cnbc--2020-04-02--Biden, Trump scale back campaigns as coronavirus spreads – but super PACs are going to war

While presidential candidates take their campaigns into the virtual realm and avoid buying television ads amid the coronavirus pandemic , super PACs are giving them a boost .
Three super PACs supporting Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and one backing President Donald Trump have committed several million dollars to ads that will appear online and air on TV throughout the 2020 campaign to help the candidates make up for missing out on rallies .
Biden , Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders have called off in-person events to help prevent further spreading of the coronavirus .
Super PACs could potentially expand their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are stuck at home , according to political strategists .
This could help Biden in particular .
The former vice president has largely been on the sidelines as Trump and other political leaders , such as Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , take on the coronavirus crisis .
`` The theory is likely that voters who get their news from TV and are stuck at home will be able to engage , '' longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf told CNBC .
`` No TV , no campaign .
No campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guy Cecil , chairman of Democratic super PAC Priorities USA , said the group 's goal is not to take on the pro-Trump America First Action , but to provide a counterweight to Trump while he regularly holds nationally televised White House briefings on the coronavirus .
`` We thought it was critical to provide some sort of balance of what the president is treating as some sort of new version of a campaign rally , '' said Cecil , who noted that he believes Trump 's comments during his briefings are often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Priorities USA is looking to raise close to $ 200 million by the end of the 2020 election cycle .
Beyond the ads , Cecil said the group is investing an additional $ 2 million into litigation aimed at finding solutions to the possible impediments that lie ahead for voters if the virus does not subside in the coming months .
`` We have to make sure we have expanded vote by mail , that we have safeguards in place in that regard , and to make sure we have extensive in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate how many people stand in line , '' he said .
With their partners , the group will decide in the coming weeks which states to focus on .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the United States needs to move toward voting by mail as the coronavirus continues to spread .
Trump has pushed back on the notion .
Super PACs have the ability to spend and raise an unlimited amount of money , giving them an immense amount of resources to invest into advertising campaigns .
Super PACs have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases , which would never be able to go directly to a candidate 's campaign due to Federal Election Commission laws .
Some of the top donors to the major PACs this cycle include financier Donald Sussman , real estate executive George Marcus , venture capitalist Reid Hoffman and Dana White , president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship .
Sanders , who is still in the Democratic primary for president despite being behind Biden in the delegate count , has shunned super PACs for years .
There are no outside groups currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden , on the other hand , has been receptive to the help of super PACs and has had one advocating for him since late last year , while two others jumped into his camp in the wake of decisive victories on Super Tuesday .
The first super PAC to back him , Unite the Country , has spent just under $ 7 million on a variety of ad buys , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
A chunk of those ads have been blasting Trump for his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Pandemic '' that highlights how the economy has taken a downturn while the virus sweeps across the country and suggests the administration was n't prepared to take it on .
Biden is also seeing help from Priorities USA , the Democratic Party 's biggest outside group .
It announced on Wednesday it will be expanding its original $ 6.6 million TV and digital ad investments on Trump 's response to the coronavirus after its rival , America First Action , announced that it would be jumping in to defend the president with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA said it will be spending at least another $ 1 million and extending ad time by a week in key swing states Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Many of their ads backing Biden contrast how he would handle leading the country in a pandemic to Trump 's response .
America First , meanwhile , is going to be putting up ads in many of the same states that Priorities is targeting .
Starting in mid-April , the PAC said , it will be airing ads on TV and digital , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
American Bridge 21st Century , a liberal Democratic super PAC founded by political operative David Brock , launched a $ 50 million effort early last year that targeted voters in Midwest states such as Michigan and Wisconsin .
American Bridge recently published an ad that argues Trump is hurting the state of Michigan by how he 's dealt with the coronavirus .
The PAC has been making adjustments in the wake of the coronavirus , Bradley Beychok , the president of American Bridge , told CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is preparing to launch an online video portal where voters can record their stories of the impact they 're seeing from the coronavirus and those takes could be used in future digital and TV ads .
`` We 'll be driving folks to that site through text and email , and gathering stories in that way , '' Beychok said .
`` We have three goals with that portal .
We want to find those courageous people who voted for Trump in 2016 , find people who want to go to Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , '' he said .
American Bridge says the portal will be on a new website and will be officially launched in the coming weeks .
After endorsing Biden following his Super Tuesday blitz , American Bridge recently combined forces with Unite the Country for a general election partnership .
That alliance will lead to a nine-figure investment solely dedicated to backing Biden and defeating Trump come November .
The two PACs will coordinate polling and research , content creation and a joint effort of public communications that target critical components of @ @ @ @ @

While presidential candidates take their campaigns into the virtual realm and avoid buying television ads amid the coronavirus pandemic, super PACs are giving them a boost.
Three super PACs supporting Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and one backing President Donald Trump have committed several million dollars to ads that will appear online and air on TV throughout the 2020 campaign to help the candidates make up for missing out on rallies.
Biden, Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders have called off in-person events to help prevent further spreading of the coronavirus.
Super PACs could potentially expand their messaging power in unprecedented ways while voters are stuck at home, according to political strategists. This could help Biden in particular. The former vice president has largely been on the sidelines as Trump and other political leaders, such as Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, take on the coronavirus crisis.
"The theory is likely that voters who get their news from TV and are stuck at home will be able to engage," longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf told CNBC. "No TV, no campaign. No campaign, Biden disappears," he added.
Guy Cecil, chairman of Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, said the group's goal is not to take on the pro-Trump America First Action, but to provide a counterweight to Trump while he regularly holds nationally televised White House briefings on the coronavirus.
"We thought it was critical to provide some sort of balance of what the president is treating as some sort of new version of a campaign rally," said Cecil, who noted that he believes Trump's comments during his briefings are often equivalent to "propaganda."
He said Priorities USA is looking to raise close to $200 million by the end of the 2020 election cycle.
Beyond the ads, Cecil said the group is investing an additional $2 million into litigation aimed at finding solutions to the possible impediments that lie ahead for voters if the virus does not subside in the coming months.
"We have to make sure we have expanded vote by mail, that we have safeguards in place in that regard, and to make sure we have extensive in-person voting, which may mean more precincts to eliminate how many people stand in line," he said. With their partners, the group will decide in the coming weeks which states to focus on.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the United States needs to move toward voting by mail as the coronavirus continues to spread. Trump has pushed back on the notion.
Super PACs have the ability to spend and raise an unlimited amount of money, giving them an immense amount of resources to invest into advertising campaigns.
Super PACs have received contributions up to seven figures in some cases, which would never be able to go directly to a candidate's campaign due to Federal Election Commission laws. Some of the top donors to the major PACs this cycle include financier Donald Sussman, real estate executive George Marcus, venture capitalist Reid Hoffman and Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Sanders, who is still in the Democratic primary for president despite being behind Biden in the delegate count, has shunned super PACs for years. There are no outside groups currently airing TV ads in support of him.
Biden, on the other hand, has been receptive to the help of super PACs and has had one advocating for him since late last year, while two others jumped into his camp in the wake of decisive victories on Super Tuesday.
The first super PAC to back him, Unite the Country, has spent just under $7 million on a variety of ad buys, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. A chunk of those ads have been blasting Trump for his handling of the coronavirus, including one titled "Pandemic" that highlights how the economy has taken a downturn while the virus sweeps across the country and suggests the administration wasn't prepared to take it on.
Biden is also seeing help from Priorities USA, the Democratic Party's biggest outside group. It announced on Wednesday it will be expanding its original $6.6 million TV and digital ad investments on Trump's response to the coronavirus after its rival, America First Action, announced that it would be jumping in to defend the president with a $10 million buy.
Priorities USA said it will be spending at least another $1 million and extending ad time by a week in key swing states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Many of their ads backing Biden contrast how he would handle leading the country in a pandemic to Trump's response.
America First, meanwhile, is going to be putting up ads in many of the same states that Priorities is targeting. Starting in mid-April, the PAC said, it will be airing ads on TV and digital, along with sending out mailers, to voters in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal Democratic super PAC founded by political operative David Brock, launched a $50 million effort early last year that targeted voters in Midwest states such as Michigan and Wisconsin.
American Bridge recently published an ad that argues Trump is hurting the state of Michigan by how he's dealt with the coronavirus.
The PAC has been making adjustments in the wake of the coronavirus, Bradley Beychok, the president of American Bridge, told CNBC in a later interview. The committee is preparing to launch an online video portal where voters can record their stories of the impact they're seeing from the coronavirus and those takes could be used in future digital and TV ads.
"We'll be driving folks to that site through text and email, and gathering stories in that way," Beychok said. "We have three goals with that portal. We want to find those courageous people who voted for Trump in 2016, find people who want to go to Biden and those who are being impacted by the coronavirus," he said. American Bridge says the portal will be on a new website and will be officially launched in the coming weeks.
After endorsing Biden following his Super Tuesday blitz, American Bridge recently combined forces with Unite the Country for a general election partnership. That alliance will lead to a nine-figure investment solely dedicated to backing Biden and defeating Trump come November. The two PACs will coordinate polling and research, content creation and a joint effort of public communications that target critical components of a winning Democratic coalition.


cnbc--2020-04-02--China defends its coronavirus data after report says US intelligence doubted numbers

Chinese President Xi Jinping , also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission , talks with experts during his visit to the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University in Beijing , capital of China , March 2 , 2020 .
China on Thursday denied that it hid the true number of its people who have been infected and killed by the coronavirus outbreak , decrying accusations of concealment as a `` despicable attempt to put political interests above human life . ''
The blistering statement came a day after Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a classified U.S. intelligence report concluded that China 's public tally of COVID-19 infections and deaths is purposefully incomplete .
In a statement to CNBC , the Chinese Embassy in Washington , D.C. , said that Beijing `` has fully honored its obligation of notification prescribed by the International Health Regulations , and has been updating the statistics of its confirmed and death cases in an open , transparent and responsible manner . ''
`` The Chinese government has , out of a strong sense of responsibility for its people 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to fight the pandemic , '' the statement said .
`` Slandering and shifting blame can not help make up for the lost time , '' the embassy added , `` nor can they conceal some people 's incompetence in the containment efforts or their despicable attempt to put political interests above human life . ''
`` In this fight , countries are all interconnected , and they can only prevail by solidarity and stronger cooperation , '' the embassy said .
President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday at a White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence report describing any discrepancies in China 's numbers .
`` We have not received '' any such reports , Trump said .
But he noted that China 's tally appeared `` to be a little bit on the light side , and I 'm being nice when I say that , relative to what we witnessed and what was reported . ''
Trump has previously cast doubt on China 's numbers .
But he said at the briefing Wednesday evening that `` we really do n't know '' if China `` underreported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus pandemic began around the city of Wuhan in China 's Hubei province — though Beijing 's foreign ministry has claimed that it did n't necessarily originate there .
China has reported 82,432 coronavirus cases , data from Johns Hopkins University show .
That number is less than half of the total cases confirmed in the United States , which has become the country with the highest number of reported infections in the world .
More than 217,000 COVID-19 cases have so far been confirmed in the U.S .
While the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world — especially in parts of the U.S. and Europe — China 's numbers have flattened .
China attributes its apparent success in `` flattening the curve '' of coronavirus growth to the `` comprehensive and stringent measures '' it has put in place to fight the pandemic .
Those extreme steps reportedly included forcibly holding Wuhan residents in pop-up hospitals , conducting door-to-door health checks and requiring that citizens who showed any symptoms be immediately quarantined .
The total lockdown of daily life seems to have worked , according to China @ @ @

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with experts during his visit to the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 2, 2020.
China on Thursday denied that it hid the true number of its people who have been infected and killed by the coronavirus outbreak, decrying accusations of concealment as a "despicable attempt to put political interests above human life."
The blistering statement came a day after Bloomberg, citing three U.S. officials, reported that a classified U.S. intelligence report concluded that China's public tally of COVID-19 infections and deaths is purposefully incomplete.
In a statement to CNBC, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., said that Beijing "has fully honored its obligation of notification prescribed by the International Health Regulations, and has been updating the statistics of its confirmed and death cases in an open, transparent and responsible manner."
"The Chinese government has, out of a strong sense of responsibility for its people's health, taken the most comprehensive and stringent measures to fight the pandemic," the statement said.
"Slandering and shifting blame cannot help make up for the lost time," the embassy added, "nor can they conceal some people's incompetence in the containment efforts or their despicable attempt to put political interests above human life."
"In this fight, countries are all interconnected, and they can only prevail by solidarity and stronger cooperation," the embassy said.
President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday at a White House press briefing whether he had received an intelligence report describing any discrepancies in China's numbers.
"We have not received" any such reports, Trump said. But he noted that China's tally appeared "to be a little bit on the light side, and I'm being nice when I say that, relative to what we witnessed and what was reported."
Trump has previously cast doubt on China's numbers. But he said at the briefing Wednesday evening that "we really don't know" if China "underreported or reported however they report."
The coronavirus pandemic began around the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province — though Beijing's foreign ministry has claimed that it didn't necessarily originate there.
China has reported 82,432 coronavirus cases, data from Johns Hopkins University show. That number is less than half of the total cases confirmed in the United States, which has become the country with the highest number of reported infections in the world. More than 217,000 COVID-19 cases have so far been confirmed in the U.S.
While the disease in recent weeks has spread exponentially around the world — especially in parts of the U.S. and Europe — China's numbers have flattened.
China attributes its apparent success in "flattening the curve" of coronavirus growth to the "comprehensive and stringent measures" it has put in place to fight the pandemic. Those extreme steps reportedly included forcibly holding Wuhan residents in pop-up hospitals, conducting door-to-door health checks and requiring that citizens who showed any symptoms be immediately quarantined.
The total lockdown of daily life seems to have worked, according to China's numbers.


cnbc--2020-04-02--Democratic National Convention postponed until August, delaying official presidential nomination as

Democratic National Convention postponed until August, delaying official presidential nomination as coronavirus spreads

The Democratic National Convention , which was set for July , has been delayed until August as the coronavirus continues to spread .
`` In our current climate of uncertainty , we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention , '' said DNC Convention Committee CEO Joe Solmonese in a press release .
`` I have always believed that American innovation and ingenuity shine brightest during our darkest days , and for that reason , I 'm confident our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a way to deliver a convention in Milwaukee this summer that places our Democratic nominee on the path to victory in November , '' he said .
The convention will now be held `` the week of August 17 , '' according to the release , and convention organizers expect it to provide `` more time to determine the most appropriate structure for this historic event . ''
The Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place between Aug. 24 and Aug. 27 .
The decision to postpone the convention comes amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the front-runner in the 2020 Democratic election , who on Tuesday said that he would n't be surprised if the convention were delayed because of the outbreak .
An MSNBC reporter asked if Biden could imagine the convention being held in July as originally planned .
`` It 's hard to envision that , '' the former vice president said in response to the question .
`` We ought to be able — we were able to do it in the middle of the Civil War all the way through to World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conventions and primaries and elections and still have public safety .
And we 're able to do both .
But the fact is it may have to be different . ''
The decision also comes as more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their own presidential primaries , with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely .
Already , the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way both Biden and Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders get their message out to voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters .
Biden maintains a commanding lead over Sanders , having secured victories in most of the completed primaries .
In March , Sanders was mulling his options , his campaign said in an email , but he has since given no indication he is ready to drop his bid .
Biden was the clear winner at the last nominating contests , which were held on March 17 .
As the coronavirus continues to ravage the country , other national politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Americans vote .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said that America needs to move toward a `` vote by mail '' system to give citizens a safe way to elect their lawmakers while the coronavirus makes it dangerous to congregate .
`` In terms of the elections , I think we 'll probably be moving to vote by mail , '' Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC .
`` That 's why we wanted to have more resources in this third bill that just was signed by the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to facilitate the reality of life : that we are going to have to have more vote by mail . ''
The coronavirus , which is believed to have originated in Wuhan , China , has spread to dozens of countries , with more than 965,246 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 49,180 deaths so far , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
There are at least 217,263 cases in the United States and at least 5,137 deaths , according to the latest tallies .

2020 presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden arrive on stage ahead of the Democratic presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Alice Keeney | Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Democratic National Convention, which was set for July, has been delayed until August as the coronavirus continues to spread. "In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention," said DNC Convention Committee CEO Joe Solmonese in a press release. "I have always believed that American innovation and ingenuity shine brightest during our darkest days, and for that reason, I'm confident our convention planning team and our partners will find a way to deliver a convention in Milwaukee this summer that places our Democratic nominee on the path to victory in November," he said. The convention will now be held "the week of August 17," according to the release, and convention organizers expect it to provide "more time to determine the most appropriate structure for this historic event." The Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place between Aug. 24 and Aug. 27.
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The decision to postpone the convention comes amid pressure from former Vice President Joe Biden, the front-runner in the 2020 Democratic election, who on Tuesday said that he wouldn't be surprised if the convention were delayed because of the outbreak. An MSNBC reporter asked if Biden could imagine the convention being held in July as originally planned. "It's hard to envision that," the former vice president said in response to the question. "We ought to be able — we were able to do it in the middle of the Civil War all the way through to World War II — have Democratic and Republican conventions and primaries and elections and still have public safety. And we're able to do both. But the fact is it may have to be different." The decision also comes as more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their own presidential primaries, with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely. Already, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way both Biden and Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders get their message out to voters. Both campaigns no longer do in-person events or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters. Biden maintains a commanding lead over Sanders, having secured victories in most of the completed primaries. In March, Sanders was mulling his options, his campaign said in an email, but he has since given no indication he is ready to drop his bid. Biden was the clear winner at the last nominating contests, which were held on March 17. As the coronavirus continues to ravage the country, other national politicians have suggested that the outbreak could alter the way Americans vote.
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cnbc--2020-04-02--Coronavirus patient Chris Cuomo joins New York governor brother Andrew's press conference by remote

Coronavirus patient Chris Cuomo joins New York governor brother Andrew's press conference by remote video

Even the coronavirus ca n't keep the Cuomo brothers from taking good-natured shots at each other .
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo , who has the coronavirus , joined his New York governor brother Andrew Cuomo 's press conference Thursday to talk about his condition via a remote video feed .
`` I 'm doing pretty well , all things considered , '' Chris Cuomo said during the press conference , where his older brother provided updates about the pandemic in New York state , which is the national epicenter of the outbreak .
Gov .
Cuomo said , `` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` I know sometimes we joke .
I 'm not going to do that .
Rule is you never hit a brother while he is down , '' the governor said .
But the brothers , whose late father Mario Cuomo was a three-term governor of the Empire State , then launched into the kind of banter that has drawn attention on social media and elsewhere when Chris has interviewed the governor on his evening show , Cuomo Prime Time .
`` You look like you 've been cutting your own hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo , who was speaking from the basement of his home in New York City , where he has been quarantined since being diagnosed earlier this week , described how his fever from the coronavirus had affected his dreams .
`` I got hit with a fever and those rigors , '' Chris Cuomo said .
`` It was like out of a movie .
I was having hallucinations .
I saw Pop . ''
`` You came to me in a dream , '' the journalist told his brother .

Even the coronavirus can't keep the Cuomo brothers from taking good-natured shots at each other.
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who has the coronavirus, joined his New York governor brother Andrew Cuomo's press conference Thursday to talk about his condition via a remote video feed.
"I'm doing pretty well, all things considered," Chris Cuomo said during the press conference, where his older brother provided updates about the pandemic in New York state, which is the national epicenter of the outbreak.
Gov. Cuomo said, "You look good. You sound good."
"I know sometimes we joke. I'm not going to do that. Rule is you never hit a brother while he is down," the governor said.
But the brothers, whose late father Mario Cuomo was a three-term governor of the Empire State, then launched into the kind of banter that has drawn attention on social media and elsewhere when Chris has interviewed the governor on his evening show, Cuomo Prime Time.
"You look like you've been cutting your own hair," Chris Cuomo said.
Chris Cuomo, who was speaking from the basement of his home in New York City, where he has been quarantined since being diagnosed earlier this week, described how his fever from the coronavirus had affected his dreams.
"I got hit with a fever and those rigors," Chris Cuomo said. "It was like out of a movie. I was having hallucinations. I saw Pop."
"You came to me in a dream," the journalist told his brother.


cnbc--2020-04-02--Pelosi announces new House committee to oversee Trump administration coronavirus response

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks with reporters during her weekly press conference at the US Capitol March 26 , 2020 , in Washington , DC .
The speaker said the committee `` will root out waste , fraud and abuse '' and `` protect against price-gouging , profiteering and political favoritism . ''
It will also try to ensure the U.S. response to the outbreak is `` based on the best possible science '' and the advice of leading health experts , Pelosi said .
`` We face a deadly virus and a battered economy with millions of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Congress has taken an important step in leading this crisis by passing three bills with over $ 2 trillion in emergency relief .
We need to ensure those dollars are spent carefully and effectively . ''
On a conference call with reporters , the California Democrat said House Majority Whip James Clyburn , D-S.C. , will lead the panel .
Pelosi said the committee , which will include Democrats and Republicans , will oversee the Trump administration 's handling of the $ 2 trillion relief package passed last week and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday announced a new House select committee to oversee the Trump administration 's response to the coronavirus pandemic .
In response to Pelosi 's announcement , White House spokesman Steven Groves said President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force `` are committing 100 % of their time , energy , and resources to ending the current crisis . ''
He added that `` any attempt to politicize the crisis even before it has ended is dangerous . ''
On a conference call with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy , R-Calif. , called the panel redundant because of the oversight mechanisms built into the stimulus .
The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request to comment on the committee 's formation .
Pelosi announced the panel 's creation on a day the Labor Department reported that a staggering 6.6 million people filed unemployment claims last week as the outbreak ravages the economy .
It brings the two-week total to about 10 million , an unprecedented figure as business grinds to a halt to slow COVID-19 's spread around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 216,000 cases of the disease , the most in the world , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
At least 5,137 deaths have been linked to COVID-19 nationwide .
Congress will not return to Washington until April 20 at the earliest as the pandemic takes a dire toll .
Pelosi has called to move forward with another relief bill shortly after lawmakers come back to the Capitol , though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants to first see how effective the earlier stimulus money is before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces a complicated task in quickly doling out the money appropriated to distressed individuals , small businesses , states and corporations .
It will execute or help to oversee an estimated $ 300 billion in direct payments to households , $ 350 billion in loans to small firms , $ 500 billion in grants and loans for big business , states and municipalities , and the state distribution of an extra $ 600 per week in unemployment insurance for workers displaced by the virus .
The half-trillion dollar pool of taxpayer money sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crafted the relief bill .
Pelosi at one point called it a `` slush fund . ''
Congress eventually added an inspector general and congressional oversight posts to monitor how Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin uses the money .
The law also includes limits on stock buybacks , dividends and executive compensation for companies that receive taxpayer bailout money .
Even so , some Democrats have argued the legislation did not go far enough to ensure corporations would not disproportionately benefit from the government relief .
Since the bill passed , Democrats have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment insurance as reports indicate their systems have struggled to keep up with the flood of applicants .
Trump has repeatedly decried Democratic oversight of his administration since the party regained control of the House in January 2019 .

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks with reporters during her weekly press conference at the US Capitol March 26, 2020, in Washington, DC.
The speaker said the committee "will root out waste, fraud and abuse" and "protect against price-gouging, profiteering and political favoritism." It will also try to ensure the U.S. response to the outbreak is "based on the best possible science" and the advice of leading health experts, Pelosi said.
"We face a deadly virus and a battered economy with millions of Americans suddenly out of work," Pelosi said. "Congress has taken an important step in leading this crisis by passing three bills with over $2 trillion in emergency relief. We need to ensure those dollars are spent carefully and effectively."
On a conference call with reporters, the California Democrat said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., will lead the panel. Pelosi said the committee, which will include Democrats and Republicans, will oversee the Trump administration's handling of the $2 trillion relief package passed last week and the government's ongoing response to the crisis.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday announced a new House select committee to oversee the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In response to Pelosi's announcement, White House spokesman Steven Groves said President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force "are committing 100% of their time, energy, and resources to ending the current crisis." He added that "any attempt to politicize the crisis even before it has ended is dangerous."
On a conference call with reporters Thursday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., called the panel redundant because of the oversight mechanisms built into the stimulus.
The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to CNBC's request to comment on the committee's formation.
Pelosi announced the panel's creation on a day the Labor Department reported that a staggering 6.6 million people filed unemployment claims last week as the outbreak ravages the economy. It brings the two-week total to about 10 million, an unprecedented figure as business grinds to a halt to slow COVID-19's spread around the country.
The U.S. has more than 216,000 cases of the disease, the most in the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 5,137 deaths have been linked to COVID-19 nationwide.
Congress will not return to Washington until April 20 at the earliest as the pandemic takes a dire toll. Pelosi has called to move forward with another relief bill shortly after lawmakers come back to the Capitol, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants to first see how effective the earlier stimulus money is before making a decision.
The federal government faces a complicated task in quickly doling out the money appropriated to distressed individuals, small businesses, states and corporations. It will execute or help to oversee an estimated $300 billion in direct payments to households, $350 billion in loans to small firms, $500 billion in grants and loans for big business, states and municipalities, and the state distribution of an extra $600 per week in unemployment insurance for workers displaced by the virus.
The half-trillion dollar pool of taxpayer money sparked the most concern among Democrats as lawmakers crafted the relief bill. Pelosi at one point called it a "slush fund."
Congress eventually added an inspector general and congressional oversight posts to monitor how Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin uses the money. The law also includes limits on stock buybacks, dividends and executive compensation for companies that receive taxpayer bailout money.
Even so, some Democrats have argued the legislation did not go far enough to ensure corporations would not disproportionately benefit from the government relief.
Since the bill passed, Democrats have also pushed the administration to help states expedite unemployment insurance as reports indicate their systems have struggled to keep up with the flood of applicants.
Trump has repeatedly decried Democratic oversight of his administration since the party regained control of the House in January 2019.
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cnbc--2020-04-02--Coronavirus hits prisons: Ex-GOP Rep. Chris Collins' surrender date delayed two months as inmates, g

Coronavirus hits prisons: Ex-GOP Rep. Chris Collins' surrender date delayed two months as inmates, guards infected

Former Representative Chris Collins , a Republican from New York , exits a federal court in New York , U.S. , on Friday , Jan. 17 , 2020 .
A federal judge granted a two-month delay on Wednesday for the prison surrender of former GOP Rep. Chris Collins after his lawyers argued he has a high risk of contracting the coronavirus .
Collins ' surrender postponement until June 23 is the latest example of disparities in how the pandemic is being handled by the criminal justice system in prisons and jails .
Dozens of corrections guards have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being infected .
A number of people in jail who have not been convicted of crimes have been denied requests for release after they argued they were at risk of catching the virus while locked up .
Collins , 69 , was sentenced in January to serve 26 months in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and lying to the FBI .
He originally was due to surrender on April 21 .
Collins , while representing a Buffalo , New York , area district , was the first member of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His lawyers in a filing Wednesday in Manhattan federal court argued that it would be `` dangerous for an elderly person with underlying health conditions '' to be incarcerated `` in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the United States . ''
Broderick granted the request on the same day as the filing .

Former Representative Chris Collins, a Republican from New York, exits a federal court in New York, U.S., on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020.
A federal judge granted a two-month delay on Wednesday for the prison surrender of former GOP Rep. Chris Collins after his lawyers argued he has a high risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Collins' surrender postponement until June 23 is the latest example of disparities in how the pandemic is being handled by the criminal justice system in prisons and jails.
Dozens of corrections guards have tested positive for the disease and some inmates have died after being infected.
A number of people in jail who have not been convicted of crimes have been denied requests for release after they argued they were at risk of catching the virus while locked up.
Collins, 69, was sentenced in January to serve 26 months in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and lying to the FBI. He originally was due to surrender on April 21.
Collins, while representing a Buffalo, New York, area district, was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
His lawyers in a filing Wednesday in Manhattan federal court argued that it would be "dangerous for an elderly person with underlying health conditions" to be incarcerated "in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the United States."
Attorneys asked Judge Vernon Broderick to postpone Collins' surrender until June 23.
Broderick granted the request on the same day as the filing.


cnbc--2020-04-02--Durbin denies Congress is rescuing airline shareholders with $50 billion bailout

The second-ranking Senate Democrat on Thursday denied that Congress rescued airline shareholders by passing a $ 50 billion industry bailout last week .
Lawmakers approved the taxpayer aid as part of a $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief package , the largest emergency spending plan in U.S. history designed to limit the economic destruction from the coronavirus pandemic .
Commercial airlines have seen a dramatic drop in customers as the outbreak proliferates .
Pressed in a CNBC interview about whether elected officials put the concerns of airline shareholders over small businesses , Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said corporate stakeholders did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority whip , whose state is home to United Airlines ' headquarters , said he is `` worried about the workers , the pilots , the flight attendants , the people in charge of maintenance . ''
`` We 've attached a lot of strings in terms of how this money 's going to be spent and how these airlines are going to conduct their business after we see an end to this , '' Durbin told `` Squawk Box . ''
`` To say that we 're rescuing shareholders — you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I do n't think there 's any rescue that 's come through for these shareholders yet , '' he continued .
The $ 2 trillion stimulus package creates a $ 500 billion fund to help severely distressed businesses .
Within that fund , $ 50 billion in aid is earmarked for passenger carriers , half in direct payments and the other half in loans and guarantees .

The second-ranking Senate Democrat on Thursday denied that Congress rescued airline shareholders by passing a $50 billion industry bailout last week.
Lawmakers approved the taxpayer aid as part of a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, the largest emergency spending plan in U.S. history designed to limit the economic destruction from the coronavirus pandemic. Commercial airlines have seen a dramatic drop in customers as the outbreak proliferates.
Pressed in a CNBC interview about whether elected officials put the concerns of airline shareholders over small businesses, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said corporate stakeholders did not get preferential treatment. The Senate minority whip, whose state is home to United Airlines' headquarters, said he is "worried about the workers, the pilots, the flight attendants, the people in charge of maintenance."
"We've attached a lot of strings in terms of how this money's going to be spent and how these airlines are going to conduct their business after we see an end to this," Durbin told "Squawk Box."
"To say that we're rescuing shareholders — you know these stock prices are taking a beating and I don't think there's any rescue that's come through for these shareholders yet," he continued.
The $2 trillion stimulus package creates a $500 billion fund to help severely distressed businesses. Within that fund, $50 billion in aid is earmarked for passenger carriers, half in direct payments and the other half in loans and guarantees.


cnbc--2020-04-02--Fauci gets security detail after receiving multiple threats, reports say

Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , participates in the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady Briefing room at the White House on March 31 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert who serves on the White House coronavirus task force , has picked up a security detail after receiving multiple threats , according to several news outlets .
`` I 've chosen this life .
I know what it is , '' the director of the National Institute of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News reporter when asked about the threats against him .
`` There are things about it that sometimes are disturbing .
But you just focus on the job you have to do .
And just put all that other stuff aside . ''
President Donald Trump dismissed the reports of threats against Fauci at Wednesday 's task force briefing , suggesting the top doctor , who he said used to be a basketball player , could defend himself .
`` He does n't need security .
Everybody loves him , '' Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in big trouble if they ever attacked him . ''
Fauci , who is 79 , has earned a reputation as an honest speaker .
He has been a blunt voice at task force briefings , sometimes contradicting Trump 's apparently misleading statements .
He has done numerous high-profile interviews , including with prominent YouTubers and NBA player Stephen Curry and Barstool Sports , in an effort to reach a more widespread audience .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, participates in the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady Briefing room at the White House on March 31, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert who serves on the White House coronavirus task force, has picked up a security detail after receiving multiple threats, according to several news outlets.
"I've chosen this life. I know what it is," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told an NBC News reporter when asked about the threats against him.
"There are things about it that sometimes are disturbing. But you just focus on the job you have to do. And just put all that other stuff aside."
Tweet
President Donald Trump dismissed the reports of threats against Fauci at Wednesday's task force briefing, suggesting the top doctor, who he said used to be a basketball player, could defend himself.
"He doesn't need security. Everybody loves him," Trump said. "Besides that, they'd be in big trouble if they ever attacked him."
Fauci, who is 79, has earned a reputation as an honest speaker. He has been a blunt voice at task force briefings, sometimes contradicting Trump's apparently misleading statements. He has done numerous high-profile interviews, including with prominent YouTubers and NBA player Stephen Curry and Barstool Sports, in an effort to reach a more widespread audience.


cnbc--2020-04-02--Pentagon trying to get 100,000 body bags for FEMA's coronavirus response

Workers wheel a deceased person outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , March 30 , 2020 .
The Pentagon is trying to obtain 100,000 body bags for federal emergency management officials in preparation of an expected increase in the numbers of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic .
That effort 's disclosure came on the heels of a White House projection that an estimated 100,000 to 240,000 are likely to die in coming months from COVID-19 , even with mitigation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday warned Americans to prepare for `` a very painful '' coming three weeks .
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Andrews , a Pentagon spokesman , told CNBC that the Defense Logistics Agency is responding to `` prudent planning efforts '' by the Federal Emergency Management Agency .
Andrews said FEMA has asked for `` 100,000 pouches to address mortuary contingencies on behalf of state health agencies . ''
The Defense Logistics Agency is the combat logistics support agency for U.S. military branches .
Bloomberg News , which first broke news of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon already has 50,000 body bags that it will begin tapping to fulfill FEMA 's request as it seeks the other 100,000 bags .
A FEMA spokesman said in a statement , `` FEMA is aware of many states ' planning efforts to account for mortuary contingencies and has increased its posture to support these requests once received from the states . ''
`` Prudent planning for these future conditions is taken very seriously by FEMA , and we are working with Regional and State health and emergency managers to ramp up available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most affected areas , '' the spokesman said .
Andrews , the Pentagon spokesman , said the Defense Department and the Defense Logistics Agency have a longstanding arrangement with FEMA to procure key commodities from DLA 's industrial partners during crisis response operations . ''

Workers wheel a deceased person outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 30, 2020.
The Pentagon is trying to obtain 100,000 body bags for federal emergency management officials in preparation of an expected increase in the numbers of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.
That effort's disclosure came on the heels of a White House projection that an estimated 100,000 to 240,000 are likely to die in coming months from COVID-19, even with mitigation and treatment efforts. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to prepare for "a very painful" coming three weeks.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, a Pentagon spokesman, told CNBC that the Defense Logistics Agency is responding to "prudent planning efforts" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Andrews said FEMA has asked for "100,000 pouches to address mortuary contingencies on behalf of state health agencies."
The Defense Logistics Agency is the combat logistics support agency for U.S. military branches.
Bloomberg News, which first broke news of the effort Wednesday, reported that the Pentagon already has 50,000 body bags that it will begin tapping to fulfill FEMA's request as it seeks the other 100,000 bags.
A FEMA spokesman said in a statement, "FEMA is aware of many states' planning efforts to account for mortuary contingencies and has increased its posture to support these requests once received from the states."
"Prudent planning for these future conditions is taken very seriously by FEMA, and we are working with Regional and State health and emergency managers to ramp up available assets to meet contingency needs for the most affected areas," the spokesman said.
Andrews, the Pentagon spokesman, said the Defense Department and the Defense Logistics Agency have a longstanding arrangement with FEMA to procure key commodities from DLA's industrial partners during crisis response operations."
WATCH: N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo on the latest coronavirus numbers


cnbc--2020-04-03--China defends its coronavirus data after report says US intelligence doubted numbers


cnbc--2020-04-03--Conservative dark money groups gear up for battle over DC Circuit Court that once included Brett Kav

Conservative dark money groups gear up for battle over DC Circuit Court that once included Brett Kavanaugh

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican from Kentucky , left , speaks as U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , a Republican from California , right , and U.S. President Donald Trump listen before the H.R .
748 , Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act , is signed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Friday , March 27 , 2020 .
Conservative dark money groups are preparing for one of their biggest battles of the year over President Donald Trump 's new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a court that once included Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
Trump on Friday announced that he will nominate Justin Walker to the D.C .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court in October 2018 after a bitter fight in the U.S. Senate that included accusations of sexual assault which Kavanaugh vehemently denied .
The fight over Kavanaugh 's Supreme Court confirmation included millions of dollars of outside money spent either for or against the controversial judge .
Walker was confirmed in 2019 to the U.S. District Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the American Bar Association deemed him `` not qualified '' for the position .
That rating , on top of the fact that most Democrats have opposed many of the president 's nominations , has conservative outside groups , such as the Judicial Crisis Network and the Article III Project , preparing for an all-out war in defense of Walker , according to people with direct knowledge of matter .
`` The D.C .
Circuit is considered the second highest court in the land , and barring a Supreme Court vacancy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , '' Mike Davis , the founder of Article III , told CNBC in an interview on Friday .
Though it 's unclear how some of the liberal organizations are planning to take on the Walker nomination , Demand Justice , a group who vehemently opposed Kavanaugh 's nomination has already gone on offense .
`` The nomination of a Mitch McConnell crony , who has been rated unqualified by his peers , to the second highest court in the country is beyond suspicious , '' Demand Justice Chief Counsel Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know if McConnell contacted Griffith directly , as reports suggest he may have , and if so , what he offered in exchange for his retirement . ''
Since Democrats are the minority in the Senate , it 's unlikely they will be able to block Walker 's nomination .
Trump and Republicans have repeatedly touted their record of confirming judges across the country .
Still , the groups want to boost Walker 's credibility and defend him against liberal attacks .
During the Kavanaugh hearings , the JCN pledged to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his confirmation .
Their efforts for his replacement will include organizing pro-Walker TV and radio appearances , op-eds , and , in some cases , advising Republican lawmakers on how best to drive the message as to why Walker should be confirmed , the people with direct knowledge added .
They noted one of the goals will be to galvanize a conservative coalition around the judge .
Article III , along with close to 20 other conservative groups , sent a letter on Friday to Sen. Lindsey Graham , the chairman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dianne Feinstein , the committee 's ranking Democratic member , to insist on Walker 's immediate confirmation .
`` We strongly support President Trump 's nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit , and we urge you to confirm him at the earliest opportunity , '' the letter says .
`` Every member of this Committee and every American of goodwill should support Judge Walker 's nomination to the D.C .
Circuit . ''
The others who signed the letter include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie Kirk and Erick Erickson , a conservative blogger .
The letter was organized by the Article III group .
This group of 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organizations , who do not disclose their donors , will highlight Walker 's resume , which includes a job as a former clerk for Kavanaugh and for retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy .
He also has ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who knows Walker 's grandfather .
Davis was previously the chief counsel for nominations under Sen. Chuck Grassley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Judiciary Committee , before Graham got the position .
Davis helped Grassley and Republicans on the committee push Kavanaugh 's nomination to the Senate floor where he was confirmed with a razor-thin majority .
The Judicial Crisis Network would n't confirm how they 're planning to fight back against opposition to Walker , but Carrie Severino , who leads the group , pointed to how they 've handled past nominations when asked about their strategy .
`` We set up websites , we rally the forces of the conservative coalition , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact checking and the reading of peoples records , '' Severino said .
`` We are going to be tailoring our position based on the kind of response we get . ''

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, left, speaks as U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump listen before the H.R. 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is signed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Conservative dark money groups are preparing for one of their biggest battles of the year over President Donald Trump's new pick to fill the a seat on a court that once included Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Trump on Friday announced that he will nominate Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court in October 2018 after a bitter fight in the U.S. Senate that included accusations of sexual assault which Kavanaugh vehemently denied.
The fight over Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation included millions of dollars of outside money spent either for or against the controversial judge.
Walker was confirmed in 2019 to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, after the American Bar Association deemed him "not qualified" for the position.
That rating, on top of the fact that most Democrats have opposed many of the president's nominations, has conservative outside groups, such as the Judicial Crisis Network and the Article III Project, preparing for an all-out war in defense of Walker, according to people with direct knowledge of matter.
"The D.C. Circuit is considered the second highest court in the land, and barring a Supreme Court vacancy, this will be the biggest judicial fight this year," Mike Davis, the founder of Article III, told CNBC in an interview on Friday.
Though it's unclear how some of the liberal organizations are planning to take on the Walker nomination, Demand Justice, a group who vehemently opposed Kavanaugh's nomination has already gone on offense.
"The nomination of a Mitch McConnell crony, who has been rated unqualified by his peers, to the second highest court in the country is beyond suspicious," Demand Justice Chief Counsel Christopher Kang said Friday. "We need to know if McConnell contacted Griffith directly, as reports suggest he may have, and if so, what he offered in exchange for his retirement."
Since Democrats are the minority in the Senate, it's unlikely they will be able to block Walker's nomination. Trump and Republicans have repeatedly touted their record of confirming judges across the country.
Tweet:
Still, the groups want to boost Walker's credibility and defend him against liberal attacks.
During the Kavanaugh hearings, the JCN pledged to spend up to $10 million in support of his confirmation.
Their efforts for Walker will include organizing pro-Walker TV and radio appearances, op-eds, and, in some cases, advising Republican lawmakers on how best to drive the message as to why Walker should be confirmed, the people with direct knowledge added. They noted one of the goals will be to galvanize a conservative coalition around the judge.
Article III, along with close to 20 other conservative groups, sent a letter on Friday to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committee's ranking Democratic member, to insist on Walker's immediate confirmation.
Read the full letter here
"We strongly support President Trump's nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and we urge you to confirm him at the earliest opportunity," the letter says. "Every member of this Committee and every American of goodwill should support Judge Walker's nomination to the D.C. Circuit."
The others who signed the letter include the founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk and Erick Erickson, a conservative blogger. The letter was organized by the Article III group.
This group of 501(c)(4) organizations, who do not disclose their donors, will highlight Walker's resume, which includes a job as a former clerk for Kavanaugh and for retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He also has ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who knows Walker's grandfather.
Davis was previously the chief counsel for nominations under Sen. Chuck Grassley, who was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, before Graham got the position. Davis helped Grassley and Republicans on the committee push Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor where he was confirmed with a razor-thin majority.
The Judicial Crisis Network wouldn't confirm how they're planning to fight back against opposition to Walker, but Carrie Severino, who leads the group, pointed to how they've handled past nominations when asked about their strategy.
"We set up websites, we rally the forces of the conservative coalition, we have run ads, we often do fact checking and the reading of peoples records," Severino said. "We are going to be tailoring our position based on the kind of response we get."


cnbc--2020-04-03--American, Delta and others apply for relief grants — now comes the hard part

American Airlines passenger planes crowd a runway where they are parked due to flight reductions to slow the spread of coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa , Oklahoma , U.S. March 23 , 2020 .
U.S. airlines JetBlue , American , United and Delta on Friday submitted applications to the Treasury Department for government grants to not furlough employees through Sept. 30 despite an unprecedented decline in air travel demand .
Now they have to negotiate the details .
Carriers had until 5 p.m .
ET Friday to apply for $ 25 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or cutting their pay rates through Sept. 30 , aid that airlines and labor unions lobbied for and Congress approved in a $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief package last week .
The aid also allows for $ 29 billion in loans for passenger and cargo airlines .
The coronavirus has devastated air travel demand , prompting airlines to plead with their employees to take unpaid and partially paid leave as they scramble to cut costs .
Even with the aid , top airline leaders warn of a prolonged slump in demand that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those funds alone are not nearly enough , '' Delta CEO Ed Bastian told employees in a note .
`` We are expecting our revenue in the second quarter to be down 90 % .
Without the self-help actions we are taking to save costs and raise new financing , that money would be gone by June . ''
He said 30,000 employees have volunteered for unpaid leaves of absence and that the Atlanta-based airline still needs more volunteers .
JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told employees that it planned to work through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , as time is of the essence . ''
But Hayes warned employees that the airline `` may not get enough to cover pay and benefits at the level you see when we are flying at full capacity . ''
The New York-based airline is cutting its capacity by 70 % this month , meaning smaller paychecks .
The aid requires airlines not to cut airline workers ' pay rates , not their hours .
`` The good news is this law keeps paychecks coming and it buys us time , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid issued earlier this week state that the Treasury Department is authorized to receive compensation in the form of warrants , options , preferred stock and other securities in exchange for the grants .
At least one U.S. airline debated the size of an equity stake to offer in its application , or whether the carrier should offer one at all , but ultimately included it in its application according to a person familiar with the discussions .
Another person familiar with the industry 's thinking said executives might be willing to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as around 2 % , or cap the size of the stake .
While the loan application implies financial instruments in exchange for the funds will be required , the application for grants notes it `` may '' include such securities .
One of the people familiar with the industry 's thinking said the softer language in applications for cash grants leaves the door open to negotiation Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wants taxpayers compensated for the investment , though he has not outlined those plans in great detail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the president to make sure we strike the right balance , '' Mnuchin said in at news conference on Thursday .
`` Not a bailout : taxpayers get compensated . ''
Airlines applying for grants will put forward an offer to the government on both the amount and terms .
Those offers differ across airlines , whose balance sheets and payroll costs vary .
Executives have said in public statements and to CNBC that getting the payroll grants are a priority .
`` We still do n't know the severity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long it will last , '' Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told employees in a video message on Thursday .
`` [ The grants ] helps us commit to job security for the next six months and as always , that is my No .
1 priority . ''
But the approach of attaching warrants to the grants , not just the loans , was criticized by some industry members , labor unions and lawmakers .
The labor unions representing some 94,000 flight attendants , including those at American , United , Spirit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnuchin that if the government exercises the full extent of its warrant on grants , which collectively could equal a 40 % stake in the airlines , and could cost them their jobs .
`` This effectively renders the payroll grants a poison pill that will cost us our jobs and push us onto taxpayer-funded unemployment insurance — the opposite of what this bipartisan agreement intended , '' the unions said .
The Regional Airline Association told Mnuchin and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Monday that for smaller , regional airlines , any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Since most regional airlines do not have the ability to take on debt , access capital markets , or issue warrants or equity , any condition to do so would render these carriers unable to obtain assistance and force these carriers to immediately furlough tens of thousands of aviation employees , '' the industry group wrote .

The coronavirus has devastated air travel demand, prompting airlines to plead with their employees to take unpaid and partially paid leave as they scramble to cut costs. Even with the aid, top airline leaders warn of a prolonged slump in demand that has no end in sight.
Carriers had until 5 p.m. ET Friday to apply for $25 billion in grants in exchange for not furloughing workers or cutting their pay rates through Sept. 30, aid that airlines and labor unions lobbied for and Congress approved in a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package last week. The aid also allows for $29 billion in loans for passenger and cargo airlines.
U.S. airlines JetBlue , American , United and Delta on Friday submitted applications to the Treasury Department for government grants to not furlough employees through Sept. 30 despite an unprecedented decline in air travel demand. Now they have to negotiate the details.
"But those funds alone are not nearly enough," Delta CEO Ed Bastian told employees in a note. "We are expecting our revenue in the second quarter to be down 90%. Without the self-help actions we are taking to save costs and raise new financing, that money would be gone by June."
He said 30,000 employees have volunteered for unpaid leaves of absence and that the Atlanta-based airline still needs more volunteers.
JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told employees that it planned to work through the weekend to "conclude an agreement next week, as time is of the essence." But Hayes warned employees that the airline "may not get enough to cover pay and benefits at the level you see when we are flying at full capacity." The New York-based airline is cutting its capacity by 70% this month, meaning smaller paychecks. The aid requires airlines not to cut airline workers' pay rates, not their hours.
"The good news is this law keeps paychecks coming and it buys us time," Hayes wrote.
Guidelines for the payroll aid issued earlier this week state that the Treasury Department is authorized to receive compensation in the form of warrants, options, preferred stock and other securities in exchange for the grants.
At least one U.S. airline debated the size of an equity stake to offer in its application, or whether the carrier should offer one at all, but ultimately included it in its application according to a person familiar with the discussions. Another person familiar with the industry's thinking said executives might be willing to allow the government to take small equity stakes such as around 2%, or cap the size of the stake.
While the loan application implies financial instruments in exchange for the funds will be required, the application for grants notes it "may" include such securities. One of the people familiar with the industry's thinking said the softer language in applications for cash grants leaves the door open to negotiation
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wants taxpayers compensated for the investment, though he has not outlined those plans in great detail.
"I'll be working very closely with the president to make sure we strike the right balance," Mnuchin said in at news conference on Thursday. "Not a bailout: taxpayers get compensated."
Airlines applying for grants will put forward an offer to the government on both the amount and terms. Those offers differ across airlines, whose balance sheets and payroll costs vary.


cnbc--2020-04-03--Wisconsin governor pushes to delay primary 4 days ahead of scheduled vote

Tony Evers , then-Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin , speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic candidates in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , on Monday , Oct. 22 , 2018 .
Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers , with just four days until the state 's primary , called for a special legislative session on Saturday to cancel the in-person portion of voting in Tuesday 's election because of coronavirus concerns .
Evers on Friday announced the session and said the state aims to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed for creating an all-mail system but has never floated the postponement of the state 's primary .
Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have previously shot down the idea of an all-mail system .
`` If , as elected officials , we 're going to expect the people of our state to make sacrifices to keep all of us safe , then , by golly , we better be willing do our part , too , '' Evers said in an announcement .
`` So , today I announced that I am calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its part — just as all of us are — to help keep our neighbors , our families , and our communities safe . ''
`` I worked with the legislators several weeks ago , in talking about this exact same thing , '' Evers said .
`` They were n't interested , I believe they will be now .
We are looking forward to having a great conversation with the legislature . ''
Evers also suggested that he would take other steps to keep people from voting in person at the booths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect .
`` If they take no action , we 'll be looking at whatever action we can take , '' he said .
`` We will continue to find ways to make sure Wisconsinites are safe , and that 's the bottom line . ''
The decision also comes as more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their own presidential primaries , with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely .
Already , the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders get their message out to voters .
Both campaigns no longer do in-person events or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters .
Biden maintains a commanding lead over Sanders , having secured victories in most of the completed primaries .
In March , Sanders was mulling his options , his campaign said in an email , but he has since given no indication he is ready to drop his bid .
Biden was the clear winner at the last nominating contests , which were held on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread across the country , other national politicians have suggested that the outbreak could alter the way Americans vote .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said that America needs to move toward a `` vote by mail '' system to give citizens a safe way to elect their lawmakers while the coronavirus makes it dangerous to congregate .
`` In terms of the elections , I think we 'll probably be moving to vote by mail , '' Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC .
`` That 's why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third bill that just was signed by the president , to get those resources to the states to facilitate the reality of life : that we are going to have to have more vote by mail . ''
The coronavirus , which is believed to have originated in Wuhan , China , has spread to dozens of countries globally , with more than a million confirmed cases worldwide and over 53,000 deaths so far , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
There are at least 245,500 cases in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the latest tallies .

Tony Evers, then-Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin, speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic candidates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, with just four days until the state's primary, called for a special legislative session on Saturday to cancel the in-person portion of voting in Tuesday's election because of coronavirus concerns.
Evers on Friday announced the session and said the state aims to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get ballots in.
The governor has previously pushed for creating an all-mail system but has never floated the postponement of the state's primary. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have previously shot down the idea of an all-mail system.
"If, as elected officials, we're going to expect the people of our state to make sacrifices to keep all of us safe, then, by golly, we better be willing do our part, too," Evers said in an announcement. "So, today I announced that I am calling the legislature into a special session to do its part — just as all of us are — to help keep our neighbors, our families, and our communities safe."
"I worked with the legislators several weeks ago, in talking about this exact same thing," Evers said. "They weren't interested, I believe they will be now. We are looking forward to having a great conversation with the legislature."
Evers also suggested that he would take other steps to keep people from voting in person at the booths if all-mail voting does not go into effect.
"If they take no action, we'll be looking at whatever action we can take," he said. "We will continue to find ways to make sure Wisconsinites are safe, and that's the bottom line."
The decision also comes as more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their own presidential primaries, with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely.
Already, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way both former Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders get their message out to voters. Both campaigns no longer do in-person events or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters.
Biden maintains a commanding lead over Sanders, having secured victories in most of the completed primaries. In March, Sanders was mulling his options, his campaign said in an email, but he has since given no indication he is ready to drop his bid.
Biden was the clear winner at the last nominating contests, which were held on March 17.
As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, other national politicians have suggested that the outbreak could alter the way Americans vote.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said that America needs to move toward a "vote by mail" system to give citizens a safe way to elect their lawmakers while the coronavirus makes it dangerous to congregate.
"In terms of the elections, I think we'll probably be moving to vote by mail," Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC. "That's why we wanted to have more resources in this third bill that just was signed by the president, to get those resources to the states to facilitate the reality of life: that we are going to have to have more vote by mail."
The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than a million confirmed cases worldwide and over 53,000 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 245,500 cases in the United States and at least 6,058 deaths, according to the latest tallies.


cnbc--2020-04-03--Pentagon adjusts coronavirus screening process for care on hospital ship in New York

A view of the USNS Comfort at the Pier 90 on April 1 , 2020 in New York City .
The Comfort , a naval hospital ship , is equipped to take in patients within 24 hours but will not be treating patients with COVID-19 .
The ship 's 1,000 beds and 12 operation rooms will help ease the pressure on New York hospitals , many of which are now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients .
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced Friday that it will modify the screening process for people to receive care on the hospital ship USNS Comfort in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at New York hospitals .
The screening effort will now occur pier-side and will no longer require a patient to test negative for the coronavirus .
`` Each patient will still be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire , '' the Pentagon said .
`` This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas , allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases . ''
A day prior , the captains of the U.S. Navy 's two hospital ships said that the vessels have treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York and Los Angeles .
When asked why the vessels had n't received more referrals given the capacity of each ship , U.S. Navy Capt .
Patrick Amersbach , the commanding officer of the USNS Comfort , said Thursday that he could not speculate if there was a delay and what the reason might be .
`` The process continues , and we are honestly looking forward to seeing a significant increase in patients being transferred to the Comfort , '' he said , adding that each patient must be referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A view of the USNS Comfort at the Pier 90 on April 1, 2020 in New York City. The Comfort, a naval hospital ship, is equipped to take in patients within 24 hours but will not be treating patients with COVID-19. The ship's 1,000 beds and 12 operation rooms will help ease the pressure on New York hospitals, many of which are now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced Friday that it will modify the screening process for people to receive care on the hospital ship USNS Comfort in order to reduce the backlog of patients at New York hospitals.
The screening effort will now occur pier-side and will no longer require a patient to test negative for the coronavirus.
"Each patient will still be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire," the Pentagon said. "This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases."
A day prior, the captains of the U.S. Navy's two hospital ships said that the vessels have treated fewer than 20 patients since deploying to New York and Los Angeles.
When asked why the vessels hadn't received more referrals given the capacity of each ship, U.S. Navy Capt. Patrick Amersbach, the commanding officer of the USNS Comfort, said Thursday that he could not speculate if there was a delay and what the reason might be.
"The process continues, and we are honestly looking forward to seeing a significant increase in patients being transferred to the Comfort," he said, adding that each patient must be referred to the vessel by a local hospital.