cnbc--2020-05-12--Trump sides with Elon Musk: 'Open the plant, NOW'

President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , D.C. , on Monday , May 11 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended Tesla CEO Elon Musk 's calls to resume production at the company 's Fremont , California , plant .
Musk has been pushing to restart its California production that had stopped March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Though attempts to return have been met with heavy resistance from local authorities .
On Monday , local TV broadcasters showed employees ' cars streaming into the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confirmation that Tesla had resumed production Monday afternoon , and dared the local sheriff 's office to arrest him .
On Monday afternoon , the Alameda County Sheriff 's Office and Alameda County Public Health Care Services Agency said in a statement : `` Today , May 11 , we learned that the Tesla factory in Fremont had opened beyond Minimum Basic Operations .
We have notified Tesla that they can only maintain Minimum Basic Operations until we have an approved plan that can be implemented in accordance with the local public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pull Tesla out of California amid a dispute with Alameda County , where Fremont is located , over the shutdown .
Tesla also filed a lawsuit against the county , asking a federal court to invalidate orders by local authorities that have prevented the automaker from resuming production .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin backed Musk on Monday , telling CNBC that California should help the company reopen its plant there amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
`` I agree with Elon Musk .
He 's one of the biggest employers and manufacturers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever they need to do to solve those health issues so that he can open quickly and safely , '' Mnuchin told CNBC 's `` Squawk on the Street . ''

President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 11, 2020.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended Tesla CEO Elon Musk's calls to resume production at the company's Fremont, California, plant.
tweet
Musk has been pushing to restart its California production that had stopped March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Though attempts to return have been met with heavy resistance from local authorities.
On Monday, local TV broadcasters showed employees' cars streaming into the company's parking lots. Musk also tweeted a confirmation that Tesla had resumed production Monday afternoon, and dared the local sheriff's office to arrest him.
On Monday afternoon, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and Alameda County Public Health Care Services Agency said in a statement: "Today, May 11, we learned that the Tesla factory in Fremont had opened beyond Minimum Basic Operations. We have notified Tesla that they can only maintain Minimum Basic Operations until we have an approved plan that can be implemented in accordance with the local public health Order."
Musk threatened Saturday to pull Tesla out of California amid a dispute with Alameda County, where Fremont is located, over the shutdown. Tesla also filed a lawsuit against the county, asking a federal court to invalidate orders by local authorities that have prevented the automaker from resuming production.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin backed Musk on Monday, telling CNBC that California should help the company reopen its plant there amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I agree with Elon Musk. He's one of the biggest employers and manufacturers in California, and California should prioritize doing whatever they need to do to solve those health issues so that he can open quickly and safely," Mnuchin told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."
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cnbc--2020-05-12--Big money lines up behind Democrats in key Senate races as donors sense a chance to win the majority

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican from Kentucky , right , talks to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a Democrat from New York , while walking towards the Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Wednesday , Feb. 7 , 2018 .
Big money donors are rushing to support Democrats in competitive U.S. Senate races as they sense an opportunity to take back the chamber from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans .
These wealthy fundraisers are targeting Republican-held seats in Maine , Colorado , North Carolina and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall .
They are also focusing on states such as Iowa and Montana , where the Senate races are rated `` lean Republican '' by the online political analysis organization Cook Political report .
Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate , as two independents caucus with Democrats .
All campaigns have had to get off the trail and go fully virtual during the coronavirus pandemic .
That has n't stopped financiers from working the phones , securing new donors and helping set up digital fundraising events for their preferred candidates .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of the organizers said , have become regular occurrences in recent weeks due to how cheap and easy they are to set up through Zoom conference calls .
Campaigns and hosts no longer have to spend large amounts of money on renting venues or catering food .
The in-person events often would target donors that were based in a particular city .
With virtual calls , candidates have a broad appeal to donors across the country and , in some cases , American citizens living abroad .
`` It used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multi-event cities , which excluded interested voters and supporters in cities like Scranton , PA [ Pennsylvania ] , '' Julie Zebrak , a political consultant and fundraiser , told CNBC .
`` Now , no matter where you live , supporters have the opportunity to hear from and – more importantly – ask questions of the candidates they consider supporting . ''
Donors ' renewed sense of urgency for winning the Senate comes as former Vice President Joe Biden , the apparent Democratic nominee , enjoys a 5-point national lead over President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling average .
Democrats are favored to hold on to their majority in the House .
`` Flipping the Senate is just as critical as ousting Trump from the White House , '' Zebrak said .
The donors think Trump 's response to the coronavirus could further hurt him and his party with voters .
`` Trump 's chaotic handling of the coronavirus and falling poll numbers give us hope , '' Bob Crowe , a partner at Nelson Mullins and a congressional donor , told CNBC .
None of the Senate candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests for comment .
According to people with direct knowledge of the matter , Jon Henes , a partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis , has started raising cash for Democrats running in high-profile Senate races : Montana Gov .
Steve Bullock , former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper , Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon and North Carolina Army veteran Cal Cunningham .
These people declined to be named as the moves are being made in private .
Gideon is the favorite to win her primary and take on longtime Republican Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edge over Collins in how much she 's raised , bringing in $ 14 million in the 2020 election cycle compared with the GOP incumbent 's $ 13 million , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
Collins , though , has a super PAC supporting her and has slightly more cash on hand .
Both candidates are financing their campaigns on donor checks larger than $ 200 .
Charles Myers , a former vice chairman of Evercore , is co-hosting a virtual fundraising event at the end of May for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the NBA 's Milwaukee Bucks , a person familiar with the effort said .
The goal is to raise up to $ 75,000 , this person added .
Lasry is the son of Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry .
Henes has become a power player within Democratic Party fundraising circle since he was Sen. Kamala Harris ' national finance chairman during her run for the White .
He is also helping Biden raise campaign cash .
Harris , who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Biden , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Candidates '' series for donors to get to know many of the candidates who Henes and her other previous financiers are assisting .
Myers , Henes and a spokesman for the Bucks did not return a request for comment .
Mark Kelly , an Arizona astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords , has also outraised his Republican opponent .
Kelly is looking to overtake GOP Sen. Martha McSally .
In South Carolina , Jaime Harrison , a former state party chair , recently did the same as he takes on Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , the campaign group for Senate Democrats , also edged its rivals , the National Republican Senatorial Committee , with March fundraising totals .
The NRSC was ahead of the DSCC in cash on hand going into April , however .
Zebrak , who also once backed Harris , said she is now pushing people in her network to back Cunningham , Gideon and Bullock , as well as Amy McGrath , who is aiming to overtake McConnell in Kentucky , and Alabama 's Doug Jones , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parekh , a managing partner at investment firm Insight Partners , and former Ambassador Jane Hartley , are leading a Senate fundraising effort with some other supporters of a big money joint committee that helps House Democrats , according to people familiar with the matter .
Since at least December , when in-person events were still taking place , Parekh and Hartley have helped organize Senate Democrat events in New York including one for Theresa Greenfield , who is running to replace Joni Ernst in Iowa ; MJ Hegar , an Air Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas ; and Cunningham and Kelly .
That gathering , which featured Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , finished raising close to $ 1 million , one of the people added .
Parekh and Hartley have continued to help raise campaign cash throughout the coronavirus pandemic for many of these candidates , along with others in competitive states , these people added .
They have strong ties to Wall Street executives Blair Effron and Roger Altman .
Parekh declined to comment .
Hartley did not return a request for comment .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, right, talks to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, while walking towards the Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.
Big money donors are rushing to support Democrats in competitive U.S. Senate races as they sense an opportunity to take back the chamber from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans.
These wealthy fundraisers are targeting Republican-held seats in Maine, Colorado, North Carolina and Arizona that are seen as toss-ups this fall. They are also focusing on states such as Iowa and Montana, where the Senate races are rated "lean Republican" by the online political analysis organization Cook Political report. Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate, as two independents caucus with Democrats.
All campaigns have had to get off the trail and go fully virtual during the coronavirus pandemic. That hasn't stopped financiers from working the phones, securing new donors and helping set up digital fundraising events for their preferred candidates. These virtual fundraising gatherings for Senate candidates, many of the organizers said, have become regular occurrences in recent weeks due to how cheap and easy they are to set up through Zoom conference calls.
Campaigns and hosts no longer have to spend large amounts of money on renting venues or catering food. The in-person events often would target donors that were based in a particular city. With virtual calls, candidates have a broad appeal to donors across the country and, in some cases, American citizens living abroad.
"It used to be that candidates visited high dollar, multi-event cities, which excluded interested voters and supporters in cities like Scranton, PA [Pennsylvania]," Julie Zebrak, a political consultant and fundraiser, told CNBC. "Now, no matter where you live, supporters have the opportunity to hear from and – more importantly – ask questions of the candidates they consider supporting."
Donors' renewed sense of urgency for winning the Senate comes as former Vice President Joe Biden, the apparent Democratic nominee, enjoys a 5-point national lead over President Donald Trump in the Real Clear Politics polling average. Democrats are favored to hold on to their majority in the House.
"Flipping the Senate is just as critical as ousting Trump from the White House," Zebrak said.
The donors think Trump's response to the coronavirus could further hurt him and his party with voters. "Trump's chaotic handling of the coronavirus and falling poll numbers give us hope," Bob Crowe, a partner at Nelson Mullins and a congressional donor, told CNBC.
None of the Senate candidates that are running in toss-up states returned requests for comment.
According to people with direct knowledge of the matter, Jon Henes, a partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, has started raising cash for Democrats running in high-profile Senate races: Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon and North Carolina Army veteran Cal Cunningham. These people declined to be named as the moves are being made in private.
Gideon is the favorite to win her primary and take on longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Gideon has the slight edge over Collins in how much she's raised, bringing in $14 million in the 2020 election cycle compared with the GOP incumbent's $13 million, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Collins, though, has a super PAC supporting her and has slightly more cash on hand. Both candidates are financing their campaigns on donor checks larger than $200.
Charles Myers, a former vice chairman of Evercore, is co-hosting a virtual fundraising event at the end of May for Gideon with Alex Lasry, senior vice president of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, a person familiar with the effort said. The goal is to raise up to $75,000, this person added. Lasry is the son of Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry.
Henes has become a power player within Democratic Party fundraising circle since he was Sen. Kamala Harris' national finance chairman during her run for the White. He is also helping Biden raise campaign cash. Harris, who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Biden, has been hosting an online "Meet the Candidates" series for donors to get to know many of the candidates who Henes and her other previous financiers are assisting.
Myers, Henes and a spokesman for the Bucks did not return a request for comment.
Mark Kelly, an Arizona astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, has also outraised his Republican opponent. Kelly is looking to overtake GOP Sen. Martha McSally. In South Carolina, Jaime Harrison, a former state party chair, recently did the same as he takes on Trump ally Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign group for Senate Democrats, also edged its rivals, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, with March fundraising totals. The NRSC was ahead of the DSCC in cash on hand going into April, however.
Zebrak, who also once backed Harris, said she is now pushing people in her network to back Cunningham, Gideon and Bullock, as well as Amy McGrath, who is aiming to overtake McConnell in Kentucky, and Alabama's Doug Jones, the most vulnerable Senate Democrat this cycle.
Deven Parekh, a managing partner at investment firm Insight Partners, and former Ambassador Jane Hartley, are leading a Senate fundraising effort with some other supporters of a big money joint committee that helps House Democrats, according to people familiar with the matter.
Since at least December, when in-person events were still taking place, Parekh and Hartley have helped organize Senate Democrat events in New York including one for Theresa Greenfield, who is running to replace Joni Ernst in Iowa; MJ Hegar, an Air Force veteran trying to defeat Sen. John Cornyn in Texas; and Cunningham and Kelly. That gathering, which featured Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, finished raising close to $1 million, one of the people added.
Parekh and Hartley have continued to help raise campaign cash throughout the coronavirus pandemic for many of these candidates, along with others in competitive states, these people added. They have strong ties to Wall Street executives Blair Effron and Roger Altman.
Parekh declined to comment. Hartley did not return a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Biden urges governors to 'listen to Dr. Fauci' as they reopen their states

Former Vice President Joe Biden , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , wears a protective mask during a NowThis economic address seen on a smartphone in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , on Friday , May 8 , 2020 .
Former Vice President Joe Biden urged governors on Tuesday to `` listen to Dr. Fauci '' as they reopen their states ' economies while the coronavirus continues to spread .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump 's White House coronavirus task force , is expected to publicly warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cause `` needless suffering and death . ''
Trump has been urging states to reopen businesses to prop up the U.S. economy , which has been ravaged by the pandemic .
Biden , the 2020 apparent Democratic nominee , said that if he were president now , he would advise governors to heed Fauci 's warnings in their plans .
`` We 're in a situation where there 's a great crisis .
Dr. Fauci talks about if we open needlessly or open soon , there 's going to be needless deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
Everybody wants to open , '' Biden said in an interview on ABC 's `` Good Morning America . ''
`` The governors want to open .
But they want to open in a rational way .
The president has n't done his work .
The president has n't done what he 's supposed to do . ''
Biden went on , scorching Trump for claiming in March that `` anybody who wants a test gets a test . ''
Health officials have warned about a shortage of tests across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight restrictions on who can be tested , has allowed infected people to go undetected and further spread Covid-19 , health officials have said .
`` Anyone ca n't get a test around the country , '' Biden said .
The former vice president also unleashed a withering attack on Trump 's response to the outbreak and pandemic .
`` Granted , more tests are coming forward but look , this needless complacency the president has engaged in from the very beginning .
He knew about this crisis all the way back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He 's been incompetent the way in which he 's responded to it .
We have 80,000 deaths .
We have more of the virus than any nation in the world .
What 's the story here ?
I mean , come on .
This is just Fantasyland that he 's talking about . ''
As Biden was giving his interview , Trump unleashed a tweetstorm in which he defended the U.S. response to the coronavirus .
`` Our Testing is the BEST in the World , by FAR !
Numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our Country , which wants to open and get going again .
It is happening , safely ! ''
Trump tweeted .
The Trump 2020 campaign , when reached for comment , called Biden 's words a `` false attack '' and defended the president 's response to the coronavirus outbreak .
`` President Trump acted early and decisively by restricting travel from China while Biden called it 'xenophobic ' and 'fear-mongering , ' '' Tim Murtaugh , communications director for the Trump campaign , told CNBC in a statement .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pinpointed it as the source of the virus while Biden fears the exposure of his long record of being soft on the Communist Chinese government . ''
Murtaugh 's statement continued : `` President Trump led the hard work to establish the United States as the world 's leader in coronavirus testing , while Biden sat in his basement offering nothing but relentless criticism designed to divide Americans and erode their confidence in the government 's response .
Joe Biden is practicing despicable politics while President Trump is leading the nation in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally , with more than 4.1 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 286,336 deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. has had more than 1.3 million cases and at least 79,528 deaths , according to the latest tallies .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, wears a protective mask during a NowThis economic address seen on a smartphone in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Friday, May 8, 2020.
Former Vice President Joe Biden urged governors on Tuesday to "listen to Dr. Fauci" as they reopen their states' economies while the coronavirus continues to spread.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus task force, is expected to publicly warn states Tuesday that prematurely reopening their economies will cause "needless suffering and death."
Trump, going against the advice of Fauci and other health officials, has been urging states to reopen businesses to prop up the U.S. economy, which has been ravaged by the pandemic.
Biden, the 2020 apparent Democratic nominee, said that if he were president now, he would advise governors to heed Fauci's warnings in their plans.
"We're in a situation where there's a great crisis. Dr. Fauci talks about if we open needlessly or open soon, there's going to be needless deaths and we have to have things in place. Everybody wants to open," Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"The governors want to open. But they want to open in a rational way. The president hasn't done his work. The president hasn't done what he's supposed to do."
Biden went on, scorching Trump for claiming in March that "anybody who wants a test gets a test."
Health officials have warned about a shortage of tests across the country. That shortage, along with tight restrictions on who can be tested, has allowed infected people to go undetected and further spread Covid-19, health officials have said.
"Anyone can't get a test around the country," Biden said.
The former vice president also unleashed a withering attack on Trump's response to the outbreak and pandemic.
"Granted, more tests are coming forward but look, this needless complacency the president has engaged in from the very beginning. He knew about this crisis all the way back in January and February," Biden said. "He's been incompetent the way in which he's responded to it. We have 80,000 deaths. We have more of the virus than any nation in the world. What's the story here? I mean, come on. This is just Fantasyland that he's talking about."
As Biden was giving his interview, Trump unleashed a tweetstorm in which he defended the U.S. response to the coronavirus.
"Our Testing is the BEST in the World, by FAR! Numbers are coming down in most parts of our Country, which wants to open and get going again. It is happening, safely!" Trump tweeted.
Tweet
The White House declined to comment.
The Trump 2020 campaign, when reached for comment, called Biden's words a "false attack" and defended the president's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
"President Trump acted early and decisively by restricting travel from China while Biden called it 'xenophobic' and 'fear-mongering,'" Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, told CNBC in a statement. "The President also has called out China and pinpointed it as the source of the virus while Biden fears the exposure of his long record of being soft on the Communist Chinese government."
Murtaugh's statement continued: "President Trump led the hard work to establish the United States as the world's leader in coronavirus testing, while Biden sat in his basement offering nothing but relentless criticism designed to divide Americans and erode their confidence in the government's response. Joe Biden is practicing despicable politics while President Trump is leading the nation in the war against the virus."
The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 4.1 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 286,336 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has had more than 1.3 million cases and at least 79,528 deaths, according to the latest tallies.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Unreleased White House report shows coronavirus rates spiking in heartland communities

U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on May 7 , 2020 .
Coronavirus infection rates are spiking to new highs in several metropolitan areas and smaller communities across the country , according to undisclosed data the White House 's pandemic task force is using to track rates of infection , which was obtained by NBC News .
The data contained in a May 7 coronavirus task force report are at odds with President Donald Trump 's Monday declaration that `` all throughout the country , the numbers are coming down rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a seven-day period compared to the prior week , according to a set of tables produced for the task force by its Data and Analytics unit .
They include Nashville , Tennessee ; Des Moines , Iowa ; Amarillo , Texas ; and — atop the list with a 650 percent increase — Central City , Kentucky .
On a separate list of `` locations to watch , '' which did n't meet the precise criteria for the first set : Charlotte , North Carolina ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lincoln , Nebraska ; Minneapolis , Minnesota ; Montgomery , Alabama ; Columbus , Ohio ; and Phoenix , Arizona .
The rate of new cases in Charlotte and Kansas City represented an increase of more than 200 percent over the prior week , and other tables included in the data show clusters in neighboring counties that do n't form a geographic area on their own , like Wisconsin 's Kenosha and Racine counties , which neighbor each other between Chicago and Milwaukee .

U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on May 7, 2020.
Coronavirus infection rates are spiking to new highs in several metropolitan areas and smaller communities across the country, according to undisclosed data the White House's pandemic task force is using to track rates of infection, which was obtained by NBC News.
The data contained in a May 7 coronavirus task force report are at odds with President Donald Trump's Monday declaration that "all throughout the country, the numbers are coming down rapidly."
The top 10 areas saw surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a seven-day period compared to the prior week, according to a set of tables produced for the task force by its Data and Analytics unit. They include Nashville, Tennessee; Des Moines, Iowa; Amarillo, Texas; and — atop the list with a 650 percent increase — Central City, Kentucky.
On a separate list of "locations to watch," which didn't meet the precise criteria for the first set: Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Montgomery, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; and Phoenix, Arizona. The rate of new cases in Charlotte and Kansas City represented an increase of more than 200 percent over the prior week, and other tables included in the data show clusters in neighboring counties that don't form a geographic area on their own, like Wisconsin's Kenosha and Racine counties, which neighbor each other between Chicago and Milwaukee.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Dr. Fauci reportedly to testify reopening too early risks 'needless suffering and death' from corona

Dr. Fauci reportedly to testify reopening too early risks 'needless suffering and death' from coronavirus

Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak at the daily briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in the briefing room at the White House April 16 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump 's White House coronavirus task force , reportedly plans to publicly warn states Tuesday that prematurely reopening their economies will cause `` needless suffering and death . ''
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' Sheryl Gay Stolberg reported that Fauci had sent her an email ahead of his public testimony the following day at a hearing of the Senate 's Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee .
`` The major message that I wish to convey to the Senate HLP committee tomorrow is the danger of trying to open the country prematurely , '' Fauci wrote in the email , which Stolberg posted on Twitter .
`` If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to : 'Open America Again , ' then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the country .
This will not only result in needless suffering and death , but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal , '' wrote Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
The email appears to put Fauci at odds with President Donald Trump , who has encouraged states to reopen as soon as it was possible to safely do so .
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to an email late Monday night about Fauci 's remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it should be left to individual governors whether to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control , which describe criteria that states should reach before they begin a phased reopening .
These include a downward trajectory in the number of `` positive tests '' or `` documented cases '' of coronavirus for at least two consecutive weeks .
Other recommendations include being able to provide `` robust contact tracing '' for people who test positive , and `` surveillance testing '' for high-risk groups .
But many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these criteria , a move that experts like Fauci say puts American lives at risk for only negligible gain .
Texas and Colorado , for example , have yet to see two weeks straight of steadily decreasing cases , but they are nonetheless moving ahead with plans to restart their economies and reopen businesses .
Last week , Trump praised Texas GOP Gov .
Greg Abbott 's decision to reopen the state when the two men met at the White House .
`` Texas is opening up and a lot of places are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , and I 'm not sure that we even have a choice .
I think we have to do it .
You know , this country ca n't stay closed and locked down for years , '' Trump told reporters .
The other three witnesses will be CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield , assistant secretary for health at HHS Adm. Brett Giroir , MD , and Dr. Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration .
Follow CNBC 's coronavirus live blog for updates from the hearing .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have tested positive for coronavirus , and more than 80,000 Americans have died from it , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak at the daily briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in the briefing room at the White House April 16, 2020 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease specialist and a key member of President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus task force, reportedly plans to publicly warn states Tuesday that prematurely reopening their economies will cause "needless suffering and death."
On Monday night, The New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg reported that Fauci had sent her an email ahead of his public testimony the following day at a hearing of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
"The major message that I wish to convey to the Senate HLP committee tomorrow is the danger of trying to open the country prematurely," Fauci wrote in the email, which Stolberg posted on Twitter.
"If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to: 'Open America Again,' then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country. This will not only result in needless suffering and death, but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal," wrote Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
@SherylNYT: Full Fauci email message to me
The email appears to put Fauci at odds with President Donald Trump, who has encouraged states to reopen as soon as it was possible to safely do so. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to an email late Monday night about Fauci's remarks.
The position of the White House is that it should be left to individual governors whether to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control, which describe criteria that states should reach before they begin a phased reopening.
These include a downward trajectory in the number of "positive tests" or "documented cases" of coronavirus for at least two consecutive weeks. Other recommendations include being able to provide "robust contact tracing" for people who test positive, and "surveillance testing" for high-risk groups.
But many states are reopening despite not having met these criteria, a move that experts like Fauci say puts American lives at risk for only negligible gain.
Texas and Colorado, for example, have yet to see two weeks straight of steadily decreasing cases, but they are nonetheless moving ahead with plans to restart their economies and reopen businesses.
Last week, Trump praised Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to reopen the state when the two men met at the White House.
"Texas is opening up and a lot of places are opening up. And we want to do it, and I'm not sure that we even have a choice. I think we have to do it. You know, this country can't stay closed and locked down for years," Trump told reporters.
The other three witnesses will be CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, assistant secretary for health at HHS Adm. Brett Giroir, MD, and Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Follow CNBC's coronavirus live blog for updates from the hearing.
As of Monday, more than 1.3 million Americans have tested positive for coronavirus, and more than 80,000 Americans have died from it, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.


cnbc--2020-05-13--House Democrats unveil new $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill

House Democrats released their latest bill Tuesday designed to blunt the coronavirus pandemic 's devastating effects on the economy and health-care system .
Party leaders expect to vote on the more-than-1,800-page package on Friday , along with a plan to allow proxy voting on legislation during the crisis .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said Congress had a `` momentous opportunity '' to meet people 's needs , contending that `` not acting is the most expensive course '' as the GOP grows weary of taxpayer spending .
It includes , according to a summary : • Nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments • A second round of direct payments of $ 1,200 per person , and up to $ 6,000 for a household • About $ 200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis • $ 75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing — a key effort to restart businesses • An extension of the $ 600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit through January ( the provision approved in March is set to expire after July ) • Subsidies and a special Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose their employer-sponsored health coverage • More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , including a 15 % increase in the maximum benefit • Measures designed to buoy small businesses and help them keep employees on payroll , such as $ 10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and a strengthened employee retention tax credit • Money for election safety during the pandemic and provisions to make voting by mail easier • Relief for the U.S .
Postal Service Democrats say rising Covid-19 infection rates and an unemployment rate unseen since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented emergency government response .
The new bill is set to cost more than $ 3 trillion , which easily tops the $ 2 trillion cost of the late March stimulus package — the biggest emergency spending measure in U.S. history .
If it passes the House , the Democratic-written plan will face roadblocks in the Senate .
It is unclear when both Democrats and Republicans would sign off on a proposal for more relief , as the GOP downplays the need to spend more federal money on a rescue bill now .

House Democrats released their latest bill Tuesday designed to blunt the coronavirus pandemic's devastating effects on the economy and health-care system.
Party leaders expect to vote on the more-than-1,800-page package on Friday, along with a plan to allow proxy voting on legislation during the crisis. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said Congress had a "momentous opportunity" to meet people's needs, contending that "not acting is the most expensive course" as the GOP grows weary of taxpayer spending.
It includes, according to a summary:
Nearly $1 trillion in relief for state and local governments
A second round of direct payments of $1,200 per person, and up to $6,000 for a household
About $200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis
$75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing — a key effort to restart businesses
An extension of the $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit through January (the provision approved in March is set to expire after July)
$175 billion in rent, mortgage and utility assistance
Subsidies and a special Affordable Care Act enrollment period to people who lose their employer-sponsored health coverage
More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including a 15% increase in the maximum benefit
Measures designed to buoy small businesses and help them keep employees on payroll, such as $10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and a strengthened employee retention tax credit
Money for election safety during the pandemic and provisions to make voting by mail easier
Relief for the U.S. Postal Service
Democrats say rising Covid-19 infection rates and an unemployment rate unseen since the Great Depression require adding to an already unprecedented emergency government response. The new bill is set to cost more than $3 trillion, which easily tops the $2 trillion cost of the late March stimulus package — the biggest emergency spending measure in U.S. history.
If it passes the House, the Democratic-written plan will face roadblocks in the Senate. It is unclear when both Democrats and Republicans would sign off on a proposal for more relief, as the GOP downplays the need to spend more federal money on a rescue bill now.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Mike Bloomberg's tech firm Hawkfish struggles to sign clients as coronavirus changes 2020 landscape

Mike Bloomberg , former mayor of New York City , speaks to media after touring the Wind Technology program at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny , Iowa , December 4 , 2018 .
Billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg 's tech firm Hawkfish has been struggling to rack up clients six months before this fall 's elections .
Some of the organizations that have had talks with Hawkfish are trying to determine how the coronavirus pandemic , which has devastated the American economy , will weigh on their budgets .
Others are still deciding how the relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a short period of time as most groups already have in-house digital aides or contracts with similar vendors .
The coronavirus has forced campaigns off the trail and into conducting their operations through virtual outreach .
Outside entities , which often conduct grassroots door-knocking campaigns on top of their often expansive digital campaigns , are putting more of a focus on web-based efforts .
A representative for Hawkfish , who asked not to be named in this story , said they are still aiming to use their resources to help overtake President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawkfish was created to help give Democrats the digital advantage that 's crucially needed to beat Donald Trump and Republicans in 2020 and beyond , '' a Hawkfish spokesperson said .
`` We 're committed to working with Democratic candidates , allies and causes to reach the right voters with the right messages in the right places .
From climate change to gun safety , voter access , women 's rights , education , health care and more , we 're focused on the issues that matter most to the Democratic Party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any current or future clients .
Voto Latino , a nonprofit that focuses heavily on digital engagement to encourage young Latino voter participation , recently held virtual talks with Hawkfish .
The sides are discussing a short-term , five-figure test investment that would allow Hawkfish to fight for a chance to work with them for a longer period of time .
Hawkfish , created in 2019 , became the primary digital ad agency for Bloomberg 's presidential bid .
It crafted ads that mainly targeted Trump and received $ 60 million from Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has a net worth of close to $ 58 billion , finished spending just over $ 1 billion on his campaign .
He ended up winning 55 delegates , including a victory in the American Samoa caucuses on Super Tuesday .
The former New York mayor dropped out of the race in March and has since endorsed former vice president Joe Biden .
Biden 's campaign , as of early this week , has yet to officially decide whether it will hire Hawkfish , according to people familiar with the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these decisions are being made in private .
The Biden campaign is on a hiring spree that involves recruiting digital advisors who worked for the candidate 's previous primary opponents .
Biden 's campaign is still determining whether to hire Hawkfish or at least two other digital vendors that are competing for a general election contract .
The Democratic Governors Association , a group dedicated to helping Democrats win their gubernatorial races , has decided it will have no immediate plans to sign Hawkfish , a person with direct knowledge of the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DGA earlier this year while Bloomberg was running for president , this person said .
The DGA instead is keeping an eye on its own budget during the pandemic , the person said .
The group is also going to continue , at least for now , to focus their digital work through an in-house team like they have done since 2019 , this person added .
Bluegrass Values , an independent organization that was backed by the DGA during the 2019 governors race in Kentucky , paid Hawkfish just over $ 165,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected by the nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics .
Though it 's unclear what the tech firm did for Bluegrass , the group crafted ads backing Andy Beshear 's successful race for the state 's governors office .
When We All Vote , a nonprofit organization dedicated to voter turnout and founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama , has n't decided whether to hire Hawkfish or any other potential new vendor , according to another person with direct knowledge of the matter .
The Intercept previously reported that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company and that they had done previous work for the Obama led group during a Virginia state legislative race .
This person noted to CNBC that they have n't had follow up discussions with Hawkfish since at least March .
Co-chairs for When We All Vote include celebrities Tom Hanks , Selena Gomez , Lin Manuel Miranda and Chris Paul .
A spokesman for DGA declined to comment .
A representative for When We All vote did not return a request for comment .
Hawkfish recently pitched its services to Voto Latino , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) nonprofit that 's dedicated to ramping up young Latino voter participation in the 2020 election , the group 's founder told CNBC .
Bloomberg donated $ 500,000 to Voto Latino two months ago .
Maria Teresa Kumar , the group 's founding president , said in an interview that the virtual pitch took place close to two weeks ago between their organization and leaders of Hawkfish .
They were left impressed , especially with the amount of consumer data files Hawkfish has on hand in the wake of Bloomberg 's run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly working with Hawkfish later this cycle .
`` What was interesting about Hawkfish is that they have all these consumer data points and that would let us better explore our targeted voters , '' Kumar said on Wednesday .
She has previously told CNBC they are looking to take aim at Latino voters in Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , North Carolina , Virginia , Texas , Georgia , Arizona , Nevada and Colorado .
Hawkfish 's leadership ranks include longtime Facebook Chief Marketing Officer Gary Briggs , and Jeff Glueck , former CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Kumar said it is discussing with Hawkfish what she described as a `` test investment , '' in which the firm could be paid up to $ 30,000 to see if it has the ability to enhance the voting group 's already strong digital outreach program .
The competition for a test like this is fierce , especially when , as Kumar said , the group sometimes has five or six tests going on simultaneously .
Voto Latino , like other organizations that have not signed Hawkfish , already has a digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vendors .
In the case of Kumar 's nonprofit , she said its vendor is Rising Tide Interactive , a group that 's run by alumni of various congressional campaigns and helps their clients build digital ads and assist in get out of the vote efforts , among other initiatives .
It recently spent just under $ 200,000 on a voter registration app titled VoterPal .

Mike Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, speaks to media after touring the Wind Technology program at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, December 4, 2018.
Billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg's tech firm Hawkfish has been struggling to rack up clients six months before this fall's elections.
Some of the organizations that have had talks with Hawkfish are trying to determine how the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated the American economy, will weigh on their budgets. Others are still deciding how the relatively new company could help them in such a short period of time as most groups already have in-house digital aides or contracts with similar vendors.
The coronavirus has forced campaigns off the trail and into conducting their operations through virtual outreach. Outside entities, which often conduct grassroots door-knocking campaigns on top of their often expansive digital campaigns, are putting more of a focus on web-based efforts.
A representative for Hawkfish, who asked not to be named in this story, said they are still aiming to use their resources to help overtake President Donald Trump and Republicans come November.
"Hawkfish was created to help give Democrats the digital advantage that's crucially needed to beat Donald Trump and Republicans in 2020 and beyond," a Hawkfish spokesperson said. "We're committed to working with Democratic candidates, allies and causes to reach the right voters with the right messages in the right places. From climate change to gun safety, voter access, women's rights, education, health care and more, we're focused on the issues that matter most to the Democratic Party."
This representative declined to comment on any current or future clients.
Voto Latino, a nonprofit that focuses heavily on digital engagement to encourage young Latino voter participation, recently held virtual talks with Hawkfish. The sides are discussing a short-term, five-figure test investment that would allow Hawkfish to fight for a chance to work with them for a longer period of time.
Hawkfish, created in 2019, became the primary digital ad agency for Bloomberg's presidential bid. It crafted ads that mainly targeted Trump and received $60 million from Bloomberg's entirely self funded campaign. Bloomberg, who has a net worth of close to $58 billion, finished spending just over $1 billion on his campaign. He ended up winning 55 delegates, including a victory in the American Samoa caucuses on Super Tuesday. The former New York mayor dropped out of the race in March and has since endorsed former vice president Joe Biden.
Biden's campaign, as of early this week, has yet to officially decide whether it will hire Hawkfish, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as these decisions are being made in private. The Biden campaign is on a hiring spree that involves recruiting digital advisors who worked for the candidate's previous primary opponents. Biden's campaign is still determining whether to hire Hawkfish or at least two other digital vendors that are competing for a general election contract.
The Democratic Governors Association, a group dedicated to helping Democrats win their gubernatorial races, has decided it will have no immediate plans to sign Hawkfish, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told CNBC. Hawkfish representatives pitched the DGA earlier this year while Bloomberg was running for president, this person said. The DGA instead is keeping an eye on its own budget during the pandemic, the person said. The group is also going to continue, at least for now, to focus their digital work through an in-house team like they have done since 2019, this person added.
Bluegrass Values, an independent organization that was backed by the DGA during the 2019 governors race in Kentucky, paid Hawkfish just over $165,000 for their services, according to data collected by the nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics. Though it's unclear what the tech firm did for Bluegrass, the group crafted ads backing Andy Beshear's successful race for the state's governors office.
When We All Vote, a nonprofit organization dedicated to voter turnout and founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, hasn't decided whether to hire Hawkfish or any other potential new vendor, according to another person with direct knowledge of the matter. The Intercept previously reported that the group was being pitched by Bloomberg's company and that they had done previous work for the Obama led group during a Virginia state legislative race. This person noted to CNBC that they haven't had follow up discussions with Hawkfish since at least March.
Co-chairs for When We All Vote include celebrities Tom Hanks, Selena Gomez, Lin Manuel Miranda and Chris Paul.
A spokesman for DGA declined to comment. A representative for When We All vote did not return a request for comment.
Hawkfish recently pitched its services to Voto Latino, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that's dedicated to ramping up young Latino voter participation in the 2020 election, the group's founder told CNBC. Bloomberg donated $500,000 to Voto Latino two months ago.
Maria Teresa Kumar, the group's founding president, said in an interview that the virtual pitch took place close to two weeks ago between their organization and leaders of Hawkfish. They were left impressed, especially with the amount of consumer data files Hawkfish has on hand in the wake of Bloomberg's run for president. The group is open to possibly working with Hawkfish later this cycle.
"What was interesting about Hawkfish is that they have all these consumer data points and that would let us better explore our targeted voters," Kumar said on Wednesday. She has previously told CNBC they are looking to take aim at Latino voters in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.
Hawkfish's leadership ranks include longtime Facebook Chief Marketing Officer Gary Briggs, and Jeff Glueck, former CEO of location-tracking firm Foursquare.
Voto Latino's Kumar said it is discussing with Hawkfish what she described as a "test investment," in which the firm could be paid up to $30,000 to see if it has the ability to enhance the voting group's already strong digital outreach program. The competition for a test like this is fierce, especially when, as Kumar said, the group sometimes has five or six tests going on simultaneously.
Voto Latino, like other organizations that have not signed Hawkfish, already has a digital team in place, including preferred outside vendors. In the case of Kumar's nonprofit, she said its vendor is Rising Tide Interactive, a group that's run by alumni of various congressional campaigns and helps their clients build digital ads and assist in get out of the vote efforts, among other initiatives. It recently spent just under $200,000 on a voter registration app titled VoterPal.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Republican Mike Garcia flips Democratic-held House seat in California

People vote at a voting station for the special election between Democratic state assemblywoman Christy Smith and Republican businessman and ex-Navy pilot Mike Garcia to replace former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill in the state 's 25th Congressional District , in Santa Clarita , California on May 12 , 2020 .
Republican Mike Garcia is the winner in the special election for California 's 25th congressional district , NBC News projects .
Earlier Tuesday , his opponent Democrat Christy Smith conceded to him .
Garcia 's victory brings the district back into the Republican fold , after it went blue in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously held by former Rep. Katie Hill , who resigned less than a year into her freshman term amid an ethics probe into an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer .
She admitted to having a relationship with a female campaign staffer but denied having a relationship with a male congressional staffer .
It is against House rules to have a relationship with a subordinate congressional staff member .
Hill defeated two-term GOP Rep. Steve Knight in 2018 .
Her victory was among those that propelled Democrats to a House majority .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down in the fall of 2019 .
In a statement , Garcia said he 's `` ready to go to work '' for the people in the 25th Congressional District .
`` For too long , the people of our district have not had representation , and it 's time their voice is heard in Washington , '' he said .
Garcia would represent the district until November , when he and Smith will face off again in the general election .
In a statement Tuesday , Smith congratulated Garcia , saying `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he is `` the likely victor . ''
She added that she looks forward to `` having a vigorous debate about the issues in the upcoming November 2020 election . ''
Garcia , a former pilot , is a political newcomer with no legislative experience .
Smith has been serving as a California assemblywoman since 2018 .
In the 2016 presidential election , President Donald Trump lost the district by seven points to Hillary Clinton , his Democratic opponent .
Trump on Twitter has been rooting for Garcia and encouraging Californians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California is one of 34 states that allow voters to cast mail-in ballots without requiring an excuse .
Last week , the state rolled out an expansion of vote-by-mail to help voters avoid contracting and spreading the coronavirus , which has forced several states and territories to alter the way they carry out elections this year .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Friday signed an executive order allowing all registered voters in California to receive a mail-in ballot for November 's election .

People vote at a voting station for the special election between Democratic state assemblywoman Christy Smith and Republican businessman and ex-Navy pilot Mike Garcia to replace former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill in the state's 25th Congressional District, in Santa Clarita, California on May 12, 2020.
Republican Mike Garcia is the winner in the special election for California's 25th congressional district, NBC News projects.
Earlier Tuesday, his opponent Democrat Christy Smith conceded to him.
Garcia's victory brings the district back into the Republican fold, after it went blue in the 2018 midterms.
The seat was previously held by former Rep. Katie Hill, who resigned less than a year into her freshman term amid an ethics probe into an alleged relationship with a congressional staffer. She admitted to having a relationship with a female campaign staffer but denied having a relationship with a male congressional staffer. It is against House rules to have a relationship with a subordinate congressional staff member.
Hill defeated two-term GOP Rep. Steve Knight in 2018. Her victory was among those that propelled Democrats to a House majority.
The seat has been vacant since Hill stepped down in the fall of 2019.
In a statement, Garcia said he's "ready to go to work" for the people in the 25th Congressional District. "For too long, the people of our district have not had representation, and it's time their voice is heard in Washington," he said.
Tweet
Garcia would represent the district until November, when he and Smith will face off again in the general election.
In a statement Tuesday, Smith congratulated Garcia, saying "we believe that the current tally shows" he is "the likely victor." She added that she looks forward to "having a vigorous debate about the issues in the upcoming November 2020 election."
Garcia, a former pilot, is a political newcomer with no legislative experience. Smith has been serving as a California assemblywoman since 2018.
In the 2016 presidential election, President Donald Trump lost the district by seven points to Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent.
Trump on Twitter has been rooting for Garcia and encouraging Californians to vote for him in the race.
California is one of 34 states that allow voters to cast mail-in ballots without requiring an excuse.
Last week, the state rolled out an expansion of vote-by-mail to help voters avoid contracting and spreading the coronavirus, which has forced several states and territories to alter the way they carry out elections this year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed an executive order allowing all registered voters in California to receive a mail-in ballot for November's election.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Georgia tries to balance pressure to reopen economy with threat of coronavirus resurgence

Since Georgia took the widely criticized step to reboot its battered economy last month , the state has seen new Covid-19 cases steadily climb but not spike .
It could take until later this month to know whether Georgia 's move to reopen — condemned by federal health officials and President Donald Trump at the time — contributed to a feared coronavirus resurgence , according to health experts in the state .
Georgia became one of the first states to lift its restrictions designed to limit the pandemic 's spread when Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp let businesses including salons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors on April 24 .
The state allowed restaurants to resume dine-in service on April 27 with restrictions .
Kemp will keep bars , music venues and nightclubs closed at least through the end of the month , he said Tuesday .
Georgia , like many states , faces immense pressure to restart its economy as the toll from business shutdowns mounts .
Among those eligible for unemployment insurance in Georgia , about 17 % have filed claims since the outbreak swept through the state in mid-March .
New cases in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , increasing by roughly 700 per day since Georgia started reopening on April 24 .
But due to the disease incubation period and delays in data reporting , a fuller picture of how lifting restrictions affected Covid-19 's spread may not be available until the final days of May , according to Bob Bednarczyk at Emory University and John Drake at the University of Georgia .
Bednarczyk , an assistant professor at Emory 's Rollins School of Public Health , said even a sustained plateau rather than a steady decline in new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 're not really out of the woods for what 's going to happen with this , '' he said .
Drake , a professor of ecology , was the lead author on an April study that estimated Georgia 's social distancing measures implemented in March reduced Covid-19 cases by 81 % and could have saved nearly 3,000 lives .
It found relaxation of the restrictions could lead to as many as 38,000 more cases and 1,500 additional deaths by June 7 .
He said a handful of uncertainties , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their own accord and how effective face coverings are in stopping transmissions , could influence how much easing restrictions increase the number of cases .
Some business owners also chose not to open their doors even though they had the option to restart operations .
As experts including key Trump administration official Dr. Anthony Fauci warn about the potential for a resurgence in states that reopen too quickly , Kemp has said he could reevaluate his strategy if conditions change .
`` Many have warned of a 'second wave ' and asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if conditions decline , '' he told reporters Tuesday .
`` Let me be clear : we will continue to track the numbers and continue to heed [ Georgia Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen ] Toomey 's advice .
We will take whatever action is necessary to protect the lives and livelihoods of Georgians . ''
Despite the unknowns in projecting how the disease will spread in Georgia in the coming weeks , Drake said precautions such as maintaining social distance , disinfecting surfaces and wearing face coverings will not hurt as states lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to have a negative effect , they 're only going to help .
So people should be doing those things , '' he said .

A stylist wearing a protective mask works on a customer at a barbershop in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Monday, April 27, 2020. Dustin Chambers | Bloomberg via Getty Images
Since Georgia took the widely criticized step to reboot its battered economy last month, the state has seen new Covid-19 cases steadily climb but not spike. It could take until later this month to know whether Georgia's move to reopen — condemned by federal health officials and President Donald Trump at the time — contributed to a feared coronavirus resurgence, according to health experts in the state. Georgia became one of the first states to lift its restrictions designed to limit the pandemic's spread when Republican Gov. Brian Kemp let businesses including salons, gyms and bowling alleys open their doors on April 24. The state allowed restaurants to resume dine-in service on April 27 with restrictions. Kemp will keep bars, music venues and nightclubs closed at least through the end of the month, he said Tuesday.
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Georgia, like many states, faces immense pressure to restart its economy as the toll from business shutdowns mounts. Among those eligible for unemployment insurance in Georgia, about 17% have filed claims since the outbreak swept through the state in mid-March.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
But Georgia faces a delicate balance in trying to kick-start its economic activity. More than 35,000 Georgians had tested positive for Covid-19 as of May 11, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
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That comes out to about 13% of the roughly 262,000 people tested, or 1 in 8, since the project began tracking data.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
New cases in the state appear to have plateaued in recent weeks, increasing by roughly 700 per day since Georgia started reopening on April 24. But due to the disease incubation period and delays in data reporting, a fuller picture of how lifting restrictions affected Covid-19's spread may not be available until the final days of May, according to Bob Bednarczyk at Emory University and John Drake at the University of Georgia. Bednarczyk, an assistant professor at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, said even a sustained plateau rather than a steady decline in new cases would be worrisome. "Right now, we're not really out of the woods for what's going to happen with this," he said.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
Drake, a professor of ecology, was the lead author on an April study that estimated Georgia's social distancing measures implemented in March reduced Covid-19 cases by 81% and could have saved nearly 3,000 lives. It found relaxation of the restrictions could lead to as many as 38,000 more cases and 1,500 additional deaths by June 7. He said a handful of uncertainties, such as how much people distance from one another by their own accord and how effective face coverings are in stopping transmissions, could influence how much easing restrictions increase the number of cases. Some business owners also chose not to open their doors even though they had the option to restart operations.
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cnbc--2020-05-13--Senate committee moves forward with Hunter Biden probe, schedules subpoena vote

World Food Program USA Board Chairman Hunter Biden speaks at the World Food Program USA 's Annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award Ceremony at Organization of American States on April 12 , 2016 in Washington , DC .
Senate Republicans are forging ahead with their investigation involving apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son , Hunter Biden , which grew out of President Donald Trump 's impeachment saga .
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , led by Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , will hold a vote May 20 on whether to subpoena Blue Star Strategies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company Burisma Holdings when Hunter Biden was on its board .
Austin Altenberg , a spokesman for the committee 's Republican majority , confirmed the upcoming vote to CNBC and provided a copy of the agenda for the May 20 meeting .
A spokesman for the Biden campaign did not immediately provide comment on the vote .
`` The American people deserve to know the extent to which the U.S.-based , Democrat-led consulting company leveraged its connections within the Obama administration to try to gain access and potentially influence U.S. government agencies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Altenberg said in a statement to CNBC .
The majority 's statement said that Blue Star had not `` fully responded '' to prior requests for information .
`` This subpoena furthers the committee 's work to address the many unanswered questions about this effort and potential conflicts of interest .
It is unclear why anyone would want to help Blue Star Strategies continue to hide what happened here . ''
A spokesperson for the panel 's Democratic minority , led by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters , told CNBC in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the middle of a national emergency Chairman Johnson is choosing to pursue a partisan investigation . ''
`` Since the majority has not fully exhausted their options to get the information they are requesting voluntarily , the Chairman 's decision to schedule this vote appears to be focused on generating headlines and not advancing the committee 's mission of working in a bipartisan manner to protect the health and security of Americans , '' the spokesperson said .
Peters in a March 17 letter to Johnson laid out multiple reasons why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You have not fully pursued voluntary production of these records ; you have not scheduled the intelligence briefings you agreed to ; you risk continuing to amplify foreign election interference efforts , '' Peters wrote .
Burisma and Hunter Biden 's connection to it were at the center of Democrats ' push to impeach Trump in late 2019 and early 2020 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The articles of impeachment were related to efforts by Trump and his associates to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a discredited theory that Ukraine , not Russia , interfered in the 2016 presidential election .
The Democratic majority in the House impeached Trump in December on both articles .
The president was acquitted in early February by the GOP-led Senate .
Efforts by congressional Republicans to investigate Hunter Biden appeared to lose much of their steam after Trump 's acquittal .
The coronavirus crisis is now the most pressing concern for politicians and media outlets alike .
In early February there were only about a dozen confirmed U.S. cases .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic .
Johnson on March 11 backed away from holding an expected vote to subpoena documents from an ex-Ukrainian official , Andriy Telizhenko , who consulted for Blue Star , NBC News reported at the time .
Johnson had told members that he would `` instead go straight to the source and compel the same records and an appearance directly from Blue Star Strategies . ''
Democrats had slammed Republicans for pursuing probes of the Bidens , arguing that allegations of wrongdoing against the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's request in a July 25 call for Zelenskiy to `` look into '' the Bidens was an attempt to pressure a foreign country to meddle in the 2020 election by staining Biden with the mark of a corruption probe , Democrats say .
Biden was seen as a leading candidate in the Democratic primary at the time Trump called Zelenskiy .
Republicans , such as Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , who launched his own probe into Burisma and the Bidens , have raised questions about Joe Biden 's calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son was on Burisma 's board .
Biden 's push for the prosecutor 's removal was supported by the Obama administration and other estern governments , who saw the Ukrainian prosecutor as corrupt .
And a number of Republicans , including Johnson , had reportedly also called on Ukraine to reform its prosecutor general 's office in 2016 , around the same time as Biden .
The six Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security panel , led by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters , are expected to vote against the motion for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee .

World Food Program USA Board Chairman Hunter Biden speaks at the World Food Program USA's Annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award Ceremony at Organization of American States on April 12, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Senate Republicans are forging ahead with their investigation involving apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, which grew out of President Donald Trump's impeachment saga.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., will hold a vote May 20 on whether to subpoena Blue Star Strategies, a firm that represented Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings when Hunter Biden was on its board.
Austin Altenberg, a spokesman for the committee's Republican majority, confirmed the upcoming vote to CNBC and provided a copy of the agenda for the May 20 meeting.
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates decried Johnson's moves, accusing him of "running a political errand for Donald Trump" in the middle of a public health crisis and "wasting Homeland Security Committee time and resources attempting to resurrect a craven, previously-debunked smear against Vice President Biden."
"Senator Johnson should be working overtime to save American lives -- but instead he's just trying to save the President's job," Bates added in a statement to CNBC.
But Altenberg in his own statement maintained that "the American people deserve to know the extent to which the U.S.-based, Democrat-led consulting company leveraged its connections within the Obama administration to try to gain access and potentially influence U.S. government agencies on behalf of its corrupt client, Burisma."
The majority's statement said that Blue Star had not "fully responded" to prior requests for information. "This subpoena furthers the committee's work to address the many unanswered questions about this effort and potential conflicts of interest. It is unclear why anyone would want to help Blue Star Strategies continue to hide what happened here."
A spokesperson for the panel's Democratic minority, led by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, told CNBC in a statement that "it's alarming that in the middle of a national emergency Chairman Johnson is choosing to pursue a partisan investigation."
"Since the majority has not fully exhausted their options to get the information they are requesting voluntarily, the Chairman's decision to schedule this vote appears to be focused on generating headlines and not advancing the committee's mission of working in a bipartisan manner to protect the health and security of Americans," the spokesperson said.
Peters in a March 17 letter to Johnson laid out multiple reasons why he disapproved of the subpoena for Blue Star. "You have not fully pursued voluntary production of these records; you have not scheduled the intelligence briefings you agreed to; you risk continuing to amplify foreign election interference efforts," Peters wrote.
Burisma and Hunter Biden's connection to it were at the center of Democrats' push to impeach Trump in late 2019 and early 2020 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The articles of impeachment were related to efforts by Trump and his associates to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announce investigations into allegations against the Bidens and a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
The Democratic majority in the House impeached Trump in December on both articles. The president was acquitted in early February by the GOP-led Senate.
Efforts by congressional Republicans to investigate Hunter Biden appeared to lose much of their steam after Trump's acquittal.
The coronavirus crisis is now the most pressing concern for politicians and media outlets alike. In early February there were only about a dozen confirmed U.S. cases. By mid-March, however, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic.
Johnson on March 11 backed away from holding an expected vote to subpoena documents from an ex-Ukrainian official, Andriy Telizhenko, who consulted for Blue Star, NBC News reported at the time. Johnson had told members that he would "instead go straight to the source and compel the same records and an appearance directly from Blue Star Strategies."
Democrats had slammed Republicans for pursuing probes of the Bidens, arguing that allegations of wrongdoing against the former vice president and his son were unsubstantiated. Trump's request in a July 25 call for Zelenskiy to "look into" the Bidens was an attempt to pressure a foreign country to meddle in the 2020 election by staining Biden with the mark of a corruption probe, Democrats say. Biden was seen as a leading candidate in the Democratic primary at the time Trump called Zelenskiy.
Republicans, such as Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who launched his own probe into Burisma and the Bidens, have raised questions about Joe Biden's calls for Ukraine to remove a prosecutor while his son was on Burisma's board.
Biden's push for the prosecutor's removal was supported by the Obama administration and other estern governments, who saw the Ukrainian prosecutor as corrupt. And a number of Republicans, including Johnson, had reportedly also called on Ukraine to reform its prosecutor general's office in 2016, around the same time as Biden.
The six Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security panel, led by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, are expected to vote against the motion for a subpoena. There are eight Republicans on the committee.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Trump on China: '100 Trade Deals' wouldn't make up for coronavirus

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Wednesday said any benefits from the U.S.-China trade deal he signed in January pale in comparison to the damage that has been caused by what Trump called `` the plague from China . ''
It was unclear whom Trump was referring to when he said `` dealing with China is a very expensive thing to do . ''
The White House declined to comment .
But after months of Trump resisting pressure to explicitly tie U.S.-China trade relations to the bilateral coronavirus blame game , the tweet was one of several signs in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tack .
On Monday , Trump and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia directed the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to halt plans to invest in Chinese companies .
In a letter , Scalia wrote that the current plan to invest federal savings would place `` billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security . ''
An accompanying letter from Trump administration officials warned that Chinese companies could face sanctions related to what the White House claimed were `` culpable actions of the Chinese government with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ coronavirus ] . ''
On Wednesday morning , the FRTIB announced it would delay its plan to invest what would have amounted to about $ 4.5 billion in Chinese equities .
The delay represents a significant ratcheting up of financial pressure on Beijing , which is already under immense strain from the collapse in demand for Chinese goods caused by the global pandemic .
But while the White House is quick to use words like `` liable '' and `` culpable '' to imply that China can somehow be held legally responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no provision in international law which allows culpability to be assigned to a particular country for a pandemic .
On Wednesday morning , the U.S. put further pressure on China when the FBI , in a joint statement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , said it is investigating `` the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [ China ] affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors . ''
The hackers have been caught attempting to `` identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property '' and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the FBI .
`` The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure , effective , and efficient treatment options . ''
Yet while actions like these certainly serve to deepen the mutual distrust between Washington and Beijing , it 's difficult to ascertain what impact they 're having on the nuts and bolts of the trade deal itself .
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , which tracks implementation of the deal on agricultural products , China and the United States are continuing to make progress on opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing tariffs on both sides .
This week , China took another step forward in the deal by issuing a new list of 79 U.S. products eligible for tariff waivers .
The list , released Tuesday , includes high-value items like the ores of rare earth metals , gold ores , silver ores and concentrates .
Another reason the trade deal still appears to be holding is that Trump is under pressure from U.S. producers not to do anything that might spark retaliatory tariffs from China , and thereby limit their ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is slowly recovering after coronavirus shutdowns .
This countervailing factor was on display most recently when some of Trump 's advisors recommended that the president halt the export of American meat products to China for as long as the U.S. meat supply chain , disrupted by the coronavirus , was struggling to supply even U.S. consumers with enough meat .
Instead of restricting exports so that all the meat being processed went to Americans first , Trump signed an executive order effectively forcing meatpacking plants to stay open despite high rates of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , said White House officials , did the president seriously consider limiting exports to China .
-- CNBC 's Kevin Breuninger , Amanda Macias and Thomas Franck contributed to this article .
Update : This story has been updated to include the FRTIB 's decision on investments , announced Wednesday .

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders summit in Japan, June 29, 2019. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Wednesday said any benefits from the U.S.-China trade deal he signed in January pale in comparison to the damage that has been caused by what Trump called "the plague from China." Trump Tweet It was unclear whom Trump was referring to when he said "dealing with China is a very expensive thing to do." The White House declined to comment. But after months of Trump resisting pressure to explicitly tie U.S.-China trade relations to the bilateral coronavirus blame game, the tweet was one of several signs in recent days that the president may be changing tack.
Investment restrictions
On Monday, Trump and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia directed the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to halt plans to invest in Chinese companies. In a letter, Scalia wrote that the current plan to invest federal savings would place "billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security."
watch now
An accompanying letter from Trump administration officials warned that Chinese companies could face sanctions related to what the White House claimed were "culpable actions of the Chinese government with respect to the global spread of the [coronavirus]." On Wednesday morning, the FRTIB announced it would delay its plan to invest what would have amounted to about $4.5 billion in Chinese equities. The delay represents a significant ratcheting up of financial pressure on Beijing, which is already under immense strain from the collapse in demand for Chinese goods caused by the global pandemic. But while the White House is quick to use words like "liable" and "culpable" to imply that China can somehow be held legally responsible for the deadly pandemic, experts say there is no provision in international law which allows culpability to be assigned to a particular country for a pandemic.
Hacking accusation
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. put further pressure on China when the FBI, in a joint statement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said it is investigating "the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [China] affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors." The hackers have been caught attempting to "identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property" and public health data related to coronavirus research, said the FBI. "The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options."
Trade deal status quo?
Yet while actions like these certainly serve to deepen the mutual distrust between Washington and Beijing, it's difficult to ascertain what impact they're having on the nuts and bolts of the trade deal itself. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which tracks implementation of the deal on agricultural products, China and the United States are continuing to make progress on opening market access for American exports, and easing tariffs on both sides.
watch now


cnbc--2020-05-13--Supreme Court justices warn that Electoral College cases could lead to 'chaos'

An audio feed of Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutsche Bank AG , dealing with the subpoenas from the US Congress to obtain US President Donald Trumps financial records , is heard via a teleconference due to COVID-19 , known as coronavirus , as seen on a laptop in Washington , DC , May 12 , 2020 .
The Supreme Court on Wednesday wrestled with a dispute over whether Electoral College voters have a constitutional right to diverge from their state 's popular vote in two cases that could have implications for November 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what would happen if electors were to take a bribe , get hacked by a foreign government or vote for a giraffe .
The justices heard from attorneys for presidential electors in Colorado and Washington state who refused to back Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite her victories in those states .
Like most states , Colorado and Washington both require Electoral College voters to vote in line with the state popular vote .
The question in the cases is whether Electoral College voters can be penalized under state law if they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state popular vote .
Lower courts in Colorado and Washington came down on opposite sides of the issue .
In January , the top court agreed to weigh in .
A so-called `` faithless elector '' has never affected the outcome of a U.S. presidential election .
Attorneys on both sides , however , have warned that it could happen in a close race .
The justices ' questions largely focused on what limits applied to both electors and states in regulating voting in the Electoral College , America 's system for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attorney for the Washington electors , and Jason Harrow , who represented electors in Colorado , argued that states could only remove Electoral College voters for offenses such as bribery once they had been convicted .
While the state can require electors to take a pledge to support the candidate who wins the popular vote , they can not punish an elector who violates that pledge , they argued .
Attorneys for the states argued that electors can be regulated far more strictly .
Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said that under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar electors from submitting a vote for a candidate who did not visit the state .
Forty-eight states , with the exceptions of Maine and Nebraska , allocate all of their Electoral College votes to the winner of the state popular vote .
In 32 states and Washington , D.C. , there are laws on the books requiring electors to vote for their pledged candidate .
The justices seemed to be seeking a middle ground that could enable states to remove electors who solicited bribes without giving states unbridled authority to dictate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The arguments began at 10 a.m .
ET and lasted just under two and a half hours .
They were conducted over the phone as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus and streamed live to the public .
The cases came to the high court just months before President Donald Trump will face off against apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden in November 's contest .
Decisions in the cases are expected over the summer .
Commentators noted that the arguments lacked the partisan furor that has animated several of the court 's other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tribe , a leading constitutional scholar at Harvard Law School , wrote in a post on Twitter that the arguments `` displayed nine really good constitutional thinkers trying to work their way through a complex and unsettled legal issue where the justices ' partisan and ideological leanings offered no guidance . ''

An audio feed of Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutsche Bank AG, dealing with the subpoenas from the US Congress to obtain US President Donald Trumps financial records, is heard via a teleconference due to COVID-19, known as coronavirus, as seen on a laptop in Washington, DC, May 12, 2020.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday wrestled with a dispute over whether Electoral College voters have a constitutional right to diverge from their state's popular vote in two cases that could have implications for November's presidential election.
The arguments featured hypotheticals about what would happen if electors were to take a bribe, get hacked by a foreign government or vote for a giraffe.
The justices heard from attorneys for presidential electors in Colorado and Washington state who refused to back Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite her victories in those states. Like most states, Colorado and Washington both require Electoral College voters to vote in line with the state popular vote.
The question in the cases is whether Electoral College voters can be penalized under state law if they do not vote for the candidate who wins the state popular vote. Lower courts in Colorado and Washington came down on opposite sides of the issue. In January, the top court agreed to weigh in.
A so-called "faithless elector" has never affected the outcome of a U.S. presidential election. Attorneys on both sides, however, have warned that it could happen in a close race.
The justices' questions largely focused on what limits applied to both electors and states in regulating voting in the Electoral College, America's system for indirectly selecting presidents.
Larry Lessig, an attorney for the Washington electors, and Jason Harrow, who represented electors in Colorado, argued that states could only remove Electoral College voters for offenses such as bribery once they had been convicted.
While the state can require electors to take a pledge to support the candidate who wins the popular vote, they cannot punish an elector who violates that pledge, they argued.
Attorneys for the states argued that electors can be regulated far more strictly. Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said that under his view, a state could even bar electors from submitting a vote for a candidate who did not visit the state.
Forty-eight states, with the exceptions of Maine and Nebraska, allocate all of their Electoral College votes to the winner of the state popular vote. In 32 states and Washington, D.C., there are laws on the books requiring electors to vote for their pledged candidate.
The justices seemed to be seeking a middle ground that could enable states to remove electors who solicited bribes without giving states unbridled authority to dictate for whom electors may cast their votes.
The arguments began at 10 a.m. ET and lasted just under two and a half hours. They were conducted over the phone as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus and streamed live to the public.
The cases came to the high court just months before President Donald Trump will face off against apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden in November's contest. Decisions in the cases are expected over the summer.
Commentators noted that the arguments lacked the partisan furor that has animated several of the court's other high-profile arguments of the term.
Laurence Tribe, a leading constitutional scholar at Harvard Law School, wrote in a post on Twitter that the arguments "displayed nine really good constitutional thinkers trying to work their way through a complex and unsettled legal issue where the justices' partisan and ideological leanings offered no guidance."
"A breath of fresh air," he wrote.


cnbc--2020-05-13--Ousted HHS official warns pandemic could get far worse: '2020 will be the darkest winter in modern h

Ousted HHS official warns pandemic could get far worse: '2020 will be the darkest winter in modern history' without coordinated coronavirus plan

Rick Bright , deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response for Health and Human Services ( HHS ) , speaks during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing in Washington , D.C. , on Thursday , March 8 , 2018 .
Covid-19 has the potential to eclipse the 1918 flu pandemic that killed more than 50 million people and could make 2020 the `` darkest winter in modern history '' if U.S. leaders ca n't mount a more coordinated response to contain the outbreak , according to ousted federal vaccine scientist Dr. Rick Bright .
`` We face a highly-transmissible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives but is also disrupting the very foundations of our societies , '' Bright says in written testimony to be delivered to a House health subcommittee Thursday .
Bright filed a whistleblower complaint after he was removed last month as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority .
The agency , which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services , is a key player in the nation 's coronavirus pandemic .
`` HHS leadership was dismissive about my dire predictions about what I assumed would be a broader outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were therefore unwilling to act with the urgency that the situation required , '' he said .
`` Our window of opportunity is closing .
If we fail to develop a national coordinated response , based in science , I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged , causing unprecedented illness and fatalities . ''
He said there is an `` undeniable fact '' that Covid-19 will resurge in the fall .
He said he was removed from his post because he insisted that funding go toward scientifically proven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs , vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit . ''
`` Without clear planning and implementation of the steps that I and other experts have outlined , 2020 will be darkest winter in modern history , '' Bright plans to tell members of Congress , according to his prepared remarks obtained by CNBC .
`` If we fail to develop a national coordinated response , based in science , I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged , causing unprecedented illness and fatalities . ''
Bright reiterated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he `` resisted efforts to promote and enable broad access '' to chloroquine , which was touted by President Donald Trump as a promising treatment against Covid-19 before clinical trials were completed .
The Food and Drug Administration as well as researchers have since urged caution in using the drug , which has shown signs of exacerbating health issues .
The Office of Special Counsel has found evidence to support Bright 's claims , the government watchdog said last week .
`` While my intention in testifying today is to be forward looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am testifying today because science – not politics or cronyism – must lead the way to combat this deadly virus , '' Bright said .
`` My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this – to confront and defeat a deadly virus like COVID-19 that threatens Americans and people around the globe . ''
Bright will go on to tell Congress that the U.S. `` missed early warning signals and we forgot important pages from our pandemic playbook . ''
And he will warn Congress that `` if we ignore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased risk of worsening the spread of the virus in the coming months . ''
He emphasized the need to increase public education on how individuals can curb the spread of the virus , ramp up production of essential equipment such as masks and medical gowns and eliminate state competition for such supplies .
He also plans to tell Congress the U.S. needs a `` national testing strategy . ''
`` The virus is out there , it 's everywhere , '' he plans to say .
`` We need to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to stop it from infecting more people . ''

Rick Bright, deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response for Health and Human Services (HHS), speaks during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 8, 2018.
Covid-19 has the potential to eclipse the 1918 flu pandemic that killed more than 50 million people and could make 2020 the "darkest winter in modern history" if U.S. leaders can't mount a more coordinated response to contain the outbreak, according to ousted federal vaccine scientist Dr. Rick Bright.
"We face a highly-transmissible and deadly virus which not only claims lives but is also disrupting the very foundations of our societies," Bright says in written testimony to be delivered to a House health subcommittee Thursday. Bright filed a whistleblower complaint after he was removed last month as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The agency, which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, is a key player in the nation's coronavirus pandemic.
"HHS leadership was dismissive about my dire predictions about what I assumed would be a broader outbreak and the pressing need to act, and were therefore unwilling to act with the urgency that the situation required," he said. "Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to develop a national coordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities."
He said there is an "undeniable fact" that Covid-19 will resurge in the fall. He said he was removed from his post because he insisted that funding go toward scientifically proven solutions to the pandemic rather than "drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit."
"Without clear planning and implementation of the steps that I and other experts have outlined, 2020 will be darkest winter in modern history," Bright plans to tell members of Congress, according to his prepared remarks obtained by CNBC. "If we fail to develop a national coordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities."
Bright reiterated that he was removed from his position because he "resisted efforts to promote and enable broad access" to chloroquine, which was touted by President Donald Trump as a promising treatment against Covid-19 before clinical trials were completed. The Food and Drug Administration as well as researchers have since urged caution in using the drug, which has shown signs of exacerbating health issues.
The Office of Special Counsel has found evidence to support Bright's claims, the government watchdog said last week.
"While my intention in testifying today is to be forward looking, I spoke out then and I am testifying today because science – not politics or cronyism – must lead the way to combat this deadly virus," Bright said. "My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this – to confront and defeat a deadly virus like COVID-19 that threatens Americans and people around the globe."
Bright will go on to tell Congress that the U.S. "missed early warning signals and we forgot important pages from our pandemic playbook." And he will warn Congress that "if we ignore the science, we stand a dramatically increased risk of worsening the spread of the virus in the coming months."
He emphasized the need to increase public education on how individuals can curb the spread of the virus, ramp up production of essential equipment such as masks and medical gowns and eliminate state competition for such supplies. He also plans to tell Congress the U.S. needs a "national testing strategy."
"The virus is out there, it's everywhere," he plans to say. "We need to be able to find it, to isolate it and to stop it from infecting more people."
— CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report.