truthout--2020-07-09--Hate Groups Rake In PPP Loans as Racial Justice Movement Expands

As millions took to the streets in all 50 states last month to protest against systemic racism and police brutality , several organizations that are considered hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) were enjoying new six- or seven-figure Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loans from the federal government .
On Monday , the Small Business Administration released the names of over 650,000 PPP beneficiaries that received $ 150,000 or more in forgivable loans from the agency .
That list included anti-immigrant hate groups the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Policy , and anti-LGBTQ hate groups the American Family Association , Liberty Counsel , and the Pacific Justice Institute .
These six nonprofits scored between $ 2,350,000 and $ 5,700,000 in PPP loans , which will be fully forgiven if the groups maintain their payrolls .
The Small Business Administration ’ s release of PPP data gave ranges , not exact amounts , of the loans .
“ Many of these groups that traffic in hate are already well-resourced , with a constant injection of funding from far-right mega-donors and dark money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Arizona branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR ) , told CMD .
“ This just highlights more cases of vital funding getting into the hands of those who didn ’ t need it , while many small businesses in our communities came up empty and are having to fold.
” Anti-LGBTQ hate group the American Family Association got the most PPP money of the bunch .
The group was approved for between $ 1 million and $ 2 million in loans from Regions Bank in early April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official Bryan Fischer has blamed gay men for the Holocaust and called for the criminalization of homosexuality and a ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. A recent post on the American Family Association website by activist David Lane compares antifa and Black Lives Matter to an “ alliance between the two devils of Nazism and Communism ” that hates “ good and God.
” The groups ’ acceptance of “ transgenderism , homosexuality , abortion ” and the “ elimination of the nuclear family ” are apparently why they resemble a Nazi-Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Another recent entry by Lane goes even farther , claiming that antifa and Black Lives Matter may be more dangerous terrorists than ISIS .
Antifa and Black Lives Matter “ work together in pillaging and marauding targeted cities of America , ” the entry claims .
“ In their duplicity and subterfuge they come close to or may even top the heinous terror outfit ISIS , which ransacked northern Iraq ’ s historic Christian and Muslim shrines.
” Two other anti-LGBTQ nonprofits received PPP loans .
The Liberty Counsel of Maitland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million from Seacoast National Bank , reportedly retaining no jobs , and the Pacific Justice Institute of Sacramento , California got between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 from Five Star Bank to secure 17 jobs .
The Center for Immigration Studies ( CIS ) was founded by white nationalist John Tanton in 1985 and is one of several anti-immigration hate groups that Tanton used to fearmonger over immigrants and promote the writings of prominent white nationalists and antisemites .
The nonprofit , which has ties to far-right Trump adviser Stephen Miller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation and mainstream donor-advised fund sponsor the Foundation for the Carolinas .
It was approved for a loan worth between $ 350,000 and $ 1 million from United Bank on April 9 .
The loan allegedly retained 15 jobs .
“ Anti-Muslim hate groups such as CIS have a direct impact on Muslim communities on a ground level , ” Siddiqi told Sludge last November .
“ Organizations that spread false and misleading information about vulnerable communities often serve as a radicalizing force when it comes to the actual hate and violence we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen this fear-mongering result in massive spikes in hate crimes and violent plots against our communities.
” CIS has spent much of the last few months claiming that undocumented immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries are infecting U.S. citizens with the coronavirus , blaming “ border crossers ” for Texas ’ massive spike in infections instead of Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott , whose gross negligence led to the current emergency .
However , CIS ’ s race-baiting claims are easily debunked .
The Washington Post reported that the patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens , or Americans working or visiting relatives in Mexico .
The New York Times reported much the same .
Another anti-immigrant hate group founded by Tanton also received a loan of up to $ 1 million in April .
The Federation for American Immigration Reform ( FAIR ) , was approved for the loan from TD Bank on April 13 , reportedly retaining 35 jobs .
The SPLC considers FAIR “ America ’ s most influential anti-immigrant organization.
” Like CIS , FAIR has been advocating for the end of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 22 , after FAIR lobbied the White House on immigration issues , the groups got their wish : Trump issued an executive order halting most new work visas for the rest of 2020 .
A notorious anti-Muslim hate group , the Washington , D.C.-based Center for Security Policy , secured a PPP loan of between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 from PNC Bank on April 29 to retain 13 jobs .
Led by former Reagan administration Defense official Frank Gaffney , the nonprofit promotes conspiracy theories about Muslims so heinous that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) .
In recent months , the Center for Security Policy has promoted its coverage of the “ Wuhan virus , ” calling covid-19 “ China ’ s propaganda pandemic ” and claiming that Chinese President Xi Jinping “ weaponized it to attack the United States and divide its leaders.
” The hate group recipients are 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofits in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) .
To be compliant , nonprofits must only fulfill the agency ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-hate policy .
Not only do taxpayers effectively subsidize hate groups that obtain nonprofit status , they are now seeing crucial federal loans help promote dangerous , racist messaging .

Several hate groups have been granted up to seven-figure loans by the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program.
As millions took to the streets in all 50 states last month to protest against systemic racism and police brutality, several organizations that are considered hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) were enjoying new six- or seven-figure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the federal government.
On Monday, the Small Business Administration released the names of over 650,000 PPP beneficiaries that received $150,000 or more in forgivable loans from the agency. That list included anti-immigrant hate groups the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform, anti-Muslim hate group Center for Security Policy, and anti-LGBTQ hate groups the American Family Association, Liberty Counsel, and the Pacific Justice Institute.
These six nonprofits scored between $2,350,000 and $5,700,000 in PPP loans, which will be fully forgiven if the groups maintain their payrolls. The Small Business Administration’s release of PPP data gave ranges, not exact amounts, of the loans.
“Many of these groups that traffic in hate are already well-resourced, with a constant injection of funding from far-right mega-donors and dark money foundations,” Imraan Siddiqi, executive director of the Arizona branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told CMD. “This just highlights more cases of vital funding getting into the hands of those who didn’t need it, while many small businesses in our communities came up empty and are having to fold.”
Anti-LGBTQ hate group the American Family Association got the most PPP money of the bunch. The group was approved for between $1 million and $2 million in loans from Regions Bank in early April to retain 124 jobs. Former top official Bryan Fischer has blamed gay men for the Holocaust and called for the criminalization of homosexuality and a ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S.
A recent post on the American Family Association website by activist David Lane compares antifa and Black Lives Matter to an “alliance between the two devils of Nazism and Communism” that hates “good and God.” The groups’ acceptance of “transgenderism, homosexuality, abortion” and the “elimination of the nuclear family” are apparently why they resemble a Nazi-Communist alliance, “a slithering venomous serpent.”
Another recent entry by Lane goes even farther, claiming that antifa and Black Lives Matter may be more dangerous terrorists than ISIS.
Antifa and Black Lives Matter “work together in pillaging and marauding targeted cities of America,” the entry claims. “In their duplicity and subterfuge they come close to or may even top the heinous terror outfit ISIS, which ransacked northern Iraq’s historic Christian and Muslim shrines.”
Two other anti-LGBTQ nonprofits received PPP loans. The Liberty Counsel of Maitland, Florida received between $350,000 and $1 million from Seacoast National Bank, reportedly retaining no jobs, and the Pacific Justice Institute of Sacramento, California got between $150,000 and $350,000 from Five Star Bank to secure 17 jobs.
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) was founded by white nationalist John Tanton in 1985 and is one of several anti-immigration hate groups that Tanton used to fearmonger over immigrants and promote the writings of prominent white nationalists and antisemites.
The nonprofit, which has ties to far-right Trump adviser Stephen Miller, is mostly funded by the right-wing Colcom Foundation and mainstream donor-advised fund sponsor the Foundation for the Carolinas. It was approved for a loan worth between $350,000 and $1 million from United Bank on April 9. The loan allegedly retained 15 jobs.
“Anti-Muslim hate groups such as CIS have a direct impact on Muslim communities on a ground level,” Siddiqi told Sludge last November. “Organizations that spread false and misleading information about vulnerable communities often serve as a radicalizing force when it comes to the actual hate and violence we see…. During the Trump era we have seen this fear-mongering result in massive spikes in hate crimes and violent plots against our communities.”
CIS has spent much of the last few months claiming that undocumented immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries are infecting U.S. citizens with the coronavirus, blaming “border crossers” for Texas’ massive spike in infections instead of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, whose gross negligence led to the current emergency.
However, CIS’s race-baiting claims are easily debunked. The Washington Post reported that the patients entering the U.S. are retirees, dual citizens, or Americans working or visiting relatives in Mexico. The New York Times reported much the same.
Another anti-immigrant hate group founded by Tanton also received a loan of up to $1 million in April. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), was approved for the loan from TD Bank on April 13, reportedly retaining 35 jobs.
The SPLC considers FAIR “America’s most influential anti-immigrant organization.” Like CIS, FAIR has been advocating for the end of the U.S.’s guest worker program. On June 22, after FAIR lobbied the White House on immigration issues, the groups got their wish: Trump issued an executive order halting most new work visas for the rest of 2020.
A notorious anti-Muslim hate group, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy, secured a PPP loan of between $150,000 and $350,000 from PNC Bank on April 29 to retain 13 jobs. Led by former Reagan administration Defense official Frank Gaffney, the nonprofit promotes conspiracy theories about Muslims so heinous that it was even banned from the right-wing Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
In recent months, the Center for Security Policy has promoted its coverage of the “Wuhan virus,” calling covid-19 “China’s propaganda pandemic” and claiming that Chinese President Xi Jinping “weaponized it to attack the United States and divide its leaders.”
The hate group recipients are 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To be compliant, nonprofits must only fulfill the agency’s financial requirements. The IRS has no anti-hate policy.
Not only do taxpayers effectively subsidize hate groups that obtain nonprofit status, they are now seeing crucial federal loans help promote dangerous, racist messaging.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-07-09--Conservative Elites Are Fighting for “Values” Invented to Justify Slavery

Throughout its history the U.S. has had two very different ruling elites , motivated by very different definitions of liberty .
Let ’ s call them the New England Yankees vs. the Old South Planters .
Their radically different definitions of “ liberty ” still divide liberals and conservatives today .
Wealthy elites are not all alike , and the differences between them are crucial .
As the New England Yankee elite saw it , people with money and power must temper their predatory instincts with a code of conduct that has been called noblesse oblige .
In this view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is restrained by a moral duty to use wealth and power at least partly for the betterment of society .
( “ Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country , ” said President John Kennedy in 1961 . )
Individuals are expected to balance their personal freedom and desires against the greater good of the larger society .
Everyone is part of a community and therefore must pay taxes , educate the youth , care for the sick and provide for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community ( acting through government ) should make available to everyone the freedom that comes from a stable and prosperous life .
As President Franklin Roosevelt said in 1944 , “ true individual freedom can not exist without economic security and independence.
” This Yankee view of ordered liberty lies at the root of liberal values today .
Opposite the Yankee view of liberty , we have the Old South Planter ’ s view .
As we learn from Colin Woodard ’ s American Nations , the plantation elite of the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the colonizers of Barbados , which they turned into “ the richest and most horrifying society in the English-speaking world.
” The plantation culture they created from South Carolina across to Texas “ was a near carbon copy of the West Indian slave state these Barbadians had left behind , a place notorious even then for its inhumanity… .
From the outset , Deep Southern culture was based on radical disparities in wealth and power , with a tiny elite commanding total obedience and enforcing it with state-sponsored terror , ” Woodward writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little book , Made in Texas : George W. Bush and the Southern Takeover of American Politics , Sara Robinson explored this subject in 2012 .
Robinson summarized the Old South Planter ’ s view of liberty : In the old South… .
The higher your status , the more authority you had , and the more “ liberty ” you could exercise – which meant , in practical terms , that you had the right to take more “ liberties ” with the lives , rights and property of other people… .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what liberty is .
If you don ’ t have the freedom to rape , beat , torture , kill , enslave , or exploit your underlings ( including your wife and children ) with impunity … then you can ’ t really call yourself a free man .
The history of elite political dynamics in the United States can be viewed as a struggle for dominance between these two views of liberty – liberty limited by obligations to community vs. the liberty to exploit humans and nature for personal gain with minimal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1950s , the Old South view of liberty took hold with movement conservatives , who then set out to take control of the Republican Party and , through voter suppression , gain permanent political dominance .
According to George Lakoff , a linguist now retired from the University of California at Berkeley , movement conservatives believe that , The basic idea in terms of economics is that democracy gives people the liberty to seek their self interest and their own well-being without worrying or being responsible for the well-being or interest of anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual responsibility , not social responsibility , therefore you ’ re on your own .
If you make it that ’ s wonderful .
That ’ s what the market is about .
If you don ’ t make it , that ’ s your problem .
In her indispensable history , Democracy in Chains , Duke University historian Nancy MacLean documents “ the radical right ’ s stealth plan for America ” – a plan hatched in Virginia in the 1950s to return the U.S. to the Old South view of liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , to “ Make America Great Again.
” As we learn from Jane Mayer ’ s Dark Money : The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right , by the 1970s , a small cadre of hard-right super-rich conservatives was building the political and cultural machinery to take control .
In her illuminating new book , How the South Won the Civil War , Heather Cox Richardson details how , after the Civil War , the philosophy of the Old South slavers spread Westward , snuffing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s most vulnerable citizens and regulate the economy .
“ Convinced they alone should rule , ” the philosophical descendants of the Old South elite “ set out to destroy democracy , ” Richardson writes .
The Old South view of “ liberty ” became personified in the image of the violent , independent , quick-draw cowboy .
Barry Goldwater , Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush all campaigned for president wearing Stetson cowboy hats .
Now , once again , we find ourselves in the grip of the Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t wear “ sissy ” masks to protect their neighbors from a novel coronavirus , and so the deadly virus spreads .
The elite conservative view of liberty helps explain modern Republican hostility toward public education , publicly funded science , climate change , the natural world , one-person-one-vote democracy , universal health care , racial , gender and economic equality , accountability for war crimes and police violence , and government itself .
But it doesn ’ t have to be this way .
If progressives mobilize to get big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enforce “ one person , one vote , no exceptions , ” the true progressive will of the people can prevail .

The so-called values boil down to just one thing: the liberty to exploit humans for personal gain with no restraint.
Throughout its history the U.S. has had two very different ruling elites, motivated by very different definitions of liberty. Let’s call them the New England Yankees vs. the Old South Planters. Their radically different definitions of “liberty” still divide liberals and conservatives today.
Wealthy elites are not all alike, and the differences between them are crucial. As the New England Yankee elite saw it, people with money and power must temper their predatory instincts with a code of conduct that has been called noblesse oblige. In this view, the liberty of the monied elite is restrained by a moral duty to use wealth and power at least partly for the betterment of society. (“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” said President John Kennedy in 1961.) Individuals are expected to balance their personal freedom and desires against the greater good of the larger society. Everyone is part of a community and therefore must pay taxes, educate the youth, care for the sick and provide for the needy.
In the Yankee view, the community (acting through government) should make available to everyone the freedom that comes from a stable and prosperous life. As President Franklin Roosevelt said in 1944, “true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.” This Yankee view of ordered liberty lies at the root of liberal values today.
Opposite the Yankee view of liberty, we have the Old South Planter’s view. As we learn from Colin Woodard’s American Nations, the plantation elite of the old South were the sons and grandsons of the colonizers of Barbados, which they turned into “the richest and most horrifying society in the English-speaking world.” The plantation culture they created from South Carolina across to Texas “was a near carbon copy of the West Indian slave state these Barbadians had left behind, a place notorious even then for its inhumanity…. From the outset, Deep Southern culture was based on radical disparities in wealth and power, with a tiny elite commanding total obedience and enforcing it with state-sponsored terror,” Woodward writes.
Following Michael Lind’s important little book, Made in Texas: George W. Bush and the Southern Takeover of American Politics, Sara Robinson explored this subject in 2012. Robinson summarized the Old South Planter’s view of liberty:
In the old South…. The higher your status, the more authority you had, and the more “liberty” you could exercise – which meant, in practical terms, that you had the right to take more “liberties” with the lives, rights and property of other people…. In this model, that’s what liberty is. If you don’t have the freedom to rape, beat, torture, kill, enslave, or exploit your underlings (including your wife and children) with impunity … then you can’t really call yourself a free man.
The history of elite political dynamics in the United States can be viewed as a struggle for dominance between these two views of liberty – liberty limited by obligations to community vs. the liberty to exploit humans and nature for personal gain with minimal or no restraint.
Once again, we find ourselves in the grip of the Old South plantation mentality extended nationwide.
Starting in the 1950s, the Old South view of liberty took hold with movement conservatives, who then set out to take control of the Republican Party and, through voter suppression, gain permanent political dominance.
According to George Lakoff, a linguist now retired from the University of California at Berkeley, movement conservatives believe that,
The basic idea in terms of economics is that democracy gives people the liberty to seek their self interest and their own well-being without worrying or being responsible for the well-being or interest of anybody else. Therefore they say everybody has individual responsibility, not social responsibility, therefore you’re on your own. If you make it that’s wonderful. That’s what the market is about. If you don’t make it, that’s your problem.
In her indispensable history, Democracy in Chains, Duke University historian Nancy MacLean documents “the radical right’s stealth plan for America” – a plan hatched in Virginia in the 1950s to return the U.S. to the Old South view of liberty, or, as we might say today, to “Make America Great Again.” As we learn from Jane Mayer’s Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, by the 1970s, a small cadre of hard-right super-rich conservatives was building the political and cultural machinery to take control.
In her illuminating new book, How the South Won the Civil War, Heather Cox Richardson details how, after the Civil War, the philosophy of the Old South slavers spread Westward, snuffing out the idea that the government should protect the nation’s most vulnerable citizens and regulate the economy. “Convinced they alone should rule,” the philosophical descendants of the Old South elite “set out to destroy democracy,” Richardson writes.
The Old South view of “liberty” became personified in the image of the violent, independent, quick-draw cowboy. Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush all campaigned for president wearing Stetson cowboy hats. Now, once again, we find ourselves in the grip of the Old South plantation mentality extended nationwide. Cowboys don’t wear “sissy” masks to protect their neighbors from a novel coronavirus, and so the deadly virus spreads.
The elite conservative view of liberty helps explain modern Republican hostility toward public education, publicly funded science, climate change, the natural world, one-person-one-vote democracy, universal health care, racial, gender and economic equality, accountability for war crimes and police violence, and government itself.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. If progressives mobilize to get big money out of politics and aggressively protect and enforce “one person, one vote, no exceptions,” the true progressive will of the people can prevail.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-07-09--Coronavirus Relief Funds Are About to Run Out for the Child Care Industry

Workers in the U.S. are staring down the precipice as lawmakers fail to address the economic ravages of the pandemic .
Even as some 21 million people remain unemployed , the $ 600 per week in additional unemployment insurance created by Congress ’ s coronavirus relief package , the CARES Act , is set to expire on July 31 .
Student debt payments will resume on October 1 for the 34 million federal student loan borrowers whose loans were suspended by CARES .
But perhaps no cliff is as steep as the early care and education sector , which may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is over .
To save it , the sector will need an infusion of at least $ 50 billion .
But so far , despite how essential child care is to restarting the economy , Congress has been unwilling to meet the crisis with the resources required to stave off a crisis .
The extent of the child care crisis may seem invisible to many while there are people who haven ’ t returned to in-person work yet .
When they do , they may find their daycares gone or full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ en masse : an April survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children showed that half of survey respondents have already had to close their child care center .
Of the centers still open , 85 percent are operating at less than half of their enrollment capacity , leading to substantial financial losses for early educators .
Before the pandemic , it was already difficult to find space in an early care and education center , with long childcare waiting lists in many states and cities .
But in addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves are underpaid relative to the extraordinary role they play .
The most important part of brain development happens during early childhood .
In the first few years of life , more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second .
This period is crucial for emotional-social development and cognitive-linguistic abilities that form the basis for later success in a child ’ s life .
Expanding child care is also job-enabling as it frees up women in particular to work , and the dollars invested in it create a positive return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Appelbaum has noted A study of one preschool education program showed every dollar invested yielded $ 7 to $ 12 back to society .
Yet , despite the crucial role child care providers play in childhood development and society overall , child care workers make an average of just $ 11.42 an hour , or $ 23,760 annually .
This low pay generally is not matched with benefits , either .
About half of workers in non-child care occupations receive health insurance from their job , but only 15 percent of child care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Economic Policy Institute ( EPI ) .
EPI also found that one in seven child care workers live in families with income below the official poverty line .
Despite low wages and few benefits , 23 states with public pre-K programs require lead teachers to have at least a bachelor ’ s degree .
Research has shown that this kind of “ credentialization ” particularly harms workers of color , who are forced to take on more student debt to acquire the credentials employers demand as a barrier to entry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ babysitting ” when it ’ s a crucial part of early childhood development and education is part of a general devaluation of care work .
Child care is an example of what theorists call social reproduction work : the social processes that produce the conditions that allow work to happen in the first place .
Tithi Bhattacharya , Purdue University professor and editor of Social Reproduction Theory : Remapping Class , Recentering Oppression , told journalist Sarah Jaffe that social reproduction is “ life-making ” activities : cleaning , cooking , child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work generally is dominated by women , often women of color ; child care especially so .
Ninety-three percent of jobs in child care are held by women , according to Labor Department data , and 45.3 percent are Black , Asian or Latinx .
As with many essential workers , the pandemic laid bare how the long-underpaid child care workers form a backbone of our economy .
Congressional action has been terrifyingly insufficient .
The CARES Act dedicated a mere $ 3.5 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover a month ’ s worth of costs for existing providers : a joint report by the National Women ’ s Law Center and the Center for Law and Social Policy ( CLASP ) showed it would take $ 9.6 billion a month to maintain the sector during the pandemic .
Even the Democrats ’ Heroes Act , which passed the House in May but has stalled in the Senate , provides only $ 7 billion of the estimated $ 50 billion minimum needed to truly save the child care sector .
Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early action has already cost us .
More than a third of all child care workers have lost their jobs since March — nearly 330,000 people , or one third of the entire sector .
Ongoing inaction threatens to disrupt the livelihood of the remaining child care workers still employed , as well as the 11.8 million families who depend on weekly care with non-parental providers .
In response , Democratic lawmakers , led by Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Bobby Scott as well as Sen. Patty Murray , have introduced the Child Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund that provides grants to providers who keep staff on payroll and adhere to health guidelines .
This amount is the absolute minimum investment to save the sector , according to CLASP , and it will not be sufficient should the pandemic last more than five months .
There is some inkling of bipartisan support , with two Republican senators , Joni Ernst and Kelly Loeffler , calling for additional funds in the next relief package , though they are asking for just $ 25 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate continues to stall on coronavirus legislation , Sen. Elizabeth Warren led a letter to the Treasury and Small Business Administration urging them to ensure child care centers are able to access the Paycheck Protection Program , as only a quarter have received loans to date .
Long undervalued child care providers are especially hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
Congress ’ s meager provision for early childhood education providers is insufficient at best .
Child care providers are vital to our economy and deserve a bailout that recognizes their significance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector will stunt economic recovery , stunt the development of children denied access to enriching child care programs , and adversely affect the child care providers who made a career of educating our nation ’ s young children .

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Workers in the U.S. are staring down the precipice as lawmakers fail to address the economic ravages of the pandemic. Even as some 21 million people remain unemployed, the $600 per week in additional unemployment insurance created by Congress’s coronavirus relief package, the CARES Act, is set to expire on July 31. Student debt payments will resume on October 1 for the 34 million federal student loan borrowers whose loans were suspended by CARES. But perhaps no cliff is as steep as the early care and education sector, which may be cut in half by the time the pandemic is over. To save it, the sector will need an infusion of at least $50 billion. But so far, despite how essential child care is to restarting the economy, Congress has been unwilling to meet the crisis with the resources required to stave off a crisis.
The extent of the child care crisis may seem invisible to many while there are people who haven’t returned to in-person work yet. When they do, they may find their daycares gone or full. Child care centers are already closing en masse: an April survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children showed that half of survey respondents have already had to close their child care center. Of the centers still open, 85 percent are operating at less than half of their enrollment capacity, leading to substantial financial losses for early educators.
Before the pandemic, it was already difficult to find space in an early care and education center, with long childcare waiting lists in many states and cities. But in addition to being under-available, child care workers themselves are underpaid relative to the extraordinary role they play. The most important part of brain development happens during early childhood. In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second. This period is crucial for emotional-social development and cognitive-linguistic abilities that form the basis for later success in a child’s life. Expanding child care is also job-enabling as it frees up women in particular to work, and the dollars invested in it create a positive return for society overall, as economist Eileen Appelbaum has noted . A study of one preschool education program showed every dollar invested yielded $7 to $12 back to society. Yet, despite the crucial role child care providers play in childhood development and society overall, child care workers make an average of just $11.42 an hour, or $23,760 annually. This low pay generally is not matched with benefits, either. About half of workers in non-child care occupations receive health insurance from their job, but only 15 percent of child care workers do, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). EPI also found that one in seven child care workers live in families with income below the official poverty line. Despite low wages and few benefits, 23 states with public pre-K programs require lead teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Research has shown that this kind of “credentialization” particularly harms workers of color, who are forced to take on more student debt to acquire the credentials employers demand as a barrier to entry.
The perception of child care as merely “babysitting” when it’s a crucial part of early childhood development and education is part of a general devaluation of care work. Child care is an example of what theorists call social reproduction work: the social processes that produce the conditions that allow work to happen in the first place. Tithi Bhattacharya, Purdue University professor and editor of Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class, Recentering Oppression, told journalist Sarah Jaffe that social reproduction is “life-making” activities: cleaning, cooking, child care and health care. Social reproduction work generally is dominated by women, often women of color; child care especially so. Ninety-three percent of jobs in child care are held by women, according to Labor Department data, and 45.3 percent are Black, Asian or Latinx. As with many essential workers, the pandemic laid bare how the long-underpaid child care workers form a backbone of our economy.
Congressional action has been terrifyingly insufficient. The CARES Act dedicated a mere $3.5 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant. This level of funding does not even cover a month’s worth of costs for existing providers: a joint report by the National Women’s Law Center and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) showed it would take $9.6 billion a month to maintain the sector during the pandemic. Even the Democrats’ Heroes Act, which passed the House in May but has stalled in the Senate, provides only $7 billion of the estimated $50 billion minimum needed to truly save the child care sector.
Congress’s failure to take meaningful, early action has already cost us. More than a third of all child care workers have lost their jobs since March — nearly 330,000 people, or one third of the entire sector. Ongoing inaction threatens to disrupt the livelihood of the remaining child care workers still employed, as well as the 11.8 million families who depend on weekly care with non-parental providers.
The CARES Act dedicated a mere $3.5 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant. This level of funding does not even cover a month’s worth of costs for existing providers.
In response, Democratic lawmakers, led by Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Bobby Scott as well as Sen. Patty Murray, have introduced the Child Care Is Essential Act, which would create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund that provides grants to providers who keep staff on payroll and adhere to health guidelines. This amount is the absolute minimum investment to save the sector, according to CLASP, and it will not be sufficient should the pandemic last more than five months. There is some inkling of bipartisan support, with two Republican senators, Joni Ernst and Kelly Loeffler, calling for additional funds in the next relief package, though they are asking for just $25 billion. In the meantime, as the Senate continues to stall on coronavirus legislation, Sen. Elizabeth Warren led a letter to the Treasury and Small Business Administration urging them to ensure child care centers are able to access the Paycheck Protection Program, as only a quarter have received loans to date.
Long undervalued child care providers are especially hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Congress’s meager provision for early childhood education providers is insufficient at best. Child care providers are vital to our economy and deserve a bailout that recognizes their significance. Failing to bail out the child care sector will stunt economic recovery, stunt the development of children denied access to enriching child care programs, and adversely affect the child care providers who made a career of educating our nation’s young children.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-07-10--Anthony Fauci Says He Hasn’t Briefed Trump on COVID In Months

Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , revealed this week that he has not briefed President Donald Trump on the spread of the disease in nearly two months .
Fauci made the revelation in an interview with The Financial Times , adding that he has not seen Trump in person at the White House since June 2 .
The statement from Fauci is alarming , given that he ’ s considered the nation ’ s top expert on infectious diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the United States .
In spite of not speaking directly with the president for quite some time , Fauci said he believes his warnings and opinions on the disease are reaching Trump .
Still , during the interview he also expressed misgivings about some of the president ’ s recent statements , particularly one in which he said that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are “ harmless.
” “ I ’ m trying to figure out where the president got that number , ” Fauci said .
“ What I think happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general mortality is about 1 percent .
And he interpreted , therefore , that 99 percent is not a problem , when that ’ s obviously not the case.
” Earlier this week in a different interview , Fauci described Trump ’ s focus on waning death numbers from coronavirus as a “ false narrative to take comfort in , ” adding , “ there ’ s so many other things that are very dangerous and bad about this virus.
” Indeed , even patients showing no signs of symptoms can have neurological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , studies have found .
Others have disputed Trump ’ s “ 99 percent ” comment , too .
Figures from Johns Hopkins University , for instance , suggest that the fatality rate from COVID-19 of about 4.3 percent , not 1 percent as the president has implied , though those numbers could change as more is learned about the disease .
The university estimates around 44,000 individuals around the country are currently hospitalized due to coronavirus .
As of 12 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday , there have been more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , with 133,420 having died from the disease .
For his own part , during an interview with Fox News ’ Sean Hannity on Thursday , Trump took direct aim at Fauci , suggesting that he has made “ a lot of mistakes ” during the crisis .
He specifically cited the initial call for Americans not to wear masks or facial coverings from Fauci and other experts in his complaints .
“ A lot of them said don ’ t wear a mask , don ’ t wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask .
A lot of mistakes were made , a lot of mistakes , ” Trump said on the program .
In mid-June , however , Fauci addressed that point , saying that decision was made by experts and the Trump administration in order to ensure healthcare workers had adequate access to supplies in the early weeks of the crisis .
“ We wanted to make sure that the people , namely the health care workers , who were brave enough to put themselves in a harm way , to take care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the coronavirus and the danger of them getting infected , ” had the masks , Fauci explained last month .
Trump himself did not acknowledge on Thursday any of the mistakes he has made during the pandemic ’ s spread in the U.S. , including his refusal to take seriously the disease in February and early March , oftentimes ignoring the advice of health experts that surrounded him in the White House at the time .

Fauci also disagreed with Trump’s recent claim that the virus is “harmless” to 99 percent of those infected.
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, revealed this week that he has not briefed President Donald Trump on the spread of the disease in nearly two months.
Fauci made the revelation in an interview with The Financial Times, adding that he has not seen Trump in person at the White House since June 2.
The statement from Fauci is alarming, given that he’s considered the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases and that coronavirus continues to rampantly spread across the United States.
In spite of not speaking directly with the president for quite some time, Fauci said he believes his warnings and opinions on the disease are reaching Trump. Still, during the interview he also expressed misgivings about some of the president’s recent statements, particularly one in which he said that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are “harmless.”
“I’m trying to figure out where the president got that number,” Fauci said. “What I think happened is that someone told him that the general mortality is about 1 percent. And he interpreted, therefore, that 99 percent is not a problem, when that’s obviously not the case.”
Earlier this week in a different interview, Fauci described Trump’s focus on waning death numbers from coronavirus as a “false narrative to take comfort in,” adding, “there’s so many other things that are very dangerous and bad about this virus.” Indeed, even patients showing no signs of symptoms can have neurological or respiratory damage as a result of the disease, studies have found.
Others have disputed Trump’s “99 percent” comment, too. Figures from Johns Hopkins University, for instance, suggest that the fatality rate from COVID-19 of about 4.3 percent, not 1 percent as the president has implied, though those numbers could change as more is learned about the disease. The university estimates around 44,000 individuals around the country are currently hospitalized due to coronavirus.
As of 12 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, there have been more than 3.1 million diagnosable cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., with 133,420 having died from the disease.
For his own part, during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday, Trump took direct aim at Fauci, suggesting that he has made “a lot of mistakes” during the crisis. He specifically cited the initial call for Americans not to wear masks or facial coverings from Fauci and other experts in his complaints.
“A lot of them said don’t wear a mask, don’t wear a mask. Now they are saying wear a mask. A lot of mistakes were made, a lot of mistakes,” Trump said on the program.
In mid-June, however, Fauci addressed that point, saying that decision was made by experts and the Trump administration in order to ensure healthcare workers had adequate access to supplies in the early weeks of the crisis.
“We wanted to make sure that the people, namely the health care workers, who were brave enough to put themselves in a harm way, to take care of people who you know were infected with the coronavirus and the danger of them getting infected,” had the masks, Fauci explained last month.
Trump himself did not acknowledge on Thursday any of the mistakes he has made during the pandemic’s spread in the U.S., including his refusal to take seriously the disease in February and early March, oftentimes ignoring the advice of health experts that surrounded him in the White House at the time.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-07-10--Epidemiologist Slams Brazil’s COVID Policy as Bolsonaro Tests Positive

As Brazil faces the world ’ s second-worst COVID-19 outbreak after the United States , Trump ally and far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive , after months of downplaying the severity of the pandemic .
Brazil has gone almost two months with no health minister .
“ Bad political leadership is a major risk factor for the spread of the pandemic , ” says leading Brazilian epidemiologist Cesar Victora , who coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s show in Brazil , where coronavirus cases are soaring .
More than 1.7 million people have tested positive .
Nearly 70,000 have died .
Brazil is the second-hardest-hit nation in the world after the United States .
On Tuesday , the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 , after months of downplaying the severity of the pandemic .
He recently developed a high fever and a cough , and said he ’ s taking hydroxychloroquine , even though it ’ s been proven ineffective against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMY GOODMAN : As President Bolsonaro announced he had tested positive , he took off his mask .
Some of the reporters who were present have now been put in quarantine , and the Brazilian Press Association has filed a criminal complaint to the Brazilian Supreme Court .
They allege Bolsonaro committed at least two crimes , by putting someone ’ s life or health at imminent risk and failing to prevent the spread of an infectious disease .
All of this comes as Brazil has gone 55 days with no health minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned within 30 days of each other for endorsing science .
The grandmother of Brazil ’ s first lady Michelle Bolsonaro is also suffering from COVID-19 .
She was recently transferred to an ICU unit and is reportedly intubated .
For more , we go to Brazil , where we ’ re joined by Cesar Victora , a Brazilian epidemiologist who led the first study to assess the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil .
He coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also has honorary appointments at Oxford , Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities .
Professor Victora , thanks so much for joining us .
Can you talk about your president testing positive as he has downplayed the pandemic , calling it a “ little flu , ” taking off his mask at his press briefing , exposing journalists , and then the bigger story of what ’ s happening in Brazil , directly connected , I believe , to his attitude ?
CESAR VICTORA : Good morning , Amy .
Thanks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real pleasure to be here today .
Bad political leadership is a major risk factor for the spread of the pandemic , not only in Brazil , but also in your own country .
Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied the importance of the pandemic .
As you just mentioned , he dismissed two health ministers who were against the use of hydroxychloroquine and were in favor of social distancing .
He has repeatedly joined crowds in front of his presidential palace , usually on Sunday mornings , where he hugs people and people take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been very few times he has worn a mask .
Even now as he gave the news that he was infected , then he took a couple steps back , and he removed his mask in front of a whole team of journalists , who — the Press Association now suing him .
So , the bad leadership means that the federal government is saying this is not — you know , this is a “ small flu , ” as Bolsonaro said early on , and nobody will — you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , it ’ s not severe , and that means that social distancing is not important .
He ’ s been in sharp contrast with many state governors and city mayors , who have been acting in a much more responsible way .
But the contradictory advice that the population is getting from a president who says , “ This is not a big problem , and you should not worry about it .
Let ’ s reopen the economy right away , ” and the good advice provided by medical associations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors and city mayors — so , it ’ s a very complicated situation .
AMY GOODMAN : I wanted to ask about his approach to those in rainforest area , Indigenous people throughout Brazil , as he vetoed legislation to help them , also talked about the possibility of sending the military in to bring them hydroxychloroquine .
Of course , this is the drug that President Trump touted , that turns out , in a number of studies , not only to be ineffective , but could possibly be deadly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , absolutely .
Let me tell you what ’ s happening to the rainforest now , because everybody ’ s concerned about the pandemic .
And so , deforestation is now at a record pace , because the first thing that Bolsonaro did , well before the pandemic , he and his minister of environment , who is a very controversial person , they have relaxed all the system that took account of deforestation , including the satellite photos and so on .
And he fired the top — one of the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that surveillance system , which would show record levels of deforestation .
At the same time , he has always — you know , since he was — he ’ s been for 28 years a member of parliament , in the House in Brazil .
And he was always saying Indigenous people should not be protected , they have to be brought into civilization , he would reduce the size of Indigenous reservations and so on .
And he ’ s actually — you know , you can ’ t blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would do .
You know , those people who voted for him knew who he was .
It was amazing that he actually got about 55 % of the vote in Brazil .
Many of those people have repented and now regretting having ever voted for him .
But I just wanted to give you a little bit of data on the Indigenous population .
We have completed now three rounds of surveys , each one in the largest 133 cities throughout the country .
Thirty-three thousand is our sample size in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Indigenous people .
They ’ re five times as likely to have antibodies against COVID , which means that they have been exposed to the virus , than whites .
So it ’ s a fivefold difference between Indigenous population and whites .
And the government is playing down these numbers , completely trying to avoid disseminating these results , because they think it will look bad for Brazil , which obviously it does , and also because they don ’ t really care about the Indigenous population .
AMY GOODMAN : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , as you know , famous — AMY GOODMAN : — world-famous Brazilian photojournalist , who charges Bolsonaro with genocide against the Indigenous people , with how he is dealing with the virus , particularly in relation to the Indigenous population .
CESAR VICTORA : Absolutely .
And this issue of , you know , his proposal of distributing chloroquine to the Indigenous population through the Army is complete nonsense .
It ’ s completely — you know , he has completely ignored the scientific community in Brazil , the Medical Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually is — you know , what may well happen — he is taking hydroxychloroquine for his COVID .
We know that COVID has a case fatality rate which is pretty low , so most people survive .
So , the next step , if he survives , which he ’ s very likely to do , is that he will take credit for it and say , “ That ’ s because I took hydroxychloroquine.
” I mean , he doesn ’ t respect clinical trials .
His argument is that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , why not take chloroquine ?
But , as you just said , Amy , it has very serious cardiovascular side effects that could actually kill the person , rather than being killed by COVID .
AMY GOODMAN : Dr. Cesar Victora , you led the first study that assessed the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil , and you said , in fact , there are several epidemics .
Explain .
CESAR VICTORA : Exactly .
You know , very unexpectedly , the first wave of the epidemic came through the Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected .
We thought it would be arriving in Rio , in São Paulo , in the touristy cities in the northeast where lots of Italians , for example , come in for holidays .
And actually , our hypothesis right now is that there ’ s a lot of — there are several Chinese industries in the city of Manaus , which is the largest city in the Amazon .
And Manaus is a tax-free industrial hub , where foreign companies can put on their own factories and sell to Brazil without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a strong exchange between Manaus , which is the first city in the Amazon where COVID was detected , as early as February .
And from Manaus , people travel in boats to the rest of the Amazon region .
These boats are always overcrowded .
And the boat trips take several hours , and even , for some cities , it takes two or three days by boat .
So , being in a crowded boat with someone who has COVID may well explain why the Amazon was hit so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Amazon is already going down .
In some cities , we tested 25 % of the population had antibodies , which is a very , very high level .
Now it ’ s going down in the northeast and moving — in the north and moving to the northeast , which is also a very poor area .
The north and northeast are the two poorest areas in the country .
We , here in the south , where I live , are relatively — we have relatively low prevalence , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last couple weeks .
So , it ’ s several epidemics .
And the striking thing is , it did start with the white , educated , rich people , who traveled abroad and who came from Italy , for example , or Spain .
But now it ’ s disseminating through the population .
And the poor Brazilians — the poorest 20 % of the population is twice more likely to have antibodies than the richest 20 % .
The Blacks are more likely to have antibodies than whites .
Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOODMAN : So , let ’ s talk about why this is , Dr. Victora , the extreme inequality in Brazil , both class and racial .
Brazil ’ s six richest men in the country hold the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the population .
Explain why there are these disparities .
CESAR VICTORA : Well , this is part of our historical pattern , our colonization , which is , the Portuguese , when they colonized Brazil , they usually came in , they gave large pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , seriously , millions of acres to people , to Portuguese people , to settle .
Most of the settlement of Brazil was done by people — unlike the United States , they were not moving to a new country to make that their homeland .
They were not escaping from conditions of poverty or religious persecution in Europe .
They were just people who came here to make money and go back .
So , the land structure in Brazil is very unfair , and it led to this issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rich people — and not only farmers , it ’ s industry and everything , but it led to this hugely segregated society .
Also , Brazil had the largest number of African slaves brought , relative to any other country in America — in the Americas .
So , the Black population , the African Brazilians , have always been kept in very poor conditions of living and so on .
And what explains their higher rate of COVID antibodies is that they usually live in favelas or in cramped situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , very hard to practice social isolation .
They live on — they earn their money to buy their food on a daily basis doing informal work , which means that they have to go out ; otherwise , they won ’ t have food to eat .
And so , it ’ s a combination of several conditions .
One more thing is that they often do not have proper water and sanitation facilities , and therefore things like washing hands is not trivial , because they have to bring water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And you have Bolsonaro , who said , when talking about masks — he said — he taunted staffers wearing face masks to protect against COVID by claiming they were , quote , “ for fairies.
” Here you have what many call “ the tropical Trump , ” very close to President Trump , actually visited with Trump in Mar-a-Lago , and already there , there were infections of his press secretary and questions of if — AMY GOODMAN : — you know , President Trump and his team had been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s effect and his same approach as your president , Bolsonaro , in basically downplaying this pandemic , President Trump saying 99 % of the COVID-19 cases are harmless ?
CESAR VICTORA : Yes .
Well , Trump appears to be Bolsonaro ’ s idol .
You know , whatever Trump does , such as leaving the WHO , which is a — it ’ s unbelievable .
I ’ ve worked with the WHO for 40 years in many places of the world , and I still can ’ t believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO .
But Bolsonaro is now saying he ’ s going to do the same thing .
So , Trump is in favor of hydroxychloroquine ; Bolsonaro is in favor .
Now , FDA doesn ’ t allow hydroxychloroquine in the U.S. , and Trump is giving huge stocks of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil .
And Bolsonaro says he ’ s very happy to receive those .
So , you know , it ’ s a really bad combination of leaders in the two largest countries in this region of the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ number two — President Trump proudly often talking about the United States as being number one — but number one and number two in COVID infections .
I want to thank you so much , Dr. Cesar Victora — AMY GOODMAN : — Brazilian epidemiologist , who led the first study to assess the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil , coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil , where he ’ s emeritus professor of epidemiology .
Next , the president is not above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court , including President Trump ’ s two appointees .
We ’ ll speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston .
Stay with us .

As Brazil faces the world’s second-worst COVID-19 outbreak after the United States, Trump ally and far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive, after months of downplaying the severity of the pandemic. Brazil has gone almost two months with no health minister. “Bad political leadership is a major risk factor for the spread of the pandemic,” says leading Brazilian epidemiologist Cesar Victora, who coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We begin today’s show in Brazil, where coronavirus cases are soaring. More than 1.7 million people have tested positive. Nearly 70,000 have died. Brazil is the second-hardest-hit nation in the world after the United States. On Tuesday, the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro announced he had tested positive for COVID-19, after months of downplaying the severity of the pandemic. He recently developed a high fever and a cough, and said he’s taking hydroxychloroquine, even though it’s been proven ineffective against COVID-19, in some cases deadly.
PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO: [translated] Here, I’m taking the third doses of hydroxychloroquine. I feel very well. There are other things that can help battle coronavirus, and we know none has been scientifically proven. But it’s working for me.
AMY GOODMAN: As President Bolsonaro announced he had tested positive, he took off his mask. Some of the reporters who were present have now been put in quarantine, and the Brazilian Press Association has filed a criminal complaint to the Brazilian Supreme Court. They allege Bolsonaro committed at least two crimes, by putting someone’s life or health at imminent risk and failing to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
All of this comes as Brazil has gone 55 days with no health minister. The last two were fired or resigned within 30 days of each other for endorsing science. The grandmother of Brazil’s first lady Michelle Bolsonaro is also suffering from COVID-19. She was recently transferred to an ICU unit and is reportedly intubated.
For more, we go to Brazil, where we’re joined by Cesar Victora, a Brazilian epidemiologist who led the first study to assess the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil. He coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, where he’s emeritus professor of epidemiology. He also has honorary appointments at Oxford, Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities.
Professor Victora, thanks so much for joining us. Can you talk about your president testing positive as he has downplayed the pandemic, calling it a “little flu,” taking off his mask at his press briefing, exposing journalists, and then the bigger story of what’s happening in Brazil, directly connected, I believe, to his attitude?
CESAR VICTORA: Good morning, Amy. Thanks for the invitation. It’s a real pleasure to be here today.
Bad political leadership is a major risk factor for the spread of the pandemic, not only in Brazil, but also in your own country. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied the importance of the pandemic. As you just mentioned, he dismissed two health ministers who were against the use of hydroxychloroquine and were in favor of social distancing. He has repeatedly joined crowds in front of his presidential palace, usually on Sunday mornings, where he hugs people and people take selfies with him. And there’s been very few times he has worn a mask. Even now as he gave the news that he was infected, then he took a couple steps back, and he removed his mask in front of a whole team of journalists, who — the Press Association now suing him.
So, the bad leadership means that the federal government is saying this is not — you know, this is a “small flu,” as Bolsonaro said early on, and nobody will — you know, it will only affect a few people, it’s not severe, and that means that social distancing is not important. He’s been in sharp contrast with many state governors and city mayors, who have been acting in a much more responsible way. But the contradictory advice that the population is getting from a president who says, “This is not a big problem, and you should not worry about it. Let’s reopen the economy right away,” and the good advice provided by medical associations, by scientists, by many state governors and city mayors — so, it’s a very complicated situation.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask about his approach to those in rainforest area, Indigenous people throughout Brazil, as he vetoed legislation to help them, also talked about the possibility of sending the military in to bring them hydroxychloroquine. Of course, this is the drug that President Trump touted, that turns out, in a number of studies, not only to be ineffective, but could possibly be deadly with coronary implications.
CESAR VICTORA: Oh, absolutely. Let me tell you what’s happening to the rainforest now, because everybody’s concerned about the pandemic. And so, deforestation is now at a record pace, because the first thing that Bolsonaro did, well before the pandemic, he and his minister of environment, who is a very controversial person, they have relaxed all the system that took account of deforestation, including the satellite photos and so on. And he fired the top — one of the top Brazilian scientists, who was in charge of that surveillance system, which would show record levels of deforestation.
At the same time, he has always — you know, since he was — he’s been for 28 years a member of parliament, in the House in Brazil. And he was always saying Indigenous people should not be protected, they have to be brought into civilization, he would reduce the size of Indigenous reservations and so on. And he’s actually — you know, you can’t blame him for doing what he said he would do. You know, those people who voted for him knew who he was. It was amazing that he actually got about 55% of the vote in Brazil. Many of those people have repented and now regretting having ever voted for him.
But I just wanted to give you a little bit of data on the Indigenous population. We have completed now three rounds of surveys, each one in the largest 133 cities throughout the country. Thirty-three thousand is our sample size in each round. The most hardly affected groups are Indigenous people. They’re five times as likely to have antibodies against COVID, which means that they have been exposed to the virus, than whites. So it’s a fivefold difference between Indigenous population and whites. And the government is playing down these numbers, completely trying to avoid disseminating these results, because they think it will look bad for Brazil, which obviously it does, and also because they don’t really care about the Indigenous population.
AMY GOODMAN: We interviewed Sebastião Salgado, the — well, as you know, famous —
CESAR VICTORA: Yes.
AMY GOODMAN: — world-famous Brazilian photojournalist, who charges Bolsonaro with genocide against the Indigenous people, with how he is dealing with the virus, particularly in relation to the Indigenous population.
CESAR VICTORA: Absolutely. And this issue of, you know, his proposal of distributing chloroquine to the Indigenous population through the Army is complete nonsense. It’s completely — you know, he has completely ignored the scientific community in Brazil, the Medical Association, the specialist groups.
And he actually is — you know, what may well happen — he is taking hydroxychloroquine for his COVID. We know that COVID has a case fatality rate which is pretty low, so most people survive. So, the next step, if he survives, which he’s very likely to do, is that he will take credit for it and say, “That’s because I took hydroxychloroquine.”
I mean, he doesn’t respect clinical trials. His argument is that, since there’s nothing else to do, why not take chloroquine? But, as you just said, Amy, it has very serious cardiovascular side effects that could actually kill the person, rather than being killed by COVID.
AMY GOODMAN: Dr. Cesar Victora, you led the first study that assessed the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil, and you said, in fact, there are several epidemics. Explain.
CESAR VICTORA: Exactly. You know, very unexpectedly, the first wave of the epidemic came through the Amazon River, which was not where we expected. We thought it would be arriving in Rio, in São Paulo, in the touristy cities in the northeast where lots of Italians, for example, come in for holidays.
And actually, our hypothesis right now is that there’s a lot of — there are several Chinese industries in the city of Manaus, which is the largest city in the Amazon. And Manaus is a tax-free industrial hub, where foreign companies can put on their own factories and sell to Brazil without paying importation tax. So, there’s a strong exchange between Manaus, which is the first city in the Amazon where COVID was detected, as early as February. And from Manaus, people travel in boats to the rest of the Amazon region. These boats are always overcrowded. And the boat trips take several hours, and even, for some cities, it takes two or three days by boat. So, being in a crowded boat with someone who has COVID may well explain why the Amazon was hit so hard.
Now, the epidemic in the Amazon is already going down. In some cities, we tested 25% of the population had antibodies, which is a very, very high level. Now it’s going down in the northeast and moving — in the north and moving to the northeast, which is also a very poor area. The north and northeast are the two poorest areas in the country. We, here in the south, where I live, are relatively — we have relatively low prevalence, but it’s also increasing rapidly in the last couple weeks. So, it’s several epidemics.
And the striking thing is, it did start with the white, educated, rich people, who traveled abroad and who came from Italy, for example, or Spain. But now it’s disseminating through the population. And the poor Brazilians — the poorest 20% of the population is twice more likely to have antibodies than the richest 20%. The Blacks are more likely to have antibodies than whites. Indigenous are particularly high-risk, too.
AMY GOODMAN: So, let’s talk about why this is, Dr. Victora, the extreme inequality in Brazil, both class and racial. Brazil’s six richest men in the country hold the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the population. Explain why there are these disparities.
CESAR VICTORA: Well, this is part of our historical pattern, our colonization, which is, the Portuguese, when they colonized Brazil, they usually came in, they gave large pieces of land — and I mean, you know, seriously, millions of acres to people, to Portuguese people, to settle. Most of the settlement of Brazil was done by people — unlike the United States, they were not moving to a new country to make that their homeland. They were not escaping from conditions of poverty or religious persecution in Europe. They were just people who came here to make money and go back. So, the land structure in Brazil is very unfair, and it led to this issue that we now have a small proportion of rich people — and not only farmers, it’s industry and everything, but it led to this hugely segregated society.
Also, Brazil had the largest number of African slaves brought, relative to any other country in America — in the Americas. So, the Black population, the African Brazilians, have always been kept in very poor conditions of living and so on. And what explains their higher rate of COVID antibodies is that they usually live in favelas or in cramped situations, lots of people in the same home, very hard to practice social isolation. They live on — they earn their money to buy their food on a daily basis doing informal work, which means that they have to go out; otherwise, they won’t have food to eat. And so, it’s a combination of several conditions. One more thing is that they often do not have proper water and sanitation facilities, and therefore things like washing hands is not trivial, because they have to bring water from other places.
AMY GOODMAN: And you have Bolsonaro, who said, when talking about masks — he said — he taunted staffers wearing face masks to protect against COVID by claiming they were, quote, “for fairies.” Here you have what many call “the tropical Trump,” very close to President Trump, actually visited with Trump in Mar-a-Lago, and already there, there were infections of his press secretary and questions of if —
CESAR VICTORA: Yes.
AMY GOODMAN: — you know, President Trump and his team had been infected. Can you talk about President Trump’s effect and his same approach as your president, Bolsonaro, in basically downplaying this pandemic, President Trump saying 99% of the COVID-19 cases are harmless?
CESAR VICTORA: Yes. Well, Trump appears to be Bolsonaro’s idol. You know, whatever Trump does, such as leaving the WHO, which is a — it’s unbelievable. I’ve worked with the WHO for 40 years in many places of the world, and I still can’t believe that Trump has actually pulled out of the WHO. But Bolsonaro is now saying he’s going to do the same thing. So, Trump is in favor of hydroxychloroquine; Bolsonaro is in favor. Now, FDA doesn’t allow hydroxychloroquine in the U.S., and Trump is giving huge stocks of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil. And Bolsonaro says he’s very happy to receive those. So, you know, it’s a really bad combination of leaders in the two largest countries in this region of the world.
AMY GOODMAN: And number one and number two — President Trump proudly often talking about the United States as being number one — but number one and number two in COVID infections. I want to thank you so much, Dr. Cesar Victora —
CESAR VICTORA: Thank you, Amy.
AMY GOODMAN: — Brazilian epidemiologist, who led the first study to assess the prevalence of coronavirus in Brazil, coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, where he’s emeritus professor of epidemiology.
Next, the president is not above the law. So says the Supreme Court, including President Trump’s two appointees. We’ll speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston. Stay with us.


truthout--2020-07-10--Charter Schools May Have Double-Dipped as Much as $1 Billion in PPP Loans

Charter schools across the country tapped the federal Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) for what could have been more than $ 1 billion , according to a preliminary analysis of Treasury Department data .
One network alone , the Knowledge Is Power Program ( KIPP ) , appears to have pulled somewhere between $ 28 million and $ 69 million in taxpayer dollars .
Another network of publicly-funded , privately-run schools , Achievement First , appears to have taken in between $ 7 million and $ 17 million in PPP loans .
The network also received $ 3.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos awarded to 10 charter management organizations in April , weeks after the PPP was passed , to “ fund the creation and expansion of more than 100 high-quality public charter schools in underserved communities across the country .
Citizens of the World Charter Schools in Los Angeles received $ 1.7 million of the DeVos grant , and also took between $ 2 million and $ 5 million in PPP money .
Mater Academy , Inc. , in Miami received $ 19.2 million of the grant , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , on April 13 , it took out more than $ 1 million in PPP money .
Treasury Department does not disclose specific dollar amounts , but breaks loans into maximum and minimum ranges .
Salon ’ s research did not make clear whether this analysis covered every charter school in the nation , but that seems unlikely .
Regardless , the minimum total is roughly $ 500 million , and t the maximum , the total would appear to exceed $ 1 billion .
Organizations don ’ t have to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retention criteria are met .
At least 15 charter schools that reported receiving more than $ 1 million in payroll protection from the government reported putting that money towards zero jobs .
At least seven of the schools left the field blank .
One school , Idaho Arts Charter School , Inc. , received between $ 1 million and $ 2 million in forgivable relief loans , and reported putting it towards one job .
Charter schools operate in a gray area : They ’ re publicly funded and are technically public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most are nonprofits , but some are backed by companies — and both of those categories are eligible for PPP loans .
Though charter schools are taxpayer-funded , they operate under independent boards , and largely beyond public oversight .
This raises questions of whether they behave more like public entities or private companies , and has made them the target of congressional Democrats , who cite widespread instances of fraud , corruption and other scandals .
Charters also make appeals under the aegis of “ school choice ” to students in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver on promise of higher quality education , others have not , and some of those that do have been accused of siphoning money from public districts that need it the most .
For these reasons , charter schools are seen by some as an existential threat to public education .
The pandemic crisis has underscored the conflict and confusion , as the two sides debate whether charters are trading on their dual status to double-dip into both public and private emergency funds .
When Congress passed the the Coronavirus Aid , Relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , it allocated $ 13.5 billion in grants to K-12 schools .
Most of that money was intended for public school districts , which share funds with charters .
However , some charters chose to tap into another part of the act , PPP funds , which were set aside to help small businesses and certain nonprofits keep employees on the payroll while they ride out the first few months of the pandemic .
Though public schools share funding with charter schools , traditional public schools were not similarly eligible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools , told CBS Los Angeles that charter schools often eat costs that public schools do not .
“ So most people have no idea , for example , that charter schools , which are all public schools , have to actually pay for their facilities , they have to pay rent or a mortgage for the buildings that they ’ re in , ” Veney said .
“ They have to pay for transportation and they have to take this out of their operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Texas Public Charter Schools Association , told Salon in an email that charter schools in the state have seen private fundraising drop while incurring unspecified “ significant ” costs due to the pandemic .
“ Almost every school leader that I have talked to has told me they are cutting expenses now to better prepare for the cuts they know they will face after the next legislative session , ” she said .
“ Facing the decision to cut staff positions now in anticipation of coming cuts , PPP loans allowed schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t needed while school buildings were closed this spring , like janitors , librarians , and other valued support staff.
” Public schools , which draw solely from taxpayer dollars , do not have that luxury .
In Texas , public schools get roughly one-third of their per-student money from the state ; charters get all those funds from the state .
“ To me , this almost amounts to a double dip .
Our charter schools fought tooth-and-nail to get equal funding from the state , ” said Colorado State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the board are getting cuts , we don ’ t put charter schools ahead of traditional public schools in Colorado , and we need to either take action as state lawmakers to even the playing field again or they need to have a tougher conversation with the federal government.
” Coleman told Salon she knew that a portion of schools belonging to her association have drawn at least $ 30 million in PPP funds , but she did not say how many schools she had heard from and had not heard from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying to kick up a storm over charters accessing this money and frankly , I find it laughable , ” Coleman said .
“ We got $ 30 million collectively in one-time funds while they get $ 36 BILLION every single year that we can ’ t access .
If there ’ s something should be reported on , it ’ s that .
Why on earth is it fair for the largely low-income children of color attending public charter schools to receive less school funding ?
” Groups such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives have called for moratoriums on charter school expansion , saying they are harming public schools that need the most support .
In June , DeVos issued a rule that required public schools to share federal coronavirus relief funds with private and religious schools .
The rule could increase funds available to private schools from $ 127 million to $ 1.5 billion .
While charter schools could and did draw from other parts of the CARES Act , however , public schools could not .

Alex Brady and Serena Tara contributed to this report.
Charter schools across the country tapped the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for what could have been more than $1 billion, according to a preliminary analysis of Treasury Department data.
One network alone, the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), appears to have pulled somewhere between $28 million and $69 million in taxpayer dollars.
Another network of publicly-funded, privately-run schools, Achievement First, appears to have taken in between $7 million and $17 million in PPP loans. The network also received $3.5 million from a special $65 million federal grant that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos awarded to 10 charter management organizations in April, weeks after the PPP was passed, to “fund the creation and expansion of more than 100 high-quality public charter schools in underserved communities across the country.
Citizens of the World Charter Schools in Los Angeles received $1.7 million of the DeVos grant, and also took between $2 million and $5 million in PPP money.
Mater Academy, Inc., in Miami received $19.2 million of the grant, the most of the field. Three days later, on April 13, it took out more than $1 million in PPP money.
(Another charter school grant program of DeVos’ devising allegedly blew a billion dollars on schools that never opened or shut down after receiving federal money.)
Treasury Department does not disclose specific dollar amounts, but breaks loans into maximum and minimum ranges. Salon’s research did not make clear whether this analysis covered every charter school in the nation, but that seems unlikely. Regardless, the minimum total is roughly $500 million, and t the maximum, the total would appear to exceed $1 billion.
Organizations don’t have to pay back their PPP loans if certain employee retention criteria are met. At least 15 charter schools that reported receiving more than $1 million in payroll protection from the government reported putting that money towards zero jobs. At least seven of the schools left the field blank.
One school, Idaho Arts Charter School, Inc., received between $1 million and $2 million in forgivable relief loans, and reported putting it towards one job.
Charter schools operate in a gray area: They’re publicly funded and are technically public schools, but are privately owned and managed. Most are nonprofits, but some are backed by companies — and both of those categories are eligible for PPP loans.
Though charter schools are taxpayer-funded, they operate under independent boards, and largely beyond public oversight. This raises questions of whether they behave more like public entities or private companies, and has made them the target of congressional Democrats, who cite widespread instances of fraud, corruption and other scandals.
Charters also make appeals under the aegis of “school choice” to students in underserved school districts. Though many charters deliver on promise of higher quality education, others have not, and some of those that do have been accused of siphoning money from public districts that need it the most.
For these reasons, charter schools are seen by some as an existential threat to public education.
The pandemic crisis has underscored the conflict and confusion, as the two sides debate whether charters are trading on their dual status to double-dip into both public and private emergency funds.
When Congress passed the the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, it allocated $13.5 billion in grants to K-12 schools. Most of that money was intended for public school districts, which share funds with charters.
However, some charters chose to tap into another part of the act, PPP funds, which were set aside to help small businesses and certain nonprofits keep employees on the payroll while they ride out the first few months of the pandemic.
Though public schools share funding with charter schools, traditional public schools were not similarly eligible for PPP money.
Debbie Veney, a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, told CBS Los Angeles that charter schools often eat costs that public schools do not.
“So most people have no idea, for example, that charter schools, which are all public schools, have to actually pay for their facilities, they have to pay rent or a mortgage for the buildings that they’re in,” Veney said. “They have to pay for transportation and they have to take this out of their operating costs.”
Starlee Coleman, CEO of the Texas Public Charter Schools Association, told Salon in an email that charter schools in the state have seen private fundraising drop while incurring unspecified “significant” costs due to the pandemic.
“Almost every school leader that I have talked to has told me they are cutting expenses now to better prepare for the cuts they know they will face after the next legislative session,” she said. “Facing the decision to cut staff positions now in anticipation of coming cuts, PPP loans allowed schools to keep staff on their payroll who weren’t needed while school buildings were closed this spring, like janitors, librarians, and other valued support staff.”
Public schools, which draw solely from taxpayer dollars, do not have that luxury. In Texas, public schools get roughly one-third of their per-student money from the state; charters get all those funds from the state.
“To me, this almost amounts to a double dip. Our charter schools fought tooth-and-nail to get equal funding from the state,” said Colorado State Rep. Jonathan Singer. “When schools across the board are getting cuts, we don’t put charter schools ahead of traditional public schools in Colorado, and we need to either take action as state lawmakers to even the playing field again or they need to have a tougher conversation with the federal government.”
Coleman told Salon she knew that a portion of schools belonging to her association have drawn at least $30 million in PPP funds, but she did not say how many schools she had heard from and had not heard from.
“I know anti-charter interest groups are trying to kick up a storm over charters accessing this money and frankly, I find it laughable,” Coleman said. “We got $30 million collectively in one-time funds while they get $36 BILLION every single year that we can’t access. If there’s something should be reported on, it’s that. Why on earth is it fair for the largely low-income children of color attending public charter schools to receive less school funding?”
Groups such as the national NAACP and the Movement for Black Lives have called for moratoriums on charter school expansion, saying they are harming public schools that need the most support.
In June, DeVos issued a rule that required public schools to share federal coronavirus relief funds with private and religious schools. The rule could increase funds available to private schools from $127 million to $1.5 billion.
While charter schools could and did draw from other parts of the CARES Act, however, public schools could not.


truthout--2020-07-10--80+ Lawmakers Demand Trump Rescind Plan to Force International Students Out

More than 80 members of Congress late Thursday demanded that the Trump administration immediately withdraw a “ cruel , senseless , and xenophobic ” directive that would strip international college students of their visas to study in the U.S. if their fall coursework is moved entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
Issued earlier this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement , the measure could affect hundreds of thousands of students whose universities have paused in-person classes to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Under the new rule , students currently out of the country would be denied visas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are offering only in-person classes and students already in the country would be required to leave or face deportation .
The directive was swiftly met with legal challenges from Harvard , the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , and the state of California .
In their letter ( pdf ) Thursday , House and Senate lawmakers raised concern that “ ICE ’ s guidance is motivated not by public health considerations , but rather by animus toward immigrants , by a goal of forcing schools to reopen even as Covid-19 cases are rising , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illusion of normalcy during this unprecedented public health emergency.
” The letter was signed by dozens of prominent members of Congress , including Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D-Wash. ) , Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass. )
.
The lawmakers condemned the Trump administration over what they described as an attempt to “ use noncitizens as political pawns in order to financially coerce colleges and universities to reopen campuses this fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health.
” “ ICE ’ s arbitrary new policy is irrational and xenophobic , and risks the health of students , faculty , and staff , ” the lawmakers wrote .
“ We urge you to rescind this proposed policy immediately and to collaborate productively with institutions of higher education to enable a smooth start to the academic year for all students.
” The letter came amid President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ’ aggressive push to resume in-person classes across the U.S. in the fall despite warnings from teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so without a concrete safety plan in place could endanger students and faculty .
“ If Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos have proven anything over the past four years , it ’ s that they do not care about students , ” Lily Eskelsen García , president of the National Education Association , said in a statement Tuesday .
“ They have zero credibility for how to best support students , and how to re-open classrooms safely .
”

The measure could affect hundreds of thousands of students whose universities have paused in-person classes.
More than 80 members of Congress late Thursday demanded that the Trump administration immediately withdraw a “cruel, senseless, and xenophobic” directive that would strip international college students of their visas to study in the U.S. if their fall coursework is moved entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Issued earlier this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the measure could affect hundreds of thousands of students whose universities have paused in-person classes to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Under the new rule, students currently out of the country would be denied visas to enter the U.S. if their universities are not offering only in-person classes[,] and students already in the country would be required to leave or face deportation.
The directive was swiftly met with legal challenges from Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the state of California.
In their letter (pdf) Thursday, House and Senate lawmakers raised concern that “ICE’s guidance is motivated not by public health considerations, but rather by animus toward immigrants, by a goal of forcing schools to reopen even as Covid-19 cases are rising, and by a desire to create an illusion of normalcy during this unprecedented public health emergency.”
The letter was signed by dozens of prominent members of Congress, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The lawmakers condemned the Trump administration over what they described as an attempt to “use noncitizens as political pawns in order to financially coerce colleges and universities to reopen campuses this fall, despite what is best for public health.”
“ICE’s arbitrary new policy is irrational and xenophobic, and risks the health of students, faculty, and staff,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to rescind this proposed policy immediately and to collaborate productively with institutions of higher education to enable a smooth start to the academic year for all students.”
More than 11,000 students in the Seattle-area alone could be impacted by the Trump administration’s newest xenophobic attack. We’re better off when these students contribute to our campuses, communities, and country. As someone who was on a student visa, I’m fighting back. pic.twitter.com/QfxWsqcNoH — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 9, 2020
The letter came amid President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ aggressive push to resume in-person classes across the U.S. in the fall despite warnings from teachers, parents, and public health experts that doing so without a concrete safety plan in place could endanger students and faculty.
“If Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos have proven anything over the past four years, it’s that they do not care about students,” Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association, said in a statement Tuesday. “They have zero credibility for how to best support students, and how to re-open classrooms safely.”
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