against taking such a path.
Advertisement
“And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning,” Trump said. “Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, first defended Trump’s “natural question” about the use of light to treat the disease.
But he also warned against using disinfectant.
“I certainly wouldn’t recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant,” he said on CNN.
Trump’s comments caused terms such as #Lysol, #Clorox and #TidePods, among others, to trend on Twitter as users of the social network reacted in disbelief:
How to medical pic.twitter.com/0EDqJcy38p — Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) April 24, 2020
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First, it was taking untested malaria drugs for coronavirus. Now it's eating moonbeams. What's next? Incantations? Sticking a screw driver in the wall socket while standing in a bucket of water? Cherry bubblegum? Eye of newt?
Enough with this king of the stupid people. https://t.co/Ddlfv36OOu — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) April 23, 2020
Hello Melania! While you stay home to keep yourself & others healthy, can keep your husband occupied with puzzles & other activities so he won't keep telling people to take deadly untested drugs or to try injecting themselves with disinfectant? #BeBetter#IncompetenceKills https://t.co/CNOEjdJ1Qw — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 23, 2020
A week ago I asked whether it was responsible to carry Trump’s nightly stream of consciousness on live TV.
Today, he suggested drinking or injecting disinfectants or “sunlight” to kill the virus.
So I will ask again: What value is there to this spectacle? https://t.co/S1ZgRhumxU — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 24, 2020
Im sorry, did he just suggest injecting disinfectant into our lungs? I guess Clorox is the new Kool aid for the 24% who still think tiny hands is their savior. https://t.co/j9cPetU84w — Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) April 23, 2020
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Take Camera 2 pic.twitter.com/mV9oQAnExm — Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) April 24, 2020
Wait. Now we're SUPPOSED to eat the Tide Pods? — Elizabeth Hackett (@LizHackett) April 23, 2020
Since it apparently no longer goes without saying: Listen to doctors and don't drink bleach, don't inject bleach, don't do anything with bleach other than using it for its specific uses for cleaning while following all safety precautions. https://t.co/rAsbgFnS9K — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) April 24, 2020
Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.
If you do need help with #COVID19 issues, we have lots of resources at https://t.co/C4x8jjWL0x
Just don't make a bad situation worse. — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) April 23, 2020
Fresh off of touting the failed hydroxychloroquine treatment, Trump is now promoting injecting coronavirus patients with disinfectant to kill the virus.
Can't see this backfiring at all. pic.twitter.com/Uq08VsFd5Q — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) April 23, 2020
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By all means though give the most powerful crazy man in the world all the airtime he craves to workshop his science theories. — Schooley (@Rschooley) April 24, 2020
The chances that @realDonaldTrump has an idea to cure #Covid_19 that works better than those of the best & brightest doctors & scientists: 0%.
The chances that Trump causes one of his supporters to harm himself/herself: higher than 0%.
Do not inject yourself with disinfectant. https://t.co/mkCWt6ows0 — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 23, 2020
It’s interesting to me too.. that a person on this planet actually said something like that https://t.co/tb4NiPcmy1 — Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) April 24, 2020
I find it interesting that the president thinks sunlight is powerful enough to cure #coronavirus but not strong enough to power an appliance. — Christopher Moloney (@Moloknee) April 24, 2020
Today he talked about looking into injecting people with a disinfectant, and using the sun to cure people of the disease.
You ever wonder what it would look & sound like if an ill-behaved three year old child was running the country? Watch today’s entire briefing. https://t.co/mIksuDGfjE — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 23, 2020
Advertisement
Gonna go injest some sunlight while it’s still sunny and before I eaten too much dinner!!!! Should I eat the sunscreen first? Or does that matter?? I’m new to this!! — 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐨 (@adamshapiro) April 24, 2020
What if we shrunk a doctor down to the size of an ant and the doctor went inside the body to fight the virus?
The invisible enemy wouldn't be so invisible any more https://t.co/tIclJUibjO — Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) April 23, 2020
If the president’s musing about how his constituents might ingest or inject household cleaning chemicals doesn’t prompt tv news executives to re-evaluate the propriety of instantly amplifying his every word live, nothing will. — southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) April 24, 2020
The fact that no stood up and shouted "WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT? GET OFF THE PODIUM!" at this babbling ignoramus as thousands died in ICUs will puzzle future historians - if there are any. https://t.co/XVZknd9ngB — Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) April 23, 2020
Who had inject lysol into your veins on your bingo card? #coronavirus #WereDoomed — Lizz "Hollywood Death Cult" Winstead (@lizzwinstead) April 24, 2020
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Missed this episode of the World's Most Madcap Reality Show today. Are we now going to have to issue warnings to people not to inject Lysol into their bodies? And will approximately 40 percent of Americans call such warnings "fake news" because their president says differently? https://t.co/QoPyTyDI3Q — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 24, 2020
So, basically, we’re back to people eating Tide Pods. https://t.co/uKZbRloK3H — The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) April 23, 2020
Dear @realDonaldTrump I've eaten 7 tide pods and my wife is sticking her head in the oven and neither of us feels any better yet PLEASE EXPLAIN?? — Seth Grahame-Smith (@sethgs) April 23, 2020
I can’t tell anymore so please tell me you’re joking? https://t.co/4o29FCRMhZ — Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) April 24, 2020
Things you should never ingest:
- Disinfectant
- Hand sanitizer
- Rubbing alcohol
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Clorox
- Lysol
- Tide Pods
Things you literally cannot ingest:
- Sunlight
People who should not be president:
- Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/wUrsRvYdnE — Satan (@RealS8nn) April 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-24--Conservative Website Names Trump’s Coronavirus 'Day That Will Live in Infamy'

A conservative website is taking a page out of the history books to reveal when President Donald Trump failed the @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
The Bulwark , a website launched by anti-Trump conservatives , chose Feb. @ @ @ @ @ “ day that will live in infamy , ” a reference to the line President @ @ @ @ @ describe the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor .
Li Wenliang , the Chinese doctor who @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ― and was punished by authorities for it ― died of the disease on @ @ @ @ @ day , Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping , saying Beijing was doing “ a @ @ @ @ @ stopping the spread of the virus .
And then the State Department sent 17.8 tons @ @ @ @ @ , including the masks , gowns and respirators now in short supply as the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Feb. 7 was the date the changed everything :

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A conservative website is taking a page out of the history books to reveal when President Donald Trump failed the nation in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bulwark, a website launched by anti-Trump conservatives, chose February 7 as Trump’s “day that will live in infamy,” a reference to the line President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to describe the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who first sounded the alarm about coronavirus ― and was punished by authorities for it ― died of the disease on February 7.
That same day, Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping, saying Beijing was doing “a very professional job” in stopping the spread of the virus.
And then the State Department sent 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China, including the masks, gowns and respirators now in short supply as the U.S. bears the brunt of the pandemic.
February 7 was the date that changed everything: