npr--2020-04-02--With Rallies Off The Table, Trump's Reelection Moves To Virtual Campaigning

With Rallies Off The Table , Trump 's Reelection Moves To Virtual Campaigning It 's been only a month since President Trump held his last campaign rally .
It was March 2 when several thousand people squeezed into a North Carolina arena to cheer on a confident president seeking reelection at a time of peace and prosperity .
Trump touted the record low unemployment rate to rousing applause , repeating the theme of his 2020 campaign .
`` Jobs are booming in our country , incomes are soaring , poverty has plummeted , confidence is surging , '' said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have gone , a big arena rally once a week , building up to more closer to the general election .
An army of door-knocking volunteers to make sure that the hundreds of thousands who attended a Trump rally are registered to vote .
But a campaign plan that made sense a month ago has run headlong into the coronavirus pandemic .
Almost overnight , millions have lost their jobs as measures to slow the spread of the virus forced business practically to a halt .
More than 4,000 Americans have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if 100,000 Americans die `` we all , together , have done a very good job . ''
Trump and his campaign no longer talk about a strong economy in the present tense .
At this point , the campaign 's message is all about the coronavirus .
`` We are supporting President Trump 's exceptional leadership and highlighting the work being done to keep Americans safe and healthy during this unprecedented time , '' said a campaign aide on background when asked how the re-election effort was adjusting .
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the state 's stay-at-home order .
Staff are working from home and have started doing virtual events — something Trump 's Democratic opponents are also doing .
Kicking off a streaming event last week , Lara Trump , the president 's daughter-in-law , told viewers , `` We 're so happy to have you join us .
This is a first for us . ''
She was joined by campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany and national political director Chris Carr , all beaming in from their respective homes .
The streamed event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , information on volunteering for the campaign , a dash of media bashing and a plenty of praise for Trump .
`` Right now the president is saving lives across this country , '' McEnaney said at one point .
`` This could have been so much worse . ''
There were also video and audio problems .
At one point McEnany disappeared , replaced on screen by a black box with a question mark .
Despite the glitches , the video has been watched about a million times across various platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been forced to move online .
In mid-March , just as Trump was announcing his administration 's initial social distancing guidelines , the campaign and the Republican Party were supposed to be launch a nationwide week of in-person volunteer training events .
`` We said , you know what , we 're going to make this switch to completely virtual , '' said Elliott Echols , the national field director for the Trump Victory Campaign .
`` Everything we have scheduled we 're going to get it switched over . ''
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training sessions moved from living rooms and field offices to Zoom meetings , forcing many volunteers to adjust to a new technology .
Those training sessions culminated in a day of action , with volunteers and organizers making more than 3 million phone calls .
But the recommended call script was anything but a standard campaign call .
Volunteers were asked to checked in on how people were doing and direct them to coronavirus.gov .
Echols says that on one of these calls a campaign organizer spoke to an elderly woman in Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the organizer asked for a list and delivered the groceries to her door .
`` That 's what it 's about , '' Echols said .
`` Our program is built off of relationship organizing . ''
NPR asked to speak with the Florida woman but the campaign did not make her available .
The campaign uses voter contact apps that work from a computer or cell phone .
If the call goes to voicemail , the app automatically plays a prerecorded message from Lara Trump urging voters to `` stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , good hygiene and making sure to wash your hands . ''
Echols , the campaign 's field director , looks forward to a day when people can return to public spaces and start knocking on doors again .
`` We 're going to flip that switch again and the volunteers that were making the calls , they 're going to be back at those people 's doorsteps continuing the conversation with them . ''
Down the road , the campaign hopes the familiarity volunteers get from using the voter contact apps now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls at free moments during the day this summer and fall , said Mandi Merritt , national press secretary for the Republican National Committee .
`` It allows them to make calls on behalf of the president at a time that is convenient for them , '' said Merritt .
So far , the campaign is n't running ads about the coronavirus or Trump 's response to it .
But it may not be necessary .
Recent polls show a small bump in President Trump 's approval rating as he holds daily press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be gone , but Trump has a more direct line into American homes than ever before .
This helps explain why Democratic groups have started to run ads aimed at countering Trump 's daily briefings , drawing attention to statements he 's made in recent weeks that have turned out to be off-base and wrong .
`` The fact that he chooses to use that pulpit to share misinformation and to deceive , I think is the challenge , '' said Guy Cecil , the chairman of Priorities USA , a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's why you find more of us who are willing to apply pressure to bring attention to some of the misinformation . ''
The Trump campaign sent a cease and desist letter trying to get a recent Priorities USA ad taken down , saying Trump was quoted out of context .
Instead , Priorities USA increased the size of its ad buy .
The political stakes are high .
Trump 's fate in November could well be determined by whether the public blames him for the death toll or credits him for @ @ @ @ @

His Signature Rallies Are Off, So Here's How Trump's Campaign Has Moved Online
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
It has been only a month since President Trump held his last campaign rally. It was March 2 when several thousand people squeezed into a North Carolina arena to cheer on a confident president seeking reelection at a time of peace and prosperity.
Trump touted the record low unemployment rate to rousing applause, repeating the theme of his 2020 campaign.
"Jobs are booming in our country, incomes are soaring, poverty has plummeted, confidence is surging," said the president.
And so Trump's campaign would have gone, a big arena rally once a week, building up to more as the general election nears. An army of door-knocking volunteers to make sure that the hundreds of thousands who attended a Trump rally are registered to vote.
But a campaign plan that made sense a month ago has run headlong into the coronavirus pandemic.
Almost overnight, millions have lost their jobs as measures to slow the spread of the virus forced business practically to a halt. More than 5,000 Americans have died from the disease as of Thursday morning, and Trump recently said that if 100,000 Americans die, "we all, together, have done a very good job."
Trump and his campaign no longer talk about a strong economy in the present tense. At this point, the campaign's message is all about the coronavirus.
"We are supporting President Trump's exceptional leadership and highlighting the work being done to keep Americans safe and healthy during this unprecedented time," said a campaign aide on background when asked how the reelection effort was adjusting.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mary Altaffer/AP Mary Altaffer/AP
The Trump campaign's headquarters in Virginia are closed because of the state's stay-at-home order. Staff are working from home and have started doing virtual events — something Trump's Democratic opponents are also doing.
Kicking off a streaming event last week, Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, told viewers, "We're so happy to have you join us. This is a first for us."
She was joined by campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany and national political director Chris Carr, all beaming in from their respective homes. The streamed event included tips for surviving life stuck at home, information on volunteering for the campaign, a dash of media bashing and a plenty of praise for Trump.
"Right now the president is saving lives across this country," McEnaney said at one point. "This could have been so much worse."
There were video and audio problems. At one point, McEnany disappeared, replaced on screen by a black box with a question mark. Despite the glitches, the video has been watched about a million times across various platforms.
Everything about the campaign has also been forced to move online. In mid-March, just as Trump was announcing his administration's initial social distancing guidelines, the campaign and the Republican Party were supposed to be launch a nationwide week of in-person volunteer training events.
"We said, 'You know what, we're going to make this switch to completely virtual,' " said Elliott Echols, the national field director for the Trump Victory Campaign. "Everything we have scheduled we're going to get it switched over."
According to Echols, within 24 hours, the training sessions moved from living rooms and field offices to Zoom meetings, forcing many volunteers to adjust to a new technology.
Those training sessions culminated in a day of action, with volunteers and organizers making more than 3 million phone calls. But the recommended call script was anything but a standard campaign call. Volunteers were asked to check in on how people were doing and direct them to coronavirus.gov.
Echols says that on one of these calls, a campaign organizer spoke to an elderly woman in Florida afraid to go grocery shopping. So, the organizer asked for a list and delivered the groceries to her door.
"That's what it's about," Echols said. "Our program is built off of relationship organizing."
NPR asked to speak with the Florida woman, but the campaign did not make her available.
The campaign uses voter contact apps that work from a computer or cellphone. If the call goes to voicemail, the app automatically plays a prerecorded message from Lara Trump urging voters to "stop the spread of coronavirus by practicing social distancing, good hygiene and making sure to wash your hands."
Echols looks forward to a day when people can return to public spaces and start knocking on doors again.
"We're going to flip that switch again and the volunteers that were making the calls, they're going to be back at those people's doorsteps continuing the conversation with them," he said.
Down the road, the campaign hopes the familiarity that volunteers get from using the voter contact apps now will allow them to work in campaign calls at free moments during the day this summer and fall, said Mandi Merritt, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee.
"It allows them to make calls on behalf of the president at a time that is convenient for them," said Merritt.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
So far, the campaign isn't running ads about the coronavirus or Trump's response to it. But it may not be necessary.
Recent polls show a small bump in Trump's approval rating as he holds daily press briefings about the coronavirus. The rallies may be gone, but Trump has a more direct line into American homes than ever before.
This helps explain why Democratic groups have started to run ads aimed at countering Trump's daily briefings, drawing attention to statements he has made in recent weeks that have turned out to be off-base and wrong.
"The fact that he chooses to use that pulpit to share misinformation and to deceive, I think is the challenge," said Guy Cecil, the chairman of Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC. "And I think that's why you find more of us who are willing to apply pressure to bring attention to some of the misinformation."
The Trump campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter trying to get a recent Priorities USA ad taken down, saying Trump was quoted out of context. Instead, Priorities USA increased the size of its ad buy.
The political stakes are high. Trump's fate in November could well be determined by whether the public blames him for the death toll or credits him for it not being worse.


npr--2020-04-02--Doctors Say Hospitals Are Stopping Them From Wearing Masks

Doctors Say Hospitals Are Stopping Them From Wearing Masks Neilly Buckalew is a traveling doctor who fills in at hospitals when there 's need .
So in the midst of this pandemic , she feels particularly vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus — not just in hospitals but in hotels and on her travels .
When she got an assignment last week at Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise , Idaho , she packed her own personal protective equipment and drove to town .
She disinfected her hotel room and stayed away from other guests but worried about the coughing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So she donned her own fitted N95 mask that she uses for work .
`` I wanted to protect myself , '' she said .
`` I wanted to protect my patients . ''
That first day at work , Buckalew said she was told to take off her mask .
When she asked hospital administrators why , the reasons kept changing .
First Buckalew said she was told it was against hospital policy for health care workers to bring their own gear .
Then , she said , administrators told her if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others would want to wear the masks as well and the hospital did n't have enough .
Finally , Buckalew said , it was that CDC guidelines do n't require the mask at all times .
`` I said if I ca n't wear it , then we have a problem , '' she said .
Refusing to take off her mask , she said , got her terminated .
Then , she said after complaining she was reinstated and then terminated again — all within three days .
`` I 'm raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
It 's unsafe .
We 'll never flatten the curve if hospital systems keep acting this way , '' she said , adding that she 's speaking now because she 's already lost her assignment and wanted to speak on behalf of those who ca n't .
`` A lot of people ca n't speak out because they 're afraid , or they know that they 'll be fired . ''
The rehabilitation hospital is a joint venture by the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and Encompass Health .
A spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Encompass Health .
Repeated calls to Encompass Health for comment were not returned .
Buckalew said she filed a formal complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration .
Buckalew 's account lays bare tensions between some hospital systems and health care workers on the front lines of this disease .
Many doctors , nurses and other hospital workers say they do n't feel protected and are afraid in the midst of a shortage of masks and other protective gear .
Some are bringing their own supplies donated by friends and family or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some hospitals are instituting strict policies that bar medical workers from bringing their own personal protective equipment , or PPE , to work , or limiting how much protection a person can wear because of a shortage in supplies .
Leaders at the American Academy of Emergency Medicine says they have heard accounts like Buckalew 's from health care workers across the country .
`` We 're hearing a lot of people saying that ' I 'm not getting adequate PPE at my job , so I was able to buy PPE and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' said Dr. Lisa Moreno , the president-elect of AAEM .
But when they wear it to work , she says doctors have told her , `` ' I 'm being yelled at .
I 'm being told to take it off .
I 'm being told that I 'm scaring patients and that I 'm scaring other people . '
We 've had people who had their jobs threatened . ''
Moreno said about two dozen people have formally complained to her organization .
She said they 've also received hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are afraid to lose their jobs if they complain , but also feel that hospitals are n't letting them do what they need to do to protect themselves against an infectious and new virus .
A virus that causes a disease that has killed dozens of healthcare workers in Italy and already taken the lives of at least two healthcare workers at the epicenter of the spread in the New York City metro area .
`` It seems that the hospital administrations are reacting to the fact that they are failing to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreno said .
`` And when one individual provides adequate PPE , it seems to highlight that fact to the other staff who have n't been able to purchase it . ''
These types of masks are very hard to come by .
A quick search at Home Depot shows pretty much every type of protective mask is out of stock .
And everyone from federal and local officials to hospital administrators are struggling to get their hands on as much personal protective equipment as they can in the midst of this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that health care workers are allowed to do what they feel they need to , to feel safe .
Because if they get infected , not only could they get very ill or give it to patients , but there would be fewer skilled health care workers to treat sick patients .
She said she 's also received complaints that hospital administrators are telling health care workers how much personal protective gear they can wear at work and when .
Some doctors and nurses who want to wear their N95 masks at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that one doctor told her that he needs to be extra careful because his son has cancer .
Then there are cases like Henry Nikicicz in El Paso , Texas .
He 's an anesthesiologist , so he does intubations on patients .
He 's 60 , has asthma and is particularly vulnerable to upper respiratory infections .
Two weeks ago , he was intubating a patient for respiratory distress on his overnight shift at the University Medical Center of El Paso .
He walked into the hallway and saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he slipped on his hospital-issued N95 mask .
The next day a hospital supervisor told him he was n't allowed to wear the N95 mask when he was n't in the operating room or treating a patient with an infectious disease , because they are costly and in short supply .
Nikicicz was also told he was scaring the patients .
The supervisor texted him that he could get a `` regular mask '' if he felt he needed one .
When Nikicicz responded that he is susceptible to upper respiratory infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more aggressive .
He referred to the coronavirus as the `` Wuhan virus , '' a term that many say is not only inaccurate but stokes xenophobia .
He texted in all capital letters that Nikicicz was the only one in the entire hospital wearing an N95 mask and that he would not be able to get one when the `` real virus '' comes in .
Nikicicz texted back : `` The real virus is here already . ''
Nikicicz is an independent contractor who works with a placement company Somnia Anesthesia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the company asking for his side of the story .
He was told hospital administrators had complained .
After that , Nikicicz said he was told not to go into work on Monday .
`` I protect myself and protect the environment in case I am infected .
In a situation like this , when we have social distancing , wearing a mask is one of the basic ways of stopping the spread of the virus , '' Nikicicz said .
`` And I really feel that injustice was done to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to do is to wear a mask .
To punish me for wearing a mask is something that I really feel is wrong . ''
The University Medical Center of El Paso said in a statement that Nikicicz was removed from the schedule by Somnia Anesthesia for `` insubordination . ''
`` The anesthesiologist was told on numerous occasions by his supervisor to not wear the N95 surgical mask while not in the Operating Room area or while not treating patients with infectious disease , '' the statement said .
`` UMC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to conserve N95 surgical masks , especially when it comes to wearing them when not in the surgical/OR area .
At the time of these incidents , the CDC did not require masks ( and certainly not N95 masks ) to be used by hospital staff when not treating patients or while in surgical/OR areas .
Beyond this , we view this as a personnel matter between Somnia Anesthesia and its contracted anesthesiologist.
`` Hours after NPR reached out to the hospital , Nikicicz was put back on the schedule .
Marc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anesthesia , said that Nikicicz was not removed for insubordination .
Koch said he was briefly taken off rotation because elective surgeries are cancelled and hundreds of contract workers are being laid off .
`` To be frank , I was trying to reach out to him to try to get him to come back .
At no point was he terminated , '' Koch said .
`` He did n't listen to his chief , yes he was not listening .
But what we were trying to do was see our way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that issue . ''
Koch said protecting doctors has been his number one goal , even securing N95 masks to supply to hospitals that could n't find any .
`` The clinicians want to be safe .
They want to meet or exceed the CDC guidelines , '' Koch said .
`` And the hospitals fear a run on supplies and [ causing ] patient anxiety . ''

Doctors Say Hospitals Are Stopping Them From Wearing Masks
Enlarge this image toggle caption zoranm/Getty Images zoranm/Getty Images
Neilly Buckalew is a traveling doctor who fills in at hospitals when there's need. So in the midst of this pandemic, she feels particularly vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus — not just in hospitals but in hotels and on her travels.
When she got an assignment last week at Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise, Idaho, she packed her own personal protective equipment and drove to town. She disinfected her hotel room and stayed away from other guests, but worried about the coughing person in the room next door. So she donned her own fitted N95 mask that she uses for work.
"I wanted to protect myself," she said. "I wanted to protect my patients."
That first day at work, Buckalew said, she was told to take off her mask.
When she asked hospital administrators why, the reasons kept changing. First, Buckalew said she was told it was against hospital policy for health care workers to bring their own gear. Then, she said, administrators told her if she wore her own N95 mask, others would want to wear the masks as well and the hospital didn't have enough. Finally, Buckalew said, it was that CDC guidelines don't require the mask at all times.
"I said if I can't wear it, then we have a problem," she said.
Refusing to take off her mask, she said, got her terminated. Then, she said, after complaining she was reinstated and then terminated again — all within three days.
"I'm raising a huge big stink because it's wrong. It's unsafe. We'll never flatten the curve if hospital systems keep acting this way," she said, adding that she's speaking now because she's already lost her assignment and wanted to speak on behalf of those who can't. "A lot of people can't speak out because they're afraid, or they know that they'll be fired."
The rehabilitation hospital is a joint venture by the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and Encompass Health. A spokesman at the medical center referred NPR to Encompass Health. Repeated calls to Encompass Health for comment were not returned. Buckalew said she filed a formal complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Buckalew's account lays bare tensions between some hospital systems and health care workers on the front lines of this disease. Many doctors, nurses and other hospital workers say they don't feel protected and are afraid in the midst of a shortage of masks and other protective gear. Some are bringing their own supplies, donated by friends and family or purchased at hardware stores. Meanwhile, some hospitals are instituting strict policies that bar medical workers from bringing their own personal protective equipment, or PPE, to work, or limiting how much protection a person can wear because of a shortage in supplies.
Leaders at the American Academy of Emergency Medicine says they have heard accounts like Buckalew's from health care workers across the country.
"We're hearing a lot of people saying that 'I'm not getting adequate PPE at my job, so I was able to buy PPE and I'm using what I buy,'" said Dr. Lisa Moreno, the president-elect of AAEM.
But when they wear it to work, she says, doctors have told her, "'I'm being yelled at. I'm being told to take it off. I'm being told that I'm scaring patients and that I'm scaring other people.' We've had people who had their jobs threatened."
Moreno said about two dozen people have formally complained to her organization. She said they've also received hundreds of calls from health care workers who are afraid to lose their jobs if they complain, but also feel that hospitals aren't letting them do what they need to do to protect themselves against an infectious and new virus. A virus that causes a disease that has killed dozens of health care workers in Italy and already taken the lives of at least two health care workers at the epicenter of the spread in the New York City metro area.
"It seems that the hospital administrations are reacting to the fact that they are failing to provide adequate PPE for their staff," Moreno said. "And when one individual provides adequate PPE, it seems to highlight that fact to the other staff who haven't been able to purchase it."
These types of masks are very hard to come by. A quick search at Home Depot shows pretty much every type of protective mask is out of stock. And everyone from federal and local officials to hospital administrators are struggling to get their hands on as much personal protective equipment as they can in the midst of this pandemic.
So Moreno says it's vital that health care workers are allowed to do what they feel they need to, to feel safe. Because if they get infected, not only could they get very ill or give it to patients, but there would be fewer skilled health care workers to treat sick patients.
She said she's also received complaints that hospital administrators are telling health care workers how much personal protective gear they can wear at work and when. Some doctors and nurses who want to wear their N95 masks at all times are being told no, she said, adding that one doctor told her that he needs to be extra-careful because his son has cancer.
Then there are cases like Henry Nikicicz in El Paso, Texas. He's an anesthesiologist, so he does intubations on patients. He's 60, has asthma and is particularly vulnerable to upper respiratory infections.
Two weeks ago, he was intubating a patient for respiratory distress on his overnight shift at the University Medical Center of El Paso. He walked into the hallway and saw people gathered in a group, so he slipped on his hospital-issued N95 mask.
The next day, a hospital supervisor told him he wasn't allowed to wear the N95 mask when he wasn't in the operating room or treating a patient with an infectious disease, because they are costly and in short supply. Nikicicz was also told he was scaring the patients. The supervisor texted him that he could get a "regular mask" if he felt he needed one.
When Nikicicz responded that he is susceptible to upper respiratory infections, the supervisor's texts appeared to get more aggressive. He referred to the coronavirus as the "Wuhan virus," a term that many say is not only inaccurate, but also stokes xenophobia. He texted in all capital letters that Nikicicz was the only one in the entire hospital wearing an N95 mask and that he would not be able to get one when the "real virus" comes in. Nikicicz texted back: "The real virus is here already."
Nikicicz is an independent contractor who works with the placement company Somnia Anesthesia. He said he got a call from the company asking for his side of the story. He was told hospital administrators had complained. After that, Nikicicz said he was told not to go into work on Monday.
"I protect myself and protect the environment in case I am infected. In a situation like this, when we have social distancing, wearing a mask is one of the basic ways of stopping the spread of the virus," Nikicicz said. "And I really feel that injustice was done to me because of the fact that the right thing to do is to wear a mask. To punish me for wearing a mask is something that I really feel is wrong."
The University Medical Center of El Paso said in a statement that Nikicicz was removed from the schedule by Somnia Anesthesia for "insubordination."
"The anesthesiologist was told on numerous occasions by his supervisor to not wear the N95 surgical mask while not in the Operating Room area or while not treating patients with infectious disease," the statement said. "UMC is not unlike other hospitals in its efforts to conserve N95 surgical masks, especially when it comes to wearing them when not in the surgical/OR area. At the time of these incidents, the CDC did not require masks (and certainly not N95 masks) to be used by hospital staff when not treating patients or while in surgical/OR areas. Beyond this, we view this as a personnel matter between Somnia Anesthesia and its contracted anesthesiologist. "
Hours after NPR reached out to the hospital, Nikicicz was put back on the schedule.
Marc Koch, president and CEO of Somnia Anesthesia, said that Nikicicz was not removed for insubordination. Koch said he was briefly taken off rotation because elective surgeries are canceled and hundreds of contract workers are being laid off.
"To be frank, I was trying to reach out to him to try to get him to come back. At no point was he terminated," Koch said. "He didn't listen to his chief, yes he was not listening. But what we were trying to do was see our way through that and help him and reconcile that issue."
Koch said protecting doctors has been his number one goal, even securing N95 masks to supply to hospitals that couldn't find any.
"The clinicians want to be safe. They want to meet or exceed the CDC guidelines," Koch said. "And the hospitals fear a run on supplies and [causing] patient anxiety."


npr--2020-04-02--Grocery Workers Keep America Fed, While Fearing For Their Own Safety

Grocery Workers Keep America Fed , While Fearing For Their Own Safety Not all Americans can stay home during the pandemic .
Millions of essential workers are showing up for their jobs at warehouses , food processing plants , delivery trucks and grocery checkout lines .
Work that is often low-paid , and comes with few protections , is now suddenly much more dangerous .
America has a new appreciation for these workers .
Bill Osborn , a dairy clerk at a Giant in La Plata , Md.
, says he never used to be thanked for his job .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` All throughout the day , 'Thank you for having this .
Thank you for having that , ' `` he says .
`` So , that 's unusual . ''
Courtney Meadows , a cashier at a Kroger in Beckley , W.Va. , calls it a welcome change .
But she also sees some irony in this newfound appreciation .
`` It 's definitely eye-opening , '' she says .
`` Because people are now saying , 'Oh , my God , these people deserve hazard pay . '
But these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't deserve $ 15 an hour . ''
For a shopper , stepping into a grocery store is a necessary risk they might face once a week , or even less frequently .
For a grocery store clerk , that exposure happens every day — over and over again — as a parade of people pass by them just a few feet away .
Meadows ' store has hand-washing breaks and regular wipe-downs of shopping basket handles .
Osborn 's store has installed plexiglass shields for cashiers and hand sanitizer stations around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vary between companies , with some workers expressing deep concerns about a lack of safeguards or protective gear .
Paid sick leave is also a common concern .
Many grocery workers are not guaranteed any sick leave under normal conditions , and sick leave during the pandemic is sometimes contingent on a positive test for COVID-19 , which can be difficult to obtain given test shortages .
Osborn and Meadows have a union that fought for protections .
Some other workers are trying to organize : This week , some Instacart , Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked off the job to push for basic safety measures .
In other cases , nonunion companies have voluntarily implemented changes .
Food Lion President Meg Ham says her company 's top priority is customer and employee safety , and that extra sanitizing and plexiglass shields protect both groups .
`` We know that our customers count on our 68,000 associates to be there for them , '' she says .
`` And we have continued to remind them of the importance of being diligent and caring for themselves . ''
Food Lion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help with the crunch , and like many stores they 're offering extra `` appreciation pay '' during the crisis , though Ham would n't say how much .
Many other stores are offering an extra $ 2 an hour .
Some corporations that usually resist calls for sick leave and higher pay have changed their tone in this pandemic , says John Logan , a professor and director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University .
`` It sounds crazy now that people ever doubted that these workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large extent were ever not worth $ 15 an hour or should ever have been denied paid sick leave , '' he says .
But he notes that companies ' policy changes are temporary , just for the duration of this crisis .
It 's an open question whether all this new appreciation will last .
And the protections are piecemeal — different stores have different approaches , and different levels of commitment to worker safety .
Logan says local and state authorities can help by requiring all stores to practice safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand-washing breaks or limiting the number of people allowed inside stores at one time .
Some areas have policies like this in place ; many do n't .
In some cases , governors classifying grocery store workers as essential or as emergency workers can help them access services like child care .
Logan says states could go further and treat grocery staff as first responders , helping them get access to protective gear like masks and gloves .
Grocery store workers also say they want shoppers to think about the risks they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers are coming in in masks , and I appreciate that , '' says Amanda Casaburri , who works at a Kroger near Fort Worth , Texas .
`` I 'd like to think that it 's not just for their health but it 's for ours . ''
When she 's restocking dry goods she 's constantly thinking about every surface she touches .
She worries about catching the virus and spreading it to others .
`` I just do n't see how it 's possible that a huge majority of grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick , '' she says .
`` Are we gon na lose some of our co-workers to this ?
It 's absolutely possible . ''
Casaburri says she sees some customers lingering in aisles , with no sense of urgency .
She urges shoppers to bring a list , get in and get out .
`` I just wish everyone would take it a little bit more seriously , '' she says .

Grocery Workers Keep America Fed, While Fearing For Their Own Safety
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP
Not all Americans can stay home during the pandemic.
Millions of essential workers are showing up for their jobs at warehouses, food processing plants, delivery trucks and grocery checkout lines. Work that is often low-paid, and comes with few protections, is now suddenly much more dangerous.
America has a new appreciation for these workers. Bill Osborn, a dairy clerk at a Giant in La Plata, Md., says he never used to be thanked for his job. Ever.
But now that has changed.
"All throughout the day, 'Thank you for having this. Thank you for having that,' " he says. "So, that's unusual."
Courtney Meadows, a cashier at a Kroger in Beckley, W.Va., calls it a welcome change. But she also sees some irony in this newfound appreciation.
"It's definitely eye-opening," she says. "Because people are now saying, 'Oh, my God, these people deserve hazard pay.' But these are the same people who say we don't deserve $15 an hour."
National The Diary Of A Grocery Store Worker During The Epidemic The Diary Of A Grocery Store Worker During The Epidemic Listen · 3:34 3:34
For a shopper, stepping into a grocery store is a necessary risk they might face once a week, or even less frequently. For a grocery store clerk, that exposure happens every day — over and over again — as a parade of people pass by them just a few feet away.
Meadows' store has hand-washing breaks and regular wipe-downs of shopping basket handles. Osborn's store has installed plexiglass shields for cashiers and hand sanitizer stations around the store.
Safety precautions like these vary between companies, with some workers expressing deep concerns about a lack of safeguards or protective gear.
Paid sick leave is also a common concern. Many grocery workers are not guaranteed any sick leave under normal conditions, and sick leave during the pandemic is sometimes contingent on a positive test for COVID-19, which can be difficult to obtain given test shortages.
Osborn and Meadows have a union that fought for protections. Some other workers are trying to organize: This week, some Instacart, Amazon and Whole Foods staffers have protested and walked off the job to push for basic safety measures.
In other cases, nonunion companies have voluntarily implemented changes. Food Lion President Meg Ham says her company's top priority is customer and employee safety, and that extra sanitizing and plexiglass shields protect both groups.
"We know that our customers count on our 68,000 associates to be there for them," she says. "And we have continued to remind them of the importance of being diligent and caring for themselves."
Food Lion is also trying to hire more workers to help with the crunch, and like many stores they're offering extra "appreciation pay" during the crisis, though Ham wouldn't say how much. Many other stores are offering an extra $2 an hour.
Some corporations that usually resist calls for sick leave and higher pay have changed their tone in this pandemic, says John Logan, a professor and director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University.
"It sounds crazy now that people ever doubted that these workers who are really keeping society functioning to a large extent were ever not worth $15 an hour or should ever have been denied paid sick leave," he says.
But he notes that companies' policy changes are temporary, just for the duration of this crisis. It's an open question whether all this new appreciation will last.
And the protections are piecemeal — different stores have different approaches, and different levels of commitment to worker safety.
Logan says local and state authorities can help by requiring all stores to practice safety measures like installing plastic shields, allowing hand-washing breaks or limiting the number of people allowed inside stores at one time. Some areas have policies like this in place; many don't.
In some cases, governors classifying grocery store workers as essential or as emergency workers can help them access services like child care. Logan says states could go further and treat grocery staff as first responders, helping them get access to protective gear like masks and gloves.
Grocery store workers also say they want shoppers to think about the risks they're creating.
"A lot of our customers are coming in in masks, and I appreciate that," says Amanda Casaburri, who works at a Kroger near Fort Worth, Texas. "I'd like to think that it's not just for their health but it's for ours."
When she's restocking dry goods she's constantly thinking about every surface she touches. She worries about catching the virus and spreading it to others.
"I just don't see how it's possible that a huge majority of grocery store workers are not going to get sick," she says. "Are we gonna lose some of our co-workers to this? It's absolutely possible."
Casaburri says she sees some customers lingering in aisles, with no sense of urgency. She urges shoppers to bring a list, get in and get out.
"I just wish everyone would take it a little bit more seriously," she says.


npr--2020-04-02--Social Distancing Means Mourners Must Find New Ways To Cope And Connect

Social Distancing Means Mourners Must Find New Ways To Cope And Connect Over the last month , Richard Frieson has lost two sisters to COVID-19 .
In normal times , Frieson 's large family would have gathered in Chicago , where his sisters lived , to sing , pray , hug and mourn .
But in this time of a nationwide pandemic , the Friesons had to make do with a very different gathering .
`` Today we are doing a big Zoom call , '' he said Sunday , referring to the video conferencing application that has become so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice to see them and I 'm glad we have this technology where we can actually look at each other . ''
Online video conferencing is just one way mourning families are learning to cope and connect at a time when large funeral gatherings are strongly discouraged due to social distancing guidelines .
But even those who do try to hold traditional funerals are finding a changed landscape .
`` Some cemeteries are trying to limit the number of people who can attend a graveside service and keep those numbers small , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Funeral Directors Association .
`` This is to protect the family and the funeral staff who are obviously exposed as well .
But even working with these smaller groups of mourners , Achermann says , his staff has to remind them to avoid doing things like hugging — at a funeral .
`` It 's a real challenge , '' he says .
`` It 's a time when people want to show that affection and emotion with their family members and [ refraining from hugs ] is not something you intuitively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , he says , there are new guidelines around touching the casket and the deceased .
`` The CDC has advised that there is not a chance of transmission of COVID from the deceased , but our members are encouraging people to keep social distancing with the remains and the casket as well , '' he says .
`` In a normal times it is not unusual for people to want to touch the deceased one last time , but those kinds of things are discouraged and people are being advised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last few weeks , these more traditional services have given way to delayed memorials or livestreamed funerals .
The technology for livestreamed services has been around for a while , but demand in the past few weeks has surged , according to James Montgomery of the popular service One Room Streaming .
His company has seen a jump in the number of funeral homes using and requesting the service , Montgomery says , `` but also the amount of people watching those live streams , I would say , has easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One Room staffers have monitored recent livestream feeds , they 've noticed sparse in-person attendance at the services .
`` We 've seen services where you have the spouse of the decedent and maybe a close friend or two or three in this large chapel , '' Montgomery says .
`` But then there are 80 people watching online .
So they 're there , they 're just not there physically . ''
Minister Eileen Wiviott of the Unitarian Church of Evanston outside Chicago recently lost John LaPlante , a member of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that week 's online church service to him but then had an afternoon Zoom meeting with anyone who wanted to participate .
`` And 90 people showed up , '' she says , noting that it turned into an unplanned memorial .
`` And that included people from his work life who talked about their memories of him and how he had been a mentor to them . ''
Just as Wiviott has seen in live memorial services , there were some participants online who did n't feel comfortable talking in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another option .
`` People were able to type into the chat some of their thoughts and comments , '' she says .
`` And that was meaningful as well for them to be able to share their memories and experiences with John . ''
Like many families , the Friesons are delaying their memorials for their sisters , but Richard Frieson says they fully expect to be able to hug and sing together again .
`` Oh yes , we will definitely sing again , '' he says .
But until then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best we can . ''

Social Distancing Means Mourners Find New Ways To Cope And Connect
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva-Katalin/Getty Images Eva-Katalin/Getty Images
Over the last month, Richard Frieson has lost two sisters to COVID-19. In normal times, Frieson's large family would have gathered in Chicago, where his sisters lived, to sing, pray, hug and mourn.
But in this time of a nationwide pandemic, the Friesons had to make do with a very different gathering.
"Today we are doing a big Zoom call," he said Sunday, referring to the video conferencing application that has become so popular recently. "It's just nice to see them, and I'm glad we have this technology where we can actually look at each other."
Research News With Strict Social Distancing, U.S. COVID-19 Deaths May Total 100,000 With Strict Social Distancing, U.S. COVID-19 Deaths May Total 100,000 Listen · 3:57 3:57
Online video conferencing is just one way mourning families are learning to cope and connect at a time when large funeral gatherings are strongly discouraged because of social distancing guidelines.
But even those who do try to hold traditional funerals are finding a changed landscape.
"Some cemeteries are trying to limit the number of people who can attend a graveside service and keep those numbers small," says Bob Achermann, who heads the California Funeral Directors Association. "This is to protect the family and the funeral staff, who are obviously exposed as well.
But even working with these smaller groups of mourners, Achermann says, his staff has to remind them to avoid doing things like hugging — at a funeral.
"It's a real challenge," he says. "It's a time when people want to show that affection and emotion with their family members and [refraining from hugs] is not something you intuitively think about."
On top of that, he says, there are new guidelines around touching the casket and the deceased.
"The CDC has advised that there is not a chance of transmission of COVID from the deceased, but our members are encouraging people to keep social distancing with the remains and the casket as well," he says. "In normal times it is not unusual for people to want to touch the deceased one last time, but those kinds of things are discouraged and people are being advised to keep their distance."
Still, in the past few weeks, these more traditional services have given way to delayed memorials or livestreamed funerals. The technology for livestreamed services has been around for a while, but demand in the past few weeks has surged, according to James Montgomery of the popular service One Room Streaming.
His company has seen a jump in the number of funeral homes using and requesting the service, Montgomery says, "but also the amount of people watching those livestreams, I would say, has easily doubled if not tripled."
As One Room staffers have monitored recent livestream feeds, they've noticed sparse in-person attendance at the services.
"We've seen services where you have the spouse of the decedent and maybe a close friend or two or three in this large chapel," Montgomery says. "But then there are 80 people watching online. So they're there, they're just not there physically."
Minister Eileen Wiviott of the Unitarian Church of Evanston outside Chicago recently lost John LaPlante, a member of her church, to COVID-19. She dedicated that week's online church service to him but then had an afternoon Zoom meeting with anyone who wanted to participate.
"And 90 people showed up," she says, noting that it turned into an unplanned memorial. "And that included people from his work life who talked about their memories of him and how he had been a mentor to them."
Your Health The Choices Listeners Are Making During The Time Of Social Distancing The Choices Listeners Are Making During The Time Of Social Distancing 8:07
Just as Wiviott has seen in live memorial services, there were some participants online who didn't feel comfortable talking in front of the group. But here they had another option.
"People were able to type into the chat some of their thoughts and comments," she says. "And that was meaningful as well for them to be able to share their memories and experiences with John."
Like many families, the Friesons are delaying their memorials for their sisters, but Richard Frieson says they fully expect to be able to hug and sing together again.
"Oh yes, we will definitely sing again," he says. But until then, "We'll just do the best we can."


npr--2020-04-02--Ellis Marsalis, Patriarch Of New Orleans' Most Famous Musical Family, Has Died

Ellis Marsalis , Patriarch Of New Orleans ' Most Famous Musical Family , Has Died Ellis Marsalis , jazz pianist , educator , and patriarch of the Marsalis family , has died at the age of 85 .
His death was announced in tweets from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Campbell and Jazz at Lincoln Center , where his son Wynton is managing and artistic director .
He reportedly went into the hospital over the weekend with symptoms of pneumonia .
The New York Times reports that his son Branford says the cause of death was complications from COVID-19 .
Ellis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Nov. 14 , 1934 .
He graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans with a BA in music education and that was the field to which he devoted himself .
Despite playing with such notable jazz musicians as Cannonball and Nat Adderly , he was most proud of his work as an educator .
His music students included Terence Blanchard , Donald Harrison , Harry Connick , Jr. , and four of his sons : Wynton , Branford , Delfayo and Jason Marsalis .
Ellis Marsalis taught at the first full-time public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts , where he instructed students on the harsh realities of pursuing a career in the arts .
The former Marine put it this way to NPR in 1985 : `` There is no such thing as fair .
The world 's not fair , it 's not about being fair . ''
Marsalis went on to become Commonwealth Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond before returning to his hometown to teach at the University of New Orleans .
Yet he still managed to record more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to collaborations with his sons .
And on top of all that , he played a weekly gig at a small New Orleans club , Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro , for three decades before retiring just this year .

Ellis Marsalis, Patriarch Of New Orleans' Most Famous Musical Family, Has Died
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyler Kaufman/FilmMagic/Getty Images Tyler Kaufman/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Ellis Marsalis, jazz pianist, educator, and patriarch of the Marsalis family, has died at the age of 85. His death was announced in tweets from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Jazz at Lincoln Center, where his son Wynton is managing and artistic director.
Obituaries 'Morning Edition' On Ellis Marsalis Patriarch Of New Orleans Musical Family, Ellis Marsalis, Dies At 85 Listen · 3:28 3:28
He reportedly went into the hospital over the weekend with symptoms of pneumonia. The New York Times reports that his son Branford says the cause of death was complications from COVID-19.
Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr. was born on Nov. 14, 1934. He graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans with a B.A. in music education, and that was the field to which he devoted himself. Despite playing with such notable jazz musicians as Cannonball and Nat Adderley, he was most proud of his work as an educator. His music students included Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick Jr. and four of his sons: Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis.
Ellis Marsalis taught at the first full-time public arts high school in New Orleans, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, where he instructed students on the harsh realities of pursuing a career in the arts.
The former Marine put it this way to NPR in 1985: "There is no such thing as fair. The world's not fair, it's not about being fair."
Marsalis went on to become Commonwealth Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond before returning to his hometown to teach at the University of New Orleans. Yet he still managed to record more than 15 albums of his own, in addition to collaborations with his sons.
And on top of all that, he played a weekly gig at a small New Orleans club, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, for three decades before retiring just this year.


npr--2020-04-01--Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Coronavirus In The U.S.

Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Coronavirus In The U.S .
Updated on April 1 at 10:45 a.m .
ET Since the first U.S. case of the coronavirus was identified in Washington state on Jan. 21 , health officials have identified nearly 190,000 cases across the United States and more than 4,000 deaths .
By March 17 , the virus had expanded its presence from several isolated clusters in Washington , New York and California to all 50 states and the District of Columbia .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available means to `` flatten the curve of the pandemic , '' a phrase that epidemiologists use to describe slowing down the spread of infection .
This approach can save lives by keeping local health care systems from being overwhelmed .
In response to mounting cases , states are closing schools , banning large gatherings and urging people to stay home when possible .
On March 16 , President Trump announced new guidelines urging Americans to avoid discretionary travel , going out to eat and gathering in groups of more than 10 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends basic precautions such as hand-washing and cleaning frequently touched surfaces every day .
Globally , the respiratory disease has spread to dozens of countries and has killed several thousand people since it was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December .
Warnings issued by the CDC recommend avoiding nonessential travel to dozens of countries with outbreaks of COVID-19 , including China , Iran , South Korea and many European nations .
The U.S. government has banned travel from Europe , although the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens and legal permanent residents .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-04-01--President Trump Offers Drowning Restaurant Industry One Solution: Tax Deductions

This new world of social distancing has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard — and some of the biggest names in that world are scrambling for solutions .
Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri started a relief fund for industry workers impacted by coronavirus .
The National Restaurant Association teamed up with other hospitality organizations to call for a national moratorium on rent and evictions .
Other celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck , Thomas Keller , and Daniel Boulud even hopped on a call with the President to urge insurers to accept business interruption claims .
But President Trump had a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing on Sunday he offered this solution : So what I 'm doing is I 'm going to tell Secretary Mnuchin and also our great Secretary of Labor , who you know very well , to immediately start looking into the restoring of the deductibility of meals and entertainment costs for corporations that set the restaurant business back a lot when it was done originally , and then done not so long ago .
And we 're going to go to deductibility so that companies can send people to restaurants .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe keep them open .
In a tweet on Wednesday , Trump reiterated the call for deductibility by businesses on restaurants and entertainment , saying `` they will all be saved ! ''
The massive 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — which cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent — did change some things about how businesses can deduct certain expenses , but dining actually remained deductible .
According to the IRS : What changed was that deductibles related to entertainment were nixed .
Prior to the TCJA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent of expenses for things like sports tickets , golf outings , theater trips , and casinos .
In an interview with Fox Business , Wolfgang Puck said going back to these deductibles would help the restaurant economy , but pivoted quickly back to the need for insurers to pay business interruption claims , saying `` hopefully we get the insurance to pay up , and hopefully the administration will help us to get some money sooner than later . ''

President Trump Offers Drowning Restaurant Industry One Solution: Tax Deductions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
This new world of social distancing has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard — and some of the biggest names in that world are scrambling for solutions.
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri started a relief fund for industry workers impacted by coronavirus. The National Restaurant Association teamed up with other hospitality organizations to call for a national moratorium on rent and evictions. Other celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud even hopped on a call with President Trump to urge insurers to accept business interruption claims.
But Trump had a different takeaway from that conversation. At a briefing on Sunday he offered this solution:
So what I'm doing is I'm going to tell Secretary [Steven] Mnuchin and also our great secretary of labor ... to immediately start looking into the restoring of the deductibility of meals and entertainment costs for corporations that set the restaurant business back a lot when it was done originally, and then done not so long ago. And we're going to go to deductibility so that companies can send people to restaurants. I think it'll have a tremendous impact and maybe keep them open.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Trump reiterated the call for deductibility by businesses on restaurants and entertainment, saying "they will all be saved!"
The massive 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — which cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% — did change some things about how businesses can deduct certain expenses, but dining actually remained deductible. According to the IRS:
Taxpayers may continue to deduct 50 percent of the cost of business meals if the taxpayer (or an employee of the taxpayer) is present and the food or beverages are not considered lavish or extravagant. The meals may be provided to a current or potential business customer, client, consultant or similar business contact.
What changed was that deductibles related to entertainment were nixed. Prior to the TCJA, a business could deduct up to 50% of expenses for things like sports tickets, golf outings, theater trips and casinos.
In an interview with Fox Business, Wolfgang Puck said going back to these deductibles would help the restaurant economy, but pivoted quickly back to the need for insurers to pay business interruption claims, saying "hopefully we get the insurance to pay up, and hopefully the administration will help us to get some money sooner than later."


npr--2020-04-01--FACT CHECK: Trump On Not Expanding Insurance, Democrats And Health Care

FACT CHECK : Trump On Not Expanding Insurance , Democrats And Health Care President Trump was asked Wednesday why his administration has n't reopened the healthcare.gov exchanges to help bridge the insurance coverage gap for those who do not have private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid .
`` There will be people who do n't have insurance who get sick before any of these mitigation measures are put into place , '' Fox News ' John Roberts asked at the coronavirus task force briefing .
`` Without opening the health care insurance , where can they find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by these companies that are covering the cost of the copays , where can people go now to get health insurance if/before they get sick ? ''
Vice President Mike Pence responded first with a non-answer that praised the president for forging relationships with health insurance companies and cited expanded coverage under Medicaid for coronavirus testing and treatment .
But his response did n't address people who had lost their jobs but would n't qualify for Medicaid .
A senior administration official confirmed to NPR that a federal special enrollment period for healthcare.gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to chuckle at Pence 's quasi-filibuster .
`` I think it 's one of the greatest answers I 've ever heard .
Because Mike was able to speak for five minutes and not even touch your question .
That 's what you call a great professional , '' Trump said .
But he followed up by saying it 's a `` fair question '' and is `` something we 're really going to look at because it does n't seem fair . ''
The president then seemed to imply that Democrats have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 're talking about it in the 2020 election too and nobody 's gotten to it .
Nobody 's talked about it at all .
I think we 're going to get to it .
I do n't think the other group will get to it .
They have n't even spoken about it , '' he said .
If by the `` other group '' he means Democrats , then he 's flat out wrong .
The entire primary season for Democrats has had health care at its forefront , with proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act ( commonly referred to as `` Obamacare '' ) or go further with some form of Medicare-for-All .
Sen. Bernie Sanders has been holding virtual round table discussions where he continues to push for a system of universal health care .
In fact , Sanders has argued that his ideas , particularly on expanding health care coverage , are gaining more resonance within the country , in part because of this coronavirus pandemic .
`` People might not have thought that the United States Congress , the Republican president , the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sanders said in an interview with Morning Edition 's Noel King , referring to the historic passage of the $ 2 trillion economic relief package .
The package includes more than $ 150 billion for the health care system , including funding for hospitals , research , treatment and equipment .
`` There 's a reason for that .
And that is that millions of people are now demanding that we have a government that works for all , '' Sanders said .

FACT CHECK: Trump On Not Expanding Insurance, Democrats And Health Care
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump was asked Wednesday why his administration hasn't reopened the healthcare.gov exchanges to help bridge the insurance coverage gap for those who do not have private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid.
"There will be people who don't have insurance who get sick before any of these mitigation efforts are put into place," Fox News' John Roberts asked at the coronavirus task force briefing. "Without opening the health care exchanges, where can they find insurance? People who aren't insured by these companies that are covering the cost of the copays, where can people go now to get health insurance if/before they get sick?"
Vice President Mike Pence responded first, with a non-answer that praised the president for forging relationships with health insurance companies and cited expanded coverage under Medicaid for coronavirus testing and treatment.
But his response didn't address people who had lost their jobs but wouldn't qualify for Medicaid. A senior administration official confirmed to NPR that a federal special enrollment period for healthcare.gov was not being considered.
Trump seemed to chuckle at Pence's quasi-filibuster.
"I think it's one of the greatest answers I've ever heard. Because Mike was able to speak for five minutes and not even touch your question. That's what you call a great professional," Trump said.
But he followed up by saying it's a "fair question" and is "something we're really going to look at because it doesn't seem fair."
The president then seemed to imply that Democrats haven't been focused on this issue.
"They're talking about it in the 2020 election too and nobody's gotten to it. Nobody's talked about it at all. I think we're going to get to it. I don't think the other group will get to it. They haven't even spoken about it," he said.
If by the "other group" he means Democrats, then he's flat-out wrong.
The entire primary season for Democrats has had health care at its forefront, with proposals to either build on the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as "Obamacare") or go further with some form of "Medicare for All."
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been holding virtual roundtable discussions where he continues to push for a system of universal health care.
In fact, Sanders has argued that his ideas, particularly on expanding health care coverage, are gaining more resonance within the country, in part because of this coronavirus pandemic.
"People might not have thought that the United States Congress, the Republican president, the Republican Senate would do what they did," Sanders said in an interview with Morning Edition's Noel King, referring to the historic passage of the $2 trillion economic relief package. The package includes more than $150 billion for the health care system, including funding for hospitals, research, treatment and equipment.
"There's a reason for that. And that is that millions of people are now demanding that we have a government that works for all," Sanders said.


npr--2020-04-01--FACT CHECK: Defense Chief Claims Some Are Calling For Military Shutdown Due To Virus

FACT CHECK : Defense Chief Claims Some Are Calling For Military Shutdown Due To Virus Updated Thursday at 3 a.m .
ET In describing steps the military is taking to confront the coronavirus pandemic within its ranks , Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that some are calling for the U.S. military to cease operations .
`` There seems to be this narrative out there that we should just shut down the entire United States military and address the problem that way .
That 's not feasible , '' said Esper during the White House 's coronavirus task force briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy 's top officer , Adm. Mike Gilday , regarding an outbreak of the novel coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt .
Gilday said 1,000 personnel had already left the ship and another 1,700 would disembark by Friday .
The Nimitz-class vessel normally carries a crew of 5,000 to 5,200 .
Esper did not say who is recommending a full military shutdown and it 's not entirely clear what provoked his comment .
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman , in an email to NPR , denied there was any exaggeration in Esper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There were a number of comments online and in articles on the [ USS Theodore Roosevelt ] stating or implying that since we are 'not at war ' we should just stop all our military activity and pull everyone off the ships and stop our training , '' Hoffman wrote .
The mass disembarkation comes after the commanding officer of the Theodore Roosevelt asked that nearly all personnel be removed from the aircraft carrier and quarantined in Guam , where the ship is now docked .
Officials said at least 93 sailors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus .
Gilday , the Navy 's top admiral , said at the White House briefing `` we 're making great progress in terms of testing '' the crew for infection and that the ship remains and will continue to be `` fully operational . ''
As part of the Pentagon 's efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus , Esper issued an order last week temporarily putting an end to major movements by U.S. forces around the globe .
`` The purpose is to make sure that we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infecting others , that we 're not spreading it around the military , '' Esper told Reuters .

FACT CHECK: Defense Chief Claims Some Are Calling For Military Shutdown Due To Virus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Updated Thursday at 3 a.m. ET
In describing steps the military is taking to confront the coronavirus pandemic within its ranks, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that some are calling for the U.S. military to cease operations.
"There seems to be this narrative out there that we should just shut down the entire United States military and address the problem that way. That's not feasible," said Esper during the White House's coronavirus task force briefing.
Esper spoke following comments by the Navy's top officer, Adm. Mike Gilday, regarding an outbreak of the novel coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Gilday said 1,000 personnel had already left the ship and another 1,700 would disembark by Friday. The Nimitz-class vessel normally carries a crew of 5,000 to 5,200.
Esper did not say who is recommending a full military shutdown and it's not entirely clear what provoked his comment. Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, in an email to NPR, denied there was any exaggeration in Esper's remarks at the White House.
"There were a number of comments online and in articles on the [USS Theodore Roosevelt] stating or implying that since we are 'not at war' we should just stop all our military activity and pull everyone off the ships and stop our training," Hoffman wrote.
The mass disembarkation comes after the commanding officer of the Theodore Roosevelt asked that nearly all personnel be removed from the aircraft carrier and quarantined in Guam, where the ship is now docked. Officials said at least 93 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Gilday, the Navy's top admiral, said at the White House briefing "we're making great progress in terms of testing" the crew for infection and that the ship remains and will continue to be "fully operational."
As part of the Pentagon's efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, Esper issued an order last week temporarily putting an end to major movements by U.S. forces around the globe.
"The purpose is to make sure that we're not bringing the virus back home, infecting others, that we're not spreading it around the military," Esper told Reuters.


npr--2020-04-01--Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Face Masks, Pregnancy And The 2020 Census

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions : Face Masks , Pregnancy And The 2020 Census On this broadcast of The National Conversation @ @ @ @ @ about the economy , face masks , pregnancy during the pandemic and the U.S. Census @

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Face Masks, Pregnancy And The 2020 Census On this broadcast of The National Conversation, we answer your questions about the economy, face masks, pregnancy during the pandemic and the U.S. Census.


npr--2020-04-02--In Texas, Oklahoma, Women Turned Away Because of Coronavirus Abortion Bans

In Texas , Oklahoma , Women Turned Away Because of Coronavirus Abortion Bans The doors at the Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City were locked on Tuesday , when the young woman arrived for her appointment .
Over the phone , a clinic worker told her the news – the facility had to shut down because of an order from Gov .
Kevin Stitt banning abortions .
`` And immediately I just , like , broke down , '' she said .
`` I just lost my job because of the coronavirus .
I already have a 10-month-old daughter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na do , you know ? ''
`` M '' asked us not use her full name because she 's concerned about how her family would react to her seeking an abortion .
She 's 30 , with two kids .
She said she lost her job in the retail industry a couple of weeks ago after business suddenly vanished .
`` M '' said she was able to get an appointment for the next day at a clinic in Wichita , Kan. She does n't have a reliable car , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-and-a-half-hour trip each way .
`` There were so many people there from so many different states , and I only think about how many could n't make it , '' she said .
Republican officials in several states are trying to ban abortion during the coronavirus crisis .
They say the procedure should be suspended during the pandemic to help preserve medical supplies like surgical masks and hospital gowns .
Federal courts have blocked such orders in Ohio and Alabama .
Officials in Iowa agreed to allow doctors to determine when an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly blocked a ban in Texas , before that decision was overturned on appeal .
Litigation is ongoing .
Reproductive rights groups say hundreds of patients have been turned away in Texas , and in Oklahoma .
Becca Walker , a counselor at Southwestern Women 's Surgery Center in Dallas , said many patients `` panic '' when they hear the news that their procedures are being cancelled .
She said some patients are particularly afraid of being pregnant during a pandemic .
`` Sometimes you 're just guiding them through breathing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment of panic and crisis for them , '' Walker said .
`` And then you just have to give them the referral , and the next referral is not good news . ''
Walker has been referring patients to clinics in New Mexico or Kansas , if they can make the trip .
Abortion rights opponents argue the bans are necessary and appropriate during a pandemic .
`` We are setting aside all kinds of what would otherwise be considered essential healthcare – I would say more essential healthcare than abortion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Christina Francis , an OB/GYN in Indiana and board chair at the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists .
`` Abortion is not essential healthcare ; it does n't treat a disease process , '' Francis said .
`` It 's a social solution , and there are other solutions that we can provide to women who find themselves in very scary and uncertain circumstances right now . ''
Many doctors say denying an abortion can put patients at risk .
The American Medical Association released a statement accusing some elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and saying the decision should be left to patients and doctors .
A physician with the Dallas clinic told NPR that some patients who 've been turned away there have threatened to harm themselves .
Dr. Bhavik Kumar , who provides abortion services at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston , said in the midst of a pandemic , many patients seeking abortions feel desperate enough to consider dangerous home remedies .
`` The scary part is a lot of my patients are asking us what they can do themselves , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different herbs or vitamins or objects to help them not be pregnant , '' Kumar said .
`` They are scared . ''
Legal challenges are ongoing in several states where officials have tried to prohibit abortion during the coronavirus pandemic .
A hearing on Oklahoma 's ban is scheduled for Friday afternoon in federal court in Oklahoma City , and the issue could make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court .

In Texas, Oklahoma, Women Turned Away Because Of Coronavirus Abortion Bans
Updated at 5:22 a.m. ET Friday
The doors at the Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City were locked on Tuesday, when the young woman arrived for her appointment. Over the phone, a clinic worker told her the news – the facility had to shut down because of an order from Gov. Kevin Stitt banning most abortions.
"And immediately I just, like, broke down," she said. "I just lost my job because of the coronavirus. I already have a 10-month-old daughter. I don't know what I'm gonna do, you know?"
"M" asked us not use her full name because she's concerned about how her family would react to her seeking an abortion. She's 30, with two kids. She said she lost her job in the retail industry a couple of weeks ago after business suddenly vanished.
"M" said she was able to get an appointment for the next day at a clinic in Wichita, Kan. She doesn't have a reliable car, so a friend drove her there – a two-and-a-half-hour trip each way.
"There were so many people there from so many different states, and I only think about how many couldn't make it," she said.
Republican officials in several states are trying to ban abortion during the coronavirus crisis. They say the procedure should be suspended during the pandemic, except for emergencies, to help preserve medical supplies like surgical masks and hospital gowns.
Federal courts have blocked such orders in Ohio and Alabama. Officials in Iowa agreed to allow doctors to determine when an abortion is needed. A federal court briefly blocked a ban in Texas, before that decision was overturned on appeal. Litigation is ongoing.
Reproductive rights groups say hundreds of patients have been turned away in Texas, and in Oklahoma.
Becca Walker, a counselor at Southwestern Women's Surgery Center in Dallas, said many patients "panic" when they hear the news that their procedures are being cancelled. She said some patients are particularly afraid of being pregnant during a pandemic.
"Sometimes you're just guiding them through breathing on the phone because it's such a moment of panic and crisis for them," Walker said. "And then you just have to give them the referral, and the next referral is not good news."
Walker has been referring patients to clinics in New Mexico or Kansas, if they can make the trip.
Abortion rights opponents argue the bans are necessary and appropriate during a pandemic.
"We are setting aside all kinds of what would otherwise be considered essential healthcare – I would say more essential healthcare than abortion, certainly – cancer screenings," said Dr. Christina Francis, an OB/GYN in Indiana and board chair at the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
"Abortion is not essential healthcare; it doesn't treat a disease process," Francis said. "It's a social solution, and there are other solutions that we can provide to women who find themselves in very scary and uncertain circumstances right now."
Many doctors say denying an abortion can put patients at risk. The American Medical Association released a statement accusing some elected officials of "exploiting this moment," and saying the decision should be left to patients and doctors.
A physician with the Dallas clinic told NPR that some patients who've been turned away there have threatened to harm themselves.
Dr. Bhavik Kumar, who provides abortion services at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston, said in the midst of a pandemic, many patients seeking abortions feel desperate enough to consider dangerous home remedies.
"The scary part is a lot of my patients are asking us what they can do themselves, how they can use things at home, different herbs or vitamins or objects to help them not be pregnant," Kumar said. "They are scared."
Legal challenges are ongoing in several states where officials have tried to prohibit abortion during the coronavirus pandemic. A hearing on Oklahoma's ban is scheduled for Friday afternoon in federal court in Oklahoma City, and the issue could make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.


npr--2020-04-02--Guam Locals Unhappy With Housing U.S. Sailors From Coronavirus-Hit Aircraft Carrier

Guam Locals Unhappy With Housing U.S .
Sailors From Coronavirus-Hit Aircraft Carrier Nearly 3,000 American sailors from the coronavirus-infected aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt are expected to have disembarked by Friday on the western Pacific U.S island territory of Guam , and plans to quarantine many of them in hotels there are drawing protests from local activists and politicians .
`` I am disturbed by the reckless double-standard of potentially placing potentially exposed military personnel in local hotels , '' writes local Senator Sabina Flores Perez in a letter this week to Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will be exposing lower-wage employees to greater risk , many of whom are older and have limited or no health benefits for themselves and their families . ''
The Guam Daily Post reports that the first group of sailors from the Roosevelt will be housed at a beach front Sheraton hotel whose rooms normally cost around $ 200 a night .
`` We are really hoping the process works and as much as possible we are going to get a negative tested group that will remain negative throughout their entire stay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association , told the Post .
`` This is very strict .
They will be constrained to the room .
They will receive all their meals and beverages directly to the room without any contact with hotel staff .
That is all coordinated with the military .
There will be no guests . ''
But local activists doubt those assurances .
They point to an anguished letter that Capt .
Brett Crozier , the Roosevelt 's commander — who has now been relieved of duty — sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
In it , Crozier says seven out of 33 sailors on his warship who initially tested negative showed symptoms of COVID-19 infection several days after being tested .
`` Being negative today does n't mean that they wo n't be in a week or so , '' reads a statement issued Wednesday by the indigenous activist group I Hagan Famalåo'an Guåhan .
`` The decision to house them in the middle of our community is playing a game of chance with the health of our people . ''
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. John Menoni was asked what the consequences might be for Guam if sailors who tested negative turn out to have COVID-19 .
`` So I guess that 's the $ 64 million question , '' Menoni replied .
`` I can not predict the future . ''
But Menoni insisted the local population will not be exposed to the sailors being housed in as many as seven local hotels .
`` They must remain in quarantine in their assigned rooms for the duration of the mandatory 14-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official in Guam said .
`` Military leadership will be present throughout to make sure sailors adhere to quarantine and remain in their rooms .
This will be entirely a military-run operation with no direct contact between the TR sailors and their hotel staffs . ''
Leon Guerrero , for her part , acknowledged at the same briefing the protests brewing on the 212-square-mile island she governs .
`` I know my decision to allow the restricted housing of sailors who have tested negative for COVID-19 off base has left a few of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This decision was not made in haste .
The U.S. military has three bases on Guam , occupying 49,000 acres of its territory .
`` As an unincorporated territory we have little power to resist the military .
They own one-third of the land on Guam , '' Guam artist Joshua Barrigada tells NPR .
`` Our demands are only that they keep the sailors on base . ''
At least 114 of the Roosevelt 's sailors have tested positive for coronavirus , and thousands more have yet to be tested .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of approximately 170,000 there were 82 known local cases of COVID-19 and three deaths from the disease .

Guam Locals Unhappy With Housing U.S. Sailors From Coronavirus-Hit Aircraft Carrier
Enlarge this image toggle caption Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Nearly 3,000 American sailors from the coronavirus-infected aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt are expected to have disembarked by Friday on the western Pacific U.S island territory of Guam, and plans to quarantine many of them in hotels there are drawing protests from local activists and politicians.
"I am disturbed by the reckless double-standard of potentially placing potentially exposed military personnel in local hotels," writes local Senator Sabina Flores Perez in a letter this week to Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero. "If sailors are placed in our hotels, we will be exposing lower-wage employees to greater risk, many of whom are older and have limited or no health benefits for themselves and their families."
The Guam Daily Post reports that the first group of sailors from the Roosevelt will be housed at a beach front Sheraton hotel whose rooms normally cost around $200 a night.
"We are really hoping the process works and as much as possible we are going to get a negative tested group that will remain negative throughout their entire stay," Mary Rhodes, the president of the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association, told the Post. "This is very strict. They will be constrained to the room. They will receive all their meals and beverages directly to the room without any contact with hotel staff. That is all coordinated with the military. There will be no guests."
But local activists doubt those assurances. They point to an anguished letter that Capt. Brett Crozier, the Roosevelt's commander — who has now been relieved of duty — sent to his superiors and that became public earlier this week. In it, Crozier says seven out of 33 sailors on his warship who initially tested negative showed symptoms of COVID-19 infection several days after being tested.
"Being negative today doesn't mean that they won't be in a week or so," reads a statement issued Wednesday by the indigenous activist group I Hagan Famalåo'an Guåhan. "The decision to house them in the middle of our community is playing a game of chance with the health of our people."
At a news briefing in Guam on Thursday, Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. John Menoni was asked what the consequences might be for Guam if sailors who tested negative turn out to have COVID-19.
"So I guess that's the $64 million question," Menoni replied. "I cannot predict the future."
But Menoni insisted the local population will not be exposed to the sailors being housed in as many as seven local hotels.
"They must remain in quarantine in their assigned rooms for the duration of the mandatory 14-day quarantine," the top U.S. military official in Guam said. "Military leadership will be present throughout to make sure sailors adhere to quarantine and remain in their rooms. This will be entirely a military-run operation with no direct contact between the TR sailors and their hotel staffs."
Leon Guerrero, for her part, acknowledged at the same briefing the protests brewing on the 212-square-mile island she governs.
"I know my decision to allow the restricted housing of sailors who have tested negative for COVID-19 off base has left a few of you uneasy," she said. "This decision was not made in haste.
The U.S. military has three bases on Guam, occupying 49,000 acres of its territory.
"As an unincorporated territory we have little power to resist the military. They own one-third of the land on Guam," Guam artist Joshua Barrigada tells NPR. "Our demands are only that they keep the sailors on base."
At least 114 of the Roosevelt's sailors have tested positive for coronavirus, and thousands more have yet to be tested.
As of Thursday, among Guam's population of approximately 170,000 there were 82 known local cases of COVID-19 and three deaths from the disease.


npr--2020-04-02--USS Roosevelt Commander Removed After Criticizing Handling Of Coronavirus Outbreak

The U.S. Navy captain who wrote an anguished and widely publicized letter this week to his superiors about a coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier he commanded has now been relieved of that command .
`` I lost confidence in his ability , '' acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said of Capt .
Brett Crozier while briefing reporters late Thursday at the Pentagon on the commander 's dismissal .
Modly charged that by having `` widely distributed '' a letter highly critical of the management of a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened more than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had `` allowed emotion '' to color his judgment and that the captain 's letter `` was sent outside the chain of command '' by failing to alert his immediate supervisor , strike wing commander Rear Adm. Stuart Baker .
At the same Thursday briefing , Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said the Navy expects commanders to handle matters `` calmly and unemotionally . ''
In his letter , Crozier criticized what he called an inappropriate focus on testing crew members that slowed his efforts to have them removed from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die , '' Crozier concluded in his missive .
`` If we do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors . ''
The letter did appear to spur efforts to move thousands of crew members ashore .
Modly said Thursday that 2,700 of the 4,865 sailors aboard the Roosevelt would be disembarking this week .
A skeleton crew would remain aboard to maintain the nuclear-powered vessel .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrier have tested positive for coronavirus and that the number would go up , `` maybe in the hundreds . ''

USS Roosevelt Commander Removed After Criticizing Handling Of Coronavirus Outbreak
toggle caption U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy captain who wrote an anguished and widely publicized letter this week to his superiors about a coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, which he commanded, has now been relieved of that command.
"I lost confidence in his ability," acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said of Capt. Brett Crozier while briefing reporters late Thursday at the Defense Department on the commander's dismissal.
Modly charged that by having "widely distributed" a letter highly critical of the management of a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened more than 100 of the Roosevelt's crew members, Crozier had "allowed emotion" to color his judgment and that the captain's letter "was sent outside the chain of command" by failing to alert his immediate supervisor, strike wing commander Rear Adm. Stuart Baker.
At the same Thursday briefing, the chief of naval operations, Adm. Michael Gilday, said the Navy expects commanders to handle matters "calmly and unemotionally."
In his letter, Crozier criticized what he called an inappropriate focus on testing crew members that slowed his efforts to have them removed from the ship to be quarantined in Guam.
"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Crozier concluded in his missive. "If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors."
The letter did appear to spur efforts to move thousands of crew members ashore. Modly said Thursday that 2,700 of the 4,865 sailors aboard the Roosevelt would be disembarking this week. A skeleton crew would remain aboard to maintain the nuclear-powered vessel.
On Thursday, Modly said that 114 sailors on the carrier have tested positive for the coronavirus and that the number would go up, "maybe in the hundreds."


npr--2020-04-02--Wisconsin Primary To Go On But Absentee Voting Extended, Federal Judge Rules

Wisconsin Primary To Go On But Absentee Voting Extended , Federal Judge Rules Wisconsin 's April 7 primary will proceed amid the coronavirus pandemic , but with significant changes , a federal judge ruled Thursday .
U.S. District Judge William Conley said he could not change the date of the election but chastised Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers , a Democrat , and the Republican-controlled legislature for not rescheduling the election .
`` As much as the court would prefer that the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor consider the public health ahead of any political considerations , that does not appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Nor is it appropriate for a federal district court to act as the state 's chief health official by taking that step for them . ''
Instead , Conley extended the deadline for voters to submit absentee ballots from April 7 to April 13 and ordered the state to waive requirements that absentee voters have a witness sign their ballot .
Voters have requested a record 1.1 million absentee ballots ahead of the election , which includes the presidential primary as well as numerous state and local offices .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to call in National Guard troops to staff polling sites because as many as 7,000 volunteers were not expected to show up .
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez applauded Conley 's decision , saying in a statement , '' Expanding access to absentee voting is critical in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and we continue to encourage all states to pursue vote-by-mail and no-excuse absentee voting to ensure that all eligible voters who want to cast a ballot have the means and ability to do so . ''

Wisconsin Primary To Go On But Absentee Voting Extended, Federal Judge Rules
Enlarge this image toggle caption Morry Gash/AP Morry Gash/AP
Wisconsin's April 7 primary will proceed amid the coronavirus pandemic, but with significant changes, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge William Conley said he could not change the date of the election but chastised Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, and the Republican-controlled legislature for not rescheduling the election.
"As much as the court would prefer that the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor consider the public health ahead of any political considerations, that does not appear in the cards," Conley wrote. "Nor is it appropriate for a federal district court to act as the state's chief health official by taking that step for them."
Instead, Conley extended the deadline for voters to submit absentee ballots from April 7 to April 13 and ordered the state to waive requirements that absentee voters have a witness sign their ballot. Voters have requested a record 1.1 million absentee ballots ahead of the election, which includes the presidential primary as well as numerous state and local offices.
The state told Conley earlier this week it was planning to call in National Guard troops to staff polling sites because as many as 7,000 volunteers were not expected to show up.
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez applauded Conley's decision, saying in a statement,"Expanding access to absentee voting is critical in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and we continue to encourage all states to pursue vote-by-mail and no-excuse absentee voting to ensure that all eligible voters who want to cast a ballot have the means and ability to do so."