bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Police Open Homicide Investigation Into Death of Man Who Ingested Chloroquine Phosphate (Fish Tank C

Police Open Homicide Investigation Into Death of Man Who Ingested Chloroquine Phosphate (Fish Tank Cleaner)

The Mesa City Police Department 's homicide division is investigating the death of Gary Lenius , the Arizona man whose wife served him soda mixed with fish tank cleaner in what she claimed was a bid to fend off the coronavirus .
A detective handling the case confirmed the investigation to the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday after requesting a recording of the Free Beacon 's interviews with Lenius 's wife , Wanda .
Gary Lenius , 68 , died on March 22 .
Wanda , 61 , told several news outlets last month that both she and her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aquariums after hearing President Donald Trump tout one of its ingredients , chloroquine phosphate , from the White House briefing room .
Detective Teresa Van Galder , the homicide detective handling the case for the Mesa City Police Department , confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but declined to provide additional details .
`` As this is an active investigation , I can not go into any details at this time regarding the case , '' Van Galder said .
The Free Beacon provided a recording of its interview last month with Wanda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes after a series of Free Beacon stories raised questions about the portrayal of the couple in the initial NBC News report that vaulted the story onto the national stage .
Though that report and others suggested the couple mindlessly followed the president 's medical advice to disastrous results , friends of Gary Lenius told the Free Beacon they were skeptical he would knowingly ingest fish tank treatment .
Rather , they described Lenius as a levelheaded retired engineer and recounted a troubled marital relationship that included a previous domestic assault charge against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately found not guilty .
The Free Beacon also reported that Wanda Lenius was a Democratic donor whose most recent contribution went to a `` pro-science '' super PAC .
`` What bothers me about this is that Gary was a very intelligent man , a retired [ mechanical ] engineer who designed systems for John Deere in Waterloo , Iowa , and I really ca n't see the scenario where Gary would say , ‘ Yes , please , I would love to drink some of that Koi fish tank cleaner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Free Beacon .
`` It just does n't make any sense . ''
Another source , who asked that all identifying information be withheld , told the Free Beacon earlier this month that Wanda Lenius `` would constantly berate Gary in public.… Everyone was embarrassed for him , but he outwardly did not seem to care much . ''
`` In our opinion , their marriage was seen outwardly to be as one-sided as a marriage possibly could be : Gary worshiped Wanda , '' this person said , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doofus '' and humiliate him in public .
Wanda Lenius was charged with domestic abuse assault in 2001 after she allegedly hit her husband and swung a mounted birdhouse at him .
Gary Lenius declined to cooperate in the case , testifying that he was not injured or placed in fear of injury .
His wife was exonerated .
Wanda Lenius said in a phone interview with the Free Beacon last month that she and her husband had watched the president tout the virtues of chloroquine on the news , citing preliminary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising treatment for coronavirus .
She remembered purchasing a container of `` chloroquine phosphate '' years before to clean a fish tank , she said .
The powder , which can be lethal if ingested , is sold by aquarium suppliers and used to treat viral outbreaks in large fish tanks .
She told the Free Beacon that she had mentioned this to her husband `` and he kind of laughed at me , you know .
It was just a regular conversation . ''
`` We were n't big supporters of [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they were using it in China and stuff , '' she said .
`` And we just made a horrible , tragic mistake . ''
Campaign finance records show that Wanda Lenius has given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the past two years , most recently to the 314 Action Fund .
The group bills itself as the `` pro-science resistance '' and has criticized the Trump administration 's response to the coronavirus pandemic , holding up the Lenius case to slam the White House .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Beacon that her husband had been planning to schedule a doctor 's appointment to have a leg injury looked at and the couple worried he might pick up coronavirus at the clinic .
That 's when , she said , she reached for the fish tank cleaner in her pantry .
Her husband 's response , she said , was , `` Is it still good ? ''
Wanda Lenius routinely prepared a `` vitamin cocktail '' for him , according to Gary Lenius 's friend .
Asked if she and Gary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chloroquine at that time , she told the Free Beacon : `` No .
I mean , it was really kind of a spur of the moment thing , '' adding that the couple ingested `` one teaspoon and some soda '' each , at least four times the lethal limit .

Mesa City PD opens investigation into death of Gary Lenius whose wife, Wanda, said she served him a deadly cocktail to ward off coronavirus
The Mesa City Police Department's homicide division is investigating the death of Gary Lenius, the Arizona man whose wife served him soda mixed with fish tank cleaner in what she claimed was a bid to fend off the coronavirus. A detective handling the case confirmed the investigation to the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday after requesting a recording of the Free Beacon's interviews with Lenius's wife, Wanda.
Gary Lenius, 68, died on March 22. Wanda, 61, told several news outlets last month that both she and her husband had ingested a substance used to clean aquariums after hearing President Donald Trump tout one of its ingredients, chloroquine phosphate, from the White House briefing room.
Detective Teresa Van Galder, the homicide detective handling the case for the Mesa City Police Department, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but declined to provide additional details.
"As this is an active investigation, I cannot go into any details at this time regarding the case," Van Galder said. The Free Beacon provided a recording of its interview last month with Wanda Lenius.
News of the police probe comes after a series of Free Beacon stories raised questions about the portrayal of the couple in the initial NBC News report that vaulted the story onto the national stage.
Though that report and others suggested the couple mindlessly followed the president's medical advice to disastrous results, friends of Gary Lenius told the Free Beacon they were skeptical he would knowingly ingest fish tank treatment.
Rather, they described Lenius as a levelheaded retired engineer and recounted a troubled marital relationship that included a previous domestic assault charge against his wife, of which she was ultimately found not guilty. The Free Beacon also reported that Wanda Lenius was a Democratic donor whose most recent contribution went to a "pro-science" super PAC.
"What bothers me about this is that Gary was a very intelligent man, a retired [mechanical] engineer who designed systems for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, and I really can't see the scenario where Gary would say, 'Yes, please, I would love to drink some of that Koi fish tank cleaner,'" one of his close friends told the Free Beacon. "It just doesn't make any sense."
Another source, who asked that all identifying information be withheld, told the Free Beacon earlier this month that Wanda Lenius "would constantly berate Gary in public.… Everyone was embarrassed for him, but he outwardly did not seem to care much."
"In our opinion, their marriage was seen outwardly to be as one-sided as a marriage possibly could be: Gary worshiped Wanda," this person said, adding that his wife "would routinely call him a doofus" and humiliate him in public.
Wanda Lenius was charged with domestic abuse assault in 2001 after she allegedly hit her husband and swung a mounted birdhouse at him. Gary Lenius declined to cooperate in the case, testifying that he was not injured or placed in fear of injury. His wife was exonerated.
Wanda Lenius said in a phone interview with the Free Beacon last month that she and her husband had watched the president tout the virtues of chloroquine on the news, citing preliminary studies that showed it may be a promising treatment for coronavirus.
She remembered purchasing a container of "chloroquine phosphate" years before to clean a fish tank, she said.
The powder, which can be lethal if ingested, is sold by aquarium suppliers and used to treat viral outbreaks in large fish tanks. She told the Free Beacon that she had mentioned this to her husband "and he kind of laughed at me, you know. It was just a regular conversation."
"We weren't big supporters of [Trump], but we did see that they were using it in China and stuff," she said. "And we just made a horrible, tragic mistake."
Campaign finance records show that Wanda Lenius has given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the past two years, most recently to the 314 Action Fund. The group bills itself as the "pro-science resistance" and has criticized the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, holding up the Lenius case to slam the White House.
In the same interview, Wanda Lenius told the Free Beacon that her husband had been planning to schedule a doctor's appointment to have a leg injury looked at and the couple worried he might pick up coronavirus at the clinic. That's when, she said, she reached for the fish tank cleaner in her pantry. Her husband's response, she said, was, "Is it still good?"
Wanda Lenius routinely prepared a "vitamin cocktail" for him, according to Gary Lenius's friend.
Asked if she and Gary Lenius had a conversation about taking the chloroquine at that time, she told the Free Beacon: "No. I mean, it was really kind of a spur of the moment thing," adding that the couple ingested "one teaspoon and some soda" each, at least four times the lethal limit.
UPDATE, April 29, 11:17 A.M.: After publication, a spokesman for the Mesa City Police Department told the Free Beacon that it is "normal protocol" for the homicide department to investigate "all death cases (other than obvious natural causes)" and that the death "has not been ruled a homicide at this time."


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Five People Have Corroborated Tara Reade’s Allegations so Far

• Five different people have corroborated details of former Senate staffer Tara Reade ’ s sexual assault accusation against former Vice President Joe Biden .
• Reade ’ s former neighbor Lynda LaCasse , her brother Collin Moulton and former coworker Lorraine Sanchez are among those who have corroborated details of her account .
• Reade has accused Biden of pushing her against a wall , kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent .
More and more details of Tara Reade ’ s sexual assault accusation against former Vice President Joe Biden have been corroborated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while he was in the Senate , has accused the former vice president of pushing her up against a wall , kissing her , touching her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent in 1993 .
Biden has yet to personally address Reade ’ s accusation , though a campaign spokesperson has denied that the alleged incident ever happened .
Biden ’ s campaign hasn ’ t returned repeated requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Five people have corroborated details of Reade ’ s account against Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president , a Daily Caller News Foundation review of public statements found .
Reade ’ s late mother appeared to corroborate details of her account while calling into “ Larry King Live ” in 1993 , shortly after Reade left Biden ’ s office .
A transcript and video of the segment was uncovered after Reade mentioned in an interview that her mother had called into “ Larry King Live ” about her alleged assault .
“ I ’ m wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , after working for a prominent senator , and could not get through with her problems at all , and the only thing she could have done was go to the press , and she chose not to do it out of respect for him , ” a woman from Reade ’ s hometown told King .
Reade confirmed to the DCNF that it was her mother ’ s voice on the call .
Reade ’ s brother , Collin Moulton , confirmed to The Intercept that she told him about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened — long before she went public with her claims against Biden .
Her brother also confirmed that Reade ’ s mother had encouraged her to contact the police about the alleged assault .
Reade ’ s former neighbor , Lynda LaCasse , corroborated key details of Reade ’ s account in an interview published Monday .
“ This happened , and I know it did because I remember talking about it , ” LaCasse , a Biden supporter , told Business Insider .
( RELATED : DNC Chair Tom Perez Said Candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aside.
’ Now Joe Biden Is Facing A Sexual Assault Accusation ) “ I remember her saying , here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him , ” she added .
“ And he kind of put her up against a wall .
And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her .
She felt like she was assaulted , and she really didn ’ t feel there was anything she could do.
” LaCasse ’ s account of what Reade told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is describing the event now .
Reade has accused Biden of pushing her against a up wall in a Senate corridor , kissing her , touching her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent .
One of Reade ’ s close friends , who remained anonymous , also confirmed to The Intercept that Reade had described the alleged assault around the time it was said to have happened .
Ryan Grim , the reporter at The Intercept who spoke to Reade ’ s close friend , confirmed to the DCNF on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not LaCasse .
Reade ’ s former coworker , Lorraine Sanchez , also corroborated details of her account against Biden .
Sanchez and Reade worked together at a California state senator ’ s office in the mid-1990s .
Reade told Sanchez that “ she had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in D.C. , and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors , she was let go , fired , ” Sanchez told Business Insider .
She recalled Biden was Reade ’ s former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Reade named Biden when describing the incident .
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 .

Five different people have corroborated details of former Senate staffer Tara Reade’s sexual assault accusation against former Vice President Joe Biden.
Reade’s former neighbor Lynda LaCasse, her brother Collin Moulton and former coworker Lorraine Sanchez are among those who have corroborated details of her account.
Reade has accused Biden of pushing her against a wall, kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent.
More and more details of Tara Reade’s sexual assault accusation against former Vice President Joe Biden have been corroborated.
Reade, a former staffer for Biden while he was in the Senate, has accused the former vice president of pushing her up against a wall, kissing her, touching her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent in 1993.
Biden has yet to personally address Reade’s accusation, though a campaign spokesperson has denied that the alleged incident ever happened. Biden’s campaign hasn’t returned repeated requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Five people have corroborated details of Reade’s account against Biden, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, a Daily Caller News Foundation review of public statements found.
Reade’s mother
Reade’s late mother appeared to corroborate details of her account while calling into “Larry King Live” in 1993, shortly after Reade left Biden’s office. A transcript and video of the segment was uncovered after Reade mentioned in an interview that her mother had called into “Larry King Live” about her alleged assault.
“I’m wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington? My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him,” a woman from Reade’s hometown told King.
Reade confirmed to the DCNF that it was her mother’s voice on the call.
WATCH:
#BREAKING: HERE is the video from August 11,1993’s ‘Larry King Live’ described by @TheIntercept (and Tara Reade) as allegedly featuring her mother calling in and alluding to Reade’s sexual assault claims against @JoeBiden (blog here by @ScottJW) https://t.co/fCgEqBnX7n pic.twitter.com/V5FGHskv56 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 24, 2020
Reade’s brother
Reade’s brother, Collin Moulton, confirmed to The Intercept that she told him about the alleged assault around the time that it happened — long before she went public with her claims against Biden. Her brother also confirmed that Reade’s mother had encouraged her to contact the police about the alleged assault.
The former neighbor
Reade’s former neighbor, Lynda LaCasse, corroborated key details of Reade’s account in an interview published Monday.
“This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it,” LaCasse, a Biden supporter, told Business Insider. (RELATED: DNC Chair Tom Perez Said Candidates Who Committed Sexual Misconduct ‘Should Step Aside.’ Now Joe Biden Is Facing A Sexual Assault Accusation)
“I remember her saying, here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him,” she added. “And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn’t feel there was anything she could do.”
LaCasse’s account of what Reade told her decades ago tracks with how Reade is describing the event now. Reade has accused Biden of pushing her against a up wall in a Senate corridor, kissing her, touching her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent.
Reade’s close friend
One of Reade’s close friends, who remained anonymous, also confirmed to The Intercept that Reade had described the alleged assault around the time it was said to have happened. Ryan Grim, the reporter at The Intercept who spoke to Reade’s close friend, confirmed to the DCNF on Tuesday that the friend in the story is not LaCasse.
The former coworker
Reade’s former coworker, Lorraine Sanchez, also corroborated details of her account against Biden. Sanchez and Reade worked together at a California state senator’s office in the mid-1990s.
Reade told Sanchez that “she had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in D.C., and as a result of her voicing her concerns to her supervisors, she was let go, fired,” Sanchez told Business Insider. She recalled Biden was Reade’s former boss, but didn’t remember if Reade named Biden when describing the incident.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Federal Reserve Says “Near Zero” Interest Rates Are Here to Stay

The Federal Reserve painted a dour picture of current conditions and pledged Wednesday to continue its historically aggressive policy stance until it is comfortable that the U.S. economy is back on its feet .
Following this week 's Federal Open Market Committee meeting , the central bank said it would maintain its current interest rate target between 0 % and 0.25 % .
`` The ongoing public health crisis will weigh heavily on economic activity , employment , and inflation in the near term , and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` 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 commitment represents a pledge to hold rates near zero and keep them there until full employment returns and inflation gets back to around the Fed 's long-stated 2 % goal .
`` We 're going to not be in any hurry to withdraw these measures or to lift off .
We 're going to wait until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well on the road to recovery , '' Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in a post-meeting news conference .
There was no expression in the statement that the Fed feels confident about what its moves will lead to in terms of economic growth .
Instead , the committee said it will continue to monitor conditions `` including information related to public health , as well as global developments and muted inflation pressures , and will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy . ''
There also was no mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future , with Powell only saying they will continue `` as needed . ''
The Fed is engaged in an open-ended program of purchasing Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities .
Nor did the statement discuss any of the specific programs the Fed has implemented during the current crisis .
The move comes after a historically unprecedented time for the Fed .
Called into action to halt a market freeze and economic collapse from the coronavirus , the Fed enacted two emergency cuts that brought short-term borrowing rates back to where they were during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials announced 10 separate programs aimed at providing market liquidity and getting loans to businesses and consumers in need , several of which are yet to be implemented .

The Federal Reserve painted a dour picture of current conditions and pledged Wednesday to continue its historically aggressive policy stance until it is comfortable that the U.S. economy is back on its feet.
Following this week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the central bank said it would maintain its current interest rate target between 0% and 0.25%.
"The ongoing public health crisis will weigh heavily on economic activity, employment, and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term," the committee said in its post-meeting statement. "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 commitment represents a pledge to hold rates near zero and keep them there until full employment returns and inflation gets back to around the Fed's long-stated 2% goal.
"We're going to not be in any hurry to withdraw these measures or to lift off. We're going to wait until we're quite confident that the economy is well on the road to recovery," Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in a post-meeting news conference.
There was no expression in the statement that the Fed feels confident about what its moves will lead to in terms of economic growth. Instead, the committee said it will continue to monitor conditions "including information related to public health, as well as global developments and muted inflation pressures, and will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy."
There also was no mention of the pace of bond purchases in the future, with Powell only saying they will continue "as needed." The Fed is engaged in an open-ended program of purchasing Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities. Nor did the statement discuss any of the specific programs the Fed has implemented during the current crisis.
The move comes after a historically unprecedented time for the Fed.
Called into action to halt a market freeze and economic collapse from the coronavirus, the Fed enacted two emergency cuts that brought short-term borrowing rates back to where they were during the financial crisis. In addition, officials announced 10 separate programs aimed at providing market liquidity and getting loans to businesses and consumers in need, several of which are yet to be implemented.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Jobless Claims Tally Risks Topping 30 Million This Week

A view of New York state department of labor office in Brooklyn New York USA during coronavirus pandemic on April 14 , 2020 .
Some economists expect there were at least 4 million workers who filed for state unemployment benefits last week , signaling the job losses could be greater than expected , as states catch up on claims applications .
The sudden shutdown of the economy , starting in the second half of March , has resulted in an unprecedented number of layoffs and furloughs , and is expected to send claims for benefits to above 30 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26.4 million in the prior five weeks .
Total claims filed with states for the week ended April 25 will be reported Thursday at 8:30 a.m .
The consensus forecast of economists was at 3.5 million , according to Dow Jones .
There were 4.4 million claims filed in the prior week of April 18 .
But economists at both Barclays and Bank of America upped their forecasts for Thursday 's jobless claims .
Bank of America said the claims now look come in between 4.0 million to 4.2 million .
Barclays economists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 3.25 million .
Barclays chief U.S. economist Michael Gapen said there are signs at the state level of more filings than previously expected .
He also said the government programs , such as the Paycheck Protection Program , which were intended to help companies retain employees during the shutdowns and keep the economy in a `` suspended animation '' may not be as effective as expected .
`` The unemployment rate is telling you it 's not as successful as we had hoped it would be .
Programs like the PPP were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , that was n't the case , '' he said .
Economists have said there could be some signs the PPP was helping return workers to payrolls , but it may not show up for another couple of weeks .
`` It 's accurate to say the unemployment rate moved higher than many had expected .
We think it will be 19 % in April , '' Gapen said .
`` The six week cumulative in jobless claims will be about 30 million . ''
Claims for the prior week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , well below the peak of 6.6 million two weeks prior Bank of America economists said they find claims have only declined 2.5 % from last week , after scanning local news on state level data .
They found claims in 10 states and the District of Columbia show the total could be modestly higher than expected .
For instance , they found reports of claims rising to 437,000 in Texas from 280,000 the week earlier .
Claims in New Jersey reportedly rose to 200,000 for the week ended April 25 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economists said they also changed their forecast based on state data , including a jump in unemployment related phone calls to New York state .

A view of New York state department of labor office in Brooklyn New York USA during coronavirus pandemic on April 14, 2020.
Some economists expect there were at least 4 million workers who filed for state unemployment benefits last week, signaling the job losses could be greater than expected, as states catch up on claims applications.
The sudden shutdown of the economy, starting in the second half of March, has resulted in an unprecedented number of layoffs and furloughs, and is expected to send claims for benefits to above 30 million in six weeks. Claims already had reached 26.4 million in the prior five weeks.
Total claims filed with states for the week ended April 25 will be reported Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The consensus forecast of economists was at 3.5 million, according to Dow Jones. There were 4.4 million claims filed in the prior week of April 18.
But economists at both Barclays and Bank of America upped their forecasts for Thursday's jobless claims. Bank of America said the claims now look come in between 4.0 million to 4.2 million. Barclays economists raised their forecast, to 4 million from 3.25 million.
Barclays chief U.S. economist Michael Gapen said there are signs at the state level of more filings than previously expected. He also said the government programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, which were intended to help companies retain employees during the shutdowns and keep the economy in a "suspended animation" may not be as effective as expected.
"The unemployment rate is telling you it's not as successful as we had hoped it would be. Programs like the PPP were expected to keep workers on payrolls. So far, that wasn't the case," he said.
Economists have said there could be some signs the PPP was helping return workers to payrolls, but it may not show up for another couple of weeks.
"It's accurate to say the unemployment rate moved higher than many had expected. We think it will be 19% in April," Gapen said. "The six week cumulative in jobless claims will be about 30 million."
Claims for the prior week, ending April 18, rose by 4.4 million, well below the peak of 6.6 million two weeks prior
Bank of America economists said they find claims have only declined 2.5% from last week, after scanning local news on state level data. They found claims in 10 states and the District of Columbia show the total could be modestly higher than expected.
For instance, they found reports of claims rising to 437,000 in Texas from 280,000 the week earlier. Claims in New Jersey reportedly rose to 200,000 for the week ended April 25, from 139,000 the week before.
Barclays economists said they also changed their forecast based on state data, including a jump in unemployment related phone calls to New York state.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Dr. Fauci Casts Doubt on Sports Resuming This Year

While Major League Baseball ( MLB ) is trying to figure out a way to have an abbreviated 2020 season , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci says sports might not happen this year .
Dr. Fauci , a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , told The New York Times on Tuesday that sports may be sidelined until widespread testing is available .
“ Safety , for the players and for the fans , trumps everything , ” Dr. Fauci told the Times .
“ If you can ’ t guarantee safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to bite the bullet and say , ‘ We may have to go without this sport for this season.
’ ” However , senior MLB officials told Fox Business on Wednesday that they are “ near certain there will be Major League Baseball in 2020 , ” according to a tweet from reporter Charles Gasparino .
Dr. Fauci , who has made frequent media appearances since the task force was formed , said earlier this month that “ there ’ s a way ” for sports to resume if games are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams are quarantined in hotels between games .

While Major League Baseball (MLB) is trying to figure out a way to have an abbreviated 2020 season, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci says sports might not happen this year.
Dr. Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, told The New York Times on Tuesday that sports may be sidelined until widespread testing is available.
“Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Dr. Fauci told the Times. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then unfortunately you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season.’”
However, senior MLB officials told Fox Business on Wednesday that they are “near certain there will be Major League Baseball in 2020,” according to a tweet from reporter Charles Gasparino.
BREAKING: Senior @MLB officials tell @FoxBusiness they are near certain there will be major league baseball in 2020 even if the details of the game are still being debated. League closely watching @NYGovCuomo for timing on reopening of NYC and games for @Mets @Yankees more now — Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) April 29, 2020
Dr. Fauci, who has made frequent media appearances since the task force was formed, said earlier this month that “there’s a way” for sports to resume if games are played without fans in the seats and teams are quarantined in hotels between games.
“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” said Dr. Fauci. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.” He added that “if we let our desire to prematurely get back to normal, we can only get ourselves right back in the same hole we were in a few weeks ago.” According to a report published Tuesday by Joel Sherman of the New York Post, MLB believes that it would be able to start the season by early July. There have been rumors that the season could possibly be played at Spring Training facilities in Arizona and Florida. Moreover, the National Basketball Association is reopening team practice facilities beginning Friday for players in states and cities that are loosening stay-at-home restrictions, NBA sources told ESPN over the weekend.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--The Green River Killer Was Almost Released Over Coroanvirus Concerns

Throughout the country , law enforcement has set free thousands of prisoners to “ protect them ” from COVID-19 inside jails and prisons .
While innocents are locked in their homes hiding from “ the invisible enemy , ” as President Trump calls it , county sheriffs , prison overseers , and governors have been busy freeing convicted criminals to stop them from getting the coronavirus .
The rogue ’ s gallery of convicts is a justice reformer ’ s dream .
Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva bragged he let prisoners out of his jail before he was even asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – this while he shut down gun stores so people could not buy guns to protect themselves .
But nothing is more , what ’ s the word for it ?
Ah , yes – INSANE – than what Washington State prison reformers nearly succeeded in doing last week .
The man we now know as the Green River Killer , Gary Ridgeway , was sent to prison for more than 500 years .
He was convicted of 49 murders of prostitutes , girls on the streets and vulnerable runaways , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1970s , ’ 80s and ’ 90s .
He would take the women and girls , have sex with them , and then strangle them , watching the light go out of their eyes as he squeezed the life out of them .
Sometimes he ’ d use a rope and sometimes he ’ d use his bare hands .
He ’ d pose their bodies and sometimes come back and have sex with the corpses .
His first victims were found in the Green River , giving the monster his moniker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80s but let go for lack of evidence .
A task force was formed to track down the serial killer and in 2001 – decades and multiple victims later – Gary Ridgeway was busted again and confessed to 71 murders .
Ridgeway was spared the death penalty because prosecutors knew it would take many millions of taxpayers dollars to give him appeals for the rest of his natural life .
There was understandable outrage at the time , but prosecutors assured victims ’ families and the general public that he would never ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never .
Predictably , the move also lowered the bar for any other death penalty cases coming thereafter .
“ Well , if you didn ’ t give the Green River Killer the death penalty then my client , who is a much nicer murderer , shouldn ’ t get it … ” And then came the coronavirus and everything changed .
A legal activist group , Columbia Legal Services , began agitating for inmates over 50 years old to be set free to save them from the virus .
Ridgeway is 71 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued in court that “ The Petitioners [ Columbia Legal Services ] demand that 2/3 of the prison population be released into the community , a number which includes serial killers and capital murderers.
” Among the killers to possibly be released , besides the Green River Killer , was Isaac Zamora , a multiple murderer who went on a shooting rampage and killed five people .
He ’ s serving a life sentence , whatever that means anymore .
The Skagit Valley Herald reported that the legal group didn ’ t take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes committed by the 2/3 of the inmates who would be released .
The response to the lawsuit by the state Office of the Attorney General notes that the request doesn ’ t account for severity of crimes .
It contends that what the lawsuit seeks could result in the release of almost 12,000 inmates , possibly even “ Green River Killer ” Gary Ridgway and Isaac Zamora , who killed six people and injured four others in a shooting spree in Skagit County in 2008 .
“ We ’ re not talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Skagit County Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula told the Skagit Valley Herald Tuesday .
“ We ’ re talking about really bad people.
” On Thursday , the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that those “ really bad people , ” including The Green River Killer , would face the coronavirus locked up like everyone else in the country .
The vote was 5-4 .
That means four of the Washington State Supreme Court were ready to empty the state prisons of 2/3 of the prisoners , including Gary Ridgeway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has just welcomed a new member of the Washington State Supreme Court to the bench , Justice G. Helen Whitener .
One vote saved Washington State from this legal tyranny , but it wasn ’ t hers .
Justice G. Helen Whitener ’ s name was not among those who voted to keep the “ really bad people ” in prison .

Throughout the country, law enforcement has set free thousands of prisoners to “protect them” from COVID-19 inside jails and prisons.
While innocents are locked in their homes hiding from “the invisible enemy,” as President Trump calls it, county sheriffs, prison overseers, and governors have been busy freeing convicted criminals to stop them from getting the coronavirus.
The rogue’s gallery of convicts is a justice reformer’s dream. Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva bragged he let prisoners out of his jail before he was even asked by the ACLU and other justice groups – this while he shut down gun stores so people could not buy guns to protect themselves.
But nothing is more, what’s the word for it? Ah, yes – INSANE – than what Washington State prison reformers nearly succeeded in doing last week.
The man we now know as the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, was sent to prison for more than 500 years. He was convicted of 49 murders of prostitutes, girls on the streets and vulnerable runaways, but he was suspected of committing 71 murders in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
He would take the women and girls, have sex with them, and then strangle them, watching the light go out of their eyes as he squeezed the life out of them. Sometimes he’d use a rope and sometimes he’d use his bare hands. He’d pose their bodies and sometimes come back and have sex with the corpses. His first victims were found in the Green River, giving the monster his moniker.
He was arrested in the ’80s but let go for lack of evidence. A task force was formed to track down the serial killer and in 2001 – decades and multiple victims later – Gary Ridgeway was busted again and confessed to 71 murders.
Ridgeway was spared the death penalty because prosecutors knew it would take many millions of taxpayers dollars to give him appeals for the rest of his natural life. There was understandable outrage at the time, but prosecutors assured victims’ families and the general public that he would never ever, ever get out of prison. Never.
Predictably, the move also lowered the bar for any other death penalty cases coming thereafter. “Well, if you didn’t give the Green River Killer the death penalty then my client, who is a much nicer murderer, shouldn’t get it … ”
And then came the coronavirus and everything changed.
Beginning in mid-March, @ACLU_WA, @disrightswa & Columbia Legal Services wrote letters to officials in counties, including Spokane, w/ larger jail populations, calling for "immediate actions" to reduce their population & take additional measures to protect remaining inmates. https://t.co/qT2XxbPSoT — @columbialegal (@columbialegal) April 27, 2020
A legal activist group, Columbia Legal Services, began agitating for inmates over 50 years old to be set free to save them from the virus. Ridgeway is 71 years old.
Q13 News reports prosecutors argued in court that “The Petitioners [Columbia Legal Services] demand that 2/3 of the prison population be released into the community, a number which includes serial killers and capital murderers.”
Among the killers to possibly be released, besides the Green River Killer, was Isaac Zamora, a multiple murderer who went on a shooting rampage and killed five people. He’s serving a life sentence, whatever that means anymore.
The Skagit Valley Herald reported that the legal group didn’t take into consideration the horrific nature of the crimes committed by the 2/3 of the inmates who would be released.
The response to the lawsuit by the state Office of the Attorney General notes that the request doesn’t account for severity of crimes. It contends that what the lawsuit seeks could result in the release of almost 12,000 inmates, possibly even “Green River Killer” Gary Ridgway and Isaac Zamora, who killed six people and injured four others in a shooting spree in Skagit County in 2008. “We’re not talking about low-level druggies and low-level property crimes,” Skagit County Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula told the Skagit Valley Herald Tuesday. “We’re talking about really bad people.”
On Thursday, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that those “really bad people,” including The Green River Killer, would face the coronavirus locked up like everyone else in the country.
The vote was 5-4. That means four of the Washington State Supreme Court were ready to empty the state prisons of 2/3 of the prisoners, including Gary Ridgeway.
We note that Columbia Legal Services has just welcomed a new member of the Washington State Supreme Court to the bench, Justice G. Helen Whitener.
Congratulations Justice Whitener! Justice G. Helen Whitener Sworn in to the Washington State Supreme Court by Washington Courts https://t.co/UNrgToxfA5 @WACourts — @columbialegal (@columbialegal) April 27, 2020
One vote saved Washington State from this legal tyranny, but it wasn’t hers. Justice G. Helen Whitener’s name was not among those who voted to keep the “really bad people” in prison.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Millennials Overtake Baby Boomers as Largest Living Adult Population

America has been buzzing over them for years , and finally , their importance has been certified : Millennials are now the largest living adult generation , according to the Census Bureau .
Long in the shadows of the fading and aging baby boomer generation , the younger group took the top spot in the latest report .
The Census Bureau reported that millennials , ages 23 to 38 in 2019 , totaled 72.1 million .
The 55-73 aged boomers numbered 71.6 million .
And they got there with the help of younger immigrants and the deaths of older people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of the numbers .
“ The millennial generation continues to grow as young immigrants expand its ranks .
Boomers — whose generation was defined by the boom in U.S. births following World War II — are aging and their numbers shrinking in size among them exceeds the number of older immigrants arriving in the country , ” Pew said .
It added that the millennial generation is expected to peak in 2033 , at 74.9 million .
The group has become politically important , especially so in the upcoming election .
Millennial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has urged Joe Biden to connect better with the generation .
The numbers have suggested for a few years that millennials either have or were about surpass boomers and Pew has charted it all .
In their latest report , they said , `` This latest revision reflects the newly available July 1 , 2019 , population estimates released in April 2020 , as well as new Census Bureau population projections released in 2017 .
Under these estimates , Millennials have overtaken Boomers under the Center ’ s revised definition . ''

America has been buzzing over them for years, and finally, their importance has been certified: Millennials are now the largest living adult generation, according to the Census Bureau.
Long in the shadows of the fading and aging baby boomer generation, the younger group took the top spot in the latest report.
The Census Bureau reported that millennials, ages 23 to 38 in 2019, totaled 72.1 million. The 55-73 aged boomers numbered 71.6 million.
And they got there with the help of younger immigrants and the deaths of older people, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the numbers.
“The millennial generation continues to grow as young immigrants expand its ranks. Boomers — whose generation was defined by the boom in U.S. births following World War II — are aging and their numbers shrinking in size among them exceeds the number of older immigrants arriving in the country,” Pew said.
It added that the millennial generation is expected to peak in 2033, at 74.9 million.
The group has become politically important, especially so in the upcoming election. Millennial Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, has urged Joe Biden to connect better with the generation.
The numbers have suggested for a few years that millennials either have or were about surpass boomers and Pew has charted it all. In their latest report, they said, "This latest revision reflects the newly available July 1, 2019, population estimates released in April 2020, as well as new Census Bureau population projections released in 2017. Under these estimates, Millennials have overtaken Boomers under the Center’s revised definition."


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Democrats Unveil Insane “Rent and Mortgage Cancellation” Act

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) and her fellow Democrats in “ The Squad ” want to capitalize on the Chinese coronavirus crisis to upend the entire housing market .
Omar released her bill last week , with the support of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) , Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
, Rashida Tlaib ( D-Mich. ) , and others .
She would use a temporary cancellation of rent and mortgage payments as a wedge to fundamentally alter the housing industry .
Omar ’ s “ Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act of 2020 ” would indeed cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the end of the national emergency President Donald Trump declared on March 13 .
All payments would be canceled across the entire country , “ regardless of income or payment level.
” Tenants and homeowners would not have to make payments , while landlords and lenders would not be able to use their failure to pay as a cause for eviction or foreclosure .
The inability to pay would also have no impact on credit scores .
In other words , tenants and homeowners get a rather substantial “ carrot.
” Landlords @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stick.
” Not only would they be barred from charging rent or mortgage payments , but tenants and homeowners who think they ’ ve suffered an “ adverse action ” regarding this order could sue them for damages in federal court .
The attorney general could also take civil action against landlords and lenders for violating the rights of tenants and homeowners under the act .
Under Omar ’ s bill , violators could face a $ 5,000 fine for the first offense and a $ 10,000 fine for the second offense .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three or more times could be fined $ 50,000 — or have their property seized .
As Reason ‘ s Christian Britschgi explained , “ That means the government could snatch up a landlord ’ s rental property just for reporting three tenants who didn ’ t pay their rent to a credit reporting agency.
” That ’ s only half of the bill , however .
Canceling rent and mortgage payments doesn ’ t just help tenants and homeowners make ends meet during the coronavirus crisis — it also removes key income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creates another opportunity for Omar and “ The Squad ” to upend the market .
The legislation would create two funds to compensate the landlords and lenders stuck with the bill , but this crucial bailout would come with devastating conditions .
As Omar ’ s office explains in a summary of the bill , landlords who accept the funds would have to pledge not to raise rents for five years .
They would also be barred from discriminating against tenants based on their credit score or criminal history during that five-year period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse — landlords would have to give tenants a 10 percent equity stake in their properties .
In order to receive vital funds , mortgage lenders would have to report detailed data to federal housing authorities .
As with any big government boondoggle , the legislation hands tremendous power over to a federal agency , in this case , the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) , which will oversee the bailout funds .
The bill would also create a new Affordable Housing Acquisition Fund under HUD , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy up private buildings and convert them to income-restricted affordable housing .
In order to empower this new federal housing apparatus , property owners would have to notify HUD every time they intend to sell a rental property and then give low-income housing providers 60 days to make their offer on a building .
In return , anyone purchasing a property through HUD ’ s affordable housing fund would be forced to provide tenants with free “ wrap-around ” services , including healthcare , childcare , employment and education assistance , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not hope to turn a profit , but local and state governments keen on showing support for the little guy would be sure to jump into the program , with federal assistance , of course .
In one fell swoop , “ The Squad ” would have created a partial government takeover of real estate and established a new entitlement program for housing , complete with state funding for healthcare , childcare , and other services .
Meanwhile , landlords and mortgage lenders would be stuck with a tremendous tab or forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
This seems to satisfy the Marxist goal of attacking the current owners of property in the name of helping the proletariat — but really just empowering the government .
Naturally , a short moratorium on rent for the duration of the coronavirus crisis is popular , but once again Democrats have shown themselves eager to jam institutional change into a temporary relief measure .
Thankfully , it seems this AOC “ Squad ” proposal issued by Ilhan Omar is unlikely to win support in the Democrat-majority House of Representatives , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems rather reminiscent of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s attempt to smuggle Green New Deal standards , voting “ reforms , ” and a $ 15/hour minimum wage into the $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed last month .
Democrats never let a good crisis go to waste .
Tyler O ’ Neil is the author of Making Hate Pay : The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Follow him on Twitter at @ Tyler2ONeil .
Editor ’ s Note : Want to support PJ Media so we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus they unleashed on the world ?
Join PJ Media VIP and use the promo code WUHAN to get 25 % off your VIP membership .

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and her fellow Democrats in “The Squad” want to capitalize on the Chinese coronavirus crisis to upend the entire housing market. Omar released her bill last week, with the support of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and others. She would use a temporary cancellation of rent and mortgage payments as a wedge to fundamentally alter the housing industry.
Omar’s “Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act of 2020” would indeed cancel rent and mortgage payments until a month after the end of the national emergency President Donald Trump declared on March 13. All payments would be canceled across the entire country, “regardless of income or payment level.” Tenants and homeowners would not have to make payments, while landlords and lenders would not be able to use their failure to pay as a cause for eviction or foreclosure. The inability to pay would also have no impact on credit scores.
In other words, tenants and homeowners get a rather substantial “carrot.”
Landlords and lenders get hit with the “stick.” Not only would they be barred from charging rent or mortgage payments, but tenants and homeowners who think they’ve suffered an “adverse action” regarding this order could sue them for damages in federal court. The attorney general could also take civil action against landlords and lenders for violating the rights of tenants and homeowners under the act.
Under Omar’s bill, violators could face a $5,000 fine for the first offense and a $10,000 fine for the second offense. Landlords or lenders who violate the act three or more times could be fined $50,000 — or have their property seized.
As Reason‘s Christian Britschgi explained, “That means the government could snatch up a landlord’s rental property just for reporting three tenants who didn’t pay their rent to a credit reporting agency.”
That’s only half of the bill, however. Canceling rent and mortgage payments doesn’t just help tenants and homeowners make ends meet during the coronavirus crisis — it also removes key income from landlords and lenders. That crisis creates another opportunity for Omar and “The Squad” to upend the market.
The legislation would create two funds to compensate the landlords and lenders stuck with the bill, but this crucial bailout would come with devastating conditions.
As Omar’s office explains in a summary of the bill, landlords who accept the funds would have to pledge not to raise rents for five years. They would also be barred from discriminating against tenants based on their credit score or criminal history during that five-year period. Of course, it gets even worse — landlords would have to give tenants a 10 percent equity stake in their properties.
In order to receive vital funds, mortgage lenders would have to report detailed data to federal housing authorities.
As with any big government boondoggle, the legislation hands tremendous power over to a federal agency, in this case, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will oversee the bailout funds. The bill would also create a new Affordable Housing Acquisition Fund under HUD, which would give money to government entities and nonprofits to buy up private buildings and convert them to income-restricted affordable housing.
In order to empower this new federal housing apparatus, property owners would have to notify HUD every time they intend to sell a rental property and then give low-income housing providers 60 days to make their offer on a building.
In return, anyone purchasing a property through HUD’s affordable housing fund would be forced to provide tenants with free “wrap-around” services, including healthcare, childcare, employment and education assistance, and financial literacy education.
Any such endeavor could not hope to turn a profit, but local and state governments keen on showing support for the little guy would be sure to jump into the program, with federal assistance, of course. In one fell swoop, “The Squad” would have created a partial government takeover of real estate and established a new entitlement program for housing, complete with state funding for healthcare, childcare, and other services.
Meanwhile, landlords and mortgage lenders would be stuck with a tremendous tab or forced to give away the store for five years. This seems to satisfy the Marxist goal of attacking the current owners of property in the name of helping the proletariat — but really just empowering the government.
Naturally, a short moratorium on rent for the duration of the coronavirus crisis is popular, but once again Democrats have shown themselves eager to jam institutional change into a temporary relief measure.
Thankfully, it seems this AOC “Squad” proposal issued by Ilhan Omar is unlikely to win support in the Democrat-majority House of Representatives, much less the Republican-majority Senate. Yet it seems rather reminiscent of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s attempt to smuggle Green New Deal standards, voting “reforms,” and a $15/hour minimum wage into the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed last month. Democrats never let a good crisis go to waste.
Tyler O’Neil is the author of Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Follow him on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
Editor’s Note: Want to support PJ Media so we can keep telling the truth about China and the virus they unleashed on the world? Join PJ Media VIP and use the promo code WUHAN to get 25% off your VIP membership.


bonginoreport--2020-04-29--Justin Amash Officially Becomes First “Libertarian Party” Member of Congress

Rep. Justin Amash ( I-MI ) announced on Tuesday that he is launching an exploratory committee for the

Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI) has joined the Libertarian Party as a member, according to a report by Detroit News and a tweet by the party’s national chairman.
The report stated that Amash joined the party on his 40th birthday on April 18, prior to his decision to announce an exploratory committee for President. Libertarian National Committee Chairman Nicholas Sarwark subsequently confirmed Amash’s membership on Twitter.
He is a sustaining member of the Libertarian Party and eligible to be nominated at convention. — Nicholas Sarwark (@nsarwark) April 29, 2020
This marks the first time ever that the Libertarian Party has secured a defection from an incumbent member of Congress, albeit an outgoing one. Amash is now the only member of Congress affiliated with a party other than the major two parties.
Several former members of Congress have participated in the Libertarian Party for various periods of time, such as Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK), Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA), Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). However, this was always after their tenure in Congress under a different party affiliation had ended. Most libertarian-minded politicians joined one of the two major parties, typically the Republican Party, to get elected to Congress, and several have since emerged as key allies of President Donald Trump.
Sarwark suggested that it is not guaranteed that Amash would secure the nomination.
“It’s by no means a done deal. He has to fight for it like anyone else would. We welcome him to the race, but our party prides itself in being different from the other two,” Sarwark claimed. “There’s no back-room deals, no party leadership putting thumbs on the scale. It’s a clean fight for the nomination.”
However, in practice, defectors from the Republican Party with a past record of elected office have had an easy path to the Libertarian presidential nomination, with Gov. Gary Johnson securing the nomination in 2016 and 2012, and Barr being nominated in 2008 before returning to the Republican Party. Sarwark admitted that Amash’s national status “automatically” made him a strong contender.


bonginoreport--2020-04-30--Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says It Could Take a Year or More for Economy to Recover

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has sketched out an altogether bumpier ride for the U.S. economy than many are predicting - one that sees business activity stop and start for months to come , until an effective treatment or vaccine for the novel coronavirus can be found .
Since the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States , economic growth stalled almost overnight as “ stay at home ” orders shut down large parts of the economy .
Economists and Trump administration officials have been divided about how deep and long-lasting the economic impact will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V shaped ” recovery , in which the economy rebounds quickly from a temporary shock .
Life in the United States could return to “ normal ” by June , White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Wednesday , adding that “ the hope is that by July the country ’ s really rocking again.
” Others predict a “ U shape , ” where it takes longer to bounce back .
The idea of a “ W-shaped ” recovery has also steadily gained traction as health experts increasingly warn about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and with it , a new downturn in economic growth .
Just under half of 45 economists responding to a Reuters poll earlier this month said the U.S. economic recovery would be “ U ” shaped .
Ten of those polled said it would be “ V ” shaped , and five said it would be “ W ” shaped .
The poll was conducted before the price of a barrel of U.S. crude oil fell below zero .
In comments on Wednesday , Powell indicated he sees even more disruption than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke at a press conference following the U.S. central bank ’ s latest policy meeting , at which the Fed reiterated it will use all its tools to support the economy .
Calling all current economic forecasts “ highly uncertain , ” Powell mapped out why he believes the economy may go through a series of peaks and troughs for at least a year or more as the world battles to keep the virus under control .
The United States has more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the respiratory disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 58,000 people have died , the highest number in the world .
“ We ’ re going to see economic data for the second quarter that ’ s worse than any data we ’ ve ever seen , ” Powell said .
After that , if more U.S. states begin to reopen and social distancing is gradually rolled back , the economy could begin to recover in , say , the third quarter , he said .
But that recovery could be fleeting , Powell cautioned .
“ This is the period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new outbreaks of the virus , ” he said .
“ After that period , the formal social distancing measures will be gone but you ’ ll still be left with probably a level of caution on the part of people who will worry and probably keep worrying for some time , ” he went on , detailing why consumers , who drive two-thirds of U.S. economic growth , are unlikely to be out in force anytime soon .
“ The main thing is to get into the stage where the economy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under control , where we don ’ t take too much risk of second and third waves , ” he said .
More than 26 million people have filed new claims for unemployment benefits since March 21 , as the economy contracted at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession .
Finally , Powell noted that economic data around the world is “ very , very negative and that too can weigh on U.S. performance over time.
” For all those reasons , Powell said , the central bank will do little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what unfolds , while fully expecting that the economic impact of measures taken to contain the virus will be felt , in at least some ways , for years to come .
“ This is such an extraordinary , extraordinary shock , unlike anything certainly that ’ s happened in my lifetime ... we ’ re still putting out the fire , we ’ re still trying to win , and I think we ’ ll be at that for a while , ” he said .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has sketched out an altogether bumpier ride for the U.S. economy than many are predicting - one that sees business activity stop and start for months to come, until an effective treatment or vaccine for the novel coronavirus can be found.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks to reporters after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in an emergency move designed to shield the world's largest economy from the impact of the coronavirus, during a news conference in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Since the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States, economic growth stalled almost overnight as “stay at home” orders shut down large parts of the economy. Economists and Trump administration officials have been divided about how deep and long-lasting the economic impact will be.
Some still foresee a “V shaped” recovery, in which the economy rebounds quickly from a temporary shock. Life in the United States could return to “normal” by June, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Wednesday, adding that “the hope is that by July the country’s really rocking again.”
Others predict a “U shape,” where it takes longer to bounce back. The idea of a “W-shaped” recovery has also steadily gained traction as health experts increasingly warn about a resurgence in virus cases come the fall, and with it, a new downturn in economic growth.
Just under half of 45 economists responding to a Reuters poll earlier this month said the U.S. economic recovery would be “U” shaped. Ten of those polled said it would be “V” shaped, and five said it would be “W” shaped. The poll was conducted before the price of a barrel of U.S. crude oil fell below zero.
In comments on Wednesday, Powell indicated he sees even more disruption than the “W” camp. He spoke at a press conference following the U.S. central bank’s latest policy meeting, at which the Fed reiterated it will use all its tools to support the economy.
Calling all current economic forecasts “highly uncertain,” Powell mapped out why he believes the economy may go through a series of peaks and troughs for at least a year or more as the world battles to keep the virus under control.
The United States has more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, and more than 58,000 people have died, the highest number in the world.
(See an interactive graphic on the novel coronavirus in the U.S. here)
“We’re going to see economic data for the second quarter that’s worse than any data we’ve ever seen,” Powell said. After that, if more U.S. states begin to reopen and social distancing is gradually rolled back, the economy could begin to recover in, say, the third quarter, he said.
But that recovery could be fleeting, Powell cautioned. “This is the period as well that carries the risk of new outbreaks of the virus,” he said.
“After that period, the formal social distancing measures will be gone but you’ll still be left with probably a level of caution on the part of people who will worry and probably keep worrying for some time,” he went on, detailing why consumers, who drive two-thirds of U.S. economic growth, are unlikely to be out in force anytime soon.
“The main thing is to get into the stage where the economy is healing, where we have the disease under control, where we don’t take too much risk of second and third waves,” he said.
More than 26 million people have filed new claims for unemployment benefits since March 21, as the economy contracted at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession.
Finally, Powell noted that economic data around the world is “very, very negative and that too can weigh on U.S. performance over time.”
For all those reasons, Powell said, the central bank will do little more at this stage than wait and see what unfolds, while fully expecting that the economic impact of measures taken to contain the virus will be felt, in at least some ways, for years to come.
“This is such an extraordinary, extraordinary shock, unlike anything certainly that’s happened in my lifetime ... we’re still putting out the fire, we’re still trying to win, and I think we’ll be at that for a while,” he said.


bonginoreport--2020-04-30--Networks Give Story About Mike Pence Not Wearing a Mask 3x the Coverage of Biden Scandal

The liberal media have shown an aversion to covering Tara Reade ’ s sexual assault allegations against 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden .
But when it came to Vice President Mike Pence not wearing a mask at the Mayo Clinic Tuesday , the same liberal networks decided it was a scandal worthy of their attention , giving it three times more airtime in 24 hours compared to what they spent on Biden ’ s scandal in an entire month .
An MRC analysis found that , between 2:00 p.m. Eastern Tuesday and 2:00 p.m. Eastern Wednesday , live programming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC , and NBC dedicated 87 minutes and 27 seconds to Pence lacking a mask .
That ’ s in contrast with a TOTAL of 28 minutes and 44 seconds for Reade ’ s allegations since they first arose on March 25 .
Sadly , ABC and NBC have yet to utter a single word about Reade , but they ’ ve spent one minute and 26 seconds and one minute and 53 seconds respectively boasting that Pence created “ a controversy ” for his “ apparent case of do as I say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a man who was heavily tested for the coronavirus not donning a mask was “ a controversy ” but credible allegations of a presidential candidate penetrating a staffer in 1993 wasn ’ t ?
CBS has thus far spent only one minute and three seconds on Reade , but combined for three minutes and 48 seconds during Tuesday ’ s CBS Evening News and Wednesday ’ s CBS This Morning gloating that Pence “ caused a bit of a stir.
” “ Vice President Pence says he is often tested for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he avoided a mask so he could look healthcare workers and researchers in the eye and say thank you .
Critics quickly pointed out a mask does not cover one ’ s eyes , ” sniped anti-Trump White House correspondent Weijia Jiang .
CNN slightly increased its Reade coverage , growing its total on April 28 from 14 minutes and 54 seconds to 23 minutes and two seconds thanks to three new segments .
That included CNN Tonight host Don Lemon actually pressed Stacey Abrams on the notion of a double standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who accused now-Justice Bret Kavanaugh in 2018 .
However , their coverage of Biden ’ s alleged assault was dwarfed by CNN ’ s efforts to harangue the administration as Pence ’ s mask-gate fetched an angry 48 minutes and 21 seconds .
Here ’ s a sampling of the verbal grenades lobbed at Pence by CNN guests and personalities ( click “ expand ” ) : DR. JONATHAN REINER : Wow .
So wrong .
So tone deaf .
Look , first of all , on one level this is just another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve gotten from this White House about this crisis…We want that message to be perpetuated by the President and Vice President , yet they refuse to do so .
They refuse to set an example .
I think it ’ s disgraceful .
DON LEMON : This is ridiculous .
We all know that you can , look somebody in the eye while wearing a mask…Sorry , but you ’ re the boss of that task force .
You know perfectly well that you should be wearing a masks -- a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on and there ’ s really only one reason not to .
To be the only one not wearing a mask .
That is for an audience of one… [ T ] hey seem to find leadership on this issue beyond them personally at a time when hundreds of millions of Americans are suffering and sacrificing and dying .
But they can ’ t do it .
We ’ re in the middle of a crisis…Do as I say and as I do .
Wear a mask .
It ’ s that simple…I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss this .
Okay , here we are .
JAMES PHILLIPS : [ B ] etween that and what the President said about wearing a mask is just an abject failure of crisis leadership .
ALISYN CAMEROTA : Well , one other message that it sends is the rules don ’ t apply to me .
The rules don ’ t apply to me is the message that it sends .
And , you know , obviously , we all remember a time when Republicans were up in arms about when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t apply to them , but then here is Vice President Pence not doing what we have all been told repeatedly for weeks that when you ’ re out in public , when you ’ re going to be coming within six feet of another human being , you must wear a mask so as not to endanger them .
Now , what Vice President Pence said was because he had been tested negative , he thought he didn ’ t have to wear one , but , you know , as Sanjay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a snap shot in time , at that moment , at that hour , that you were negative .
In the next 24 hours , you may have become positive .
So , even that logic is faulty .
Finally , MSNBC was behind CNN on both , but they still doled out 32 minutes about Pence .
Their Reade tally remained at four minutes and 39 seconds .
The Last Word host Lawrence O ’ Donnell feigned outrage , insisting that Pence “ didn ’ t care ” about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Donnell also descended into conspiracy theories , wondering if Pence visited the Mayo Clinic with the virus .
His evidence ?
This : “ He only knows that his last test for coronavirus indicates that he didn ’ t have it the last time he took that test .
Mike Pence could have then picked it up off a surface minutes after he was tested.
” In other words , none .
The deranged Morning Joe panel also had some thoughts on Wednesday ( click “ expand ” ) : JOE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask over your eyes , you can still look them in the eye and , Mika , he can actually follow the guidelines .
What a horrible example to Americans .
It was for an audience of one , of course .
MIKA BRZEZINSKI : Clair McCaskill , the doctors who are on the front lines who are talking to Mike Pence and his presence in that hospital , they were wearing masks .
I just wonder if you could , perhaps , describe for us , is it possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to please President Trump ?
CLAIRE MCCASKILL : I don ’ t think that it ’ s measurable and , you know , the thing that ’ s saddest about this , you know , we all go back between being angry , frustrated , sad .
What is so sad about this is that we have in this country always looked to the President and the Vice President to set an example , to model good behavior for American citizens and for our children .
And for the head of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go into a medical facility who has requested respectfully that he wear a mask , for him to think that the vanity of showing his face is more important than setting an example and role modeling for Americans….You would think Mike Pence would be more respectful of wanting to model everyone .
We need to make sure we ’ re not conveying this virus .
Wear a mask .
It ’ s not that hard .
WILLIE GEIST : Yeah , and he said he was there to pay tribute to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly could be more disrespectful than completely ignoring their rules and also their safety by not wearing the mask ?
It ’ s not just disrespectful , it ’ s going out of your way to be disrespectful and , as you guys said , to please President Trump , of course , who has said himself he doesn ’ t want to wear a mask .
METHODOLOGY : CNN and MSNBC counts began in Tuesday ’ s 2:00 p.m. Eastern hour of live programming , ending at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Wednesday when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resumed live shows at 4:00 a.m. Eastern and MSNBC at 5:00 a.m. Eastern .
The counts continued until 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday .
For the broadcast networks , the MRC only counted their flagship Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning newscasts on the broadcast networks of ABC , CBS , and NBC , along with their Sunday public affairs shows for the Reade count .
Thanks to NewsBusters associate editor Scott Whitlock and MRC senior news analyst Kyle Drennen for their assistance in tabulating broadcast network coverage of Pence

The liberal media have shown an aversion to covering Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegations against 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. But when it came to Vice President Mike Pence not wearing a mask at the Mayo Clinic Tuesday, the same liberal networks decided it was a scandal worthy of their attention, giving it three times more airtime in 24 hours compared to what they spent on Biden’s scandal in an entire month.
An MRC analysis found that, between 2:00 p.m. Eastern Tuesday and 2:00 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, live programming on ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and NBC dedicated 87 minutes and 27 seconds to Pence lacking a mask.
That’s in contrast with a TOTAL of 28 minutes and 44 seconds for Reade’s allegations since they first arose on March 25.
Sadly, ABC and NBC have yet to utter a single word about Reade, but they’ve spent one minute and 26 seconds and one minute and 53 seconds respectively boasting that Pence created “a controversy” for his “apparent case of do as I say, not as I do.”
So, a man who was heavily tested for the coronavirus not donning a mask was “a controversy” but credible allegations of a presidential candidate penetrating a staffer in 1993 wasn’t?
CBS has thus far spent only one minute and three seconds on Reade, but combined for three minutes and 48 seconds during Tuesday’s CBS Evening News and Wednesday’s CBS This Morning gloating that Pence “caused a bit of a stir.”
“Vice President Pence says he is often tested for coronavirus and since he does not have it, he avoided a mask so he could look healthcare workers and researchers in the eye and say thank you. Critics quickly pointed out a mask does not cover one’s eyes,” sniped anti-Trump White House correspondent Weijia Jiang.
CNN slightly increased its Reade coverage, growing its total on April 28 from 14 minutes and 54 seconds to 23 minutes and two seconds thanks to three new segments. That included CNN Tonight host Don Lemon actually pressed Stacey Abrams on the notion of a double standard between the treatment of Reade versus women who accused now-Justice Bret Kavanaugh in 2018.
However, their coverage of Biden’s alleged assault was dwarfed by CNN’s efforts to harangue the administration as Pence’s mask-gate fetched an angry 48 minutes and 21 seconds.
Here’s a sampling of the verbal grenades lobbed at Pence by CNN guests and personalities (click “expand”):
DR. JONATHAN REINER: Wow. So wrong. So tone deaf. Look, first of all, on one level this is just another in a series of mixed messages that we’ve gotten from this White House about this crisis…We want that message to be perpetuated by the President and Vice President, yet they refuse to do so. They refuse to set an example. I think it’s disgraceful. (….) DON LEMON: This is ridiculous. We all know that you can, look somebody in the eye while wearing a mask…Sorry, but you’re the boss of that task force. You know perfectly well that you should be wearing a masks -- a mask. You know that. Come on and there’s really only one reason not to. To be the only one not wearing a mask. That is for an audience of one…[T]hey seem to find leadership on this issue beyond them personally at a time when hundreds of millions of Americans are suffering and sacrificing and dying. But they can’t do it. We’re in the middle of a crisis…Do as I say and as I do. Wear a mask. It’s that simple…I can’t even believe we have to discuss this. Okay, here we are. (….) JAMES PHILLIPS: [B]etween that and what the President said about wearing a mask is just an abject failure of crisis leadership. (….) ALISYN CAMEROTA: Well, one other message that it sends is the rules don’t apply to me. The rules don’t apply to me is the message that it sends. And, you know, obviously, we all remember a time when Republicans were up in arms about when they thought presidents thought the rules didn’t apply to them, but then here is Vice President Pence not doing what we have all been told repeatedly for weeks that when you’re out in public, when you’re going to be coming within six feet of another human being, you must wear a mask so as not to endanger them. Now, what Vice President Pence said was because he had been tested negative, he thought he didn’t have to wear one, but, you know, as Sanjay Gupta and all our doctors said, that’s a snap shot in time, at that moment, at that hour, that you were negative. In the next 24 hours, you may have become positive. So, even that logic is faulty.
Finally, MSNBC was behind CNN on both, but they still doled out 32 minutes about Pence. Their Reade tally remained at four minutes and 39 seconds.
The Last Word host Lawrence O’Donnell feigned outrage, insisting that Pence “didn’t care” about the Mayo Clinic’s policy. O’Donnell also descended into conspiracy theories, wondering if Pence visited the Mayo Clinic with the virus.
His evidence? This: “He only knows that his last test for coronavirus indicates that he didn’t have it the last time he took that test. Mike Pence could have then picked it up off a surface minutes after he was tested.” In other words, none.
The deranged Morning Joe panel also had some thoughts on Wednesday (click “expand”):
JOE SCARBOROUGH: How reckless. Unless you wear a mask over your eyes, you can still look them in the eye and, Mika, he can actually follow the guidelines. What a horrible example to Americans. It was for an audience of one, of course. MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Clair McCaskill, the doctors who are on the front lines who are talking to Mike Pence and his presence in that hospital, they were wearing masks. I just wonder if you could, perhaps, describe for us, is it possible to describe the lengths that Mike Pence will go to please President Trump? CLAIRE MCCASKILL: I don’t think that it’s measurable and, you know, the thing that’s saddest about this, you know, we all go back between being angry, frustrated, sad. What is so sad about this is that we have in this country always looked to the President and the Vice President to set an example, to model good behavior for American citizens and for our children. And for the head of a task force that has recommended wearing masks to go into a medical facility who has requested respectfully that he wear a mask, for him to think that the vanity of showing his face is more important than setting an example and role modeling for Americans….You would think Mike Pence would be more respectful of wanting to model everyone. We need to make sure we’re not conveying this virus. Wear a mask. It’s not that hard. WILLIE GEIST: Yeah, and he said he was there to pay tribute to those doctors and health care professionals. What possibly could be more disrespectful than completely ignoring their rules and also their safety by not wearing the mask? It’s not just disrespectful, it’s going out of your way to be disrespectful and, as you guys said, to please President Trump, of course, who has said himself he doesn’t want to wear a mask.
METHODOLOGY: CNN and MSNBC counts began in Tuesday’s 2:00 p.m. Eastern hour of live programming, ending at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Wednesday when both networks went to reruns. CNN resumed live shows at 4:00 a.m. Eastern and MSNBC at 5:00 a.m. Eastern. The counts continued until 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. For the broadcast networks, the MRC only counted their flagship Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning newscasts on the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC, along with their Sunday public affairs shows for the Reade count.
Thanks to NewsBusters associate editor Scott Whitlock and MRC senior news analyst Kyle Drennen for their assistance in tabulating broadcast network coverage of Pence


bonginoreport--2020-04-30--Congress Wants Former Regulator Who Has Ties to China Policing Coronavirus Bailout Funds

• A former financial regulator who backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s presidential candidacy and was a board member on a China-owned bank is reportedly the top candidate for a job policing coronavirus bailout funds .
• The top candidate — businesswoman Sheila Bair — has in the past said the United States should “ learn from China ” on how to craft regulations .
• Bair ’ s reported candidacy as chair for the Congressional Oversight Commission watchdog group responsible for regulating the $ 2.2 trillion stimulus comes as Americans become more critical of China amid the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren ’ s presidential bid and sat on the board of a China-owned commercial bank in 2017 is the top candidate to head up the watchdog group set to police the coronavirus stimulus funds , Vice reported Wednesday .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are homing in on businesswoman Sheila Bair to chair the Congressional Oversight Commission watchdog group created in March as congress hammered out the basics of the $ 2.2 trillion stimulus package , sources familiar with congressional talks told VICE .
Bair ’ s past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is catapulting her to the top of the heap of potential candidates for the position , the report notes .
However , her past position as an independent non executive director on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ’ s board could complicate things if Bair is ultimately selected for the top spot .
She was appointed to the ICBC in 2017 .
The watchdog chair has two responsibilities : they would act as a tie-breaker for the commission ’ s toughest decisions .
Pelosi , McConnell , Senate Minority Leader Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose the other commissioners .
Choosing a bipartisan tie-breaker is important given the partisan makeup of the other four commissioners .
The commission is made up of two Republican senators — Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rep. French Hill of Arkansas — as well as Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida .
They joined Bharat Ramamurti , a former Democratic Senate aide and Warren staffer .
Even so , Bair ’ s past favorable sentiments regarding China ’ s regulatory regime could create a barrier .
“ Some of our rules are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , ” Bair , a former chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( FDIC ) , told world leaders in June 2019 at the plenary session of the 11th Lujiazui Forum , a platform formed to help government officials , world financial leaders and academics discuss ways to open the market to China .
Neither , Pelosi nor McConell responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
The DCNF reached out to Bair through the Volcker Alliance , a nonprofit that seeks to advances “ effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter to citizens , ” according to the website .
Bair no longer holds a position on ICBC ’ s board , a spokeswoman for VA said without mentioning when she bowed out .
Meanwhile , the U.S. public is turning on China .
Roughly 66 % of Americans now hold an unfavorable view of China amid a pandemic that began in China before it bounced around the world , killing more than 100,000 people in the process , a Pew Research Center poll found .
The virus has killed nearly 60,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are deploying a misinformation campaign designed to make the communist nation appear as though it responded quickly and transparently to the virus .
( RELATED : EXCLUSIVE : Obtained House Oversight Memo Details Trump ’ s Response To Coronavirus ) Lijian Zhao , deputy director of China ’ s Foreign Ministry Information Department , falsely said in a March tweet that the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was arrested amid the Trump administration ’ s handling of the virus .
Twitter has reiterated to the DCNF that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s policies against COVID-19 misinformation .
The Trump administration is reportedly taking steps giving President Donald Trump options to hold China “ accountable ” for supposedly allowing coronavirus , or COVID-19 , to spread around the globe .
“ He has asked the team to look into , very carefully what happened , how this got here , ” senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner said Wednesday on Fox News Kushner added : “ He will take whatever actions are necessary to make sure that the people who caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” EDITOR ’ S NOTE : A previous version of this article stated that Bair is currently holding a position on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ’ s board .
One of the groups that Bair leads told The DCNF that she no longer holds a position at ICBC .
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 .

A former financial regulator who backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential candidacy and was a board member on a China-owned bank is reportedly the top candidate for a job policing coronavirus bailout funds.
The top candidate — businesswoman Sheila Bair — has in the past said the United States should “learn from China” on how to craft regulations.
Bair’s reported candidacy as chair for the Congressional Oversight Commission watchdog group responsible for regulating the $2.2 trillion stimulus comes as Americans become more critical of China amid the pandemic.
A lifelong Republican who backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential bid and sat on the board of a China-owned commercial bank in 2017 is the top candidate to head up the watchdog group set to police the coronavirus stimulus funds, Vice reported Wednesday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are homing in on businesswoman Sheila Bair to chair the Congressional Oversight Commission watchdog group created in March as Congress hammered out the basics of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package, sources familiar with congressional talks told VICE.
Bair’s past as a Republican and support for Warren is catapulting her to the top of the heap of potential candidates for the position, the report notes.
However, her past position as an independent non executive director on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s board could complicate things if Bair is ultimately selected for the top spot. She was appointed to the ICBC in 2017.
The watchdog chair has two responsibilities: they would act as a tie-breaker for the commission’s toughest decisions. Pelosi, McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy chose the other commissioners.
Choosing a bipartisan tie-breaker is important given the partisan makeup of the other four commissioners.
The commission is made up of two Republican senators — Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rep. French Hill of Arkansas — as well as Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida.
They joined Bharat Ramamurti, a former Democratic Senate aide and Warren staffer. Even so, Bair’s past favorable sentiments regarding China’s regulatory regime could create a barrier.
“Some of our rules are too complicated. We should learn from China,” Bair, a former chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), told world leaders in June 2019 at the plenary session of the 11th Lujiazui Forum, a platform formed to help government officials, world financial leaders and academics discuss ways to open the market to China.
Neither, Pelosi nor McConell responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. The DCNF reached out to Bair through the Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit that seeks to advances “effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens,” according to the website. Bair no longer holds a position on ICBC’s board, a spokeswoman for VA said without mentioning when she bowed out.
Meanwhile, the U.S. public is turning on China. Roughly 66% of Americans now hold an unfavorable view of China amid a pandemic that began in China before it bounced around the world, killing more than 100,000 people in the process, a Pew Research Center poll found. The virus has killed nearly 60,000 people in the U.S.
Reports also suggest China officials are deploying a misinformation campaign designed to make the communist nation appear as though it responded quickly and transparently to the virus. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Obtained House Oversight Memo Details Trump’s Response To Coronavirus)
Lijian Zhao, deputy director of China’s Foreign Ministry Information Department, falsely said in a March tweet that the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was arrested amid the Trump administration’s handling of the virus.
Twitter has reiterated to the DCNF that Zhao’s tweet does not violate the company’s policies against COVID-19 misinformation.
The Trump administration is reportedly taking steps giving President Donald Trump options to hold China “accountable” for supposedly allowing coronavirus, or COVID-19, to spread around the globe.
“He has asked the team to look into, very carefully what happened, how this got here,” senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner said Wednesday on Fox News
Kushner added: “He will take whatever actions are necessary to make sure that the people who caused the problems are held accountable for it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article stated that Bair is currently holding a position on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s board. One of the groups that Bair leads told The DCNF that she no longer holds a position at ICBC.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-04-30--95% of Those Who Dying From Coronavirus in England Have Serious Underlying Conditions

Ninety-five percent of those who died from the coronavirus in hospitals in England reportedly had “ serious ” underlying conditions .
Sky News obtained coronavirus data from the United Kingdom ’ s National Health Service on Tuesday .
While it was not possible to confirm if a patient had an underlying condition in only a small number of cases , the figures showed that nearly all of those `` who have died with COVID-19 in hospitals in England '' did .
“ The data provided by NHS England shows that , as of 5pm on 26 April , 18,749 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Sky News reported .
“ Ninety-five percent were found to have serious preexisting issues .
In patients over 80-years-old this figure was 96 % , 60-79-years-old 95 % , 40-59-years-old 88 % and 20-39-years-old 82 % .
” More than 21,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the U.K .
The recent data does not include “ hospital deaths in Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland , in the community or in care homes.
” The report mirrors some data from the United States , including in Massachusetts , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death `` has been a patient with an underlying health condition or previous hospitalization . ''
`` Data from deaths following completed investigations indicate 98.1 percent ( 1,289 ) of people who died after contracting the disease had an underlying condition , such as chronic lung disease , serious heart ailments , obesity , diabetes , chronic kidney disease , or liver disease , '' the Massachusetts report read .

Ninety-five percent of those who died from the coronavirus in hospitals in England reportedly had “serious” underlying conditions.
Sky News obtained coronavirus data from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service on Tuesday. While it was not possible to confirm if a patient had an underlying condition in only a small number of cases, the figures showed that nearly all of those "who have died with COVID-19 in hospitals in England" did.
“The data provided by NHS England shows that, as of 5pm on 26 April, 18,749 people had died in hospital with the virus,” Sky News reported. “Ninety-five percent were found to have serious preexisting issues. In patients over 80-years-old this figure was 96%, 60-79-years-old 95%, 40-59-years-old 88% and 20-39-years-old 82%.”
More than 21,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the U.K. The recent data does not include “hospital deaths in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in the community or in care homes.”
The report mirrors some data from the United States, including in Massachusetts, where it was found that almost every coronavirus death "has been a patient with an underlying health condition or previous hospitalization."
"Data from deaths following completed investigations indicate 98.1 percent (1,289) of people who died after contracting the disease had an underlying condition, such as chronic lung disease, serious heart ailments, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease," the Massachusetts report read.


bonginoreport--2020-04-30--Trump Says He’s Seen Convincing Evidence That Coronavirus Came From Chinese Lab

“ We ’ re looking at exactly where it came from , who it came from , how it happened , ” said President Trump in a response to a question about the origins of the coronavirus Thursday afternoon .
Asked if he had seen “ anything ” that gave him a “ high degree of confidence ” that the Wuhan Institute of Virology – the P4 lab near the Chinese wet market where the coronavirus outbreak may have began – was the origin of the virus , Trump responded : “ Yes , I have .
Yes , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves .
Because they ’ re like the public relations agency for China .
And this country pays them almost $ 500m a year.
” President Trump went on : “ They shouldn ’ t be making excuses when people are making horrible mistakes .
Especially mistakes that are causing hundreds of thousands of people around the world to die.
” Asked in a follow up question what gave him such confidence , he said : “ I can ’ t tell you that .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” The speculation over the origins of the coronavirus have been the subject of intense scrutiny as of late , but were first questioned by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon on Episode 1 of his War Room : Pandemic podcast back in January .
While establishment media outlets have poured scorn on the matter , U.S. intelligence agencies have remained skeptical over the official explanation for the virus .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Thursday morning : “ The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding to the COVID-19 virus , which originated in China , ” the ODNI said in a statement .
“ The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified .
”

“We’re looking at exactly where it came from, who it came from, how it happened,” said President Trump in a response to a question about the origins of the coronavirus Thursday afternoon.
Asked if he had seen “anything” that gave him a “high degree of confidence” that the Wuhan Institute of Virology – the P4 lab near the Chinese wet market where the coronavirus outbreak may have began – was the origin of the virus, Trump responded:
“Yes, I have. Yes, I have. And I think that the World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves. Because they’re like the public relations agency for China. And this country pays them almost $500m a year.”
President Trump went on: “They shouldn’t be making excuses when people are making horrible mistakes. Especially mistakes that are causing hundreds of thousands of people around the world to die.”
WATCH: