inquisitr--2020-04-21--US Senate Races To Reach A Deal On New Coronavirus Relief Package For Small Businesses

The Senate is set to vote on a new coronavirus relief package for small businesses Tuesday afternoon , but disagreements about a provision for coronavirus testing are holding up negotiations .
A Senate vote to pass a new coronavirus relief package for small businesses is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. EST Tuesday , but CNN reports that a deal has not yet been reached , mere hours before the vote .
Republican Senators told CNN late Tuesday morning that — although the concepts in the bill have been agreed on — the legislative language has yet to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus relief package for several days , but disagreements over provisions to allocate funds for coronavirus testing — and precisely how the money will be distributed to small businesses — have held up negotiations .
Late last week , the Small Business Administration ’ s coronavirus relief loan program , known as the Paycheck Protection Program , ran out of money .
The program , which was designed to help small businesses cover expenses and employee paychecks while they ’ re closed during the coronavirus pandemic , hit its spending limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after it began accepting applications .
On Monday , CNBC reported that senators on both sides of the aisle were unable to reach a deal in time to pass the bill during that day ’ s session .
“ At this hour , our Democratic colleagues are still prolonging their discussions with the administration , so the Senate regretfully will not be able to pass more funding for Americans ’ paychecks today , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated , per CNBC .
He went on to say he had scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped an agreement could be reached by then .
Early on Tuesday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer seemed optimistic about the prospects of passing the bill that afternoon .
According to The Washington Post , Schumer indicated the Senate had reached an agreement about what will be included in the bill , but he and his colleagues still needed to work out the details .
“ I believe we ’ ll pass it today , ” Schumer went on to say .
The bill has been held up multiple times over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus testing needed to be included in the bill and wanted those funds to be directly allocated to states and hospitals .
Republicans wanted the money to be allocated towards national testing efforts instead .
The version of the bill currently being negotiated will provide $ 300 billion in funding for national testing and $ 75 billion directly to hospitals .
Democrats also pushed for provisions to ensure small businesses in rural areas would have better access to the Paycheck Protection Program funds .
One of the major criticisms of the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds than small , local businesses .
The Senate is currently racing to figure out all the details in time for Tuesday afternoon ’ s vote .


inquisitr--2020-04-21--GOP-Led Intelligence Committee Issues Report Confirming Russia Interfered On Donald Trump’s Behalf I

GOP-Led Intelligence Committee Issues Report Confirming Russia Interfered On Donald Trump’s Behalf In 2016

The GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on Tuesday that supports the Intelligence Community ’ s opinion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump .
Los Angeles Times White House reporter Chris Megerian linked to the Senate ’ s findings on Twitter , which unanimously concluded that Russia helped Trump win the White House .
This is the fourth report issued by the committee , and its findings were both bipartisan and unanimous , arguing that the Intelligence Community Assessment , which was released in December 2016 , was accurate .
The committee was led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican .
“ The Committee found the ICA presents a coherent and well-constructed intelligence basis for the case of unprecedented Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election , ” the report reads .
The New York Times reveals that the highly-redacted 158-page report , which was blacked out by the Trump administration , disagrees with a 2018 investigation led by Republicans , which found that the Kremlin didn ’ t attempt to help Trump win the election .
This latest report found “ specific intelligence reporting to support the assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preference for candidate Trump.
” The report also concluded that the initial findings were not based on the infamous Steele dossier , something that Trump ’ s conservatives allies have argued .
The dossier “ was not used in the body of the I.C.A .
or to support any of its analytic judgments , ” the report concluded .
The Steele dossier was a document compiled by Christopher Steele , a former British intelligence officer , that was concluded to have unverified accusations .
Some conservatives have argued that the flaws in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia sought to help Trump win the 2016 election .
The committee will release a final volume in the next few months of their findings after it has been reviewed by intelligence agencies .
It ’ s expected that the findings will echo those of special prosecutor Robert Mueller and his team ’ s findings .
The findings undercut the argument out of the Trump White House and among his allies that the FBI and other agencies were biased against him and their findings about Russian interference were tainted by their political motives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both the FBI and the CIA to determine if either agency has been tainted by partisanship in their findings over Russian interference .
Republican allies have argued that the intelligence community has exaggerated Russian ’ s involvement in the situation and say that President Vladimir Putin was likely trying to sow chaos in the United States rather than trying to bolster either individual in the 2016 election .

The GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on Tuesday that supports the Intelligence Community’s opinion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump. Los Angeles Times White House reporter Chris Megerian linked to the Senate’s findings on Twitter, which unanimously concluded that Russia helped Trump win the White House.
This is the fourth report issued by the committee, and its findings were both bipartisan and unanimous, arguing that the Intelligence Community Assessment, which was released in December 2016, was accurate. The committee was led by North Carolina Senator Richard M. Burr, a Republican.
“The Committee found the ICA presents a coherent and well-constructed intelligence basis for the case of unprecedented Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election,” the report reads.
The New York Times reveals that the highly-redacted 158-page report, which was blacked out by the Trump administration, disagrees with a 2018 investigation led by Republicans, which found that the Kremlin didn’t attempt to help Trump win the election.
This latest report found “specific intelligence reporting to support the assessment that Putin and the Russian Government demonstrated a preference for candidate Trump.”
The report also concluded that the initial findings were not based on the infamous Steele dossier, something that Trump’s conservatives allies have argued.
The dossier “was not used in the body of the I.C.A. or to support any of its analytic judgments,” the report concluded.
The Steele dossier was a document compiled by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, that was concluded to have unverified accusations. Some conservatives have argued that the flaws in the dossier invalidate the larger argument that Russia sought to help Trump win the 2016 election.
The committee will release a final volume in the next few months of their findings after it has been reviewed by intelligence agencies. It’s expected that the findings will echo those of special prosecutor Robert Mueller and his team’s findings.
The findings undercut the argument out of the Trump White House and among his allies that the FBI and other agencies were biased against him and their findings about Russian interference were tainted by their political motives.
The Trump administration has been examining both the FBI and the CIA to determine if either agency has been tainted by partisanship in their findings over Russian interference. Republican allies have argued that the intelligence community has exaggerated Russian’s involvement in the situation and say that President Vladimir Putin was likely trying to sow chaos in the United States rather than trying to bolster either individual in the 2016 election.


inquisitr--2020-04-21--Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Tells ‘The View’ That President Trump’s ‘Mixed Messaging’ Is ‘Unhelpfu

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Tells ‘The View’ That President Trump’s ‘Mixed Messaging’ Is ‘Unhelpful’

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , appeared on The View on Tuesday morning , where he spoke with co-host Sunny Hostin .
The governor appeared to be set up on a porch outside , and Hostin interviewed him from her home , which is what the ABC talk show has done for several weeks now amid the coronavirus pandemic .
During his appearance , Hostin asked Hogan about the small protest that happened in Annapolis , Maryland , over the weekend while footage of various protests around the United States played on the screen .
He pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he noted that he missed them because he was at the airport welcoming an airplane that brought 500,000 COVID-19 tests that he was able to secure from South Korea .
The governor and his wife , Yumi Hogan , who was born in South Korea , were both there when the tests flew in last weekend .
He said that those tests would help save many lives in Maryland in the coming days and weeks .
Hostin also pointed out that Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee spoke out about Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president seemingly encouraged people in some states to rebel against the stay-at-home orders .
Inslee worried that the domestic rebellion could lead to violence , and in his interview , Hogan didn ’ t disagree .
“ I think it ’ s unhelpful , ” noted Hogan .
“ It doesn ’ t make any sense — the mixed messaging we ’ re getting out of the president .
For example , in our state , and I think in most of the states where he was encouraging protests , we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is what the president ’ s plan that came out on Thursday night called for… that made sense.
” However , the governor was confused about a series of three tweets Trump sent out on Friday after releasing specific plans for states to follow when looking to reopen in phases .
“ But , on Friday , he encouraged people to go out and protest and liberate those very same states , so he basically was encouraging people to violate his own federal policy… I don ’ t think it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also spoke about the frustration felt by those who are losing income while staying at home .
He said that he understood those frustrations , even revealing that he felt like joining the protests because the situation is incredibly difficult for everyone .
Despite the frustration and pain that people are experiencing due to the restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 , the governor reiterated that the president ’ s encouragement toward protesters is not helpful to the discussion .

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, appeared on The View on Tuesday morning, where he spoke with co-host Sunny Hostin. The governor appeared to be set up on a porch outside, and Hostin interviewed him from her home, which is what the ABC talk show has done for several weeks now amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During his appearance, Hostin asked Hogan about the small protest that happened in Annapolis, Maryland, over the weekend while footage of various protests around the United States played on the screen. He pointed out that the gatherings were quite small, and he noted that he missed them because he was at the airport welcoming an airplane that brought 500,000 COVID-19 tests that he was able to secure from South Korea.
The governor and his wife, Yumi Hogan, who was born in South Korea, were both there when the tests flew in last weekend. He said that those tests would help save many lives in Maryland in the coming days and weeks.
Hostin also pointed out that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee spoke out about Trump’s tweets last Friday, where the president seemingly encouraged people in some states to rebel against the stay-at-home orders. Inslee worried that the domestic rebellion could lead to violence, and in his interview, Hogan didn’t disagree.
Marylanders should feel confident in knowing that we have done everything in our power, gone to every length, and used every tool and every resource at our disposal to defeat this deadly virus. pic.twitter.com/kSFy56Qc9N — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) April 21, 2020
“I think it’s unhelpful,” noted Hogan. “It doesn’t make any sense — the mixed messaging we’re getting out of the president. For example, in our state, and I think in most of the states where he was encouraging protests, we don’t have 14 days of downward numbers, which is what the president’s plan that came out on Thursday night called for… that made sense.”
However, the governor was confused about a series of three tweets Trump sent out on Friday after releasing specific plans for states to follow when looking to reopen in phases.
“But, on Friday, he encouraged people to go out and protest and liberate those very same states, so he basically was encouraging people to violate his own federal policy… I don’t think it was helpful,” Hogan said.
Hogan also spoke about the frustration felt by those who are losing income while staying at home. He said that he understood those frustrations, even revealing that he felt like joining the protests because the situation is incredibly difficult for everyone. Despite the frustration and pain that people are experiencing due to the restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the governor reiterated that the president’s encouragement toward protesters is not helpful to the discussion.


inquisitr--2020-04-21--Joe Biden Says He’d Have Michelle Obama As Running Mate ‘In A Heartbeat’

Speculation about who Joe Biden will pick to be his running mate on the 2020 presidential ticket has been rampant in recent days .
Now , the former vice president has revealed there ’ s one person he ’ d pick “ in a heartbeat ” if he had the option — Michelle Obama .
The current presumptive Democratic presidential nominee spoke with Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA about his upcoming run and the current status of the United States .
Reporter Jon Delano asked if the former first lady would be in the running if she were to accept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her in a heartbeat , ” Biden said .
“ She ’ s brilliant .
She knows the way around .
She is a really fine woman .
The Obamas are great friends.
” Although Biden seemingly would love to have Obama as his running mate , it seems unlikely she would accept the nomination .
“ I don ’ t think she has any desire to live near the White House again , ” he continued .
The former vice president explained his campaign is still early in the process of selecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re currently in the process of naming a committee to vet potential individuals .
There has been some speculation he would select a woman of color as his vice presidential candidate after he said that was his preference .
Some people have suggested he may pick former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams .
Abrams said on Tuesday that she would be “ honored ” if she were asked by Biden to serve as his running mate , reports MSNBC .
She has previously said she believes she would make a good vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inquisitr previously reported , because she can reach a broader base of voters than other potential candidates .
Abrams has praised Biden in the past and has expressed support for his run .
While Biden has hesitated in making any definite hints at who his running mate will be , he has committed to making his cabinet more diverse .
“ I ’ ll commit to that be a woman because it is very important that my administration look like the public , look like the nation .
And there will be , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color on the Supreme Court , that doesn ’ t mean there won ’ t be a vice president , as well , ” Biden said .
“ I think it ’ s really important now that we establish once and for all , we should have had a woman president already , in Hilary ( Clinton ) , in my view , ” he went on .
“ There are a number of qualified women out there .
”

Speculation about who Joe Biden will pick to be his running mate on the 2020 presidential ticket has been rampant in recent days. Now, the former vice president has revealed there’s one person he’d pick “in a heartbeat” if he had the option — Michelle Obama.
The current presumptive Democratic presidential nominee spoke with Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA about his upcoming run and the current status of the United States. Reporter Jon Delano asked if the former first lady would be in the running if she were to accept the nomination.
“I’d take her in a heartbeat,” Biden said. “She’s brilliant. She knows the way around. She is a really fine woman. The Obamas are great friends.”
Although Biden seemingly would love to have Obama as his running mate, it seems unlikely she would accept the nomination.
“I don’t think she has any desire to live near the White House again,” he continued.
The former vice president explained his campaign is still early in the process of selecting a running mate. He said they’re currently in the process of naming a committee to vet potential individuals.
There has been some speculation he would select a woman of color as his vice presidential candidate after he said that was his preference. Some people have suggested he may pick former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams.
Abrams said on Tuesday that she would be “honored” if she were asked by Biden to serve as his running mate, reports MSNBC.
She has previously said she believes she would make a good vice presidential nominee in 2020, as The Inquisitr previously reported, because she can reach a broader base of voters than other potential candidates. Abrams has praised Biden in the past and has expressed support for his run.
While Biden has hesitated in making any definite hints at who his running mate will be, he has committed to making his cabinet more diverse.
“I’ll commit to that be a woman because it is very important that my administration look like the public, look like the nation. And there will be, committed that there will be a woman of color on the Supreme Court, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a vice president, as well,” Biden said.
“I think it’s really important now that we establish once and for all, we should have had a woman president already, in Hilary (Clinton), in my view,” he went on. “There are a number of qualified women out there.”


inquisitr--2020-04-21--Donald Trump Promises To Bail Out Floundering Oil Industry

President Donald Trump says that he has ordered his administration to take steps to rescue the oil industry in the United States .
Oil companies have faced record losses since the coronavirus slammed the industry .
“ We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down .
I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury to formulate a plan which will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured long into the future !
” he tweeted .
U.S. oil prices slumped into negative numbers on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened in history .
Since then , some oil companies have asked the White House for financial aid as foreign suppliers flood the market with cheap oil .
Earlier this year , both Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to cut production on millions of barrels of oil , but it appears to have not been enough to ease the damage in the U.S .
Typically , oil is bought up by airlines and refineries , but as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the global economy , oil purchases are down as storage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for oil has dropped by 25 to 30 million barrels per day and is being delivered and stored far faster than it can be used .
While Trump ’ s power to ease the oil industry ’ s woes is limited , he has attempted to push the government to buy up oil as a way to bolster oil companies .
“ This is a great time to buy oil .
We ’ d get it for the right price , ” Trump said , according to NBC News .
“ Nobody ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The U.S. could store the purchased oil as part of the country ’ s Strategic Petroleum Reserve .
However , Congress didn ’ t set aside $ 3 billion to purchase oil in the recent stimulus package , so the plan was suspended .
Lawmakers are currently working on a deal to create another stimulus measure to help people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Right now , Congress is working out the details on a $ 500 billion package that would add funding to the emergency small business lending program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The deal has been held up as Democrats fight for funding for hospitals and other front-line workers , while Republicans say they want to focus on helping small businesses right now .
Reports suggest that Trump has been supporting the Democrat version of the bill .
The program has been criticized in recent days for lacking provisions to prevent large companies from taking advantage of the funding .
For instance , Shake Shack recently agreed to return $ 10 million in stimulus money after facing backlash .

Oops! Page Not Found
The page you were looking for doesn’t exist,
isn’t available or was loaded incorrectly.


inquisitr--2020-04-21--Donald Trump Inaccurately Claims He Hasn’t Left The White House ‘In Months’

President Donald Trump continued his daily coronavirus task force press briefings on Monday , April 20 .
While the president broached a plethora of subjects — from partisanship regarding testing to travel restrictions and a trade deficit with China — it was his response to one reporter ’ s question that seemed to get him the most attention , reports People .
PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor started her exchange with the president by asking if he thinks his own personal response to the coronavirus pandemic reflects the seriousness with which he is taking this health crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control ( CDC ) issued guidelines for all Americans to wear masks when out in public , Trump stated he would not be complying with those guidelines .
The president answered Alcindor ’ s question by saying he has saved “ tens of thousands of lives ” by putting travel restrictions in place as early as February .
The reporter then countered that point , stating Trump was holding rallies well into March , to which he replied he hadn ’ t left the White House in months .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really don ’ t know about rallies , ” Trump interrupted Alcindor ’ s question .
“ I know one thing : I haven ’ t left the White House in months , except for a brief moment to give a wonderful ship , the [ USNS ] Comfort– ” At this point , she interrupted him herself , reminding the president that he held a rally in March .
“ I don ’ t know .
Did I hold a rally ?
I ’ m sorry , I hold a rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he replied .
The exchange ended with Trump stating he held a rally in January when there were “ no cases and no deaths ” due to the COVID-19 virus .
According to CNN ’ s fact-checking report , Alcindor was correct in her assertion that the president held a rally in March .
Trump held five campaign rallies in February and one on March 2 .
However , he left the White House for many other occasions than just rallies that month .
As CNN reported , Trump continued to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 6 after stopping by Tennessee to meet with victims of a natural disaster .
He then spent the weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Florida .
He also visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington , D.C. , on March 19 and sent off the Comfort from Virginia on March 28 .
The exchange between Alcindor and Trump comes as people are increasingly questioning the administration ’ s response to the coronavirus and wondering if their hesitancy to take action contributed to an increase in the number of COVID-19 deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February , the president stated the worry about the pandemic was just a “ Democratic ‘ hoax ’ designed to damage his presidency.
” He has also taken to shifting blame to many others aside from his own administration .
He recently stated the United States was going to cut funding to the World Health Organization due to their poor response to the pandemic .
Additionally , following his exchange with Alcindor , he shifted attention to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , pointing to her holding a “ street fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time he held his rally .


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Joe Biden Campaign Says It Refunded Donation From Comedian Louis C.K.

Joe Biden ‘ s campaign claims that it refunded a $ 2,800 donation from comedian Louis C.K.
, real name Louis Szekely , who was accused of sexual misconduct by five women , TIME reported .
Per Federal Election Commission records , Biden ’ s campaign received the donation on March 4 , the day after the former vice president made his massive Super Tuesday comeback .
According to a Biden campaign spokesperson , the refund will be reflected in the next report filed in May .
After initially downplaying the accusations leveled against him , Szekely later admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person or over the phone .
In a letter to The Hollywood Reporter , the comedian confirmed the stories and apologized to the people he impacted .
“ I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position , ” he wrote .
“ I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community , which disabled them from sharing their story and brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who look up to me didn ’ t want to hear it .
I didn ’ t think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it.
” Szekely also addressed the incidents in his recent stand-up special , Sincerely , which he released as much of the country remains isolated from the coronavirus pandemic .
He expressed regret and advised anyone that is thinking about doing what he did to avoid doing so .
After the allegations , Szekely lost his television show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the release of his film , I Love You , Daddy , was canceled .
The Biden campaign ’ s refund comes after the 77-year-old politician himself was accused of sexually assaulting Tara Reade , who claims she was molested during her time as a staffer in his U.S. Senate office in 1993 .
The presumptive Democratic nominee has yet to publicly address Reade ’ s recent allegation , which was explored in graphic detail on a podcast with Rolling Stone journalist and podcaster Katie Halper .
As reported by The Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the District of Columbia is actively investigating Reade ’ s allegation .
Regardless of the outcome of the inquiry , the accusation will not make it to court as it is past the statute of limitations .
According to Reade , she filed an incident report with D.C. police to create a paper trail for “ safety reasons ” in the case that something should happen to her .

'1000 Lb Sister' Tammy Slaton Defends Her 'Filtered' Pictures, Ask Critics to Talk to Her Hand
She said, "Listen, I am not trying to be rude, but it's my profile. And if I like using the filters, I will. Plain and simple," as she waved goodbye.
4h ago


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Poll Shows Joe Biden Leading Donald Trump In Critical Battleground State Of Florida

Joe Biden has taken a narrow lead over Donald Trump in the key battleground state of Florida , a newly release poll shows .
The Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday shows that Biden has a four-point lead over Trump in the Sunshine State , with 46 percent support to Trump ’ s 42 percent .
As The Hill noted , the slim lead for Biden reflects the personal popularity of both politicians , with the former vice president enjoying a more favorable view with the state ’ s voters than Trump .
“ Among registered voters in Florida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forty-three percent said that they have a favorable view of the former vice president , compared to 40 percent who said they see him unfavorably , ” the report noted .
Florida is expected to be one of the key states in the 2020 presidential election , with Trump ’ s narrow win there in 2016 helping push him to an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton .
Florida had gone blue in both previous presidential cycles , with Barack Obama winning there in 2012 and 2008 , with Biden alongside him on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has invested plenty of resources into Florida already for this cycle , holding a series of rallies there and spending extensive time at his Mar-a-Lago resort .
Democrats too have been targeting Florida as a potential flip from 2016 , pointing to close results in statewide elections there in 2018 .
Other polls have shown a tight race between Trump and Biden in Florida and other important states .
A CNBC/Change Research survey of six key battleground states including Florida showed that Trump held a one-point lead across all states .
The survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden in a number of key areas , with Trump leading Biden on who voters think could better lead the economy out of a recession and Biden topping Trump on handling the coronavirus , making healthcare more affordable , and preventing another pandemic like COVID-19 .
Biden has seen an uptick in head-to-head polling since Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced he would be suspending his campaign , making Biden the presumptive nominee .
Biden has earned a series of key endorsements since then , including Sanders and Obama .
Trump saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic , though his number have fallen off as polls show voters increasingly disapproving of his response to it .

Joe Biden has taken a narrow lead over Donald Trump in the key battleground state of Florida, a newly released poll shows.
The Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday shows that Biden has a four-point advantage over Trump in the Sunshine State, with 46 percent support to the president’s 42 percent. As The Hill wrote, the slim lead for Biden reflects the personal popularity of both politicians, with the former vice president enjoying a more favorable view with the state’s voters than Trump.
“Among registered voters in Florida, Biden is more popular than not. Forty-three percent said that they have a favorable view of the former vice president, compared to 40 percent who said they see him unfavorably,” the report noted.
“Trump’s favorability, meanwhile, is underwater, with 43 percent of Florida voters reporting a positive opinion of the president and 50 percent viewing him unfavorably.”
Florida is expected to be one of the key states in the 2020 presidential election, with Trump’s narrow win there in 2016 helping push him to an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton. Florida had gone blue in both previous presidential cycles, with Barack Obama winning there in 2012 and 2008 and Biden alongside him on the Democratic Party’s ticket.
Trump has already invested plenty of resources into Florida for this cycle, holding a series of rallies and spending extensive time at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Democrats too have been targeting Florida as a potential flip from 2016, pointing to close results in statewide elections there in 2018.
Other polls have shown a tight race between Trump and Biden in Florida and other important states. A CNBC/Change Research survey of six battleground states including Florida showed that the president held a one-point lead across all states. The survey found that voters were split in a number of key areas, with Trump leading as a candidate who could better guide the economy out of a recession. Biden, meanwhile, emerged more favorable in terms of his handling of the coronavirus, making healthcare more affordable, and preventing another pandemic like COVID-19.
Biden has seen an uptick in head-to-head polling since Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced he would be suspending his campaign, making the former vice president the presumptive nominee. Biden has earned a series of important endorsements since then, including those from Sanders and Obama. Trump saw a boost in his own approval rating with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, though his numbers have fallen off as polls show voters increasingly disapproving of his response to it.


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Donald Trump’s 2014 Ebola Tweet Comes Back To Haunt Him Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

As Donald Trump continues to apply pressure to governors to reopen states amid the coronavirus pandemic , an old tweet from 2014 has come back to haunt him .
As noted by Raw Story , the tweet addressed the outbreak of the Ebola virus , which killed a total of two Americans and took aim at governors that lifted their epidemic quarantines .
“ All the governors are already backing off of the Ebola quarantines , ” he tweeted .
“ Bad decision that will lead to more mayhem.
” Now , Trump has been itching to reopen the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the span of six weeks .
As noted by Snopes , the quarantine orders in 2014 were much different from those being used to combat COVID-19 .
While the current measures include state-wide “ shelter-in-place ” orders , Ebola measures asked people who came into contact with infected individuals to quarantine for 21 days .
The president also took aim at President Barack Obama for his handling of the Ebola outbreak .
“ Ebola has been confirmed in N.Y.C.
, with officials frantically trying to find all of the people and things he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump tweeted in October of 2014 .
“ Obama ’ s fault.
” In comparison , Trump has refused to take responsibility for the spread of coronavirus , which has infected 142,432 people in New York City as of Wednesday afternoon .
According to Reuters , Trump claims that states will be allowed to reopen their economies safely .
However , the suggestion was met with push back from New York governor Andrew Cuomo , who appeared to be wary of the decision .
Cuomo suggested that political pressure is not something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to reopen businesses .
“ We make a bad move , it ’ s going to set us back , ” he said .
Regardless , some Republican governors are jumping on board with Trump ’ s push to reopen America .
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas claims that he will release his plan next week that aims to broadly revive his state ’ s economy in the first week of May .
In addition , Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia is planning to allow the reopening of hair salons , gyms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massage parlors on Friday .
Next week , movies and restaurants will follow .
Whether or not the public will be receptive to reopening the economy remains to be seen .
While the Trump-backed quarantine protestors will no doubt be okay with the decision , others are worried about the spread of the virus .
“ It ’ s careless and will be catastrophic to countless more lives in our state , ” a Georgia resident said of Kemp ’ s plans .


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Mitch McConnell Thinks States Should Declare Bankruptcy Instead Of Getting Federal Aid

As the U.S. Congress puts the finishing touches on a deal for the next round of coronavirus relief funds , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell looks to have proposed a radical alternative to funneling billions of additional dollars to struggling state and local governments .
His solution : to give states the ability to declare bankruptcy .
As reported by Politico , McConnell mentioned the bankruptcy option first while guesting on conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt ’ s radio show .
During the interview , McConnell expressed trepidation over the further use of federal money to buoy states that are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspension of commerce that has resulted from social distancing and stay-at-home orders .
McConnell stated that affected governments would likely prefer a bail-out from the federal government to declaration of bankruptcy but expressed that it would come at the expense of future generations .
“ My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don ’ t have to do that .
That ’ s not something I ’ m going to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to declare bankruptcy would be a radical one .
As it stands , states are unable to declare bankruptcy , and any reworking of the current bankruptcy code would likely require substantial legislation at the congressional level .
To say that would be a tough sell for a legislative branch that has already been at odds over how to handle COVID-19 is probably a massive understatement .
On Tuesday , the Senate passed an interim relief package approaching $ 500 billion .
That funding has been earmarked for small business loans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The latter element , as well as how much money would actually go to small businesses , had been points of contention between Democrats and Republicans as they worked to reach an agreement during the final hours before the Senate was to vote on the package .
Meanwhile , some states have taken matters into their own hands — against the advice of health experts — to jump-start their respective economies .
Governors in the southern states of Georgia , South Carolina and Tennessee have indicated they will ease restrictions on businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in social distancing efforts , per NBC News .
Gerardo Chowell , an epidemiologist at Georgia State University ’ s School of Public Health , told NBC that reopening the economy too soon would lead to another wave of coronavirus infections .
“ If we go back to business as usual , it ’ s going to happen , ” he cautioned .


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Donald Trump Hypes Southern States Reopening For Business Via Twitter

Although health experts are concerned about a possible negative impact , governors from multiple states in the southeastern U.S. are now looking to roll back the restrictions on businesses for operation during the current coronavirus pandemic .
For his part , President Donald Trump is firmly behind the governors who are looking to jump-start their state ’ s economies , hyping potential moves to reopen in a post on Twitter .
Trump — who has alluded to a desire to have Americans get back to work at various junctures — noted that special care will be given to the elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their lives will be “ better than ever.
” In the Wednesday tweet , the president also maintained that reopening is being done safely .
His post comes in the wake of Govs .
Brian Kemp ( Georgia ) , Henry McMaster ( South Carolina ) , and Bill Lee ( Tennessee ) making statements on Monday that restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus and flattening the COVID-19 curve would be rolled back in their respective states .
Those proclamations received pushback from some , citing the dangers of further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms expressed confusion about Kemp ’ s announcement , calling it illogical .
Per the governor ’ s plan , certain businesses in Georgia , including bowling alleys , gyms , hair salons , and tattoo parlors , could open their doors again as early as Friday , should they meet hygiene guidelines .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , who has served as director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 , has cautioned that returning to life as it was before the pandemic too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s going to backfire , ” Fauci deadpanned during an appearance on Good Morning America , via the LA Times .
The Times is also reporting that none of the aforementioned states have achieved the 14 days of sustained decline in new coronavirus cases that White House guidelines list as a requirement for lifting restrictions on businesses .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for a science-based approach to the coronavirus by businesses and government officials .
As of Wednesday morning , there have been over 831,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 46,000 Americans have died since the pandemic began and the worldwide death toll is currently approaching 181,000 .


inquisitr--2020-04-22--Dr. Oz Backs Off Of Aggressive Hydroxychloroquine Promotion After Study Finds It Ineffective For COV

Dr. Oz Backs Off Of Aggressive Hydroxychloroquine Promotion After Study Finds It Ineffective For COVID-19

Dr. Mehmet Oz is backing away from his aggressive promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment after a study examining its use at U.S. veterans hospitals found it was not effective , Raw Story reports .
Oz appeared on Fox & Friends on Wednesday and spoke of the drug in a tone that was a marked shift from his past comments , which have also been touted by President Donald Trump .
“ The fact of the matter is , we don ’ t know , ” Oz said .
As reported by Fox News , the researchers examined 368 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of the anti-malaria drug was beneficial in treating coronavirus .
Notably , patients treated with hydroxychloroquine alone — without azithromycin — were associated with increased overall mortality .
“ Researchers did not track side effects but noted hints that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs , ” the report reads .
“ The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects , including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.
” Per Media Matters for America , Oz noted the study was retrospective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data to come to their conclusions instead of gathering data on the drug in real time while providing patients with the medications .
He said he looked forward to the results from studies that examine data prospectively , as they have in Chinese trials that have suggested benefits of the drug in treating coronavirus .
Oz claimed waiting for randomized trial results is the best path forward and said the alternative is reacting to studies that continue to show conflicting results .
Media Matters for America researcher Matt Gertz called Oz ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his previous position .
The television doctor just days before asked Fox News viewers to participate in a clinical trial that would have them report their response to the drug , which would be sent to them directly via mail .
In addition to Oz , Fox News also appears to have backed away from its promotion of hydroxychloroquine .
According to CNN ’ s Oliver Darcy , the network has “ all but stopped ” mentioning the drug in recent days — a shift from their aggressive promotion of it over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire for suggesting that a 2 to 3 percent total mortality rate would be an acceptable trade-off for schools reopening .
He later walked back his comments and apologized for the suggestion .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Al Gore And Jay Inslee Both Endorse Joe Biden

Former Vice President Al Gore and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee both announced their endorsements of Joe Biden on Wednesday .
On Wednesday , both former Vice President Al Gore and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee announced that they are endorsing Joe Biden for president , CNN reported .
These endorsements are the latest in a string of crucial ones for Biden .
Gore and Inslee are both high-profile champions of policies to address climate change , which is why they chose to announce their endorsements on Earth Day .
Both Inslee and Gore praised Biden ’ s record on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee was the best candidate to address climate change .
Gore made his endorsement official on Twitter shortly before appearing at a virtual event for Earth Day with Biden .
CNN noted that during the event , he addressed people who haven ’ t yet decided if Biden will get their vote .
According to The New York Times , Gore also appealed to young , progressive voters during the event .
These individuals — many of whom supported former Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders — are very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate who will push green policies .
Gore assured them that Biden will be that candidate .
Gore has been an influential climate change activist for several decades , and The New York Times wrote that his endorsement may have a big impact on voters whose primary concern is addressing climate issues .
Read This : 10 Items You Can ( And Should ) Buy On Amazon Right Now Inslee , whose 2020 Democratic presidential run centered on an environmental platform , said that he believes Biden will address the economic crisis caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time , CNN reported .
“ Earth Day is a day to celebrate the potential of restarting our international economy by building a clean energy economy that can put millions of people to work , cause massive reinvestment , which our economy is going to need so desperately as we come out of this pandemic , ” Inslee said .
According to CNN , during Inslee ’ s own presidential campaign , he intimated that Biden didn ’ t understand the scope of the climate crisis .
During the August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president ’ s climate change policies .
In contrast to these previous statements , Inslee on Wednesday ’ s praised Biden ’ s previous work on climate change in the Senate , pointing out that he “ introduced the first bill on climate change in the United States Senate.
” Gore and Inslee ’ s endorsements came just days after the League of Conservation Voters announced they would be supporting Biden in the upcoming election .


inquisitr--2020-04-24--Donald Trump Suggests Exposing Coronavirus Patients To ‘Tremendous’ Light And Heat

On Thursday , during the daily coronavirus press briefing at the White House , President Donald Trump floated an unconventional idea .
Per The Hill , the president suggested exposing COVID-19 patients to “ tremendous ” light and heat .
“ So , supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it ’ s ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that hasn ’ t been checked but you ’ re going to test it , ” Trump said , arguing that such a therapy could be done “ either through the skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered his remarks following a presentation from William Bryan , under secretary for science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security .
Bryan discussed a study which suggests that high temperatures and humidity can kill off COVID-19 .
According to Bryan ’ s data , the virus disappears quicker when exposed to sunlight and heat .
As The Hill notes , public health experts immediately disputed the theory , pointing out that the virus is ravaging countries such as Brazil and Singapore , even though they have tropical climates .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House coronavirus response coordinator , said that she would not recommend heat and light as treatment .
She said that fever helps the human body fight COVID-19 , but stressed that she has “ not seen ” light and heat mentioned as treatment .
After Trump ’ s remarks , Bryan said that the findings he presented do not suggest sunlight or warm weather kill the virus , stressing that it would be “ irresponsible ” to suggest that COVID-19 will go away once the summer begins .
“ It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we feel the summer is just going to totally kill the virus… that is not the case , ” he said .
Bryan added that Americans should continue to respect social distancing guidelines , and avoid mass gathering events .
Trump was then asked whether it was dangerous to suggest that warm weather can destroy the virus .
The president did not answer the question directly , doubling down on his suggestion that both heat and light need to be studied as a potential cure for COVID-19 .
“ Maybe you can , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not a doctor , ” Trump said .
“ But I ’ m , like , a person that has a good you-know-what , ” he added , pointing to his head .
Trump and his allies have previously touted unproven drugs and various controversial treatments for COVID-19 .
Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority Rick Bright was reportedly demoted from his position for opposing the administration ’ s plans .
In a statement , Biden said that he was demoted because he opposes funding hydroxychloroquine and chloroquineas as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly promoted the drugs — both commonly used to treat malaria — despite the fact that studies suggest they are ineffective .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Barack Obama Appears To Shade Donald Trump, Says We’re Still Waiting For A ‘Coherent’ Pandemic Plan

Barack Obama seems to have thrown a subtle dig at Donald Trump in a recent tweet .
Yesterday , the former President tweeted that we ’ re still waiting for a “ coherent national plan ” to combat the coronavirus pandemic , reports Hollywood Life .
He commented alongside an article from The New Yorker about going on the “ offense ” against the coronavirus .
Obama appears to take issue with Trump ’ s handling of the policy .
He doesn ’ t name Trump in his tweet , but it seems apparent that he is criticizing the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To combat this , Obama offered advice to his supporters .
The article he shared , written by Dr. Jim Yong Kim , discusses how states like Massachusetts are creating public health plans to prevent the virus from spreading .
“ In the face of such an enemy , America ’ s passivity has been puzzling and unworthy of the best episodes in our history .
The time has come for us to get into the fight .
It ’ s not too late : we can still mobilize and start hunting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim .
Since the outbreak started , Obama has been increasingly active on his official Twitter account .
Obama has taken it upon himself to tweet out important information to his 116.3 million followers .
Hollywood Life says that Obama is trying to pick up the slack left behind by President Trump since he had a delayed response to the pandemic and because Trump and his administration have shared misinformation about the virus .
Obama ’ s tweet garnered a lot of attention on Twitter .
Within a day of going live , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 43,200 responses .
Many of Obama ’ s fans and loyalists replied to his tweet with praise , and several wrote that they were happy to see a “ real president ” talk about the virus .
“ ‘ Coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic ’ might be the most eloquent diss I ’ ve ever heard , ” wrote one person , adding a clapping hands emoji to their reply .
“ So very glad that you are speaking out .
Americans need leadership now more than ever # ObamaWasBetterAtEverything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the article , Trump has issued a three-part plan for reopening the economy and eventually ending stay-at-home orders .
However , there is still a fundamental lack of COVID-19 testing , meaning that many states do not have definitive numbers of active COVID-19 cases .
Some states are even considering ending their lockdowns already despite growing case numbers and the fact that many cases are currently going undetected due to testing kit shortages .

Barack Obama seems to have thrown a subtle dig at Donald Trump in a recent tweet. Yesterday, the former president tweeted that we’re still waiting for a “coherent national plan” to combat the coronavirus pandemic, reports Hollywood Life. He commented alongside an article from The New Yorker about going on the “offense” against the coronavirus.
Obama appears to take issue with Trump’s handling of the policy. He doesn’t name Trump in his tweet, but it seems apparent that he is criticizing the current president on his decisions regarding the pandemic.
To combat this, Obama offered advice to his supporters. The article he shared, written by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, discusses how states like Massachusetts are creating public health plans to prevent the virus from spreading.
“In the face of such an enemy, America’s passivity has been puzzling and unworthy of the best episodes in our history. The time has come for us to get into the fight. It’s not too late: we can still mobilize and start hunting down the virus,” writes Dr. Kim.
Since the outbreak started, Obama has been increasingly active on his official Twitter account. He has taken it upon himself to tweet out important information to his 116.3 million followers.
Hollywood Life says that Obama is trying to pick up the slack left behind by President Trump since he had a delayed response to the pandemic and because Trump and his administration have shared misinformation about the virus.
While we continue to wait for a coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic, states like Massachusetts are beginning to adopt their own public health plans to combat this virus––before it's too late. https://t.co/Eb2Hz8H8vU — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 22, 2020
Obama’s tweet garnered a lot of attention on Twitter. Within a day of going live, it received more than 162,000 likes and over 43,200 responses. Many of Obama’s fans and loyalists replied to his tweet with praise, and several wrote that they were happy to see a “real president” talk about the virus.
“‘Coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic’ might be the most eloquent diss I’ve ever heard,” wrote one person, adding a clapping hands emoji to their reply.
“So very glad that you are speaking out. Americans need leadership now more than ever #ObamaWasBetterAtEverything,” said a second user.
According to the article, Trump has issued a three-part plan for reopening the economy and eventually ending stay-at-home orders. However, there is still a fundamental lack of COVID-19 testing, meaning that many states do not have definitive numbers of active COVID-19 cases.
Some states are even considering ending their lockdowns already despite growing case numbers and the fact that many cases are currently going undetected due to testing kit shortages.


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Doctors Take To Social Media To Warn People Not To Drink Or Inject Isopropyl Alcohol After COVID-19

Doctors Take To Social Media To Warn People Not To Drink Or Inject Isopropyl Alcohol After COVID-19 Presser

During Thursday ’ s White House coronavirus press briefing ( via YouTube ) , President Donald Trump discussed injecting disinfectants into the body in order to tackle COVID-19 .
Shortly after , doctors were forced to take to social media to warn people not to drink or inject chemicals like bleach or isopropyl alcohol in an attempt to fight the deadly coronavirus .
William Bryan , a member of the coronavirus task force and DHS leader , joined the press briefing to discuss the impact of sunlight on the virus , concluding that it best survives indoors in dry conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus quickly , he reported .
Trump then stepped up to the podium and assured people that they wouldn ’ t “ believe ” what sunlight can do to the virus .
He went on to muse about doctors being able to inject patients with UV light somehow , adding that perhaps scientists could find a way to inject people with disinfectants , “ by injections inside or almost a cleaning.
” He concluded that it would be “ interesting ” to look into the possibility and claimed that some researchers are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was asked by a reporter to clarify his idea of injecting such chemicals into the body , he said that his lab wasn ’ t participating in that sort of research .
“ Maybe it works , maybe it doesn ’ t work , ” Trump interjected , adding that disinfectants such as isopropyl alcohol have an impact on “ stationary objects.
” Dr. Dara Kass responded on Twitter with a warning to people not to try injecting disinfectants .
“ PLEASE do not inject anything into your body or ingest anything at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is NO SUBSTANCE that will disinfect your body of the coronavirus from the inside .
Don ’ t inject or drink bleach , soap , don ’ t do isopropyl alcohol , lysol , or ANYTHING WHATSOEVER , ” Dr. Eugene Gu tweeted .
Dr. Jack Brown warned that the idea of injecting bleach or isopropyl alcohol is “ dangerous ” and worried that people would follow his musings and end up killing themselves .
“ Never thought I ’ d have to say this as a being with a brain to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inject yourself with disinfectant or isopropyl alcohol or bleach .
Even if @ realDonaldTrump the President of the United States suggests that doing so will rid you of # covid19 , ” tweeted Dr. Yemi .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) says that 70 percent alcohol is an effective way to kill the virus on hard surfaces and may be used to wipe screens , electronics , doorknobs , and similar surfaces .
During the briefing , Trump also warned that social isolation measures may last to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of hydroxychloroquine , saying that the science was still out on whether or not the anti-malarial drug may impact the novel coronavirus .
The use of the drug has been controversial , with recent rumors that the president fired one of his experts for disagreeing with his on whether or not to use it in the treatment of COVID-19 .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Donald Trump’s Reelection Chances May Suffer Due To Coronavirus Deaths Of Older Adults, Study Says

A study from the journal Administrative Theory & Praxis claims that Donald Trump ‘ s reelection chances may suffer due to mass deaths of older adults resulting from the coronavirus pandemic , Politico reports .
According to the analysis , even if shelter-in-place orders remain in effect , the United States could see 11,000 more Republican deaths than Democrats in the 65 and older demographic in Michigan and North Carolina before the November election .
In addition , if Pennsylvania were to return to social distancing in the absence of shelter-in-place , the researchers claim that 13,000 more Republicans than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The study generated its conclusions using early fatality projections from CovidActNow.org .
As noted by Politico , the predictions are “ orders of magnitude higher ” than deaths observed thus far in battleground states , which has caused skepticism of the findings .
Politico claims that Trump supporters tend to be heavier and older , which puts them at a higher risk of coronavirus lethality .
In addition , smoking levels are reportedly higher in Republican states .
Andrew Johnson , the lead author of he analysis and a professor of management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spoke of the implications of the results in an interview .
“ The pandemic is going to take a greater toll on the conservative electorate leading into this election — and that ’ s simply just a calculation of age , ” he said .
In response to skepticism about the magnitude of the projections , Johnson claims that easing of stay-at-home orders , as some Republican governors are set to do , could increase COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths .
As reported by CNN , polling across the last month suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground states — such as Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin — that allowed him to snatch a victory in 2016 by winning the Electoral College .
“ Biden ’ s lead nationally in those polls has been consistently around six to or seven points , as it is now in those , ” the analysis reads .
A recent survey from the Harvard Institute of Politics found that Biden is also leading Trump among younger voters age 18 to 29 .
As The Inquisitr reported , a new Ipsos/Reuters poll shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Michigan , Wisconsin , and Pennsylvania .
In addition , 48 percent of voters surveyed in the three battleground states said that the coronavirus is the most significant problem in their community .
Conversely , just 15 percent and 12 percent said it ’ s the economy and healthcare , respectively .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Poll Shows Donald Trump Trailing Joe Biden In Three Key Battleground States

According to a new Ipsos poll conducted for Reuters , President Donald Trump is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in three key battleground states .
In Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — which carried Trump to victory in 2016 — Biden , the Democratic Party ’ s presumptive presidential nominee , is polling at 45 percent , six points ahead of Trump .
Biden ’ s lead has steadily increased over the past few months , according to the poll .
In the months of February and March , the former vice president ’ s lead over Trump averaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden is polling eight percentage points ahead of Trump , which suggests that the president is still relatively strong in the Midwest , largely thanks to the support he enjoys among white working class voters .
Nevertheless , Trump ’ s approval ratings in the three key states are far from great .
In Pennsylvania , 48 percent approve and 52 disapprove of the job he is doing .
In Wisconsin , 53 percent disapprove and 47 approve .
In Michigan , Trump ’ s approval rating is 44 percent , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing as president .
The coronavirus pandemic has forced both Biden and Trump off the campaign trail .
The president has been holding daily press briefings at the White House , while Biden has struggled to cut through the noise and reach the public .
Furthermore , according to the survey , the COVID-19 pandemic eclipses all other issues in the eyes of the public .
According to the poll , 48 percent of voters in Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania say that the virus is the most important problem in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy , 12 percent say healthcare , and only two percent believe immigration is a major issue .
For Trump , who has declared himself a “ wartime president , ” public perception of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic is crucial .
According to the poll , 47 percent of voters in the three Midwestern battleground states approve of the way the president has handled the pandemic .
Sixty-seven percent approve of how their governors have handled the crisis .
The poll is good news for Biden , but , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming months .
“ To be sure , anything can happen with several months to go before the Nov. 3 general election .
State polls in 2016 showed Democrat Hillary Clinton enjoyed wide leads over Trump early in the election cycle in those same Midwestern states before she lost them to Trump on Election Day , all of them by less than a percentage point , ” the news agency wrote .
Some polls have suggested that the apparent lack of enthusiasm among Democrats is Biden ’ s greatest vulnerability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ News/Washington Post poll released late March , only 24 percent of Biden ’ s supporters are highly enthusiastic about voting for him .

According to a new Ipsos poll conducted for Reuters, President Donald Trump is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in three key battleground states.
In Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania — all of which carried Trump to victory in 2016 — Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, is polling at 45 percent, six points ahead of Trump. Biden’s lead has steadily increased over the past few months, according to the poll. In the months of February and March, the former vice president’s lead over Trump averaged three to four percentage points.
Nationwide, Biden is polling eight percentage points ahead of Trump, which suggests that the president is still relatively strong in the Midwest, largely thanks to the support he enjoys among white working class voters. Nevertheless, Trump’s approval ratings in the three key states are far from great.
In Pennsylvania, 48 percent approve and 52 disapprove of the job he is doing. In Wisconsin, 53 percent disapprove and 47 approve. In Michigan, Trump’s approval rating is 44 percent, while 56 percent disapprove of the job he is doing as president.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced both Biden and Trump off the campaign trail. The president has been holding daily press briefings at the White House, while Biden has struggled to cut through the noise and reach the public. Furthermore, according to the survey, the COVID-19 pandemic eclipses all other issues in the eyes of the public.
According to the poll, 48 percent of voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania say that the virus is the most important problem in their community. Fifteen percent say it is the economy, 12 percent say healthcare, and only 2 percent believe immigration is a major issue.
For Trump, who has declared himself a “wartime president,” public perception of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic is crucial. According to the poll, 47 percent of voters in the three Midwestern battleground states approve of the way the president has handled the pandemic. Sixty-seven percent approve of how their governors have handled the crisis.
The poll is good news for Biden, but, as Reuters notes, a lot could change in the coming months.
“To be sure, anything can happen with several months to go before the Nov. 3 general election. State polls in 2016 showed Democrat Hillary Clinton enjoyed wide leads over Trump early in the election cycle in those same Midwestern states before she lost them to Trump on Election Day, all of them by less than a percentage point,” the news agency wrote.
Some polls have suggested that the apparent lack of enthusiasm among Democrats is Biden’s greatest vulnerability. For instance, according to a ABC News/Washington Post poll released late March, only 24 percent of Biden’s supporters are highly enthusiastic about voting for him.


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Congressional Democrats Propose Creation Of A ‘Coronavirus Containment Corps’

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Andy Levin are proposing the creation of a `` coronavirus containment corp '' to assist states in implementing contact tracing .
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Andy Levin of Michigan have proposed the creation of a “ coronavirus containment corp ” to assist states with their efforts to track people who have been exposed to coronavirus , NBC News reported on Thursday .
Their proposal suggests that the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) create a strategy for hiring , training , and deploying a team of people who would be responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing program .
The proposal also suggests that the CDC could work with state Departments of Labor to hire recently unemployed people for the “ coronavirus containment corp , ” which would help reduce the record-high rates of unemployment across the country .
Contact tracing refers to the process of tracking the spread of coronavirus in the state by keeping track of people who may have been exposed and informing them of their potential exposure so they can get tested and self-quarantine as needed .
According to NBC News , health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system in place is essential for reopening businesses and relaxing social distancing recommendations .
The Hill reported on Thursday that Warren and Levin are hoping to include their proposal in the next coronavirus relief bill .
Levin stressed the need for a uniform , nationwide program .
“ Establishing a nationwide contact tracing program is the only way we can truly know the progress we ’ ve made in containing the virus , and how far we have left to go before we can transition back to normal life.
” According to NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to “ defeat a virus that can jump from state to state with a plane or car ride , we need a national plan.
” Warren highlighted the need to get ahead of the virus instead of playing catch up .
“ To confront a national crisis , we need a proactive nationwide strategy — and the Trump administration is failing to come up with one… we need a national contact tracing program that will stop the virus in its tracks , instead of us perpetually chasing it from behind.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s proposal states that the CDC should work with individual states to determine how many people are needed to roll out contact tracing programs in each state .
These people , called “ case investigators ” in the proposal , would be trained on how to track down and inform people who may have been exposed to coronavirus .
The proposal also directs the CDC to provide grants to local health departments to assist with contact tracing .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Donald Trump ‘Eager’ To Get Out Of The White House, Reportedly Exploring Ways To Travel Outside Wash

Donald Trump ‘Eager’ To Get Out Of The White House, Reportedly Exploring Ways To Travel Outside Washington

Donald Trump is reportedly getting a bit stir crazy in the White House and has begun exploring ways he could start to travel outside of Washington , D.C. , in the coming days after spending weeks inside the White House .
The report from MSNBC claimed that Trump is “ quite eager ” to get out of the White House and looking into the possibility of traveling as early as the week of May 4 .
The report noted that Trump and allies have been working on what those trips could look like , with the president likely meeting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
While these would not be campaign trips per se , the report noted that Trump is also eager to get back on the campaign trail .
He had previously continued a regular cadence of campaign stops since taking office , but has not held one since early March .
Trump had already shown some public signs of growing restless in the White House , where he has remained since national restrictions were put in place in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus , save for a brief trip to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled from Norfolk , Virginia , to New York City to serve as a mobile hospital for coronavirus patients .
As The Inquisitr reported , Trump inaccurately claimed that it had been “ months ” since he left the White House and did not seem to remember holding a rally in early March , as a reporter had corrected him .
“ I don ’ t know .
Did I hold a rally ?
I ’ m sorry , I hold a rally .
Did I hold a rally ?
” Trump replied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak , Trump said that he would not let the spread of the virus stop him from hitting the campaign trail , though he later shut it down as states across the country put tight restrictions in place that included barring public events .
While it is not clear when Trump ’ s on-the-road campaigning could resume , the Republican National Committee has already made it clear that the pandemic won ’ t alter plans for the convention later this summer .
As The Hill reported , RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for between August 24 and August 27 in Charlotte , North Carolina , was still going on as planned .
“ We are full steam ahead planning a traditional convention , working with our team on the ground… to conduct a traditional convention , ” McDaniel said , via The Hill .
“ We do not think at this time we have to switch to an alternative plan , but of course , we will monitor circumstances and adjust accordingly .
”

Donald Trump is reportedly getting a bit stir-crazy and has begun exploring ways he could start to travel outside of Washington, D.C., in the coming days after spending weeks inside the White House.
The report from MSNBC claimed that Trump is “quite eager” to get out of the White House and looking into the possibility of traveling as early as the week of May 4. The report noted that the president and his allies have been working on what those trips could look like, with the president likely meeting with first responders and those affected by the coronavirus.
While these would not be campaign trips per se, the report noted that Trump is also eager to get back on the campaign trail. He had previously continued a regular cadence of campaign stops since taking office, but has not held one since early March.
Trump had reportedly shown some public signs of growing restless in the White House, where he has remained since national restrictions were put in place in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The only exception was for a brief trip to see off the USNS Comfort as it traveled from Norfolk, Virginia, to New York City to serve as a mobile hospital for COVID-19 patients.
As The Inquisitr reported, the president claimed that it had been “months” since he left the White House and did not seem to remember holding a rally in early March, as a reporter had corrected him.
“I don’t know. Did I hold a rally? I’m sorry, I hold a rally. Did I hold a rally?” Trump replied.
In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, Trump said that he would not let the spread of the virus stop him from hitting the campaign trail, though he later shut it down as states across the country put tight restrictions in place that included barring public events.
While it is not clear when Trump’s on-the-road campaigning could resume, the Republican National Committee has already made it clear that the pandemic won’t alter plans for the convention later this summer. As The Hill reported, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel made it clear that the event — scheduled for between August 24 and August 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina — was still going on as planned.
“We are full steam ahead planning a traditional convention, working with our team on the ground… to conduct a traditional convention,” McDaniel said. “We do not think at this time we have to switch to an alternative plan, but of course, we will monitor circumstances and adjust accordingly.”


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Foreign Affairs Democrats Tell Trump To Fund WHO, Not Deflect From His Administration’s ‘Mismanaged’

Foreign Affairs Democrats Tell Trump To Fund WHO, Not Deflect From His Administration’s ‘Mismanaged’ Response

Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs have penned a letter to Donald Trump to pressure him into continuing to fund the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
According to the committee , the president ’ s decision to halt funding is an attempt to deflect attention from his administration ’ s failures in its coronavirus response .
“ This policy is profoundly misguided and appears to be an effort to scapegoat the WHO in order to deflect attention from your administration ’ s mismanaged and politicized response to the pandemic , ” the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ comprehensive , global response ” to coronavirus and quoted United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ’ assertion that all healthcare systems in the world impact each other .
The piece also said the WHO plays a “ vital role ” in public education , international health regulations , and the strengthening of public health systems in terms of the outbreak response .
The U.S. is currently investigating the WHO for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
In the past , the organization has been accused of spreading misleading information from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that COVID-19 is not contagious to humans .
“ The organization is not perfect , and we should thoroughly review its early handling of this crisis , particularly its engagement with Chinese authorities , and advocate for appropriate reforms , ” the letter read .
Despite acknowledging the necessity of an investigation , the letter doubled down on the belief the Trump administration is deflecting blame from its failures .
A recent report shed light on Trump ’ s purported failures in the pandemic response and claimed that Americans at the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control and Prevention ( CDC ) — warned the president ’ s administration about the spread of the pandemic in real-time .
The report also claimed that Trump-appointed health officials communicated with top WHO officials on a regular basis as the virus spread across the world .
The letter likens the halt in WHO funding to “ cutting funding to the fire department in the middle of a blaze ” and urged the president to consider American national security and the lives of the public .
The call to action was signed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Sherman , Gregory W. Meeks , Albio Sires , Gerald E. Connolly , Ted Deutch , Karen Bass , William R. Keating , David N. Cicilline , Ami Bera , Joaquin Castro , and Dina Titus .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Republican Jim Jordan Refuses To Wear Mask At Hearing, Calls Coronavirus Oversight Plot Against Dona

Republican Jim Jordan Refuses To Wear Mask At Hearing, Calls Coronavirus Oversight Plot Against Donald Trump

Republican Jim Jordan slammed a proposed coronavirus relief oversight committee as a political plot against Donald Trump in a meeting that grew contentions when the Ohio congressman went against the recommendation of the House physician and refused to wear a mask .
As Cleveland.com reported , Jordan spoke out against the oversight committee in a hearing of the House Rules Committee , saying that a Democratic proposal to create oversight of the federal government ’ s response is meant as a way to find attacks against Trump .
“ This is just one more attempt by the Democrats to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats have pushed for increasing oversight over both the federal government ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis and how and potential relief funds are distributed .
As Cleveland.com reported , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she sees the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a “ very bipartisan initiative to stop waste , fraud and abuse , price-gouging , profiteering , and the rest.
” She stressed that it would not be focused on Trump but rather the process in place to respond to the outbreak and give relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he voiced his displeasure , Jordan also came into conflict with Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin , who noted that the Capitol physician recommended that members of Congress wear masks , though they were not required to do so .
Jordan said he was maintaining proper social distancing by remaining six feet from others in the room , but did not put on a mask .
Raskin took issue , claiming it was not responsible of Jordan to keep his face protected in an effort to slow the spread of the virus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bravery not to wear a mask , ” Raskin said .
“ It ’ s a sign of irresponsibility towards other people because when we wear a mask , we ’ re protecting them .
When they don ’ t wear a mask , they ’ re not protecting us.
” Jordan has remained one of Trump ’ s most vocal defenders , saying last week that the impeachment hearings against the president earlier in the year took his attention away from the early response to the coronavirus .
Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , comparing it to the season flu and predicting that cases in the United States would soon go away .
But Jordan and other defenders claim that the Democrats push for impeachment played a major role , not allowing Trump to give the growing outbreak the proper attention .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Donald Trump’s Economic Adviser Floats Idea Of May Economy Reopening With Space Outfits

Conservative economist Stephen Moore , who is one of Donald Trump ‘ s top economic advisers , recently pushed for a May 1 reopening of the U.S. economy during an interview with The New York Times and proposed a unique preventative measure against coronavirus .
Moore acknowledged that such outfits aren ’ t available to the public and could be impractical .
Nevertheless , he said that the country needs to return to work at some point .
Although Moore acknowledged that some states are in better positions to ease social distancing restrictions , he suggested “ good public safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of less distancing .
“ I know we don ’ t have space outfits , ” Moore said while laughing before claiming he discovered “ all these kinds of suits ” online that are designed to prevent outside air exposure .
As reported by Vanity Fair , Moore previously stirred the pot by comparing the anti-quarantine protestors to African American civil rights activist Rosa Parks , who protested Alabama ’ s segregation laws by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white American .
“ This is a great time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said during an appearance on a YouTube show called Freedom on Tap .
Trump recently released guidelines for states to reopen their economies on May 1 at their own discretion , The New York Post reported .
Moore , who has claimed the economy should ’ ve reopened weeks ago , believes that America “ may have turned the corner ” in regards to the pandemic .
“ States should lead the way , ” he said to John Catsimatidis on his AM-970 show , The Cat ’ s Roundtable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another.
” According to Moore , the Western and Midwestern states will be the first states to reopen , with East Coast states lagging behind .
As The Inquisitr previously reported , Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to hype the reopening of the southern states .
His comment came after the governors of Georgia , South Carolina , and Tennessee announced their plans to roll back restrictions aimed at slowing the pandemic ’ s spread .
In response to plans to reopen the economy , the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could backfire .
In addition , none of the southern states planning their reopening have met the White House guidelines for lifting restrictions , which continues to fuel doubt over such proposals .


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Andrew Cuomo Slams Mitch McConnell, Says States Filing Bankruptcy ‘One Of The Really Dumb Ideas Of A

Andrew Cuomo Slams Mitch McConnell, Says States Filing Bankruptcy ‘One Of The Really Dumb Ideas Of All Time’

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo is pushing back against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s suggestion that states may have to file for bankruptcy amid the coronavirus crisis rather than rely on the federal government for help , calling the proposal “ one of the really dumb ideas of all time.
” McConnell came out against the idea of sending billions of federal dollars to state and local governments to help them keep afloat during the coronavirus crisis , saying states should have the ability to declare bankruptcy instead .
It was unclear if that could become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new legislation that would be unlikely to pass through the Democratic-controlled House .
As The Hill noted , Cuomo responded to McConnell ’ s proposal , saying on Thursday that it would not make sense to support federal bailouts to small businesses and private industry , but oppose it when it comes to state and local governments .
Cuomo noted that without federal funding , these local governments would not be able to provide many essential services to residents .
“ This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing , via The Hill .
“ Not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short-sighted .
They want to fund small businesses , fund the airlines , I understand that , but state and local governments fund police and fire and teachers and schools .
How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis ?
” Cuomo asked .
Cuomo also predicted that forcing states to declare bankruptcy would have a much more devastating impact on the nation ’ s economy than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay it back over future generations .
“ You want to see that market fall through the cellar — let New York state declare bankruptcy , ” Cuomo said .
The New York governor also pushed back the idea that coronavirus relief funds to local governments are a “ blue state bailout , ” noting that the idea of not helping some of the large and Democratic-led states like New York and California which have suffered from the coronavirus is an “ ugly ” and unnecessarily partisan idea .
Cuomo said “ that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a people ” and called for humanity and decency to rule the day .
As The Hill noted , McConnell did not even have the full support of his own party with the idea that states could declare bankruptcy .
New York Republican Rep. Peter King said that McConnell ’ s idea would make him the “ Marie Antoinette of the Senate .
”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing back against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s suggestion that states may have to file for bankruptcy amid the coronavirus crisis rather than rely on the federal government for help, calling the proposal “one of the really dumb ideas of all time.”
McConnell came out against the idea of sending billions of federal dollars to state and local governments to help them keep afloat during the coronavirus crisis, saying states should have the ability to declare bankruptcy instead. It was unclear if that could become a political possibility, as it would require new legislation that would be unlikely to pass through the Democratic-controlled House.
As The Hill noted, Cuomo responded to McConnell’s proposal, saying on Thursday that it would not make sense to support federal bailouts to small businesses and private industry, but oppose it when it comes to state and local governments. Cuomo noted that without federal funding, these local governments would not be able to provide many essential services to residents.
“This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” Cuomo said during his daily press briefing, via The Hill.
“Not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short-sighted. They want to fund small businesses, fund the airlines, I understand that, but state and local governments fund police and fire and teachers and schools. How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis?” Cuomo asked.
Cuomo also predicted that forcing states to declare bankruptcy would have a much more devastating impact on the nation’s economy than sending more federal funding and having to pay it back over future generations.
“You want to see that market fall through the cellar — let New York state declare bankruptcy,” Cuomo said.
The New York governor also pushed back the idea that coronavirus relief funds to local governments are a “blue state bailout,” noting that the idea of not helping some of the large and Democratic-led states like New York and California which have suffered from the coronavirus is an “ugly” and unnecessarily partisan idea. Cuomo said “that’s just not who we are as a people” and called for humanity and decency to rule the day.
As The Hill noted, McConnell did not even have the full support of his own party with the idea that states could declare bankruptcy. New York Republican Rep. Peter King said that McConnell’s idea would make him the “Marie Antoinette of the Senate.”


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Battleground States That Helped Elect Donald Trump Have Seen Huge Job Losses

A litany of factors came into play when Donald Trump was able to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and win the presidency back in 2016 .
However , Trump ’ s ability to rally blue collar voters in key battleground states may have been chief among them .
An investigative report by Politico indicates that those same states have incurred greater-than-average job losses recently as the American economy struggles through the coronavirus pandemic .
That trend could have major ramifications on Trump ’ s 2020 battle with former Vice President Joe Biden .
Per Politico ‘ s analysis of Labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Michigan , where more than one in four workers have filed for unemployment in recent weeks .
Trump narrowly edged out Clinton in the state during the last general election — 47.5 percent to 47.27 percent — thanks in large part to his efforts to court the working class there .
Michigan isn ’ t the only Trump-carried state that is losing jobs , either .
Pennsylvania , which also voted for Trump in 2016 , has seen nearly the same percentage of its own workforce file unemployment claims since the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 percent of workers in Ohio have filed claims , which is greater than the national average .
Per MSNBC and other outlets , 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment thus far in the wake of the outbreak-induced economic downturn .
In the nation ’ s largest battleground state , Florida , the loss of jobs has been below the national average , but those who have been laid off have encountered issues in recent weeks when attempting to file for unemployment , according to Politico .
As of last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive benefit payments in the state , which places its efficacy among the worst systems in the United States .
Susan MacManus — a political analyst in Florida and former chair of the state ’ s Elections Commission — told Politico that she believes voters will remember these developments in November .
Trump , who is reportedly seeking foreign aid for his own failing golf courses , beat Clinton by just over one point in Florida in 2016 , and carrying the state once again in 2020 could be key in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For his part , Marquette Law School professor and pollster Charles Franklin told Politico that the country ’ s current economic and joblessness crises will likely impact Trump ’ s re-election bid .

A litany of factors came into play when Donald Trump was able to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and win the presidency back in 2016. However, Trump’s ability to rally blue collar voters in key battleground states may have been chief among them. An investigative report by Politico indicates that those same states have incurred greater-than-average job losses recently as the American economy struggles through the coronavirus pandemic. That trend could have major ramifications on Trump’s 2020 battle with former Vice President Joe Biden.
Per Politico‘s analysis of Labor Department data, job losses are mounting in Michigan, where more than one in four workers have filed for unemployment in recent weeks. Trump narrowly edged out Clinton in the state during the last general election — 47.5 percent to 47.27 percent — thanks in large part to his efforts to court the working class there.
Michigan isn’t the only Trump-carried state that is losing jobs, either. Pennsylvania, which also voted for Trump in 2016, has seen nearly the same percentage of its own workforce file unemployment claims since the middle of March. Meanwhile, more than 17 percent of workers in Ohio have filed claims, which is greater than the national average.
Per MSNBC and other outlets, 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment thus far in the wake of the outbreak-induced economic downturn.
In the nation’s largest battleground state, Florida, the loss of jobs has been below the national average, but those who have been laid off have encountered issues in recent weeks when attempting to file for unemployment, according to Politico. As of last week, approximately 6 percent of applicants had begun to receive benefit payments in the state, which places its efficacy among the worst systems in the United States. Susan MacManus — a political analyst in Florida and former chair of the state’s Elections Commission — told Politico that she believes voters will remember these developments in November.
“It’s the most consistently negative aspect of this whole situation in Florida, the unemployment benefits system not working. If you’re a single parent, if you’re a head of a household, you’re not going to forget this.”
Trump, who is reportedly seeking foreign aid for his own failing golf courses, beat Clinton by just over one point in Florida in 2016, and carrying the state once again in 2020 could be key in his ability to secure a second term. For his part, Marquette Law School professor and pollster Charles Franklin told Politico that the country’s current economic and joblessness crises will likely impact Trump’s re-election bid.


inquisitr--2020-04-23--Anti-Lockdown Protesters Could Become ‘Armed Troops’ If Donald Trump Loses Reelection, Warns Yale Ps

Anti-Lockdown Protesters Could Become ‘Armed Troops’ If Donald Trump Loses Reelection, Warns Yale Psychiatrist

A noted Yale psychiatrist warns that those protesting the lockdown measures put in place by state governors appear to have some of the same characteristics of “ child soldiers ” and that if Donald Trump loses the election in November , they could become “ armed troops in the streets.
” As Salon reports , Dr. Bandy X. Lee , who has taught at Yale Law School , says that she sees similar behavior in the pro-Trump protesters as she did in child soldiers in Africa .
Lee says that Trump demands a sort of loyalty from his supporters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Subconsciously , it is a loyalty test for the people , ” she said .
She explained that in Africa , child soldiers were forced to kill a family member to show that they were loyal to the government and not their family .
She said that there is a similar behavior in the United States between urban gangs who are forced to kill a police officer to prove that they ’ re loyal to the gang and not society .
“ When Donald Trump suggests that the virus be taken as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather in churches or that people protest for their own sacrifice , he is actually testing people ’ s loyalty to the ‘ laws ’ of his mind over the laws of nature , or even impulse for survival , ” Lee said .
“ The more he abuses them , the greater their devotion grows , since the psychological cost of admitting their mistake is ever higher — and so it becomes easier to dig a well of unreality than to see the obvious truth.
” Lee , who led the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while individual violence is rarely predictable given that people who become violent are not violent a majority of the time .
But societal violence is something that can be predicted .
Trump has both supported anti-lockdown protesters and has urged governors to take whatever measures necessary to protect their populations .
Lee says this sort of misleading rhetoric will have a long-term mental health impact on the country as he seeks to cover up his mistakes with misleading statements .
Lee says that Trump has managed to convince some of his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he loses , those people may take up arms on his behalf .
If things take a negative turn for him in November , he could use his authority over them to incite violence .
“ We would be mistaken to believe he will leave , or even let a losing election happen in the first place , ” she said .
Lee has also said that she believes Trump has the emotional development of a 5-year-old .

A noted Yale psychiatrist warns that those protesting the lockdown measures put in place by state governors appear to have some of the same characteristics of “child soldiers” and that if Donald Trump loses the election in November, they could become “armed troops in the streets.”
As Salon reports, Dr. Bandy X. Lee, who has taught at Yale Law School, says that she sees similar behavior in the pro-Trump protesters as she did in child soldiers in Africa.
Lee says that Trump demands a sort of loyalty from his supporters that could evolve into something more violent.
“Subconsciously, it is a loyalty test for the people,” she said.
She explained that in Africa, child soldiers were forced to kill a family member to show that they were loyal to the government and not their family. She said that there is a similar behavior in the United States between urban gangs who are forced to kill a police officer to prove that they’re loyal to the gang and not society.
“When Donald Trump suggests that the virus be taken as a ‘hoax’, that people gather in churches or that people protest for their own sacrifice, he is actually testing people’s loyalty to the ‘laws’ of his mind over the laws of nature, or even impulse for survival,” Lee said. “The more he abuses them, the greater their devotion grows, since the psychological cost of admitting their mistake is ever higher — and so it becomes easier to dig a well of unreality than to see the obvious truth.”
Lee, who led the World Health Organization Violence Prevention Alliance, added that while individual violence is rarely predictable given that people who become violent are not violent a majority of the time. But societal violence is something that can be predicted.
Trump has both supported anti-lockdown protesters and has urged governors to take whatever measures necessary to protect their populations. Lee says this sort of misleading rhetoric will have a long-term mental health impact on the country as he seeks to cover up his mistakes with misleading statements.
Lee says that Trump has managed to convince some of his supporters to “idolize” him and when he loses, those people may take up arms on his behalf. If things take a negative turn for him in November, he could use his authority over them to incite violence.
“We would be mistaken to believe he will leave, or even let a losing election happen in the first place,” she said.
Lee has also said that she believes Trump has the emotional development of a 5-year-old.