shareblue--2020-03-22--Surgeon general wins Trump's approval by praising him on TV

The U.S. surgeon general caught the eye of Donald Trump in a tried-and-true way : by praising him on television .
At a recent briefing with his coronavirus task force standing behind him , Trump turned to Dr. Jerome Adams and declared the previously low-profile 20th surgeon general among the administration 's `` stars '' to emerge from this crisis .
`` I watched him the other day .
It was such a fantastic job you did , and I really appreciate it , '' Trump said .
Trump did n't specify what media appearance he was referring to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , Adams had said that Trump sleeps less than he does but was in better health , echoed Trump 's argument that most Americans should be more worried about the seasonal flu than the new virus , and defended Trump 's claim that Democratic lawmakers ' politicization of the crisis was , in Trump 's words , a `` new hoax . ''
At the same news conference where Trump praised him , Adams scolded the media for `` bickering '' and `` partisanship '' in their coverage of the administration 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finger-pointing , '' Adams said .
Surgeons general rarely garner much attention .
The most impactful announcement from a surgeon general came in 1964 when Dr. Luther L. Terry told the nation that there was a link between lung cancer and smoking .
More recently , they have been in the public eye because their medical advice caused political problems for the president .
Dr. C. Everett Koop was at odds with the Reagan White House with his calls for AIDS education for elementary school students and support of condoms for disease prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton after she affirmed at an AIDS conference that it may be appropriate to promote masturbation to help dissuade young people from engaging in risky sexual activity .
Dr. Richard Carmona said after he left the office that the George W. Bush administration tried to `` water down '' his report on the dangers of secondhand smoke .
Adams , an anesthesiologist , has gained notice during the coronavirus crisis for his eager defense of Trump .
Days after Mike Pence tapped him to join the task force , Adams conducted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stray far outside the scope of medicine to defend Trump 's comment at a South Carolina rally that Democrats were pushing a `` new hoax '' by spotlighting the coronavirus .
`` I will tell you when he said hoax , he was not referring to the coronavirus , '' Adams said .
`` He said , and this is from his mouth to your ears , he was referring to the way he had been treated by the opposite party in terms of impeachment , in terms of criticizing the coronavirus response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every opportunity to bring him down . ''
Adams also raised eyebrows this week for incorrectly referring to South Korea as an authoritarian country .
He was trying to make the point that as a democracy , the U.S. should tread carefully in how it goes about stemming the virus .
`` We are not an authoritarian nation , so we have to be careful when we say , 'Let 's do what China did .
Let 's do what South Korea did , ' '' Adams said during an interview on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea 's democratic republic with communist China 's unelected government .
In recent days , Adams , a 45-year-old married father of three children , has been at the center of the administration 's public push to underscore to the young and healthy to avoid gatherings of 10 or more and practice social distancing for the sake of older generations .
Adams was dispatched Thursday to do a round of appearances on the morning news programs , conveying the message that people 's actions can help save lives and limit the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump at a news conference where he echoed his praise of Food and Drug Administration officials as `` tireless '' in their efforts to bring drugs to the market for those stricken by the virus .
The White House also says that Adams and other high-profile administration officials will appear in nationally broadcast public service announcements that highlight how Americans can protect themselves and those most at risk .
A spokeswoman for Adams said he was not available to comment .
It was his relationship with Pence that brought Adams to Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , he was well-regarded by public health experts and industry insiders and in his adopted state of Indiana , where he served as state health commissioner when Pence was governor .
Adams played a key role in persuading Pence to back a needle exchange after an HIV outbreak in rural Indiana among intravenous drug users .
After Trump appointed Pence to take over the administration 's coronavirus response in late February , Pence added Adams .
`` I have seen him communicate well and organize well and he brings around him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't know — always the sign of a good leader , '' said Beth Meyerson , a health policy expert at the University of Arizona who worked closely with Adams during the HIV outbreak in Indiana .
Others in the public health community say he 's strayed from the traditional role of the surgeon general as `` the nation 's doctor '' and administration 's chief medical adviser .
`` Jerome Adams came in with a great reputation , '' said Kavita Patel , a Johns Hopkins Medicine internist who served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There was the comment he made about South Korea .
At times , it feels like there is a little too much politics in how he 's been speaking about the administration 's coronavirus efforts .
That 's where , unfortunately , he loses credibility .
The office should not be political . ''
Adams was a `` bright and engaging '' doctor while he was Indiana 's state health commissioner , said Charlie Brown , who was the top Democrat on the Indiana House public health committee at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana .
More than 180 HIV cases were tied to needle-sharing among intravenous drug users who were injecting a liquefied painkiller .
Pence , citing law-and-order objections , had resisted calls to allow needle-exchange programs to stem the spread of diseases .
Eventually , with the guidance of Adams , Pence came to reluctantly agree to the distribution of clean needles .
`` He was right on point with those issues that were impacting health care in Indiana when he was here , '' Brown added .
`` But now it is like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Jerome Adams that I knew and the one that I see step before the microphone now just does not make any sense . ''
Elders , the Clinton administration-era surgeon general , said she first came to know Adams during his time as Indiana 's state health commissioner and was quickly impressed .
She described him as the type of medical professional who can provide Trump and Pence with sound advice in shaping policy .
`` His heart 's in the right place , he 's a good physician and good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elders added that Adams ' wading into politics undermines the credibility of the surgeon general 's office .
`` I do n't think it 's the surgeon general 's place to be scolding the media about politics , '' Elders said .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover .

The U.S. surgeon general caught the eye of Donald Trump in a tried-and-true way: by praising him on television.
At a recent briefing with his coronavirus task force standing behind him, Trump turned to Dr. Jerome Adams and declared the previously low-profile 20th surgeon general among the administration’s “stars” to emerge from this crisis.
“I watched him the other day. It was such a fantastic job you did, and I really appreciate it,” Trump said.
Trump didn’t specify what media appearance he was referring to. But in the span of a few days, Adams had said that Trump sleeps less than he does but was in better health, echoed Trump’s argument that most Americans should be more worried about the seasonal flu than the new virus, and defended Trump’s claim that Democratic lawmakers’ politicization of the crisis was, in Trump’s words, a “new hoax.”
At the same news conference where Trump praised him, Adams scolded the media for “bickering” and “partisanship” in their coverage of the administration’s missteps.
“No more criticism or finger-pointing,” Adams said.
Surgeons general rarely garner much attention. The most impactful announcement from a surgeon general came in 1964 when Dr. Luther L. Terry told the nation that there was a link between lung cancer and smoking.
More recently, they have been in the public eye because their medical advice caused political problems for the president.
Dr. C. Everett Koop was at odds with the Reagan White House with his calls for AIDS education for elementary school students and support of condoms for disease prevention. Dr. Jocelyn Elders was fired by Bill Clinton after she affirmed at an AIDS conference that it may be appropriate to promote masturbation to help dissuade young people from engaging in risky sexual activity. Dr. Richard Carmona said after he left the office that the George W. Bush administration tried to “water down” his report on the dangers of secondhand smoke .
Adams, an anesthesiologist, has gained notice during the coronavirus crisis for his eager defense of Trump.
Days after Mike Pence tapped him to join the task force, Adams conducted a radio interview in which he appeared to stray far outside the scope of medicine to defend Trump’s comment at a South Carolina rally that Democrats were pushing a “new hoax” by spotlighting the coronavirus.
“I will tell you when he said hoax, he was not referring to the coronavirus,” Adams said. “He said, and this is from his mouth to your ears, he was referring to the way he had been treated by the opposite party in terms of impeachment, in terms of criticizing the coronavirus response so far, in terms of taking every opportunity to bring him down.”
Adams also raised eyebrows this week for incorrectly referring to South Korea as an authoritarian country. He was trying to make the point that as a democracy, the U.S. should tread carefully in how it goes about stemming the virus.
“We are not an authoritarian nation, so we have to be careful when we say, ‘Let’s do what China did. Let’s do what South Korea did,'” Adams said during an interview on “Fox & Friends,” equating South Korea’s democratic republic with communist China’s unelected government.
In recent days, Adams, a 45-year-old married father of three children, has been at the center of the administration’s public push to underscore to the young and healthy to avoid gatherings of 10 or more and practice social distancing for the sake of older generations.
Adams was dispatched Thursday to do a round of appearances on the morning news programs, conveying the message that people’s actions can help save lives and limit the spread of the virus.
Later, he joined Trump at a news conference where he echoed his praise of Food and Drug Administration officials as “tireless” in their efforts to bring drugs to the market for those stricken by the virus. The White House also says that Adams and other high-profile administration officials will appear in nationally broadcast public service announcements that highlight how Americans can protect themselves and those most at risk.
A spokeswoman for Adams said he was not available to comment.
It was his relationship with Pence that brought Adams to Washington. When Adams arrived on the job in 2017, he was well-regarded by public health experts and industry insiders and in his adopted state of Indiana, where he served as state health commissioner when Pence was governor.
Adams played a key role in persuading Pence to back a needle exchange after an HIV outbreak in rural Indiana among intravenous drug users. After Trump appointed Pence to take over the administration’s coronavirus response in late February, Pence added Adams.
“I have seen him communicate well and organize well and he brings around him a team of people that know things he doesn’t know — always the sign of a good leader,” said Beth Meyerson, a health policy expert at the University of Arizona who worked closely with Adams during the HIV outbreak in Indiana.
Others in the public health community say he’s strayed from the traditional role of the surgeon general as “the nation’s doctor” and administration’s chief medical adviser.
“Jerome Adams came in with a great reputation,” said Kavita Patel, a Johns Hopkins Medicine internist who served as a senior adviser in the Obama administration. “There was the comment he made about South Korea. At times, it feels like there is a little too much politics in how he’s been speaking about the administration’s coronavirus efforts. That’s where, unfortunately, he loses credibility. The office should not be political.”
Adams was a “bright and engaging” doctor while he was Indiana’s state health commissioner, said Charlie Brown, who was the top Democrat on the Indiana House public health committee at the time of the 2015 HIV outbreak in southern Indiana.
More than 180 HIV cases were tied to needle-sharing among intravenous drug users who were injecting a liquefied painkiller. Pence, citing law-and-order objections, had resisted calls to allow needle-exchange programs to stem the spread of diseases. Eventually, with the guidance of Adams, Pence came to reluctantly agree to the distribution of clean needles.
“He was right on point with those issues that were impacting health care in Indiana when he was here,” Brown added. “But now it is like a different world. It’s unreal. The Jerome Adams that I knew and the one that I see step before the microphone now just does not make any sense.”
Elders, the Clinton administration-era surgeon general, said she first came to know Adams during his time as Indiana’s state health commissioner and was quickly impressed. She described him as the type of medical professional who can provide Trump and Pence with sound advice in shaping policy.
“His heart’s in the right place, he’s a good physician and good scientist,” Elders said.
But Elders added that Adams’ wading into politics undermines the credibility of the surgeon general’s office.
“I don’t think it’s the surgeon general’s place to be scolding the media about politics,” Elders said.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover.


shareblue--2020-03-23--GOP senator blames impeachment for Trump's bungled response to outbreak

Sen. Cory Gardner ( R-CO ) , who is self-quarantining after possible coronavirus exposure , said in an interview on Wednesday that the real reason for the slow government response to the COVID-19 crisis was the impeachment of Donald Trump .
Asked whether America was `` caught as a nation with our pants down '' by the outbreak , Gardner noted that the first reports about the coronavirus in China began early in 2020 .
`` I had said , 'We have to have a hearing .
This sounds very serious .
We have to have a hearing .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Gardner claimed .
`` And guess what was going on in the middle of all this ?
Impeachment was going on . ''
`` And now , even in the middle of impeachment , we were able to get HHS [ the Department of Health and Human Services ] and FDA [ Food and Drug Administration ] and the NIH [ National Institutes of Health ] together to talk about what they had learned at that point , what they knew about it at that point , '' he continued .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the throes of impeachment . ''
The senator 's interview on Denver 's KNUS radio drew little notice until the independent news site Westword flagged it on Monday morning .
Gardner praised what he called `` unprecedented '' first steps in response to the growing outbreak , saying Trump 's team `` probably made some very wise steps early on . ''
For weeks , however , the Trump administration downplayed the crisis , pretending it was totally under control .
Two days after the first known case the U.S. was diagnosed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have it totally under control .
It 's one person coming in from China . ''
During the first week of February , he boasted on Fox News , `` We pretty much shut it down coming in from China .
It 's going to be fine . ''
As for Trump 's impeachment , opening arguments began Jan. 22 and Trump did not attend any of the proceedings .
None of his health advisers had any role in the impeachment either .
He was acquitted on Feb. 5 by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , Trump was still bragging about his coronavirus response : `` Because of all we 've done , the risk to the American people remains very low .
… When you have 15 people , and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero .
That 's a pretty good job we 've done . ''
Harvard Global Health Institute head Ashish Jha told Bloomberg last week that the administration wasted about two months , failing to ramp up widespread coronavirus testing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first case of coronavirus was reported in the United States .
As of Monday , the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported at least 33,404 COVID-19 cases in the United States .
Still , Trump is already talking about returning the nation to business as usual within days , despite medical experts ' expectations that the worst is yet to come .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), who is self-quarantining after possible coronavirus exposure, said in an interview on Wednesday that the real reason for the slow government response to the COVID-19 crisis was the impeachment of Donald Trump.
Asked whether America was “caught as a nation with our pants down” by the outbreak, Gardner noted that the first reports about the coronavirus in China began early in 2020.
“I had said, ‘We have to have a hearing. This sounds very serious. We have to have a hearing. We have to have a briefing.'” Gardner claimed. “And guess what was going on in the middle of all this? Impeachment was going on.”
“And now, even in the middle of impeachment, we were able to get HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services] and FDA [Food and Drug Administration] and the NIH [National Institutes of Health] together to talk about what they had learned at that point, what they knew about it at that point,” he continued. “But Congress then went right back into the throes of impeachment.”
The senator’s interview on Denver’s KNUS radio drew little notice until the independent news site Westword flagged it on Monday morning.
Gardner praised what he called “unprecedented” first steps in response to the growing outbreak, saying Trump’s team “probably made some very wise steps early on.”
For weeks, however, the Trump administration downplayed the crisis, pretending it was totally under control.
Two days after the first known case the U.S. was diagnosed on Jan. 20, Trump told CNBC, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China.” During the first week of February, he boasted on Fox News, “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China. It’s going to be fine.”
As for Trump’s impeachment, opening arguments began Jan. 22 and Trump did not attend any of the proceedings. None of his health advisers had any role in the impeachment either. He was acquitted on Feb. 5 by the GOP-controlled Senate.
At the end of February, Trump was still bragging about his coronavirus response: “Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low. … When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. That’s a pretty good job we’ve done.”
Harvard Global Health Institute head Ashish Jha told Bloomberg last week that the administration wasted about two months, failing to ramp up widespread coronavirus testing. The impeachment trial ended about two weeks after the first case of coronavirus was reported in the United States.
As of Monday, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported at least 33,404 COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Still, Trump is already talking about returning the nation to business as usual within days, despite medical experts’ expectations that the worst is yet to come.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Pelosi to Trump: It's time for every state to expand Medicaid

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested a simple way for states to help residents during the coronavirus pandemic : expand Medicaid eligibility as allowed under Obamacare .
Pelosi made the recommendation during a Monday press conference , while at the same time encouraging Donald Trump to stop his effort to overturn the health care act in court .
`` Right now , in the middle of the coronavirus , the Trump administration is in court suing to tear down the entire Affordable Care Act — every last protection and benefit , '' Pelosi said .
Pelosi noted that if Trump succeeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , free preventative care , the ability of young people to stay on their parents ' insurance , and every other benefit provided under Obamacare would be taken away .
In addition , 20 million Americans could lose their health insurance .
Earlier on Monday , former Vice President Joe Biden also called on Trump and his Republican allies to drop the lawsuit .
Instead of fighting in court to overturn Obamacare , Trump `` should urge the 14 states who have refused to expand Medicaid to do so , '' Pelosi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the health care act , which former President Barack Obama signed into law exactly 10 years ago .
Under Obamacare , the federal government would cover the majority of the cost for states to provide Medicaid to most people with income at up to 138 % of the federal poverty line .
The 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid ( Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Kansas , Mississippi , Missouri , North Carolina , Oklahoma , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas , Wisconsin , and Wyoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or both .
If Trump and Republicans followed Pelosi 's advice , the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates , more than 2 million currently uninsured people could gain health insurance .
Expanding Medicaid is a `` shovel-ready program for investing in the health care of the rural community , '' Brock Slabach , executive vice president of the National Rural Hospital Association , said in a telephone interview last week .
Without it , many low-income families in those 14 states must `` face the threat of serious , life-threatening illness of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state leaders ' refusal to expand Medicaid also reduces their residents ' access to health care .
Since Obamacare was signed into law , 126 rural hospitals have closed , with 70 % of the closures happening in states that have not implemented a Medicaid expansion .
`` In a pandemic , you want to get early treatment and thorough treatment , '' Slabach said .
`` One of the ways to do that is to provide coverage for care , '' he added , calling such coverage a `` necessary part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , at least 39,819 people in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 , according to the New York Times , and at least 455 people have died as a result of the disease .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested a simple way for states to help residents during the coronavirus pandemic: expand Medicaid eligibility as allowed under Obamacare.
Pelosi made the recommendation during a Monday press conference, while at the same time encouraging Donald Trump to stop his effort to overturn the health care act in court.
“Right now, in the middle of the coronavirus, the Trump administration is in court suing to tear down the entire Affordable Care Act — every last protection and benefit,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi noted that if Trump succeeds, protections for people with preexisting conditions, free preventative care, the ability of young people to stay on their parents’ insurance, and every other benefit provided under Obamacare would be taken away. In addition, 20 million Americans could lose their health insurance.
Earlier on Monday, former Vice President Joe Biden also called on Trump and his Republican allies to drop the lawsuit.
Instead of fighting in court to overturn Obamacare, Trump “should urge the 14 states who have refused to expand Medicaid to do so,” Pelosi said.
Medicaid expansion was a key part of the health care act, which former President Barack Obama signed into law exactly 10 years ago. Under Obamacare, the federal government would cover the majority of the cost for states to provide Medicaid to most people with income at up to 138% of the federal poverty line.
The 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) have Republican governors, Republican-led legislatures, or both.
If Trump and Republicans followed Pelosi’s advice, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates, more than 2 million currently uninsured people could gain health insurance.
Expanding Medicaid is a “shovel-ready program for investing in the health care of the rural community,” Brock Slabach, executive vice president of the National Rural Hospital Association, said in a telephone interview last week. Without it, many low-income families in those 14 states must “face the threat of serious, life-threatening illness of COVID-19 infection without any coverage.”
Republican state leaders’ refusal to expand Medicaid also reduces their residents’ access to health care. Since Obamacare was signed into law, 126 rural hospitals have closed, with 70% of the closures happening in states that have not implemented a Medicaid expansion.
“In a pandemic, you want to get early treatment and thorough treatment,” Slabach said. “One of the ways to do that is to provide coverage for care,” he added, calling such coverage a “necessary part of pandemic planning.”
As of Monday afternoon, at least 39,819 people in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the New York Times, and at least 455 people have died as a result of the disease.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Biden to Trump: It's time to stop the lawsuit that would end Obamacare

Even in the middle of a global health pandemic , Donald Trump and his Republican allies are fighting in court to take health care away from millions of Americans .
On Monday , former Vice President Joe Biden sent a letter to Trump and other Republicans calling on them to drop the lawsuit .
`` At a time of national emergency , which is laying bare the existing vulnerabilities in our public health infrastructure , it is unconscionable that you are continuing to pursue a lawsuit designed to strip millions of Americans of their health insurance and protections under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am therefore calling on each of you to drop your support of litigation to repeal the ACA . ''
The letter was sent on the 10th anniversary of former President Barack Obama 's signing the health care act into law .
Biden is currently the frontrunner to be this year 's Democratic nominee for president .
Addressed to Trump , state attorneys general , and Gov .
Tate Reeves ( R-MS ) , the letter refers to a lawsuit filed by Republican state officials who are seeking to overturn Obamacare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though its success would mean 21 million Americans could lose their health insurance .
In early March , the Supreme Court agreed to hear the lawsuit .
Obamacare `` is the reason 100 million people with pre-existing conditions—including conditions like asthma and diabetes that make them at higher-risk for adverse health impacts from the coronavirus—do n't have to worry about being charged more or denied coverage , '' Biden wrote .
Biden added that having health insurance is about `` the peace of mind that comes from knowing that if your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get them the care they need , '' and that during a health crisis , it is `` part of the assurance that you can seek the treatment you and your loved ones need . ''
The continued fight against health care for millions of people `` is a dereliction of your sworn duty , '' Biden told the Republicans .
Even as Trump seeks to take health care away from people , his administration is using provisions of Obamacare in its coronavirus response .
On March 4 , Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit , '' meaning that , `` by definition , it 's covered in the private health insurance of every American , as well as covered by Medicare and Medicaid . ''
Essential health benefits were created under the act as `` a set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover , '' according to healthcare.gov .
Other essential benefits include emergency care , cancer screenings , and pregnancy and newborn care .
`` If there was ever a moment to set aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden wrote .
`` All you have to do is drop your support for this ill-conceived lawsuit , which is even more dangerous and cruel in this moment of national crisis . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Even in the middle of a global health pandemic, Donald Trump and his Republican allies are fighting in court to take health care away from millions of Americans. On Monday, former Vice President Joe Biden sent a letter to Trump and other Republicans calling on them to drop the lawsuit.
“At a time of national emergency, which is laying bare the existing vulnerabilities in our public health infrastructure, it is unconscionable that you are continuing to pursue a lawsuit designed to strip millions of Americans of their health insurance and protections under the Affordable Care Act,” Biden wrote. “I am therefore calling on each of you to drop your support of litigation to repeal the ACA.”
The letter was sent on the 10th anniversary of former President Barack Obama’s signing the health care act into law. Biden is currently the frontrunner to be this year’s Democratic nominee for president.
Addressed to Trump, state attorneys general, and Gov. Tate Reeves (R-MS), the letter refers to a lawsuit filed by Republican state officials who are seeking to overturn Obamacare. The Trump administration supports the lawsuit, even though its success would mean 21 million Americans could lose their health insurance.
In early March, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the lawsuit.
Obamacare “is the reason 100 million people with pre-existing conditions—including conditions like asthma and diabetes that make them at higher-risk for adverse health impacts from the coronavirus—don’t have to worry about being charged more or denied coverage,” Biden wrote.
Biden added that having health insurance is about “the peace of mind that comes from knowing that if your kid gets sick, you will be able to get them the care they need,” and that during a health crisis, it is “part of the assurance that you can seek the treatment you and your loved ones need.”
The continued fight against health care for millions of people “is a dereliction of your sworn duty,” Biden told the Republicans.
Even as Trump seeks to take health care away from people, his administration is using provisions of Obamacare in its coronavirus response.
On March 4, Mike Pence announced that the administration had “designated the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit,” meaning that, “by definition, it’s covered in the private health insurance of every American, as well as covered by Medicare and Medicaid.”
Essential health benefits were created under the act as “a set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover,” according to healthcare.gov. Other essential benefits include emergency care, cancer screenings, and pregnancy and newborn care.
“If there was ever a moment to set aside politics, it is now,” Biden wrote. “All you have to do is drop your support for this ill-conceived lawsuit, which is even more dangerous and cruel in this moment of national crisis.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--People are bringing home new pets to help get them through quarantine

Mandatory lockdowns and nationwide bans on social gatherings to prevent further spread of COVID-19 are resulting in an unexpected consequence : More pets finding homes .
Shelters across the country are reporting an uptick in the number of individuals signing up to foster and adopt dogs and cats .
Because many states have cracked down on gatherings of more than 10 people , and in some states have even banned non-essential employees from work , shelters are in need of people to foster or adopt pets to clear out their facilities .
And people are meeting those needs .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to foster pets ... while [ people ] are at home , '' the New Jersey based Liberty Humane Society said in an email .
Kate Mayo , a teacher in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas , is one of those foster pet parents .
She recently took in a 7-month-old basset hound beagle mix named Luna .
Mayo said she has helped out at her local Humane Society before , and given that the shelter is now closed to volunteers , she decided to heed the call and foster a dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full time staff who remain .
`` I currently have a 12 year old basset , and he 's not too crazy about [ the new dog 's ] puppy energy , '' Mayo said .
`` We 've been working on 'sit ' and 'down , ' and she 's learning quickly ! ''
She added , `` She 's definitely keeping me from sitting around all day ! ''
Kim Siegel , a Delaware resident , also signed up to foster a dog as the coronavirus outbreak forced people back into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so after the Delaware Humane Association sent out an urgent request for foster homes to `` help their staff reduce exposure '' to the virus .
`` I live alone and my work and travel schedule are primarily why I haven ’ t had one of my own , '' Siegel said .
`` But with [ COVID-19 ] putting so many people at risk , I ’ ve wanted to do whatever I can to help . ''
Siegel chose a 6-month-old dog who is currently fighting off a case of kennel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 48 hours and we ’ re both adjusting and learning to trust each other , '' Siegel said , adding that her friends have helped with offers of supplies and advice .
Lala Wu , who volunteers at a local rescue organization in San Francisco , decided to help foster Angie , a dog with health complications , on March 10 — just as the COVID-19 outbreak was starting to impact life around the country .
`` Fostering has helped my community stay sane , and close to each other .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow a strong bond with a dog — I would bet this is even truer in times like this , '' Wu said .
Jen Krazit and her husband are fostering two cats , after they read that shelters were in need due to a lack of volunteer assistance .
`` We have a dog , but our cat died just before Christmas , so we have room in our home and in our hearts , '' Krazit said .
`` We 're also both working from home now , so I figured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foster lots of attention . ''
And dogs are n't just finding temporary homes in the middle of the crisis .
Some are settling into their new abodes for the long haul .
Allison , who did not give her last name but goes by @ ripple70 on Twitter , said that her family had been looking for a new dog to keep their 6-year-old Bichon company , but was worried about bringing one into their home due to their work schedule .
However , after the coronavirus canceled school for her two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be home for an extended period , they took the plunge and brought home a rescue Bichon they named Rosey .
`` I just so happened to see a post from a puppy mill rescue on Facebook last Thursday about an 11 month old Bichon girl that they were looking to adopt out , '' she said .
`` On a whim , I sent in the application that afternoon only to find out later that evening that my kids ' schools would be closed for 2 weeks and I 'd be working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It seemed strangely like fate . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Mandatory lockdowns and nationwide bans on social gatherings to prevent further spread of COVID-19 are resulting in an unexpected consequence: More pets finding homes.
Shelters across the country are reporting an uptick in the number of individuals signing up to foster and adopt dogs and cats.
Because many states have cracked down on gatherings of more than 10 people, and in some states have even banned non-essential employees from work, shelters are in need of people to foster or adopt pets to clear out their facilities.
And people are meeting those needs.
“We are seeing a surge in offers to foster pets … while [people] are at home,” the New Jersey based Liberty Humane Society said in an email.
The shelter called the foster program “life-saving.”
Kate Mayo, a teacher in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, is one of those foster pet parents. She recently took in a 7-month-old basset hound beagle mix named Luna.
Got a new foster dog for spring break! Meet Luna! She’s a 1 year old beagle mix from @DFW_Humane #AdoptDontShop pic.twitter.com/QpLPAWq3qt — Kate Mayo (@k8mayo) March 18, 2020
Mayo said she has helped out at her local Humane Society before, and given that the shelter is now closed to volunteers, she decided to heed the call and foster a dog to help lighten the workload for the full time staff who remain.
“I currently have a 12 year old basset, and he’s not too crazy about [the new dog’s] puppy energy,” Mayo said. “We’ve been working on ‘sit’ and ‘down,’ and she’s learning quickly!”
She added, “She’s definitely keeping me from sitting around all day!”
Kim Siegel, a Delaware resident, also signed up to foster a dog as the coronavirus outbreak forced people back into their homes. She said she did so after the Delaware Humane Association sent out an urgent request for foster homes to “help their staff reduce exposure” to the virus.
Hey @darth @dogrates today I brought home Morgan, a 6mo w/kennel cough who is going to hang here until her shelter ppl don’t need social distance. She’s very nervous & doesn’t get why she can’t live in the yard or play with the other dogs she can hear. Show her some love? pic.twitter.com/2wyBxWQd6R — Kim Siegel (@siegelka) March 18, 2020
“I live alone and my work and travel schedule are primarily why I haven’t had one of my own,” Siegel said. “But with [COVID-19] putting so many people at risk, I’ve wanted to do whatever I can to help.”
Siegel chose a 6-month-old dog who is currently fighting off a case of kennel cough.
“It’s been less than 48 hours and we’re both adjusting and learning to trust each other,” Siegel said, adding that her friends have helped with offers of supplies and advice.
Lala Wu, who volunteers at a local rescue organization in San Francisco, decided to help foster Angie, a dog with health complications, on March 10 — just as the COVID-19 outbreak was starting to impact life around the country.
“Fostering has helped my community stay sane, and close to each other. It’s incredible how quickly you can grow a strong bond with a dog — I would bet this is even truer in times like this,” Wu said.
Jen Krazit and her husband are fostering two cats, after they read that shelters were in need due to a lack of volunteer assistance.
“We have a dog, but our cat died just before Christmas, so we have room in our home and in our hearts,” Krazit said. “We’re also both working from home now, so I figured it would be easy to give a foster lots of attention.”
And dogs aren’t just finding temporary homes in the middle of the crisis. Some are settling into their new abodes for the long haul.
Allison, who did not give her last name but goes by @ripple70 on Twitter, said that her family had been looking for a new dog to keep their 6-year-old Bichon company, but was worried about bringing one into their home due to their work schedule.
However, after the coronavirus canceled school for her two children, and Allison knew she would be home for an extended period, they took the plunge and brought home a rescue Bichon they named Rosey.
@CahnEmily @darth wanted me to share our newest addition. This is Rosey. She's an 11 month old puppy mill pup but the absolute sweetest. She joins big brother Niko. pic.twitter.com/q4kkaepNa0 — @llison 🙈🙉🙊 (@ripple70) March 19, 2020
“I just so happened to see a post from a puppy mill rescue on Facebook last Thursday about an 11 month old Bichon girl that they were looking to adopt out,” she said. “On a whim, I sent in the application that afternoon only to find out later that evening that my kids’ schools would be closed for 2 weeks and I’d be working from home.”
She added, “It seemed strangely like fate.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Republicans demand Trump set end date for fighting virus as people keep dying

Conservatives are fed up with social distancing to slow the coronavirus .
After days of them demanding a fixed date for the end of the COVID-19 crisis , Donald Trump basically endorsed their demands on Sunday night .
On Friday , Rep. Chip Roy ( R-TX ) penned a National Review piece called `` America Needs a Date Certain . ''
In it , he wrote that `` our government ’ s response has put thousands of American businesses on the brink of insolvency , and millions are now jobless '' and predicts that this will `` only continue unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` The most important thing we need to do — right now — is to announce a date to signal our economic restart , get folks back to work , and build the confidence we need to get capital flowing , '' Roy demanded .
`` Perhaps that date should be around April 1 .
Perhaps it should be April 15 .
In consultation with our nation ’ s health experts , the federal government must announce a date within the coming weeks , no later . ''
His fellow Texas Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call , tweeting Friday , `` We MUST do everything in our power to provide a reasonable , health-informed , date for when Americans can safely return to regular economic activity in their communities . ''
An array of conservative media commentators spent the weekend echoing the demand .
Fox News host Laura Ingraham tweeted Friday , `` The uncertainty for businesses , parents and kids is just not sustainable . ''
On Monday , she added , `` Even another week of this will mean millions more out of work , massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental incomes , families at every income level , horrific pain and suffering .
But if we knew this was almost over , recovery would be easier . ''
Conservative columnist Josh Hammer tweeted Sunday , `` This will not end well for capitalism .
It will not end well for the rule of law .
It will not end well for republican self-governance .
Unless it is all shepherded to an end quickly and efficiently , as soon as is remotely feasible . ''
And former Trump adviser Gary Cohn asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for a date when the economy can turn back on ? ''
`` WE CAN NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF .
AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD , WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO ! ''
he tweeted .
He followed his own tweet with a series of retweets of supporters agreeing that everyone should get back to normal in 15 days .
With testing still at a minimum in the United States and not everyone practicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the crisis will actually start to slow .
The surgeon general predicted on Monday , `` This week , it 's going to get bad . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Conservatives are fed up with social distancing to slow the coronavirus. After days of them demanding a fixed date for the end of the COVID-19 crisis, Donald Trump basically endorsed their demands on Sunday night.
On Friday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) penned a National Review piece called “America Needs a Date Certain.” In it, he wrote that “our government’s response has put thousands of American businesses on the brink of insolvency, and millions are now jobless” and predicts that this will “only continue unless the government provides certainty of action.”
“The most important thing we need to do — right now — is to announce a date to signal our economic restart, get folks back to work, and build the confidence we need to get capital flowing,” Roy demanded. “Perhaps that date should be around April 1. Perhaps it should be April 15. In consultation with our nation’s health experts, the federal government must announce a date within the coming weeks, no later.”
His fellow Texas Republican, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, endorsed the call, tweeting Friday, “We MUST do everything in our power to provide a reasonable, health-informed, date for when Americans can safely return to regular economic activity in their communities.”
An array of conservative media commentators spent the weekend echoing the demand.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham tweeted Friday, “The uncertainty for businesses, parents and kids is just not sustainable.” On Monday, she added, “Even another week of this will mean millions more out of work, massive damage to businesses big and small, rental incomes, families at every income level, horrific pain and suffering. But if we knew this was almost over, recovery would be easier.”
Conservative columnist Josh Hammer tweeted Sunday, “This will not end well for capitalism. It will not end well for the rule of law. It will not end well for republican self-governance. Unless it is all shepherded to an end quickly and efficiently, as soon as is remotely feasible.”
And former Trump adviser Gary Cohn asked, “Is it time to start discussing the need for a date when the economy can turn back on?”
Late Sunday night, Donald Trump joined in.
“WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!” he tweeted.
He followed his own tweet with a series of retweets of supporters agreeing that everyone should get back to normal in 15 days.
With testing still at a minimum in the United States and not everyone practicing social distancing, epidemiologists have no idea when the crisis will actually start to slow.
The surgeon general predicted on Monday, “This week, it’s going to get bad.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Fauci: 'I cannot do the impossible' and force Trump to stick to facts

Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Sunday that he wished Donald Trump would do a better job of giving factual information about the COVID-19 pandemic and following the rules to reduce its spread .
In an interview with Science magazine , Fauci expressed frustration with Trump 's rhetoric and his behavior .
Asked about Trump 's presentation of information at press conferences , Fauci said that he says things `` in a way that I would not express it , because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` I ca n't jump in front of the microphone and push him down , '' he added .
Instead , he said , he focuses on trying to get Trump 's false statements `` corrected for the next time . ''
On Thursday , for example , Trump falsely claimed that the FDA had approved the anti-malarial drug chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment .
On Friday , Fauci made clear that this was incorrect , as clinical trials have not yet determined its safety and efficacy .
For weeks Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including claims that the situation was under control , that anyone who wanted a test could get one , and that the number of cases in the United States would soon be `` down close to zero . ''
Trump has also repeatedly failed to follow CDC recommendations that everyone avoid large gatherings , practice social distancing , and refrain from handshaking .
`` We should not be doing that , '' Fauci said of Trump 's handshakes .
`` Not only that — we should be physically separating a bit more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep pushing the administration to address the problem , but said , `` I 'm trying my best .
I can not do the impossible . ''
Fauci made clear in the interview that , unlike Trump , he has never used and will never use racist terminology to describe the coronavirus .
Asked about Trump 's frequent boasts that he made a huge dent in the problem by limiting travel from China and his other false statements about the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak , Fauci responded , `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to do ?
I mean , seriously Jon , let 's get real , what do you want me to do ? ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday that he wished Donald Trump would do a better job of giving factual information about the COVID-19 pandemic and following the rules to reduce its spread.
In an interview with Science magazine, Fauci expressed frustration with Trump’s rhetoric and his behavior.
Asked about Trump’s presentation of information at press conferences, Fauci said that he says things “in a way that I would not express it, because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the facts are about a given subject.”
“I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down,” he added. Instead, he said, he focuses on trying to get Trump’s false statements “corrected for the next time.”
On Thursday, for example, Trump falsely claimed that the FDA had approved the anti-malarial drug chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment. On Friday, Fauci made clear that this was incorrect, as clinical trials have not yet determined its safety and efficacy.
For weeks Trump has made false statements about the crisis, including claims that the situation was under control, that anyone who wanted a test could get one, and that the number of cases in the United States would soon be “down close to zero.”
Trump has also repeatedly failed to follow CDC recommendations that everyone avoid large gatherings, practice social distancing, and refrain from handshaking.
“We should not be doing that,” Fauci said of Trump’s handshakes. “Not only that — we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences.” He promised to keep pushing the administration to address the problem, but said, “I’m trying my best. I cannot do the impossible.”
Fauci made clear in the interview that, unlike Trump, he has never used and will never use racist terminology to describe the coronavirus.
Asked about Trump’s frequent boasts that he made a huge dent in the problem by limiting travel from China and his other false statements about the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak, Fauci responded, “I know, but what do you want me to do? I mean, seriously Jon, let’s get real, what do you want me to do?”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--GOP senator defends corporate bailouts: They're just 'a lot of people'

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R ) on Monday defended a failed Republican stimulus package that Democrats blocked over the weekend , due to concerns that the bill unfairly skewed in favor of corporations .
From the March 23 edition of `` The Hugh Hewitt Show '' : SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY ( R-IA ) : And the other thing is , he [ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ] says it 's a bailout for corporations .
What are corporations ?
They 're a lot of people .
Ninety percent of them are probably employees .
And in this tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquidity for these businesses to keep people on the payroll and we have a big help for small business .
Just think of 750,000 restaurant workers going to — probably laid off already .
And small business task force has loan programs that are forgivable loans if the , if the restaurants keep their people on the payroll .
In the recent past , corporations have used money from government interventions on stock buybacks to benefit shareholders and wealthy executives .
After the 2017 GOP tax bill , many wealthy corporations saved billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal tax bill to zero .
But rather than spending those savings on wage increases and investments in workers , many put profits into buying back stock , which mainly benefits shareholders .
Stock buybacks occur when a company uses profits to purchase shares of its own stock .
As a result , there are fewer shares on the market and the value of stocks increases .
Stock buybacks predominantly `` help enrich corporate executives , whose compensation is often linked to their share price , '' CNN notes .
The airline industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bailout , has spent an average of 96 % of its free cash on stock buybacks over the past 10 years .
Airlines are willing to stop stock buybacks for the life of government loans in light of the coronavirus pandemic , according to Vox .
There are a few exceptions to the trend .
During the 2008 and 2009 auto industry bailout , the federal government forced General Motors to make changes as a result of receiving billions in bailout funds , including making more fuel-efficient cars to compete against foreign vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assisting average Americans before .
Back in 2017 , while defending the GOP tax bill , which benefited corporations and the super wealthy , Grassley claimed that assisting investors was more important that helping those who did not put their money into the market .
He claimed those who did not invest their money were instead `` spending every darn penny they have , whether it ’ s on booze or women or movies . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) on Monday defended a failed Republican stimulus package that Democrats blocked over the weekend, due to concerns that the bill unfairly skewed in favor of corporations.
From the March 23 edition of “The Hugh Hewitt Show”:
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): And the other thing is, he [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer] says it’s a bailout for corporations. What are corporations? They’re a lot of people. Ninety percent of them are probably employees. And in this tax bill, we have a lot of liquidity for these businesses to keep people on the payroll and we have a big help for small business. Just think of 750,000 restaurant workers going to — probably laid off already. And small business task force has loan programs that are forgivable loans if the, if the restaurants keep their people on the payroll.
In the recent past, corporations have used money from government interventions on stock buybacks to benefit shareholders and wealthy executives.
After the 2017 GOP tax bill, many wealthy corporations saved billions in taxes, with many reducing their federal tax bill to zero. But rather than spending those savings on wage increases and investments in workers, many put profits into buying back stock, which mainly benefits shareholders.
Stock buybacks occur when a company uses profits to purchase shares of its own stock. As a result, there are fewer shares on the market and the value of stocks increases. Stock buybacks predominantly “help enrich corporate executives, whose compensation is often linked to their share price,” CNN notes.
The airline industry, which is looking for a federal bailout, has spent an average of 96% of its free cash on stock buybacks over the past 10 years. Airlines are willing to stop stock buybacks for the life of government loans in light of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Vox.
There are a few exceptions to the trend. During the 2008 and 2009 auto industry bailout, the federal government forced General Motors to make changes as a result of receiving billions in bailout funds, including making more fuel-efficient cars to compete against foreign vehicles.
Grassley has made controversial comments about assisting average Americans before.
Back in 2017, while defending the GOP tax bill, which benefited corporations and the super wealthy, Grassley claimed that assisting investors was more important that helping those who did not put their money into the market.
He claimed those who did not invest their money were instead “spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Fact-checking Trump on coronavirus: No, car companies aren't making ventilators

Trump 's lies about the novel coronavirus are coming fast and furious .
Every time he comes to the White House briefing room to give an update about COVID-19 disease and what the federal government is doing to try and stop the spread , he lies about the virus and the response .
Here 's a continued running list of Trump 's coronavirus lies .
Previous weekly fact checks can be found here .
`` General Motors , Ford , so many companies — I had three calls yesterday directly , without having to institute like : 'You will do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them right now . ''
— Unlike what Trump said , the automakers are not currently producing ventilators and masks .
`` When you are repurposing a factory , it really depends on how similar the new product is to the existing products in your product line , '' Kaitlin Wowak , a professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies industrial supply chains , told the Associated Press .
`` It 's going to be a substantial pivot to start producing an entirely different item . ''
In trying to reassure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't leading to a shortage in supplies , he said at a Saturday news conference that Walmart is `` doing incredibly '' and that there are no empty shelves in stores across the country .
But it 's untrue that there are no empty shelves in the country , whether at Walmart or other stores .
Images of empty shelves are everywhere you look , with items such as toilet paper , disinfectant wipes , and hand sanitizer in short supply .
`` I signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us powerful new authorities to help states , cities , and hospitals procure needed supplies . ''
— Governors have been begging Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act , which allows the president to order private industry to create necessary items in times of war .
In the case of COVID-19 , the act would allow Trump to force private industry to create critical supplies — such as ventilators and masks — to treat patients stricken with the virus and to prevent health care workers from contracting the illness from their patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about actually invoking the act .
In the March 21 news conference , he said he did but then quickly admitted that he has n't actually used the act to compel companies to make these necessary items .
`` We have so many companies making so many products — every product that you mentioned , plus ventilators and everything else .
We have car companies — without having to use the act , '' Trump said .

Trump’s lies about the novel coronavirus are coming fast and furious.
Every time he comes to the White House briefing room to give an update about COVID-19 disease and what the federal government is doing to try and stop the spread, he lies about the virus and the response.
Here’s a continued running list of Trump’s coronavirus lies. Previous weekly fact checks can be found here.
March 26
“Everybody wants to go back to work.” — Trump said on Fox News’ “Hannity” show
Trump has been talking about ending social distancing measures by an arbitrary Easter deadline, even though public health officials say that could lead to more deaths and an overrun of the health care system.
To justify his decision, he said people want to go back to work.
However, polling simply does not bear that out.
A Morning Consult/Politico poll released on Tuesday found that 74% of voters support social distancing measures.
That support comes from across the political spectrum, with 81% of Democrats backing the national quarantine, 72% of Republicans, and 69% of independents.
“I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers being said in some areas, they’re just bigger than they’re going to be. I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators.” — Trump on “Hannity “
Governors have been pleading for Trump to help their states procure lifesaving ventilators for patients arriving at hospitals with severe COVID-19 cases.
In particular, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — whose state is at the heart of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States — has said he needs tens of thousands more ventilators for the coming surge of severe cases, and has vowed to pass those ventilators to states who experience surges like New York’s down the road.
The need for ventilators in New York has already become desperate, with some hospitals even treating two patients with one ventilator, the New York Times reported.
However, Trump — contrary to evidence — says that New York doesn’t need that many ventilators.
And according to the Times, the federal government blew up a deal to produce up to 80,000 ventilators because the Trump administration balked at the price tag.
“There is no risk when it’s already out there in a different form for a different purpose.” Trump on “Hannity,” regarding experimental drug treatments for COVID-19
Trump has been pushing experimental treatments for COVID-19; namely, use of the antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
Experts are hopeful the drug cocktail of the anti-malarial drugs, as well as the use of the antibiotic azithromycin, could be a breakthrough for people suffering severe cases of COVID-19.
However, this strategy is not without risk, as Trump claimed they are. The Department of Health and Human Services says experimental treatments can come with serious side effects.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who sits on the White House’s coronavirus task force, has warned that the cocktail of drugs does not have scientific backing.
“The president feels optimistic about something, has feelings about it,” Fauci said when Trump first started talking about the experimental treatment. “I am saying it may be effective.”
March 25
“Nobody could have ever seen something like this coming, but now we know, and we know it can happen and happen again. And if it does, somebody is going to be very well prepared because of what we’ve learned and how we’ve done.” — Trump said at a White House news conference
This is untrue.
The National Security Council in 2016 came up with a pandemic playbook, which Trump had access to, Politico reported.
That playbook described a pandemic situation like the one the country has currently found itself in, and it recommended hundreds of steps the Trump administration should have taken as soon as there were signs of an “emerging disease threat anywhere in the world.”
China reported the first cases of the novel coronavirus on Dec. 31, 2019, which under the playbook means the Trump administration had months to prepare before the virus was detected in the United States.
Among other things, the playbook called for ensuring hospitals would have the kind of protective gear they are currently lacking and “diagnostic capacity” would be up to speed.
Yet, the Trump administration did none of those things. And now, the virus is spreading, the U.S. economy is cratering, and hospitals are reporting a lack of resources that could increase the death toll.
“The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success. The real people want to get back to work ASAP. We will be stronger than ever before!” — Trump tweet
Trump on Wednesday falsely claimed that the media is trying to unnecessarily keep social distancing measures in place to try to hurt his reelection bid.
All of these claims are categorically untrue.
The media is not forcing Trump to do anything. It has been reporting concerns from public health experts, who say that ending social distancing measures too soon will lead to more people dying and an overrun of the country’s health care system.
Meanwhile, it’s Trump’s belief that keeping social distancing measures in place, which hurts the economy, will hurt his reelection chances.
So far, there’s no evidence that’s true. In fact, Trump’s approval rating has ticked up during this crisis.
March 24
“You’re going to have suicides by the thousands.” — Trump at the Fox News town hall
Trump has been claiming that more people will die by suicide if the economy doesn’t go back to normal than people would die from COVID-19, the disease related to the novel coronavirus.
He first made that claim Monday night at a news conference, saying that if social distancing measures weren’t lifted, there would be suicides “in far greater numbers than the numbers that we’re talking about with regard to the virus.“
However, there is no evidence that the economic decline would lead to thousands of suicides. Nor is there evidence that the number of suicides would be higher than COVID-19 deaths.
Back in March, a scientific report found that without any social distancing measures, 2.2 million Americans could die from COVID-19 disease, according to the New York Times.
In comparison, there was one study of the impact of the 2008 financial crisis that found that 10,000 suicides were tied to the economic crisis across the entirety of Europe and North America.
“That was a flu where if you got it you had a 50/50 chance, or very close, of dying.” — Trump said Tuesday at a Fox News town hall of the 1918 flu
This is not true.
The 1918 flu did not have a 50% fatality rate — it was closer to 2.5%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it’s unclear what the ultimate death rate of COVID-19 will be, the World Health Organization on Monday raised the fatality rate of the virus from 2.1% to 4.4%.
“In a short period of time we’ve done more testing than South Korea.” — Trump said at the Fox News town hall.
This is misleading.
South Korea has been hailed for flattening the curve of the novel coronavirus without having to resort to the extreme social distancing measures that the United States is taking.
They were able to stop the spread by quickly producing tests for the virus, and conducting them to identify where the virus was spreading and quarantine people who were carriers before it could get out of control.
So far, South Korea has conducted more than 300,000 tests among its 51 million person population, according to the New York Times.
By contrast, the United States has conducted about 170,000 tests as of March 21, according to CNN. That’s a far lower rate given the United States has a population of more than 329 million people, according to the Census Bureau.
March 23
“I say we have a very active flu season, more active than most. It’s looking like it’s heading to 50,000 or more deaths. Deaths, not cases. Fifty thousand deaths, which is — that’s a lot. And you look at automobile accidents, which are far greater than any numbers we’re talking about. That doesn’t mean we’re going to tell everybody, ‘No more driving of cars.’ ” — Trump at a White House news conference
Trump has been talking about ending social distancing measures earlier than experts have advised because he’s worried about the economic impact.
But he used a bad analogy in the process of downplaying the COVID-19 and its death toll.
More than 37,000 people die in car crashes per year, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel.
However, those deaths aren’t all in the same few-week span — which is what the coronavirus threatens to do. And they don’t increase at an exponential rate, like the hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are currently doing. Both of those factors threaten to overwhelm the country’s health care system, possibly leading to more deaths.
Trump also failed to acknowledge that there have been numerous laws passed over the years to increase road safety, including seat belt laws, highway safety regulations, and speed limits, among other things.
“Republicans had a deal until Nancy Pelosi rode into town from her extended vacation. The Democrats want the Virus to win? They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders & Green New Deal. Republicans shouldn’t agree!” — Trump tweet
Trump is trying to throw a wrench into congressional negotiations over a massive piece of financial bailout legislation intended to help workers and businesses suffering from the coronavirus economic fallout.
In the process, he lied about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
She was not on an “extended vacation.” She’s been negotiating with Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, for days.
And after two House members tested positive for COVID-19 — with one having to be hospitalized for the illness — she’s now weighing alternative voting options.
Trump also lied about the provisions in the bill Pelosi and House Democrats released. — which unlike Trump’s claim is focused on workers. It provides direct checks to all families in the country, and is considered an interest-free loan for people who earn over a certain threshold.
It does not call for “open borders,” nor is it the “Green New Deal” that Trump claimed — though it does have protections for immigrants and provides grants for the airline industry to work to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
March 21
“General Motors, Ford, so many companies — I had three calls yesterday directly, without having to institute like: ‘You will do this’ — these companies are making them right now.” — Trump at a White House news conference
Unlike what Trump said, the automakers are not currently producing ventilators and masks.
“When you are repurposing a factory, it really depends on how similar the new product is to the existing products in your product line,” Kaitlin Wowak, a professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies industrial supply chains, told the Associated Press. “It’s going to be a substantial pivot to start producing an entirely different item.”
“ You don’t have empty shelves. ” — Trump at a White House news conference
In trying to reassure the nation that the novel coronavirus isn’t leading to a shortage in supplies, he said at a Saturday news conference that Walmart is “doing incredibly” and that there are no empty shelves in stores across the country.
But it’s untrue that there are no empty shelves in the country, whether at Walmart or other stores.
Images of empty shelves are everywhere you look, with items such as toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer in short supply.
“I signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act, as you all know, giving us powerful new authorities to help states, cities, and hospitals procure needed supplies.” — Trump at a White House news conference
Governors have been begging Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act, which allows the president to order private industry to create necessary items in times of war.
In the case of COVID-19, the act would allow Trump to force private industry to create critical supplies — such as ventilators and masks — to treat patients stricken with the virus and to prevent health care workers from contracting the illness from their patients.
Trump, however, has lied about actually invoking the act.
In the March 21 news conference, he said he did but then quickly admitted that he hasn’t actually used the act to compel companies to make these necessary items.
“We have so many companies making so many products — every product that you mentioned, plus ventilators and everything else. We have car companies — without having to use the act,” Trump said.
This list will be updated throughout the week.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Rand Paul tests positive for coronavirus after voting against paid sick leave for workers

On Sunday , Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Paul `` is feeling fine and is in quarantine , '' according to his Senate Twitter account .
`` He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events .
He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person . ''
The announcement came four days after Paul was one of eight Republicans who voted against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , a bill to provide temporary paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill also contained provisions to enable free coronavirus testing and expanded Medicaid , food assistance , and unemployment benefits .
On March 5 , Paul was the only senator to vote against the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act , the first congressional response to the coronavirus outbreak .
That bill contained $ 8.3 billion for a variety of responses , including funding dedicated to research and development of vaccines and $ 2 billion for federal , state , and local governments to prepare for and respond to the growing outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he attacked immigrants as `` non-people '' when discussing an amendment to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act .
`` My amendment says that if you want to apply for money from the government through the child tax credit program — this is money that the government gives to people — that you have to be a legitimate person , you have to have a Social Security number , '' Paul said on the Senate floor .
`` We 've been talking about this reform for a decade now and we never seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has nothing to do with not liking immigrants , it has to do with saying taxpayer money should n't go to non-people , '' Paul added .
While Paul was waiting for his test results to come back , he worked out at the Senate gym and attended a meeting with other senators .
After Paul 's positive test , both Republican senators from Utah — Mitt Romney and Mike Lee — placed themselves in quarantine due to their recent proximity to Paul .
Paul 's decision to be near others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit well with Sen. Krysten Sinema ( D-AZ ) .
Paul 's behavior `` is absolutely irresponsible , '' Sinema tweeted on Sunday .
`` You can not be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results .
It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus . ''
Paul is the first senator , and the third member of Congress , with a confirmed case of the coronavirus .
The other two are Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart ( R-FL ) and Ben McAdams ( D-UT ) .
McAdams was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breath .
As of Monday morning , at least 33,018 people in the United States have tested positive for the virus , according to the New York Times , and at least 428 people have died .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Sunday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Paul “is feeling fine and is in quarantine,” according to his Senate Twitter account. “He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.”
The announcement came four days after Paul was one of eight Republicans who voted against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a bill to provide temporary paid sick leave for some workers.
The bill also contained provisions to enable free coronavirus testing and expanded Medicaid, food assistance, and unemployment benefits.
On March 5, Paul was the only senator to vote against the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the first congressional response to the coronavirus outbreak. That bill contained $8.3 billion for a variety of responses, including funding dedicated to research and development of vaccines and $2 billion for federal, state, and local governments to prepare for and respond to the growing outbreak.
On Wednesday, Paul made headlines when he attacked immigrants as “non-people” when discussing an amendment to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
“My amendment says that if you want to apply for money from the government through the child tax credit program — this is money that the government gives to people — that you have to be a legitimate person, you have to have a Social Security number,” Paul said on the Senate floor.
“We’ve been talking about this reform for a decade now and we never seem to be able to get it passed. It has nothing to do with not liking immigrants, it has to do with saying taxpayer money shouldn’t go to non-people,” Paul added.
While Paul was waiting for his test results to come back, he worked out at the Senate gym and attended a meeting with other senators. After Paul’s positive test, both Republican senators from Utah — Mitt Romney and Mike Lee — placed themselves in quarantine due to their recent proximity to Paul.
Paul’s decision to be near others while waiting for his results did not sit well with Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ).
Paul’s behavior “is absolutely irresponsible,” Sinema tweeted on Sunday. “You cannot be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results. It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus.”
Paul is the first senator, and the third member of Congress, with a confirmed case of the coronavirus. The other two are Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Ben McAdams (D-UT). McAdams was hospitalized on Sunday night with severe shortness of breath.
As of Monday morning, at least 33,018 people in the United States have tested positive for the virus, according to the New York Times, and at least 428 people have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-23--Trump wants to ease restrictions as health experts warn the worst is coming

`` This is how the spread is occurring , '' Adams said .
`` So we really , really need everyone to stay at home .
I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things , but I think that , unfortunately , we 're finding out a lot of people think this ca n't happen to them . ''
Aside from Trump 's all-caps tweet late Sunday night , he also retweeted Twitter users calling for the social distancing measures to be lifted .
The tweets shared on Trump 's account point to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles `` 15 days to slow the spread '' — and said that after that time period people should be able to go back to work .
However , public health experts — including Adams — do not believe that 15 days of social distancing is enough .
And the New York Times reported that the White House wants to find ways to allow people to go back to work , believing that the administration has taken too much advice from health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci — a top infectious diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that have led to the economic collapse the country is witnessing .
Bloomberg News reported that Trump was already talking about ending the social distancing measures just three days after putting them in place .
Yet experts say that allowing people to go back to their daily lives too soon could lead to an even bigger spread of the pandemic .
`` Sadly , the numbers now suggest the U.S. is poised to take the lead in # coronavirus cases , '' Trump 's former homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert tweeted Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan for the US to top the list of countries with the most cases in approximately 1 week .
This does NOT make social intervention futile .
It makes it imperative !
” And major Trump defenders on Capitol Hill are imploring him to leave them in place .
`` President Trump 's best decision was stopping travel from China early on , '' Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) tweeted .
`` I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

“This is how the spread is occurring,” Adams said. “So we really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but I think that, unfortunately, we’re finding out a lot of people think this can’t happen to them.”
Aside from Trump’s all-caps tweet late Sunday night, he also retweeted Twitter users calling for the social distancing measures to be lifted.
The tweets shared on Trump’s account point to the White House’s coronavirus plan — titles “15 days to slow the spread” — and said that after that time period people should be able to go back to work.
However, public health experts — including Adams — do not believe that 15 days of social distancing is enough.
And the New York Times reported that the White House wants to find ways to allow people to go back to work, believing that the administration has taken too much advice from health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci — a top infectious diseases expert working on the coronavirus task force — that have led to the economic collapse the country is witnessing.
Bloomberg News reported that Trump was already talking about ending the social distancing measures just three days after putting them in place.
Yet experts say that allowing people to go back to their daily lives too soon could lead to an even bigger spread of the pandemic.
“Sadly, the numbers now suggest the U.S. is poised to take the lead in #coronavirus cases,” Trump’s former homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert tweeted Monday morning. “It’s reasonable to plan for the US to top the list of countries with the most cases in approximately 1 week. This does NOT make social intervention futile. It makes it imperative!”
And major Trump defenders on Capitol Hill are imploring him to leave them in place.
“President Trump’s best decision was stopping travel from China early on,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted. “I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-24--Here's what could happen if everyone returns to work when Trump wants

Donald Trump has been signaling that he wants to ease the social distancing measures the country has been implementing to stop the spread of COVID-19 , saying that the efforts to flatten the curve are not worth the cost to the economy .
But public health experts are sounding the alarm , saying that ending the social distancing measures too soon could cause an exponential increase in the number of deaths from the virus and urging Trump to stay the course .
`` Anyone advising the end of social distancing now , needs to fully understand what the country will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' tweeted Tom Inglesby , director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , which focuses on protecting the public during epidemics and disasters .
`` COVID would spread widely , rapidly , terribly , could kill potentially millions in the [ year ] ahead with huge social and economic impact across the country . ''
Inglesby warned that if social distancing were ended now , the rapid spread of the virus would overrun the health care system , and what would have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a 5 % rate .
Hospitals would not have the capacity to treat all of the patients in critical condition that land on their doorsteps , he said .
Despite dire warnings about the impacts of going back to business as usual , Republicans have expressed support for Trump 's idea of ending social distancing measures for the good of the economy .
Sen. John Kennedy ( R-LA ) suggested that more people would die if the country did n't get back to work , and downplayed the number of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small segment of our population , it 's true , the coronavirus can kill you .
For a small segment , `` Kennedy said on Fox News host Tucker Carlson 's show Monday night .
`` But you know what else can kill you ?
Poverty .
Hunger .
Losing the entire economy . ''
Texas GOP Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick went as far as suggesting that the elderly — who are more at risk of dying from COVID-19 — should sacrifice their lives in order to get the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let 's get back to work .
Let 's get back to living .
Let 's be smart about it , '' Patrick said .
`` And those of us who are 70-plus , we 'll take care of ourselves .
But do n't sacrifice the country . ''
However , health care experts say it 's not just the death rate that is a factor , but also how quickly the number of sick becomes too much for the health care system to handle .
The economic situation resulting from the failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad .
`` If you put the economy ahead of public health , and then you have people dropping like flies from the pandemic , you 're going to ruin the economy anyway , '' Arthur Caplan , a professor at New York University School of Medicine , said Tuesday morning on CNN .
`` There 's no choice about this , it 's got to lean toward public health . ''
Already , even with social distancing measures in place , the state of New York is seeing an exponential increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 3,200 people there have been hospitalized , with 756 of those patients in an intensive care unit , according to CNN 's Shimon Prokupecz .
New York 's Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has said specifically that the state needs 30,000 more ventilators and more hospital beds to handle the coming influx of COVID-19 patients over the next two to three weeks .
`` We had projected a need for 110K hospital beds at the apex of this virus .
The rate of infection is INCREASING and the curve has increased .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds , '' Cuomo tweeted on Tuesday .
`` NYS is doing everything we can on every level to slow the spread .
We need your cooperation . ''
Ultimately , it will be up to governors to decide whether they will lift social distancing measures in their states .
However , Trump could have immeasurable sway over his supporters across the country , who may ignore warnings and start leaving their homes .
And even some GOP lawmakers are trying to convince Trump that he should n't be changing course now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages , including our doctors and nurses , lay dying because we have failed to do what ’ s necessary to stop the virus , '' Rep. Liz Cheney ( R-WY ) tweeted on Tuesday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has been signaling that he wants to ease the social distancing measures the country has been implementing to stop the spread of COVID-19, saying that the efforts to flatten the curve are not worth the cost to the economy.
But public health experts are sounding the alarm, saying that ending the social distancing measures too soon could cause an exponential increase in the number of deaths from the virus and urging Trump to stay the course.
“Anyone advising the end of social distancing now, needs to fully understand what the country will look like if we do that,” tweeted Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which focuses on protecting the public during epidemics and disasters. “COVID would spread widely, rapidly, terribly, could kill potentially millions in the [year] ahead with huge social and economic impact across the country.”
Inglesby warned that if social distancing were ended now, the rapid spread of the virus would overrun the health care system, and what would have been a 1% fatality rate could quickly turn to a 5% rate. Hospitals would not have the capacity to treat all of the patients in critical condition that land on their doorsteps, he said.
Despite dire warnings about the impacts of going back to business as usual, Republicans have expressed support for Trump’s idea of ending social distancing measures for the good of the economy.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) suggested that more people would die if the country didn’t get back to work, and downplayed the number of people who would die from COVID-19.
“For a small segment of our population, it’s true, the coronavirus can kill you. For a small segment, ” Kennedy said on Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s show Monday night. “But you know what else can kill you? Poverty. Hunger. Losing the entire economy.”
Texas GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went as far as suggesting that the elderly — who are more at risk of dying from COVID-19 — should sacrifice their lives in order to get the rest of the population back to work.
“Let’s get back to work. Let’s get back to living. Let’s be smart about it,” Patrick said. “And those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.”
However, health care experts say it’s not just the death rate that is a factor, but also how quickly the number of sick becomes too much for the health care system to handle. The economic situation resulting from the failure of the hospital system would be equally bad.
“If you put the economy ahead of public health, and then you have people dropping like flies from the pandemic, you’re going to ruin the economy anyway,” Arthur Caplan, a professor at New York University School of Medicine, said Tuesday morning on CNN. “There’s no choice about this, it’s got to lean toward public health.”
Already, even with social distancing measures in place, the state of New York is seeing an exponential increase in the number of infected patients.
At least 3,200 people there have been hospitalized, with 756 of those patients in an intensive care unit, according to CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz.
New York’s Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said specifically that the state needs 30,000 more ventilators and more hospital beds to handle the coming influx of COVID-19 patients over the next two to three weeks.
“We had projected a need for 110K hospital beds at the apex of this virus. The rate of infection is INCREASING and the curve has increased. New projections show we may need 140K beds,” Cuomo tweeted on Tuesday. “NYS is doing everything we can on every level to slow the spread. We need your cooperation.”
Ultimately, it will be up to governors to decide whether they will lift social distancing measures in their states. However, Trump could have immeasurable sway over his supporters across the country, who may ignore warnings and start leaving their homes.
And even some GOP lawmakers are trying to convince Trump that he shouldn’t be changing course now.
“There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus,” Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) tweeted on Tuesday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-03-24--High school students ask Americans to 'listen to scientists' and 'stay home'

Donald Trump has repeatedly lied and downplayed the impact of the coronavirus crisis , but a group of high school students is determined to remind young people that the threat from the outbreak is real and that they can do their part to save lives .
On Sunday , the New Hampshire High School Democrats released a video encouraging young people — and everyone else — to just stay home .
`` Social distancing , or limiting your interactions with other people and avoiding public gatherings , will save real lives during this COVID-19 crisis , '' members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You may feel fine , but you still could be carrying what to many is a very deadly virus . ''
The group recommended that people spend their time at home reading a book , learning to play a musical instrument , hanging out with family , or watching Netflix .
`` Stay home .
A lot of people who could lose their lives will be thanking you , '' the group added .
The teenagers decided to make a video because `` students have n't been too keen on listening to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as with their adult counterparts , '' Lily Coady , communications director for the group , said during a Monday interview conducted over Zoom .
`` Not everyone is taking it as seriously as they need to . ''
The message was simple .
`` Do the right thing , listen to scientists , and stay home , '' Coady said .
In the same interview , when asked about Trump 's response to the pandemic , Asma Akbar , chair of the student group , said that the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Coady said the country should be doing more to curb the outbreak .
`` I would love to do more than what Italy did when they were in our place , even get a little bit stricter so we do n't end up with the crisis that they 're having , '' she said .
Whereas Trump gave himself a 10 out of 10 for his handling of the crisis , Coady holds the president to a higher standard .
`` Let 's think about what he 's done so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not that much . ''
She did give him credit for belatedly calling the crisis a national emergency and settled on a score of three out of 10 .
Both Coady and Akbar criticized Trump 's repeated use of the racist term `` China virus '' to describe the new coronavirus , a term that health officials and Asian American leaders have said is exacerbating discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans .
Looking ahead , Akbar said the groups would focus on digital organizing instead of on the traditional canvassing and door-knocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns .
The group is thinking about conducting a digital summit in May with other New England state chapters of High School Democrats of America , since large in-person gatherings are no longer allowed .
Considering Trump 's chances of being reelected in 2020 , Coady said that his handling of the pandemic `` might have an effect on the election in November because Trump has defunded so many resources that could be useful during this crisis . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has repeatedly lied and downplayed the impact of the coronavirus crisis, but a group of high school students is determined to remind young people that the threat from the outbreak is real and that they can do their part to save lives.
On Sunday, the New Hampshire High School Democrats released a video encouraging young people — and everyone else — to just stay home.
“Social distancing, or limiting your interactions with other people and avoiding public gatherings, will save real lives during this COVID-19 crisis,” members of the group say in the video. “You may feel fine, but you still could be carrying what to many is a very deadly virus.”
The group recommended that people spend their time at home reading a book, learning to play a musical instrument, hanging out with family, or watching Netflix.
“Stay home. A lot of people who could lose their lives will be thanking you,” the group added.
The teenagers decided to make a video because “students haven’t been too keen on listening to what’s going on with the virus, as well as with their adult counterparts,” Lily Coady, communications director for the group, said during a Monday interview conducted over Zoom. “Not everyone is taking it as seriously as they need to.”
The message was simple. “Do the right thing, listen to scientists, and stay home,” Coady said.
In the same interview, when asked about Trump’s response to the pandemic, Asma Akbar, chair of the student group, said that the United States “was not prepared from the start.”
Coady said the country should be doing more to curb the outbreak.
“I would love to do more than what Italy did when they were in our place, even get a little bit stricter so we don’t end up with the crisis that they’re having,” she said.
Whereas Trump gave himself a 10 out of 10 for his handling of the crisis, Coady holds the president to a higher standard.
“Let’s think about what he’s done so far,” she said, “which is not that much.” She did give him credit for belatedly calling the crisis a national emergency and settled on a score of three out of 10.
Both Coady and Akbar criticized Trump’s repeated use of the racist term “China virus” to describe the new coronavirus, a term that health officials and Asian American leaders have said is exacerbating discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans.
Looking ahead, Akbar said the groups would focus on digital organizing instead of on the traditional canvassing and door-knocking that are usually a part of political campaigns.
The group is thinking about conducting a digital summit in May with other New England state chapters of High School Democrats of America, since large in-person gatherings are no longer allowed.
Considering Trump’s chances of being reelected in 2020, Coady said that his handling of the pandemic “might have an effect on the election in November because Trump has defunded so many resources that could be useful during this crisis.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.