csmonitor--2020-03-17--Voting in a time of crisis: How coronavirus reshaped 2020 election

“ This is the most important election in my lifetime , ” says Rob Withrow , who owns a lawn care business and cast an early ballot for Joe Biden in Palm Bay , Florida .
For many voters , the situation is also casting politics in an entirely new light , while raising the stakes of the election .
It ’ s putting a new premium on competence in government , while simultaneously clarifying the question : Which candidate has the right qualities to lead through these uncertain times ?
Beyond the mechanics of elections themselves , COVID-19 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Rallies , canvassing , and phone banks have been called off and replaced with virtual town halls and online barnstorms .
Florida , Arizona , and Illinois are still holding primary elections today , albeit with some changes such as reduced polling locations , while other states opted to postpone .
A dramatic scene unfolded in Ohio Monday evening as the governor postponed its primary just hours before polls were set to open .
As measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 intensify across the country – from distance learning for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons and shuttered stores and restaurants – the impact on campaigns and elections is also becoming evident .
This was always going to be a busy week for Leslie Swan .
As the supervisor of elections for Indian River , a county on Florida ’ s mid-Atlantic coast , she had prepared all year for Tuesday ’ s primary : registering voters , training poll workers , and organizing precinct locations .
But the past few days presented an unexpected to-do list – scouring the internet for hand sanitizer and instructing workers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This was the last thing I was expecting , ” says Ms. Swan , in the lobby of her office building which doubles as one of her 20 polling locations .
As measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 intensify across the country – from distance learning for millions of students , to canceled sports seasons and shuttered stores and restaurants – the impact on campaigns and elections is also becoming evident .
Florida , Arizona , and Illinois are still holding primary elections today , albeit with some changes such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heightened tensions .
Three other states – Louisiana , Georgia , and Kentucky – postponed their nominating contests until later in the spring .
A dramatic scene unfolded in Ohio Monday evening as , just hours before polls were set to open , the governor postponed its primary , after the state health director ordered polling sites closed to avoid the risk of exposure .
Beyond the mechanics of elections themselves , however , COVID-19 is casting a broad shadow over the 2020 campaign – upending traditional political campaigning as we know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks have been called off and replaced with virtual town halls and online barnstorms .
In a sign of the times , former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders debated on Sunday in an empty studio , standing six feet apart .
And for many voters , the situation has put politics in an entirely new light , raising the stakes of the election .
Much of what passed for standard political discourse just weeks ago now seems petty and beside the point , as the nation faces an unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s putting a new premium on competence in government , while simultaneously clarifying the voting booth question : Which candidate has the right qualities to lead through these uncertain times ?
“ While the pandemic is disrupting our systems , it really does underscore that need for leadership in a way that is really palpable to people , ” says Wendy Weiser , director of the Democracy Program at New York University ’ s Brennan Center for Justice .
“ It underscores the importance of government.
” “ The most important election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rob Withrow leaves the Palm Bay Community Center , a single-story mustard building blocks away from mobile home parks and the Indian River , he squints into the bright morning light and rubs a fresh dollop of hand sanitizer between his hands .
Mr. Withrow cast an early ballot for Mr. Biden – the first time he has ever voted in a primary election , he says .
“ This is the most important election in my lifetime , ” says Mr. Withrow , who owns a lawn care business .
“ Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our current president .
... Trump isn ’ t the person who ’ s going to be able to fix this.
” Dozens of other Floridians interviewed say they feel more strongly than ever about the importance of voting in their state ’ s primary , feeling certain that their candidate is best able to steer the country through this crisis .
Jeffery Nall , an adjunct humanities professor in Vero Beach who started a local Facebook page for Bernie Sanders in 2016 , says COVID-19 has made it more evident than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enact universal health care .
The same goes for Republican voters , even though their primary is largely symbolic .
Retirees Jane and Charlie Holstein , who are standing under a red tent with a “ Brevard County Republicans ” banner across the parking lot from Mr. Withrow ’ s car , say President Donald Trump has already shown his ability to act decisively to address the pandemic .
Mr. Trump is an “ experienced manager , ” says Ms. Holstein , wearing a “ Trump 2020 ” hat and matching elephant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management .
A man leaving the Palm Bay Community Center yells out , “ I agree with ya !
” to the Holsteins , who wave in return .
“ Trump knows how to select the right people , ” says Mr. Holstein .
“ Pence has got everybody who ’ s anybody in the medical fields .
They ’ re all doing a great job , and I don ’ t know how people could expect any better.
” Voters and political scientists alike take guesses about which candidate might be hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affecting campaigns .
Big , energetic rallies – a mainstay of both Mr. Sanders ’ and Mr. Trump ’ s campaigns – are off the table for now .
But while a drop in campaign events might benefit Mr. Biden , his supporters also skew older than Mr. Sanders ’ , and may be more fearful about turning out to vote .
Indeed , as soon as retirees John and Barbara Spilman file out of the Indian River County Library with “ I voted ” stickers on their chests , they pass a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forth .
Like Mr. Withrow , they say they would have rather voted on Tuesday because it feels more patriotic , but decided voting early was better for their health .
“ The main thing they tell you , ” says Ms. Spilman , “ is to stay away from a lot of people in small spaces.
” A looming question is how states will conduct the 33 remaining primaries and caucuses , with the White House now recommending no gatherings of more than 10 people for at least the next 15 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote-by-mail operations .
Monday evening , a group of organizations filed a lawsuit against Florida for not extending its vote-by-mail deadline .
Unsurprisingly , turnout on Tuesday appeared to be low .
In Illinois , when a reporter asked the spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections if low turnout was a blessing given reports of unexpectedly absent poll workers , he responded : “ I would never call low turnout a blessing .
I would call conducting an election in the midst of a global pandemic a curse.
” Still , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit at a point when the Democratic primary already seemed somewhat settled , after Mr. Biden ’ s big win on Super Tuesday and the following week had given him a sizable lead in the delegate count .
“ Even if we didn ’ t have the coronavirus concerns , turnout would go down because the dynamics have changed , ” says Michael McDonald , an associate professor of political science at the University of Florida .
“ November – now that ’ s the direction we need to think about.
” Indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure it is prepared for November ’ s general election , says Ms. Weiser with the Brennan Center , now is the time to start .
If there needs to be a mass increase in the creation and distribution of mail-in ballots , for example , now is the time for Congress to allocate funds so firms can begin printing .
Eleven gubernatorial seats , 35 U.S. Senate seats , and all 435 House seats will be on the ballot in November , in addition to the race for the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday , Democratic Sens .
Amy Klobuchar and Ron Wyden said they would be introducing legislation soon to make sure that every American will have the option to vote by mail .
They would also expand early voting to reduce the risk of infection from long lines and crowds .
“ We have held elections in all sorts of crises , in the midst of hurricanes and civil war , ” says Ms. Weiser .
“ We just need to make it fair – and get on top of it now .
@

“This is the most important election in my lifetime,” says Rob Withrow, who owns a lawn care business and cast an early ballot for Joe Biden in Palm Bay, Florida.
For many voters, the situation is also casting politics in an entirely new light, while raising the stakes of the election. It’s putting a new premium on competence in government, while simultaneously clarifying the question: Which candidate has the right qualities to lead through these uncertain times?
Beyond the mechanics of elections themselves, COVID-19 is upending traditional political campaigning as we know it. Rallies, canvassing, and phone banks have been called off and replaced with virtual town halls and online barnstorms.
Much of what passed for standard political discourse just weeks ago now seems petty and beside the point, as the nation faces an unprecedented challenge.
Florida, Arizona, and Illinois are still holding primary elections today, albeit with some changes such as reduced polling locations, while other states opted to postpone. A dramatic scene unfolded in Ohio Monday evening as the governor postponed its primary just hours before polls were set to open.
As measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 intensify across the country – from distance learning for millions of students, to canceled sports seasons and shuttered stores and restaurants – the impact on campaigns and elections is also becoming evident.
This was always going to be a busy week for Leslie Swan.
As the supervisor of elections for Indian River, a county on Florida’s mid-Atlantic coast, she had prepared all year for Tuesday’s primary: registering voters, training poll workers, and organizing precinct locations. But the past few days presented an unexpected to-do list – scouring the internet for hand sanitizer and instructing workers on how to wipe down equipment between voters.
“This was the last thing I was expecting,” says Ms. Swan, in the lobby of her office building which doubles as one of her 20 polling locations.
Why We Wrote This Much of what passed for standard political discourse just weeks ago now seems petty and beside the point, as the nation faces an unprecedented challenge.
As measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 intensify across the country – from distance learning for millions of students, to canceled sports seasons and shuttered stores and restaurants – the impact on campaigns and elections is also becoming evident.
[Editor's note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.]
Florida, Arizona, and Illinois are still holding primary elections today, albeit with some changes such as reduced polling locations, and amid heightened tensions. Three other states – Louisiana, Georgia, and Kentucky – postponed their nominating contests until later in the spring. A dramatic scene unfolded in Ohio Monday evening as, just hours before polls were set to open, the governor postponed its primary, after the state health director ordered polling sites closed to avoid the risk of exposure.
Beyond the mechanics of elections themselves, however, COVID-19 is casting a broad shadow over the 2020 campaign – upending traditional political campaigning as we know it. Rallies, canvassing, and phone banks have been called off and replaced with virtual town halls and online barnstorms. In a sign of the times, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders debated on Sunday in an empty studio, standing six feet apart.
And for many voters, the situation has put politics in an entirely new light, raising the stakes of the election. Much of what passed for standard political discourse just weeks ago now seems petty and beside the point, as the nation faces an unprecedented challenge. For many, it’s putting a new premium on competence in government, while simultaneously clarifying the voting booth question: Which candidate has the right qualities to lead through these uncertain times?
“While the pandemic is disrupting our systems, it really does underscore that need for leadership in a way that is really palpable to people,” says Wendy Weiser, director of the Democracy Program at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. “It underscores the importance of government.”
“The most important election in my lifetime”
On Friday, as Rob Withrow leaves the Palm Bay Community Center, a single-story mustard building blocks away from mobile home parks and the Indian River, he squints into the bright morning light and rubs a fresh dollop of hand sanitizer between his hands. Mr. Withrow cast an early ballot for Mr. Biden – the first time he has ever voted in a primary election, he says.
“This is the most important election in my lifetime,” says Mr. Withrow, who owns a lawn care business. “Biden doesn’t make stuff up like our current president. ... Trump isn’t the person who’s going to be able to fix this.”
Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Retirees Jane and Charlie Holstein set up a tent for the Brevard County Republicans outside a polling location in Palm Bay, Florida, March 13, 2020. They say President Donald Trump has already proved his ability to act decisively to address the pandemic.
Dozens of other Floridians interviewed say they feel more strongly than ever about the importance of voting in their state’s primary, feeling certain that their candidate is best able to steer the country through this crisis. Jeffery Nall, an adjunct humanities professor in Vero Beach who started a local Facebook page for Bernie Sanders in 2016, says COVID-19 has made it more evident than ever that the country needs a President Sanders to enact universal health care.
The same goes for Republican voters, even though their primary is largely symbolic. Retirees Jane and Charlie Holstein, who are standing under a red tent with a “Brevard County Republicans” banner across the parking lot from Mr. Withrow’s car, say President Donald Trump has already shown his ability to act decisively to address the pandemic. Mr. Trump is an “experienced manager,” says Ms. Holstein, wearing a “Trump 2020” hat and matching elephant jewelry – and that extends into crisis management. A man leaving the Palm Bay Community Center yells out, “I agree with ya!” to the Holsteins, who wave in return.
“Trump knows how to select the right people,” says Mr. Holstein. “Pence has got everybody who’s anybody in the medical fields. They’re all doing a great job, and I don’t know how people could expect any better.”
Voters and political scientists alike take guesses about which candidate might be hurt most by the various unexpected factors now affecting campaigns. Big, energetic rallies – a mainstay of both Mr. Sanders’ and Mr. Trump’s campaigns – are off the table for now. But while a drop in campaign events might benefit Mr. Biden, his supporters also skew older than Mr. Sanders’, and may be more fearful about turning out to vote.
Indeed, as soon as retirees John and Barbara Spilman file out of the Indian River County Library with “I voted” stickers on their chests, they pass a small bottle of hand sanitizer back and forth. Like Mr. Withrow, they say they would have rather voted on Tuesday because it feels more patriotic, but decided voting early was better for their health.
“The main thing they tell you,” says Ms. Spilman, “is to stay away from a lot of people in small spaces.”
Looking ahead to November
A looming question is how states will conduct the 33 remaining primaries and caucuses, with the White House now recommending no gatherings of more than 10 people for at least the next 15 days. Many states are considering expanding their vote-by-mail operations. Monday evening, a group of organizations filed a lawsuit against Florida for not extending its vote-by-mail deadline.
Unsurprisingly, turnout on Tuesday appeared to be low. In Illinois, when a reporter asked the spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections if low turnout was a blessing given reports of unexpectedly absent poll workers, he responded: “I would never call low turnout a blessing. I would call conducting an election in the midst of a global pandemic a curse.”
Still, many experts point out that the coronavirus crisis hit at a point when the Democratic primary already seemed somewhat settled, after Mr. Biden’s big win on Super Tuesday and the following week had given him a sizable lead in the delegate count.
“Even if we didn’t have the coronavirus concerns, turnout would go down because the dynamics have changed,” says Michael McDonald, an associate professor of political science at the University of Florida. “November – now that’s the direction we need to think about.”
Indeed, if the U.S. wants to make sure it is prepared for November’s general election, says Ms. Weiser with the Brennan Center, now is the time to start. If there needs to be a mass increase in the creation and distribution of mail-in ballots, for example, now is the time for Congress to allocate funds so firms can begin printing.
Eleven gubernatorial seats, 35 U.S. Senate seats, and all 435 House seats will be on the ballot in November, in addition to the race for the White House. In an op-ed in The Washington Post on Tuesday, Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Ron Wyden said they would be introducing legislation soon to make sure that every American will have the option to vote by mail. They would also expand early voting to reduce the risk of infection from long lines and crowds.
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“We have held elections in all sorts of crises, in the midst of hurricanes and civil war,” says Ms. Weiser. “We just need to make it fair – and get on top of it now.”
Editor's note: As a public service, we've removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It's free.


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Combating an ‘infodemic’: When fear and false information go viral

She advocates limiting social media consumption and finding opportunities to help others and live in a purpose-driven way .
“ When we ’ re using our skills , resources , and capacities to contribute to the betterment of society , ” she says , “ that really is known to elevate and protect our well-being through times of difficulty.
” “ Sometimes a crisis can give us a lot of fear but it can also prompt us to think deeper and to think better , ” says Dr. Kristen Lee , a behavioral science professor at Northeastern University in Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conspiracy theories have spread faster than the virus itself .
Scientific papers are being hastily released – and debunked .
The Trump administration has alleged a foreign disinformation campaign to spread fear .
As everyone from data scientists to pastors try to address this parallel challenge , dubbed an “ infodemic ” by the World Health Organization , many see an opportunity for society to come together in this crisis and emerge the stronger for it .
It ’ s one thing to quarantine people , it ’ s another to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone viral in the world ’ s first social media pandemic .
One thing quarantines can ’ t stop is the spread of false information and fear on Facebook and other popular platforms .
In the world ’ s first social media pandemic , that presents a parallel set of challenges for citizens and leaders alike .
Many have found social media an effective tool for rapidly conveying official guidelines and recommended practices , as well as for connecting with each other and supporting the most vulnerable in society .
But mixed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inaccurate claims – including from supposedly scientific studies .
This false information has amplified concerns in ways that have made it difficult to ascertain clearly the scope of the global health challenge and how best to address it .
The director-general of the World Health Organization has called on governments , companies , and news outlets around the globe to tackle an “ infodemic ” of fake news , which he characterized as being as dangerous as the coronavirus itself .
The U.S. State Department ’ s foreign propaganda-busting center has compiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading conspiracy theories about the epidemic , concluding that at least some of the activity was due to coordinated campaigns involving fake accounts , according to The Washington Post .
And amid the swirl of dire predictions , a microbiology professor in Spain has deemed this a “ pandemic of fear.
” Indeed , fear and false information have gone viral .
Everyone from data scientists and doctors to psychologists and pastors are weighing in on how to contain this infodemic and its attendant effects .
Many see an opportunity for society and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stronger for it .
“ Sometimes a crisis can give us a lot of fear but it can also prompt us to think deeper and to think better , ” says Kristen Lee , a behavioral science professor at Northeastern University in Boston who cautions against “ hype contagion.
” To avoid the sometimes paralyzing effects of fear , she advocates limiting social media consumption and finding opportunities to help others and live in a purpose-driven way .
“ When we ’ re using our skills , resources , and capacities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr. Lee says , “ that really is known to elevate and protect our well-being through times of difficulty.
” Carl Bergstrom , a biologist at the University of Washington , says half-jokingly that he was “ pre-designed ” for this crisis , with a background in studying novel infectious diseases as well as how information spreads through networks from ant colonies to Facebook .
As he ’ s monitored false information online about COVID-19 , he ’ s seen everything from anti-China conspiracy theories including the intentional development of coronavirus as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peddling fake cures .
Those cures have included special toothpaste and potions , prompting a spoof from comedian John Oliver who offered “ Premium Werewolf Solution ” for $ 49.99 .
One of the challenges of combating false information is the underlying architecture of social media and the algorithms that drive it .
“ What goes viral doesn ’ t have a lot to do with what ’ s true , it has to do with what ’ s shocking , ” says Professor Bergstrom , who commends social media companies for trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms .
“ On the one hand , kudos to them for doing that .
On the other hand , the problem exists in an ecosystem of their making.
” In addition to the often well-intentioned sharing of unverified information that turns out to be false , another threat is organized disinformation campaigns designed to distract , distort , and deceive .
When the crisis ramped up last week , there was a four- to five-day window in which official communication channels were relatively unfettered by such campaigns , says Marc Ambinder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California studying disinformation and cybersecurity around elections .
But , he adds , if the number of cases spikes , “ there ’ s going to be more anxiety , and the purveyors of disinformation in this arms race are going to regain their footing very quickly.
” The Trump administration has alleged that a foreign disinformation campaign is underway to sow fear .
This past weekend , the National Security Council tweeted , “ Text message rumors of a national # quarantine are FAKE .
There is no national lockdown.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the Pentagon has called out China for spreading “ false & absurd conspiracy theories about the origin of COVID-19 blaming U.S. service members.
” An internal European Union document describes a “ significant disinformation campaign by Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets regarding COVID-19 ” in numerous languages designed to “ exacerbate confusion , panic and fear ” and thereby undermine public trust in authorities and national health care systems .
Messages in Spanish , for example , “ advance apocalyptic stories , blame capitalists for trying to benefit from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and [ President Vladimir ] Putin are dealing with the outbreak , ” according to a Financial Times report .
Nicholas Christakis , a physician and sociologist at Yale who has become a prominent voice on COVID-19 , complained on Twitter of having gained the unwanted attention of lots of Russian bots .
“ Their intent seems to be to waste my time .
Their psychological tricks are incredible , ” he wrote .
Toomas Hendrik Ilves , the former president of Estonia , which is a leader in countering disinformation , responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dismay are par for the course .
He tweeted back , “ No need to interact .
Block.
” Dealing with fear , strengthening one another In this turgid information environment , it has been difficult for leaders to find “ a healthy balance between conveying calm and being frank about troubling facts , ” as former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. advised in a Washington Post op-ed last week .
Imparting lessons he learned from helping to steer the nation through the 2008 economic crisis , he called fear “ as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” To be sure , minimizing or ignoring information from official sources carries its own dangers , and there is disagreement about what constitutes an “ appropriate ” level of fear .
Some say fear spurs people into necessary action .
But it can also lead to poor decision-making and unnecessary worry , and negatively affect one ’ s health .
“ After working for 45 years in the field of psychiatry , I have seen fear cause a lot of long-term consequences in people ’ s lives , ” says Dr. Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pacific Lutheran University in Washington and the 2018 American Psychiatric Nurses Association ’ s Psychiatric Nurse of the Year .
“ Ultimately , over time , it can lead to compromising your immune system.
” In addition to mental health professionals ’ efforts to help people address their fears , faith leaders are also pointing seekers to spiritual sources and encouraging them to minister to their neighbors .
“ There ’ s not only a physical toll but there ’ s a psychological , emotional , and spiritual toll that we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pray through , ” says Derwin Gray , lead elder-pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land , South Carolina , citing scriptural promises of reassurance .
“ When we are serving other people ’ s needs , that ’ s when we tend to be the most healthy.
” Coming together to work through this crisis could be a catalyst for human progress , says virologist Anjeanette Roberts , who worked on SARS for three years and serves as a research scholar with Reasons to Believe .
“ It ’ s the crises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very best in us because it makes us lay aside what we tend to focus on that can divide us , ” says Dr. Roberts , a public advocate of her Christian faith who is deeply concerned about the level of polarization in American society today .
“ We have gotten really far away from the idea of ‘ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
’ ” Now , with a global health challenge that has neighbors leaning out their windows and singing together , younger people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , little kids leaving drawings in every mailbox in their neighborhood , and many other examples of people helping each other , some see an opportunity not only to survive the crisis but come out stronger for it .
Pastor Gray says , “ I think it ’ s putting us in a place of saying , ‘ Wow , maybe I do need a hope and a power and a strength and a love that is beyond me.
’ ” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

She advocates limiting social media consumption and finding opportunities to help others and live in a purpose-driven way. “When we’re using our skills, resources, and capacities to contribute to the betterment of society,” she says, “that really is known to elevate and protect our well-being through times of difficulty.”
“Sometimes a crisis can give us a lot of fear but it can also prompt us to think deeper and to think better,” says Dr. Kristen Lee, a behavioral science expert at Northeastern University in Boston who cautions against “hype contagion.”
The first pandemic of the social media era has brought a parallel set of challenges, including the rapid spread of fear and false information. Here’s how people are working to address that.
Conspiracy theories have spread faster than the virus itself. Scientific papers are being hastily released – and debunked. The Trump administration has alleged a foreign disinformation campaign to spread fear. As everyone from data scientists to pastors try to address this parallel challenge, dubbed an “infodemic” by the World Health Organization, many see an opportunity for society to come together in this crisis and emerge the stronger for it.
It’s one thing to quarantine people, it’s another to contain the fear and false information that’s gone viral in the world’s first social media pandemic.
One thing quarantines can’t stop is the spread of false information and fear on Facebook and other popular platforms. In the world’s first social media pandemic, that presents a parallel set of challenges for citizens and leaders alike.
Many have found social media an effective tool for rapidly conveying official guidelines and recommended practices, as well as for connecting with each other and supporting the most vulnerable in society. But mixed in has been a torrent of misguided advice and inaccurate claims – including from supposedly scientific studies. This false information has amplified concerns in ways that have made it difficult to ascertain clearly the scope of the global health challenge and how best to address it.
The director-general of the World Health Organization has called on governments, companies, and news outlets around the globe to tackle an “infodemic” of fake news, which he characterized as being as dangerous as the coronavirus itself. The U.S. State Department’s foreign propaganda-busting center has compiled a report on some 2 million tweets spreading conspiracy theories about the epidemic, concluding that at least some of the activity was due to coordinated campaigns involving fake accounts, according to The Washington Post. And amid the swirl of dire predictions, a microbiology professor in Spain has deemed this a “pandemic of fear.”
Why We Wrote This The first pandemic of the social media era has brought a parallel set of challenges, including the rapid spread of fear and false information. Here’s how people are working to address that.
{Editor's note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Indeed, fear and false information have gone viral. Everyone from data scientists and doctors to psychologists and pastors are weighing in on how to contain this infodemic and its attendant effects. Many see an opportunity for society and individuals to come out of this crisis the stronger for it.
“Sometimes a crisis can give us a lot of fear but it can also prompt us to think deeper and to think better,” says Kristen Lee, a behavioral science professor at Northeastern University in Boston who cautions against “hype contagion.”
To avoid the sometimes paralyzing effects of fear, she advocates limiting social media consumption and finding opportunities to help others and live in a purpose-driven way. “When we’re using our skills, resources, and capacities to contribute to the betterment of society,” Dr. Lee says, “that really is known to elevate and protect our well-being through times of difficulty.”
Claudio Furlan/LaPresse/AP View caption Hide caption People walk past a billboard reading "Andra tutto bene," which is Italian for "Everything will be alright," in Milan, Italy. Amid a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Italians are finding ways to come together virtually in solidarity. This week, children’s drawings of rainbows are appearing all over social media as well as on balconies and windows in major cities.
From “snake-oil salesmen” to Kremlin disinformation
Carl Bergstrom, a biologist at the University of Washington, says half-jokingly that he was “pre-designed” for this crisis, with a background in studying novel infectious diseases as well as how information spreads through networks from ant colonies to Facebook.
As he’s monitored false information online about COVID-19, he’s seen everything from anti-China conspiracy theories including the intentional development of coronavirus as a bioweapon to “snake-oil salesmen” peddling fake cures. Those cures have included special toothpaste and potions, prompting a spoof from comedian John Oliver who offered “Premium Werewolf Solution” for $49.99.
One of the challenges of combating false information is the underlying architecture of social media and the algorithms that drive it.
“What goes viral doesn’t have a lot to do with what’s true, it has to do with what’s shocking,” says Professor Bergstrom, who commends social media companies for trying to prevent misinformation from spreading on their platforms. “On the one hand, kudos to them for doing that. On the other hand, the problem exists in an ecosystem of their making.”
In addition to the often well-intentioned sharing of unverified information that turns out to be false, another threat is organized disinformation campaigns designed to distract, distort, and deceive.
When the crisis ramped up last week, there was a four- to five-day window in which official communication channels were relatively unfettered by such campaigns, says Marc Ambinder, a digital fellow at the University of Southern California studying disinformation and cybersecurity around elections. But, he adds, if the number of cases spikes, “there’s going to be more anxiety, and the purveyors of disinformation in this arms race are going to regain their footing very quickly.”
The Trump administration has alleged that a foreign disinformation campaign is underway to sow fear. This past weekend, the National Security Council tweeted, “Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown.” Governors and mayors have issued similar missives. And the Pentagon has called out China for spreading “false & absurd conspiracy theories about the origin of COVID-19 blaming U.S. service members.”
An internal European Union document describes a “significant disinformation campaign by Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets regarding COVID-19” in numerous languages designed to “exacerbate confusion, panic and fear” and thereby undermine public trust in authorities and national health care systems. Messages in Spanish, for example, “advance apocalyptic stories, blame capitalists for trying to benefit from the virus, and emphasise how well Russia and [President Vladimir] Putin are dealing with the outbreak,” according to a Financial Times report.
Nicholas Christakis, a physician and sociologist at Yale who has become a prominent voice on COVID-19, complained on Twitter of having gained the unwanted attention of lots of Russian bots. “Their intent seems to be to waste my time. Their psychological tricks are incredible,” he wrote.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the former president of Estonia, which is a leader in countering disinformation, responded that attempts to disrupt, disinform, and dismay are par for the course. He tweeted back, “No need to interact. Block.”
Ever since I started tweeting useful and accurate information about coronavirus, I seem to have attracted the attention of a lot of Russian bots (with 50 followers and nutty twitter streams). Their intent seems to be to waste my time. Their psychological tricks are incredible. — Nicholas A. Christakis (@NAChristakis) March 16, 2020
Dealing with fear, strengthening one another
In this turgid information environment, it has been difficult for leaders to find “a healthy balance between conveying calm and being frank about troubling facts,” as former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. advised in a Washington Post op-ed last week. Imparting lessons he learned from helping to steer the nation through the 2008 economic crisis, he called fear “as big an enemy as the virus itself.”
To be sure, minimizing or ignoring information from official sources carries its own dangers, and there is disagreement about what constitutes an “appropriate” level of fear. Some say fear spurs people into necessary action. But it can also lead to poor decision-making and unnecessary worry, and negatively affect one’s health.
“After working for 45 years in the field of psychiatry, I have seen fear cause a lot of long-term consequences in people’s lives,” says Dr. Mary Moller, associate professor of nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington and the 2018 American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s Psychiatric Nurse of the Year. “Ultimately, over time, it can lead to compromising your immune system.”
In addition to mental health professionals’ efforts to help people address their fears, faith leaders are also pointing seekers to spiritual sources and encouraging them to minister to their neighbors.
“There’s not only a physical toll but there’s a psychological, emotional, and spiritual toll that we need to be aware of and we need to pray through,” says Derwin Gray, lead elder-pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, citing scriptural promises of reassurance. “When we are serving other people’s needs, that’s when we tend to be the most healthy.”
Coming together to work through this crisis could be a catalyst for human progress, says virologist Anjeanette Roberts, who worked on SARS for three years and serves as a research scholar with Reasons to Believe.
“It’s the crises that have the ability to bring out the very best in us because it makes us lay aside what we tend to focus on that can divide us,” says Dr. Roberts, a public advocate of her Christian faith who is deeply concerned about the level of polarization in American society today. “We have gotten really far away from the idea of ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’”
Now, with a global health challenge that has neighbors leaning out their windows and singing together, younger people going grocery shopping for their older neighbors, little kids leaving drawings in every mailbox in their neighborhood, and many other examples of people helping each other, some see an opportunity not only to survive the crisis but come out stronger for it.
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Pastor Gray says, “I think it’s putting us in a place of saying, ‘Wow, maybe I do need a hope and a power and a strength and a love that is beyond me.’”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Statehouse stalemate? After three walkouts, Oregon rethinks the rules.

“ I do really , really , really worry people are going to use this every time they don ’ t get their way , ” Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr. , the top Republican in the Senate , told reporters .
“ This is not a good way to run a state.
” Oregon ’ s shift to the left in recent years leaves Republicans with few options to stop legislation they oppose .
At the same time , party leaders admitted to misgivings after their most recent boycott in February .
Legislators have offered several proposals to untie the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactic could deepen cynicism about the legislature at a time of slumping national confidence in democracy .
The question before Oregon lawmakers and voters alike is whether they can agree to disagree yet still resolve gridlock .
Hard to believe , perhaps , that was less than a decade ago .
In the past year , Oregon Republicans have staged three walkouts , and the legislature ’ s 2020 session ended earlier this month after passing just three of the 258 bills introduced .
Once upon a time , Oregon was a model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overhaul health care , balance budgets , and reform public education .
The two-year period was “ among the most productive in Oregon ’ s history , ” Governing Magazine wrote in 2012 .
America ’ s polarized politics can feel so all-consuming that even recent episodes of unity seem as distant as the Bronze Age .
Way back in 2011 , Democrats and Republicans in Oregon ’ s House of Representatives held an equal number of seats as a new legislative session began .
The 30-30 split led the parties to elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , the chamber bustled with cooperation .
The bipartisan spirit yielded an overhaul of the state ’ s health care system , major reforms to public education , and balanced budgets .
Lawmakers agreed to redraw the state ’ s congressional districts for the first time in a half century .
Their willingness to work together resulted in a legislative period that Governing Magazine in 2012 described as “ among the most productive in Oregon ’ s history.
” “ It was the best session , ” says Kim Thatcher , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term in the House .
“ We still had our differences , but we worked on issues that built toward common good , common goals.
” Such comity appears extinct less than a decade later .
Last month , Ms. Thatcher , now a state senator , joined her Republican colleagues in both chambers in boycotting this year ’ s session to prevent Democrats from advancing a climate initiative to cap greenhouse gas emissions .
The 35-day term ended in early March with a grand total of three bills passed out of 258 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the least productive in state history .
The walkout by Republicans marked their third in less than a year and the second intended to torpedo a climate measure .
Political analysts suggest the scorched-earth tactic , while achieving its purpose , could deepen public cynicism about the legislature at a time of slumping national confidence in democracy .
The exigent question before Oregon lawmakers and voters alike is whether they can agree to disagree on policies yet still resolve statehouse gridlock .
“ Our political system depends on a willingness to compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political scientist at the University of Missouri and an expert on state legislatures .
“ When that disappears , nothing gets done and nobody ’ s happy , and ultimately , that can damage trust in the institution.
” Oregon is one of four states that requires the presence of more than a simple majority of lawmakers to convene the legislature .
The state ’ s constitution defines a quorum as two-thirds of House or Senate members .
Democrats own a supermajority in both chambers but fall two seats shy of that threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power – a reflection of Oregon ’ s shift to the left in recent years – leaves Republicans with few options to stop legislation they oppose .
At the same time , the decision to walk out in February foiled their own agenda , and in the session ’ s aftermath , party leaders admitted to misgivings about the ploy .
“ I do really , really , really worry people are going to use this every time they don ’ t get their way , ” Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr. , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
“ This is not a good way to run a state.
” Both parties have staged walkouts in Oregon since the mid-1990s , and lawmakers in Indiana and Wisconsin have resorted to similar protests in the past decade .
Compared with previous boycotts in Oregon and elsewhere , this year ’ s action went further with its almost complete scuttling of the legislative agenda .
The bipartisan support that existed for various bills – including more funding for wildfire preparedness and a sweeping plan to improve forest management – vanished with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The full cost of that all-or-nothing approach could come due at the polls this fall .
Democratic lawmakers in Indiana walked out in 2011 to stymie Republican efforts to pass a controversial labor bill and other measures .
They returned more than a month later after Republicans tabled the labor proposal .
But the next year lingering memories of the boycott contributed to Democrats losing nine seats in the House .
Senator Baertschiger has announced he will not seek reelection , sparing him potential backlash from voters .
His fellow statehouse Republicans could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asserts John Farmer Jr. , director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey .
“ Walking out carries enormous risk , ” says Mr. Farmer , a Republican and former attorney general of New Jersey .
“ Because once you walk out , you not only frustrate the will of the supermajority in the legislature but the majority of the state ’ s constituents.
” On the other hand , he adds , there remains a chance that voters will instead punish Democrats for again pushing the climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another Republican walkout .
The failed gamble deprived the majority party of a chance to pursue high-priority initiatives to ease the state ’ s homelessness crisis and shortage of affordable housing .
As Mr. Farmer says , “ Voters could be thinking , ‘ We gave you a supermajority and you still couldn ’ t accomplish what we wanted you to do .
We ’ re going to throw you out.
’ ” Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown responded to the fruitless legislative session with an executive order last week that establishes strict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greenhouse gas emissions .
The Democratic governor ’ s edict contains many of the elements included in the thwarted climate bill opposed by timber , trucking , and agriculture interests , and Republican lawmakers predict industry groups will sue to block state agencies from enacting the order .
Whatever legal battles loom , after three legislative walkouts in less than a year , public support for finding a solution to avert future boycotts appears on the rise .
“ There ’ s been some frustration at what ’ s gone on , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outreach at the McCall Center for Civic Engagement at Pacific University near Portland .
“ When a session ends with only three bills passed , people notice.
” Democratic lawmakers have discussed a pair of resolutions to amend the state constitution that could untie the walkout knot .
One would lower the minimum number of members needed for a quorum from two-thirds to a simple majority .
If passed , the measure would go before voters , who would decide whether to bring Oregon in line with nearly every other state .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing the calendar restrictions on legislative sessions .
The state constitution limits terms to 35 calendar days in even-numbered years and 160 in odd-numbered years .
The “ calendar days ” proviso enables the minority party to , in effect , run out the session clock by staying away from the statehouse .
The resolution would deter walkouts by stopping the clock on days when a quorum fails to gather .
The appeal of either proposal to voters remains unclear as fallout from the boycotts recedes behind concerns over the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Moore says , “ and even more so now.
” In January , state Senator Thatcher , the longtime Republican legislator who has launched a campaign for secretary of state , proposed a resolution to abolish the 35-day sessions outright .
The party ’ s boycott ensured the measure ’ s demise .
Nonetheless , recalling those long-ago days of 2011 and 2012 , Ms. Thatcher favors a return to a time of more collaboration , less brinkmanship .
“ If we ’ re going to keep having short sessions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweaks , budget tweaks , emergency issues .
Save the big , heavy policy debates for the longer sessions , ” she says .
Then another possibility occurs to her .
“ Or maybe voters can bring back more balance to the legislature .
”

“I do really, really, really worry people are going to use this every time they don’t get their way,” Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr., the top Republican in the Senate, told reporters. “This is not a good way to run a state.”
Oregon’s shift to the left in recent years leaves Republicans with few options to stop legislation they oppose. At the same time, party leaders admitted to misgivings after their most recent boycott in February. Legislators have offered several proposals to untie the walkout knot.
Analysts suggest the scorched-earth tactic could deepen cynicism about the legislature at a time of slumping national confidence in democracy. The question before Oregon lawmakers and voters alike is whether they can agree to disagree yet still resolve gridlock.
National faith in democracy appears to be on the wane, amid the U.S.’s deep polarization. What about state legislatures? After three walkouts, Oregon is reckoning with how to disagree while keeping democracy running.
Hard to believe, perhaps, that was less than a decade ago. In the past year, Oregon Republicans have staged three walkouts, and the legislature’s 2020 session ended earlier this month after passing just three of the 258 bills introduced.
Once upon a time, Oregon was a model of bipartisanship. State lawmakers agreed to overhaul health care, balance budgets, and reform public education. The two-year period was “among the most productive in Oregon’s history,” Governing Magazine wrote in 2012.
America’s polarized politics can feel so all-consuming that even recent episodes of unity seem as distant as the Bronze Age. Way back in 2011, Democrats and Republicans in Oregon’s House of Representatives held an equal number of seats as a new legislative session began. The 30-30 split led the parties to elect co-speakers, and over the next two years, the chamber bustled with cooperation.
The bipartisan spirit yielded an overhaul of the state’s health care system, major reforms to public education, and balanced budgets. Lawmakers agreed to redraw the state’s congressional districts for the first time in a half century. Their willingness to work together resulted in a legislative period that Governing Magazine in 2012 described as “among the most productive in Oregon’s history.”
“It was the best session,” says Kim Thatcher, a Republican who was then in her fifth term in the House. “We still had our differences, but we worked on issues that built toward common good, common goals.”
Why We Wrote This National faith in democracy appears to be on the wane, amid the U.S.’s deep polarization. What about state legislatures? After three walkouts, Oregon is reckoning with how to disagree while keeping democracy running.
Such comity appears extinct less than a decade later. Last month, Ms. Thatcher, now a state senator, joined her Republican colleagues in both chambers in boycotting this year’s session to prevent Democrats from advancing a climate initiative to cap greenhouse gas emissions. The 35-day term ended in early March with a grand total of three bills passed out of 258 introduced – a period that surely ranks among the least productive in state history.
The walkout by Republicans marked their third in less than a year and the second intended to torpedo a climate measure. Political analysts suggest the scorched-earth tactic, while achieving its purpose, could deepen public cynicism about the legislature at a time of slumping national confidence in democracy. The exigent question before Oregon lawmakers and voters alike is whether they can agree to disagree on policies yet still resolve statehouse gridlock.
“Our political system depends on a willingness to compromise,” says Peverill Squire, a political scientist at the University of Missouri and an expert on state legislatures. “When that disappears, nothing gets done and nobody’s happy, and ultimately, that can damage trust in the institution.”
A ploy with “enormous risk”
Oregon is one of four states that requires the presence of more than a simple majority of lawmakers to convene the legislature. The state’s constitution defines a quorum as two-thirds of House or Senate members. Democrats own a supermajority in both chambers but fall two seats shy of that threshold in each one.
The imbalance of power – a reflection of Oregon’s shift to the left in recent years – leaves Republicans with few options to stop legislation they oppose. At the same time, the decision to walk out in February foiled their own agenda, and in the session’s aftermath, party leaders admitted to misgivings about the ploy.
“I do really, really, really worry people are going to use this every time they don’t get their way,” Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr., the top Republican in the Senate, told reporters. “This is not a good way to run a state.”
Both parties have staged walkouts in Oregon since the mid-1990s, and lawmakers in Indiana and Wisconsin have resorted to similar protests in the past decade. Compared with previous boycotts in Oregon and elsewhere, this year’s action went further with its almost complete scuttling of the legislative agenda.
The bipartisan support that existed for various bills – including more funding for wildfire preparedness and a sweeping plan to improve forest management – vanished with Republican legislators who fled the state. The full cost of that all-or-nothing approach could come due at the polls this fall.
Democratic lawmakers in Indiana walked out in 2011 to stymie Republican efforts to pass a controversial labor bill and other measures. They returned more than a month later after Republicans tabled the labor proposal. But the next year lingering memories of the boycott contributed to Democrats losing nine seats in the House.
Senator Baertschiger has announced he will not seek reelection, sparing him potential backlash from voters. His fellow statehouse Republicans could face a wider reckoning in November, asserts John Farmer Jr., director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
“Walking out carries enormous risk,” says Mr. Farmer, a Republican and former attorney general of New Jersey. “Because once you walk out, you not only frustrate the will of the supermajority in the legislature but the majority of the state’s constituents.”
On the other hand, he adds, there remains a chance that voters will instead punish Democrats for again pushing the climate initiative this year given the likelihood of another Republican walkout. The failed gamble deprived the majority party of a chance to pursue high-priority initiatives to ease the state’s homelessness crisis and shortage of affordable housing.
As Mr. Farmer says, “Voters could be thinking, ‘We gave you a supermajority and you still couldn’t accomplish what we wanted you to do. We’re going to throw you out.’ ”
Andrew Selsky/AP View caption Hide caption Oregon state Sen. Lew Frederick speaks to reporters on March 5, 2020, as fellow Democratic lawmakers look on. Democratic lawmakers said representative democracy is at stake by Republicans' repeated use of walkouts to deny a quorum and freeze all legislation. Later in the day, the 2020 legislative session ended early over the impasse.
Finding a solution
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown responded to the fruitless legislative session with an executive order last week that establishes strict guidelines for reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Democratic governor’s edict contains many of the elements included in the thwarted climate bill opposed by timber, trucking, and agriculture interests, and Republican lawmakers predict industry groups will sue to block state agencies from enacting the order.
Whatever legal battles loom, after three legislative walkouts in less than a year, public support for finding a solution to avert future boycotts appears on the rise.
“There’s been some frustration at what’s gone on,” says Jim Moore, director of political outreach at the McCall Center for Civic Engagement at Pacific University near Portland. “When a session ends with only three bills passed, people notice.”
Democratic lawmakers have discussed a pair of resolutions to amend the state constitution that could untie the walkout knot. One would lower the minimum number of members needed for a quorum from two-thirds to a simple majority. If passed, the measure would go before voters, who would decide whether to bring Oregon in line with nearly every other state.
Another proposal would retain the two-thirds threshold while changing the calendar restrictions on legislative sessions.
The state constitution limits terms to 35 calendar days in even-numbered years and 160 in odd-numbered years. The “calendar days” proviso enables the minority party to, in effect, run out the session clock by staying away from the statehouse. The resolution would deter walkouts by stopping the clock on days when a quorum fails to gather.
The appeal of either proposal to voters remains unclear as fallout from the boycotts recedes behind concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. “People already have short memories,” Mr. Moore says, “and even more so now.”
In January, state Senator Thatcher, the longtime Republican legislator who has launched a campaign for secretary of state, proposed a resolution to abolish the 35-day sessions outright.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
The party’s boycott ensured the measure’s demise. Nonetheless, recalling those long-ago days of 2011 and 2012, Ms. Thatcher favors a return to a time of more collaboration, less brinkmanship.
“If we’re going to keep having short sessions, they should be used only for policy tweaks, budget tweaks, emergency issues. Save the big, heavy policy debates for the longer sessions,” she says. Then another possibility occurs to her. “Or maybe voters can bring back more balance to the legislature.”


csmonitor--2020-03-18--Biden wins big again; few options left for Sanders

Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida , Illinois , and Arizona , increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by the coronavirus and building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign .
The former vice president 's third big night in as many weeks came on Tuesday amid tremendous uncertainty as the Democratic contest collides with efforts to slow the spread of the virus that has shut down large swaths of American life .
Polls were shuttered in Ohio , and although balloting went ahead as scheduled in the three other states , election workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's quest for his party 's nomination now seems well within reach .
His trio of wins doubled his delegate haul over Mr. Sanders , giving the former vice president a nearly insurmountable lead .
Top Democratic leaders and donors have also increasingly lined up behind Mr. Biden as the best option to square off against President Donald Trump in November .
Using a livestream to address supporters from his home state of Delaware , Mr. Biden seemed ready to move past the primary .
He paid tribute to the Vermont senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care and combating climate change .
`` Senator Sanders and his supporters have brought a remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues .
Together they have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country , '' Mr. Biden said .
`` So let me say , especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders , I hear you .
I know what 's at stake .
I know what we have to do . ''
With the exception of North Dakota and the Northern Mariana Islands , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday on March 3 .
He made no immediate move on Tuesday to contact Mr. Biden , according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the candidates .
During remarks early in the night , Mr. Sanders said little about the future of the race and instead focused on the coronavirus outbreak .
President Donald Trump , meanwhile , formally clinched the Republican presidential nomination after facing minimal opposition .
But much of the action was on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some key states suggested enthusiasm that even the coronavirus could n't contain .
Turnout in Florida 's Democratic primary surpassed the 1.7 million who cast ballots four years ago .
Mr. Sanders ' path to the nomination is quickly narrowing , and some Democrats are now calling on him to drop out in the name of party unity .
Top advisers have said he 's considering whether the political landscape could look different as the virus continues to reshape life across the country .
Still , the race increasingly favors Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African Americans and older voters who have been the hallmark of his campaign .
He also appeared to chip away at Mr. Sanders ' previous advantage with Hispanics that helped him win Nevada and California early in the race .
In Florida , Latinos made up roughly 20 % of Democratic primary voters , and they largely sided with Mr. Biden .
The former vice president received the support of 62 % of Puerto Rican voters and 57 % of Cubans , according to AP VoteCast , a broad survey of primary voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wreaked by the coronavirus will nonetheless influence how the presidential contest unfolds .
Rallies and other big events have been canceled .
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez urged states with upcoming primaries to expand vote-by-mail and absentee balloting , as well as polling station hours – trying to ensure the primary is n't further hampered going forward .
`` The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy , and we must do everything we can to protect and expand that right instead of bringing our democratic process to a halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
But the damage may have already happened .
Four states – Louisiana , Georgia , Kentucky , and Maryland – have joined Ohio in moving to push back their upcoming primaries , and others may yet do so .
That has left the Democratic primary calendar empty until March 29 , when Puerto Rico is scheduled to go to the polls .
But island leaders are working to reschedule balloting there , too .
That means there is nowhere for Mr. Sanders to gain ground on Mr. Biden anytime soon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mount a sudden surge .
At least one of Mr. Sanders ' top advisers chided party officials for going forward with voting on Tuesday .
`` The Democratic Party rightly berates the GOP for ignoring scientists ' warnings about climate change , '' David Sirota tweeted .
`` The same Dem Party just ignored scientists ' warnings & pushed to continue in-person elections during a lethal pandemic , rather than delaying until there is vote by mail . ''
There were problems across the country on Tuesday .
In Illinois , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relocate about 50 Chicago-area polling places after locations canceled at the last minute .
Jim Allen , a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners , said the board asked Democratic Gov .
J.B. Pritzker last week to cancel in-person voting , but the governor refused .
Mr. Pritzker countered that state law does n't give him the authority to make the sweeping changes that elections officials wanted .
`` Let me tell you this : It is exactly in times like these when the constitutional boundaries of our democracy should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people want to criticize me for that , well , go ahead , '' the governor said .
There were n't problems , everywhere , though .
Mel Dockens , a old small-business owner , voted in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale and said it was a tough choice .
But he went for Mr. Biden because he thought Mr. Sanders ' progressive views might turn off some Democratic voters .
`` It 's all about electability , '' Mr. Dockens said .
`` It 's not that I do n't trust Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] a little more . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta , Katie Foody in Chicago , and Seth Borenstein and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report .

Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona, increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by the coronavirus and building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.
The former vice president's third big night in as many weeks came on Tuesday amid tremendous uncertainty as the Democratic contest collides with efforts to slow the spread of the virus that has shut down large swaths of American life. Polls were shuttered in Ohio, and although balloting went ahead as scheduled in the three other states, election workers and voters reported problems.
Still, Mr. Biden's quest for his party's nomination now seems well within reach. His trio of wins doubled his delegate haul over Mr. Sanders, giving the former vice president a nearly insurmountable lead. Top Democratic leaders and donors have also increasingly lined up behind Mr. Biden as the best option to square off against President Donald Trump in November.
Using a livestream to address supporters from his home state of Delaware, Mr. Biden seemed ready to move past the primary. He paid tribute to the Vermont senator for advancing key issues like affordable health care and combating climate change.
"Senator Sanders and his supporters have brought a remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues. Together they have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country," Mr. Biden said. "So let me say, especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders, I hear you. I know what's at stake. I know what we have to do."
With the exception of North Dakota and the Northern Mariana Islands, Mr. Sanders hasn't scored a victory since Super Tuesday on March 3. He made no immediate move on Tuesday to contact Mr. Biden, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the candidates. During remarks early in the night, Mr. Sanders said little about the future of the race and instead focused on the coronavirus outbreak.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, formally clinched the Republican presidential nomination after facing minimal opposition.
But much of the action was on the Democratic side, where higher vote totals in some key states suggested enthusiasm that even the coronavirus couldn't contain. Turnout in Florida's Democratic primary surpassed the 1.7 million who cast ballots four years ago.
Mr. Sanders' path to the nomination is quickly narrowing, and some Democrats are now calling on him to drop out in the name of party unity. Top advisers have said he's considering whether the political landscape could look different as the virus continues to reshape life across the country.
Still, the race increasingly favors Mr. Biden. He maintained strength on Tuesday with African Americans and older voters who have been the hallmark of his campaign. He also appeared to chip away at Mr. Sanders' previous advantage with Hispanics that helped him win Nevada and California early in the race.
In Florida, Latinos made up roughly 20% of Democratic primary voters, and they largely sided with Mr. Biden. The former vice president received the support of 62% of Puerto Rican voters and 57% of Cubans, according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of primary voters.
The public health and economic havoc wreaked by the coronavirus will nonetheless influence how the presidential contest unfolds.
Rallies and other big events have been canceled. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez urged states with upcoming primaries to expand vote-by-mail and absentee balloting, as well as polling station hours – trying to ensure the primary isn't further hampered going forward.
"The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect and expand that right instead of bringing our democratic process to a halt," Mr. Perez said in a statement.
But the damage may have already happened.
Four states – Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, and Maryland – have joined Ohio in moving to push back their upcoming primaries, and others may yet do so. That has left the Democratic primary calendar empty until March 29, when Puerto Rico is scheduled to go to the polls. But island leaders are working to reschedule balloting there, too.
That means there is nowhere for Mr. Sanders to gain ground on Mr. Biden anytime soon, even if he could find a way to mount a sudden surge.
At least one of Mr. Sanders' top advisers chided party officials for going forward with voting on Tuesday.
"The Democratic Party rightly berates the GOP for ignoring scientists' warnings about climate change," David Sirota tweeted. "The same Dem Party just ignored scientists' warnings & pushed to continue in-person elections during a lethal pandemic, rather than delaying until there is vote by mail."
There were problems across the country on Tuesday. In Illinois, for instance, there was a push to relocate about 50 Chicago-area polling places after locations canceled at the last minute.
Jim Allen, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, said the board asked Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week to cancel in-person voting, but the governor refused. Mr. Pritzker countered that state law doesn't give him the authority to make the sweeping changes that elections officials wanted.
"Let me tell you this: It is exactly in times like these when the constitutional boundaries of our democracy should be respected above all else. And if people want to criticize me for that, well, go ahead," the governor said.
There weren't problems, everywhere, though. Mel Dockens, a old small-business owner, voted in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale and said it was a tough choice. But he went for Mr. Biden because he thought Mr. Sanders' progressive views might turn off some Democratic voters.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
"It's all about electability," Mr. Dockens said. "It's not that I don't trust Bernie Sanders, but I trust [Biden] a little more."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Katie Foody in Chicago, and Seth Borenstein and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-03-19--Three questions as Biden effectively locks down nomination

Joe Biden ’ s sweep of Tuesday ’ s primaries effectively seals the Democratic presidential nomination for the former vice president .
As I write , his only opponent , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , is “ assessing ” his campaign and is expected to drop out at some point .
For now , though , both candidates are focused on the COVID-19 pandemic , and in live-streamed remarks Tuesday night , expressed their concerns and aspirations for Americans at this challenging time .
Indeed , as James Hohmann of the Washington Post writes , “ many Americans seem far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus ’ s potential impact on their lives and their livelihoods.
” Still , it ’ s an election year - albeit one filled with uncertainty .
Will Senator Sanders work hard to unite his army of disappointed followers behind former Vice President Biden in the effort to defeat President Donald Trump ?
Will the national party conventions take place this summer - or at all ?
Will the election itself even happen ?
On the first question , Mr. Sanders promised earlier this month to back Mr. Biden if he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has only highlighted their differences : Mr. Sanders , a democratic socialist , is focused on protecting low-income Americans while the center-left Mr. Biden projects a more holistic approach .
At the same time , Mr. Biden has said he ’ ll adopt plans from both the Sanders and Elizabeth Warren campaigns on education costs and bankruptcy .
The Democratic mainstream has most certainly shifted left .
Whether that will be enough to energize Sanders supporters remains to be seen .
Which brings the discussion back to President Trump .
Even if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be motivated by the “ negative partisanship ” of voting against Mr. Trump .
The decision Thursday by Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to drop out and endorse Mr. Biden ( and not run as an independent , as some feared ) reinforced Democratic unity .
Perhaps the quadrennial conventions won ’ t be needed to ramp up partisan enthusiasm .
As things looks now , with all major gatherings off the table for the foreseeable future , a convention-less and rally-free campaign may be in our future .
The parties may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their candidates .
And what of the election itself ?
Senators are pushing for vote-by-mail to keep people safe , as CNBC reports .
And as Buzzfeed recently asked , what happens if Mr. Trump tries to cancel or postpone the election because of the coronavirus ?
The short answer is , he can ’ t do either .
To go to that length would require both an act of Congress and a change to the Constitution , both liberal and conservative experts agree .
Let us know what you ’ re thinking @ @ @ @ @

Dear reader:
Joe Biden’s sweep of Tuesday’s primaries effectively seals the Democratic presidential nomination for the former vice president. As I write, his only opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is “assessing” his campaign and is expected to drop out at some point.
For now, though, both candidates are focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and in live-streamed remarks Tuesday night, expressed their concerns and aspirations for Americans at this challenging time.
Indeed, as James Hohmann of the Washington Post writes, “many Americans seem far less interested in partisan politics now than the virus’s potential impact on their lives and their livelihoods.”
Still, it’s an election year - albeit one filled with uncertainty. Will Senator Sanders work hard to unite his army of disappointed followers behind former Vice President Biden in the effort to defeat President Donald Trump? Will the national party conventions take place this summer - or at all? Will the election itself even happen?
On the first question, Mr. Sanders promised earlier this month to back Mr. Biden if he’s the nominee, but the crisis has only highlighted their differences: Mr. Sanders, a democratic socialist, is focused on protecting low-income Americans while the center-left Mr. Biden projects a more holistic approach.
At the same time, Mr. Biden has said he’ll adopt plans from both the Sanders and Elizabeth Warren campaigns on education costs and bankruptcy. The Democratic mainstream has most certainly shifted left. Whether that will be enough to energize Sanders supporters remains to be seen.
Which brings the discussion back to President Trump. Even if not inspired by Mr. Biden, Sanders supporters can be motivated by the “negative partisanship” of voting against Mr. Trump. The decision Thursday by Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to drop out and endorse Mr. Biden (and not run as an independent, as some feared) reinforced Democratic unity.
Perhaps the quadrennial conventions won’t be needed to ramp up partisan enthusiasm. As things looks now, with all major gatherings off the table for the foreseeable future, a convention-less and rally-free campaign may be in our future. The parties may have to find another way to formally nominate their candidates.
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And what of the election itself? Senators are pushing for vote-by-mail to keep people safe, as CNBC reports. And as Buzzfeed recently asked, what happens if Mr. Trump tries to cancel or postpone the election because of the coronavirus? The short answer is, he can’t do either. To go to that length would require both an act of Congress and a change to the Constitution, both liberal and conservative experts agree.
Let us know what you’re thinking at csmpolitics@csmonitor.com.


csmonitor--2020-03-20--$1 trillion rescue plan; tax filing deadline moved to July 15

Members of President Donald Trump 's economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $ 1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak .
It 's the biggest effort yet to shore up households and the United States economy as the pandemic and its nationwide shutdown hurtles the country toward a likely recession .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican opening offer to pump $ 1,200 direct checks to taxpayers , $ 300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll , and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other industries .
The GOP leader 's effort builds on Mr. Trump 's request for Congress to `` go big . ''
`` We need to take bold and swift action as soon as possible , '' Mr. McConnell said Thursday , announcing his plan on the Senate floor .
The 247-page McConnell CARES Act puts the leader 's imprint on opening talks with Democrats in Congress as lawmakers prepare to work through the weekend to fast-track perhaps the most urgent legislative undertaking since the 2008 financial crisis .
The negotiations are certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure on Washington to act .
Mr. Trump 's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow will meet behind closed doors with Senate leaders .
Democrats say the Republican plan does not go far enough and some Senate Republicans object to certain provisions .
`` We are beginning to review Senator McConnell 's proposal and on first reading , it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers , '' said a joint statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shore up households , businesses , and the health care industry , which is bracing for an expected onslaught of patients falling ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 .
The one-time $ 1,200 stipends would be sent to individuals – $ 2,400 for couples – phased out at income thresholds of $ 75,000 for individuals and $ 150,000 per couple .
Additionally , there would be $ 500 payments for each child .
Additionally , the McConnell bill would provide $ 300 billion to small businesses , with loans that would eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet payroll expenses .
To shore up industry , Mr. McConnell 's plan would provide $ 208 billion in loans and loan guarantees to distressed sectors , including $ 50 billion for commercial airlines , $ 8 billion for air cargo carriers , and $ 150 billion for other eligible businesses , but those loans would have to be paid back .
Businesses would also be allowed to defer payment of the 6.2 % employer payroll tax .
The proposal also includes a specific provision to allow the Treasury secretary to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock options or other financial instruments , of companies that receive federal aid .
At the same time , caring for the expected surge of sick Americans is a priority for Congress .
The McConnell proposal contains a raft of health care provisions – including permanent liability protection for the manufacturers of respirators and other desperately needed medical gear to handle the pandemic .
At the consumer level , Mr. McConnell 's bill would put into federal law the commitment from insurers that coronavirus tests will be cost-free to policy holders .
Additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines , at no cost to patients .
For the health care industry , the bill would establish a new Medicare payment for treating COVID-19 patients .
It would suspend through the end of this year a 2 % Medicare payment cut to providers under previously set budget restraints .
Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer said in statement they looked forward to working with Republicans `` in a bipartisan way to deliver for the American people as soon as humanly possible . ''
The Democratic leaders said , however , their priority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected from the loss of a paycheck or that no family falls into financial ruin because of this pandemic . ''
The Democratic leaders called on Mr. Trump to ramp up production of medical supplies and rapidly erect temporary field hospitals under new authorities he has invoked in the Defense Production Act .
Keeping paychecks flowing for idled workers as jobless claims skyrocket is a top priority for both Republican and Democratic plans emerging from Congress .
But how best to send direct payments to Americans – as one-time stipends , ongoing payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crucial debate .
Democrats have other ideas for ushering aid to Americans by pushing more money into the existing unemployment insurance system .
Mr. Schumer called it `` employment insurance '' – which he characterized as `` unemployment insurance on steroids . ''
Some GOP senators panned the idea of direct one-time checks , preferring instead to use the federal dollars to keep workers who are asked to stay home on business payrolls .
`` What I want is income , not one check , '' said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are lining up for help .
The total price tag is sure to grow beyond $ 1 trillion , lawmakers said .
Mr. Trump has already signed into law a $ 100 billion-plus bill to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers hit by it .
Earlier , Mr. Trump signed an initial $ 8.3 billion package from Congress .
The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15 , to July 15 , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said .
Mr. Mnuchin announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that at Mr. Trump 's direction `` we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 .
All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties . ''
At a White House briefing , Mr. Trump said the delay on filing and paying taxes until July 15 was done to give taxpayers more time and `` hopefully by that time , people will be getting back to their lives . ''
Mr. Trump said that if people are expecting refunds , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they can get their refunds from the IRS more quickly .
The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments , a move that Mr. Mnuchin said would leave $ 300 billion in the economy at a critical time .
The administration used authority under Mr. Trump 's national emergency declaration .
The delay is available to people who owe $ 1 million or less and corporations that owe $ 10 million or less .
It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision .
Mr. Mnuchin had said the payment delay could provide $ 300 billion in temporary support to the economy by giving households and businesses the ability to use money they would have paid to the IRS as financial support to meet other needs during the economic emergency created by the efforts to contain the coronavirus .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Darlene Superville , Matthew Daly , Mary Clare Jalonick , Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Andrew Taylor, Lisa Mascaro, and Martin Crutsinger

Members of President Donald Trump's economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak.
It's the biggest effort yet to shore up households and the United States economy as the pandemic and its nationwide shutdown hurtles the country toward a likely recession.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican opening offer to pump $1,200 direct checks to taxpayers, $300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll, and $208 billion in loans to airlines and other industries.
The GOP leader's effort builds on Mr. Trump's request for Congress to "go big."
"We need to take bold and swift action as soon as possible," Mr. McConnell said Thursday, announcing his plan on the Senate floor.
The 247-page McConnell CARES Act puts the leader's imprint on opening talks with Democrats in Congress as lawmakers prepare to work through the weekend to fast-track perhaps the most urgent legislative undertaking since the 2008 financial crisis.
The negotiations are certain to encounter difficulties ahead, despite the pressure on Washington to act. Mr. Trump's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow will meet behind closed doors with Senate leaders. Democrats say the Republican plan does not go far enough and some Senate Republicans object to certain provisions.
"We are beginning to review Senator McConnell's proposal and on first reading, it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers," said a joint statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
The GOP leader's plan aims to shore up households, businesses, and the health care industry, which is bracing for an expected onslaught of patients falling ill from the virus that causes COVID-19.
The one-time $1,200 stipends would be sent to individuals – $2,400 for couples – phased out at income thresholds of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 per couple. Additionally, there would be $500 payments for each child.
Additionally, the McConnell bill would provide $300 billion to small businesses, with loans that would eventually be forgiven for employers who use them to meet payroll expenses.
To shore up industry, Mr. McConnell's plan would provide $208 billion in loans and loan guarantees to distressed sectors, including $50 billion for commercial airlines, $8 billion for air cargo carriers, and $150 billion for other eligible businesses, but those loans would have to be paid back.
Businesses would also be allowed to defer payment of the 6.2% employer payroll tax.
The proposal also includes a specific provision to allow the Treasury secretary to "participate in the gains," through stock options or other financial instruments, of companies that receive federal aid.
At the same time, caring for the expected surge of sick Americans is a priority for Congress.
The McConnell proposal contains a raft of health care provisions – including permanent liability protection for the manufacturers of respirators and other desperately needed medical gear to handle the pandemic.
At the consumer level, Mr. McConnell's bill would put into federal law the commitment from insurers that coronavirus tests will be cost-free to policy holders. Additionally, the bill requires coverage of coronavirus vaccines, at no cost to patients.
For the health care industry, the bill would establish a new Medicare payment for treating COVID-19 patients. It would suspend through the end of this year a 2% Medicare payment cut to providers under previously set budget restraints.
Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer said in statement they looked forward to working with Republicans "in a bipartisan way to deliver for the American people as soon as humanly possible."
The Democratic leaders said, however, their priority is to "make sure all workers are protected from the loss of a paycheck or that no family falls into financial ruin because of this pandemic."
The Democratic leaders called on Mr. Trump to ramp up production of medical supplies and rapidly erect temporary field hospitals under new authorities he has invoked in the Defense Production Act.
Keeping paychecks flowing for idled workers as jobless claims skyrocket is a top priority for both Republican and Democratic plans emerging from Congress.
But how best to send direct payments to Americans – as one-time stipends, ongoing payroll support, or unemployment checks – is a crucial debate.
Democrats have other ideas for ushering aid to Americans by pushing more money into the existing unemployment insurance system. Mr. Schumer called it "employment insurance" – which he characterized as "unemployment insurance on steroids."
Some GOP senators panned the idea of direct one-time checks, preferring instead to use the federal dollars to keep workers who are asked to stay home on business payrolls.
"What I want is income, not one check," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Meanwhile, industries of all kinds are lining up for help. The total price tag is sure to grow beyond $1 trillion, lawmakers said.
Mr. Trump has already signed into law a $100 billion-plus bill to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers hit by it. Earlier, Mr. Trump signed an initial $8.3 billion package from Congress.
Income tax filing date moved to July 15
The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15, to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
Mr. Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet Friday saying that at Mr. Trump's direction "we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties."
At a White House briefing, Mr. Trump said the delay on filing and paying taxes until July 15 was done to give taxpayers more time and "hopefully by that time, people will be getting back to their lives."
Mr. Trump said that if people are expecting refunds, they should go ahead and file now so that they can get their refunds from the IRS more quickly.
The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments, a move that Mr. Mnuchin said would leave $300 billion in the economy at a critical time.
The administration used authority under Mr. Trump's national emergency declaration. The delay is available to people who owe $1 million or less and corporations that owe $10 million or less.
It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the federal government and delay their tax filing deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision.
Mr. Mnuchin had said the payment delay could provide $300 billion in temporary support to the economy by giving households and businesses the ability to use money they would have paid to the IRS as financial support to meet other needs during the economic emergency created by the efforts to contain the coronavirus.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Daly, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-20--US senator sold $1.7M in stock right before stock market dive

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr , R-N.C. , sold as much as $ 1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the coronavirus epidemic .
Senate records show that Senator Burr and his wife sold between roughly $ 600,000 and $ 1.7 million in more than 30 separate transactions in late January and mid-February , just before the market began to fall and as government health officials began to issue stark warnings about the effects of the virus .
Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels .
The stock sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Responsive Politics .
Most of them came on Feb. 13 , just before Senator Burr made a speech in Washington , D.C. , in which he predicted severe consequences from the virus , including closed schools and cutbacks in company travel , according to audio obtained by National Public Radio and released Thursday .
Senator Burr told the small North Carolina State Society audience that the virus was “ much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history ” and “ probably more akin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s remarks were much more dire than remarks he had made earlier in the month for Fox News in an op-ed he coauthored with Sen. Lamar Alexander R-Tenn. , assuring Americans that the United States was prepared to meet the public threat of the coronavirus .
“ Thankfully , the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats , like the coronavirus , in large part due to the work of the Senate Health Committee , Congress , and the Trump Administration .
The work of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials to move swiftly and decisively in the last few weeks .
... All of these steps are part of the response framework Congress has put in place to ensure we are prepared for disease outbreaks and other public health threats.
” Despite the timing , there is no indication that Senator Burr had any inside information as he sold his stocks and issued private warnings to his wealthy donors .
The intelligence panel did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter .
The person declined to be identified to discuss confidential committee activity .
Senator Burr responded to these reports on Thursday by tweeting that Americans were already being warned about the effects of the virus when he made the speech to the North Carolina State Society .
“ The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased , ” Senator Burr tweeted .
“ Be prepared.
” Senator Burr sent out the tweets before the reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson for the senator said in a statement that Senator Burr “ has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy ” and supports congressional efforts to help the economy .
The spokesperson declined to be identified in order to share the senator ’ s thinking .
The North Carolina senator was not the only lawmaker to sell off stocks just before the steep decline due to the global pandemic .
Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler , a new senator who is up for re-election this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars worth of stock in late January , as senators began to get briefings on the virus , also according to Senate records .
In the weeks that followed , Senator Loeffler urged her constituents to have faith in the Trump administration ’ s efforts to prepare the nation .
“ @ realDonaldTrump & his administration are doing a great job working to keep Americans healthy & safe , ” Senator Loeffler tweeted Feb. 27 .
The Daily Beast first reported that Senator Loeffler dropped the stock in late January .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , which owns the New York Stock Exchange .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Additional material from Business Insider was used in this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., sold as much as $1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the coronavirus epidemic.
Senate records show that Senator Burr and his wife sold between roughly $600,000 and $1.7 million in more than 30 separate transactions in late January and mid-February, just before the market began to fall and as government health officials began to issue stark warnings about the effects of the virus. Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels.
The stock sales were first reported by ProPublica and The Center for Responsive Politics. Most of them came on Feb. 13, just before Senator Burr made a speech in Washington, D.C., in which he predicted severe consequences from the virus, including closed schools and cutbacks in company travel, according to audio obtained by National Public Radio and released Thursday.
Senator Burr told the small North Carolina State Society audience that the virus was “much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history” and “probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.”
Senator Burr’s remarks were much more dire than remarks he had made earlier in the month for Fox News in an op-ed he coauthored with Sen. Lamar Alexander R-Tenn., assuring Americans that the United States was prepared to meet the public threat of the coronavirus.
“Thankfully, the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats, like the coronavirus, in large part due to the work of the Senate Health Committee, Congress, and the Trump Administration. The work of Congress and the administration has allowed U.S. public health officials to move swiftly and decisively in the last few weeks. ... All of these steps are part of the response framework Congress has put in place to ensure we are prepared for disease outbreaks and other public health threats.”
Despite the timing, there is no indication that Senator Burr had any inside information as he sold his stocks and issued private warnings to his wealthy donors. The intelligence panel did not have any briefings on the pandemic the week when most of the stocks were sold, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person declined to be identified to discuss confidential committee activity.
Senator Burr responded to these reports on Thursday by tweeting that Americans were already being warned about the effects of the virus when he made the speech to the North Carolina State Society.
“The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased,” Senator Burr tweeted. “Be prepared.”
Senator Burr sent out the tweets before the reports of his stock sales came out. A spokesperson for the senator said in a statement that Senator Burr “has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy” and supports congressional efforts to help the economy. The spokesperson declined to be identified in order to share the senator’s thinking.
The North Carolina senator was not the only lawmaker to sell off stocks just before the steep decline due to the global pandemic. Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a new senator who is up for re-election this year, sold off hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stock in late January, as senators began to get briefings on the virus, also according to Senate records.
In the weeks that followed, Senator Loeffler urged her constituents to have faith in the Trump administration’s efforts to prepare the nation.
“@realDonaldTrump & his administration are doing a great job working to keep Americans healthy & safe,” Senator Loeffler tweeted Feb. 27.
The Daily Beast first reported that Senator Loeffler dropped the stock in late January. The senator is married to Jeffrey Sprecher, the chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Additional material from Business Insider was used in this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.