theguardian--2020-03-24--$1,200 checks for all? What you need to know about the US coronavirus bailout

With swaths of the US on lockdown , stock markets crashing , industries facing collapse and unemployment certain to soar , the US government is debating the biggest bailout since the 2008 financial crisis .
Here ’ s what you need to know .
What does the bailout look like ?
Right now , the bill is estimated to be up to $ 2tn for money going to businesses , corporations and directly into the pockets of Americans .
So far , the bill has four main components : • None $ 350bn in loans for small businesses that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep workers on payroll • None $ 500bn in aid for hard-hit industries and states and $ 50bn for airlines • None at least $ 75bn in aid to hospitals When will this get done ?
As of Tuesday afternoon , leaders in Congress and White House representatives indicated that they were close to making a deal .
Leaders hope the Senate will take the bill to a vote on Wednesday at the latest .
Talks had originally stalled in the Senate on Sunday because Democrats were worried that the bailout did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave too little protection to workers .
What has Congress done so far ?
The first spending bill to combat the Covid-19 outbreak in the US was signed by the president earlier this month and is worth $ 8.3bn .
The money is going toward the US health and human services department , state and local health departments and local community healthcare centers .
A big chunk was earmarked for international response to the outbreak .
A second bill for paid sick leave and emergency paid leave worth $ 104bn was passed last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large companies with more than 500 employees and allowed companies with under 50 employees to apply for exemptions .
The bill mandates 10 days of paid sick leave and creates an emergency paid leave program for parents affected by their children ’ s schools closing for coronavirus-related reasons .
It also expands food assistance programs and aids states ’ unemployment insurance programs .
What do negotiations look like ?
Senate Republicans are at the helm of the package , though they need 60 votes in order to get it passed , which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate minority leader , Chuck Schumer , and treasury secretary , Steve Mnuchin , have been in negotiations for the last few days , ironing out a plan that would appease both parties .
There have been a few major changes from the Republicans ’ original bill .
While more money will be given to large companies in hard-hit industries , Democrats have pushed for strict oversight of the loans .
More aid will also be given to the healthcare sector and more funds will be earmarked for unemployment insurance after pushes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get direct checks from the government ?
It seems very likely .
The plan is for individuals to get up to $ 1,200 and married couples to get up to $ 2,400 , including $ 500 for each child .
The size of a check would diminish gradually for those whose income is above $ 75,000 , while those earning more than $ 99,000 will not be getting any checks .
The checks will be based on a household or individual ’ s 2018 tax return .
How is the government helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consists of offering federally backed loans for small businesses with 500 employees or fewer .
The plan estimates $ 300bn will be given to these businesses through loans , which will be capped at $ 10m per business .
The plan also includes possible forgiveness of a loan if an employer retains their employees through 30 June , incentivizing businesses to keep their employees around for the time being .
On Saturday , Senate negotiators also worked to include a “ payroll tax holiday ” for small businesses in the plan .
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even some Republicans are adamant that corporations are given fair assistance that will not end up in the pockets of wealthy shareholders or corporate executives .
The bill includes a little over $ 200bn in secured loans to airlines and other hard-hit industries .
Specifically , $ 50bn will be up for commercial airline carriers to borrow and $ 8bn to cargo air carriers ( the amount the industry trade groups have asked for ) , while $ 150bn for other industries affected by coronavirus , such as hotels and cruise companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which industries will be eligible for bailouts , though there are many that are asking for one .
The restaurant industry asked the government for $ 145bn to help offset losses after dozens of states mandated the closure of many full-service restaurants .
What oversight will there be for large companies that take out loans ?
Oversight of lending decisions will probably go to an independent inspector general and oversight board , the Washington Post reported .
Though Trump said , when asked who would provide oversight of the loans , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House appears to have conceded to Democrats ’ concerns .
“ The oversight basically is saying that you know you can ’ t just … exempt everybody and give all your corporate executives , based on the backs of taxpayers , a free carnival , ” said Joe Manchin , a Democratic senator from West Virginia .
Companies who receive government assistance may also see restrictions on stock buybacks , which is when a company buys shares of its own stock to increase the value of its shares , ultimately helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he would not be opposed to such a ban , though many are worried that the restrictions are not severe enough .
How is the government helping the healthcare sector ?
The Senate ’ s plan is slated to relieve burden on the healthcare sector by including a “ Marshall plan ” that will give billions of dollars in aid to hospitals .
The exact amount included in such a plan has yet to be revealed , but Republicans said they had agreed to at least $ 75bn .
Democrats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get more federal aid as major healthcare lobbying groups said the industry needs at least $ 100bn to strengthen the system before the pandemic hits full force .

With large areas of the US shut down, stock markets crashing, industries facing collapse and soaring unemployment, the US government is set to pass the most expensive bailout in US history in attempts to save the US economy.
Democrat and Republican leaders of Congress, along with White House officials, have been scrambling to make a deal in around-the-clock negotiations and finally announced early on Wednesday that they have reached an agreement. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Wednesday.
The details are still trickling out, but here’s what we know so far about the package:
What does the stimulus look like?
The bill is worth about $2tn, which will go to businesses, corporations and directly into the pockets of Americans. It has six main components:
Direct payment to most Americans.
$250bn to bolster unemployment insurance.
$350bn in loans for small businesses that may be forgiven if firms use them to keep workers on payroll.
$500bn in aid for hard-hit industries and states and $50bn for airlines.
$130bn in aid to hospitals.
$150bn to help state and local governments.
What held negotiations up?
Senate Republicans introduced the bill last Friday, and a marathon of negotiations took place until an agreement was made Wednesday morning.
Talks had originally stalled in the Senate on Sunday because Democrats were worried that the bailout did not include enough oversight over corporate loans and gave too little protection to workers.
There has been some compromise. Republicans agreed to some major changes from their original bill. More money will be given to large companies in hard-hit industries, but Democrats have also pushed for strict oversight of the loans. More aid will also be given to the healthcare sector and more funds will be earmarked for unemployment insurance after pushes from Democrats.
Are US taxpayers really going to get direct checks from the government?
Yes. The plan is for individuals to get up to $1,200 and married couples to get up to $2,400, plus an additional $500 for each child. The size of a check would diminish gradually for those whose income is above $75,000, while individuals earning more than $99,000 and couples earning more than $198,000 will not be getting any checks. The checks will be based on a household or individual’s 2018 tax return unless they filed their 2019 tax return, in which case it will be based of their 2019 return.
The treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said last week that checks could be sent out as early as 6 April. The bill earmarks $250bn for the checks.
Will there be corporate bailouts?
Democrats and even some Republicans are adamant that corporations are given fair assistance that will not end up in the pockets of wealthy shareholders or corporate executives.
The bill includes $500bn in loans and loan guarantees to hard-hit companies, including commercial airlines and other travel-related companies hit hard over the last few months.
So far, Congress has not revealed which companies will be eligible for bailouts, though there are many that are asking for one. The restaurant industry asked the government for $145bn to help offset losses after dozens of states mandated the closure of many full-service restaurants.
What oversight will there be for large companies that take out loans?
Oversight of lending decisions will go to an independent inspector general and oversight board.
Though Trump said, when asked who would provide oversight of the loans, “I’ll be the oversight”, the White House conceded to Democrats’ concerns.
“The oversight basically is saying that you know you can’t just … exempt everybody and give all your corporate executives, based on the backs of taxpayers, a free carnival,” Joe Manchin, a Democratic senator from West Virginia, told the Washington Post.
Companies who receive government assistance will also see restrictions on stock buybacks, which is when a company buys shares of its own stock to increase the value of its shares, ultimately helping their wealthy stockholders and corporate executives. Commercial airlines have been known for buying back their own shares.
Will Trump be getting any loans for his hotel business?
Nope. Schumer’s office said that there is a provision in the bill that blocks government officials, including members of Congress and Trump and his family, from getting the stimulus’s loans.
What is the package doing for unemployment insurance?
The deal extends unemployment insurance by 13 weeks and covers self-employed and furloughed workers, offering workers $600 a week for those additional four months in addition to what a state will provide through their own program.
How is the government helping small businesses?
The Republicans’ plan consists of offering federally backed loans for small businesses with 500 employees or fewer. The plan estimates $350bn will be given to these businesses through loans.
The plan also includes possible forgiveness of a loan if an employer retains their employees through 30 June, incentivizing businesses to keep their employees around for the time being.
Senate negotiators have also worked to include a “payroll tax holiday” for small businesses in the plan.
How is the government helping the healthcare sector?
The bill will relieve burden on the healthcare sector by including a “Marshall Plan” that will give $130bn in grants and assistance to hospitals. The bill also boosts Medicare payments for hospitals treating patients with Covid-19.


theguardian--2020-03-24--Coronavirus in America: why the US has struggled to tackle a growing crisis

Exactly a month after Donald Trump tweeted that the US had the coronavirus outbreak “ very much under control ” , the World Health Organization delivered a stark and jarring reality check : America faces being the centre of a pandemic that has paralysed much of the world .
Coronavirus has raced across the American continent with the aid of a chronic lack of preparation , deep-rooted dysfunction in the US healthcare system , and a president who has repeatedly dismissed the crisis and is now looking to scale back containment efforts in favour of restarting economic activity .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been diagnosed with Covid-19 and nearly 600 have died .
On Monday , for the first time , more than 100 people in the US died in a single day .
The sharp acceleration in cases – just two weeks ago the official number was less than 2,000 – has led to the WHO warning that the US is overtaking countries such as Italy as the global hotspot for the virus .
The true scale of infection in the US is almost certainly far worse , with a severe lack of testing having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged near Seattle .
Trump initially referred to media coverage of the outbreak as a “ hoax ” before banning travel from China , where the virus originated , and claiming it had been nearly vanquished on US soil .
But the US response has been hobbled by the administration ’ s rejection of standard WHO testing kits , instead opting to develop its own , which turned out to be faulty .
The Trump administration previously dismantled a federal team working on pandemics and cut back a Centers for Disease Control and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China tasked with tracking new threats such as Covid-19 .
“ The administration has repeatedly and systematically corroded critical parts of the CDC , ” said Christopher Sellers , an expert in the environment and health at Stony Brook University .
“ This was just begging for an epidemic to hit us .
It was a perfect storm of lack of preparation.
” Muddled messaging from the White House , where Trump has often contradicted the sombre warnings of his top infectious disease expert , Dr Anthony Fauci , has done little to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping malls .
State governors have taken up the mantle , shutting down public gatherings and non-essential businesses .
But a paucity of medical supplies has led doctors and nurses to beg for items online .
Dressmakers have been asked to make masks for hospital workers .
As one hospital ’ s equipment supply diminished , one anesthesiologist wore a plastic bag over his head during a procedure .
These shortages have only worsened pre-existing problems .
Nearly one in 10 Americans have no health insurance , while a widespread lack of sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill people into work despite the risk of spreading the virus .
New York City , now at a standstill , faces a tsunami of sick and dying people .
More than 2,600 people have been hospitalized in New York state with more than 150 deaths so far .
The “ attack rate ” of the virus – the percentage of the population infected – is five times higher than in other parts of the country , leading Dr Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator , to warn : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York , this is the group that needs to absolutely social distance and self-isolate at this time.
” Authorities in New York are scouring the world for the ventilators , masks and gowns needed for an unfolding public health emergency that is expected to peak in the next three weeks .
The Javits Center , a hulking glass conference space in Manhattan , has been transformed into a field hospital , with 2,000 beds installed .
“ The apex of this pandemic is higher and sooner than we thought , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor who has garnered praise for his handling of the crisis .
“ I will turn this state upside down to get the hospital beds we need.
” Cuomo also condemned Fema and the Trump administration again , saying : “ You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators ?
What are we going to do with 400 ventilators when we need 30,000 ventilators ?
You ’ re missing the magnitude of the problem , and the problem is defined by the magnitude.
” The number of cases was higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ because it started here first because we have global travelers coming here first .
Because we have more density than other places .
You will see this in suburban communities across the country .
We are just a test case .
We are just a test case .
And that ’ s how the nation should look at it .
Where we are today , you will be in three weeks or five weeks or six weeks.
” But even as leaders such as Cuomo scramble to cope with an steep increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home and avoid social contact , Trump has signaled that he is prepared to wind down restrictions at the end of a 15-day window in an attempt to bolster the economy and a sagging stock market .
“ Our country wasn ’ t built to be shut down , ” Trump said on Monday .
“ This is not a country that was built for this .
America will again , and soon , be open for business .
I ’ m not looking at months , I can tell you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversal on previous assertions that the US was “ at war ” , put the president once again on a collision course with governors and public health experts .
For tens of millions of anxious Americans , the coming weeks will probably shape the contours of the crisis .

Exactly a month after Donald Trump tweeted that the US had the coronavirus outbreak “very much under control”, the World Health Organization delivered a stark and jarring reality check: America faces being the centre of a pandemic that has paralysed much of the world.
Coronavirus has raced across the American continent with the aid of a chronic lack of preparation, deep-rooted dysfunction in the US healthcare system, and a president who has repeatedly dismissed the crisis and is now looking to scale back containment efforts in favour of restarting economic activity.
More than 46,000 people in the US have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and nearly 600 have died. On Monday, for the first time, more than 100 people in the US died in a single day. The sharp acceleration in cases – just two weeks ago the official number was less than 2,000 – has led to the WHO warning that the US is overtaking countries such as Italy as the global hotspot for the virus.
The true scale of infection in the US is almost certainly far worse, with a severe lack of testing having stymied efforts to contain Covid-19 once it emerged near Seattle. Trump initially referred to media coverage of the outbreak as a “hoax” before banning travel from China, where the virus originated, and claiming it had been nearly vanquished on US soil.
But the US response has been hobbled by the administration’s rejection of standard WHO testing kits, instead opting to develop its own, which turned out to be faulty. The Trump administration previously dismantled a federal team working on pandemics and cut back a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) group based in China tasked with tracking new threats such as Covid-19.
“The administration has repeatedly and systematically corroded critical parts of the CDC,” said Christopher Sellers, an expert in the environment and health at Stony Brook University. “This was just begging for an epidemic to hit us. It was a perfect storm of lack of preparation.”
Muddled messaging from the White House, where Trump has often contradicted the sombre warnings of his top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has done little to Americans stop congregating on beaches or in shopping malls.
State governors have taken up the mantle, shutting down public gatherings and non-essential businesses. But a paucity of medical supplies has led doctors and nurses to beg for items online. Dressmakers have been asked to make masks for hospital workers. As one hospital’s equipment supply diminished, one anesthesiologist wore a plastic bag over his head during a procedure.
These shortages have only worsened pre-existing problems. Nearly one in 10 Americans have no health insurance, while a widespread lack of sick pay across the country has forced many ill people into work despite the risk of spreading the virus.
New York City, now at a standstill, faces a tsunami of sick and dying people. More than 2,600 people have been hospitalized in New York state with more than 150 deaths so far.
The “attack rate” of the virus – the percentage of the population infected – is five times higher than in other parts of the country, leading Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to warn: “To all of my friends and colleagues in New York, this is the group that needs to absolutely social distance and self-isolate at this time.”
Authorities in New York are scouring the world for the ventilators, masks and gowns needed for an unfolding public health emergency that is expected to peak in the next three weeks.
The Javits Center, a hulking glass conference space in Manhattan, has been transformed into a field hospital, with 2,000 beds installed.
“The apex of this pandemic is higher and sooner than we thought,” said Andrew Cuomo, the New York governor who has garnered praise for his handling of the crisis. “I will turn this state upside down to get the hospital beds we need.”
Cuomo also condemned Fema and the Trump administration again, saying: “You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators? What are we going to do with 400 ventilators when we need 30,000 ventilators? You’re missing the magnitude of the problem, and the problem is defined by the magnitude.”
The number of cases was higher in New York, he said, “because it started here first because we have global travelers coming here first. Because we have more density than other places. You will see this in suburban communities across the country. We are just a test case. We are just a test case. And that’s how the nation should look at it. Where we are today, you will be in three weeks or five weeks or six weeks.”
But even as leaders such as Cuomo scramble to cope with an steep increase of sick patients while urging people to stay at home and avoid social contact, Trump has signaled that he is prepared to wind down restrictions at the end of a 15-day window in an attempt to bolster the economy and a sagging stock market.
“Our country wasn’t built to be shut down,” Trump said on Monday. “This is not a country that was built for this. America will again, and soon, be open for business. I’m not looking at months, I can tell you right now.”
That stance, a reversal on previous assertions that the US was “at war”, put the president once again on a collision course with governors and public health experts.
For tens of millions of anxious Americans, the coming weeks will probably shape the contours of the crisis.


theguardian--2020-03-24--Trump retweets Fauci meme laughing at his coronavirus response

Donald Trump went on a retweeting tear on Monday , relaying messages in support of his coronavirus response and controversial plan to “ reopen ” the US economy well before public health experts expect the outbreak to have subsided .
He managed , however , to apparently commit something of a “ self-own ” , retweeting footage of Dr Anthony Fauci at a White House briefing last week which most thought showed Fauci expressing clear concern at the president ’ s words .
The footage shows Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the deep state department ” during a briefing last Friday .
The deep state conspiracy theory holds that a permanent government of bureaucrats and intelligence officials exists to bring Trump down .
The former White House counsellor Steve Bannon , one of the first propagators , has said it is for “ nutcases ” .
Dr Fauci was seen to look at Trump , smile ruefully and then rub his brow and jaw .
The tweet retweeted by the president on Tuesday , by “ professional Mexican and taco enthusiast ” Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all of us ” – in a clear reference to a feeling of being exasperated at Trump ’ s antics and misinformation : something Trump appears to have misunderstood .
Among responses to Trump ’ s retweet of the footage of Dr Fauci touching his face , the CNN contributor Elie Honig wrote sarcastically : “ Good retweet .
Because the point is how Dr Fauci is overwhelmed by and reacting to the words of sheer medical genius he is hearing from you , Mr President .
“ To responders claiming Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so on point here , sure , that ’ s how people usually laugh , by grimacing like they just bit a lemon , covering their face , and then wiping sweat from the brow .
If he ’ s such a cheerleader , where ’ s he been lately ?
” Dr Fauci was absent from Monday night ’ s two-hour White House briefing , giving rise to concern on social media over whether his measured criticism of the president in interviews had led to his being sidelined or even fired .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage of Dr Fauci speaking to the Fox News host and pro-Trump author Mark Levin , in which Fauci said the president “ asks a lot of questions ” .
“ That ’ s his nature .
He ’ s constantly asking questions .
And I never , in the multiple times I ’ ve done that , where I said , ‘ For scientific reasons we really should do this , ’ that he hasn ’ t said , ‘ Let ’ s do it .
’ ”

Donald Trump went on a retweeting tear on Monday, relaying messages in support of his coronavirus response and controversial plan to “reopen” the US economy well before public health experts expect the outbreak to have subsided.
He managed, however, to apparently commit something of a “self-own”, retweeting footage of Dr Anthony Fauci at a White House briefing last week which most thought showed Fauci expressing clear concern at the president’s words.
The footage shows Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reacting to Trump’s reference to “the deep state department” during a briefing last Friday.
The deep state conspiracy theory holds that a permanent government of bureaucrats and intelligence officials exists to bring Trump down. The former White House counsellor Steve Bannon, one of the first propagators, has said it is for “nutcases”.
Dr Fauci was seen to look at Trump, smile ruefully and then rub his brow and jaw.
The tweet retweeted by the president on Tuesday, by “professional Mexican and taco enthusiast” Laura Martínez, said, “Dr Fauci is all of us” – in a clear reference to a feeling of being exasperated at Trump’s antics and misinformation: something Trump appears to have misunderstood.
Dr. Fauci is all of us 🤦🏼♂ pic.twitter.com/WTShJUchsr — Laura Martínez® (@miblogestublog) March 20, 2020
Among responses to Trump’s retweet of the footage of Dr Fauci touching his face, the CNN contributor Elie Honig wrote sarcastically: “Good retweet. Because the point is how Dr Fauci is overwhelmed by and reacting to the words of sheer medical genius he is hearing from you, Mr President.
“To responders claiming Fauci is laughing [because] Trump is so on point here, sure, that’s how people usually laugh, by grimacing like they just bit a lemon, covering their face, and then wiping sweat from the brow. If he’s such a cheerleader, where’s he been lately?”
Dr Fauci was absent from Monday night’s two-hour White House briefing, giving rise to concern on social media over whether his measured criticism of the president in interviews had led to his being sidelined or even fired.
On Tuesday morning, Trump also tweeted footage of Dr Fauci speaking to the Fox News host and pro-Trump author Mark Levin, in which Fauci said the president “asks a lot of questions”.
“That’s his nature. He’s constantly asking questions. And I never, in the multiple times I’ve done that, where I said, ‘For scientific reasons we really should do this,’ that he hasn’t said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Trump wrote: “Thank you Tony.”


theguardian--2020-03-24--Trump's staff cuts have undermined Covid-19 containment efforts, watchdog finds

The Trump administration badly undermined the effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak by getting rid of most staff tasked with identifying global health problems in China while repeatedly attempting to slash funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , according to a new report by an environmental watchdog .
Over the past three years , the Trump administration has drastically reduced a team working in China to identify global health threats like Covid-19 , which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .
The initiative ’ s 11 CDC staffers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers classed as “ local employees ” have been reduced to 11 people .
The administration disbanded the national security council ’ s directorate charged with global health and has sought to go further still , requesting budget cuts from the CDC of up to 20 % for each of the past three years , only to be rebuffed by Congress .
Trump ’ s effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act would also have reduced the CDC ’ s funding by around 8 % a year .
The CDC has still undergone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Trump ” but without Congress ’ s defiance “ thousands more Americans would likely die over the next few months because of even more reduced capacity at the CDC ” , according to the report , compiled by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative ( EDGI ) .
“ If we can not draw lessons here for our future , then the risks Americans face both from emerging and chronic diseases will become truly incalculable , ” the report warns .
The report , which draws upon publicly available federal government records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Trump administration that has risked turning the spread of the coronavirus into an even greater disaster .
The administration has proposed a 20 % cut to the CDC ’ s emerging and zoonotic diseases program , which investigates and prevents new diseases .
It has also attempted to reduce funding to help countries in Africa still suffering from the Ebola epidemic , overseen the loss of 61 staff from the CDC ’ s disease prevention program and proposed deep cuts to the CDC ’ s environmental health work .
Christopher Sellers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health at Stony Brook University and a lead author of the report , said the Trump administration ’ s actions slowed down the response to the virus and probably affected the preparedness of hospitals and various government agencies to the crisis .
“ The administration has repeatedly and systematically corroded critical parts of the CDC , ” Sellers said .
“ This was just begging for an epidemic to hit us .
It was a perfect storm of lack of preparation.
” Sellers added : “ It ’ s kind of incredible they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say we have plenty of resources when they ’ ve systematically targeted them .
They should be held responsible by the American people as it is outrageous.
” Donald Trump initially reacted to the onward march of coronavirus by calling it a “ hoax ” before then , also inaccurately , claiming that the US had completely contained the disease .
The president has since declared a national state of emergency but the federal response has been dogged by a severe lack of testing , a dearth of crucial medical supplies such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump over the need to avoid large gatherings of people .
On Sunday , the president was asked in a press conference about the administration ’ s cuts to the CDC , in particular the removal of an epidemiologist embedded within China ’ s own CDC equivalent .
Trump said : “ We actually gave CDC more money , not less money .
They said we defunded .
It turned out it was more money .
Every one of those things that were said were 100 % wrong , and this sounds like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blame China for the crisis .
“ I wish they told us three months sooner that this was a problem , ” the president said about a disease that emerged in December and was then reported by China to the World Health Organization in January .
“ We didn ’ t know about it .
”

The Trump administration badly undermined the effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak by getting rid of most staff tasked with identifying global health problems in China while repeatedly attempting to slash funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to a new report by an environmental watchdog.
Over the past three years, the Trump administration has drastically reduced a team working in China to identify global health threats like Covid-19, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. The initiative’s 11 CDC staffers have been cut to three people, while 39 workers classed as “local employees” have been reduced to 11 people.
The administration disbanded the national security council’s directorate charged with global health and has sought to go further still, requesting budget cuts from the CDC of up to 20% for each of the past three years, only to be rebuffed by Congress. Trump’s effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act would also have reduced the CDC’s funding by around 8% a year.
The CDC has still undergone an “erosion of budget and staff under Trump” but without Congress’s defiance “thousands more Americans would likely die over the next few months because of even more reduced capacity at the CDC”, according to the report, compiled by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI).
“If we cannot draw lessons here for our future, then the risks Americans face both from emerging and chronic diseases will become truly incalculable,” the report warns.
The report, which draws upon publicly available federal government records, highlights a lengthy list of actions by the Trump administration that has risked turning the spread of the coronavirus into an even greater disaster.
The administration has proposed a 20% cut to the CDC’s emerging and zoonotic diseases program, which investigates and prevents new diseases. It has also attempted to reduce funding to help countries in Africa still suffering from the Ebola epidemic, overseen the loss of 61 staff from the CDC’s disease prevention program and proposed deep cuts to the CDC’s environmental health work.
Christopher Sellers, an expert in the environment and health at Stony Brook University and a lead author of the report, said the Trump administration’s actions slowed down the response to the virus and probably affected the preparedness of hospitals and various government agencies to the crisis.
“The administration has repeatedly and systematically corroded critical parts of the CDC,” Sellers said. “This was just begging for an epidemic to hit us. It was a perfect storm of lack of preparation.”
Sellers added: “It’s kind of incredible they are now trying to rewrite history to say we have plenty of resources when they’ve systematically targeted them. They should be held responsible by the American people as it is outrageous.”
Donald Trump initially reacted to the onward march of coronavirus by calling it a “hoax” before then, also inaccurately, claiming that the US had completely contained the disease.
The president has since declared a national state of emergency but the federal response has been dogged by a severe lack of testing, a dearth of crucial medical supplies such as ventilators and false and misleading statements by Trump over the need to avoid large gatherings of people.
On Sunday, the president was asked in a press conference about the administration’s cuts to the CDC, in particular the removal of an epidemiologist embedded within China’s own CDC equivalent.
Trump said: “We actually gave CDC more money, not less money. They said we defunded. It turned out it was more money. Every one of those things that were said were 100% wrong, and this sounds like another one them.”
Trump then sought to blame China for the crisis. “I wish they told us three months sooner that this was a problem,” the president said about a disease that emerged in December and was then reported by China to the World Health Organization in January. “We didn’t know about it.”


theguardian--2020-03-24--The Guardian view on China and the US: a stricken world without leaders

Once upon a time , wise elders foretold that east and west would meet , a reviving and ruling power coming together in new leadership .
The idea of a Sino-American G2 , reaching bilateral consensus on key issues to prudently steer the international community , always sounded like a fairytale .
But from this moment in time , it seems more like a bad joke .
As a pandemic threatens millions of lives , and further suffering through a global recession , the shortcomings of China and the US are increasingly glaring .
Chinese authorities covered up the Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow the whistle , allowing the coronavirus to spread within and then beyond its borders – though subsequent draconian measures appear to have contained the internal spread , for now at least , and should have bought time for other countries to prepare .
Chinese diplomats and state media promoted wild conspiracy theories suggesting the virus originated , or was even created , in the US , even if officials may now be drawing back .
Last week , with everyone ’ s attention on the pandemic , Beijing threw out US journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for tightened controls on Chinese state media companies in the US .
Meanwhile , Donald Trump spent weeks dismissing concerns and suggested the virus would “ disappear ” and was “ very well under control ” .
He ceded responsibility to states and now wants to return to business as usual , as if that were possible – even as the World Health Organization warns that America could become the new centre of the pandemic .
Medical experts and governors are in despair .
He tried to lure a German firm developing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoted an unproven treatment .
With gratuitous cruelty , his administration has tightened sanctions on Iran , one of the worst-hit countries .
He has , until this week , insisted on referring to “ the Chinese virus ” despite the resulting stigma and hate crime .
Mr Trump may yet regret his finger-pointing ; many materials needed for equipment such as masks are mainly produced in China .
Pundits have blamed predatory pricing by Chinese firms for ending penicillin and aspirin production in the US , but the US has also showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources and relying on foreign production .
Washington ’ s failures are allowing Beijing , despite its own culpability , to restore its image and build foreign influence .
“ The only country that can help us is China … European solidarity does not exist , ” declared the Serbian president , Aleksandar Vučić , last week ; masks and health experts arrived days later .
China ’ s dispatches of medical supplies to other countries are welcome ; so presumably were the shipments it received from the EU when the outbreak emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have shared with each other .
The EU ’ s foreign policy chief , Josep Borrell , warned on Tuesday of a “ struggle for influence ” , including through the “ politics of generosity ” .
The bloc must show that solidarity is not an empty phrase , he wrote .
The pandemic has underscored the need for international cooperation .
When problems are global , solutions must be too .
But it has also shown once more that China and the US are neither fit to lead , nor interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world will need to find its own ways of working together .

Once upon a time, wise elders foretold that east and west would meet, a reviving and ruling power coming together in new leadership. The idea of a Sino-American G2, reaching bilateral consensus on key issues to prudently steer the international community, always sounded like a fairytale. But from this moment in time, it seems more like a bad joke. As a pandemic threatens millions of lives, and further suffering through a global recession, the shortcomings of China and the US are increasingly glaring.
Chinese authorities covered up the Wuhan outbreak and harassed those who tried to blow the whistle, allowing the coronavirus to spread within and then beyond its borders – though subsequent draconian measures appear to have contained the internal spread, for now at least, and should have bought time for other countries to prepare. Chinese diplomats and state media promoted wild conspiracy theories suggesting the virus originated, or was even created, in the US, even if officials may now be drawing back. Last week, with everyone’s attention on the pandemic, Beijing threw out US journalists from major news organisations in belated retaliation for tightened controls on Chinese state media companies in the US.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump spent weeks dismissing concerns and suggested the virus would “disappear” and was “very well under control”. He ceded responsibility to states and now wants to return to business as usual, as if that were possible – even as the World Health Organization warns that America could become the new centre of the pandemic. Medical experts and governors are in despair. He tried to lure a German firm developing a possible vaccine to the US. He promoted an unproven treatment. With gratuitous cruelty, his administration has tightened sanctions on Iran, one of the worst-hit countries. He has, until this week, insisted on referring to “the Chinese virus” despite the resulting stigma and hate crime.
Mr Trump may yet regret his finger-pointing; many materials needed for equipment such as masks are mainly produced in China. Pundits have blamed predatory pricing by Chinese firms for ending penicillin and aspirin production in the US, but the US has also showed complacency in failing to protect key national resources and relying on foreign production.
Washington’s failures are allowing Beijing, despite its own culpability, to restore its image and build foreign influence. “The only country that can help us is China … European solidarity does not exist,” declared the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vučić, last week; masks and health experts arrived days later. China’s dispatches of medical supplies to other countries are welcome; so presumably were the shipments it received from the EU when the outbreak emerged, and the equipment that European neighbours have shared with each other. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, warned on Tuesday of a “struggle for influence”, including through the “politics of generosity”. The bloc must show that solidarity is not an empty phrase, he wrote.
The pandemic has underscored the need for international cooperation. When problems are global, solutions must be too. But it has also shown once more that China and the US are neither fit to lead, nor interested in cooperation, and that the rest of the world will need to find its own ways of working together.


theguardian--2020-03-25--Comrade Britney Spears! Star calls for strike and wealth redistribution

Britney Spears has amplified a call for a strike and the redistribution of wealth in the US in a post on her Instagram .
Spears , 38 , shared a graphic by the writer Mimi Zhu , which included the line : “ We will feed each other , re-destribute [ sic ] wealth , strike.
” Spears captioned the graphic : “ Communion moves beyond walls ” and added three red rose emojis , a symbol associated with the socialist cause online .
Zhu ’ s post declared : “ During this time of isolation , we need connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved ones , write virtual letters .
Technologies like virtual communication , streaming and broadcasting are part of our community collaboration .
“ We will learn to kiss and hold each other through the waves of the web .
We will feed each other , re-destribute [ sic ] wealth , strike .
We will understand our own importance from the places we must stay .
Communion moves beyond walls .
We can still be together.
” Zhu said on Twitter that she was “ really grateful ” that Spears had shared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of crediting artists for their work .
A representative for Spears offered no comment .
Zhu tweeted : “ At the end of the day I think this is funny and sweet , and I ’ m happy my work moved her becuz [ sic ] she moved me a lot while I was growing up – Comrade Britney is an icon and I ’ m glad we are connected on this wavelength.
” Spears does not control her own fortune or business decisions .
She has been under her father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she was committed to a psychiatric ward after experiencing a public breakdown .
She has since released many albums , toured and staged a lucrative Vegas residency , but has been on a professional hiatus since January 2019 , reportedly owing to her father ’ s poor health .
Legal commentators have said it is unusual for an apparently high-functioning adult to remain under such an arrangement .
Earlier this week , Spears participated in the # DoYourPartChallenge on Instagram , encouraging fans in need during the coronavirus pandemic to DM her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions for their children .
Spears has made few political statements over her 21-year pop career .
In 2017 , she encouraged fans to tell Congress to pass the Dream Act .
She supported George W Bush during the Iraq war and in 2001 was registered in Louisiana as a Republican .

Britney Spears has amplified a call for a strike and the redistribution of wealth in the US in a post on her Instagram. Spears, 38, shared a graphic by the writer Mimi Zhu, which included the line: “We will feed each other, re-destribute [sic] wealth, strike.”
Spears captioned the graphic: “Communion moves beyond walls” and added three red rose emojis, a symbol associated with the socialist cause online.
Zhu’s post declared: “During this time of isolation, we need connection now more than ever. Call your loved ones, write virtual letters. Technologies like virtual communication, streaming and broadcasting are part of our community collaboration.
“We will learn to kiss and hold each other through the waves of the web. We will feed each other, re-destribute [sic] wealth, strike. We will understand our own importance from the places we must stay. Communion moves beyond walls. We can still be together.”
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Zhu said on Twitter that she was “really grateful” that Spears had shared the post – albeit unattributed – and emphasised the importance of crediting artists for their work. A representative for Spears offered no comment.
Zhu tweeted: “At the end of the day I think this is funny and sweet, and I’m happy my work moved her becuz [sic] she moved me a lot while I was growing up – Comrade Britney is an icon and I’m glad we are connected on this wavelength.”
Spears does not control her own fortune or business decisions. She has been under her father’s conservatorship since February 2008, when she was committed to a psychiatric ward after experiencing a public breakdown.
She has since released many albums, toured and staged a lucrative Vegas residency, but has been on a professional hiatus since January 2019, reportedly owing to her father’s poor health. Legal commentators have said it is unusual for an apparently high-functioning adult to remain under such an arrangement.
Earlier this week, Spears participated in the #DoYourPartChallenge on Instagram, encouraging fans in need during the coronavirus pandemic to DM her if they needed help buying food or provisions for their children.
Spears has made few political statements over her 21-year pop career. In 2017, she encouraged fans to tell Congress to pass the Dream Act. She supported George W Bush during the Iraq war and in 2001 was registered in Louisiana as a Republican.


theguardian--2020-03-25--‘Opening a door that was closed too long’: the hunt for a female vice-president

Hours after the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential campaign and all but assured the next American president would be a white man in his 70s , a group of influential Democratic women gathered for dinner at a Spanish restaurant in downtown Washington .
The timing was coincidental , but it underscored the urgency of their meeting .
More than a hundred years after American women earned the right to vote ; four years after the first female presidential nominee of a major party won the popular vote by 3 million votes and two years after the election of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , six diverse women had entered the 2020 Democratic race and didn ’ t win a single nominating contest .
“ Without a doubt , the secret to Democratic victories in the past three years has been women ’ s leadership .
The idea that that wouldn ’ t translate into the first woman president was heartbreaking for many of us , ” said Heather McGhee , a distinguished senior fellow at the thinktank Demos , who supported Warren and helped organize the meeting .
Emotions still raw , the group of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over tapas , they drew up a list of demands for the party ’ s next nominee : he would choose a female running mate ; women would represent the “ governing majority ” of a Democratic administration ; appointments would reflect “ the diversity of our communities ” and economic issues focused on issues such as paid family leave would be a priority in the first 100 days .
They compiled the principles into a letter that was signed by dozens of prominent party activists and leaders and sent to the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 11th Democratic presidential debate , the first without a female candidate on stage , Joe Biden explicitly committed to picking a woman as vice-president .
“ There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow , ” said Biden , who holds a nearly unassailable lead over his rival , the Vermont socialist senator Bernie Sanders .
He also committed to nominating the first African American woman to the supreme court , a gesture that reflects his reliance on the support of black women , a crucial Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be historic .
Only two women have ever been chosen as running mates : the Alaska governor Sarah Palin in 2008 and the New York congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 .
Neither served in the White House .
Far from being a “ consolation prize ” , McGhee hopes that putting a woman on the ticket will move the country closer to electing the first female president .
She envisions an empowered lieutenant in the “ Dick Cheney mold – but with very different values ” .
“ This isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ This is opening a door that has been closed for too long.
” Biden ’ s pledge was widely embraced by Democrats eager to elevate a qualified woman to the second-highest office in the land .
But it was also a stark acknowledgment that a party increasingly led by women rejected a historic field of female leaders .
Biden and Sanders , the last men standing , “ don ’ t look the way the party looks ” , said Jennifer Lawless , a professor at the University of Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They don ’ t even look the way the primary field looked.
” Committing to putting a woman on the ticket directly addresses the “ concern among some women that this party continues to marginalize women at the highest levels of leadership ” , said Kelly Dittmar , a scholar at Rutgers University ’ s Center for American Women and Politics .
“ This is among the least they could do to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality.
” But Biden ’ s commitment to limiting the prospective pool of candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some conservative and progressive corners , he was accused by women of “ tokenism ” and prioritizing inclusion over achievement .
But researchers say reflecting diversity does not sacrifice quality .
Studies have found that women often have more relevant experience than their male counterparts when they run for office .
“ We have more women who are qualified to be vice-president now than we ever have before , ” Lawless said .
There are strong political arguments for choosing a female running mate .
The 2016 presidential election brought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling and since then , women ’ s rage has fueled Democratic victories in every corner of the country .
They have led protests , launched political organizations , run for office and voted for Democrats in record numbers .
And it is women , far more than men , who most viscerally disapprove of Trump and his policies .
While research suggests running mates do little to persuade undecided voters , putting a woman on the ticket could help generate enthusiasm among Democrats .
It could also help draw a contrast with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women .
Jennifer Epps-Addison , the network president of the Center for Popular Democracy , which endorsed Sanders and signed the letter , said Biden should consider his choice of running mate as an olive branch to progressives .
“ If the next nominee wants our time and our energy , they have to be willing to negotiate the platform , the policies , the transition and what the future of the Democratic party looks like , ” she said .
For her part , Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a woman on the ticket , but said the nominee must consider the electoral implications : “ What will help him win the electoral college ?
” Biden ’ s announcement has intensified speculation around who he might choose .
On Tuesday , the former vice-president told the hosts of The View that he would start vetting a shortlist of candidates “ soon ” and that it was important his running mate is “ simpatico with where I want to take the nation ” .
His former rivals , particularly Senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are seen as top contenders .
As far back as last November , Biden floated four possible running mates and all were women , including Stacey Abrams , who ran for governor of Georgia in 2018 and Sally Yates , the former acting attorney general fired by Trump after refusing to defend his administration ’ s travel ban .
While the vice-presidency is a priority , it ’ s not the only one of many ways the next nominee must demonstrate his commitment to women ’ s economic and political empowerment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association of Flight Attendants and another organizer of the meeting .
“ It ’ s about being committed to hearing women , to actively listening to women , to lifting up the voices of women and recognizing that women are great leaders , ” she said .
“ We ’ re making those demands but we ’ re also not sitting back and waiting for those demands to be met.
” In many ways , Biden ’ s pledge reflects the dueling impulses of a Democratic party that prides itself on diversity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Donald Trump in 2016 .
Early enthusiasm over the record number of barrier-breaking women and candidates of color in the race did not translate into support as the conversation gave way to concerns about electability .
On the campaign trail , voters who believed sexism played a role in Hillary Clinton ’ s defeat feared that nominating another woman would deliver the same result .
Many Democrats urged the male frontrunners to pick a female running mate , sometimes suggesting candidates like Klobuchar and Harris before they had exited the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreate anything that looked or felt like 2016 and that created a unique disadvantage for female candidates who wanted to take on Trump , ” Meredith Kelly , who was a top aide to the New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand ’ s presidential campaign .
During a debate , Klobuchar said it was obvious that the women on stage were “ held to a higher standard ” than their male counterparts .
Their mistakes , it seemed , were punished more harshly by a party that demonstrated a willingness to rally behind men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is running on his decades of experience , was first elected to the Senate in 1972 , at 29 .
He has previously lost two presidential elections , and placed fourth and fifth in the first two nominating contests .
Sanders fought his way back into contention after a heart attack .
Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , parlayed national media attention into a first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses .
“ Women have to bring the receipts while men get judged by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That was extremely apparent in this presidential race.
” There is no evidence to suggest that a woman would lose to Trump .
After all , more Americans voted for Clinton than Trump .
The women running attempted to address the issue of electability head-on , but the doubts persisted until last week , when the path for nominating a woman officially closed with the departure of the long-shot Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard .
“ These were pretty remarkable women who were accomplished , who could raise money , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own right , ” said Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , another organizer of the dinner .
“ So we have to ask : is there some misogyny , is there some sexism that serves as a barrier to women running for president ?
” The degree to which gender played a role in 2020 will be debated for a long time .
Warren herself hadn ’ t fully grappled with the question when she was asked about it moments after announcing she was ending her campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Warren said , addressing reporters outside her home in Cambridge , Massachusetts .
She described it as a “ trap question ” that forces female candidates to either acknowledge sexism and sound like a “ whiner ” or dismiss it and deny the experiences of “ about a bazillion women ” who would ask : “ What planet do you live on ?
”

Hours after the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential campaign and all but assured the next American president would be a white man in his 70s, a group of influential Democratic women gathered for dinner at a Spanish restaurant in downtown Washington.
The timing was coincidental, but it underscored the urgency of their meeting.
More than a hundred years after American women earned the right to vote; four years after the first female presidential nominee of a major party won the popular vote by 3 million votes and two years after the election of the most female congressional class in history, six diverse women had entered the 2020 Democratic race and didn’t win a single nominating contest.
“Without a doubt, the secret to Democratic victories in the past three years has been women’s leadership. The idea that that wouldn’t translate into the first woman president was heartbreaking for many of us,” said Heather McGhee, a distinguished senior fellow at the thinktank Demos, who supported Warren and helped organize the meeting.
Emotions still raw, the group of women decided to do something about it.
Over tapas, they drew up a list of demands for the party’s next nominee: he would choose a female running mate; women would represent the “governing majority” of a Democratic administration; appointments would reflect “the diversity of our communities” and economic issues focused on issues such as paid family leave would be a priority in the first 100 days.
They compiled the principles into a letter that was signed by dozens of prominent party activists and leaders and sent to the Democratic National Committee.
Days later, at the 11th Democratic presidential debate, the first without a female candidate on stage, Joe Biden explicitly committed to picking a woman as vice-president.
“There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow,” said Biden, who holds a nearly unassailable lead over his rival, the Vermont socialist senator Bernie Sanders. He also committed to nominating the first African American woman to the supreme court, a gesture that reflects his reliance on the support of black women, a crucial Democratic constituency.
Electing a woman as vice-president would be historic. Only two women have ever been chosen as running mates: the Alaska governor Sarah Palin in 2008 and the New York congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. Neither served in the White House.
Sarah Palin during the vice-presidential debate with Joe Biden in St Louis, Missouri, on 2 October 2008. Photograph: Carlos Barría/REUTERS
Far from being a “consolation prize”, McGhee hopes that putting a woman on the ticket will move the country closer to electing the first female president. She envisions an empowered lieutenant in the “Dick Cheney mold – but with very different values”.
“This isn’t just ticking a box,” she said. “This is opening a door that has been closed for too long.”
Biden’s pledge was widely embraced by Democrats eager to elevate a qualified woman to the second-highest office in the land.
But it was also a stark acknowledgment that a party increasingly led by women rejected a historic field of female leaders.
Biden and Sanders, the last men standing, “don’t look the way the party looks”, said Jennifer Lawless, a professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on women in politics. “They don’t even look the way the primary field looked.”
Committing to putting a woman on the ticket directly addresses the “concern among some women that this party continues to marginalize women at the highest levels of leadership”, said Kelly Dittmar, a scholar at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics. “This is among the least they could do to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality.”
But Biden’s commitment to limiting the prospective pool of candidates by half did not draw universal praise. In some conservative and progressive corners, he was accused by women of “tokenism” and prioritizing inclusion over achievement.
But researchers say reflecting diversity does not sacrifice quality. Studies have found that women often have more relevant experience than their male counterparts when they run for office.
We have more women who are qualified to be vice-president now than we ever have before Jennifer Lawless
“We have more women who are qualified to be vice-president now than we ever have before,” Lawless said.
There are strong political arguments for choosing a female running mate. The 2016 presidential election brought the widest gender gap in a half-century of polling and since then, women’s rage has fueled Democratic victories in every corner of the country. They have led protests, launched political organizations, run for office and voted for Democrats in record numbers. And it is women, far more than men, who most viscerally disapprove of Trump and his policies.
While research suggests running mates do little to persuade undecided voters, putting a woman on the ticket could help generate enthusiasm among Democrats . It could also help draw a contrast with Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women.
Jennifer Epps-Addison, the network president of the Center for Popular Democracy, which endorsed Sanders and signed the letter, said Biden should consider his choice of running mate as an olive branch to progressives.
“If the next nominee wants our time and our energy, they have to be willing to negotiate the platform, the policies, the transition and what the future of the Democratic party looks like,” she said.
For her part, Clinton said recently she would “love” to have a woman on the ticket, but said the nominee must consider the electoral implications: “What will help him win the electoral college?”
Biden’s announcement has intensified speculation around who he might choose. On Tuesday, the former vice-president told the hosts of The View that he would start vetting a shortlist of candidates “soon” and that it was important his running mate is “simpatico with where I want to take the nation”.
His former rivals, particularly Senators Kamala Harris, Warren and Amy Klobuchar, are seen as top contenders. As far back as last November, Biden floated four possible running mates and all were women, including Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor of Georgia in 2018 and Sally Yates, the former acting attorney general fired by Trump after refusing to defend his administration’s travel ban.
Elizabeth Warren in Manchester, New Hampshire, on 8 February. Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP
While the vice-presidency is a priority, it’s not the only one of many ways the next nominee must demonstrate his commitment to women’s economic and political empowerment, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants and another organizer of the meeting.
“It’s about being committed to hearing women, to actively listening to women, to lifting up the voices of women and recognizing that women are great leaders,” she said. “We’re making those demands but we’re also not sitting back and waiting for those demands to be met.”
In many ways, Biden’s pledge reflects the dueling impulses of a Democratic party that prides itself on diversity and inclusion but remains deeply scarred by its loss to Donald Trump in 2016.
Early enthusiasm over the record number of barrier-breaking women and candidates of color in the race did not translate into support as the conversation gave way to concerns about electability.
On the campaign trail, voters who believed sexism played a role in Hillary Clinton’s defeat feared that nominating another woman would deliver the same result. Many Democrats urged the male frontrunners to pick a female running mate, sometimes suggesting candidates like Klobuchar and Harris before they had exited the race.
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, on 9 March. Photograph: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
“Voters were so afraid to recreate anything that looked or felt like 2016 and that created a unique disadvantage for female candidates who wanted to take on Trump,” Meredith Kelly, who was a top aide to the New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s presidential campaign.
During a debate, Klobuchar said it was obvious that the women on stage were “held to a higher standard” than their male counterparts. Their mistakes, it seemed, were punished more harshly by a party that demonstrated a willingness to rally behind men whose success defied political odds.
Biden, who is running on his decades of experience, was first elected to the Senate in 1972, at 29. He has previously lost two presidential elections, and placed fourth and fifth in the first two nominating contests. Sanders fought his way back into contention after a heart attack. Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, parlayed national media attention into a first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.
“Women have to bring the receipts while men get judged by their potential for greatness,” Kelly said. “That was extremely apparent in this presidential race.”
There is no evidence to suggest that a woman would lose to Trump. After all, more Americans voted for Clinton than Trump. The women running attempted to address the issue of electability head-on, but the doubts persisted until last week, when the path for nominating a woman officially closed with the departure of the long-shot Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
“These were pretty remarkable women who were accomplished, who could raise money, who had national profiles and who were leaders in their own right,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, another organizer of the dinner. “So we have to ask: is there some misogyny, is there some sexism that serves as a barrier to women running for president?”
The degree to which gender played a role in 2020 will be debated for a long time. Warren herself hadn’t fully grappled with the question when she was asked about it moments after announcing she was ending her campaign.
“Gender in this race?” Warren said, addressing reporters outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was a “trap question” that she said forces female candidates to either acknowledge sexism and sound like a “whiner” or dismiss it and deny the experiences of “about a bazillion women” who would ask: “What planet do you live on?”


theguardian--2020-03-25--Are Trump's coronavirus briefings the new 2020 campaign rallies?

For more than an hour from the lectern he self-aggrandises , rewrites history , casts blame , scores political points , goads the media and sends factcheckers scrambling , ceding the bully pulpit only to let other speakers sing his praises .
But for the absence of a sea of “ Keep America Great Again ” hats and Rolling Stones soundtrack , Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus press briefings at the White House are , critics say , increasingly resembling his 2020 re-election campaign rallies .
Some critics have even called for TV networks to drop live coverage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s words unfiltered , they are actively misleading their audiences and could harm public health .
“ These are rallies by TV press briefing from the podium and that ’ s not what it should be , ” said Mike McCurry , who was press secretary to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s .
“ It ’ s not a substitute for a daily briefing by the press secretary , giving real information to the public , taking questions and being held accountable .
It ’ s become a theatrical production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last formal briefing by a press secretary took place more than a year ago as Trump decided to become his own spokesman , regularly fielding questions on the White House South Lawn before boarding the Marine One helicopter in what was dubbed “ chopper talk ” .
But then came the coronavirus pandemic and the reactivation of the near dormant briefing room in the West Wing .
At first , the Vice-President Mike Pence , the chair of the coronavirus taskforce , earned praise for his steady handling of the briefing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should become the new press secretary .
Perhaps sensing political opportunity , Trump moved swiftly to regain the limelight and become master of ceremonies .
At times , he has reassured viewers with an uncharacteristically solemn tone .
But at others , he has reverted to his buccaneering style , over-promising vaccines or therapies – forcing experts to contradict him – or throwing a tantrum at a reporter who challenged him .
On Sunday , Trump was asked if he had changed his personal investments in advance of the pandemic .
He gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcribed , ran to more than 850 words .
An excerpt : “ George Washington , they say he was a rich man , supposedly .
Relatively rich .
And he ran the presidency and he also ran his business .
They say he had two desks .
Nobody complained until I came along .
I got elected as a rich person , but nobody complained until I came along .
So it cost me billions of dollars to be president and I am so happy I did it .
Because who cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears with taskforce members including Pence , Dr Anthony Fauci , Dr Deborah Birx and Jerome Adams , who stand closer to him than reporters are allowed sit with each other .
Broadcasters were widely criticized for giving Trump ’ s speeches and rallies wall-to-wall coverage during the 2016 presidential election , granting him free exposure worth billions of dollars in advertising .
Although campaign rallies have been suspended because of the virus , there are concerns that history is repeating itself , giving Trump an advantage over his likely opponent , Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefings shifted to late afternoon , giving Trump access to peak viewing hours .
McCurry , now a professor at Wesley Theological Seminary , said he “ tends to agree ” with the view that networks should not carry the entire briefings live .
“ Putting it on because it ’ s better than whatever else is available to daytime TV is not a good reason .
It shouldn ’ t be a platform for the president to just give out his own message .
It ’ s not reality television , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a media columnist at the Washington Post , went further in an article headlined : “ The media must stop live-broadcasting Trump ’ s dangerous , destructive coronavirus briefings.
” She wrote : “ More and more each day , President Trump is using his daily briefings as a substitute for the campaign rallies that have been forced into extinction by the spread of the novel coronavirus .
These White House sessions – ostensibly meant to give the public critical and truthful information about this frightening crisis – are in fact working against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was Trump ’ s first press secretary , defended the current arrangement .
“ The briefings are crucial for the American people to know what the government is doing to address the current situation with the coronavirus , ” he said .
Spicer , now a host on the conservative network Newsmax , recently became the first former White House press secretary to question the president that they once served from the briefing room .
He added : “ You can ’ t have it both ways .
The same press who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then complain when they have access to the president and the experts every day.
” Unlike rallies , however , the briefings do provide a chance for reporters to challenge Trump directly .
Joe Lockhart , another former White House press secretary , acknowledged a difficult balancing act for network controllers on whether to keep broadcasting them live .
“ I ’ ve been a strong advocate of not putting the president live , taping and checking for accuracy , ” he tweeted .
“ This situation is much tougher .
His lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a risk of sanitizing his bizarre behavior and saying it ’ s just Trump .
Very hard news decision .
”

For more than an hour from the lectern he self-aggrandises, rewrites history, casts blame, scores political points, goads the media and sends factcheckers scrambling, ceding the bully pulpit only to let other speakers sing his praises.
But for the absence of a sea of “Keep America Great Again” hats and Rolling Stones soundtrack, Donald Trump’s coronavirus press briefings at the White House are, critics say, increasingly resembling his 2020 re-election campaign rallies.
Some critics have even called for TV networks to drop live coverage of the daily sessions because, by carrying the president’s words unfiltered, they are actively misleading their audiences and could harm public health.
“These are rallies by TV press briefing from the podium and that’s not what it should be,” said Mike McCurry, who was press secretary to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. “It’s not a substitute for a daily briefing by the press secretary, giving real information to the public, taking questions and being held accountable. It’s become a theatrical production rather than a true press briefing.”
The last formal briefing by a press secretary took place more than a year ago as Trump decided to become his own spokesman, regularly fielding questions on the White House South Lawn before boarding the Marine One helicopter in what was dubbed “chopper talk”.
But then came the coronavirus pandemic and the reactivation of the near dormant briefing room in the West Wing. At first, the Vice-President Mike Pence, the chair of the coronavirus taskforce, earned praise for his steady handling of the briefing, with one columnist even joking that he should become the new press secretary.
Perhaps sensing political opportunity, Trump moved swiftly to regain the limelight and become master of ceremonies. At times, he has reassured viewers with an uncharacteristically solemn tone. But at others, he has reverted to his buccaneering style, over-promising vaccines or therapies – forcing experts to contradict him – or throwing a tantrum at a reporter who challenged him.
On Sunday, Trump was asked if he had changed his personal investments in advance of the pandemic. He gave a bafflingly rambling answer that, once transcribed, ran to more than 850 words. An excerpt: “George Washington, they say he was a rich man, supposedly. Relatively rich. And he ran the presidency and he also ran his business. They say he had two desks. Nobody complained until I came along. I got elected as a rich person, but nobody complained until I came along. So it cost me billions of dollars to be president and I am so happy I did it. Because who cares? Who cares?”
Trump regularly appears with taskforce members including Pence, Dr Anthony Fauci, Dr Deborah Birx and Jerome Adams, who stand closer to him than reporters are allowed sit with each other.
Broadcasters were widely criticized for giving Trump’s speeches and rallies wall-to-wall coverage during the 2016 presidential election, granting him free exposure worth billions of dollars in advertising. Although campaign rallies have been suspended because of the virus, there are concerns that history is repeating itself, giving Trump an advantage over his likely opponent, Joe Biden. On Sunday and Monday, the briefings shifted to late afternoon, giving Trump access to peak viewing hours.
McCurry, now a professor at Wesley Theological Seminary, said he “tends to agree” with the view that networks should not carry the entire briefings live.
“Putting it on because it’s better than whatever else is available to daytime TV is not a good reason. It shouldn’t be a platform for the president to just give out his own message. It’s not reality television,” he said.
Margaret Sullivan, a media columnist at the Washington Post, went further in an article headlined: “The media must stop live-broadcasting Trump’s dangerous, destructive coronavirus briefings.” She wrote: “More and more each day, President Trump is using his daily briefings as a substitute for the campaign rallies that have been forced into extinction by the spread of the novel coronavirus. These White House sessions – ostensibly meant to give the public critical and truthful information about this frightening crisis – are in fact working against that end.”
Sean Spicer, now reporter for Newsmax, left, attends a coronavirus taskforce briefing at the White House last week. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP
But Sean Spicer, who was Trump’s first press secretary, defended the current arrangement. “The briefings are crucial for the American people to know what the government is doing to address the current situation with the coronavirus,” he said.
Spicer, now a host on the conservative network Newsmax, recently became the first former White House press secretary to question the president that they once served from the briefing room. He added: “You can’t have it both ways. The same press who want briefings every day can’t then complain when they have access to the president and the experts every day.”
Unlike rallies, however, the briefings do provide a chance for reporters to challenge Trump directly.
Joe Lockhart, another former White House press secretary, acknowledged a difficult balancing act for network controllers on whether to keep broadcasting them live. “I’ve been a strong advocate of not putting the president live, taping and checking for accuracy,” he tweeted. “This situation is much tougher. His lies are outrageous and dangerous. But there is a risk of sanitizing his bizarre behavior and saying it’s just Trump. Very hard news decision.”


theguardian--2020-03-25--US Senate leaders reach deal with White House on $2tn coronavirus package

US Senate leaders have reached a deal with the Trump administration on a nearly $ 2tn stimulus package to help rescue the American economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic as Donald Trump considers easing restrictions aimed at combating the contagion .
After days of around-the-clock negotiations amongst senators and administration officials , a bipartisan compromise was struck over what is expected to be the largest US economic stimulus measure ever passed .
“ We have a deal , ” said Eric Ueland , the White House legislative affairs director , just before 1am , adding that the text of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have either , clear , explicit legislative text reflecting all parties or we know exactly where we ’ re going to land on legislative text as we continue to finish.
” The bill will then go to the House , and then to Donald Trump , who is expected to ratify it .
Tempers flared on Monday on Capitol Hill as senators grappled with the need to pass the critical aid .
Democrats twice blocked efforts to move forward with a vote on the legislation , arguing the proposal did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families and healthcare providers nor did it impose strict enough restrictions on businesses that receive federal bailout money .
Republicans , in turn , fumed that Democrats were playing politics in a time of crisis .
Late into the night , Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ueland ironed out details with the Republican and Democratic Senate leaders .
“ This is not a juicy political opportunity , ” McConnell , said in a remarks from the floor on Monday .
“ This is a national emergency.
” The deal would provide direct payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults and expand unemployment insurance .
It also includes a $ 367bn program for small businesses , to allow them to pay employees who have to stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The bill ’ s passage came as Trump grew impatient with his administration ’ s decision to impose strict restrictions on all aspects of American public life as a way to stop the spread of the virus , a move recommended by US health officials that has brought the economy grinding close to a halt .
“ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem itself .
At the end of the 15-day period , we will make a decision as to which way we want to go , ” Trump wrote in an all-caps tweet on Sunday night and shared again on Monday .
The 15-day period of White House guidelines to enforce physical distancing and other measures began on 16 March .
Loosening restrictions on public activities and social distancing would defy the best advice of his administration ’ s health officials , including Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US has not yet experienced the worst of the pandemic .

The US Senate has passed a $2.2tn emergency relief package as the coronavirus pandemic devastates the economy, marking the biggest rescue deal of its kind in US history.
“This is a strange and evil disease,” said the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, ahead of the vote. “When we pass this bill, instead of hugging each other, we’ll wave from a distance.”
The bill would provide up to $1,200 in direct relief for American adults, create a $500bn lending program for businesses, cities and states and a $367bn fund for small businesses. The plan also provides $130bn to hospitals and expands unemployment insurance.
Senators overwhelmingly voted to pass the legislation, approving it 96-0.
The House is expected to vote on the bill on Friday. “We are working to ensure that those who are unable to return to Washington will be able to express their views on this legislation remotely,” said the House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, in a statement.
Lawmakers scrambled on Wednesday to smooth over snags as they rushed to pass the legislation, which provides direct payments to American families, and loans and grants to businesses. A last-minute amendment, from Republican senators who complained that the bill would incentivize workers to collect unemployment payments rather than take a job, failed.
After casting her vote Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat of Massachusetts, said: “This is not the bill I wanted, but its immediate investments are vital.” “They are also insufficient,” she added. “We will need to do more – and soon.”
McConnell similarly reflected on the compromises that Republicans and Democrats made to arrive at the deal. “It’s been a long, hard road, with a remarkable number of twists and turns,” he said. “But for the sake of millions of Americans, it will be worth it. It will be worth it to get help to millions of small businesses and save tens of millions of jobs.”
The Senate majority whip, John Thune, missed the Wednesday night vote because he was in self-quarantine after experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. Senator Rand Paul, who tested positive for the coronavirus, and senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee – who have not tested positive but are self-isolating out of caution – were also unable to vote. The House, which the speaker, Nancy Pelosi, indicated will approve the measure, is also grappling with the logistics of voting with several confirmed and suspected cases.
Wednesday’s vote came after days of round-the-clock and at times extraordinarily tense negotiations among senators and administration officials. A compromise was struck just after midnight on Tuesday to rush financial assistance to workers, businesses and the healthcare system as the pandemic sweeps the country, deepening economic fallout as Donald Trump considers easing restrictions aimed at combating the contagion.
“We have a deal,” said Eric Ueland, the White House legislative affairs director, just before 1am, adding that the text of the bill needed to be completed.
“We have either clear, explicit legislative text reflecting all parties or we know exactly where we’re going to land on legislative text as we continue to finish.”
McConnell saluted “a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic”, a deal he described as a “wartime level of investment into our nation”.
Schumer said: “This is not a moment of celebration, but one of necessity. To all Americans I say: help is on the way.”
The Senate reconvened on Wednesday but a drive to push through the package quickly was upended by the objections of a group of conservative lawmakers.
Three Republicans – Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott and Ben Sasse – raised concerns over what they claimed was a “massive drafting error” that would create a “strong incentive for employees to be laid off instead of going to work”.
The Vermont independent (and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination) Bernie Sanders countered that he would “put a hold on” the bill, in order to push for stronger conditions on bailed-out businesses, unless the Republicans dropped their objections.
Pelosi said the Senate bill went “a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people”, but did not give a clear sign of approval.
The legislation is an order of magnitude larger than the $800bn stimulus bill passed in 2009 to alleviate the economic pain of the Great Recession. And yet it is only expected to be a temporary patch to stabilize an economy spiraling out of control. Senators have signaled a need to begin work on the next stimulus package.
Trump confirmed on Wednesday evening that he planned to sign the stimulus package “immediately” when it gets to his desk, adding that he’ll have a “beautiful” signing.
During a coronavirus taskforce briefing, the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, signaled that the bill could bolster the economy for three months. But the president, contradicting public health experts, said the country will open up “like a rocket ship” and people would be able to return to work within a fortnight.
The legislation would also prohibit businesses owned by Trump, his family and members of Congress from receiving loans or investments from the treasury department program.
“Those of us who write the law shouldn’t benefit from the law,” Schumer told CNN on Wednesday.
US stock markets, which rose more than 2,100 points, or more than 11%, on Tuesday, continued to rise, albeit at a slower pace, on Wednesday.
A Las Vegas maintenance worker disinfects playground equipment. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
But many on Wall Street appear uncertain that the stimulus package, together with a Federal Reserve pledge of nearly $4tn in aid, will counter the havoc an uncontained coronavirus outbreak could still wreak.
“This was a one-day bull market,” said CNBC’s Jim Cramer. “You had stocks that moved so much they basically moved as if the second half of the year is going to be good. I struggle to find out why the second half of the year should be good. I hate this kind of rally. This was a machine-driven rally, just like the sell-offs. I want to wait to see.”
Relief that US politicians had reached a deal pushed world stock markets up on Wednesday. Indexes in Europe and Asia rose a day after the Dow Jones had its best day since 1933. The FTSE-100 in London closed up 4.45% at 5688.
A major sticking point in the negotiations concerned $500bn for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including a fight over how generous to be with airlines that have been rocked by a near-shutdown of travel. Hospitals would get significant help as well.
The deal provides for one-time direct payments of up to $1,200 to most adults and greatly expanded unemployment insurance. It also includes a $367bn program for small businesses to keep paying employees forced to stay home.
On Wednesday, the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, assailed the relief package in his daily press briefing, calling the $3.8bn in financial assistance that would flow to his state, the center of the outbreak in the US, a “drop in the bucket”.
The deal came as Trump grew impatient with his administration’s decision to impose strict restrictions on all aspects of public life to try to slow the spread of the virus, a move recommended by health officials.
On Tuesday, Trump said he was aiming to reopen “large sections of the country” by Easter, just over two weeks away, as public health officials and state governors rejected that timeline as potentially unsafe.
“We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. At the end of the 15-day period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go,” Trump wrote in an all-capitals tweet. He doubled down during a Fox News town hall on Tuesday, arguing against the best advice of experts that a crippled economy caused by mandated social isolation would inflict more harm than the spread of the virus.
The 15-day period of White House guidelines to enforce physical distancing and other measures began on 16 March.
Loosening restrictions on public activities and social distancing would defy the best advice of his administration’s health officials, including Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who warned that the US has not yet experienced the worst of the pandemic.


theguardian--2020-03-25--Trump seeks to reopen 'large sections' of US by Easter, clashing with experts

Donald Trump is aiming to reopen “ large sections of the country ” by Easter , he told reporters on Tuesday , as officials advised anyone who has recently left New York to self-quarantine for two weeks .
The US president has put himself on collision course with his own health experts by floating a deadline for firing up the economy , claiming without evidence that the current shutdown would cause more deaths than the coronavirus itself .
“ I hope we can do this by Easter , ” Trump told reporters at an unusually brisk White House briefing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ great thing for our country.
” Asked if that timeline – 12 April – was realistic , he replied : “ We ’ re going to look at it .
We ’ ll only do it if it ’ s good and maybe we do sections of the country , we do large sections of the country.
” The president , known for his love of media spectacle , said he picked Easter because “ I just thought it was a beautiful time , a beautiful timeline , it ’ s a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was based on a certain level of weeks from the time we started .
And it happened – actually , we were thinking sooner .
I ’ d love to see it come even sooner.
” He noted there were “ large sections of our country that are doing very well ” with only “ small numbers ” of coronavirus infections , pointing to the farm belt and swaths of Texas .
“ We begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel , ” he said .
Trump trailed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures in the UK , India and other countries , in an earlier virtual town hall on Fox News .
In another interview on the network , he said : “ You ’ ll have packed churches all over our country ...
I think it ’ ll be a beautiful time.
” The notion provoked widespread criticism .
Rabbi Jack Moline , president of Interfaith Alliance , said : “ The president ’ s insistence on an arbitrary deadline – symbolic as it may be – will only put further lives at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic will pass by Easter is not borne out by scientific evidence.
” He added : “ The necessary changes to economic , social , and religious practices are painful for many .
But every human being – every parent , grandparent , neighbor , and friend – has value .
Prioritising financial gain over human life violates the principles of all religious traditions and carries echoes of some of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
” During the White House briefing , the president promised he would be “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Fauci , Deborah Birx and other experts .
Fauci , whose absence from Monday ’ s briefing alarmed some viewers , was back on the podium and struck a note of caution .
“ You can look at a date but you ’ ve got to be very flexible on a literally day-by-day and week-by-week basis , ” he said .
“ You need to evaluate the feasibility of what you ’ re trying to do.
” Fauci added : “ When you look at the country , obviously no one is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you see what ’ s going on in a place like New York city , that ’ s just good public health practice and common sense .
But the country is a big country.
” Further testing could provide information about how some areas of the country differ from others , he said .
“ You may not want to treat it as one force for the entire country but look at flexibility in different areas ...
It ’ s going to be looking at the data.
” Birx , the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the taskforce remained “ deeply concerned ” about New York and the surrounding area , stating about 56 % of all the cases in the US were coming out of the New York metro area .
She added : “ To everyone who has left New York over the last few days , because of the ... number of cases , you may have been exposed before you left New York .
“ Everybody who was in New York should be self-quarantining for the next 14 days to ensure that the virus doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter where they have gone , whether it ’ s Florida , North Carolina , or out to far reaches of Long Island.
” There are now more than 52,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US and a death toll of 677 .
People can carry the virus without showing symptoms .

Donald Trump is aiming to reopen “large sections of the country” by Easter, he told reporters on Tuesday, as officials advised anyone who has recently left New York to self-quarantine for two weeks.
The US president has put himself on collision course with his own health experts by floating a deadline for firing up the economy, claiming without evidence that the current shutdown would cause more deaths than the coronavirus itself.
“I hope we can do this by Easter,” Trump told reporters at an unusually brisk White House briefing. “I think that would be a great thing for our country.”
Asked if that timeline – 12 April – was realistic, he replied: “We’re going to look at it. We’ll only do it if it’s good and maybe we do sections of the country, we do large sections of the country.”
The president, known for his love of media spectacle, said he picked Easter because “I just thought it was a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline, it’s a great day.”
He added: “It was based on a certain level of weeks from the time we started. And it happened – actually, we were thinking sooner. I’d love to see it come even sooner.”
He noted there were “large sections of our country that are doing very well” with only “small numbers” of coronavirus infections, pointing to the farm belt and swaths of Texas. “We begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Trump trailed his Easter deadline, which starkly contrasts with measures in the UK, India and other countries, in an earlier virtual town hall on Fox News. In another interview on the network, he said: “You’ll have packed churches all over our country. I think it’ll be a beautiful time.”
The notion provoked widespread criticism. Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, said: “The president’s insistence on an arbitrary deadline – symbolic as it may be – will only put further lives at risk. The suggestion that the danger of this pandemic will pass by Easter is not borne out by scientific evidence.”
He added: “The necessary changes to economic, social, and religious practices are painful for many. But every human being – every parent, grandparent, neighbor, and friend – has value. Prioritising financial gain over human life violates the principles of all religious traditions and carries echoes of some of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.”
During the White House briefing, the president promised he would be “very much” guided by the taskforce members Anthony Fauci, Deborah Birx and other experts. Fauci, whose absence from Monday’s briefing alarmed some viewers, was back on the podium and struck a note of caution.
“You can look at a date but you’ve got to be very flexible on a literally day-by-day and week-by-week basis,” he said. “You need to evaluate the feasibility of what you’re trying to do.”
Fauci added: “When you look at the country, obviously no one is going to want to tone down things when you see what’s going on in a place like New York city, that’s just good public health practice and common sense. But the country is a big country.”
Further testing could provide information about how some areas of the country differ from others, Fauci said. “You may not want to treat it as one force for the entire country but look at flexibility in different areas. It’s going to be looking at the data.”
Birx, the White House response coordinator, meanwhile, said the taskforce remained “deeply concerned” about New York and the surrounding area, stating about 56% of all the cases in the US were coming out of the New York metro area.
She added: “To everyone who has left New York over the last few days, because of the … number of cases, you may have been exposed before you left New York.
“Everybody who was in New York should be self-quarantining for the next 14 days to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread to others, no matter where they have gone, whether it’s Florida, North Carolina, or out to far reaches of Long Island.”
There are now more than 52,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US and a death toll of 677. People can carry the virus without showing symptoms.