theguardian--2020-04-23--US House passes $484bn coronavirus relief bill to fund small businesses and hospitals

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $ 484bn coronavirus relief bill on Thursday , funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $ 3tn .
The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a vote of 388-5 , with one member voting present .
House members were meeting for the first time in weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Lawmakers , many wearing masks , approved the bill during an extended period of voting intended to allow them to remain at a distance from one another , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House action sent the latest of four relief bills to the White House , where Donald Trump has promised to sign it quickly into law .
The Republican-led Senate had passed the legislation on Tuesday .
But threats of opposition by some members of both parties prompted congressional leaders to call the full chamber back to Washington for the House vote despite state stay-at-home orders .
The House also approved a select committee , with subpoena power , to investigate the US response to the coronavirus .
It will have broad powers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , US preparedness and Trump administration deliberations .
Nancy Pelosi , the Democratic house speaker , said the panel was essential to ensure funds go to those who need them and to prevent scams .
Republicans said the committee was not needed , citing existing oversight bodies , and called the panel ’ s creation another expensive Democratic slap at Trump .
The $ 484bn aid bill is the fourth passed to address the coronavirus crisis .
It provides funds to small businesses and hospitals struggling with the economic toll of a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thrown a record 26 million out of work , wiping out all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in US history .
A handful of lawmakers opposed the legislation , including the Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who represents a severely affected area of New York and believes Congress should do even more – and Republican Thomas Massie , known as “ Mr No ” for his frequent opposition to spending bills .
“ This is really a very , very , very sad day .
We come to the floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people , and the uncertainty of it all , ” Pelosi said during debate on the bill .
Congress passed the last coronavirus relief measure , worth more than $ 2tn , in March , also with overwhelming support from both parties .
It was the largest such funding bill ever passed .
The next step will be harder .
The two parties have set the stage for a fight over additional funding for state and local governments reeling from the impact of lost revenue after Republicans refused to include such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has said he supports more funding for states and has promised to back it in future legislation .
Congressional Republicans have resisted .
Mitch McConnell , the Senate majority leader , suggested in a radio interview on Wednesday that states could go bankrupt , but he said later he did not want states to use federal funds for anything unrelated to the coronavirus .
Democrats castigated McConnell for the remark .
“ Leader McConnell said to our cities and states , to our cops and firemen and teachers , he told them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Max Rose , who represents a district of New York City .
Thursday ’ s voting took place under safety protocols that considerably dragged out proceedings .
Lawmakers came to the House in alphabetical order in small groups and were told to stand in line , 6ft ( 1.8m ) apart , before entering the chamber .
There was also a half-hour break scheduled to clean the chamber between the two votes .
But more than a dozen cleaners descended on the chamber with cloths and spray bottles and wiped it down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican leader , Kevin McCarthy , said the latest aid package should have been passed at least two weeks ago after the Trump administration requested it .
“ Some people unfortunately got laid off because of this delay , ” McCarthy said .
Democrats rejected the charge , saying lawmakers had improved on Trump ’ s request by adding billions of dollars more for small businesses , hospitals and coronavirus testing .

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $484bn coronavirus relief bill on Thursday, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $3tn.
The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a vote of 388-5, with one member voting present. House members were meeting for the first time in weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawmakers, many wearing masks, approved the bill during an extended period of voting intended to allow them to remain at a distance from one another, in line with public health recommendations.
The House action sent the latest of four relief bills to the White House, where Donald Trump has promised to sign it quickly into law.
The Republican-led Senate had passed the legislation on Tuesday. But threats of opposition by some members of both parties prompted congressional leaders to call the full chamber back to Washington for the House vote despite state stay-at-home orders.
The House also approved a select committee, with subpoena power, to investigate the US response to the coronavirus. It will have broad powers to investigate how federal dollars are being spent, US preparedness and Trump administration deliberations.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic house speaker, said the panel was essential to ensure funds go to those who need them and to prevent scams. Republicans said the committee was not needed, citing existing oversight bodies, and called the panel’s creation another expensive Democratic slap at Trump.
The $484bn aid bill is the fourth passed to address the coronavirus crisis. It provides funds to small businesses and hospitals struggling with the economic toll of a pandemic that has killed more than 47,000 Americans and thrown a record 26 million out of work, wiping out all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in US history.
A handful of lawmakers opposed the legislation, including the Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents a severely affected area of New York and believes Congress should do even more – and Republican Thomas Massie, known as “Mr No” for his frequent opposition to spending bills.
“This is really a very, very, very sad day. We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 dead, a huge number of people, and the uncertainty of it all,” Pelosi said during debate on the bill.
Congress passed the last coronavirus relief measure, worth more than $2tn, in March, also with overwhelming support from both parties. It was the largest such funding bill ever passed.
Trouble ahead
The next step will be harder. The two parties have set the stage for a fight over additional funding for state and local governments reeling from the impact of lost revenue after Republicans refused to include such funds in the current relief bill.
Trump has said he supports more funding for states and has promised to back it in future legislation.
Congressional Republicans have resisted. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, suggested in a radio interview on Wednesday that states could go bankrupt, but he said later he did not want states to use federal funds for anything unrelated to the coronavirus.
Democrats castigated McConnell for the remark. “Leader McConnell said to our cities and states, to our cops and firemen and teachers, he told them to drop dead,” said Representative Max Rose, who represents a district of New York City.
Thursday’s voting took place under safety protocols that considerably dragged out proceedings. Lawmakers came to the House in alphabetical order in small groups and were told to stand in line, 6ft (1.8m) apart, before entering the chamber.
There was also a half-hour break scheduled to clean the chamber between the two votes. But more than a dozen cleaners descended on the chamber with cloths and spray bottles and wiped it down in less than 10 minutes.
The House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, said the latest aid package should have been passed at least two weeks ago after the Trump administration requested it. “Some people unfortunately got laid off because of this delay,” McCarthy said.
Democrats rejected the charge, saying lawmakers had improved on Trump’s request by adding billions of dollars more for small businesses, hospitals and coronavirus testing.


theguardian--2020-04-23--Cuomo slams Mitch McConnell's 'reckless' suggestion for states in crisis

New York ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , has angrily slammed as “ irresponsible , reckless ” and “ one of the really dumb ideas of all time ” Senate leader Mitch McConnell ’ s suggestion that states struggling to cope with the coronavirus should be able to file for bankruptcy rather than seek financial aid from the federal government .
During an interview yesterday , McConnell said : “ I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route .
It saves some cities .
And there ’ s no good reason for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don ’ t have to do that .
That ’ s not something I ’ m going to be in favor of.
” Cuomo , who has repeatedly demanded that Congress provide more funding for states to cover the costs of the coronavirus crisis , said McConnell ’ s suggestion was “ one of the really dumb ideas of all time ” .
The governor , a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause “ a collapse of this national economy ” .
Cuomo also lambasted McConnell , the Republican senator from Kentucky , for suggesting relief money for states would represent a bailout for Democratic states , which have generally been harder hit by the virus .
“ If there ’ s ever a time for humanity and decency , now ’ s the time , ” Cuomo said .
“ How irresponsible and how reckless.
” States do not have the right to declare bankruptcy under US law , and legislative changes would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally affords certain powers and protections during financial restructuring .
Cuomo not only dismissed the idea , he noted that New York produces much more revenue for the federal government than Kentucky does .
“ It ’ s your state that is living on the money that we generate , ” Cuomo said .
“ Your state is being bailed out , not my state.
” New York quickly became the center of the US outbreak of coronavirus , following the earliest known cases and deaths on the west coast , in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks in his daily briefings asking the federal government to help with critical medical supplies that individual states were not in a position to stockpile or acquire overnight , especially ventilators , and has lately pleaded for money to fund widespread testing for the disease and levels of immunity .
Meanwhile evidence is emerging that far more New Yorkers have had the coronavirus than the number confirmed by lab tests .
A state survey of around 3,000 people found that 13.9 % had antibodies , suggesting they had been exposed to the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preliminary .
New York City ’ s health commissioner , Dr Oxiris Barbot , said as many as a million people in New York City , out of a population of 8.4 million , may have been exposed to the coronavirus .
More than 263,000 people in the city have tested positive for the virus , “ but that really is , I think , the tip of the iceberg ” , Barbot said .
The Associated Press contributed to this report

Joan E Greve in Washington and Joanna Walters in New York

New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, has angrily slammed as “irresponsible, reckless” and “one of the really dumb ideas of all time” Senate leader Mitch McConnell’s suggestion that states struggling to cope with the coronavirus should be able to file for bankruptcy rather than seek financial aid from the federal government.
During an interview yesterday, McConnell said: “I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. It saves some cities. And there’s no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.”
Cuomo, who has repeatedly demanded that Congress provide more funding for states to cover the costs of the coronavirus crisis, said McConnell’s suggestion was “one of the really dumb ideas of all time”.
The governor, a Democrat, warned that states declaring bankruptcies could cause “a collapse of this national economy”.
Cuomo also lambasted McConnell, the Republican senator from Kentucky, for suggesting relief money for states would represent a bailout for Democratic states, which have generally been harder hit by the virus.
“If there’s ever a time for humanity and decency, now’s the time,” Cuomo said. “How irresponsible and how reckless.”
States do not have the right to declare bankruptcy under US law, and legislative changes would be needed to allow that. Declaring bankruptcy generally affords certain powers and protections during financial restructuring.
Cuomo not only dismissed the idea, he noted that New York produces much more revenue for the federal government than Kentucky does.
“It’s your state that is living on the money that we generate,” Cuomo said. “Your state is being bailed out, not my state.”
New York quickly became the center of the US outbreak of coronavirus, following the earliest known cases and deaths on the west coast, in California and Washington.
Cuomo has spent several weeks in his daily briefings asking the federal government to help with critical medical supplies that individual states were not in a position to stockpile or acquire overnight, especially ventilators, and has lately pleaded for money to fund widespread testing for the disease and levels of immunity.
Meanwhile evidence is emerging that far more New Yorkers have had the coronavirus than the number confirmed by lab tests.
A state survey of around 3,000 people found that 13.9% had antibodies, suggesting they had been exposed to the virus, Cuomo said, warning results were preliminary.
New York City’s health commissioner, Dr Oxiris Barbot, said as many as a million people in New York City, out of a population of 8.4 million, may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
More than 263,000 people in the city have tested positive for the virus, “but that really is, I think, the tip of the iceberg”, Barbot said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-04-23--Lions, tigers and bears: the US presidents who took animal ownership to extremes

Barack Obama had two Portuguese water dogs , Bo and Sunny .
George W Bush had scottish terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley .
Bill Clinton had a cat called Socks .
John F Kennedy doted on his canary , Robin .
US presidents have always had domestic animals at the White House , although the farther back we delve , the more ferocious the menagerie tends to be , particularly where Republican presidents are concerned .
Calvin Coolidge owned a hippopotamus and two lions named Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau .
John Quincy Adams is said to have kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposedly found it amusing to surprise guests by sending them in there to conduct their business , presumably causing them to do so prior to removing their pantaloons .
Theodore Roosevelt took animal ownership to extremes .
During his tenure , a lion , a hyena called Bill , a coyote , a black bear named Jonathan Edwards and a zebra lived at various times on the White House grounds .
He also shot a reputed 11,397 creatures .
Among them were lions , leopards , cheetahs , hyenas , elephants and endangered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamic while researching my new book , Mammoth .
It began with Thomas Jefferson , who , in an attempt to overcompensate for feelings of US inadequacy , appropriated symbols of strength from the animal kingdom to show that America was the greatest nation on earth .
Jefferson ’ s nemesis was the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc , le Comte de Buffon .
In volume five of his 1781 book Natural History , General and Particular , Buffon coined his Theory of American Degeneracy .
In it , he claimed that animals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer in number than in the rest of the world .
“ There is no comparison between the size of the elephant , the rhinoceros , the hippopotamus , the camelopard [ giraffe ] , the camel , the lion , the tiger , & c. and the tapir , the cabiai , the ant-eater , the lama , the puma , the jaguar , & c. , which are the largest quadrupeds of the New World , ” he proclaimed .
This upset a lot of sensitive new Americans , none more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As minister to France , Jefferson was determined to prove America ’ s virility to the Europeans .
On one trip he packed a large panther skin with the idea of shaking it under Buffon ’ s nose .
Later he produced a moose .
The French were unimpressed .
Desperate for America to appear bigger and better than everyone else – and to promote US democracy as the superior form of government – Jefferson then hired several groups of hardy pioneers to secure him a mammoth .
He had heard rumours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various wilderness locations .
He believed they belonged to a mastodon larger than anything that had ever existed in Europe , and he actively promoted the idea that such a beast might still roam the country ’ s west .
“ The bones of the Mammoth which have been found in America , are as large as those found in the old world .
It may be asked , why I insert the Mammoth , as if it still existed ?
I ask in return , why I should omit it , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the economy of nature , that no instance can be produced of her having permitted any one race of her animals to become extinct , ” he wrote in 1781 ’ s Notes on the State of Virginia .
Jefferson ’ s gambit paid dividends .
Mammoth bones were unearthed from farmland and displayed by individuals such as the Philadelphia painter Charles Willson Peale .
Mammoth fever gripped the nation .
A 20lb vegetable grown in New York was proclaimed to be a mammoth radish .
A Washington man ate 42 chicken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mammoth eater .
In Cheshire , Massachusetts , a Baptist pastor and ardent republican , John Leland , urged his congregation to produce a mammoth cheese weighing 1,235lb .
It was gifted to Jefferson , who had it for lunch on New Year ’ s Day , 1802 .
Jefferson procured and assembled his bones , spending many evenings in the White House poring over his treasures .
His obsession led to accusations of negligence from colleagues and rivals alike .
Little could they know that the legacy of a perceived inferiority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American psyche and endure for hundreds of years .
Modern presidents have , for the most part , softened their stance on trophies and the appropriation of powerful animal symbols , choosing instead to enjoy the companionship of dogs , cats and horses .
Democratic presidents have tended more towards cuddly critters .
In addition to his beloved canary , Kennedy had a rabbit called Zsa Zsa .
Lyndon B Johnson had hamsters .
Jimmy Carter had an adorable Siamese cat called Misty Malarky Ying Yang .
Donald Trump , for the record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have no pets .
None with four legs , at any rate .
• None Mammoth by Chris Flynn is out on 28 April through UQP

Barack Obama had two Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny. George W Bush had scottish terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley. Bill Clinton had a cat called Socks. John F Kennedy doted on his canary, Robin.
US presidents have always had domestic animals at the White House, although the farther back we delve, the more ferocious the menagerie tends to be, particularly where Republican presidents are concerned. Calvin Coolidge owned a hippopotamus and two lions named Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau. John Quincy Adams is said to have kept an alligator in a bathroom. He supposedly found it amusing to surprise guests by sending them in there to conduct their business, presumably causing them to do so prior to removing their pantaloons.
Theodore Roosevelt took animal ownership to extremes. During his tenure, a lion, a hyena called Bill, a coyote, a black bear named Jonathan Edwards and a zebra lived at various times on the White House grounds. He also shot a reputed 11,397 creatures. Among them were lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants and endangered rhinoceroses.
I uncovered this curious power dynamic while researching my new book, Mammoth. It began with Thomas Jefferson, who, in an attempt to overcompensate for feelings of US inadequacy, appropriated symbols of strength from the animal kingdom to show that America was the greatest nation on earth.
Jefferson’s nemesis was the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, le Comte de Buffon. In volume five of his 1781 book Natural History, General and Particular, Buffon coined his Theory of American Degeneracy. In it, he claimed that animals in the US were weaker, smaller and fewer in number than in the rest of the world.
“There is no comparison between the size of the elephant, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, the camelopard [giraffe], the camel, the lion, the tiger, &c. and the tapir, the cabiai, the ant-eater, the lama, the puma, the jaguar, &c., which are the largest quadrupeds of the New World,” he proclaimed. This upset a lot of sensitive new Americans, none more so than patriotic the young Republican Jefferson.
As minister to France, Jefferson was determined to prove America’s virility to the Europeans. On one trip he packed a large panther skin with the idea of shaking it under Buffon’s nose. Later he produced a moose. The French were unimpressed. Desperate for America to appear bigger and better than everyone else – and to promote US democracy as the superior form of government – Jefferson then hired several groups of hardy pioneers to secure him a mammoth.
He had heard rumours of large bones found by explorers in various wilderness locations. He believed they belonged to a mastodon larger than anything that had ever existed in Europe, and he actively promoted the idea that such a beast might still roam the country’s west.
“The bones of the Mammoth which have been found in America, are as large as those found in the old world. It may be asked, why I insert the Mammoth, as if it still existed? I ask in return, why I should omit it, as if it did not exist? Such is the economy of nature, that no instance can be produced of her having permitted any one race of her animals to become extinct,” he wrote in 1781’s Notes on the State of Virginia.
Chris Flynn’s new book Mammoth is the latest in Guardian Australia’s Unmissable series
Jefferson’s gambit paid dividends. Mammoth bones were unearthed from farmland and displayed by individuals such as the Philadelphia painter Charles Willson Peale. Mammoth fever gripped the nation. A 20lb vegetable grown in New York was proclaimed to be a mammoth radish. A Washington man ate 42 chicken eggs in 10 minutes and declared himself a mammoth eater. In Cheshire, Massachusetts, a Baptist pastor and ardent republican, John Leland, urged his congregation to produce a mammoth cheese weighing 1,235lb. It was gifted to Jefferson, who had it for lunch on New Year’s Day, 1802.
Jefferson procured and assembled his bones, spending many evenings in the White House poring over his treasures. His obsession led to accusations of negligence from colleagues and rivals alike. Little could they know that the legacy of a perceived inferiority complex would embed itself deep in the American psyche and endure for hundreds of years.
Modern presidents have, for the most part, softened their stance on trophies and the appropriation of powerful animal symbols, choosing instead to enjoy the companionship of dogs, cats and horses. Democratic presidents have tended more towards cuddly critters. In addition to his beloved canary, Kennedy had a rabbit called Zsa Zsa. Lyndon B Johnson had hamsters. Jimmy Carter had an adorable Siamese cat called Misty Malarky Ying Yang.
Donald Trump, for the record, is the first president in history to have no pets. None with four legs, at any rate.


theguardian--2020-04-23--Elizabeth Warren's oldest brother dies of coronavirus: ‘He was a natural leader’

The Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren made public the news on Thursday that one of her brothers died of coronavirus earlier this week .
Warren made the announcement on Twitter , saying : “ My oldest brother , Don Reed , died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening .
He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military , including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam .
He was charming and funny , a natural leader.
” She posted family pictures and a shot of him serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Oklahoma , where he lived , as do the senator ’ s other two brothers .
Warren often mentioned his military service on the campaign trail .
Warren had not previously disclosed her brother had tested positive for the virus .
According to the Boston Globe , he was hospitalized for pneumonia in February and then moved to a rehabilitation center , which had seen other cases of coronavirus .
He was later brought to the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital , where he died .
The Globe reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Oklahoma , but did not graduate , before enlisting in the air force , where he flew B-47 and B-52 bombers .
He flew 288 combat missions in Vietnam , eventually becoming a B-52 squadron pilot and a squadron aircraft commander .
He earned numerous decorations before retiring in 1973 as a lieutenant colonel and starting an auto-detailing business .
Warren dropped out of the presidential race in March and endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee , Joe Biden , earlier this month .

The Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren made public the news on Thursday that one of her brothers died of coronavirus earlier this week.
Warren made the announcement on Twitter, saying: “My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader.”
She posted family pictures and a shot of him serving in the air force. He died in Oklahoma, where he lived, as do the senator’s other two brothers.
Warren, 70, was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him. pic.twitter.com/SFMOaBVCN3 — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
Donald Reed Herring was a Vietnam war veteran.
I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say “I love you” one more time—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I'll miss you dearly my brother. pic.twitter.com/oOG6HArEL6 — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
Warren often mentioned his military service on the campaign trail.
Warren had not previously disclosed her brother had tested positive for the virus. According to the Boston Globe, he was hospitalized for pneumonia in February and then moved to a rehabilitation center, which had seen other cases of coronavirus. He was later brought to the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital, where he died.
The Globe reported that Herring was born in 1933 and attended the University of Oklahoma, but did not graduate, before enlisting in the air force, where he flew B-47 and B-52 bombers. He flew 288 combat missions in Vietnam, eventually becoming a B-52 squadron pilot and a squadron aircraft commander. He earned numerous decorations before retiring in 1973 as a lieutenant colonel and starting an auto-detailing business.
Warren dropped out of the presidential race in March and endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, earlier this month.


theguardian--2020-04-23--'It's overhyped': Trump mega-donor pushes to end Wisconsin's stay-at-home order

One of Donald Trump ’ s most fervent billionaire donors is lobbying against strict stay-at-home rules in the election battleground state of Wisconsin , raising troubling new questions about how the president ’ s rightwing financial supporters may influence the US response to the pandemic .
Liz Uihlein , the billionaire behind Wisconsin ’ s Uline shipping and packaging company – who with her husband , Richard , has been dubbed the most “ powerful conservative couple you ’ ve never heard of ” – is using her clout to try to force Wisconsin ’ s Democratic governor to relax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been “ overhyped ” by the media .
Her actions – from lobbying Republican legislators in the state to circulating a petition to employees to have the governor , Tony Evers , removed from office – come as two protests have been organized against the Democratic governor on Friday .
While organizers of both protests have claimed they are part of a “ grassroots ” movement , another prominent Trump supporter and friend of the Uihleins , Stephen Moore , who compared the rightwing protesters to the civil rights icon Rosa Parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donor ” was supporting the protests .
Asked by the Guardian whether the Uihleins were supporting the effort , Moore said he had not disclosed the donor and hung up .
Health experts have warned that premature reopening of the US economy could risk US efforts to control the virus , ensuring that it surges in places where rules on lockdowns are relaxed .
Trump , who still appears in daily press conferences with a team of public health experts such as Dr Anthony Fauci , has wavered on the issue .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several Democratic states from their lockdowns and usually appears keen for a swift reopening , but he has also criticized the Republican governor of Georgia for reopening too early .
While the public still largely supports shutdown efforts , the risk , some say , is that disagreements over the pandemic response devolve into another American culture war , like abortion and gun rights .
“ Donald Trump is not going to go into this election siding with Dr Fauci against this Tea Party-like movement .
If he thinks that this is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them , ” said Charlie Sykes , a conservative anti-Trump author and broadcaster in Wisconsin .
Critics of Liz and Richard Uihlein say it is impossible to overstate the couple ’ s influence over conservative politics and that Liz Uihlein ’ s outspoken criticism of the stay-at-home orders will act like “ jet fuel ” to accelerate political opposition to policies that have been endorsed by public health experts .
Neither Uihlein has been shy about endorsing rightwing causes – especially anti-union and anti-tax groups – and fringe candidates , like Roy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was accused of sexual assault of minors and lost a special election in 2017 .
Like the Mercers and the Kochs , the couple has rarely given interviews .
But reached at home this week by the Guardian , Liz Uihlein – who was one of 36 executives to be invited to participate in a call with Trump last month to discuss the national response to Covid-19 – expressed her dismay at Wisconsin ’ s handling of the crisis , which she said was devastating the economy .
Of nearly 7,000 employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 cases of Covid-19 infection and that six were back at work .
An anonymous employee told the Guardian that the company had previously reported 19 cases in internal communications , and has since stopped sending out alerts .
“ It ’ s overhyped , ” she said .
“ And I don ’ t wish anybody ill will .
You know I don ’ t wish that , but I think it hurts certain ages in certain places and largely in a lot of parts of the world .
In the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press would have you make it.
” The company , which has remained open because it is considered an essential business , has come under fire for allegedly adopting lax safety practices in the face of the pandemic , including initially discouraging employees from working at home and not providing enough space to the non-warehouse employees who did come to work .
Uihlein said the work-from-home recommendations were dragging on the company and that tasks that would take “ five minutes to get done at the office takes two days ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of them , ” she said .
Uihlein , who said she and her husband “ loved Trump ” and is believed to have a net worth of about $ 4bn , laughed off suggestions that she might influence the president .
“ You honestly think that money influences Donald Trump , are you kidding me ?
” she said .
But Uline , she and her husband ’ s privately held company , has already donated $ 1.5m to Trump ’ s Super Pac , America First Action , and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2020 election cycle .
In the past , their donations topped $ 90m , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
In her interview with the Guardian , Liz Uihlein , who is 74 , repeatedly compared the current crisis to polio outbreaks in the 1940s and 1950s – her own sister contracted the disease when they were children – and suggested Americans then had not “ shut down ” communities to deal with those outbreaks .
“ It was a terrifically scary thing .
It hit children and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I ’ ve got a different view on it .
And I don ’ t think you should live in fear , ” she said .
But Elena Conis , a medical historian at the University of California , Berkeley , said comparisons between polio and the coronavirus were not apt in this case .
Polio had been ravaging communities for decades before a vaccine was discovered in 1953 and large segments of the population had developed immunity to the virus .
When outbreaks occurred , she said , communities did , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Those outbreaks also occurred at a time when populations were far less mobile than today .
Do you have more information about this story ?
Please contact the reporter at Stephanie.Kirchgaessner @ theguardian.com

One of Donald Trump’s most fervent billionaire donors is lobbying against strict stay-at-home rules in the election battleground state of Wisconsin, raising troubling new questions about how the president’s rightwing financial supporters may influence the US response to the pandemic.
Liz Uihlein, the billionaire behind Wisconsin’s Uline shipping and packaging company – who with her husband, Richard, has been dubbed the most “powerful conservative couple you’ve never heard of” – is using her clout to try to force Wisconsin’s Democratic governor to relax stay-at-home rules, claiming that the crisis has been “overhyped” by the media.
Her actions – from lobbying Republican legislators in the state to circulating a petition to employees to have the governor, Tony Evers, removed from office – come as two protests have been organized against the Democratic governor on Friday.
While organizers of both protests have claimed they are part of a “grassroots” movement, another prominent Trump supporter and friend of the Uihleins, Stephen Moore, who compared the rightwing protesters to the civil rights icon Rosa Parks, has said a “large Wisconsin donor” was supporting the protests.
Asked by the Guardian whether the Uihleins were supporting the effort, Moore said he had not disclosed the donor and hung up.
Health experts have warned that premature reopening of the US economy could risk US efforts to control the virus, ensuring that it surges in places where rules on lockdowns are relaxed. Trump, who still appears in daily press conferences with a team of public health experts such as Dr Anthony Fauci, has wavered on the issue. He has urged protesters to “liberate” several Democratic states from their lockdowns and usually appears keen for a swift reopening, but he has also criticized the Republican governor of Georgia for reopening too early.
While the public still largely supports shutdown efforts, the risk, some say, is that disagreements over the pandemic response devolve into another American culture war, like abortion and gun rights.
“Donald Trump is not going to go into this election siding with Dr Fauci against this Tea Party-like movement. If he thinks that this is what his base wants, he will go with them,” said Charlie Sykes, a conservative anti-Trump author and broadcaster in Wisconsin.
Critics of Liz and Richard Uihlein say it is impossible to overstate the couple’s influence over conservative politics and that Liz Uihlein’s outspoken criticism of the stay-at-home orders will act like “jet fuel” to accelerate political opposition to policies that have been endorsed by public health experts.
Neither Uihlein has been shy about endorsing rightwing causes – especially anti-union and anti-tax groups – and fringe candidates, like Roy Moore, the Republican Senate candidate who was accused of sexual assault of minors and lost a special election in 2017.
Like the Mercers and the Kochs, the couple has rarely given interviews.
But reached at home this week by the Guardian, Liz Uihlein – who was one of 36 executives to be invited to participate in a call with Trump last month to discuss the national response to Covid-19 – expressed her dismay at Wisconsin’s handling of the crisis, which she said was devastating the economy.
Of nearly 7,000 employees, Uihlein claimed that her company had seen 15 cases of Covid-19 infection and that six were back at work.
An anonymous employee told the Guardian that the company had previously reported 19 cases in internal communications, and has since stopped sending out alerts.
“It’s overhyped,” she said. “And I don’t wish anybody ill will. You know I don’t wish that, but I think it hurts certain ages in certain places and largely in a lot of parts of the world. In the country it’s not as rampant as the press would have you make it.”
The company, which has remained open because it is considered an essential business, has come under fire for allegedly adopting lax safety practices in the face of the pandemic, including initially discouraging employees from working at home and not providing enough space to the non-warehouse employees who did come to work.
Uihlein said the work-from-home recommendations were dragging on the company and that tasks that would take “five minutes to get done at the office takes two days”.
“We have no choice with a lot of them,” she said.
Uihlein, who said she and her husband “loved Trump” and is believed to have a net worth of about $4bn, laughed off suggestions that she might influence the president.
“You honestly think that money influences Donald Trump, are you kidding me?” she said.
But Uline, she and her husband’s privately held company, has already donated $1.5m to Trump’s Super Pac, America First Action, and $20m to other Republican groups so far in the 2020 election cycle. In the past, their donations topped $90m, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In her interview with the Guardian, Liz Uihlein, who is 74, repeatedly compared the current crisis to polio outbreaks in the 1940s and 1950s – her own sister contracted the disease when they were children – and suggested Americans then had not “shut down” communities to deal with those outbreaks.
“It was a terrifically scary thing. It hit children and this virus doesn’t hit children. So I’ve got a different view on it. And I don’t think you should live in fear,” she said.
But Elena Conis, a medical historian at the University of California, Berkeley, said comparisons between polio and the coronavirus were not apt in this case. Polio had been ravaging communities for decades before a vaccine was discovered in 1953 and large segments of the population had developed immunity to the virus. When outbreaks occurred, she said, communities did, in fact, shut down to isolate the disease. Those outbreaks also occurred at a time when populations were far less mobile than today.
A spokesperson for the Uihlein family said in a post-publication statement to the Guardian that it was not involved in donations related to protests of shelter-in-place orders.
Do you have more information about this story? Please contact the reporter at Stephanie.Kirchgaessner@theguardian.com


theguardian--2020-04-24--Governors' push to reopen states risks second wave of infection, experts warn

US governors seeking to relax public health restrictions on the activity of people and businesses are acting prematurely and risk inciting a second , more damaging wave of infections from the coronavirus pandemic , public health experts have warned .
A wave of reopenings is set to spread across the south and midwest of the US , led by Republican governors .
Georgia has announced it will allow the resumption of some businesses , such as barbershops and nail salons on Friday and restaurants next week , while certain beaches in Florida have already reopened to the public .
Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some businesses , South Carolina beaches and retail stores will reopen next week with social distancing guidelines and Nebraska is set to allow dental work and scheduled surgeries within the next two weeks .
Brian Kemp , Georgia ’ s governor , has said that he believes “ our citizens are ready for this ” and will practice social distancing advice to prevent the spread of Covid-19 .
Donald Trump , who previously claimed to have complete authority over the reopening of states , is now largely leaving the issue to governors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly disagrees ” with Kemp ’ s position , he has called on protesters to “ liberate ” other Democratic-controlled states from strict lockdown orders .
But infectious disease experts have warned that it is too early to scale down stay-at-home orders .
A lack of testing is a critical issue – about 500,000 people a day need to be tested across the US in order to gradually restart the American economy , according to a Harvard estimate .
But the actual testing rate lags far below that , at around 150,000 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have quickly learned new codes of behavior by keeping their distance from others , washing their hands and , increasingly , wearing masks .
But a lack of swabs and reagents needed for tests , as well as a lack of contact tracing to track infections , makes it difficult to safely resume normal life .
“ I don ’ t think the US is ready , there are 50 states all at different points in their epidemic , ” said Yanis Ben Amor , executive director of the Center for Sustainable Development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t diagnosing enough people and if we don ’ t have a testing system in place it will flare up again badly .
We just don ’ t have that testing system and as a human being I ’ m deeply concerned about the consequences for people who think their governor is saying it ’ s safe now.
” The push by some governors to reopen doesn ’ t come with much public support .
About eight in 10 Americans support measures to limit gatherings , polling has found , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon to lift restrictions .
This view is echoed by various mayors – Georgia ’ s reopening was criticized as “ reckless , premature and dangerous ” by Van Johnson , mayor of Savannah .
Countries such as Switzerland , Austria and France have tentatively outlined plans for the gradual restarting of business and social activities and the US government has provided advice to states on when to do likewise .
But Ben Amor said states like Georgia , which is still reporting significant numbers of infections , do not meet the criteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Georgia opening when it isn ’ t ticking the box of phase one ?
” he said .
“ It still has too many cases .
There needs to be a strong , informed approach from the federal government rather than just let the states police themselves.
” While infections and hospitalizations are showing signs of plateauing , the US will probably , at some point , be hit with a second wave of Covid-19 infections and experts say the approach taken in reopening the economy and implementing mass testing will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second peak .
Recent modeling done by researchers at MIT , based upon the experiences of China and Italy , has found that an early reopening will spell disaster .
A draft paper by the researchers warns “ relaxing or reversing quarantine measures right now will lead to an exponential explosion in the infected case count , thus nullifying the role played by all measures implemented in the US since mid March 2020.
” If restrictions are lifted now it may take a month before a surge in new infections is apparent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states feel confident in further loosening lockdown conditions .
This may well lead to an attritional bout of “ whack a mole ” where states loosen and then tighten restrictions as new cases crop up , said Andy Slavitt , a former healthcare official under Barack Obama .
Slavitt said in the absence of consistent federal leadership the public should listen to high-profile public health figures such as Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert , and be prepared for long-term changes to the rhythm of everyday life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safe vaccine that can be distributed to everyone in the country we will be in this altered state , ” he said .
“ Neither will be a silver bullet , though , so maybe older and sicker people will have to socially distance for a certain time in the year on an ongoing basis .
Maybe we don ’ t do handshaking any more .
Maybe we wear masks a little more .
”

US governors seeking to relax public health restrictions on the activity of people and businesses are acting prematurely and risk inciting a second, more damaging wave of infections from the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts have warned.
A wave of reopenings is set to spread across the south and midwest of the US, led by Republican governors.
Georgia has announced it will allow the resumption of some businesses, such as barbershops and nail salons on Friday and restaurants next week, while certain beaches in Florida have already reopened to the public. Oklahoma is also set to lift restrictions on some businesses, South Carolina beaches and retail stores will reopen next week with social distancing guidelines and Nebraska is set to allow dental work and scheduled surgeries within the next two weeks.
Brian Kemp, Georgia’s governor, has said that he believes “our citizens are ready for this” and will practice social distancing advice to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Donald Trump, who previously claimed to have complete authority over the reopening of states, is now largely leaving the issue to governors. Although the president has said he “strongly disagrees” with Kemp’s position, he has called on protesters to “liberate” other Democratic-controlled states from strict lockdown orders.
But infectious disease experts have warned that it is too early to scale down stay-at-home orders. A lack of testing is a critical issue – about 500,000 people a day need to be tested across the US in order to gradually restart the American economy, according to a Harvard estimate. But the actual testing rate lags far below that, at around 150,000 tests a day.
Experts say many Americans have quickly learned new codes of behavior by keeping their distance from others, washing their hands and, increasingly, wearing masks. But a lack of swabs and reagents needed for tests, as well as a lack of contact tracing to track infections, makes it difficult to safely resume normal life.
“I don’t think the US is ready, there are 50 states all at different points in their epidemic,” said Yanis Ben Amor, executive director of the Center for Sustainable Development in the Earth Institute. “We aren’t diagnosing enough people and if we don’t have a testing system in place it will flare up again badly. We just don’t have that testing system and as a human being I’m deeply concerned about the consequences for people who think their governor is saying it’s safe now.”
The push by some governors to reopen doesn’t come with much public support.
About eight in 10 Americans support measures to limit gatherings, polling has found, with a majority feeling it’s too soon to lift restrictions. This view is echoed by various mayors – Georgia’s reopening was criticized as “reckless, premature and dangerous” by Van Johnson, mayor of Savannah.
Countries such as Switzerland, Austria and France have tentatively outlined plans for the gradual restarting of business and social activities and the US government has provided advice to states on when to do likewise.
But Ben Amor said states like Georgia, which is still reporting significant numbers of infections, do not meet the criteria as yet.
“Why the hell is Georgia opening when it isn’t ticking the box of phase one?” he said. “It still has too many cases. There needs to be a strong, informed approach from the federal government rather than just let the states police themselves.”
While infections and hospitalizations are showing signs of plateauing, the US will probably, at some point, be hit with a second wave of Covid-19 infections and experts say the approach taken in reopening the economy and implementing mass testing will be crucial in determining the severity of this second peak.
Recent modeling done by researchers at MIT, based upon the experiences of China and Italy, has found that an early reopening will spell disaster. A draft paper by the researchers warns “relaxing or reversing quarantine measures right now will lead to an exponential explosion in the infected case count, thus nullifying the role played by all measures implemented in the US since mid March 2020.”
If restrictions are lifted now it may take a month before a surge in new infections is apparent, a window of time that may make states feel confident in further loosening lockdown conditions. This may well lead to an attritional bout of “whack a mole” where states loosen and then tighten restrictions as new cases crop up, said Andy Slavitt, a former healthcare official under Barack Obama.
Slavitt said in the absence of consistent federal leadership the public should listen to high-profile public health figures such as Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, and be prepared for long-term changes to the rhythm of everyday life.
“Until we have herd immunity and a safe vaccine that can be distributed to everyone in the country we will be in this altered state,” he said. “Neither will be a silver bullet, though, so maybe older and sicker people will have to socially distance for a certain time in the year on an ongoing basis. Maybe we don’t do handshaking any more. Maybe we wear masks a little more.”


theguardian--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: medical experts denounce Trump's theory of 'disinfectant injection'

Donald Trump has stunned viewers by suggesting that people could receive injections of disinfectant to cure the coronavirus , a notion one medical expert described as “ jaw-dropping ” .
At Thursday ’ s White House coronavirus task force briefing , the US president discussed new government research on how the virus reacts to different temperatures , climates and surfaces .
“ And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute , ” Trump said .
“ One minute !
And is there a way we can do something , by an injection inside or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs , so it ’ d be interesting to check that .
So , that you ’ re going to have to use medical doctors with , but it sounds interesting to me.
” Dr Deborah Birx , the task force response coordinator , remained silent .
But social media erupted in hilarity and outrage at the president , who has a record of defying science and also floated the idea of treating patients ’ bodies with ultraviolet ( UV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public against injecting disinfectant or using UV light .
Robert Reich , a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and a former labor secretary , tweeted : “ Trump ’ s briefings are actively endangering the public ’ s health .
Boycott the propaganda .
Listen to the experts .
And please don ’ t drink disinfectant.
” Walter Shaub , the former director of the Office of Government Ethics , added : “ It is incomprehensible to me that a moron like this holds the highest office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people stupid enough to think this is OK .
I can ’ t believe that in 2020 I have to caution anyone listening to the president that injecting disinfectant could kill you.
” Trump was already facing a backlash over his championing of hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malaria drug , as a therapy for the coronavirus , a quixotic effort amplified by the conservative network Fox News .
Research has found no evidence that it is beneficial and a government vaccine expert has claimed he was fired for limiting its use .
Undeterred , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result ” from the Department of Homeland Security research that says coronavirus appears to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight , heat and humidity , raising hopes that it could become less contagious in summer months .
William Bryan , the acting homeland security under secretary for science and technology , testified at the briefing : “ Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus , both surfaces and in the air .
We ’ ve seen a similar effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where increasing the temperature and humidity or both is generally less favorable to the virus.
” Researchers found that the virus survives best indoors and in dry conditions , and loses potency when temperatures and humidity rise .
Bryan said : “ The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight.
” He showed a slide summarising the results of the experiment that were carried out at National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center .
He also said tests had been carried out with disinfectants .
“ I can tell you that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes .
Isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds and that ’ s with no manipulation , no rubbing.
” Trump seized on the findings to refer back to a claim he made on 14 February that warm weather might kill the virus , like common flu , noting that he had been criticised by the media .
“ I think a lot of people are going to go outside , all of a sudden , people that didn ’ t want to go outside , ” he said .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous , whether it ’ s ultraviolet or just very powerful light and I think you said that hasn ’ t been checked but you ’ re going to test it .
And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body , which you can do either through the skin or in some other way .
And I think you ’ re going to test that too ?
” UV rays are an invisible type of radiation that can penetrate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause skin cancer .
How much sunlight would be needed to have an effect on the coronavirus is unknown .
The virus has caused heavy death tolls in warm-weather areas such as Louisiana and Florida , and Singapore has seen a recent surge in cases .
A Washington Post reporter asked if it was dangerous for Trump to make people think they would be safe by going outside in summer heat .
The president turned to Bryan and said : “ I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can apply light and heat to cure .
“ Maybe you can , maybe you can ’ t .
Again , I say , maybe you can , maybe you can ’ t .
I ’ m not a doctor.
” In a cringeworthy moment , he asked Birx if she had ever heard of heat and light in relation to the coronavirus .
“ Not as a treatment , ” she said , explaining that the body responds to the virus with a fever .
When the Post reporter pressed further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m the president and you ’ re fake news ...
I ’ m just here to present talent , I ’ m here to present ideas.
” Experts questioned why the homeland security report had been promoted at the briefing .
Dr Irwin Redlener , the director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University , told the MSNBC network : “ Everything that this scientist talked about from homeland security was basically incoherent , nonsensical , not really supported by evidence and really quite contrary to a lot of things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things he was saying .
“ First of all , people do get Covid , have been getting Covid in warm climates , including New Orleans but also other countries that have a warm climate right now .
Second of all , this issue with UV light is hypothetical but also UV light can be very harmful and we did not hear anything resembling a balanced discussion of what the evidence is for and against UV light , but it ’ s certainly not ready for prime time.
” He added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked somebody about what sounded like injecting disinfectants or isopropyl alcohol into the human body was kind of jaw-dropping .
”

Donald Trump has stunned viewers by suggesting people could receive injections of disinfectant to cure the coronavirus, a notion one medical expert described as “jaw-dropping”.
At Thursday’s White House coronavirus taskforce briefing, the US president mused on new government research into how the virus reacts to different temperatures, climates and surfaces.
Trump said: “And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute! And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds interesting to me.”
Dr Deborah Birx, the taskforce response coordinator, remained silent. But social media erupted in outrage at the president, who has a record of defying science and also floated the idea of treating patients’ bodies with ultraviolet (UV) light.
Several doctors warned the public against injecting disinfectant or using UV light and a leading household cleaner manufacturer urged users not to inject it into their bodies.
Reckitt Benckiser, the British-based maker of Dettol and Lysol, said in a statement: “We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).”
Political commentators joined the condemnation. Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and a former labor secretary, tweeted: “Trump’s briefings are actively endangering the public’s health. Boycott the propaganda. Listen to the experts. And please don’t drink disinfectant.”
Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics, added: “It is incomprehensible to me that a moron like this holds the highest office in the land and that there exist people stupid enough to think this is OK. I can’t believe that in 2020 I have to caution anyone listening to the president that injecting disinfectant could kill you.”
Trump was already facing a backlash over his championing of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, as a therapy for the coronavirus, a quixotic effort amplified by the conservative network Fox News. Research has found no evidence that it is beneficial and a government vaccine expert has claimed he was fired for limiting its use.
Undeterred, on Thursday Trump showcased an “emerging result” from Department of Homeland Security research that indicates coronavirus appears to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat and humidity, raising hopes that it could become less contagious in summer months.
Bill Bryan, the acting homeland security undersecretary for science and technology, said at the briefing: “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus – both surfaces and in the air. We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity or both is generally less favourable to the virus.”
Researchers found that the virus survives best indoors and in dry conditions, and loses potency when temperatures and humidity rise. Bryan said: “The virus dies the quickest in the presence of direct sunlight under these conditions.”
He showed a slide summarising the results of the experiment that were carried out at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center. He also said tests had been carried out with disinfectants and isopropyl alcohol, specifically in saliva or in respiratory fluids.
“And I can tell you that bleach will kill the virus in five minutes; isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds, and that’s with no manipulation, no rubbing – just spraying it on and letting it go. You rub it and it goes away even faster. We’re also looking at other disinfectants, specifically looking at the Covid-19 virus in saliva.”
Trump prompted awkwardness when he asked if Dr Birx had heard of heat and light in relation to coronavirus. ‘Not as a treatment,’ she said. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock
Trump seized on the findings to refer back to a claim he made on 14 February that warm weather might kill the virus, like common flu, noting that he had been criticised by the media. “I think a lot of people are going to go outside, all of a sudden, people that didn’t want to go outside,” he said.
And he asked Bryan an extraordinary question: “So I asked Bill a question that probably some of you are thinking of, if you’re totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous – whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light – and I think you said that that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it.
“And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that too. It sounds interesting.”
Bryan responded: “We’ll get to the right folks who could.”
UV rays are an invisible type of radiation that can penetrate and damage skin cells, and overexposure can cause skin cancer. How much sunlight would be needed to have an effect on the coronavirus is unknown. The virus has caused heavy death tolls in warm-weather areas such as Louisiana and Florida, and Singapore has seen a recent surge in cases.
A Washington Post reporter asked if it was dangerous for Trump to make people think they would be safe by going outside in summer heat. The president turned to Bryan and said: “I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there’s any way that you can apply light and heat to cure.
“Maybe you can, maybe you can’t. Again, I say, maybe you can, maybe you can’t. I’m not a doctor.”
In a cringeworthy moment, he asked Birx if she had ever heard of heat and light in relation to the coronavirus. “Not as a treatment,” she said, explaining that the body responds to the virus with a fever.
When the Post reporter pressed further, Trump retorted: “I’m the president and you’re fake news … I’m just here to present talent, I’m here to present ideas.”
Experts questioned why the homeland security report had been promoted at the briefing. Dr Irwin Redlener, the director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told MSNBC: “Everything that this scientist talked about from homeland security was basically incoherent, nonsensical, not really supported by evidence and really quite contrary to a lot of things that we do know about some of the things he was saying.
“First of all, people do get Covid, have been getting Covid in warm climates. Second of all, this issue with UV light is hypothetical, but also UV light can be very harmful and we did not hear anything resembling a balanced discussion of what the evidence is for and against UV light, but it’s certainly not ready for prime time.”
He added: “The very fact that the president actually asked somebody about what sounded like injecting disinfectants or isopropyl alcohol into the human body was kind of jaw-dropping.”


theguardian--2020-04-24--Trump says federal distancing guidelines could extend into summer – as it happened

While the president ’ s suggestions that light and disinfectact could be injected into people as a cure for the coronavirus has attracted the most attention tonight , we ’ ve also been wondering about the emerging research that the DHS ’ s Bill Bryan presented during the daily White House briefing .
“ Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus , both surfaces and in the air , ” Bryan said .
The research he referenced has yet to be published or validated .
David Brenner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research at Columbia University Medical Center told The Guardian that “ Prima facie , the suggestion that solar light will have an effect on the Covid-19 pandemic seems implausible.
” There are different types of UV light : UVA and UVB are the ones we encounter as the ones that can cause sunburns , tanning and sun damage .
UVC gets mostly filtered out by the Earth ’ s ozone later — “ there is almost no UVC in the sunlight that reaches us , ” Brenner says .
But it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brenner ’ s research looks into a type of UVC light that he and his colleagues believe has the potential to kill the Covid-19 virus , while being safe for exposure to humans .

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

24 Apr 2020 02.20 BST Summary During the daily White House press briefing, the DHS’ Bill Bryan presented emerging research suggesting that sunlight, heat and humidity could slow the coronavirus. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air,” he said. But the findings have not been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. Previous research has suggested that sunlight is unlikely to kill the novel coronavirus.
“Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air,” he said. But the findings have not been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. Previous research has suggested that sunlight is unlikely to kill the novel coronavirus. Donald Trump suggested that light and disinfectant could be injected into people’s bodies as a cure for coronavirus. His public health advisors immediately played down the idea. Medics warn that attempting such at thing at home is very dangerous and could be fatal.
His public health advisors immediately played down the idea. Medics warn that attempting such at thing at home is very dangerous and could be fatal. The president ignored questions about Dr Rick Bright, who said he would file a whistleblower complaint after being removed from his role overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Bright said he was removed from his post overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine at the department of health and human services because he refused to promote hydroxychloroquine as a potential coronavirus treatment. Trump has repeatedly touted the drug as a cure despite limited evidence.
Bright said he was removed from his post overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine at the department of health and human services because he refused to promote hydroxychloroquine as a potential coronavirus treatment. Trump has repeatedly touted the drug as a cure despite limited evidence. The House approved a $484bn coronavirus relief bill, which the president said he would sign into law. The package would boost a depleted loan program for small businesses and provide funding for hospitals and coronavirus testing efforts. Only five representatives voted against the bill. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was the only one to oppose it, maintaining that it didn’t provide enough relief for medical facilities.
The package would boost a depleted loan program for small businesses and provide funding for hospitals and coronavirus testing efforts. Only five representatives voted against the bill. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was the only one to oppose it, maintaining that it didn’t provide enough relief for medical facilities. Congress also approved a resolution to create a select committee to review the distribution of coronavirus relief funds. The final vote was 212-182 and fell exactly along party lines, with Republicans unanimously voting against the Democratic proposal. .
The final vote was 212-182 and fell exactly along party lines, with Republicans unanimously voting against the Democratic proposal. . Few Americans trust Trump as a source for information on the pandemic. According to a new AP/NORC poll, only 23% of Americans say they have high levels of trust in the information the president shares. Another 21% say they have a moderate amount of trust in his information.
According to a new AP/NORC poll, only 23% of Americans say they have high levels of trust in the information the president shares. Another 21% say they have a moderate amount of trust in his information. New York governor Andrew Cuomo fiercely criticized Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell for suggesting states should declare bankruptcy instead of receiving more federal funds. The Democratic governor called McConnell’s suggestion “one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” and he said McConnell’s warning against “bailouts” for Democratic states was “irresponsible” and “reckless.”
The Democratic governor called McConnell’s suggestion “one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” and he said McConnell’s warning against “bailouts” for Democratic states was “irresponsible” and “reckless.” Elizabeth Warren announced her older brother died of coronavirus this week. The Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate had not previously disclosed that her brother, Don Reed Herring, had tested positive for the virus.
24 Apr 2020 02.05 BST More info on sunlight and the coronavirus While the president’s suggestions that light and disinfectact could be injected into people as a cure for the coronavirus has attracted the most attention tonight, we’ve also been wondering about the emerging research that the DHS’s Bill Bryan presented during the daily White House briefing. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air,” Bryan said. The research he referenced has yet to be published or validated. David Brenner, who directs the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center told The Guardian that “Prima facie, the suggestion that solar light will have an effect on the Covid-19 pandemic seems implausible.” There are different types of UV light: UVA and UVB are the ones we encounter as the ones that can cause sunburns, tanning and sun damage. UVC gets mostly filtered out by the Earth’s ozone later — “there is almost no UVC in the sunlight that reaches us,” Brenner says. But it’s mostly UVC light that contains antimicrobial properties. Brenner’s research looks into a type of UVC light that he and his colleagues believe has the potential to kill the Covid-19 virus, while being safe for exposure to humans.
24 Apr 2020 01.07 BST Medics are reminding the public to disregard Trump’s suggestion that disinfectant could be injected into the body to cure coronavirus. Injecting disinfectant into your body will kill you. While it feels completely unnecessary to even say this, people drank fish tank cleaner containing chloroquine because of what they heard from rumors about the substance. We must fight deadly misinformation no matter how stupid. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 24, 2020 As a physician, I can’t recommend injecting disinfectant into the lungs or using UV radiation inside the body to treat COVID-19. Don’t take medical advice from Trump. https://t.co/YcZXJXfSxu — Kashif Mahmood (@kashmood) April 23, 2020 The President of the United States is calling for UV light therapy for COVID (External or endoluminal?!?!). Also injecting or ingesting disinfectants.....I just can’t believe that after almost 900k cases and 50k deaths in 60 days...this is our elected leader :( https://t.co/WU2ado1Jlg — Robert Lookstein MD, MHCDL (@roblookstein) April 23, 2020
Updated at 01.08 BST
23 Apr 2020 00.49 BST Julia Carrie Wong Hydroxychloroquine – an old anti-malarial drug that is today more commonly used to treat lupus – has become another partisan political wedge issue in the US: conservative politicians and media figures have hyped studies that support the theory that the drug is a potential treatment. And on Wednesday, Rick Bright, the head of a US government agency charged with investing in treatments and responses for pandemics, said he was forced out of his job over his resistance to the administration’s “misguided directives” promoting “broad use” of the drug, which he said “clearly lack scientific merit”. The limited evidence around hydroxychloroquine so far has come in a steady stream of scientific studies, often as soon as they are posted online as “preprints” – ie before they have gone through the rigorous vetting process known as peer review. None of the studies that have been released meet the gold standard for demonstrating a drug’s effectiveness – a large-scale, double-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT), though multiple trials of that kind are under way. While the world awaits those results, here’s a guide to some of the studies released thus far: Hydroxychloroquine and coronavirus: a guide to the scientific studies so far Read more
23 Apr 2020 00.24 BST During the briefing, the president evaded questions about Rick Bright, the vaccine expert who says he was removed from his post after resisting the president’s push to use hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus without proper vetting and testing. Bright said he would file a whistleblower complaint, after being reassigned from his post overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine. President Trump doesn’t answer multiple questions about Rick Bright, who alleges his removal was retaliation. The White House has not really pushed back on his allegations in any formal capacity. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 23, 2020 Read more: Top vaccine expert claims he was fired for resisting Trump on hydroxychloroquine Read more
Updated at 00.39 BST
23 Apr 2020 00.00 BST Fact check: Testing As he does almost daily during his briefings, Trump repeated the claim that the US has done “more tests than all other countries combined”. This is not true. Moreover, overall, the US had administered more than 4.6m coronavirus tests, according to the Covid Tracking Project. From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329m, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 71 people – a bit better than to South Korea’s rate of 1 in every 90 people. But Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. In America, despite the recent increase in testing, backlogs are reported in labs across the country, and many people with symptoms – including health workers – are still struggling to access tests.
Updated at 03.16 BST
23 Apr 2020 23.57 BST The briefing has ended. Trump finished by criticizing the media (“CNN is fake news. Don’t talk to me.”), the “fake Russia, Russia, Russia deal” and the “illegal witch hunt,” and implying that the media is giving Joe Biden “a pass”.
23 Apr 2020 23.55 BST The president is “not happy about Brian Kemp” Trump said, referring to the governor of Georgia, who has moved ahead with a plan to reopen businesses despite criticisms from the president and other Republican and Democratic lawmakers. “I don’t want this thing to flare up because you’re deciding to do something that’s not in the guidelines,” Trump said.
23 Apr 2020 23.47 BST “Medical doctors,” should see “if there any way to apply light and heat to cure”, the president said. He asked Dr Deborah Birx if that’s possible. Fevers are the body’s way of apply heat to treat itself, but she hasn’t heard of it being used as a treatment, she responded. “It’s just a suggestion,” Trump said. “If heat is good and if sunlight it good, that’s. a great thing as far as I’m concerned.”
23 Apr 2020 23.44 BST Will federal distancing guidelines be extended until summer? “We may, we may go beyond that - we’ll have to see where it is. Until we feel it’s safe, we’re going to be extending,” Trump said.
The president’s message today is much different than what he’s said earlier this week.
23 Apr 2020 23.32 BST We cannot immediately fact-check Bryan on the emerging research he is presenting on the effect of heat, light, and humidity on the coronavirus, but we’ll circle back to it. As I noted earlier, while there are a few preliminary studies suggest that hotter temperatures could slow the virus, most of this research so far has not been through a rigorous process of peer review.
Updated at 23.43 BST
23 Apr 2020 23.28 BST The DHS’s Bryan is asked about the president’s suggestions that disinfectants be injected into a person. “We don’t do that within our lab,” Bryan said. “Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t work,” Trump interjected — but a disinfectant like isopropyl alcohol definitely has an effect on “stationary objects.” Note: If you are not a stationary object and are, in fact, a person, please follow medical advice and do not inject disinfectant into your body.
Updated at 03.32 BST
23 Apr 2020 23.19 BST “Supposing you brought the light inside the body - either through the skin or some other way,” Trump wondered. He also mused about ways to use disinfectants on people, “by injections inside or almost a cleaning.” “It’d be interesting to check that,” the president said. “You’d have to use medical doctors.”
23 Apr 2020 23.17 BST The DHS has worked with Johns Hopkins to test how the virus in droplets of saliva and respiratory fluids survives at different temperatures, Bryan said. The virus survives best indoors, in dry conditions. UV rays and hotter, more humid temps cut down the halflife of the virus.
Updated at 00.38 BST


theguardian--2020-04-24--Tara Reade says Joe Biden sexually assaulted her. She deserves to be heard | Katie Halper

Critics of Tara Reade – the woman who has accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 , when she was a staff assistant in his Senate office – claim that if her story were credible she would have told it sooner ; and the mainstream media would have covered it .
In fact , as her tweets and emails to reporters , media outlets , politicians and organizations demonstrate , Reade has been trying to tell her story for nearly a year , but was ignored or turned away .
That is why she wound up telling her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me on my podcast .
I ’ m an independent writer and podcaster .
I don ’ t hide my politics , nor am I an “ objective ” investigative reporter with the resources of a legacy publication .
But in March , a friend , herself a sexual assault survivor , said she ’ d spoken to a woman named Tara Reade , who had told her a credible story about being sexually assaulted by Joe Biden and asked me to speak with her .
I agreed to speak to Reade and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told about the alleged assault at the time , and if her story seemed credible , I ’ d do my best to put her in touch with a journalist who could do her story justice .
I spoke to Reade and her confidants , and reviewed documents .
There seemed much to Reade ’ s story , and I moved ahead to find her help .
The Intercept ’ s Ryan Grim , who broke the Christine Blasey Ford allegation against Brett Kavanaugh , was already working on a piece on Reade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the not-for-profit founded to support women in telling their # MeToo stories – and its refusal to help her .
I reached out to mainstream reporters but no one bit .
Rightwing reporters were showing interest in the story , but neither I nor Reade , a lifelong Democrat who identifies as a progressive feminist , wanted her story and the # MeToo movement weaponized to help Trump .
Because I believed Reade – and feared no one else would report her story – I released my interview a day after Grim published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read Reade ’ s heart-wrenching account yourself , but to summarize her claims : she says she brought Joe Biden his gym bag as she ’ d been instructed .
The two of them were alone and that is when she says “ he just had me up against the wall and his hands were on me and underneath my clothes .
And then he went down my skirt , but then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers ... Everything shattered in that moment.
” Reade ’ s good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , who lived at the same residence and interned for another senator at the time , told me that Reade called her after the incident : “ When I said , ‘ Did you feel like you could walk away ?
’ , [ Tara ] said no .
And that his hand went where it shouldn ’ t below the belt ...
He said something that made [ Tara ] feel like a grain of dust… small and insignificant .
On the phone ... you can ’ t see someone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when someone ’ s voice is shaking ... She was definitely confused , disoriented.
” Reade ’ s brother also remembers learning about the incident : “ First my mom told me about it .
She was up in arms .
And I was like I don ’ t know what happened .
I think my sister was trying to spare me.
” Indeed , Reade did try to spare her younger brother somewhat but , as he told me , “ I remember my sister being specifically asked to handle a gym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had her up against the wall and made a hand move under her clothes.
” Both Grim ’ s article and my interview were followed by a deafening silence , with only a handful of outlets covering the story .
Two articles sought to justify why the mainstream media didn ’ t cover it .
At Salon , one writer attributed the lack of media attention to a number of “ red flags ” , including that Reade ’ s story had “ changed over time ” , when in fact Reade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is common among survivors of sexual assault .
The writer also pointed out that before 2019 her “ public statements about Biden were entirely positive ” .
( Harvey Weinstein ’ s lawyers advanced the same discredited argument against his accusers , who praised him both publicly and privately after their alleged assaults . )
Jezebel suggested the media was ignoring the story “ because of the way Halper ... aired the allegations ” , and “ lets Reade speak uninterrupted , leaving her to tearfully stumble over her story ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s hard to justify the media ’ s refusal to give her a hearing .
When Grim broke Blasey Ford ’ s story , virtually every major US legacy news outlet considered it newsworthy enough to cover within four days .
But it took the New York Times 19 days to cover Reade ’ s story .
The article originally reported that it “ found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr Biden , beyond the hugs , kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable ” .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentence was deleted at the behest of the Biden campaign , as the paper ’ s executive editor actually admitted : “ The campaign thought that the phrasing was awkward and made it look like there were other instances in which he had been accused of sexual misconduct.
” The Washington Post , which took 20 days to report on the story , managed to misquote a police report Reade filed as saying she “ disclosed that she believes she was the victim of sexual assault ” .
But the words “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear in the actual police report .
Two interns the Times interviewed corroborated Reade ’ s allegation that she was removed of her duties supervising them ( in retaliation , she claimed , for reporting earlier sexual harassment ) .
The Times did not include a response from the campaign on her demotion .
And while Biden ’ s campaign has denied the sexual assault allegation , he has not .
In the dozen media events ( including a town hall ) since the story broke , not a single reporter has asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want Trump re-elected any more than the editors of the New York Times or Washington Post , or liberal feminists do .
Reade has told me , “ I tried so hard to be heard when there were 20 running .
I have never supported , nor will I ever support Trump .
I am never voting Republican.
” But she can not vote in a presidential election , she ’ s said , “ between the man who assaulted me and a man who has committed similar assaults on other women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be asked to choose between two candidates , both of whom face credible allegations of sexual assault .
That ’ s not on Tara Reade .
Political leaders , the media and victims ’ advocates for months have refused to honor Reade ’ s request to be heard , sacrificing not only one woman but basic principles at the heart of the Democratic party and the survivors ’ justice movement that brave Democratic women helped build .
• None Katie Halper is the host of the Katie Halper show

Critics of Tara Reade – the woman who has accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, when she was a staff assistant in his Senate office – claim that if her story were credible she would have told it sooner; and the mainstream media would have covered it. In fact, as her tweets and emails to reporters, media outlets, politicians and organizations demonstrate, Reade has been trying to tell her story for nearly a year, but was ignored or turned away. That is why she wound up telling her story publicly for the first time to me on my podcast.
I’m an independent writer and podcaster. I don’t hide my politics, nor am I an “objective” investigative reporter with the resources of a legacy publication. But in March, a friend, herself a sexual assault survivor, said she’d spoken to a woman named Tara Reade, who had told her a credible story about being sexually assaulted by Joe Biden and asked me to speak with her. I agreed to speak to Reade and the people she said she’d told about the alleged assault at the time, and if her story seemed credible, I’d do my best to put her in touch with a journalist who could do her story justice. I spoke to Reade and her confidants, and reviewed documents. There seemed much to Reade’s story, and I moved ahead to find her help.
The Intercept’s Ryan Grim, who broke the Christine Blasey Ford allegation against Brett Kavanaugh, was already working on a piece on Reade focused on Time’s Up – the not-for-profit founded to support women in telling their #MeToo stories – and its refusal to help her. I reached out to mainstream reporters but no one bit. Rightwing reporters were showing interest in the story, but neither I nor Reade, a lifelong Democrat who identifies as a progressive feminist, wanted her story and the #MeToo movement weaponized to help Trump. Because I believed Reade – and because no one else she had reached out to had agreed to interview her – I released my interview a day after Grim published his article.
While Biden’s campaign has denied the sexual assault allegation, he has not
You can hear and read Reade’s heart-wrenching account yourself, but to summarize her claims: she says she brought Joe Biden his gym bag as she’d been instructed. The two of them were alone and that is when she says “he just had me up against the wall and his hands were on me and underneath my clothes. And then he went down my skirt, but then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers ... Everything shattered in that moment.”
Reade’s good friend Jane (not her real name), who lived at the same residence and interned for another senator at the time, told me that Reade called her after the incident: “When I said, ‘Did you feel like you could walk away?’, [Tara] said no. And that his hand went where it shouldn’t below the belt...He said something that made [Tara] feel like a grain of dust… small and insignificant. On the phone...you can’t see someone’s facial expression… but you can tell when someone’s voice is shaking... She was definitely confused, disoriented.”
Reade’s brother also remembers learning about the incident: “First my mom told me about it. She was up in arms. And I was like I don’t know what happened. I think my sister was trying to spare me.” Indeed, Reade did try to spare her younger brother somewhat but, as he told me, “I remember my sister being specifically asked to handle a gym bag... And there was a moment he had her up against the wall and made a hand move under her clothes.”
Both Grim’s article and my interview were followed by a deafening silence, with only a handful of outlets covering the story. Two articles sought to justify why the mainstream media didn’t cover it. At Salon, one writer attributed the lack of media attention to a number of “red flags”, including that Reade’s story had “changed over time”, when in fact Reade provided more details over time, something that is common among survivors of sexual assault. The writer also pointed out that before 2019 her “public statements about Biden were entirely positive”. (Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers advanced the same discredited argument against his accusers, who praised him both publicly and privately after their alleged assaults.) Jezebel suggested the media was ignoring the story “because of the way Halper...aired the allegations”, and “lets Reade speak uninterrupted, leaving her to tearfully stumble over her story”.
Whether you believe Reade or not, it’s hard to justify the media’s refusal to give her a hearing. When Grim broke Blasey Ford’s story, virtually every major US legacy news outlet considered it newsworthy enough to cover within four days. But it took the New York Times 19 days to cover Reade’s story. The article originally reported that it “found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr Biden, beyond the hugs, kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable”. After the publication, the second part of the sentence was deleted at the behest of the Biden campaign, as the paper’s executive editor actually admitted: “The campaign thought that the phrasing was awkward and made it look like there were other instances in which he had been accused of sexual misconduct.” The Washington Post, which took 20 days to report on the story, managed to misquote a police report Reade filed as saying she “disclosed that she believes she was the victim of sexual assault”. But the words “she believes”, didn’t appear in the actual police report.
Two interns the Times interviewed corroborated Reade’s allegation that she was removed of her duties supervising them (in retaliation, she claimed, for reporting earlier sexual harassment). The Times did not include a response from the campaign on her demotion. And while Biden’s campaign has denied the sexual assault allegation, he has not. In the dozen media events (including a town hall) since the story broke, not a single reporter has asked him about it.
Election Day, Americans will be asked to choose between two candidates, both of whom face credible allegations of sexual assault. Nobody is more upset about this than Tara Reade: “I tried so hard to be heard when there were 20 Democrats running,” she told me. Juanita Broaddrick, who accused Bill Clinton of rape, became a Trump supporter when he cynically and opportunistically let her tell the story. But, Tara says, “I will never ever support Trump. I am never voting Republican.” Instead, Tara will not participate in an election “between the man who assaulted me and a man who has committed similar assaults on other women.”
We are in an excruciating situation with no easy solutions. Tara wants Biden to step down, understandably, as do others who see him as a disastrous candidate. Others wish Tara had been listened to before Biden was the last man standing, but now see no alternative. Both positions are understandable and neither should be shamed. But what is shameful is ignoring or belittling Tara because it’s politically inconvenient to grapple with her story. The powerful media, politicians and organizations who ignored her or didn’t take her seriously enough have no authority to say anything besides “I’m sorry,” and promise to do better, for Tara, women like her and the #MeToo movement they’ve already harmed.


theguardian--2020-04-24--Trump floats dangerous coronavirus treatment ideas as Dr Birx looks on – video

Donald Trump prompted a backlash from medical experts after floating the idea that they could look into heat , light @ @ @ @ @ a cure for Covid-19 .
His public health advisers immediately played down the idea , @ @ @ @ @ such ideas could be fatal .
Coronavirus response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx appeared caught off @ @ @ @ @ directly if heat and light would cure the deadly disease .
‘ Not as a @ @ @ @ @ • Coronavirus US live : Trump says federal distancing guidelines could extend into summer

Donald Trump prompted a backlash from medical experts after floating the idea that they could look into heat, light and injections of disinfectants as a cure for Covid-19. His public health advisers immediately played down the idea, and medics warn that trying such ideas could be fatal. Coronavirus response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx appeared caught off guard when Trump asked her directly if heat and light would cure the deadly disease. ‘Not as a treatment,' Birx replied


theguardian--2020-04-24--Joe Biden warns that Donald Trump may try to delay November election

Joe Biden said he is concerned Donald Trump will try to delay the November presidential election .
“ Mark my words , I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it can ’ t be held , ” Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , said on Thursday night in remarks at an online fundraiser .
Under the law , no president has the power to postpone the presidential election .
To change the date , Congress has to intervene .
Trump has not announced plans to delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a concern both political parties have raised .
The president has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of understanding about the limits on executive power , particularly when it comes to his own self-preservation .
The Covid-19 outbreak has also increased concerns about how to conduct in-person voting safely .
In response , many are pushing for an expansion of voting by mail .
Trump has used Covid-19 press briefings to make false claims about voting by mail , calling it “ corrupt ” and “ dangerous ” .
Earlier this month , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand voting by mail .
“ Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to state wide mail-in voting , ” Trump tweeted .
“ Democrats are clamoring for it .
Tremendous potential for voter fraud , and for whatever reason , doesn ’ t work out well for Republicans.
” At the fundraiser , Biden also referenced reporting by the Washington Post which revealed Trump ’ s reluctance to fund the US postal service and efforts to force changes to its financial structure , which could harm voting by mail .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
Now , what in God ’ s name is that about ?
Other than trying to let the word out that he ’ s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote , ” Biden said .
“ That ’ s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.
” The Covid-19 outbreak has already reshaped the 2020 campaign .
The candidates are campaigning from home and at a stage in the cycle when the election tends to dominate news coverage , reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also shared a broader concern about interference in the presidential election by Russia and two unnamed “ major actors ” .
“ I promise you the Russians did interfere in our [ 2016 ] election and I guarantee you they are doing it again with two other major actors , ” Biden said .
“ You can be assured between [ Trump ] and the Russians there is going to be an attempt to interfere.
” In response to Biden ’ s comments , the Trump campaign said in a statement : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality .
Perhaps he also missed the news that the infamous Steele Dossier , central to the Russian Collusion Hoax , was likely compiled with Russian disinformation .
That ’ s the real Russian collusion .
”

Joe Biden said he is concerned Donald Trump will try to delay the November presidential election.
“Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said on Thursday night in remarks at an online fundraiser.
Under the law, no president has the power to postpone the presidential election. To change the date, Congress has to intervene.
Trump has not announced plans to delay the 3 November election, but it is a concern both political parties have raised. The president has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of understanding about the limits on executive power, particularly when it comes to his own self-preservation.
The Covid-19 outbreak has also increased concerns about how to conduct in-person voting safely. In response, many are pushing for an expansion of voting by mail.
Trump has used Covid-19 press briefings to make false claims about voting by mail, calling it “corrupt” and “dangerous”. Earlier this month, Trump also urged Republicans to fight efforts to expand voting by mail.
“Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to state wide mail-in voting,” Trump tweeted. “Democrats are clamoring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason, doesn’t work out well for Republicans.”
At the fundraiser, Biden also referenced reporting by the Washington Post which revealed Trump’s reluctance to fund the US postal service and efforts to force changes to its financial structure, which could harm voting by mail.
“Imagine threatening not to fund the post office. Now, what in God’s name is that about? Other than trying to let the word out that he’s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote,” Biden said. “That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.”
The Covid-19 outbreak has already reshaped the 2020 campaign. The candidates are campaigning from home and at a stage in the cycle when the election tends to dominate news coverage, reporters are instead focused on Covid-19.
Biden also shared a broader concern about interference in the presidential election by Russia and two unnamed “major actors”.
“I promise you the Russians did interfere in our [2016] election and I guarantee you they are doing it again with two other major actors,” Biden said. “You can be assured between [Trump] and the Russians there is going to be an attempt to interfere.”
In response to Biden’s comments, the Trump campaign said in a statement: “Those are the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality. Perhaps he also missed the news that the infamous Steele Dossier, central to the Russian Collusion Hoax, was likely compiled with Russian disinformation. That’s the real Russian collusion.”