shareblue--2020-04-25--FBI says coronavirus scams are on the rise

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the pandemic , including hackers who target hospitals and medical research institutions that are studying the coronavirus , the head of the FBI 's cyber division said Tuesday .
The FBI has received thousands of complaints regarding scams and frauds related to the virus , FBI Assistant Director Matt Gorham said in a statement responding to queries from The Associated Press .
`` Unfortunately , there 's a lot of precedent for criminals taking advantage of natural disasters and government relief packages to conduct fraud , including through cyber means , '' Gorham said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has received more than 3,600 complaints regarding coronavirus scams , he said .
This uptick gives the FBI an additional set of investigations to tackle at a time when its agents are already busy trying to combat economic espionage and ward off election interference .
The Justice Department has made it a priority to go after a broad variety of crimes related to the coronavirus outbreak , including cyber crimes .
`` From the start of this pandemic we 've been able to quickly take new information gleaned from our investigations , consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information which potential targets of this malicious activity can act on — including hospitals and research institutes , '' Gorham said .
In a separate interview last week , Gorham told the AP that committing cybercrime is easier than ever thanks to readily accessible tools for hackers .
`` Today you can go into a dark web and purchase exploits with little to no understanding of how they actually work , '' Gorham said , referring to hidden areas of the Internet that offer software tools that take advantage of vulnerabilities and can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry has lowered to the point where almost anyone can become involved in a hack , '' he added .
Even so , it remains a challenge for the FBI to assign blame for particular hacks .
`` Attribution , '' Gorham said , `` is always the most difficult part . ''
Aside from the coronavirus , the number of cyber threats remains concerning , Gorham said , particularly those involving the online theft of intellectual property , a crime that `` goes to the core of our economy . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years against Chinese government hackers accused of breaking into the networks of American companies , and announced charges stemming from a series of cyberattacks by a North Korean hacking team , including one on Sony Pictures Entertainment .
The FBI and other federal agencies remain on high alert heading into the presidential election about cyberattacks targeting campaigns and election infrastructure .
Russian hackers in 2016 stole emails belonging to Democrat Hillary Clinton 's campaign that were then published by WikiLeaks in what intelligence officials have said was an effort to help Republican Donald @ @

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the pandemic, including hackers who target hospitals and medical research institutions that are studying the coronavirus, the head of the FBI’s cyber division said Tuesday.
The FBI has received thousands of complaints regarding scams and frauds related to the virus, FBI Assistant Director Matt Gorham said in a statement responding to queries from The Associated Press.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of precedent for criminals taking advantage of natural disasters and government relief packages to conduct fraud, including through cyber means,” Gorham said.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 3,600 complaints regarding coronavirus scams, he said.
This uptick gives the FBI an additional set of investigations to tackle at a time when its agents are already busy trying to combat economic espionage and ward off election interference.
The Justice Department has made it a priority to go after a broad variety of crimes related to the coronavirus outbreak, including cyber crimes.
“From the start of this pandemic we’ve been able to quickly take new information gleaned from our investigations, consider other sources of intelligence, and share information which potential targets of this malicious activity can act on — including hospitals and research institutes,” Gorham said.
In a separate interview last week, Gorham told the AP that committing cybercrime is easier than ever thanks to readily accessible tools for hackers.
“Today you can go into a dark web and purchase exploits with little to no understanding of how they actually work,” Gorham said, referring to hidden areas of the Internet that offer software tools that take advantage of vulnerabilities and can facilitate hacking.
“The threshold of entry has lowered to the point where almost anyone can become involved in a hack,” he added.
Even so, it remains a challenge for the FBI to assign blame for particular hacks. “Attribution,” Gorham said, “is always the most difficult part.”
Aside from the coronavirus, the number of cyber threats remains concerning, Gorham said, particularly those involving the online theft of intellectual property, a crime that “goes to the core of our economy.”
The Justice Department has brought prosecutions in recent years against Chinese government hackers accused of breaking into the networks of American companies, and announced charges stemming from a series of cyberattacks by a North Korean hacking team, including one on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The FBI and other federal agencies remain on high alert heading into the presidential election about cyberattacks targeting campaigns and election infrastructure.
Russian hackers in 2016 stole emails belonging to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign that were then published by WikiLeaks in what intelligence officials have said was an effort to help Republican Donald Trump.


shareblue--2020-04-25--Hotels become barracks for health workers 'going to war'

The tourists and conventioneers who once filled the rooms of The New Yorker hotel are long gone , driven away by the coronavirus , but its lobby is still bustling .
The big art deco hotel in midtown Manhattan is one of several across the U.S. that have become barracks for an army of health care workers deployed to fight COVID-19 .
`` You come home , get your dinner , take a shower , get to sleep , and then do it all over again the next day , '' said physician assistant Shadoe Daniels through his mask in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where shoe sanitizing stations are a must-stop before guests head to the elevators .
The Honesdale , Pennsylvania , resident likened his workday to `` going to war . ''
More than 15,000 of the nation 's 56,000 hotels and motels are now offering rooms for emergency and health care workers , according to Chip Rogers , president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association .
Some health care workers have snagged free rooms at the Sophy Hyde Park hotel in Chicago or the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel New York .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up by staffing agencies hired to quickly bring reinforcements to overwhelmed hospitals .
At another time , hotels packed with out-of-town workers on a shared mission might have been buzzing like a college dorm , with nurses or doctors sharing drinks at the bar after shifts or heading out to a Broadway show .
But several health care workers staying at The New Yorker told the Associated Press that they are too exhausted after 12-hour workdays to do much more than shower , eat , exercise , read , and sleep .
Shuttered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
Zuri Longoria , a nurse from Aransas Pass , Texas , said she relieves stress from tending to dying patients by chatting with other medical volunteers like herself .
`` You ca n't share that type of bond with anybody else , '' Longoria said .
In the hotel 's ballroom , sanitizing materials rest on a table and prayer cards and handwritten well wishes from the community hang from a bulletin board .
`` Thank you for helping others in their time of need ! ''
reads one .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and small contributions seemed for the workers .
`` It 's not a lot and way less than you guys deserve !
Please be safe ! ''
it said .
Nathan Shapiro-Shellaby , a nurse anesthetist from Seattle , said he runs outdoors and meditates before boarding a shuttle bus for work at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens , which has been ground zero for the crisis .
After work , he 's sharpening his FaceTime and Zoom skills to maintain relationships .
`` That 's been one of my favorite things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear about family and friends from all around the world , '' Shapiro-Shellaby said .
Daniels said immediately after a shift he sanitizes his shoes , wipes down anything he carries with Clorox wipes , and drops his clothing in a laundry bag at his room .
`` Then I jump right in the shower .
My bedroom is like COVID-free , as much as it can be , '' Daniels said .
Daniels , Longoria , and Shapiro-Shellaby were recruited to New York by Krucial Staffing , which advertised that three-week stints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay $ 10,000 per week .
Two weeks ago , the Marriott hotel chain announced it would provide $ 10 million in free `` Rooms for Responders '' in New York City , New Orleans , Chicago , Detroit , Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Washington , D.C. , and Newark , New Jersey .
In less than two days , 6,200 nights in rooms had been booked , with 53 % of them in the New York area and 34 % in Los Angeles .
Hilton and American Express also teamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel room nights nationwide .
Rogers estimates that half of the hotels in the country are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
And most of the rest are operating with skeletal staffs .
Hotel authorities say most hotels still up and running are housing workers , while some have offered space for hospital operations or to provide rooms for the homeless or quarantined individuals .
`` It 's a win , win , win , '' said Kim Sabow , president of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association .
She said 300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
`` This is just a wonderful way in which the hotels can keep their doors open and give back at this horrific time of crisis . ''
Some hotels volunteered after California 's governor threatened to use the powers of the state to take over hotels .
`` Hotels were rightfully concerned .
At the same time , we had already heard hotels saying : 'Look , if this starts getting worse , they can use our hotel if they need to , ' '' Rogers recalled .
Michael Jacobson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , said Chicago and state officials asked hotels in early March to identify locations that could be used .
Some offered free rooms ; others offered them at cost .
Tight security ensures nobody breaks social distancing rules .
Rather than housecleaning , linens and towels are left outside rooms , along with meals .
`` Hotels are n't making a profit out of this .
It is allowing them to at least maintain some basic operations and frankly , keep at least a portion of their staff employed , '' Jacobson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step up , there 's no question about it , but I also knew that every hotel owner I know of is hurting right now , and hurting bad . ''

The tourists and conventioneers who once filled the rooms of The New Yorker hotel are long gone, driven away by the coronavirus, but its lobby is still bustling.
The big art deco hotel in midtown Manhattan is one of several across the U.S. that have become barracks for an army of health care workers deployed to fight COVID-19.
“You come home, get your dinner, take a shower, get to sleep, and then do it all over again the next day,” said physician assistant Shadoe Daniels through his mask in a ballroom converted into an intake area, where shoe sanitizing stations are a must-stop before guests head to the elevators.
The Honesdale, Pennsylvania, resident likened his workday to “going to war.”
More than 15,000 of the nation’s 56,000 hotels and motels are now offering rooms for emergency and health care workers, according to Chip Rogers, president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
Some health care workers have snagged free rooms at the Sophy Hyde Park hotel in Chicago or the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel New York.
Others, like Daniels, are being put up by staffing agencies hired to quickly bring reinforcements to overwhelmed hospitals.
At another time, hotels packed with out-of-town workers on a shared mission might have been buzzing like a college dorm, with nurses or doctors sharing drinks at the bar after shifts or heading out to a Broadway show.
But several health care workers staying at The New Yorker told the Associated Press that they are too exhausted after 12-hour workdays to do much more than shower, eat, exercise, read, and sleep. Shuttered bars, restaurants, and businesses limit options.
Zuri Longoria, a nurse from Aransas Pass, Texas, said she relieves stress from tending to dying patients by chatting with other medical volunteers like herself.
“You can’t share that type of bond with anybody else,” Longoria said.
In the hotel’s ballroom, sanitizing materials rest on a table and prayer cards and handwritten well wishes from the community hang from a bulletin board. “Thank you for helping others in their time of need!” reads one.
One note acknowledged how inadequate words, prayers, and small contributions seemed for the workers. “It’s not a lot and way less than you guys deserve! Please be safe!” it said.
Nathan Shapiro-Shellaby, a nurse anesthetist from Seattle, said he runs outdoors and meditates before boarding a shuttle bus for work at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, which has been ground zero for the crisis.
After work, he’s sharpening his FaceTime and Zoom skills to maintain relationships.
“That’s been one of my favorite things to do to kind of release stress and hear about family and friends from all around the world,” Shapiro-Shellaby said.
Daniels said immediately after a shift he sanitizes his shoes, wipes down anything he carries with Clorox wipes, and drops his clothing in a laundry bag at his room.
“Then I jump right in the shower. My bedroom is like COVID-free, as much as it can be,” Daniels said.
Daniels, Longoria, and Shapiro-Shellaby were recruited to New York by Krucial Staffing, which advertised that three-week stints for 400 nurses starting in mid-April would pay $10,000 per week.
Two weeks ago, the Marriott hotel chain announced it would provide $10 million in free “Rooms for Responders” in New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Newark, New Jersey. In less than two days, 6,200 nights in rooms had been booked, with 53% of them in the New York area and 34% in Los Angeles.
Hilton and American Express also teamed up to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights nationwide.
Rogers estimates that half of the hotels in the country are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. And most of the rest are operating with skeletal staffs.
Hotel authorities say most hotels still up and running are housing workers, while some have offered space for hospital operations or to provide rooms for the homeless or quarantined individuals.
“It’s a win, win, win,” said Kim Sabow, president of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association. She said 300 Arizona hotels had volunteered to house medical workers. “This is just a wonderful way in which the hotels can keep their doors open and give back at this horrific time of crisis.”
Some hotels volunteered after California’s governor threatened to use the powers of the state to take over hotels.
“Hotels were rightfully concerned. At the same time, we had already heard hotels saying: ‘Look, if this starts getting worse, they can use our hotel if they need to,'” Rogers recalled.
Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said Chicago and state officials asked hotels in early March to identify locations that could be used.
Some offered free rooms; others offered them at cost. Tight security ensures nobody breaks social distancing rules. Rather than housecleaning, linens and towels are left outside rooms, along with meals.
“Hotels aren’t making a profit out of this. It is allowing them to at least maintain some basic operations and frankly, keep at least a portion of their staff employed,” Jacobson said. “I knew folks would step up, there’s no question about it, but I also knew that every hotel owner I know of is hurting right now, and hurting bad.”


shareblue--2020-04-26--Coronavirus has 'been a nightmare' for New York emergency department

A nurse furiously pushes down on a man 's chest as five other caregivers in full protective gear surround the patient 's bed .
Suddenly , one throws up his arms and steps backward .
`` OK , move !
Everybody move ! ''
are the instructions .
Moments after they back away , an alarm sounds and the electrodes fastened to the patient 's chest deliver a shock to his heart .
His arm spasms .
He shakes on the bed .
Soon after , he is placed on a ventilator .
He has been saved — for now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center have not .
`` It 's been a nightmare .
We have a volume of sick people like you ca n't believe .
In one shift , I pronounced six people dead , '' said Dr. Anthony Leno , the hospital 's director of emergency medicine , who before the outbreak on average pronounced one dead in a 10-12 hour shift .
The Yonkers hospital , which sits near the Bronx border and serves one of the poorest sections of Westchester County 's largest city , has been besieged by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 280 staff members who were tested for the disease were positive — with another 25 to 30 still awaiting results , according to Dean Civitello , the vice president for human resources .
The Associated Press was granted access to the facility 's emergency room , which at one point earlier in the pandemic had 28 patients waiting to be treated and ambulances lined up outside with more , said Dr. James Neuendorf , Saint Joseph 's medical director .
Staff from other areas of the hospital was redeployed to manage patients and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ augment the hospital 's 194 acute-care beds .
The adjustments meant `` we were able to take care of a large number of patients — well above our numbers that we normally see on a daily basis , '' Neuendorf said .
More than 900 have died in Westchester , which had an early outbreak in neighboring New Rochelle in March before Yonkers became a hot spot .
At Saint Joseph 's , coronavirus-related symptoms accounted for more than 85 % of all admissions for a period of nearly four weeks from March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital knew the pandemic was going to crush them , since COVID-19 has proved particularly punishing for the largely minority population that makes up a significant portion of southwest Yonkers .
One particular challenge is that large families frequently live together in small homes , making it difficult to isolate sick ones .
And , Leno noted , there have been few effective therapies other than isolation .
`` We 've had many family members and groups , and we 've even had people from the same family who have died within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The community was hit so hard that a tent was erected outside the hospital on March 19 to accommodate the rush of people seeking to be tested .
In the first few days it was up , 150 to 175 people were examined each day to determine who should be tested , according to Catherine Hopkins , Saint Joseph 's director of school health and community relations .
Even some in the area who may otherwise be reluctant to seek medical care , fearing the loss of pay or in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effects of the coronavirus .
`` People are afraid , '' Hopkins said .
`` They 're scared .
Their relatives , their friends are dying . ''
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and lead to death .
Beyond the unprecedented medical challenges , the outbreak caused financial hardships for the Catholic hospital that has served Yonkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be bought or rented to meet Gov .
Andrew Cuomo 's mandate for hospitals to increase their capacity , and personal protective equipment had to be purchased at much higher costs than usual as normal suppliers ran out .
`` There 's a lot of people gouging out there .
A mask that cost 50 cents before are costing $ 7 , $ 8 each .
Gowns that would cost 50 cents as well , are $ 7 each .
Protective shields that were $ 1.25 , people looking for 25 bucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Saint Joseph 's chief financial officer .
`` So , cost is a significant issue . ''
As is the morale of the staff , who fear for their own health , are juggling responsibilities when their colleagues are ill and are bombarded — even more than usual — with death and disease .
`` It is tiring .
It is stressful , '' said chief nursing officer Margaret Cusumano , who has been back about three weeks after she had tested positive .
`` You 're watching people be sick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
It weighs on you mentally , physically . ''
Fewer patients are coming to Saint Joseph 's now .
Though there 's still a steady stream of patients wearing masks being wheeled into the ER every day , the staff is optimistic that the worst is over .
But there is also the fear that people will rush too quickly back to their lives — potentially triggering another flurry of infections .
`` They hear we 're over the plateau and they think , 'OK , it 's business as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not .
It ca n't be . ''

A nurse furiously pushes down on a man’s chest as five other caregivers in full protective gear surround the patient’s bed.
Suddenly, one throws up his arms and steps backward.
“OK, move! Everybody move!” are the instructions.
Moments after they back away, an alarm sounds and the electrodes fastened to the patient’s chest deliver a shock to his heart. His arm spasms. He shakes on the bed. Soon after, he is placed on a ventilator. He has been saved — for now.
Many more at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center have not.
“It’s been a nightmare. We have a volume of sick people like you can’t believe. In one shift, I pronounced six people dead,” said Dr. Anthony Leno, the hospital’s director of emergency medicine, who before the outbreak on average pronounced one dead in a 10-12 hour shift.
The Yonkers hospital, which sits near the Bronx border and serves one of the poorest sections of Westchester County’s largest city, has been besieged by the new coronavirus. Half of the approximately 280 staff members who were tested for the disease were positive — with another 25 to 30 still awaiting results, according to Dean Civitello, the vice president for human resources.
The Associated Press was granted access to the facility’s emergency room, which at one point earlier in the pandemic had 28 patients waiting to be treated and ambulances lined up outside with more, said Dr. James Neuendorf, Saint Joseph’s medical director.
Staff from other areas of the hospital was redeployed to manage patients and additional treatment areas were set up to augment the hospital’s 194 acute-care beds.
The adjustments meant “we were able to take care of a large number of patients — well above our numbers that we normally see on a daily basis,” Neuendorf said.
More than 900 have died in Westchester, which had an early outbreak in neighboring New Rochelle in March before Yonkers became a hot spot. At Saint Joseph’s, coronavirus-related symptoms accounted for more than 85% of all admissions for a period of nearly four weeks from March 20 to April 19.
Officials at the hospital knew the pandemic was going to crush them, since COVID-19 has proved particularly punishing for the largely minority population that makes up a significant portion of southwest Yonkers.
One particular challenge is that large families frequently live together in small homes, making it difficult to isolate sick ones. And, Leno noted, there have been few effective therapies other than isolation.
“We’ve had many family members and groups, and we’ve even had people from the same family who have died within days of each other,” Leno said.
The community was hit so hard that a tent was erected outside the hospital on March 19 to accommodate the rush of people seeking to be tested. In the first few days it was up, 150 to 175 people were examined each day to determine who should be tested, according to Catherine Hopkins, Saint Joseph’s director of school health and community relations.
Even some in the area who may otherwise be reluctant to seek medical care, fearing the loss of pay or in some cases deportation, showed up after seeing the effects of the coronavirus.
“People are afraid,” Hopkins said. “They’re scared. Their relatives, their friends are dying.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and lead to death.
Beyond the unprecedented medical challenges, the outbreak caused financial hardships for the Catholic hospital that has served Yonkers since 1888. Beds and equipment had to be bought or rented to meet Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate for hospitals to increase their capacity, and personal protective equipment had to be purchased at much higher costs than usual as normal suppliers ran out.
“There’s a lot of people gouging out there. A mask that cost 50 cents before are costing $7, $8 each. Gowns that would cost 50 cents as well, are $7 each. Protective shields that were $1.25, people looking for 25 bucks a pop,” said Frank Hagan, Saint Joseph’s chief financial officer. “So, cost is a significant issue.”
As is the morale of the staff, who fear for their own health, are juggling responsibilities when their colleagues are ill and are bombarded — even more than usual — with death and disease.
“It is tiring. It is stressful,” said chief nursing officer Margaret Cusumano, who has been back about three weeks after she had tested positive. “You’re watching people be sick. You’re watching people succumb to the disease. It weighs on you mentally, physically.”
Fewer patients are coming to Saint Joseph’s now. Though there’s still a steady stream of patients wearing masks being wheeled into the ER every day, the staff is optimistic that the worst is over. But there is also the fear that people will rush too quickly back to their lives — potentially triggering another flurry of infections.
“They hear we’re over the plateau and they think, ‘OK, it’s business as usual,'” Hopkins said. “It’s not. It can’t be.”


shareblue--2020-04-26--Doctors struggle to stay true to science without making Trump mad

It 's becoming a kind of daily ritual : Donald Trump and a phalanx of doctors file into the White House briefing room each evening to discuss the coronavirus , producing a display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to stay true to the science without crossing the president .
The result can be a bewildering scene for Americans trying to understand how best to protect themselves from the virus .
On Tuesday , for example , Dr. Deborah Birx aligned herself with Trump 's positive comments about plans to reopen businesses in Georgia and suggested that beauty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to safely operate by using `` creative '' forms of social distancing .
But Birx , the White House coronavirus task force coordinator , later told Trump privately that Georgia 's reopening plan was too hasty .
And the next day , Trump publicly denounced Georgia 's plans to start to reopen the state as coming `` too soon . ''
On Wednesday , Trump opened his daily briefing by inviting Dr. Robert Redfield , the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , to `` say a couple words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's earlier comments that the virus 's return in the fall could be even more difficult than the current outbreak .
Redfield then tried to `` clarify '' his remarks by saying the return of the virus during flu season would be a difficult combination — while allowing that his earlier comments had been accurately reported .
Also Wednesday , a top government doctor said he 'd been ousted from his position for opposing politically connected efforts to promote a malaria drug that Trump touted without proof as a remedy for COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one reason only — because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs , '' his lawyers said .
Trump said he knew nothing about the matter .
Health experts worry that it hinders the ability of medical professionals to provide frank advice to the president and the public .
`` The doctors on the task force and the scientists more generally responding to the pandemic are constantly looking over their shoulders , '' said Lawrence Gostin , a public health expert at Georgetown University .
`` There is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health officials .
It 's a very unhealthy dynamic . ''
Besides being asked to provide updates on the spread of the virus and best practices for combating it , the doctors find themselves drawn into Trump 's efforts to provide a positive take on his handling of the pandemic .
They 're keenly aware that the president has a record of bringing respected officials into his fold , talking up their credentials and then ultimately undercutting them or moving them aside .
That happened with former Secretary of State Rex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff John Kelly and former Defense Secretary James Mattis .
Even Fauci has n't escaped the need to massage his message after the fact to soothe a volatile president .
Earlier this month , Fauci set off Trump when he told CNN that more lives could have been saved if the U.S. government had acted more quickly .
`` If we had right from the very beginning shut everything down , it may have been a little different , '' he said .
`` But there was a lot of pushback about shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day , Trump retweeted a call to # FireFauci , raising questions about whether Fauci 's job was in jeopardy .
The following day , Fauci took the podium at the briefing to say he had used the `` wrong choice of words . ''
He added that the `` first and only time '' that he and Birx had talked to Trump about a national shutdown to mitigate the spread of virus , the president `` listened to the recommendation and went to the mitigation . ''
Trump has largely listened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he also sees them as his subordinates and does n't want to be crossed .
At Thursday 's briefing , Birx was the only one of the medical experts advising the president in attendance .
She spoke only briefly .
Instead , Trump invited William Bryan , a senior Department of Homeland Security official , to detail ongoing research his agency is conducting on the impact warm temperatures and sunlight might have on killing the virus .
Trump has kept an eye on the doctors ' media appearances and has told confidants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demeanor , according to three White House officials and Republicans close to the White House .
The three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations .
Birx has generally tried to avoid splitting with Trump in public , generating some criticism for not speaking out more forcefully .
Fauci , for his part , has been more blunt in diverging from the president 's message at times .
Trump and some in his inner circle have grown frustrated at Fauci 's willingness to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the briefings .
Although Trump has not discussed firing Fauci , despite a clamor from some on the right , he has expressed annoyance at Fauci 's positive press coverage — and word was sent from the White House that the doctor should not participate in any more personal profile stories .
The president also seethed over Redfield 's comments about the virus 's potential threat this fall , though he later agreed with aides who said the CDC chief 's comments had been overblown .
Because of his clashes with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off whenever he misses a briefing because of his other duties .
Trump has denied there is any conflict .
Birx , a political appointee from the Obama administration , has encouraged Trump to let the data inform his response to the crisis .
At moments , she 's also conspicuously heaped praise on the president .
As the Trump administration 's original 15-day guidelines promoting social distancing were set to expire at the end of March , she told a Christian TV network popular with Trump 's evangelical base that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was a student of data .
`` I think his ability to analyze and integrate data that comes out of his long history in business has really been a real benefit during these discussions about medical issues , '' Birx told CBN .
Gostin said he 's sympathetic of Birx 's difficult position .
But he said her public sidestepping of questions about how the Georgia governor wants to reopen businesses was problematic .
`` It matters because in an ideal world , her only loyalty would be to science and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weinstein , who heads the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and got to know Birx professionally after she was named the global AIDS coordinator in 2014 , said Birx is driven by her concerns for patients and public health .
She knows that she can not be an effective advocate for science if she does n't have the president 's ear , Weinstein added .
`` I 'm glad she 's there , '' Weinstein said .
`` It 's very obvious that she 's made a calculation what she must do to remain there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beneficial . ''
Dr. Kavita Patel , an adult medicine physician and health policy expert who served in the Obama White House , said scientists who advise any president have to be thick-skinned .
But he said the situation is particularly fraught under Trump , who has sometimes followed his own instincts over the factual information given to him by experts .
`` It is clear he is only picking and choosing from that information , '' Patel said .
`` There seems to be a revolving door of people in science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Patel .
`` It feels a little bit like you put all the scientists on a Russian roulette board , and depending on where it lands , an individual could be pitted very publicly against the president . ''

It’s becoming a kind of daily ritual: Donald Trump and a phalanx of doctors file into the White House briefing room each evening to discuss the coronavirus, producing a display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to stay true to the science without crossing the president.
The result can be a bewildering scene for Americans trying to understand how best to protect themselves from the virus.
On Tuesday, for example, Dr. Deborah Birx aligned herself with Trump’s positive comments about plans to reopen businesses in Georgia and suggested that beauty salons and tattoo parlors there might be able to safely operate by using “creative” forms of social distancing.
But Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, later told Trump privately that Georgia’s reopening plan was too hasty. And the next day, Trump publicly denounced Georgia’s plans to start to reopen the state as coming “too soon.”
On Wednesday, Trump opened his daily briefing by inviting Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to “say a couple words just to straighten” out the doctor’s earlier comments that the virus’s return in the fall could be even more difficult than the current outbreak.
Redfield then tried to “clarify” his remarks by saying the return of the virus during flu season would be a difficult combination — while allowing that his earlier comments had been accurately reported.
Also Wednesday, a top government doctor said he’d been ousted from his position for opposing politically connected efforts to promote a malaria drug that Trump touted without proof as a remedy for COVID-19.
Dr. Rick Bright “was sidelined for one reason only — because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs,” his lawyers said. Trump said he knew nothing about the matter.
Health experts worry that it hinders the ability of medical professionals to provide frank advice to the president and the public.
“The doctors on the task force and the scientists more generally responding to the pandemic are constantly looking over their shoulders,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University. “There is a tug of war between the politicians and the public health officials. It’s a very unhealthy dynamic.”
Besides being asked to provide updates on the spread of the virus and best practices for combating it, the doctors find themselves drawn into Trump’s efforts to provide a positive take on his handling of the pandemic.
They’re keenly aware that the president has a record of bringing respected officials into his fold, talking up their credentials and then ultimately undercutting them or moving them aside. That happened with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former White House chief of staff John Kelly and former Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Even Fauci hasn’t escaped the need to massage his message after the fact to soothe a volatile president.
Earlier this month, Fauci set off Trump when he told CNN that more lives could have been saved if the U.S. government had acted more quickly.
“If we had right from the very beginning shut everything down, it may have been a little different,” he said. “But there was a lot of pushback about shutting things down back then.”
Later that day, Trump retweeted a call to #FireFauci, raising questions about whether Fauci’s job was in jeopardy.
The following day, Fauci took the podium at the briefing to say he had used the “wrong choice of words.” He added that the “first and only time” that he and Birx had talked to Trump about a national shutdown to mitigate the spread of virus, the president “listened to the recommendation and went to the mitigation.”
Trump has largely listened to his team of medical experts. But he also sees them as his subordinates and doesn’t want to be crossed. At Thursday’s briefing, Birx was the only one of the medical experts advising the president in attendance. She spoke only briefly.
Instead, Trump invited William Bryan, a senior Department of Homeland Security official, to detail ongoing research his agency is conducting on the impact warm temperatures and sunlight might have on killing the virus.
Trump has kept an eye on the doctors’ media appearances and has told confidants that he is impressed with Birx’s demeanor, according to three White House officials and Republicans close to the White House. The three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations.
Birx has generally tried to avoid splitting with Trump in public, generating some criticism for not speaking out more forcefully. Fauci, for his part, has been more blunt in diverging from the president’s message at times.
Trump and some in his inner circle have grown frustrated at Fauci’s willingness to break with the president both in interviews and during the briefings. Although Trump has not discussed firing Fauci, despite a clamor from some on the right, he has expressed annoyance at Fauci’s positive press coverage — and word was sent from the White House that the doctor should not participate in any more personal profile stories.
The president also seethed over Redfield’s comments about the virus’s potential threat this fall, though he later agreed with aides who said the CDC chief’s comments had been overblown.
Because of his clashes with Trump, rumors about Fauci’s fate take off whenever he misses a briefing because of his other duties. Trump has denied there is any conflict.
Birx, a political appointee from the Obama administration, has encouraged Trump to let the data inform his response to the crisis. At moments, she’s also conspicuously heaped praise on the president.
As the Trump administration’s original 15-day guidelines promoting social distancing were set to expire at the end of March, she told a Christian TV network popular with Trump’s evangelical base that she was confident that the president, like her, was a student of data.
“I think his ability to analyze and integrate data that comes out of his long history in business has really been a real benefit during these discussions about medical issues,” Birx told CBN.
Gostin said he’s sympathetic of Birx’s difficult position. But he said her public sidestepping of questions about how the Georgia governor wants to reopen businesses was problematic.
“It matters because in an ideal world, her only loyalty would be to science and public health,” Gostin said.
Michael Weinstein, who heads the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and got to know Birx professionally after she was named the global AIDS coordinator in 2014, said Birx is driven by her concerns for patients and public health. She knows that she cannot be an effective advocate for science if she doesn’t have the president’s ear, Weinstein added.
“I’m glad she’s there,” Weinstein said. “It’s very obvious that she’s made a calculation what she must do to remain there, and that’s, on balance, beneficial.”
Dr. Kavita Patel, an adult medicine physician and health policy expert who served in the Obama White House, said scientists who advise any president have to be thick-skinned. But he said the situation is particularly fraught under Trump, who has sometimes followed his own instincts over the factual information given to him by experts.
“It is clear he is only picking and choosing from that information,” Patel said.
“There seems to be a revolving door of people in science and medicine placed in an uncomfortable position,” said Patel. “It feels a little bit like you put all the scientists on a Russian roulette board, and depending on where it lands, an individual could be pitted very publicly against the president.”


shareblue--2020-04-27--Trump plans to shift virus focus to economy as public support for him tanks

The White House readied new guidelines Monday on coronavirus testing and reopening businesses as it sought to regain its footing after weeks of criticism and detours created in part by Donald Trump 's sideshows .
Trump appeared reluctant to cede the spotlight , with on-off-on plans for a press conference to capture the flurry of action .
As part of the guidelines effort , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was set to release new priorities for virus testing , including people who show no symptoms but are in high-risk settings .
The White House was unveiling what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to make enough tests for COVID-19 available so states can sample at least 2.6 % of their populations each month .
Trump and administration medical experts outlined the plan on a call with governors Monday afternoon , before Trump announced that businesses such as CVS would expand access to tests across the country .
The action came as the White House tries to shift its approach after an erosion in public support for Trump .
What had been his greatest asset in the reelection campaign — his ability to dominate headlines with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is increasingly being seen as a liability .
At the same time , new Republican Party polling shows Trump 's path to a second term depends on the public 's perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from the state-by-state shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus .
Days after he set off a firestorm by publicly musing that scientists should explore the injection of toxic disinfectants as a potential virus cure , Trump said he found little use for his daily task force briefings , where he has time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump 's aides had been trying to move him onto more familiar and , they hope , safer , ground : Talking up the economy in more tightly controlled settings .
But hours after the White House scrubbed the nightly briefing from the official White House schedule , it reversed course .
`` UPDATE : The White House has additional testing guidance and other announcements about safely opening up America again .
President @ realDonaldTrump will brief the nation during a press conference this evening , '' White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of holding a briefing , Trump would be meeting with retail CEOs .
She said briefings would be held later in the week , but , `` they might have a new look to them , a new focus to them . ''
`` We 're entering a phase of looking to reopen the country and with that , the president will be focusing a lot on the economy , '' she said .
Among the planned announcements is a new `` testing blueprint '' for states .
It includes a focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapid response '' programs to isolate those who test positive and identify those with whom they came in contact .
The administration aims to have the market `` flooded '' with tests for the fall , when COVID-19 is expected to recur alongside the seasonal flu .
Many of the administration 's past pledges and goals on testing have not been met .
The CDC also has been working on more detailed guidelines on reopening schools , restaurants , and other establishments that could be released as soon as Monday .
Draft guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long list of recommendations for organizations as they begin to reopen , such closing break rooms at offices , schools spacing desks six feet apart , and restaurants using disposable plates and menus .
The draft guidance was obtained by The Associated Press from a federal official who was not authorized to release it .
Some states have started to ease closure orders , and Trump is expected to spend coming days highlighting his administration 's efforts to help businesses and employees .
Aides said Trump would hold more frequent roundtables with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress , and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future recovery package .
Trump last left the White House complex a month ago , and plans are being drawn up for a limited schedule of travel within the next few weeks , aides said .
It would be a symbolic show that the nation is beginning to reopen .
The shift comes in conjunction with what the White House sees as encouraging signs across the country , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining .
Still , medical experts warn that the virus will continue to haunt the country at least until a vaccine is developed .
And they say the risk of a severe second wave is high if social distancing measures are relaxed too quickly or if testing and contact tracing schemes are n't developed before people return to normal behaviors .
The White House has considered whether to continue to hold news briefings in a modified form without Trump , an effort to restore confidence in the government response so the public would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worries are growing among Republicans and Trump allies over his increasingly erratic handling of the coronavirus crisis .
Though the White House and Trump 's reelection team have resolutely projected outward confidence , a number of Trump 's confidants have argued for a course correction aimed at retaining the White House and keeping the Senate from slipping from the GOP 's hands , according to four current and former campaign and administration officials .
For weeks , Republicans have grown concerned that Trump 's daily briefings were doing him grievous political damage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the modest polling bump he received in the early days of the pandemic has vanished amid a flurry of misstatements and partisan fights .

The White House readied new guidelines Monday on coronavirus testing and reopening businesses as it sought to regain its footing after weeks of criticism and detours created in part by Donald Trump’s sideshows.
Trump appeared reluctant to cede the spotlight, with on-off-on plans for a press conference to capture the flurry of action.
As part of the guidelines effort, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was set to release new priorities for virus testing, including people who show no symptoms but are in high-risk settings.
The White House was unveiling what it described as a comprehensive overview of its efforts to make enough tests for COVID-19 available so states can sample at least 2.6% of their populations each month. Trump and administration medical experts outlined the plan on a call with governors Monday afternoon, before Trump announced that businesses such as CVS would expand access to tests across the country.
The action came as the White House tries to shift its approach after an erosion in public support for Trump. What had been his greatest asset in the reelection campaign — his ability to dominate headlines with freewheeling performances at his daily briefings — is increasingly being seen as a liability. At the same time, new Republican Party polling shows Trump’s path to a second term depends on the public’s perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from the state-by-state shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus.
Days after he set off a firestorm by publicly musing that scientists should explore the injection of toxic disinfectants as a potential virus cure, Trump said he found little use for his daily task force briefings, where he has time and again clashed with medical experts and reporters. Trump’s aides had been trying to move him onto more familiar and, they hope, safer, ground: Talking up the economy in more tightly controlled settings.
But hours after the White House scrubbed the nightly briefing from the official White House schedule, it reversed course.
“UPDATE: The White House has additional testing guidance and other announcements about safely opening up America again. President @realDonaldTrump will brief the nation during a press conference this evening,”White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany tweeted.
McEnany had said earlier that instead of holding a briefing, Trump would be meeting with retail CEOs. She said briefings would be held later in the week, but, “they might have a new look to them, a new focus to them.”
“We’re entering a phase of looking to reopen the country and with that, the president will be focusing a lot on the economy,” she said.
Among the planned announcements is a new “testing blueprint” for states. It includes a focus on surveillance testing as well as “rapid response” programs to isolate those who test positive and identify those with whom they came in contact. The administration aims to have the market “flooded” with tests for the fall, when COVID-19 is expected to recur alongside the seasonal flu.
Many of the administration’s past pledges and goals on testing have not been met.
The CDC also has been working on more detailed guidelines on reopening schools, restaurants, and other establishments that could be released as soon as Monday. Draft guidelines sent by the CDC to Washington include a long list of recommendations for organizations as they begin to reopen, such closing break rooms at offices, schools spacing desks six feet apart, and restaurants using disposable plates and menus. The draft guidance was obtained by The Associated Press from a federal official who was not authorized to release it.
Some states have started to ease closure orders, and Trump is expected to spend coming days highlighting his administration’s efforts to help businesses and employees. Aides said Trump would hold more frequent roundtables with CEOs, business owners and beneficiaries of the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress, and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future recovery package.
Trump last left the White House complex a month ago, and plans are being drawn up for a limited schedule of travel within the next few weeks, aides said. It would be a symbolic show that the nation is beginning to reopen.
The shift comes in conjunction with what the White House sees as encouraging signs across the country, with the pace of new infections stabilizing and deaths declining.
Still, medical experts warn that the virus will continue to haunt the country at least until a vaccine is developed. And they say the risk of a severe second wave is high if social distancing measures are relaxed too quickly or if testing and contact tracing schemes aren’t developed before people return to normal behaviors.
The White House has considered whether to continue to hold news briefings in a modified form without Trump, an effort to restore confidence in the government response so the public would be comfortable resuming more normal activities.
Worries are growing among Republicans and Trump allies over his increasingly erratic handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Though the White House and Trump’s reelection team have resolutely projected outward confidence, a number of Trump’s confidants have argued for a course correction aimed at retaining the White House and keeping the Senate from slipping from the GOP’s hands, according to four current and former campaign and administration officials.
For weeks, Republicans have grown concerned that Trump’s daily briefings were doing him grievous political damage. Though Trump cherished the TV ratings, the modest polling bump he received in the early days of the pandemic has vanished amid a flurry of misstatements and partisan fights.


shareblue--2020-04-27--Matt Gaetz unleashes racist tirade about 'Chinese drones' and 'liberties'

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) alleged over the weekend that local municipalities were using `` Chinese drones '' to `` spy on people in their own backyards '' in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Gaetz claimed the warning was a `` wake-up call '' regarding the United States ' relationship with China , repeatedly referring to the coronavirus in racist terms .
Experts , including those from the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) , have warned against using regionally specific terminology when naming or discussing the virus .
The xenophobic language has been traced to attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other ethnic groups .
Gaetz also promoted video of his remarks — which he made during Saturday 's edition of `` Huckabee , '' a show hosted by former Republican Arkansas Gov .
Mike Huckabee on the conservative Christian Trinity Broadcasting Network — on his official YouTube channel in a video labeled `` Chinese Drones Impair our Liberty . ''
From the April 25 edition of `` Huckabee '' : MATT GAETZ : Obviously , no one in our country expected to be dealing with a crazy Chinese bat virus at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that experience we have to have the spirit of a great American renewal .
We have to understand that Americans have to be able to go outside again and interact with one another at safe distances , with exquisite hygiene , but that we can not fundamentally change American life and my concern , governor , is that particularly at the local government level , we 're starting to see some real infringements on people 's liberties .
Whether it 's telling folks that they ca n't hang out in their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , municipalities have used Chinese drones and video surveillance to spy on people in their own backyards ... or how about in New York City where the government was actually setting up snitch lines for neighbors to rat out other neighbors ?
I am so grateful that we have an attorney general like Bill Barr who wants to vindicate the rights and liberties of Americans .
MIKE HUCKABEE , host : There are some legitimate concerns about not only government overreach , but if we 're using Chinese drones do n't we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be sent right straight to the Chinese communists ?
GAETZ : Well , if this pandemic has taught us anything , it 's truly a wake-up call about our relationship with China .
Whether it 's the need to re-domesticate our supply chain , whether it ’ s the need to pull funding from joint ventures like the Wuhan Institute of Virology where they had our resources but then did n't share information with the world about the sequencing of this virus , or whether it is in fact Chinese technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or deployed by other Chinese companies in the form of telecommunications , or yes , even video drones .
And so , in dealing with and defeating the Chinese Wuhan virus , we should not invite China to have a greater role in our country for us to be more reliant on China or potentially to even risk a public health crisis becoming a national security risk .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) alleged over the weekend that local municipalities were using “Chinese drones” to “spy on people in their own backyards” in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaetz claimed the warning was a “wake-up call” regarding the United States’ relationship with China, repeatedly referring to the coronavirus in racist terms.
Experts, including those from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), have warned against using regionally specific terminology when naming or discussing the virus. The xenophobic language has been traced to attacks and slurs directed against Asian Americans and other ethnic groups.
Gaetz also promoted video of his remarks — which he made during Saturday’s edition of “Huckabee,” a show hosted by former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on the conservative Christian Trinity Broadcasting Network — on his official YouTube channel in a video labeled “Chinese Drones Impair our Liberty.”
From the April 25 edition of “Huckabee”:
MATT GAETZ: Obviously, no one in our country expected to be dealing with a crazy Chinese bat virus at this point in time, but in the wake of that experience we have to have the spirit of a great American renewal. We have to understand that Americans have to be able to go outside again and interact with one another at safe distances, with exquisite hygiene, but that we cannot fundamentally change American life and my concern, governor, is that particularly at the local government level, we’re starting to see some real infringements on people’s liberties. Whether it’s telling folks that they can’t hang out in their own backyard, or, even in some cases, municipalities have used Chinese drones and video surveillance to spy on people in their own backyards… or how about in New York City where the government was actually setting up snitch lines for neighbors to rat out other neighbors? I am so grateful that we have an attorney general like Bill Barr who wants to vindicate the rights and liberties of Americans. MIKE HUCKABEE, host: There are some legitimate concerns about not only government overreach, but if we’re using Chinese drones don’t we have some anxiety that that information is going to be sent right straight to the Chinese communists? GAETZ: Well, if this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s truly a wake-up call about our relationship with China. Whether it’s the need to re-domesticate our supply chain, whether it’s the need to pull funding from joint ventures like the Wuhan Institute of Virology where they had our resources but then didn’t share information with the world about the sequencing of this virus, or whether it is in fact Chinese technology in our country deployed by Huawei, or deployed by other Chinese companies in the form of telecommunications, or yes, even video drones. And so, in dealing with and defeating the Chinese Wuhan virus, we should not invite China to have a greater role in our country for us to be more reliant on China or potentially to even risk a public health crisis becoming a national security risk.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--McConnell vows to protect businesses but not states in next relief bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled his support this week for a Trump administration proposal to add a provision to the next round of coronavirus relief that would make it impossible for workers to sue their employers if they contract the virus on the job .
In a statement announcing the Senate will return to Washington , D.C. , on May 4 , the Kentucky Republican called the proposal an `` urgent need '' to shield businesses from lawsuits , painting it as something that benefits essential workers — even though those workers would be the ones prohibited from suing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While our nation is asking everyone from front-line healthcare professionals to essential small-business owners to major employers to adapt in new ways and keep serving , a massive tangle of federal and state laws could easily mean their heroic efforts are met with years of endless lawsuits , '' McConnell wrote in the statement .
`` We can not let that happen . ''
Donald Trump himself pushed for so-called `` liability waivers '' at an April 20 briefing .
`` We have tried to take liability away from these companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want the companies to open and to open strong , '' Trump said in response to questions about whether companies would be liable if they reopened and their workers started to become sick .
Even if the Senate approved such waivers , it 's unlikely that the Democratic House would go along with legislation rolling back workers rights .
Still , protecting businesses from lawsuits , also known as tort reform , has been a conservative goal for years .
Republican-leaning business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — which in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but spent $ 6 million supporting GOP candidates , according to the Center for Responsive Politics — have traditionally backed laws making it harder for companies to get sued .
While McConnell signaled that the next phase of coronavirus relief would include a long-sought protection for businesses , he also attacked Democrats for demanding what he called liberal policy goals in the next round of relief .
`` The Senate must focus on concrete steps to strengthen our response to this crisis .
The American people do not need tangential left-wing daydreams .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward the response , recovery , and future readiness that Americans need , '' McConnell wrote .
The `` daydreams '' McConnell is referring to include hazard pay for essential workers , who are risking their lives by going to work each day at places like hospitals and grocery stores .
Democrats are also seeking billions in relief funds to states facing unprecedented budget shortfalls thanks to the coronavirus — which has cost billions in lost tax revenue that threaten the state 's ability to pay essential workers .
Republicans have claimed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bail out places like New York , which has been hit hard by the coronavirus .
McConnell specifically argued that states like New York should go bankrupt instead .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo quickly rebuked those arguments on Monday , noting that states like New York in fact contribute more and receive less money back each year than states his Republican opponents hail from .
`` If you want to do an analysis of who is a giver and who is a taker , we are the number one giver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts more money into the pot than the state of New York , '' Cuomo said in a press conference .
`` We 're the number one donor state .
And if you want to look at who happened to be the donor states — who are the giver states — they are the same states that they are talking about now . ''
He added , `` Who are the taker states ?
Kentucky , southeast part of the country . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled his support this week for a Trump administration proposal to add a provision to the next round of coronavirus relief that would make it impossible for workers to sue their employers if they contract the virus on the job.
In a statement announcing the Senate will return to Washington, D.C., on May 4, the Kentucky Republican called the proposal an “urgent need” to shield businesses from lawsuits, painting it as something that benefits essential workers — even though those workers would be the ones prohibited from suing their employer if they become infected.
“While our nation is asking everyone from front-line healthcare professionals to essential small-business owners to major employers to adapt in new ways and keep serving, a massive tangle of federal and state laws could easily mean their heroic efforts are met with years of endless lawsuits,” McConnell wrote in the statement. “We cannot let that happen.”
Donald Trump himself pushed for so-called “liability waivers” at an April 20 briefing.
“We have tried to take liability away from these companies. We just don’t want that because we want the companies to open and to open strong,” Trump said in response to questions about whether companies would be liable if they reopened and their workers started to become sick.
Even if the Senate approved such waivers, it’s unlikely that the Democratic House would go along with legislation rolling back workers rights.
Still, protecting businesses from lawsuits, also known as tort reform, has been a conservative goal for years. Republican-leaning business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — which in 2018 spent $0 for Democratic candidates but spent $6 million supporting GOP candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics — have traditionally backed laws making it harder for companies to get sued.
While McConnell signaled that the next phase of coronavirus relief would include a long-sought protection for businesses, he also attacked Democrats for demanding what he called liberal policy goals in the next round of relief.
“The Senate must focus on concrete steps to strengthen our response to this crisis. The American people do not need tangential left-wing daydreams. They need commonsense steps that move us toward the response, recovery, and future readiness that Americans need,” McConnell wrote.
The “daydreams” McConnell is referring to include hazard pay for essential workers, who are risking their lives by going to work each day at places like hospitals and grocery stores.
Democrats are also seeking billions in relief funds to states facing unprecedented budget shortfalls thanks to the coronavirus — which has cost billions in lost tax revenue that threaten the state’s ability to pay essential workers.
Republicans have claimed it is unfair that other states should have to bail out places like New York, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus. McConnell specifically argued that states like New York should go bankrupt instead.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo quickly rebuked those arguments on Monday, noting that states like New York in fact contribute more and receive less money back each year than states his Republican opponents hail from.
“If you want to do an analysis of who is a giver and who is a taker, we are the number one giver, the number one giver. Nobody puts more money into the pot than the state of New York,” Cuomo said in a press conference. “We’re the number one donor state. And if you want to look at who happened to be the donor states — who are the giver states — they are the same states that they are talking about now.”
He added, “Who are the taker states? Kentucky, southeast part of the country.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--GOP candidate: AIDS and the flu are worse than COVID-19

North Carolina Lt. Gov .
Dan Forest , the current Republican nominee for governor , dismissed the COVID-19 pandemic as less deadly than HIV/AIDS and influenza on Saturday .
In a Facebook Live discussion with the NC Federation of Young Republicans , Forest claimed , `` We 've still had more deaths to the flu this year than we have had COVID-19 .
There 's been about three times more deaths for HIV/AIDS .
Remember , that was a pandemic at one time , and it still has no vaccine . ''
Forest urged viewers to `` keep them all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first flagged by American Bridge , a progressive opposition research group .
Donald Trump made a similar argument in March , pointing out that the `` CoronaVirus '' had caused far fewer deaths at that point than the `` 37,000 Americans '' who `` died from the common flu last year . ''
But seven weeks later , COVID-19 deaths had already surpassed that total .
Since the first coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. — now believed to have been in early February — more than 52,000 Americans have died from the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention estimates that between Oct. 1 of last year and April 4 of this year , there have been somewhere between 24,000 and 62,000 flu deaths .
The current death toll from COVID-19 is over twice as high as the low end of this range , with five months left in the current flu season .
The CDC also reported that in 2017 — the most recent available year for data — there were 16,350 deaths among all people diagnosed with HIV .
That total , the agency noted , included deaths `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no vaccine , medications can reduce the chances of getting HIV from sex by 99 % and can significantly help protect the health of people with the virus .
While it is impossible to know how many Americans will die of COVID-19 , some estimates suggest it is America 's current leading cause of death .
In the past week , the nation 's death toll climbed from 35,784 to 49,161 — a weekly total of more than 13,000 , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
This is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic .
Last month , he criticized Gov .
Roy Cooper 's order to close down bars and restaurants , claiming the move would `` devastate our economy , shutter many small businesses , and leave many people unemployed , especially in the rural areas of our state . ''
Instead , Forest said , `` We should allow those economies [ in counties without confirmed COVID-19 cases ] to still flourish . ''
North Carolina has reported at least 9,142 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 300 deaths to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 95 of the state 's 100 counties .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, the current Republican nominee for governor, dismissed the COVID-19 pandemic as less deadly than HIV/AIDS and influenza on Saturday.
In a Facebook Live discussion with the NC Federation of Young Republicans, Forest claimed, “We’ve still had more deaths to the flu this year than we have had COVID-19. There’s been about three times more deaths for HIV/AIDS. Remember, that was a pandemic at one time, and it still has no vaccine.”
Forest urged viewers to “keep them all in perspective.”
The video was first flagged by American Bridge, a progressive opposition research group.
Donald Trump made a similar argument in March, pointing out that the “CoronaVirus” had caused far fewer deaths at that point than the “37,000 Americans” who “died from the common flu last year.” But seven weeks later, COVID-19 deaths had already surpassed that total.
Since the first coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. — now believed to have been in early February — more than 52,000 Americans have died from the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between Oct. 1 of last year and April 4 of this year, there have been somewhere between 24,000 and 62,000 flu deaths. The current death toll from COVID-19 is over twice as high as the low end of this range, with five months left in the current flu season.
The CDC also reported that in 2017 — the most recent available year for data — there were 16,350 deaths among all people diagnosed with HIV. That total, the agency noted, included deaths “due to any cause.” While there is no vaccine, medications can reduce the chances of getting HIV from sex by 99% and can significantly help protect the health of people with the virus.
While it is impossible to know how many Americans will die of COVID-19, some estimates suggest it is America’s current leading cause of death. In the past week, the nation’s death toll climbed from 35,784 to 49,161 — a weekly total of more than 13,000, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
This is not the first time Forest has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, he criticized Gov. Roy Cooper’s order to close down bars and restaurants, claiming the move would “devastate our economy, shutter many small businesses, and leave many people unemployed, especially in the rural areas of our state.”
Instead, Forest said, “We should allow those economies [in counties without confirmed COVID-19 cases] to still flourish.”
North Carolina has reported at least 9,142 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 300 deaths to date. People have tested positive in at least 95 of the state’s 100 counties.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--Trump is targeting LGBTQ people's health in the middle of a pandemic

The Trump administration is finalizing its rewrite of a provision in the Affordable Care Act that would harm LGBTQ people 's access to health care , even in the middle of a pandemic .
Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits health care discrimination based on sex and gender identity .
According to Politico , a Trump-administration rewrite of the rule has been circulated at the Justice Department , which means the final version could be released publicly soon .
The White House 's regulatory dashboard shows the rule is under review .
The Obama administration enacted a rule in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex discrimination to include gender identity and termination of pregnancy .
That year , a Catholic hospital system , a Catholic medical group , a Christian medical association , and five states filed a lawsuit challenging HHS ' regulations .
In the complaint , they argued the regulations forced facilities to deliver gender transition services that went against their religious beliefs and that the regulations on pregnancy should provide an exclusion for abortions .
In January of 2017 , a judge halted those protections .
The injunction is still in effect .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration said it sided with the plaintiffs and claimed the Obama-era regulations were unlawful under the Administrative Procedures Act .
In May , the Department of Health and Human Services announced it was proposing revisions to the rule .
Roger Severino , director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights , said at the time , `` When Congress prohibited sex discrimination , it did so according to the plain meaning of the term , and we are making our regulations conform .
The American people want vigorous protection of civil rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed by their representatives . ''
The HHS revision would remove any language that clarifies sex discrimination as including gender identity , which was defined under the Obama-era rule as someone 's `` internal sense of gender , which may be male , female , neither , or a combination of male and female , and which may be different from an individual 's sex assigned at birth . ''
It similarly removes health insurance coverage protections for transgender people .
Additionally , the change would get rid of a provision that stops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against people living with HIV and LGBTQ people and would include abortion and religious freedom exemptions for health care providers .
HHS also said in its announcement last May that the revisions would eliminate language access requirements , which it called `` unneeded paperwork burdens '' and would remove major printing and mailing costs for sending notices to patients and customers each year .
Court decisions on whether sexual orientation and gender identity are included in the definition of sex discrimination have been mixed and the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ people .
LGBTQ organizations blasted the revision proposal last May .
`` The administration puts LGBTQ people at greater risk of being denied necessary and appropriate health care solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity , '' said David Stacy , director of government affairs at the Human Rights Campaign .
`` Everyone deserves access to medically necessary care and should never be turned away because of who they are or who they love . ''
Sasha Buchert , senior and transgender rights project attorney for Lambda Legal , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule , if it went into effect , would only sow confusion in the health care industry , encourage more insurers to discriminate , and lead to more lawsuits to protect patients . ''
Trump has frequently assailed LGBTQ rights throughout his presidency .
HHS in particular has taken numerous steps to attack LGBTQ equality .
In November , HHS proposed a rule that removes language protecting LGBTQ people against discrimination in all of its grant programs .
Last year , the administration also proposed a rule to allow health care workers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` religious beliefs or moral convictions . ''
LGBTQ advocacy groups opposed that rule and two federal judges have since struck it down , dealing heavy blow to the administration .
In 2018 , HHS additionally changed or removed language on its website about sex discrimination and created a new division within its Office for Civil Rights , called the Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom .
That division 's aim is to ensure that health care providers do n't have to provide services , such as abortion , that they object to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some have since voiced concerns about whether the division could be used to enable discrimination against LGBTQ people .
In 2017 , HHS removed a `` Lesbian and bisexual health fact sheet '' from its website and stopped including questions about the LGBTQ community in surveys about services for elderly people and people with disabilities .
The Education Department , Department of Housing and Urban Development , and Labor Department have also worked to undermine protections for LGBTQ students , homeless people , and workers throughout Trump 's presidency .
LGBTQ people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to recent estimates from the Williams Institute , hundreds of thousands of transgender people are at risk of severe illness and advocacy groups have called on Congress to address the specific needs of LGBTQ people during the crisis .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration is finalizing its rewrite of a provision in the Affordable Care Act that would harm LGBTQ people’s access to health care, even in the middle of a pandemic.
Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits health care discrimination based on sex and gender identity. According to Politico, a Trump-administration rewrite of the rule has been circulated at the Justice Department, which means the final version could be released publicly soon.
The White House’s regulatory dashboard shows the rule is under review.
The Obama administration enacted a rule in 2016 that interpreted Section 1557’s ban on sex discrimination to include gender identity and termination of pregnancy.
That year, a Catholic hospital system, a Catholic medical group, a Christian medical association, and five states filed a lawsuit challenging HHS’ regulations. In the complaint, they argued the regulations forced facilities to deliver gender transition services that went against their religious beliefs and that the regulations on pregnancy should provide an exclusion for abortions.
In January of 2017, a judge halted those protections. The injunction is still in effect.
In April of last year, the Trump administration said it sided with the plaintiffs and claimed the Obama-era regulations were unlawful under the Administrative Procedures Act. In May, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it was proposing revisions to the rule.
Roger Severino, director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, said at the time, “When Congress prohibited sex discrimination, it did so according to the plain meaning of the term, and we are making our regulations conform. The American people want vigorous protection of civil rights and faithfulness to the text of the laws passed by their representatives.”
The HHS revision would remove any language that clarifies sex discrimination as including gender identity, which was defined under the Obama-era rule as someone’s “internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female, and which may be different from an individual’s sex assigned at birth.” It similarly removes health insurance coverage protections for transgender people.
Additionally, the change would get rid of a provision that stops health insurers from varying benefits to discriminate against people living with HIV and LGBTQ people and would include abortion and religious freedom exemptions for health care providers.
HHS also said in its announcement last May that the revisions would eliminate language access requirements, which it called “unneeded paperwork burdens” and would remove major printing and mailing costs for sending notices to patients and customers each year.
Court decisions on whether sexual orientation and gender identity are included in the definition of sex discrimination have been mixed and the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether the Civil Rights Act includes protections for LGBTQ people.
LGBTQ organizations blasted the revision proposal last May.
“The administration puts LGBTQ people at greater risk of being denied necessary and appropriate health care solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said David Stacy, director of government affairs at the Human Rights Campaign. “Everyone deserves access to medically necessary care and should never be turned away because of who they are or who they love.”
Sasha Buchert, senior and transgender rights project attorney for Lambda Legal, said at the time that “the proposed rule, if it went into effect, would only sow confusion in the health care industry, encourage more insurers to discriminate, and lead to more lawsuits to protect patients.”
Trump has frequently assailed LGBTQ rights throughout his presidency. HHS in particular has taken numerous steps to attack LGBTQ equality.
In November, HHS proposed a rule that removes language protecting LGBTQ people against discrimination in all of its grant programs.
Last year, the administration also proposed a rule to allow health care workers to deny care to people based on their “religious beliefs or moral convictions.”
LGBTQ advocacy groups opposed that rule and two federal judges have since struck it down, dealing heavy blow to the administration.
In 2018, HHS additionally changed or removed language on its website about sex discrimination and created a new division within its Office for Civil Rights, called the Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom.
That division’s aim is to ensure that health care providers don’t have to provide services, such as abortion, that they object to based on moral or religious grounds. Some have since voiced concerns about whether the division could be used to enable discrimination against LGBTQ people.
In 2017, HHS removed a “Lesbian and bisexual health fact sheet” from its website and stopped including questions about the LGBTQ community in surveys about services for elderly people and people with disabilities.
The Education Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Labor Department have also worked to undermine protections for LGBTQ students, homeless people, and workers throughout Trump’s presidency.
LGBTQ people are already particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to recent estimates from the Williams Institute, hundreds of thousands of transgender people are at risk of severe illness and advocacy groups have called on Congress to address the specific needs of LGBTQ people during the crisis.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--GOP memo tells senators to blame Trump's virus failures on 'political correctness'

A memo written by a Republican campaign consultant and distributed by the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee advises Republican senators not to defend Trump 's slow and inept response to the coronavirus crisis , Politico reported Friday .
The 57-page memo , written by strategists at O'Donnell & Associates , urges candidates instead to blame Democrats , China , and the World Health Organization for the spread of the pandemic .
`` Note - do n't defend Trump , other than the China Travel Ban -- attack China , '' the April 17 memo states twice .
Tens of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. since Trump instituted travel restrictions from the country in early February in what he has touted as a significant move against the spread of the virus .
In a section titled , `` Political Correctness Made this Crisis Worse , '' the memo advises Republicans to blame Democratic politicians in New York and New Jersey for making the crisis worse because they were `` worried about social justice and identity politics . ''
It criticizes them for being worried about losing progressive points and thus focusing too much on how policies would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to telling GOP campaigns to blame Democrats , the memo repeatedly urges them to attack China , where the new virus was first detected , and provides advice for defending against accusations that their comments about the new coronavirus are racist .
`` President Trump is right to call this the Chinese Virus , '' the memo states .
Trump 's has used the term many times .
In addition to blaming China for the spread of the virus , it also claims , `` The WHO aided and abetted the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the facts -- they acted as the handmaiden of the Chinese Communist Party .
China had campaigned for Tedros , the current director , and he owed them a favor . ''
National and international health experts have warned against using terms like `` Chinese virus , '' China virus , '' or `` Wuhan virus . ''
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said `` stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease , such as COVID-19 , with a population or nationality , even though not everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is specifically at risk for the disease . ''
In 2015 , Keiji Fukuda , then the World Health Organization 's assistant director-general for health security , said that what a virus is called `` may seem like a trivial issue to some , but disease names really do matter to the people who are directly affected . ''
Fukuda said that using such terms can `` provoke a backlash against members of particular religious or ethnic communities . ''
Trump 's response to the crisis , including lies about the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other experts .
For weeks , Trump touted the use of hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malarial drug , as a cure for COVID-19 .
However , a small study of the drug by the Veterans Health Administration found that patients who received the drug had higher death rates than those who did not receive it .
On Thursday , Trump suggested that disinfectant could be injected into people in order to destroy the virus in their bodies .
There is no evidence to support Trump 's claim , and injecting or ingesting disinfectants can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the popular disinfectant Lysol released a statement reminding people that `` under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body ( through injection , ingestion or any other route ) . ''
Trump also repeatedly blamed governors for states ' lack of medical supplies needed to deal with the crisis even as his own administration undermined their ability to prepare .
`` Governors are supposed to be doing a lot of this work , '' Trump said on March 19 .
`` The federal government is not supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of items and then shipping .
You know , we 're not a shipping clerk . ''
Yet when Jared Polis , the governor of Colorado , tried to purchase 500 ventilators in early April , the order was canceled because the Federal Emergency Management Agency stepped in and bought them instead .
Trump was also criticized for delaying the disbursement of millions of economic stimulus checks so his name could be printed on them .
The delay came as more than 25 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Monday morning , there are more than 965,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States , and at least 49,465 people have died .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A memo written by a Republican campaign consultant and distributed by the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee advises Republican senators not to defend Trump’s slow and inept response to the coronavirus crisis, Politico reported Friday.
The 57-page memo, written by strategists at O’Donnell & Associates, urges candidates instead to blame Democrats, China, and the World Health Organization for the spread of the pandemic.
“Note – don’t defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban — attack China,” the April 17 memo states twice. Tens of thousands of people have traveled from China to the U.S. since Trump instituted travel restrictions from the country in early February in what he has touted as a significant move against the spread of the virus.
In a section titled, “Political Correctness Made this Crisis Worse,” the memo advises Republicans to blame Democratic politicians in New York and New Jersey for making the crisis worse because they were “worried about social justice and identity politics.” It criticizes them for being worried about losing progressive points and thus focusing too much on how policies would impact low-income families and communities.
In addition to telling GOP campaigns to blame Democrats, the memo repeatedly urges them to attack China, where the new virus was first detected, and provides advice for defending against accusations that their comments about the new coronavirus are racist.
“President Trump is right to call this the Chinese Virus,” the memo states. Trump’s has used the term many times.
In addition to blaming China for the spread of the virus, it also claims, “The WHO aided and abetted the Chinese hit-and-run, and advanced their cover up of the facts–they acted as the handmaiden of the Chinese Communist Party. China had campaigned for Tedros, the current director, and he owed them a favor.”
National and international health experts have warned against using terms like “Chinese virus,” China virus,” or “Wuhan virus.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said “stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease.”
In 2015, Keiji Fukuda, then the World Health Organization’s assistant director-general for health security, said that what a virus is called “may seem like a trivial issue to some, but disease names really do matter to the people who are directly affected.” Fukuda said that using such terms can “provoke a backlash against members of particular religious or ethnic communities.”
Trump’s response to the crisis, including lies about the coronavirus, is regularly criticized by medical professionals and other experts.
For weeks, Trump touted the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, as a cure for COVID-19. However, a small study of the drug by the Veterans Health Administration found that patients who received the drug had higher death rates than those who did not receive it.
On Thursday, Trump suggested that disinfectant could be injected into people in order to destroy the virus in their bodies. There is no evidence to support Trump’s claim, and injecting or ingesting disinfectants can cause serious health problems. The maker of the popular disinfectant Lysol released a statement reminding people that “under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).”
Trump also repeatedly blamed governors for states’ lack of medical supplies needed to deal with the crisis even as his own administration undermined their ability to prepare.
“Governors are supposed to be doing a lot of this work,” Trump said on March 19. “The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we’re not a shipping clerk.”
Yet when Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, tried to purchase 500 ventilators in early April, the order was canceled because the Federal Emergency Management Agency stepped in and bought them instead.
Trump was also criticized for delaying the disbursement of millions of economic stimulus checks so his name could be printed on them. The delay came as more than 25 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the last few weeks as a result of the pandemic.
As of Monday morning, there are more than 965,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, and at least 49,465 people have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--Cuomo: New York has bailed out red states 'every year for decades'

'If you want to do an analysis of who is a giver and who is a taker , we are the number one giver , ' New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
GOV .
ANDREW CUOMO ( D-NY ) : This is not the time to be talking about dollars and cents among members of a community that are trying to be mutually supportive and help each other , because helping each other is the way we actually all advance , right ?
So this is not the time to be saying , 'Well , you put in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' or , ' I put in five dollars more than you did , ' right ?
It 's anachronistic to the concept of community and sharing and mutuality and sharing benefits and burdens , right ?
I 'm wearing a mask to protect you .
You 're wearing a mask to protect me .
That kind of sharing and mutuality is repugnant to this , 'bailout , you got this much , I got this much . '
But if you want to go to who 's getting bailed out and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out New York state .
New York state has been bailing them out every year for decades .
If you want to do an analysis of who is a giver and who is a taker , we are the number one giver , the number one giver .
Nobody puts more money into the pot than the state of New York .
We 're the number one donor state .
And if you want to look at who happened to be the donor states — who are the giver states — they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about now .
Who are the taker states ?
Kentucky , southeast part of the country .
And by the way , I understand we 're one nation .
You put into the pot what you need , I put in what I need , you take what you need , you take what you need .
And that 's they way it 's always been .
But , if you actually want to call for an accounting — which I think is repugnant to this time , and I do n't think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it 's healthy — but if you want to call for an accounting , you 're making a mistake .
Because you lose if we do an accounting , you lose .
And you happen to be 180 degrees wrong in what you 're suggesting .

From an April 27 press conference:
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): This is not the time to be talking about dollars and cents among members of a community that are trying to be mutually supportive and help each other, because helping each other is the way we actually all advance, right?
So this is not the time to be saying, ‘Well, you put in a dollar more than I did,’ or, ‘I put in five dollars more than you did,’ right?
It’s anachronistic to the concept of community and sharing and mutuality and sharing benefits and burdens, right?
I’m wearing a mask to protect you. You’re wearing a mask to protect me. That kind of sharing and mutuality is repugnant to this, ‘bailout, you got this much, I got this much.’
But if you want to go to who’s getting bailed out and who paid what, nobody would be bailing out New York state. New York state has been bailing them out every year for decades.
If you want to do an analysis of who is a giver and who is a taker, we are the number one giver, the number one giver. Nobody puts more money into the pot than the state of New York.
We’re the number one donor state.
And if you want to look at who happened to be the donor states — who are the giver states — they are the same states that they are talking about now.
Who are the taker states? Kentucky, southeast part of the country.
And by the way, I understand we’re one nation. You put into the pot what you need, I put in what I need, you take what you need, you take what you need. And that’s they way it’s always been.
But, if you actually want to call for an accounting — which I think is repugnant to this time, and I don’t think it’s constructive and I don’t think it’s healthy — but if you want to call for an accounting, you’re making a mistake. Because you lose if we do an accounting, you lose.
And you happen to be 180 degrees wrong in what you’re suggesting.