cnbc--2020-04-27--Op-ed: How the US can use the Covid-19 crisis to reimagine the energy world, save jobs and stabilize

Op-ed: How the US can use the Covid-19 crisis to reimagine the energy world, save jobs and stabilize markets

Workers extracting oil from oil wells in the Permian Basin in Midland , Texas on May 1 , 2018 .
The U.S. role as the world 's leading oil and gas producer does n't feel as empowering as it recently did , with oil prices heading into negative territory for the first time ever this week .
Yet there is an opportunity in the oil industry 's unprecedented crisis — and in the further months of market volatility that will come with it .
This period presents a chance for the United States to forge a better and more sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be found even within the vast riches of U.S. shale .
What President Trump and his administration could do – perhaps better than any other country in the world due to its dual leadership in fossil fuels and renewables technology – is to help inspire and convene a global energy crisis conversation that points to the future .
Its purpose would be to reimagine the energy world post-Covid-19 .
It would be a cleaner world that invests more deeply in renewables , for sure , leveraging the trillions of dollars in national stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would at the same time safeguard oil and gas industries and their millions of global jobs by advancing promising , new technologies that decarbonize their use .
Clean energy producers would have a prominent place at the table – to include everything from advanced batteries and solar to nuclear and carbon capture .
So would major consuming states like China and India .
The institutional setting would go far beyond anything possible even in an expanded OPEC-plus-plus , but producing states would be there .
With Saudi Arabia in the chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could build on its convening of energy ministers on April 10 for an ongoing , structured conversation to include all relevant government and industry stakeholders .
The aim would be to lay out a practical path to a more sustainable energy system that recognizes we 're going to need a lot of different technologies and that the approaches and economic implications will vary across geographies .
The climate community will confront the uncomfortable truth that oil and gas will remain a critical part of the mix for the foreseeable future ; the fossil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowering of their carbon footprint .
In working to convene such a conversation , President Trump would be building on the credibility he has gained among oil producing countries by brokering the recent , unprecedented production cut , without which the oil prices crisis would be far worse .
`` We are most grateful my friend , President Trump , played a leadership role in midwifing our historic agreement , '' Mohammed Barkindo , secretary general of OPEC , told me this week .
`` His engagement with his counterparts in the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mexico was timely . ''
At the same time , President Trump could confound his critics among climate activists by embracing their job-creating technologies through stimulus and new infrastructure programs .
Thus far , political polarization has blocked creative action on the U.S. energy future .
U.S. officials will find an ally in Fatih Birol , the executive director of the International Energy Agency .
OPEC officials say he inspired the recent G20 meeting on energy .
Yesterday ( April 24 ) he convened a virtual ministerial roundtable that focused on recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention on energy efficiency and renewable energy .
The IEA intended that meeting to be the first of many in the coming weeks `` to exchange ideas , reflect , and drive strategic action , '' wrote Birol and Dan Jorgensen , Danish minister for climate energy and utilities , describing their convening 's purpose .
`` Around the world , leaders are getting ready now , drawing up massive economic stimulus packages , '' they write .
`` Some of these plans will provide short-term boosts , others will shape infrastructure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by making clean energy an integral part of their plans , governments can deliver jobs and economic growth while also ensuring that their energy systems are modernized , more resilient and less polluting . ''
Some in the climate activist community have seen a silver lining in the Covid-19 crisis in improved air quality , captured in before-and-after photographs from around the world .
Yet suggesting this could be the new normal neglects the unacceptable human pain of our ongoing economic shock .
Randolph Bell , the director of the Atlantic Council 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forthcoming article that before the layoffs of the past few weeks , the U.S. oil industry directly employed over 150,000 people , supported more than 10 million additional jobs , and made up 8 percent of U.S. GDP .
There were 51,000 oil and gas job losses in March alone , with layoffs hitting blue-collar workers first .
`` The polarized politics in Washington make the desired orderly transition impossible in a timeframe that is relevant to the current employment crisis , '' says Bell .
`` All-or-nothing measures will only cause more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. oil and gas industry collapse is a political non-starter and it wo n't address environmental issues meaningfully .
Without accompanying demand-side action , the U.S. will still consume significant amounts of oil and gas .
`` We will just import it from countries with potentially weaker environmental regulation , '' explains Bell .
A pandemic-driven drop in emissions is certain this year , but the lesson of the financial crisis of 2008-2009 shows that 's nothing to celebrate .
Says the IEA 's Fatih Birol , `` Although carbon dioxide emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they rebounded by 1.7 billion tons the year after , the sharpest upswing in history , driven mainly by developing Asia , '' For him , the lesson is that smart policy decisions should be taken during the mind-focusing period of the crisis to protect jobs but also put emissions into structural decline .
That could involve betting big on game-technologies , such as lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen electrolyzers , which Birol says are now in a stage of development where wind and solar were in 2008-2009 .
Perhaps President Trump could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , standing beside Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette , to announce that he has instructed his administration to reimagine the energy world with global partners in a way that will tap America 's best brains and its vast resources .
He could protect at-risk producers , bring stability to markets and decarbonize the environment – all at the same time .
That would be true energy dominance .
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author , prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council , one of the United States ' most influential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent , assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper 's European edition .
His latest book – `` Berlin 1961 : Kennedy , Khrushchev , and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth '' – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages .
Follow him on Twitter @ FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points , his look each Saturday at the past week 's top stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNBC contributors , follow @ CNBCopinion on Twitter .

Workers extracting oil from oil wells in the Permian Basin in Midland, Texas on May 1, 2018.
The U.S. role as the world's leading oil and gas producer doesn't feel as empowering as it recently did, with oil prices heading into negative territory for the first time ever this week.
Yet there is an opportunity in the oil industry's unprecedented crisis — and in the further months of market volatility that will come with it. This period presents a chance for the United States to forge a better and more sustainable path to global energy leadership than can be found even within the vast riches of U.S. shale.
What President Trump and his administration could do – perhaps better than any other country in the world due to its dual leadership in fossil fuels and renewables technology – is to help inspire and convene a global energy crisis conversation that points to the future.
Its purpose would be to reimagine the energy world post-Covid-19.
It would be a cleaner world that invests more deeply in renewables, for sure, leveraging the trillions of dollars in national stimulus programs around the world. However, it would at the same time safeguard oil and gas industries and their millions of global jobs by advancing promising, new technologies that decarbonize their use.
Clean energy producers would have a prominent place at the table – to include everything from advanced batteries and solar to nuclear and carbon capture. So would major consuming states like China and India. The institutional setting would go far beyond anything possible even in an expanded OPEC-plus-plus, but producing states would be there.
With Saudi Arabia in the chair of the G20 this year, the world could build on its convening of energy ministers on April 10 for an ongoing, structured conversation to include all relevant government and industry stakeholders.
The aim would be to lay out a practical path to a more sustainable energy system that recognizes we're going to need a lot of different technologies and that the approaches and economic implications will vary across geographies.
The climate community will confront the uncomfortable truth that oil and gas will remain a critical part of the mix for the foreseeable future; the fossil fuel industry will need to accelerate the lowering of their carbon footprint.
In working to convene such a conversation, President Trump would be building on the credibility he has gained among oil producing countries by brokering the recent, unprecedented production cut, without which the oil prices crisis would be far worse.
"We are most grateful my friend, President Trump, played a leadership role in midwifing our historic agreement," Mohammed Barkindo, secretary general of OPEC, told me this week. "His engagement with his counterparts in the Kremlin, the Royal Court in Riyadh, and Mexico was timely."
At the same time, President Trump could confound his critics among climate activists by embracing their job-creating technologies through stimulus and new infrastructure programs. Thus far, political polarization has blocked creative action on the U.S. energy future.
U.S. officials will find an ally in Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency. OPEC officials say he inspired the recent G20 meeting on energy. Yesterday (April 24) he convened a virtual ministerial roundtable that focused on recovery packages around the world, with special attention on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The IEA intended that meeting to be the first of many in the coming weeks "to exchange ideas, reflect, and drive strategic action," wrote Birol and Dan Jorgensen, Danish minister for climate energy and utilities, describing their convening's purpose.
"Around the world, leaders are getting ready now, drawing up massive economic stimulus packages," they write. "Some of these plans will provide short-term boosts, others will shape infrastructure for decades to come. We believe that by making clean energy an integral part of their plans, governments can deliver jobs and economic growth while also ensuring that their energy systems are modernized, more resilient and less polluting."
Some in the climate activist community have seen a silver lining in the Covid-19 crisis in improved air quality, captured in before-and-after photographs from around the world. Yet suggesting this could be the new normal neglects the unacceptable human pain of our ongoing economic shock.
Randolph Bell, the director of the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, writes in a forthcoming article that before the layoffs of the past few weeks, the U.S. oil industry directly employed over 150,000 people, supported more than 10 million additional jobs, and made up 8 percent of U.S. GDP. There were 51,000 oil and gas job losses in March alone, with layoffs hitting blue-collar workers first.
"The polarized politics in Washington make the desired orderly transition impossible in a timeframe that is relevant to the current employment crisis," says Bell. "All-or-nothing measures will only cause more paralysis while workers suffer."
Letting the U.S. oil and gas industry collapse is a political non-starter and it won't address environmental issues meaningfully. Without accompanying demand-side action, the U.S. will still consume significant amounts of oil and gas.
"We will just import it from countries with potentially weaker environmental regulation," explains Bell.
A pandemic-driven drop in emissions is certain this year, but the lesson of the financial crisis of 2008-2009 shows that's nothing to celebrate. Says the IEA's Fatih Birol, "Although carbon dioxide emissions declined by 400 million tons in 2009, they rebounded by 1.7 billion tons the year after, the sharpest upswing in history, driven mainly by developing Asia,"
For him, the lesson is that smart policy decisions should be taken during the mind-focusing period of the crisis to protect jobs but also put emissions into structural decline.
That could involve betting big on game-technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen electrolyzers, which Birol says are now in a stage of development where wind and solar were in 2008-2009.
Here's an idea:
Perhaps President Trump could use one of his daily Covid-19 updates, standing beside Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, to announce that he has instructed his administration to reimagine the energy world with global partners in a way that will tap America's best brains and its vast resources.
He could protect at-risk producers, bring stability to markets and decarbonize the environment – all at the same time.
That would be true energy dominance.
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author, prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council, one of the United States' most influential think tanks on global affairs. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent, assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper's European edition. His latest book – "Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth" – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages. Follow him on Twitter @FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points, his look each Saturday at the past week's top stories and trends.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.


cnbc--2020-04-27--UK's Boris Johnson warns 'this is the moment of maximum risk' as government plans exit strategy

The U.K. 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there would be no quick lifting of restrictions in the country , as he made his first public statement since returning to work after recovering from a coronavirus infection .
`` We are passing through the peak , '' Johnson said `` We are on the brink of achieving that first great mission , to prevent our National Health Service ( NHS ) from being overwhelmed , '' he said , adding that the country was `` beginning to turn the tide '' against the outbreak .
While he said he recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as possible , he warned that `` this is the moment of maximum risk '' as he asked the public to contain their `` impatience '' with regards to the lockdown .
`` There will be time to refine the restrictions and to fire up the engines of the economy , '' Johnson said outside Downing Street , but he added `` we can not say when those changes will be made . ''
He thanked the British public for their `` grits and guts '' during the crisis , and Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him while he was recovering from a serious coronavirus infection .
Boris Johnson last made a public statement on Easter Sunday after he was released from hospital .
In his video statement , he personally thanked the NHS for saving his life .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, as he resumes working after spending two weeks recovering from Covid-19. Stefan Rousseau - PA Images
The U.K.'s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there would be no quick lifting of restrictions in the country, as he made his first public statement since returning to work after recovering from a coronavirus infection. "We are passing through the peak," Johnson said "We are on the brink of achieving that first great mission, to prevent our National Health Service (NHS) from being overwhelmed," he said, adding that the country was "beginning to turn the tide" against the outbreak. While he said he recognized the urgency of lifting lockdown measures as soon as possible, he warned that "this is the moment of maximum risk" as he asked the public to contain their "impatience" with regards to the lockdown. "There will be time to refine the restrictions and to fire up the engines of the economy," Johnson said outside Downing Street, but he added "we cannot say when those changes will be made." He thanked the British public for their "grits and guts" during the crisis, and Foreign Minister Dominic Raab who has deputized for him while he was recovering from a serious coronavirus infection. Boris Johnson last made a public statement on Easter Sunday after he was released from hospital. In his video statement, he personally thanked the NHS for saving his life.
Johnson has returned to his office and residence in Downing Street, central London after spending two weeks at his country residence Chequers following a serious coronavirus infection that saw him admitted to intensive care. There has been speculation that Johnson could announce plans to start lifting the U.K.'s lockdown as early as this week. This would be ahead of the May 7 date when measures were next set to be reviewed. The Telegraph newspaper reported Sunday that Johnson had discussed with ministers the idea of "modifying" the lockdown rather than lifting it, emphasizing that restrictions will remain in some form even if workplaces and schools start to reopen gradually. Later Monday, Johnson's spokesman said the prime minister would be meeting the leader of the opposition Labour Party this week, and other party leaders next week, to try to build a cross-party consensus for lifting the lockdown. There are increasing calls from lawmakers within the ruling Conservative Party that the ongoing restrictions need to be lifted sooner rather than later because of the damage it is doing to the economy; the U.K.'s economy is expected to contract 6.5% in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund's latest forecasts. Lockdown measures were imposed on the British public and majority of businesses (bar those deemed essential such as supermarkets) on March 23, but there is a growing sense that the public are tiring of the measures. The government will have to weigh the potential economic damage against the public health implications of lifting a lockdown too quickly and risking a second wave of infections. The U.K. has 154,037 reported cases of Covid-19 as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and has reported 20,795 deaths – a number that is steadily increasing and could end up overtaking the death tolls seen in Italy (26,644 deaths) and Spain (23,190 deaths), the worst hit countries in Europe. Still, Italy, Spain and Germany have slowly started to lift coronavirus restrictions; Italy and Germany have allowed smaller retail stores to re-open and Spain has allowed manufacturing and construction businesses to reopen. For the first time in six weeks, children in Spain were allowed to exercise outside this weekend.
People relax in the sunshine in London Fields park in east London on April 25, 2020, during the national lockdown due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. JUSTIN TALLIS


cnbc--2020-04-28--Trump plans to order meatpacking plants to remain open using the Defense Production Act

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to invoke the Defense Production Act to order meatpacking plants to remain open , classifying the plants as critical infrastructure as a way to combat the strain coronavirus is placing on the food supply chain , a person familiar with the matter told CNBC .
The government will also be providing additional personal protective gear for employees of meat-processing plants , as well as guidance on how to reduce infection rates , the person said .
The president is expected to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday .
Trump mentioned the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ron DeSantis , where he said his administration was working with Tyson Foods , the nation 's largest meat processor .
The order is expected to address two issues : ordering critical food supply businesses to stay open under the Defense Production Act , and providing liability protections for employers if workers get sick , NBC News reported , citing a senior administration official .
The White House actions come in response to alarm bells raised by major meat processors in recent weeks , who warned that the United States will face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store shelves unless the plants are allowed to reopen .
Tyson placed a full-page ad in The New York Times , The Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday addressing the plant closures .
Tyson said that a limited supply of its products will be available in grocery stores until facilities can be reopened .
These temporary closures will also mean millions of livestock will be slaughtered because farmers will not be able to sell their pigs , cows and chickens to buyers who can process the meat .
On Sunday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines for meat and poultry processing workers and employers .
Recommendations include adding more stations for workers to clock in and out , providing cloth face coverings for all employees , limiting carpooling and checking temperatures before workers enter the plant .
Twenty-two meatpacking plants have closed as hundreds of workers test positive for Covid-19 , the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said Tuesday .
The union 's estimates include union and non-union facilities .
At least 20 meatpacking and food-processing workers have died after contracting Covid-19 , according to union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time , making it nearly impossible for them to practice social-distancing measures .
The nation 's largest meat processors , including Smithfield , Tyson Foods and JBS , have come under fire for not protecting workers enough .
UFCW , which represents 80 % of beef and pork production workers , estimates that 25 % of the country 's pork production and 10 % of its beef production have been hit by plant closures .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying $ 3 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from farmers to stabilize retail prices and reduce food waste .
The agency is forecasting that 2020 beef prices will climb 1 % to 2 % , poultry as much as 1.5 % and pork between 2 % and 3 % .

Trump mentioned the order during a meeting Tuesday with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, where he said his administration was working with Tyson Foods , the nation's largest meat processor.
A senior administration official said the U.S. government would also provide guidance to minimize risk to workers who are especially vulnerable to the virus, such as encouraging older workers and those with other chronic health issues to stay home.
"Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency," the order said.
The executive order, released Tuesday evening, said the closure of just one large beef-processing plant could result in 10 million fewer individual servings of beef in a day.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to order meatpacking plants to remain open, classifying the plants as critical infrastructure as a way to combat the strain coronavirus is placing on the food supply chain.
A Tyson Foods Inc. facility stands in Lexington, Nebraska, U.S., on Friday, April 24, 2020. Nebraska businesses that have laid off workers during the coronavirus crisis could be forced to repay tax credits and other incentives they have received through the states main business-incentive program, the state Department of Revenue said.
Signing the order, he said, "... will solve any liability problems," adding, "And we always work with the farmers. There's plenty of supply."
The order is expected to address two issues: ordering critical food supply businesses to stay open under the Defense Production Act, and providing liability protections for employers if workers get sick, NBC News reported, citing a senior administration official.
The White House actions come in response to alarm bells raised by major meat processors in recent weeks, who warned that the United States will face a consumer shortage of meat on grocery store shelves unless the plants are allowed to reopen.
Tyson placed a full-page ad in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday addressing the plant closures.
"The food supply chain is breaking," Tyson Chairman John Tyson wrote.
Tyson said that a limited supply of its products will be available in grocery stores until facilities can be reopened. These temporary closures will also mean millions of livestock will be slaughtered because farmers will not be able to sell their pigs, cows and chickens to buyers who can process the meat.
On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for meat and poultry processing workers and employers. Recommendations include adding more stations for workers to clock in and out, providing cloth face coverings for all employees, limiting carpooling and checking temperatures before workers enter the plant.
Twenty-two meatpacking plants have closed as hundreds of workers test positive for Covid-19, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said Tuesday. The union's estimates include union and non-union facilities.
At least 20 meatpacking and food-processing workers have died after contracting Covid-19, according to union estimates. Workers at these plants often work shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time, making it nearly impossible for them to practice social-distancing measures.
The nation's largest meat processors, including Smithfield, Tyson Foods and JBS, have come under fire for not protecting workers enough.
UFCW, which represents 80% of beef and pork production workers, estimates that 25% of the country's pork production and 10% of its beef production have been hit by plant closures.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat from farmers to stabilize retail prices and reduce food waste. The agency is forecasting that 2020 beef prices will climb 1% to 2%, poultry as much as 1.5% and pork between 2% and 3%.
—Reuters contributed to this report


cnbc--2020-04-28--Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden for president in 2020 election

Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S .
Senator Joe Biden ( D-DE ) ( R ) and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton ( D-NY ) ( L ) speak at a rally in support of Democratic presidential nomineee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama ( D-IL ) October 12 , 2008 in Scranton , Pennsylvania .
`` Joe Biden has been preparing for this moment his entire life .
I 've been privileged to work with him over the last 25 years , '' she added .
`` I am thrilled to be part of your campaign , to not only endorse you but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues that are at stake in this presidential election , '' Clinton said Tuesday at a virtual town hall with Biden .
Hillary Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee , endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Tuesday , NBC News reported .
Clinton , who was secretary of State under President Barack Obama , was the first woman to secure a major party 's presidential nomination , and she is the latest political heavyweight to cast an endorsement in Biden 's favor .
She teased her endorsement in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual town hall on Tuesday discussing the impact of the coronavirus on women .
Biden , the apparent Democratic nominee , accepted her endorsement in a tweet .
`` I 'm with her , '' he tweeted , echoing the signature phrase that Clinton popularized during her 2016 presidential campaign .
Clinton was the Democratic candidate that year who ran against President Donald Trump , just as Biden will likely do in November .
Her endorsement comes a few days after Biden received coveted support from other high-profile political leaders , including former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who dropped her presidential bid after reaching near front-runner status at one point .
Biden has built a near-insurmountable lead in pledged delegates after several key wins .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , who ran against Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary , also endorsed Biden for president after dropping out of the 2020 race on April 8 .
Sanders , the last candidate to oppose Biden , urged his followers to vote for him in the remaining primaries so he could pick up enough delegates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention , which is slated for August .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, left, speaks as Hillary Clinton, former U.S. secretary of state, listens during a virtual event seen on a laptop computer in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.
"Joe Biden has been preparing for this moment his entire life. I've been privileged to work with him over the last 25 years," she added.
"I am thrilled to be part of your campaign, to not only endorse you but to help highlight a lot of the issues that are at stake in this presidential election," Clinton said Tuesday at a virtual town hall with Biden.
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Tuesday, NBC News reported.
Clinton, who was secretary of State under President Barack Obama, was the first woman to secure a major party's presidential nomination, and she is the latest political heavyweight to cast an endorsement in Biden's favor.
She teased her endorsement in a tweet announcing her attendance at Biden's virtual town hall on Tuesday discussing the impact of the coronavirus on women.
Tweet
Biden, the apparent Democratic nominee, accepted her endorsement in a tweet.
"I'm with her," he tweeted, echoing the signature phrase that Clinton popularized during her 2016 presidential campaign.
Tweet
Clinton was the Democratic candidate that year who ran against President Donald Trump, just as Biden will likely do in November.
Her endorsement comes a few days after Biden received coveted support from other high-profile political leaders, including former President Barack Obama, with whom Biden served, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who dropped her presidential bid after reaching near front-runner status at one point.
Biden has built a near-insurmountable lead in pledged delegates after several key wins.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who ran against Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary, also endorsed Biden for president after dropping out of the 2020 race on April 8. Sanders, the last candidate to oppose Biden, urged his followers to vote for him in the remaining primaries so he could pick up enough delegates to influence the party platform at the Democratic National Convention, which is slated for August.


cnbc--2020-04-28--Vice President Mike Pence tours Mayo Clinic without coronavirus mask even though he was told to wear

Vice President Mike Pence tours Mayo Clinic without coronavirus mask even though he was told to wear one

At one point during his visit to the Mayo Clinic , video of Pence showed him surrounded by 10 people , including a patient , who unlike him all were wearing masks .
Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday toured the Mayo Clinic without wearing a mask , despite that renowned medical facility telling him that masks are required for visitors and everyone else there to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
In this pool image , Vice President Mike Pence Visits the Mayo Clinic Rochester Facilities , April 28 , 2020 .
Pence is surrounded by 9 other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence , who leads President Donald Trump 's coronavirus task force , later suggested to reporters that he did not need to wear a mask because he is tested regularly for the virus , and does not have it .
The Mayo Clinic , which is located in Rochester , Minnesota , is requiring all patients , visitors and staff to wear a face covering or mask to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
The facility said that the mask requirement is part of its protocol `` for ensuring your safety . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it had informed Pence of its policy mandating masks before he toured the facility .
About a half-hour after that tweet was posted , it was deleted by the Mayo Clinic .
The vice president was not wearing a mask when he got off his plane and headed to the Mayo Clinic , where he was greeted with applause and cheers by facility workers , most of whom were wearing masks .
While at the facility , Pence participated in a discussion with top doctors there , along with Minnesota Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican whose district includes the city of Rochester .
Pence , who was accompanied on his visit by federal Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn , appeared to be the only official who participated in that discussion who did not wear a mask , according to a pool report .
Hahn reportedly wore a mask during the tour .
On the same day that Pence visited the Mayo Clinic , the tally of Americans who have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections topped 1 million .
At least 57,266 Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about why he did not wear a mask in the first question at a news conference at the facility after he completed the tour and discussion .
`` As vice president of the United States , I 'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis , and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus , '' Pence said .
`` When the [ federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] issued guidelines about wearing a mask it was their recognition that people that may have the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to someone else by wearing a mask , '' Pence said .
`` And since I do n't have the coronavirus I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to be here to be able to speak to these researchers , these incredible health-care personnel and look them in the eye and say , 'thank you , ' '' the vice president said .
Pence later was asked by another reporter how frequently he is tested , and whether he thought that wearing a mask might send a `` positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In response , Pence did not directly answer the question about the signal wearing a mask could send .
But the vice president reiterated that he was tested `` on a regular basis . ''
He added , `` And I agree with the CDC guidance that wearing a mask does n't necessarily protect you from the coronavirus , but wearing a mask might prevent you from inadvertently conveying the virus to a loved one , family member or friend . ''
`` So we think they 're very useful in that respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pence said .
A Mayo Clinic spokesman , when asked for comment , said in email that , `` Mayo shared the masking policy with the VP 's office . ''
The spokesman did not respond to the question about why the facility deleted its tweet about Pence .
But the Mayo Clinic did post a new tweet saying it was `` grateful '' for Pence 's visit .
Pence 's aides last week told The New York Times that he did not wear a mask for the same reasons he gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence could contract the virus between his tests , and that the tests are not always accurate .

At one point during his visit to the Mayo Clinic, video of Pence showed him surrounded by 10 people, including a patient, who unlike him all were wearing masks.
Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday toured the Mayo Clinic without wearing a mask, despite that renowned medical facility telling him that masks are required for visitors and everyone else there to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
In this pool image, Vice President Mike Pence Visits the Mayo Clinic Rochester Facilities, April 28, 2020. Pence is surrounded by 9 other people with masks including a patient.
Pence, who leads President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, later suggested to reporters that he did not need to wear a mask because he is tested regularly for the virus, and does not have it.
The Mayo Clinic, which is located in Rochester, Minnesota, is requiring all patients, visitors and staff to wear a face covering or mask to slow the spread of Covid-19. The facility said that the mask requirement is part of its protocol "for ensuring your safety."
The clinic said in a Twitter post that it had informed Pence of its policy mandating masks before he toured the facility.
About a half-hour after that tweet was posted, it was deleted by the Mayo Clinic.
People wearing masks greeted Pence at an airport, video shows.
The vice president was not wearing a mask when he got off his plane and headed to the Mayo Clinic, where he was greeted with applause and cheers by facility workers, most of whom were wearing masks.
While at the facility, Pence participated in a discussion with top doctors there, along with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a Republican whose district includes the city of Rochester.
Pence, who was accompanied on his visit by federal Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, appeared to be the only official who participated in that discussion who did not wear a mask, according to a pool report. Hahn reportedly wore a mask during the tour.
On the same day that Pence visited the Mayo Clinic, the tally of Americans who have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections topped 1 million. At least 57,266 Americans have died from Covid-19.
Pence was asked about why he did not wear a mask in the first question at a news conference at the facility after he completed the tour and discussion.
"As vice president of the United States, I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus," Pence said.
"When the [federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] issued guidelines about wearing a mask it was their recognition that people that may have the coronavirus could prevent the possibility of conveying the virus to someone else by wearing a mask," Pence said.
"And since I don't have the coronavirus I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to be here to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health-care personnel and look them in the eye and say, 'thank you,'" the vice president said.
Pence later was asked by another reporter how frequently he is tested, and whether he thought that wearing a mask might send a "positive signal to the American public."
In response, Pence did not directly answer the question about the signal wearing a mask could send.
But the vice president reiterated that he was tested "on a regular basis."
He added, "And I agree with the CDC guidance that wearing a mask doesn't necessarily protect you from the coronavirus, but wearing a mask might prevent you from inadvertently conveying the virus to a loved one, family member or friend."
"So we think they're very useful in that respect, and we respect that altogether," Pence said.
A Mayo Clinic spokesman, when asked for comment, said in email that, "Mayo shared the masking policy with the VP's office."
The spokesman did not respond to the question about why the facility deleted its tweet about Pence.
But the Mayo Clinic did post a new tweet saying it was "grateful" for Pence's visit.
Tweet
Pence's aides last week told The New York Times that he did not wear a mask for the same reasons he gave Tuesday.
But the newspaper noted that Pence could contract the virus between his tests, and that the tests are not always accurate.


cnbc--2020-04-29--Dr. Anthony Fauci warns US could 'be in for a bad fall' if coronavirus treatments don't work

The United States `` could be in for a bad fall '' if researchers do n't find an effective treatment to fight the coronavirus by then , White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday .
The virus will certainly make a comeback in the U.S. even as cases begin to stabilize , Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , said during an interview with The Economic Club of Washington , D.C. Covid-19 is `` not going to disappear from the planet , '' he said , adding infectious disease experts are learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerging outbreaks in other regions such as southern Africa that are starting to enter their colder seasons .
`` In my mind , it 's inevitable that we will have a return of the virus , or maybe even that it never went away , '' he said .
Fauci also warned against states reopening businesses prematurely , saying it could cause `` a rebound to get us right back in the same boat that we were in a few weeks ago . ''
The virus , which emerged in Wuhan , China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sickened more than 3 million people worldwide and killed at least 212,000 as of Tuesday morning , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Roughly a third of the global cases are in the United States , making it the worst outbreak in the world .
U.S. officials say that they are preparing to battle two bad viruses circulating at the same time as the coronavirus outbreak runs into flu season next fall and winter .
Fauci said Tuesday that he is `` cautiously optimistic '' researchers can develop a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ever `` a guarantee . ''

The United States "could be in for a bad fall" if researchers don't find an effective treatment to fight the coronavirus by then, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday.
The virus will certainly make a comeback in the U.S. even as cases begin to stabilize, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said during an interview with The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
Covid-19 is "not going to disappear from the planet," he said, adding infectious disease experts are learning about how the virus behaves by watching emerging outbreaks in other regions such as southern Africa that are starting to enter their colder seasons.
"In my mind, it's inevitable that we will have a return of the virus, or maybe even that it never went away," he said.
Fauci also warned against states reopening businesses prematurely, saying it could cause "a rebound to get us right back in the same boat that we were in a few weeks ago."
The virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, almost four months ago, has sickened more than 3 million people worldwide and killed at least 212,000 as of Tuesday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Roughly a third of the global cases are in the United States, making it the worst outbreak in the world.
U.S. officials say that they are preparing to battle two bad viruses circulating at the same time as the coronavirus outbreak runs into flu season next fall and winter.
Fauci said Tuesday that he is "cautiously optimistic" researchers can develop a vaccine to prevent Covid-19, but added nothing is ever "a guarantee."


cnbc--2020-04-28--Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis meet at White House as states start to reopen

President Donald Trump speaks with Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis during an event at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center on October 03 , 2019 in The Villages , Florida .
President Donald Trump and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis met Tuesday at the White House , just days before Florida 's coronavirus stay-at-home order is set to expire .
Speaking to reporters , Trump and DeSantis touted Florida 's relatively low Covid-19 infection rate , compared to what many experts predicted for the state .
`` Everyone in the media was saying Florida was going to be like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not happened , '' DeSantis , a self-styled Trump Republican , told the press .
DeSantis highlighted his efforts to concentrate testing in the state 's most populous areas and those with the highest cases of Covid-19 .
`` We understood that the outbreak was not uniform throughout the state , and we had a tailored and measured approach that not only helped our numbers be way below what anybody predicted , but also did less damage to our state going forward , '' said DeSantis .
He also noted that he let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The governor stressed that his state had prepared for much higher casualty and infection rates , but that so far , hospitals in Florida have not needed many of the emergency supplies the state procured .
`` I had less than 500 people , in a state of 22 million , on ventilators as of last night , '' said DeSantis .
`` I have 6,500 ventilators that are sitting idle , unused , throughout the state of Florida . ''
Trump added that some of these ventilators could be donated to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
DeSantis , like Trump and many other governors , is looking ahead to `` reopening '' the areas of his state 's economy that have been clobbered by the coronavirus .
The Sunshine State will approach the reopening process in `` baby steps , '' DeSantis said Monday , with different regions ' rules being lifted more slowly .
The White House 's own social distancing rules , which provide non-binding guidance for states , are also set to be lifted by the start of May .
But Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guidelines until early in the summer or later .
The meeting was initially mired in confusion Tuesday after the White House announced the two men would hold a formal press conference , only to backtrack moments later and say the meeting would not include a press conference .
The chaotic scheduling was the latest chapter in an ongoing White House effort to scale back Trump 's media exposure after Republicans complained that the president 's constant press coronavirus briefings were endangering the party 's 2020 election prospects .
As U.S. leaders at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus crisis , Trump has put a spotlight on himself by taking a starring role in the near-daily press briefings on the virus at the White House briefing room .
But he took no questions at Friday 's briefing , and the White House canceled the briefing scheduled for Monday evening — suggesting a shift in how the White House delivers its messaging , which it has struggled to control amid the pandemic .
`` We are looking at different ways to showcase this president leading , '' McEnany said in a Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be coronavirus task force briefings this week .
No briefing was scheduled Tuesday .

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speak about the coronavirus response during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2020.
President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met Tuesday at the White House, just days before Florida's coronavirus stay-at-home order is set to expire.
Speaking to reporters, Trump and DeSantis touted Florida's relatively low Covid-19 infection rate, compared to what many experts predicted for the state.
"Everyone in the media was saying Florida was going to be like New York or Italy and that has not happened," DeSantis, a self-styled Trump Republican, told the press.
DeSantis highlighted his efforts to concentrate testing in the state's most populous areas and those with the highest cases of Covid-19.
"We understood that the outbreak was not uniform throughout the state, and we had a tailored and measured approach that not only helped our numbers be way below what anybody predicted, but also did less damage to our state going forward," said DeSantis. He also noted that he let construction continue throughout the stay-at-home order.
The governor stressed that his state had prepared for much higher casualty and infection rates, but that so far, hospitals in Florida have not needed many of the emergency supplies the state procured.
"I had less than 500 people, in a state of 22 million, on ventilators as of last night," said DeSantis. "I have 6,500 ventilators that are sitting idle, unused, throughout the state of Florida." Trump added that some of these ventilators could be donated to other countries with greater need for them than the United States.
DeSantis, like Trump and many other governors, is looking ahead to "reopening" the areas of his state's economy that have been clobbered by the coronavirus. The Sunshine State will approach the reopening process in "baby steps," DeSantis said Monday, with different regions' rules being lifted more slowly.
The White House's own social distancing rules, which provide non-binding guidance for states, are also set to be lifted by the start of May. But Trump said last week that he may extend the guidelines until early in the summer or later.
The meeting was initially mired in confusion Tuesday after the White House announced the two men would hold a formal press conference, only to backtrack moments later and say the meeting would not include a press conference.
The chaotic scheduling was the latest chapter in an ongoing White House effort to scale back Trump's media exposure after Republicans complained that the president's constant press coronavirus briefings were endangering the party's 2020 election prospects.
As U.S. leaders at every level of government grapple with the coronavirus crisis, Trump has put a spotlight on himself by taking a starring role in the near-daily press briefings on the virus at the White House briefing room.
But he took no questions at Friday's briefing, and the White House canceled the briefing scheduled for Monday evening — suggesting a shift in how the White House delivers its messaging, which it has struggled to control amid the pandemic.
"We are looking at different ways to showcase this president leading," McEnany said in a Fox News interview Monday.
She added there will be coronavirus task force briefings this week. No briefing was scheduled Tuesday.


cnbc--2020-04-28--Food banks are closing and losing their workforce because of the coronavirus

Food banks are shuttering as they struggle to contend with the coronavirus and provide food relief to millions of people .
Volunteer help has dwindled because of social distancing and a fear of contracting and spreading the disease .
To deal with the challenges brought on by the outbreak , food banks have put in place new protocols for handling and delivering food and maintaining a steady supply .
But these challenges have shifted much of the burden onto food banks themselves , leading to skyrocketing operating costs and uncertainty about how long they 'll be able to respond .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said philanthropist Jean Shafiroff , a board member of the New York City Mission Society , which serves children and families living at or below the poverty level .
Hunger , a persistent problem in the United States , affected more than 37 million people in 2018 , according to a report from the Department of Agriculture .
Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity , according to Feeding America , the country 's largest network of food banks .
Often , food-insecure households rely on local food banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But front-line workers are preparing for more dire circumstances , as the government continues to push shelter-in-place warnings and as unemployment rates continue to rise .
Several food banks told CNBC they anticipate an increase in the coming months in the number of people seeking sufficient food supply for themselves and their families .
The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally , with more than 3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 211,522 deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday .
The U.S. has had at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56,000 deaths .
This story is based on conversations with six food banks in New York , New Jersey , California , Texas , and Washington , D.C. , five areas that have seen some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the country .
Nearly a third of food pantries nationally have closed in recent weeks , according to the New York City Mission Society .
Small food banks in New York City , which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , have closed down because `` they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have the volunteers to man them , '' Shafiroff told CNBC .
She added that many volunteers who have stopped their service are in their 60s and 70s , making them high-risk candidates to contract the most severe form of the virus .
As small food banks shut down , people seek out help from larger organizations , like Food Bank for New York City , which gives out about 58 million meals a year .
But even with its larger network of resources , the organization is still struggling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pantries have closed , '' Shafiroff said .
Around the country , other food banks have also reported closing pantries , which often help larger banks distribute food directly to communities in need .
Food banks in California , New Jersey , Texas , and Washington , D.C. , told CNBC they 've witnessed the closure of food pantries or other distribution agencies and nonprofits they partner with to deliver food .
Some food banks are seeing a decrease in the amount of food donated .
The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food supply , CEO Radha Muthiah told CNBC .
`` It was just over the course of a week or so that we started to see these changes , '' Muthiah said .
`` There was n't enough time to plan and anticipate this dramatic fall . ''
Additionally , the D.C. food bank is going longer periods of time without receiving food .
`` What typically would take us eight to 12 days once we placed an order for a truckload of food can take up to eight weeks for our food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shelf-stable products that can be stored at room temperature like canned tuna , canned chicken and peanut butter can take the longest to arrive .
Demand has never been higher Despite closures and shortages in staff and supply , the demand for food has never been higher , forcing food banks to quickly learn how to ramp up their efforts with fewer resources on hand than normal .
`` Our agencies have reported increases that range anywhere between 40 and 100 % increase in individuals accessing emergency food service , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Central California Food Bank , which serves about 70,000 families a month .
`` We are really pushing our operations to the max right now .
Every truck is going out full , essentially overweight , '' Caples said .
The Central Texas Food Bank served about 50,000 people a week before social distancing guidelines were encouraged .
As the virus gained traction in the United States in late winter , the food bank began serving an additional 22,000 new individuals .
`` And we 're starting to see those numbers increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' CEO Derrick Chubbs told CNBC .
`` What we normally see is a large number of the working poor — individuals who would be working in restaurants , bars , hotels , service workers — who depend on us to help them get through the last week of the month when they 're typically trying to decide whether to pay for medicine for their kids , pay for utilities , or purchase food , '' Chubbs said .
`` Today , the likelihood of unemployment is higher .
Those people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us every week . ''
Food donations are down , which means food banks have to find alternate ways to procure the same stream of supply .
They 've turned to purchasing food themselves using larger portions of their budgets to make it happen .
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey , the state 's largest , lost about 800,000 pounds of donated food in March and April , CEO Carlos Rodriguez told CNBC .
To make up the difference , the New Jersey food bank started buying food , spending an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Monetary donations are on the rise .
Multiple food banks told CNBC that financial donations from corporate supporters and foundations have been more generous lately , and individual monetary donations have not stopped despite an nationwide economic slowdown .
`` I think it 's a testament to the generosity of the community , '' Rodriguez said .
`` Those that can donate clearly are . ''
Some food banks have found other revenue streams and opportunities that help make ends meet .
The Capital Area Food Bank has formed partnerships with Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company , each donating $ 500,000 to help with the organization 's efforts to provide food to the `` newly food-insecure , '' Muthiah said .
The Central California Food Bank has partnered with a local tech company to facilitate delivery for home-bound individuals like seniors and people with disabilities , according to Caples .
Customers who can pick up their food are also on the receiving end of major changes .
To minimize contact with food , volunteers and staff members at food banks across the United States have begun boxing produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and canned foods .
Before the pandemic , pantries and banks often distributed their food following what is called the `` client choice model , '' in which an individual can select from a wide variety of products .
Typically , `` it 's set up like a farmers market , '' Muthiah said .
`` People would walk through , pick up what they like , linger a little bit , ask for a recipe card .
All of that has come to an end to minimize exposures . ''
Other food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Central Texas Food Bank has staff and remaining volunteers build emergency food boxes that hold about 28 pounds of food .
Families and individuals drive down to a distribution site and open their car trunks , allowing a worker to place one of the boxes with food in it while avoiding all unnecessary contact .
This unusual demand will persist even when the coronavirus dies down , representatives from multiple food banks said .
Food banks are foreseeing people struggling financially for a long time and hope to be able to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time goes on .
`` We 're now moving into what we call a new normal , '' Muthiah said .
`` Even if there 's a vaccine and the corona effects will start to tail off , the economic effects are here for some time to come .
So we 're looking at this as a situation we have to contend with , respond to in the next year . ''
So in recent weeks , food banks have had to balance double duty : rapidly adjust to new food distribution protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time create a sustainable operation that lasts well beyond the coronavirus .
In the near future , some larger food banks will likely not host or be a part of large fundraising events , said Shafiroff , a board member of seven nonprofit organizations in New York .
`` It 's just too chancey , '' she said .
Aside from raising money , there are lingering concerns on where the food will come from in the near future .
Chubbs is worried about `` what this is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , when we are all — not just the retail grocers but all 200 food banks in the country — trying to procure food from the same vendors . ''
If those vendors cease to exist , this would add another yet another major hurdle .

People pick up food the Food Bank at the New York City mobile food pantry on the Barclays Center plaza on April 24, 2020 in the Brooklyn, New York. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images
Food banks are shuttering as they struggle to contend with the coronavirus and provide food relief to millions of people. Volunteer help has dwindled because of social distancing and a fear of contracting and spreading the disease. To deal with the challenges brought on by the outbreak, food banks have put in place new protocols for handling and delivering food and maintaining a steady supply. But these challenges have shifted much of the burden onto food banks themselves, leading to skyrocketing operating costs and uncertainty about how long they'll be able to respond. "There's never enough money," said philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, a board member of the New York City Mission Society, which serves children and families living at or below the poverty level. Hunger, a persistent problem in the United States, affected more than 37 million people in 2018, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity, according to Feeding America, the country's largest network of food banks. Often, food-insecure households rely on local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support. But front-line workers are preparing for more dire circumstances, as the government continues to push shelter-in-place warnings and as unemployment rates continue to rise. Several food banks told CNBC they anticipate an increase in the coming months in the number of people seeking sufficient food supply for themselves and their families. The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 211,522 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday. The U.S. has had at least 988,000 cases, including more than 56,000 deaths. This story is based on conversations with six food banks in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C., five areas that have seen some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the country.
Unexpected challenges
Nearly a third of food pantries nationally have closed in recent weeks, according to the New York City Mission Society. Small food banks in New York City, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, have closed down because "they haven't gotten food to distribute or they don't have the volunteers to man them," Shafiroff told CNBC. She added that many volunteers who have stopped their service are in their 60s and 70s, making them high-risk candidates to contract the most severe form of the virus. As small food banks shut down, people seek out help from larger organizations, like Food Bank for New York City, which gives out about 58 million meals a year. But even with its larger network of resources, the organization is still struggling, and "a number of its food pantries have closed," Shafiroff said. Around the country, other food banks have also reported closing pantries, which often help larger banks distribute food directly to communities in need. Food banks in California, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, D.C., told CNBC they've witnessed the closure of food pantries or other distribution agencies and nonprofits they partner with to deliver food. Some food banks are seeing a decrease in the amount of food donated. The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington saw a 75% dip in donated food supply, CEO Radha Muthiah told CNBC. "It was just over the course of a week or so that we started to see these changes," Muthiah said. "There wasn't enough time to plan and anticipate this dramatic fall." Additionally, the D.C. food bank is going longer periods of time without receiving food. "What typically would take us eight to 12 days once we placed an order for a truckload of food can take up to eight weeks for our food supply to arrive," Muthiah said. Shelf-stable products that can be stored at room temperature like canned tuna, canned chicken and peanut butter can take the longest to arrive.
Demand has never been higher
Despite closures and shortages in staff and supply, the demand for food has never been higher, forcing food banks to quickly learn how to ramp up their efforts with fewer resources on hand than normal. "Our agencies have reported increases that range anywhere between 40 and 100% increase in individuals accessing emergency food service," said Natalie Caples, chief operations officer at the Central California Food Bank, which serves about 70,000 families a month. "We are really pushing our operations to the max right now. Every truck is going out full, essentially overweight," Caples said. The Central Texas Food Bank served about 50,000 people a week before social distancing guidelines were encouraged. As the virus gained traction in the United States in late winter, the food bank began serving an additional 22,000 new individuals. "And we're starting to see those numbers increase during the first few weeks of April," CEO Derrick Chubbs told CNBC. "What we normally see is a large number of the working poor — individuals who would be working in restaurants, bars, hotels, service workers — who depend on us to help them get through the last week of the month when they're typically trying to decide whether to pay for medicine for their kids, pay for utilities, or purchase food," Chubbs said. "Today, the likelihood of unemployment is higher. Those people who needed us once a month now need us every week."
Getting by
Food donations are down, which means food banks have to find alternate ways to procure the same stream of supply. They've turned to purchasing food themselves using larger portions of their budgets to make it happen. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the state's largest, lost about 800,000 pounds of donated food in March and April, CEO Carlos Rodriguez told CNBC. To make up the difference, the New Jersey food bank started buying food, spending an additional $945,000 a month since March. Monetary donations are on the rise. Multiple food banks told CNBC that financial donations from corporate supporters and foundations have been more generous lately, and individual monetary donations have not stopped despite an nationwide economic slowdown. "I think it's a testament to the generosity of the community," Rodriguez said. "Those that can donate clearly are." Some food banks have found other revenue streams and opportunities that help make ends meet. The Capital Area Food Bank has formed partnerships with Bank of America and Mars Foundation, each donating $500,000 to help with the organization's efforts to provide food to the "newly food-insecure," Muthiah said. The Central California Food Bank has partnered with a local tech company to facilitate delivery for home-bound individuals like seniors and people with disabilities, according to Caples. Customers who can pick up their food are also on the receiving end of major changes. To minimize contact with food, volunteers and staff members at food banks across the United States have begun boxing produce and shelf-stable items like pasta, rice and canned foods. Before the pandemic, pantries and banks often distributed their food following what is called the "client choice model," in which an individual can select from a wide variety of products. Typically, "it's set up like a farmers market," Muthiah said. "People would walk through, pick up what they like, linger a little bit, ask for a recipe card. All of that has come to an end to minimize exposures." Other food banks now follow a similar model. The Central Texas Food Bank has staff and remaining volunteers build emergency food boxes that hold about 28 pounds of food. Families and individuals drive down to a distribution site and open their car trunks, allowing a worker to place one of the boxes with food in it while avoiding all unnecessary contact.
Looking ahead


cnbc--2020-04-28--Small business loans above $2 million will get full audit to make sure they're valid, Mnuchin says

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on April 2 , 2020 , in Washington , DC .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Tuesday the government will audit any company taking out more than $ 2 million from the small business loan program .
The government program allows companies to have their loans forgiven , provided they spend the funds on payroll , benefits , rent and utilities .
The Paycheck Protection Program faced backlash after several public companies disclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were intended to help small businesses with fewer than 500 employees weather the coronavirus crisis .
`` I 'm going to be putting out an announcement later this morning that for any loan over $ 2 million , the Small Business Administration will be doing a full review of that loan before there is loan forgiveness , '' Mnuchin said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` This was a program designed for small businesses .
It was not a program that was designed for public companies that had liquidity . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least $ 870 million from the government program , according to the Washington-based data analytics firm FactSquared .
Those companies included Auto Nation and Ruth 's Hospitality Group .
Ruth 's Hospitality Group , which owns Ruth 's Chris Steak House , took a $ 20 million PPP loan .
AutoNation took a $ 77 million loan .
Both companies have said they would return the money .
The Los Angeles Lakers , the NBA 's second-most valuable team , took out a $ 4.6 million loan , and announced Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not a big fan of the fact that they took a $ 4.6 million , '' Mnuchin said .
`` I think that 's outrageous . ''
According to guidance posted by the Small Business Association on April 23 , borrowers must `` certify in good faith '' their loan request is `` necessary . ''
`` It is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith , and such a company should be prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the basis for its certification , '' the guidelines states .
Mnuchin said Tuesday he did not fault the banks that stewarded those loans , but , instead , the companies that applied for them that did not need .
The program quickly ran out of initial $ 349 billion allotments as established by the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act , before injecting another $ 310 billion into the program in a bill passed last week .
Trump signed the bill , which also included funds for hospitals and testing , into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding have been hampered by glitches , as too many banks trying to jam loans into SBA loan portal .
Oversight of the more than $ 2 trillion CARES Act has been a key issue for lawmakers , amid concerns the funds would go to companies that do not need it .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass , wrote a letter to the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Small Business Administration last week urging a `` broad investigation into the program 's implementation . ''
The administration has pushed back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have pushed for .
President Donald Trump earlier this month removed the lead watchdog overseeing the $ 2 trillion coronavirus package , just days after the official , Glenn Fine , was appointed to the role .

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on April 2, 2020, in Washington, DC.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Tuesday the government will audit any company taking out more than $2 million from the small business loan program.
The government program allows companies to have their loans forgiven, provided they spend the funds on payroll, benefits, rent and utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program faced backlash after several public companies disclosed they had taken out the loans, which were intended to help small businesses with fewer than 500 employees weather the coronavirus crisis.
"I'm going to be putting out an announcement later this morning that for any loan over $2 million, the Small Business Administration will be doing a full review of that loan before there is loan forgiveness," Mnuchin said on "Squawk Box."
"This was a program designed for small businesses. It was not a program that was designed for public companies that had liquidity.'"
More than 220 public companies applied for at least $870 million from the government program, according to the Washington-based data analytics firm FactSquared. Those companies included Auto Nation and Ruth's Hospitality Group .
Ruth's Hospitality Group, which owns Ruth's Chris Steak House, took a $20 million PPP loan. AutoNation took a $77 million loan. Both companies have said they would return the money.
The Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA's second-most valuable team, took out a $4.6 million loan, and announced Monday it had returned it.
"I'm not a big fan of the fact that they took a $4.6 million," Mnuchin said. "I think that's outrageous."
According to guidance posted by the Small Business Association on April 23, borrowers must "certify in good faith" their loan request is "necessary."
"It is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith, and such a company should be prepared to demonstrate to SBA, upon request, the basis for its certification," the guidelines states.
Mnuchin said Tuesday he did not fault the banks that stewarded those loans, but, instead, the companies that applied for them that did not need. The program quickly ran out of initial $349 billion allotments as established by the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, before injecting another $310 billion into the program in a bill passed last week. Trump signed the bill, which also included funds for hospitals and testing, into law on Friday.
Both rounds of funding have been hampered by glitches, as too many banks trying to jam loans into SBA loan portal.
Oversight of the more than $2 trillion CARES Act has been a key issue for lawmakers, amid concerns the funds would go to companies that do not need it. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, wrote a letter to the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Small Business Administration last week urging a "broad investigation into the program's implementation."
The administration has pushed back against several of the oversight functions that Democrats have pushed for. President Donald Trump earlier this month removed the lead watchdog overseeing the $2 trillion coronavirus package, just days after the official, Glenn Fine, was appointed to the role.


cnbc--2020-04-28--Pentagon declassifies three UFO videos taken by Navy pilots

The Department of Defense released three videos taken by U.S. Navy pilots revealing mysterious flying objects that to this day remain unidentified .
The declassification of the videos late Monday , one of which was taken in 2004 and the subsequent two taken in 2015 , was meant to `` clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real , or whether or not there is more to the videos , '' the Pentagon said in a statement Monday .
The footage , which shows unidentified objects flying at high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with audio of Navy pilots expressing shock and awe , was initially leaked in 2007 and 2017 .
The videos were taken during training flights and the 2017 leaks were published by the New York Times .
`` The U.S. Navy previously acknowledged that these videos circulating in the public domain were indeed Navy videos , '' the Pentagon 's statement read .
`` After a thorough review , the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems , and does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena . ''
`` The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified ' , '' it said .
The Pentagon 's release of the videos removes speculation as to whether they were real and is sure to spur deeper questioning concerning the existence of extraterrestrial life and human interaction with it .
`` There 's a whole fleet of them … My gosh , they 're all going against the wind , the wind is 120 knots to the west .
Look at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one of the videos .
The U.S. Navy actually began formalizing a reporting process last year for pilots to report incidents of UFO sightings , saying in an April 2019 statement that there have been `` a number of reports of unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft entering various military-controlled ranges and designated airspace in recent years . ''

The Department of Defense released three videos taken by U.S. Navy pilots revealing mysterious flying objects that to this day remain unidentified.
The declassification of the videos late Monday, one of which was taken in 2004 and the subsequent two taken in 2015, was meant to "clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos," the Pentagon said in a statement Monday.
The footage, which shows unidentified objects flying at high speeds in the Earth's atmosphere along with audio of Navy pilots expressing shock and awe, was initially leaked in 2007 and 2017. The videos were taken during training flights and the 2017 leaks were published by the New York Times.
"The U.S. Navy previously acknowledged that these videos circulating in the public domain were indeed Navy videos," the Pentagon's statement read. "After a thorough review, the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena."
"The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified'," it said.
Video tweet
The Pentagon's release of the videos removes speculation as to whether they were real and is sure to spur deeper questioning concerning the existence of extraterrestrial life and human interaction with it.
"There's a whole fleet of them … My gosh, they're all going against the wind, the wind is 120 knots to the west. Look at that thing dude!" a pilot exclaims in one of the videos.
The U.S. Navy actually began formalizing a reporting process last year for pilots to report incidents of UFO sightings, saying in an April 2019 statement that there have been "a number of reports of unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft entering various military-controlled ranges and designated airspace in recent years."


cnbc--2020-04-28--Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says it was 'outrageous' for the LA Lakers to take a small business loan

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday he was surprised that the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the best-known and most-successful basketball franchises — took a loan designed to help small businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I 'm not a big fan of the fact that they took a $ 4.6 million , '' Mnuchin told CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
`` I think that 's outrageous . ''
Mnuchin added he `` would have never expected in a million years that the Los Angeles Lakers '' would take such a loan .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , `` or they would have had liability . ''
The Lakers were the second most-valuable team in the National Basketball Association entering 2020 , with a valuation of $ 4.4 billion , according to Forbes .
But the LeBron James-led team is not the only major brand to take a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program , which was enacted last month to help small businesses .
Ruth 's Hospitality Group , which owns Ruth 's Chris Steak House , took a $ 20 million PPP loan .
AutoNation took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said they would return the money .
Overall , more than 200 publicly traded companies have applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans .
Mnuchin said it was `` unfortunate '' and `` inappropriate '' for some large companies to take these loans , but that he was `` encouraged by the number of people that have paid them back . ''
He added that companies getting loans of more than $ 2 million under the PPP would get a full audit to make sure they are valid .
Subscribe to CNBC PRO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live business day programming from around the world .

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday he was surprised that the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the best-known and most-successful basketball franchises — took a loan designed to help small businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm not a big fan of the fact that they took a $4.6 million," Mnuchin told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "I think that's outrageous."
Mnuchin added he "would have never expected in a million years that the Los Angeles Lakers" would take such a loan. He also said he was glad the team returned the money, "or they would have had liability."
The Lakers were the second most-valuable team in the National Basketball Association entering 2020, with a valuation of $4.4 billion, according to Forbes.
But the LeBron James-led team is not the only major brand to take a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was enacted last month to help small businesses.
Ruth's Hospitality Group , which owns Ruth's Chris Steak House, took a $20 million PPP loan. AutoNation took a $77 million loan. Both companies have said they would return the money.
Overall, more than 200 publicly traded companies have applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Mnuchin said it was "unfortunate" and "inappropriate" for some large companies to take these loans, but that he was "encouraged by the number of people that have paid them back."
He added that companies getting loans of more than $2 million under the PPP would get a full audit to make sure they are valid.
Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.


cnbc--2020-04-28--White House releases coronavirus testing strategy — and claims most of its work is done

The other document , a testing `` blueprint , '' describes what it calls a `` partnership '' between states , the federal government and the private sector .
The partnership it describes leaves most responsibility for funding , designing and executing a coronavirus testing plan to individual states .
The first document , the testing overview , largely serves as a defense of the administration 's widely criticized handling of the coronavirus testing since the start of the epidemic .
It outlines eight responsibilities that it says belong to the federal government , and claims to have already completed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full power and strength of the federal government to help states , cities , to help local government get this plague over with , '' Trump said when he formally announced the plan at a news conference in the Rose Garden on Monday afternoon .
The Trump administration unveiled a new strategy Monday to help states ramp up their capacity to test for coronavirus , claiming most of its work is done , according to new documents .
States have repeatedly called for the federal government to shoulder most of the responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguing that they lack the funding and the expertise the federal government possesses .
Trump is also expected to announce that the federal government is prepared to send all 50 states enough tests and testing materials to screen at least 2 % of the population of each state per month .
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new federal testing efforts .
Before heading out to the Rose Garden , Trump told reporters in an Oval Office briefing that the plan is aimed at expanding testing , particularly in African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly and widely test at-risk populations is the cornerstone of any responsible plan to reopen the nation 's economy .
The president has called on states to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen , but most governors still think it is too early .
Trump 's critics have zeroed in on the nationwide shortages of effective coronavirus tests , testing supplies , and labs able to process test results as a central failure of the federal government 's response to the deadly pandemic .
Trump has angrily rejected this criticism .
`` States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing the Testing , '' he said in a tweet last week .
Monday 's new documents underscore the limited role Trump wants the federal government to take in expanding testing , despite their repeated mentions of `` partnering '' with states .
As several states formally begin reopening this week , the ongoing lack of testing capabilities is one of the key factors keeping many families , employers and institutions from resuming business as usual , even though stay-at-home orders have officially been lifted .
Health experts warn that the virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter , when flu season normally begins .
Testing 2 % of people in each state monthly would be a major jump .
That 's about 6.6 million people .
Roughly 1.6 % of the U.S. population has been tested so far , according to the Covid Tracking Project .
Some experts say America needs to perform closer to 20 million to 30 million tests a day to begin getting the economy back to normal .
There are more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the United States than in any other country : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55,118 deaths have been confirmed , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The outbreak , which originated four months ago near the city of Wuhan in China 's Hubei province , has prompted U.S. states to impose strict social distancing policies in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease .
Those rules — closing nonessential businesses and ordering residents to stay home — have led to a devastating economic rout .

The other document, a testing "blueprint," describes what it calls a "partnership" between states, the federal government and the private sector. The partnership it describes leaves most responsibility for funding, designing and executing a coronavirus testing plan to individual states.
The first document, the testing overview, largely serves as a defense of the administration's widely criticized handling of the coronavirus testing since the start of the epidemic. It outlines eight responsibilities that it says belong to the federal government, and claims to have already completed seven.
"We're deploying the full power and strength of the federal government to help states, cities, to help local government get this plague over with," Trump said when he formally announced the plan at a news conference in the Rose Garden on Monday afternoon .
The Trump administration unveiled a new strategy Monday to help states ramp up their capacity to test for coronavirus, claiming most of its work is done, according to new documents.
States have repeatedly called for the federal government to shoulder most of the responsibility for testing and tracing future coronavirus infections, arguing that they lack the funding and the expertise the federal government possesses.
Trump is also expected to announce that the federal government is prepared to send all 50 states enough tests and testing materials to screen at least 2% of the population of each state per month. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new federal testing efforts.
Before heading out to the Rose Garden, Trump told reporters in an Oval Office briefing that the plan is aimed at expanding testing, particularly in African American and Hispanic communities.
The ability to repeatedly and widely test at-risk populations is the cornerstone of any responsible plan to reopen the nation's economy. The president has called on states to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen, but most governors still think it is too early.
Trump's critics have zeroed in on the nationwide shortages of effective coronavirus tests, testing supplies, and labs able to process test results as a central failure of the federal government's response to the deadly pandemic.
Trump has angrily rejected this criticism. "States, not the Federal Government, should be doing the Testing," he said in a tweet last week.
Monday's new documents underscore the limited role Trump wants the federal government to take in expanding testing, despite their repeated mentions of "partnering" with states.
As several states formally begin reopening this week, the ongoing lack of testing capabilities is one of the key factors keeping many families, employers and institutions from resuming business as usual, even though stay-at-home orders have officially been lifted.
Health experts warn that the virus is likely to persist through the fall and winter, when flu season normally begins.
Testing 2% of people in each state monthly would be a major jump. That's about 6.6 million people. Roughly 1.6% of the U.S. population has been tested so far, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
Some experts say America needs to perform closer to 20 million to 30 million tests a day to begin getting the economy back to normal.
There are more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the United States than in any other country: More than 972,900 infections and at least 55,118 deaths have been confirmed, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The outbreak, which originated four months ago near the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province, has prompted U.S. states to impose strict social distancing policies in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. Those rules — closing nonessential businesses and ordering residents to stay home — have led to a devastating economic rout.


cnbc--2020-04-29--Trump orders meatpacking plants to remain open using the Defense Production Act

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to order meatpacking plants to remain open , classifying the plants as critical infrastructure as a way to combat the strain coronavirus is placing on the food supply chain .
The executive order , released Tuesday evening , said the closure of just one large beef-processing plant could result in 10 million fewer individual servings of beef in a day .
`` Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain , undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency , '' the order said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government would also provide guidance to minimize risk to workers who are especially vulnerable to the virus , such as encouraging older workers and those with other chronic health issues to stay home .
Trump mentioned the order during a meeting Tuesday with Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , where he said his administration was working with Tyson Foods , the nation 's largest meat processor .
Signing the order , he said , `` ... will solve any liability problems , '' adding , `` And we always work with the farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The order is expected to address two issues : ordering critical food supply businesses to stay open under the Defense Production Act , and providing liability protections for employers if workers get sick , NBC News reported , citing a senior administration official .
The White House actions come in response to alarm bells raised by major meat processors in recent weeks , who warned that the United States will face a consumer shortage of meat on grocery store shelves unless the plants are allowed to reopen .
Tyson placed a full-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday addressing the plant closures .
Tyson said that a limited supply of its products will be available in grocery stores until facilities can be reopened .
These temporary closures will also mean millions of livestock will be slaughtered because farmers will not be able to sell their pigs , cows and chickens to buyers who can process the meat .
On Sunday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for meat and poultry processing workers and employers .
Recommendations include adding more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , providing cloth face coverings for all employees , limiting carpooling and checking temperatures before workers enter the plant .
Twenty-two meatpacking plants have closed as hundreds of workers test positive for Covid-19 , the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said Tuesday .
The union 's estimates include union and non-union facilities .
At least 20 meatpacking and food-processing workers have died after contracting Covid-19 , according to union estimates .
Workers at these plants often work shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time , making it nearly impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The nation 's largest meat processors , including Smithfield , Tyson Foods and JBS , have come under fire for not protecting workers enough .
UFCW , which represents 80 % of beef and pork production workers , estimates that 25 % of the country 's pork production and 10 % of its beef production have been hit by plant closures .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying $ 3 billion in fresh produce , dairy and meat from farmers to stabilize retail prices and reduce food waste .
The agency is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % to 2 % , poultry as much as 1.5 % and pork between 2 % and 3 % .


cnbc--2020-04-29--Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden for president in 2020 election

Former Vice President Joe Biden , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , left , speaks as Hillary Clinton , former U.S. secretary of state , listens during a virtual event seen on a laptop computer in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , on Tuesday , April 28 , 2020 .
`` Joe Biden has been preparing for this moment his entire life .
I 've been privileged to work with him over the last 25 years , '' she added .
`` I am thrilled to be part of your campaign , to not only endorse you but to help highlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at stake in this presidential election , '' Clinton said Tuesday at a virtual town hall with Biden .
Hillary Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee , endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Tuesday , NBC News reported .
Clinton , who was secretary of State under President Barack Obama , was the first woman to secure a major party 's presidential nomination , and she is the latest political heavyweight to cast an endorsement in Biden 's favor .
She teased her endorsement in a tweet announcing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday discussing the impact of the coronavirus on women .
Biden , the apparent Democratic nominee , accepted her endorsement in a tweet .
`` I 'm with her , '' he tweeted , echoing the signature phrase that Clinton popularized during her 2016 presidential campaign .
Clinton was the Democratic candidate that year who ran against President Donald Trump , just as Biden will likely do in November .
Her endorsement comes a few days after Biden received coveted support from other high-profile political leaders , including former President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who dropped her presidential bid after reaching near front-runner status at one point .
Biden has built a near-insurmountable lead in pledged delegates after several key wins .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , who ran against Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary , also endorsed Biden for president after dropping out of the 2020 race on April 8 .
Sanders , the last candidate to oppose Biden , urged his followers to vote for him in the remaining primaries so he could pick up enough delegates to influence the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is slated for August .


cnbc--2020-04-29--Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis meet at White House as states start to reopen

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speak about the coronavirus response during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington , U.S. , April 28 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis met Tuesday at the White House , just days before Florida 's coronavirus stay-at-home order is set to expire .
Speaking to reporters , Trump and DeSantis touted Florida 's relatively low Covid-19 infection rate , compared to what many experts predicted for the state .
`` Everyone in the media was saying Florida was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy and that has not happened , '' DeSantis , a self-styled Trump Republican , told the press .
DeSantis highlighted his efforts to concentrate testing in the state 's most populous areas and those with the highest cases of Covid-19 .
`` We understood that the outbreak was not uniform throughout the state , and we had a tailored and measured approach that not only helped our numbers be way below what anybody predicted , but also did less damage to our state going forward , '' said DeSantis .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stay-at-home order .
The governor stressed that his state had prepared for much higher casualty and infection rates , but that so far , hospitals in Florida have not needed many of the emergency supplies the state procured .
`` I had less than 500 people , in a state of 22 million , on ventilators as of last night , '' said DeSantis .
`` I have 6,500 ventilators that are sitting idle , unused , throughout the state of Florida . ''
Trump added that some of these ventilators could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for them than the United States .
DeSantis , like Trump and many other governors , is looking ahead to `` reopening '' the areas of his state 's economy that have been clobbered by the coronavirus .
The Sunshine State will approach the reopening process in `` baby steps , '' DeSantis said Monday , with different regions ' rules being lifted more slowly .
The White House 's own social distancing rules , which provide non-binding guidance for states , are also set to be lifted by the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he may extend the guidelines until early in the summer or later .
The meeting was initially mired in confusion Tuesday after the White House announced the two men would hold a formal press conference , only to backtrack moments later and say the meeting would not include a press conference .
The chaotic scheduling was the latest chapter in an ongoing White House effort to scale back Trump 's media exposure after Republicans complained that the president 's constant press coronavirus briefings were endangering the party 's 2020 election prospects .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government grapple with the coronavirus crisis , Trump has put a spotlight on himself by taking a starring role in the near-daily press briefings on the virus at the White House briefing room .
But he took no questions at Friday 's briefing , and the White House canceled the briefing scheduled for Monday evening — suggesting a shift in how the White House delivers its messaging , which it has struggled to control amid the pandemic .
`` We are looking at different ways to showcase this president leading , '' McEnany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She added there will be coronavirus task force briefings this week .
No briefing was scheduled Tuesday .