bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Thousands Protest Michigan Governor’s Excessive Lockdown Order

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Hundreds of cars , trucks and SUVs descended on Michigan ’ s state capital Wednesday afternoon as part of a noisy protest against Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s social-distancing restrictions that critics say have gone too far .
Dubbed “ Operation Gridlock ” and organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition , the protest did just that – creating bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout downtown Lansing as demonstrators blasted their horns , waved Americans flags and hoisted placards deriding Whitmer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s economy .
The lockdown measures are meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak , but Whitmer has gone further than some other governors -- and the backlash in Michigan is among the most heated in the country .
“ Let ’ s start with the fact that some counties have no or very few COVID cases and yet are totally shut down , ” Rosanne Ponkowski , president of the Michigan Conservative Coalition , said in a statement .
“ When did a one-size solution solve everyone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put you out of business before allowing mere citizens to be responsible for their own behavior .
That is madness.
” Whitmer announced over the weekend an expansion to her state ’ s stay-at-home orders , which among other things prohibits residents from visiting family or friends with exceptions for providing care , bans public and private gatherings regardless of size or family ties , and places restrictions on what types of businesses may operate and in what capacity .
Michigan has the fourth-largest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Wednesday afternoon , according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering ( CSSE ) at Johns Hopkins University .
The orders , which are in place until at least May 1 , quickly drew criticism from conservative Republicans in the state , who argue that the governor is turning Michigan into a “ nanny state ” and impeding their civil liberties .
“ Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people .
Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people , ” Meshawn Maddock , an organizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Conservative Coalition , told Fox News .
“ Every person has learned a harsh lesson about social distancing .
We don ’ t need a nanny state to tell people how to be careful.
” Whitmer – who had to issue clarifications to her orders , most notably when someone tweeted a picture from Walmart saying that children ’ s car seats were “ non-essential ” items – has so far remained steady in her resolve that Michigan needs to stick to strict stay-at-home measures in order to tackle the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that residents have a right to protest under the Constitution , but asked demonstrators to do so safely .
“ Everyone has a right to protest and speak up .
We recognize that some people are angry and frustrated , and that ’ s okay , ” Whitmer ’ s office said Wednesday in a statement .
“ The Governor will always defend everyone ’ s rights to free speech .
We just ask those who choose to protest these orders to do so in a manner that doesn ’ t put their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responders at risk.
” MICHIGAN STAY-AT-HOME ORDER NOW BANS VISITS TO FRIENDS , RELATIVES , GOVERNOR SAYS The organizers of “ Operation Gridlock ” have asked anyone participating in Wednesday ’ s protest to “ [ d ] isplay signs , make noise and be disruptive , but stay in your vehicle so that the ‘ Whitmer police ’ can not say you are ignoring the 'social distancing ' order.
” They have also asked people not to carpool “ because gas is cheap ” and warned them to not drink too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access any public restrooms .
“ We can get this rally done and stay within the social distancing guidelines , ” Marian Sheridan , a co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition , said in a statement .
“ Citizens are frankly tired of being treated like babies .
As adults , we now know what needs to be done to stay safe .
We also believe the liberal attack on the economy is becoming a serious threat right now .
Join us in Lansing .
We need to stop the madness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy before it is too late.
” “ Operation Gridlock ” is just one of a number of demonstrations of civil disobedience around the country by Americans upset with their state ’ s stay-at-home orders amid the pandemic .
While the contagion has sickened more than 610,000 people in the U.S. and killed over 26,000 people , protesters from North Carolina to Wyoming said they ’ ve been just as concerned with the economic and financial impact from shutdowns – echoing President Trump ’ s complaint that “ the cure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Berenson , a former New York Times reporter who has been sounding the alarm about what he believes are flawed models dictating the aggressive strategy , drew attention to the protests in North Carolina , as well as a social media uproar in Michigan .
“ As someone wrote me , people in [ Michigan ] know when you lose jobs , they don ’ t come back , ” he tweeted .
As for unemployment , some 16.8 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last three weeks – meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a job .
MAKING A CORONAVIRUS FACE MASK : DERMATOLOGIST OFFERS ADVICE ON BEST MATERIALS , HOW TO SOOTHE IRRITATED SKIN The figures collectively constituted the largest and fastest string of job losses in records dating to 1948 .
By contrast , during the Great Recession , it took 44 weeks — roughly 10 months — for unemployment claims to go as high as they now have in less than a month .
Last Thursday , dozens of protesters carrying placards and wearing Guy Fawkes masks ignored Ohio ’ s social-distancing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s capital building in Columbus against Gov .
Mike DeWine , a Republican , and his administration ’ s handling of the outbreak .
Demonstrators held signs reading “ Open Ohio , ” “ Quarantine worse than virus , ” and “ Social distancing or social conditioning .
We do not consent.
” In Wyoming , about 20 gathered last week in a park in Casper to protest the government-mandated measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus and let people go back to work , while a Facebook group called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 21,000 members since it launched last Tuesday ; it ’ s planning to gather in protest later this week .
“ We are losing our small businesses , which are the backbone of our economy , ” the group wrote on its page .
“ The shutdown is not warranted , nor sustainable for our area .
The vulnerable can be isolated or protected in other ways , without sacrificing our entire state economy.
” CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP While a full reopening of the U.S. economy appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country continues to battle the world ’ s largest outbreak of the novel coronavirus , there are signs that some states are making plans to get things at least partially up-and-running sometime in the near future .
The governors of California , Oregon and Washington announced Monday an agreement for reopening their states ’ economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future .
Those three states , which recorded some of the earliest cases of the coronavirus and were expected to be hard hit by the pathogen , have defied expectations and so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than expected .
The governors said health outcomes and science , not politics , would drive decision-making .
Any modifications to each state ’ s stay-at-home order will be grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the health impacts of COVID-19 , they added , saying no large-scale reopening will take place until metrics reflected a significant decline in the spread of the virus .
A number of states in the Northeast – including New York , which has been the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. – announced a similar plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .

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Hundreds of cars, trucks and SUVs descended on Michigan’s state capital Wednesday afternoon as part of a noisy protest against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s social-distancing restrictions that critics say have gone too far.
Dubbed “Operation Gridlock” and organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, the protest did just that – creating bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout downtown Lansing as demonstrators blasted their horns, waved Americans flags and hoisted placards deriding Whitmer’s orders and demanding that she reopen the state’s economy.
The lockdown measures are meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, but Whitmer has gone further than some other governors -- and the backlash in Michigan is among the most heated in the country.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“Let’s start with the fact that some counties have no or very few COVID cases and yet are totally shut down,” Rosanne Ponkowski, president of the Michigan Conservative Coalition, said in a statement. “When did a one-size solution solve everyone’s local issues? Governor Whitmer will put you out of business before allowing mere citizens to be responsible for their own behavior. That is madness.”
Whitmer announced over the weekend an expansion to her state’s stay-at-home orders, which among other things prohibits residents from visiting family or friends with exceptions for providing care, bans public and private gatherings regardless of size or family ties, and places restrictions on what types of businesses may operate and in what capacity.
Michigan has the fourth-largest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with more 27,000 being reported as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
The orders, which are in place until at least May 1, quickly drew criticism from conservative Republicans in the state, who argue that the governor is turning Michigan into a “nanny state” and impeding their civil liberties.
“Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people,” Meshawn Maddock, an organizer of “Operation Gridlock” with the Michigan Conservative Coalition, told Fox News. “Every person has learned a harsh lesson about social distancing. We don’t need a nanny state to tell people how to be careful.”
Whitmer – who had to issue clarifications to her orders, most notably when someone tweeted a picture from Walmart saying that children’s car seats were “non-essential” items – has so far remained steady in her resolve that Michigan needs to stick to strict stay-at-home measures in order to tackle the virus. She has also recognized, however, that residents have a right to protest under the Constitution, but asked demonstrators to do so safely.
“Everyone has a right to protest and speak up. We recognize that some people are angry and frustrated, and that’s okay,” Whitmer’s office said Wednesday in a statement. “The Governor will always defend everyone’s rights to free speech. We just ask those who choose to protest these orders to do so in a manner that doesn’t put their health or the health of our first responders at risk.”
MICHIGAN STAY-AT-HOME ORDER NOW BANS VISITS TO FRIENDS, RELATIVES, GOVERNOR SAYS
The organizers of “Operation Gridlock” have asked anyone participating in Wednesday’s protest to “[d]isplay signs, make noise and be disruptive, but stay in your vehicle so that the ‘Whitmer police’ cannot say you are ignoring the 'social distancing' order.” They have also asked people not to carpool “because gas is cheap” and warned them to not drink too much liquids because they will not be able to access any public restrooms.
“We can get this rally done and stay within the social distancing guidelines,” Marian Sheridan, a co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition, said in a statement. “Citizens are frankly tired of being treated like babies. As adults, we now know what needs to be done to stay safe. We also believe the liberal attack on the economy is becoming a serious threat right now. Join us in Lansing. We need to stop the madness and Whitmer needs a plan to re-open Michigan’s economy before it is too late.”
“Operation Gridlock” is just one of a number of demonstrations of civil disobedience around the country by Americans upset with their state’s stay-at-home orders amid the pandemic. While the contagion has sickened more than 610,000 people in the U.S. and killed over 26,000 people, protesters from North Carolina to Wyoming said they’ve been just as concerned with the economic and financial impact from shutdowns – echoing President Trump’s complaint that “the cure” could be worse than the virus.
Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter who has been sounding the alarm about what he believes are flawed models dictating the aggressive strategy, drew attention to the protests in North Carolina, as well as a social media uproar in Michigan.
“As someone wrote me, people in [Michigan] know when you lose jobs, they don’t come back,” he tweeted.
As for unemployment, some 16.8 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last three weeks – meaning one in 10 working Americans was out of a job.
MAKING A CORONAVIRUS FACE MASK: DERMATOLOGIST OFFERS ADVICE ON BEST MATERIALS, HOW TO SOOTHE IRRITATED SKIN
The figures collectively constituted the largest and fastest string of job losses in records dating to 1948. By contrast, during the Great Recession, it took 44 weeks — roughly 10 months — for unemployment claims to go as high as they now have in less than a month.
Last Thursday, dozens of protesters carrying placards and wearing Guy Fawkes masks ignored Ohio’s social-distancing guidelines to demonstrate on the steps of the state’s capital building in Columbus against Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, and his administration’s handling of the outbreak. Demonstrators held signs reading “Open Ohio,” “Quarantine worse than virus,” and “Social distancing or social conditioning. We do not consent.”
In Wyoming, about 20 gathered last week in a park in Casper to protest the government-mandated measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus and let people go back to work, while a Facebook group called “ReOpen NC” has brought in over 21,000 members since it launched last Tuesday; it’s planning to gather in protest later this week.
“We are losing our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy,” the group wrote on its page. “The shutdown is not warranted, nor sustainable for our area. The vulnerable can be isolated or protected in other ways, without sacrificing our entire state economy.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
While a full reopening of the U.S. economy appears to be a long way off as the country continues to battle the world’s largest outbreak of the novel coronavirus, there are signs that some states are making plans to get things at least partially up-and-running sometime in the near future.
The governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced Monday an agreement for reopening their states’ economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future. Those three states, which recorded some of the earliest cases of the coronavirus and were expected to be hard hit by the pathogen, have defied expectations and so far seen far fewer cases of the disease than expected.
The governors said health outcomes and science, not politics, would drive decision-making. Any modifications to each state’s stay-at-home order will be grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the health impacts of COVID-19, they added, saying no large-scale reopening will take place until metrics reflected a significant decline in the spread of the virus.
A number of states in the Northeast – including New York, which has been the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. – announced a similar plan on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Germany to Begin Re-Opening Economy Next Week

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday laid out Germany 's plan to gradually resume public life while maintaining social distancing , a month after Europe 's largest economy effectively shut down in an effort to slow the coronavirus outbreak .
Some small businesses will reopen on April 20 while schools will begin to gradually reopen on May 4 .
Most businesses have been closed in Germany since a March 16 government order limited economic life to grocery stories , pharmacies , banks , gas stations and other essential services while people were urged to remain at home .
The German government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which require people to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters ( 5 feet ) and limit public gatherings to just two people with the exception of family members .
Large gatherings will remain banned at least until Aug. 31 , and religious gatherings remain prohibited until further notice .
Germans are also being encouraged to wear masks in public and avoid travel .
Merkel said the country 's strict social distancing measures had prevented the country 's health-care system from becoming overwhelmed , but warned this was a `` fragile , partial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a lot of leeway , we have to remain focused and continue , '' Merkel said at a news conference Wednesday .
`` Our consultations therefore decided that we can not get ahead of ourselves .
We have to understand that we must live the virus so long as there 's no medicine or vaccine . ''
Businesses that do n't exceed 800 square meters are allowed to reopen , as well as car dealerships , bike shops and bookstores regardless of their size .
Hair salons can reopen on May 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All shops that reopen must adhere to regulations on hygiene and must prevent lines from forming .
Restaurants will remain closed for dine-in service , but can offer delivery and takeout .
Bars , clubs , theaters and concert venues will remain closed .
Companies are encouraged to have employees continue working from home whenever possible .
The German government , in a document outlining its plan , said the goal is to take small steps to restart public life , give people more freedom of movement and restore value-added chains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to prevent new chains of infection .
`` We all have to remain conscious that the epidemic has not been overcome by slowing the chain of infection -- it continues , '' the government said in its outline .
`` Therefore , we can not return to the life we were accustomed to before the epidemic .
Instead , we must learn how we can live with the epidemic for a long time to come . ''
More than 133,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Germany , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , Spain and Italy in terms of total reported infections nationwide .
Germany , however , has managed to keep the death toll from the virus lower than other hard-hit countries .
At least 3,592 people have died of the virus in Germany .
Merkel went into self-quarantine in March at her home after having contact with a doctor who tested positive for the virus .
She ultimately tested negative for the virus and returned to work in her office earlier this month .

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday laid out Germany's plan to gradually resume public life while maintaining social distancing, a month after Europe's largest economy effectively shut down in an effort to slow the coronavirus outbreak.
Some small businesses will reopen on April 20 while schools will begin to gradually reopen on May 4. Most businesses have been closed in Germany since a March 16 government order limited economic life to grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations and other essential services while people were urged to remain at home.
The German government extended social distancing measures until May 3, which require people to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters (5 feet) and limit public gatherings to just two people with the exception of family members. Large gatherings will remain banned at least until Aug. 31, and religious gatherings remain prohibited until further notice. Germans are also being encouraged to wear masks in public and avoid travel.
Merkel said the country's strict social distancing measures had prevented the country's health-care system from becoming overwhelmed, but warned this was a "fragile, partial success."
"We don't have a lot of leeway, we have to remain focused and continue," Merkel said at a news conference Wednesday. "Our consultations therefore decided that we cannot get ahead of ourselves. We have to understand that we must live with the virus so long as there's no medicine or vaccine."
Businesses that don't exceed 800 square meters are allowed to reopen, as well as car dealerships, bike shops and bookstores regardless of their size. Hair salons can reopen on May 4 but workers must wear personal protective equipment. All shops that reopen must adhere to regulations on hygiene and must prevent lines from forming.
Restaurants will remain closed for dine-in service, but can offer delivery and takeout. Bars, clubs, theaters and concert venues will remain closed. Companies are encouraged to have employees continue working from home whenever possible.
The German government, in a document outlining its plan, said the goal is to take small steps to restart public life, give people more freedom of movement and restore value-added chains, while at the same time maintaining protective measures to prevent new chains of infection.
"We all have to remain conscious that the epidemic has not been overcome by slowing the chain of infection -- it continues," the government said in its outline. "Therefore, we cannot return to the life we were accustomed to before the epidemic. Instead, we must learn how we can live with the epidemic for a long time to come."
More than 133,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Germany, according to Johns Hopkins University, behind only the U.S., Spain and Italy in terms of total reported infections nationwide. Germany, however, has managed to keep the death toll from the virus lower than other hard-hit countries. At least 3,592 people have died of the virus in Germany.
Merkel went into self-quarantine in March at her home after having contact with a doctor who tested positive for the virus. She ultimately tested negative for the virus and returned to work in her office earlier this month.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Leaked CDC/FEMA Plan Proposes Ending Lockdowns on Rolling Basis Beginning in May

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have drawn up a plan to lift some US coronavirus measures in several phases beginning sometime in May , according to documents obtained by The Washington Post .
• Under the plan — described as an early draft focused solely on the public-health aspect of the reopening — schools would be first to reopen , followed by parks and religious institutions .
• The document said that , if put in action , the plan `` will entail a significant risk of resurgence of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lifting lockdowns could result in a surge of new infections .
• President Donald Trump is determined to lift the harshest measures after April , however , and is assembling a team of economists and business leaders to advise him .
Two of the main federal government agencies responsible for the US response to the coronavirus crisis have drawn up plans for a phased reopening of the US beginning sometime in May , according to a document obtained by The Washington Post .
The Post said the document , titled `` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and appeared to be an early draft focused solely on the public-health aspect of the larger strategy for lifting the harshest measures and restarting the US economy .
Under the plans , the phased reopening would vary by state and would begin with schools and other childcare facilities .
It would require states to show that their incidence of infection is `` genuinely low '' and that they have the capacity to monitor cases , treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge in new cases .
The agencies nevertheless acknowledged the plan `` will entail a significant risk of resurgence of the virus . ''
But one official told The Post , however , that President Donald Trump was fixed on lifting lockdowns after May 1 and that officials were scrambling to do what they could to ensure that doing so would not lead to a huge surge in new cases .
Trump told reporters on Tuesday evening that he wanted to reopen the US economy `` at a time that will be earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of April . ''
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at a meeting at FEMA headquarters on March 19 .
AP Photo/Evan Vucci , Pool The president also said he would discuss with state governors the implementation of plans to lift lockdowns at a time and date suited to each state .
He is also assembling a team of economic experts and business leaders to plan the reopening of the economy .
The unnamed official told The Post : `` Beneath the bluster of the president saying May 1 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other things , there are real efforts to figure out how we could safely and actually do this . ''
Since the White House issued national social-distancing guidelines on March 16 — and states began implementing stay-at-home orders starting with California on March 19 — Trump has repeatedly a spoken of his desire to reopen the US economy at the soonest opportunity , tweeting : `` We ca n't have the cure be worse than the problem . ''
Trump initially floated the idea of reopening the economy by Easter but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , extended the social-distancing guidelines until the end of April .
His guidelines never included a federal stay-at-home advisory .
Other top experts have also warned against reopening the country too early .
Dr. Ashish Jha , the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , told Business Insider 's Charles Davis last week : `` Our testing infrastructure , which was abysmal , is now mediocre , but nowhere near adequate for opening up . ''

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have drawn up a plan to lift some US coronavirus measures in several phases beginning sometime in May, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Under the plan — described as an early draft focused solely on the public-health aspect of the reopening — schools would be first to reopen, followed by parks and religious institutions.
The document said that, if put in action, the plan "will entail a significant risk of resurgence of the virus"; officials and experts have warned that lifting lockdowns could result in a surge of new infections.
President Donald Trump is determined to lift the harshest measures after April, however, and is assembling a team of economists and business leaders to advise him.
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Two of the main federal government agencies responsible for the US response to the coronavirus crisis have drawn up plans for a phased reopening of the US beginning sometime in May, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post.
The Post said the document, titled "A Framework for Re-Opening America," was created by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and appeared to be an early draft focused solely on the public-health aspect of the larger strategy for lifting the harshest measures and restarting the US economy.
Under the plans, the phased reopening would vary by state and would begin with schools and other childcare facilities.
It would require states to show that their incidence of infection is "genuinely low" and that they have the capacity to monitor cases, treat existing cases, and react to a surge in new cases.
The agencies nevertheless acknowledged the plan "will entail a significant risk of resurgence of the virus."
But one official told The Post, however, that President Donald Trump was fixed on lifting lockdowns after May 1 and that officials were scrambling to do what they could to ensure that doing so would not lead to a huge surge in new cases.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday evening that he wanted to reopen the US economy "at a time that will be earlier than the deadline that we imposed, the end of April."
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at a meeting at FEMA headquarters on March 19. AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool
The president also said he would discuss with state governors the implementation of plans to lift lockdowns at a time and date suited to each state. He is also assembling a team of economic experts and business leaders to plan the reopening of the economy.
The unnamed official told The Post: "Beneath the bluster of the president saying May 1, and he's in charge, and all the other things, there are real efforts to figure out how we could safely and actually do this."
Since the White House issued national social-distancing guidelines on March 16 — and states began implementing stay-at-home orders starting with California on March 19 — Trump has repeatedly a spoken of his desire to reopen the US economy at the soonest opportunity, tweeting: "We can't have the cure be worse than the problem."
Trump initially floated the idea of reopening the economy by Easter but, heeding the advice of top public-health officials, extended the social-distancing guidelines until the end of April. His guidelines never included a federal stay-at-home advisory.
Other top experts have also warned against reopening the country too early. Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told Business Insider's Charles Davis last week: "Our testing infrastructure, which was abysmal, is now mediocre, but nowhere near adequate for opening up."


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Dems and GOP Clash Over Additional Small Business Relief

Congressional Republicans say that Democrats ' demand to restructure the small-business relief program by setting aside funds for community-based lenders is unworkable and would bring the relief program to a standstill .
Disagreement over the Democratic request is part of the holdup as both parties attempt to approve an additional $ 250 billion in forgivable loans for the Small Business Administration 's coronavirus relief program , called the Paycheck Protection Program , which was established to help small businesses as part of the massive $ 2.3 trillion CARES Act relief package that President Trump signed last month .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of money before the end of the week because $ 270 billion of the $ 350 billion originally allocated for the fund had been claimed as of Tuesday evening .
According to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship , the program is burning through more than $ 3.5 billion every hour that loans are processed .
Congressional Democrats have requested that $ 60 billion of the small-business relief program be set aside for community-based lenders in the hopes of ensuring that vulnerable small businesses and underserved communities seeking loans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically small financial institutions with a focus on their local community and are designed to provide financial assistance to small businesses that have often been turned down by traditional banks .
Democrats claim that the program has been slow to help some small businesses , especially ones that are rural or run by minorities , women , or veterans .
`` Small businesses are already being hurt because they ’ re not being served by the big banks that have chosen to only lend to their existing customers , '' said a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` and , even then , in many cases , only when they already [ have ] lending relationships .
They haven ’ t really opened up to new customers . ''
Thus far , authorized banks in the program are lending more to businesses receiving larger loans with payrolls larger than minority businesses typically have , according to analysis done by the Center for Responsible Lending , a nonprofit group that advocates for boosting consumer financial protections .
Republicans on Capitol Hill said they agree with Democrats regarding the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic but disagree strongly that the $ 60 billion set-aside Democrats want would help achieve that outcome .
“ The Paycheck Protection Program is burning through over $ 3.5 billion an hour .
Creating a set-aside pool of money is not just unworkable , it would slow down the program at a time when small businesses need it most , ” said a senior GOP Senate aide .
The Republican aide said that the set-aside would require the SBA to track the disbursement of the $ 60 billion of funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 60 billion red line does n't get crossed and too much money is spent .
This would be an extremely complicated endeavor , the GOP aide said , and could bring the loan program to a halt .
`` A set-aside is unworkable .
It would create a separate pool of money , and it would require an additional amount of paperwork and certification that will only complicate an already difficult process , '' the aide said .
Democrats said that nothing in their small business relief re-funding bill says that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to stop what they ’ re doing now to allocate the $ 60 billion set-aside for community-based lending entities . ''
Furthermore , Democrats said , the Treasury Department has been `` painfully slow '' in authorizing new lenders to disburse the small-business loans .
Republicans in Congress have hit back , arguing that the loan program has not denied or excluded vulnerable businesses or underserved communities but that they are dealing with the same challenges as other businesses seeking relief from SBA-approved banks and lenders through the program .
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the big banks are denying them , '' said a senior GOP aide in the Senate .
`` When the program launched , they were denying everyone except existing customers . ''
Republicans cited SBA data to argue that the big banks are n't denying underserved communities small-business loans .
On the second day of the program , 124,000 loans were processed through the program , totaling $ 36 billion from over 2,300 lenders , which does n't include loans from any big banks .
As of Tuesday afternoon , a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started , the program has approved over 1 million loans and has over 4,700 lenders approved to give out the loans .
The Republican aide said that the biggest hurdle facing underserved communities is that community banks can ’ t lend without knowing they have enough financial reserves in-house to be able to disburse funds .
Furthermore , the aide said that `` nonbank lenders are still getting up and running '' in terms of getting loan authorization approval from the Treasury and learning how the small-business relief program works .

Congressional Republicans say that Democrats' demand to restructure the small-business relief program by setting aside funds for community-based lenders is unworkable and would bring the relief program to a standstill.
Disagreement over the Democratic request is part of the holdup as both parties attempt to approve an additional $250 billion in forgivable loans for the Small Business Administration's coronavirus relief program, called the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established to help small businesses as part of the massive $2.3 trillion CARES Act relief package that President Trump signed last month.
There is much anxiety that the program could run out of money before the end of the week because $270 billion of the $350 billion originally allocated for the fund had been claimed as of Tuesday evening. According to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the program is burning through more than $3.5 billion every hour that loans are processed.
Congressional Democrats have requested that $60 billion of the small-business relief program be set aside for community-based lenders in the hopes of ensuring that vulnerable small businesses and underserved communities seeking loans are not left behind. Community-based lenders are typically small financial institutions with a focus on their local community and are designed to provide financial assistance to small businesses that have often been turned down by traditional banks. Democrats claim that the program has been slow to help some small businesses, especially ones that are rural or run by minorities, women, or veterans.
"Small businesses are already being hurt because they’re not being served by the big banks that have chosen to only lend to their existing customers," said a senior Democratic aide in the House of Representatives, "and, even then, in many cases, only when they already [have] lending relationships. They haven’t really opened up to new customers."
Thus far, authorized banks in the program are lending more to businesses receiving larger loans with payrolls larger than minority businesses typically have, according to analysis done by the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit group that advocates for boosting consumer financial protections.
Republicans on Capitol Hill said they agree with Democrats regarding the need to serve vulnerable communities and minority-owned businesses better during the coronavirus pandemic but disagree strongly that the $60 billion set-aside Democrats want would help achieve that outcome.
“The Paycheck Protection Program is burning through over $3.5 billion an hour. Creating a set-aside pool of money is not just unworkable, it would slow down the program at a time when small businesses need it most,” said a senior GOP Senate aide.
The Republican aide said that the set-aside would require the SBA to track the disbursement of the $60 billion of funds to community-based lenders to make sure the $60 billion red line doesn't get crossed and too much money is spent. This would be an extremely complicated endeavor, the GOP aide said, and could bring the loan program to a halt.
"A set-aside is unworkable. It would create a separate pool of money, and it would require an additional amount of paperwork and certification that will only complicate an already difficult process," the aide said.
Democrats said that nothing in their small business relief re-funding bill says that the Trump administration and the SBA would "have to stop what they’re doing now to allocate the $60 billion set-aside for community-based lending entities."
Furthermore, Democrats said, the Treasury Department has been "painfully slow" in authorizing new lenders to disburse the small-business loans.
Republicans in Congress have hit back, arguing that the loan program has not denied or excluded vulnerable businesses or underserved communities but that they are dealing with the same challenges as other businesses seeking relief from SBA-approved banks and lenders through the program.
"What is hurting underserved communities isn’t that the big banks are denying them," said a senior GOP aide in the Senate. "When the program launched, they were denying everyone except existing customers."
Republicans cited SBA data to argue that the big banks aren't denying underserved communities small-business loans. On the second day of the program, 124,000 loans were processed through the program, totaling $36 billion from over 2,300 lenders, which doesn't include loans from any big banks. As of Tuesday afternoon, a little over a week after the loan disbursement started, the program has approved over 1 million loans and has over 4,700 lenders approved to give out the loans.
The Republican aide said that the biggest hurdle facing underserved communities is that community banks can’t lend without knowing they have enough financial reserves in-house to be able to disburse funds. Furthermore, the aide said that "nonbank lenders are still getting up and running" in terms of getting loan authorization approval from the Treasury and learning how the small-business relief program works.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Biden’s Youth Vote Problem

Biden’s Youth Vote Problem

The youth vote is a pillar of the modern Democratic Party coalition .
It was essential for former President Barack Obama ’ s 2008 and 2012 victories , and to Hillary Clinton earning a plurality of the popular vote .
While voters under the age of 35 seem to be a lock for Democrats , they are less than enthusiastic about supporting Joe Biden , and it could become a serious problem in the fall .
During the Democratic primary , young voters across the country flocked to Sen. Bernie Sanders , even in states that overwhelmingly voted for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Biden won 63 % and 49 % of the vote , showed he still lost voters under the age of 30 by a double-digit margin .
Clinton experienced a similar pattern during the 2016 Democratic primary , yet by the time she clinched the nomination , polls showed that young voters preferred her far better than Donald Trump .
Polls conducted by Fox News , Bloomberg News , the Economist/YouGov , ABC/Washington Post , and Monmouth University right before the general election showed Clinton with a 21-point lead among voters under 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 19 points , 55 to 36 , with 9 % of young voters choosing a third-party candidate .
So far , Biden hasn ’ t had the same luck as Clinton with wooing young voters .
His first problem is they didn ’ t show up en masse in 2020 , not even for Sanders .
A study by found that youth turnout was either down or flat in eight of the first 12 primary contests , including in crucial swing states such as New Hampshire and North Carolina .
This happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its message and platform to cater to young progressives across the country .
Democratic insiders have been sounding the alarm about Biden ’ s trouble with young voters since March , telling that it reminded them of Hillary Clinton .
That problem hasn ’ t gone away , even as he ’ s become the presumptive nominee .
Recent polls conducted by Fox News , Monmouth , CNN , Quinnipiac , Selzer , and ABC/Washington Post found that Biden leads President Trump with voters under 35 by an average of just 12 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Further complicating the situation for Biden is that a large portion of Sanders ’ s voters still show no signs of warming up to Biden .
A Morning Consult poll taken on April 7 found that a plurality of Sanders supporters under the age of 35 held an unfavorable view of Biden .
A recent poll found that 15 % of Sanders supporters plan on voting for Trump in the general election .
Many more are saying that they are undecided or might not end up voting at all .
That poll was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans for at least six months but possibly through the end of the year , a significant issue for young voters .
There are even rumors that Trump may go forward with some form of student loan forgiveness .
The Biden campaign has spun into a defensive mode , with its candidate locked in his house making campaign videos , his age entirely on display .
Trump ’ s numbers are improving substantially from where they were four years ago with younger millennials and Generation Z .
If Biden plans on winning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pivot his campaign toward young voters or find a different coalition than the one that pushed Obama to victory 12 years ago .
Ryan Girdusky ( @ RyanGirdusky ) is the author of the book They 're Not Listening , How the Elites Created the National Populist Revolution .

The youth vote is a pillar of the modern Democratic Party coalition. It was essential for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 victories, and to Hillary Clinton earning a plurality of the popular vote. While voters under the age of 35 seem to be a lock for Democrats, they are less than enthusiastic about supporting Joe Biden, and it could become a serious problem in the fall.
During the Democratic primary, young voters across the country flocked to Sen. Bernie Sanders, even in states that overwhelmingly voted for Biden. In Alabama and South Carolina, where Biden won 63% and 49% of the vote, exit polls showed he still lost voters under the age of 30 by a double-digit margin.
Clinton experienced a similar pattern during the 2016 Democratic primary, yet by the time she clinched the nomination, polls showed that young voters preferred her far better than Donald Trump. Polls conducted by Fox News, Bloomberg News, the Economist/YouGov, ABC/Washington Post, and Monmouth University right before the general election showed Clinton with a 21-point lead among voters under 35. She ultimately won that age group by 19 points, 55 to 36, with 9% of young voters choosing a third-party candidate.
So far, Biden hasn’t had the same luck as Clinton with wooing young voters.
His first problem is they didn’t show up en masse in 2020, not even for Sanders. A study by The Harvard Institute of Politics found that youth turnout was either down or flat in eight of the first 12 primary contests, including in crucial swing states such as New Hampshire and North Carolina. This happened even though Sanders’s campaign designed its message and platform to cater to young progressives across the country.
Democratic insiders have been sounding the alarm about Biden’s trouble with young voters since March, telling NBC News that it reminded them of Hillary Clinton. That problem hasn’t gone away, even as he’s become the presumptive nominee. Recent polls conducted by Fox News, Monmouth, CNN, Quinnipiac, Selzer, and ABC/Washington Post found that Biden leads President Trump with voters under 35 by an average of just 12 points, 49% to 37%.
Further complicating the situation for Biden is that a large portion of Sanders’s voters still show no signs of warming up to Biden. A Morning Consult poll taken on April 7 found that a plurality of Sanders supporters under the age of 35 held an unfavorable view of Biden. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll found that 15% of Sanders supporters plan on voting for Trump in the general election. Many more are saying that they are undecided or might not end up voting at all. That poll was conducted before Trump announced he was waiving student loans for at least six months but possibly through the end of the year, a significant issue for young voters. There are even rumors that Trump may go forward with some form of student loan forgiveness.
The Biden campaign has spun into a defensive mode, with its candidate locked in his house making campaign videos, his age entirely on display. Trump’s numbers are improving substantially from where they were four years ago with younger millennials and Generation Z. If Biden plans on winning the White House, he will have to pivot his campaign toward young voters or find a different coalition than the one that pushed Obama to victory 12 years ago.
Ryan Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) is the author of the book They're Not Listening, How the Elites Created the National Populist Revolution.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Grocers See Record Sales as Retail Suffers

Even in their worst nightmares , U.S. retailers could not have imagined such an apocalyptic loss of sales in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic and that ’ s left many companies just struggling to survive .
Sales at clothing stores tumbled a record 50 % in March alone , when states did not begin to order most stores closed until the last two weeks of the month .
Record sales declines of 20 % or more also slammed auto dealers , restaurants , department stores , and outlets that sell sporting goods , books , music and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers to clean up were grocers .
Americans swamped local chains and mom-and-pop stores to hoarded toilet paper and other essential items .
Sales soared a record 27 % .
“ The only real winners were grocery stores , who benefited by the frenzied spending by shoppers who stocked up in anticipation of an extended lockdown , ” said Jim Baird , chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors .
Some economists predict grocery sales will fall back to earth in April after an initial burst of stocking up .
Social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people are in the store at once .
Yet Americans are eating more at home and groceries are the one segment of the retail industry that ’ s virtually bulletproof in any kind of downturn .
And the stocks of the largest publicly traded grocers reflect that reality .
Shares of one of the industry ’ s leaders , Kroger KR , remain near a 52-week high even as most other U.S. stocks have sustained deep losses .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA , , on the other hand , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .

Even in their worst nightmares, U.S. retailers could not have imagined such an apocalyptic loss of sales in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic and that’s left many companies just struggling to survive.
Read:Retail sales plunge record 8.7% as coronavirus crisis freezes U.S. economy
Sales at clothing stores tumbled a record 50% in March alone, when states did not begin to order most stores closed until the last two weeks of the month.
Record sales declines of 20% or more also slammed auto dealers, restaurants, department stores, and outlets that sell sporting goods, books, music and other hobby items.
The one category of retailers to clean up were grocers. Americans swamped local chains and mom-and-pop stores to hoarded toilet paper and other essential items. Sales soared a record 27%.
“The only real winners were grocery stores, who benefited by the frenzied spending by shoppers who stocked up in anticipation of an extended lockdown,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors.
Some economists predict grocery sales will fall back to earth in April after an initial burst of stocking up. Social distancing rules have forced grocers to limit how many people are in the store at once.
Yet Americans are eating more at home and groceries are the one segment of the retail industry that’s virtually bulletproof in any kind of downturn. And the stocks of the largest publicly traded grocers reflect that reality.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--Gov. Cuomo to Order All New Yorkers Must Wear Face Coverings in Public

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he is ordering all people to wear a face covering while in public as the state works to combat the nation 's worst coronavirus outbreak .
The executive order will take effect after a three-day grace period , Cuomo said at his daily news conference in Albany .
In outlining a gradual reopening of businesses , Cuomo said the state is moving toward a `` new normal . ''
`` Where we 're going , it 's not a reopening in that we 're going to reopen what was .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo said .
`` If you are going to be in a situation , in public , where you come into contact with other people in a situation that is not socially distanced , you must have a mask or a cloth covering nose and mouth . ''
More than a third of the nation 's 600,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 are in New York , according to Johns Hopkins University .
While the outbreak appears to be leveling off , Cuomo said roughly 2,000 new cases are confirmed in the state every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be able to make a full comeback until there 's a vaccine , which scientists have said will take up to a year and a half .
`` It 's over when people know I 'm 100 % safe and I do n't have to worry about this .
When does that happen ?
When we have a vaccine ? ''
he said .
`` Until you have a vaccine , until you have the medical treatment , what do you do ?
How are you building the bridge ?
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening . ''
Part of that phased reopening is requiring people to wear face masks , he said .
Local governments would enforce the order , but fines wo n't be issued at this time , he said .
It would apply to people on public transit , including subways and buses , as well as in public spaces like grocery stores , he said .
It would even apply to people walking on the sidewalk .
The covering can be a bandana or scarf as long as it covers their nose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out for a walk in the park , go out for a walk because you need to get out of the house .
The dog is getting on your nerves , fine .
Do n't infect me .
You do n't have a right to infect me , '' he said .
While Cuomo said he 's not going to impose fines right now , he did n't rule out the possibility .
`` Now , if they do n't accept that and there 's widespread noncompliance , could we go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't be on the trains or buses unless you wear a mask , you could get there . ''
He said he hopes New Yorkers follow the rule `` because it makes sense . ''
Cuomo 's order came nearly two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its national coronavirus guidelines to recommend wearing face coverings in public places `` where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain … especially in areas of significant community-based transmission . ''
The CDC stressed at the time that people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet away from others in public and staying home whenever possible — even if they wear face coverings .
Health experts say there 's little evidence to show that cloth coverings can protect the wearer from contracting Covid-19 from others .
But they may help to prevent people with illnesses from spreading their germs .
Cuomo said that reopening commerce in his state , and the rest of the country , in the absence of a vaccine for the coronavirus would also hinge on testing people for Covid-19 and tracing the contacts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The more testing , the more open the economy , '' Cuomo said .
The Democratic governor repeatedly said the federal government needs to help expand the capacity for testing , noting that there are not currently enough tests available to do the level of screening that will be needed .
`` We can not do it without federal support , and I 've been saying it for days , '' Cuomo said .
In addition to increasing test capacity , he said the federal government would have to help states fund what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracers to identify people who have had interactions with infected people .

watch now
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he is ordering all people to wear a face covering while in public as the state works to combat the nation's worst coronavirus outbreak. The executive order will take effect after a three-day grace period, Cuomo said at his daily news conference in Albany. In outlining a gradual reopening of businesses, Cuomo said the state is moving toward a "new normal." "Where we're going, it's not a reopening in that we're going to reopen what was. We're going to a different place," Cuomo said. "If you are going to be in a situation, in public, where you come into contact with other people in a situation that is not socially distanced, you must have a mask or a cloth covering nose and mouth." More than a third of the nation's 600,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 are in New York, according to Johns Hopkins University. While the outbreak appears to be leveling off, Cuomo said roughly 2,000 new cases are confirmed in the state every day. He said the economy won't be able to make a full comeback until there's a vaccine, which scientists have said will take up to a year and a half.
Rules for wearing of face coverings in New York State stated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, April 15, 2020. Source: New York State
"It's over when people know I'm 100% safe and I don't have to worry about this. When does that happen? When we have a vaccine?" he said. "Until you have a vaccine, until you have the medical treatment, what do you do? How are you building the bridge? Well, it's going to be a phased reopening." Part of that phased reopening is requiring people to wear face masks, he said. Local governments would enforce the order, but fines won't be issued at this time, he said. It would apply to people on public transit, including subways and buses, as well as in public spaces like grocery stores, he said. It would even apply to people walking on the sidewalk. The covering can be a bandana or scarf as long as it covers their nose and mouth. "You're right to go out for a walk in the park, go out for a walk because you need to get out of the house. The dog is getting on your nerves, fine. Don't infect me. You don't have a right to infect me," he said. While Cuomo said he's not going to impose fines right now, he didn't rule out the possibility. "Now, if they don't accept that and there's widespread noncompliance, could we go to civil penalty or could I say you can't be on the trains or buses unless you wear a mask, you could get there." He said he hopes New Yorkers follow the rule "because it makes sense." Cuomo's order came nearly two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its national coronavirus guidelines to recommend wearing face coverings in public places "where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain … especially in areas of significant community-based transmission."
watch now
The CDC stressed at the time that people should maintain social distancing practices – staying 6 feet away from others in public and staying home whenever possible — even if they wear face coverings. Health experts say there's little evidence to show that cloth coverings can protect the wearer from contracting Covid-19 from others. But they may help to prevent people with illnesses from spreading their germs. Cuomo said that reopening commerce in his state, and the rest of the country, in the absence of a vaccine for the coronavirus would also hinge on testing people for Covid-19 and tracing the contacts of those people who test positive. "The more testing, the more open the economy," Cuomo said. The Democratic governor repeatedly said the federal government needs to help expand the capacity for testing, noting that there are not currently enough tests available to do the level of screening that will be needed. "We cannot do it without federal support, and I've been saying it for days," Cuomo said. In addition to increasing test capacity, he said the federal government would have to help states fund what would be "an army" of tracers to identify people who have had interactions with infected people.


bonginoreport--2020-04-15--How To Check The Status Of Your Stimulus Payment

The CARES Act created a stimulus check for many Americans and the IRS is calling them “ Economic Impact Payments.
” The CARES Act directs the IRS to use your 2019 tax return to determine how much you get and how to send the money .
If you didn ’ t file a 2019 tax return yet , they can use your 2018 tax return .
If you didn ’ t file either , they can use a Form SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or Form RRB-1099 Social Security Equivalent Benefit Statement .
If you ’ ve been on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few people have already seen them appear in their bank accounts .
This is because they filed their tax returns and opted to get their refunds direct deposited .
The IRS uses this information to make those payments and those with direct deposit information on file will get them first .
Those without that information will have to wait for paper checks in the mail .
What if you don ’ t remember if you put in direct deposit information ?
Or whether that information is still accurate ?
Fortunately , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use to check the status of your stimulus check .
This will only work if you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and you will need to know : If you moved , you want to use the information from your most recent tax return .
If you filed a 2019 tax return , use that information .
If you didn ’ t file a 2019 tax return yet , use the information from your 2018 tax return .
You can also use this tool to update your information .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and your information is incorrect , you can use the Get My Payment application to update your direct deposit information .
If you moved , you will have to use another method which may include informing the U.S .
Postal Service of a change of address .
It ’ s unclear if the status tool is accurate if you were not required to file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 .
If that describes your situation , your best next step is to use the IRS website to enter your payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get your stimulus check as quickly as possible .
Not everyone is eligible for a stimulus check .
If you are a single filer that earns more than $ 75,000 then your $ 1,200 payment will be reduced by 5 % of the amount over $ 75,000 .
If you make more than $ 99,000 then you won ’ t be eligible for a check .
Joint filers will get $ 2,400 if they earn less than $ 150,000 and that amount drops to zero if they earn more than $ 198,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for each dependent child , which is also subject to the same 5 % reduction rule .
The IRS has the information to calculate an accurate amount and the tool will be able to tell whether you are eligible and includes a payment date once they have it .

The CARES Act stimulus checks are being deposited and the IRS has a way for you to check the status ... [+] of yours. Getty
The CARES Act created a stimulus check for many Americans and the IRS is calling them “Economic Impact Payments.”
The CARES Act directs the IRS to use your 2019 tax return to determine how much you get and how to send the money. If you didn’t file a 2019 tax return yet, they can use your 2018 tax return. If you didn’t file either, they can use a Form SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or Form RRB-1099 Social Security Equivalent Benefit Statement.
If you’ve been on social media, you probably have seen that a few people have already seen them appear in their bank accounts.
This is because they filed their tax returns and opted to get their refunds direct deposited. The IRS uses this information to make those payments and those with direct deposit information on file will get them first. Those without that information will have to wait for paper checks in the mail.
What if you don’t remember if you put in direct deposit information?
Or whether that information is still accurate?
Fortunately, the IRS has released a tool that you can use to check the status of your stimulus check.
This will only work if you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and you will need to know:
Your Social Security Number
Your Date of Birth
Your Street Address
Your ZIP or Postal Code
If you moved, you want to use the information from your most recent tax return. If you filed a 2019 tax return, use that information. If you didn’t file a 2019 tax return yet, use the information from your 2018 tax return.
You can also use this tool to update your information. If you wish to have it direct deposited, and your information is incorrect, you can use the Get My Payment application to update your direct deposit information. If you moved, you will have to use another method which may include informing the U.S. Postal Service of a change of address.
It’s unclear if the status tool is accurate if you were not required to file a tax return for 2018 or 2019. If that describes your situation, your best next step is to use the IRS website to enter your payment information for non-filers. This will ensure you get your stimulus check as quickly as possible.
Not everyone is eligible for a stimulus check. If you are a single filer that earns more than $75,000 then your $1,200 payment will be reduced by 5% of the amount over $75,000. If you make more than $99,000 then you won’t be eligible for a check.
Joint filers will get $2,400 if they earn less than $150,000 and that amount drops to zero if they earn more than $198,000. You get an additional $500 for each dependent child, which is also subject to the same 5% reduction rule.
The IRS has the information to calculate an accurate amount and the tool will be able to tell whether you are eligible and includes a payment date once they have it.


bonginoreport--2020-01-07--Ilhan Omar’s Ex-Husband Remarries 37 Days After Divorce

Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s ex-husband has remarried — just 37 days after their divorce was finalized , according to a report Monday .
Ahmed Hirsi , the father of Omar ’ s three children , tied the knot to nurse Ladan Ahmed in a low-key ceremony in Somalia in a bid to avoid media scrutiny , the Daily Mail reported .
Hirsi ( D-Minnesota ) , 39 , married Ahmed on Dec. 12 in a Muslim ceremony .
The pair are now in Saudi Arabia on their honeymoon , according to the report .
Omar and her husband filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was having an affair with DC political consultant Tim Mynett .
Omar and Hirsi officially became single on Nov. 5 and Hirsi , the Mail reported , married his new bride just 37 days later .
In a photo shared on Instagram on Jan. 2 , Hirsi is smiling next to a woman believed to be his new bride in Mecca , Saudi Arabia , Islam ’ s holiest city .
“ I look forward to this new chapter in my life and I ask you all to join me in celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The post has dozens of comments from friends wishing the pair congratulations and blessings for their marriage .
Omar ’ s own alleged lover was seen grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked out of a Washington , DC , divorce court on Dec. 19 after officially splitting from his wife .
In August , The Post first reported the bombshell allegations that Omar was having an affair with Mynett , who had been on her campaign ’ s payroll .
Dr. Beth Mynett , now Dr. Beth Jordan , claimed her husband confessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affair with the Somali-born congresswoman before he ditched her , according to the divorce documents .
The pair denied the allegations and Omar insisted in an Aug. 28 interview that she and Hirsi were not separated and seeing other people .
But one friend of the couple told The Post that Omar and Hirsi separated in March , and claimed Omar repeatedly asked her husband to file divorce papers .
Hirsi refused , the friend said , and told Omar if she wanted a divorce she should file for it herself .
Omar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , first becoming engaged in 2002 and marrying in a faith-based ceremony before splitting in 2008 .
The next year , the congresswoman married another man , before splitting with him in 2011 and getting back with Hirsi and having their third child in 2012 .
Omar and Hirsi legally wed before she was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016 , but the marriage would end in divorce the next year .

That was quick!
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s ex-husband has remarried — just 37 days after their divorce was finalized, according to a report Monday.
Ahmed Hirsi, the father of Omar’s three children, tied the knot to nurse Ladan Ahmed in a low-key ceremony in Somalia in a bid to avoid media scrutiny, the Daily Mail reported.
Hirsi (D-Minnesota), 39, married Ahmed on Dec. 12 in a Muslim ceremony. The pair are now in Saudi Arabia on their honeymoon, according to the report.
Omar and her husband filed for divorce this past October amid allegations she was having an affair with DC political consultant Tim Mynett.
Omar and Hirsi officially became single on Nov. 5 and Hirsi, the Mail reported, married his new bride just 37 days later.
In a photo shared on Instagram on Jan. 2, Hirsi is smiling next to a woman believed to be his new bride in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Islam’s holiest city.
“I look forward to this new chapter in my life and I ask you all to join me in celebration,” he captioned the photo.
The post has dozens of comments from friends wishing the pair congratulations and blessings for their marriage.
Omar’s own alleged lover was seen grinning from ear-to-ear as he walked out of a Washington, DC, divorce court on Dec. 19 after officially splitting from his wife.
In August, The Post first reported the bombshell allegations that Omar was having an affair with Mynett, who had been on her campaign’s payroll.
Dr. Beth Mynett, now Dr. Beth Jordan, claimed her husband confessed in April that he was having an affair with the Somali-born congresswoman before he ditched her, according to the divorce documents.
The pair denied the allegations and Omar insisted in an Aug. 28 interview that she and Hirsi were not separated and seeing other people.
But one friend of the couple told The Post that Omar and Hirsi separated in March, and claimed Omar repeatedly asked her husband to file divorce papers.
Hirsi refused, the friend said, and told Omar if she wanted a divorce she should file for it herself.
Omar and Hirsi had their own complicated marital history, first becoming engaged in 2002 and marrying in a faith-based ceremony before splitting in 2008.
The next year, the congresswoman married another man, before splitting with him in 2011 and getting back with Hirsi and having their third child in 2012.
Omar and Hirsi legally wed before she was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016, but the marriage would end in divorce the next year.


bonginoreport--2020-01-07--Did Iran Just Admit to the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103?

The world is speculating over the nature of Iran 's strike back against the United States in the wake of the killing of top ranking IRGC commander and the leader of the Quds Force , Qasem Soleimani .
A tweet by President Hassan Rouhani on Monday has offered a glimpse into the possible options the Iranian think tanks have at hand .
Warning the US not to threaten the Iranian nation , Rouhani sternly asked his foes to remember 'the number 290 ' .
Think tanks have always said Iran might shun a direct attack on the US interests but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humiliating assault on the 'Great Satan . '
In that context , Rouhani 's tweet assumes importance .
He was drawing attention to the crash of the Iran Air passenger flight in 1988 .
The US Navy shot down the passenger plane over Iran 's territorial waters over the Persian Gulf , believing that it was a fighter jet .
As many as 290 people were killed in the attack .
Six months later , in December 1988 , the Lockerbie plane crash happened .
As many as 290 passengers in the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened over Lockerbie in Scotland .
By reminding the number 290 - the number of victims in the Iran Air plane crash -- Rouhani was subtly drawing the Americans ' attention to the PanAm flight bombing , which was called a terror attack by the US .
Iran was not directly blamed for the Pan American bombing .
Blame rested officially on Colonel Gaddafi 's Libya , but prominent geopolitical and intelligence experts believed that the order to strike the American plane came directly from Iran .
Rouhani 's tweet can also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Lockerbie bombing 30 years after the terror strike .
The image of the weeping Supreme Leader , Ayatollah Khamenei , on Monday captures the depth of Iran 's hurt and it may be only a matter of time before Tehran strikes s US target .
Iran will choose the time and mode of the attack , but analysts believe that it may avoid launching a full frontal attack on a US target in the region .
What will be that target ?
It 's anyone 's guess .
A whole lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iran .
These include the US military bases in countries like Iraq , Bahrain , Djibouti , Israel , Jordan , Turkey , Kuwait , Oman and the UAE .
Some of these are Iran 's foes while some are neutral or aligned with Tehran .
An Iranian strike at any of these places can snowball into a direct war .
It can even spin out into a wider war in the region , if not the World War 3 .
A direct attack on the US bases in any of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gulf or the strategic Strait of Hormuz is fraught with dangers .
At the same time , Iran is well disposed to use the militias it controls in the region to launch an attack on the US .
Will Iran resort to a Lockerbie-like attack on US interests to avenge the death of the Quds Force commander ?
The Lockerbie incident refers to the crash of the Pan Am Flight 103 , over Lockerbie , Scotland , on December 21 , 1988 .
The passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bomb was detonated in-flight .
All 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground were killed .
The Boeing 747 was flying to New York City from London .
The timer-activated bomb was hidden in a cassette player that was stored in a suitcase .
The bomb was made with the odourless plastic explosive Semtex .
Most of the victims were Americans .
The investigators held two Libyan intelligence operatives directly responsible for the terror attack .
Gaddafi denied responsibility and refused to cooperate in the probe initially .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspects were extradited to the UK .
In 2001 , after an investigation that involved interviewing 15,000 people and examining 180,000 pieces of evidence , Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was convicted of the bombing and sentenced to 20 years in prison .
The Iranian passenger plane flying from Tehran to Dubai was shot down in July 1988 .
It was a guided cruise missile launched from the USS Vincennes in the Strait of Hormuz that led to the death of 290 people on board .
The incident happened during the Iran-Iraq war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Bandar-e ʿAbbās airbase in Iran , which was used by both military and civilian planes .
The aggressive commander of the USS Vincennes , Capt .
William C. Rogers III , concluded that it was a fighter jet and ordered the launch of two surface-to-air missiles .
Later , the US military was accused of a cover-up .

The world is speculating over the nature of Iran's strike back against the United States in the wake of the killing of top ranking IRGC commander and the leader of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. A tweet by President Hassan Rouhani on Monday has offered a glimpse into the possible options the Iranian think tanks have at hand. Warning the US not to threaten the Iranian nation, Rouhani sternly asked his foes to remember 'the number 290'.
Think tanks have always said Iran might shun a direct attack on the US interests but would use its proxies to inflict a humiliating assault on the 'Great Satan.' In that context, Rouhani's tweet assumes importance. He was drawing attention to the crash of the Iran Air passenger flight in 1988. The US Navy shot down the passenger plane over Iran's territorial waters over the Persian Gulf, believing that it was a fighter jet. As many as 290 people were killed in the attack.
Six months later, in December 1988, the Lockerbie plane crash happened. As many as 290 passengers in the American flight died in the crash, which happened over Lockerbie in Scotland. By reminding the number 290 - the number of victims in the Iran Air plane crash -- Rouhani was subtly drawing the Americans' attention to the PanAm flight bombing, which was called a terror attack by the US.
Weeping Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei
Iran was not directly blamed for the Pan American bombing. Blame rested officially on Colonel Gaddafi's Libya, but prominent geopolitical and intelligence experts believed that the order to strike the American plane came directly from Iran. Rouhani's tweet can also be interpreted as Iran's admission of role in the Lockerbie bombing 30 years after the terror strike.
The image of the weeping Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, on Monday captures the depth of Iran's hurt and it may be only a matter of time before Tehran strikes s US target. Iran will choose the time and mode of the attack, but analysts believe that it may avoid launching a full frontal attack on a US target in the region.
What will be that target? It's anyone's guess. A whole lot strategic US assets are within striking distance of Iran. These include the US military bases in countries like Iraq, Bahrain, Djibouti, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE. Some of these are Iran's foes while some are neutral or aligned with Tehran. An Iranian strike at any of these places can snowball into a direct war. It can even spin out into a wider war in the region, if not the World War 3.
A direct attack on the US bases in any of these places, or on US vessels in the Gulf or the strategic Strait of Hormuz is fraught with dangers. At the same time, Iran is well disposed to use the militias it controls in the region to launch an attack on the US. Will Iran resort to a Lockerbie-like attack on US interests to avenge the death of the Quds Force commander?
What is Lockerbie bombing?
The Lockerbie incident refers to the crash of the Pan Am Flight 103, over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. The passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) went down after a bomb was detonated in-flight. All 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground were killed. The Boeing 747 was flying to New York City from London. The timer-activated bomb was hidden in a cassette player that was stored in a suitcase. The bomb was made with the odourless plastic explosive Semtex. Most of the victims were Americans.
The investigators held two Libyan intelligence operatives directly responsible for the terror attack. Gaddafi denied responsibility and refused to cooperate in the probe initially. However, he yielded ten years later and the suspects were extradited to the UK. In 2001, after an investigation that involved interviewing 15,000 people and examining 180,000 pieces of evidence, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was convicted of the bombing and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Shooting down of Iran Air flight 655
The Iranian passenger plane flying from Tehran to Dubai was shot down in July 1988. It was a guided cruise missile launched from the USS Vincennes in the Strait of Hormuz that led to the death of 290 people on board. The incident happened during the Iran-Iraq war. The Airbus A300 had taken off from the Bandar-e Ê¿AbbÄs airbase in Iran, which was used by both military and civilian planes. The aggressive commander of the USS Vincennes, Capt. William C. Rogers III, concluded that it was a fighter jet and ordered the launch of two surface-to-air missiles. Later, the US military was accused of a cover-up.