shareblue--2020-05-01--Trump says governor should give in to armed mobs who stormed state Capitol

Donald Trump urged Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on Friday to give in to the demands of the armed mob of protesters who stormed the state Capitol a day earlier .
`` The Governor of Michigan should give a little , and put out the fire , '' he tweeted .
`` These are very good people , but they are angry .
They want their lives back again , safely !
See them , talk to them , make a deal . ''
Trump was referencing a protest Thursday by hundreds of people — many armed — at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stay-at-home order , they chanted `` lock her up '' and `` heil Whitmer . ''
Some entered the building and unsuccessfully demanded to be allowed on the floor of the House of Representatives as the chamber considered whether to continue Michigan 's state of emergency .
Many of the protesters wore no face coverings .
The protests were part of a national effort by far-right groups to rally against state stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Similar protests of varying size have occurred in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , Texas , and Virginia .
Trump has egged on the protesters , with tweets urging them to `` liberate '' states run by Democratic governors , including one such tweet about Michigan .
Polls have shown that the vast majority of Americans — and even most Republicans — support the social distancing requirements .
Whitmer ordered most residents to stay at home on March 23 , with an initial end day of April 13 .
She first extended the order through April and recently continued much of it through May 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit Whitmer 's emergency powers and have criticized her orders .
`` OUR Governor IS DESTROYING OUR HEALTH BY KILLING OUR LIVELIHOODS ! ''
State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey wrote last month on Facebook .
`` Under the guise of protecting our health ... .she is DESTROYING our HEALTH by killing our Livelihoods . ''
Last month , protesters flouting social distancing rules and safety guidelines gathered at the Capitol to yell , `` We will not comply '' with the stay-at-home order .
Those protests were organized by the Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has ties to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos .
At the time , Trump dismissed concerns that they had ignored local authorities and praised them for being Trump supporters .
`` I think they 're listening .
I think they listen to me , '' he said .
`` They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion , and my opinion is the same as just about all of the governors . ''
The Republican-controlled legislature voted against extending Michigan 's emergency declaration on Thursday and authorized a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis .
As of Friday , Michigan has confirmed 41,379 COVID-19 cases and 3,789 reported deaths .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump urged Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday to give in to the demands of the armed mob of protesters who stormed the state Capitol a day earlier.
“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” he tweeted. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.”
Trump was referencing a protest Thursday by hundreds of people — many armed — at the Capitol in Lansing. Angry about Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, they chanted “lock her up” and “heil Whitmer.” Some entered the building and unsuccessfully demanded to be allowed on the floor of the House of Representatives as the chamber considered whether to continue Michigan’s state of emergency. Many of the protesters wore no face coverings.
The protests were part of a national effort by far-right groups to rally against state stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similar protests of varying size have occurred in other states, including Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Trump has egged on the protesters, with tweets urging them to “liberate” states run by Democratic governors, including one such tweet about Michigan.
Polls have shown that the vast majority of Americans — and even most Republicans — support the social distancing requirements.
Whitmer ordered most residents to stay at home on March 23, with an initial end day of April 13. She first extended the order through April and recently continued much of it through May 15.
Republican state lawmakers have repeatedly sought to limit Whitmer’s emergency powers and have criticized her orders.
“OUR Governor IS DESTROYING OUR HEALTH BY KILLING OUR LIVELIHOODS!” State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey wrote last month on Facebook. “Under the guise of protecting our health….she is DESTROYING our HEALTH by killing our Livelihoods.”
Last month, protesters flouting social distancing rules and safety guidelines gathered at the Capitol to yell, “We will not comply” with the stay-at-home order. Those protests were organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund, which has ties to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
At the time, Trump dismissed concerns that they had ignored local authorities and praised them for being Trump supporters. “I think they’re listening. I think they listen to me,” he said. “They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion, and my opinion is the same as just about all of the governors.”
The Republican-controlled legislature voted against extending Michigan’s emergency declaration on Thursday and authorized a lawsuit challenging Whitmer’s authority to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
As of Friday, Michigan has confirmed 41,379 COVID-19 cases and 3,789 reported deaths.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--Trump blames Schumer for Republican tax law that Schumer voted against

Donald Trump on Friday falsely blamed Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer for a provision of the Republican tax law that raised taxes for many New Yorkers , in an attempt to deflect criticism of his slow coronavirus response .
`` Cryin ' Chuck Schumer was on a late night show using a false talking point over & over again .
'We do n't have enough testing , ' he would repeat , when he knows we have done a great job on Testing , just like we have on Ventilators and everything else , '' Trump tweeted Friday morning .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Run AOC ! ''
Trump followed up with a second tweet fleshing out his false accusation about `` SALT , '' the State and Local Tax Deduction that Republicans capped as part of the tax law Trump signed in 2018 .
Capping the amount of state and local taxes Americans can deduct largely impacts Americans living in high tax states like New York , which Schumer represents .
`` Cryin Chuck Schumer , compared to what other Senators have brought home to their states , has brought very little back to N.Y. A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has given them is SALT , '' Trump tweeted .
`` He never even called me to stop it .
No wonder Cuomo & most others can ’ t stand him .
AOC ! ''
There 's a lot to unpack in those tweets .
First and foremost , the cap on SALT was not Schumer 's fault , as Trump suggested .
It was Republicans who pushed for the cap on the SALT deduction that broadly hurt blue states , which often have higher state and local taxes to pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as every Senate Democrat — voted against the tax law in December 2017 , saying it benefited the rich over the middle class .
Schumer also rallied against the SALT cap when Republicans were pushing through the tax law earlier that year .
An October 2017 press release from Schumer 's office stated that the senator that month had `` launched a statewide push across Congressional districts , urging House members to oppose the repeal of state and local tax deductions as the GOP tax plan unfolds and now endangers Long Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed , Schumer has been pushing to repeal the SALT cap , which he says is hurting tax payers in his state .
Trump 's false accusation about the SALT cap , as well as his push for progressive New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to wage a primary against Schumer for Senate , appears to be another attempt at distraction to shift blame for his botched coronavirus response efforts .
Americans have struggled to get coronavirus tests since the early days of the pandemic .
And even though testing capacity has increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere near levels needed to reopen the economy .
Schumer has attacked Trump for the lack of testing , saying on Tuesday that Trump 's testing plan — intended to help reopen the economy — is `` pathetic . ''
Trump meanwhile has repeatedly praise himself for his slow efforts , claiming on Wednesday that the 1 million reported cases of COVID-19 were proof of his success .
`` The only reason the U.S. has reported one million cases of CoronaVirus is that our Testing is sooo much better than any other country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way behind us in Testing , and therefore show far fewer cases ! ''
he tweeted .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Friday falsely blamed Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer for a provision of the Republican tax law that raised taxes for many New Yorkers, in an attempt to deflect criticism of his slow coronavirus response.
“Cryin’ Chuck Schumer was on a late night show using a false talking point over & over again. ‘We don’t have enough testing,’ he would repeat, when he knows we have done a great job on Testing, just like we have on Ventilators and everything else,” Trump tweeted Friday morning. “He lied, gave NY SALT. Run AOC!”
Trump followed up with a second tweet fleshing out his false accusation about “SALT,” the State and Local Tax Deduction that Republicans capped as part of the tax law Trump signed in 2018.
Capping the amount of state and local taxes Americans can deduct largely impacts Americans living in high tax states like New York, which Schumer represents.
“Cryin Chuck Schumer, compared to what other Senators have brought home to their states, has brought very little back to N.Y. A totally overrated loser, the one thing he has given them is SALT,” Trump tweeted. “He never even called me to stop it. No wonder Cuomo & most others can’t stand him. AOC!”
There’s a lot to unpack in those tweets.
First and foremost, the cap on SALT was not Schumer’s fault, as Trump suggested.
It was Republicans who pushed for the cap on the SALT deduction that broadly hurt blue states, which often have higher state and local taxes to pay for services for residents.
Schumer — as well as every Senate Democrat — voted against the tax law in December 2017, saying it benefited the rich over the middle class.
Schumer also rallied against the SALT cap when Republicans were pushing through the tax law earlier that year.
An October 2017 press release from Schumer’s office stated that the senator that month had “launched a statewide push across Congressional districts, urging House members to oppose the repeal of state and local tax deductions as the GOP tax plan unfolds and now endangers Long Island homeowners.”
And since the law passed, Schumer has been pushing to repeal the SALT cap, which he says is hurting tax payers in his state.
Trump’s false accusation about the SALT cap, as well as his push for progressive New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to wage a primary against Schumer for Senate, appears to be another attempt at distraction to shift blame for his botched coronavirus response efforts.
Americans have struggled to get coronavirus tests since the early days of the pandemic.
And even though testing capacity has increased, public health experts say it’s nowhere near levels needed to reopen the economy.
Schumer has attacked Trump for the lack of testing, saying on Tuesday that Trump’s testing plan — intended to help reopen the economy — is “pathetic.”
Trump meanwhile has repeatedly praise himself for his slow efforts, claiming on Wednesday that the 1 million reported cases of COVID-19 were proof of his success.
“The only reason the U.S. has reported one million cases of CoronaVirus is that our Testing is sooo much better than any other country in the World. Other countries are way behind us in Testing, and therefore show far fewer cases!” he tweeted.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--Pence's office threatens reporter over story of Pence violating mask policy

Mike Pence 's staff is threatening a reporter who divulged that everyone who traveled with Pence to the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday was informed they should wear face masks during the trip , the Washington Post reported .
The reporter , Voice of America 's Steve Herman , says he was banned from traveling with Pence on Air Force Two , according to the Washington Post .
The Post reported that Pence 's staff said they are still weighing punishment and demanding Herman apologize for revealing the information .
Pence has come under fire for not wearing a mask during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota , ignoring the Mayo Clinic 's own policy , as well as the Trump administration 's guidance that Americans wear masks in public .
Pence claimed he did n't wear a mask because he had already tested negative for the virus and wanted to look people at the facility in the eye — something that would not be hindered by a face mask .
Pence 's wife , Karen , later came up with a new excuse , saying that Pence did n't know about the Mayo Clinic 's policy until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask , '' she told `` Fox & Friends '' Thursday morning .
That excuse never made sense , as the Mayo Clinic itself said in a now-deleted tweet that Pence 's staff was informed of the policy prior to the visit .
And in response to Karen Pence 's comment , Herman tweeted that Pence 's office informed all reporters on the trip that masks were required .
`` All of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified by the office of @ VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @ MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly , '' Herman tweeted in response to Karen Pence 's excuse .
The Post was able to confirm the information in the tweet , writing that all reporters who were making the trip with Pence were told in a document from Pence 's staff that , `` the Mayo Clinic is requiring all individuals traveling with the VP wear masks .
Please bring one to wear while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Pence 's staff was `` enraged '' by Herman 's tweet .
Pence 's staff believed the information Herman revealed was off-the-record and not reportable .
The document was marked with the words `` OFF THE RECORD AND FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY , '' but Herman 's tweet came 48 hours after Pence had left the facility , when the information was no longer sensitive .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Mike Pence’s staff is threatening a reporter who divulged that everyone who traveled with Pence to the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday was informed they should wear face masks during the trip, the Washington Post reported.
The reporter, Voice of America’s Steve Herman, says he was banned from traveling with Pence on Air Force Two, according to the Washington Post. The Post reported that Pence’s staff said they are still weighing punishment and demanding Herman apologize for revealing the information.
Pence has come under fire for not wearing a mask during his visit to the medical facilities in Minnesota, ignoring the Mayo Clinic’s own policy, as well as the Trump administration’s guidance that Americans wear masks in public.
Pence claimed he didn’t wear a mask because he had already tested negative for the virus and wanted to look people at the facility in the eye — something that would not be hindered by a face mask.
Pence’s wife, Karen, later came up with a new excuse, saying that Pence didn’t know about the Mayo Clinic’s policy until after the visit.
“It was actually after he left Mayo Clinic that he found out that they had a policy of asking everyone to wear a mask,” she told “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning.
That excuse never made sense, as the Mayo Clinic itself said in a now-deleted tweet that Pence’s staff was informed of the policy prior to the visit.
And in response to Karen Pence’s comment, Herman tweeted that Pence’s office informed all reporters on the trip that masks were required.
“All of us who traveled with [Pence] were notified by the office of @VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly,” Herman tweeted in response to Karen Pence’s excuse.
The Post was able to confirm the information in the tweet, writing that all reporters who were making the trip with Pence were told in a document from Pence’s staff that, “the Mayo Clinic is requiring all individuals traveling with the VP wear masks. Please bring one to wear while on the trip.”
The Post reported that Pence’s staff was “enraged” by Herman’s tweet. Pence’s staff believed the information Herman revealed was off-the-record and not reportable.
The document was marked with the words “OFF THE RECORD AND FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY,” but Herman’s tweet came 48 hours after Pence had left the facility, when the information was no longer sensitive.
“My tweet speaks for itself,” Herman told the Washington Post. “We always have and will strictly adhere to keeping off the record any White House communications to reporters for planning purposes involving logistics that have security implications prior to events. … All White House pool reporters, including myself and my VOA colleagues, take this very seriously.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--Biden denies sexual assault allegation: 'This never happened'

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday categorically denied allegations from a former Senate staffer that he sexually assaulted her in the early 1990s , saying `` this never happened . ''
Biden 's first public remarks on the allegation come at a critical moment for the presumptive Democratic nominee as he tries to relieve mounting pressure after weeks of leaving denials to his campaign .
`` I 'm saying unequivocally , it never , never happened , '' Biden said in an interview on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe . ''
Biden said he will ask the National Archives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such a complaint being filed , but he said repeatedly that he does n't believe such a record exists .
`` The former staffer has said she filed a complaint back in 1993 , '' Biden said .
`` But she does not have a record of this alleged complaint .
The papers from my Senate years that I donated to the University of Delaware do not contain personnel files . ''
Biden said , `` There is only one place a complaint of this kind could be – the National Archives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records are kept . ''
Republicans worried about Donald Trump 's increasingly precarious political standing are seizing on the allegation to portray Democrats as hypocrites who only defend women who allege wrongdoing against conservatives .
They are digging in despite the fact that it could renew attention on the multiple sexual assault allegations lodged against Trump .
Democrats , meanwhile , are in an awkward position of vigorously validating women who come forward with their stories while defending the man who will be their standard-bearer in what many in the party consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The November contest between Biden and Trump will be the first presidential race of the # MeToo era , which has led numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault .
Trump has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by numerous women , allegations he denies .
Women are a core constituency for Democrats , and Biden has a mixed history .
While he wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator , he also came under heavy criticism for his handling of Anita Hill 's Senate testimony in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 2020 campaign , several women accused him of unwanted touching , behavior for which he apologized .
Biden has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate , and the allegation has left those thought to be in contention in a tough spot .
Stacey Abrams , the former Georgia Democratic governor candidate , said , `` I believe Joe Biden , '' citing a New York Times investigation that she said exonerated him .
`` Women deserve to be heard , '' she said , `` but I also believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by credible sources . ''
That echoed talking points issued by the Biden campaign to surrogates last week that were obtained by The Associated Press .
They pointed to investigations by The New York Times , The Washington Post and the AP that found no other allegation of sexual assault and no pattern of sexual misconduct .
On Thursday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also defended Biden .
Speaking on CNN , she said she was `` satisfied with how he has responded , '' even as she acknowledged `` it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Some Democratic donors and fundraisers say the issue has not come up in calls with party financiers .
Others worry that it could be used against Biden , much as Hillary Clinton 's private email server and the activities of the Clinton Foundation were wielded against her by Trump .
Some female Democratic operatives expressed concerns the allegation is particularly damaging because it 's an indictment of Biden 's central campaign rationale : that he provides a moral counter to Trump and that the election is a `` battle for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stakes could not be higher for defeating Donald Trump — but at the same time , I think we have to apply a consistent standard for how we treat allegations of sexual assault , and also be clear-eyed about how Donald Trump will use these allegations in the general election campaign , '' said Claire Sandberg , who worked as Bernie Sanders ' organizing director .

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday categorically denied allegations from a former Senate staffer that he sexually assaulted her in the early 1990s, saying “this never happened.” Biden’s first public remarks on the allegation come at a critical moment for the presumptive Democratic nominee as he tries to relieve mounting pressure after weeks of leaving denials to his campaign.
“I’m saying unequivocally, it never, never happened,” Biden said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Biden said he will ask the National Archives to determine whether there is any record of such a complaint being filed, but he said repeatedly that he doesn’t believe such a record exists.
“The former staffer has said she filed a complaint back in 1993,” Biden said. “But she does not have a record of this alleged complaint. The papers from my Senate years that I donated to the University of Delaware do not contain personnel files.”
Biden said, “There is only one place a complaint of this kind could be – the National Archives. The National Archives is where the records are kept.”
Republicans worried about Donald Trump’s increasingly precarious political standing are seizing on the allegation to portray Democrats as hypocrites who only defend women who allege wrongdoing against conservatives. They are digging in despite the fact that it could renew attention on the multiple sexual assault allegations lodged against Trump.
Democrats, meanwhile, are in an awkward position of vigorously validating women who come forward with their stories while defending the man who will be their standard-bearer in what many in the party consider the most important election of their lifetimes.
The November contest between Biden and Trump will be the first presidential race of the #MeToo era, which has led numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault. Trump has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by numerous women, allegations he denies.
Women are a core constituency for Democrats, and Biden has a mixed history. While he wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, he also came under heavy criticism for his handling of Anita Hill’s Senate testimony in the 1990s. Just before he launched his 2020 campaign, several women accused him of unwanted touching, behavior for which he apologized.
Biden has pledged to pick a woman as a running mate, and the allegation has left those thought to be in contention in a tough spot.
Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia Democratic governor candidate, said, “I believe Joe Biden,” citing a New York Times investigation that she said exonerated him.
“Women deserve to be heard,” she said, “but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources.”
That echoed talking points issued by the Biden campaign to surrogates last week that were obtained by The Associated Press. They pointed to investigations by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the AP that found no other allegation of sexual assault and no pattern of sexual misconduct.
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also defended Biden. Speaking on CNN, she said she was “satisfied with how he has responded,” even as she acknowledged “it’s a matter that he has to deal with.”
Some Democratic donors and fundraisers say the issue has not come up in calls with party financiers. Others worry that it could be used against Biden, much as Hillary Clinton’s private email server and the activities of the Clinton Foundation were wielded against her by Trump.
Some female Democratic operatives expressed concerns the allegation is particularly damaging because it’s an indictment of Biden’s central campaign rationale: that he provides a moral counter to Trump and that the election is a “battle for the soul of America.”
“The stakes could not be higher for defeating Donald Trump — but at the same time, I think we have to apply a consistent standard for how we treat allegations of sexual assault, and also be clear-eyed about how Donald Trump will use these allegations in the general election campaign,” said Claire Sandberg, who worked as Bernie Sanders’ organizing director.


shareblue--2020-05-02--Americans forced to navigate risks on their own amid confusion around reopening

Things were so much clearer when just about everything was locked down .
Now , with states lifting coronavirus restrictions piecemeal and by often arbitrary timetables , Americans are facing bewildering decisions about what they should and should not do to protect their health , their livelihoods , and their neighbors .
Is it safe to join the crowds at the beach or eat at a restaurant ?
To visit the elderly parents you have n't seen in nearly two months ?
To reopen a struggling business ?
In many cases , the less-than-satisfying answer from the experts is : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a perfect amount of protection , '' said Josh Santarpia , a microbiology expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who is studying the coronavirus .
`` It 's a personal risk assessment .
Everybody has to decide , person by person , what risk they 're willing to tolerate . ''
The quandary comes as the confirmed death toll from coronavirus in the U.S. on Tuesday surpassed the 58,220 American service members killed in Vietnam , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Globally , at least 216,000 have died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher because of limited testing , differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments .
With the crisis easing in many places , France , Spain and Greece were among the latest countries to announce their plans for restarting their economies .
As governments make their moves to reopen businesses and schools , the next decisions made will be personal .
Jill Faust , 53 , of Council Bluffs , Iowa , said she would hesitate to eat at an indoor restaurant when such businesses are allowed to reopen in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know ahead of time what precautions they 're taking , '' she said , citing the way some restaurants may rely on limited seating , well-spaced tables , masks for employees , and disposable cups and plates .
Even then , she said , it might not be worth the trouble .
`` Going to a restaurant to me is this lovely , relaxing experience where you can sit with people and relax and catch up after a long day .
If your experience is going to be limited by all these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
she said .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said schoolchildren could return to classrooms as early as July , though a formal decision had not yet been made .
Donald Trump signed a measure ordering meat processing plants to stay open to prevent shortages .
Unions responded by accusing the White House of jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers ' health .
As restrictions loosen , health authorities will be watching closely for any sign of a resurgence of the virus .
On Tuesday , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rate since some small businesses were allowed to reopen just over a week ago .
But it was too soon to say whether the loosening was to blame .
Around the world , confirmed infections exceeded 3 million — including 1 million in the United States , according to the Johns Hopkins tally .
In China , where the pandemic began , cases have slowed to a trickle from the peak in February and March that even forced a delay in the country 's ceremonial parliament meeting .
State media reported Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 22 .
In the U.S. , the uncertainty ahead was spotlighted in Georgia after businesses such as barbershops and tattoo parlors were given the go-ahead to reopen .
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said people could find the changes perplexing .
`` In reality we 're under a stay-at-home order until April 30 , '' Johnson said .
`` Yet you can go get your nails done , you can go get a tattoo , you can go to movie theaters , you can go to bowling alleys .
It 's those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mixed messages are coming from even the U.S. Congress .
The House is scrambling for ways for members to work from home after a revolt over convening during the pandemic , and said they would n't return to the Capitol on Monday .
The smaller Senate , however , plans to convene there .
The decisions people make are likely to vary widely depending on where they live , and how close that puts them to known virus clusters .
In Georgia , where COVID-19 has killed at least 1,000 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But even in places with fewer known infections , people are facing uneasy choices .
In Omaha , Nebraska , where businesses can reopen next week , teachers Michelle and Mark Aschenbrenner said they are eager to dine out again .
Mark Aschenbrenner has set up an appointment for a long-delayed haircut .
`` I think we 're four weeks too early , '' he said of the plans to lift restrictions .
But `` I think I 'll probably still go because we 've been stuck at home for seven weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' With warmer weather enticing more people to venture out in the weeks ahead , it will be up to individuals to exercise caution .
`` You ca n't swear that if somebody happens to cough on the beach chair to your left and then you have a breeze that blows that over across you , that you do n't have the exposure in that way , '' said Dr. Marybeth Sexton , infectious-disease specialist at Emory University School of Medicine .
Even following guidelines to maintain 6-foot ( 2-meter ) distances may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on how far a different coronavirus , SARS , spread among airline passengers .
When doctors treated more than a dozen COVID-19 patients at an Omaha hospital , researchers found genetic material from the virus at greater distances — on window ledges , cellphones , in hallways and on toilet seats , Santarpia said .
That does n't mean people should n't go out .
But they should be very deliberate in doing so , limiting visits with relatives and friends to moments that matter , said Dr. Emily Landon , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Medical Center .
Mother 's Day — May 10 in the United States — may qualify if Mom lives nearby , she said .
But limit the number of people involved and wear masks the entire time .
Even if you check to make sure everyone present has been feeling well , accept that there will be risk , she said .
The virus remains a long-term foe .
The president of the Japan Medical Association , Yoshitake Yokokura , said he thinks it will be difficult to hold the rescheduled Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective vaccine .
In the shorter term , it will be up to individuals as much as policymakers to make the decisions that will help chart the virus ' course .
`` I think everyone still needs to use their judgment .
I 'm not having a book club in my house .
I 'm going to my doctor for an allergy shot because that 's safe to do , '' said Landon , the Chicago infection-control expert .
`` You can try and make it political , make it about freedom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's biology .
Biology does n't negotiate . ''

Things were so much clearer when just about everything was locked down.
Now, with states lifting coronavirus restrictions piecemeal and by often arbitrary timetables, Americans are facing bewildering decisions about what they should and should not do to protect their health, their livelihoods, and their neighbors.
Is it safe to join the crowds at the beach or eat at a restaurant? To visit the elderly parents you haven’t seen in nearly two months? To reopen a struggling business?
In many cases, the less-than-satisfying answer from the experts is: It depends.
“There will never be a perfect amount of protection,” said Josh Santarpia, a microbiology expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who is studying the coronavirus. “It’s a personal risk assessment. Everybody has to decide, person by person, what risk they’re willing to tolerate.”
The quandary comes as the confirmed death toll from coronavirus in the U.S. on Tuesday surpassed the 58,220 American service members killed in Vietnam, according to Johns Hopkins University. Globally, at least 216,000 have died, thought the true toll is undoubtedly much higher because of limited testing, differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments.
With the crisis easing in many places, France, Spain and Greece were among the latest countries to announce their plans for restarting their economies. As governments make their moves to reopen businesses and schools, the next decisions made will be personal.
Jill Faust, 53, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, said she would hesitate to eat at an indoor restaurant when such businesses are allowed to reopen in her community Friday.
“We would have to know ahead of time what precautions they’re taking,” she said, citing the way some restaurants may rely on limited seating, well-spaced tables, masks for employees, and disposable cups and plates. Even then, she said, it might not be worth the trouble.
“Going to a restaurant to me is this lovely, relaxing experience where you can sit with people and relax and catch up after a long day. If your experience is going to be limited by all these safety concerns, why spend the money?” she said.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said schoolchildren could return to classrooms as early as July, though a formal decision had not yet been made.
Donald Trump signed a measure ordering meat processing plants to stay open to prevent shortages. Unions responded by accusing the White House of jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.
As restrictions loosen, health authorities will be watching closely for any sign of a resurgence of the virus.
On Tuesday, for example, Germany reported an uptick in the infection rate since some small businesses were allowed to reopen just over a week ago. But it was too soon to say whether the loosening was to blame.
Around the world, confirmed infections exceeded 3 million — including 1 million in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins tally.
In China, where the pandemic began, cases have slowed to a trickle from the peak in February and March that even forced a delay in the country’s ceremonial parliament meeting. State media reported Wednesday the National People’s Congress would convene on May 22.
In the U.S., the uncertainty ahead was spotlighted in Georgia after businesses such as barbershops and tattoo parlors were given the go-ahead to reopen.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said people could find the changes perplexing.
“In reality we’re under a stay-at-home order until April 30,” Johnson said. “Yet you can go get your nails done, you can go get a tattoo, you can go to movie theaters, you can go to bowling alleys. It’s those kinds of things that leave people confused.”
Mixed messages are coming from even the U.S. Congress. The House is scrambling for ways for members to work from home after a revolt over convening during the pandemic, and said they wouldn’t return to the Capitol on Monday. The smaller Senate, however, plans to convene there.
The decisions people make are likely to vary widely depending on where they live, and how close that puts them to known virus clusters. In Georgia, where COVID-19 has killed at least 1,000, many new cases are still being reported.
But even in places with fewer known infections, people are facing uneasy choices.
In Omaha, Nebraska, where businesses can reopen next week, teachers Michelle and Mark Aschenbrenner said they are eager to dine out again. Mark Aschenbrenner has set up an appointment for a long-delayed haircut.
“I think we’re four weeks too early,” he said of the plans to lift restrictions. But “I think I’ll probably still go because we’ve been stuck at home for seven weeks and we’re going stir crazy.”
With warmer weather enticing more people to venture out in the weeks ahead, it will be up to individuals to exercise caution.
“You can’t swear that if somebody happens to cough on the beach chair to your left and then you have a breeze that blows that over across you, that you don’t have the exposure in that way,” said Dr. Marybeth Sexton, infectious-disease specialist at Emory University School of Medicine.
Even following guidelines to maintain 6-foot (2-meter) distances may not be enough. That rule is based on how far a different coronavirus, SARS, spread among airline passengers.
When doctors treated more than a dozen COVID-19 patients at an Omaha hospital, researchers found genetic material from the virus at greater distances — on window ledges, cellphones, in hallways and on toilet seats, Santarpia said.
That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t go out. But they should be very deliberate in doing so, limiting visits with relatives and friends to moments that matter, said Dr. Emily Landon, who leads infection control at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Mother’s Day — May 10 in the United States — may qualify if Mom lives nearby, she said. But limit the number of people involved and wear masks the entire time. Even if you check to make sure everyone present has been feeling well, accept that there will be risk, she said.
The virus remains a long-term foe. The president of the Japan Medical Association, Yoshitake Yokokura, said he thinks it will be difficult to hold the rescheduled Tokyo Summer Olympics even in 2021 without an effective vaccine.
In the shorter term, it will be up to individuals as much as policymakers to make the decisions that will help chart the virus’ course.
“I think everyone still needs to use their judgment. I’m not having a book club in my house. I’m going to my doctor for an allergy shot because that’s safe to do,” said Landon, the Chicago infection-control expert. “You can try and make it political, make it about freedom, but it’s a virus. It’s biology. Biology doesn’t negotiate.”


shareblue--2020-05-02--US citizens married to immigrants sue after being denied relief

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has sued the federal government over its denial of coronavirus relief payments to U.S. citizens who are married to immigrants without social security numbers .
The lawsuit was filed in Maryland on Tuesday on behalf of six American citizens who were denied coronavirus relief checks because they filed and paid taxes with a spouse who has what 's known as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number , or a way for immigrants without legal status to still pay federal taxes , which millions do .
MALDEF says the Treasury Department is violating Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them payment simply because of who they are married to .
Congress last month passed a $ 2.2 trillion package to help businesses , workers and a health care system staggered by the coronavirus .
Many Americans had their share deposited into their accounts in the last couple of weeks .
It 's estimated that 2 million U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are married to people without social security numbers , although it 's unclear how many of them file jointly with them .
`` All of the families are very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have children at home , they are facing contraction of the economy and they still have to pay their rent , and buy groceries and buy gas , '' said Nina Perales , MALDEF 's vice president of litigation .
Christina Segundo-Hernandez , who lives in Fort Worth , Texas , is one of the plaintiffs in the case .
Segundo-Hernandez is a U.S. citizen married to a Mexican immigrant who pays federal taxes through his ITIN .
The couple , married eight years , file jointly each year .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , and they 've fallen behind on bills .
Getting a coronavirus relief check would have helped .
`` I would have been able to fill up my refrigerator for my kids , '' said Segundo-Hernandez , who has four children .
`` I think it needs to be known that there 's people out there that are doctors and things like that that are putting their lives at risk going through the same thing .
They 're being betrayed by their government because of who they 're married to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher in Los Angeles , is an American citizen married to a Mexican immigrant who is close to getting his permanent resident status .
Hessell-Cercado is n't involved in the lawsuit , but will also not benefit from the coronavirus relief payments that went out to millions of Americans recently .
Hessell-Cercado said he feels lucky to still work , but thinks it 's unfair that Americans are being left out of the coronavirus relief package because of who they married .
`` What hurt more was just the sheer meanness of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who marries someone and goes through an immigration process already has to deal with years and years and years of just delays and obstacles and hurdles to get over .
It just seems like something else that they put out there just to sort of be mean to us . ''

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has sued the federal government over its denial of coronavirus relief payments to U.S. citizens who are married to immigrants without social security numbers.
The lawsuit was filed in Maryland on Tuesday on behalf of six American citizens who were denied coronavirus relief checks because they filed and paid taxes with a spouse who has what’s known as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or a way for immigrants without legal status to still pay federal taxes, which millions do.
MALDEF says the Treasury Department is violating Americans’ First and Fifth Amendments by denying them payment simply because of who they are married to. Congress last month passed a $2.2 trillion package to help businesses, workers and a health care system staggered by the coronavirus. Many Americans had their share deposited into their accounts in the last couple of weeks.
It’s estimated that 2 million U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are married to people without social security numbers, although it’s unclear how many of them file jointly with them.
“All of the families are very much like other families in the United States. They have children at home, they are facing contraction of the economy and they still have to pay their rent, and buy groceries and buy gas,” said Nina Perales, MALDEF’s vice president of litigation.
Christina Segundo-Hernandez, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the plaintiffs in the case. Segundo-Hernandez is a U.S. citizen married to a Mexican immigrant who pays federal taxes through his ITIN. The couple, married eight years, file jointly each year. They’re both working fewer hours because of the coronavirus pandemic, and they’ve fallen behind on bills.
Getting a coronavirus relief check would have helped.
“I would have been able to fill up my refrigerator for my kids,” said Segundo-Hernandez, who has four children. “I think it needs to be known that there’s people out there that are doctors and things like that that are putting their lives at risk going through the same thing. They’re being betrayed by their government because of who they’re married to.”
David Hessell-Cercado, a fourth-grade teacher in Los Angeles, is an American citizen married to a Mexican immigrant who is close to getting his permanent resident status. Hessell-Cercado isn’t involved in the lawsuit, but will also not benefit from the coronavirus relief payments that went out to millions of Americans recently.
Hessell-Cercado said he feels lucky to still work, but thinks it’s unfair that Americans are being left out of the coronavirus relief package because of who they married.
“What hurt more was just the sheer meanness of it,” he said. “Anyone who marries someone and goes through an immigration process already has to deal with years and years and years of just delays and obstacles and hurdles to get over. It just seems like something else that they put out there just to sort of be mean to us.”


shareblue--2020-05-03--Small businesses that reopen face 'new normal' as virus spread continues

With staff wearing masks , checking customers ' temperatures , and using disposable paper place mats , some of the nation 's restaurants reopened for dine-in service Monday as states loosened more coronavirus restrictions .
But many eateries remained closed amid safety concerns and community backlash .
Restaurants in Georgia , Tennessee , and Anchorage , Alaska , welcomed diners back , albeit for a different dine-in experience than before the pandemic forced restaurants to close or limit their services to takeout and delivery .
In Louisiana , the governor said restaurants will be allowed to seat people outside starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tables .
In Georgia , dine-in service and movie screenings were allowed to resume a few days after some other businesses , including barbershops , gyms , tattoo shops , and nail salons , began seeing customers Friday .
`` We 're ecstatic to have them back , '' said Chris Heithaus , who manages 87 Waffle House restaurants .
`` A lot of people , I think , want to get back to the new normal , which will be social distancing and all that .
But they will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the popular chain known for hash brown breakfasts and its ability to stay open in the face of natural disasters , the `` new normal '' included employees wearing masks , booths closed to keep customers apart , and traditional plastic place mat menus replaced by paper menus .
Gov .
Brian Kemp announced last week that he would relax restrictions despite health experts ' warnings of a potential surge in infections and disapproval from Donald Trump .
Kemp issued 39 requirements that restaurants must follow , including observing a limit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring that all employees wear face coverings .
Anchorage began allowing restaurants , hair salons , and other retails locations to open Monday , three days after the rest of Alaska began relaxing restrictions .
Seating must be limited to 25 % of capacity , and only members of the same household can sit together at a table .
A log with every customer 's first and last name and contact phone number must be maintained by the restaurant and kept for 30 days in case it 's needed for contact tracing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and customers are encouraged to wear them unless eating .
In Tennessee , state officials allowed restaurants to reopen in 89 of Tennessee 's 95 counties starting Monday .
At Tony Gore 's Smoky Mountain BBQ & Grill in Sevierville , only a few tables of dine-in guests had come in by Monday afternoon , and each diner — as well as employees — had to have their temperature checked with an infrared thermometer gun .
`` Everybody has really been great about that part of it , '' restaurant general manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We figured we would have some people who would be like , 'That 's kind of weird . '
I think they see that it 's just a precaution . ''
In Madison , a small antebellum town in Georgia about 60 miles from Atlanta , the Madison Chop House Grille took similar cautionary steps .
The staff put big blue X marks on certain tables and removed chairs to let patrons know they could not sit there .
When employees arrive , they have to take their temperature and record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visible to customers .
The restaurant only had about six tables for dine-in lunch service , said general manager , Mary Spoto .
`` Every customer who 's come in here has thanked us for being open , but unfortunately it was really slow , '' Spoto said .
Many other restaurants decided it was n't yet time to reopen .
Dennis McKinley had planned to open two of the three branches of his Atlanta-area restaurant , the Original Hot Dog Factory .
But Monday morning he decided not to open after all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he got about 40 calls over the weekend from politicians , community leaders , and customers urging him not to reopen for dine-in service .
`` Ultimately , the Original Hot Dog Factory ca n't make it without the community 's support , so I felt it was important to hold back and wait , '' he said .
He plans to wait until state and local officials are on the same page .
In the meantime , his staff continues to work on takeout and delivery orders .
Collins Quarter , Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's downtown historic district , remained closed Monday along with three other restaurants he owns .
Debreceny said many other restaurateurs he knows were also holding off , particularly those who rely on tourists for much of their business .
`` Customers are n't ready , '' Debreceny said .
`` Today 's going to be an interesting test .
I think there 's a lot of people waiting to see what the social media backlash is going to be like . ''
Right now , Debreceny said , he does n't anticipate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't want to risk having to shut down all over again and having to suffer a second time the cost of losing any perishable food in his restaurants ' refrigerators if infections rebound .
Worst of all , he said , would be opening too soon and having one of his restaurants blamed for infecting a customer .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia , or even death .
Even those who ventured out did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , regular customer Corey Brooks ordered a waffle and pork chops and noted how quiet the normally bustling restaurant is .
He 's still working from home , and he still thinks it 's too soon to return to the office or get a haircut .
`` This would be the only restaurant I would come and sit in , '' Brooks said .
`` I know the people here . ''

With staff wearing masks, checking customers’ temperatures, and using disposable paper place mats, some of the nation’s restaurants reopened for dine-in service Monday as states loosened more coronavirus restrictions. But many eateries remained closed amid safety concerns and community backlash.
Restaurants in Georgia, Tennessee, and Anchorage, Alaska, welcomed diners back, albeit for a different dine-in experience than before the pandemic forced restaurants to close or limit their services to takeout and delivery. In Louisiana, the governor said restaurants will be allowed to seat people outside starting Friday, though without wait service at the tables.
In Georgia, dine-in service and movie screenings were allowed to resume a few days after some other businesses, including barbershops, gyms, tattoo shops, and nail salons, began seeing customers Friday.
“We’re ecstatic to have them back,” said Chris Heithaus, who manages 87 Waffle House restaurants. “A lot of people, I think, want to get back to the new normal, which will be social distancing and all that. But they will be able to eat inside the restaurant.”
At the popular chain known for hash brown breakfasts and its ability to stay open in the face of natural disasters, the “new normal” included employees wearing masks, booths closed to keep customers apart, and traditional plastic place mat menus replaced by paper menus.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced last week that he would relax restrictions despite health experts’ warnings of a potential surge in infections and disapproval from Donald Trump.
Kemp issued 39 requirements that restaurants must follow, including observing a limit of 10 customers per 500 square feet and ensuring that all employees wear face coverings.
Anchorage began allowing restaurants, hair salons, and other retails locations to open Monday, three days after the rest of Alaska began relaxing restrictions. Seating must be limited to 25% of capacity, and only members of the same household can sit together at a table.
A log with every customer’s first and last name and contact phone number must be maintained by the restaurant and kept for 30 days in case it’s needed for contact tracing. All employees must wear fabric face masks, and customers are encouraged to wear them unless eating.
In Tennessee, state officials allowed restaurants to reopen in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties starting Monday. At Tony Gore’s Smoky Mountain BBQ & Grill in Sevierville, only a few tables of dine-in guests had come in by Monday afternoon, and each diner — as well as employees — had to have their temperature checked with an infrared thermometer gun.
“Everybody has really been great about that part of it,” restaurant general manager Keith Carter said of the temperature checks. “We figured we would have some people who would be like, ‘That’s kind of weird.’ I think they see that it’s just a precaution.”
In Madison, a small antebellum town in Georgia about 60 miles from Atlanta, the Madison Chop House Grille took similar cautionary steps. The staff put big blue X marks on certain tables and removed chairs to let patrons know they could not sit there. When employees arrive, they have to take their temperature and record it on a white board that’s visible to customers.
The restaurant only had about six tables for dine-in lunch service, said general manager, Mary Spoto.
“Every customer who’s come in here has thanked us for being open, but unfortunately it was really slow,” Spoto said.
Many other restaurants decided it wasn’t yet time to reopen. Dennis McKinley had planned to open two of the three branches of his Atlanta-area restaurant, the Original Hot Dog Factory. But Monday morning he decided not to open after all, citing community opposition.
McKinley estimates he got about 40 calls over the weekend from politicians, community leaders, and customers urging him not to reopen for dine-in service.
“Ultimately, the Original Hot Dog Factory can’t make it without the community’s support, so I felt it was important to hold back and wait,” he said.
He plans to wait until state and local officials are on the same page. In the meantime, his staff continues to work on takeout and delivery orders.
Collins Quarter, Anthony Debreceny’s café and bar in Savannah’s downtown historic district, remained closed Monday along with three other restaurants he owns. Debreceny said many other restaurateurs he knows were also holding off, particularly those who rely on tourists for much of their business.
“Customers aren’t ready,” Debreceny said. “Today’s going to be an interesting test. I think there’s a lot of people waiting to see what the social media backlash is going to be like.”
Right now, Debreceny said, he doesn’t anticipate reopening until late June. He doesn’t want to risk having to shut down all over again and having to suffer a second time the cost of losing any perishable food in his restaurants’ refrigerators if infections rebound.
Worst of all, he said, would be opening too soon and having one of his restaurants blamed for infecting a customer.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, or even death.
Even those who ventured out did so with caution. At the Savannah Waffle House, regular customer Corey Brooks ordered a waffle and pork chops and noted how quiet the normally bustling restaurant is. He’s still working from home, and he still thinks it’s too soon to return to the office or get a haircut.
“This would be the only restaurant I would come and sit in,” Brooks said. “I know the people here.”


shareblue--2020-05-03--Trump already prepping White House transition in case he loses in November

Donald Trump is still all-in on getting reelected , but he 's also set to take the first steps to formally prepare someone else to take over if he loses on Nov. 3 .
Trump is standing up a council under the first deployment of the Presidential Transition Act by an incumbent running for another term after Congress moved in 2015 to better ensure continuity of government when one president hands off to another .
Making sure presidential candidates are ready to take charge of the federal government became a priority after the Sept. 11 attacks , but the effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic and associated economic turmoil .
`` The relevance of transition planning has intensified since it could be the first election since 1932 where we had more than 20 % unemployment , more than twice as high as the unemployment rate in 2008 , '' said David Marchick , director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service .
`` You add to that a health crisis and the potential for a virtual transition .
The degree of complexity has increased significantly . ''
Under the act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition council and a senior White House employee to chair it no later than six months before Election Day , which is Sunday .
Trump is expected to tap Chris Liddell , deputy chief of staff for policy coordination , according to two senior administration officials .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal plans .
Liddell is already leading the administration 's preparations for a second term , itself effectively a mini-transition , as history shows vast turnover at that point in a presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee , expressed skepticism to donors Tuesday that the Trump White House would work to provide a smooth transition .
`` The Bush administration worked very closely with Barack and me , with our administration in terms of handing over power in the transition , '' Biden recalled of the 2007-08 period ahead of Barack Obama 's inauguration .
`` I hope it 's as smooth as it was – and I doubt it , but I hope so . ''
Biden has been discussing transition plans with former Delaware Sen. Ted Kaufman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed to fill Biden 's Senate seat when he became vice president .
Biden assured donors that he 's proceeding regardless of how Trump handles the matter .
The former vice president said he 's already considering his Cabinet secretaries and `` sub-Cabinet '' political appointees .
Biden added that he has contemplated the unusual step of identifying some top Cabinet picks `` even before we are able to win '' so that voters will `` have a better idea of what my administration will look like . ''
The law requires presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach a memorandum of understanding that governs everything from the provision of federal office space to access to sensitive documents by Sept. 1 , though generally it is reached sooner .
Transition teams begin vetting candidates for jobs in a future administration , including beginning the time-consuming security clearance process for likely appointees who need to be ready to take their posts on Inauguration Day .
Russell Vought , acting director of the Office of Management and Budget , sent a directive Monday asking federal agencies to select transition coordinators by the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been friendly , others frostier , especially when the party in power shifts .
In 2008 , though , then-President George W. Bush and his chief of staff , Joshua Bolten , worked to develop a politically neutral process to prepare future presidents to take over .
It was later written into law by Congress on a bipartisan basis .
Liddell has arguably more experience on presidential transitions than anyone in the administration , having served as executive director of Mitt Romney 's 2012 transition team before joining the Trump administration as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son-in-law , Jared Kushner .
Before Obama left office , Congress strengthened the transition process .
The 2016 election was the first in which the incumbent had to designate a senior White House official to coordinate the whole-of-government transition .
Trump , though , rejected the detailed transition plans prepared for him .
He dismissed his transition chief , then-New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , and his advisers trashed their transition plan days after the election .
It created chaos and contributed to the administration 's difficulty vetting for senior jobs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first term .
He is now the first incumbent president who must simultaneously run for another term while taking detailed steps to prepare for the prospect of defeat on Election Day .
While Trump is moving to meet the statutory requirements , some Democrats have expressed doubts that the White House would be fully engaged in the process of preparing Trump 's 2020 opponent .
`` Given the many questions about the president 's commitment to governance , it is vital that he demonstrate his commitment to transition right out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff Denis McDonough .
He added , `` I 'm concerned that this late in an election year there are still no indications the President and his team are taking this responsibility seriously . ''
Administration officials insist they are complying with the law , though a key test of their commitment to the spirit of the transition act will come in how the White House council works with Biden 's yet-to-be-announced staff .
The transition act was amended earlier this year , in part because of the Trump experience , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they get federal support .
Congress also required that senior career officials , rather than political appointees , oversee agency transition plans .
Trump 's transition was scrutinized for its wide use of current and former lobbyists and industry insiders on its agency teams .
The 2020 law requires that transition team members sign an ethics agreement and that the transition disclose any conflicts of interest .
Michael Rigas , acting OMB deputy director , will run the Agency Transition Directors Council , along with Mary Gibert , a senior career General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition coordinator .

Donald Trump is still all-in on getting reelected, but he’s also set to take the first steps to formally prepare someone else to take over if he loses on Nov. 3.
Trump is standing up a council under the first deployment of the Presidential Transition Act by an incumbent running for another term after Congress moved in 2015 to better ensure continuity of government when one president hands off to another.
Making sure presidential candidates are ready to take charge of the federal government became a priority after the Sept. 11 attacks, but the effort takes on new urgency because of the coronavirus pandemic and associated economic turmoil.
“The relevance of transition planning has intensified since it could be the first election since 1932 where we had more than 20% unemployment, more than twice as high as the unemployment rate in 2008,” said David Marchick, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service. “You add to that a health crisis and the potential for a virtual transition. The degree of complexity has increased significantly.”
Under the act, Trump must name members of the transition council and a senior White House employee to chair it no later than six months before Election Day, which is Sunday. Trump is expected to tap Chris Liddell, deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, according to two senior administration officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal plans.
Liddell is already leading the administration’s preparations for a second term, itself effectively a mini-transition, as history shows vast turnover at that point in a presidency.
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, expressed skepticism to donors Tuesday that the Trump White House would work to provide a smooth transition.
“The Bush administration worked very closely with Barack and me, with our administration in terms of handing over power in the transition,” Biden recalled of the 2007-08 period ahead of Barack Obama’s inauguration. “I hope it’s as smooth as it was – and I doubt it, but I hope so.”
Biden has been discussing transition plans with former Delaware Sen. Ted Kaufman, a longtime top aide who was appointed to fill Biden’s Senate seat when he became vice president. Biden assured donors that he’s proceeding regardless of how Trump handles the matter.
The former vice president said he’s already considering his Cabinet secretaries and “sub-Cabinet” political appointees. Biden added that he has contemplated the unusual step of identifying some top Cabinet picks “even before we are able to win” so that voters will “have a better idea of what my administration will look like.”
The law requires presidential candidates and the General Services Administration to reach a memorandum of understanding that governs everything from the provision of federal office space to access to sensitive documents by Sept. 1, though generally it is reached sooner.
Transition teams begin vetting candidates for jobs in a future administration, including beginning the time-consuming security clearance process for likely appointees who need to be ready to take their posts on Inauguration Day.
Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent a directive Monday asking federal agencies to select transition coordinators by the end of the week.
Some presidential hand-offs have been friendly, others frostier, especially when the party in power shifts. In 2008, though, then-President George W. Bush and his chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, worked to develop a politically neutral process to prepare future presidents to take over. It was later written into law by Congress on a bipartisan basis.
Liddell has arguably more experience on presidential transitions than anyone in the administration, having served as executive director of Mitt Romney’s 2012 transition team before joining the Trump administration as a key ally of the Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Before Obama left office, Congress strengthened the transition process. The 2016 election was the first in which the incumbent had to designate a senior White House official to coordinate the whole-of-government transition.
Trump, though, rejected the detailed transition plans prepared for him. He dismissed his transition chief, then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and his advisers trashed their transition plan days after the election. It created chaos and contributed to the administration’s difficulty vetting for senior jobs and staffing that persisted through much of Trump’s first term.
He is now the first incumbent president who must simultaneously run for another term while taking detailed steps to prepare for the prospect of defeat on Election Day.
While Trump is moving to meet the statutory requirements, some Democrats have expressed doubts that the White House would be fully engaged in the process of preparing Trump’s 2020 opponent.
“Given the many questions about the president’s commitment to governance, it is vital that he demonstrate his commitment to transition right out of the box,” said former Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough.
He added, “I’m concerned that this late in an election year there are still no indications the President and his team are taking this responsibility seriously.”
Administration officials insist they are complying with the law, though a key test of their commitment to the spirit of the transition act will come in how the White House council works with Biden’s yet-to-be-announced staff.
The transition act was amended earlier this year, in part because of the Trump experience, to require that transition teams develop ethics plans before they get federal support. Congress also required that senior career officials, rather than political appointees, oversee agency transition plans.
Trump’s transition was scrutinized for its wide use of current and former lobbyists and industry insiders on its agency teams. The 2020 law requires that transition team members sign an ethics agreement and that the transition disclose any conflicts of interest.
Michael Rigas, acting OMB deputy director, will run the Agency Transition Directors Council, along with Mary Gibert, a senior career General Services Administration official serving as the federal transition coordinator.


shareblue--2020-05-04--Some meat plant workers 'worried' about safety as factories are forced to reopen

A South Dakota pork processing plant took its first steps toward reopening Monday after being shuttered for over two weeks because of a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 800 employees .
Employees reporting for work in Smithfield Foods ' ground pork department filed through a tent where they were screened for fever and other signs of COVID-19 .
Some said they felt the measures Smithfield has taken would protect them from another virus outbreak , while others were not confident that infections could be halted in a crowded plant .
Lydia Toby said she was `` kind of worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 a.m. for her first shift in over two weeks .
Managers met employees in her department Friday and explained they had installed dividers on the production line and would require everyone to wear masks .
`` I think it 's going to be OK , '' Toby said .
In the wake of an executive order from Donald Trump ordering meat plants to remain open , Arkansas-based Tyson Foods was also resuming `` limited production '' Monday at its pork plant in Logansport , Indiana , where nearly 900 employees tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worthington , Minnesota — just an hour east of Smithfield 's South Dakota plant — planned a partial reopening on Wednesday .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday called meatpacking plants — along with nursing homes — `` the most dangerous places there are right now . ''
He called for greater protections for meatpacking workers , as well as a $ 13-an-hour pay premium .
`` They designate them as essential workers and then treat them as disposable , '' Biden said , on a conference call about protecting essential workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens .
Virginia-based Smithfield is offering COVID-19 testing to all employees and their family members , according to a text message sent to employees .
The message told employees to report to a local high school to be tested .
Gov .
Kristi Noem said employees are n't required to undergo tests before returning to work , though it 's strongly encouraged .
Noem 's health commissioner , Kim Malsam-Rysdon , said it was Smithfield 's decision to make the tests optional .
About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on Monday , according to the union that represents them .
The plant employs about 3,700 workers and produces roughly 5 % of the nation 's pork .
Salaheldin Ahmed , who works in a department that has not yet reopened , said he was called in by plant management to look at changes .
`` They fixed a lot of things , '' he said , describing how workers would be spread apart where possible .
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday said more than 4,900 workers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with the coronavirus , including 20 who died .
Not all states provided data .
The CDC researchers cited risks including difficulties with physical distancing and hygiene , and crowded living and transportation conditions .
They suggested enhanced disinfection and that workers get regular screening for the virus , more space from co-workers , and training materials in their native languages .
Many meatpacking employees are immigrants ; a CDC report on the Smithfield outbreak found that employees there spoke about 40 different languages .
The United Food and Commercial Workers union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and about one-third of poultry workers nationwide , has called for stricter measures than the CDC 's , including mandating that workers be spaced 6 feet apart on production lines .
It has appealed to governors for help enforcing worker safety rules .
The union also wants to get rid of waivers that allow some plants to operate at faster speeds .
As plants warily reopen or others operate at diminished capacity with many workers staying home sick or in fear , it 's unclear Trump 's order will guarantee an unbroken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record meat sales in the first quarter but warned investors Monday that it faces continued production slowdowns .
Company officials said it expected lower productivity `` in the short term until local infection rates begin to decrease . ''
Zach Medhaug , a maintenance employee at Tyson 's pork plant in Waterloo , Iowa , said he will feel comfortable returning to work when the plant reopens , even as he fears that one of his closest colleagues may soon die from the coronavirus .
Jose Ayala , 44 , is in critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after catching the virus a month ago .
Medhaug has been calling Ayala , who is medically paralyzed but may still be able to hear , encouraging him to keep fighting .
Medhaug tested positive himself for the coronavirus on April 20 .
He said he had mild symptoms and expects to return to work later this week at the plant , which suspended production April 22 .
Medhaug said Tyson has made key safety changes , such as vowing to enforce rather than just encourage social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling them to bring their own .
`` That 's a huge step , '' he said .
`` The people returning , I see them having a better chance of not getting it at all . ''

A South Dakota pork processing plant took its first steps toward reopening Monday after being shuttered for over two weeks because of a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 800 employees.
Employees reporting for work in Smithfield Foods’ ground pork department filed through a tent where they were screened for fever and other signs of COVID-19. Some said they felt the measures Smithfield has taken would protect them from another virus outbreak, while others were not confident that infections could be halted in a crowded plant.
Lydia Toby said she was “kind of worried” as she entered the plant before 6 a.m. for her first shift in over two weeks. Managers met employees in her department Friday and explained they had installed dividers on the production line and would require everyone to wear masks.
“I think it’s going to be OK,” Toby said.
In the wake of an executive order from Donald Trump ordering meat plants to remain open, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods was also resuming “limited production” Monday at its pork plant in Logansport, Indiana, where nearly 900 employees tested positive. And the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota — just an hour east of Smithfield’s South Dakota plant — planned a partial reopening on Wednesday.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday called meatpacking plants — along with nursing homes — “the most dangerous places there are right now.” He called for greater protections for meatpacking workers, as well as a $13-an-hour pay premium.
“They designate them as essential workers and then treat them as disposable,” Biden said, on a conference call about protecting essential workers, such as meatpacking workers, that was organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Virginia-based Smithfield is offering COVID-19 testing to all employees and their family members, according to a text message sent to employees. The message told employees to report to a local high school to be tested. Gov. Kristi Noem said employees aren’t required to undergo tests before returning to work, though it’s strongly encouraged. Noem’s health commissioner, Kim Malsam-Rysdon, said it was Smithfield’s decision to make the tests optional.
Smithfield didn’t respond to requests for comment.
About 250 employees were told to report to work on Monday, according to the union that represents them. The plant employs about 3,700 workers and produces roughly 5% of the nation’s pork.
Salaheldin Ahmed, who works in a department that has not yet reopened, said he was called in by plant management to look at changes.
“They fixed a lot of things,” he said, describing how workers would be spread apart where possible.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday said more than 4,900 workers at meat and poultry processing facilities have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 20 who died. Not all states provided data.
The CDC researchers cited risks including difficulties with physical distancing and hygiene, and crowded living and transportation conditions. They suggested enhanced disinfection and that workers get regular screening for the virus, more space from co-workers, and training materials in their native languages. Many meatpacking employees are immigrants; a CDC report on the Smithfield outbreak found that employees there spoke about 40 different languages.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents most beef and pork workers and about one-third of poultry workers nationwide, has called for stricter measures than the CDC’s, including mandating that workers be spaced 6 feet apart on production lines. It has appealed to governors for help enforcing worker safety rules. The union also wants to get rid of waivers that allow some plants to operate at faster speeds.
As plants warily reopen or others operate at diminished capacity with many workers staying home sick or in fear, it’s unclear Trump’s order will guarantee an unbroken supply of meat.
Tyson Foods reported record meat sales in the first quarter but warned investors Monday that it faces continued production slowdowns. Company officials said it expected lower productivity “in the short term until local infection rates begin to decrease.”
Zach Medhaug, a maintenance employee at Tyson’s pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, said he will feel comfortable returning to work when the plant reopens, even as he fears that one of his closest colleagues may soon die from the coronavirus.
Jose Ayala, 44, is in critical condition on a ventilator at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after catching the virus a month ago. Medhaug has been calling Ayala, who is medically paralyzed but may still be able to hear, encouraging him to keep fighting.
Medhaug tested positive himself for the coronavirus on April 20. He said he had mild symptoms and expects to return to work later this week at the plant, which suspended production April 22. Medhaug said Tyson has made key safety changes, such as vowing to enforce rather than just encourage social distancing and providing employees with masks instead of telling them to bring their own.
“That’s a huge step,” he said. “The people returning, I see them having a better chance of not getting it at all.”


shareblue--2020-05-04--Lawmakers want to know how COVID-19 has affected LGBTQ patients

New Jersey is joining a growing number of states where lawmakers are calling for the collection of data for LGBTQ COVID-19 patients .
LGBTQ advocacy groups and lawmakers have argued that states can use this information to find out whether LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and will be able to offer better support .
Democratic New Jersey Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle plans to introduce a bill on Monday that would require hospitals to collect information on a person 's gender identity and sexual orientation if they have been treated for the coronavirus .
This would include data on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then release the data on a government website .
Huttle told NJ.com , `` I think it 's important because during a public health crisis it 's important to have the information to understand which marginalized communities are hit .
[ Is the LGBT community ] being disproportionately impacted ?
We have no way of knowing . ''
New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy , a Democrat , recently signed a bill that requires hospitals to collect information on the race and ethnicity of patients .
As of April 1 , the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on LGBTQ COVID-19 patients is the District of Columbia , according to the Washington Blade , which reported on how many state and local governments were collecting this information .
Last month , Washington 's Department of Health said the process was underway .
In California , state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D ) and State Assemblyman Todd Gloria ( D ) recently sent a letter to Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom requesting that the state collect data on the LGBTQ community during the pandemic .
Wiener said that the LGBTQ community is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic impact of the pandemic .
`` Many LGBTQ individuals work in sectors that are deeply impacted by COVID-19 , and LGBTQ individuals are more likely to be immunocompromised due to HIV/AIDS and other health issues , '' Wiener said .
`` And LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience homelessness .
We need to collect data on how COVID-19 is impacting the LGBTQ community , or we wo n't be able to get the support we need . ''
In April , Wiener introduced legislation to require San Francisco 's departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social services to collect and analyze data on LGBTQ clients .
Dr. Sonia Angell , director of the California Department of Public Health , recently responded to the Los Angeles Blade 's question about collecting this data on the state level .
She said the data is not reported as regularly as data collected around race and ethnicity .
`` These are things we 're looking very carefully at and looking at ways of improving our system so we can get this information into the hands of people who can take action on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities , as well .
So , we ’ ll be reporting back to you for methods that we ’ re coming up with that , '' she said .
Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta ( D ) also introduced a bill that requires all state forms that collect demographic data to include a question to collect LGBTQ data .
`` As we all know , there is a desert of good quality data out there as it relates to our communities , particularly at the state level … It 's a continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government that those that are most on the margins are not only , in some cases , affected by really bad policy that impacts them , '' Kenyatta said at a virtual town hall last week .
`` But as I said to some young people yesterday , you can also be completely ignored ... We are ignored and the scope of the problem is not fully available in data we can all share . ''
Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis , a Democrat , was asked during the town hall whether his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community and COVID-19 .
He said gathering data was a `` touchy situation '' for people who are not comfortable telling medical professionals their sexual orientation because they do n't trust they will be treated fairly by health care providers .
`` While of course we could like the data , we also do n't want to put people in a difficult position where they 're being asked something that they 're not comfortable sharing , '' he said .
Wiener and Kenyatta 's bills would not require that people answer questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town hall , Wiener said in response to Polis ' statement , `` Other demographic questions are never mandatory ... We 're collecting more data on race and gender and we see in different health conditions who is being affected and in what ways so that we can make policy choices , but we ’ re not doing it for LGBTQ people . ''
LGBTQ advocacy groups have also called for better data collection on how LGBTQ people are affected by the pandemic on both the state and federal level .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Human Rights Campaign , stated , `` We call on every state to collect more data so that we can truly measure the impact on those most at risk and respond with prevention and treatment strategies that work .
We call on Congress to take this impact into account in future stimulus packages so that we can urgently meet the needs of our communities . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

New Jersey is joining a growing number of states where lawmakers are calling for the collection of data for LGBTQ COVID-19 patients. LGBTQ advocacy groups and lawmakers have argued that states can use this information to find out whether LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and will be able to offer better support.
Democratic New Jersey Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle plans to introduce a bill on Monday that would require hospitals to collect information on a person’s gender identity and sexual orientation if they have been treated for the coronavirus. This would include data on nonbinary people. Health department officials would then release the data on a government website.
Huttle told NJ.com, “I think it’s important because during a public health crisis it’s important to have the information to understand which marginalized communities are hit. [Is the LGBT community] being disproportionately impacted? We have no way of knowing.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, recently signed a bill that requires hospitals to collect information on the race and ethnicity of patients.
As of April 1, the only jurisdiction that has reported currently collecting data on LGBTQ COVID-19 patients is the District of Columbia, according to the Washington Blade, which reported on how many state and local governments were collecting this information. Last month, Washington’s Department of Health said the process was underway.
In California, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) and State Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D) recently sent a letter to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting that the state collect data on the LGBTQ community during the pandemic.
Wiener said that the LGBTQ community is “incredibly vulnerable” to the health and economic impact of the pandemic.
“Many LGBTQ individuals work in sectors that are deeply impacted by COVID-19, and LGBTQ individuals are more likely to be immunocompromised due to HIV/AIDS and other health issues,” Wiener said. “And LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience homelessness. We need to collect data on how COVID-19 is impacting the LGBTQ community, or we won’t be able to get the support we need.”
In April, Wiener introduced legislation to require San Francisco’s departments and contractors that provide health care and social services to collect and analyze data on LGBTQ clients.
Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, recently responded to the Los Angeles Blade’s question about collecting this data on the state level. She said the data is not reported as regularly as data collected around race and ethnicity.
“These are things we’re looking very carefully at and looking at ways of improving our system so we can get this information into the hands of people who can take action on it — ourselves and our local county authorities, as well. So, we’ll be reporting back to you for methods that we’re coming up with that,” she said.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D) also introduced a bill that requires all state forms that collect demographic data to include a question to collect LGBTQ data.
“As we all know, there is a desert of good quality data out there as it relates to our communities, particularly at the state level … It’s a continued pattern of erasure at all levels of government that those that are most on the margins are not only, in some cases, affected by really bad policy that impacts them,” Kenyatta said at a virtual town hall last week. “But as I said to some young people yesterday, you can also be completely ignored … We are ignored and the scope of the problem is not fully available in data we can all share.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, was asked during the town hall whether his state would collect information on the LGBTQ community and COVID-19. He said gathering data was a “touchy situation” for people who are not comfortable telling medical professionals their sexual orientation because they don’t trust they will be treated fairly by health care providers.
“While of course we could like the data, we also don’t want to put people in a difficult position where they’re being asked something that they’re not comfortable sharing,” he said.
Wiener and Kenyatta’s bills would not require that people answer questions about their sexual orientation and gender. During the town hall, Wiener said in response to Polis’ statement, “Other demographic questions are never mandatory … We’re collecting more data on race and gender and we see in different health conditions who is being affected and in what ways so that we can make policy choices, but we’re not doing it for LGBTQ people.”
LGBTQ advocacy groups have also called for better data collection on how LGBTQ people are affected by the pandemic on both the state and federal level. On April 9, Alphonso David, the president of Human Rights Campaign, stated, “We call on every state to collect more data so that we can truly measure the impact on those most at risk and respond with prevention and treatment strategies that work. We call on Congress to take this impact into account in future stimulus packages so that we can urgently meet the needs of our communities.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-04--White House: Fauci can testify in Congress — but only if GOP's in charge

The Trump administration has blocked letting Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top epidemiologist , testify before a House committee , saying such a move would be `` counterproductive . ''
But the administration does plan to let him testify before the GOP-controlled Senate next week , at a Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee hearing scheduled for May 12 .
`` While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House spokesperson told the Washington Post on Friday .
`` We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time . ''
The House Appropriations Committee had requested that Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , testify before its Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee about the pandemic response .
Trump 's new press secretary , Kaleigh McEnany , dismissed the request as a `` publicity stunt . ''
On Monday , the administration told Fauci and the rest of the White House coronavirus task force that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month without the express permission of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Legal experts questioned the administration blocking Fauci 's testimony .
Harvard professor Lawrence Tribe called the move `` outrageous '' and NBC legal analyst Maya Wiley called it an `` unconstitutional obstruction of Congress . ''
Despite the pretense of protecting Fauci 's time , the Trump administration has had Fauci attend dozens of press briefings , totaling more than 2,250 minutes , since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — a time suck Fauci once called `` really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site Factba.se , Fauci has participated in at least 26 Trump coronavirus press conferences since late February .
They ranged in length from 41 minutes to 143 minutes .
Fauci told the Associated Press that they involve significant preparation and waiting time .
`` If I had been able to just make a few comments and then go to work , that would have really been much better , '' he explained .
`` It is n't the idea of being there and answering questions , which I really think is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of time . ''
On Saturday , Donald Trump tweeted : `` The Democrats are just , as always , looking for trouble .
They do nothing constructive , even in times of crisis .
They do n't want to blame their cash cow , China , for the plague .
China is blaming Europe .
Dr. Fauci will be testifying before the Senate very soon !
# DONOTHINGDEMOCRATS . ''
Trump has frequently tried to claim the House Democratic majority does nothing , though it has passed hundreds of pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration has blocked letting Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top epidemiologist, testify before a House committee, saying such a move would be “counterproductive.”
But the administration does plan to let him testify before the GOP-controlled Senate next week, at a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing scheduled for May 12.
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings,” a White House spokesperson told the Washington Post on Friday. “We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”
The House Appropriations Committee had requested that Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testify before its Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee about the pandemic response. Trump’s new press secretary, Kaleigh McEnany, dismissed the request as a “publicity stunt.”
On Monday, the administration told Fauci and the rest of the White House coronavirus task force that they may not testify before Congress this month without the express permission of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Legal experts questioned the administration blocking Fauci’s testimony. Harvard professor Lawrence Tribe called the move “outrageous” and NBC legal analyst Maya Wiley called it an “unconstitutional obstruction of Congress.”
Despite the pretense of protecting Fauci’s time, the Trump administration has had Fauci attend dozens of press briefings, totaling more than 2,250 minutes, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — a time suck Fauci once called “really draining.”
According to transcripts on the site Factba.se, Fauci has participated in at least 26 Trump coronavirus press conferences since late February. They ranged in length from 41 minutes to 143 minutes.
Fauci told the Associated Press that they involve significant preparation and waiting time. “If I had been able to just make a few comments and then go to work, that would have really been much better,” he explained. “It isn’t the idea of being there and answering questions, which I really think is important for the American public. It’s the amount of time.”
On Saturday, Donald Trump tweeted: “The Democrats are just, as always, looking for trouble. They do nothing constructive, even in times of crisis. They don’t want to blame their cash cow, China, for the plague. China is blaming Europe. Dr. Fauci will be testifying before the Senate very soon! #DONOTHINGDEMOCRATS.”
Trump has frequently tried to claim the House Democratic majority does nothing, though it has passed hundreds of pieces of legislation awaiting action in the Senate.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.