theguardian--2020-04-19--New York mayor De Blasio asks if Trump is telling city to 'drop dead' over Covid-19

The New York mayor , Bill de Blasio , has stepped up his campaign for increased federal funding for US cities during the coronavirus crisis , asking Donald Trump whether his administration was “ going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to drop dead ?
” De Blasio ’ s dramatic language came during his press conference on Sunday , after he warned last week that he planned to cut a further $ 2bn from the city ’ s municipal services budget due to the economic downturn .
He said the city was likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax revenue over the current and next fiscal year .
De Blasio has criticized the $ 2tn coronavirus relief package that Trump signed last month , saying New York only received $ 1.4bn from the stimulus , compared with around $ 58bn for the airline industry .
He has called for the next package , which congressional and administration leaders say they are “ close ” to reaching a deal on , to include tens of billions for states , cities and municipalities .
The mayor had harsh words for the president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence , have ignored his overtures on the stimulus funds .
On Sunday , De Blasio sent a message to the administration that echoed a New York newspaper headline during the city ’ s bankruptcy crisis of the 1970s .
“ There was that famous Daily News cover that said ‘ Ford to City : Drop Dead , ’ ” De Blasio said .
“ So my question is , Mr Trump , Mr President , are you going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” “ President Trump , what ’ s going on ?
Cat got your tongue ?
” De Blasio continued .
“ You ’ re usually really talkative .
You usually have an opinion on everything .
How on earth do you not have an opinion on aid to American cities and states ?
” The Daily News front page was published after Gerald Ford gave a speech in 1975 , saying he would veto a federal bill that would have helped spare New York City from bankruptcy .
Across many US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficits is becoming more pressing , as governors and administrators attempt to counter the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Central bankers are seeking ways to revive a $ 4tn market for municipal bonds that allows states and cities to borrow funds for basic infrastructure spending such as schools , hospitals and highways .
On Sunday , New Jersey ’ s Democratic senator Bob Menendez and senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana , a Republican , proposed a $ 500bn fund for state and local governments as part of the next rescue package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was already facing a multi-billion budget shortfall after losing hundreds of thousands of taxpayers to states with lower taxes , has already warned the state is facing a $ 10bn hole caused by the pandemic in its $ 177bn budget .
During his address , De Blasio said he was consulting with counterparts in Miami and Denver on how to handle the approaching financial crisis .
But De Blasio ’ s invocation of an era when crime soared , rodents infested the streets , and entire neighborhoods were considered no-go was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , became a classic bridge-and-tunnel entrepreneur , venturing to Manhattan first to play and ultimately to seek a fortune .
“ You are failing to protect the very people you grew up around , ” the mayor told the president , and warned more broadly : “ If cities can ’ t function , how on earth do you have a national recovery ?
” Nearly 14,000 New Yorkers have died since the state ’ s first coronavirus case was reported on 1 March , according to state data .
The state total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City deaths that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but weren ’ t confirmed by a lab test .
New York ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , said states also need money from the federal government to ramp up testing .
“ You have the president saying 15 times , ‘ It ’ s up to the governors , it ’ s up to the governors , it ’ s up to the governors.
’ And then they ’ re going to pass a piece of legislation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero , zilch , nada , niente , ” Cuomo said .
Cuomo said 507 people died from Covid-19 in New York state on Saturday , down 33 from the previous day and by 271 since last Monday .
Other indicators were going in the right direction , the governor said .
Hospitalizations were down by more than 750 , to 16,213 .
But Cuomo and De Blasio maintained their warnings that people in New York City and the rest of the state need to stay vigilant to curb the spread of the @ @

The New York mayor, Bill de Blasio, has stepped up his campaign for increased federal funding for US cities during the coronavirus crisis, asking Donald Trump whether his administration was “going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to drop dead?”
De Blasio’s dramatic language came during his press conference on Sunday, after he warned last week that he planned to cut a further $2bn from the city’s municipal services budget due to the economic downturn. He said the city was likely to lose at least $7.4bn in tax revenue over the current and next fiscal year.
De Blasio has criticized the $2tn coronavirus relief package that Trump signed last month, saying New York only received $1.4bn from the stimulus, compared with around $58bn for the airline industry. He has called for the next package, which congressional and administration leaders say they are “close” to reaching a deal on, to include tens of billions for states, cities and municipalities.
The mayor had harsh words for the president, claiming both he and the vice-president, Mike Pence, have ignored his overtures on the stimulus funds.
On Sunday, De Blasio sent a message to the administration that echoed a New York newspaper headline during the city’s bankruptcy crisis of the 1970s.
“There was that famous Daily News cover that said ‘Ford to City: Drop Dead,’” De Blasio said. “So my question is, Mr Trump, Mr President, are you going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to drop dead? Which one is it?”
“President Trump, what’s going on? Cat got your tongue?” De Blasio continued. “You’re usually really talkative. You usually have an opinion on everything. How on earth do you not have an opinion on aid to American cities and states?”
The Daily News front page was published after Gerald Ford gave a speech in 1975, saying he would veto a federal bill that would have helped spare New York City from bankruptcy.
Across many US cities and states the issue of budget deficits is becoming more pressing, as governors and administrators attempt to counter the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Central bankers are seeking ways to revive a $4tn market for municipal bonds that allows states and cities to borrow funds for basic infrastructure spending such as schools, hospitals and highways.
On Sunday, New Jersey’s Democratic senator Bob Menendez and senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a Republican, proposed a $500bn fund for state and local governments as part of the next rescue package.
Officials for New York state, which was already facing a multi-billion budget shortfall after losing hundreds of thousands of taxpayers to states with lower taxes, has already warned the state is facing a $10bn hole caused by the pandemic in its $177bn budget.
During his address, De Blasio said he was consulting with counterparts in Miami and Denver on how to handle the approaching financial crisis. But De Blasio’s invocation of an era when crime soared, rodents infested the streets, and entire neighborhoods were considered no-go was also pointed: Trump, raised in Queens, became a classic bridge-and-tunnel entrepreneur, venturing to Manhattan first to play and ultimately to seek a fortune.
“You are failing to protect the very people you grew up around,” the mayor told the president, and warned more broadly: “If cities can’t function, how on earth do you have a national recovery?”
Nearly 14,000 New Yorkers have died since the state’s first coronavirus case was reported on 1 March, according to state data. The state total doesn’t include more than 4,000 New York City deaths that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but weren’t confirmed by a lab test.
New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said states also need money from the federal government to ramp up testing.
“You have the president saying 15 times, ‘It’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors, it’s up to the governors.’ And then they’re going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states: zero, zilch, nada, niente,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo said 507 people died from Covid-19 in New York state on Saturday, down 33 from the previous day and by 271 since last Monday. Other indicators were going in the right direction, the governor said. Hospitalizations were down by more than 750, to 16,213.
But Cuomo and De Blasio maintained their warnings that people in New York City and the rest of the state need to stay vigilant to curb the spread of the virus.


theguardian--2020-04-18--What Mrs America gets right and what it gets wrong about 70s feminism

The real hero of Mrs America , the new FX miniseries chronicling the early 1970s political battle over the Equal Rights Amendment , is Phyllis Schlafly .
Schlafly , the conservative movement leader who led the antifeminist backlash against the amendment , styled herself a housewife and mother of six , but really she was an educated , driven and ambitious professional political operator , skilled in forging alliances among unlikely counterparts and manipulating the motivations of others toward her own ends .
In the miniseries , a slick , beautifully shot portrait of 1970s America , she is played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schlafly finding an outlet for her own frustrated political ambitions in the anti-ERA fight , and rising from a minor conservative commentator on the lunatic fringe to the primary voice of social conservatism on the national stage .
As the ERA is defeated – going from a bipartisan shoo-in that sailed through the Senate to an embattled , controversial document that meets resistance in every statehouse – the show encourages us to see the downfall of the major political effort of the second wave feminist movement as the result , paradoxically , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The realities of history were a bit more complicated than that .
Though Schlafly was the face of the conservative opposition to the ERA , the show depicts her as that movement ’ s instigator and sole intellectual origin , with male politicians and movement conservatives shruggingly falling into line behind her .
The show depicts her , too , as having resentments about male arrogance and entitlement in her own life , a strain of her character that is meant to draw parallels between Schlafly and the feminist leaders she opposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abzug , Betty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm .
We see the women on either side of the ideological divide smarting at the pains of their own thwarted ambitions , and enduring sexual aggression from men for the sake of achieving their goals : Schlafly wanted to be a congresswoman ; Chisholm wanted to be president ; Steinem wanted to pass a law through Congress legalizing abortion rights .
None of them got what they wanted .
In one scene , Schlafly , contemplating a second run for Congress , lets a slimy Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lewd comment about her dress ; later , rage flashes across her face when men in a meeting ask her to take notes for them .
She steps out of the office and snaps at the young secretary instead .
In the offices of Ms Magazine , Steinem lets the publisher make a gross remark about her legs , because she needs his money to keep it in print .
These moments are meant to endear Schlafly to viewers , and at the same time to make sure that the show ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protagonist is , Mrs America is ultimately on the feminists ’ side .
But these attempts to draw parallels between Schlafly ’ s ambitions and anger and that of the feminists risks reducing the differences between them to the temperamental or circumstantial , rather than the ideological and political .
In real life , Schlafly was not so conflicted .
Though her public life and fierce style conflicted tellingly with her prescriptions for women ’ s behavior , such as modesty , domesticity and obedience , she was a fierce misogynist who wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual harassment brought men ’ s aggression on themselves .
The show is a bit too generous to Schlafly here , and one can ’ t help but think that it is trying to make its subject worthy of its casting : Blanchett , in a stunning performance , is too skilled and nuanced an actor to play a figure of such uncomplicated contempt as Schlafly herself really was .
Mrs America gives Schlafly a depth in fiction that was not there in history .
Though Schlafly remains the central figure , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with interest and generosity as the fight around the ERA progresses through the politically hectic summer of 1972 .
Gloria Steinem , played willowy and glamorous by Rose Byrne , has become the face of the feminist movement , but she is torn between the cantankerous , uncompromising idealism of Betty Friedan ( Tracey Ullman ) and the appeasing , results-focused pragmatism of Bella Azbug ( Margo Martindale ) .
In the early scenes with Steinem , as she launches Ms Magazine and attempts to harness her considerable media appeal in the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the show veers towards portraying Steinem as a victim of her own celebrity and good looks – another historical mistake , as in reality Steinem was a savvy and deliberate manipulator of these .
But as the show progresses , the script veers from underestimating Steinem to seeing her more clearly , as she attempts , in vain but with the best of intentions , to manipulate a corrupt political system to admirable political ends .
But the show ’ s real triumph is the actor Uzo Aduba , criminally underrated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated , paranoid and betrayed at the end of her presidential bid , Chisholm is portrayed not as the one-dimensional martyr that feminist history so often makes her , but as an earnest , principled advocate who suffers deep pain at the racist and sexist determination of those around her to underestimate and overlook her talents .
Her presidential bid , and her unwillingness to end it as the 1972 Democratic national convention in Miami nears , causes a conflict among the feminists between pragmatism and potential , the dream of a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and the need to get results to alleviate the ongoing suffering of sexism .
The choices they make , and the way Chisholm herself responds , reveal that this is a false choice , and a trap .
Still , when her friends abandon her and her presidential campaign is forced to fold , we can see her pain and disappointment .
Her principle and idealism is not depicted in simplistic terms as pure or morally aspirational , but also as tragic , and very lonely .
The show gives Chisholm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , by taking her suffering seriously .
Mrs America sets out to show history as made by human beings , complete with insecurities , hopes , relatable fears and bad motivations .
In this sense , it is not unlike other political dramas that have attempted to depict the agents of power and politics as relatable , familiar and human .
In some of its scenes , where women in colorful 70s garments and elaborate hairdos exchange banter while walking briskly through the halls of power , the show can feel a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Wing , though it is a great deal worldlier and more skeptical .
Mrs America is not the first show to explore history as a mosaic of human egotism , hopefulness and frailty .
But it is one of the first where history is made by the egotism , hopefulness and frailties of women .

The real hero of Mrs America, the new FX miniseries chronicling the early 1970s political battle over the Equal Rights Amendment, is Phyllis Schlafly. Schlafly, the conservative movement leader who led the antifeminist backlash against the amendment, styled herself a housewife and mother of six, but really she was an educated, driven and ambitious professional political operator, skilled in forging alliances among unlikely counterparts and manipulating the motivations of others toward her own ends.
In the miniseries, a slick, beautifully shot portrait of 1970s America, she is played by Cate Blanchett, who masterfully shows Schlafly finding an outlet for her own frustrated political ambitions in the anti-ERA fight, and rising from a minor conservative commentator on the lunatic fringe to the primary voice of social conservatism on the national stage. As the ERA is defeated – going from a bipartisan shoo-in that sailed through the Senate to an embattled, controversial document that meets resistance in every statehouse – the show encourages us to see the downfall of the major political effort of the second wave feminist movement as the result, paradoxically, of one woman’s phenomenal personal determination.
The realities of history were a bit more complicated than that. Though Schlafly was the face of the conservative opposition to the ERA, the show depicts her as that movement’s instigator and sole intellectual origin, with male politicians and movement conservatives shruggingly falling into line behind her. The show depicts her, too, as having resentments about male arrogance and entitlement in her own life, a strain of her character that is meant to draw parallels between Schlafly and the feminist leaders she opposes, such as Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm. We see the women on either side of the ideological divide smarting at the pains of their own thwarted ambitions, and enduring sexual aggression from men for the sake of achieving their goals: Schlafly wanted to be a congresswoman; Chisholm wanted to be president; Steinem wanted to pass a law through Congress legalizing abortion rights.
None of them got what they wanted. In one scene, Schlafly, contemplating a second run for Congress, lets a slimy Washington insider squeeze her waist and make a lewd comment about her dress; later, rage flashes across her face when men in a meeting ask her to take notes for them. She steps out of the office and snaps at the young secretary instead. In the offices of Ms Magazine, Steinem lets the publisher make a gross remark about her legs, because she needs his money to keep it in print.
These moments are meant to endear Schlafly to viewers, and at the same time to make sure that the show’s politics are clear: despite who the protagonist is, Mrs America is ultimately on the feminists’ side. But these attempts to draw parallels between Schlafly’s ambitions and anger and that of the feminists risks reducing the differences between them to the temperamental or circumstantial, rather than the ideological and political.
The show is a bit too generous to Schlafly, and one can’t help but think that it is trying to make its subject worthy of its casting
In real life, Schlafly was not so conflicted. Though her public life and fierce style conflicted tellingly with her prescriptions for women’s behavior, such as modesty, domesticity and obedience, she was a fierce misogynist who wrote and testified passionately that women who experienced sexual harassment brought men’s aggression on themselves. The show is a bit too generous to Schlafly here, and one can’t help but think that it is trying to make its subject worthy of its casting: Blanchett, in a stunning performance, is too skilled and nuanced an actor to play a figure of such uncomplicated contempt as Schlafly herself really was. Mrs America gives Schlafly a depth in fiction that was not there in history.
Though Schlafly remains the central figure, the show attempts to treat its other women with interest and generosity as the fight around the ERA progresses through the politically hectic summer of 1972. Gloria Steinem, played willowy and glamorous by Rose Byrne, has become the face of the feminist movement, but she is torn between the cantankerous, uncompromising idealism of Betty Friedan (Tracey Ullman) and the appeasing, results-focused pragmatism of Bella Azbug (Margo Martindale).
In the early scenes with Steinem, as she launches Ms Magazine and attempts to harness her considerable media appeal in the service of Shirley Chisholm’s presidential bid, the show veers towards portraying Steinem as a victim of her own celebrity and good looks – another historical mistake, as in reality Steinem was a savvy and deliberate manipulator of these. But as the show progresses, the script veers from underestimating Steinem to seeing her more clearly, as she attempts, in vain but with the best of intentions, to manipulate a corrupt political system to admirable political ends.
But the show’s real triumph is the actor Uzo Aduba, criminally underrated and radiant as Shirley Chisholm. Fraught, frustrated, paranoid and betrayed at the end of her presidential bid, Chisholm is portrayed not as the one-dimensional martyr that feminist history so often makes her, but as an earnest, principled advocate who suffers deep pain at the racist and sexist determination of those around her to underestimate and overlook her talents. Her presidential bid, and her unwillingness to end it as the 1972 Democratic national convention in Miami nears, causes a conflict among the feminists between pragmatism and potential, the dream of a free world with rights and dignity for all women and the need to get results to alleviate the ongoing suffering of sexism. The choices they make, and the way Chisholm herself responds, reveal that this is a false choice, and a trap. Still, when her friends abandon her and her presidential campaign is forced to fold, we can see her pain and disappointment. Her principle and idealism is not depicted in simplistic terms as pure or morally aspirational, but also as tragic, and very lonely. The show gives Chisholm and its viewers a great deal of respect here, by taking her suffering seriously.
Mrs America sets out to show history as made by human beings, complete with insecurities, hopes, relatable fears and bad motivations. In this sense, it is not unlike other political dramas that have attempted to depict the agents of power and politics as relatable, familiar and human. In some of its scenes, where women in colorful 70s garments and elaborate hairdos exchange banter while walking briskly through the halls of power, the show can feel a bit like Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, though it is a great deal worldlier and more skeptical. Mrs America is not the first show to explore history as a mosaic of human egotism, hopefulness and frailty. But it is one of the first where history is made by the egotism, hopefulness and frailties of women.


theguardian--2020-04-21--Coronavirus US live: Trump moves to ban immigration as Massachusetts becomes hotspot

The president is talking to the television again , and the television is talking back to him .
Just another day in Donald Trump ’ s America , in the middle of a pandemic which has killed more than 42,000 Americans .
In the form of a not-quite Socratic dialogue , then : Donald Trump : “ Watched the first 5 minutes of poorly rated Morning Psycho on MSDNC* just to see if he is as ‘ nuts ’ as people are saying .
He ’ s worse .
Such hatred and contempt !
I used to do his show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then cut him off .
Wasn ’ t worth the effort , his mind is shot !
” Joe Scarborough , host of MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe : “ Donald , thanks for being our most loyal viewer* .
Now please get to work .
Over 40,000 Americans have died from the pandemic .
America has the most gifted scientists , doctors , and technology leaders .
Please use them and take charge of testing so we can get America working again !
# USA.
” Donald Trump : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States with such a totally corrupt and dishonest Lamestream Media going after me all day , and all night .
Either I ’ m really good , far better than the Fake News wants to admit , or they don ’ t have nearly the power as once thought !
” Mica Brzezinski , co-host of MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe and also Mrs Joe : “ Since u are watching , can you imagine a president who would allow a pandemic to sweep in on his watch , fail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse to do national testing and drive the economy into the ground .. Oh wait ... ” Donald Trump : “ I ’ ve had great ‘ ratings ’ my whole life , there ’ s nothing unusual about that for me .
The White House News Conference ratings are ‘ through the roof ’ ( Monday Night Football , Bachelor Finale , @ nytimes ) but I don ’ t care about that .
I care about going around the Fake News to the PEOPLE !
” … and there , pausing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to not care about ratings seems a bit , uh , dubious based on the contents of the sentence in which me made it , you have it .
A few other anchors have started addressing Trump personally , hoping to reach the president directly and somehow appeal to his better nature .
Doesn ’ t seem to work .
This , by the by , is the New York Times piece about “ ratings ” for Trump ’ s daily briefings which Trump likes to quote so often .
“ On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , “ nearly 12.2 million people watched Mr Trump ’ s briefing on CNN , Fox News and MSNBC , according to Nielsen – ‘ Monday Night Football ’ numbers.
” But Grynbaum also wrote : “ …the audience is expanding even as Mr Trump has repeatedly delivered information that doctors and public health officials have called ill informed , misleading or downright wrong .
”

21 Apr 2020 00.59 BST Summary Donald Trump announced that he would soon sign an executive order restricting immigration for 60 days. Temporary visa holders would be exempt, he said at the daily coronavirus briefing — but the policy would apply to those seeking green cards.
Temporary visa holders would be exempt, he said at the daily coronavirus briefing — but the policy would apply to those seeking green cards. The Senate passed a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief bill by unainmous consent. The bill, which provides funding for small businesses, hospitals and testing, will now advance to the House. Trump has said he will sign the bill, but Republican congressman Thomas Massie has threatened to object to the bill, which could force House members to return to Washington to pass it.
The bill, which provides funding for small businesses, hospitals and testing, will now advance to the House. has said he will sign the bill, but Republican congressman has threatened to object to the bill, which could force House members to return to Washington to pass it. Attorney general William Barr said the justice department may eventually join lawsuits against stay-at-home orders. “We’re looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place,” Barr said. “And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if they’re not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs.”
“We’re looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place,” Barr said. “And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if they’re not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs.” The number of coronavirus cases in the US has surpassed 820,000. The US has confirmed 823,786 cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Nearly 45,000 Americans have died of the virus.
The US has confirmed 823,786 cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Nearly 45,000 Americans have died of the virus. New York governor Andrew Cuomo met with Trump at the White House. The meeting came as the Democratic governor has repeatedly called on the federal government to play a more active role in helping states expand testing capacity.
Updated at 01.10 BST
21 Apr 2020 00.58 BST Harvard refutes implication that it took advantage of relief funds During the coronavirus briefing, Donald Trump singled out Harvard University as one of the institutions that the government would ask to return funds recieved as part of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. “Harvard’s going to pay back the money,” Trump said, adding that the university “shouldn’t have taken it.” But Harvard clarified that it has not received any funds through the program. Rather, the has received funds through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. (1/5) Harvard did not apply for, nor has it received any funds through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses. Reports saying otherwise are inaccurate. — Harvard University (@Harvard) April 21, 2020 Harvard, which has received nearly $9m in funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act per Forbes, has been criticized for accepting the money despite is a multibillion-dollar endowment. Republican lawmakers, including Harvard alumnus Ted Cruz, called on the university to return the funds. “Dear Harvard: Thank you for my law degree and an excellent legal education. You’re very rich; many people are hurting. Now give the money back,” Cruz wrote on Twitter. Harvard announced that it will allocate 100% of the CARES Act funding toward student financial assistance. The law requires educational institutions to direct at least 50% of the relief funds to financial assistance grants to students.
Updated at 00.59 BST
21 Apr 2020 00.39 BST Dominic Rushe More on the nearly $500bn coronavirus aid package that Congress passed: The aid package is the second for small business, which have been hit hard by the pandemic and shed millions of jobs. The first proved controversial, with big businesses including Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse receiving millions while many small businesses missed out. Shake Shack has now handed back the $10m loan it received. Ruth’s Chris – which had revenues of $468m last year – received $20m. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said that larger firms would now be blocked from using the new program. Small businesses in hard-hit New York were skeptical that the new money would get to them in time, having missed out on the first wave of payments. “This is going to be the end of us all,” said Brian Colgan, who runs ACME, a props and furniture rental business in Brooklyn. He said none of his small business contacts had received funds. US Senate passes $500bn small-business aid package Read more
21 Apr 2020 00.12 BST Could Trump delay the presidential election? The Guardian’s Adam Gabbatt explains:
06:07 Could Trump delay the 2020 US election due to coronavirus? – video explainer
21 Apr 2020 23.54 BST Fact check: Testing “We’ve tested more than any country in the world, even put together,” Trump said. This is false. Overall, the US had administered more than 4.5m coronavirus tests, according to the Covid Tracking Project. From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329m, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 80 people — a bit better than to South Korea’s rate of 1 in every 90 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. In America, despite the recent increase in testing, backlogs are reported in labs across the country, and many people with symptoms — including health workers — are still struggling to access tests.
Updated at 00.03 BST
21 Apr 2020 23.46 BST Fact checks: A couple of quick ones Trump once again touted the southern border wall , claiming that 27,000 Mexican soldiers are “on our border.” We’ve corrected this claim before — Mexico’s president Andre Lopez Obredor has deployed 27,000 troops in total, but only about 15,000 to the US-Mexico border.
, claiming that 27,000 Mexican soldiers are “on our border.” We’ve corrected this claim before — Mexico’s president Andre Lopez Obredor has deployed 27,000 troops in total, but only about 15,000 to the US-Mexico border. Trump once again implied that the Spanish influenza deaths took place in 1917. The disease spread worldwide in 1918 and 1919 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
21 Apr 2020 23.35 BST The president said he doesn’t know the status of Kim Jon Un’s health, amid unconfirmed reports that the North Korean leader is seriously ill. “I’ve had a very good relationship with him,” Trump said. “I can only say I wish him well.”
21 Apr 2020 23.33 BST The president was asked about a study that linked hydroxychloroquine — an anti-malarial drug that the president has repeatedly touted — to higher death rates for Veterans Affairs patients hospitalized with. Covid-19, Trump said he’s “willing to take a look” at the evidence.
21 Apr 2020 23.27 BST The president’s executive order on immigration is “being written right now” Trump said — he has not provided too much detail on how the policy would work. Here’s what he’s said: A pause on immigration would last 60 days
It wouldn’t affect temporary visas
More details are forthcoming “There will be some people coming in... but it’s a strong order,” Trump said.
Updated at 23.28 BST
21 Apr 2020 23.21 BST Cases in big cities including Boston, Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, and St. Louis, appear to be mounting more slowly, Dr. Deborah Birx said. These areas “appear to be flattening,” she said. Even so, Americans need to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines and hyginege guidlines, so they don’t spread the disease to elderly people and other vulnerable communities.
21 Apr 2020 23.16 BST The federal government will along with New York to help the state secure additional tests, Trump said — addressing his phone call with the state’s governor Andrew Cuomo. New York state and New York City “have been terrific to work with,” Trump said — despite his many clashes with Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio of New York City.
21 Apr 2020 23.12 BST Trump says he will be suspending immigration for 60 days The order will only apply to people seeking a green card — not those who enter on a temporary basis, the president said. Such a policy would “preserve vital resources for American citizens,” he said. But critics have said that Trump is scapegoating immigrants, and using the coronavirus pandemic to push long-held anti-immigration policies.
Updated at 23.19 BST
21 Apr 2020 23.09 BST Fact check: Mortality Rate “Our mortality rate remains roughly half” that of other countries, Trump said, adding that the rate was “one of the lowest in any other country in the world.” The president is half-right — the US does indeed appear to have a lower case fatality rate than several countries, including Italy, Belgium and the UK, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. The case fatality rate refers to the number of deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases. Johns Hopkins has calculated that figure for about 130 countries. but the US’s rate is far from the “lowest” of any country. The US rate is 5.4% — more double the rate of Japan and South Korea (2.2%), and several times the rate of Singapore, with a rate. of .1%.
21 Apr 2020 23.02 BST Joanna Walters A small wrap here on the meeting this afternoon between the president and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Oval Office, per Cuomo. He said, in a quick call to MSNBC afterward, that he had a “functional and effective” conversation with Trump and tried to keep the focus on testing and state budget problems, Reuters reports. “We have a tremendous job that we have to get done and put everything else aside and do the job, and the tone of the conversation was very functional and effective,” Cuomo said. “I stayed focused on what we were there to talk about and for me the substantive agenda was testing - ‘Who does what? How do we get it up the scale?’ - and somebody has to stand up for funding for the states.” Cuomo, a Democrat who has clashed with Trump during the coronavirus outbreak, did not discuss details of their talk, but described the meeting as “honest and open.”
“The president is communicative about his feelings and I’m communicative about what I think,” he said. With social distancing and lockdowns showing some positive results, Cuomo said on Monday he could begin to consider how to reopen a state that ranges from New York City, with more than 8 million people, to farm country and sparsely populated towns upstate. The White House did not immediately provide an account of the meeting.
Cuomo said he sought a face-to-face conversation with the Republican president to hash out issues around the need for more testing capability. “We have to get this ironed out. This is a very big issue,” Cuomo said. He said testing volume needed to increase tenfold and leaders needed to discuss how the federal government can help and what the states can do to make enough tests available.
“That is the issue for the country right now I think,” Cuomo said. “It’s a benchmark - ‘Where are we? Are we on the increase, are we on the plateau or are we on the descent?’”


theguardian--2020-04-21--Maryland obtains 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea

Maryland has obtained 500,000 tests from South Korea following weeks of negotiations , Larry Hogan , the state ’ s Republican governor , said on Monday , in an announcement that raised questions about governors circumventing the federal government to obtain medical equipment .
Hogan confirmed on Monday that the state has obtained the tests from LabGenomics .
Speaking in Annapolis alongside Yumi Hogan , Maryland ’ s first lady , the governor said a Korean Air passenger plane arrived at BWI airport on Saturday carrying the tests .
Hogan said insufficient testing remained “ the most serious obstacle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ exponential , game-changing step forward ” that Maryland is taking .
Maryland has already conducted more than 71,000 tests , so this acquisition represents a substantial increase in its capacity to identify new cases of coronavirus .
Called “ Operation Enduring Friendship , ” the effort was launched on 28 March .
First lady Hogan , who is originally from South Korea , apparently played an integral role in negotiations .
Hogan specifically thanked his wife for helping to ensure the acquisition .
“ She truly is a champion of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s why we have , and we ’ re so proud to have , such a special bond with South Korea.
” Hogan noted his wife is not only Maryland ’ s first Asian-American first lady but also the first Korean-American first lady of any state .
Hogan said : “ When I asked my wife , Yumi , to join me on a call with Korea ’ s ambassador to the United States , we spoke of the special relationship between Maryland and the Republic of Korea , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , asking for their assistance.
” Hogan added the call was followed by “ 22 straight days of vetting , testing , negotiations and protocols ” before a Korean Airlines jet flew the supplies to Baltimore-Washington international airport on Saturday .
The governor added that he would be releasing his plan to reopen the state later this week , and he emphasized these additional tests will play a vital role in safely restarting the economy .
The operation was done in secret , a stark go-around of Trump , who has contradicted his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government to improve national testing deficits .
“ The administration is trying to ramp up testing , ” the governor said in an earlier CNN interview .
“ But to try to push this off , to say the governors have plenty of testing and they should just get to work on testing , somehow we aren ’ t doing our jobs , is just absolutely false.
” Hogan called the deal a “ game-changing step forward ” in combating the state ’ s outbreak .
Maryland had nearly 13,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in 486 deaths .
According to state officials , 500,000 new tests is more than the total amount of tests completed by four of the top five states with confirmed cases in the country .
At the White House ’ s daily coronavirus task force briefing , reporters asked about the state having to order the tests from South Korea due to shortages .
Brett Giroir , with the US Department of Health and Human Services , said there was “ excess capacity ” for testing and claimed he wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
Mike Pence similarly said he has been in communication with Hogan , but also wasn ’ t sure why he did that .
Trump then attacked Hogan for securing tests , saying , “ He could ’ ve saved a lot of money ...
He needed to get a little knowledge , that would ’ ve been helpful.
” At the briefing , the president defended the administration against complaints from some state governors , from both parties , that the federal government is not helping them get the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will help states plan for careful reopening of their economies .
Trump singled out the Illinois governor , JB Pritzker , a Democrat , as well as Hogan , saying that the federal government had sent to each state a list of the testing facilities in their state , but claimed that Pritzker and Hogan didn ’ t understand what they had been told even though it was “ very simple ” .
But Hogan , speaking to CNN on Monday evening , said that he was well aware of the testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already know where the lab facilities are , ” Hogan said .
He added : “ More than half [ of those listed by the federal government ] in Maryland were federal facilities that we have desperately been trying to get help from , or military facilities.
” The governor later tweeted : “ I ’ m grateful to President Trump for sending us a list of federal labs and generously offering Maryland use of them for # COVID19 testing .
Accessing these federal labs will be critical for utilizing the 500,000 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Maryland has obtained 500,000 tests from South Korea following weeks of negotiations, Larry Hogan, the state’s Republican governor, said on Monday, in an announcement that raised questions about governors circumventing the federal government to obtain medical equipment.
Hogan confirmed on Monday that the state has obtained the tests from LabGenomics. Speaking in Annapolis alongside Yumi Hogan, Maryland’s first lady, the governor said a Korean Air passenger plane arrived at BWI airport on Saturday carrying the tests.
Hogan said insufficient testing remained “the most serious obstacle to safely reopening our states” and celebrated the “exponential, game-changing step forward” that Maryland is taking.
On Saturday, First Lady Yumi Hogan and I stood on the tarmac at @BWI_Airport to welcome the first ever Korean Air passenger plane, carrying a very important payload of LabGun #COVID19 test kits which will give MD the capability of performing half a million coronavirus tests. pic.twitter.com/Elf0ADIRnJ — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) April 20, 2020
Maryland has already conducted more than 71,000 tests, so this acquisition represents a substantial increase in its capacity to identify new cases of coronavirus.
Called “Operation Enduring Friendship”, the effort was launched on 28 March. Yumi Hogan, who is originally from South Korea, apparently played an integral role in negotiations.
Hogan specifically thanked his wife for helping to ensure the acquisition. “She truly is a champion of this operation,” Hogan said. “It’s why we have, and we’re so proud to have, such a special bond with South Korea.”
Hogan noted his wife is not only Maryland’s first Asian American first lady but also the first Korean American first lady of any state.
Hogan said: “When I asked my wife, Yumi, to join me on a call with Korea’s ambassador to the United States, we spoke of the special relationship between Maryland and the Republic of Korea, and we made a personal plea, in Korean, asking for their assistance.”
Hogan added the call was followed by “22 straight days of vetting, testing, negotiations and protocols” before a Korean Airlines jet flew the supplies to Baltimore-Washington international airport on Saturday.
The governor added that he would be releasing his plan to reopen the state later this week, and he emphasized these additional tests will play a vital role in safely restarting the economy.
The operation was done in secret, a stark go-around of Trump, who has contradicted his own remarks on states’ dependency on the federal government to improve national testing deficits.
“The administration is trying to ramp up testing,” the governor said in an earlier CNN interview. “But to try to push this off, to say the governors have plenty of testing and they should just get to work on testing, somehow we aren’t doing our jobs, is just absolutely false.”
Hogan called the deal a “game-changing step forward” in combating the state’s outbreak. Maryland had nearly 13,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Monday, resulting in 486 deaths.
According to state officials, 500,000 new tests is more than the total number of tests completed by four of the top five states with confirmed cases in the country.
Larry Hogan, the Maryland governor, talks to reporters during a news briefing about coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
At the White House’s daily coronavirus taskforce briefing, reporters asked about the state having to order the tests from South Korea due to shortages. Brett Giroir, with the US Department of Health and Human Services, said there was “excess capacity” for testing and claimed he wasn’t sure why the governor made that deal. Mike Pence similarly said he has been in communication with Hogan, but also wasn’t sure why he did that.
Trump then attacked Hogan for securing tests, saying, “He could’ve saved a lot of money … He needed to get a little knowledge, that would’ve been helpful.”
At the briefing, the president defended the administration against complaints from some state governors, from both parties, that the federal government is not helping them get the type of testing for the spread of the virus that will help states plan for careful reopening of their economies.
05:06 Why South Korea's coronavirus death toll is comparatively low – video explainer
Trump singled out the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, a Democrat, as well as Hogan, saying that the federal government had sent to each state a list of the testing facilities in their state, but claimed that Pritzker and Hogan didn’t understand what they had been told even though it was “very simple”.
But Hogan, speaking to CNN on Monday evening, said that he was well aware of the testing facilities in his state.
“We already know where the lab facilities are,” Hogan said. He added: “More than half [of those listed by the federal government] in Maryland were federal facilities that we have desperately been trying to get help from, or military facilities.”
The governor later tweeted: “I’m grateful to President Trump for sending us a list of federal labs and generously offering Maryland use of them for #COVID19 testing. Accessing these federal labs will be critical for utilizing the 500,000 tests we have acquired from South Korea.”


theguardian--2020-04-21--Trump to host Cuomo at White House after conflict over supplies – as it happened

From the Guardian ’ s Washington DC bureau chief , a recap of today ’ s press confernece : Donald Trump delivered another White House briefing that suggested while he does not have much of a pandemic strategy , he does have a political one .
The US president framed state governors ’ demand for ventilators as merely the latest strategic attempt to tear him down , as if akin to the Russia investigation or his impeachment .
“ It was all ventilators , and the reason it was all ventilators – they said , ‘ There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one ’ .
And not only did we catch it , we are now the king of ventilators all over the world .
“ We have thousands being made a week and they ’ re very high quality and that wasn ’ t playing well , so then they said , ‘ Testing , testing , ah , we ’ ll get him on testing ’ .
Well , testing is much easier than ventilators.
” In fact governors ’ demands for ventilators were based on the White House ’ s own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their pleas for testing go back many weeks .
Trump ’ s words are also unlikely to comfort the afflicted for whom a ventilator is a lifeline .
Later at Monday ’ s briefing , the president ’ s ability to show empathy was again in question .
Yamiche Alcindor of PBS News recalled one of her interviewees : “ A man said his entire family got sick because they listened to you and didn ’ t stay home .
Are you concerned that downplaying the virus got people sick ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot of people love Trump , right .
A lot of people love me , you see them all the time , right .
I guess I ’ m here for a reason .
To the best of my knowledge , I won , and I think we ’ re gon na win again .
I think we ’ re gon na win in a landslide.
” The president went on to tout his travel restrictions on China , adding that “ before March ” he also banned travel from Europe ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March ) .
The back and forth continued .
Trump asserted : “ I haven ’ t left the White House in months except for a brief moment to give a wonderful ship , the Comfort – ” Alcindor interjected , accurately : “ You held a rally in March.
” Caught red-handed , the president said : “ I don ’ t know .
Did I hold a rally ?
I ’ m sorry , I hold a rally .
Did I hold a rally ?
” For a moment , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it was at a briefing where , improbably , Trump had earlier invoked George Washington by declaring : “ I can not tell a lie .

Sam Levin in Los Angeles (now), Joan E Greve in Washington and Martin Pengelly in New York (earlier)

21 Apr 2020 01.31 BST David Smith From the Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief, a recap of today’s press confernece: Donald Trump delivered another White House briefing that suggested while he does not have much of a pandemic strategy, he does have a political one.
The US president framed state governors’ demand for ventilators as merely the latest strategic attempt to tear him down, as if akin to the Russia investigation or his impeachment. “It was all ventilators, and the reason it was all ventilators – they said, ‘There’s no way he’ll be able catch this one’. And not only did we catch it, we are now the king of ventilators all over the world.
“We have thousands being made a week and they’re very high quality and that wasn’t playing well, so then they said, ‘Testing, testing, ah, we’ll get him on testing’. Well, testing is much easier than ventilators.”
In fact governors’ demands for ventilators were based on the White House’s own projections and, far from being new, their pleas for testing go back many weeks. Trump’s words are also unlikely to comfort the afflicted for whom a ventilator is a lifeline.
Later at Monday’s briefing, the president’s ability to show empathy was again in question. Yamiche Alcindor of PBS News recalled one of her interviewees: “A man said his entire family got sick because they listened to you and didn’t stay home. Are you concerned that downplaying the virus got people sick?”
Trump’s stunning reply: “A lot of people love Trump, right. A lot of people love me, you see them all the time, right. I guess I’m here for a reason. To the best of my knowledge, I won, and I think we’re gonna win again. I think we’re gonna win in a landslide.”
The president went on to tout his travel restrictions on China, adding that “before March” he also banned travel from Europe (it was in fact announced on 11 March). The back and forth continued. Trump asserted: “I haven’t left the White House in months except for a brief moment to give a wonderful ship, the Comfort –”
Alcindor interjected, accurately: “You held a rally in March.”
Caught red-handed, the president said: “I don’t know. Did I hold a rally? I’m sorry, I hold a rally. Did I hold a rally?”
For a moment, the illusionist’s mask had slipped. And it was at a briefing where, improbably, Trump had earlier invoked George Washington by declaring: “I cannot tell a lie.
20 Apr 2020 00.48 BST More on Trump’s attacks on Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, over his decision to purchase tests from South Korea due to a shortage in his state: While the president claimed earlier that Hogan didn’t “understand” the list of labs available to do testing, Hogan actually said he was “in contact with every one” on the list, and wasn’t able to use certain labs that were federally run, according to an ABC reporter: Trump says Gov. Hogan “did not really understand the list" provided by admin of labs in MD.Actually, per audio obtained, Hogan said he was “in contact with every one” of them & said he wasn't able to use some bc certain labs were federally run or controlled by DoD&were off limits — Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) April 20, 2020 Trump’s new press secretary did not dispute what ABC reported in a tweet response: To you, he’s not Trump, he’s PRESIDENT Trump! https://t.co/EIgPTPDIuO — Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) April 20, 2020
20 Apr 2020 00.24 BST The president has ended today’s briefing citing a range of different numbers for the potential deaths the US could have experienced, saying if the country hadn’t done lockdowns, there could have been 700,000 deaths, a million deaths, or maybe “millions”. As of today, there have been more than 41,000 deaths recorded in the US. Experts fear that the country could experience surges and second waves if states reopen too soon and if there is not enough testing and contact tracing in place.
20 Apr 2020 00.16 BST Fact check: Trump's campaign rallies Defending his coronavirus record, Trump said: “I haven’t left the White House for months.” In fact, he held a campaign rally in March. Asked about this, he responded, “Did I hold a rally? Sorry I held a rally.”
20 Apr 2020 00.12 BST Fact check: Travel restrictions Asked why he didn’t take the virus seriously in the early phases of its spread in the US, the president repeated his claims about that his travel restrictions against China made a difference and saved many lives: “People should say I acted very early.” In fact, the administration’s travel policy did not cut off all travel from China. Although non-US citizens were prohibited from entering the country if they had traveled to China within the previous two weeks, American citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members were exempt. Similarly, Trump’s European travel restrictions exempted citizens, residents and their families. And initially, the restrictions didn’t apply to the UK and Ireland, as well as most Eastern European countries. Epidemiologists have told the Guardian that these policies likely had little impact, as they were enacted after the virus was already spreading within the US.“Unfortunately, travel bans sound good,” noted Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, after Trump announced European restrictions. “But we’re way past the point where simply restricting travel is a reasonable response.” The few studies so far that have investigated the impact of travel restrictions have found that such policies may have at best delayed the spread of disease by a few days or weeks. A recent article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that travel restrictions and airport screenings in several countries “likely slowed the rate of exportation from mainland China to other countries, but are insufficient to contain the global spread of COVID-19. And in China, where officials shut down travel both in and out of Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 outbreak began, the travel ban barely slowed the spread of diseases, according to a report published in Science. But there is no evidence that travel restrictions ultimately stopped the spread of coronavirus, or significantly reduced the contagion’s death toll. Read more: Will Trump's coronavirus travel ban work? Scientists express skepticism Read more
20 Apr 2020 00.08 BST Trump has claimed that the criticisms of testing are “mostly partisan” and “not bipartisan”, then he discussed the criticisms by Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, who is a Republican: “He didn’t really know [about federal laboratory testing capacity]. Mike [Pence] doesn’t like to get into this stuff, he’s less controversial than I am.” The governor has said he had to get tests from South Korea due to a shortage.
20 Apr 2020 23.59 BST Trump on big businesses getting loans A reporter asked Trump about the reports that large corporations are getting small business loans while actual small businesses are struggling to get the funds they desperately need. (Shake Shack, Ruth’s Chris and other chain restaurants have won loans while independent restaurants have spoken out about their difficulties accessing the support.) Trump responded by joking that he didn’t win a loan: “I know one thing, I didn’t get any.” Regarding the loans to big businesses, he said: We’ll look into. Some people will have to return it, if we think it’s inappropriate ... If somebody got something that they think is inappropriate we will get it back...”


theguardian--2020-04-21--Could Trump delay the 2020 US election due to coronavirus? – video explainer

Tuesday , 3 November is the date set by federal government for the 2020 US presidential elections , but amid @ @ @ @ @ called into question .
America has the world 's highest number of coronavirus-related deaths , @ @ @ @ @ contain the outbreak ; primary contests have been disrupted , conventions delayed and the two @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , have both been prevented from holding rallies .
Could Trump delay the @ @ @ @ @ what would that mean for 2021 ?
The Guardian 's Adam Gabbatt explains • Who @ @ @ @ @

Adam Gabbatt, Jamie Macwhirter and Nikhita Chulani

Tuesday, 3 November is the date set by federal government for the 2020 US presidential elections, but amid the pandemic this has been called into question.
America has the world's highest number of coronavirus-related deaths, with many states struggling to contain the outbreak; primary contests have been disrupted, conventions delayed and the two candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, have both been prevented from holding rallies.
Could Trump delay the vote, and if so what would that mean for 2021? The Guardian's Adam Gabbatt explains


theguardian--2020-04-21--Donald Trump downplays historic oil price drop as a ’short term’ problem – video

US president Donald Trump has sought to downplay the oil price crash as the market collapsed into negative territory .
@ @ @ @ @ the short term .
A lot of people got caught ’ , Trump said during @ @ @ @ @ He added : ‘ Nobody ’ s ever heard of negative oil before , ’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s for a short term ' .
North America ’ s oil producers have @ @ @ @ @ store an unprecedented oversupply of crude left by the reduced demand during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ into stopping oil shipments from Saudi Arabia , and that his administration will either ask @ @ @ @ @ oil , ‘ or we will store it ’ • Oil prices dip below zero @ @ @ @ @ to dispose of excess • Over a barrel : how oil prices dropped below zero

US president Donald Trump has sought to downplay the oil price crash as the market collapsed into negative territory. ‘It’s for the short term. A lot of people got caught’, Trump said during his daily coronavirus briefing. He added: ‘Nobody’s ever heard of negative oil before,’ before reassuring that ‘it’s for a short term'. North America’s oil producers have run out of space to store an unprecedented oversupply of crude left by the reduced demand during the pandemic. Trump says he will look into stopping oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, and that his administration will either ask Congress for permission to buy oil, ‘or we will store it’


theguardian--2020-04-22--Coronavirus US live: Trump says he will suspend immigration for 60 days – as it happened

A small wrap here on the meeting this afternoon between the president and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Oval Office , per Cuomo .
He said , in a quick call to MSNBC afterward , that he had a “ functional and effective ” conversation with Trump and tried to keep the focus on testing and state budget problems , Reuters reports .
“ We have a tremendous job that we have to get done and put everything else aside and do the job , and the tone of the conversation was very functional and effective , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what we were there to talk about and for me the substantive agenda was testing - ‘ Who does what ?
How do we get it up the scale ?
’ - and somebody has to stand up for funding for the states.
” Cuomo , a Democrat who has clashed with Trump during the coronavirus outbreak , did not discuss details of their talk , but described the meeting as “ honest and open.
” “ The president is communicative about his feelings and I ’ m communicative about what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and lockdowns showing some positive results , Cuomo said on Monday he could begin to consider how to reopen a state that ranges from New York City , with more than 8 million people , to farm country and sparsely populated towns upstate .
The White House did not immediately provide an account of the meeting .
Cuomo said he sought a face-to-face conversation with the Republican president to hash out issues around the need for more testing capability .
“ We have to get this ironed out .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He said testing volume needed to increase tenfold and leaders needed to discuss how the federal government can help and what the states can do to make enough tests available .
“ That is the issue for the country right now I think , ” Cuomo said .
“ It ’ s a benchmark - ‘ Where are we ?
Are we on the increase , are we on the plateau or are we on the descent ?
’ ”

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington and Martin Pengelly in New York (earlier)


theguardian--2020-04-21--The 'anti-lockdown' protests are about more than just quarantines | Cas Mudde

This weekend thousands of rightwing Americans took to the streets in several states to protest against the coronavirus “ lockdowns ” , or stay-at-home rules , issued by their governors .
Although most of the protests were marginal – counting dozens of people at best – conservative and liberal media outlets devoted considerable attention to them .
Although officially protesting against the lockdowns ’ economic costs and what they viewed as infringements on their liberty , the protesters were expressing the usual hodgepodge of rightwing grievances .
As always , opposition to abortion and immigration and support for President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But perhaps my favorite slogan was a surprising one spotted at a rally in Minnesota : “ Be like Sweden ” .
For years , Sweden has been the poster child of the US far right ’ s feverish dystopias of European “ socialism ” – Breitbart , in particular , has an unhealthy obsession with the country .
To see American rightwingers champion one of the few European countries still governed by a leftwing government is therefore truly astounding .
The anti-lockdown protesters have obvious parallels with the early Tea Party mobilization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ display of the Gadsden flag – the yellow flag with the picture of a snake and the text “ Don ’ t tread on me ” , a historical American symbol appropriated by the Tea Party .
The Tea Party movement was the most important US political movement of the early 21st century , but it has been almost completely written out of US political history in the wake of Donald Trump ’ s shock electoral victory .
Conservatives and liberals have always interpreted the Tea Party through their own ideological lenses : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , liberals saw an “ Astroturf ” operation bankrolled and organized by powerful rightwing interests .
A similar split in narratives has emerged over the anti-lockdown protests .
Conservative media outlets have emphasized the grassroots aspect of the “ Lockdown Rebellion ” , staying quiet about the protests ’ financial and organizational connections .
In contrast , liberal media outlets have focused primarily on these ties , notably to the family of Trump ’ s secretary of education , Betsy DeVos , a longtime and generous funder of rightwing political causes .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests are a combination of Astroturf and grassroots .
In the case of the Tea Party , the two were united on socio-economic issues – “ Taxed Enough Already ” – but divided over socio-cultural issues , mostly because the Astroturf branch did not want to weaken the movement amid potential divisions over immigration and religious issues like abortion .
While Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks , the well-financed rightwing groups that supported the movement , were successful in keeping the supportive rightwing media on socio-economic message , socio-cultural issues often dominated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion and immigration as well as thinly veiled racism focused on President Obama ( including birtherism , the false idea that Obama was not born in the US ) .
There is one crucial difference between these two rightwing protests , however : while the Tea Party attacked the White House , the anti-lockdown protesters clearly support it .
In fact , Trump and the protesters are cheering each other on publicly .
Pro-Trump banners are omnipresent at the protests , and Trump has repeatedly praised the “ very responsible ” protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their protests on social media , the president loudly encouraged them in a series of all-caps tweets : “ LIBERATE MINNESOTA !
” , “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” , “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA ” .
An interesting selection of states , which shows that there is more at stake than just frustrations over the lockdown .
Almost 95 % of Americans are under “ lockdown ” at the moment ; 42 states have issued stay-at-home orders .
This includes many states with Republican governors , however late and reluctantly they came to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states with Democratic governors .
Moreover , the three states singled out by President Trump in his tweets are key targets of his 2020 campaign – holding Michigan and flipping Minnesota are crucial for his re-election .
He hopes to swing Virginia by mobilizing rightwing voters on gun rights and the lockdown .
For Trump , the anti-lockdown protests provide him with visible popular support for his Covid-19 strategy .
For the sake of his re-election , he is keen to move discussion from public health to the economy .
Given that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , Trump needs the momentum to shift .
The protests can help him , by taking his struggle from the White House to the streets , and thereby to the media .
However – as many Republicans found out the hard way , in the Tea Party era - the streets are more difficult to control than lobby organizations and rightwing media .
• None Cas Mudde is a Guardian US columnist and the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor in the school of public and international affairs at the University of Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right Today

This weekend thousands of rightwing Americans took to the streets in several states to protest against the coronavirus “lockdowns”, or stay-at-home rules, issued by their governors. Although most of the protests were marginal – counting dozens of people at best – conservative and liberal media outlets devoted considerable attention to them.
Although officially protesting against the lockdowns’ economic costs and what they viewed as infringements on their liberty, the protesters were expressing the usual hodgepodge of rightwing grievances. As always, opposition to abortion and immigration and support for President Trump and the second amendment were prominent.
But perhaps my favorite slogan was a surprising one spotted at a rally in Minnesota: “Be like Sweden”. For years, Sweden has been the poster child of the US far right’s feverish dystopias of European “socialism” – Breitbart, in particular, has an unhealthy obsession with the country. To see American rightwingers champion one of the few European countries still governed by a leftwing government is therefore truly astounding.
The anti-lockdown protesters have obvious parallels with the early Tea Party mobilization of 2009, down to their prominent display of the Gadsden flag – the yellow flag with the picture of a snake and the text “Don’t tread on me”, a historical American symbol appropriated by the Tea Party.
The Tea Party movement was the most important US political movement of the early 21st century, but it has been almost completely written out of US political history in the wake of Donald Trump’s shock electoral victory. Conservatives and liberals have always interpreted the Tea Party through their own ideological lenses: where conservatives saw a spontaneous grassroots movement, liberals saw an “Astroturf” operation bankrolled and organized by powerful rightwing interests.
For the sake of Trump's re-election, he is keen to move discussion from public health to the economy
A similar split in narratives has emerged over the anti-lockdown protests. Conservative media outlets have emphasized the grassroots aspect of the “Lockdown Rebellion”, staying quiet about the protests’ financial and organizational connections. In contrast, liberal media outlets have focused primarily on these ties, notably to the family of Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, a longtime and generous funder of rightwing political causes.
Just like the Tea Party, the anti-lockdown protests are a combination of Astroturf and grassroots. In the case of the Tea Party, the two were united on socio-economic issues – “Taxed Enough Already” – but divided over socio-cultural issues, mostly because the Astroturf branch did not want to weaken the movement amid potential divisions over immigration and religious issues like abortion. While Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, the well-financed rightwing groups that supported the movement, were successful in keeping the supportive rightwing media on socio-economic message, socio-cultural issues often dominated at the grassroots level, with opposition to abortion and immigration as well as thinly veiled racism focused on President Obama (including birtherism, the false idea that Obama was not born in the US).
There is one crucial difference between these two rightwing protests, however: while the Tea Party attacked the White House, the anti-lockdown protesters clearly support it. In fact, Trump and the protesters are cheering each other on publicly. Pro-Trump banners are omnipresent at the protests, and Trump has repeatedly praised the “very responsible” protesters.
On Friday, when rightwingers were announcing their protests on social media, the president loudly encouraged them in a series of all-caps tweets: “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!”, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”, “LIBERATE VIRGINIA”. An interesting selection of states, which shows that there is more at stake than just frustrations over the lockdown.
Almost 95% of Americans are under “lockdown” at the moment; 42 states have issued stay-at-home orders. This includes many states with Republican governors, however late and reluctantly they came to that decision. But the protests largely target states with Democratic governors. Moreover, the three states singled out by President Trump in his tweets are key targets of his 2020 campaign – holding Michigan and flipping Minnesota are crucial for his re-election. He hopes to swing Virginia by mobilizing rightwing voters on gun rights and the lockdown.
For Trump, the anti-lockdown protests provide him with visible popular support for his Covid-19 strategy. For the sake of his re-election, he is keen to move discussion from public health to the economy. Given that a clear majority of Americans support the stay-at-home policies, Trump needs the momentum to shift. The protests can help him, by taking his struggle from the White House to the streets, and thereby to the media.
However – as many Republicans found out the hard way, in the Tea Party era - the streets are more difficult to control than lobby organizations and rightwing media.


theguardian--2020-04-22--Piers Morgan, voice of reason? Now I know the apocalypse is nigh | Arwa Mahdawi

The world is upside down .
Oil prices have plunged below zero for the first time .
Toilet paper prices have shot to new heights .
And Piers Morgan has emerged as a voice of reason .
As you may have noticed , the Good Morning Britain presenter ’ s approach to the coronavirus crisis has earned him astonished admiration from progressives .
For the past couple of months , Morgan has been vocal about the severity of Covid-19 – even while others were downplaying the risks – and has been highly critical of the way the British and US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who has long been a cheerleader for Donald Trump ( and who loves referring to the president as his friend ) found himself trending on Twitter over the weekend after delivering a searing criticism of the US ’ s abysmal response to the crisis .
Speaking on CNN ’ s Reliable Sources , Morgan said he had been watching Trump ’ s White House briefings “ with mounting horror ” and accused the president of “ failing the American people ” .
“ He ’ s turning these briefings into a self-aggrandising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan , almost like a rally to him – almost like what ’ s more important is winning the election in November , ” Morgan said .
Ya think ?
Well done , Piers !
You ’ ve finally realised Trump is a dangerous narcissist who does not care if Americans lose their loved ones as he long as he gains in the polls .
Shame you were not so clearsighted about his failings when you were doing puff pieces on him .
Shame it took a global pandemic , instead of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to get you to criticise your pal .
Still , I am glad you have seen the light .
The bigger question , however , is whether Morgan is an exception or part of a wider trend .
Will other people who used to bow down to Trump and Boris Johnson start to realise that they are frauds ?
How many thousands of people will have to die before they can no longer masquerade as strongmen and are exposed to everyone as dithering , dangerous fools ?

The world is upside down. Oil prices have plunged below zero for the first time. Toilet paper prices have shot to new heights. And Piers Morgan has emerged as a voice of reason.
As you may have noticed, the Good Morning Britain presenter’s approach to the coronavirus crisis has earned him astonished admiration from progressives. For the past couple of months, Morgan has been vocal about the severity of Covid-19 – even while others were downplaying the risks – and has been highly critical of the way the British and US governments are handling the pandemic. The man who has long been a cheerleader for Donald Trump (and who loves referring to the president as his friend) found himself trending on Twitter over the weekend after delivering a searing criticism of the US’s abysmal response to the crisis.
Speaking on CNN’s Reliable Sources, Morgan said he had been watching Trump’s White House briefings “with mounting horror” and accused the president of “failing the American people”. “He’s turning these briefings into a self-aggrandising, self-justifying, overly defensive, politically partisan, almost like a rally to him – almost like what’s more important is winning the election in November,” Morgan said.
Ya think? Well done, Piers! You’ve finally realised Trump is a dangerous narcissist who does not care if Americans lose their loved ones as he long as he gains in the polls. Shame you were not so clearsighted about his failings when you were doing puff pieces on him. Shame it took a global pandemic, instead of Trump’s rabid racism and staggering incompetence, to get you to criticise your pal. Still, I am glad you have seen the light.
The bigger question, however, is whether Morgan is an exception or part of a wider trend. Will other people who used to bow down to Trump and Boris Johnson start to realise that they are frauds? How many thousands of people will have to die before they can no longer masquerade as strongmen and are exposed to everyone as dithering, dangerous fools?


theguardian--2020-04-22--Trump quizzed over proposed ban on legal immigration amid virus crisis – video

US president Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to institute his new immigration ban targeting those seeking @ @ @ @ @ the move was an effort to 'protect American workers ' amid the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ anyway because of the coronavirus through border restrictions and flight bans .
At the daily @ @ @ @ @ quizzed Trump ’ s motivation for instigating the ban , asking if he was taking @ @ @ @ @ to implement a long-sought policy goal .
‘ We must first take care of the @ @ @ @ @ insisted • Trump announces 60-day ban on immigrants seeking permanent status in US • Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ he will suspend immigration for 60 days – as it happened

US president Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to institute his new immigration ban targeting those seeking permanent residency. Trump said the move was an effort to 'protect American workers' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Immigration is effectively cut off anyway because of the coronavirus through border restrictions and flight bans. At the daily coronavirus news briefing, reporters quizzed Trump’s motivation for instigating the ban, asking if he was taking advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to implement a long-sought policy goal. ‘We must first take care of the American worker’, Trump insisted


theguardian--2020-04-23--Coronavirus US live: Trump says he's signed order restricting immigration

America ’ s addiction to mass incarceration could almost double its number of deaths from coronavirus , with jails acting @ @ @ @ @ and spreading a further 100,000 fatalities across the US .
The startling warning comes from @ @ @ @ @ Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) and academic researchers , released on Wednesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ action is taken to reduce jail populations , a terrible price will be paid .
@ @ @ @ @ and women not yet convicted , will act as mass vectors of the contagion .
@ @ @ @ @ people could die in the US as a result of the virus being contracted behind @ @ @ @ @ predicts .
Of those , 23,000 are projected to succumb behind bars and 76,000 in @ @ @ @ @ of inmates spreading the virus upon release .

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now) and Bryan Armen Graham in New York, Joan E Greve in Washington and Joanna Walters in New York (earlier)

23 Apr 2020 02.50 BST Summary The president signed an executive order restricting immigration for 60 days. The policy will stop new green card applicants from obtaining permanent residency but will exempt key medical workers from abroad as well as some family members of American citizens.
The policy will stop new green card applicants from obtaining permanent residency but will exempt key medical workers from abroad as well as some family members of American citizens. The president said he disagreed with Georgia governor Brian Kemp’s decision to have some businesses start reopening. “I think it’s too soon,” he said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
“I think it’s too soon,” he said during the daily coronavirus briefing. The governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt announced that the state’s personal care businesses, including hair salons and barbershops, could start reopening on Friday.
A top health official in charge of the federal agency overseeing research for a coronavirus vaccine claimed he was fired after resisting the president’s push to hydroxychloroquine as a treatment.
Updated at 03.08 BST
23 Apr 2020 02.12 BST Ed Pilkington America’s addiction to mass incarceration could almost double its number of deaths from coronavirus, with jails acting as incubators of the disease and spreading a further 100,000 fatalities across the US. The startling warning comes from groundbreaking modeling by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and academic researchers, released on Wednesday. The analysis found that unless instant action is taken to reduce jail populations, a terrible price will be paid. Jails, which house men and women not yet convicted, will act as mass vectors of the contagion. As many as 99,000 more people could die in the US as a result of the virus being contracted behind jail walls, the study predicts. Of those, 23,000 are projected to succumb behind bars and 76,000 in surrounding communities as a result of inmates spreading the virus upon release. Mass incarceration could add 100,000 deaths to US coronavirus toll, study finds Read more
23 Apr 2020 01.49 BST Jessica Glenza A federal appeals court has allowed Arkansas to enforce a ban on most surgical abortions, as part of a state directive aimed at postponing medical procedures not deemed urgent during the coronavirus outbreak. The ruling from the eighth US circuit court of appeals in St Louis, Missouri, lifted a federal judge’s order which had allowed abortions to continue. The new ruling does not affect abortion induced through medication in the early stages of pregnancy, which is still allowed. The ruling comes two days after another federal appeals court, the fifth circuit, allowed Texas to enforce curbs on abortions via medication, as part of its response to the pandemic. Arkansas can enforce surgical abortion ban amid pandemic, federal court rules Read more
23 Apr 2020 01.36 BST Republican senator Lindsay Graham said he agrees with Trump that Georgia is reopening businesses too quickly. In a statement, he said: I have great respect for Governor Kemp and believe that future re-openings can occur rather quickly but we must get Phase I right. I totally understand Governor Kemp’s desire to allow businesses to reopen as small business owners are under great stress... We are fifty individual states but when it comes to the virus we are all in this fight together. Because of the sacrifices we have made as a nation there is light at the end of the tunnel. Better days are ahead.”
22 Apr 2020 00.50 BST Fact checks: A few quick ones “We had the greatest economy in the history world,” Trump said. This is a gross exaggeration. Also, the GDP growth rate during the Trump administration was lower than the peak growth rate during the previous administration.
Trump referred to the pandemic of 1917. Spanish Influenza spread globally in 1918 and 1919.
“This wasn’t the flu, you know, they like to say the flu,” Trump said. But he was the “they” who repeatedly compared coronavirus to the flu.
Updated at 00.54 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.33 BST Good news for pet owners: our favorite fluffy friends are unlikely transmitters of coronavirus, according to Dr Fauci. Pets and animals can get infected with the virus, but “there’s no evidence that the virus is transmitted from a pet to a human,” Fauci said. “Anything is possible,” Fauci added, but right now it seems unlikely.
22 Apr 2020 00.24 BST “We’re building infrastructure and capacity ... to bring testing to scale,” Dr Birx said. Trump interjected, “but without anything new, they have tremendous capability” for testing, undercutting the public health official’s point.
Updated at 00.27 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.21 BST Fact check: Michelle Obama Trump named Michelle Obama as one of the public figures who campaigned for Stacey Abrams, a Democrat and voting rights advocate, during her gubernatorial run against Georgia’s Brian Kemp. CNN’s Daniel Dale helps us out with this one: Michelle Obama did not go to Georgia to campaign for Stacey Abrams. Trump has said this repeatedly. He keeps adding her to the list with Oprah and Barack Obama. It just didn't happen. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 22, 2020
Updated at 00.23 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.17 BST Fact check: Testing “Not everybody believes as strongly on testing,” the president said. Maybe so, but most disease experts say that testing is key to learning more about how the disease spreads and safely reopening the country. “As we look to reopen, we should have in place a system where we can much more easily, quickly test more people,” Art Reingold, who heads the epidemiology and biostatistics division at UC Berkeley’s school of public health, told the Guardian. “Then we can determine who is infected, isolate those individuals, and the people they were in contact with.” Trump also claimed, once again, that the US is the “best” in the world at testing. That’s not true. Overall, the US had administered more than 4.5m coronavirus tests, according to the Covid Tracking Project. From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329m, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 80 people – a bit better than to South Korea’s rate of 1 in every 90 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. In America, despite the recent increase in testing, backlogs are reported in labs across the country, and many people with symptoms – including health workers – are still struggling to access tests. 'We hope to be a model': the California town testing every resident for coronavirus Read more
Updated at 00.19 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.08 BST Asked about Rick Bright, the vaccine expert who said he was ousted for questioning the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, Trump said he didn’t know Bright. “Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t,” Trump said. “I’ve never heard of him.”
Updated at 00.20 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.04 BST Dr Anthony Fauci: “We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that.” Whether or not the outbreak in the fall will be “big or small is going to depend on our response ... Nobody can predict what’s going to happen with an outbreak.” Fauci’s statement seems to contradict what Donald Trump said earlier when the president tried to downplay the threat in the fall and winter and said that a second wave of illness “might not happen”.
Updated at 00.20 BST
22 Apr 2020 00.01 BST More on the immigration executive order: Medical and other essential workers from abroad will be exempt, as will the spouses and minor children of American children, and “certain other aliens”.
The administration will review guest worker programs.
“The administration will continue to monitor the labor market to amend or extend the proclamation if needed,” per the White House.
Updated at 00.21 BST


theguardian--2020-04-23--Harvard to reject $8.7m in federal aid after Trump cites school’s endowment

Harvard University announced Wednesday it will turn down $ 8.7m in federal coronavirus relief , a day after Donald Trump excoriated the wealthy Ivy League school over taxpayer money it stood to receive .
It followed similar actions at Stanford and Princeton universities , which said they , too , will reject millions of dollars in federal funding amid growing scrutiny of wealthy colleges .
Officials at Harvard said the school still faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic but will refuse the money over concerns that “ intense focus by politicians ” will undermine the relief program created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education , we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve their communities and meet the needs of their students through these difficult and challenging times , ” Harvard said in a statement .
Congress is offering $ 14bn to the nation ’ s colleges and universities as part of a $ 2.2tn rescue package .
Schools were allotted varying sums based on their size and the number of students they teach from poorer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvard “ shouldn ’ t be taking ” its share because it has such deep financial reserves .
It echoed concerns from other critics , including some alumni , who said Harvard doesn ’ t need the money and can rely on its nearly $ 40bn endowment .
Harvard University had earlier rejected calls to return the stimulus funding , saying it planned “ to direct 100 % of the funds to financial assistance to students , and will not be using any of the funds to cover institutional costs ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the educational relief scheme that was part of a stimulus passed at the end of March , which also included a fund aimed at helping small businesses .
That business fund has been riddled with controversy after disclosures that larger companies received bailout funds while many small businesses , among the hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis , still await aid .
Large companies are facing a similar pressure to universities to return the funding .
On Monday the hamburger chain Shake Shack said it would return the small business loan it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major firm to hand back money .
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday said other rich schools should reject the funding .
Affluent schools that do not primarily serve low-income students “ do not need or deserve additional taxpayer funds ” , she said in a statement .
“ Schools with large endowments should not apply for funds so more can be given to students who need support the most .
It ’ s also important for Congress to change the law to make sure no more taxpayer funds go to elite , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stanford , which has an endowment of nearly $ 28bn , said it told the Education Department on Monday it would refuse $ 7.4m allocated in the package .
Officials at Princeton also said they will reject $ 2.4m in aid .
But some of the richest colleges still plan to take the funding .
Cornell University , with a $ 7.3bn endowment , says it plans to accept $ 12.8m in relief and use it entirely on student grants .
The University of Notre Dame said Wednesday it also will accept its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to students ; the school ’ s endowment totals $ 11.3bn .
Terry Hartle , a senior vice president with the American Council on Education , an association of college presidents , said Congress did not exclude any type of institution when it created the formula used to distribute funding .
“ All schools means all schools : barber colleges , dance schools , community colleges , publicly traded for-profit schools and elite universities , ” said Terry Hartle , the group ’ s senior vice president .
“ Congress could have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of institution .
”

Harvard University announced on Wednesday it will turn down $8.7m in federal coronavirus relief, a day after Donald Trump excoriated the wealthy Ivy League school over taxpayer money it stood to receive.
It followed similar actions at Stanford and Princeton universities, which said they, too, will reject millions of dollars in federal funding amid growing scrutiny of wealthy colleges.
Officials at Harvard said the school still faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic but will refuse the money over concerns that “intense focus by politicians” will undermine the relief program created by Congress.
“While we understand any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education, we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve their communities and meet the needs of their students through these difficult and challenging times,” Harvard said in a statement.
Congress is offering $14bn to the nation’s colleges and universities as part of a $2.2tn rescue package. Schools were allotted varying sums based on their size and the number of students they teach from poorer backgrounds.
But Trump said on Tuesday that Harvard “shouldn’t be taking” its share because it has such deep financial reserves. It echoed concerns from other critics, including some alumni, who said Harvard doesn’t need the money and can rely on its nearly $40bn endowment.
Harvard University had earlier rejected calls to return the stimulus funding, saying it planned “to direct 100% of the funds to financial assistance to students, and will not be using any of the funds to cover institutional costs”.
The university said it received the grant through the educational relief scheme that was part of a stimulus passed at the end of March, which also included a fund aimed at helping small businesses.
That business fund has been riddled with controversy after disclosures that larger companies received bailout funds while many small businesses, among the hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis, still await aid. Large companies are facing a similar pressure to universities to return the funding. On Monday the hamburger chain Shake Shack said it would return the small business loan it had received from the government, the first major firm to hand back money.
The education secretary, Betsy DeVos, on Wednesday said other rich schools should reject the funding. Affluent schools that do not primarily serve low-income students “do not need or deserve additional taxpayer funds”, she said in a statement.
“Schools with large endowments should not apply for funds so more can be given to students who need support the most. It’s also important for Congress to change the law to make sure no more taxpayer funds go to elite, wealthy institutions,” she said.
Stanford, which has an endowment of nearly $28bn, said it told the education department on Monday it would refuse $7.4m allocated in the package. Officials at Princeton also said they will reject $2.4m in aid.
But some of the richest colleges still plan to take the funding. Cornell University, with a $7.3bn endowment, says it plans to accept $12.8m in relief and use it entirely on student grants. The University of Notre Dame said on Wednesday it too will accept its $5.8m allotment and direct it all to students; the school’s endowment totals $11.3bn.
Terry Hartle, a senior vice-president with the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents, said Congress did not exclude any type of institution when it created the formula used to distribute funding.
“All schools means all schools: barber colleges, dance schools, community colleges, publicly traded for-profit schools and elite universities,” said Terry Hartle, the group’s senior vice-president. “Congress could have, but did not, exclude any category of institution.”