bonginoreport--2020-03-14--President Trump Tests Negative for Coronavirus

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to journalists while hosting Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office at the White House March 12 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus , according to the White House physician .
Trump opted to take the test after the press secretary for Brazil 's president tested positive for the virus .
Trump dined with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his press secretary at Mar-a-Lago .
Bolsonaro said Friday that he tested negative for the virus .
Trump had said earlier Saturday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and was awaiting results .
He said he had decided he would do so after a press conference Friday , in which he was pressed on whether he would take a test .
One reporter asked whether he was being `` selfish '' by not getting tested – even when other administration officials advised self-isolation after exposure to an infected person .
`` I did n't say I was n't going to be tested , '' Trump pushed back .
According to the note from the White House physician , `` last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President regarding COVID-19 testing , he elected to proceed . ''
`` This evening , '' the White House physician said , `` I received confirmation that the test is negative . ''
The White House physician added that he has been in `` daily contact '' with the Center for Disease Control and White House Coronavirus Task Force .
`` We are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation , '' he said .
Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday that he has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so .
`` I 'm going to speak immediately after this press conference with White House physician 's office , '' Pence said .
`` Mrs. Pence and I would be more than happy to be tested . ''
Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement that temperature checks are now being performed on individuals in close contact with the Trump and Pence .
This includes members of the media who attended the news conference .
Several members of Congress , including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz , have gone into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of the virus .
Actor Tom Hanks and Utah Jazz basketball player Rudy Gobert have also tested positive .
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau , wife of Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , tested positive for the virus .
The prime minister has shown no symptoms but both are in isolation .
CNBC 's Jesse Pound and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to journalists while hosting Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office at the White House March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus, according to the White House physician.
Trump opted to take the test after the press secretary for Brazil's president tested positive for the virus. Trump dined with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his press secretary at Mar-a-Lago. Bolsonaro said Friday that he tested negative for the virus.
Trump had said earlier Saturday that he had taken a test for the coronavirus and was awaiting results. He said he had decided he would do so after a press conference Friday, in which he was pressed on whether he would take a test. One reporter asked whether he was being "selfish" by not getting tested – even when other administration officials advised self-isolation after exposure to an infected person.
"I didn't say I wasn't going to be tested," Trump pushed back.
According to the note from the White House physician, "last night after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed."
"This evening," the White House physician said, "I received confirmation that the test is negative."
The White House physician added that he has been in "daily contact" with the Center for Disease Control and White House Coronavirus Task Force.
"We are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation," he said.
Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday that he has not yet been tested, but would consider doing so.
"I'm going to speak immediately after this press conference with White House physician's office," Pence said. "Mrs. Pence and I would be more than happy to be tested."
Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement that temperature checks are now being performed on individuals in close contact with the Trump and Pence. This includes members of the media who attended the news conference.
Several members of Congress, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, have gone into self-isolation after exposure to people with confirmed cases of the virus. Actor Tom Hanks and Utah Jazz basketball player Rudy Gobert have also tested positive.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for the virus. The prime minister has shown no symptoms but both are in isolation.
CNBC's Jesse Pound and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--Federal Reserve Cuts Rates to Zero

Federal Reserve Cuts Rates to Zero

The Federal Reserve on Sunday slashed interest rates by a full percentage point to near zero and said it would buy $ 700 billion in Treasury securities , an aggressive step to insulate the U.S. economy from the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries , including the United States , ” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement .
“ The Federal Reserve is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses.
” The benchmark federal fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0 to 0.25 percent , down from a range of 1 to 1.25 percent .
The cut essentially brings the nation ’ s interest rate to zero -- something that President Trump has repeatedly pressed for over the past year .
The historically low interest rates , which not been at this level since the 2008 financial crisis , are expected to remain until the economy recovers from the recent downturn .
`` The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employment and price stability goals , '' the Fed said in its Sunday evening statement .
TRUMP 'VERY HAPPY ' AS FED CUTS RATES TO NEAR ZERO The Fed also said that it will buy at least $ 500 billion in Treasury securities and $ 200 billion in mortgage-backed securities over the coming months , a program known as `` quantitative easing . ''
Earlier this month , Powell announced an emergency 50-basis-point cut to the benchmark federal funds rate , sending it to a range of just 1 percent to 1.25 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the financial crisis that the Fed has reduced its key rate outside of scheduled policy-setting meetings .
“ Desperate times call for desperate measures and the Fed is doing just that in an effort to keep credit markets functioning and prevent the type of starving of credit that nearly toppled the global economy into a depression in 2008 , '' Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride said in a statement .
Powell is slated to hold a news conference at 6:30 p.m .
ET .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The Federal Reserve on Sunday slashed interest rates by a full percentage point to near zero and said it would buy $700 billion in Treasury securities, an aggressive step to insulate the U.S. economy from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. “The Federal Reserve is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses.”
The benchmark federal fund rate is now at a range of 0 to 0.25 percent, down from a range of 1 to 1.25 percent. The cut essentially brings the nation’s interest rate to zero -- something that President Trump has repeatedly pressed for over the past year.
NEW YORK FED PUMPS LIQUIDITY INTO MARKETS
The historically low interest rates, which not been at this level since the 2008 financial crisis, are expected to remain until the economy recovers from the recent downturn.
"The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals," the Fed said in its Sunday evening statement.
TRUMP 'VERY HAPPY' AS FED CUTS RATES TO NEAR ZERO
The Fed also said that it will buy at least $500 billion in Treasury securities and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities over the coming months, a program known as "quantitative easing."
Earlier this month, Powell announced an emergency 50-basis-point cut to the benchmark federal funds rate, sending it to a range of just 1 percent to 1.25 percent. It marked the first time since the financial crisis that the Fed has reduced its key rate outside of scheduled policy-setting meetings.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures and the Fed is doing just that in an effort to keep credit markets functioning and prevent the type of starving of credit that nearly toppled the global economy into a depression in 2008," Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--Steve Forbes: CDC’s Sluggish Response to Coronavirus Must Be Investigated

When the COVID-19 crisis passes , a national , nonpartisan commission must be formed to thoroughly examine the lethal failure of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) to properly handle the coming of this deadly virus .
Not since 9/11 exposed the horrific shortcomings in the operations of our intelligence agencies has a critical government agency so miserably botched its mission .
The CDC is supposed to be vigilantly scouting the world to uncover potentially dangerous illnesses and—usually in cooperation with others—deal with them before they significantly harm the U.S. One would think that after its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebola the CDC would have been ready .
Last fall it was clear that an ominous virus was loose in China .
By December it was public knowledge .
The response by the CDC was negligently sluggish .
The immediate key was to get diagnostic tests in place so that if—or when—the virus reached our shores , we could quickly gauge its size and virulence .
But the CDC acted as if it was more interested in narrowly protecting its turf , dragging its feet instead of working with a sense of acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create and distribute effective tools as soon as possible .
The CDC acted on its own with the haste of a lazy tortoise .
Screening procedures were too onerous and bureaucratic .
Compounding this felony , the CDC ’ s initial testing kit was flawed .
Oops !
Only now is the private sector being fully mobilized .
Friday afternoon ’ s White House press conference with executives from all the major retailers , pharmacies and medical companies showed the American people and , indeed , the world that we finally had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Politically , it meant the Democrats were no longer a sure win this November .
No wonder the stock market roared upward .
CDC apologists will claim that it didn ’ t have a big enough budget .
A conscientious commission will demolish that excuse ; internal acts and procedures at the CDC were at fault .
Moreover , the agency could easily have won extra funds months ago by citing the ominous nature of this virus .
Defenders will also argue that the organization ’ s methods of operation never anticipated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an astonishingly lame rationale .
If the testing kits had been handled in proper fashion , the scope of the death and destruction of COVID-19 would have been significantly less .
Taiwan recognized the threat early on and took decisive action , thereby minimizing the damage .
Hard-hit South Korea , with a population almost one-seventh the size of that of the U.S. , is conducting over 20,000 tests a day , more than the U.S. has done in total to date .
The crisis there seems to have peaked .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtuseness and incompetence goes beyond the immediate misery and death .
It will have political , diplomatic and economic consequences as well .

Items from a COVID-19 test kit at the Core Lab in Northwell Health's Center for Advanced Medicine in ... [+] Lake Success, New York, on March 4, 2020. On Monday, Northwell Health Labs announced it expects to begin testing for the coronavirus within a week. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg) © 2020 Bloomberg Finance LP
When the COVID-19 crisis passes, a national, nonpartisan commission must be formed to thoroughly examine the lethal failure of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to properly handle the coming of this deadly virus. Not since 9/11 exposed the horrific shortcomings in the operations of our intelligence agencies has a critical government agency so miserably botched its mission.
The CDC is supposed to be vigilantly scouting the world to uncover potentially dangerous illnesses and—usually in cooperation with others—deal with them before they significantly harm the U.S. One would think that after its experiences with SARS, swine flu and Ebola the CDC would have been ready.
Last fall it was clear that an ominous virus was loose in China. By December it was public knowledge. The response by the CDC was negligently sluggish. The immediate key was to get diagnostic tests in place so that if—or when—the virus reached our shores, we could quickly gauge its size and virulence. But the CDC acted as if it was more interested in narrowly protecting its turf, dragging its feet instead of working with a sense of acute emergency with private labs and healthcare companies to create and distribute effective tools as soon as possible. The CDC acted on its own with the haste of a lazy tortoise. Screening procedures were too onerous and bureaucratic. Compounding this felony, the CDC’s initial testing kit was flawed. Oops!
Only now is the private sector being fully mobilized. Friday afternoon’s White House press conference with executives from all the major retailers, pharmacies and medical companies showed the American people and, indeed, the world that we finally had our act together for the coming storm. Politically, it meant the Democrats were no longer a sure win this November. No wonder the stock market roared upward.
CDC apologists will claim that it didn’t have a big enough budget. A conscientious commission will demolish that excuse; internal acts and procedures at the CDC were at fault. Moreover, the agency could easily have won extra funds months ago by citing the ominous nature of this virus.
Defenders will also argue that the organization’s methods of operation never anticipated a disease of this magnitude. This is an astonishingly lame rationale. If the testing kits had been handled in proper fashion, the scope of the death and destruction of COVID-19 would have been significantly less.
Taiwan recognized the threat early on and took decisive action, thereby minimizing the damage.
Hard-hit South Korea, with a population almost one-seventh the size of that of the U.S., is conducting over 20,000 tests a day, more than the U.S. has done in total to date. The crisis there seems to have peaked.
The harm done by the CDC’s obtuseness and incompetence goes beyond the immediate misery and death. It will have political, diplomatic and economic consequences as well.


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--China’s First Coronavirus Case Traced Back to November 17

The first known case of Covid-19 in China dates back to November , but the hunt for “ patient zero @ @ @ @ @ : EPA-EFE

The first known case of Covid-19 in China dates back to November, but the hunt for “patient zero” goes on. Photo: EPA-EFE


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--Coronavirus Slows the IPO Market for New Listings Like Airbnb

The initial public offering calendar is looking sparse this year , with many road-show ready companies , like Warner Music , Madewell , Cole Haan and Atotech , pumping the brakes .
The highly anticipated IPO for short-term home rental company Airbnb , which said it intended to go public in 2020 , could be shelved as the coronavirus dents the travel industry and the economy slips into a recession .
Logistics issues aside for investment bankers unable to travel , market volatility like this scares off companies who want to raise capital .
Investors likely wo n't get their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time thanks to the financial turmoil caused by the spreading coronavirus .
`` Volatility from the coronavirus outbreak has now essentially shut down the spring IPO market , '' stated a report from Renaissance Capital , a provider of institutional research and IPO ETFs .
Less than two months ago , the presidents of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq said 2020 was poised to be a strong year for the IPO market , with a lot of interest from companies looking to tap the public markets in the first half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for investors too , after 2019 panned out to be a good year for IPOs , despite outliers that made headlines like WeWork .
The Renaissance IPO ETF , which tracks newly public companies , returned nearly 35 % in 2019 , beating the broader market .
Lyft , Peloton , Beyond Meat , SmileDirectClub and Zoom all went public on the Nasdaq in 2019 .
Uber , Pinterest , Virgin Galactic , Chewy and Levi Strauss went public on the NYSE last year .
NYSE President Stacey Cunningham cited the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demand ; however , the economy has taken a staggering turn in recent weeks as a spike in coronavirus cases in the U.S. and an oil price war has spurred investor fears about a halt to economic growth .
The three major averages are in a bear market , meaning they are down more than 20 % from their recent highs .
Volatility has spiked with 1,000 point swings in the Dow becoming commonplace .
The Renaissance IPO ETF is down about 20 % this year .
`` Once the market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kind of volatility , IPOs have a hard time getting done , '' said Kathleen Smith , principal at Renaissance Capital .
Since 2010 , it 's taken an average of one month to see three or more IPOs in a week , following a period when the the Cboe Volatility Index , a `` fear gauge '' also called the VIX , spikes over 30 .
The VIX , topped 70 on Thursday .
Smith explained that after a company is valued next to its peers already in the public market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the price .
`` The you 're going to have to take a very big discount because instead of volatility being 13 % to 15 % , its now 30 % to 60 % , '' Smith added .
`` It becomes a very bad price in order to attract investors , so IPOs do n't get done . ''
Alongside volatility , an economic downturn could hurt IPO valuations .
When businesses of peers are struggling because of weakness in the economy , IPOs are also punished , said Smith .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ take risk while uncertainty reigns .
Smith said a similar dry spell for IPOs occurred in the end of 2018 , when the U.S.-China trade war spooked investors and punished equities .
`` Investors have been cautious about it being at the end of a long trend , so they 're more worried about unprofitable companies than ever before because we know that unprofitable companies do n't survive periods like this very well , '' said Smith .

The initial public offering calendar is looking sparse this year, with many road-show ready companies, like Warner Music, Madewell, Cole Haan and Atotech, pumping the brakes. The highly anticipated IPO for short-term home rental company Airbnb, which said it intended to go public in 2020, could be shelved as the coronavirus dents the travel industry and the economy slips into a recession.
Logistics issues aside for investment bankers unable to travel, market volatility like this scares off companies who want to raise capital.
Investors likely won't get their fix for newly public companies for a long time thanks to the financial turmoil caused by the spreading coronavirus.
"Volatility from the coronavirus outbreak has now essentially shut down the spring IPO market," stated a report from Renaissance Capital, a provider of institutional research and IPO ETFs.
Less than two months ago, the presidents of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq said 2020 was poised to be a strong year for the IPO market, with a lot of interest from companies looking to tap the public markets in the first half of this year. The interest was there for investors too, after 2019 panned out to be a good year for IPOs, despite outliers that made headlines like WeWork .
The Renaissance IPO ETF , which tracks newly public companies, returned nearly 35% in 2019, beating the broader market. Lyft , Peloton , Beyond Meat, SmileDirectClub and Zoom all went public on the Nasdaq in 2019. Uber, Pinterest , Virgin Galactic , Chewy and Levi Strauss went public on the NYSE last year.
NYSE President Stacey Cunningham cited the "resiliency of the economy," for the demand; however, the economy has taken a staggering turn in recent weeks as a spike in coronavirus cases in the U.S. and an oil price war has spurred investor fears about a halt to economic growth. The three major averages are in a bear market, meaning they are down more than 20% from their recent highs. Volatility has spiked with 1,000 point swings in the Dow becoming commonplace.
The Renaissance IPO ETF is down about 20% this year.
"Once the market, the overall stock market, goes through that kind of volatility, IPOs have a hard time getting done," said Kathleen Smith, principal at Renaissance Capital.
Since 2010, it's taken an average of one month to see three or more IPOs in a week, following a period when the the Cboe Volatility Index , a "fear gauge" also called the VIX, spikes over 30. The VIX, topped 70 on Thursday.
Smith explained that after a company is valued next to its peers already in the public market, a discount for volatility is slapped on the price.
"The you're going to have to take a very big discount because instead of volatility being 13% to 15%, its now 30% to 60%," Smith added. "It becomes a very bad price in order to attract investors, so IPOs don't get done."
Alongside volatility, an economic downturn could hurt IPO valuations. When businesses of peers are struggling because of weakness in the economy, IPOs are also punished, said Smith. Plus, investors are less willing to take risk while uncertainty reigns. Smith said a similar dry spell for IPOs occurred in the end of 2018, when the U.S.-China trade war spooked investors and punished equities.
"Investors have been cautious about it being at the end of a long trend, so they're more worried about unprofitable companies than ever before because we know that unprofitable companies don't survive periods like this very well," said Smith.


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--White House Proposes Third Relief Bill for Airline and Cruise Industries Affected by Pandemic

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes a question during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Saturday , March 14 , 2020 .
Trump administration officials on Saturday made the clearest indication yet they expect to bring forward a third coronavirus bill aimed in part at helping industries struck by the pandemic .
President Donald Trump signed an $ 8.3 billion relief bill earlier this month , helping states fund their efforts to battle and contain the virus .
The House passed a bill last night aimed largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhanced unemployment benefits , local food bank funding and paid leave .
`` We got the initial support on $ 8.3 billion of Congress , [ and ] the House passed legislation to act on the president 's priorities , '' said Vice President Mike Pence at a press conference Saturday .
`` We understand the president has made clear that , whether its our airline industry or cruise line industry , we expect to be coming back to Congress . ''
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made assurances there was `` bipartisan support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is not yet clear what sorts of demands Democrats would require along with any package that supports the airline or cruise industries .
Both Mnuchin and Pence made reference to the ailing travel industry , which has been pummeled around the world with canceled trips , conferences , and cruises , as authorities have increasingly urged individuals , particularly those who are vulnerable , to avoid travel .
In some cases , the administration has added outright bans .
Trump earlier this week announced that foreigners who have been in 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be allowed in the U.S. for 30 days .
Pence said Saturday that , effective midnight Monday , those restrictions will expand to the U.K. and Ireland .
It has been widely expected the government will step in to support the largest airlines if need be , because of the critical role they play in the U.S. economy .
Mnuchin expressed that view Saturday .
`` Airlines are the most obvious because we have a unique circumstance where we 've shut down travel , and these are of strategic importance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many industries that are impacted by this – and I would also say that there many individuals , '' Mnuchin said .
In an interview Sunday with Fox News , Mnuchin was more explicit : `` We 're going back to the Senate this week on other things , '' Mnuchin said '' Airlines − very focused on airlines − hotels , cruise ships , workers for these industries , '' he added .
The CEOs of both United Airlines and Delta have confirmed they 've been in talks with the administration about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in discussions with the White House and Congress regarding the support they can provide to help us through this period , '' Delta 's CEO Ed Bastian wrote to employees on Friday , announcing the largest capacity cuts in the airline 's history and warning the carrier will defer aircraft and park up to 300 planes .
`` I 'm optimistic we will receive their support .
That said , the form and value is unpredictable , and we ca n't put our company 's future at risk waiting on aid from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued their case .
`` Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.8 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel , '' wrote US Travel Association CEO Roger Dow when Trump announced the first round of European travel restrictions .
`` We have and will continue to engage Congress and the administration on policy steps that are necessary to ensure that travel employers—83 % of which are small businesses—can keep the lights on for their employees . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a number of relief measures , including tax credits for employee retention and the ability to carry back net operating losses , CNBC has reported .
The Cruise Lines International Association has highlighted its role in the U.S. economy when announcing the decision to temporarily suspend cruise ship operations .
`` The cruise industry is a vital artery for the U.S. economy , supporting over 421,000 American jobs , with every 30 cruisers supporting one U.S. job , and annually contributes nearly $ 53 billion to the U.S. economy , '' it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity supports travel agencies , airlines , hotels and a broad supply chain of industries that stretches across the United States . ''
Pence met with cruise executives in Florida last week .

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes a question during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
Trump administration officials on Saturday made the clearest indication yet they expect to bring forward a third coronavirus bill aimed in part at helping industries struck by the pandemic.
President Donald Trump signed an $8.3 billion relief bill earlier this month, helping states fund their efforts to battle and contain the virus. The House passed a bill last night aimed largely at protecting individuals, offering measures like enhanced unemployment benefits, local food bank funding and paid leave.
"We got the initial support on $8.3 billion of Congress, [and] the House passed legislation to act on the president's priorities," said Vice President Mike Pence at a press conference Saturday.
"We understand the president has made clear that, whether its our airline industry or cruise line industry, we expect to be coming back to Congress."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made assurances there was "bipartisan support" for some economic relief. Still, it is not yet clear what sorts of demands Democrats would require along with any package that supports the airline or cruise industries.
Both Mnuchin and Pence made reference to the ailing travel industry, which has been pummeled around the world with canceled trips, conferences, and cruises, as authorities have increasingly urged individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable, to avoid travel.
In some cases, the administration has added outright bans. Trump earlier this week announced that foreigners who have been in 26 European countries over the last two weeks won't be allowed in the U.S. for 30 days. Pence said Saturday that, effective midnight Monday, those restrictions will expand to the U.K. and Ireland.
It has been widely expected the government will step in to support the largest airlines if need be, because of the critical role they play in the U.S. economy. Mnuchin expressed that view Saturday.
"Airlines are the most obvious because we have a unique circumstance where we've shut down travel, and these are of strategic importance to us, but I appreciate there's many industries that are impacted by this – and I would also say that there many individuals," Mnuchin said.
In an interview Sunday with Fox News, Mnuchin was more explicit: "We're going back to the Senate this week on other things," Mnuchin said
"Airlines − very focused on airlines − hotels, cruise ships, workers for these industries," he added.
The CEOs of both United Airlines and Delta have confirmed they've been in talks with the administration about potential government aid.
"We are in discussions with the White House and Congress regarding the support they can provide to help us through this period," Delta's CEO Ed Bastian wrote to employees on Friday, announcing the largest capacity cuts in the airline's history and warning the carrier will defer aircraft and park up to 300 planes.
"I'm optimistic we will receive their support. That said, the form and value is unpredictable, and we can't put our company's future at risk waiting on aid from our government."
Other industries have also argued their case.
"Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.8 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel," wrote US Travel Association CEO Roger Dow when Trump announced the first round of European travel restrictions.
"We have and will continue to engage Congress and the administration on policy steps that are necessary to ensure that travel employers—83% of which are small businesses—can keep the lights on for their employees."
The travel and leisure industry is pushing for a number of relief measures, including tax credits for employee retention and the ability to carry back net operating losses, CNBC has reported.
The Cruise Lines International Association has highlighted its role in the U.S. economy when announcing the decision to temporarily suspend cruise ship operations.
"The cruise industry is a vital artery for the U.S. economy, supporting over 421,000 American jobs, with every 30 cruisers supporting one U.S. job, and annually contributes nearly $53 billion to the U.S. economy," it said in a statement.
"Cruise activity supports travel agencies, airlines, hotels and a broad supply chain of industries that stretches across the United States."
Pence met with cruise executives in Florida last week.
-- CNBC's Leslie Josephs contributed to this report


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--Some Grocers Begin Limiting Food Purchases to Stop Hoarding

A woman in a protective mask shops as a line of shoppers stretch to the back of the store waiting to check-out at the Market Basket in Chelsea , MA on March 13 , 2020 .
As U.S. grocery stores try to keep shelves stocked during the coronavirus outbreak , some major chains have begun to limit purchases of food items and ramp up hiring .
Texas grocery chain H-E-B and Wegmans are limiting purchases of more than a dozen popular food items , including bread , canned soup , frozen vegetables and boxed pasta .
Limits vary by item @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , eggs and milk are limited to two units per customer .
Over the weekend , the companies ' lists of items with purchasing limits has continued to grow .
Kroger said it 's ramping up hiring across the country to keep up with the spike in demand .
Food purchase limits and increased hiring are grocers ' latest response to a surge in grocery shopping in the U.S. As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen and health officials urge social distancing , Americans have rushed to stores to stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , toilet paper and other items .
The panic buying has challenged grocery stores ' supply chains , as shelves are cleared more quickly than usual and workers must race to keep up .
`` Grocery stores become the center of the community , '' said Doug Baker , vice president of industry relations at food retail trade group FMI .
`` It 's the lifeline during a time of disaster .
They are on the front lines . ''
Baker said the industry group — which represents grocery stores , wholesalers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit purchases of food items to make sure all customers can get what they need .
He said he expects more limits on food purchases in the weeks ahead .
He said such limits help prevent hoarding , which can lead to price-gouging by third-party vendors or shortages that can hurt people who are sick or vulnerable .
He said they also can create `` some calmness and a game plan '' as grocers cope with heavily trafficked stores .
`` In order for us to get through this , it ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` We 're really going to have to come together as a society . ''
On Thursday , H-E-B began limiting some food items at stores .
It added more items Friday and is continuing to update the list as inventories change , said Mabrie Jackson , director of public affairs for H-E-B and Central Market .
On its website , the grocer said that it is `` in a good in-stock position on many of the items our customers need , '' but said limits `` help protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an item is low or unavailable , it encouraged customers to return later as the grocer continues to restock .
Other grocery stores are expanding their workforce and supporting employees during an especially busy time .
Kroger is advertising immediate openings for employees on its website and in customer emails .
The national grocery company , which owns chains including Fred Meyer , is filling jobs at stores , distribution centers and manufacturing plants , Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said .
Walmart , the country 's largest grocer , has given its managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has announced reduced hours for its stores that are open around the clock .
This will allow staff to restock shelves and clean stores more efficiently .
Walmart thanked associates in a video message recorded Friday .
In the video , Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner said the company 's stores , website , distribution centers and fulfillment centers have all been busier than usual .
He said the retailer has `` a lot of categories that have seen extraordinary growth levels the last few weeks , '' including over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big crowds in stores , '' he said in the video .
`` It 's been managed well , and I think every associate should be proud of what you 're doing and know that what you 're doing right now matters to people . ''
Walmart was among the retailers who met with President Donald Trump on Friday at the White House .
Walmart , Target , CVS and Walgreens said they will offer drive-up testing for the coronavirus in their parking lots .
The retailers said they 're working with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At a press conference in the Rose Garden Friday , Walmart CEO Doug McMillon acknowledged the challenge of replenishing some items , including cleaning products and paper goods .
`` Hand sanitizer is going to be very difficult to have 100 % in stock on for some time , '' he said .
Wegmans thanked customers for their support in a message on its website and asked for patience as they do weekend shopping .
`` We recognize you may not find everything you expect at the moment and we appreciate your understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we can all please consider prioritizing our most immediate needs , it will allow us to best serve the needs of our entire community . ''

A woman in a protective mask shops as a line of shoppers stretch to the back of the store waiting to check-out at the Market Basket in Chelsea, MA on March 13, 2020.
As U.S. grocery stores try to keep shelves stocked during the coronavirus outbreak, some major chains have begun to limit purchases of food items and ramp up hiring.
Texas grocery chain H-E-B and Wegmans are limiting purchases of more than a dozen popular food items, including bread, canned soup, frozen vegetables and boxed pasta. Limits vary by item. At H-E-B and Wegmans, for example, eggs and milk are limited to two units per customer.
Over the weekend, the companies' lists of items with purchasing limits has continued to grow.
Kroger said it's ramping up hiring across the country to keep up with the spike in demand.
Food purchase limits and increased hiring are grocers' latest response to a surge in grocery shopping in the U.S. As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen and health officials urge social distancing, Americans have rushed to stores to stock up on canned goods, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other items. The panic buying has challenged grocery stores' supply chains, as shelves are cleared more quickly than usual and workers must race to keep up.
"Grocery stores become the center of the community," said Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations at food retail trade group FMI. "It's the lifeline during a time of disaster. They are on the front lines."
Baker said the industry group — which represents grocery stores, wholesalers and product manufacturers — is encouraging its members to limit purchases of food items to make sure all customers can get what they need. He said he expects more limits on food purchases in the weeks ahead.
He said such limits help prevent hoarding, which can lead to price-gouging by third-party vendors or shortages that can hurt people who are sick or vulnerable. He said they also can create "some calmness and a game plan" as grocers cope with heavily trafficked stores.
"In order for us to get through this, it can't be me against you," he said. "We're really going to have to come together as a society."
On Thursday, H-E-B began limiting some food items at stores. It added more items Friday and is continuing to update the list as inventories change, said Mabrie Jackson, director of public affairs for H-E-B and Central Market.
On its website, the grocer said that it is "in a good in-stock position on many of the items our customers need," but said limits "help protect the supply chain in Texas." If an item is low or unavailable, it encouraged customers to return later as the grocer continues to restock.
Other grocery stores are expanding their workforce and supporting employees during an especially busy time.
Kroger is advertising immediate openings for employees on its website and in customer emails. The national grocery company, which owns chains including Fred Meyer, is filling jobs at stores, distribution centers and manufacturing plants, Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said.
Walmart , the country's largest grocer, has given its managers the option of limiting purchases, and has announced reduced hours for its stores that are open around the clock. This will allow staff to restock shelves and clean stores more efficiently.
Walmart thanked associates in a video message recorded Friday. In the video, Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner said the company's stores, website, distribution centers and fulfillment centers have all been busier than usual. He said the retailer has "a lot of categories that have seen extraordinary growth levels the last few weeks," including over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and food.
"I've seen photos of big crowds in stores," he said in the video. "It's been managed well, and I think every associate should be proud of what you're doing and know that what you're doing right now matters to people."
Walmart was among the retailers who met with President Donald Trump on Friday at the White House. Walmart, Target , CVS and Walgreens said they will offer drive-up testing for the coronavirus in their parking lots. The retailers said they're working with the Trump administration on timing and locations.
At a press conference in the Rose Garden Friday, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon acknowledged the challenge of replenishing some items, including cleaning products and paper goods. "Hand sanitizer is going to be very difficult to have 100% in stock on for some time," he said.
Wegmans thanked customers for their support in a message on its website and asked for patience as they do weekend shopping.
"We recognize you may not find everything you expect at the moment and we appreciate your understanding," the company said. "If we can all please consider prioritizing our most immediate needs, it will allow us to best serve the needs of our entire community."


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--Those Who Recover From Coronavirus Suffer Reduced Lung Function

People who recover after being infected with the novel coronavirus can still be left with substantially weakened lung capacity , with some left gasping for air when walking quickly , doctors in Hong Kong have found .
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority made the findings after studying the first wave of patients who were discharged from the hospital and had fully recovered from COVID-19 .
Out of 12 people in the group , two to three saw changes in their lung capacity .
`` They gasp if they walk a bit more quickly , '' Owen Tsang Tak-yin , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Centre , told a press conference Thursday , according to the South China Morning Post .
`` Some patients might have around a drop of 20 to 30 % in lung function '' after full recovery , he said .
Tsang added , however , that patients can do cardiovascular exercises , like swimming , the improve their lung capacity over time .
While it 's too early to establish long-term effects of the disease , scans of nine patients ' lungs also `` found patterns similar to frosted glass in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage , '' Tsang said , according to the Post .
Current coronavirus patients ' CT scans show `` ground glass , '' a phenomenon in which fluid builds up in lungs and presents itself as white patches , as Business Insider 's Aria Bendix has reported .
The scans below , taken from one coronavirus patient at different points in time , show that the person 's `` ground glass '' became more pronounced as their illness progressed .
As of Friday morning , 69,607 people had recovered from COVID-19 out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Johns Hopkins University .
More than 4,700 people have died of the disease .
The disease appears to affect the elderly or infirm worse than any other demographic , as the outbreak in Italy has shown .
`` Among those who are infected , most will recover , '' the World Health Organisation 's director-general , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , said Monday .
The most commonly reported symptoms include a fever , dry cough , and shortness of breath , and some 80 % patients will experience a mild illness , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally published by Business Insider .

People who recover after being infected with the novel coronavirus can still be left with substantially weakened lung capacity, with some left gasping for air when walking quickly, doctors in Hong Kong have found.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority made the findings after studying the first wave of patients who were discharged from the hospital and had fully recovered from COVID-19.
Out of 12 people in the group, two to three saw changes in their lung capacity.
"They gasp if they walk a bit more quickly," Owen Tsang Tak-yin, the medical director of the authority's Infectious Disease Centre, told a press conference Thursday, according to the South China Morning Post.
"Some patients might have around a drop of 20 to 30% in lung function" after full recovery, he said.
Tsang added, however, that patients can do cardiovascular exercises, like swimming, the improve their lung capacity over time.
While it's too early to establish long-term effects of the disease, scans of nine patients' lungs also "found patterns similar to frosted glass in all of them, suggesting there was organ damage," Tsang said, according to the Post.
Current coronavirus patients' CT scans show "ground glass," a phenomenon in which fluid builds up in lungs and presents itself as white patches, as Business Insider's Aria Bendix has reported. The scans below, taken from one coronavirus patient at different points in time, show that the person's "ground glass" became more pronounced as their illness progressed.
(Lei et al., Radiology, 2020)
As of Friday morning, 69,607 people had recovered from COVID-19 out of 128,392 confirmed cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 4,700 people have died of the disease.
The disease appears to affect the elderly or infirm worse than any other demographic, as the outbreak in Italy has shown.
"Among those who are infected, most will recover," the World Health Organisation's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Monday.
The most commonly reported symptoms include a fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, and some 80% patients will experience a mild illness, according to the WHO.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
More from Business Insider:


bonginoreport--2020-03-15--How Bad Government Regulations Worsened the Coronavirus Pandemic

The United States is home to the most innovative biotech companies and university research laboratories in the world .
That fact should have given our country a huge advantage with respect to detecting and monitoring emerging cases of COVID-19 caused by the new coronavirus outbreak .
Instead , as The New York Times reports in a terrific new article , officials at the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) stymied private and academic development of diagnostic tests that might have provided an early warning and a head start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading across the country .
As the Times reports , Seattle infectious disease expert Dr. Helen Chu had , by January , collected a huge number of nasal swabs from local residents who were experiencing symptoms as part of a research project on flu .
She proposed , to federal and state officials , testing those samples for coronavirus infections .
As the Times reports , the CDC told Chu and her team that they could not test the samples unless their laboratory test was approved by the FDA .
The FDA refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounds that her lab , according to the Times , `` was not certified as a clinical laboratory under regulations established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , a process that could take months . ''
In the meantime , the CDC required that public health officials could only use the diagnostic test designed by the agency .
That test released on February 5 turned out to be badly flawed .
The CDC 's insistence on a top-down centralized testing regime greatly slowed down the process of disease detection as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chu and her colleagues began testing on February 25 without government approval .
They almost immediately detected a coronavirus infection in a local teenager with no recent travel history .
Chu warned local public health officials of her lab 's finding and the teenager 's school was closed as a precaution .
The teen 's diagnosis strongly suggested that the disease had been circulating throughout the western part of Washington for weeks .
We now know that that is likely true .
Did the FDA and CDC functionaries commend Chu for being proactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologist Scott Lindquist recalled , `` What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to Helen Chu .
Stop testing . ''
On February 29 , the FDA finally agreed to unleash America 's vibrant biotech companies and academic labs by allowing them to develop and deploy new tests for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
Due to red tape , the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. will be worse than it should have been .

The United States is home to the most innovative biotech companies and university research laboratories in the world. That fact should have given our country a huge advantage with respect to detecting and monitoring emerging cases of COVID-19 caused by the new coronavirus outbreak.
Instead, as The New York Times reports in a terrific new article, officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stymied private and academic development of diagnostic tests that might have provided an early warning and a head start on controlling the epidemic that is now spreading across the country.
As the Times reports, Seattle infectious disease expert Dr. Helen Chu had, by January, collected a huge number of nasal swabs from local residents who were experiencing symptoms as part of a research project on flu. She proposed, to federal and state officials, testing those samples for coronavirus infections. As the Times reports, the CDC told Chu and her team that they could not test the samples unless their laboratory test was approved by the FDA. The FDA refused to approve Chu's test on the grounds that her lab, according to the Times, "was not certified as a clinical laboratory under regulations established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a process that could take months."
In the meantime, the CDC required that public health officials could only use the diagnostic test designed by the agency. That test released on February 5 turned out to be badly flawed. The CDC's insistence on a top-down centralized testing regime greatly slowed down the process of disease detection as the infection rate was accelerating.
A frustrated Chu and her colleagues began testing on February 25 without government approval. They almost immediately detected a coronavirus infection in a local teenager with no recent travel history. Chu warned local public health officials of her lab's finding and the teenager's school was closed as a precaution. The teen's diagnosis strongly suggested that the disease had been circulating throughout the western part of Washington for weeks. We now know that that is likely true.
Did the FDA and CDC functionaries commend Chu for being proactive? Not at all. Washington state epidemiologist Scott Lindquist recalled, "What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to Helen Chu. Stop testing." On February 29, the FDA finally agreed to unleash America's vibrant biotech companies and academic labs by allowing them to develop and deploy new tests for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The Times notes:
The Seattle Flu Study illustrates how existing regulations and red tape—sometimes designed to protect privacy and health—have impeded the rapid rollout of testing nationally, while other countries ramped up much earlier and faster. Faced with a public health emergency on a scale potentially not seen in a century, the United States has not responded nimbly.
Due to red tape, the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. will be worse than it should have been.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Dem Debate: Sanders Knocks Biden for Flip Flopping on Gay Marriage and Abortion

2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders attacked former Joe Biden for the vice president ’ s previous stances including gay marriage and abortion .
The Vermont senator brought up Biden ’ s former political stances during Sunday night ’ s Democratic Debates in Washington , D.C. ( RELATED : Biden Starts Coronavirus-Centered Debate With A Cough ) “ Gay marriage today is considered a little differently than it was 25 years ago , ” Sanders said .
“ I remember that bill , ” he continued , referring to the Defense of Marriage Act .
“ It was a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You voted for it.
” Sanders also pointed out that “ I voted against the bankruptcy bill , you voted for it .
I voted against the war in Iraq , which was also a tough vote .
You voted for it .
I voted against the disastrous trade agreements like NAFTA , which cost this country over 4 million good-paying jobs .
You voted for it.
” “ I voted against the Hyde Amendment , which denies low income women the right to get an abortion .
You have consistently voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what your position is today , but all that I ’ m saying is we can argue about the merits of the bill .
It takes courage sometimes to vote and do the right thing , ” Sanders added .
Biden responded by saying that Sanders voted against the Brady Bill five times and against background checks five times .
“ This man is the only one of the few Democrats I know who voted to exempt the gun industry from being able to be sued , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest.
” “ We should be able to sue drug companies , ” Biden continued .
“ We should be able to sue tobacco .
We can ’ t sue gun manufacturers because he voted for that years ago.
” “ He said it was a mistake , ” he said .
“ The question is what do we do from this point on ?
” “ And by the way , I might add , I ’ m the first person to go on national television in a presidential administration and say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I supported gay marriage when asked .
And so it started a ripple effect .
I ’ m not taking all credit , but I ’ m the first major player to say I support gay marriage on national television.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders attacked former Joe Biden for the vice president’s previous stances including gay marriage and abortion.
The Vermont senator brought up Biden’s former political stances during Sunday night’s Democratic Debates in Washington, D.C. (RELATED: Biden Starts Coronavirus-Centered Debate With A Cough)
“Gay marriage today is considered a little differently than it was 25 years ago,” Sanders said.
“I remember that bill,” he continued, referring to the Defense of Marriage Act. “It was a very hard vote. I voted against it. You voted for it.”
Sanders also pointed out that “I voted against the bankruptcy bill, you voted for it. I voted against the war in Iraq, which was also a tough vote. You voted for it. I voted against the disastrous trade agreements like NAFTA, which cost this country over 4 million good-paying jobs. You voted for it.”
“I voted against the Hyde Amendment, which denies low income women the right to get an abortion. You have consistently voted for it.”
“I don’t know what your position is today, but all that I’m saying is we can argue about the merits of the bill. It takes courage sometimes to vote and do the right thing,” Sanders added.
Biden responded by saying that Sanders voted against the Brady Bill five times and against background checks five times.
“This man is the only one of the few Democrats I know who voted to exempt the gun industry from being able to be sued,” he said. “Talk about a special, special interest.”
“We should be able to sue drug companies,” Biden continued. “We should be able to sue tobacco. We can’t sue gun manufacturers because he voted for that years ago.”
“He said it was a mistake,” he said. “The question is what do we do from this point on?”
“And by the way, I might add, I’m the first person to go on national television in a presidential administration and say I supported gay marriage,” Biden said. “I supported gay marriage when asked. And so it started a ripple effect. I’m not taking all credit, but I’m the first major player to say I support gay marriage on national television.”
WATCH:
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bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Dem Debate: Biden Pledges to Pick Female Running Mate

Democratic presidential hopeful former US vice president Joe Biden participates in the 11th Democratic Party 2020 presidential debate in a CNN Washington Bureau studio in Washington , DC on March 15 , 2020 .
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday committed to picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate .
`` I commit that I will in fact pick a woman to be vice president , '' Biden said during the Democratic debate .
When moderators asked whether he was guaranteeing that he will choose a woman to be his vice president , Biden said `` yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm on picking a female running mate .
When he was asked whether he would name a woman to join him on the ticket , Sanders said : `` In all likelihood , I will . ''
Though allies of Biden have told CNBC that Biden is n't focused yet on who he will pick to be his running mate , political analysts have named potential choices such as Sen. Kamala Harris , Sen. Amy Klobuchar , Sen. Elizabeth Warren , former Georgia state house lawmaker Stacey Abrams and Michigan Gov .
Gretchen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were previously rivals of Biden and Sanders ' in the primary race .
They both endorsed Biden after picking up key primary victories and overtaking Sanders in the delegate count .
Warren has yet to make an endorsement .
Even before Harris ' endorsement , Biden was aligning with many of her former donors and strategists .
Weeks after the California lawmaker dropped out of the Democratic primary , Wall Street executives that were once helping her with fundraising , moved into Biden 's camp .
Andrew Yang , a progressive entrepreneur , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he exited the primary and has endorsed him as well .
When he was a candidate in the Democratic primary , people close to the former vice president spoke to Yang about potentially being part of a potential Biden administration .

Democratic presidential hopeful former US vice president Joe Biden participates in the 11th Democratic Party 2020 presidential debate in a CNN Washington Bureau studio in Washington, DC on March 15, 2020.
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday committed to picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate.
"I commit that I will in fact pick a woman to be vice president," Biden said during the Democratic debate.
When moderators asked whether he was guaranteeing that he will choose a woman to be his vice president, Biden said "yes."
Sen. Bernie Sanders was less firm on picking a female running mate. When he was asked whether he would name a woman to join him on the ticket, Sanders said: "In all likelihood, I will."
Tweet:
Though allies of Biden have told CNBC that Biden isn't focused yet on who he will pick to be his running mate, political analysts have named potential choices such as Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Georgia state house lawmaker Stacey Abrams and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Warren, Harris and Klobuchar were previously rivals of Biden and Sanders' in the primary race. They both endorsed Biden after picking up key primary victories and overtaking Sanders in the delegate count. Warren has yet to make an endorsement.
Even before Harris' endorsement, Biden was aligning with many of her former donors and strategists. Weeks after the California lawmaker dropped out of the Democratic primary, Wall Street executives that were once helping her with fundraising, moved into Biden's camp.
Andrew Yang, a progressive entrepreneur, has been in touch with Biden since he exited the primary and has endorsed him as well. When he was a candidate in the Democratic primary, people close to the former vice president spoke to Yang about potentially being part of a potential Biden administration.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Dem Debate: Biden and Sanders Spar Over if Medicare for All Would Stop Coronavirus

Joe Biden has a big advantage over Bernie Sanders : Sanders is an ideologue on the left end of the political spectrum , while Biden is much closer to the center .
That doesn ’ t mean Biden ’ s is a moderate , just that he ’ s more moderate than Sanders .
As Biden put it , “ People want results , not a revolution.
” While the Vermont senator is lobbying for “ Medicare for all ” as an answer to the coronavirus crisis , Biden is pushing a far more modest plan : a bill tailored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues that if we had socialized health insurance right now , nobody would have to pay for testing or treatment for the coronavirus .
That ’ s true , and if the only alternative were a total laissez-faire healthcare system , most of the population might side with Sanders .
But Biden , and no conservative or libertarian , has a real good response : He ’ d pass a bill to make sure that all the coronavirus testing and treatment is covered .
That disarms Sanders ’ s argument that we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed Sanders to explain why we need the government to cover broken bones , and so on .
Sanders wants to expand the argument from people with the coronavirus should n't have to pay for treatment , to people with illness or injury should n't have to pay for treatment .
But here ’ s the thing : It ’ s very sensible to have targeted government-guaranteed coverage for the coronavirus and not for broken bones .
For one , the coronavirus looks like a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic .
Second , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large externalities , and that 's the problem here .
In other words , there ’ s a strong case for government action in this specific case — it ’ s a lot simpler than a revolution .
Yet , Sanders is promising a revolution , while Biden promises results .

Joe Biden has a big advantage over Bernie Sanders: Sanders is an ideologue on the left end of the political spectrum, while Biden is much closer to the center. That doesn’t mean Biden’s is a moderate, just that he’s more moderate than Sanders.
As Biden put it, “People want results, not a revolution.”
While the Vermont senator is lobbying for “Medicare for all” as an answer to the coronavirus crisis, Biden is pushing a far more modest plan: a bill tailored to address the coronavirus crisis.
Sanders argues that if we had socialized health insurance right now, nobody would have to pay for testing or treatment for the coronavirus. That’s true, and if the only alternative were a total laissez-faire healthcare system, most of the population might side with Sanders.
But Biden, and no conservative or libertarian, has a real good response: He’d pass a bill to make sure that all the coronavirus testing and treatment is covered. That disarms Sanders’s argument that we need fully socialized health insurance.
Biden thus pushed Sanders to explain why we need the government to cover broken bones, and so on. Sanders wants to expand the argument from people with the coronavirus shouldn't have to pay for treatment, to people with illness or injury shouldn't have to pay for treatment.
But here’s the thing: It’s very sensible to have targeted government-guaranteed coverage for the coronavirus and not for broken bones.
For one, the coronavirus looks like a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Second, it’s incredibly contagious, and thus there are large externalities, and that's the problem here. In other words, there’s a strong case for government action in this specific case — it’s a lot simpler than a revolution.
Yet, Sanders is promising a revolution, while Biden promises results.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Hollywood Keeps Getting Worse for Conservatives

Andrew Klavan checks every box in a conservative ’ s pop culture wish list .
Create powerful , original art ?
Check .
He ’ s an award-winning author and screenwriter , not to mention the mind behind the binge-worthy “ Another Kingdom ” podcast ( also available in novel form , like the saga ’ s second book , “ The Nightmare Feast ” ) Fight back against progressive messaging ?
Check .
His Daily Wire podcast does just that , Tickety Boo style .
Use humor to defang his ideological opponents ?
Check and double check .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts on the culture wars , the 2020 presidential campaign and what fellow conservatives need to gain ground in the arts .
HiT : Some writers proudly cling to their yellow lined notepads in our digital age .
Not you .
You ’ ve embraced storytelling via film , apps ( “ Haunting Melissa “ ) and now podcasts ( “ Another Kingdom “ ) .
Has switching platforms impacted your storytelling chops in any way , and how ?
Klavan : Alfred Hitchcock had a big influence on me , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some new development in a creative way : sound , color , slackening censorship .
He didn ’ t just use it , he worked with it .
I love writing prose and when I started out , novelists were the top of the creative food chain .
Who would be the next Hemingway and so on .
The novel reaches fewer people now , very few young people .
But at the same time , these new technologies have come along .
I ’ d be crazy not to use them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what my strengths are , which will make the transition , which not .
I preach this kind of creative flexibility to other artists , so yeah , I want to practice it myself .
HiT : We ’ re living in a Binge World , where audiences demand an entire season of a show right this very minute .
Did you have any initial worries that “ Another Kingdom ” might frustrate viewers ?
Do you think this kind of staggered storytelling may return despite our binge appetites ?
Klavan : It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Haunting Melissa , ” we had this really clever system where the story would appear at random and your iPad would alert you by whispering , “ Melisssssa , ” in this very creepy way .
It was great , but it didn ’ t work .
Bingeing was all the rage .
I think “ Another Kingdom ” was successful because we gave people what they could naturally handle at a given moment and they were willing to wait for the next installment .
It ’ s just one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope for the best .
HiT : You ’ ve worked on an off in Hollywood over the years .
What can you share about those experiences that we might not suspect , or is it more oppressive than we even realize for openly conservative talent ?
Klavan : I think the most important thing to understand is that it ’ s not monolithic but it is communal .
That is , there are lots of great individuals in the business doing good work , but the pressure from the left is constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a small community of people who know one another , that sort of peer pressure works , just like in high school .
The upshot is : you don ’ t get blacklisted for doing conservative movies or Christian movies — you can find supporters for that if only in the indie world .
You get blacklisted for having wrongthink opinions , for voting for Trump ( I did ) or thinking gays are uniquely sinful ( I don ’ t ) or that socialism is a moral atrocity ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get this .
We think we win if we make a Christian movie or a conservative movie .
We win when conservatives can make any movie they want .
HiT : Conservatives often share horror stories about their connection to the liberal entertainment world , and for good reasons .
Do you have a positive anecdote to share , a time when someone put aside his or her politics and embraced your work or that of a right-leaning colleague ?
Klavan : No .
From that angle , things have only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been advising fellow conservatives for some time about the culture — how to fight back , how to engage it , etc .
Have you changed your mind on any of those fronts – advice you gave out a decade ago , for example , but wouldn ’ t share now … and why ?
Klavan : Well , I haven ’ t changed my mind .
That would suggest that I ’ d been wrong at some point , and that never happens in real life .
But the landscape has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drum , there was no conservative culture at all to speak of .
I told artists — stop complaining about Hollywood and then begging Hollywood to buy your screenplay .
Use the new media .
Put stuff on YouTube .
Publish books on Amazon .
This is a revolution against an empire .
You ’ ve got to fight a guerrilla war .
I very much doubt anyone was listening to me , but all that started to happen anyway .
“ Another Kingdom , ” The Babylon Bee , Steven Crowder on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie .
These are all the sorts of things I wanted to see happen .
What we need now is money .
Lots of money .
To start production companies , publishing companies , build venues and infrastructure — review sites like HollywoodinToto and awards and so on .
If we do it , we ’ ll transform the country .
If not , Cancel Culture will win the day .
HiT : Hollywood is currently divided on who should square off against President Trump… but the industry will rally around the eventual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see as Hollywood ’ s messaging in the months to come re : the election ?
Will it be more like 2016 – PSAs , tweets , etc ?
Or something new ?
Klavan : The arts are actually not a very good tool for direct political messaging .
What culture does is create an atmosphere , a narrative — all the things you think are true without thinking about them and which oftentimes aren ’ t true at all : • Wifehood and motherhood is less rewarding than career • Islam is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this stuff is true or has truth to it , but the point is to never let a conflicting idea hold sway so that everyone will be afraid to question , everyone will think they ’ re the only person who disagrees or only the bad people disagree .
If some idiot socialist wins it won ’ t be because Brad Pitt made a PSA , it ’ ll be because we ’ ve been swimming in this toxic stuff for more than 50 years .
HiT : Are you reading anything intriguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share … or seeing anything on the streaming landscape that you highly recommend ?
Klavan : I recently reread “ Man ’ s Search for Meaning ” by Viktor Frankl .
I hadn ’ t read it since I was in high school .
It blew me away .
I hadn ’ t remembered how great and essential it is .
I thought last year was a particularly good one for movies and especially liked “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , ” clearly the best film of the year by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think people are paying enough attention to “ The Sinner ” on USA .
It ’ s a really interesting take on detective stories with Bill Pullman giving this great performance as the most neurotic detective on earth .
On the non-fiction front , everyone should read “ Dominion , ” historian Tom Holland ’ s book on how Christianity changed the world .
In England , where he ’ s from , they made him take Christianity out of the title , which tells you why you should read @ @ @

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Andrew Klavan checks every box in a conservative’s pop culture wish list.
Create powerful, original art? Check. He’s an award-winning author and screenwriter, not to mention the mind behind the binge-worthy “Another Kingdom” podcast (also available in novel form, like the saga’s second book, “The Nightmare Feast”)
Another Kingdom Is Now A Book!
Watch this video on YouTube
Fight back against progressive messaging? Check. His Daily Wire podcast does just that, Tickety Boo style.
Use humor to defang his ideological opponents? Check and double check.
So HiT reached out to Klavan for his thoughts on the culture wars, the 2020 presidential campaign and what fellow conservatives need to gain ground in the arts.
HiT: Some writers proudly cling to their yellow lined notepads in our digital age. Not you. You’ve embraced storytelling via film, apps (“Haunting Melissa“) and now podcasts (“Another Kingdom“). Has switching platforms impacted your storytelling chops in any way, and how?
Klavan: Alfred Hitchcock had a big influence on me, and he was always the first guy to use some new development in a creative way: sound, color, slackening censorship. He didn’t just use it, he worked with it. I love writing prose and when I started out, novelists were the top of the creative food chain. Who would be the next Hemingway and so on.
That’s changed.
RELATED: Hollywood Just Canceled This Ardent Trump Supporter
The novel reaches fewer people now, very few young people. But at the same time, these new technologies have come along. I’d be crazy not to use them. Plus, it forces me to examine what my strengths are, which will make the transition, which not. I preach this kind of creative flexibility to other artists, so yeah, I want to practice it myself.
HiT: We’re living in a Binge World, where audiences demand an entire season of a show right this very minute. Did you have any initial worries that “Another Kingdom” might frustrate viewers? Do you think this kind of staggered storytelling may return despite our binge appetites?
Klavan: It really depends on the project. With “Haunting Melissa,” we had this really clever system where the story would appear at random and your iPad would alert you by whispering, “Melisssssa,” in this very creepy way. It was great, but it didn’t work. Bingeing was all the rage.
I think “Another Kingdom” was successful because we gave people what they could naturally handle at a given moment and they were willing to wait for the next installment. It’s just one of those million things you have to gauge and hope for the best.
HiT: You’ve worked on an off in Hollywood over the years. What can you share about those experiences that we might not suspect, or is it more oppressive than we even realize for openly conservative talent?
Klavan: I think the most important thing to understand is that it’s not monolithic but it is communal. That is, there are lots of great individuals in the business doing good work, but the pressure from the left is constant, purposeful and targeted and because it’s a small community of people who know one another, that sort of peer pressure works, just like in high school.
The Leftist Blacklist | The Andrew Klavan Show Ep. 760
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The upshot is: you don’t get blacklisted for doing conservative movies or Christian movies — you can find supporters for that if only in the indie world. You get blacklisted for having wrongthink opinions, for voting for Trump (I did) or thinking gays are uniquely sinful (I don’t) or that socialism is a moral atrocity (I so do). The right doesn’t get this.
We think we win if we make a Christian movie or a conservative movie. We win when conservatives can make any movie they want.
HiT: Conservatives often share horror stories about their connection to the liberal entertainment world, and for good reasons. Do you have a positive anecdote to share, a time when someone put aside his or her politics and embraced your work or that of a right-leaning colleague?
Klavan: No. From that angle, things have only gotten worse.
HiT: You’ve been advising fellow conservatives for some time about the culture — how to fight back, how to engage it, etc. Have you changed your mind on any of those fronts – advice you gave out a decade ago, for example, but wouldn’t share now … and why?
Klavan: Well, I haven’t changed my mind. That would suggest that I’d been wrong at some point, and that never happens in real life. But the landscape has changed.
When I started banging this drum, there was no conservative culture at all to speak of. I told artists — stop complaining about Hollywood and then begging Hollywood to buy your screenplay. Use the new media. Put stuff on YouTube. Publish books on Amazon.
This is a revolution against an empire. You’ve got to fight a guerrilla war.
RELATED: Klavan’s ‘The Great Good Thing’ Offers a Divine Second Act
I very much doubt anyone was listening to me, but all that started to happen anyway. “Another Kingdom,” The Babylon Bee, Steven Crowder on the Blaze, the “Gosnell” movie. These are all the sorts of things I wanted to see happen. What we need now is money. Lots of money.
To start production companies, publishing companies, build venues and infrastructure — review sites like HollywoodinToto and awards and so on. If we do it, we’ll transform the country.
If not, Cancel Culture will win the day.
HiT: Hollywood is currently divided on who should square off against President Trump… but the industry will rally around the eventual nominee most likely. What do you see as Hollywood’s messaging in the months to come re: the election? Will it be more like 2016 – PSAs, tweets, etc? Or something new?
Klavan: The arts are actually not a very good tool for direct political messaging. What culture does is create an atmosphere, a narrative — all the things you think are true without thinking about them and which oftentimes aren’t true at all:
Blacks are still systemically oppressed
Businessmen are evil
Wifehood and motherhood is less rewarding than career
Gender is a construct
Islam is the religion of peace
Maybe some of this stuff is true or has truth to it, but the point is to never let a conflicting idea hold sway so that everyone will be afraid to question, everyone will think they’re the only person who disagrees or only the bad people disagree.
If some idiot socialist wins it won’t be because Brad Pitt made a PSA, it’ll be because we’ve been swimming in this toxic stuff for more than 50 years.
Socialism Rising | The Andrew Klavan Show Ep. 658
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HiT: Are you reading anything intriguing of late that you’d like to share … or seeing anything on the streaming landscape that you highly recommend?
Klavan: I recently reread “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. I hadn’t read it since I was in high school. It blew me away. I hadn’t remembered how great and essential it is.
I thought last year was a particularly good one for movies and especially liked “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” clearly the best film of the year by a long chalk. Also, I don’t think people are paying enough attention to “The Sinner” on USA.
It’s a really interesting take on detective stories with Bill Pullman giving this great performance as the most neurotic detective on earth.
On the non-fiction front, everyone should read “Dominion,” historian Tom Holland’s book on how Christianity changed the world. In England, where he’s from, they made him take Christianity out of the title, which tells you why you should read the book.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--International Monetary Fund Ready to Lend $1 Trillion to Countries Impacted by Coronavirus

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a joint press conference with World Bank Group President David Malpass on the recent developments of the coronavirus , COVID-19 , and the organizations ' responses on March 4 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
The International Monetary Fund on Monday said it `` stands ready '' to use its $ 1 trillion lending capacity to help countries around the world that are struggling with the humanitarian and economic impact of the novel coronavirus .
`` As a first line of defense , the Fund can deploy its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance-of-payment needs , '' IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement .
`` The Fund already has 40 ongoing arrangements — both disbursing and precautionary — with combined commitments of about $ 200 billion , '' she added .
`` In many cases , these arrangements can provide another vehicle for the rapid disbursement of crisis financing . ''
Georgieva wrote on the IMF 's website that the lending could be used to aid its members , especially emerging and developing countries .
She said the Fund 's Catastrophe Containment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries with immediate debt relief , which will free up vital resources for health spending , containment , and mitigation .
The announcement comes ahead of what 's expected to be another dismal day on Wall Street despite a multilateral move by the globe 's central banks to ease monetary policy to help countries cope with the fallout of the coronavirus .
The Federal Reserve , for example , said Sunday that it will embark on a historic and massive monetary stimulus campaign to juice economic growth .
The central bank said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and launch a $ 700 billion quantitative easing program to shelter the economy from the effects of the virus .
Still , equity traders were left nervous about the coronavirus and efforts to contain its spread , which some fear could tip the economy into a recession .
The SPDR S & P 500 ETF Trust ( SPY ) — which tracks the S & P 500 — plummeted more than 9 % in the premarket , signaling that the coordinated effort may not be enough to buoy investor sentiment .
Subscribe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and live business day programming from around the world .

The International Monetary Fund on Monday said it "stands ready" to use its $1 trillion lending capacity to help countries around the world that are struggling with the humanitarian and economic impact of the novel coronavirus.
"As a first line of defense, the Fund can deploy its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency response toolkit to help countries with urgent balance-of-payment needs," IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.
"The Fund already has 40 ongoing arrangements — both disbursing and precautionary — with combined commitments of about $200 billion," she added. "In many cases, these arrangements can provide another vehicle for the rapid disbursement of crisis financing."
Georgieva wrote on the IMF's website that the lending could be used to aid its members, especially emerging and developing countries.
She said the Fund's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust "can help the poorest countries with immediate debt relief, which will free up vital resources for health spending, containment, and mitigation.
The announcement comes ahead of what's expected to be another dismal day on Wall Street despite a multilateral move by the globe's central banks to ease monetary policy to help countries cope with the fallout of the coronavirus.
The Federal Reserve, for example, said Sunday that it will embark on a historic and massive monetary stimulus campaign to juice economic growth. The central bank said it will slash U.S. interest rates to zero and launch a $700 billion quantitative easing program to shelter the economy from the effects of the virus.
Still, equity traders were left nervous about the coronavirus and efforts to contain its spread, which some fear could tip the economy into a recession.
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY ) — which tracks the S&P 500 — plummeted more than 9% in the premarket, signaling that the coordinated effort may not be enough to buoy investor sentiment.
Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Bloodbath on Wall Street – Markets Set for Another Volatile Week

Stocks fell sharply Monday — with the Dow suffering its worst day since the `` Black Monday '' market crash in 1987 and its third-worst day ever — even after the Federal Reserve embarked on a massive monetary stimulus campaign to curb slower economic growth amid the coronavirus outbreak .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2,997.10 points lower , or 12.9 % , at 20,188.52 .
The 30-stock Dow was briefly down more than 3,000 points in the final minutes of trading .
The S & P 500 dropped 12 % to 2,386.13 — hitting its lowest level since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed 12.3 % lower at 6,904.59 in its worst day ever .
`` The markets are getting no break with yesterday 's historic Fed actions and COVID-19 dominating the world 's headlines , '' Frank Cappelleri , executive director at Instinet , said in a note .
`` While the news continues to worsen and with the price action doing things we 've only seen a handful of other times in the last century , it 's nearly impossible to keep things in perspective . ''
`` We ca n't argue the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much bigger issue than just the economy , '' Cappelleri said .
The major averages fell to their lows into the close after President Donald Trump said the worst of the outbreak could last until August .
He also told reporters the U.S. `` may be '' heading into a recession .
`` The market did n't hear what it wanted to hear .
I do n't think that it wanted to hear that this was going to last until July and August , and now the market does the math .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that means we maybe have a contraction in the second quarter and the third quarter , and that means recession , '' BNY Mellon strategist Liz Young said on CNBC 's `` Closing Bell . ''
Monday 's losses put the Dow down 31.7 % from its all-time high and the S & P 500 and Nasdaq more than 29 % below their records last month .
The Dow fell to its lowest point since 2017 .
The Dow 's drop was the worst decline since its `` Black Monday '' crash three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 % .
The drop surpassed its 9.99 % tumble last Thursday .
It was also the Dow 's third-worst day ever ; it dropped more than 13 % in late 1929 .

Stocks fell sharply Monday — with the Dow suffering its worst day since the "Black Monday" market crash in 1987 and its third-worst day ever — even after the Federal Reserve embarked on a massive monetary stimulus campaign to curb slower economic growth amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2,997.10 points lower, or 12.9%, at 20,188.52. The 30-stock Dow was briefly down more than 3,000 points in the final minutes of trading. The S&P 500 dropped 12% to 2,386.13 — hitting its lowest level since December 2018 — while the Nasdaq Composite closed 12.3% lower at 6,904.59 in its worst day ever.
"The markets are getting no break with yesterday's historic Fed actions and COVID-19 dominating the world's headlines," Frank Cappelleri, executive director at Instinet, said in a note. "While the news continues to worsen and with the price action doing things we've only seen a handful of other times in the last century, it's nearly impossible to keep things in perspective."
"We can't argue the facts, and we're dealing with a much bigger issue than just the economy," Cappelleri said.
The major averages fell to their lows into the close after President Donald Trump said the worst of the outbreak could last until August. He also told reporters the U.S. "may be" heading into a recession.
"The market didn't hear what it wanted to hear. I don't think that it wanted to hear that this was going to last until July and August, and now the market does the math. If it lasts until July and August, that means we maybe have a contraction in the second quarter and the third quarter, and that means recession," BNY Mellon strategist Liz Young said on CNBC's "Closing Bell."
Monday's losses put the Dow down 31.7% from its all-time high and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq more than 29% below their records last month. The Dow fell to its lowest point since 2017.
The Dow's drop was the worst decline since its "Black Monday" crash three decades ago when it fell more than 22%. The drop surpassed its 9.99% tumble last Thursday. It was also the Dow's third-worst day ever; it dropped more than 13% in late 1929.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--Senior Iranian Leader Has Coronavirus

Senior Iranian Leader Has Coronavirus

Iranian forces have taken a `` warlike '' posture across the Islamic Republic as another of Tehran 's top political figures admits he has contracted the coronavirus , according to reports in Iran 's state-controlled media .
Ali Akbar Velayati , a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has been infected with the coronavirus and is now in isolation , according to reports in Iran 's state-controlled press outlets .
Velayati is one of many top Iranian officials to contract the virus since it began spreading across Iran .
Several Iranian officials have already died as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has rapidly deteriorated over the past several weeks and prompted the country to galvanize a military response to stymie the virus 's spread .
Iranian forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) have now taken a `` warlike '' posture across the country , officials said .
`` All provincial units of IRGC along with medical science universities are really in a warlike arrangement , '' Major General Hossein Salami said Monday during a videoconference with IRGC leaders .
These military forces are working to disinfect areas and move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I assure people that we can defeat this virus by preserving unity and resistance provided that people would stay at home and follow the hygienic requirements , '' Salami said .
Official estimates issued by Iranian officials put the number of coronavirus infections at nearly 15,000 , though the true number is likely much higher .
At least 853 have died .
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered a message of support to Velayati on Monday .
`` When ministers , senior officials , and doctors in Iran accept responsibility and official figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that they and their families have not fled elsewhere for safety , '' the Hezbollah leader said .
`` They are fighting against coronavirus alongside the people , and this is an honor for them . ''
Reports from the region allege that Nasrallah also has contracted the coronavirus .
The terror leader has self-quarantined since meeting with Hezbollah operatives who tested positive for the sickness .

Iranian forces have taken a "warlike" posture across the Islamic Republic as another of Tehran's top political figures admits he has contracted the coronavirus, according to reports in Iran's state-controlled media.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been infected with the coronavirus and is now in isolation, according to reports in Iran's state-controlled press outlets. Velayati is one of many top Iranian officials to contract the virus since it began spreading across Iran. Several Iranian officials have already died as a result of the illness.
The situation in Iran has rapidly deteriorated over the past several weeks and prompted the country to galvanize a military response to stymie the virus's spread.
Iranian forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have now taken a "warlike" posture across the country, officials said.
"All provincial units of IRGC along with medical science universities are really in a warlike arrangement," Major General Hossein Salami said Monday during a videoconference with IRGC leaders.
These military forces are working to disinfect areas and move infected individuals into makeshift quarantine facilities.
"I assure people that we can defeat this virus by preserving unity and resistance provided that people would stay at home and follow the hygienic requirements," Salami said.
Official estimates issued by Iranian officials put the number of coronavirus infections at nearly 15,000, though the true number is likely much higher. At least 853 have died.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered a message of support to Velayati on Monday.
"When ministers, senior officials, and doctors in Iran accept responsibility and official figures have been infected with coronavirus, it means that they and their families have not fled elsewhere for safety," the Hezbollah leader said. "They are fighting against coronavirus alongside the people, and this is an honor for them."
Reports from the region allege that Nasrallah also has contracted the coronavirus. The terror leader has self-quarantined since meeting with Hezbollah operatives who tested positive for the sickness.


bonginoreport--2020-03-16--New York Times Reporters Just Can’t Stop Lying

The New York Times ’ reporters are on a mission to prove that their paper contains all the fake news that ’ s fit to print .
Times reporter Julie Bosman tweeted out a quote from a new article of theirs , claiming that President Trump told the nation ’ s governors during a conference call “ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves ” – attempting to portray Trump as saying that he told the governors that they ’ ll be fighting the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic alone .
Of course , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the quote is cut the exact way Bosman did do you get the impression Trump told governors they ’ re on their own .
What he actually said ( which is quoted correctly in the article ) was just the opposite : “ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves .
We will be backing you , but try getting it yourselves .
Point of sales , much better , much more direct if you can get it yourself.
” Or in other words , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states – but they could take initiative to expedite the process if they so wish .
And she wasn ’ t the only Times reporter to deliberately misquote Trump when sharing the article – presumably because they assume their audience doesn ’ t actually read the articles they post ( and I certainly can ’ t blame anyone for not reading what the Times reports ) .
Mara Gay was also on the case to deliberately misrepresent Trump .
What are the odds that two Times reporters would unintentionally misquote a Times article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly the same impression ?
I ’ m no statistician , but I ’ d say close to zero .
In the event that you forgot – Gay is the woman who recently divided 500 by 330 and got one million in a particularly hilarious on-air math error on MSNBC .
She later claimed that racism explained the backlash to her authoritatively spoken math error , because why not ?
Ironically , this comes just days after the Times ’ Elaina Plott seemed perplexed by why distrust in the media is rising among @ @ @

The New York Times’ reporters are on a mission to prove that their paper contains all the fake news that’s fit to print.
Times reporter Julie Bosman tweeted out a quote from a new article of theirs, claiming that President Trump told the nation’s governors during a conference call “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves” – attempting to portray Trump as saying that he told the governors that they’ll be fighting the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic alone.
Of course, that’s not the full quote. Only when the quote is cut the exact way Bosman did do you get the impression Trump told governors they’re on their own. What he actually said (which is quoted correctly in the article) was just the opposite: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves. We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
Or in other words, Trump said he would absolutely he helping the states – but they could take initiative to expedite the process if they so wish.
And she wasn’t the only Times reporter to deliberately misquote Trump when sharing the article – presumably because they assume their audience doesn’t actually read the articles they post (and I certainly can’t blame anyone for not reading what the Times reports). Mara Gay was also on the case to deliberately misrepresent Trump.
Trump told governors this morning they are on their own:
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times. https://t.co/K0sont7MBc — Mara Gay (@MaraGay) March 16, 2020
In the event that you forgot – Gay is the woman who recently divided 500 by 330 and got one million in a particularly hilarious on-air math error on MSNBC. She later claimed that racism explained the backlash to her authoritatively spoken math error, because why not?
And they weren’t the only ones. Here’s how the rest of the New York Times brain trust framed the story:
Trump tells governors not to wait for federal government to look for needed medical equipment on their own. “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment—try getting it yourselves,” he told them on the call, according to recording obtained by @jmartNYT https://t.co/vlOR08SeXK — Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 16, 2020
NEW: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told governors during a conference call this morning, according to a recording shared with The New York Times.https://t.co/TjEeqqAysu — Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 16, 2020
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times https://t.co/loOEN0LpUa — Michael Cooper (@coopnytimes) March 16, 2020
Some governors were surprised to get this message from Trump, @jmart reports: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call. https://t.co/x5T6Oril13 — Sharon LaFraniere (@SharonLNYT) March 16, 2020
Trump told governors they should not wait for the federal government to fill growing demand for respirators.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump said.https://t.co/A14I2TiTvZ — Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) March 16, 2020
And in an on-brand move, CNN joined in on the daily fake news too:
Trump to governors: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves" https://t.co/E3Y24vhxot — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 16, 2020
Ironically, this comes just days after the Times’ Elaina Plott seemed perplexed by why distrust in the media is rising among Trump supporters.
I can’t imagine why!