shareblue--2020-03-20--News you might have missed: Wyoming makes it easier for Native Americans to vote

Even in the middle of a crisis , there are bits of good news .
In towns and cities across the country , everyday people are coming up with innovative ways to support neighbors , children , and small businesses impacted by the global pandemic .
Maryland took a step forward on gun safety , and Kansas Democrats implemented a plan to ensure everyone can vote .
Read on to see what you might have missed this week in the news .
Wyoming makes it easier for Native Americans to vote The governor of Wyoming signed legislation supported by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarify laws surrounding the use of tribal IDs to register to vote , KPVI reported March 13 .
The law now allows a tribal ID to be used as identification to register , so long as the ID has either a driver 's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number printed on it .
`` What this bill does is provide clear expectations to the tribes , every county and the state regarding tribal IDs , '' state Rep. Andi Clifford ( D ) told KPVI .
Tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to use a tribal ID without additional information , but `` we kind of met halfway to some degree on this , '' said Eastern Shoshone Business Council co-chair Karen Snyder .
Both chambers of the Maryland Legislature have approved a bill to require background checks on all purchases of rifles and shotguns , the Jurist reported on Wednesday .
The new law would extend the background check requirement to private sales and permanent gifts , in addition to purchases from licensed dealers .
The bill passed the House of Delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Senate by a 31-14 margin .
If Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , signs the bill , it would go into effect on Oct. 1 .
Grocery store workers in Minnesota are now classified as emergency personnel , according to the state 's Democratic governor , NBC News reported on Thursday .
Through an executive order , Gov .
Tim Walz declared that store clerks , stockers , food preparation personnel , cleaning staff , and deli staff at grocery stores are now `` Emergency Tier 2 '' workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for free child care provided by the state .
Kansas will mail ballots to every Democrat in the state for its primary The Kansas Democratic Party will mail a primary ballot to every registered Democrat in the state ahead of the May 2 primary , according to a March 17 press statement .
The party will mail the ballots on March 30 , and voters will be able to fill them out and mail them back .
Ballots must be postmarked by Friday , April 24 , or they may be dropped off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , May 2 , between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. Central Time .
The Kansas Democratic Party `` is committed to doing our part to keep our party members , candidates , elected officials , and the public at large safe during this uncertain time , '' Vicki Hiatt , who serves as chair , said in a statement .
Voters can still vote in person on May 2 , but the party is encouraging people to take advantage of the vote-by-mail option .
Voter turnout this week was higher than 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida the primary this week than in 2016 , another sign that voter enthusiasm is high going into the 2020 election .
Illinois , which also voted on Tuesday along with Florida and Arizona , showed a slight decline in voter turnout this year .
Former Vice President Joe Biden won all three states , besting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and effectively cementing the nomination .
Democrats in Alaska , Hawaii , and Wyoming are scheduled to vote on April 4 , followed by Wisconsin on April 7 .
Solar accounted for 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. solar industry accounted for more new energy capacity in 2019 than wind and gas , according to recent analysis by global energy consultant group Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association .
PV Magazine first reported the findings on Tuesday .
According to last year 's U.S .
Solar Market Insight report , solar providers installed panels accounting for 23 % more energy production than in 2018 .
Solar also accounted for `` nearly 40 % of all new electricity generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2019 . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeds 76 gigawatts , compared to just one gigawatt in 2009 .
On Monday , Grammy-award winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed part of a Bach cello suite that he dedicated to health care workers .
`` This is for the healthcare workers on the frontlines — the Sarabande from Bach 's Cello Suite No .
3 , '' Ma wrote in a tweet accompanying the video .
`` Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope . ''
Ma has filmed himself performing other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Songs of Comfort .
`` Music always has been comforting to me , this is what I do , and this is the best that I can offer , '' Ma told PBS News Hour .
`` And I know many people are doing everything they can from what they know .
And this is just something that I can do . ''
Check back next week for more news you might have missed .

Even in the middle of a crisis, there are bits of good news.
In towns and cities across the country, everyday people are coming up with innovative ways to support neighbors, children, and small businesses impacted by the global pandemic.
Maryland took a step forward on gun safety, and Kansas Democrats implemented a plan to ensure everyone can vote.
Yo-Yo Ma shared a moving video dedicated to frontline health care workers.
Read on to see what you might have missed this week in the news.
The governor of Wyoming signed legislation supported by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes to clarify laws surrounding the use of tribal IDs to register to vote, KPVI reported March 13.
The law now allows a tribal ID to be used as identification to register, so long as the ID has either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number printed on it.
“What this bill does is provide clear expectations to the tribes, every county and the state regarding tribal IDs,” state Rep. Andi Clifford (D) told KPVI.
Tribal leaders would have preferred that Native Americans be allowed to use a tribal ID without additional information, but “we kind of met halfway to some degree on this,” said Eastern Shoshone Business Council co-chair Karen Snyder.
Both chambers of the Maryland Legislature have approved a bill to require background checks on all purchases of rifles and shotguns, the Jurist reported on Wednesday.
The new law would extend the background check requirement to private sales and permanent gifts, in addition to purchases from licensed dealers. The bill passed the House of Delegates by an 87-47 vote, and the state Senate by a 31-14 margin.
If Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signs the bill, it would go into effect on Oct. 1.
Grocery store workers in Minnesota are now classified as emergency personnel, according to the state’s Democratic governor, NBC News reported on Thursday.
Through an executive order, Gov. Tim Walz declared that store clerks, stockers, food preparation personnel, cleaning staff, and deli staff at grocery stores are now “Emergency Tier 2” workers. The declaration allows those workers to qualify for free child care provided by the state.
The Kansas Democratic Party will mail a primary ballot to every registered Democrat in the state ahead of the May 2 primary, according to a March 17 press statement.
The party will mail the ballots on March 30, and voters will be able to fill them out and mail them back. Ballots must be postmarked by Friday, April 24, or they may be dropped off at the voter’s polling location on Saturday, May 2, between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. Central Time.
The Kansas Democratic Party “is committed to doing our part to keep our party members, candidates, elected officials, and the public at large safe during this uncertain time,” Vicki Hiatt, who serves as chair, said in a statement.
Voters can still vote in person on May 2, but the party is encouraging people to take advantage of the vote-by-mail option.
More Democrats cast ballots in Arizona and Florida the primary this week than in 2016, another sign that voter enthusiasm is high going into the 2020 election.
Illinois, which also voted on Tuesday along with Florida and Arizona, showed a slight decline in voter turnout this year.
Former Vice President Joe Biden won all three states, besting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and effectively cementing the nomination.
Democrats in Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming are scheduled to vote on April 4, followed by Wisconsin on April 7.
The U.S. solar industry accounted for more new energy capacity in 2019 than wind and gas, according to recent analysis by global energy consultant group Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
PV Magazine first reported the findings on Tuesday.
According to last year’s U.S. Solar Market Insight report, solar providers installed panels accounting for 23% more energy production than in 2018. Solar also accounted for “nearly 40% of all new electricity generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2019.”
Total solar capacity in the U.S. now exceeds 76 gigawatts, compared to just one gigawatt in 2009.
On Monday, Grammy-award winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed part of a Bach cello suite that he dedicated to health care workers.
“This is for the healthcare workers on the frontlines — the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3,” Ma wrote in a tweet accompanying the video. “Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope.”
This is for the healthcare workers on the frontlines — the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3. Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope. #songsofcomfort pic.twitter.com/s9e35RW03N — Yo-Yo Ma (@YoYo_Ma) March 16, 2020
Ma has filmed himself performing other short pieces, referring to the effort as Songs of Comfort.
“Music always has been comforting to me, this is what I do, and this is the best that I can offer,” Ma told PBS News Hour. “And I know many people are doing everything they can from what they know. And this is just something that I can do.”
Check back next week for more news you might have missed.


shareblue--2020-03-20--Trump brings back adviser who said workers were 'better off' not being paid

Kevin Hassett , Donald Trump 's former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers , is returning to the White House amid the economic fallout surrounding the coronavirus pandemic , the Hill reported on Friday .
Hassett will return temporarily to serve as an adviser to Trump on economic policy in his personal capacity , meaning he will not be a government employee .
Hassett , who served as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers from April 2017 through June 2019 , has a long record of controversial statements .
After Trump initiated a partial government shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hassett defended him , saying that federal workers might be better off not receiving a paycheck .
`` A huge share of government workers were going to take vacation days , say between Christmas and New Year 's , '' Hassett told PBS NewsHour in January 2019 .
`` And then we have a shutdown , and so they can ’ t go to work .
So then they have the vacation , but they do n't have to use their vacation days . ''
Hassett concluded , `` In some sense , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shutdown , 1 in 4 federal workers were forced to visit a food bank to feed themselves and their families .
Hassett also failed to downplay concerns about companies impacted by Trump 's ongoing trade war with China .
`` There are a heck of a lot of U.S. companies that have sales in China that are going to be watching their earnings being downgraded next year until we get a deal with China , '' Hassett told CNN in January 2019 .
The trade war with China indeed hurt many businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's farmers , many of whom were forced to file for bankruptcy .
The rate of farmer suicides has also increased as families struggled with the repercussions of the trade war .
Earlier this week , Hassett told CNN that `` the odds of a global recession are close to 100 % right now , '' because of the ongiong coronavirus pandemic .
His gloom and doom predictions did n't stop there .
`` I think the U.S. , we 're going to have a very terrible second quarter , '' Hassett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran the numbers ... carefully over the weekend , and we think the second quarter is going to be minus 5 % , and we think the jobs number in early April might me as much as minus a million or so , because ... nobody 's going to get hired next week . ''
The Trump administration spent weeks in February and early March ignoring and downplaying the significance of the coronavirus outbreak .
As recently as March 10 , Trump waved off concerns about the growing pandemic , saying , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing a great job with it . ''
He added that `` it will go away .
Just stay calm .
It will go away . ''
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health pandemic the very next day .
With the stock markets now plummeting , the White House is turning to Hassett to help deal with the dire economic situation .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Kevin Hassett, Donald Trump’s former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, is returning to the White House amid the economic fallout surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Hill reported on Friday.
Hassett will return temporarily to serve as an adviser to Trump on economic policy in his personal capacity, meaning he will not be a government employee.
Hassett, who served as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers from April 2017 through June 2019, has a long record of controversial statements.
After Trump initiated a partial government shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019, Hassett defended him, saying that federal workers might be better off not receiving a paycheck.
“A huge share of government workers were going to take vacation days, say between Christmas and New Year’s,” Hassett told PBS NewsHour in January 2019. “And then we have a shutdown, and so they can’t go to work. So then they have the vacation, but they don’t have to use their vacation days.”
Hassett concluded, “In some sense, they’re better off.”
During the shutdown, 1 in 4 federal workers were forced to visit a food bank to feed themselves and their families.
Hassett also failed to downplay concerns about companies impacted by Trump’s ongoing trade war with China.
“There are a heck of a lot of U.S. companies that have sales in China that are going to be watching their earnings being downgraded next year until we get a deal with China,” Hassett told CNN in January 2019.
The trade war with China indeed hurt many businesses and took a huge toll on the nation’s farmers, many of whom were forced to file for bankruptcy. The rate of farmer suicides has also increased as families struggled with the repercussions of the trade war.
Earlier this week, Hassett told CNN that “the odds of a global recession are close to 100% right now,” because of the ongiong coronavirus pandemic. His gloom and doom predictions didn’t stop there.
“I think the U.S., we’re going to have a very terrible second quarter,” Hassett added. “You know we just ran the numbers … carefully over the weekend, and we think the second quarter is going to be minus 5%, and we think the jobs number in early April might me as much as minus a million or so, because … nobody’s going to get hired next week.”
The Trump administration spent weeks in February and early March ignoring and downplaying the significance of the coronavirus outbreak.
As recently as March 10, Trump waved off concerns about the growing pandemic, saying, “We’re prepared, and we’re doing a great job with it.” He added that “it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.”
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health pandemic the very next day.
With the stock markets now plummeting, the White House is turning to Hassett to help deal with the dire economic situation.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-20--Trump attacks reporter for asking what his message is to scared Americans

When asked for a message to Americans who are scared during the coronavirus pandemic , Trump attacked the media for asking the question .
From a March 20 White House press conference on the coronavirus pandemic : PETER ALEXANDER ( NBC ) : What do you say to Americans who are scared , though ?
Nearly 200 dead , 14,000 who are sick , millions — as you witnessed — who are scared right now .
What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared ?
DONALD TRUMP : I say that you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I say .
I think that 's a very nasty question .
And I think it 's a very bad signal you 're putting out to the American people .
The American people are looking for answers and they 're looking for hope .
And you 're doing sensationalism .
And the same way that NBC and `` Concast '' — I do n't call it Comcast , I call it `` Concast . ''
Let me just tell you something : That 's really bad reporting .
And you ought to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let 's see if it works .
It might , and it might not .
I happen to feel good about it , but who knows ?
I 've been right a lot .
Let 's see what happens .

From a March 20 White House press conference on the coronavirus pandemic:
PETER ALEXANDER (NBC): What do you say to Americans who are scared, though? Nearly 200 dead, 14,000 who are sick, millions — as you witnessed — who are scared right now. What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?
DONALD TRUMP: I say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I say.
I think that’s a very nasty question. And I think it’s a very bad signal you’re putting out to the American people. The American people are looking for answers and they’re looking for hope.
And you’re doing sensationalism. And the same way that NBC and “Concast” — I don’t call it Comcast, I call it “Concast.”
Let me just tell you something: That’s really bad reporting.
And you ought to get back to reporting instead of sensationalism.
Let’s see if it works. It might, and it might not. I happen to feel good about it, but who knows? I’ve been right a lot.
Let’s see what happens.


shareblue--2020-03-20--Trump's abortion obsession is now standing in the way of coronavirus treatment

Donald Trump is angling for a cure to the coronavirus outbreak , but thanks to his hardline anti-abortion stance , he 's not interested enough to allow government researchers to use fetal tissue to help fight the virus .
Fetal tissue is obtained with the consent of people who have abortions , making it a frequent target of anti-abortion politicians .
A government immunologist at a National Institutes of Health laboratory has been asking the NIH to lift the ban on fetal tissue research during the pandemic .
The Trump administration imposed that ban last year , despite the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is very eager to show the world that the United States has a vaccine for the coronavirus .
He reportedly tried to get a German company to make a vaccine for America only , an effort the German government wholeheartedly rejected .
On Thursday , he did a press conference where he bragged about a potential vaccine , a claim the FDA had to immediately rebut , noting that it has n't approved the drug for that use .
But the one thing he wo n't do , apparently , is allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it relies on fetal tissue .
Researchers who spoke to the Washington Post explained that nongovernmental scientists have made significant strides using fetal tissue in research on coronaviruses similar to COVID-19 .
Those researchers have offered to work with the NIH to infect to run experiments on potential treatments .
However , none of that can happen because one of Trump 's key goals is appeasing anti-abortion hardliners .
That was evident from his choice of Mike Pence as his running mate , and together he and Pence have decimated abortion access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to any organization that even discusses abortion with patients .
High-profile anti-abortion groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List have gotten unprecedented access to the White House to push a radical anti-abortion agenda .
This underpins the recent campaign by Trump and Republican lawmakers to promote lies about later abortions being akin to `` infanticide , '' along with the recent flurry of `` abortion survivor protection '' bills meant to threaten doctors who perform the procedure .
In actuality , fetal tissue research is highly regulated .
The National Institutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tissue may be obtained and used .
There are federal laws that specifically prohibit acquiring or transferring any fetal tissue for profit .
Anyone that supplies fetal tissue has to show that informed consent was obtained when the tissue is collected .
Using fetal tissue a new idea .
Researchers have used it since the 1930s and fetal tissue led to developing a polio vaccine .
It 's also been used to test the efficacy of the German measles vaccine .
In an ironic twist , fetal tissue is also used to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in a decrease in miscarriages .
Fetal tissue has been used in research to help treat immune system mismatches between the mother and fetus , detect genetic and metabolic diseases in the fetus , and to help develop techniques to treat hypertension and heart disease in mothers .
However , in June of last year , the Health and Human Services Department abruptly ended the ability of scientists to use fetal tissue in medical research .
Those researchers were looking into diseases like cancer , Alzheimer 's , and Parkinson 's — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , Trump 's anti-abortion obsession is blocking research into a cure for a deadly pandemic .

Donald Trump is angling for a cure to the coronavirus outbreak, but thanks to his hardline anti-abortion stance, he’s not interested enough to allow government researchers to use fetal tissue to help fight the virus.
Fetal tissue is obtained with the consent of people who have abortions, making it a frequent target of anti-abortion politicians.
A government immunologist at a National Institutes of Health laboratory has been asking the NIH to lift the ban on fetal tissue research during the pandemic. The Trump administration imposed that ban last year, despite the fact that fetal tissue research is vital.
Trump is very eager to show the world that the United States has a vaccine for the coronavirus. He reportedly tried to get a German company to make a vaccine for America only, an effort the German government wholeheartedly rejected.
On Thursday, he did a press conference where he bragged about a potential vaccine, a claim the FDA had to immediately rebut, noting that it hasn’t approved the drug for that use.
But the one thing he won’t do, apparently, is allow a promising line of research to continue because it relies on fetal tissue.
Researchers who spoke to the Washington Post explained that nongovernmental scientists have made significant strides using fetal tissue in research on coronaviruses similar to COVID-19. Those researchers have offered to work with the NIH to infect to run experiments on potential treatments.
However, none of that can happen because one of Trump’s key goals is appeasing anti-abortion hardliners. That was evident from his choice of Mike Pence as his running mate, and together he and Pence have decimated abortion access, including barring Title X federal funds going to any organization that even discusses abortion with patients.
High-profile anti-abortion groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List have gotten unprecedented access to the White House to push a radical anti-abortion agenda. This underpins the recent campaign by Trump and Republican lawmakers to promote lies about later abortions being akin to “infanticide,” along with the recent flurry of “abortion survivor protection” bills meant to threaten doctors who perform the procedure.
In actuality, fetal tissue research is highly regulated. The National Institutes of Health provides guidance on how fetal tissue may be obtained and used. There are federal laws that specifically prohibit acquiring or transferring any fetal tissue for profit. Anyone that supplies fetal tissue has to show that informed consent was obtained when the tissue is collected.
Using fetal tissue isn’t a new idea. Researchers have used it since the 1930s and fetal tissue led to developing a polio vaccine. It’s also been used to test the efficacy of the German measles vaccine.
In an ironic twist, fetal tissue is also used to help understand fetal development, and may ultimately result in a decrease in miscarriages. Fetal tissue has been used in research to help treat immune system mismatches between the mother and fetus, detect genetic and metabolic diseases in the fetus, and to help develop techniques to treat hypertension and heart disease in mothers.
However, in June of last year, the Health and Human Services Department abruptly ended the ability of scientists to use fetal tissue in medical research. Those researchers were looking into diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s — diseases that affect millions of Americans.
Now, Trump’s anti-abortion obsession is blocking research into a cure for a deadly pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-20--US warns Americans against traveling overseas

The Trump administration has upgraded its already dire warning to Americans against all international travel as the coronavirus outbreak spreads .
At the same time , the State Department disclosed the first positive coronavirus test in a Washington-based employee and announced new restrictions on the issuance of passports to U.S. citizens .
The department on Thursday issued a new travel alert urging Americans not to go abroad under any circumstances and to return home if they are already abroad unless they plan to remain overseas .
It then said passport applications for U.S. citizens at home and abroad would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19 , '' it said in the new advice .
`` In countries where commercial departure options remain available , U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States , unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period .
U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel . ''
Until the upgrade , the department 's advice to U.S. citizens was to “ reconsider ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ level three ” alert .
The global “ level four ” warning was unprecedented , as such alerts are generally reserved for specific countries embroiled in conflict or natural disasters , or where Americans face specific risks .
However , the upgrade will likely have little practical effect because it is not mandatory and there are now limited transportation options for international travel .
The only way to ban Americans from going abroad would be to invalidate the use of U.S. passports for such travel , a bar that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition , the main impact of State Department travel alerts is to cause insurance companies to increase premiums or cancel travel policies for group and individual tours , many of which had been scrapped even before the alert was raised to level three earlier this week .
The department has already advised Americans that many U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are operating with reduced staff and hours due to the COVID-19 outbreak and that services for Americans in need of assistance are limited .
Shortly after the travel alert was updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , it would “ only accept passport applications from customers with life-or-death emergencies who plan to travel within 72 hours.
” It also said that expedited passport issuance would be suspended and that some application centers , such as public libraries , court clerks ' offices , and post offices , may stop accepting applications altogether .
The new passport issuance restrictions came after the first Washington-based State Department employee tested positive for the disease caused by the virus , known as COVID-19 .
The department did not identify where in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the matter said it is an annex known as SA-17 that houses the main passport office .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter .
“ Staff who work in the impacted area were directed by supervisors , in coordination with the Bureau of Medical Services , to take the necessary precautions , ” the department said .
“ The space has been assessed and is being deliberately and professionally disinfected today ( and ) will be ready for occupancy tomorrow @ @

The Trump administration has upgraded its already dire warning to Americans against all international travel as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. At the same time, the State Department disclosed the first positive coronavirus test in a Washington-based employee and announced new restrictions on the issuance of passports to U.S. citizens.
The department on Thursday issued a new travel alert urging Americans not to go abroad under any circumstances and to return home if they are already abroad unless they plan to remain overseas. It then said passport applications for U.S. citizens at home and abroad would be severely curtailed.
“The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19,” it said in the new advice. “In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel.”
Until the upgrade, the department’s advice to U.S. citizens was to “reconsider” all international travel under what is known as a “level three” alert. The global “level four” warning was unprecedented, as such alerts are generally reserved for specific countries embroiled in conflict or natural disasters, or where Americans face specific risks.
However, the upgrade will likely have little practical effect because it is not mandatory and there are now limited transportation options for international travel. The only way to ban Americans from going abroad would be to invalidate the use of U.S. passports for such travel, a bar that is currently in place only for North Korea.
In addition, the main impact of State Department travel alerts is to cause insurance companies to increase premiums or cancel travel policies for group and individual tours, many of which had been scrapped even before the alert was raised to level three earlier this week.
The department has already advised Americans that many U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are operating with reduced staff and hours due to the COVID-19 outbreak and that services for Americans in need of assistance are limited.
Shortly after the travel alert was updated, the department announced that, beginning on Friday, it would “only accept passport applications from customers with life-or-death emergencies who plan to travel within 72 hours.” It also said that expedited passport issuance would be suspended and that some application centers, such as public libraries, court clerks’ offices, and post offices, may stop accepting applications altogether.
The new passport issuance restrictions came after the first Washington-based State Department employee tested positive for the disease caused by the virus, known as COVID-19. The department did not identify where in Washington the employee works, but officials familiar with the matter said it is an annex known as SA-17 that houses the main passport office. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
“Staff who work in the impacted area were directed by supervisors, in coordination with the Bureau of Medical Services, to take the necessary precautions,” the department said. “The space has been assessed and is being deliberately and professionally disinfected today (and) will be ready for occupancy tomorrow.”


shareblue--2020-03-20--GOP made sure Sen. Burr would be replaced by a Republican if he resigns

Sen. Richard Burr ( R-NC ) is facing calls to resign after news broke that he dumped as much as $ 1.7 million in stock ahead of the market 's steep downturn following the coronavirus outbreak .
Burr chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee — which was receiving daily classified briefings about the virus at the time of his sale .
Critics say that makes Burr 's sale unethical , as he possibly used information the rest of the public did not have in order to save himself money amid the stock market slide .
It 's unclear if Burr will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his actions .
In trying to excuse Burr 's actions , his spokesperson said in a statement to Politico , `` Senator Burr filed a financial disclosure form for personal transactions made several weeks before the U.S. and financial markets showed signs of volatility due to the growing coronavirus outbreak . ''
Of course , that explanation is exactly what is drawing criticism .
A poll from the progressive organization Data for Progress showed that 50 % of North Carolina voters want Burr to resign .
If Burr resigned , Democratic Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But unlike many states , where the governor is free to choose whomever they want to fill the vacancy , Cooper would be forced to pick a Republican .
That 's because in 2018 , the state 's GOP-controlled legislature changed the law to tie Cooper 's hand .
According to the law : That means that Cooper would be given a list of three Republicans to choose from .
The law change was one of a handful of ways the state 's Republican Legislature tried to strip Cooper of power after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Legislature weakened Cooper 's control of state elections , including trying to ensure that Republicans would chair state elections boards in every election year .
That law in particular was ruled unconstitutional .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) is facing calls to resign after news broke that he dumped as much as $1.7 million in stock ahead of the market’s steep downturn following the coronavirus outbreak.
Burr chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee — which was receiving daily classified briefings about the virus at the time of his sale.
Critics say that makes Burr’s sale unethical, as he possibly used information the rest of the public did not have in order to save himself money amid the stock market slide.
It’s unclear if Burr will resign — or face any consequences for his actions.
In trying to excuse Burr’s actions, his spokesperson said in a statement to Politico, “Senator Burr filed a financial disclosure form for personal transactions made several weeks before the U.S. and financial markets showed signs of volatility due to the growing coronavirus outbreak.”
Of course, that explanation is exactly what is drawing criticism.
A poll from the progressive organization Data for Progress showed that 50% of North Carolina voters want Burr to resign.
If Burr resigned, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would pick his replacement. But unlike many states, where the governor is free to choose whomever they want to fill the vacancy, Cooper would be forced to pick a Republican.
That’s because in 2018, the state’s GOP-controlled legislature changed the law to tie Cooper’s hand.
According to the law:
The governor shall appoint from a list of three persons recommended by the state executive committee of the political party with which the vacating member was affiliated when elected if that party executive committee makes recommendations within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
That means that Cooper would be given a list of three Republicans to choose from.
The law change was one of a handful of ways the state’s Republican Legislature tried to strip Cooper of power after he won in 2016.
Among other things, the Legislature weakened Cooper’s control of state elections, including trying to ensure that Republicans would chair state elections boards in every election year. That law in particular was ruled unconstitutional.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-20--NYC mayor pleads for help: 'Where in the hell is the federal government?'

The Trump administration has failed to provide multiple states and municipalities with adequate medical equipment to deal with the coronavirus .
From the March 20 edition of CNN 's `` CNN Newsroom '' : BILL DE BLASIO , Mayor of New York City ( D ) : Now , whether we would like it or not , we 're the epicenter .
And I have made repeated appeals to the federal government to get us basic medical supplies and there 's no meaningful response .
I 've appealed to the president to activate the United States military .
That could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , Poppy , that could save us , because they could mobilize quickly , effectively to get us medical supplies , personnel .
They could get the supplies that are elsewhere in the country here in record time .
We know what they can do in war time — they can do it in peacetime .
And you know where they are ?
They 're at their bases right now because the president of the United States , the commander-in-chief , has not given the order .
And I got people right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and a lot of them are older people , a lot of them are people who are suffering from other diseases .
If help does n't come we 're going to lose people who should not die .
People will die who should not die .
Because in two or three weeks my hospitals — some of the finest in the nation — will run out of ventilators , surgical masks , other protective gear , all the things that we need to run a hospital and provide care .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And they 're showing up , Poppy .
zthey keep coming to work .
DE BLASIO : And retirees , we asked retirees to come forward from the health care field , and over two thousand already in 48 hours have said , `` We volunteer .
We 're coming back to do this work to protect people . ''
But where the hell is the federal government in the middle of the biggest crisis we 've seen in generations ?

From the March 20 edition of CNN’s “CNN Newsroom”:
BILL DE BLASIO, Mayor of New York City (D): Now, whether we would like it or not, we’re the epicenter. And I have made repeated appeals to the federal government to get us basic medical supplies and there’s no meaningful response.
I’ve appealed to the president to activate the United States military. That could actually — the one force in this nation, Poppy, that could save us, because they could mobilize quickly, effectively to get us medical supplies, personnel. They could get the supplies that are elsewhere in the country here in record time.
We know what they can do in war time — they can do it in peacetime. And you know where they are? They’re at their bases right now because the president of the United States, the commander-in-chief, has not given the order.
And I got people right now, Poppy, in my city – and a lot of them are older people, a lot of them are people who are suffering from other diseases. If help doesn’t come we’re going to lose people who should not die.
People will die who should not die. Because in two or three weeks my hospitals — some of the finest in the nation — will run out of ventilators, surgical masks, other protective gear, all the things that we need to run a hospital and provide care.
And it will endanger our health care workers. And they’re showing up, Poppy. zthey keep coming to work.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN: I know.
DE BLASIO: And retirees, we asked retirees to come forward from the health care field, and over two thousand already in 48 hours have said, “We volunteer. We’re coming back to do this work to protect people.”
But where the hell is the federal government in the middle of the biggest crisis we’ve seen in generations?


shareblue--2020-03-20--Most renters who lost jobs won't get protections under Trump proposal

Most Americans who rent their home , many of whom have lost their jobs in the sudden economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak , will not be eligible for eviction protections , despite what Donald Trump said this week .
Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development ’ s plan released Wednesday , foreclosures and evictions would stop for 60 days on single-family homes with loans through the Federal Housing Administration .
That would apply to roughly 8 million units , according to HUD .
Only FHA homes lived in for at least a year can be rented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roughly 43 million households who rented in 2019 , according to the U.S. census .
Roughly half of renters rent their home from an individual investor , while the other half rent from a business or multi-unit property owner .
The ones renting from a business will not receive any protections according to HUD ’ s proposal .
`` That ’ s the problem with ( HUD 's proposal ) .
It only impacts a very small amount of people .
We need big-scale solutions , '' said Andrea Shapiro of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York-based housing advocacy organization .
Furthermore , HUD has no power to protect renters in public housing authorities located across the country .
HUD Secretary Ben Carson said this week on Twitter that the agency is working with Congress to get that authority to protect renters in public housing authorities .
“ HUD has been in contact with every Public Housing Agency in the country to ensure the millions of low-income Americans we serve continue to have a roof over their head , ” Carson said .
The rules are in contrast to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said renters would get “ immediate relief ” as part of his administration ’ s plan .
Housing advocates called the White House 's proposal a “ important first step , '' but said there are limitations to the policy that need to be addressed .
“ America ’ s lowest-income renters were already struggling to pay rent and make ends meet before this latest disaster , and people were experiencing homelessness .
Congress must implement a national moratorium on all evictions and foreclosures , ” said Diane Yentel , president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition .
Renters tend to be more economically vulnerable than their homeowner counterparts .
They have generally lower incomes and can not tap into the equity in their homes as a line of credit in case of an emergency .
A disproportionate number of renters are black , Hispanic , and other minorities .
Some cities and states , including San Francisco and Los Angeles , New York state , and Kentucky , have imposed their own eviction and foreclosure moratoriums in response to the coronavirus .
But the majority of states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop people from losing their homes .
Shapiro said the best solution at the moment would be a national moratorium on both rental payments and mortgage payments .
“ Everyone needs protections right now , ” she said .

Most Americans who rent their home, many of whom have lost their jobs in the sudden economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, will not be eligible for eviction protections, despite what Donald Trump said this week.
Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s plan released Wednesday, foreclosures and evictions would stop for 60 days on single-family homes with loans through the Federal Housing Administration. That would apply to roughly 8 million units, according to HUD. Only FHA homes lived in for at least a year can be rented out.
That’s compared with the roughly 43 million households who rented in 2019, according to the U.S. census. Roughly half of renters rent their home from an individual investor, while the other half rent from a business or multi-unit property owner. The ones renting from a business will not receive any protections according to HUD’s proposal.
“That’s the problem with (HUD’s proposal). It only impacts a very small amount of people. We need big-scale solutions,” said Andrea Shapiro of the Metropolitan Council on Housing, a New York-based housing advocacy organization.
Furthermore, HUD has no power to protect renters in public housing authorities located across the country. HUD Secretary Ben Carson said this week on Twitter that the agency is working with Congress to get that authority to protect renters in public housing authorities.
“HUD has been in contact with every Public Housing Agency in the country to ensure the millions of low-income Americans we serve continue to have a roof over their head,” Carson said.
The rules are in contrast to comments made by Trump this week, who said renters would get “immediate relief” as part of his administration’s plan.
Housing advocates called the White House’s proposal a “important first step,” but said there are limitations to the policy that need to be addressed.
“America’s lowest-income renters were already struggling to pay rent and make ends meet before this latest disaster, and people were experiencing homelessness. Congress must implement a national moratorium on all evictions and foreclosures,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Renters tend to be more economically vulnerable than their homeowner counterparts. They have generally lower incomes and cannot tap into the equity in their homes as a line of credit in case of an emergency. A disproportionate number of renters are black, Hispanic, and other minorities.
Some cities and states, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, New York state, and Kentucky, have imposed their own eviction and foreclosure moratoriums in response to the coronavirus. But the majority of states and localities have yet to step in to stop people from losing their homes.
Shapiro said the best solution at the moment would be a national moratorium on both rental payments and mortgage payments.
“Everyone needs protections right now,” she said.


shareblue--2020-03-20--GOP senators dumped stock before market crashed

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr ( R-NC ) sold as much as $ 1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the coronavirus epidemic .
Senate records show that Burr and his wife sold between roughly $ 600,000 and $ 1.7 million in more than 30 separate transactions in late January and mid-February , just before the market began to fall and as government health officials began to issue stark warnings about the effects of the virus .
Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels .
The stock sales were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Responsive Politics .
Most of them came on Feb. 13 , just before Burr made a speech in Washington , D.C. , in which he predicted severe consequences from the virus , including closed schools and cutbacks in company travel , according to audio obtained by National Public Radio and released Thursday .
Burr told the small North Carolina State Society audience that the virus was `` much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history '' and `` probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direr than remarks he had made publicly and came as Donald Trump was still downplaying the severity of the virus .
There is no indication that Burr had any inside information as he sold the stocks and issued the private warnings , according to the Associated Press .
The intelligence panel did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold , according to a person familiar with the matter .
The person declined to be identified to discuss confidential committee activity .
Burr said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned about the effects of the virus when he made the speech to the North Carolina State Society .
`` The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased , '' Burr wrote .
`` Be prepared . ''
Burr sent out the tweets before reports of his stock sales .
A spokesperson for the senator said in a statement that Burr `` has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help the economy .
The spokesperson declined to be identified in order to share the senator 's thinking .
The North Carolina senator was not the only lawmaker to sell off stocks just before the steep decline due to the global pandemic .
Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler , a new senator who is up for reelection this year , sold off hundreds of thousands of dollars ' worth of stock in late January , as senators began to get briefings on the virus , also according to Senate records .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituents to have faith in the Trump administration 's efforts to prepare the nation .
`` @ realDonaldTrump & his administration are doing a great job working to keep Americans healthy & safe , '' Loeffler tweeted Feb. 27 .
The Daily Beast first reported that Loeffler dropped the stock in late January .
The senator is married to Jeffrey Sprecher , the chair and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , which owns the New York Stock Exchange .

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr (R-NC) sold as much as $1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the coronavirus epidemic.
Senate records show that Burr and his wife sold between roughly $600,000 and $1.7 million in more than 30 separate transactions in late January and mid-February, just before the market began to fall and as government health officials began to issue stark warnings about the effects of the virus. Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels.
The stock sales were first reported by ProPublica and the Center for Responsive Politics. Most of them came on Feb. 13, just before Burr made a speech in Washington, D.C., in which he predicted severe consequences from the virus, including closed schools and cutbacks in company travel, according to audio obtained by National Public Radio and released Thursday.
Burr told the small North Carolina State Society audience that the virus was “much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history” and “probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.”
Burr’s remarks were much direr than remarks he had made publicly and came as Donald Trump was still downplaying the severity of the virus.
There is no indication that Burr had any inside information as he sold the stocks and issued the private warnings, according to the Associated Press.
The intelligence panel did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person declined to be identified to discuss confidential committee activity.
Burr said on Twitter Thursday that Americans were already being warned about the effects of the virus when he made the speech to the North Carolina State Society.
“The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased,” Burr wrote. “Be prepared.”
Burr sent out the tweets before reports of his stock sales. A spokesperson for the senator said in a statement that Burr “has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy” and supports congressional efforts to help the economy. The spokesperson declined to be identified in order to share the senator’s thinking.
The North Carolina senator was not the only lawmaker to sell off stocks just before the steep decline due to the global pandemic.
Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a new senator who is up for reelection this year, sold off hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock in late January, as senators began to get briefings on the virus, also according to Senate records.
In the weeks that followed, Loeffler urged her constituents to have faith in the Trump administration’s efforts to prepare the nation.
“@realDonaldTrump & his administration are doing a great job working to keep Americans healthy & safe,” Loeffler tweeted Feb. 27.
The Daily Beast first reported that Loeffler dropped the stock in late January. The senator is married to Jeffrey Sprecher, the chair and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange.


shareblue--2020-03-20--Cartoon: Bouncy Bouncy Beach Bums

Cartoon: Bouncy Bouncy Beach Bums

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-03-21--Coronavirus task force provides stability as Trump struggles with response

They meet in the windowless Situation Room , every day but Sunday , drawing an overflow crowd .
Fueled by coffee , doughnuts , and data , members of the White House coronavirus task force fill the secure basement conference room to parse new disease patterns as they weigh next steps in the fight against a virus that has dramatically altered American lives .
On one recent morning , renowned infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was conferenced in by telephone when he shared news that landed like a gut punch : World Health Organization data showed that younger people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than previously reported .
Barely an hour later , Dr. Deborah Birx , the task force coordinator , stood at the White House lectern to sound the alarm publicly .
`` There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some young people getting seriously ill , and very seriously ill in the ICUs , '' she said at Wednesday 's briefing .
It was hardly the first stomach-churning revelation to require a shift in guidance from the roughly 18-member task force , whose daily briefings from the White House press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely tracking the disease 's spread in the U.S .
Led by Mike Pence , rotating members of the task force take the podium for the briefings , often joined in recent days by Donald Trump himself .
It has made for some discordant images : officials packed in shoulder-to-shoulder as they instruct Americans to practice social distancing .
By late in the week , the officials were at least paring back their numbers on the riser and spacing themselves out somewhat .
But they were still contending with a president whose off-the-cuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stick-to-the-science messages .
On Thursday , for example , Trump took the mic to offer a rosy outlook for using existing drugs to fight the coronavirus , only to have the Food and Drug Administration later play clean-up , issuing a statement that there are no FDA-approved drugs to treat , cure , or prevent COVID-19 .
And then there 's Trump 's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner .
He 's been pursuing his own coronavirus efforts on a separate track , including working with private companies to set up mobile virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its part , soldiers on — brainstorming options , fielding calls from worried governors , trying to publicly explain Trump 's thinking — and sometimes working to change it .
Five people involved with the task force described its operations to The Associated Press , speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal operations .
From one day to the next , ideas that once seemed inconceivable to the task force — like shutting down most travel from Europe — are rolled out to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
When officials saw skyrocketing infection levels in Italy and cases bubbling up nearby , political leaders at one point recommended a Level 3 travel warning advising against nonessential travel to most of the continent .
Some in the room were stunned , however , when medical professionals in the group wanted to go even further .
It was an `` aha '' moment that drove home the gravity of the situation — and that idea was underscored when the news media responded without alarm .
Nine days later , the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against all travel .
While Trump has been faulted for his early efforts to play down the severity of the outbreak and for his loud airing of grievances against detractors during a time of crisis , the work of the task force in recent weeks has been largely met with praise .
Fauci has trended on Twitter .
Birx has been praised for her thoughtful , plain-spoken responses ( and her endless array of colorful scarves . )
And Pence has gotten credit , even from Democratic governors , for open lines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the panel has had to contend with criticism over shortages of tests and medical equipment , the shifting advice on the potential threat to young adults , and other matters .
The early days of the task force were more muddled .
When it was first created in January , the task force was seen as something of an interagency jumble .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , with whom Trump has sparred , was the titular head of a panel that included the acting — and soon-to-be ousted — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Deputies of various agencies were represented , but there was little consensus and a daunting array of bureaucratic hurdles .
Much of that changed after Feb. 26 , when Trump ordered Pence to take control of the response .
At that point , most Americans still were n't focused on the looming public health emergency .
Just a day earlier , Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Americans during a briefing that they had to prepare themselves for fairly severe social distancing .
The warning drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still trying to portray the outbreak as well-contained and hoping to minimize the impact on the stock market .
Pence moved quickly , bringing on Birx , a doctor who regards Fauci as her mentor , to serve as his top adviser on the pandemic .
And he expanded the task force to include officials who had been excluded earlier , including several who had feuded with Azar .
He also added Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow once it became clear that the crisis would have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifted staff work back to agencies as he reshaped the task force into a decision-making body modeled in part on the National Security Council .
The decision to hold meetings in the Situation Room was designed in part to cut down on extra staff and to prevent leaks .
Task force meetings have developed a familiar routine : Pence opens with the agenda for the day and turns it over to Birx , who provides an update on the outbreak along with CDC chief Dr. Robert Redfield .
Typically , the group limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjects that need decisions , matters ranging from which agency will run point on an issue to whether to restrict travel from another country .
Trump does n't usually attend , although he turned up more often in recent days as American life has been disrupted by the crisis .
So has Kushner , who last week was brought into the response effort after weeks of advising Trump to minimize the crisis to prevent public panic .
At the same time , the task force has moved to tighten the circle , cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are represented .
And while the task force originally met almost entirely in person , going forward there will be more leniency for calling in to promote social distancing , one aide said .
While Kushner 's effort to work with outside businesses has drawn scrutiny as part of a rival effort to combat the virus , officials described it as a complementary effort to the task force .
They cast the Kushner group as a sandbox where the businesses can work on creative solutions .
For most people , the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .

They meet in the windowless Situation Room, every day but Sunday, drawing an overflow crowd.
Fueled by coffee, doughnuts, and data, members of the White House coronavirus task force fill the secure basement conference room to parse new disease patterns as they weigh next steps in the fight against a virus that has dramatically altered American lives.
On one recent morning, renowned infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was conferenced in by telephone when he shared news that landed like a gut punch: World Health Organization data showed that younger people were becoming seriously ill at higher rates than previously reported.
Barely an hour later, Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, stood at the White House lectern to sound the alarm publicly.
“There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some young people getting seriously ill, and very seriously ill in the ICUs,” she said at Wednesday’s briefing.
It was hardly the first stomach-churning revelation to require a shift in guidance from the roughly 18-member task force, whose daily briefings from the White House press room are becoming must-see events for those closely tracking the disease’s spread in the U.S.
Led by Mike Pence, rotating members of the task force take the podium for the briefings, often joined in recent days by Donald Trump himself. It has made for some discordant images: officials packed in shoulder-to-shoulder as they instruct Americans to practice social distancing.
By late in the week, the officials were at least paring back their numbers on the riser and spacing themselves out somewhat. But they were still contending with a president whose off-the-cuff pronouncements sometimes undercut their carefully crafted, stick-to-the-science messages.
On Thursday, for example, Trump took the mic to offer a rosy outlook for using existing drugs to fight the coronavirus, only to have the Food and Drug Administration later play clean-up, issuing a statement that there are no FDA-approved drugs to treat, cure, or prevent COVID-19.
And then there’s Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner. He’s been pursuing his own coronavirus efforts on a separate track, including working with private companies to set up mobile virus test sites.
The task force, for its part, soldiers on — brainstorming options, fielding calls from worried governors, trying to publicly explain Trump’s thinking — and sometimes working to change it. Five people involved with the task force described its operations to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal operations.
From one day to the next, ideas that once seemed inconceivable to the task force — like shutting down most travel from Europe — are rolled out to the public, only to seem grossly inadequate days later.
When officials saw skyrocketing infection levels in Italy and cases bubbling up nearby, political leaders at one point recommended a Level 3 travel warning advising against nonessential travel to most of the continent.
Some in the room were stunned, however, when medical professionals in the group wanted to go even further. It was an “aha” moment that drove home the gravity of the situation — and that idea was underscored when the news media responded without alarm.
Nine days later, the State Department issued a global Level 4 warning against all travel.
While Trump has been faulted for his early efforts to play down the severity of the outbreak and for his loud airing of grievances against detractors during a time of crisis, the work of the task force in recent weeks has been largely met with praise.
Fauci has trended on Twitter. Birx has been praised for her thoughtful, plain-spoken responses (and her endless array of colorful scarves.) And Pence has gotten credit, even from Democratic governors, for open lines of communication with state officials. Even so, the panel has had to contend with criticism over shortages of tests and medical equipment, the shifting advice on the potential threat to young adults, and other matters.
The early days of the task force were more muddled.
When it was first created in January, the task force was seen as something of an interagency jumble. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, with whom Trump has sparred, was the titular head of a panel that included the acting — and soon-to-be ousted — White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Deputies of various agencies were represented, but there was little consensus and a daunting array of bureaucratic hurdles.
Much of that changed after Feb. 26, when Trump ordered Pence to take control of the response. At that point, most Americans still weren’t focused on the looming public health emergency.
Just a day earlier, Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Americans during a briefing that they had to prepare themselves for fairly severe social distancing. The warning drew the ire of Trump, who was still trying to portray the outbreak as well-contained and hoping to minimize the impact on the stock market.
Pence moved quickly, bringing on Birx, a doctor who regards Fauci as her mentor, to serve as his top adviser on the pandemic. And he expanded the task force to include officials who had been excluded earlier, including several who had feuded with Azar. He also added Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow once it became clear that the crisis would have a potentially catastrophic economic impact.
He also shifted staff work back to agencies as he reshaped the task force into a decision-making body modeled in part on the National Security Council.
The decision to hold meetings in the Situation Room was designed in part to cut down on extra staff and to prevent leaks. Task force meetings have developed a familiar routine: Pence opens with the agenda for the day and turns it over to Birx, who provides an update on the outbreak along with CDC chief Dr. Robert Redfield. Typically, the group limits its discussion to no more than three subjects that need decisions, matters ranging from which agency will run point on an issue to whether to restrict travel from another country.
Trump doesn’t usually attend, although he turned up more often in recent days as American life has been disrupted by the crisis. So has Kushner, who last week was brought into the response effort after weeks of advising Trump to minimize the crisis to prevent public panic.
At the same time, the task force has moved to tighten the circle, cutting out deputies and staff if their bosses are represented. And while the task force originally met almost entirely in person, going forward there will be more leniency for calling in to promote social distancing, one aide said.
While Kushner’s effort to work with outside businesses has drawn scrutiny as part of a rival effort to combat the virus, officials described it as a complementary effort to the task force. They cast the Kushner group as a sandbox where the businesses can work on creative solutions.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.


shareblue--2020-03-21--2 Americans imprisoned in Iran and Lebanon released

An American jailed for months in Lebanon was released from custody Thursday , while a Navy veteran was granted medical furlough from an Iran prison as the country struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus , U.S. officials said .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Michael White , imprisoned more than a year ago for insulting Iran 's supreme leader , was released to the Swiss Embassy as part of a furlough that will require him to remain in Iran .
The U.S. will work for his full release , Pompeo said .
The other American was Amer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had faced decades-old murder and torture charges in Lebanon that he denies .
He was ordered released by a judge because more than 10 years had passed since the crimes he was accused of committing .
The Trump administration trumpeted the twin releases , though done in different countries and for different reasons , as part of its efforts to secure the release of Americans held hostage or imprisoned abroad .
Officials including Donald Trump used the occasion to name additional Americans they want released , including journalist Austin Tice , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I want to let everyone know that recovering Americans held captive and imprisoned abroad continues to be a top priority for my administration , '' Trump said at a news conference .
White 's release , though temporary for the moment , came as Iran has furloughed tens of thousands of prisoners while struggling with the coronavirus , which Iranian officials fear could kill millions .
White , of Imperial Beach , California , was detained in Iran while visiting a girlfriend there in July 2018 .
He was sentenced to 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supreme leader and posting private information ; the State Department said he was serving a 13-year sentence .
His mother had called for White 's immediate release in an interview with the Associated Press this month , saying she was concerned about the well-being of her son and that he had been battling cancer .
`` He is in very good spirits , but has some pretty sustained health conditions that are going to require some attention , '' Brian Hook , the U.S. special envoy for Iran , said on a conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluated by doctors .
Fakhoury was on his way back to the United States after a judge in Lebanon ordered him released .
Fakhoury had been accused of torturing prisoners at a jail run by an Israeli-backed militia two decades ago .
He had been imprisoned since September after returning to Lebanon to visit family .
His case had put a significant strain on already troubled ties between the United States and Lebanon .
Lawmakers in Washington had threatened to withhold critical aid to the country and impose sanctions on the Lebanese military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration as a bulwark against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement .
`` Anytime a U.S citizen is wrongfully detained by a foreign government , we must use every tool at our disposal to free them , '' said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen ( D-NH ) , who had worked for his release .
`` I 'm very glad that Amer is finally coming home and will be reunited with his family .
No family should have to go through what the Fakhoury family has gone through . ''
His oldest daughter , Guila Fakhoury , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are so happy .
It 's a dream . ''
Fakhoury was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and had been hospitalized in Lebanon .
Trump said Fakhoury `` will now be able to receive the much needed care and treatment in the United States . ''
`` We 've been working very hard to get him freed , and he 's finally able to have his entire family at his side , '' Trump said .
Fakhoury was ordered to be released Monday because more than 10 years had passed since he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the South Lebanon Army militia .
But he was not immediately allowed to leave the country after a Lebanese military judge on Tuesday appealed the decision , asking a military tribunal to strike down the decision to free Fakhoury .
The parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah criticized the military tribunal for what it called `` succumbing '' to U.S. demands to release Fakhoury , describing him as `` an agent who betrayed his country . ''
Hezbollah lawmakers called on concerned authorities to hold the tribunal accountable .
Hours before Shaheen announced Fakhoury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopter was seen taking off from the U.S. embassy compound northeast of Beirut .
He was being returned to the U.S. in a State Department medical plane , said Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker .
Separately , hours after the release , the U.S. embassy announced that all of its nonessential personnel had been ordered to leave Lebanon .
An official in Washington said the decision to move to ordered departure was not connected to the release and was instead made due to the spread of the coronavirus and the uncertainty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with only emergency consular services available for American citizens for the foreseeable future .
Fakhoury is a former SLA member who became a U.S. citizen last year .
His case has been closely followed in New Hampshire , where Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him .
Fakhoury was jailed last year after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family .
Lebanon 's intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison , which was run by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of southern Lebanon .
Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture .
Fakhoury 's family and lawyer , however , said he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture .
Fakhoury 's family said in a statement said they have been through a nightmare `` that we would never wish on anyone . ''
They thanked Trump and members of his administration and said Fakhoury `` considers Shaheen his hero . ''
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis .
Fakhoury 's lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its occupation of Lebanon in 2000 .
Fakhoury was formally charged in February by a military judge with the murder and torture of inmates at Khiam Prison .

An American jailed for months in Lebanon was released from custody Thursday, while a Navy veteran was granted medical furlough from an Iran prison as the country struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus, U.S. officials said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Michael White, imprisoned more than a year ago for insulting Iran’s supreme leader, was released to the Swiss Embassy as part of a furlough that will require him to remain in Iran. The U.S. will work for his full release, Pompeo said.
The other American was Amer Fakhoury, a New Hampshire restaurant owner who had faced decades-old murder and torture charges in Lebanon that he denies. He was ordered released by a judge because more than 10 years had passed since the crimes he was accused of committing.
The Trump administration trumpeted the twin releases, though done in different countries and for different reasons, as part of its efforts to secure the release of Americans held hostage or imprisoned abroad. Officials including Donald Trump used the occasion to name additional Americans they want released, including journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria in 2012.
“I want to let everyone know that recovering Americans held captive and imprisoned abroad continues to be a top priority for my administration,” Trump said at a news conference.
White’s release, though temporary for the moment, came as Iran has furloughed tens of thousands of prisoners while struggling with the coronavirus, which Iranian officials fear could kill millions.
White, of Imperial Beach, California, was detained in Iran while visiting a girlfriend there in July 2018. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for insulting Iran’s supreme leader and posting private information; the State Department said he was serving a 13-year sentence.
His mother had called for White’s immediate release in an interview with the Associated Press this month, saying she was concerned about the well-being of her son and that he had been battling cancer.
“He is in very good spirits, but has some pretty sustained health conditions that are going to require some attention,” Brian Hook, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, said on a conference call. Hook said White would be evaluated by doctors.
Fakhoury was on his way back to the United States after a judge in Lebanon ordered him released. Fakhoury had been accused of torturing prisoners at a jail run by an Israeli-backed militia two decades ago. He had been imprisoned since September after returning to Lebanon to visit family.
His case had put a significant strain on already troubled ties between the United States and Lebanon. Lawmakers in Washington had threatened to withhold critical aid to the country and impose sanctions on the Lebanese military, which is seen by the Trump administration as a bulwark against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement.
“Anytime a U.S citizen is wrongfully detained by a foreign government, we must use every tool at our disposal to free them,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who had worked for his release. “I’m very glad that Amer is finally coming home and will be reunited with his family. No family should have to go through what the Fakhoury family has gone through.”
His oldest daughter, Guila Fakhoury, told the AP by phone, “We are so happy. It’s a dream.”
Fakhoury was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and had been hospitalized in Lebanon. Trump said Fakhoury “will now be able to receive the much needed care and treatment in the United States.”
“We’ve been working very hard to get him freed, and he’s finally able to have his entire family at his side,” Trump said.
Fakhoury was ordered to be released Monday because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by the South Lebanon Army militia. But he was not immediately allowed to leave the country after a Lebanese military judge on Tuesday appealed the decision, asking a military tribunal to strike down the decision to free Fakhoury.
The parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah criticized the military tribunal for what it called “succumbing” to U.S. demands to release Fakhoury, describing him as “an agent who betrayed his country.” Hezbollah lawmakers called on concerned authorities to hold the tribunal accountable.
Hours before Shaheen announced Fakhoury’s release, a U.S. Marine Osprey helicopter was seen taking off from the U.S. embassy compound northeast of Beirut. He was being returned to the U.S. in a State Department medical plane, said Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker.
Separately, hours after the release, the U.S. embassy announced that all of its nonessential personnel had been ordered to leave Lebanon. An official in Washington said the decision to move to ordered departure was not connected to the release and was instead made due to the spread of the coronavirus and the uncertainty of transportation. The embassy will be operating with only emergency consular services available for American citizens for the foreseeable future.
Fakhoury is a former SLA member who became a U.S. citizen last year. His case has been closely followed in New Hampshire, where Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him.
Fakhoury was jailed last year after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family. Lebanon’s intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by the SLA during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.
Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture.
Fakhoury’s family and lawyer, however, said he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture.
Fakhoury’s family said in a statement said they have been through a nightmare “that we would never wish on anyone.” They thanked Trump and members of his administration and said Fakhoury “considers Shaheen his hero.”
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel’s creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis.
Fakhoury’s lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its occupation of Lebanon in 2000.
Fakhoury was formally charged in February by a military judge with the murder and torture of inmates at Khiam Prison.


shareblue--2020-03-22--People are demanding vote by mail primaries. Change won't be easy.

Voting rights groups and the head of the Democratic National Committee want the states with remaining primary elections to offer voting by mail as a way to ensure that voters can safely cast their ballots amid the coronavirus outbreak .
A quick and easy fix ?
Not always .
For states that don ’ t already have voting by mail or that greatly restrict it , such a change could require amending state law .
It also would require major changes to state and county voting and tabulating systems .
Buying the equipment and software to track ballots and read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s not to mention deciding who pays for return postage — individual voters or taxpayers ?
So far this year , one state has moved quickly to mail ballots statewide for the November general election .
The top election official in Arizona , where about 80 % of voting is already by mail , asked the Legislature on Wednesday to give counties permission to mail ballots to all registered voters .
Other states are being more limited in scope : Maryland postponed its primary but decided to hold next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , West Virginia election officials said they would make fear of getting the coronavirus a valid excuse for getting an absentee ballot for its May 12 primary .
And the Democratic Party in Wyoming , which already was sending all its members ballots , has canceled the in-person portion of its presidential caucus .
As in Wyoming , the Democratic caucuses and primaries in Alaska , Hawaii , and Kansas were already to be held largely by mail this spring .
So far , none of the states postponing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Louisiana , Maryland , and Ohio — has said it will mail ballots statewide .
A bill in Louisiana seeking to expand vote-by-mail was introduced even before the state 's primary was pushed back , but it hasn ’ t received a legislative hearing and is opposed by the state ’ s top elections official .
Pennsylvania lawmakers eased absentee ballot rules last year , and now Democrats want to expand voting by mail .
Republicans , who control the Statehouse , have generally resisted voting changes , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overcome concerns about the costs of greatly expanding voting by mail .
In the absence of official action , some political and voting rights groups are vowing legal challenges .
On Wednesday , the Democratic National Committee and the Wisconsin Democratic Party filed a lawsuit seeking to force the state to extend the deadline to register to vote online or by mail , as well as to ease some ID requirements for voter registration and absentee ballot applications .
The suit also asks for mail ballots to be counted if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day .
Also Wednesday , voting rights advocacy group Common Cause called for states to suspend in-person voting at least for the next few weeks .
The group previously recommended expanded vote-by-mail access .
Opposition is n't unusual , typically because lawmakers or election officials believe voting by mail opens a pathway to voter fraud .
The ability to receive a ballot in the mail is greatly restricted in 16 states .
Those states allow absentee ballots only for voters who give a valid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they be requested for each election .
Of those , Delaware and New York are phasing in no-excuse mail voting .
The hurdles to implementing voting by mail for all voters is why states might be better off taking only small steps at first , said Charles Stewart , a professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
That could mean simply making absentee ballots easier to get .
“ Hastily implemented changes to voting rules and laws can end up causing all types of problems that you didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Jones , an election security expert at the University of Iowa , said universal mail voting also raises concerns about voters illegally selling blank ballots or being coerced to vote a certain way .
On Tuesday , after Ohio postponed its primary and poll workers failed to show up at some Florida and Illinois precincts , Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called a shift to voting largely by mail “ the simplest tool ” to balance health concerns and the need to carry out a fundamental function of democracy .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems where all voters are mailed ballots .
They can mail them back , drop them off at designated spots , or choose to vote in person on Election Day .
Oregon has been conducting elections that way since the 1990s .
Since then , California , Colorado , Hawaii , Utah , and Washington have implemented or begun phasing in similar systems .
With the coronavirus pandemic , the idea of voting by mail has generated more interest .
The National Vote at Home Institute advocates for a switch to a mail-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Said chief executive Amber McReynolds : “ It ’ s better than hoping people show up and aren ’ t scared , and hoping that you don ’ t have a giant poll worker shortage and hoping polling places aren ’ t closed .
”

Voting rights groups and the head of the Democratic National Committee want the states with remaining primary elections to offer voting by mail as a way to ensure that voters can safely cast their ballots amid the coronavirus outbreak.
A quick and easy fix? Not always.
For states that don’t already have voting by mail or that greatly restrict it, such a change could require amending state law. It also would require major changes to state and county voting and tabulating systems. Buying the equipment and software to track ballots and read the signatures on them could cost millions. And that’s not to mention deciding who pays for return postage — individual voters or taxpayers?
So far this year, one state has moved quickly to mail ballots statewide for the November general election. The top election official in Arizona, where about 80% of voting is already by mail, asked the Legislature on Wednesday to give counties permission to mail ballots to all registered voters.
Other states are being more limited in scope: Maryland postponed its primary but decided to hold next month’s special congressional election by mail. On Wednesday, West Virginia election officials said they would make fear of getting the coronavirus a valid excuse for getting an absentee ballot for its May 12 primary. And the Democratic Party in Wyoming, which already was sending all its members ballots, has canceled the in-person portion of its presidential caucus.
As in Wyoming, the Democratic caucuses and primaries in Alaska, Hawaii, and Kansas were already to be held largely by mail this spring. So far, none of the states postponing their primaries — Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Ohio — has said it will mail ballots statewide.
A bill in Louisiana seeking to expand vote-by-mail was introduced even before the state’s primary was pushed back, but it hasn’t received a legislative hearing and is opposed by the state’s top elections official. Pennsylvania lawmakers eased absentee ballot rules last year, and now Democrats want to expand voting by mail. Republicans, who control the Statehouse, have generally resisted voting changes, and it’s unclear whether the virus crisis is enough to overcome concerns about the costs of greatly expanding voting by mail.
In the absence of official action, some political and voting rights groups are vowing legal challenges. On Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee and the Wisconsin Democratic Party filed a lawsuit seeking to force the state to extend the deadline to register to vote online or by mail, as well as to ease some ID requirements for voter registration and absentee ballot applications. The suit also asks for mail ballots to be counted if they are received up to 10 days after the election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
Also Wednesday, voting rights advocacy group Common Cause called for states to suspend in-person voting at least for the next few weeks. The group previously recommended expanded vote-by-mail access.
Opposition isn’t unusual, typically because lawmakers or election officials believe voting by mail opens a pathway to voter fraud. The ability to receive a ballot in the mail is greatly restricted in 16 states.
Those states allow absentee ballots only for voters who give a valid reason to get one — and require they be requested for each election. Of those, Delaware and New York are phasing in no-excuse mail voting.
The hurdles to implementing voting by mail for all voters is why states might be better off taking only small steps at first, said Charles Stewart, a professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That could mean simply making absentee ballots easier to get.
“Hastily implemented changes to voting rules and laws can end up causing all types of problems that you didn’t anticipate,” he said.
Doug Jones, an election security expert at the University of Iowa, said universal mail voting also raises concerns about voters illegally selling blank ballots or being coerced to vote a certain way.
On Tuesday, after Ohio postponed its primary and poll workers failed to show up at some Florida and Illinois precincts, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called a shift to voting largely by mail “the simplest tool” to balance health concerns and the need to carry out a fundamental function of democracy.
A half-dozen states already have or are implementing systems where all voters are mailed ballots. They can mail them back, drop them off at designated spots, or choose to vote in person on Election Day.
Oregon has been conducting elections that way since the 1990s. Since then, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Utah, and Washington have implemented or begun phasing in similar systems.
With the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of voting by mail has generated more interest. The National Vote at Home Institute advocates for a switch to a mail-based voting system and consults with governments about it.
Said chief executive Amber McReynolds: “It’s better than hoping people show up and aren’t scared, and hoping that you don’t have a giant poll worker shortage and hoping polling places aren’t closed.”