theguardian--2020-03-20--'$1,000 per person should be the baseline': Andrew Yang on direct payments during coronavirus

When Andrew Yang ran for president , he wanted to initiate a national discussion about giving Americans direct cash payments .
Now , to a degree , that discussion is happening .
Amid the coronavirus pandemic , the Trump administration is looking to send one-off payments of as much as $ 1,200 to taxpayers , as part of a $ 1tn economic stabilization proposal .
“ I think we should be looking at trillions of dollars of stimulus and the lion ’ s share of that should go to people , ” said the tech entrepreneur who ran for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Guardian .
“ That would be the most effective thing .
A thousand dollars per person should be the baseline .
“ If you ’ re looking at larger amounts than that , I ’ m thrilled .
Whatever we do it should be regular and predictable so that after someone gets it in March or April , they also know they ’ re going to get it in May .
And that they can look forward to it and not be stressed out.
” Yang said he would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like double the $ 1,000 one-off payment being proposed by the Trump administration .
“ So I think you should be looking at somewhere in the order of magnitude of several thousand dollars per household , ” he said , “ which would depend upon the size of the household , the composition of adults and children .
“ So the bare minimum I suggested before is $ 1,000 per adult and $ 500 per child , which depending on the way your household is set up , it ’ s probably $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a baseline I think amounts that are higher than that would be excellent .
I would be all for it .
But that to me would be the absolute minimum.
” The national discussion around direct payments is not exactly what Yang has been pushing .
Douglas Holtz-Eakin , who in 2008 was director for domestic and economic policy for John McCain ’ s presidential campaign , said that even with the direct payment proposal from the Trump administration , the country would not be close to implementing a universal basic income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that as likely in the future , ” Holtz-Eakin said when asked if direct payments would become a regular occurrence .
“ Americans have a deep reverence for work , we work more than other countries for a reason , and we ’ re not just going to mail checks to people regardless .
I do not see that happening.
” Nonetheless , the spotlight has swung back to Yang .
On Friday morning , his Humanity Forward not-for-profit group announced that it would distribute $ 1m in direct payments to low-income workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , Republican and Democratic senators ranging from Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton to Sherrod Brown and Michael Bennet have rolled out direct payment proposals to help workers losing their jobs because of the pandemic .
“ Obviously there have been cash rebates as part of a stimulus in the past but I think everyone agrees that this time the direct cash payments to people are a significant proportion of the measures that are being discussed , ” Yang said .
“ And I feel like the public discussion is very different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key component whereas at other times if you look at it both as a dollar amount and also as a level of discussion , the direct rebates were relatively minimal .
This time it ’ s the direct topic of conversation.
” Asked if he thought the enthusiasm for direct payments among congressional leaders and the White House would lead to regular direct payments , Yang said he hoped direct payments would at least recur while the pandemic lasts .
“ I don ’ t want to distract from a crisis , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s hands , but by arguing for permanence … I mean , everyone knows I think it should be permanent , ” he said .
“ But in the absence of it being permanent , that we should say it lasts the duration of the crisis .
I think that would be immensely helpful.
” Recently , Yang said , the White House reached out to him and his team , asking for “ information and studies ” related to direct payments .
“ We tried to send them information that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House did not respond to inquiries from the Guardian .
Yang argued that the Trump administration has not been fast enough in addressing the pandemic or its economic ramifications .
“ I think the Trump administration missed the ball at the most crucial time where this crisis is concerned , ” he said .
“ Because early on you might ’ ve been able to trace individual people and the people they had contact with and because we missed that window we ’ re not in mediation mode [ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down schools and all of that stuff .
“ If we could ’ ve avoided this , think of that potential preservation of value .
We ’ re teetering towards a depression .
A recession ’ s already here .
Imagine if you could ’ ve prevented that .
It ’ s conceivable you could ’ ve prevented that if we ’ d been incredibly on the ball from day one.
” There have been rumors that Yang might run for mayor of New York , which he hasn ’ t shot down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make direct payments is likely to add fuel to such speculation .
Asked if he will run for office again , Yang said : “ Well , we ’ re looking at it .
We ’ re looking at several things .
I want to try and do the most good I can .
New York ’ s a great city .
I love New York .
But I love the United States too .
”

When Andrew Yang ran for president, he wanted to initiate a national discussion about giving Americans direct cash payments. Now, to a degree, that discussion is happening. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration is looking to send one-off payments of as much as $1,200 to taxpayers, as part of a $1tn economic stabilization proposal.
Yang doesn’t think it’s enough.
“I think we should be looking at trillions of dollars of stimulus and the lion’s share of that should go to people,” said the tech entrepreneur who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, in an interview with the Guardian.
“That would be the most effective thing. A thousand dollars per person should be the baseline.
“If you’re looking at larger amounts than that, I’m thrilled. Whatever we do it should be regular and predictable so that after someone gets it in March or April, they also know they’re going to get it in May. And that they can look forward to it and not be stressed out.”
Yang said he would like to see a regular direct payment of something like double the $1,000 one-off payment being proposed by the Trump administration.
“So I think you should be looking at somewhere in the order of magnitude of several thousand dollars per household,” he said, “which would depend upon the size of the household, the composition of adults and children.
“So the bare minimum I suggested before is $1,000 per adult and $500 per child, which depending on the way your household is set up, it’s probably $2,000 to $3,000 a month. As a baseline I think amounts that are higher than that would be excellent. I would be all for it. But that to me would be the absolute minimum.”
The national discussion around direct payments is not exactly what Yang has been pushing. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who in 2008 was director for domestic and economic policy for John McCain’s presidential campaign, said that even with the direct payment proposal from the Trump administration, the country would not be close to implementing a universal basic income.
“I don’t see that as likely in the future,” Holtz-Eakin said when asked if direct payments would become a regular occurrence. “Americans have a deep reverence for work, we work more than other countries for a reason, and we’re not just going to mail checks to people regardless. I do not see that happening.”
Nonetheless, the spotlight has swung back to Yang. On Friday morning, his Humanity Forward not-for-profit group announced that it would distribute $1m in direct payments to low-income workers in New York and around the country.
Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic senators ranging from Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton to Sherrod Brown and Michael Bennet have rolled out direct payment proposals to help workers losing their jobs because of the pandemic.
“Obviously there have been cash rebates as part of a stimulus in the past but I think everyone agrees that this time the direct cash payments to people are a significant proportion of the measures that are being discussed,” Yang said.
“And I feel like the public discussion is very different this time, where this is the key component whereas at other times if you look at it both as a dollar amount and also as a level of discussion, the direct rebates were relatively minimal. This time it’s the direct topic of conversation.”
Asked if he thought the enthusiasm for direct payments among congressional leaders and the White House would lead to regular direct payments, Yang said he hoped direct payments would at least recur while the pandemic lasts.
“I don’t want to distract from a crisis, and we just need to get money into people’s hands, but by arguing for permanence … I mean, everyone knows I think it should be permanent,” he said. “But in the absence of it being permanent, that we should say it lasts the duration of the crisis. I think that would be immensely helpful.”
Recently, Yang said, the White House reached out to him and his team, asking for “information and studies” related to direct payments.
“We tried to send them information that would be helpful,” he said.
The White House did not respond to inquiries from the Guardian.
Yang argued that the Trump administration has not been fast enough in addressing the pandemic or its economic ramifications.
“I think the Trump administration missed the ball at the most crucial time where this crisis is concerned,” he said.
“Because early on you might’ve been able to trace individual people and the people they had contact with and because we missed that window we’re not in mediation mode [and we have] social distancing and closing down schools and all of that stuff.
“If we could’ve avoided this, think of that potential preservation of value. We’re teetering towards a depression. A recession’s already here. Imagine if you could’ve prevented that. It’s conceivable you could’ve prevented that if we’d been incredibly on the ball from day one.”
There have been rumors that Yang might run for mayor of New York, which he hasn’t shot down completely. His group’s move to make direct payments is likely to add fuel to such speculation.
Asked if he will run for office again, Yang said: “Well, we’re looking at it. We’re looking at several things. I want to try and do the most good I can. New York’s a great city. I love New York. But I love the United States too.”


theguardian--2020-03-20--States ask Trump to deploy military to help fight coronavirus pandemic

As coronavirus continues spreading across the US , local and state leaders have found themselves pleading for federal authorities to deploy military assistance to help them fight the pandemic .
The New York City mayor , Bill de Blasio , who said on Friday on MSNBC that there were now 4,000 cases across the five boroughs , comprising 30 % of US coronavirus cases , begged Donald Trump to deploy federal military assistance .
“ If they got the order this hour to mobilize and get resources to the places in this country that are suffering , they would give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best logistical capacity of any organization in America , ” De Blasio said on Morning Joe .
“ They have [ an ] extraordinary group of medical personnel and material and supplies that they can put on the ground , they know how to do it in a war .
I assure you they can do it in their own country .
But the order has not been given by the commander-in-chief , because he ’ s not acting like a commander-in-chief .
He doesn ’ t know how .
He should get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the military do its job.
” Within two to three weeks , De Blasio has warned , the largest US city will soon run out of many medical supplies – and needs 3m N95 masks , 50m surgical masks , 15,000 ventilators , and 25m each of surgical gowns , coveralls , gloves and face masks .
In a New York Times op-ed , the New York state governor , Andrew Cuom , asked Trump to mobilize the US military to cope with strains on healthcare facilities .
Governors in at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army and air national guard to fight coronavirus , calling up more than 2,000 guardsmen to “ state active-duty status ” , Military Times reported .
The Trump administration has said it is considering federal-level authorization – which could help states with medical support and planning – but has not done so .
Mark Esper , the US defense secretary , said earlier this week that authorities were “ considering activating national guard and reserve units to assist states with planning , logistics and medical support as needed ” .
On Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter : “ We urge the administration to authorize the use of national guard members ” in a way that allows state governors to maintain operational control while receiving federal funding .
This governors ’ group does not want the kind of federal authorization that would strip governors of operational control .
Federalization would give control of the national guard to the Department of Defense and the president .
Whether federal involvement with the national guard will happen remains an open question .
“ The @ DeptOfDefense is not considering federalization of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press secretary said on Twitter .
Two military hospital ships , the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy , have been sent to the east and west coasts , respectively .
Josh Michaud , the associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation , said that the US military could assist with domestic coronavirus response at the local and state level , but that there are nonetheless logistical limitations .
State-level national guards are one way , as is releasing supplies such as masks and respirators , and deploying hospital ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s more that the military could do , certainly , ” he said .
“ They have a lot of different capabilities in terms of logistics and communications .
“ You could imagine them supporting things like food distribution … and overseeing supply chains that are important for coronavirus response at a national level , ” he said .
“ That would not put military members at risk of contracting the disease .
”

As coronavirus continues spreading across the US, local and state leaders have found themselves pleading for federal authorities to deploy military assistance to help them fight the pandemic.
The New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio, who said on Friday on MSNBC that there were now 4,000 cases across the five boroughs, comprising 30% of US coronavirus cases, begged Donald Trump to deploy federal military assistance.
“If they got the order this hour to mobilize and get resources to the places in this country that are suffering, they would give it their all and they have the best logistical capacity of any organization in America,” De Blasio said on Morning Joe.
“They have [an] extraordinary group of medical personnel and material and supplies that they can put on the ground, they know how to do it in a war. I assure you they can do it in their own country. But the order has not been given by the commander-in-chief, because he’s not acting like a commander-in-chief. He doesn’t know how. He should get the hell out of the way and let the military do its job.”
Within two to three weeks, De Blasio has warned, the largest US city will soon run out of many medical supplies – and needs 3m N95 masks, 50m surgical masks, 15,000 ventilators, and 25m each of surgical gowns, coveralls, gloves and face masks.
In a New York Times op-ed, the New York state governor, Andrew Cuom, asked Trump to mobilize the US military to cope with strains on healthcare facilities.
Governors in at least 27 states have mobilized portions of the army and air national guard to fight coronavirus, calling up more than 2,000 guardsmen to “state active-duty status”, Military Times reported.
The Trump administration has said it is considering federal-level authorization – which could help states with medical support and planning – but has not done so.
Mark Esper, the US defense secretary, said earlier this week that authorities were “considering activating national guard and reserve units to assist states with planning, logistics and medical support as needed”.
On Thursday, the Council of Governors told Esper in a letter: “We urge the administration to authorize the use of national guard members” in a way that allows state governors to maintain operational control while receiving federal funding.
This governors’ group does not want the kind of federal authorization that would strip governors of operational control. Federalization would give control of the national guard to the Department of Defense and the president.
Whether federal involvement with the national guard will happen remains an open question.
“The @DeptOfDefense is not considering federalization of the @USNationalGuard,” the Pentagon press secretary said on Twitter.
Two military hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy, have been sent to the east and west coasts, respectively.
Josh Michaud, the associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said that the US military could assist with domestic coronavirus response at the local and state level, but that there are nonetheless logistical limitations.
State-level national guards are one way, as is releasing supplies such as masks and respirators, and deploying hospital ships, he said.
“I think there’s more that the military could do, certainly,” he said. “They have a lot of different capabilities in terms of logistics and communications.
“You could imagine them supporting things like food distribution … and overseeing supply chains that are important for coronavirus response at a national level,” he said. “That would not put military members at risk of contracting the disease.”


theguardian--2020-03-20--Washington lobbyists in frenzied battle to secure billion-dollar coronavirus bailouts

A feeding frenzy is under way by lobbyists representing airlines , hotels , cruise lines , casinos and other powerful interests as Congress and the Trump administration craft a $ 1tn stimulus bill to provide hundreds of billions each for big industries , small businesses and individuals hurt by the coronavirus crisis .
Washington lobbyists and watchdog groups say that in their lobbying blitzes industries have been vying aggressively with each other in a compressed timeframe to grab multibillion-dollar bailout loans and other assistance .
Lobbying yielded huge dividends on Thursday when a giant stimulus plan authored by Senate Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican measure , which Democrats were shut out of , calls for $ 500bn in direct payments to individuals ; $ 300bn in small business assistance ; and $ 200bn , mainly in loans , for big industries such as airlines , cruise companies and hotels hurt financially by the pandemic .
The package also contains support for healthcare professionals and patients and corporate tax cuts .
However , the Senate minority leader , Chuck Schumer , and House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , quickly criticized key parts of this Republican package , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly released $ 750bn Democratic Senate plan while a House one is being crafted .
The two Democrats issued a statement backing plans that “ put workers first ” , with stronger provisions to prevent companies using bailout loans for stock buybacks and executive pay hikes .
But industry lobbyists scored big in the Republican stimulus plan and are expected to keep the pressure on as Congress works to forge a compromise .
The Republican bill provides passenger airlines and air cargo carriers up to $ 58bn in loans , while a mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malls and other sectors were given $ 150bn to help weather the economic downturn .
Hours before the Republican measure was released , Trump said he expected the package would provide help for the airlines , cruise lines and “ probably hotels ” .
On Tuesday , Trump met with hotel industry executives who reportedly asked for $ 150bn in help and another $ 100bn for their suppliers .
Watchdog groups are raising red flags about the $ 50bn loan package for America ’ s big passenger airlines which in recent years have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of billions on stock buybacks .
And the $ 150bn in the Republican bill for the well-connected hotel industry – which Trump ’ s family business is heavily engaged in – and other industries have also generated criticism .
“ An emergency like this highlights the inequities of a system where well-connected industries can lobby directly for specific carve-outs and potentially cushion wealthy executives , ” said Robert Maguire , research director at the watchdog Crew .
“ In the Trump era , however , that imbalance comes with the unprecedented conflicts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the president still owns and profits from businesses in industries that are calling for billions in taxpayer assistance – which , if approved , would benefit him personally.
” Other tensions have been sparked by heavy lobbying by financially battered and scandal tarred aircraft maker Boeing which has sought billions in help Trump said on Wednesday : “ We have to protect Boeing.
” But one airline industry lobbyist said he sees “ no sympathy for Boeing during the coronavirus crisis ” .
It ’ s not clear if the Republican bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senator Ron Wyden , the top Democrat on his chamber ’ s finance panel , in a statement told the Guardian he will not back a “ no-strings attached bailout laden with corporate tax goodies that primarily benefits CEOs .
These industries got massive tax breaks just two years ago , spending billions on stock buybacks for wealthy shareholders , so there would need to be significant guardrails on any assistance.
” Some lobbyists warn of a public backlash if the stimulus package turns into a big honeypot where money is disbursed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think the public is going to look very skeptically at special industry bailouts that don ’ t address critical needs in the midst of the crisis , ” said John Jonas , a veteran healthcare lobbyist with Akin Gump , a giant law and lobbying firm .
“ This kind of economic package is going to create a lot of mischief , ” said Don Duncan , who used to run the DC office of oil giant ConocoPhillips .
“ Congress and the administration need to clearly define where such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid misuse of tax dollars.
” Unlike many big lobbying skirmishes , this one has been moving at warp speed .
Other veteran influence peddlers say the lobbying frenzy has been spurred by the huge sums of money up for grabs .
“ When you ’ re dealing with a $ 1tn package , many industries will put their hats in the ring , ” quipped one lobbyist .
Cruise lines , for instance , have pushed hard for financial help to offset lost business , and may get some special sympathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big player in the key battleground state of Florida .
“ Florida is the center of the industry , and important in 2020 , ” said a lobbyist who seemed confident they would get help .
To move the Republican bill out of the Senate quickly , lobbyists and their Republican allies are trying to line up seven moderate Democrats to make it filibuster-proof , and McConnell on Friday said he hoped the Senate would be ready to vote on Monday .
But there ’ s considerable uncertainty if that will happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as some Republican senators who have various concerns .
Schumer and Pelosi seem committed to more worker protection measures and provisions to ensure that industry loans will not lead to corporate boondoggles .
Pelosi and Schumer fired off an early salvo in a joint statement .
“ We are beginning to review Senator McConnell ’ s proposal and on first reading , it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers.
” The two top Democrats are expected to have significant input into the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s end by both chambers after significant compromises are hashed out – as lobbyists for airlines , hotels and other industries keep the heat on to get as much as possible .

A feeding frenzy is under way by lobbyists representing airlines, hotels, cruise lines, casinos and other powerful interests as Congress and the Trump administration craft a $1tn stimulus bill to provide hundreds of billions each for big industries, small businesses and individuals hurt by the coronavirus crisis.
Washington lobbyists and watchdog groups say that in their lobbying blitzes industries have been vying aggressively with each other in a compressed timeframe to grab multibillion-dollar bailout loans and other assistance.
Lobbying yielded huge dividends on Thursday when a giant stimulus plan authored by Senate Republicans and the Treasury was released. The Republican measure, which Democrats were shut out of, calls for $500bn in direct payments to individuals; $300bn in small business assistance; and $200bn, mainly in loans, for big industries such as airlines, cruise companies and hotels hurt financially by the pandemic.
The package also contains support for healthcare professionals and patients and corporate tax cuts.
However, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, quickly criticized key parts of this Republican package, and are presenting alternative measures in a newly released $750bn Democratic Senate plan while a House one is being crafted. The two Democrats issued a statement backing plans that “put workers first”, with stronger provisions to prevent companies using bailout loans for stock buybacks and executive pay hikes.
But industry lobbyists scored big in the Republican stimulus plan and are expected to keep the pressure on as Congress works to forge a compromise.
The Republican bill provides passenger airlines and air cargo carriers up to $58bn in loans, while a mix of hotels, cruise ships, shopping malls and other sectors were given $150bn to help weather the economic downturn.
Hours before the Republican measure was released, Trump said he expected the package would provide help for the airlines, cruise lines and “probably hotels”. On Tuesday, Trump met with hotel industry executives who reportedly asked for $150bn in help and another $100bn for their suppliers.
Watchdog groups are raising red flags about the $50bn loan package for America’s big passenger airlines which in recent years have drawn growing consumer complaints, while spending tens of billions on stock buybacks. And the $150bn in the Republican bill for the well-connected hotel industry – which Trump’s family business is heavily engaged in – and other industries have also generated criticism.
“An emergency like this highlights the inequities of a system where well-connected industries can lobby directly for specific carve-outs and potentially cushion wealthy executives,” said Robert Maguire, research director at the watchdog Crew.
“In the Trump era, however, that imbalance comes with the unprecedented conflicts of interest that arise from the fact that the president still owns and profits from businesses in industries that are calling for billions in taxpayer assistance – which, if approved, would benefit him personally.”
Other tensions have been sparked by heavy lobbying by financially battered and scandal tarred aircraft maker Boeing which has sought billions in help
Trump said on Wednesday: “We have to protect Boeing.” But one airline industry lobbyist said he sees “no sympathy for Boeing during the coronavirus crisis”. It’s not clear if the Republican bill gives them a shot at financial help.
Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on his chamber’s finance panel, in a statement told the Guardian he will not back a “no-strings attached bailout laden with corporate tax goodies that primarily benefits CEOs. These industries got massive tax breaks just two years ago, spending billions on stock buybacks for wealthy shareholders, so there would need to be significant guardrails on any assistance.”
Some lobbyists warn of a public backlash if the stimulus package turns into a big honeypot where money is disbursed to big business with too few controls. “I think the public is going to look very skeptically at special industry bailouts that don’t address critical needs in the midst of the crisis,” said John Jonas, a veteran healthcare lobbyist with Akin Gump, a giant law and lobbying firm.
“This kind of economic package is going to create a lot of mischief,” said Don Duncan, who used to run the DC office of oil giant ConocoPhillips. “Congress and the administration need to clearly define where such economic help is justified and needed most to avoid misuse of tax dollars.”
01:31 Coronavirus: Donald Trump steps up attacks on China and the media – video
Unlike many big lobbying skirmishes, this one has been moving at warp speed. Other veteran influence peddlers say the lobbying frenzy has been spurred by the huge sums of money up for grabs. “When you’re dealing with a $1tn package, many industries will put their hats in the ring,” quipped one lobbyist.
Cruise lines, for instance, have pushed hard for financial help to offset lost business, and may get some special sympathy in an election year since they are a big player in the key battleground state of Florida.
“Florida is the center of the industry, and important in 2020,” said a lobbyist who seemed confident they would get help.
To move the Republican bill out of the Senate quickly, lobbyists and their Republican allies are trying to line up seven moderate Democrats to make it filibuster-proof, and McConnell on Friday said he hoped the Senate would be ready to vote on Monday. But there’s considerable uncertainty if that will happen without making some major concessions to Democrats, as well as some Republican senators who have various concerns.
Schumer and Pelosi seem committed to more worker protection measures and provisions to ensure that industry loans will not lead to corporate boondoggles. Pelosi and Schumer fired off an early salvo in a joint statement.
“We are beginning to review Senator McConnell’s proposal and on first reading, it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers.”
The two top Democrats are expected to have significant input into the final bill which could be approved before month’s end by both chambers after significant compromises are hashed out – as lobbyists for airlines, hotels and other industries keep the heat on to get as much as possible.


theguardian--2020-03-20--Republican senator urged to quit after report he sold stocks before Covid-19 market plunge

Republican senator Richard Burr faced demands to resign on Friday after it was reported that he sold off millions of dollars ’ worth of stocks just before the market dropped amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic .
Burr , of North Carolina , the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee , denied he had kept the public in the dark about the scale of the threat as three other senators also came under scrutiny for selling major holdings in the same period .
Burr and his wife sold between around $ 628,000 and $ 1.7m in more than 30 separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ProPublica and the Center for Responsive Politics reported .
Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels .
On Friday , Burr asked congressional investigators to probe whether his actions amounted to insider trading .
“ I relied solely on public news reports to guide my decision on the sale of stocks February 13 , ” he said in a statement .
Two weeks after the sales , on 27 February , Burr made a speech in Washington in which he predicted dire consequences from the coronavirus , including school closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a small audience that the respiratory infection was “ much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history ” and “ probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic ” , an audio recording obtained by National Public Radio revealed .
Burr responded on Twitter , accusing NPR of “ a tabloid-style hit piece ” that misrepresented his speech and claiming that Americans were already being warned about the effects of the virus at the time .
“ The message I shared with my constituents is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to heed as coronavirus spread increased , ” Burr wrote .
“ Be prepared.
” There is no evidence that Burr had any inside information as he sold the stocks or spoke to the audience in North Carolina .
The Senate intelligence committee did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold , a source told the Associated Press .
The three other senators known to have sold off substantial holdings just before the market dropped were Kelly Loeffler of Georgia , whose husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) , Democrat Dianne Feinstein , of California , and Republican Jim Inhofe , of Oklahoma .
Loeffler , the newest member of the Senate , sold off stocks worth seven figures , starting on the day she and other senators received a private briefing about the coronavirus from administration officials and Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
The Daily Beast said Loeffler and her husband , Jeffrey Sprecher , the chairman of the NYSE , made 29 transactions up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sales .
“ One of Loeffler ’ s two purchases was stock worth between $ 100,000 and $ 250,000 in Citrix , a technology company that offers teleworking software and which has seen a small bump in its stock price since Loeffler bought in as a result of coronavirus-induced market turmoil , ” the site reported .
Loeffler responded forcefully to deny any wrongdoing .
At 12.25am on Friday she tweeted : “ This is a ridiculous and baseless attack .
I do not make investment decisions for my portfolio .
Investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without my or my husband ’ s knowledge or involvement.
” Loeffler , a finance executive appointed to the Senate in January to succeed the retiring Johnny Isakson , added : “ As confirmed in the periodic transaction report to Senate Ethics , I was informed of these purchases and sales on February 16 , 2020 – three weeks after they were made.
” Feinstein , who sits with Burr on the intelligence committee , with her husband sold $ 1.5m to $ 6m worth of stock in a California biotech company on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feinstein spokesman told the New York Times the senator ’ s assets are in a blind trust and that she has no involvement in her husband ’ s financial decisions .
On 27 January , Inhofe , a Republican from Oklahoma , sold $ 400,000 worth of stock .
His office has not responded to the disclosures .
There were widespread expressions of anger and disbelief at the senators ’ alleged conduct .
The Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for both Burr and Loeffler to resign .
“ It is stomach-churning that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dire & classified # COVID briefing was how to profit off this crisis , ” she wrote on Twitter .
“ They didn ’ t mobilize to help families , or prep response .
They dumped stock.
” Studies in 2004 and 2011 showed members of the House and Senate ’ stocks outperformed the market by 6 % annually and 12 % annually , respectively .
Under Barack Obama , Congress passed a law to prevent members from using inside information to profit , but critics say those measures are riddled with loopholes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Office of Government Ethics , posted : “ Investigation is needed to find out if laws were broken by senatorial stock dumps .
But whether or not they were , we have politicians in the government ’ s inner circle protecting their interests as the storm closed in on regular Americans who will do the suffering and the dying.
” More surprisingly Tucker Carlson , a host on conservative Fox News , joined in the calls for Burr to step down .
“ Maybe there is an honest explanation for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If there is , he should share it with the rest of us immediately .
Otherwise he must resign from the Senate and face prosecution for insider trading .
“ There is no greater moral crime than betraying your country in a time of crisis .
And that appears to be what happened .
”

David Smith in Washington and Amanda Holpuch in New York

Republican senator Richard Burr faced demands to resign on Friday after it was reported that he sold off millions of dollars’ worth of stocks just before the market dropped amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic.
Burr, of North Carolina, the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, denied he had kept the public in the dark about the scale of the threat as three other senators also came under scrutiny for selling major holdings in the same period.
Burr and his wife sold between around $628,000 and $1.7m in more than 30 separate transactions in late January and mid-February, ProPublica and the Center for Responsive Politics reported. Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels.
On Friday, Burr asked congressional investigators to probe whether his actions amounted to insider trading. “I relied solely on public news reports to guide my decision on the sale of stocks February 13,” he said in a statement.
Two weeks after the sales, on 27 February, Burr made a speech in Washington in which he predicted dire consequences from the coronavirus, including school closures and cutbacks in company travel.
Burr told a small audience that the respiratory infection was “much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history” and “probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic”, an audio recording obtained by National Public Radio revealed.
Burr responded on Twitter, accusing NPR of “a tabloid-style hit piece” that misrepresented his speech and claiming that Americans were already being warned about the effects of the virus at the time. “The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased,” Burr wrote. “Be prepared.”
There is no evidence that Burr had any inside information as he sold the stocks or spoke to the audience in North Carolina. The Senate intelligence committee did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold, a source told the Associated Press.
The three other senators known to have sold off substantial holdings just before the market dropped were Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, whose husband is cthe hairman of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Democrat Dianne Feinstein, of California, and Republican Jim Inhofe, of Oklahoma.
Loeffler, the newest member of the Senate, sold off stocks worth seven figures, starting on the day she and other senators received a private briefing about the coronavirus from administration officials and Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The Daily Beast said Loeffler and her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, the chairman of the NYSE, made 29 transactions up to mid-February, all but two of which were sales. “One of Loeffler’s two purchases was stock worth between $100,000 and $250,000 in Citrix, a technology company that offers teleworking software and which has seen a small bump in its stock price since Loeffler bought in as a result of coronavirus-induced market turmoil,” the site reported.
Loeffler responded forcefully to deny any wrongdoing. At 12.25am on Friday she tweeted: “This is a ridiculous and baseless attack. I do not make investment decisions for my portfolio. Investment decisions are made by multiple third-party advisors without my or my husband’s knowledge or involvement.”
Loeffler, a finance executive appointed to the Senate in January to succeed the retiring Johnny Isakson, added: “As confirmed in the periodic transaction report to Senate Ethics, I was informed of these purchases and sales on February 16, 2020 – three weeks after they were made.”
Feinstein, who sits with Burr on the intelligence committee, with her husband sold $1.5m to $6m worth of stock in a California biotech company on 31 January and 18 February. A Feinstein spokesman told the New York Times the senator’s assets are in a blind trust and that she has no involvement in her husband’s financial decisions.
On 27 January, Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, sold $400,000 worth of stock. His office has not responded to the disclosures.
There were widespread expressions of anger and disbelief at the senators’ alleged conduct. The Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for both Burr and Loeffler to resign. “It is stomach-churning that the first thoughts these Senators had to a dire & classified #COVID briefing was how to profit off this crisis,” she wrote on Twitter. “They didn’t mobilize to help families, or prep response. They dumped stock.”
Studies in 2004 and 2011 showed members of the House and Senate’ stocks outperformed the market by 6% annually and 12% annually, respectively. Under Barack Obama, Congress passed a law to prevent members from using inside information to profit, but critics say those measures are riddled with loopholes.
Walter Shaub, the former head of the Office of Government Ethics, posted: “Investigation is needed to find out if laws were broken by senatorial stock dumps. But whether or not they were, we have politicians in the government’s inner circle protecting their interests as the storm closed in on regular Americans who will do the suffering and the dying.”
More surprisingly Tucker Carlson, a host on conservative Fox News, joined in the calls for Burr to step down. “Maybe there is an honest explanation for what he did,” Carlson told viewers. “If there is, he should share it with the rest of us immediately. Otherwise he must resign from the Senate and face prosecution for insider trading.
“There is no greater moral crime than betraying your country in a time of crisis. And that appears to be what happened.”


theguardian--2020-03-20--'You're a terrible reporter': Trump throws tantrum over question about coronavirus fears – video

Donald Trump has hit out at NBC 's Peter Alexander after the reporter asked the president if he was being @ @ @ @ @ therapies that have not been clinically trialled to help with Covid-19 .
Trump defended his @ @ @ @ @ asked a 'nasty question ' , calling him a 'terrible reporter ' .
He also @ @ @ @ @ See all our coronavirus coverage

Donald Trump has hit out at NBC's Peter Alexander after the reporter asked the president if he was being too positive about drugs and therapies that have not been clinically trialled to help with Covid-19. Trump defended his approach and said the journalist asked a 'nasty question', calling him a 'terrible reporter'. He also attacked NBC and Comcast


theguardian--2020-03-21--Trump throws tantrum over coronavirus question: 'You're a terrible reporter'

Donald Trump has thrown an extraordinary temper tantrum on live television , lambasting a reporter who challenged him for raising hopes about a coronavirus treatment .
Peter Alexander , White House correspondent at NBC News , asked the US president : “ What do you say to Americans , who are watching you right now , who are scared ?
” Erupting in anger , Trump unleashed a tirade : “ I say that you ’ re a terrible reporter .
That ’ s what I say .
I think it ’ s a very nasty question and I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you ’ re putting out to the American people.
” The outburst came at Friday ’ s White House coronavirus taskforce briefing , at which Trump announced a restriction on non-essential travel across the US-Mexico border as well as stricter controls on undocumented migrants .
The president – who repeatedly downplayed the threat early in the global outbreak – has this week been hyping an anti-malarial drug , chloroquine , as a possible therapeutic treatment .
“ It may work , it may not work , ” he said on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s just a feeling .
I ’ m a smart guy … We have nothing to lose .
You know the expression , ‘ What the hell do you have to lose ?
’ ” This was originally his campaign pitch to African Americans .
Yet Trump ’ s “ feeling ” , on which he so often relies , was confronted by science when Dr Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , cautioned that evidence of chloroquine ’ s benefits against coronavirus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be viewed as a miracle cure .
“ Fundamentally , I think it probably is going to be safe , but I like to prove things first , ” Fauci said .
Alexander asked the president : “ Is it possible that your impulse to put a positive spin on things may be giving Americans a false sense of hope ?
” The president retorted : “ No I don ’ t think so … It may work , it may not work .
I feel good about it .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a feeling.
” It was then Alexander asked for Trump ’ s message to people who are feeling scared and the president snapped : “ I say that you ’ re a terrible reporter.
” He added : “ You ’ re doing sensationalism … That ’ s really bad reporting .
You ought to get back to reporting.
” Trump claimed , “ I ’ ve been right a lot , ” and barked at Alexander : “ You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
” Other correspondents asked Trump why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
Trump replied : “ I think Peter is – you know , I ’ ve dealt with Peter for a long time .
And I think Peter is not a good journalist when it comes to fairness .
This is the time to come together .
But coming together is much harder when we have dishonest journalists.
” Mike Pompeo , the secretary of state , was asked what message such criticism sends to the rest of the world .
He merely echoed his boss ’ s dissatisfaction with the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phrase “ Chinese virus ” .
Introducing Pompeo , Trump referred to “ the deep state department ” , referring to a favourite conspiracy theory which holds that a network of bureaucrats and intelligence officials exists to frustrate the president ’ s agenda , but which Steve Bannon , who has promoted the theory , has said is for “ nut cases ” .
On the podium , Dr Fauci glanced at the president , smiled ruefully , brushed his brow and rubbed his jaw in thought .
Adding to the strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House press secretary , was sitting in the briefing room in a seat normally occupied by the Guardian and asked a couple of questions .
Trump ’ s daughter and senior adviser , Ivanka , was also looking on after testing negative for the virus .
Pompeo spoke about the new restrictions on the US-Mexico border , which follows a similar agreement with Canada .
He said of Mexico : “ Both our countries know the importance of working together to limit the spread of the virus and ensuring the commerce that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The US , Mexico and Canada have agreed that anyone who tries to illegally cross a border will immediately be returned to their native country .
Officials said asylum seekers would not be held in a US facility nor be given due process , because of the health risk to other migrants and border patrol agents .
They would instead be returned to Canada , Mexico or their country of origin .
Trump , who has long touted a border wall , said : “ Every week our border agents encounter thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from dozens of countries .
We ’ ve had this problem for decades .
You know the story .
But now with the national emergencies and all of the other things that we ’ ve declared , we can actually do something about it .
“ We ’ re taking a very strong hold of that .
We have before but this is now at a level that nobody ’ s ever approached .
In normal times these massive flows place a vast burden on our healthcare system but , during a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect storm that would spread the infection to our border agents , migrants and the public at large.
” Amid some confusion , the president confirmed that he had put the Defense Production Act “ into gear ” , to mandate the production of masks and ventilators .
“ We have millions of masks which are coming and which will be distributed to the states , ” he said .
“ … They will be here soon .
We ’ re having them shipped directly to states.
” Trump also announced a waive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – which he said would “ make a lot of students very happy ” – and noted that the US treasury had postponed the tax filing date to 15 July .

Donald Trump has thrown an extraordinary temper tantrum on live television, lambasting a reporter who challenged him for raising hopes about a coronavirus treatment.
Peter Alexander, White House correspondent at NBC News, asked the US president: “What do you say to Americans, who are watching you right now, who are scared?”
Erupting in anger, Trump unleashed a tirade: “I say that you’re a terrible reporter. That’s what I say. I think it’s a very nasty question and I think it’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people.”
The outburst came at Friday’s White House coronavirus taskforce briefing, at which Trump announced a restriction on non-essential travel across the US-Mexico border as well as stricter controls on undocumented migrants.
The president – who repeatedly downplayed the threat early in the global outbreak – has this week been hyping an anti-malarial drug, chloroquine, as a possible therapeutic treatment.
“It may work, it may not work,” he said on Friday. “I feel good about it. It’s just a feeling. I’m a smart guy … We have nothing to lose. You know the expression, ‘What the hell do you have to lose?’”
This was originally his campaign pitch to African Americans.
Yet Trump’s “feeling”, on which he so often relies, was confronted by science when Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cautioned that evidence of chloroquine’s benefits against coronavirus is “anecdotal” and it should not be viewed as a miracle cure.
“Fundamentally, I think it probably is going to be safe, but I like to prove things first,” Fauci said.
Alexander asked the president: “Is it possible that your impulse to put a positive spin on things may be giving Americans a false sense of hope?”
The president retorted: “No I don’t think so … It may work, it may not work. I feel good about it. That’s all it is, it’s a feeling.”
It was then Alexander asked for Trump’s message to people who are feeling scared and the president snapped: “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.”
He added: “You’re doing sensationalism … That’s really bad reporting. You ought to get back to reporting.”
Trump claimed, “I’ve been right a lot,” and barked at Alexander: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Other correspondents asked Trump why he was assailing a reporter during a national crisis.
Trump replied: “I think Peter is – you know, I’ve dealt with Peter for a long time. And I think Peter is not a good journalist when it comes to fairness. This is the time to come together. But coming together is much harder when we have dishonest journalists.”
Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, was asked what message such criticism sends to the rest of the world. He merely echoed his boss’s dissatisfaction with the media. He also joined Trump in using the phrase “Chinese virus”.
Introducing Pompeo, Trump referred to “the deep state department”, referring to a favourite conspiracy theory which holds that a network of bureaucrats and intelligence officials exists to frustrate the president’s agenda, but which Steve Bannon, who has promoted the theory, has said is for “nut cases”.
Note Fauci’s reaction when Trump makes a deep state joke at the podium pic.twitter.com/cbNBxgqhRO — Brandon Wall (@Walldo) March 20, 2020
On the podium, Dr Fauci glanced at the president, smiled ruefully, brushed his brow and rubbed his jaw in thought.
Adding to the strange atmosphere, Sean Spicer, the former White House press secretary, was sitting in the briefing room in a seat normally occupied by the Guardian and asked a couple of questions. Trump’s daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka, was also looking on after testing negative for the virus.
Pompeo spoke about the new restrictions on the US-Mexico border, which follows a similar agreement with Canada. He said of Mexico: “Both our countries know the importance of working together to limit the spread of the virus and ensuring the commerce that supports our economy continues to keep flowing.”
The US, Mexico and Canada have agreed that anyone who tries to illegally cross a border will immediately be returned to their native country.
Officials said asylum seekers would not be held in a US facility nor be given due process, because of the health risk to other migrants and border patrol agents. They would instead be returned to Canada, Mexico or their country of origin.
00:55 US-Mexico border closes to non-essential travel due to coronavirus outbreak – video
Trump, who has long touted a border wall, said: “Every week our border agents encounter thousands of unscreened, unvetted and unauthorised entries from dozens of countries. We’ve had this problem for decades. You know the story. But now with the national emergencies and all of the other things that we’ve declared, we can actually do something about it.
“We’re taking a very strong hold of that. We have before but this is now at a level that nobody’s ever approached. In normal times these massive flows place a vast burden on our healthcare system but, during a global pandemic, they threaten to create a perfect storm that would spread the infection to our border agents, migrants and the public at large.”
Amid some confusion, the president confirmed that he had put the Defense Production Act “into gear”, to mandate the production of masks and ventilators.
“We have millions of masks which are coming and which will be distributed to the states,” he said. “… They will be here soon. We’re having them shipped directly to states.”
Trump also announced a waive on all interest on federal-held student loans – which he said would “make a lot of students very happy” – and noted that the US treasury had postponed the tax filing date to 15 July.


theguardian--2020-03-21--How the sting of an Elizabeth Warren defeat felt different for young women

After boasting one of the most diverse fields of candidates in recent history , Democrats are left to choose between the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and the former vice-president Joe Biden – two white men in their late 70s .
For women , the blow has been particularly hard .
With the congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard leaving the race on Thursday , the final woman has exited from a contest that once included senators Elizabeth Warren , Kamala Harris , Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand , plus the health guru Marianne Williamson .
Together the six women represented the left and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation from Hawaii to Massachusetts and hailed from the private sector as well as public life .
They were young , old and in between .
For many Democratic women it was the failure of the Warren campaign that has hit especially hard .
“ [ Warren was ] a woman seeking power and that made her a threat , ” said TJ Holmes , a professor of environmental science in Tallahassee , Florida .
“ What more could she have done – served in the military just because ?
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exercise her power in voting for Warren in Florida ’ s Tuesday primary .
Warren was Holmes ’ s top choice ; she described the candidate as the more “ pragmatic alternative for progressives ” , unimpressed by a “ lack of detailed plans ” from democratic socialist Sanders .
November ’ s general election will still mark a historic first for Holmes .
After moving to the US from her native Trinidad and Tobago more than a decade ago , she decided to become a US citizen .
Her motivation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first vote for the nation ’ s first female president .
Instead , she said she was “ heartbroken ” to watch Democrats “ lose their most qualified and viable candidate ” in Warren .
“ She had evidence of experience but people refused to acknowledge her credibility , ” she said .
“ Sadly , but understandably , Americans are fearful .
And when we vote in fear , we go with what ’ s familiar .
So I ’ m not surprised.
” Many analysts note Warren ’ s plans addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the climate crisis .
She earned a number of key endorsements , including from the New York Times .
Biden has since announced he will adopt Warren ’ s bankruptcy reform plan to attract young , progressive voters .
Warren ’ s exit underscores , for many , how deep misogyny runs within American politics .
Harris noted that this “ election cycle in particular ” presented very “ legitimate questions about the challenges of women running for president ” .
“ The reality is that there ’ s still a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it very clear that women are exceptionally qualified and capable of being the commander-in-chief of the United States of America , ” she told NBC News .
Still , voters rejected Warren as she failed to make headway in early primaries , experiencing a steady decline from early polls that couldn ’ t be revived by debate performances that included a takedown of the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg .
That rejection is a phenomenon many young women said they knew personally .
Warren was an uncomfortable reminder of their own professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact , the author Sarah Smarsh likened Warren ’ s loss to “ every moment , since the dawn of woman , when a female aspired but to no avail ” .
“ She raised her hand but wasn ’ t called on .
She applied but wasn ’ t hired .
She created but wasn ’ t credited , ” she wrote .
“ Imagine the sadness and frustration of every such instance as a spark .
“ That is the measure of grief and fury I felt rise inside me as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Democratic nomination wane.
” Warren , in addition to Harris , was often criticized as bitter or angry , particularly haunting Holmes as she recalled similar instances in her own life .
“ Simply because I ’ m a black woman or an immigrant , I ’ m constantly working to prove I know what I ’ m talking about , ” she said .
“ You have to prove that you just belong in the room to get that credibility and may still be passed over as Warren was.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setbacks as a consequence .
She released a DNA test to prove her controversial Native American ancestry but later apologized , and she failed to attract black voters – the backbone of the Democratic party .
Many analysts note , however , that the gravity of those mistakes only adds to arguments of a sexist double standard .
The author Hannah Drake pointed to male candidates like Pete Buttigieg , whose ambitious run for president as a town mayor , despite struggles with black voters , was praised – a feat she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterpart .
“ None of them matched her in plans or knowledge of policy .
Yet the votes showed not Warren , or any woman , could run on a mayor ’ s record and be as successful , ” Drake said .
“ Make no mistake : the clear winner of the primary will be white male mediocrity.
” Although Warren supporters point to double standards as factors in her demise , studies have shown that women win political offices at rates equal to men .
The US elected a historic number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks in part to a blue wave against Donald Trump .
But Drake contends that “ those races are less of a litmus test on the country ’ s perception of what makes someone a leader ” .
“ When you ’ re judged under a lens that historically associates power with being white and male , it ’ s how you end up with a flawed president beating an exceptionally qualified woman , or a race with diverse candidates leaving us with problematic men like Trump , Sanders or Biden.
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also faced less criticism throughout the campaign season despite a controversial history of civil rights votes , inappropriate contact with women , and more recent gaffes that have garnered questions of his mental fitness .
“ He ’ s a familiar face who , especially against Trump , doesn ’ t have to be distracted with sexist comparisons of his demeanor , likability or electability , ” Holmes said .
“ It ’ s a tough reality women are reminded of daily.
” As the nation grapples with a slumping economy from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicts a “ voter ’ s remorse ” that will extend beyond Warren ’ s post-campaign interviews and cameos , similar to Hillary Clinton ’ s re-imaging through a Hulu documentary that examines her life and 2016 defeat .
“ Maybe in the future when there ’ s more hope than fear , and more of us have gotten fed up with men like Trump , ” Holmes said , “ maybe then everybody will be excited for a woman while she ’ s still running and not after her Saturday Night Live @ @ @

After boasting one of the most diverse fields of candidates in recent history, Democrats are left to choose between the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and the former vice-president Joe Biden – two white men in their late 70s.
For women, the blow has been particularly hard.
With the congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard leaving the race on Thursday, the final woman has exited from a contest that once included senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand, plus the health guru Marianne Williamson. Together the six women represented the left and center lanes of the party, spanned the nation from Hawaii to Massachusetts and hailed from the private sector as well as public life. They were young, old and in between.
For many Democratic women it was the failure of the Warren campaign that has hit especially hard.
“[Warren was] a woman seeking power and that made her a threat,” said TJ Holmes, a professor of environmental science in Tallahassee, Florida. “What more could she have done – served in the military just because?”
As a young black Democrat, Holmes wanted to exercise her power in voting for Warren in Florida’s Tuesday primary. Warren was Holmes’s top choice; she described the candidate as the more “pragmatic alternative for progressives”, unimpressed by a “lack of detailed plans” from democratic socialist Sanders.
November’s general election will still mark a historic first for Holmes. After moving to the US from her native Trinidad and Tobago more than a decade ago, she decided to become a US citizen. Her motivation, in part, was to cast her first vote for the nation’s first female president.
Instead, she said she was “heartbroken” to watch Democrats “lose their most qualified and viable candidate” in Warren.
“She had evidence of experience but people refused to acknowledge her credibility,” she said. “Sadly, but understandably, Americans are fearful. And when we vote in fear, we go with what’s familiar. So I’m not surprised.”
Many analysts note Warren’s plans addressed longstanding issues including inequality, millennial debt and the climate crisis. She earned a number of key endorsements, including from the New York Times. Biden has since announced he will adopt Warren’s bankruptcy reform plan to attract young, progressive voters.
Pete Buttigieg, Warren and Bernie Sanders at the Democratic debate on 25 February in Charleston, South Carolina. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Warren’s exit underscores, for many, how deep misogyny runs within American politics. Harris noted that this “election cycle in particular” presented very “legitimate questions about the challenges of women running for president”.
“The reality is that there’s still a lot of work to be done to make it very clear that women are exceptionally qualified and capable of being the commander-in-chief of the United States of America,” she told NBC News.
Still, voters rejected Warren as she failed to make headway in early primaries, experiencing a steady decline from early polls that couldn’t be revived by debate performances that included a takedown of the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
That rejection is a phenomenon many young women said they knew personally. Warren was an uncomfortable reminder of their own professional setbacks. In a column exploring her impact, the author Sarah Smarsh likened Warren’s loss to “every moment, since the dawn of woman, when a female aspired but to no avail”.
“She raised her hand but wasn’t called on. She applied but wasn’t hired. She created but wasn’t credited,” she wrote. “Imagine the sadness and frustration of every such instance as a spark.
“That is the measure of grief and fury I felt rise inside me as I watched Elizabeth Warren’s bid for the Democratic nomination wane.”
Warren, in addition to Harris, was often criticized as bitter or angry, particularly haunting Holmes as she recalled similar instances in her own life.
“Simply because I’m a black woman or an immigrant, I’m constantly working to prove I know what I’m talking about,” she said. “You have to prove that you just belong in the room to get that credibility and may still be passed over as Warren was.”
But Warren did err, facing many setbacks as a consequence. She released a DNA test to prove her controversial Native American ancestry but later apologized, and she failed to attract black voters – the backbone of the Democratic party.
Many analysts note, however, that the gravity of those mistakes only adds to arguments of a sexist double standard. The author Hannah Drake pointed to male candidates like Pete Buttigieg, whose ambitious run for president as a town mayor, despite struggles with black voters, was praised – a feat she said would be nearly impossible for a female counterpart.
“None of them matched her in plans or knowledge of policy. Yet the votes showed not Warren, or any woman, could run on a mayor’s record and be as successful,” Drake said. “Make no mistake: the clear winner of the primary will be white male mediocrity.”
Although Warren supporters point to double standards as factors in her demise, studies have shown that women win political offices at rates equal to men. The US elected a historic number of women to Congress in 2018, thanks in part to a blue wave against Donald Trump.
But Drake contends that “those races are less of a litmus test on the country’s perception of what makes someone a leader”.
“When you’re judged under a lens that historically associates power with being white and male, it’s how you end up with a flawed president beating an exceptionally qualified woman, or a race with diverse candidates leaving us with problematic men like Trump, Sanders or Biden.”
Warren supporters at a Detroit rally this month. Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP
Biden, now the likely Democratic nominee, has also faced less criticism throughout the campaign season despite a controversial history of civil rights votes, inappropriate contact with women, and more recent gaffes that have garnered questions of his mental fitness.
“He’s a familiar face who, especially against Trump, doesn’t have to be distracted with sexist comparisons of his demeanor, likability or electability,” Holmes said. “It’s a tough reality women are reminded of daily.”
As the nation grapples with a slumping economy from a growing national health crisis, Holmes predicts a “voter’s remorse” that will extend beyond Warren’s post-campaign interviews and cameos, similar to Hillary Clinton’s re-imaging through a Hulu documentary that examines her life and 2016 defeat.
“Maybe in the future when there’s more hope than fear, and more of us have gotten fed up with men like Trump,” Holmes said, “maybe then everybody will be excited for a woman while she’s still running and not after her Saturday Night Live appearance.”


theguardian--2020-03-21--Strangely competent Mike Pence finds his 9/11 moment in coronavirus crisis

His past record made him seem an odd choice .
He remains as servile to Donald Trump as ever .
But Mike Pence , the US vice-president , is said to be having “ a good war ” against the coronavirus outbreak .
The vice-presidency is usually regarded as a thankless task but , like Dick Cheney after the 9/11 terrorist attacks , Pence has found himself elevated by wildly unpredictable events .
When Trump named him chair of the White House coronavirus taskforce , it led some to wonder whether the president , facing a tough election in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if everything went wrong .
However , Pence , 60 , earned early plaudits for his cool head and assured performances in the cacophony of the White House briefing room – probably benefiting from comparison with his volatile boss and two divisive press secretaries .
Indeed , this week Trump has reasserted himself as the face of the administration as if to ensure Pence does not claim too much of the limelight .
“ I think he ’ s been very helpful in moderating the president ’ s salesman instinct , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Shadow President : The Truth About Mike Pence .
“ The president loves to hype whatever he ’ s offering , in this case the message that everything is fine .
Pence has done a better job than I expected of honouring the science.
” Trump ’ s decision to put Pence in charge of the coronavirus effort triggered an outcry .
Critics noted that Pence once wrote an article that claimed “ despite the hysteria from the political class and the media , smoking doesn ’ t kill ” .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he failed to act swiftly as HIV spread among drug users , and he has been reluctant to accept the evidence for the climate crisis .
But D ’ Antonio , who wrote a column headlined “ Mike Pence is exactly the wrong guy for this job ” , has been pleasantly surprised .
“ I thought maybe Trump was using him as the fall guy , but it could be that Mike learned something from those previous experiences in Indiana .
They were formative , especially the issue around the HIV outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold and detached that he can ’ t imagine people contracted HIV in the time he dithered .
This may be a way for him to redeem himself .
I think he has the capacity for redemption ; I ’ m not sure the president does.
” More than a year since the last formal press briefing , Pence , a former talk radio host , has been welcomed as a steady presence at the lectern along with scientists and experts .
Jack Shafer , a media columnist at the Politico website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ coronavirus czar ’ and more like a good old-fashioned White House press secretary .
He was calm .
He was direct .
He was polite in face of shouted , competing questions.
” David Axelrod , former chief strategist for Barack Obama , tweeted this week : “ Other than the incessant fawning , the @ VP is a far better briefer than his boss .
Tries to stick to facts.
” This week , for example , as Trump continued to offer upbeat assessments , Pence delivered a dose of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of Americans that contract the coronavirus , ” he told National Public Radio .
“ We fully expect that we will be dealing with the coronavirus in the United States for months.
” Pence ’ s past experience as a former governor reassured some state governors currently at the frontline of the crisis .
He was able to build bridges with Jay Inslee , the governor of Washington state , even as Trump dismissed Inslee as a “ snake ” .
D ’ Antonio added : “ He ’ s done very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident in the president ’ s support because he laid so much of the foundation of praise for Trump in the past .
He ’ s established he ’ s always going to give the spotlight to Trump and he ’ s always willing to accept the blame if necessary .
“ He ’ s had his chin out and he ’ s willing to take a knock if one is coming .
He ’ s hung in there and let himself be used , and now he ’ s of use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be so unctuous but you ’ ll notice others are doing it too.
” Whatever happens in November , Pence is seen as a likely contender for the Republican nomination in 2024 .
D ’ Antonio believes he has boosted his chances .
“ If things go poorly for Trump , Pence stands as the more serious and inspirational leader right now .
If people had a problem with Pence , it ’ s often over the idea that he ’ s anti-science .
This is doing a lot to counter that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are mashups that make Trump look like an idiot .
But I could put together an advert for Pence in 2024 that would make him look like the hero of the coronavirus crisis.
” The vice-president ’ s constant praise for Trump , however , incessantly peppering his remarks with the phrase “ the president ” , is likely to win him few friends among Democrats and independents , however .
Jeff Greenfield , a political analyst and author , tweeted on Wednesday : “ Have some sympathy for Mike Pence .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrified belt around his waist and if he speaks for more than 7 seconds without praising the President , a White House aide presses a button and Pence suffers a painful shock .
”

His past record made him seem an odd choice. He remains as servile to Donald Trump as ever. But Mike Pence, the US vice-president, is said to be having “a good war” against the coronavirus outbreak.
The vice-presidency is usually regarded as a thankless task but, like Dick Cheney after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pence has found himself elevated by wildly unpredictable events.
When Trump named him chair of the White House coronavirus taskforce, it led some to wonder whether the president, facing a tough election in November, was looking for an easy scapegoat if everything went wrong.
However, Pence, 60, earned early plaudits for his cool head and assured performances in the cacophony of the White House briefing room – probably benefiting from comparison with his volatile boss and two divisive press secretaries. Indeed, this week Trump has reasserted himself as the face of the administration as if to ensure Pence does not claim too much of the limelight.
“I think he’s been very helpful in moderating the president’s salesman instinct,” said Michael D’Antonio, co-author of The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence. “The president loves to hype whatever he’s offering, in this case the message that everything is fine. Pence has done a better job than I expected of honouring the science.”
Trump’s decision to put Pence in charge of the coronavirus effort triggered an outcry. Critics noted that Pence once wrote an article that claimed “despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn’t kill”. More recently, as governor of Indiana, he failed to act swiftly as HIV spread among drug users, and he has been reluctant to accept the evidence for the climate crisis.
But D’Antonio, who wrote a column headlined “Mike Pence is exactly the wrong guy for this job”, has been pleasantly surprised. “I thought maybe Trump was using him as the fall guy, but it could be that Mike learned something from those previous experiences in Indiana. They were formative, especially the issue around the HIV outbreak.
Mike Pence, center, speaks during a meeting with the Coronavirus Task Force and diagnostic lab executives at the White House in Washington, D.C. Photograph: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“He’s not so cold and detached that he can’t imagine people contracted HIV in the time he dithered. This may be a way for him to redeem himself. I think he has the capacity for redemption; I’m not sure the president does.”
More than a year since the last formal press briefing, Pence, a former talk radio host, has been welcomed as a steady presence at the lectern along with scientists and experts.
Jack Shafer, a media columnist at the Politico website, wrote that he “acted less like the ‘coronavirus czar’ and more like a good old-fashioned White House press secretary. He was calm. He was direct. He was polite in face of shouted, competing questions.”
David Axelrod, former chief strategist for Barack Obama, tweeted this week: “Other than the incessant fawning, the @VP is a far better briefer than his boss. Tries to stick to facts.”
This week, for example, as Trump continued to offer upbeat assessments, Pence delivered a dose of realism: “There will be many thousands of Americans that contract the coronavirus,” he told National Public Radio. “We fully expect that we will be dealing with the coronavirus in the United States for months.”
Pence’s past experience as a former governor reassured some state governors currently at the frontline of the crisis. He was able to build bridges with Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, even as Trump dismissed Inslee as a “snake”.
D’Antonio added: “He’s done very well. He’s felt very confident in the president’s support because he laid so much of the foundation of praise for Trump in the past. He’s established he’s always going to give the spotlight to Trump and he’s always willing to accept the blame if necessary.
“He’s had his chin out and he’s willing to take a knock if one is coming. He’s hung in there and let himself be used, and now he’s of use. You still cringe as you hear him be so unctuous but you’ll notice others are doing it too.”
Whatever happens in November, Pence is seen as a likely contender for the Republican nomination in 2024. D’Antonio believes he has boosted his chances. “If things go poorly for Trump, Pence stands as the more serious and inspirational leader right now. If people had a problem with Pence, it’s often over the idea that he’s anti-science. This is doing a lot to counter that.
“On the internet right now there are mashups that make Trump look like an idiot. But I could put together an advert for Pence in 2024 that would make him look like the hero of the coronavirus crisis.”
The vice-president’s constant praise for Trump, however, incessantly peppering his remarks with the phrase “the president”, is likely to win him few friends among Democrats and independents, however.
Jeff Greenfield, a political analyst and author, tweeted on Wednesday: “Have some sympathy for Mike Pence. I’ve learned that there is an electrified belt around his waist and if he speaks for more than 7 seconds without praising the President, a White House aide presses a button and Pence suffers a painful shock.”


theguardian--2020-03-21--US coronavirus news: Washington state residents call for shelter-in-place order – as it happened

Wisconsin elections officials do not currently have enough cleaning supplies or poll workers to adequately run the state ’ s April 7 primary , election officials warned on Friday .
The officials asked Governor Tony Evers , a Democrat , to help them acquire hand sanitizer , as well as with assistance recruiting poll workers in a Friday letter .
They also asked him to assign a public health expert to the commission to assist with guidance for local officials and messaging .
“ As of today , local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and poll workers to make difficult choices , ” Megan Wolfe , the commission ’ s administrator , wrote on Friday .
“ Voters should not have to choose between voting or staying healthy.
” Florida and Illinois , two states that held primaries this week faced criticism for moving ahead with their primary contests despite health concerns .
In both states , poll workers didn ’ t show up on election day and some of those who did lacked adequate cleaning supplies .
A handful of states have already moved their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s April 7 election includes many local contests in addition to its presidential preference primary , including a crucial statewide state supreme court race .
The state does not require an excuse to vote absentee , and election officials there have already received more than 300,000 requests for absentee ballots .
Democrats are suing the state to try and give voters more time to register online or by mail and to waive the requirement that voters submit photo ID with their request for a ballot .

Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

21 Mar 2020 00.15 GMT That’s all from me today. Here’s a summary of the top stories of the day: New York, Illinois and Connecticut told residents to stay home except for essential activities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus . The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents.
in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents. The US-Mexico border is closing to all non-essential travel, secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight.
secretary of state announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight. The Dow closed down 900 points, extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.
extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. Senators are negotiating over the stimulus package, which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote.
which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote. Senator Richard Burr called for a Senate ethics investigation into his recent stock trades. The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic.
The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic. Trump attacked the press for the second day in a row during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s Peter Alexander, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.”
during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.” A member of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Contact tracing is under way, and the White House says neither Pence nor Trump had close contact with the individual. My west coast colleagues have a comprehensive report on Day One of California under lockdown: A shadow of itself: 40m Californians wake up to life under lockdown Read more And you can stay on top of all the latest developments with our global coronavirus live blog here: Coronavirus live updates: global cases top quarter of a million, as Italy sees biggest daily rise in deaths Read more
20 Mar 2020 23.38 GMT Hallie Golden Guardian contributor Hallie Golden reports from Seattle: Washington state residents have taken to Twitter to broadcast their frustration over local leaders not implementing a shelter-in-place order to address the rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak.
They are using the hashtag #ShutItDownJay and #SHUTDOWNSEATTLE, with some posting about the many people in parks and at stores not practicing social distancing. One user posted a photo of a group of people sitting together in a truck bed.
Some Twitter users wrote about how amazed they were that the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, had not yet instructed residents to shelter-in-place, while others shared their experience still having to go to work.
“What if our workplace is still requiring us (including seniors and those with underlying health conditions) to work in crowded rooms with groups of more than ten where there is no possibility of being six feet apart?” Sarah Ann posted Friday on Twitter.
Other people remarked on the fact that California residents have already been ordered to shelter-in-place, and New York and Illinois locals have been instructed to stay home except for essential activities, but Washington leaders have still not implemented similar policies.
Washington has the second highest number of cases in the U.S., reporting 1,524 cases, including 83 deaths.
20 Mar 2020 23.19 GMT Senator Bernie Sanders is holding another “virtual roundtable” on the coronavirus pandemic, this time with Sara Nelson, president of the flight attendent’s union, and Saru Jayaraman, director of the Food Labor Research Center at University of California, Berkeley. You can tune in here: I’m hosting a virtual roundtable on the economic and health crises created by the coronavirus outbreak. Join me, musical guests @andrecymone @NahkoBear, and two leaders on the frontlines of the crisis - @FlyingWithSara and @SaruJayaraman. https://t.co/8JUyqTHsKV — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 20, 2020
20 Mar 2020 23.05 GMT Residents of Washington state call on governor to impose 'shelter-in-place' Hallie Golden Guardian contributor Hallie Golden reports from Seattle: As the number of coronavirus cases in Washington continues to increase, people across the state have called on local leaders to implement a shelter-in-place order to curb the spread.
Washington has the second highest number of cases in the U.S., reporting 1,376 cases, including 74 deaths.
When the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, was asked during a press conference on Wednesday whether he’s getting close to calling for a shelter-in-place, he called that a “futile” thing to think about.
“We can’t just try to speculate what may happen, 30, 40, 60 days from now,” he said. “It’s just a futile exercise of chasing our tail. We got to pull together, be calm, be rational and make good decisions today.”
A Change.org petition pushing for a shelter-in-place order from Washington’s governor has received over 500 signatures.
In a tweet posted Friday, Lauren Deacon wrote, “Get it together and #ShutItDownJay! If you wait any longer the blood is on your hands!”
In California, residents have been ordered to shelter-in-place, while New York and Illinois have instructed locals to stay home except for essential activities.
On Monday, Inslee ordered a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more, as well as a two-week closure of all restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities.
Jason Rantz, who hosts a local radio show, wrote on local news site MyNorthwest.com that a shelter order may be painful, but is necessary in Washington.
“The sooner we get to extreme self-isolating, the faster we’ll get back to a normal life,” he wrote.
20 Mar 2020 22.59 GMT Localized shutdowns continue to expand across the country. The city of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County are shutting down hotels, and the city is imposing a nightly curfew. The message? Spring break is over. Miami Beach is closing down hotels — guests must leave by Monday — and imposing a nightly citywide curfew beginning Tuesday from midnight to 5 a.m. pic.twitter.com/Dni93lY8py — Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) March 20, 2020 In the past 24 hours we have also seen governors of the following states impose stay-at-home orders: California – population 40m
New York - population 20m
Illinois – population 12.5m
Connecticut – population 3.5m Altogether, those four states account for approximately 76m people, or more than 20% of the US population.
20 Mar 2020 22.42 GMT Member of Vice President's staff tests positive for coronavirus A member of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement by the VP’s press secretary. According to the statement, neither the president nor Pence was in “close contact” with the individual. Breaking: Member of @VP's Staff Tested Positive for Coronavirus. Statement by @VPPressSec: pic.twitter.com/COOY0jB0Os — Fin Gomez (@finnygo) March 20, 2020
20 Mar 2020 22.20 GMT The Guardian’s Kathleen Caulderwood and Tom Silverstone spoke to American doctors and nurses from around the country about what it’s like to treat patients as Covid-19 spreads. 04:50 'This is going to be a marathon': US health workers on the coronavirus frontline – video They say they’re frustrated with a lack of testing ability, and a lack of protective equipment they need to fight Covid-19. They say the US isn’t prepared for the spike of patients suffering from the virus in the coming weeks.
20 Mar 2020 22.06 GMT A distinct partisan divide still exists in how seriously Americans are taking the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll by ABC News/Ipsos. The survey found that 87% of Democrats are concerned about getting coronavirus, compared to just 66% of Republicans. The divide is somewhat narrower than last week, when just 56% of Republicans reported concern about the virus. Strikingly, nearly three fourths of respondents (72%) said their lives had been disrupted by the coronavirus in some way – a huge jump from the previous week’s poll when only 26% of Americans reported the same. The poll also found growing numbers of people working from home (17%, from 3% last week), and that the highest rates of concern for Americans came from 18-29 year olds (83%). People over 65 reported similarly high rates of concern (82%).
20 Mar 2020 21.52 GMT When billionaire Mike Bloomberg launched his ill-fated presidential campaign in late 2019, he promised staffers that they would be employed through November, whether or not he won the Democratic nomination. But since dropping out after failing to win a single state on Super Tuesday (he did win American Samoa, a US territory), the former New York City mayor has reneged on that promise. Today, the Bloomberg campaign announced that it is donating $18m to the Democratic National Committee – and laying off staff in six swing states, BuzzFeed News reports. The newly unemployed staffers will lose their healthcare at the end of April. “He’s chopping his employees in a pandemic,” one staffer told BuzzFeed. The $18m donation to the DNC is large, and could enable the committee to hire the laid-off organizers, but there are no guarantees of employment.
20 Mar 2020 21.35 GMT Sam Levine The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: Wisconsin elections officials do not currently have enough cleaning supplies or poll workers to adequately run the state’s April 7 primary, election officials warned on Friday. The officials asked Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, to help them acquire hand sanitizer, as well as with assistance recruiting poll workers in a Friday letter. They also asked him to assign a public health expert to the commission to assist with guidance for local officials and messaging. “As of today, local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies needed. This leaves voters, clerks, and poll workers to make difficult choices,” Megan Wolfe, the commission’s administrator, wrote on Friday. “Voters should not have to choose
between voting or staying healthy.” Florida and Illinois, two states that held primaries this week faced criticism for moving ahead with their primary contests despite health concerns. In both states, poll workers didn’t show up on election day and some of those who did lacked adequate cleaning supplies. A handful of states have already moved their primaries amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Wisconsin’s April 7 election includes many local contests in addition to its presidential preference primary, including a crucial statewide state supreme court race. The state does not require an excuse to vote absentee, and election officials there have already received more than 300,000 requests for absentee ballots. Democrats are suing the state to try and give voters more time to register online or by mail and to waive the requirement that voters submit photo ID with their request for a ballot. Closures and confusion as US voters go to the polls amid coronavirus concerns Read more
20 Mar 2020 21.21 GMT Connecticut to order "nonessential" workers stay home Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in Oakland, California, taking over the blog for the rest of the day. Connecticut governor Ned Lamont plans to order employees of “non-essential” businesses to stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Hartford Courant reports. The order is akin to that of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ordered non-essential businesses in his state closed earlier on Friday. Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open, but offices, malls and clothing stores will close. Construction and manufacturing can continue, according to the Courant.
20 Mar 2020 21.04 GMT Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: New York and Illinois told residents to stay home except for essential activities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus . The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents.
in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents. The US-Mexico border is closing to all non-essential travel, secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight.
secretary of state announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight. The Dow closed down 900 points, extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.
extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. Senators are negotiating over the stimulus package, which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote.
which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote. Senator Richard Burr called for a Senate ethics investigation into his recent stock trades. The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic.
The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic. Trump attacked the press for the second day in a row during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s Peter Alexander, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.” Julia will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 21.11 GMT