bonginoreport--2020-03-30--Federal Reserve Predicts 32% Unemployment in Worst Case Scenario

Millions of Americans already have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis and the worst of the damage is yet to come , according to a Federal Reserve estimate .
Economists at the Fed 's St. Louis district project total employment reductions of 47 million , which would translate to a 32.1 % unemployment rate , according to a recent analysis of how bad things could get .
The projections are even worse than St. Louis Fed President James Bullard 's much-publicized estimate of 30 % .
They reflect the high nature of at-risk jobs that ultimately could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at halting the coronavirus spread .
`` These are very large numbers by historical standards , but this is a rather unique shock that is unlike any other experienced by the U.S. economy in the last 100 years , '' St. Louis Fed economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro wrote in a research paper posted last week .
There are a couple of important caveats to what Faria-e-Castro calls `` back-of-the-envelope '' calculations : They do n't account for workers who may drop out of the labor force , thus bringing down the headline unemployment rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of recently passed government stimulus , which will extend unemployment benefits and subsidize companies for not cutting staff .

A view of Department of Labor in Flushing, Queens amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on March 26, 2020 in New York City John Nacion | NurPhoto | Getty Images
Millions of Americans already have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis and the worst of the damage is yet to come, according to a Federal Reserve estimate. Economists at the Fed's St. Louis district project total employment reductions of 47 million, which would translate to a 32.1% unemployment rate, according to a recent analysis of how bad things could get. The projections are even worse than St. Louis Fed President James Bullard's much-publicized estimate of 30%. They reflect the high nature of at-risk jobs that ultimately could be lost to a government-induced economic freeze aimed at halting the coronavirus spread.
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"These are very large numbers by historical standards, but this is a rather unique shock that is unlike any other experienced by the U.S. economy in the last 100 years," St. Louis Fed economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro wrote in a research paper posted last week. There are a couple of important caveats to what Faria-e-Castro calls "back-of-the-envelope" calculations: They don't account for workers who may drop out of the labor force, thus bringing down the headline unemployment rate, and they do not estimate the impact of recently passed government stimulus, which will extend unemployment benefits and subsidize companies for not cutting staff. However, the jobless picture already looks bleak. A record 3.3 million Americans filed initial jobless claims for the week ended March 21. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect another 2.65 million to join them this week. Friday's nonfarm payrolls count for March is expected to show a decline of just 56,000, but that's largely due to a statistical distortion because of the sampling period for the count happening before the government implemented social distancing practices. The central part of Faria-e-Castro's compilations comes from previous Fed research showing 66.8 million workers in "occupations with high risk of layoff." They are sales, production, food preparation and services. Other research also identified 27.3 million people working in "high contact-intensive" jobs such as barbers and stylists, airline attendants, and food and beverage service.
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bonginoreport--2020-03-30--Trump: Pelosi is a Sick Puppy With a Lot of Problems

President Donald Trump fired back at Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday after she accused the president of failing to act quickly enough to combat the Chinese coronavirus pandemic .
“ She ’ s a sick puppy , in my opinion .
She really is , ” Trump said .
“ She ’ s got a lot of problems .
And that ’ s a horrible thing to say.
” In an interview Sunday , Pelosi said “ as the President fiddles , people are dying ” and that Trump cost American lives by downplaying the crisis in the early days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a disgrace , I think it ’ s a disgrace to her country , her family , ” Trump said , adding , “ What a horrible statement to make.
” The president spoke about Pelosi in a phone interview on Fox News on Monday morning .
The president reminded the country what Pelosi was doing when the outbreak first hit the world .
“ Don ’ t forget , she was playing the impeachment game , you know her game where she ended up looking like a fool , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received accolades for stopping travel from China to fight the virus at the end of January , something even some of his advisors believed was too strict .
“ You would have had deaths like you ’ ve never seen before , ” he said .

President Donald Trump fired back at Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday after she accused the president of failing to act quickly enough to combat the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.
“She’s a sick puppy, in my opinion. She really is,” Trump said. “She’s got a lot of problems. And that’s a horrible thing to say.”
In an interview Sunday, Pelosi said “as the President fiddles, people are dying” and that Trump cost American lives by downplaying the crisis in the early days of the outbreak.
“I thought it was a disgrace, I think it’s a disgrace to her country, her family,” Trump said, adding, “What a horrible statement to make.”
The president spoke about Pelosi in a phone interview on Fox News on Monday morning.
The president reminded the country what Pelosi was doing when the outbreak first hit the world.
“Don’t forget, she was playing the impeachment game, you know her game where she ended up looking like a fool,” Trump said.
The president recalled he received accolades for stopping travel from China to fight the virus at the end of January, something even some of his advisors believed was too strict.
“You would have had deaths like you’ve never seen before,” he said.


bonginoreport--2020-03-30--Trump Admin Extends Sanctions Waivers Permitting Some Iranian Nuclear Work

The Trump administration is renewing a set of sanctions waivers that permit Iran to engage in nuclear work , a move likely to irritate congressional hawks who have pressured the administration to nix the waivers for months .
The sanctions waivers allow Iran to engage in limited nuclear work , including at its Arak plant , a heavy-water reactor that critics say could provide Tehran with a plutonium-based pathway to a nuclear weapon .
Despite pressure from GOP hardliners in Congress , the State Department has repeatedly renewed the waivers , arguing they are necessary to keep tabs on Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be extended for 60 days , after which the Trump administration will reevaluate whether to end the waivers once and for all , a senior State Department official confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon .
The waivers have emerged as a point of controversy between Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration , with several members of Congress going public to accuse the administration of undermining its own so-called maximum pressure campaign against Tehran .
The waivers have also created friction inside the administration .
While the State Department has leaned towards ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbied in favor of them , sources told the Free Beacon .
One U.S. official involved in Iran diplomacy told the Free Beacon that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has pushed for the nuclear waivers to be renewed .
`` Every few months Steve Mnuchin makes up a new reason to preserve the Iran deal and undermine the president 's maximum pressure campaign on Iran , '' said the source , speaking only on background about ongoing discussions .
`` Last time Treasury made up something about European diplomacy .
This time they used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time they 'll say the situation heading into the summer is very delicate .
The excuses change but the policy is always the same . ''
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Free Beacon in late February he consistently reviews the nuclear waivers to ensure they are needed to keep tabs on Iran 's nuclear work .
This review process has become all the more necessary as Iran limits access to its facilities .
International nuclear inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency have publicly accused Tehran of blocking entry to key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make our best assessment of whether allowing those waivers to continue reduces risk to the United States or increases risk , '' Pompeo said at the time .
Parts of the waivers have prevented Iran 's nuclear program from pushing forward , Pompeo said .
`` They 've given us access and information that 's been to our benefit .
The analysis that the president has come to when he made the decision to extend those waivers is that it was in our interest . ''
Pompeo 's approach has not satisfied Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often support the secretary of state 's forward-leaning stance on sanctions .
Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo . )
, for instance , introduced legislation late last year that would force the administration to end the waivers .
That bill was spearheaded by Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) in the Senate .
`` These ‘ civil nuclear ' waivers legitimize Iran 's illicit nuclear infrastructure and help sustain President Obama 's disastrous nuclear deal , '' Cheney said when she introduced the legislation .
`` Congress is determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exit from that deal and his successful maximum pressure campaign against Tehran . ''
Richard Goldberg , a former senior Iran adviser to the Trump administration 's National Security Council , said the repeated renewal of the waivers undermines President Donald Trump 's efforts to kill the 2015 nuclear deal .
While Trump withdrew America from the deal , the waivers have kept key portions of the accord in place .
`` The administration risks undermining a key commitment President Trump made to dismantle the Iran nuclear deal , '' said Goldberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Defense of Democracies .
`` Instead , the administration will soon own the deal and all its dangerous sunset provisions .
They can ’ t just blame Obama when they keep the deal going . ''

The Trump administration is renewing a set of sanctions waivers that permit Iran to engage in nuclear work, a move likely to irritate congressional hawks who have pressured the administration to nix the waivers for months.
The sanctions waivers allow Iran to engage in limited nuclear work, including at its Arak plant, a heavy-water reactor that critics say could provide Tehran with a plutonium-based pathway to a nuclear weapon. Despite pressure from GOP hardliners in Congress, the State Department has repeatedly renewed the waivers, arguing they are necessary to keep tabs on Iran's nuclear work.
The nuclear waivers will be extended for 60 days, after which the Trump administration will reevaluate whether to end the waivers once and for all, a senior State Department official confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon.
The waivers have emerged as a point of controversy between Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration, with several members of Congress going public to accuse the administration of undermining its own so-called maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. The waivers have also created friction inside the administration. While the State Department has leaned towards ending the waivers, the Treasury Department has lobbied in favor of them, sources told the Free Beacon.
One U.S. official involved in Iran diplomacy told the Free Beacon that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has pushed for the nuclear waivers to be renewed.
"Every few months Steve Mnuchin makes up a new reason to preserve the Iran deal and undermine the president's maximum pressure campaign on Iran," said the source, speaking only on background about ongoing discussions. "Last time Treasury made up something about European diplomacy. This time they used the coronavirus as an excuse. Next time they'll say the situation heading into the summer is very delicate. The excuses change but the policy is always the same."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Free Beacon in late February he consistently reviews the nuclear waivers to ensure they are needed to keep tabs on Iran's nuclear work. This review process has become all the more necessary as Iran limits access to its facilities. International nuclear inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency have publicly accused Tehran of blocking entry to key sites.
"We go back and make our best assessment of whether allowing those waivers to continue reduces risk to the United States or increases risk," Pompeo said at the time.
Parts of the waivers have prevented Iran's nuclear program from pushing forward, Pompeo said.
"They've given us access and information that's been to our benefit. The analysis that the president has come to when he made the decision to extend those waivers is that it was in our interest."
Pompeo's approach has not satisfied Iran hawks in Congress, including those who often support the secretary of state's forward-leaning stance on sanctions.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.), for instance, introduced legislation late last year that would force the administration to end the waivers. That bill was spearheaded by Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) in the Senate.
"These 'civil nuclear' waivers legitimize Iran's illicit nuclear infrastructure and help sustain President Obama's disastrous nuclear deal," Cheney said when she introduced the legislation. "Congress is determined to support President Donald Trump's rightful exit from that deal and his successful maximum pressure campaign against Tehran."
Richard Goldberg, a former senior Iran adviser to the Trump administration's National Security Council, said the repeated renewal of the waivers undermines President Donald Trump's efforts to kill the 2015 nuclear deal. While Trump withdrew America from the deal, the waivers have kept key portions of the accord in place.
"The administration risks undermining a key commitment President Trump made to dismantle the Iran nuclear deal," said Goldberg, now a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Instead, the administration will soon own the deal and all its dangerous sunset provisions. They can’t just blame Obama when they keep the deal going."


bonginoreport--2020-03-30--Stocks Continue Relief Rally

Stocks Continue Relief Rally

Stocks rose on Monday , building on a strong rally from last week as the U.S. extended measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 690.70 points , or 3.2 % , at 22,327.48 .
The S & P 500 climbed 3.4 % to 2,626.65 while the Nasdaq Composite closed 3.6 % higher at 7,774.15 .
Tech stocks such as Microsoft , Alphabet and Amazon led the way higher for Wall Street .
Microsoft jumped 7 % while Alphabet and Amazon climbed 3.3 % and 3.4 % , respectively .
The Dow is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low reached on Monday while the S & P 500 has risen more than 17 % from those levels .
The Nasdaq has bounced more than 13 % .
`` Right now , risk assets are pricing in a V-shape recovery , '' said Dave Albrycht , chief investment officer at Newfleet Asset Management .
`` Now , do I believe that 's going to happen ?
I think that 's highly dependent on whether they come up with some type of vaccine , how long does this go on for and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this peaks . ''
President Donald Trump said at a news conference Sunday the national social distancing guidelines have been extended to April 30 , adding the death rate from the virus would peak in two weeks .
These measures , while they may cause a sharp economic disruption in the near term , are seen by some investors as preventing long-term damage to the economy .
Sentiment was also lifted after Johnson & Johnson said it identified a lead vaccine candidate for the coronavirus .
The company noted that human testing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
J & J shares climbed 8 % .
Italy also reported its lowest number of new cases in almost two weeks .
The Dow last week posted its biggest weekly gain since 1938 , surging more than 12 % .
The S & P 500 and Nasdaq are coming off their best week since 2009 , after rising 10.3 % and 9.1 % , respectively .
To be sure , it was a volatile ride for investors .
The S & P 500 posted daily swings of at least 2.9 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes a 3.4 % drop on Friday for the S & P 500 .

Stocks rose on Monday, building on a strong rally from last week as the U.S. extended measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 690.70 points, or 3.2%, at 22,327.48. The S&P 500 climbed 3.4% to 2,626.65 while the Nasdaq Composite closed 3.6% higher at 7,774.15. Tech stocks such as Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon led the way higher for Wall Street. Microsoft jumped 7% while Alphabet and Amazon climbed 3.3% and 3.4%, respectively.
The Dow is now up 20% from its coronavirus sell-off low reached on Monday while the S&P 500 has risen more than 17% from those levels. The Nasdaq has bounced more than 13%.
"Right now, risk assets are pricing in a V-shape recovery," said Dave Albrycht, chief investment officer at Newfleet Asset Management. "Now, do I believe that's going to happen? I think that's highly dependent on whether they come up with some type of vaccine, how long does this go on for and whether people start going back to work once this peaks."
President Donald Trump said at a news conference Sunday the national social distancing guidelines have been extended to April 30, adding the death rate from the virus would peak in two weeks. These measures, while they may cause a sharp economic disruption in the near term, are seen by some investors as preventing long-term damage to the economy.
Sentiment was also lifted after Johnson & Johnson said it identified a lead vaccine candidate for the coronavirus. The company noted that human testing on the potential vaccine will begin in September. J&J shares climbed 8%. Italy also reported its lowest number of new cases in almost two weeks.
The Dow last week posted its biggest weekly gain since 1938, surging more than 12%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are coming off their best week since 2009, after rising 10.3% and 9.1%, respectively. To be sure, it was a volatile ride for investors. The S&P 500 posted daily swings of at least 2.9% in four of the five sessions. That includes a 3.4% drop on Friday for the S&P 500.


bonginoreport--2020-03-30--Woman Whose Husband Died After Eating Fish Tank Cleaner Recently Donated to Liberal Causes

The Arizona woman who said that she and her 68-year-old husband ingested a substance used to clean fish tanks after hearing President Donald Trump tout chloroquine as a cure for the coronavirus has given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the last two years .
The woman 's most recent donations , in late February , were to a Democratic PAC , the 314 Action Fund , that bills itself as the `` pro-science resistance '' and has vocally criticized the Trump administration 's response to the coronavirus pandemic and held up her case to slam the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media outlets withheld the couple 's names , the Washington Free Beacon established their identities through descriptions in local news reports , where the pair were identified by their first names and ages : Gary , 68 , and Wanda , 61 .
The Free Beacon is withholding their identities at Wanda 's request .
Federal Election Commission records show that Wanda has donated thousands of dollars to Democratic electoral groups and candidates over the past two years , including Hillary Clinton , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , and EMILY 's List @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-choice female candidates .
Wanda told the Free Beacon that she and her husband were both Democrats , not Trump supporters .
They heard about the potential benefits of chloroquine , an antimalarial drug , in news reports .
She decided at the `` spur of the moment '' to try taking it , but reached for a fish tank cleaner in her pantry that contains chloroquine phosphate , a different and deadly form of the chemical .
The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for the use of chloroquine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were n't big supporters of [ Trump ] , but we did see that they were using it in China and stuff , '' Wanda told the Free Beacon .
`` And we just made a horrible , tragic mistake , '' she said .
`` It was stupid , and it was horrible , and we should have never done it .
But it 's done and now I 've lost my husband .
And my whole life was my husband . ''
`` We did n't think it would kill us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought if anything it would help us ‘ cus that 's what we 've been hearing on the news . ''
In her first national news interview , Wanda told NBC News that she took the fish tank cleaner in a tragically botched attempt to follow medical advice that Trump had relayed in a press conference earlier that week .
`` We saw Trump on TV—every channel—and all of his buddies and that this was safe , '' she said last Monday .
`` Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 19 , the president pointed to medical studies indicating that chloroquine , a medication used to treat malaria , may be a `` game changer '' in treating the coronavirus .
Wanda warned others in the same NBC News interview not to `` believe anything that the president says . ''
Wanda 's most recent contributions to Democratic causes came on Feb. 26 and 28 .
They went to the 314 Action Fund , a Democratic political action committee that describes itself as `` the largest pro-science advocacy organization committed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote the responsible use of data driven fact based approaches in public policy . ''
The group has been highly critical of Trump 's coronavirus policies in recent weeks .
In fact , on its Facebook page , the group slammed the Trump administration for the couple 's actions , writing , `` There are real consequences to the White House throwing its approval behind an experimental drug trial before it 's time . ''
In the wake of the incident , media outlets tacitly blamed Trump for the tragedy .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been bandied about by President Trump during White House briefings on the coronavirus pandemic as a potential ‘ game changer ' in the treatment of Covid-19 . ''
Others , like Axios , ran corrections noting that the couple had not ingested the chloroquine in its medical form but rather the form `` used in aquariums '' after initially reporting that the couple had followed the president 's faulty medical advice .
Wanda does not appear to have a long history of political donations , according to FEC reports .
Her contributions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
Her first recorded political donation was $ 150 to Hillary Clinton in 2016 , according to FEC records .
The next year she gave $ 550 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .
Since 2018 , she has contributed approximately $ 6,000 to Democratic electoral groups .
She said she and her husband had decided to stay in their home to avoid catching the virus .
They were spending much of their time watching media coverage .
`` We were watching the news because we were self-isolating and getting pretty nervous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still scared , '' Wanda told the Free Beacon .
She said she and her husband are not active on social media and do n't read much online news , but they get a lot of their information from television .
`` I did n't know , and I did n't understand how serious it was , '' she added .
`` It was the worst situation I could ever , ever , ever imagine anybody being in . ''
Wanda told NBC News that her experience was a cautionary tale about taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Oh my God , do n't take anything .
Do n't believe anything that the president says and his people , '' she said .
She told a local news outlet that she was still `` pretty much in shock '' over her husband 's death .
`` We were just having the best day before this happened .
I made him his favorite lunch , grilled steak and asparagus and red potatoes , and we were just having the best Sunday , '' she said .

The Arizona woman who said that she and her 68-year-old husband ingested a substance used to clean fish tanks after hearing President Donald Trump tout chloroquine as a cure for the coronavirus has given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the last two years.
The woman's most recent donations, in late February, were to a Democratic PAC, the 314 Action Fund, that bills itself as the "pro-science resistance" and has vocally criticized the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic and held up her case to slam the White House.
Although local and national media outlets withheld the couple's names, the Washington Free Beacon established their identities through descriptions in local news reports, where the pair were identified by their first names and ages: Gary, 68, and Wanda, 61. The Free Beacon is withholding their identities at Wanda's request.
Federal Election Commission records show that Wanda has donated thousands of dollars to Democratic electoral groups and candidates over the past two years, including Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and EMILY's List, a group that aims to elect pro-choice female candidates.
Wanda told the Free Beacon that she and her husband were both Democrats, not Trump supporters. They heard about the potential benefits of chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, in news reports. She decided at the "spur of the moment" to try taking it, but reached for a fish tank cleaner in her pantry that contains chloroquine phosphate, a different and deadly form of the chemical. The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for the use of chloroquine to treat coronavirus on Sunday.
"We weren't big supporters of [Trump], but we did see that they were using it in China and stuff," Wanda told the Free Beacon. "And we just made a horrible, tragic mistake," she said. "It was stupid, and it was horrible, and we should have never done it. But it's done and now I've lost my husband. And my whole life was my husband."
"We didn't think it would kill us," she added. "We thought if anything it would help us 'cus that's what we've been hearing on the news."
In her first national news interview, Wanda told NBC News that she took the fish tank cleaner in a tragically botched attempt to follow medical advice that Trump had relayed in a press conference earlier that week.
"We saw Trump on TV—every channel—and all of his buddies and that this was safe," she said last Monday. "Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a cure."
During a press briefing on March 19, the president pointed to medical studies indicating that chloroquine, a medication used to treat malaria, may be a "game changer" in treating the coronavirus. Wanda warned others in the same NBC News interview not to "believe anything that the president says."
Wanda's most recent contributions to Democratic causes came on Feb. 26 and 28. They went to the 314 Action Fund, a Democratic political action committee that describes itself as "the largest pro-science advocacy organization committed to electing scientists" and aims to "promote the responsible use of data driven fact based approaches in public policy."
The group has been highly critical of Trump's coronavirus policies in recent weeks. In fact, on its Facebook page, the group slammed the Trump administration for the couple's actions, writing, "There are real consequences to the White House throwing its approval behind an experimental drug trial before it's time."
In the wake of the incident, media outlets tacitly blamed Trump for the tragedy. The New York Times noted that chloroquine "has been bandied about by President Trump during White House briefings on the coronavirus pandemic as a potential 'game changer' in the treatment of Covid-19." Others, like Axios, ran corrections noting that the couple had not ingested the chloroquine in its medical form but rather the form "used in aquariums" after initially reporting that the couple had followed the president's faulty medical advice.
Wanda does not appear to have a long history of political donations, according to FEC reports. Her contributions to Democrats rose sharply over the past few years. Her first recorded political donation was $150 to Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to FEC records. The next year she gave $550 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Since 2018, she has contributed approximately $6,000 to Democratic electoral groups.
She said she and her husband had decided to stay in their home to avoid catching the virus. They were spending much of their time watching media coverage.
"We were watching the news because we were self-isolating and getting pretty nervous. We were scared. I'm still scared," Wanda told the Free Beacon.
She said she and her husband are not active on social media and don't read much online news, but they get a lot of their information from television.
"I didn't know, and I didn't understand how serious it was," she added. "It was the worst situation I could ever, ever, ever imagine anybody being in."
Wanda told NBC News that her experience was a cautionary tale about taking the president's words at face value. "Oh my God, don't take anything. Don't believe anything that the president says and his people," she said. She told a local news outlet that she was still "pretty much in shock" over her husband's death.
"We were just having the best day before this happened. I made him his favorite lunch, grilled steak and asparagus and red potatoes, and we were just having the best Sunday," she said.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--GOP Rep. Introduces Bill to Rescind Kennedy Center’s $25 Million From Relief Package

Republican Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil introduced a bill Friday to rescind the $ 25 million for the Kennedy Center that was included in the $ 2 trillion coronavirus package , as they have laid off musicians .
Steil ’ s bill , which has 15 cosponsors including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise , would pull the $ 25 million for the Kennedy Center .
According to Steil , Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was likely the one who had the idea for the funding for the Kennedy Center in the first place .
In a phone call with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were negotiating this bill .
Nancy Pelosi holds up getting relief to Americans to try to get this and other things in the bill .
And so the day that the House passed this bill , I drove from Janesville , Wisconsin , to Washington , D.C. to be there.
” “ I spoke on the bill , spoke about how I thought the funding for the Kennedy Center was inappropriate .
And then before I left Washington , D.C. to drive back home , the day we passed the bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and introduced it to start day one .
The moment after we passed a bill to begin the work of improving it and getting out of the bill , inappropriate funding .
A handful of days later , after this passes and you find out that the Kennedy Center is laying people off .
That ’ s almost the icing on the cake , ” Steil continued .
“ Nancy Pelosi literally held the bill up for days to get her pet projects… Interesting she ’ d use the choice of words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fiddlers , the violin players , all the musicians at the Kennedy Center that got laid off , ” Scalise said Monday night on Fox News .
This comes as Kennedy Center sent an email to musicians in the National Symphony Orchestra saying their checks would be cut off starting April 3 , the Washington Free Beacon first reported .
This happened just hours after the news they received the news that they would be receiving the $ 25 from the coronavirus package .
( RELATED : Pelosi Says Senate Coronavirus Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One Day Before House Vote ) “ The Covid-19 Advisory Committee was broadsided today during our conversation with [ Kennedy Center President ] Deborah Rutter , ” the email states .
“ Ms .
Rutter abruptly informed us today that the last paycheck for all musicians and librarians will be April 3 and that we will not be paid again until the Center reopens.
” “ Everyone should proceed as if their last paycheck will be April 3 , ” it continued .
“ We understand this will come [ as a ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did to us.
” ( RELATED : Kennedy Center Lays Off Musicians After Receiving $ 25 Million Arts Bailout ) Steil hopes to get continued support from his colleagues in the House on his bill in order to bring it to the floor for a vote .
The White House refused to comment on the matter when asked by the Daily Caller .

Republican Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil introduced a bill Friday to rescind the $25 million for the Kennedy Center that was included in the $2 trillion coronavirus package, as they have laid off musicians.
Steil’s bill, which has 15 cosponsors including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, would pull the $25 million for the Kennedy Center. According to Steil, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was likely the one who had the idea for the funding for the Kennedy Center in the first place.
In a phone call with the Daily Caller, Steil said “So we were negotiating this bill. Nancy Pelosi holds up getting relief to Americans to try to get this and other things in the bill. And so the day that the House passed this bill, I drove from Janesville, Wisconsin, to Washington, D.C. to be there.”
“I spoke on the bill, spoke about how I thought the funding for the Kennedy Center was inappropriate. And then before I left Washington, D.C. to drive back home, the day we passed the bill, I dropped this bill into the hopper and introduced it to start day one. The moment after we passed a bill to begin the work of improving it and getting out of the bill, inappropriate funding. A handful of days later, after this passes and you find out that the Kennedy Center is laying people off. That’s almost the icing on the cake,” Steil continued.
READ THE BILL HERE:
Steil Kennedy Center Bill
“Nancy Pelosi literally held the bill up for days to get her pet projects… Interesting she’d use the choice of words, ‘fiddlers,’ because it was the fiddlers, the violin players, all the musicians at the Kennedy Center that got laid off,” Scalise said Monday night on Fox News.
This comes as Kennedy Center sent an email to musicians in the National Symphony Orchestra saying their checks would be cut off starting April 3, the Washington Free Beacon first reported. This happened just hours after the news they received the news that they would be receiving the $25 from the coronavirus package. (RELATED: Pelosi Says Senate Coronavirus Bill Is Discriminatory To Residents In DC, One Day Before House Vote)
“The Covid-19 Advisory Committee was broadsided today during our conversation with [Kennedy Center President] Deborah Rutter,” the email states. “Ms. Rutter abruptly informed us today that the last paycheck for all musicians and librarians will be April 3 and that we will not be paid again until the Center reopens.”
“Everyone should proceed as if their last paycheck will be April 3,” it continued. “We understand this will come [as a] shock to all of you, as it did to us.” (RELATED: Kennedy Center Lays Off Musicians After Receiving $25 Million Arts Bailout)
Steil hopes to get continued support from his colleagues in the House on his bill in order to bring it to the floor for a vote.
The White House refused to comment on the matter when asked by the Daily Caller.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--MLB Season Likely to Start Without Fans in Attendance

The tough part is over .
Now , comes the tough part ...

Two items are becoming more and more probable if there is going to be a major league season this year:
1. It is going to begin without crowds.
2. It is going to begin without a standard minor league feeder system.
Central to the agreement that was reached last week between MLB and the Players Association was a good-faith understanding that there will be “best efforts to play as many games as possible.” Teams derive revenue and players earn salary from games, so both pledged commitment to a regular season as stocked with games as possible.
And it is just logical at this point, as one team executive said, “By a matter of weeks, we will be able to play games without crowds [before we can play games] with them.” Another official said, “I think the only way we play, at least initially, is without fans.”
For now, MLB has suspended operations until at least mid-May owing to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention edicts to avoid mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. The agreement states that games will not resume until there are no federal, city or local restrictions on mass gatherings and until the commissioner determines, via consultation with medical experts, that no “unreasonable health and safety risk to players, staff, or spectators” persists. However, it also empowers the commissioner to discuss in good faith playing in neutral sites and without fans.
Gate and concession revenues are part of the financial foundation for teams — some more than others. But there will be a psychological boost for both the sport and, hopefully, the nation if games can continue. Thus, the 30 owners would likely be compelled to go forward if it were deemed safe for players — but not large spectator crowds — to reconvene. The games would — if network personnel were allowed in — be televised, which would provide revenue.
All sports are going to face the question of if fans will be eager to break isolation and want to return to mass gatherings or even if the CDC gives its blessing will lingering fear to avoid crowds continue, at least for a while. In addition, the financial setbacks being incurred by so many will limit the disposable income to attend sporting events for a greater segment. MLB has the largest inventory with each team — in a standard year — having 81 home dates. The NBA and NHL have 41 home dates, but are filling arenas of 15,000-20,000 on average as opposed to 35,000-45,000-ish for MLB.
Playing in empty stadiums, at least at the outset, could provide MLB a way to avoid what could be the embarrassment of small crowds while meeting the obligation to play as many games as feasible.
Part of playing as many games as possible will likely entail the addition of doubleheaders, the removal of some off days and an extension of the regular season into October. That is going to necessitate, first, the expansion of rosters from 26 to perhaps 30, especially early in the season to protect arms. But a quickened second spring training, more games in a consolidated period and the normal wear and tear of a season means more than 30 players are required as a season progresses. Normally, that means promoting players from the minors. But the question could be: what minors?
There are 162 minor league teams from Low-A to Triple-A. Think about how many jurisdictions spread across the country will have to give their blessing for games to resume in those locales. And those clubs derive a great deal of their revenue from crowds, and when will mass gatherings be allowed in those places?
Without uniformity of when a minor league season can resume, MLB would probably have to bring at least its upper-level minor leaguers back to a spring training site or another place deemed safe to stay sharp in some form for when the major league teams need supplementing. It could, at least initially, mimic Instructional League, which is held in the fall with teams inviting normally their best prospects for more intensive tutoring and games against other club’s instructional groups — if such games would be possible in this environment.
To provide some relief for minor leaguers, who if not on a 40-man roster are not protected by the Players Association, MLB announced on Tuesday that it will pay those minor leaguers $400 a week through May 31 and continue to provide medical benefits.
As part of that deal, MLB informed Minor League Baseball (MiLB) that MLB clubs “are unable to supply their Minor League affiliates with players as a result of the national emergency.” Each minor leaguer was having his uniform player contract suspended. MLB portrayed this as an obvious step and said not to read much into it.
But MLB has been at war with MiLB, wanting to reduce by as much as a quarter the number of minor league teams as a cost-cutting and efficiency measure. So it is hard to imagine in a season in which MLB revenues will be drastically down that financial support will return to previous levels, even if there is a wide go-ahead given in the near future to play both major and minor league baseball. In 2020, there could be a survive-and-advance mentality, which would mean for major league clubs finding ways to generally keep their feeder system improving players, but emphasizing this year those that might be needed at some point to help major league clubs.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--All These Countries Received Faulty Medical Supplies From China

While China has been praised by some figures in media for its coronavirus diplomacy , many countries that have accepted Chinese products to relieve a medical supply shortage amid the pandemic are reporting faulty tests and masks .
For example , NBC News foreign affairs correspondent Ken Dilanian lauded China March 27 for establishing itself as “ global leader ” while the U.S. “ struggles to stem the coronavirus.
” But a handful of countries trying to test for the virus and equip their medical staff on the frontlines with protective gear have reported that the supplies they ordered from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases , useless .
Here are the countries that have reported issues with Chinese coronavirus-related products : Czech Republic : Around 80 % of coronavirus test kits sent from China were faulty , hygienists told Prague Morning .
The test kits were valued at $ 2.15 million and showed false positive and false negative results .
The test works for antibody testing , a hygienists reported , but otherwise is not reliable .
China implied the tests were donated , but the Czech Health Ministry said they paid around $ 546,000 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Chinese government regulatory group is reportedly investigating Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology , the company that produced the kits , Fox News reported .
Bioeasy claims the test kits were not used properly .
Netherlands : The Dutch government recalled around 600,000 Chinese masks out of a shipment of 1.3 million after they failed to meet quality standards , Deutsche Welle reported .
The FFP2 masks did not properly protect the face and had defective filter membranes , which would leave those wearing the masks vulnerable to contracting the virus .
The masks failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Dutch Health Ministry decided to not use any of the shipments , which were delivered to the Netherlands by a Chinese manufacturer March 21 .
Spain : The Spanish government purchased 340,000 tests from Bioeasy Biotechnology , the same company the Czech purchased tests from , and in similar quantities .
Spain ’ s medical personnel reported an 80 % failure rate and a 30 % sensitivity rate , when the sensitivity rate should be 80 % , Spanish newspaper El Pais reported .
Medical staff switched back to former testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis , while rapid tests take between 10 to 15 minutes .
( RELATED : Two European Countries Report High Error Rate For Chinese-Supplied Coronavirus Tests ) China claimed Bioeasy was not licensed by the government to make the test kits and that a government regulatory group is investigating .
Turkey : The Turkish government has stopped using Chinese-made test kits and reported that they were only 30 to 35 % accurate , Middle East Eye reported .
The test kits are based on antibodies , according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities have tried the tests , which weren ’ t released for public use .
Professor Ates Kara said on CNNTurk that “ they don ’ t work .
Spain has made a huge mistake by using them.
” Turkey ordered other tests from a different Chinese company .

While China has been praised by some figures in media for its coronavirus diplomacy, many countries that have accepted Chinese products to relieve a medical supply shortage amid the pandemic are reporting faulty tests and masks.
For example, NBC News foreign affairs correspondent Ken Dilanian lauded China March 27 for establishing itself as “global leader” while the U.S. “struggles to stem the coronavirus.”
But a handful of countries trying to test for the virus and equip their medical staff on the frontlines with protective gear have reported that the supplies they ordered from China have been faulty, and in some cases, useless.
Here are the countries that have reported issues with Chinese coronavirus-related products:
Czech Republic: Around 80% of coronavirus test kits sent from China were faulty, hygienists told Prague Morning. The test kits were valued at $2.15 million and showed false positive and false negative results. The test works for antibody testing, a hygienists reported, but otherwise is not reliable. China implied the tests were donated, but the Czech Health Ministry said they paid around $546,000 for 100,000 test kits, Expats.cz reported.
A Chinese government regulatory group is reportedly investigating Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology, the company that produced the kits, Fox News reported. Bioeasy claims the test kits were not used properly.
Netherlands: The Dutch government recalled around 600,000 Chinese masks out of a shipment of 1.3 million after they failed to meet quality standards, Deutsche Welle reported. The FFP2 masks did not properly protect the face and had defective filter membranes, which would leave those wearing the masks vulnerable to contracting the virus. The masks failed multiple inspections, according to Deutsche Welle. The Dutch Health Ministry decided to not use any of the shipments, which were delivered to the Netherlands by a Chinese manufacturer March 21.
Spain: The Spanish government purchased 340,000 tests from Bioeasy Biotechnology, the same company the Czech purchased tests from, and in similar quantities. Spain’s medical personnel reported an 80% failure rate and a 30% sensitivity rate, when the sensitivity rate should be 80%, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported. Medical staff switched back to former testing methods, which take hours for a diagnosis, while rapid tests take between 10 to 15 minutes. (RELATED: Two European Countries Report High Error Rate For Chinese-Supplied Coronavirus Tests)
China claimed Bioeasy was not licensed by the government to make the test kits and that a government regulatory group is investigating.
Respecto a la información publicada recientemente por algunos medios españoles sobre los test rápidos de #COVID2019 comprados por #España a #China, informamos de lo siguiente ???? — Embajada de China en España (@ChinaEmbEsp) March 26, 2020
Turkey: The Turkish government has stopped using Chinese-made test kits and reported that they were only 30 to 35% accurate, Middle East Eye reported. The test kits are based on antibodies, according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, who told Middle East Eye that authorities have tried the tests, which weren’t released for public use. Professor Ates Kara said on CNNTurk that “they don’t work. Spain has made a huge mistake by using them.” Turkey ordered other tests from a different Chinese company.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--Eight in Ten Have Seen One of President Trump’s Coronavirus Press Conferences

Despite the network TV blackout of President Trump ’ s daily coronavirus task force press conferences , and the selective coverage by other liberal media , a huge majority have heard them , and many give the president good grades for his daily remarks .
In a new Yahoo News/YouGov survey , 81 % of registered voters said that they have listened to the daily briefings .
And of those who have heard about them , 44 % give Trump an excellent to good rating .
According to the survey analysis , “ about a quarter of Americans ( 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in the last week rate his performance as ‘ excellent.
’ About one-third ( 36 % ) rated it ‘ good ’ or ‘ fair.
’ About two in five ( 39 % ) say it was ‘ poor.
’ ” The survey followed demands by several liberal pundits that TV stop broadcasting the daily briefings which typically include analysis of the virus by government doctors .
Networks have recently abandoned the briefings , and some cable outlets only cover portions .
The survey noted that Trump ’ s name dominated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 82 % heard something about Trump in the last week .
Others also in the White House or related briefings , notably Dr. Anthony Fauci , the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo were also high on that list .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was last .

Despite the network TV blackout of President Trump’s daily coronavirus task force press conferences, and the selective coverage by other liberal media, a huge majority have heard them, and many give the president good grades for his daily remarks.
In a new Yahoo News/YouGov survey, 81% of registered voters said that they have listened to the daily briefings.
And of those who have heard about them, 44% give Trump an excellent to good rating.
Yahoo News/YouGov
According to the survey analysis, “about a quarter of Americans (25%) who have heard about President Trump in the last week rate his performance as ‘excellent.’ About one-third (36%) rated it ‘good’ or ‘fair.’ About two in five (39%) say it was ‘poor.’”
The survey followed demands by several liberal pundits that TV stop broadcasting the daily briefings which typically include analysis of the virus by government doctors. Networks have recently abandoned the briefings, and some cable outlets only cover portions.
The survey noted that Trump’s name dominated the news because of the briefings. Some 82% heard something about Trump in the last week.
Others also in the White House or related briefings, notably Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo were also high on that list. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was last.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--MSNBC Just Keeps Getting Kookier

MSNBC Just Keeps Getting Kookier

Not that you 've been watching it up to now , but MSNBC host Joy Reid ’ s program is essentially unwatchable at this point .
Reid , who was caught and still has n't taken responsibility for her own actions , has seemingly achieved the impossible this week by hitting a new low in with her coverage of President Trump and the coronavirus .
She 's gone full-bore conspiracy theory , joining the hallowed company of her colleague Rachel `` Moscow '' Maddow .
According to the , on her show this week , Reid “ warned that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dastardly AG Bill Barr — might be planning to ‘ expand his power under the guise of national security ’ to achieve the goal he has ‘ always ’ had : ‘ reigning as a monarch with unlimited power rather than serving as a mere president in a democracy.
’ ” Here ’ s the full transcript of Reid 's comments , , so as not to take her out of context in any way : JOY REID : Now , in this show yesterday , constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe of Harvard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : that Cuomo was right , and Trump had no constitutional authority to claim he could quarantine whole states .
And right on cue , Trump almost immediately backed down , tweeting that he has advised the CDC to issue a travel warning , but that he determined a quarantine will , quote , not be necessary .
Not necessary ?
Man , try not legally possible !
But go off , Apprentice guy — go off !
Of course , it 's hardly news that Trump has always had designs on reigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than serving as a mere president in a democracy .
But with the country facing an unprecedented public health crisis , what lengths might he , backed by an Attorney General whose writings and actions point to a fundamental belief in an all-powerful presidency — at least when the would-be king is a Republican — what lengths might Trump go to , to expand his power under the guise of national security ?
This is simply untethered from reality .
It should raise serious questions about Reid ’ s emotional and mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response to the coronavirus .
I have done so myself .
But the idea that he ’ s `` always had designs '' on making himself king of America ?
Um ... no ?
If anything , Trump has come under fire for failing to exercise enough power during this crisis — for not commandeering industry , for example .
Only recently , Trump wanted to lift government restrictions and let people go back to normal — something that would not be a good idea right now .
If he wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a funny way of showing it .
And as far as the example Reid offers regarding the state-level quarantines , it proves the exact opposite of her point .
Trump backed down immediately on the idea of quarantining a state — perhaps upon being advised that he lacks the power to do so .
Is n't that the opposite of what someone long scheming to become a dictator or a monarch would do ?
As I alluded to above , Reid spent nearly a decade writing a crude , nasty blog that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was exposed for this after attaining some level of fame , and instead of just taking responsibility , she lied about being hacked .
I do n't believe in “ cancel culture ” — in my mind , an apology would have been sufficient .
Yet the MSNBC host has only doubled-down since on her lies , and it 's frustrating to watch the liberal media let her get away with it in one of its worst displays of partisan , cynical hypocrisy .
Reid 's latest unhinged rant against Trump exemplifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cynicism .
She ca n't possibly believe what she 's saying , but she thinks her audience is ignorant enough to lap it up .
It 's sad , really .

Not that you've been watching it up to now, but MSNBC host Joy Reid’s program is essentially unwatchable at this point.
Reid, who was caught brazenly lying to her audience and still hasn't taken responsibility for her own actions, has seemingly achieved the impossible this week by hitting a new low in with her coverage of President Trump and the coronavirus. She's gone full-bore conspiracy theory, joining the hallowed company of her colleague Rachel "Moscow" Maddow.
According to the Media Research Center , on her show this week, Reid “warned that President Trump — aided and abetted by that dastardly AG Bill Barr — might be planning to ‘expand his power under the guise of national security’ to achieve the goal he has ‘always’ had: ‘reigning as a monarch with unlimited power rather than serving as a mere president in a democracy.’”
Here’s the full transcript of Reid's comments, courtesy of MRC's Newsbusters , so as not to take her out of context in any way:
JOY REID: Now, in this show yesterday, constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe of Harvard University confirmed what we suspected all along: that Cuomo was right, and Trump had no constitutional authority to claim he could quarantine whole states. And right on cue, Trump almost immediately backed down, tweeting that he has advised the CDC to issue a travel warning, but that he determined a quarantine will, quote, not be necessary.
Not necessary? Man, try not legally possible! But go off, Apprentice guy — go off!
Of course, it's hardly news that Trump has always had designs on reigning as a monarch with unlimited power, rather than serving as a mere president in a democracy. But with the country facing an unprecedented public health crisis, what lengths might he, backed by an Attorney General whose writings and actions point to a fundamental belief in an all-powerful presidency — at least when the would-be king is a Republican — what lengths might Trump go to, to expand his power under the guise of national security?
This is simply untethered from reality. It should raise serious questions about Reid’s emotional and mental well-being.
Sure, criticize Trump’s response to the coronavirus. I have done so myself. But the idea that he’s "always had designs" on making himself king of America? Um ... no?
If anything, Trump has come under fire for failing to exercise enough power during this crisis — for not commandeering industry, for example. Only recently, Trump wanted to lift government restrictions and let people go back to normal — something that would not be a good idea right now. If he wanted to put us under martial law, that's a funny way of showing it.
And as far as the example Reid offers regarding the state-level quarantines, it proves the exact opposite of her point. Trump backed down immediately on the idea of quarantining a state — perhaps upon being advised that he lacks the power to do so. Isn't that the opposite of what someone long scheming to become a dictator or a monarch would do?
As I alluded to above, Reid spent nearly a decade writing a crude, nasty blog that cruelly smeared and mocked gay people. She was exposed for this after attaining some level of fame, and instead of just taking responsibility, she lied about being hacked. I don't believe in “cancel culture” — in my mind, an apology would have been sufficient. Yet the MSNBC host has only doubled-down since on her lies, and it's frustrating to watch the liberal media let her get away with it in one of its worst displays of partisan, cynical hypocrisy.
Reid's latest unhinged rant against Trump exemplifies a new and unprecedented extent to her cynicism. She can't possibly believe what she's saying, but she thinks her audience is ignorant enough to lap it up. It's sad, really.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--Trump Critic Mark Cuban: President Deserves “All The Credit” for Coronavirus Response

In an exclusive interview with Daily Caller White House correspondent Maranda Finney , billionaire investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic and lays out the path forward beyond this unique moment in history @ @ @ @ @ serves as a host on the TV show Shark Tank , also goes after corporate @ @ @ @ @ and shares his honest opinion on the job President Donald Trump has done so far @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
Check out this exclusive interview below .
( RELATED : Google @ @ @ @ @ About ‘ Sooner Than Later ’ End Of Coronavirus Pandemic ) In the meantime , @ @ @ @ @ comments who YOU want to see us interview in our next video .
This is @ @ @ @ @ of the conversation and help us shape all of our future coverage .
Make sure @ @ @ @ @ on all of our social media pages : And go subscribe to our YouTube channel @

In an exclusive interview with Daily Caller White House correspondent Maranda Finney, billionaire investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shares investing advice amid the coronavirus pandemic and lays out the path forward beyond this unique moment in history.
Mark Cuban, who serves as a host on the TV show Shark Tank, also goes after corporate America for ripping off taxpayers and shares his honest opinion on the job President Donald Trump has done so far addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Check out this exclusive interview below. (RELATED: Google Health Advisory Board Member Optimistic About ‘Sooner Than Later’ End Of Coronavirus Pandemic)
In the meantime, let us know in the comments who YOU want to see us interview in our next video.
This is your chance to become part of the conversation and help us shape all of our future coverage.
Make sure you go and follow us on all of our social media pages:
Twitter: https://goo.gl/fnYe4v
Facebook: https://goo.gl/ W5junb
Instagram: https://goo.gl/ mhVr1Y
And go subscribe to our YouTube channel.


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--New Lancent Study Suggests Coronavirus Death Rate of 0.66%

A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal estimates that the death rate of coronavirus is significantly lower than previously reported .
In early March , World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the estimated mortality rate of COVID-19 globally was about 3.4 % , while Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said it could be anywhere from 1-2 % if “ you just do the math , ” based on initial reports out of other countries .
“ What we ’ re hearing right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this morning is that there aren ’ t as many asymptotic cases as we think .
Which made them elevate , I think , what their mortality is , ” Fauci explained in the first week of March .
“ You know as well as anybody that the mortality for seasonal flu is .1 % so even if it goes down to 1 % it ’ s still 10 times more fatal.
” As reported by CNN Tuesday , a new study published in Lancet estimates that even the lower-end 1 % fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more accurate estimation of the percentage of people who will die due to complications from the virus , researchers say , is about two-thirds that , 0.66 % .
“ That coronavirus death rate , which is lower than earlier estimates , takes into account potentially milder cases that often go undiagnosed — but it ’ s still far higher than the 0.1 % of people who are killed by the flu , ” CNN explains .
“ When undetected infections aren ’ t taken into account , the Lancet study found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is more consistent with earlier reports.
” As noted by CNN , when Dr. Fauci presented his 2 % estimation in March , he stressed that determining the true death rate requires accurate data on the number of people who have contracted the virus but are asymptomatic , or show no symptoms , a metric that has been glaringly lacking thus far .
Only taking into account confirmed cases results in an incomplete data set and generally includes those with the more severe symptoms , rather than the more mild cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be about half the number of COVID-19 cases .
The new study attempts to account for the asymptomatic or very mild cases , not just the confirmed cases .
To do so , the researchers looked at infection rates of people who returned to their home countries on flights from Wuhan , China , CNN explains .
“ According to the study , these people received PCR tests — a type of test that would be able to identify how many of those travelers were shedding the virus , even if they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains .
“ Researchers combined that data on ‘ infection prevalence ’ with public information on reported cases and deaths , estimating the overall death rate to be about two-thirds of 1 % .
” For those younger than 40 , the estimated fatality rate is even lower , just 0.16 % , while those younger than 9 have only an estimated 0.00161 % chance of dying from complications related to the virus .
For those 80 or older , however , the fatality rate is an alarming 7.8 % , researchers found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that get a lot of media attention , but our analysis very clearly shows that at aged 50 and over , hospitalisation is much more likely than in those under 50 , and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal , ” said Imperial College London professor and study co-author Azra Ghani said , as reported by CNN .
While researchers found that the fatality rate is far lower than some previous estimates , they also note that the often prolonged recovery time for the virus , which can take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care systems .
Related : UK ’ s Top Expert : Epidemic ‘ Just About Slowing , ’ Antibody Test May Be Ready In ‘ Days Rather Than Weeks ’

A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal estimates that the death rate of coronavirus is significantly lower than previously reported.
In early March, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the estimated mortality rate of COVID-19 globally was about 3.4%, while Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it could be anywhere from 1-2% if “you just do the math,” based on initial reports out of other countries.
“What we’re hearing right now, on a recent call from the WHO this morning is that there aren’t as many asymptotic cases as we think. Which made them elevate, I think, what their mortality is,” Fauci explained in the first week of March. “You know as well as anybody that the mortality for seasonal flu is .1% so even if it goes down to 1% it’s still 10 times more fatal.”
As reported by CNN Tuesday, a new study published in Lancet estimates that even the lower-end 1% fatality rate estimation is too high. A more accurate estimation of the percentage of people who will die due to complications from the virus, researchers say, is about two-thirds that, 0.66%.
“That coronavirus death rate, which is lower than earlier estimates, takes into account potentially milder cases that often go undiagnosed — but it’s still far higher than the 0.1% of people who are killed by the flu,” CNN explains. “When undetected infections aren’t taken into account, the Lancet study found that the coronavirus death rate was 1.38%, which is more consistent with earlier reports.”
As noted by CNN, when Dr. Fauci presented his 2% estimation in March, he stressed that determining the true death rate requires accurate data on the number of people who have contracted the virus but are asymptomatic, or show no symptoms, a metric that has been glaringly lacking thus far. Only taking into account confirmed cases results in an incomplete data set and generally includes those with the more severe symptoms, rather than the more mild cases, which some previous studies suggest could be about half the number of COVID-19 cases.
The new study attempts to account for the asymptomatic or very mild cases, not just the confirmed cases. To do so, the researchers looked at infection rates of people who returned to their home countries on flights from Wuhan, China, CNN explains.
“According to the study, these people received PCR tests — a type of test that would be able to identify how many of those travelers were shedding the virus, even if they didn’t show symptoms,” CNN explains. “Researchers combined that data on ‘infection prevalence’ with public information on reported cases and deaths, estimating the overall death rate to be about two-thirds of 1%.”
For those younger than 40, the estimated fatality rate is even lower, just 0.16%, while those younger than 9 have only an estimated 0.00161% chance of dying from complications related to the virus. For those 80 or older, however, the fatality rate is an alarming 7.8%, researchers found.
“There might be outlying cases that get a lot of media attention, but our analysis very clearly shows that at aged 50 and over, hospitalisation is much more likely than in those under 50, and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal,” said Imperial College London professor and study co-author Azra Ghani said, as reported by CNN.
While researchers found that the fatality rate is far lower than some previous estimates, they also note that the often prolonged recovery time for the virus, which can take over three weeks, threatens to overwhelm health care systems.
Related: UK’s Top Expert: Epidemic ‘Just About Slowing,’ Antibody Test May Be Ready In ‘Days Rather Than Weeks’


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--Turns Out Everyone Who Said We Shouldn’t Wear Masks Was Wrong

Our officials ' lies have now damaged both the public 's trust in any future top-down guidance , and backfired on their efforts to 'flatten the curve . '
“ Actually , masks aren ’ t helpful for anyone who isn ’ t used to wearing them ” is a confusing statement I heard repeatedly from members of the media , government officials , and know-it-all friends who were watching cable news in the early weeks of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak .
As Americans slowly woke up to the seriousness of the pandemic , and their own lack of preparedness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general public from stocking up on masks in an effort to preserve supplies for health-care workers on the front lines .
Whether they genuinely believed masks would be useless for everyday , non-medical use , or they were bracing for shortages to come , their lies have now damaged both the public ’ s trust in any future top-down guidance , and backfired on their efforts to “ flatten the curve.
” The U.S. surgeon general , Dr. Jerome Adams , tweeted on February 29 , “ STOP BUYING MASKS !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adams told viewers that “ you can actually increase your risk of getting a respiratory disease like coronavirus ” if you wear a mask improperly .
On March 1 , both Vice President Mike Pence and CNN Anchor Jake Tapper pleaded with viewers not to buy masks .
“ It is not necessary for Americans to go out and buy masks , ” Pence said .
“ It ’ s not going to do anything for you .
It ’ s the people who actually have coronavirus that have the masks , need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City ’ s official coronavirus guidelines instruct New Yorkers , who are at the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States , that they “ do not need to wear a face mask if you are not feeling sick.
” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) is still advising Americans that they should wear a mask only if they are sick or are caring for someone who is sick .
The World Health Organization warned just a few days ago that “ masks can give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can even be a source of infection when not used properly.
” “ No , You Do Not Need Face Masks To Prevent Coronavirus—They Might Increase Your Infection Risk , ” says a Forbes headline .
“ Seriously , Stop Buying Face Masks , ” pleaded a senior writer at The Cut .
“ Why experts say healthy people should stop wearing masks , ” reads a local Denver news report .
“ CDC says surgical masks won ’ t protect you from the coronavirus , ” reads another local report in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked hand in hand with a compliant media to get their message across , but at what cost ?
In early March , the Department of Health and Human Services said the country had only about 35 million of the 3.5 billion high-grade N95 respirators needed in the event of a full-blown pandemic .
So what did we really save , if even after all the “ no mask ” messaging , the government is still having to ask companies to ramp up production anyway ?
Could infection rates have been reduced if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks ?
Scientists are beginning to weigh in with research showing that if we all wear masks , people unknowingly infected with the coronavirus would be less likely to spread it .
This advice , which is seemingly obvious , makes much more sense than the confusing message that ordinary people couldn ’ t possibly figure out how to wear a mask properly , or that masks somehow only work when worn by health care providers .
Jeremy Howard , a research scientist at the University of San Francisco , wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific papers have found that basic masks , meaning even a cut up T-shirt , can be effective in reducing virus transmission in public .
“ Studies have documented definitively that in controlled environments like airplanes , people with masks rarely infect others and rarely become infected themselves , while those without masks more easily infect others or become infected themselves , ” Howard writes .
Yes , U.S. health-care workers are short on masks and they desperately need them , and of course healthy people should not be stockpiling them , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that even surgical masks , the ones that do not have a tight fitted seal , can “ reduce exposure to aerosolised infectious influenza virus.
” That sounds better than no mask at all .
The combination of masks and hand washing have also been found to reduce infection rates .
Lest it even need to be said , face masks are not a novel concept yet to be proven .
This is not some new technology we are convincing society to get on board with .
We know they work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ worn by health-care workers , people with compromised immune systems , and even WHO officials during COVID-19 public health briefings .
Now , our intelligentsia are sowing more confusion and distrust as they back-peddle on their previous confusing instructions to not take this obvious precaution for yourself and those around you .
On Monday , President Donald Trump said he could see a recommendation , proposed by former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb , that all Americans wear masks .
“ We are not going to be wearing masks forever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period of time after we get back into gear .
I could see something like that happening for a period of time , ” he said .
In a matter of days , masks have gone from “ source of infection when not used properly ” to “ recommended for all Americans.
” So do we wear masks now , or not ?
Does it matter what kind ?
If I display symptoms of coronavirus , how long should I wait before being tested ?
Can I treat it at home , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy to see how the botched messaging on such a simple precaution early on will now have bigger consequences for other guidelines delivered to us down this long road .
Now that it seems obvious the surgeon general was wrong to say I don ’ t need a mask at the grocery store , should I trust his next instruction that seems counter-intuitive ?
What about what I hear from the CDC , politicians , the media , or neighborhood gossip ?
Is there even a difference between them all anymore ?

“Actually, masks aren’t helpful for anyone who isn’t used to wearing them” is a confusing statement I heard repeatedly from members of the media, government officials, and know-it-all friends who were watching cable news in the early weeks of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
As Americans slowly woke up to the seriousness of the pandemic, and their own lack of preparedness, our media and government elites discouraged the general public from stocking up on masks in an effort to preserve supplies for health-care workers on the front lines. Whether they genuinely believed masks would be useless for everyday, non-medical use, or they were bracing for shortages to come, their lies have now damaged both the public’s trust in any future top-down guidance, and backfired on their efforts to “flatten the curve.”
The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, tweeted on February 29, “STOP BUYING MASKS!”
https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160
On Fox News in early March, Adams told viewers that “you can actually increase your risk of getting a respiratory disease like coronavirus” if you wear a mask improperly.
On March 1, both Vice President Mike Pence and CNN Anchor Jake Tapper pleaded with viewers not to buy masks. “It is not necessary for Americans to go out and buy masks,” Pence said.
“It’s not going to do anything for you. It’s the people who actually have coronavirus that have the masks, need the masks,” Tapper said.
New York City’s official coronavirus guidelines instruct New Yorkers, who are at the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, that they “do not need to wear a face mask if you are not feeling sick.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still advising Americans that they should wear a mask only if they are sick or are caring for someone who is sick.
The World Health Organization warned just a few days ago that “masks can give you a false feeling of protection and can even be a source of infection when not used properly.”
“No, You Do Not Need Face Masks To Prevent Coronavirus—They Might Increase Your Infection Risk,” says a Forbes headline. “Seriously, Stop Buying Face Masks,” pleaded a senior writer at The Cut. “Why experts say healthy people should stop wearing masks,” reads a local Denver news report. “CDC says surgical masks won’t protect you from the coronavirus,” reads another local report in Washington state.
Government and health care officials worked hand in hand with a compliant media to get their message across, but at what cost? In early March, the Department of Health and Human Services said the country had only about 35 million of the 3.5 billion high-grade N95 respirators needed in the event of a full-blown pandemic. So what did we really save, if even after all the “no mask” messaging, the government is still having to ask companies to ramp up production anyway? Could infection rates have been reduced if the general public was not warned against wearing masks?
Scientists are beginning to weigh in with research showing that if we all wear masks, people unknowingly infected with the coronavirus would be less likely to spread it. This advice, which is seemingly obvious, makes much more sense than the confusing message that ordinary people couldn’t possibly figure out how to wear a mask properly, or that masks somehow only work when worn by health care providers.
Jeremy Howard, a research scientist at the University of San Francisco, wrote in the Washington Post that at least 34 scientific papers have found that basic masks, meaning even a cut up T-shirt, can be effective in reducing virus transmission in public.
“Studies have documented definitively that in controlled environments like airplanes, people with masks rarely infect others and rarely become infected themselves, while those without masks more easily infect others or become infected themselves,” Howard writes.
Yes, U.S. health-care workers are short on masks and they desperately need them, and of course healthy people should not be stockpiling them, especially N95 masks. But studies have also found that even surgical masks, the ones that do not have a tight fitted seal, can “reduce exposure to aerosolised infectious influenza virus.” That sounds better than no mask at all. The combination of masks and hand washing have also been found to reduce infection rates.
Lest it even need to be said, face masks are not a novel concept yet to be proven. This is not some new technology we are convincing society to get on board with. We know they work. It’s why they’re worn by health-care workers, people with compromised immune systems, and even WHO officials during COVID-19 public health briefings.
Now, our intelligentsia are sowing more confusion and distrust as they back-peddle on their previous confusing instructions to not take this obvious precaution for yourself and those around you. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he could see a recommendation, proposed by former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb, that all Americans wear masks. “We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back into gear. I could see something like that happening for a period of time,” he said.
In a matter of days, masks have gone from “source of infection when not used properly” to “recommended for all Americans.” So do we wear masks now, or not? Does it matter what kind? If I display symptoms of coronavirus, how long should I wait before being tested? Can I treat it at home, and for how long? It’s easy to see how the botched messaging on such a simple precaution early on will now have bigger consequences for other guidelines delivered to us down this long road.
Now that it seems obvious the surgeon general was wrong to say I don’t need a mask at the grocery store, should I trust his next instruction that seems counter-intuitive? What about what I hear from the CDC, politicians, the media, or neighborhood gossip? Is there even a difference between them all anymore?
Madeline Osburn is managing editor at The Federalist. Contact her at madeline@thefederalist.com or follow her on Twitter


bonginoreport--2020-03-31--Democrats Rely on Youth Vote – Which Biden Doesn’t Have

Joe Biden is trying to break out of his coronavirus pandemic-induced campaign limbo by reaching the segment of the population most likely to be online : younger voters .
It 's a voting bloc the former vice president had trouble with in his Democratic primary fight against Bernie Sanders , which he 's poised to win in early June once a slate of virus-delayed primaries take place .
And a group that could help Biden topple President Trump this fall , if they actually cast ballots .
Unable to leave his house and hold traditional campaign events , Biden last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he connected the coronavirus pandemic to larger issues that affect younger voters .
That evening , Biden hosted a virtual “ happy hour ” targeted at younger voters — though he does not drink alcohol and instead sipped on Gatorade .
“ We need to think about those of you who are hustling in the gig economy , who deserve the same benefits as everyone else does , '' Biden said .
`` We need to think about those of you who are already struggling with student debt before this crisis and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , is much more popular with younger voters than Biden .
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted March 22-24 found that around 59 % of Democratic primary voters aged 18 to 44 would prefer the Vermont senator as the Democratic presidential nominee rather than Biden .
In what could be a close election against Trump , Biden will need to grow Democrats ’ 2016 margin among young voters in order to win against President Trump .
The challenge is motivating younger voters to cast votes for Biden .
While a 2019 Harvard youth poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of young people think that the country is “ on the wrong track , ” Biden can ’ t assume that millennials and Generation Z will flock to him in November .
Studies suggest that they do not have the same level of party loyalty as older generations , said Elizabeth Matto , a professor at Rutgers University and director of the Center for Youth Political Participation .
“ One of the biggest challenges for any Democratic nominee right now is making sure you do n't assume that because you get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the youth vote , ” Matto said .
The former vice president seems to recognize this and is hoping to reach younger voters by touting new policy proposals .
Biden adopted part of one of Sanders ’ s most popular policy proposals the day before their first one-on-one debate : Free tuition at public colleges and universities for those from families making less than $ 125,000 per year .
Last week , as coronavirus-related closures brought on a record unemployment surge and economic downturn , Biden announced support for student loan debt cancellation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal popular with younger people .
A Wednesday op-ed from Biden on “ protecting future generations after coronavirus ” was published by Crooked Media , a company created by former Obama administration staffers that host the popular podcast Pod Save America .
The former vice president stressed the importance of social distancing and warned that if President Trump encourages people to return to work too soon , it could exacerbate both the health and economic crisis .
Biden runs a risk , however , of turning younger voters off if they perceive him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he wants their votes .
“ There 's a real attraction to candidates that seem authentic , that seem real , that seem genuine , ” Matto said .
“ Anything that seems like an obvious and inauthentic grab for a particular voting segment , I think young adults will look at it with skepticism.
” In his happy hour , Biden took softball questions from fawning supporters that included Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta , a former intern for Biden now in law school , and a co-chairman of Students for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden would have the United States play “ as a leader in the global community , ” while another asked him how personal tragedies in his life help him “ connect with everyday Americans.
” But here is an opportunity for the former vice president to provide the kind of leadership that younger voters are looking for .
Though Sanders himself is viewed favorably , the socialist revolution he preaches is not the common preferred path for younger people .
“ Young adults are actually sort of mixed in their feelings about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next president — not necessarily wanting broad structural changes , but maybe offering more pragmatic and realistic changes , ” Matto said .

Joe Biden is trying to break out of his coronavirus pandemic-induced campaign limbo by reaching the segment of the population most likely to be online: younger voters.
It's a voting bloc the former vice president had trouble with in his Democratic primary fight against Bernie Sanders, which he's poised to win in early June once a slate of virus-delayed primaries take place. And a group that could help Biden topple President Trump this fall, if they actually cast ballots.
Unable to leave his house and hold traditional campaign events, Biden last Wednesday gave a livestreamed address in which he connected the coronavirus pandemic to larger issues that affect younger voters. That evening, Biden hosted a virtual “happy hour” targeted at younger voters — though he does not drink alcohol and instead sipped on Gatorade.
“We need to think about those of you who are hustling in the gig economy, who deserve the same benefits as everyone else does," Biden said. "We need to think about those of you who are already struggling with student debt before this crisis and now need a lifeline."
Sanders, though, is much more popular with younger voters than Biden. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted March 22-24 found that around 59% of Democratic primary voters aged 18 to 44 would prefer the Vermont senator as the Democratic presidential nominee rather than Biden. In what could be a close election against Trump, Biden will need to grow Democrats’ 2016 margin among young voters in order to win against President Trump.
The challenge is motivating younger voters to cast votes for Biden.
While a 2019 Harvard youth poll found that a majority, 51%, of young people think that the country is “on the wrong track,” Biden can’t assume that millennials and Generation Z will flock to him in November. Studies suggest that they do not have the same level of party loyalty as older generations, said Elizabeth Matto, a professor at Rutgers University and director of the Center for Youth Political Participation.
“One of the biggest challenges for any Democratic nominee right now is making sure you don't assume that because you get the nomination you're going to automatically get the youth vote,” Matto said.
The former vice president seems to recognize this and is hoping to reach younger voters by touting new policy proposals.
Biden adopted part of one of Sanders’s most popular policy proposals the day before their first one-on-one debate: Free tuition at public colleges and universities for those from families making less than $125,000 per year.
Last week, as coronavirus-related closures brought on a record unemployment surge and economic downturn, Biden announced support for student loan debt cancellation up to $10,000, another left-wing proposal popular with younger people.
A Wednesday op-ed from Biden on “protecting future generations after coronavirus” was published by Crooked Media, a company created by former Obama administration staffers that host the popular podcast Pod Save America. The former vice president stressed the importance of social distancing and warned that if President Trump encourages people to return to work too soon, it could exacerbate both the health and economic crisis.
Biden runs a risk, however, of turning younger voters off if they perceive him as adopting certain positions or activities purely because he wants their votes.
“There's a real attraction to candidates that seem authentic, that seem real, that seem genuine,” Matto said. “Anything that seems like an obvious and inauthentic grab for a particular voting segment, I think young adults will look at it with skepticism.”
In his happy hour, Biden took softball questions from fawning supporters that included Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a former intern for Biden now in law school, and a co-chairman of Students for Biden. One questioner asked what role Biden would have the United States play “as a leader in the global community,” while another asked him how personal tragedies in his life help him “connect with everyday Americans.”
But here is an opportunity for the former vice president to provide the kind of leadership that younger voters are looking for. Though Sanders himself is viewed favorably, the socialist revolution he preaches is not the common preferred path for younger people.
“Young adults are actually sort of mixed in their feelings about the sort of changes they want with the next president — not necessarily wanting broad structural changes, but maybe offering more pragmatic and realistic changes,” Matto said.


bonginoreport--2020-04-01--Over 27k Americans Stranded Abroad Have Been Rescued by the State Department

The State Department has rescued more than 27,000 Americans from 50 countries during the past several weeks since the coronavirus stranded scores of U.S. citizens abroad , including in some countries that have been placed on complete lockdown .
`` As of today we have repatriated over 20—I think it 's 6 , or 27,000 U.S. citizens from more than 50 countries , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Tuesday during a press conference at Foggy Bottom .
`` The stories of our team 's heart and character and commitment to excellence are truly amazing . ''
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wuhan , China , where the virus first began to spread .
With commercial travel reduced or completely halted in many countries around the world , Americans have petitioned the State Department for help .
The United States has been able to work with its local embassies to coordinate commercial travel and chartered flights for those stranded outside of the country .
One American `` critically ill from the virus '' who was suffering in Bhutan , a South Asian country , was rescued , according to Pompeo .
`` In Bhutan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an American was critically ill from the virus , intubated on a ventilator , and frankly expected to die in a country located in one of the most remote corners of the world , '' he said .
`` But we came to the rescue .
Our team arranged a biocontainment transport from Bhutan to an intensive care unit in Baltimore , Md.
, a distance of nearly 8,000 miles . ''
That included a flight through Kathmandu , which is notoriously difficult to navigate .
`` To fly through Kathmandu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make that flight , '' Pompeo said .
`` It was one of the most complex medical evacuations in history , and the State Department pulled it off . ''
The rescue effort is among the most unique ever undertaken by the State Department .
`` Never in the department 's 230-year history have we led a worldwide evacuation of such enormous geographic complexity and such geographic scale , '' Pompeo said .
These efforts will continue during the next several weeks as more Americans petition the State Department to help them evacuate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many more Americans are trying to make their way back home , Pompeo said his administration will do all it can to aid Americans abroad .
`` We do not know in some countries how long the continued commercial flights in your country may continue to operate , '' Pompeo warned .
`` We ca n't guarantee the U.S. government 's ability to arrange chartered flights indefinitely where commercial options no longer exist . ''
Meanwhile , the United States has coordinated a massive international aid effort , sending $ 274 million @ @ @ @ @

The State Department has rescued more than 27,000 Americans from 50 countries during the past several weeks since the coronavirus stranded scores of U.S. citizens abroad, including in some countries that have been placed on complete lockdown.
"As of today we have repatriated over 20—I think it's 6, or 27,000 U.S. citizens from more than 50 countries," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Tuesday during a press conference at Foggy Bottom. "The stories of our team's heart and character and commitment to excellence are truly amazing."
This includes more than 800 Americans who were in Wuhan, China, where the virus first began to spread.
With commercial travel reduced or completely halted in many countries around the world, Americans have petitioned the State Department for help. The United States has been able to work with its local embassies to coordinate commercial travel and chartered flights for those stranded outside of the country.
One American "critically ill from the virus" who was suffering in Bhutan, a South Asian country, was rescued, according to Pompeo.
"In Bhutan, no easy place to get to, an American was critically ill from the virus, intubated on a ventilator, and frankly expected to die in a country located in one of the most remote corners of the world," he said. "But we came to the rescue. Our team arranged a biocontainment transport from Bhutan to an intensive care unit in Baltimore, Md., a distance of nearly 8,000 miles."
That included a flight through Kathmandu, which is notoriously difficult to navigate.
"To fly through Kathmandu, there are about 12 pilots who can make that flight," Pompeo said. "It was one of the most complex medical evacuations in history, and the State Department pulled it off."
The rescue effort is among the most unique ever undertaken by the State Department.
"Never in the department's 230-year history have we led a worldwide evacuation of such enormous geographic complexity and such geographic scale," Pompeo said.
These efforts will continue during the next several weeks as more Americans petition the State Department to help them evacuate foreign countries.
While it is unclear how many more Americans are trying to make their way back home, Pompeo said his administration will do all it can to aid Americans abroad.
"We do not know in some countries how long the continued commercial flights in your country may continue to operate," Pompeo warned. "We can't guarantee the U.S. government's ability to arrange chartered flights indefinitely where commercial options no longer exist."
Meanwhile, the United States has coordinated a massive international aid effort, sending $274 million to some 64 countries.


bonginoreport--2020-04-01--Gun Sales Nearly Double

Gun Sales Nearly Double

People ran to gun stores in record numbers as they sought self-defense weapons amid the coronavirus scare , driving sales up about 83 % in March and leading to a record number of FBI instant background checks .
Industry officials said that handguns , rifles , AR-style weapons , and ammunition flew off the shelves when states and the federal government started to lock down communities .
Many who purchased weapons said they were worried the lockdowns would create chaos or riots .
The FBI recorded 3,740,600 background checks in March , the most in any month ever — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another record-breaker , there were 2,802,467 checks .
This year alone , there have been 9,245,857 background checks , which are mostly for gun purchases .
That figure is higher than the nation ’ s total gun background checks for every year from 1988-2005 .
Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting , which compiles estimates for gun sales , estimates that a total of 2,583,328 guns were sold in March .
That is an 83 % increase over March 2019 , it said in data shared with Secrets .
They estimate that handgun sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over March 2019 .
And rifles surged 73 % to 835,663 .
Anecdotal information from gun dealers indicated that most of those guns were AR- and AK-style rifles and shotguns .
Justin Anderson , the marketing director for Hyatt Guns in Charlotte , North Carolina , one of the nation ’ s largest , told Secrets that there was a line out the door for a week .
“ Our daily business literally quadrupled , and we had three record days in a row .
Self-defense guns , including AR-15s and shotguns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
And , he added , “ Suffice to say , it ’ s been crazier than I have ever seen it in 13 years in this business !
” SAAF Chief Economist Jurgen Brauer said , “ As anticipated by the general media and within-industry reports , firearms sales boomed in March 2020 largely due to the COVID-19 health crisis .
”

People ran to gun stores in record numbers as they sought self-defense weapons amid the coronavirus scare, driving sales up about 83% in March and leading to a record number of FBI instant background checks.
Industry officials said that handguns, rifles, AR-style weapons, and ammunition flew off the shelves when states and the federal government started to lock down communities. Many who purchased weapons said they were worried the lockdowns would create chaos or riots.
The FBI recorded 3,740,688 background checks in March, the most in any month ever — and by a mile. In February, another record-breaker, there were 2,802,467 checks.
This year alone, there have been 9,245,857 background checks, which are mostly for gun purchases. That figure is higher than the nation’s total gun background checks for every year from 1988-2005.
Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting, which compiles estimates for gun sales, estimates that a total of 2,583,328 guns were sold in March. That is an 83% increase over March 2019, it said in data shared with Secrets.
They estimate that handgun sales jumped 91%, to 1,534,000 weapons over March 2019. And rifles surged 73% to 835,663.
Anecdotal information from gun dealers indicated that most of those guns were AR- and AK-style rifles and shotguns.
Justin Anderson, the marketing director for Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the nation’s largest, told Secrets that there was a line out the door for a week. “Our daily business literally quadrupled, and we had three record days in a row. Self-defense guns, including AR-15s and shotguns, and ammo are the hot commodities,” he said.
And, he added, “Suffice to say, it’s been crazier than I have ever seen it in 13 years in this business!”
SAAF Chief Economist Jurgen Brauer said, “As anticipated by the general media and within-industry reports, firearms sales boomed in March 2020 largely due to the COVID-19 health crisis.”