thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--The Abortion Ban In Texas Is Back On

The Abortion Ban In Texas Is Back On

Patients may not receive an abortion in the state unless it is medically necessary to preserve their life or health .
Providers who violate the executive order could face a fine of up to $ 1,000 or 180 days of jail time .
Last week , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) issued an executive order postponing all “ unnecessary medical procedures ” to save medical supplies for the health professionals combating the coronavirus .
Ken Paxton , the attorney general , clarified that abortions were considered unnecessary under the executive order .
On Monday , a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion restriction .
“ The attorney general ’ s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable , ” U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in his decision .
Less than 24 hours later , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed the ruling .
In a 2-1 opinion , the appeals court ruled that the order from the lower court be stayed until an appeal from Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , said that the 5th Circuit was escalating the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing .
“ The trial court found just yesterday that women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed , ” she said .
“ We will continue fighting this legal battle against Texas ’ abuse of emergency powers.
” Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott gives an update on the coronavirus on March 13 , 2020 , in Austin , Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state 's biggest cities .
“ Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis .
For years , abortion has been touted as a ‘ choice ’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure , ” said attorney general Paxton in a statement .
“ My office will continue to defend Governor Abbott ’ s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most during this health crisis.
” But reproductive rights groups say Texas is among a growing number of states that are taking advantage of the pandemic to stealthily erode abortion access .
Ohio , Iowa , Alabama , Mississippi and Kentucky have all taken steps to halt abortion , claiming that the procedure is elective and can simply be postponed .
“ Texans are losing their jobs , they are struggling to put food on the table , they can ’ t get COVID-19 testing – meanwhile indicted Texas Attorney General Ken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Aimee Arrambide , executive director , NARAL Pro-Choice Texas , in a statement .
“ Texans know abortion is a time-sensitive procedure that can not be delayed without profound consequences and Texans will remember that when they needed help during a pandemic , their state leaders were too busy politicizing and banning abortion care.
” The impact of Texas ’ abortion ban has already been felt by many women in the state .
One college student told HuffPost that she had to drive 24 hours and stay in an Airbnb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pill .

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An abortion ban in Texas during the coronavirus outbreak can temporarily continue, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.
Patients may not receive an abortion in the state unless it is medically necessary to preserve their life or health. Providers who violate the executive order could face a fine of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.
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Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order postponing all “unnecessary medical procedures” to save medical supplies for the health professionals combating the coronavirus. Ken Paxton, the attorney general, clarified that abortions were considered unnecessary under the executive order.
As a result, abortion clinics in the state were forced to cancel hundreds of appointments. A coalition of reproductive rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on Wednesday.
On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Texas from enforcing the abortion restriction. “The attorney general’s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable,” U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in his decision.
Less than 24 hours later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed the ruling. In a 2-1 opinion, the appeals court ruled that the order from the lower court be stayed until an appeal from Texas is considered.
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In a statement, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said that the 5th Circuit was escalating the fear and confusion women seeking abortion in Texas are already experiencing.
“The trial court found just yesterday that women will suffer irreparable harm if clinics are closed,” she said. “We will continue fighting this legal battle against Texas’ abuse of emergency powers.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on the coronavirus on March 13, 2020, in Austin, Texas. Abbott declared a state of disaster Friday as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state's biggest cities. AP Photo/Eric Gay
State officials in Texas have defended the ban as an important public health measure.
“Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis. For years, abortion has been touted as a ‘choice’ by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure,” said attorney general Paxton in a statement. “My office will continue to defend Governor Abbott’s Order to ensure that supplies and personal protective gear reach the hardworking medical professionals who need it the most during this health crisis.”
But reproductive rights groups say Texas is among a growing number of states that are taking advantage of the pandemic to stealthily erode abortion access. Ohio, Iowa, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky have all taken steps to halt abortion, claiming that the procedure is elective and can simply be postponed.
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“Texans are losing their jobs, they are struggling to put food on the table, they can’t get COVID-19 testing – meanwhile indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is doubling down on banning abortion,” said Aimee Arrambide, executive director, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, in a statement. “Texans know abortion is a time-sensitive procedure that can not be delayed without profound consequences and Texans will remember that when they needed help during a pandemic, their state leaders were too busy politicizing and banning abortion care.”
The impact of Texas’ abortion ban has already been felt by many women in the state. One college student told HuffPost that she had to drive 24 hours and stay in an Airbnb in another state to access the abortion pill.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Boston Globe Editorial Board: Donald Trump ‘Has Blood On His Hands’ Over Coronavirus

The Boston Globe editorial board pulled no punches with its scathing assessment of President Donald Trump and his administration ’ s haphazard and widely criticized handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Globe , in an editorial published Monday titled “ A president unfit for a pandemic , ” declared that Trump had “ blood on his hands ” because “ much of the suffering and death coming was preventable.
” “ Catastrophic decisions in the White House have doomed the world ’ s richest country to a season of untold suffering , ” it wrote , suggesting that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst of this crisis , it ’ s worth remembering that the reach of the virus here is not attributable to an act of God or a foreign invasion , but a colossal failure of leadership.
” The editorial fiercely criticized Trump for initially downplaying the threat of the virus — which has now sickened more 164,000 people nationwide and killed upwards of 3,100 .
It also slammed the president for misleading the public about unproven cures and for reinforcing racial stigma by repeatedly referring to the contagion as the “ Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marred by corruption and incompetence , whose mixed messages roil the markets and rock their sense of security , ” the editorial added .
“ Instead of compassion and clarity , the president , in his near-daily addresses to the nation , embodies callousness , self-concern , and a lack of compass.
” It concluded with this appeal for “ a reckoning for the lives lost.
” For our own sake , every American should be hoping for a miraculous turnaround — and that the too-little , too-late strategy of the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagion and economic ruin of the grandest scale .
But come November , there must be a reckoning for the lives lost , and for the vast , avoidable suffering about to ensue under the president ’ s watch .

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The Boston Globe editorial board pulled no punches with its scathing assessment of President Donald Trump and his administration’s haphazard and widely criticized handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Globe, in an editorial published Monday titled “A president unfit for a pandemic,” declared that Trump had “blood on his hands” because “much of the suffering and death coming was preventable.”
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“Catastrophic decisions in the White House have doomed the world’s richest country to a season of untold suffering,” it wrote, suggesting that “as the American public braces itself for the worst of this crisis, it’s worth remembering that the reach of the virus here is not attributable to an act of God or a foreign invasion, but a colossal failure of leadership.”
The editorial fiercely criticized Trump for initially downplaying the threat of the virus — which has now sickened more 164,000 people nationwide and killed upwards of 3,100. It also slammed the president for misleading the public about unproven cures and for reinforcing racial stigma by repeatedly referring to the contagion as the “Chinese virus.”
The White House is “marred by corruption and incompetence, whose mixed messages roil the markets and rock their sense of security,” the editorial added. “Instead of compassion and clarity, the president, in his near-daily addresses to the nation, embodies callousness, self-concern, and a lack of compass.”
It concluded with this appeal for “a reckoning for the lives lost.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Naval Ship Captain Begs For Solution To Crew's Coronavirus Outbreak

The captain of a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier experiencing a dangerous coronavirus outbreak is pleading with the Navy to let the sailors out of the ship ’ s close quarters and into onshore quarantine spaces .
In a letter first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday , USS Theodore Roosevelt Capt .
Brett Crozier made a rare plea with senior military officials as he grappled with more than 100 of his 4,000-plus sailors having COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , just in the past week .
“ We are not at war .
Sailors do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors , ” he wrote Monday from off the coast of Guam , where the ship is currently docked .
“ Due to a warship ’ s inherent limitations of space , we are not doing this .
The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating , ” Crozier continued in his four-page letter , which has since been obtained by other media outlets .
He is seeking “ compliant quarantine rooms ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crew .
But acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN Tuesday morning that ’ s not yet feasible .
“ I heard about the letter from Capt .
Crozier this morning , ” he said .
“ I know that our command organization has been aware of this for about 24 hours and we have been working actually the last seven days to move those sailors off the ship and get them into accommodations in Guam .
The problem is that Guam doesn ’ t have enough beds right now and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government there to see if we can get some hotel space , create tent-type facilities.
” Crozier ’ s letter comes as more than 170,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for the virus ; more than 3,400 of those have died .

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The captain of a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier experiencing a dangerous coronavirus outbreak is pleading with the Navy to let the sailors out of the ship’s close quarters and into onshore quarantine spaces.
In a letter first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday, USS Theodore Roosevelt Capt. Brett Crozier made a rare plea with senior military officials as he grappled with more than 100 of his 4,000-plus sailors having COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, just in the past week.
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“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors,” he wrote Monday from off the coast of Guam, where the ship is currently docked.
Socially isolating those who are infected is impossible given the ship’s tight quarters.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt has more than 100 COVID-19 cases on board. US NAVY/Reuters
“Due to a warship’s inherent limitations of space, we are not doing this. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating,” Crozier continued in his four-page letter, which has since been obtained by other media outlets.
He is seeking “compliant quarantine rooms” on shore in Guam for every member of the crew. But acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN Tuesday morning that’s not yet feasible.
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“I heard about the letter from Capt. Crozier this morning,” he said. “I know that our command organization has been aware of this for about 24 hours and we have been working actually the last seven days to move those sailors off the ship and get them into accommodations in Guam. The problem is that Guam doesn’t have enough beds right now and we’re having to talk to the government there to see if we can get some hotel space, create tent-type facilities.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Lawmakers Ask Trump To Suspend Sanctions To Help Iran Fight Coronavirus

The sanctions could be costing lives in Iran , which is enduring one of the largest flare-ups of the pandemic in the world .
Thus far , more than 2,750 Iranians have succumbed to COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , and more than 40,000 have been infected , according to tracking by Baltimore ’ s Johns Hopkins University .
At least 50 Iranian medics have died .
“ Allowing this crisis to become more dire in Iran threatens significant harm not only to the people of Iran but also to people in the United States and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Under a “ maximum pressure ” campaign that President Donald Trump began nearly two years ago , he has placed increasing sanctions on the Islamic Republic after withdrawing the U.S. from a 2015 international agreement that promised Iran access to global markets in exchange for limits on its nuclear development .
Such strict measures are not appropriate amid a pandemic , lawmakers argue .
U.S. sanctions restrict Iran ’ s ability to earn foreign currency by selling oil abroad and to trade with international firms , limiting its imports of medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestically .
Further hurting the nation ’ s health infrastructure , Trump ’ s Treasury Department has slashed the number of licenses provided to companies exporting specialized medical equipment to Iran .
The U.S. preserved loopholes for food and medical trade with Iran and acknowledged its need by offering aid , American officials have noted , but Iran ’ s Supreme Leader rejected the offer .
Last month , Trump authorized a new channel for humanitarian exports to the country that allows companies to seek approval for deals from the U.S. and Swiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our many disputes with the government of Iran or others should not stand in the way of actions that can materially help innocent people weather a pandemic.
” From a letter signed by 32 members of Congress , urging the suspension of U.S. sanctions on Iran .
But producers of vital supplies are still nervous about fines , as American authorities continue to target violators of the sanctions and impose new ones , and are reluctant to deal with byzantine U.S. regulations that cover broad swathes of the Iranian economy , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ’ s measures have made interactions with the country “ equivalent to walking through a compliance minefield , ” Mohsen Zarkash , an attorney at the Price Benowitz law firm , told The Washington Post .
The letter from lawmakers noted that President George W. Bush ’ s administration “ eased sanctions and delivered aid to Iran following a deadly earthquake near Bam in 2003 .
Our many disputes with the government of Iran or others should not stand in the way of actions that can materially help innocent people weather a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be considered are those that encompass major sectors of the Iranian economy , including those impacting civilian industries , Iran ’ s banking sector and exports of oil , and should last for at least as long as health experts believe the crisis will continue , ” the lawmakers wrote .
France , Britain , Germany , China and the World Health Organization have given Iran support to tackle the pandemic , and Iranian officials who first downplayed the risks of COVID-19 over concerns for their image and the nation ’ s economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the virus .
Iranian authorities only recently closed non-essential businesses and curtailed travel ― suggesting it will be some time before those measures , proven elsewhere to limit the spread of the pandemic , have an effect .
A change of course by the U.S. could have a big impact , boosting medical trade through normal channels rather than in the form of intermittent emergency support .
The new call from Congress bolsters a campaign against the sanctions by progressive activist groups like Win Without War .
It builds on a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 senators that asked Trump to temporarily lift some sanctions on Iran and Venezuela .
For now , the Trump administration is internally divided on its Iran policy .
Mnuchin recently won waivers for sanctions on nuclear nonproliferation work , arguing Washington should not appear overly tough on Iran at present .
And high-ranking military officials are warning against a plan to battle Iran-aligned forces in Iraq that could destabilize that country and the campaign against vestiges of the so-called Islamic State .
Pompeo and conservative hardliners , however , continue to swipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationally , claiming their narrative will appeal to Iranians dissatisfied with their repressive government .
“ The Wuhan virus is a killer and the Iranian regime is an accomplice , ” Pompeo said earlier this month , using the controversial moniker adopted by some for the coronavirus .

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The Trump administration should suspend sweeping U.S. sanctions on Iran that are hindering the country’s response to its massive coronavirus outbreak, more than 30 lawmakers said in a letter to top officials on Tuesday.
The sanctions could be costing lives in Iran, which is enduring one of the largest flare-ups of the pandemic in the world. Thus far, more than 2,750 Iranians have succumbed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and more than 40,000 have been infected, according to tracking by Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University. At least 50 Iranian medics have died.
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Amind the crisis, U.S. sanctions are reducing Tehran’s access to protective gear for health care workers and equipment like respirators, United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned last week.
The congressional letter, shared with HuffPost ahead of its public release, is addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Notable signatories include Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
“Allowing this crisis to become more dire in Iran threatens significant harm not only to the people of Iran but also to people in the United States and around the world,” the letter says.
Under a “maximum pressure” campaign that President Donald Trump began nearly two years ago, he has placed increasing sanctions on the Islamic Republic after withdrawing the U.S. from a 2015 international agreement that promised Iran access to global markets in exchange for limits on its nuclear development. Such strict measures are not appropriate amid a pandemic, lawmakers argue.
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U.S. sanctions restrict Iran’s ability to earn foreign currency by selling oil abroad and to trade with international firms, limiting its imports of medicine and materials it needs to produce drugs domestically. Further hurting the nation’s health infrastructure, Trump’s Treasury Department has slashed the number of licenses provided to companies exporting specialized medical equipment to Iran.
The U.S. preserved loopholes for food and medical trade with Iran and acknowledged its need by offering aid, American officials have noted, but Iran’s Supreme Leader rejected the offer. Last month, Trump authorized a new channel for humanitarian exports to the country that allows companies to seek approval for deals from the U.S. and Swiss governments without fear of incurring American penalties.
“Our many disputes with the government of Iran or others should not stand in the way of actions that can materially help innocent people weather a pandemic.”” - From a letter signed by 32 members of Congress, urging the suspension of U.S. sanctions on Iran.
But producers of vital supplies are still nervous about fines, as American authorities continue to target violators of the sanctions and impose new ones, and are reluctant to deal with byzantine U.S. regulations that cover broad swathes of the Iranian economy, from banks to parts of the military. Washington’s measures have made interactions with the country “equivalent to walking through a compliance minefield,” Mohsen Zarkash, an attorney at the Price Benowitz law firm, told The Washington Post.
The letter from lawmakers noted that President George W. Bush’s administration “eased sanctions and delivered aid to Iran following a deadly earthquake near Bam in 2003. Our many disputes with the government of Iran or others should not stand in the way of actions that can materially help innocent people weather a pandemic.”
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“Sanctions relief that should be considered are those that encompass major sectors of the Iranian economy, including those impacting civilian industries, Iran’s banking sector and exports of oil, and should last for at least as long as health experts believe the crisis will continue,” the lawmakers wrote.
France, Britain, Germany, China and the World Health Organization have given Iran support to tackle the pandemic, and Iranian officials who first downplayed the risks of COVID-19 over concerns for their image and the nation’s economy appear to be ramping up their fight against the virus. Iranian authorities only recently closed non-essential businesses and curtailed travel ― suggesting it will be some time before those measures, proven elsewhere to limit the spread of the pandemic, have an effect.
A change of course by the U.S. could have a big impact, boosting medical trade through normal channels rather than in the form of intermittent emergency support. The new call from Congress bolsters a campaign against the sanctions by progressive activist groups like Win Without War. It builds on a separate message last week from a group of 11 senators that asked Trump to temporarily lift some sanctions on Iran and Venezuela.
For now, the Trump administration is internally divided on its Iran policy. Mnuchin recently won waivers for sanctions on nuclear nonproliferation work, arguing Washington should not appear overly tough on Iran at present. And high-ranking military officials are warning against a plan to battle Iran-aligned forces in Iraq that could destabilize that country and the campaign against vestiges of the so-called Islamic State.
Pompeo and conservative hardliners, however, continue to swipe at Tehran and try to isolate it internationally, claiming their narrative will appeal to Iranians dissatisfied with their repressive government. “The Wuhan virus is a killer and the Iranian regime is an accomplice,” Pompeo said earlier this month, using the controversial moniker adopted by some for the coronavirus.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Coronavirus Hospital In Central Park Sparks Backlash Over Anti-LGBTQ Ties

Regardless of my strongly held religious views — or actually because of them — Samaritan ’ s Purse treats everyone @ @ @ @ @ We do not make distinctions about an individual ’ s religion , race , sexual @ @ @ @ @ .
We certainly do not discriminate , and we have a decades-long track record that @ @ @ @ @ doors at the Emergency Field Hospital in the East Meadow are going to be open @ @ @ @ @ need our help .
We are here to save life , which is precious in @ @ @ @ @ and we do it all in Jesus ’ Name .
I hope you will be @ @ @ @ @ a visit and see for yourself .
This is a time for all of us @ @ @ @ @ , regardless of our political views .
Let ’ s support one another during this @ @ @ @ @ that God will bless the efforts of all those battling this vicious virus .

Regardless of my strongly held religious views — or actually because of them — Samaritan’s Purse treats everyone we help the same. We do not make distinctions about an individual’s religion, race, sexual orientation, or economic status. We certainly do not discriminate, and we have a decades-long track record that confirms just that. Our doors at the Emergency Field Hospital in the East Meadow are going to be open to all New Yorkers who need our help.
We are here to save life, which is precious in God’s sight — and we do it all in Jesus’ Name. I hope you will be able to come by for a visit and see for yourself. This is a time for all of us to unite and work together, regardless of our political views. Let’s support one another during this crisis, and we pray that God will bless the efforts of all those battling this vicious virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Almost 15% Of The NYPD Is Out Sick

Almost 15% Of The NYPD Is Out Sick

NEW YORK — Over 900 employees of the New York Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus and thousands more have called out sick , the department announced Monday .
In a statement , the department said that 824 uniformed police officers and 106 nonuniformed employees have tested positive for the virus .
That ’ s a total of 930 NYPD employees who have been infected , a 620 % rise from one week ago .
Meanwhile 5,199 uniformed cops , or 14.4 % of the entire force , were out sick on Monday .
That ’ s double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea , in an internal memo sent to the police force earlier this month , said officers would be vulnerable to catching the virus due to the nature of the job , which includes frequent interactions with the public .
Officers , Shea said , would “ without a doubt , suffer.
” The nonprofit New York Police Foundation announced Tuesday it had purchased 150,000 units each of masks , gloves and packets of hand sanitizer for city cops .
A New York City police officer wears protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be tested for the coronavirus outside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens on March 26 .
The rapid spread of the virus among the country ’ s largest police force highlights the dire situation in New York City , which currently has over 38,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — nearly 5 % of all the cases in the world — including 914 deaths .
Much of the city has been shut down to slow the spread of the virus and to prevent hospitals from being further overrun with patients .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would start issuing fines to people who aren ’ t social distancing — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended policy of maintaining 6 feet of space from other people .
De Blasio emphasized that cops should issue fines , which could be as high as $ 500 , only after giving those congregating in groups repeated warnings to disperse .
In 24 hours from Sunday to Monday , the department said , officers visited 2,758 supermarkets of which 1,489 were closed ; 7,943 bars and restaurants , of which 6,390 were closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 692 were closed ; and 3,255 personal care facilities , all of which were closed .
Meanwhile , the virus is also spreading fast among those the NYPD has arrested and put in jail , a population that is disproportionately Black and brown , a result of years of racist policing in the city .
Nearly 140 inmates and 114 correction officers have tested positive for the coronavirus , with some 800 other inmates in quarantine throughout the city ’ s jail system .
One inmate incarcerated at Rikers Island recently told HuffPost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being made to sleep a few feet away from sick inmates .

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NEW YORK — Over 900 employees of the New York Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus and thousands more have called out sick, the department announced Monday.
In a statement, the department said that 824 uniformed police officers and 106 nonuniformed employees have tested positive for the virus. That’s a total of 930 NYPD employees who have been infected, a 620% rise from one week ago.
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Meanwhile 5,199 uniformed cops, or 14.4% of the entire force, were out sick on Monday. That’s double the number of sick cops from last Monday.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, in an internal memo sent to the police force earlier this month, said officers would be vulnerable to catching the virus due to the nature of the job, which includes frequent interactions with the public. Officers, Shea said, would “without a doubt, suffer.”
The nonprofit New York Police Foundation announced Tuesday it had purchased 150,000 units each of masks, gloves and packets of hand sanitizer for city cops.
A New York City police officer wears protective gear while monitoring people waiting in line to be tested for the coronavirus outside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens on March 26. Stefan Jeremiah / Reuters
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The rapid spread of the virus among the country’s largest police force highlights the dire situation in New York City, which currently has over 38,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — nearly 5% of all the cases in the world — including 914 deaths.
Much of the city has been shut down to slow the spread of the virus and to prevent hospitals from being further overrun with patients. On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that cops would start issuing fines to people who aren’t social distancing — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended policy of maintaining 6 feet of space from other people.
De Blasio emphasized that cops should issue fines, which could be as high as $500, only after giving those congregating in groups repeated warnings to disperse.
In its press statement Monday, the NYPD said it was conducting citywide patrols to enforce social distancing.
In 24 hours from Sunday to Monday, the department said, officers visited 2,758 supermarkets of which 1,489 were closed; 7,943 bars and restaurants, of which 6,390 were closed; 1,259 public places, of which 692 were closed; and 3,255 personal care facilities, all of which were closed.
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The department claimed no arrests or summonses occurred as a result of these patrols.
Meanwhile, the virus is also spreading fast among those the NYPD has arrested and put in jail, a population that is disproportionately Black and brown, a result of years of racist policing in the city.
Nearly 140 inmates and 114 correction officers have tested positive for the coronavirus, with some 800 other inmates in quarantine throughout the city’s jail system.
One inmate incarcerated at Rikers Island recently told HuffPost he had developed symptoms of the coronavirus after being made to sleep a few feet away from sick inmates.
“They give us nothing to protect us,” he said of the Rikers Island guards. “I just feel like I’m sitting on death row, waiting to die.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Senator: Trump’s Coronavirus Response ‘Feels Like Ukraine All Over Again’

You know , the president is , you know , now instead of using foreign aid , using emergency relief @ @ @ @ @ get people to do his political bidding .
I mean , the message seems pretty @ @ @ @ @ the president , then you are going to get attacked and you are potentially going @ @ @ @ @ withheld and if you get the president ’ s back politically , we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ .

You know, the president is, you know, now instead of using foreign aid, using emergency relief in order to try to get people to do his political bidding. I mean, the message seems pretty clear, if you criticize the president, then you are going to get attacked and you are potentially going to have critical medical supplies withheld and if you get the president’s back politically, we’ll send you what you need.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Democrats Urge Trump To Follow Through On Oversight Of Corporate Bailouts

The massive coronavirus aid package , which includes direct payments to many Americans as well as loans to struggling small businesses , set up three mechanisms to oversee nearly $ 500 billion in loans the Treasury Department will be in charge of dispensing to major corporations : first , a bipartisan panel of members of Congress ; second , a committee of inspectors general ; and third , a special inspector general to be appointed by the president .
In a signing statement for the bill on Friday , however , Trump suggested he would not comply with some aspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general for pandemic recovery ( SIGPR ) agreed on by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democrats , whose votes were crucial to getting the bill to the president ’ s desk .
The position was modeled after a special inspector general charged with identifying and alerting the public and Congress to waste , fraud and abuse in the 2008 Wall Street bailout .
Specifically , Trump said he would treat as optional a provision requiring the special inspector general to notify Congress if it is unreasonably denied information about loan decisions made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on behalf of the Administration , negotiated and agreed to the scope and terms of the SIGPR authority , both generally to Congress and to each of us personally , ” Sens .
Chuck Schumer of New York , Ron Wyden of Oregon , and Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote in a letter addressed to Mnuchin on Tuesday .
“ This oversight authority was critical for gaining support for your request for over $ 500 billion to aid struggling companies , states , municipalities , and other troubled entities , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Provision of these funds was conditioned on the SIGPR ’ s creation .
As such , the SIGPR ’ s unfettered operation is not only a legal necessity , but also a condition you personally agreed to ― SIGPR ’ s structure is your structure , and it imperative that you defend it.
” In their letter , the Democrats urged Trump to nominate the special inspector general right away as the administration begins implementation of the law .
“ We urge the President to nominate an independent Special Inspector General to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-standing practice of consulting with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency regarding this selection , ” they wrote .
The nation ’ s inspectors general on Monday appointed Glenn Fine , the Defense Department ’ s acting inspector general , to lead the committee ’ s oversight efforts over the coronavirus aid package .
In a statement issued by his office , Schumer said Fine has a “ good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor , ” calling on him to “ exercise his full oversight authority to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law as intended .
It ’ s unclear when a special inspector general will be named and confirmed by the Senate as required by law , however .
The upper chamber is not expected to return from recess until April 20 , per Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) downplayed Trump ’ s efforts to skirt oversight of the law during an interview with MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow on Friday , saying that the president ’ s signing statement is “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will exercise its oversight and we will have our panel appointed by the House to , in real time , to make sure we know where those funds are being expended , ” she said .

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WASHINGTON ― Top Democrats are urging the Trump administration to quickly appoint a special inspector general in charge of scrutinizing aid to major corporations under the $2 trillion economic rescue package Congress passed last week.
The massive coronavirus aid package, which includes direct payments to many Americans as well as loans to struggling small businesses, set up three mechanisms to oversee nearly $500 billion in loans the Treasury Department will be in charge of dispensing to major corporations: first, a bipartisan panel of members of Congress; second, a committee of inspectors general; and third, a special inspector general to be appointed by the president.
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In a signing statement for the bill on Friday, however, Trump suggested he would not comply with some aspects of the role of the special inspector general for pandemic recovery (SIGPR) agreed on by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democrats, whose votes were crucial to getting the bill to the president’s desk. The position was modeled after a special inspector general charged with identifying and alerting the public and Congress to waste, fraud and abuse in the 2008 Wall Street bailout.
Specifically, Trump said he would treat as optional a provision requiring the special inspector general to notify Congress if it is unreasonably denied information about loan decisions made by the Treasury Department.
“You, on behalf of the Administration, negotiated and agreed to the scope and terms of the SIGPR authority, both generally to Congress and to each of us personally,” Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote in a letter addressed to Mnuchin on Tuesday.
“This oversight authority was critical for gaining support for your request for over $500 billion to aid struggling companies, states, municipalities, and other troubled entities,” the senators added in the letter. “Provision of these funds was conditioned on the SIGPR’s creation. As such, the SIGPR’s unfettered operation is not only a legal necessity, but also a condition you personally agreed to ― SIGPR’s structure is your structure, and it imperative that you defend it.”
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In their letter, the Democrats urged Trump to nominate the special inspector general right away as the administration begins implementation of the law.
“We urge the President to nominate an independent Special Inspector General to this critical position without delay and continue the long-standing practice of consulting with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency regarding this selection,” they wrote.
The nation’s inspectors general on Monday appointed Glenn Fine, the Defense Department’s acting inspector general, to lead the committee’s oversight efforts over the coronavirus aid package. In a statement issued by his office, Schumer said Fine has a “good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor,” calling on him to “exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements” the law as intended.
It’s unclear when a special inspector general will be named and confirmed by the Senate as required by law, however. The upper chamber is not expected to return from recess until April 20, per Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) downplayed Trump’s efforts to skirt oversight of the law during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Friday, saying that the president’s signing statement is “not a surprise to anyone.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Louisiana Evangelical Pastor Charged With Defying Governor's Ban On Big Gatherings

Rev .
Tony Spell , pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in the small city of Central , faces six misdemeanor counts for refusing to abide by Gov .
John Bel Edwards ’ orders during the coronavirus pandemic , the Central Police Department said Tuesday in a statement on its Facebook page .
Prosecutors said Spell , a Pentecostal preacher , has held at least six gatherings that exceeded the 10-person limit set by the Democratic governor , WAFB reports .
Each count carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $ 500 fine , per the Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is located in a suburb of Baton Rouge , has used its fleet of buses to bring hundreds of congregants from around the region to attend services throughout the week , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Over 1,200 people allegedly attended morning services this past Sunday .
Central police chief Roger Corcoran said in his Tuesday statement that he worked with state authorities and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins , an evangelical ally of President Donald Trump , over the past two weeks to try to “ address this matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made it clear that he intends to continue to violate the law , Corcoran said .
“ Mr .
Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community , ” the chief said .
“ This is not an issue over religious liberty , and it ’ s not about politics .
We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community ’ s leaders to set a positive example and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pastor shared a video recording made by his father , Rev .
Timothy Spell , on Facebook .
The video shows Corcoran and another officer walking down the church ’ s nave to issue the misdemeanor summons .
Standing near the altar in a suit , Tony Spell prays for the officers , the governor and the country .
“ I pray that the spirit of God will reveal to [ the governor ] that I ’ m exercising my First Amendment rights and my freedom of worship and my freedom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officers bow their heads .
“ God help our nation today .
Let them know that I ’ m exercising my mandate commanded to me by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel and to assemble as a people of God in this congregation.
” After the officers leave , Spell speaks into the camera to insist that he will continue to hold church services in defiance of the governor ’ s orders and the charges .
Close to 240 people in the state have died from COVID-19 , the illness caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Department of Health .
The governor issued an order on March 22 directing all residents to leave their homes only for essential needs .
Houses of worship are not on the state ’ s list of essential infrastructure .
Most houses of worship in the U.S. have shut down in-person events and moved services online , but a minority have refused to heed state and local restrictions and federal guidelines on public gatherings .
Some of those outliers are now facing pushback from authorities in other states as well .
In Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday for holding worship services that defied state orders to limit gatherings .
The First Amendment ’ s free exercise clause protects Americans ’ right to practice their religion .
Congress and several states have passed religious freedom laws that build on that concept , ensuring that any attempt to override a person ’ s religious freedom must serve a compelling governmental interest that can ’ t be achieved in another way .
Even though banning church members from congregating is a substantial burden on religious people , the pandemic has created emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expert on the First Amendment ’ s speech and religion clauses at the University of Miami ’ s School of Law .
“ Just as courts have been willing to overrule religious objections to vaccines in order to protect people from life-endangering diseases , I can readily imagine that courts would be willing to overrule religious objections to bans on large gatherings in order to protect people from the potentially deadly coronavirus , ” Corbin said .

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Louisiana authorities are cracking down on an evangelical pastor who drew hundreds to his worship services this week, openly flouting the governor’s ban on large public gatherings.
Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in the small city of Central, faces six misdemeanor counts for refusing to abide by Gov. John Bel Edwards’ orders during the coronavirus pandemic, the Central Police Department said Tuesday in a statement on its Facebook page.
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Prosecutors said Spell, a Pentecostal preacher, has held at least six gatherings that exceeded the 10-person limit set by the Democratic governor, WAFB reports. Each count carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine, per the Associated Press.
Life Tabernacle Church, which is located in a suburb of Baton Rouge, has used its fleet of buses to bring hundreds of congregants from around the region to attend services throughout the week, according to the Los Angeles Times. Over 1,200 people allegedly attended morning services this past Sunday.
Central police chief Roger Corcoran said in his Tuesday statement that he worked with state authorities and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, an evangelical ally of President Donald Trump, over the past two weeks to try to “address this matter outside of legal action.” But Spell has made it clear that he intends to continue to violate the law, Corcoran said.
“Mr. Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community,” the chief said. “This is not an issue over religious liberty, and it’s not about politics. We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community’s leaders to set a positive example and follow the law.”
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For his part, Spell claims that he is being persecuted for his faith.
Two Central Police Department officers issue a misdemeanor summons to Life Tabernacle Church pastor Tony Spell. Facebook Live / Timothy C. Spell
On Tuesday, the pastor shared a video recording made by his father, Rev. Timothy Spell, on Facebook. The video shows Corcoran and another officer walking down the church’s nave to issue the misdemeanor summons. Standing near the altar in a suit, Tony Spell prays for the officers, the governor and the country.
“I pray that the spirit of God will reveal to [the governor] that I’m exercising my First Amendment rights and my freedom of worship and my freedom of religion rights,” Spell prays as the officers bow their heads. “God help our nation today. Let them know that I’m exercising my mandate commanded to me by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel and to assemble as a people of God in this congregation.”
After the officers leave, Spell speaks into the camera to insist that he will continue to hold church services in defiance of the governor’s orders and the charges.
“I’ve heard from God and I will continue to do what I’m doing,” Spell says in the video.
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Close to 240 people in the state have died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, according to Louisiana’s Department of Health. The governor issued an order on March 22 directing all residents to leave their homes only for essential needs. Houses of worship are not on the state’s list of essential infrastructure.
Most houses of worship in the U.S. have shut down in-person events and moved services online, but a minority have refused to heed state and local restrictions and federal guidelines on public gatherings.
Some of those outliers are now facing pushback from authorities in other states as well. In Florida, a megachurch pastor was arrested on Monday for holding worship services that defied state orders to limit gatherings.
The First Amendment’s free exercise clause protects Americans’ right to practice their religion. Congress and several states have passed religious freedom laws that build on that concept, ensuring that any attempt to override a person’s religious freedom must serve a compelling governmental interest that can’t be achieved in another way.
But these religious freedom laws may not protect pastors like Spell who want to ignore emergency orders to limit gatherings during the COVID-19 epidemic, legal experts told HuffPost.
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Even though banning church members from congregating is a substantial burden on religious people, the pandemic has created emergency circumstances, explained Caroline Mala Corbin, an expert on the First Amendment’s speech and religion clauses at the University of Miami’s School of Law.
“Just as courts have been willing to overrule religious objections to vaccines in order to protect people from life-endangering diseases, I can readily imagine that courts would be willing to overrule religious objections to bans on large gatherings in order to protect people from the potentially deadly coronavirus,” Corbin said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-30--FDA Urged To Let Women Obtain Abortion Drugs By Mail During Coronavirus Outbreak

A coalition of 21 attorneys general is urging the federal government to lift restrictions on mifepristone , a drug used in medication abortion , so that women who want to terminate a pregnancy do not have to embark on unnecessary travel during the coronavirus outbreak .
Medication abortion , often referred to as the “ abortion pill , ” is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy before 10 weeks .
Women take a combination of two drugs , usually spaced 24 hours apart , that essentially induce a miscarriage .
About 40 % of abortions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women must travel in person to an abortion clinic to pick up the medication , even though the termination generally takes place at home .
That ’ s because mifepristone , the first of the two drugs used in medication abortion , is subject to a special set of U.S. Food and Drug Administration restrictions called Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy .
Under the REMS , a person seeking a medication abortion can not obtain the drugs from a pharmacy or in the mail .
The drugs can only be dispensed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday , the attorneys general urged the Trump administration to allow mifepristone to be prescribed using telemedicine .
“ Due to the REMS , patients have to travel to a designated clinic , medical office or hospital , as opposed to getting a prescription from their doctor using telehealth and then obtaining mifepristone at a local pharmacy or delivered by mail , ” the letter says .
“ The FDA should not mandate this medically unnecessary travel , particularly during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being advised to stay home , but families are faced with additional childcare and financial constraints.
” Since its approval in 2000 , about 3 million women in the U.S. have used mifepristone .
Leading medical groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have advised the FDA to ease restrictions on the drug and make it available in retail pharmacies .
A college student in Texas recently described to HuffPost how scary it was to have to drive for 12 hours to pick up the drugs for her medication abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state .
New York Attorney General Letitia James , who signed on to Monday ’ s letter , said that control over one ’ s reproductive freedom should not be limited to those able to leave their homes .
“ As the coronavirus spreads across the country and residents are asked to stay at home , the federal government should be doing everything in its power to ensure women can maintain control of their reproductive choices , ” James said in a press release .
“ Our coalition is calling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily accessible so that no woman is forced to risk her health while exercising her constitutional right to an abortion .
”

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A coalition of 21 attorneys general is urging the federal government to lift restrictions on mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortion, so that women who want to terminate a pregnancy do not have to embark on unnecessary travel during the coronavirus outbreak.
Medication abortion, often referred to as the “abortion pill,” is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy before 10 weeks. Women take a combination of two drugs, usually spaced 24 hours apart, that essentially induce a miscarriage. About 40% of abortions in the U.S. use this method.
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Currently, women must travel in person to an abortion clinic to pick up the medication, even though the termination generally takes place at home. That’s because mifepristone, the first of the two drugs used in medication abortion, is subject to a special set of U.S. Food and Drug Administration restrictions called Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy. Under the REMS, a person seeking a medication abortion cannot obtain the drugs from a pharmacy or in the mail. The drugs can only be dispensed in a medical facility.
In a letter to the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, the attorneys general urged the Trump administration to allow mifepristone to be prescribed using telemedicine.
“Due to the REMS, patients have to travel to a designated clinic, medical office or hospital, as opposed to getting a prescription from their doctor using telehealth and then obtaining mifepristone at a local pharmacy or delivered by mail,” the letter says. “The FDA should not mandate this medically unnecessary travel, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis where not only are women being advised to stay home, but families are faced with additional childcare and financial constraints.”
Since its approval in 2000, about 3 million women in the U.S. have used mifepristone. Leading medical groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have advised the FDA to ease restrictions on the drug and make it available in retail pharmacies.
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A college student in Texas recently described to HuffPost how scary it was to have to drive for 12 hours to pick up the drugs for her medication abortion as the coronavirus outbreak was upending life in the state.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who signed on to Monday’s letter, said that control over one’s reproductive freedom should not be limited to those able to leave their homes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--'You Do Not Want This': Chris Cuomo Describes Worst Part Of His Coronavirus Infection

CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo returned to the airwaves on Tuesday evening hours after revealing that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
Earlier in the day , he wrote on social media that he had been experiencing fever , chills and shortness of breath days after being exposed to people who later found out they had the virus .
Speaking on the air Tuesday evening , he said he felt fine ― but indicated his real concern is that he may have gotten a family member sick .
“ You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a husband and a father , ” he said .
Cuomo is broadcasting from his basement , where he has quarantined himself from the rest of his family .
He said he was hesitant to talk about himself because his experience is “ so small ” compared to what so many others are facing .
“ This is a fight , ” he said .
“ It ’ s going to get worse .
We ’ re going to suffer .
And you have to accept that not with fear but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight because that ’ s the only way you ever made it through anything hard in your life , and this will be no different.
” “ We do not have the testing data to make real sense of our reality beyond what we know is the face of [ coronavirus ] for an overwhelming number who get sick , ” says @ chriscuomo .
“ That face is mine .
I tested positive.
” pic.twitter.com/NmkAyAx9KW — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) April 1 , 2020

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CNN’s Chris Cuomo returned to the airwaves on Tuesday evening hours after revealing that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
“You do not want this,” he told viewers.
Earlier in the day, he wrote on social media that he had been experiencing fever, chills and shortness of breath days after being exposed to people who later found out they had the virus.
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Speaking on the air Tuesday evening, he said he felt fine ― but indicated his real concern is that he may have gotten a family member sick.
“You can understand how sickening that is to me as a husband and a father,” he said.
Cuomo is broadcasting from his basement, where he has quarantined himself from the rest of his family.
He said he was hesitant to talk about himself because his experience is “so small” compared to what so many others are facing.
“This is a fight,” he said. “It’s going to get worse. We’re going to suffer. And you have to accept that not with fear but with almost a fanatical sense of passion to fight because that’s the only way you ever made it through anything hard in your life, and this will be no different.”
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See his full segment below:
“We do not have the testing data to make real sense of our reality beyond what we know is the face of [coronavirus] for an overwhelming number who get sick,” says @chriscuomo. “That face is mine. I tested positive.” pic.twitter.com/NmkAyAx9KW — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) April 1, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Howard Stern Nails Trump's Problem: 'Doesn’t Give One S**t About Public Service'

Howard Stern ripped into President Donald Trump for bragging about the TV ratings of his news conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Trump on Sunday fired off multiple tweets boasting that his coronavirus briefings are a “ ratings hit , ” with audience levels typically seen for a “ Bachelor ” season finale .
“ It ’ s not your incredible reality TV show that you ’ re putting on for the country , ” he said , according to The Hill .
“ It ’ s because we ’ re in crisis and we ’ re tuning in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re looking for leadership , motherfuckers !
” “ As far as Donald ’ s concerned , Donald thinks he ’ s the best president there ever was , ” he said .
“ I can honestly tell you that Donald doesn ’ t give one shit about public service.
” The self-styled “ King of All Media ” has in the past said he was once friends with Trump , who was a frequent guest on his show ever the years .
However , Stern endorsed and voted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton .
Stern said last year that he tried to get Clinton on his show in 2016 , but she declined ― and that refusal , he believes , may have cost her the election .
“ There were a million questions I could have asked her that I think would have humanized her , ” he told Stephen Colbert .

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Howard Stern ripped into President Donald Trump for bragging about the TV ratings of his news conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump on Sunday fired off multiple tweets boasting that his coronavirus briefings are a “ratings hit,” with audience levels typically seen for a “Bachelor” season finale.
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Stern wasn’t having it.
“It’s not your incredible reality TV show that you’re putting on for the country,” he said, according to The Hill. “It’s because we’re in crisis and we’re tuning in to see what the president has to say. We’re looking for leadership, motherfuckers!”
The SiriusXM radio host also blasted Trump’s constant praise for himself.
“As far as Donald’s concerned, Donald thinks he’s the best president there ever was,” he said. “I can honestly tell you that Donald doesn’t give one shit about public service.”
The self-styled “King of All Media” has in the past said he was friends with Trump, a frequent guest on his show over the years. However, Stern endorsed and voted for Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
Stern said last year that he tried to get Clinton on his show in 2016, but she declined ― and that refusal, he believes, may have cost her the election.
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“There were a million questions I could have asked her that I think would have humanized her,” he told Stephen Colbert.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Trump's Task Force Still Won't Call For A National Stay-At-Home Order

The White House coronavirus task force still won ’ t call for a national stay-at-home order , despite calls from medical professionals and researchers to do so to curb the spread of the virus in places .
As Drs .
Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx explained during Tuesday night ’ s task force update that the total number of deaths in the U.S. could rise to 100,000 to 240,000 , President Donald Trump avoided explaining why the administration hasn ’ t imposed a stay-at-home order yet .
Instead , Trump talked about how the death toll would have reached up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done nothing at all .
“ What would ’ ve happened if we did nothing ?
Because there was a group that said , ‘ Let ’ s just ride it out , ’ ” the president said .
“ What would ’ ve happened ?
That number comes in at 1.5 to 1.6 million , up to 2.2 ... 2.2 million people would have died.
” “ You would have seen people dying on airplanes , ” he added .
“ You would ’ ve seen people dying in hotel lobbies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over.
” Earlier in the pandemic , Trump dismissed the severity of the virus and compared it to the flu .
On March 9 , Trump compared numbers of people who died of the flu in 2019 to the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths at that time .
On Tuesday , as the national death toll from the virus skyrocketed to 3,700 , the president admitted that the coronavirus outbreak was worse than the flu .
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu .
It averages between 27,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down , life & the economy go on .
At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus , with 22 deaths .
Think about that !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) March 9 , 2020 Public health experts have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to worsen if the Trump administration does not take strict action and order all Americans to stay at home .
According to a tally kept by The Washington Post , governors in more than a dozen states are refusing to issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers of COVID-19 cases grow exponentially in their areas .
Florida , for example , has more than 5,000 cases , though Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) has called on only four counties in South Florida to abide by stay-at-home orders .
DeSantis said at his own news conference Tuesday that he was waiting for the White House task force to recommend that to him first .
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey ( R ) has suggested that her residents stay at home “ as much as possible , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite governors looking to the White House for guidance , Vice President Mike Pence , who is leading the task force , still said Tuesday that the administration was deferring any type of mitigation measures to “ state and local health authorities.
” JUST NOW— Gov .
Ron DeSantis says the White House task force has n't told him to issue a statewide stay-at-home-order : `` The task force is not recommending this .
If they do , that ’ s something that would carry a lot of weight with me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) March 31 , 2020 During the White House news conference , Birx said that states , such as California and Washington , who had issued mitigation orders very early on in their outbreaks had been able to slow the outbreak dramatically .
Those states “ really talked to their communities and decided to mitigate before they started seeing this number of cases , ” Birx said .

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The White House coronavirus task force still won’t call for a national stay-at-home order, despite calls from medical professionals and researchers to do so to curb the spread of the virus in places.
As Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx explained during Tuesday night’s task force update that the total number of deaths in the U.S. could rise to 100,000 to 240,000, President Donald Trump avoided explaining why the administration hasn’t imposed a stay-at-home order yet.
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Instead, Trump talked about how the death toll would have reached up to 2 million people if he had done nothing at all.
“What would’ve happened if we did nothing? Because there was a group that said, ‘Let’s just ride it out,’” the president said. “What would’ve happened? That number comes in at 1.5 to 1.6 million, up to 2.2 ... 2.2 million people would have died.”
“You would have seen people dying on airplanes,” he added. “You would’ve seen people dying in hotel lobbies. You’d be seeing death all over.”
Earlier in the pandemic, Trump dismissed the severity of the virus and compared it to the flu. On March 9, Trump compared numbers of people who died of the flu in 2019 to the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths at that time.
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On Tuesday, as the national death toll from the virus skyrocketed to 3,700, the president admitted that the coronavirus outbreak was worse than the flu.
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
Public health experts have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to worsen if the Trump administration does not take strict action and order all Americans to stay at home.
According to a tally kept by The Washington Post, governors in more than a dozen states are refusing to issue their own statewide orders, even as numbers of COVID-19 cases grow exponentially in their areas.
Florida, for example, had more than 5,000 cases as of Tuesday. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) waited until Wednesday to expand stay-at-home orders from four counties in South Florida to the rest of the state. DeSantis said at his own news conference Tuesday that he was waiting for the White House task force to recommend that to him first.
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) has suggested that her residents stay at home “as much as possible,” but she did not issue a statewide order.
Despite governors looking to the White House for guidance, Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the task force, still said Tuesday that the administration was deferring any type of mitigation measures to “state and local health authorities.”
JUST NOW— Gov. Ron DeSantis says the White House task force hasn't told him to issue a statewide stay-at-home-order: "The task force is not recommending this. If they do, that’s something that would carry a lot of weight with me." — Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) March 31, 2020
During the White House news conference, Birx said that states, such as California and Washington, who had issued mitigation orders very early on in their outbreaks had been able to slow the outbreak dramatically.
Those states “really talked to their communities and decided to mitigate before they started seeing this number of cases,” Birx said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Trump’s Coronavirus Claim Is His Biggest Lie Yet – And It Could Be Working

Each of his claims is false .
Trump scrapped the pandemic response team that President Barack Obama created after the 2014 Ebola outbreak , part of an overall effort to undo everything that his predecessor had accomplished .
Trump ignored warnings from his own intelligence community that China was covering up the severity of the coronavirus epidemic in the city and province where it originated .
Trump even ignored a step-by-step pandemic “ playbook ” the Obama administration had written .
First is redefining success .
Trump early on promised Americans that he had “ stopped ” the virus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on foreigners who had recently been in China from entering this country .
That morphed into claiming that those few cases here were rapidly shrinking to zero , and that the virus itself would disappear on its own with April ’ s warmer weather .
Trump countered endless media “ fact checks ” of his dishonesties by attacking the media instead ― a strategy he openly admitted to in an interview with Lesley Stahl of CBS News in 2016 .
“ You know why I do it ?
I do it to discredit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you write negative stories about me , no one will believe you , ” he said .
That will not be the case with the pandemic .
In a span of just 30 days , 3,440 Americans had died by Tuesday afternoon , with 1,000 of those happening in the past two days .
Which means that even Trump ’ s most loyal supporters , who crave his professional wrestling-style attacks on Democrats and the news media regardless of their accuracy , are likely to wind up personally knowing someone who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Newhouse , the Republican pollster , agreed that Trump ’ s improved numbers now do not guarantee anything .
“ As others have said , we are in the early stages of this fight against coronavirus , and the president ’ s approval score will continue to reflect his handling of this crisis , ” he said .
“ Unlike the recent impeachment inquiry , this crisis is likely to have a significant impact on the November election .
”

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WASHINGTON ― Having sold himself as a great business and military leader despite bankrupt casinos and bone spurs, President Donald Trump faces his greatest challenge yet: making Americans forget the two months he dismissed concerns about a deadly pandemic as a “hoax.”
If recent polling showing a significant bump in his approval ratings is any indicator, though, Trump may well be succeeding ― setting himself on a path to reelection.
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“No question that the president’s job approval has increased as a result of his handling of the coronavirus crisis,” said GOP pollster Neil Newhouse. “Already about topped out among Republicans, President Trump has made gains among both Independents and Democrats.”
To make this work, Trump has been pushing the biggest lie of his adult life ― a revisionist history in which he did everything correctly, that nobody could have anticipated such an outbreak, and his leadership alone is saving millions of lives.
“It’s hard not to be happy with the job we’re doing. That, I can tell you,” he said last week.
“Nobody could have predicted something like this,” he told Fox News Monday morning.
“I can’t tell you what the unfortunate final toll is going to be, but it’s going to be a very small fraction of that,” he said Tuesday afternoon of expert estimates of 2.2 million dead if the country had done nothing to stop the virus. “So we’re doing an awfully good job, I think, with what we’re doing.”
Each of his claims is false. Trump scrapped the pandemic response team that President Barack Obama created after the 2014 Ebola outbreak, part of an overall effort to undo everything that his predecessor had accomplished. Trump ignored warnings from his own intelligence community that China was covering up the severity of the coronavirus epidemic in the city and province where it originated. Trump even ignored a step-by-step pandemic “playbook” the Obama administration had written.
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Instead, Trump discounted the threat the virus posed from Jan. 22, when he told CNBC that “we have it totally under control,” straight through until March 15, when he called it “a very contagious virus” but again claimed it was one “that we have tremendous control over.”
Trump had based his re-election campaign on the strength of the economy, and feared that worries about a pandemic would hurt the stock market. “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA,” he wrote in a Feb. 24 tweet. “Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”
“History shows that it takes a personal experience of catastrophe to see that the leader has been telling lies.” - New York University history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Nevertheless, thanks in part to his ability to command a nationwide audience in press briefings broadcast live each day, Trump has been able push his new message to replace the old one.
“History shows that it takes a personal experience of catastrophe to see that the leader has been telling lies,” said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an authoritarianism expert and history professor at New York University. “In this case, Trump has artfully ‘dosed out’ reality, telling people everything is fine, then gradually telling them it’s not, with lackey medical professionals to back him up. So he may weather even this crisis.”
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White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham did not respond to a query about Trump’s new messaging. Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh cited China travel restrictions that Trump imposed at the very end of January as showing he took“decisive action” from the start.
“Throughout this crisis, the president has always sought to keep the public calm, but has listened to his medical and scientific advisors in making firm decisions about keeping the country safe,” Murtaugh said.
Revising History From Two Months Ago
Key to turning Trump’s actual performance in those critical early weeks into electoral success likely hinges on two efforts underway.
First is redefining success. Trump early on promised Americans that he had “stopped” the virus from spreading in the U.S. through his ban on foreigners who had recently been in China from entering this country. That morphed into claiming that those few cases here were rapidly shrinking to zero, and that the virus itself would disappear on its own with April’s warmer weather.
Those goalposts have now been moved clear across the planet. From the Feb. 26 boasts of having only 15 cases and zero deaths, Trump this week said success would mean hundreds of thousands of dead Americans.
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“If we can hold that down, as we’re saying, to 100,000 — that’s a horrible number — maybe even less, but to 100,000; so we have between 100- and 200,000 — we all, together, have done a very good job,” he said Monday at a press briefing in the White House Rose Garden.
And if Trump’s past is a guide ― he has claimed that running his casinos into bankruptcy starting in the early 1990s somehow represented a business success ― he will keep claiming he handled the crisis well, regardless of how many Americans wind up dying.
“I think he can move the numbers as high as he needs to with his base because he has primed them to accept whatever he tells them and to disbelieve everyone else,” Ben-Ghiat said.
The other piece of Trump’s strategy is relentlessly attacking those who point out his previous statements. Trump has done this repeatedly in his daily briefings, attacking reporters when they read his earlier remarks back to him verbatim.
“Instead of asking a nasty, snarky question like that, you should ask a real question,” he said to a journalist Monday.
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His campaign, meanwhile, had set upon the mission of trying to block Trump’s most egregious downplaying of the pandemic: His Feb. 28 description of the coronavirus fears as “a hoax” ― the most recent in a line of Democratic attempts to hurt his presidency.
Campaign officials, realizing the seriousness of Trump’s riff at a rally in South Carolina that evening, soon afterward began attacking journalists who described Trump’s use of “hoax” as misrepresenting what he said.
“Will she apologize for lying?” wrote a Trump campaign staffer on March 23 after Washington Post reporter Ashley Parker accurately described Trump’s use of the word in an NBC News report.
The campaign has even threatened to sue TV stations that were running an ad by the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA that used the audio clip of Trump saying “hoax” in a montage of his statements downplaying the virus.
“We will not stand idly by and allow you to broadcast false, deceptive, and misleading information concerning President’s Trump’s healthcare positions without consequence,” the campaign said in a letter.
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Of course, the response to that letter may foreshadow the steep hill Trump faces more broadly in re-writing the history of his coronavirus response. According to Priorities USA, not a single TV station complied with the campaign request to pull the ad, and the super PAC recently released a revised one, using the much higher number of coronavirus cases.
When The Big Lie Fails
Indeed, while Trump may be enjoying a bump right now in the public support, that newfound popularity could fade as his repeated lies about his performance come up against the reality of the coronavirus’ lethality.
Trump confounded the political class in both parties in 2016, seeming to suffer little consequence for repeated and readily disproven lies about himself, his opponents and the world at large.
Trump falsely claimed he had built “a massive empire,” a “phenomenal company,” starting with just a “very small loan” from his father. He boasted that he knew more about war than “the generals.”
In fact, Trump lost millions of dollars running an airline, vastly overpaid for a midtown hotel he wound up losing and bankrupted his casinos ― a near impossibility, given their business model ― nearly squandering the fortune his father had left him of nearly $1 billion in today’s dollars.
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And when the prospect of serving in the Vietnam War presented itself, Trump claimed the ailment of “bone spurs” to avoid the military ― even though he later could not recall which heel had suffered the malady.
“At some point, reality intrudes on the ‘Big Lie.’ But at this point we don’t know when.” - Norman Ornstein, of the
Trump countered endless media “fact checks” of his dishonesties by attacking the media instead ― a strategy he openly admitted to in an interview with Lesley Stahl of CBS News in 2016. “You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you,” he said.
Yet Trump was able to get away with all those lies, as well as a torrent of fresh lies since becoming president, because they did not directly affect the lives of most Americans, NYU’s Ben-Ghiat said.
That will not be the case with the pandemic. In a span of just 30 days, 3,440 Americans had died by Tuesday afternoon, with 1,000 of those happening in the past two days. Which means that even Trump’s most loyal supporters, who crave his professional wrestling-style attacks on Democrats and the news media regardless of their accuracy, are likely to wind up personally knowing someone who has become gravely ill or died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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“The ‘Big Lie’ is not applicable in this case,” Ben-Ghiat said, referring to the maxim that people are more prone to believe a massive falsehood than a smaller one, because they do not want to accept that their leaders are capable of telling consequential lies. “For example, saying the virus was a hoax, because people will personally get sick and communities will be devastated.”
She said she believes Trump can continue to hold his base supporters by gradually increasing his assessment of the pain and loss it will cause ― but she and others doubt that his message will fly with anyone beyond that group.
“At some point, reality intrudes on the ‘Big Lie.’ But at this point we don’t know when,” said Norman Ornstein, a scholar with the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute think tank. “One interesting part of this is that the people who bought into the hoax idea, who are still resisting social distancing, are in the red states and in red areas in other states. They may be the ones who will really catch a wave that overwhelms them, especially in rural areas, with the virus a little bit later on.”
If that happens, Trump could quickly lose the “rally around the president” lift he has seen in recent polling. That boost has helped other presidents ― from Jimmy Carter in the immediate aftermath of the 1979 taking of American hostages in Iran, through Obama in 2012 with the landfall of Superstorm Sandy in the northeast. But it can fade away if the president is seen as failing to rise to the challenge.
“Read these polls with a most careful, cautious eye. They reflect the present in a time of crisis,” said Democratic pollster Peter Hart about Trump’s higher numbers, pointing out that Carter wound up losing in his reelection bid in a landslide. “The election is far ahead of us, but the challenges facing Donald Trump are as formidable as those that faced Jimmy Carter in 1980.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-01--Barack Obama Takes Rare Public Swipe At Donald Trump Over Coronavirus Response

Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday called out President Donald Trump ’ s haphazard and widely criticized handling of the coronavirus pandemic , urging voters to “ demand better of our government.
” “ We ’ ve seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic , ” Obama tweeted .
“ We can ’ t afford any more consequences of climate denial .
All of us , especially young people , have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall , ” he added .
Obama , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , did not mention the current commander in chief by name in the tweet .
However , Trump has been fiercely rebuked over his initial downplaying of the threat of the virus .
He has previously called climate change a “ hoax ” and his administration has pursued an anti-environment agenda .
Trump has also sought to blame Obama for his own government ’ s botched response to the public health crisis that has sickened more than 188,000 people in the U.S. and killed upwards of 4,000 .
The U.S. now has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country in the world .
Obama linked to a Los Angeles Times article documenting the Trump White House ’ s rollback of Obama-era fuel economy standards with his tweet .
We 've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic .
We ca n't afford any more consequences of climate denial .
All of us , especially young people , have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall .
https : //t.co/K8Ucu7iVDK — Barack Obama ( @ BarackObama ) March 31 @ @

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Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday called out President Donald Trump’s haphazard handling of the coronavirus pandemic, urging voters to “demand better of our government.”
“We’ve seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,” Obama tweeted. “We can’t afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall,” he added.
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Obama, who has rarely attacked Trump since leaving office in 2016, did not mention the current U.S. leader by name in the tweet.
Trump has been fiercely criticized for downplaying the threat of the virus for weeks while his administration dithered. He has previously called climate change a “hoax” and his administration has pursued an anti-environment agenda.
Trump has also sought to blame Obama for his own government’s botched response to the public health crisis that has sickened more than 188,000 people in the U.S. and killed upwards of 4,000. The U.S. now has more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other country in the world.
Obama linked to a Los Angeles Times article documenting the Trump White House’s rollback of Obama-era fuel economy standards with his tweet.
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Check out Obama’s post here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--White House Predicts As Many As 240,000 U.S. Deaths From Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “ rough two-week period ” ahead as the White House released new projections that there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained .
“ We really believe we can do a lot better than that , ” said Dr. Deborah Birx , the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force .
That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of the coronavirus “ a matter of life and death ” and urged the public to heed his administration ’ s guidelines .
He predicted the country would soon see a “ light at the end of the tunnel ” in the pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more .
“ I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead , ” Trump said .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks.
” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top infectious disease expert , said the numbers are “ sobering ” and called on Americans to “ step on the accelerator ” with their collective mitigation efforts .
“ We are continue to see things go up , ” Fauci said .
“ We can not be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.
” Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S .
But that was a worst-case scenario , without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths .
As for the projection of 100,000-240,000 deaths , Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said : “ We don ’ t accept that number , that that ’ s what it ’ s going to be .
... We want to do much better than that.
” The comments came after Trump announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work from home , suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus .
It was an abrupt reversal for Trump , who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “ pack the pews ” for Easter Sunday services .
Trump spoke after another troubling day for the stock market , which has been in a free fall as the cononavirus ground the economy to a near-halt and left millions unemployed .
The Dow Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or roughly 1.9 % , to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “rough two-week period” ahead as the White House released new projections that there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.
Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people change their behavior.
“We really believe we can do a lot better than that,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. That would require all Americans to take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease, she said.
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Trump called American efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus “a matter of life and death” and urged the public to heed his administration’s guidelines. He predicted the country would soon see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in the pandemic that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and infected 170,000 more.
“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said. “We’re going to go through a very tough two weeks.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said the numbers are “sobering” and called on Americans to “step on the accelerator” with their collective mitigation efforts.
“We are continue to see things go up,” Fauci said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.”
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Birx said pandemic forecasts initially predicted 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. But that was a worst-case scenario, without efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus through social distancing.
Birx said states that have not yet seen a spike in cases as New York has could take action to flatten the curve of rising hospitalizations and deaths.
As for the projection of 100,000-240,000 deaths, Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said: “We don’t accept that number, that that’s what it’s going to be. ... We want to do much better than that.”
The comments came after Trump announced Sunday that he was extending to April 30 the social distancing guidelines that urged Americans to cease social gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.
It was an abrupt reversal for Trump, who spent much of last week targeting April 12 as the day he wanted to see Americans “pack the pews” for Easter Sunday services.
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Many states and local governments already have stiffer controls in place on mobility and gatherings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-31--Some People Could Have Trouble Getting Their Coronavirus Rebate Payments

Neal noted that because of the social distancing measures taken to limit the spread of the deadly virus , volunteer tax clinics are closed .
He urged Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin “ to find a solution that will allow vulnerable groups to receive these funds automatically , without needing to file an additional return.
” The Trump administration is moving fast to get the payments into people ’ s bank accounts .
The president signed the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act into law less than a week ago , after the legislation itself came together in about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
Individuals earning $ 75,000 or less are eligible for $ 1,200 , and couples earning less than $ 150,000 can get $ 2,400 , with the size of the benefit gradually phasing down for incomes above those thresholds .
Households with minor children get an additional $ 500 per kid .
Anyone who filed taxes for 2018 or 2019 , and who has already set up direct deposit with the IRS , should see the money in their bank accounts within weeks .
Theoretically , any low-income household should be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( here is the IRS.gov page with links to approved free services ) .
But new filers trying to get rebate payments through the free online process may have some problems .
This seemingly technical issue will determine whether large numbers of low-income veterans , people with disabilities , and seniors receive the stimulus payments .
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Niskanen Center One person in Indiana , who said their only income is disability benefits , said the free online tax software wouldn ’ t allow them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The person , who requested anonymity , had received too little in disability benefits to owe federal tax , and because they had no earned income , wouldn ’ t receive a normal refund , so the filing software said they weren ’ t eligible to file online .
“ I had to print mine out and mail them in to the IRS and the Indiana Department of Revenue , ” the person said in an email .
“ I wrote in my bank account numbers when I signed the return.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a dummy return for a single person with no earned income .
The software said that because my Form 1040 would have zeroes on lines for income , tax , credits and payments , that my federal return was “ ineligible for e-filing , according to IRS rules.
” A spokesperson for Intuit , the maker of TurboTax , said the company is ” partnering with the IRS on how we can assist individuals who do not usually file a return to submit necessary information to the IRS related to stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own free online site for tax preparation , instead outsourcing the service to tax prep companies that have been notorious for using the lure of free filing to push paid products on customers .
In a separate letter on Tuesday , Neal urged an industry trade group known as the Free File Alliance to make sure non-filers don ’ t have a hard time getting their pandemic rebates .
“ These are among the people who struggle the most to make ends meet and thus among the likeliest to spend every additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential boost to the economy , ” the joint statement said .
“ Ensuring they get these payments will both blunt the worst impacts of the current crisis for a very needy group and ensure that the payments have the largest possible stimulative effect .
”

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The vast majority of Americans are eligible for at least $1,200 worth of coronavirus “recovery rebates” from the Internal Revenue Service, but there’s just one catch: You have to file a tax return.
Some might struggle to do so. Not everyone is required to file a federal return each year, and millions of households don’t.
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The IRS specified in a rebate fact sheet on Monday that people who usually don’t file tax returns, such as seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and people with low incomes, “will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment.”
Congressional offices have been “inundated” with calls from senior citizens worried they’ll miss the payments, according to a Tuesday press release from Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Neal noted that because of the social distancing measures taken to limit the spread of the deadly virus, volunteer tax clinics are closed. He urged Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin “to find a solution that will allow vulnerable groups to receive these funds automatically, without needing to file an additional return.”
Treasury Department spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration is moving fast to get the payments into people’s bank accounts. The president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act into law less than a week ago, after the legislation itself came together in about a week ― basically warp speed for Congress.
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The legislation was packed with subsidies for businesses, funding for states and hospitals, and huge increases to unemployment benefits in addition to the direct payments to households.
Individuals earning $75,000 or less are eligible for $1,200, and couples earning less than $150,000 can get $2,400, with the size of the benefit gradually phasing down for incomes above those thresholds. Households with minor children get an additional $500 per kid. Anyone who filed taxes for 2018 or 2019, and who has already set up direct deposit with the IRS, should see the money in their bank accounts within weeks.
Theoretically, any low-income household should be able to file its taxes online for free (here is the IRS.gov page with links to approved free services). But new filers trying to get rebate payments through the free online process may have some problems.
“This seemingly technical issue will determine whether large numbers of low-income veterans, people with disabilities, and seniors receive the stimulus payments.” - The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Niskanen Center
One person in Indiana, who said their only income is disability benefits, said the free online tax software wouldn’t allow them to file online or enter bank account information. The person, who requested anonymity, had received too little in disability benefits to owe federal tax, and because they had no earned income, wouldn’t receive a normal refund, so the filing software said they weren’t eligible to file online.
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“I had to print mine out and mail them in to the IRS and the Indiana Department of Revenue,” the person said in an email. “I wrote in my bank account numbers when I signed the return.”
I created a TurboTax account and tried to make a dummy return for a single person with no earned income. The software said that because my Form 1040 would have zeroes on lines for income, tax, credits and payments, that my federal return was “ineligible for e-filing, according to IRS rules.”
The IRS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, said the company is ”partnering with the IRS on how we can assist individuals who do not usually file a return to submit necessary information to the IRS related to stimulus payments.”
A spokesperson for another tax prep company, H&R Block, said they’re “modifying our do-it-yourself online products” and working with the IRS and an industry trade association “so that people who are typically not required to file taxes can submit a return for free and provide bank account information.”
The IRS does not run its own free online site for tax preparation, instead outsourcing the service to tax prep companies that have been notorious for using the lure of free filing to push paid products on customers. In a separate letter on Tuesday, Neal urged an industry trade group known as the Free File Alliance to make sure non-filers don’t have a hard time getting their pandemic rebates.
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The likely solution for people who are unable to electronically file their taxes will be for them to tell the online software that they had $1 worth of interest income, said Tim Hugo, director of the Free File Alliance. Hugo said it was an adequate workaround when a similar problem cropped up in 2008, which was the last time the government sent everybody stimulus checks.
“It’s been done before. It’s tested,” Hugo said, adding that the companies were working with the administration to finalize the guidance.
The hiccups in the tax filing process were exactly why some policy experts had warned Congress not to require tax filing for rebate eligibility.
“This seemingly technical issue will determine whether large numbers of low-income veterans, people with disabilities, and seniors receive the stimulus payments,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Niskanen Center, two Washington think tanks, said in a joint statement last week.
As many as 15 million households did not file returns last year. Non-filers likely include a lot of seniors on Social Security and people with incomes so low they don’t owe federal taxes and aren’t required to file returns.
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“These are among the people who struggle the most to make ends meet and thus among the likeliest to spend every additional dollar they receive, providing the greatest potential boost to the economy,” the joint statement said. “Ensuring they get these payments will both blunt the worst impacts of the current crisis for a very needy group and ensure that the payments have the largest possible stimulative effect.”
This story has been updated to include comment from Tim Hugo.