thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--This Is What It’s Like To Have A Loved One In ICE Detention During A Pandemic

I have three kids .
They are 11 , 9 , and the baby just turned 4 in March .
What ’ s really difficult is what happened before my husband was imprisoned .
He was the only one working , and then I got a job in a beauty salon because that was my profession in Brazil .
I went to work in the salon at the end of the week , Thursdays and Fridays , and left my little girl with a babysitter who lives across the street from me .
And one day when I left her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ babysitter , a sister [ “ Auntie ” ] and brother-in-law [ “ Uncle ” ] also live at that house .
And my baby is very intelligent and speaks clearly .
And she told me that Uncle had put his hands on her genitals .
She told me horrible things that it ’ s impossible to believe a child is talking about such things .
I left that place straight away , I would never use that babysitter again , and took my daughter to the police to do the police report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter on Feb. 13 , the same day my husband was arrested .
So he was going to go with me to the interview , but he was arrested , he couldn ’ t make it , and I was desperate , crying , and I still had to take my daughter to that interview because we ’ d already been waiting for a month .
So we got there , they took my daughter aside , and they didn ’ t let me take part in the interview with her .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a room with four people she ’ d never seen before — a translator , two professionals who I think were psychologists , and an investigator .
And as far as they informed me , they had asked her whether someone had touched her , and she had said “ no.
” When my husband was arrested , he had money in his wallet that he ’ d received from his job .
It was the money that we use to pay our electricity bill , so he had that .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
To call us , there are times when he puts in $ 2 , there are times when he puts in $ 3 , we talk about 7-8 minutes , that ’ s the length of the call .
It ’ s what he told me , right ?
He can ’ t say very much , the connection is poor and there ’ s an echo .
We almost can ’ t have a real conversation .
He says nothing is being done [ about the coronavirus ] and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are so many people .
In his cell , there are four people , and inside [ his sector ] there ’ s more than 40 or 50 .
He says at 8 a.m. they open the doors and everyone goes out and eats in a cafeteria with tables and they have a set amount of time to eat .
After that , they go back in the cell , and there ’ s a schedule to go out again later .
I asked if he was using masks or if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said everything is continuing as normal .
Nobody communicates anything about it .
He ’ s very worried and also worried about us .
And we worry here , my children and I , because during this time , I lost my job here [ as a food vendor ] and I ’ m not working and I have two children [ ages 6 and 2 ; both U.S. citizens ] to raise , and I can ’ t go out anyway to look for work .
My son has asthma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened , he , the older one , is getting psychological therapy .
And my girl , the younger one , has a developmental delay and she gets therapy , but they haven ’ t been able to continue because of the virus .
She can ’ t talk and barely walks , and she was getting therapy before my husband was taken away .
I was last able to really speak with him a week ago .
And he told me he was worried because there are many sick people and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what they ’ re gon na do with us , if they ’ re going to let us out or not , ” he said , because there are so many sick people and no protection .
They don ’ t give them things to protect themselves , for example , masks and gloves .
Supposedly they say they should try to keep their distance , but they can ’ t keep their distance there .
He says they use the same bathrooms , “ We almost sleep together , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , he says .
No , he says there ’ s no space at all .
And it makes me too worried that he ’ s there .
What I want is support so that these people who haven ’ t committed any crimes — my husband ’ s only crime was to cross the border , and aside from that , he hasn ’ t committed any crime .
He ’ s not a thief , he ’ s not a rapist , he hasn ’ t done bad things in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and struggling for my family .
I want help so that they can go free , and for people to support us so they ’ re released .
Because it ’ s not fair that they ’ re imprisoned during this pandemic .
And we don ’ t want them not to see their families and to die there because of this pandemic , we want help so they can be freed and together with their families .

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Catalina’s husband was arrested alongside nearly 700 other people in a massive ICE raid on food processing plants in Mississippi last summer. Marisa’s husband was on the way home from a construction job in Florida. ICE agents surprised Natalia’s husband two months ago during his routine immigration check-in with ISAP, a program that had been monitoring his whereabouts since he entered the U.S. without documents in 2018.
With the coronavirus spreading like wildfire in U.S. detention facilities, the three women have been worried and outraged for weeks over the lack of protection for their loved ones in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Though less than 2% of immigration detainees across the country had been tested for the coronavirus, 60% of those test results had come back positive as of April 21, the Miami Herald reported.
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Catalina’s husband is in a Louisiana detention facility with seven confirmed COVID-19 cases at last count, though the numbers ICE reports often lag far behind actual cases. Last month, ICE admitted that 350 detainees had been exposed to the coronavirus at Krome Processing Center in Miami, where Marisa’s husband is still imprisoned. He told her more than a week ago that he had a fever.
Despite a national movement to release people in detention facilities of all kinds, ICE had freed fewer than 700 immigrants as of mid-April. (After her interview with HuffPost, Natalia’s husband was one of them, and he rejoined his family on April 3.) Nearly 30,000 people were still in ICE detention as of April 25. Detainees are continuing to stage protests and hunger strikes, and their family members and allies outside are increasing the legal and political pressure on ICE to let more people go. In light of recent court rulings, Catalina and fellow activists are pushing for the release of her husband, Baldomero Orozco Juarez, on the basis of his chronic kidney problems.
Meanwhile, the three women told HuffPost about becoming their families’ lone providers and raising young children struggling to understand their fathers’ incarceration during a global pandemic. Marisa was a housekeeper, Natalia worked at a beauty salon and Marisa sold food — but because of the coronavirus, none of them could keep working. They’ve been relying on help from their churches, generous strangers, activists and fellow immigrants who are fighting beside them to free the people in ICE detention. Here’s what they want you to know about their experiences.
Responses in Spanish and Portuguese have been translated, condensed and edited. Marisa and Catalina’s real names were changed at their request to protect their identities.
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Marisa, 33, from Honduras
“Ruben was the one who paid the rent, and Ruben’s in jail.”
Ruben was arrested about two months ago; I don’t remember the exact date. He’s in Krome Processing Center [in Miami]. They arrested him while he was leaving work [in construction]; he was going home to where he lives in Panama City, which is six hours from where we live here in Louisiana. He was leaving work with a co-worker and the police stopped him, asked for his driver’s license, and since he doesn’t have one, they arrested him.
We have two kids; a 12-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. Right now, we’re having a really hard time here. We have to pay rent, and here in the state of Louisiana, it’s not like other states [that have bans on evictions due to the coronavirus]. The owner of the house always calls me and says I owe her two months’ rent. Last month, she called and threatened that she was going to kick me out. I have two kids, and there’s no work; I work in housekeeping and the hotels are closed.
Ruben was the one who paid the rent, and Ruben’s in jail. My mom is here, an older woman in her 60s who has diabetes. We’re having a really hard time right now.
He calls me by telephone. Sometimes it’s really difficult because you have to add money for extra minutes, and since I’m not working, I don’t have money right now. Ruben is worried because they’ve already had patients there in Krome with symptoms of coronavirus, like a fever. Ruben called me just this morning and said he’s feeling bad and has a fever, and he doesn’t know anything and he’s worried because they still have him locked up.
They’re all in the same place. You’re supposed to keep your distance from people to avoid contagion, but in Krome, they aren’t doing that. The prisoners are all mixed together. And there are contagious people, there are people with the virus and people they’ve taken out of there who were sick.
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The first week or two weeks Ruben was there, they didn’t have any masks; they had nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Then they started to see the news and realize what was going on and they started to give out masks, but it’s not the same. They don’t do it every day like they should. You’re not supposed to use masks multiple times; you have to disinfect them.
The prisoners don’t know anything. Sometimes, they can watch the news, but one day, Ruben said that they didn’t let them see it, they turned off the news. But they have to take care of the prisoners. These aren’t people who have killed. The only crime the father of my children committed was not having a document. He’s not a murderer or a criminal.
Abolish ICE Colorado, Sanctuary for All, American Friends Committee and Never Again Action take part in a car protest to call for the release of detained immigrants at the GEO Detention Center on April 3, 2020, in Aurora, Colorado. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Natalia, 33, from Brazil
“What’s really difficult is what happened before my husband was imprisoned.”
My husband has been detained since Feb. 13. They allege that he was detained because he had an order for deportation in 2005, when he tried to enter the country but didn’t manage. Right there during the crossing, they picked him up, he was imprisoned 60 days if I’m not mistaken, and then they deported him.
So, when we went to ISAP to do the check-ins that we’re asked to do, they arrested him there, saying that he already had a deportation order issued more than 10 days ago, but we weren’t informed of that. So we went there for the normal ISAP visit, and there, they had some people from immigration who took him by surprise.
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I was in a state of desperation because we had been doing everything they asked, we didn’t miss a single visit, we let them come to our home. It was a very big shock. It was very sad. They ask the maximum cooperation from us, and they could have at least told us that he had a deportation order for us to ask a lawyer for advice about what to do. And they didn’t tell us.
“The only crime the father of my children committed was not having a document.”
I have three kids. They are 11, 9, and the baby just turned 4 in March. What’s really difficult is what happened before my husband was imprisoned. He was the only one working, and then I got a job in a beauty salon because that was my profession in Brazil. I went to work in the salon at the end of the week, Thursdays and Fridays, and left my little girl with a babysitter who lives across the street from me. And one day when I left her there, at the house of that babysitter, a sister [“Auntie”] and brother-in-law [“Uncle”] also live at that house. And my baby is very intelligent and speaks clearly. And she told me that Uncle had put his hands on her genitals. She told me horrible things that it’s impossible to believe a child is talking about such things. I left that place straight away, I would never use that babysitter again, and took my daughter to the police to do the police report.
They scheduled an interview with my daughter on Feb. 13, the same day my husband was arrested. So he was going to go with me to the interview, but he was arrested, he couldn’t make it, and I was desperate, crying, and I still had to take my daughter to that interview because we’d already been waiting for a month. So we got there, they took my daughter aside, and they didn’t let me take part in the interview with her. They took her alone, took her to a room with four people she’d never seen before — a translator, two professionals who I think were psychologists, and an investigator. And as far as they informed me, they had asked her whether someone had touched her, and she had said “no.”
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But obviously she said that — she didn’t know those people. She had a hard time even telling me. So the investigator closed the case and said they were going to provide a psychologist and psychiatrist for her, but that also didn’t happen. So I find myself in a situation where my daughter suffered abuse, where other children run the same risk as my daughter; and I don’t want that for my children, I don’t want that for the child of any other mother, because it hurts too much.
That kind of person should be imprisoned, but instead, the person who’s imprisoned is my husband, who never did anything. And that’s revolting. I don’t have work, I can’t trust anybody to leave my daughter with, I sent a letter to the ICE officials explaining the situation, and they aren’t moved by anything.
When my husband was arrested, he had money in his wallet that he’d received from his job. It was the money that we use to pay our electricity bill, so he had that. And he was able to call me using that money. To call us, there are times when he puts in $2, there are times when he puts in $3, we talk about 7-8 minutes, that’s the length of the call. It’s what he told me, right? He can’t say very much, the connection is poor and there’s an echo. We almost can’t have a real conversation.
He says nothing is being done [about the coronavirus] and he’s even afraid because he says there are so many people. In his cell, there are four people, and inside [his sector] there’s more than 40 or 50. He says at 8 a.m. they open the doors and everyone goes out and eats in a cafeteria with tables and they have a set amount of time to eat. After that, they go back in the cell, and there’s a schedule to go out again later. I asked if he was using masks or if they were doing anything and he said no. He said everything is continuing as normal. Nobody communicates anything about it. He’s very worried and also worried about us.
A residential pod at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Immigrant detainees across the country say they lack adequate protective equipment and cleaning supplies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus behind bars. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Catalina, 37, from Guatemala
“My children need their father.”
My husband was detained on Aug. 7, 2019. He was detained in the raids. He wasn’t stealing, he wasn’t doing anything bad, he was just working, struggling for my family because he’s a good father, and he’s the one who works for the family, for my children. He was working in a plant in Mississippi.
Now he’s in Catahoula, Louisiana. And that has him desperate because like many people, they detained him back then and it has really affected him to be there. He’s gotten very sick, and I’m worried about him because since he’s been in jail he’s been in the hospital, in the emergency room, two times. And I worry about his health because they told him he has kidney problems and they’re not working well.
And we worry here, my children and I, because during this time, I lost my job here [as a food vendor] and I’m not working and I have two children [ages 6 and 2; both U.S. citizens] to raise, and I can’t go out anyway to look for work. My son has asthma, and with everything that’s happened, he, the older one, is getting psychological therapy. And my girl, the younger one, has a developmental delay and she gets therapy, but they haven’t been able to continue because of the virus. She can’t talk and barely walks, and she was getting therapy before my husband was taken away.
I was also seeing specialists because I have eye problems and they told me I needed cornea transplants, and we were planning what to do because I needed an operation. And all this happened and I still haven’t gone. I need my husband to go with me to the doctor because I can’t drive, because of my eye problems. My children need their father because I realize they are really suffering and they always ask about him.
Now he can’t call me, he said he doesn’t have money to call. On Friday, he called me like a minute and told me, “I don’t have a way to call you to know how you are,” he said. And I asked him how he was and he told me he was worried.
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I was last able to really speak with him a week ago. And he told me he was worried because there are many sick people and was like, “I don’t know what they’re gonna do with us, if they’re going to let us out or not,” he said, because there are so many sick people and no protection. They don’t give them things to protect themselves, for example, masks and gloves. Supposedly they say they should try to keep their distance, but they can’t keep their distance there. He says they use the same bathrooms, “We almost sleep together,” he says, 100 people sleep in one room, he says. No, he says there’s no space at all. And it makes me too worried that he’s there.
The last time he went [to the hospital] was almost 2 months ago, I think, and they took him out of jail and sent him to the emergency room. He was there two days, it was the third day when he called me. And when he was in the hospital, he told me, the virus had entered the jail.
He says they just remove people, and they don’t see some people again … I asked if they were doing tests and no, he said for example that sometimes they see a doctor, they already took him out and told him they were going to look at him because his back was hurting, he said, but they haven’t told him anything about that. “And since it hurts me a lot, I tell them to give me medicine or something,” he says, “and so what do they give you?” I say, and he says “they give me Ibuprofen for the pain.” Just ibuprofen to calm him a bit but no special medicine. It’s difficult to hear him because there’s an echo, and it breaks my heart to hear him and also he’s worried about us, just as we are for him.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--Biden Campaign Organizers Ratify Union Contract

Win McNamee via Getty Images Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Teamsters Vote 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum in 2019 in Cedar Rapids , Iowa .
Biden ’ s campaign had previously recognized a union representing its organizers in Iowa , the first state to vote in the Democratic presidential primary .
The new agreement covers all of the campaign ’ s organizers throughout the country .
The organizers will be members of the Cedar Rapids-based Teamsters Local 238 .
“ For the first time in history , the campaign staff for a presumptive nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered under a union agreement , ” said Jesse Case , the union ’ s secretary-treasurer .
“ We are pleased to announce that Biden for President field organizers , represented by Teamsters Local 238 , have ratified a collective bargaining agreement effective May 1.
” Field staffers have historically worked long hours for some of the lowest pay in politics and were often expected to be on call 24 hours a day , 7 days a week .
Since 2016 , staffers for a growing number of Democratic campaigns and state parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of every major 2020 Democratic presidential primary campaign .
The Biden campaign says the new agreement will result in field organizers ’ annual pay spiking by an average of $ 1,900 .
They will also receive a 100 % employer contribution for medical and vision coverage .
The new contract covers about 100 members of the Biden campaign at the moment .
Biden , a self-described “ union guy , ” has long said he would support a staff union .
He has released plans to make it easier for workers to organize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Association of Firefighters , both major teachers ’ unions , the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and other major labor groups .
“ We are proud that our campaign continues to live out the values that have defined Vice President Biden ’ s career , ” said Maju Varghese , the campaign ’ s chief operating officer .
“ That is why his plan to grow a stronger , more inclusive middle class — the backbone of the American economy — demands that we strengthen public and private sector unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they deserve .
Our hardworking field organizers are no exception , and their efforts are critical to our success at the ballot box this fall.
” Staff members of the presidential campaigns of Democratic Sens .
Cory Booker of New Jersey , Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were also represented by Teamsters Local 238 .
The union also represents employees of the Iowa Democratic Party .

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Field organizers for Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign ratified a union contract that will give them a $15-an-hour minimum wage, overtime pay and a grievance process.
Biden’s campaign had previously recognized a union representing its organizers in Iowa, the first state to vote in the Democratic presidential primary.
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The new agreement covers all of the campaign’s organizers throughout the country. The organizers will be members of the Cedar Rapids-based Teamsters Local 238.
“For the first time in history, the campaign staff for a presumptive nominee of a major political party will be covered under a union agreement,” said Jesse Case, the union’s secretary-treasurer. “We are pleased to announce that Biden for President field organizers, represented by Teamsters Local 238, have ratified a collective bargaining agreement effective May 1.”
Field staffers have historically worked long hours for some of the lowest pay in politics and were often expected to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Teamsters Vote 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum in 2019 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Win McNamee via Getty Images
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Since 2016, staffers for a growing number of Democratic campaigns and state parties have formed unions, including the staff of every major 2020 Democratic presidential primary campaign.
The Biden campaign says the new agreement will result in field organizers’ annual pay spiking by an average of $1,900. They will also receive a 100% employer contribution for medical and vision coverage. The new contract covers about 100 members of the Biden campaign at the moment.
Biden, a self-described “union guy,” has long said he would support a staff union. He has released plans to make it easier for workers to organize and has earned the endorsement of the International Association of Firefighters, both major teachers’ unions, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and other major labor groups.
“We are proud that our campaign continues to live out the values that have defined Vice President Biden’s career,” said Maju Varghese, the campaign’s chief operating officer. “That is why his plan to grow a stronger, more inclusive middle class — the backbone of the American economy — demands that we strengthen public and private sector unions and help all workers bargain successfully for what they deserve. Our hardworking field organizers are no exception, and their efforts are critical to our success at the ballot box this fall.”
Staff members of the presidential campaigns of Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were also represented by Teamsters Local 238. The union also represents employees of the Iowa Democratic Party.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--Germany Expected To Reopen Large Shops, Allow Soccer Matches By May 11

BERLIN , May 4 ( Reuters ) - Germany ’ s state premiers will agree on further measures to ease @ @ @ @ @ call with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday , two people familiar with the preparations told @ @ @ @ @ state premiers are expected to give the green light for large shops to reopen , @ @ @ @ @ the sources said .
The states will also agree to reopen schools for all grades @ @ @ @ @ will only be allowed to go to class in rotating shifts , not on daily @ @ @ @ @ .

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BERLIN, May 4 (Reuters) - Germany’s state premiers will agree on further measures to ease coronavirus restrictions during a telephone call with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, two people familiar with the preparations told Reuters on Monday.
The state premiers are expected to give the green light for large shops to reopen, probably from May 11, the sources said.
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The states will also agree to reopen schools for all grades step-by-step, though most children will only be allowed to go to class in rotating shifts, not on daily basis, the sources said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Chris Christie Says People ‘Are Going To Have To’ Accept More Deaths To Reopen Economy

Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie on Monday joined the tally of conservatives saying it ’ s crucial to restart the U.S. economy , even if that means losing thousands of more lives to COVID-19 as a result .
In an interview on “ The Daily DC ” podcast , CNN ’ s Dana Bash asked about new internal government projections that nearly 3,000 people will be dying daily by June 1 .
He answered that people “ are going to have to ” swallow the idea of losing thousands of more lives .
As social distancing restrictions ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited by the White House this week revised fatality projections to more than 134,000 by Aug. 4 , almost double the previous estimate .
“ Of course , everybody wants to save every life they can ― but the question is , towards what end , ultimately ?
” Christie asked .
“ Are there ways that we can thread the middle here to allow that there are going to be deaths , and there are going to be deaths no matter what ?
” He suggested keeping the elderly and those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and limiting large public gatherings like concerts and sports events while letting others get back to work .
He is pushing for America to re-open .
When I asked @ GovChristie on # thedailydc whether people will be able to live with CDC projection of 3,000 deaths per day , he said “ They 're gon na have to . ''
https : //t.co/jc4h3PzbDu — Dana Bash ( @ DanaBashCNN ) May 5 , 2020 Asked for his message if he were in the Oval Office , Christie , who ran for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that “ the message is that the American people have gone through significant death before ” and compared reopening the country to the “ sacrifice ” made by American soldiers in World War II .
“ We sacrificed those lives .
We sent our young men during WWII over to Europe , out to the Pacific , knowing , knowing that many of them would not come home alive , ” he said .
“ And we decided to make that sacrifice because what we were standing up for was the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way now , we have to stand up for the American way of life.
” It ’ s not the first time Christie has pushed for the country to reopen before public health experts say it ’ s safe to do so , and he is one member of a growing list of conservatives who insist that widespread death from coronavirus is a justifiable price to pay for reviving the nation ’ s economy .
Last month , Rep. Trey Hollingsworth ( R-Ind . )
claimed the government should “ always choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Texas Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick said that “ there are more important things than living ” in his own push to reopen businesses .
Despite noting the dramatically increased death projections that same day , President Donald Trump declared Monday that “ we have to reopen our country ” as quickly as possible .
To hell with @ GovChristie , and to hell with those in the @ GOP who assume this was how it had to be .
Their guy screwed it up .
Their guy refuses to take any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to # TestTraceIsolate .
They made this our destiny .
https : //t.co/tTERCEej5M — Dr .
Rob Davidson ( @ DrRobDavidson ) May 5 , 2020 This trash Chris Christie compares reopening the economy to the WW2 .
`` The message is that the American people have gone through significant death before , '' citing `` we 've gone through it and we 've survived it .
We sacrificed those lives .
`` https : //t.co/3QKhO05luA — Amy Siskind 🏳🌈 ( @ Amy_Siskind ) May 5 , 2020 We should thank Chris Christie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : his team on the far-right values only one thing : money .
And for the love of money they are fine with letting a few thousand , maybe a hundred or two hundred thousand ( ? )
Americans die .
Sky 's the limit , suckers .
pic.twitter.com/Qf9FPCxdOr — Joy Reid ( @ JoyAnnReid ) May 5 , 2020

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Monday joined the tally of conservatives saying it’s crucial to restart the U.S. economy, even if that means losing thousands of more lives to COVID-19 as a result.
In an interview on “The Daily DC” podcast, CNN’s Dana Bash asked about new internal government projections that nearly 3,000 people will be dying daily by June 1. He answered that people “are going to have to” swallow the idea of losing thousands of more lives. As social distancing restrictions ease in several states, another model often cited by the White House this week revised fatality projections to more than 134,000 by Aug. 4, almost double the previous estimate.
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Christie claimed the “economic devastation” caused by widespread stay-at-home measures due to the pandemic was “equally sad.”
“Of course, everybody wants to save every life they can ― but the question is, towards what end, ultimately?” Christie asked. “Are there ways that we can thread the middle here to allow that there are going to be deaths, and there are going to be deaths no matter what?”
He suggested keeping the elderly and those who have compromised immune systems at home, and limiting large public gatherings like concerts and sports events while letting others get back to work.
He is pushing for America to re-open. When I asked @GovChristie on #thedailydc whether people will be able to live with CDC projection of 3,000 deaths per day, he said “They're gonna have to." https://t.co/jc4h3PzbDu — Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) May 5, 2020
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Asked for his message if he were in the Oval Office, Christie, who ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, said that “the message is that the American people have gone through significant death before” and compared reopening the country to the “sacrifice” made by American soldiers in World War II.
“We sacrificed those lives. We sent our young men during WWII over to Europe, out to the Pacific, knowing, knowing that many of them would not come home alive,” he said. “And we decided to make that sacrifice because what we were standing up for was the American way of life. In the very same way now, we have to stand up for the American way of life.”
It’s not the first time Christie has pushed for the country to reopen before public health experts say it’s safe to do so, and he is one member of a growing list of conservatives who insist that widespread death from coronavirus is a justifiable price to pay for reviving the nation’s economy.
Last month, Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.) claimed the government should “always choose” the economy over American lives, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that “there are more important things than living” in his own push to reopen businesses.
Despite noting the dramatically increased death projections that same day, President Donald Trump declared Monday that “we have to reopen our country” as quickly as possible.
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Christie’s remarks did not sit well with many people:
Huuuuuuge difference between sending the boys overseas to fight fascists engaged in genocide and sending Grandma to die because Chris Christie misses the unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden. pic.twitter.com/USlLvQeIiK — Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) May 5, 2020
To hell with @GovChristie, and to hell with those in the @GOP who assume this was how it had to be. Their guy screwed it up. Their guy refuses to take any responsibility, and still has no plan to #TestTraceIsolate. They made this our destiny. https://t.co/tTERCEej5M — Dr. Rob Davidson (@DrRobDavidson) May 5, 2020
Christie's lowest approval rating (14%) was still a bit higher than the percentage of N.J. residents who think the stay-at-home order goes too far (11%). https://t.co/p9ibZ8Qyzg — Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) May 5, 2020
This trash Chris Christie compares reopening the economy to the WW2. "The message is that the American people have gone through significant death before," citing "we've gone through it and we've survived it. We sacrificed those lives."https://t.co/3QKhO05luA — Amy Siskind 🏳🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) May 5, 2020
We should thank Chris Christie for making things crystal clear for us: his team on the far-right values only one thing: money. And for the love of money they are fine with letting a few thousand, maybe a hundred or two hundred thousand (?) Americans die. Sky's the limit, suckers. pic.twitter.com/Qf9FPCxdOr — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) May 5, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Ex-GOP Lawmaker Joe Walsh Issues Chilling Warning To Fox News Viewers

.
@ FoxNews — what Laura ingraham said tonight on her show was deadly .
You need to remove her @ @ @ @ @ is habitual liar and a science denier .
You said you would hold your hosts @ @ @ @ @ out there ...
The bill has finally come due .
Fire her , NOW .

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Joe Walsh, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives and a onetime favorite of the far-right tea party movement, has a chilling warning for Fox News viewers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After sharing a clip of Fox News host Laura Ingraham dismissing social distancing as a way to control the spread of COVID-19, Walsh warned that watching the network could get viewers killed:
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Have I mentioned before that watching Fox News can get you killed? https://t.co/gia8oyHXa0 — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 5, 2020
The White House and public health officials have promoted social distancing to limit contact between people and therefore reduce the spread of the virus.
“Social distancing will be with us through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases,” Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the leaders of the White House coronavirus task force, said over the weekend.
Walsh wasn’t alone in calling out Ingraham:
Laura Ingraham told her viewers tonight that there is no scientific evidence that social distance works. She quoted an unnamed Doc as saying viruses just spread, you can't stop them. This is exhibit 459 in the class action lawsuit she and Fox are going to face. — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) May 5, 2020
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.@IngrahamAngle is truly a dangerous imbecile. I hope she and @FoxNews have the shit sued out of them for literally causing thousands to die with deranged nonsense, lies and misinformation. https://t.co/6X5DzrMwig — Spiro Agnew’s Ghost, Noble Committee Vice Chair (@SpiroAgnewGhost) May 5, 2020
.@FoxNews — what Laura ingraham said tonight on her show was deadly. You need to remove her from the air. She is habitual liar and a science denier. You said you would hold your hosts accountable for what they put out there... The bill has finally come due. Fire her, NOW. — Րυɱ૦Ր Һคς ɿ੮ 🔰🔳 (@BrandiLynn4Ever) May 5, 2020
What is the hidden motivation here? She can't really be that dumb, right? https://t.co/VUIkTZD3gA — Khashoggi’s Ghost (@UROCKlive1) May 5, 2020
"Dr." Laura Ingraham, just so you know, I had to ration my supply of #Hydroxychloroquine for my Lupus these last 3 weeks. I FINALLY got my 90 day supply. All because people like yourself continue to PUSH this drug with no efficacy EXCEPT Veterans died while on this drug. https://t.co/DjmOSSnhZ5 — Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) May 5, 2020
Who wants to bet that Ingraham herself IS social distancing? https://t.co/I3eZpnCwmV — Sarah Baicker (@sbbaicker) May 5, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--GOP Lawmaker Opposes Coronavirus Face Masks Because They Cover 'The Image Of God'

A Republican state lawmaker in Ohio says he won ’ t wear a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic because it covers the face , which is the “ likeness of God.
” Nino Vitale , who serves in the state ’ s House of Representatives , says he ’ s not planning to follow guidance from his fellow Republican , Gov .
Mike DeWine , who first tried to order that masks be worn as the state reopens but later softened that to a recommendation .
DeWine said he reversed himself because too many people found an order requiring masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be among the offended , writing on Facebook : “ This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles .
One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God .
That image is seen the most by our face .
I will not wear a mask.
” He also posted in a video in which he states that humans are “ created in the image and likeness of God.
” “ When we think of image , do we think of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” he asked .
“ We think of their face .
I don ’ t want to cover people ’ s faces , Jim .
That ’ s the image of God right there and I want to see it in my brothers and sisters.
” Vitale , who lives in Urbana , also urged communities to ignore Dr. Amy Acton , the state ’ s public health director , and reopen , dismissing precautions about the virus as “ fear and propaganda ” and insisting that COVID-19 is “ more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 20,000 infections and more 1,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic .

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A Republican state lawmaker in Ohio says he won’t wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic because it covers the face, which is the “likeness of God.”
Nino Vitale, who serves in the state’s House of Representatives, says he’s not planning to follow guidance from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who first tried to order that masks be worn as the state reopens, but later softened that to a recommendation.
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DeWine said he reversed himself because too many people found an order requiring masks to be “offensive.”
Vitale appears to be among the offended, writing on Facebook:
This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask.
He also posted in a video in which he states that humans are “created in the image and likeness of God.”
“When we think of image, do we think of a chest or our legs or our arms?” he asked. “We think of their face. I don’t want to cover people’s faces, Jim. That’s the image of God right there and I want to see it in my brothers and sisters.”
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Vitale, who lives in Urbana, also urged communities to ignore Dr. Amy Acton, the state public health director, and reopen, dismissing precautions about the virus as “fear and propaganda” and insisting that COVID-19 is “more like the flu.”
It is not like the flu, according to public health experts.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--White House Blocks Coronavirus Task Force Members From Testifying To Congress

The White House has blocked members of its coronavirus task force from appearing before congressional lawmakers this month without the express approval of President Donald Trump ’ s top deputy , according to several media reports .
The Trump administration sent a memo to congressional committees on Monday saying task force officials were under an “ extraordinary ” demand as the nation reels from the ongoing pandemic and said it was “ reasonable ” that they not appear at any hearings .
Only White House chief of staff Mark Meadows may give them special dispensation to do so .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response efforts and treat hearing requests accordingly , ” says the memo , obtained by The Washington Post .
“ Given these competing demands in these unprecedented times , it is reasonable to expect that agencies will have to decline invitations to hearings to remain focused on implementing of COVID-19 response , including declining to participate in multiple hearings on the same or overlapping topics.
” The move sparked immediate backlash from some top Democrats .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said preventing task force members from speaking to Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis.
” “ The president ’ s failure to accept the truth , and then his desire to hide it , is one of the chief reasons we are lagging behind so many other countries in beating this scourge , ” Schumer told The New York Times .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) also lashed out after news of the memo was first reported , saying the move was “ business as usual ” for the White House during an interview on CNN .
“ But it is not business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Pelosi said .
“ We must insist on the truth.
” The White House is blocking key officials from testifying to Congress about the response to the coronavirus crisis .
This is just the latest sign of Trump ’ s efforts to keep the truth from the American people .
# SitRoom pic.twitter.com/XDdTCMKEkv — Nancy Pelosi ( @ SpeakerPelosi ) May 5 , 2020 Last week , the White House blocked Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , from testifying before a House panel on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , calling any appearance before lawmakers “ counterproductive.
” “ While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings , ” a White House spokesman said at the time .
“ We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.
” The coronavirus has continued to wreak havoc around the nation , despite Trump ’ s insistence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as possible to help kick-start the U.S. economy .
More than 1.1 million Americans have been infected with the virus , and more than 68,000 have died .
Internal White House projections show those figures rising dramatically for at least another month , with the death toll expected to reach about 3,000 per day by June 1 , according to the Times .

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The White House has blocked members of its coronavirus task force from appearing before congressional lawmakers this month without the express approval of President Donald Trump’s top deputy, according to several media reports.
The Trump administration sent a memo to congressional committees on Monday saying task force officials were under an “extraordinary” demand as the nation reels from the ongoing pandemic and said it was “reasonable” that they not appear at any hearings. Only White House chief of staff Mark Meadows may give them special dispensation to do so.
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“Agencies must maximize their resources for COVID-19 response efforts and treat hearing requests accordingly,” says the memo, obtained by The Washington Post. “Given these competing demands in these unprecedented times, it is reasonable to expect that agencies will have to decline invitations to hearings to remain focused on implementing of COVID-19 response, including declining to participate in multiple hearings on the same or overlapping topics.”
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The move sparked immediate backlash from some top Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said preventing task force members from speaking to Congress would only “prolong this health and economic crisis.”
“The president’s failure to accept the truth, and then his desire to hide it, is one of the chief reasons we are lagging behind so many other countries in beating this scourge,” Schumer told The New York Times.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also lashed out after news of the memo was first reported, saying the move was “business as usual” for the White House during an interview on CNN.
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“But it is not business that will be helpful to addressing this,” Pelosi said. “We must insist on the truth.”
The White House is blocking key officials from testifying to Congress about the response to the coronavirus crisis. This is just the latest sign of Trump’s efforts to keep the truth from the American people. #SitRoom pic.twitter.com/XDdTCMKEkv — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 5, 2020
Last week, the White House blocked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, from testifying before a House panel on the country’s responses to the coronavirus pandemic, calling any appearance before lawmakers “counterproductive.”
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings,” a White House spokesman said at the time. “We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”
The coronavirus has continued to wreak havoc around the nation, despite Trump’s insistence that parts of the country should reopen as soon as possible to help kick-start the U.S. economy. More than 1.1 million Americans have been infected with the virus, and more than 68,000 have died.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--Presidential Historian Takes Apart Trump's Claim He's 'Treated Worse' Than Lincoln

President Donald Trump on Sunday complained that he had been treated worse by the media than another other president , including Abraham Lincoln .
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin gave some perspective to that claim and suggested the president would do well to learn from his predecessors who ’ ve led through crises .
Goodwin appeared Monday morning on CNN to discuss Trump ’ s remarks at the Lincoln Memorial for a Fox News virtual town hall .
During a tirade against the “ hostile press , ” the president had gestured toward the monument and said , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lincoln , who was assassinated in 1865 .
“ It ’ s an incredible statement when you think about it , ” Goodwin said , shaking her head .
“ You can ’ t compare the time , either .
Yes , it ’ s true the country is split now in a partisan way .
Yes , it ’ s true that we have a divided media.
” “ But we were talking about a civil war with Abraham Lincoln , 600,000 people dying , a North and a South that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
Let us never think that we ’ re going back to such a period of time.
” Goodwin , a Pulitzer Prize winner and author of presidential history bestseller “ Leadership : In Turbulent Times , ” also noted that all presidents are unhappy with press treatment but that it ’ s simply “ part of democracy.
” Specifically referring to how Lincoln was treated by the press , she described the intensely bifurcated media the 16th president faced but noted that “ he would hardly complain ” about that treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can just use the understanding of free press is part of what we are , ” she said , adding an acknowledgment that it ’ s easy to foster resentment over bad coverage .
Rather , she suggested that Trump should compare himself “ to other presidents who ’ ve led us through crisis and who ’ ve done things that you can learn from .
That would be so much better use of his time.
” Goodwin also praised the messaging in former President George W. Bush ’ s video appeal urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic , a message Trump had swiftly rejected .
On that note , the historian suggested a piece of Lincoln ’ s own advice to “ put past resentments aside .
”

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President Donald Trump on Sunday complained that he had been treated worse by the media than another other president, including Abraham Lincoln. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin gave some perspective to that claim and suggested the president would do well to learn from his predecessors who’ve led through crises.
Goodwin appeared Monday morning on CNN to discuss Trump’s remarks at the Lincoln Memorial for a Fox News virtual town hall. During a tirade against the “hostile press,” the president had gestured toward the monument and said, “I believe I am treated worse” than Lincoln, who was assassinated in 1865.
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“It’s an incredible statement when you think about it,” Goodwin said, shaking her head. “You can’t compare the time, either. Yes, it’s true the country is split now in a partisan way. Yes, it’s true that we have a divided media.”
“But we were talking about a civil war with Abraham Lincoln, 600,000 people dying, a North and a South that had entirely different interpretations of what was going on. Let us never think that we’re going back to such a period of time.”
Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize winner and author of presidential history bestseller “Leadership: In Turbulent Times,” also noted that all presidents are unhappy with press treatment but that it’s simply “part of democracy.”
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Specifically referring to how Lincoln was treated by the press, she described the intensely bifurcated media the 16th president faced but noted that “he would hardly complain” about that treatment.
“How much better if you can just use the understanding of free press is part of what we are,” she said, adding an acknowledgment that it’s easy to foster resentment over bad coverage.
Rather, she suggested that Trump should compare himself “to other presidents who’ve led us through crisis and who’ve done things that you can learn from. That would be so much better use of his time.”
Goodwin also praised the messaging in former President George W. Bush’s video appeal urging unity during the challenging times imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a message Trump had swiftly rejected. On that note, the historian suggested a piece of Lincoln’s own advice to “put past resentments aside.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Steve Mnuchin Urges Americans To Live Dangerously And Travel The Country

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is encouraging Americans to travel around the country this summer .
“ It ’ s a great time for people to explore America , ” Mnuchin said on Fox Business News on Monday .
“ A lot of people haven ’ t seen many parts of America .
I wish I could get back on the road soon.
” One problem : The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends avoiding all non-essential travel to protect against contracting or spreading COVID-19 .
“ Travel increases your chances of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warns on its website .
The “ CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible , especially if your trip is not essential.
” Twitter critics were not amused by Mnuchin ’ s dangerous advice : Can we put a TRAVEL BAN on Munchkin 's mouth ?
Asking for 328 million friends .
pic.twitter.com/S5zpjyfBK4 — lindan johnson ( @ lindanjohnson1 ) May 5 , 2020 By all means , go and hit the road and never come back .
— Essenviews - Demand The Truth ( @ essenviews ) May 5 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us out of the way , all the fewer to battle come election or attempted coup , whichever comes first .
— Patriot🇺🇸Citizenmdg ( @ Clancy_Dew ) May 5 , 2020 Understand that this is the financial fool genius that said the 1200 stimulus payment should last Americans 12 weeks .
🤡🤡🤡🤡🙄🙄 — PeteY ( @ ironmanpetey ) May 5 , 2020 Why is this man saying the exact opposite of what he should be saying ?
Something is so obviously wrong with these people- why would he muse about taking a road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) May 5 , 2020 Here 's a thought .
He can go on a road trip with some of his buddies like Barr , Graham and McConnell .
They can go hang down on the florida beaches and swing by Mara lago — Postcard Kay Votes # GoJoe ( @ KayPostcard ) May 5 , 2020

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is encouraging Americans to travel around the country this summer.
“It’s a great time for people to explore America,” Mnuchin said on Fox Business Network on Monday. “A lot of people haven’t seen many parts of America. I wish I could get back on the road soon.”
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One problem: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to protect against COVID-19.
“Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the agency warns on its website. The “CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential.”
Twitter critics were not amused by Mnuchin’s dangerous advice:
Can we put a TRAVEL BAN on Munchkin's mouth?
Asking for 328 million friends. pic.twitter.com/S5zpjyfBK4 — lindan johnson (@lindanjohnson1) May 5, 2020
By all means, go and hit the road and never come back. — Essenviews - Demand The Truth (@essenviews) May 5, 2020
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These fockers are trying to get us out of the way, all the fewer to battle come election or attempted coup, whichever comes first. — Patriot🇺🇸Citizenmdg (@Clancy_Dew) May 5, 2020
Understand that this is the financial fool genius that said the 1200 stimulus payment should last Americans 12 weeks. 🤡🤡🤡🤡🙄🙄 — PeteY (@ironmanpetey) May 5, 2020
Why is this man saying the exact opposite of what he should be saying? Something is so obviously wrong with these people- why would he muse about taking a road trip? — HatticusFinchy (@PatticusFinchy) May 5, 2020
Here's a thought. He can go on a road trip with some of his buddies like Barr, Graham and McConnell. They can go hang down on the florida beaches and swing by Mara lago — Postcard Kay Votes #GoJoe (@KayPostcard) May 5, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-04--'Mourning In America': Trump Lashed For Weaker, Sicker, Poorer U.S. In GOP Group's Ad

A lacerating new ad airing Monday by a conservative Republican group that opposes President Donald Trump takes him to task for having “ ignored ” the onset of COVID-19 that has cost nearly 70,000 U.S. lives and tanking the economy .
The 60-second spot was produced by The Lincoln Project , whose “ never-Trump ” founders include lawyer George Conway , a fierce critic of the president even as he ’ s also the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway .
The ad ’ s bleak scenes evoke images of the Great Depression .
Its title , “ Mourning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast to former President Ronald Reagan ’ s hopeful 1984 re-election campaign ad “ Morning in America , ” which boasted that the nation was “ prouder and stronger and better.
” Reagan went on the win a second term in a landslide .
Trump , in contrast , presides over the “ worst economy in decades ” and has “ bailed out Wall Street , but not Main Street , ” intones the new ad ’ s narrator .
“ Under the leadership of Donald Trump , our country is weaker and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If “ we have another four years like this , will there even be an America ?
” Trump ’ s “ failure as a president ” has left America “ teetering on the verge of a new Great Depression , ” Jennifer Horn , another Lincoln Project founder , warned in a statement as the video was released .
“ In a time of deep suffering and loss , Donald Trump continues with his failed leadership and his inability to put the country before himself.
” At 12:46 a.m. Tuesday , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republicans who created it : A group of RINO Republicans who failed badly 12 years ago , then again 8 years ago , and then got BADLY beaten by me , a political first timer , 4 years ago , have copied ( no imagination ) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan , “ Morning in America ” , doing everything possible to ... .
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 5 , 2020 ... .get even for all of their many failures .
You see , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 252 new Federal Judges , 2 great Supreme Court Justices , a rebuilt military , a protected 2nd Amendment , biggest EVER Tax & Regulation cuts , and much more .
I didn ’ t use any of them ... .
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 5 , 2020 ... .because they don ’ t know how to win , and their so-called Lincoln Project is a disgrace to Honest Abe .
I don ’ t know what Kellyanne did to her deranged loser of a husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really bad .
John Weaver lost big for Kasich ( to me ) .
Crazed Rick Wilson ... .
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 5 , 2020 ... .lost for Evan “ McMuffin ” McMullin ( to me ) .
Steve Schmidt & Reed Galvin lost for John McCain , Romney ’ s campaign manager ( ? )
lost big to “ O ” , & Jennifer Horn got thrown out of the New Hampshire Republican Party .
They ’ re all LOSERS , but Abe Lincoln , Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 5 , 2020

A lacerating new ad airing Monday by a conservative Republican group that opposes President Donald Trump takes him to task for having “ignored” the onset of COVID-19 that has cost nearly 70,000 U.S. lives and tanking the economy.
The 60-second spot was produced by The Lincoln Project, whose “never-Trump” founders include lawyer George Conway, a fierce critic of the president even as he’s also the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.
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The ad’s bleak scenes evoke images of the Great Depression. Its title, “Mourning in America,” underscores a striking contrast to former President Ronald Reagan’s hopeful 1984 re-election campaign ad “Morning in America,” which boasted that the nation was “prouder and stronger and better.” Reagan went on the win a second term in a landslide.
Trump, in contrast, presides over the “worst economy in decades” and has “bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street,” intones the new ad’s narrator. “Under the leadership of Donald Trump, our country is weaker and sicker and poorer.”
It concludes: If “we have another four years like this, will there even be an America?”
Other Lincoln Project founders include conservative journalist Bill Kristol and longtime GOP political operatives Rick Wilson and John Weaver.
Trump’s “failure as a president” has left America “teetering on the verge of a new Great Depression,” Jennifer Horn, another Lincoln Project founder, warned in a statement as the video was released. “In a time of deep suffering and loss, Donald Trump continues with his failed leadership and his inability to put the country before himself.”
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Other founders include conservative journalist Bill Kristol and longtime GOP political operatives Rick Wilson and John Weaver.
At 12:46 a.m. Tuesday, Trump tweeted his displeasure about the ad and the Republicans who created it:
A group of RINO Republicans who failed badly 12 years ago, then again 8 years ago, and then got BADLY beaten by me, a political first timer, 4 years ago, have copied (no imagination) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan, “Morning in America”, doing everything possible to.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020
....get even for all of their many failures. You see, these loser types don’t care about 252 new Federal Judges, 2 great Supreme Court Justices, a rebuilt military, a protected 2nd Amendment, biggest EVER Tax & Regulation cuts, and much more. I didn’t use any of them.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020
....because they don’t know how to win, and their so-called Lincoln Project is a disgrace to Honest Abe. I don’t know what Kellyanne did to her deranged loser of a husband, Moonface, but it must have been really bad. John Weaver lost big for Kasich (to me). Crazed Rick Wilson.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020
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....lost for Evan “McMuffin” McMullin (to me). Steve Schmidt & Reed Galvin lost for John McCain, Romney’s campaign manager (?) lost big to “O”, & Jennifer Horn got thrown out of the New Hampshire Republican Party. They’re all LOSERS, but Abe Lincoln, Republican, is all smiles! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020
Watch the ad for yourself above.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Michelle Obama Reveals The Democratic Voters Who Left Her With ‘Trauma'

Former first lady Michelle Obama said she still has “ trauma ” from the elections , and not just the 2016 election that sent President Donald Trump to the White House .
“ I understand the people who voted for Trump , ” she said in a clip from “ Becoming , ” her upcoming Netflix special , per The Daily Beast .
People who didn ’ t vote at all are another story .
Obama also called out two groups who typically lean Democratic yet didn ’ t show up at the polls when they were most needed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t vote at all , the young people , the women , that ’ s when you think , man , people think this is a game , ” Obama said , adding : “ It wasn ’ t just in this election .
Every midterm .
Every time Barack didn ’ t get the Congress he needed , that was because our folks didn ’ t show up .
After all that work , they just couldn ’ t be bothered to vote at all .
That ’ s my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama said is “ totally me , unplugged , for the first time.
” will start streaming on Netflix on Wednesday .

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Former first lady Michelle Obama said she still has “trauma” from the elections, and not just the 2016 election that sent President Donald Trump to the White House.
“I understand the people who voted for Trump,” she said in a clip from “Becoming,” her upcoming Netflix special, per The Daily Beast. People who didn’t vote at all are another story.
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Obama also called out two groups who typically lean Democratic yet didn’t show up at the polls when they were most needed by the party.
“The people who didn’t vote at all, the young people, the women, that’s when you think, man, people think this is a game,” Obama said, adding:
“It wasn’t just in this election. Every midterm. Every time Barack didn’t get the Congress he needed, that was because our folks didn’t show up. After all that work, they just couldn’t be bothered to vote at all. That’s my trauma.”
“Becoming,” which Obama said is “totally me, unplugged, for the first time.” will start streaming on Netflix on Wednesday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Dr. Anthony Fauci Dismisses Claims Virus Was Made In Or Escaped From Chinese Lab

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert and touchstone for scientific guidance during the pandemic , said Monday there was no solid evidence to suggest the coronavirus was manufactured in a Chinese lab .
Fauci , speaking to National Geographic , addressed the conspiracy theory circulated by both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
But he said scientists analyzing the virus ’ genetic code have consistently said there is strong evidence the coronavirus jumped to humans from animals in the wild , although it remains unclear how .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bats , and what ’ s out there now is very , very strongly leaning toward this [ virus ] could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated , ” Fauci told the outlet .
“ A number of very qualified evolutionary biologists have said that everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that it evolved in nature and then jumped species.
” He went on to say any theories the virus “ escaped ” from a lab were unfounded because even in that circumstance the pathogen would have first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the virus ’ evolution .
“ That means it was in the wild to begin with , ” he said .
“ That ’ s why I don ’ t get what they ’ re talking about [ and ] why I don ’ t spend a lot of time going in on this circular argument.
” The theories have been circulating for weeks and became robust enough that the World Health Organization was forced to throw water on them .
An agency spokeswoman told Reuters last month : “ All available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else.
” “ As we do in all crises , the Community ’ s experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security , ” the agencies said in a rare public statement .
“ The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.
” Fauci ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Pompeo in recent days .
The president said last week he thought China “ made a horrible mistake … they didn ’ t want to admit , ” promising to release some type of conclusive report on the topic .
The secretary of state backed the notion on Sunday , saying there was “ enormous evidence ” the virus came from some type of lab .
The New York Times reported last month that a small coalition of Trump administration officials were pressuring American spy agencies to find evidence the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give the White House ammunition to cast blame and distract from its fumbling response to the pandemic .
The White House has moved to clamp down on officials and members of the coronavirus task force from testifying in front of lawmakers in recent days .
The Trump administration said last week having Fauci testify would be “ counterproductive ” and the White House told Congress this week other members on the task force were under “ extraordinary ” demand and could only appear with the express approval of Trump ’ s chief of @ @ @ @ @

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and touchstone for scientific guidance during the pandemic, said Monday there was no solid evidence to suggest the coronavirus was manufactured in a Chinese lab.
Fauci, speaking to National Geographic, addressed the conspiracy theory circulated by both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But he said scientists analyzing the virus’ genetic code have consistently said there is strong evidence the coronavirus jumped to humans from animals in the wild, although it remains unclear how.
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“If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats, and what’s out there now is very, very strongly leaning toward this [virus] could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated,” Fauci told the outlet. “A number of very qualified evolutionary biologists have said that everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that it evolved in nature and then jumped species.”
He went on to say any theories the virus “escaped” from a lab were unfounded because even in that circumstance the pathogen would have first been seen in bats in nature based on the virus’ evolution.
“That means it was in the wild to begin with,” he said. “That’s why I don’t get what they’re talking about [and] why I don’t spend a lot of time going in on this circular argument.”
The theories have been circulating for weeks and became robust enough that the World Health Organization was forced to throw water on them. An agency spokeswoman told Reuters last month: “All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else.”
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U.S. intelligence agencies said last week there was “widespread scientific consensus” the coronavirus was not manmade or genetically modified.
“As we do in all crises, the Community’s experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security,” the agencies said in a rare public statement. “The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.”
Fauci’s comments directly contradict claims made by Trump and Pompeo in recent days. The president said last week he thought China “made a horrible mistake … they didn’t want to admit,” promising to release some type of conclusive report on the topic. The secretary of state backed the notion on Sunday, saying there was “enormous evidence” the virus came from some type of lab.
The New York Times reported last month that a small coalition of Trump administration officials were pressuring American spy agencies to find evidence the virus escaped from a lab, which would give the White House ammunition to cast blame and distract from its fumbling response to the pandemic.
The White House has moved to clamp down on officials and members of the coronavirus task force from testifying in front of lawmakers in recent days. The Trump administration said last week having Fauci testify would be “counterproductive” and the White House told Congress this week other members on the task force were under “extraordinary” demand and could only appear with the express approval of Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Ayanna Pressley Urges Biden To Respond To Sexual Assault Claim With Empathy, Diligence

Democratic congresswoman and sexual assault survivor Ayanna Pressley says she wants to start an “ uncomfortable ” national conversation about sexual harassment and abuse — and she ’ s urging her party ’ s presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden to engage more fully in this dialogue .
Biden has been accused by Tara Reade , a former aide , of sexual assault .
Reade alleges the former vice president pinned her against a wall in 1993 , reached under her skirt and pushed his fingers inside her .
Biden said Friday that Reade ’ s allegations were “ unequivocally ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published Tuesday , Pressley , who was elected in 2018 as Massachusetts ’ first Black congresswoman , suggested that Reade ’ s accusations needed to be heard .
“ Our assumptions and our starting points ” for conversations about sexual violence have to change in America and “ the allegations against Joe Biden are no exception , ” wrote Pressley , who has spoken publicly in the past about her own sexual trauma .
“ Listening to the stories of those who step forward is the baseline .
We say ‘ believe survivors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , the experiences of survivors have been dismissed and derided by a society steeped in misogyny and hatred .
We advocate that we begin with assumptions of credibility and move to due process and reconciliation , ” she continued .
Pressley ― who in November endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
for president ― said she ’ s been told to “ lower her voice ” on the allegations against Biden given the magnitude of the upcoming presidential election .
“ We are in the throes of an election of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine if core rights and tenets of democracy survive in this nation .
The stakes can not be overstated .
But I have no patience for any person who tells me that is a reason to lower my voice , ” Pressley wrote .
“ I reject the false choice that my party and our nominee can ’ t address the allegations at hand and defeat the occupant of the White House.
” The congresswoman said the Biden campaign has an opportunity to help change the way conversations around sexual violence are had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] those who do ... seek to reframe our conversations and work in pursuit of justice , we are required to raise our hands and our voices .
It will take discipline and courage , but survivors and marginalized people from all walks of life are watching , wondering if — this time — the conversation might actually change , ” she wrote .
“ So I ’ m here to ask the Biden campaign and the nominee to give a response that models the empathy , diligence , and acknowledgement of broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m asking for true partnership with survivors and advocates , and for policy commitments that get us closer as a nation to reconciling our history of structural violence and oppression , ” Pressley added .

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Democratic congresswoman and sexual assault survivor Ayanna Pressley says she wants to start an “uncomfortable” national conversation about sexual harassment and abuse — and she’s urging her party’s presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden to engage more fully in this dialogue.
Biden has been accused by Tara Reade, a former aide, of sexual assault. Reade alleges the former vice president pinned her against a wall in 1993, reached under her skirt and pushed his fingers inside her. Biden said Friday that Reade’s allegations were “unequivocally” untrue.
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In a Medium blog post published Tuesday, Pressley, who was elected in 2018 as Massachusetts’ first Black congresswoman, suggested that Reade’s accusations needed to be heard.
“Our assumptions and our starting points” for conversations about sexual violence have to change in America and “the allegations against Joe Biden are no exception,” wrote Pressley, who has spoken publicly in the past about her own sexual trauma.
“Listening to the stories of those who step forward is the baseline. We say ‘believe survivors’ because, for nearly all of history, the experiences of survivors have been dismissed and derided by a society steeped in misogyny and hatred. We advocate that we begin with assumptions of credibility and move to due process and reconciliation,” she continued.
An open letter:
It’s 2020 and We Still Don’t Know What Survivor Justice Looks Like in Publichttps://t.co/DzhiB1ydqg pic.twitter.com/tC3TNrlg5z — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) May 4, 2020
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Pressley ― who in November endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for president ― said she’s been told to “lower her voice” on the allegations against Biden given the magnitude of the upcoming presidential election.
“We are in the throes of an election of the greatest consequence — one that will determine if core rights and tenets of democracy survive in this nation. The stakes cannot be overstated. But I have no patience for any person who tells me that is a reason to lower my voice,” Pressley wrote. “I reject the false choice that my party and our nominee can’t address the allegations at hand and defeat the occupant of the White House.”
The congresswoman said the Biden campaign has an opportunity to help change the way conversations around sexual violence are had in this country.
″[For] those who do ... seek to reframe our conversations and work in pursuit of justice, we are required to raise our hands and our voices. It will take discipline and courage, but survivors and marginalized people from all walks of life are watching, wondering if — this time — the conversation might actually change,” she wrote.
“So I’m here to ask the Biden campaign and the nominee to give a response that models the empathy, diligence, and acknowledgement of broken systems that this conversation demands. I’m asking for true partnership with survivors and advocates, and for policy commitments that get us closer as a nation to reconciling our history of structural violence and oppression,” Pressley added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Trump Admits He's Blocking Coronavirus Oversight Because Of 'Trump Haters'

President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday that he won ’ t let members of his coronavirus task force testify before a House committee because the lawmakers could be “ Trump haters ” critical of the White House ’ s dismal response to the pandemic .
“ The House is a setup , ” Trump told reporters when asked why he won ’ t allow top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to testify .
“ The House is a bunch of Trump haters.
” A congressional hearing to look at the government ’ s response to the spread of COVID-19 is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Trump ’ s task force being blocked from attending .
Last Friday , the White House claimed it would be “ counterproductive ” to let task force members speak before the House Appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing .
“ While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.
” But Trump gave an explanation more befitting of a president who would rather lash out at his perceived enemies than take responsibility for a crisis he continues to exacerbate .
“ They put every Trump hater on the committee , the same old stuff , ” he said of the Democratic-controlled House .
“ They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful , which means death , which means death .
And our situation is going to be very successful.
” As of Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the coronavirus , with more than a million infected .
Those numbers were driven up by a serious lack of testing by an administration that dragged its feet as the virus spread across the country .
What ’ s more , Trump is pushing to reopen the economy even as multiple states still wait to hit their peak daily death totals from the virus .
He has ignored health experts who have warned that the country should not be reopened without a massive increase in testing and contact tracing , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own supporters putting others in danger as they protest government stay-at-home orders .
None of this has stopped him from trying to deflect blame onto his political opponents .
“ [ The Democrats ] do everything they can to make things as bad as possible , ” Trump said on Tuesday .
The president said that Dr. Fauci will instead testify in front of the Republican-controlled Senate .

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President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday that he won’t let members of his coronavirus task force testify before a House committee because the lawmakers could be “Trump haters” critical of the White House’s dismal response to the pandemic.
“The House is a setup,” Trump told reporters when asked why he won’t allow top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to testify. “The House is a bunch of Trump haters.”
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A congressional hearing to look at the government’s response to the spread of COVID-19 is still planned for Wednesday, despite the top members of Trump’s task force being blocked from attending.
Last Friday, the White House claimed it would be “counterproductive” to let task force members speak before the House Appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing.
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Friday. “We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”
But Trump gave an explanation more befitting of a president who would rather lash out at his perceived enemies than take responsibility for a crisis he continues to exacerbate.
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“They put every Trump hater on the committee, the same old stuff,” he said of the Democratic-controlled House. “They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death, which means death. And our situation is going to be very successful.”
As of Tuesday, more than 70,000 Americans were dead due to the coronavirus, with more than a million infected. Those numbers were driven up by a serious lack of testing by an administration that dragged its feet as the virus spread across the country.
What’s more, Trump is pushing to reopen the economy even as multiple states still wait to hit their peak daily death totals from the virus. He has ignored health experts who have warned that the country should not be reopened without a massive increase in testing and contact tracing, and has downplayed the serious threat of his own supporters putting others in danger as they protest government stay-at-home orders. None of this has stopped him from trying to deflect blame onto his political opponents.
“[The Democrats] do everything they can to make things as bad as possible,” Trump said on Tuesday. The president said that Dr. Fauci will instead testify in front of the Republican-controlled Senate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Donald Trump Doesn't Care If You Die From The Coronavirus

There has been a central theme running through his response : his seeming utter lack of empathy for the people who are suffering from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
On April 26 , The Washington Post analyzed the 13 hours Trump had spent talking in his daily coronavirus briefings , which were stopped after his own aides intervened to argue that the appearances were hurting his popularity .
On Tuesday , Trump left Washington for the first time since March .
He wasn ’ t going to meet with victims ’ families , as many presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit a business that makes masks in Arizona .
“ Despite Democrats and the media ’ s coordinated attempts to criticize this President for providing hope and optimism throughout this pandemic , President Trump has delivered a message of comfort , unity , and strength while taking bold actions to save lives , provide financial assistance , and set this great country on a responsible path to reopen , ” responded White House spokesman Judd Deere .
“ The American people have shown tremendous spirit throughout this difficult time and are continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ] message.
” Trump has acknowledged that he knows some people who have died from COVID-19 , expressing amazement at the “ speed and viciousness ” of the “ horrible ” disease .
And he ’ s said he ’ s talked to three or four families who have had someone die from the virus .
But he generally has not lingered on talking about what people are going through .
And it ’ s not just that he ’ s not showing empathy publicly .
In his desire to move along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not only unproven but are often dangerous .
“ There ’ s not too many states that I know of that are going up .
Almost everybody is headed in the right direction , ” Trump said during a Fox News town hall on Sunday .
“ We ’ re on the right side of it , but we want to keep it that way , but we also want to get back to work.
” Many of the states that are reopening are doing so without meeting benchmarks set by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places , cases continue to rise and testing still lags .
“ Why don ’ t we let this wash over the country ?
” Trump asked .
Administration officials said he had “ repeatedly ” raised this scenario in conversations in the Oval Office .
Trump has often had trouble connecting in times of sorrow .
When four U.S. soldiers died in Niger in 2017 , he said and did nothing for a week until pressed by the media .
When he did finally call one of the soldier ’ s widows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ knew what he signed up for.
” In June 2017 , Trump called the father of another soldier who died in Afghanistan , promising that he would give him $ 25,000 and set up an online fundraiser .
Four months later , when The Washington Post followed up , the father said he had not received anything .
And in 2018 , when meeting with survivors and families of victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 people , a photographer caught a photo of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to say “ I hear you ” to the visitors .
While he does mention families who have suffered or lost loved ones during occasions like the State of the Union address , it is generally to make a point about his political agenda — such as cracking down on undocumented immigration .

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Throughout the coronavirus crisis, President Donald Trump has dished out dangerous “cures,” played down the severity of the pandemic, pushed to reopen the economy and bragged about the job he’s doing.
There has been a central theme running through his response: his seeming utter lack of empathy for the people who are suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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On April 26, The Washington Post analyzed the 13 hours Trump had spent talking in his daily coronavirus briefings, which were stopped after his own aides intervened to argue that the appearances were hurting his popularity.
Of the 13 hours that Trump spent talking, Trump spent two hours attacking people and 45 minutes praising himself.
He spent just four and a half minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victims.
On Tuesday, Trump left Washington for the first time since March. He wasn’t going to meet with victims’ families, as many presidents do. Instead, he was going to visit a business that makes masks in Arizona.
“I’m going to pay my respect to a great company,” Trump said as he boarded Air Force One.
The American people, he added, “should think of themselves as warriors” ― in the battle to reopen the economy. Warriors, of course, often die.
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“Despite Democrats and the media’s coordinated attempts to criticize this President for providing hope and optimism throughout this pandemic, President Trump has delivered a message of comfort, unity, and strength while taking bold actions to save lives, provide financial assistance, and set this great country on a responsible path to reopen,” responded White House spokesman Judd Deere. “The American people have shown tremendous spirit throughout this difficult time and are continuing to respond to the President[’s] message.”
Trump has acknowledged that he knows some people who have died from COVID-19, expressing amazement at the “speed and viciousness” of the “horrible” disease. And he’s said he’s talked to three or four families who have had someone die from the virus. But he generally has not lingered on talking about what people are going through.
And it’s not just that he’s not showing empathy publicly. In his desire to move along, he’s pushed remedies that are not only unproven but are often dangerous.
Trump’s focus right now is on getting businesses back open, no matter how much medical experts warn that doing so could lead to more deaths.
Trump has been cheering on the states that are reopening.
“There’s not too many states that I know of that are going up. Almost everybody is headed in the right direction,” Trump said during a Fox News town hall on Sunday. “We’re on the right side of it, but we want to keep it that way, but we also want to get back to work.”
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Trump is wrong. More than 70,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19, and in most states, cases are either increasing or staying the same.
Many of the states that are reopening are doing so without meeting benchmarks set by the White House. In some of these places, cases continue to rise and testing still lags.
But Trump’s focus is making sure the economy gets going again — especially ahead of the 2020 election.
In March, Trump reportedly considered doing nothing ― just letting the coronavirus sweep over the country and kill people, with those who survived then having immunity.
“Why don’t we let this wash over the country?” Trump asked. Administration officials said he had “repeatedly” raised this scenario in conversations in the Oval Office. Trump has often had trouble connecting in times of sorrow.
When four U.S. soldiers died in Niger in 2017, he said and did nothing for a week until pressed by the media. When he did finally call one of the soldier’s widows, he told her that her husband “knew what he signed up for.”
In June 2017, Trump called the father of another soldier who died in Afghanistan, promising that he would give him $25,000 and set up an online fundraiser. Four months later, when The Washington Post followed up, the father said he had not received anything.
And in 2018, when meeting with survivors and families of victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 people, a photographer caught a photo of Trump’s notes, including one bullet point reminding him to say “I hear you” to the visitors.
While he does mention families who have suffered or lost loved ones during occasions like the State of the Union address, it is generally to make a point about his political agenda — such as cracking down on undocumented immigration.
During his Fox News town hall on Sunday, which took place at the Lincoln Memorial, Trump implied that he was the real victim in the coronavirus crisis.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-05--Whistleblower Claims Trump Admin Ignored His Warnings On Malaria Drug, Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A government scientist says he was ousted from his position after raising concerns that the Trump administration wanted to “ flood ” coronavirus hot spots like New York and New Jersey with a malaria drug that President Donald Trump was pushing despite scant scientific evidence it helped .
Rick Bright , former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , filed the complaint Tuesday with the Office of Special Counsel , a government agency responsible for whistleblower complaints .
He alleges he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a malaria drug favored by Trump .
Bright also said the Trump administration rejected his warnings on COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Bright said he “ acted with urgency ” to address the growing spread of COVID-19 after the World Health Organization issued a warning in January .
He said he “ encountered resistance from HHS leadership , including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , who appeared intent on downplaying this catastrophic event.
” Bright alleges in the complaint that political appointees at the Department of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine “ as a panacea.
” The officials also “ demanded that New York and New Jersey be ‘ flooded ’ with these drugs , which were imported from factories in Pakistan and India that had not been inspected by the FDA , ” the complaint says .
But Bright opposed broad use of the drug , arguing the scientific evidence wasn ’ t there to back up its use in coronavirus patients .
He felt an urgent need to tell the public that there wasn ’ t enough scientific evidence to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complaint states .
Last month , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing the drug except in hospitals and research studies .
In an alert , regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine .
The decades-old drugs , also prescribed for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis , can cause a number of side effects , including heart rhythm problems , severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A government scientist says he was ousted from his position after raising concerns that the Trump administration wanted to “flood” coronavirus hot spots like New York and New Jersey with a malaria drug that President Donald Trump was pushing despite scant scientific evidence it helped.
Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, filed the complaint Tuesday with the Office of Special Counsel, a government agency responsible for whistleblower complaints. He alleges he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug favored by Trump.
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Bright also said the Trump administration rejected his warnings on COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Bright said he “acted with urgency” to address the growing spread of COVID-19 after the World Health Organization issued a warning in January.
He said he “encountered resistance from HHS leadership, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who appeared intent on downplaying this catastrophic event.”
Bright alleges in the complaint that political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services had tried to promote hydroxychloroquine “as a panacea.” The officials also “demanded that New York and New Jersey be ‘flooded’ with these drugs, which were imported from factories in Pakistan and India that had not been inspected by the FDA,” the complaint says.
But Bright opposed broad use of the drug, arguing the scientific evidence wasn’t there to back up its use in coronavirus patients. He felt an urgent need to tell the public that there wasn’t enough scientific evidence to support using the drugs for COVID-19 patients, the complaint states.
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Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing the drug except in hospitals and research studies. In an alert, regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine.