thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Coronavirus forces Trump to rely on the elite Washington establishment he was elected by vilifying

President Trump is taking direction from federal government technocrats and the Washington political class as part of his administration ’ s campaign to neutralize the coronavirus pandemic , a stunning turn for a politician who built his brand on contempt for elite expertise .
Trump regularly dismisses expert opinion on a range of issues , often claiming — sometimes seriously , sometimes facetiously — that he knows more than the professionals .
And he has regularly derided the congressional elite as out of touch with the so-called deplorables he leads .
But in crafting administration strategy to address the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has largely adopted the recommendations of respected government scientists and medical professionals .
And he is virtually at the mercy of congressional leaders who are crafting must-pass economic bailout bills over which his influence is limited , given the urgency of passing them .
For good measure , Trump is publicly surrounding himself with experts , often , though not entirely , deferring to their assessment of the evolving pandemic in daily White House news conferences .
“ It ’ s a reflection of how perilous this moment is for the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really rhetoric your way out of this , ” said Doug Heye , a Republican operative and occasional Trump critic .
“ You need experts and facts and action , or the problem only gets worse.
” During Friday ’ s coronavirus briefing , Trump was flanked by Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , who has advised presidents for decades ; and Dr. Deborah Birx , a medical researcher and key member of the pandemic task force overseen by Vice President Mike Pence ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president was not beyond expressing himself with typical Trumpian flourishes .
He criticized reporters and media outlets by name for what he claimed were unfair questions of his handling of the crisis and expressed more optimism for the fast development of a treatment for the coronavirus than Fauci was willing to endorse based on available scientific evidence .
But Trump encouraged Fauci , Birx , and the administration officials who joined him at the podium to answer questions that fit their expertise , and he generally supported their conclusions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York , among his most virulent Democratic critics and a card-carrying member of the establishment , with whom he is negotiating directly on an economic relief package .
“ I just spoke to Senator Schumer , we had a wonderful conversation , we both want to get to a good solution , ” Trump told reporters .
“ Seeing people that weren ’ t speaking , getting along well , because we all have one common aim , and that ’ s to get rid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it fast and then go back to the kind of economy that we had and maybe even better.
” From the earliest days of his 2016 campaign , Trump has ridiculed every corner of the political establishment , including leaders in his own party .
As president , he has dismissed scientists , his administration ’ s experts in the foreign policy and intelligence and defense communities , and ignored the advice of economic advisers while raining fire on Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell , whom he appointed .
“ Technology — nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said in December of 2018 .
The quote is one in a long list compiled by Axios of the president 's claims of superior expertise in various fields of study .
Trump ’ s rage against the elites was perfectly timed for an electorate that felt betrayed by Washington ’ s smart set .
From the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , to the Iraq War , to the near-collapse of the financial system and the Great Recession , voters lost faith in government and the so-called experts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discontent propelled the president to the White House .
Now , Trump is turning to career government officials , and political establishment figures , to help steer the nation out of a near-unprecedented public health and economic crisis .
Michael A. Genovese , president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University , said Trump , ironically , might reinvigorate confidence in the federal government , comparing the possibility to President Richard Nixon establishing diplomatic relations with China nearly half-century ago .
“ The great irony is that Donald Trump , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a position , should he be able to marshal the resources of government and put it to use of helping the public , to revive our belief in the need for and role of government in our society , ” Genovese said .
“ Nixon , the great China basher , went to China .
Could Trump rebuild our belief in government ?
These are strange times , so almost anything , however improbable , is possible .
”

President Trump is taking direction from federal government technocrats and the Washington political class as part of his administration’s campaign to neutralize the coronavirus pandemic, a stunning turn for a politician who built his brand on contempt for elite expertise.
Trump regularly dismisses expert opinion on a range of issues, often claiming — sometimes seriously, sometimes facetiously — that he knows more than the professionals. And he has regularly derided the congressional elite as out of touch with the so-called deplorables he leads.
But in crafting administration strategy to address the coronavirus, the president, after initial resistance, has largely adopted the recommendations of respected government scientists and medical professionals. And he is virtually at the mercy of congressional leaders who are crafting must-pass economic bailout bills over which his influence is limited, given the urgency of passing them.
For good measure, Trump is publicly surrounding himself with experts, often, though not entirely, deferring to their assessment of the evolving pandemic in daily White House news conferences.
“It’s a reflection of how perilous this moment is for the nation, in that you can’t really rhetoric your way out of this,” said Doug Heye, a Republican operative and occasional Trump critic. “You need experts and facts and action, or the problem only gets worse.”
During Friday’s coronavirus briefing, Trump was flanked by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has advised presidents for decades; and Dr. Deborah Birx, a medical researcher and key member of the pandemic task force overseen by Vice President Mike Pence; plus Cabinet officials involved in the response.
The president was not beyond expressing himself with typical Trumpian flourishes. He criticized reporters and media outlets by name for what he claimed were unfair questions of his handling of the crisis and expressed more optimism for the fast development of a treatment for the coronavirus than Fauci was willing to endorse based on available scientific evidence.
But Trump encouraged Fauci, Birx, and the administration officials who joined him at the podium to answer questions that fit their expertise, and he generally supported their conclusions. The president even bragged about getting along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, among his most virulent Democratic critics and a card-carrying member of the establishment, with whom he is negotiating directly on an economic relief package.
“I just spoke to Senator Schumer, we had a wonderful conversation, we both want to get to a good solution,” Trump told reporters. “Seeing people that weren’t speaking, getting along well, because we all have one common aim, and that’s to get rid of this invisible enemy, get rid of it fast and then go back to the kind of economy that we had and maybe even better.”
From the earliest days of his 2016 campaign, Trump has ridiculed every corner of the political establishment, including leaders in his own party. As president, he has dismissed scientists, his administration’s experts in the foreign policy and intelligence and defense communities, and ignored the advice of economic advisers while raining fire on Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell, whom he appointed.
“Technology — nobody knows more about technology than me,” Trump said in December of 2018. The quote is one in a long list compiled by Axios of the president's claims of superior expertise in various fields of study.
Trump’s rage against the elites was perfectly timed for an electorate that felt betrayed by Washington’s smart set. From the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to the Iraq War, to the near-collapse of the financial system and the Great Recession, voters lost faith in government and the so-called experts to make good decisions, and the resulting discontent propelled the president to the White House.
Now, Trump is turning to career government officials, and political establishment figures, to help steer the nation out of a near-unprecedented public health and economic crisis. Michael A. Genovese, president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, said Trump, ironically, might reinvigorate confidence in the federal government, comparing the possibility to President Richard Nixon establishing diplomatic relations with China nearly half-century ago.
“The great irony is that Donald Trump, the grand attacker of government, is in a position, should he be able to marshal the resources of government and put it to use of helping the public, to revive our belief in the need for and role of government in our society,” Genovese said. “Nixon, the great China basher, went to China. Could Trump rebuild our belief in government? These are strange times, so almost anything, however improbable, is possible.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Where's Joe Biden? In his basement, adjusting to a digital campaign style

Supporters of Bernie Sanders and President Trump were united by a common question over the last week : Where is Joe Biden ?
It is a somewhat rhetorical question intended to suggest that the 77-year-old with a half-century of governing experience is out of touch with the public .
Sanders supporters are disappointed that the socialist Vermont senator has next to no chance of winning the Democratic presidential nomination , while Trump supporters try to portray the former vice president as incompetent .
The answer is that Biden is self-isolating , like many people , in his home and figuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s daily briefings on the global coronavirus pandemic to share his message in a digital format .
In a press call on Friday , he told reporters that he was learning about “ ways we can do teleconferencing.
” While Biden is a talented retail campaigner , often forming personal connections with voters face-to-face and feeding off energy from the crowd at his events , he is not a natural communicator in digital formats .
He does not appear to write his own tweets , like Trump , his first attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had numerous glitches , and other livestreams were mocked for their poor production value .
Biden ’ s campaign aimed to fix that this weekend , installing a professional studio in Biden ’ s basement .
With the coronavirus bringing normal activities to a halt , the 2020 presidential campaign is now being run out of the White House briefing room and Biden 's converted basement just over 100 miles away in Wilmington , Delaware .
On Monday , Biden held his first livestream using professional production equipment .
Higher-quality lighting and equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he appeared in a livestream last week following primary victories .
Gone were Biden ’ s shiny forehead and the two American flags in front of a black curtain , traded in for lighting that gave color to Biden ’ s face and a library backdrop that some speculated was a digital green screen image .
But there were still some kinks in the flow of his address .
“ Mics are hot , ” a staff member said at the start of the stream .
“ Ready to go ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen .
He looked to his staff , then to the camera , scratched his nose , looked at his staff , and then looked back to the camera again .
“ Good morning .
I hope you and your family are doing well in these difficult and anxious times , ” he began .
At another point , Biden gestured to his staff to move a teleprompter to the next point in his prepared script .
“ In addition to that , we have to make sure that we are in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let me , let me go to the second thing , I spoke enough on that , ” Biden said after calling for activating the doctors in Reserve Corps .
He transitioned to criticizing Trump for calling himself a `` wartime president . ''
It was the type of redirection that would be minor for Biden when he speaks to rooms of voters , but it came across like a mistake during a direct-to-screen scripted address .
He also mispronounced the Massachusetts governor 's name , calling him Charlie Parker rather than Baker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is optimistic that the former vice president can match a reality TV star president ’ s presence on camera .
“ He does n't have coronavirus , but he does have a camera now .
So buckle up !
” Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield tweeted Monday in response to a false claim that Biden tested positive for the respiratory illness .
Better equipment could also allow Biden to appear on more television programs from his home rather than in a studio .
He is scheduled to be on The View @ @ @

Supporters of Bernie Sanders and President Trump were united by a common question over the last week: Where is Joe Biden?
It is a somewhat rhetorical question intended to suggest that the 77-year-old with a half-century of governing experience is out of touch with the public. Sanders supporters are disappointed that the socialist Vermont senator has next to no chance of winning the Democratic presidential nomination, while Trump supporters try to portray the former vice president as incompetent.
The answer is that Biden is self-isolating, like many people, in his home and figuring out how to break through coverage of Trump’s daily briefings on the global coronavirus pandemic to share his message in a digital format. In a press call on Friday, he told reporters that he was learning about “ways we can do teleconferencing.”
While Biden is a talented retail campaigner, often forming personal connections with voters face-to-face and feeding off energy from the crowd at his events, he is not a natural communicator in digital formats. He does not appear to write his own tweets, like Trump, his first attempt at a “virtual town hall” had numerous glitches, and other livestreams were mocked for their poor production value.
Biden’s campaign aimed to fix that this weekend, installing a professional studio in Biden’s basement.
With the coronavirus bringing normal activities to a halt, the 2020 presidential campaign is now being run out of the White House briefing room and Biden's converted basement just over 100 miles away in Wilmington, Delaware.
On Monday, Biden held his first livestream using professional production equipment.
Higher-quality lighting and equipment made Biden appear and sound better than when he appeared in a livestream last week following primary victories. Gone were Biden’s shiny forehead and the two American flags in front of a black curtain, traded in for lighting that gave color to Biden’s face and a library backdrop that some speculated was a digital green screen image.
But there were still some kinks in the flow of his address.
“Mics are hot,” a staff member said at the start of the stream.
“Ready to go?” Biden asked as he appeared on the screen. He looked to his staff, then to the camera, scratched his nose, looked at his staff, and then looked back to the camera again.
“Good morning. I hope you and your family are doing well in these difficult and anxious times,” he began.
At another point, Biden gestured to his staff to move a teleprompter to the next point in his prepared script.
“In addition to that, we have to make sure that we are in a position that we are — well, let me, let me go to the second thing, I spoke enough on that,” Biden said after calling for activating the doctors in Reserve Corps. He transitioned to criticizing Trump for calling himself a "wartime president."
It was the type of redirection that would be minor for Biden when he speaks to rooms of voters, but it came across like a mistake during a direct-to-screen scripted address. He also mispronounced the Massachusetts governor's name, calling him Charlie Parker rather than Baker.
Biden’s campaign, though, is optimistic that the former vice president can match a reality TV star president’s presence on camera.
“He doesn't have coronavirus, but he does have a camera now. So buckle up!” Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield tweeted Monday in response to a false claim that Biden tested positive for the respiratory illness.
Better equipment could also allow Biden to appear on more television programs from his home rather than in a studio. He is scheduled to be on The View on Tuesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Small victory: Sanders wins Democrats Abroad primary

Bernie Sanders got a small win and glimmer of hope for his flailing Democratic presidential campaign with a primary win @ @ @ @ @ United States .
The Vermont senator won about 58 % of the vote in the @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden won 23 % , and other candidates who are no longer @ @ @ @ @ meet the 15 % threshold to earn delegates .
Sanders earned nine pledged nominating delegates @ @ @ @ @ from the contest , and Biden earned four .
The win , however , will @ @ @ @ @ catch up to Biden 's lead .
According to the Associated Press , Biden has @ @ @ @ @ has 896 , and a candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win on the first ballot @ @ @ @ @ .
Nearly 40,000 Americans living outside the U.S. voted in 10 poll locations around the @ @ @ @ @ from March 3 to March 10 .
Voters in 180 countries cast ballots , with @ @ @ @ @ the United Kingdom , Germany , Canada , France , and Mexico .

Bernie Sanders got a small win and glimmer of hope for his flailing Democratic presidential campaign with a primary win among Democrats living outside the United States.
The Vermont senator won about 58% of the vote in the Democrats Abroad contest while former Vice President Joe Biden won 23%, and other candidates who are no longer in the race did not meet the 15% threshold to earn delegates. Sanders earned nine pledged nominating delegates to the Democratic National Convention from the contest, and Biden earned four.
The win, however, will do little to help Sanders catch up to Biden's lead. According to the Associated Press, Biden has 1,201 pledged delegates while Sanders has 896, and a candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win on the first ballot at the Democratic national convention.
Nearly 40,000 Americans living outside the U.S. voted in 10 poll locations around the globe and through electronic ballots from March 3 to March 10. Voters in 180 countries cast ballots, with the most popular countries being the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France, and Mexico.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Biden hits Trump on ‘wartime president’ claim: ‘Act like one’

In his first address to the nation with upgraded production value , Joe Biden hit President Trump for comparing himself to a wartime president in orchestrating a national response to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Trump keeps saying that he 's — that he 's a 'wartime president . '
Well , start to act like one , ” the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee said in a livestream from his Wilmington , Delaware , home on Monday .
Trump said last week that he views his position as being like a wartime president waging a `` war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To paraphrase a frustrated President Lincoln , writing into an inactive Gen. McClellan during the Civil War : 'If you do n't want to use the army , may I borrow it ? '
'' Biden said .
`` We need to get in motion — get in motion today what we should have set in motion weeks ago . ''
Biden commended Trump for activating the National Guard to respond to the crisis and called on him to use the Defense Production Act to increase radically `` the supply of critical goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare workers . ''
He criticized congressional Republicans for creating a relief package that he said would be a `` $ 500 billion slush fund for corporations . ''
`` Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus .
But he does bear responsibility for our response .
And I , along with every American , hope he steps up and starts to get this right , '' Biden said .

In his first address to the nation with upgraded production value, Joe Biden hit President Trump for comparing himself to a wartime president in orchestrating a national response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Trump keeps saying that he's — that he's a 'wartime president.' Well, start to act like one,” the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee said in a livestream from his Wilmington, Delaware, home on Monday.
Trump said last week that he views his position as being like a wartime president waging a "war" against the respiratory virus.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
"To paraphrase a frustrated President Lincoln, writing into an inactive Gen. McClellan during the Civil War: 'If you don't want to use the army, may I borrow it?'" Biden said. "We need to get in motion — get in motion today what we should have set in motion weeks ago."
Biden commended Trump for activating the National Guard to respond to the crisis and called on him to use the Defense Production Act to increase radically "the supply of critical goods needed to treat patients and protect our healthcare workers." He criticized congressional Republicans for creating a relief package that he said would be a "$500 billion slush fund for corporations."
"Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus. But he does bear responsibility for our response. And I, along with every American, hope he steps up and starts to get this right," Biden said.
[Read more: Biden pushes student debt cancellation to counter coronavirus economic slowdown]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Amy Klobuchar's husband hospitalized with coronavirus

The husband of Minnesota senator and former 2020 candidate Amy Klobuchar has been hospitalized due to complications related to the coronavirus .
Klobuchar , in a Medium post on Monday , said her husband , law professor John Bessler , received a positive test result for the virus , which has killed thousands worldwide and is keeping millions of Americans indoors and away from work and school .
`` John started to feel sick when I was in Minnesota and he was in Washington D.C. and like so many others who have had the disease , he thought it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantined himself just in case and stopped going to his job teaching in Baltimore , '' Klobuchar wrote .
`` He kept having a temperature and a bad , bad cough and when he started coughing up blood he got a test and a chest X-ray and they checked him into a hospital in Virginia because of a variety of things including very low oxygen levels which haven ’ t really improved . ''
Klobuchar , 59 , added that her husband , 52 , was not on a ventilator .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not get tested because the two have been `` in different places for the last two weeks . ''
`` I hope he will be home soon .
I know so many Americans are going through this and so much worse right now .
So I hope and pray for you , just as I hope you will do for my husband .
Meanwhile I am working in the Senate to get help to the American people , '' she added , referencing the ongoing negotiations in Congress over a stimulus bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic .
According to estimates released Monday , more than 32,000 people in the United States have tested positive for coronavirus , although health experts believe the true number of cases is far higher .
At least 400 have died from the illness in the U.S. Bessler is a professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center .
He and Klobuchar married in 1993 , five years before she won the district attorney role in Hennepin County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one daughter , Abigail Klobuchar Bessler , who graduated from Yale University and works as a legislative director for a member of the New York City Council .
Klobuchar was elected to the Senate in 2006 and sought the 2020 Democratic nomination , dropping out on March 2 , the day before Super Tuesday , when she endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden .

The husband of Minnesota senator and former 2020 candidate Amy Klobuchar has been hospitalized due to complications related to the coronavirus.
Klobuchar, in a Medium post on Monday, said her husband, law professor John Bessler, received a positive test result for the virus, which has killed thousands worldwide and is keeping millions of Americans indoors and away from work and school.
"John started to feel sick when I was in Minnesota and he was in Washington D.C. and like so many others who have had the disease, he thought it was just a cold. Yet he immediately quarantined himself just in case and stopped going to his job teaching in Baltimore," Klobuchar wrote. "He kept having a temperature and a bad, bad cough and when he started coughing up blood he got a test and a chest X-ray and they checked him into a hospital in Virginia because of a variety of things including very low oxygen levels which haven’t really improved."
Klobuchar, 59, added that her husband, 52, was not on a ventilator. But he is receiving oxygen. Klobuchar said she would not get tested because the two have been "in different places for the last two weeks."
"I hope he will be home soon. I know so many Americans are going through this and so much worse right now. So I hope and pray for you, just as I hope you will do for my husband. Meanwhile I am working in the Senate to get help to the American people," she added, referencing the ongoing negotiations in Congress over a stimulus bill to help mitigate the economic downfall caused by the pandemic.
According to estimates released Monday, more than 32,000 people in the United States have tested positive for coronavirus, although health experts believe the true number of cases is far higher. At least 400 have died from the illness in the U.S.
Bessler is a professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. He and Klobuchar married in 1993, five years before she won the district attorney role in Hennepin County, Minnesota's largest jurisdiction. They have one daughter, Abigail Klobuchar Bessler, who graduated from Yale University and works as a legislative director for a member of the New York City Council.
Klobuchar was elected to the Senate in 2006 and sought the 2020 Democratic nomination, dropping out on March 2, the day before Super Tuesday, when she endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-23--Biden slow to explain why he'd be quicker than Trump in tackling coronavirus

Give Joe Biden some credit .
On Jan. 27 , he published an op-ed in USA Today recognizing that the coronavirus outbreak could become a big problem .
But he devoted nearly the entire piece to bashing President Trump , then fighting off impeachment from Biden 's old Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill , and nearly none of it to explaining what he , Joe Biden , would do to fight the pandemic .
Since then , where has Biden been ?
It 's been eight weeks since the Iowa caucuses , when Biden began a terrible stretch at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's been three weeks since South Carolina and Super Tuesday , when he roared back and took a big lead over rival Bernie Sanders .
Two weeks since primaries in Michigan and other states , when Biden took a prohibitive lead in the delegate race .
And it 's been one week since primaries in Florida and elsewhere , when Biden essentially became the presumptive nominee .
During that time , the coronavirus outbreak has turned into a historic national crisis .
So , what has the man who wants to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his path to his party 's nomination , done ?
Not a lot .
Biden is `` largely out of sight hunkered down in Delaware , '' the New York Times reported Sunday .
Biden did give a speech on March 12 to explain what he would do as president to confront the virus .
But his plan was not much different from what the Trump administration has already been doing .
And why did Biden , after his initial op-ed , let so much time pass without offering a comprehensive proposal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his main criticism of Trump is that the president has not acted swiftly enough ?
In short , Biden has been slow to explain why he would have reacted more quickly than Trump .
Now , Biden , who has devoted lots of time during the virus crisis to holding `` virtual '' fundraisers , is playing catch-up with a plan to start daily `` briefings '' from his house in Delaware .
`` They put a new high-speed line into my home , '' Biden told reporters Sunday .
`` They 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a television studio . ''
The briefings are set to start today .
Meanwhile , when he has addressed the crisis , Biden has been offering little more than boilerplate .
Look at this from a virtual fundraiser Sunday afternoon , according to a pool report : `` This is a time for this nation to come together , because , folks , we 're all in this together .
This virus does n't care whether you 're a Democrat or Republican .
It does n't discriminate on the basis of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
And from the Great Depression to two world wars to 9/11 to the pandemic of 1918 , this country has always overcome every crisis we faced in our history .
We 're gon na overcome this one , too . ''
Biden had nothing more to offer in a web ad released Sunday .
He focused on a small snippet of Trump 's news conference Saturday , where the president took questions from NBC 's Peter Alexander .
After an extended exchange with Alexander , Trump snapped , `` You 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an attempt to contrast Trump 's temperament with Biden 's , with Biden saying things like , `` This is about America .
This is about the world .
This is about how we bring people together . ''
The Trump campaign fired back .
`` When President Trump took the critical step of restricting travel from China in response to the coronavirus , Biden called it 'xenophobic , ' '' campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said recently .
`` Most of what Biden says the government should do are things President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in fact , accused Trump of xenophobia in the virus crisis .
When the president announced travel restrictions on China , Biden cited what he called Trump 's `` record of hysteria and xenophobia , hysterical xenophobia . ''
When Trump referred to coronavirus as a `` foreign virus , '' Biden said the president was `` [ falling ] back on xenophobia . ''
On the substance of Biden 's plans , an earlier Trump campaign statement said Biden `` plagiarized '' his response from the president — echoing a long-ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he dropped out after it was revealed he had plagiarized a British politician 's speech .
Now , with the daily briefings , Biden is starting a new phase of his campaign .
Yes , the briefings will be about the coronavirus , but they will also be about Biden 's standing in the Democratic Party .
For a party out of the White House in an election year , the presidential nominee is the leader of the party .
Biden is not the nominee yet , but he is all but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leader of the Democratic Party ?
No .
Meanwhile , other Democrats , like New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , are actually in power and are on television every day — giving briefings and dealing with the crisis .
So Biden 's new move is a front-runner playing catch-up , while the rest of the political world deals with an unprecedented crisis .

Give Joe Biden some credit. On Jan. 27, he published an op-ed in USA Today recognizing that the coronavirus outbreak could become a big problem. But he devoted nearly the entire piece to bashing President Trump, then fighting off impeachment from Biden's old Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, and nearly none of it to explaining what he, Joe Biden, would do to fight the pandemic.
Since then, where has Biden been? It's been eight weeks since the Iowa caucuses, when Biden began a terrible stretch at the polls that threatened his presidential candidacy. It's been three weeks since South Carolina and Super Tuesday, when he roared back and took a big lead over rival Bernie Sanders. Two weeks since primaries in Michigan and other states, when Biden took a prohibitive lead in the delegate race. And it's been one week since primaries in Florida and elsewhere, when Biden essentially became the presumptive nominee.
During that time, the coronavirus outbreak has turned into a historic national crisis.
So, what has the man who wants to be the next president, now confident of his path to his party's nomination, done? Not a lot. Biden is "largely out of sight hunkered down in Delaware," the New York Times reported Sunday.
Biden did give a speech on March 12 to explain what he would do as president to confront the virus. But his plan was not much different from what the Trump administration has already been doing. And why did Biden, after his initial op-ed, let so much time pass without offering a comprehensive proposal for dealing with the crisis? Especially since his main criticism of Trump is that the president has not acted swiftly enough?
In short, Biden has been slow to explain why he would have reacted more quickly than Trump.
Now, Biden, who has devoted lots of time during the virus crisis to holding "virtual" fundraisers, is playing catch-up with a plan to start daily "briefings" from his house in Delaware. "They put a new high-speed line into my home," Biden told reporters Sunday. "They've converted a recreation room, basically, into a television studio." The briefings are set to start today.
Meanwhile, when he has addressed the crisis, Biden has been offering little more than boilerplate. Look at this from a virtual fundraiser Sunday afternoon, according to a pool report: "This is a time for this nation to come together, because, folks, we're all in this together. This virus doesn't care whether you're a Democrat or Republican. It doesn't discriminate on the basis of your gender or race or ethnicity or anything else. And from the Great Depression to two world wars to 9/11 to the pandemic of 1918, this country has always overcome every crisis we faced in our history. We're gonna overcome this one, too."
Biden had nothing more to offer in a web ad released Sunday. He focused on a small snippet of Trump's news conference Saturday, where the president took questions from NBC's Peter Alexander. After an extended exchange with Alexander, Trump snapped, "You're a terrible reporter." The ad was an attempt to contrast Trump's temperament with Biden's, with Biden saying things like, "This is about America. This is about the world. This is about how we bring people together."
The Trump campaign fired back. "When President Trump took the critical step of restricting travel from China in response to the coronavirus, Biden called it 'xenophobic,'" campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said recently. "Most of what Biden says the government should do are things President Trump is already doing."
Biden has, in fact, accused Trump of xenophobia in the virus crisis. When the president announced travel restrictions on China, Biden cited what he called Trump's "record of hysteria and xenophobia, hysterical xenophobia." When Trump referred to coronavirus as a "foreign virus," Biden said the president was "[falling] back on xenophobia."
On the substance of Biden's plans, an earlier Trump campaign statement said Biden "plagiarized" his response from the president — echoing a long-ago incident from Biden's 1988 presidential campaign when he dropped out after it was revealed he had plagiarized a British politician's speech.
Now, with the daily briefings, Biden is starting a new phase of his campaign. Yes, the briefings will be about the coronavirus, but they will also be about Biden's standing in the Democratic Party. For a party out of the White House in an election year, the presidential nominee is the leader of the party. Biden is not the nominee yet, but he is all but there. Does he appear to be the leader of the Democratic Party? No. Meanwhile, other Democrats, like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, are actually in power and are on television every day — giving briefings and dealing with the crisis.
So Biden's new move is a front-runner playing catch-up, while the rest of the political world deals with an unprecedented crisis.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Biden uses ‘shadow cabinet’ to counter Trump

Stuck in his Delaware home while President Trump appears on-screen daily discussing the coronavirus crisis , presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is turning toward a shadow cabinet loosely resembling out-of-office party officials in Great Britain .
The strategy devised by the former vice president 's campaign is rare in modern presidential politics , since national emergencies and crisis situations , ranging from World War II to the immediate post-9/11 response , usually stir a strong measure of bipartisanship , at least for a while .
But Trump 's coronavirus response has been so disastrous , Democrats argue , that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global pandemic , which threatens millions of lives and could tank the economy to levels not seen since the Great Depression .
In countries with a parliamentary system , opposition parties often establish their own cabinets to signify to the public that they are eager to govern should the ruling party lose power .
In the United Kingdom , the Labour Party , for example , has shadow officials in charge of positions ranging from treasury to healthcare .
As Biden struggles to gain media attention during Trump and various governor 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has pivoted to having various Democratic foreign policy and healthcare experts provide responses to the Trump White House 's handling of the crisis .
Earlier this month , his campaign announced that Ron Klain , the Obama Administration 's Ebola response coordinator from 2014-15 , would give periodic briefings on how Trump has failed to adequately protect the nation .
In a video released Sunday , Klain slammed Trump 's response to the coronavirus and walked through viewers how the virus spread throughout the country .
“ Some countries acted quickly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Biden 's chief of staff during the first two years of the Obama administration .
“ What did President Trump do ?
He downplayed it .
Trump ’ s slow response to this crisis is no surprise.
” As Trump participates in daily White House press conferences , Biden , 77 , has responded with detailed policy briefings and plans of action should he become president .
In a closed press call on Friday , which served as a dry run of his shadow briefings , Biden fact-checked Trump on a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden accused Trump of misleading the public on when it could expect its order of 500 million respirator masks .
Although Trump touted the purchase order , Biden said it could take 18 months to arrive , according to several experts .
“ The United States has been far behind the rest of the advanced world when it comes to testing , '' Biden said , referencing Trump 's assurances that America 's testing capacity rivals those of Europe .
On Monday , Biden began his first in a series of events livestreamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cable stations aired his remarks , which included calls on Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act .
`` Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus .
But he does bear responsibility for our response , '' he said .
`` And I , along with every American , hope he steps up and starts to get this right . ''
Recently , Biden added veteran Democratic policy adviser Jake Sullivan to his campaign .
Sullivan served as a senior policy adviser to Hillary Clinton 's 2016 White House run and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security advisers .
The addition comes shortly before Biden announced a list of 100 national security professionals backing his third White House run .

Stuck in his Delaware home while President Trump appears on-screen daily discussing the coronavirus crisis, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is turning toward a shadow cabinet loosely resembling out-of-office party officials.
The strategy devised by the former vice president's campaign is rare in modern presidential politics, since national emergencies and crises, ranging from World War II to the immediate post-9/11 response, usually stir a strong measure of bipartisanship, at least for a while.
But Trump's coronavirus response has been so disastrous, Democrats argue, that Biden must provide a contrast and leadership during the global pandemic, which threatens millions of lives and could tank the economy to levels not seen since the Great Depression.
In countries with a parliamentary system, opposition parties often establish their own cabinets to signify to the public that they are eager to govern should the ruling party lose power. In the United Kingdom, the Labour Party, for example, has shadow officials in charge of positions ranging from treasury to healthcare.
As Biden struggles to gain media attention during Trump's and various governor's daily press briefings, the former vice president has pivoted to having various Democratic foreign policy and healthcare experts provide responses to the Trump White House's handling of the crisis. Earlier this month, his campaign announced that Ron Klain, the Obama administration's Ebola response coordinator from 2014 to 2015, would give periodic briefings on how Trump has failed to protect the nation adequately.
In a video released Sunday, Klain slammed Trump's response to the coronavirus and walked viewers through how the virus spread throughout the country.
“Some countries acted quickly,” said Klain, who also served as Biden's chief of staff during the first two years of the Obama administration. “What did President Trump do? He downplayed it. Trump’s slow response to this crisis is no surprise.”
As Trump participates in daily White House press conferences, Biden, 77, has responded with detailed policy briefings and plans of action should he become president.
In a closed press call on Friday, which served as a dry run of his shadow briefings, Biden fact-checked Trump on a number of coronavirus responses. For example, Biden accused Trump of misleading the public on when it could expect its order of 500 million respirator masks. Although Trump touted the purchase order, Biden said it could take 18 months to arrive, according to several experts.
“The United States has been far behind the rest of the advanced world when it comes to testing," Biden said, referencing Trump's assurances that America's testing capacity rivals that of Europe.
On Monday, Biden began his first in a series of events livestreamed from his home in Delaware. No cable stations aired his remarks, which included calls on Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act.
"Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus. But he does bear responsibility for our response," he said. "And I, along with every American, hope he steps up and starts to get this right."
Recently, Biden added veteran Democratic policy adviser Jake Sullivan to his campaign. Sullivan served as a senior policy adviser to Hillary Clinton's 2016 White House run and worked under both Barack Obama and Biden as national security advisers.
The addition comes shortly before Biden announced a list of 100 national security professionals backing his third White House run.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--'Cancellation after cancellation': Restaurateur describes overnight ruin by coronavirus

Before the coronavirus , Dan Kluger ’ s eclectic , farm-to-table restaurant in New York City was teeming with patrons and boasted a healthy bottom line supplemented by a thriving events business .
Shut down overnight by the pandemic , the award-winning chef wonders if he will ever reopen .
Loring Place opened three and a half years ago in trendy Greenwich Village after Kluger spent a hefty sum renovating space in a historic Manhattan mid-rise building .
The restaurant was a success , tracking the booming national economy .
The chef and his 125 employees served 300 to 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 750,000 to $ 900,000 — 15 % of which he attributes to group events .
Then , the coronavirus hit , decimating Kluger ’ s business even before government-mandated closures .
“ We had an amazing Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday .
I don ’ t think anyone really understood the scope of this yet .
People were blaming it on the media and saying it was being over-hyped , ” Kluger told the Washington Examiner , recalling conditions just two weeks ago , prior to the pandemic upending life across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden , Thursday , the phone just started ringing and it was cancellation after cancellation after cancellation.
” Now , nearly all of Kluger ’ s employees , who earned $ 500 to $ 1,500 per week on average , have been laid off and are applying for unemployment insurance .
He said the process has been “ harrowing ” for many of them , partly because the government has been overwhelmed with applicants and unable to process all claims .
“ They were beyond devastated , ” Kluger said Monday as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview for “ Behind Closed Doors , ” a Washington Examiner podcast .
“ I sat there and watched these people come in and pick up some food , because we gave away food to the staff as we were closing , ” Kluger explained .
“ Having to see people and watch them in tears , you really understand that ’ s a cross of their own anxiety and they don ’ t want to not come to work .
They enjoy coming to work and the family that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought that they don ’ t know when they ’ ll be back.
” From his home office in Westchester County , about 35 miles north of New York City , Kluger , 46 , is working furiously to keep his restaurant afloat .
The chef declined to reveal his profit margin , but he said it was slim — in line with the industry standard of just 8 % to 14 % ( labor costs eat up 40 % to 45 % of the revenue his restaurant generates . )
Kluger said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly lease and other remaining overhead costs for up to three months — if he stretches available resources .
Thousands of independent restaurants just like his are faced with similar circumstances , Kluger emphasized , if not worse .
Not only did Loring Place have to throw out food it purchased for a customer base that evaporated because of the coronavirus shutdown , it owes vendors about $ 100,000 for food and other goods and services purchased before the pandemic brought business to a screeching halt .
Additionally , relaunching the eatery after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital .
President Trump and congressional leaders spent the last several days negotiating legislation designed to bolster an economy crippled by a near complete shutdown triggered by government mandates for social distancing .
Kluger , without laying blame or picking sides , was clear that policymakers in Washington had better move quick and be bold .
Absent aggressive and swift government assistance to keep his and similar small businesses afloat , he said , prospects for the future were increasingly uncertain .
“ We ’ re trying to keep as much liquidity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we ’ ll be able to open again , ” Kluger said .
“ I just want to make sure that we are protected and are being heard and are being represented at the table .
The biggest fear is that we ’ re not .
”

Before the coronavirus, Dan Kluger’s eclectic, farm-to-table restaurant in New York City was teeming with patrons and boasted a healthy bottom line supplemented by a thriving events business. Shut down overnight by the pandemic, the award-winning chef wonders if he will ever reopen.
Loring Place opened 3 1/2 years ago in trendy Greenwich Village after Kluger spent a hefty sum renovating space in a historic Manhattan mid-rise building. The restaurant was a success, tracking the booming national economy. The chef and his 125 employees served 300 to 700 diners nightly, generating monthly revenue of $750,000 to $900,000 — 15% of which he attributes to group events. Then, the coronavirus hit, damaging Kluger’s business even before government-mandated closures.
“We had an amazing Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I don’t think anyone really understood the scope of this yet. People were blaming it on the media and saying it was being overhyped,” Kluger told the Washington Examiner, recalling conditions just two weeks ago, prior to the pandemic upending life across the United States. “All of a sudden, Thursday, the phone just started ringing and it was cancellation after cancellation after cancellation.”
Now, nearly all of Kluger’s employees, who earned $500 to $1,500 per week on average, have been laid off and are applying for unemployment insurance. He said the process has been “harrowing” for many of them, partly because the government has been overwhelmed with applicants and unable to process all claims.
“They were beyond devastated,” Kluger said Monday as he described the process of laying off staff in an interview for Behind Closed Doors, a Washington Examiner podcast.
“I sat there and watched these people come in and pick up some food, because we gave away food to the staff as we were closing,” Kluger explained. “Having to see people and watch them in tears, you really understand that’s a cross of their own anxiety, and they don’t want to not come to work. They enjoy coming to work and the family that they have there and the team and the thought that they don’t know when they’ll be back.”
From his home office in Westchester County, about 35 miles north of New York City, Kluger, 46, is working furiously to keep his restaurant afloat. The chef declined to reveal his profit margin, but he said it was slim — in line with the industry standard of just 8% to 14% (labor costs eat up 40% to 45% of the revenue his restaurant generates.)
Kluger said he can probably manage to pay the monthly lease and other remaining overhead costs for up to three months — if he stretches available resources. Thousands of independent restaurants just like his are faced with similar circumstances, Kluger emphasized, if not worse.
Not only did Loring Place have to throw out food it purchased for a customer base that evaporated because of the coronavirus shutdown, it owes vendors about $100,000 for food and other goods and services purchased before the pandemic brought business to a screeching halt. Additionally, relaunching the eatery after the crisis recedes will require startup capital.
President Trump and congressional leaders spent the last several days negotiating legislation designed to bolster an economy crippled by a near-complete shutdown triggered by government mandates for social distancing.
Kluger, without laying blame or picking sides, was clear that policymakers in Washington had better move quick and be bold. Absent aggressive and swift government assistance to keep his and similar small businesses afloat, he said, prospects for the future were increasingly uncertain.
“We’re trying to keep as much liquidity as possible right now because the hope is that we’ll be able to open again,” Kluger said. “I just want to make sure that we are protected and are being heard and are being represented at the table. The biggest fear is that we’re not.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Fox News to host two-hour virtual town hall with Trump and coronavirus task force officials

Fox News announced it will host a two-hour virtual town hall with President Trump amid the coronavirus outbreak .
On @ @ @ @ @ anchors Harris Faulkner and Bill Hemmer are set to co-moderate the event on Tuesday from @ @ @ @ @ EDT with President Trump and leading members of the White House coronavirus task force .
@ @ @ @ @ throughout the town hall by medical experts and FNC contributors Dr. Nicole Saphier and Dr. @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Mehmet Oz , '' the network said in a press release .
The first @ @ @ @ @ the task force , and the president will subsequently answer questions from the network 's @ @ @ @ @ , Trump also participated in a Fox News town hall , his first of the @ @ @ @ @ which he answered questions from hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier , as well as @ @ @ @ @ ended up being the most-watched town hall in cable news history .

Fox News announced it will host a two-hour virtual town hall with President Trump amid the coronavirus outbreak.
On Monday, the network said anchors Harris Faulkner and Bill Hemmer are set to co-moderate the event on Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT with President Trump and leading members of the White House coronavirus task force.
"Contributions will be made throughout the town hall by medical experts and FNC contributors Dr. Nicole Saphier and Dr. Marc Siegel as well as Dr. Mehmet Oz," the network said in a press release.
The first half-hour will feature members of the task force, and the president will subsequently answer questions from the network's viewers.
Earlier in March, Trump also participated in a Fox News town hall, his first of the 2020 election cycle, during which he answered questions from hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, as well as from viewers. The event ended up being the most-watched town hall in cable news history.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Biden breaks out of basement with media blitz

Joe Biden is back — on television , at least .
After more than a week where he was forced to stay in his Wilmington , Delaware , home , struggling to break through media coverage of the coronavirus pandemic , the former vice president returned to the airwaves with a media blitz on Tuesday .
Armed with a newly installed professional studio in his basement , Biden offered his opinions on President Trump 's response to the outbreak and discussed the challenges of being the likely Democratic presidential nominee while being unable to talk to voters in person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a firm , reasonable alternative to Trump 's handling of the situation without being alarmist .
`` If you notice on what I 've been doing , I 've not been criticizing the president , but I 've been pointing out where there 's disagreement as to how to proceed , '' Biden said on ABC 's The View Tuesday morning .
`` The coronavirus is not his fault , but the lack of speed with which to respond to it has to move much faster . ''
In the afternoon , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News , Biden had harsher words .
`` He should stop talking and start listening to the medical experts , '' Biden said on CNN .
`` The idea that he 's going to move in that direction , thinks that can be done by Easter ?
That would be a real resurrection if that could happen , '' the practicing Catholic added on MSNBC .
In the interviews , Biden declined to call on his last remaining competitor , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , to drop out of the race .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American women he thinks that would make good Supreme Court justices and that he is considering 12 to 15 women who could be his vice presidential pick but that he has not spoken to any of them directly .
He starts his days with two hour-and-a-half briefings on the coronavirus situation and the economy , he said .
`` Why does n't he just act like a president ? ''
Biden said on MSNBC .
After a pause , he added : `` That 's a stupid way to say that . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Asian Americans after days of criticism for calling coronavirus the `` Chinese virus , '' Biden said , `` I just ca n't figure the guy .
I do n't know .
It 's like watching a yo-yo . ''
Then he corrected himself again for making a harsh comment : `` I should n't have said it that way . ''
The verbal stumble-prone 77-year-old did not escape the day without some strange moments .
When asked on The View to respond to Trump 's assertion that the United States can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse than the problem itself , Biden offered a confusing response : `` We have to take care of the cure .
That will make the problem worse , no matter what .
No matter what .
We know what has to be done . ''
CNN host Jake Tapper scolded Biden after the former vice president coughed into his hand .
`` It 's kind of old school to do it with your hand , '' Tapper said .
`` Do it into your elbow .
You 're supposed to do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone in my home , but that 's OK .
I agree .
You 're right , '' Biden said .
Biden tried to offer an optimistic , unifying view .
`` I 've never been more proud to be an American , '' he said .
`` Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their community , for their neighbors , for people down the street , for everyone out there .
They 're scared , yet they 're united . ''

Joe Biden is back — on television, at least.
After more than a week where he was forced to stay in his Wilmington, Delaware, home, struggling to break through media coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, the former vice president returned to the airwaves with a media blitz on Tuesday. Armed with a newly installed professional studio in his basement, Biden offered his opinions on President Trump's response to the outbreak and discussed the challenges of being the likely Democratic presidential nominee while being unable to talk to voters in person.
Biden sought to present himself as offering a firm, reasonable alternative to Trump's handling of the situation without being alarmist.
"If you notice on what I've been doing, I've not been criticizing the president, but I've been pointing out where there's disagreement as to how to proceed," Biden said on ABC's The View Tuesday morning. "The coronavirus is not his fault, but the lack of speed with which to respond to it has to move much faster."
In the afternoon, after Trump held a town hall on Fox News, Biden had harsher words.
"He should stop talking and start listening to the medical experts," Biden said on CNN.
"The idea that he's going to move in that direction, thinks that can be done by Easter? That would be a real resurrection if that could happen," the practicing Catholic added on MSNBC.
In the interviews, Biden declined to call on his last remaining competitor, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, to drop out of the race. He also said that there are four African American women he thinks that would make good Supreme Court justices and that he is considering 12 to 15 women who could be his vice presidential pick but that he has not spoken to any of them directly. He starts his days with two hour-and-a-half briefings on the coronavirus situation and the economy, he said.
At times, Biden seemed exasperated.
"Why doesn't he just act like a president?" Biden said on MSNBC. After a pause, he added: "That's a stupid way to say that."
Reacting to Trump's condemnation of discrimination against Asian Americans after days of criticism for calling coronavirus the "Chinese virus," Biden said, "I just can't figure the guy. I don't know. It's like watching a yo-yo." Then he corrected himself again for making a harsh comment: "I shouldn't have said it that way."
The verbal stumble-prone 77-year-old did not escape the day without some strange moments.
When asked on The View to respond to Trump's assertion that the United States cannot let the pandemic's cure be worse than the problem itself, Biden offered a confusing response: "We have to take care of the cure. That will make the problem worse, no matter what. No matter what. We know what has to be done."
CNN host Jake Tapper scolded Biden after the former vice president coughed into his hand.
"It's kind of old school to do it with your hand," Tapper said. "Do it into your elbow. You're supposed to do it."
"Fortunately, I'm alone in my home, but that's OK. I agree. You're right," Biden said.
Biden tried to offer an optimistic, unifying view.
"I've never been more proud to be an American," he said. "Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their community, for their neighbors, for people down the street, for everyone out there. They're scared, yet they're united."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Mixed messages: Biden says not to call Trump a liar for coronavirus inaccuracies after repeatedly do

Mixed messages: Biden says not to call Trump a liar for coronavirus inaccuracies after repeatedly doing so

Joe Biden suggested that it is not productive to say that President Trump is lying when he says something inaccurate about the response to the coronavirus pandemic , despite his campaign repeatedly pointing out `` lies '' from the president about the respiratory virus in recent weeks .
`` The American people do n't want us in a political fight , and I want no part of a political fight either , '' the former vice president said Tuesday on The View .
`` But when the president says things that , in fact , turn out not to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'You 're lying . '
We should say , 'Mr .
President , that 's not the fact , here 's the deal . '
'' Biden , 77 , gave an example .
`` When he said we had all the tests available .
Well , they were n't available .
Now , maybe he did n't know they were n't available , but it 's important for people to know that they were n't available yet . ''
However , the former vice president 's campaign has repeatedly called Trump a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the global health crisis .
`` President Trump neglected , minimized , and lied about this virus , '' Biden said in a statement published Sunday .
`` President Trump ’ s dithering on preparing us for this global pandemic and his lies about his response to this dangerous crisis is one of the most unjustifiable failures of presidential leadership in American history . ''
Also on Sunday , a Biden tweet said that Trump lied about the availability of tests , calling it a `` disgrace '' — a much different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccuracy on The View on Tuesday .
[ Related : 'Pointing out where there 's disagreement ' : Biden claims he is not criticizing Trump ] In another Sunday tweet accusing Trump of being untruthful about his planned use of the Defense Production Act , Biden said : `` Mr. President — stop lying and start acting .
Use the full extent of your authorities , now , to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them where they need to go . ''
Biden has often said on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one common stump speech line calling for voters to choose `` truth over lies . ''

Joe Biden suggested that it is not productive to say that President Trump is lying when he says something inaccurate about the response to the coronavirus pandemic, despite his campaign repeatedly pointing out "lies" from the president about the respiratory virus in recent weeks.
"The American people don't want us in a political fight, and I want no part of a political fight either," the former vice president said Tuesday on The View. "But when the president says things that, in fact, turn out not to be accurate, we should not say, 'You're lying.' We should say, 'Mr. President, that's not the fact, here's the deal.'"
Biden, 77, gave an example. "When he said we had all the tests available. Well, they weren't available. Now, maybe he didn't know they weren't available, but it's important for people to know that they weren't available yet."
However, the former vice president's campaign has repeatedly called Trump a liar when critiquing the president's response to the global health crisis.
"President Trump neglected, minimized, and lied about this virus," Biden said in a statement published Sunday. "President Trump’s dithering on preparing us for this global pandemic and his lies about his response to this dangerous crisis is one of the most unjustifiable failures of presidential leadership in American history."
Also on Sunday, a Biden tweet said that Trump lied about the availability of tests, calling it a "disgrace" — a much different tone than Biden had about the same inaccuracy on The View on Tuesday.
[Related: 'Pointing out where there's disagreement': Biden claims he is not criticizing Trump]
On March 6th, Donald Trump claimed: “Anybody that wants a test can get a test.”
That was a flat-out lie then, and it’s still not true today. It’s a disgrace.
We need to ensure everyone who needs a test can get one free of charge. Period. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 22, 2020
In another Sunday tweet accusing Trump of being untruthful about his planned use of the Defense Production Act, Biden said: "Mr. President — stop lying and start acting. Use the full extent of your authorities, now, to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them where they need to go."
Biden has often said on the campaign trail that Trump frequently lies, with one common stump speech line calling for voters to choose "truth over lies."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Coronavirus contrast: Trump White House bully pulpit vs. Biden basement soapbox

One candidate broadcasts from a makeshift studio in his basement .
Hours later , the other takes to the White House briefing room flanked on one side by Rear Adm. John Polowczyk in his military uniform and on the other by the attorney general , representing the power at his disposal as the president of the United States .
While Joe Biden ’ s 14-minute address left supporters flipping through TV channels in vain to find a station broadcasting his words live , President Trump dominated coverage of the coronavirus pandemic as he has done with eight straight days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind and understands the power of pictures , ” said an adviser .
“ Joe Biden looked like the rest of us working from home , which may generate a feeling that we are all in this together . ''
“ But right now , when everything feels like it is breaking down , '' added the adviser , `` don ’ t you want a candidate who looks like a commander in chief ?
” [ Related : Where 's Joe Biden ?
In his basement , adjusting to a digital campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjust to an election year in which gatherings are effectively banned .
With the White House press corps thinned out and travel off the schedule for now , it means Trump has lost one of his favorite newsmaking outlets : “ Chopper Talk , ” his informal Q & A sessions with reporters as he prepares to fly out on Marine One .
But while Trump ’ s supporters can still trumpet the action being taken by his administration , and the president can use telegenic locations such as the Rose Garden for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did Tuesday , Biden ’ s aides must find a way of pushing their message while not being accused of taking partisan shots during a time of crisis .
“ What I ’ m concerned about is that we see Donald Trump every day with this crisis giving his press report , ” a donor told Biden on a virtual fundraising call on Sunday , according to several reports .
“ And I would just love to see you more . ''
“ Like , how do we get more of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” the donor asked .
But the nature of the crisis means Biden can not visit victims of the pandemic to display the sort of empathy that the president frequently struggles to demonstrate .
Even so , Biden did not do any of the Sunday shows and has been largely absent from cable channels during the day ( a time when many people are stuck at home with little to do ) , and # WhereIsJoe has popped up on social media .
On Monday , he appeared from his Delaware home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs .
`` Are we ready to go ? ''
he said to someone off-screen before rubbing his nose and then launching into an address that criticized Trump ’ s response as insufficient and demanded he act like the wartime leader he claimed to be .
But it was not enough to cut through the coverage of an unfolding pandemic .
CNN , Fox News , and MSNBC instead streamed a briefing being given by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
In contrast , Trump ’ s briefings have frequently been delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday , Biden tried an appearance on The View , again from his basement .
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said , “ The president is leading an unprecedented mobilization of America against the coronavirus , and all Joe Biden can offer is ineffective partisan sniping from the sidelines .
”

One candidate broadcasts from a makeshift studio in his basement. Hours later, the other takes to the White House briefing room flanked on one side by Rear Adm. John Polowczyk in his military uniform and on the other by the attorney general, representing the power at his disposal as the president of the United States.
While Joe Biden’s 14-minute address left supporters flipping through TV channels in vain to find a station broadcasting his words live, President Trump dominated coverage of the coronavirus pandemic as he has done with eight straight days of appearances.
“He has a TV mind and understands the power of pictures,” said an adviser. “Joe Biden looked like the rest of us working from home, which may generate a feeling that we are all in this together."
“But right now, when everything feels like it is breaking down," added the adviser, "don’t you want a candidate who looks like a commander in chief?”
[Related: Where's Joe Biden? In his basement, adjusting to a digital campaign style]
Both campaigns are scrambling to adjust to an election year in which gatherings are effectively banned. With the White House press corps thinned out and travel off the schedule for now, it means Trump has lost one of his favorite newsmaking outlets: “Chopper Talk,” his informal Q&A sessions with reporters as he prepares to fly out on Marine One.
But while Trump’s supporters can still trumpet the action being taken by his administration, and the president can use telegenic locations such as the Rose Garden for a Fox News town hall, as he did Tuesday, Biden’s aides must find a way of pushing their message while not being accused of taking partisan shots during a time of crisis.
“What I’m concerned about is that we see Donald Trump every day with this crisis giving his press report,” a donor told Biden on a virtual fundraising call on Sunday, according to several reports. “And I would just love to see you more."
“Like, how do we get more of you and less of him on our airwaves?” the donor asked.
But the nature of the crisis means Biden cannot visit victims of the pandemic to display the sort of empathy that the president frequently struggles to demonstrate.
Even so, Biden did not do any of the Sunday shows and has been largely absent from cable channels during the day (a time when many people are stuck at home with little to do), and #WhereIsJoe has popped up on social media.
On Monday, he appeared from his Delaware home before a backdrop of bookshelves and personal photographs. "Are we ready to go?" he said to someone off-screen before rubbing his nose and then launching into an address that criticized Trump’s response as insufficient and demanded he act like the wartime leader he claimed to be.
But it was not enough to cut through the coverage of an unfolding pandemic. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC instead streamed a briefing being given by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In contrast, Trump’s briefings have frequently been delayed until Cuomo’s appearances have ended.
On Tuesday, Biden tried an appearance on The View, again from his basement.
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said, “The president is leading an unprecedented mobilization of America against the coronavirus, and all Joe Biden can offer is ineffective partisan sniping from the sidelines.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Biden won't call on Sanders to drop out of race

Joe Biden said his staff is in contact with Bernie Sanders 's campaign over the state of the race but fell short of calling on the Vermont senator to drop out .
`` I think it 's up to Bernie .
...
It 's not for me to tell him to drop out .
They can make that judgment for themselves , '' the former vice president said on The View Tuesday morning .
It 's up to Bernie what he wants to do .
I hope at the end of the day , no matter what happens , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Biden , 77 , solidified himself as the presumptive Democratic nominee after winning almost every primary contest in the last few weeks .
Sanders , 78 , who has dodged questions related to whether he will stay in the race , has no realistic path to make up for his delegate deficit .
`` We do n't have a little bit of what we had last time — where some people decided to stay home .
Bernie and I have always gotten along .
I have nothing but respect for him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he may sit at home and say , 'Well , things are gon na change in the next month or two . '
Well , I do n't know .
I 'm happy to talk with him . ''
[ Read more : 'Pointing out where there 's disagreement ' : Biden claims he is not criticizing Trump ] Biden also spoke about a number of policy concessions he 's made recently to placate Sanders 's supporters , including free public college for families making below a certain income .
`` I hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I 'm prepared to — and I have moved on some of it .
So I hope we can bring it all together .
That 's my expectation , '' said Biden .

Joe Biden said his staff is in contact with Bernie Sanders's campaign over the state of the race but fell short of calling on the Vermont senator to drop out.
"I think it's up to Bernie. ... It's not for me to tell him to drop out. They can make that judgment for themselves," the former vice president said on The View Tuesday morning. It's up to Bernie what he wants to do. I hope at the end of the day, no matter what happens, we are all together.”
The question came after Biden, 77, solidified himself as the presumptive Democratic nominee after winning almost every primary contest in the last few weeks. Sanders, 78, who has dodged questions related to whether he will stay in the race, has no realistic path to make up for his delegate deficit.
"We don't have a little bit of what we had last time — where some people decided to stay home. Bernie and I have always gotten along. I have nothing but respect for him," Biden added. "Now, he may sit at home and say, 'Well, things are gonna change in the next month or two.' Well, I don't know. I'm happy to talk with him."
[Read more: 'Pointing out where there's disagreement': Biden claims he is not criticizing Trump]
Biden also spoke about a number of policy concessions he's made recently to placate Sanders's supporters, including free public college for families making below a certain income.
"I hear what some of his supporters are saying, and I'm prepared to — and I have moved on some of it. So I hope we can bring it all together. That's my expectation," said Biden.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--'Pointing out where there's disagreement': Biden claims he is not criticizing Trump

Joe Biden asserted that he is not criticizing President Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` If you notice on what I 've been doing , I 've not been criticizing the president , but I 've been pointing out where there 's disagreement as to how to proceed , '' the former vice president said Tuesday on The View .
`` The coronavirus is not his fault , but the lack of speed and alacrity with which to respond to it has to move much faster . ''
Less than 20 minutes before that interview , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that struck a very different tone .
`` We must hold Donald Trump accountable for his failures in handling this pandemic , '' it read .
In a March 1 Fox News interview , Biden said of Trump : `` He does n't know how to run the country .
He is making us more unsafe the way he is responding to the coronavirus .
He has done virtually nothing well that I can see . ''
On Sunday , Biden 's campaign said that Trump is `` incapable '' of being able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way with a steady hand , and provide a beacon of hope for the American people . ''
[ Read more : Where 's Joe Biden ?
In his basement , adjusting to a digital campaign style ] Biden added Tuesday that he thinks Trump should invoke legislation to force companies to produce medical equipment .
`` I suggested he invoke the wartime legislation that allows him to be a wartime president in the Defense Production Act — where he can go into a company and say , ' I want you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity to do that , ' '' Biden said .
`` He signed the order , but he did n't implement it . ''
The Trump administration said Monday that the act was not necessary because private companies are willingly fulfilling the government 's requests .

Joe Biden asserted that he is not criticizing President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"If you notice on what I've been doing, I've not been criticizing the president, but I've been pointing out where there's disagreement as to how to proceed," the former vice president said Tuesday on The View. "The coronavirus is not his fault, but the lack of speed and alacrity with which to respond to it has to move much faster."
Less than 20 minutes before that interview, Biden's campaign sent an email to supporters that struck a very different tone. "We must hold Donald Trump accountable for his failures in handling this pandemic," it read.
In a March 1 Fox News interview, Biden said of Trump: "He doesn't know how to run the country. He is making us more unsafe the way he is responding to the coronavirus. He has done virtually nothing well that I can see."
On Sunday, Biden's campaign said that Trump is "incapable" of being able to "calm and heal, lead the way with a steady hand, and provide a beacon of hope for the American people."
[Read more: Where's Joe Biden? In his basement, adjusting to a digital campaign style]
Biden added Tuesday that he thinks Trump should invoke legislation to force companies to produce medical equipment.
"I suggested he invoke the wartime legislation that allows him to be a wartime president in the Defense Production Act — where he can go into a company and say, 'I want you to start producing ventilators. You have the capacity to do that,'" Biden said. "He signed the order, but he didn't implement it."
The Trump administration said Monday that the act was not necessary because private companies are willingly fulfilling the government's requests.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-24--Of time and the Biden

Of time and the Biden

In the blink of an eye , all of our current concerns and distractions , up to and including our presidential election , disappeared this month beneath a wave .
That wave , the coronavirus , washed over so many great countries , and it left so little behind it intact .
President Trump has perhaps changed more than anyone .
He went from being the one man in the world who was his own biggest problem to being one of a number of national leaders staring down a great threat .
No longer the problem , he was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix it .
With that shift in perspective , his place in the whole scheme of things altered .
The emphasis now was much less upon who and what he was as a person than on what he was trying to do .
`` His team is on it , '' New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , son of a prominent liberal dynasty , told us on Thursday .
`` They have been responsive late at night , early in the morning … thus far , they have been doing everything that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that I appreciate it . ''
Like George W. Bush after Sept. 11 , his opponents blamed him for not having foreseen an unprecedented calamity no one had imagined .
But as with Bush , the public felt differently .
A poll released recently seemed to confirm it with 55 % approving of his handling of the coronavirus .
Someone else whose status was changed by the crisis was the Democrats ’ all-but-sure nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden .
He went from one of the country ’ s most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the crisis occurred , he has yielded the field and the microphone to people in Congress and Democratic state governors — most of all Cuomo , whose state has been by far the hardest hit .
Cuomo 's updates , along with the ones given out by the White House , are carried full time by all of the networks and treated as major events .
Last week , the Associated Press reported that Biden and aides have closed all their offices and are working from home .
`` There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' for the campaign , and `` high dollar fundraising events are on hold . ''
Worse still , the great sudden shift in focus and in concentration that occurred in the wake of the crash and the virus has also shattered Biden 's stated reason for running .
He was supposed to be the sane , civil person , running against a man who at many times seemed to be neither , who broke norms and commandments with gleeful abandon , and whom nothing and no one could shame .
Then came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden would now have to be not only nicer than Trump , but also more capable of seeming in control without melting down amidst a crisis .
Of this there has never been any proof — in contrast , the executive Cuomo in his timely reports has quickly emerged as a modern Churchill .
Is there a Cuomo in all of our futures ?
Only time and the Biden can tell .

In the blink of an eye, all of our current concerns and distractions, up to and including our presidential election, disappeared this month beneath a wave. That wave, the coronavirus, washed over so many great countries, and it left so little behind it intact.
President Trump has perhaps changed more than anyone. He went from being the one man in the world who was his own biggest problem to being one of a number of national leaders staring down a great threat. No longer the problem, he was one of the group who were trying to fix it. With that shift in perspective, his place in the whole scheme of things altered. The emphasis now was much less upon who and what he was as a person than on what he was trying to do.
"His team is on it," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, son of a prominent liberal dynasty, told us on Thursday. "They have been responsive late at night, early in the morning … thus far, they have been doing everything that they can do, and I want to say that I appreciate it."
Like George W. Bush after Sept. 11, his opponents blamed him for not having foreseen an unprecedented calamity no one had imagined. But as with Bush, the public felt differently. A poll released recently seemed to confirm it with 55% approving of his handling of the coronavirus.
Someone else whose status was changed by the crisis was the Democrats’ all-but-sure nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. He went from one of the country’s most visible national figures to invisible man. Since the crisis occurred, he has yielded the field and the microphone to people in Congress and Democratic state governors — most of all Cuomo, whose state has been by far the hardest hit. Cuomo's updates, along with the ones given out by the White House, are carried full time by all of the networks and treated as major events.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that Biden and aides have closed all their offices and are working from home. "There’s little evidence that mass hiring is imminent" for the campaign, and "high dollar fundraising events are on hold." Worse still, the great sudden shift in focus and in concentration that occurred in the wake of the crash and the virus has also shattered Biden's stated reason for running. He was supposed to be the sane, civil person, running against a man who at many times seemed to be neither, who broke norms and commandments with gleeful abandon, and whom nothing and no one could shame.
Then came the plague, something bigger than Trump. Biden would now have to be not only nicer than Trump, but also more capable of seeming in control without melting down amidst a crisis. Of this there has never been any proof — in contrast, the executive Cuomo in his timely reports has quickly emerged as a modern Churchill.
Is there a Cuomo in all of our futures? Only time and the Biden can tell.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-25--'Losing the optics': Democrats risk voter backlash with holdup of coronavirus aid package

Obstruction by congressional Democrats of a coronavirus relief package risks a political backlash as voters give President Trump positive marks for his management of the pandemic .
The $ 2 trillion economic rescue legislation was finally moving on Capitol Hill Tuesday after Senate Democrats negotiated concessions with Republicans and the White House , offering hope to racked financial markets and an anxious public .
But House Democrats were threatening to block the measure in a bid to leverage the coronavirus crisis to win passage of long-sought-after liberal priorities .
With the economy in free fall and a majority of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , Democrats are in danger of overplaying their hand .
“ Democrats in particular seem to be losing the optics as they have repeatedly and overtly blocked procedural votes and have tried to add pieces to the legislation that have little to nothing to do with the pandemic , ” said Jeff Brauer , a political scientist at Keystone College in Pennsylvania .
“ If these optics continue , it will only serve to assist Trump and the Republicans.
” Democratic insiders say party leaders were willing to risk blowback because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Troubled Asset Relief Program , legislation rushed through Congress in 2008 to prevent a global financial meltdown .
Necessary or not , many voters on the Left and Right resented TARP because they believed it favored Wall Street over the middle class .
Democrats think that without these changes , they could be buying into an unpopular bill .
Asked for comment , a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred the Washington Examiner to this comment from the New York Democrat from Monday : “ This bill is going to affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not just for the next few days , but in the next few months and years , so we have to make sure it is good.
” In five recent public opinion polls , Trump ’ s ratings for his response to the coronavirus were 49 % , 50 % , 55 % , 56 % , and 60 % .
In a daily tracking poll conducted by a Democratic firm , 53 % of voters surveyed said they approved of the president ’ s approach to the pandemic .
Republicans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlast the crisis , arguing they have been recalcitrant amid a public health calamity that has shuttered thousands of businesses and left millions of people unemployed .
“ The only thing they accomplished is delaying aid to Americans and , ultimately , once we recover , none of their behavior will be forgotten , ” said Josh Holmes , a Republican operative who advises Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
They point to the 2002 midterm elections , the first national contest after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks , as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
Eighteen years ago , Republicans won seats in Congress after Democrats waged an unpopular and unsuccessful battle to force President George W. Bush to allow new homeland security personnel to unionize .
Some Democrats , wary of their party ’ s decision to play hardball in negotiations , say there is a difference between germane concessions won by Schumer and the wish list sought for the current bill by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California .
Schumer said Democrats secured changes such as tighter controls on how corporations spend government relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for hospitals and other healthcare infrastructure .
In the House , Democrats are pitching higher emission standards for struggling airlines that accept federal assistance plus new regulations requiring states to offer early voting and same-day registration .
“ It ’ s fine as a way to lay down some markers for the future , when Congress debates additional efforts to side the economy , ” said Democratic operative Jim Manley of the House Democratic proposals .
“ But , for right now , it ’ s not going anywhere .
The goal needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted on in both bodies as soon as possible.
” The stock market soared more than 2,100 points on Tuesday , anticipating Senate passage of a $ 2 trillion bill .
Some political analysts , and even some Republicans , doubt congressional infighting in March will matter much in the fall .
With the relief package poised to pass , long-term political risk to the Democrats should be alleviated , said GOP strategist Alex Conant .
“ Both sides will claim a win , and markets will approve , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the news cycle moves too fast for any story , impeachment , for instance , to make a permanent impression on voters , especially a story about congressional dysfunction .
“ We 've seen this movie a hundred times before , ” said Sabato , director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics .

Obstruction by congressional Democrats of a coronavirus relief package risks a political backlash as voters give President Trump positive marks for his management of the pandemic.
The $2 trillion economic rescue legislation was finally moving on Capitol Hill Tuesday after Senate Democrats negotiated concessions with Republicans and the White House, offering hope to racked financial markets and an anxious public. But House Democrats were threatening to block the measure in a bid to leverage the coronavirus crisis to win passage of long-sought-after liberal priorities.
With the economy in free fall and a majority of voters approving of Trump’s handling of the pandemic, Democrats are in danger of overplaying their hand.
“Democrats in particular seem to be losing the optics as they have repeatedly and overtly blocked procedural votes and have tried to add pieces to the legislation that have little to nothing to do with the pandemic,” said Jeff Brauer, a political scientist at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. “If these optics continue, it will only serve to assist Trump and the Republicans.”
Democratic insiders say party leaders were willing to risk blowback because they had learned the lessons of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, legislation rushed through Congress in 2008 to prevent a global financial meltdown. Necessary or not, many voters on the Left and Right resented TARP because they believed it favored Wall Street over the middle class. Democrats think that without these changes, they could be buying into an unpopular bill.
Asked for comment, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred the Washington Examiner to this comment from the New York Democrat from Monday: “This bill is going to affect this country and the lives of Americans, not just for the next few days, but in the next few months and years, so we have to make sure it is good.”
In five recent public opinion polls, Trump’s ratings for his response to the coronavirus were 49%, 50%, 55%, 56%, and 60%. In a daily tracking poll conducted by a Democratic firm, 53% of voters surveyed said they approved of the president’s approach to the pandemic.
Republicans are convinced the political hit to Democrats will outlast the crisis, arguing they have been recalcitrant amid a public health calamity that has shuttered thousands of businesses and left millions of people unemployed.
“The only thing they accomplished is delaying aid to Americans and, ultimately, once we recover, none of their behavior will be forgotten,” said Josh Holmes, a Republican operative who advises Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
They point to the 2002 midterm elections, the first national contest after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as an example of what could await Democrats this November. Eighteen years ago, Republicans won seats in Congress after Democrats waged an unpopular and unsuccessful battle to force President George W. Bush to allow new homeland security personnel to unionize.
Some Democrats, wary of their party’s decision to play hardball in negotiations, say there is a difference between germane concessions won by Schumer and the wish list sought for the current bill by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.
Schumer said Democrats secured changes such as tighter controls on how corporations spend government relief funds and the appropriation of more subsidies for hospitals and other healthcare infrastructure. In the House, Democrats are pitching higher emission standards for struggling airlines that accept federal assistance plus new regulations requiring states to offer early voting and same-day registration.
“It’s fine as a way to lay down some markers for the future, when Congress debates additional efforts to side the economy,” said Democratic operative Jim Manley of the House Democratic proposals. “But, for right now, it’s not going anywhere. The goal needs to be to get the Senate package voted on in both bodies as soon as possible.”
The stock market soared more than 2,100 points on Tuesday, anticipating Senate passage of a $2 trillion bill.
Some political analysts, and even some Republicans, doubt congressional infighting in March will matter much in the fall.
With the relief package poised to pass, long-term political risk to the Democrats should be alleviated, said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “Both sides will claim a win, and markets will approve,” he said. Plus, added elections prognosticator Larry Sabato, the news cycle moves too fast for any story, impeachment, for instance, to make a permanent impression on voters, especially a story about congressional dysfunction.
“We've seen this movie a hundred times before,” said Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-25--Biden starting a podcast while coronavirus keeps him isolated

Numerous social media commentators have warned those bored during the time of anti-coronavirus social distancing not to start a podcast , but that is n't stopping Joe Biden from doing so .
The former vice president and likely Democratic presidential nominee announced in his first edition of a newsletter to supporters on Wednesday that he will start a podcast as a way to connect with voters while he is unable to leave his house .
`` My team and I are working on a new podcast ! ''
Biden said .
`` It will be a program to share some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring on some experts and people I ’ ve worked with in the White House .
Look out for more information to subscribe and follow along ! ''
A section of the new newsletter included Biden answering some questions from supporters .
He recommended readers watch his favorite movie , Chariots of Fire .
`` It ’ s a true story from the 1924 Olympics of two runners .
It has sports , religion , some big questions to think through , and ultimately a really uniting take about how small our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch ! ''
Biden wrote .
He also included a note from one of his advisers , Georgetown professor Rebecca Katz , who called for a `` coordinated , national effort to direct everyone in the country not performing an essential service to stay home . ''
In another effort to restructure how he reaches voters while normal campaign events are on hold , Biden 's campaign installed a professional studio in his Wilmington , Delaware , basement .
That allowed him to embark on a media blitz on Tuesday , which included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jake Tapper telling Biden to cough into his elbow rather than his hand .

Numerous social media commentators have warned those bored during the time of anti-coronavirus social distancing not to start a podcast, but that isn't stopping Joe Biden from doing so.
The former vice president and likely Democratic presidential nominee announced in his first edition of a newsletter to supporters on Wednesday that he will start a podcast as a way to connect with voters while he is unable to leave his house.
"My team and I are working on a new podcast!" Biden said. "It will be a program to share some more of my ideas and plans and to bring on some experts and people I’ve worked with in the White House. Look out for more information to subscribe and follow along!"
A section of the new newsletter included Biden answering some questions from supporters. He recommended readers watch his favorite movie, Chariots of Fire.
"It’s a true story from the 1924 Olympics of two runners. It has sports, religion, some big questions to think through, and ultimately a really uniting take about how small our differences really are. Give that a watch!" Biden wrote.
He also included a note from one of his advisers, Georgetown professor Rebecca Katz, who called for a "coordinated, national effort to direct everyone in the country not performing an essential service to stay home."
In another effort to restructure how he reaches voters while normal campaign events are on hold, Biden's campaign installed a professional studio in his Wilmington, Delaware, basement. That allowed him to embark on a media blitz on Tuesday, which included some snafus, such as CNN host Jake Tapper telling Biden to cough into his elbow rather than his hand.