dailysignal--2020-04-15--Trump Pulls WHO Funding, Says Organization ‘Must Be Held Accountable’

President Donald Trump made it official Tuesday that the administration was halting money to the World Health Organization , the international body that said in January that COVID-19 could not be spread by human-to-human contact , and praised China ’ s response to the virus .
“ Our countries are now experiencing—look all over the world—tremendous death and economic devastation because those tasked with protecting us by being truthful and transparent failed to do so , ” Trump said .
“ It would have been so easy to be truthful .
And so much death has been caused by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the WHO to see if it can make meaningful reforms.
” Trump said funding will be stopped during a review of the organization .
“ American taxpayers provide between $ 400 million and $ 500 million per year to the WHO .
In contrast , China contributes roughly $ 40 million per year , and even less , ” Trump said .
“ As the organization ’ s leading sponsor , the United States has a duty to insist on full accountability.
” “ One of the most dangerous and costly decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to oppose travel restrictions from China and other nations , ” Trump continued , adding , “ The WHO ’ s attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above lifesaving measures.
” The United States contributes 14.7 % of the World Health Organization ’ s $ 38 billion budget , while China contributes only 0.21 % , according to WHO ’ s numbers .
According to WHO , contributions from the U.S. government , American citizens , and U.S.-based charities make up 76 % of all voluntary contributions to the organization .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2017 .
Congress authorized about $ 123 million in taxpayer funding for WHO in the last fiscal year , and Trump ’ s fiscal 2021 budget request proposed to reduce funding to about $ 58 million .
The announced review by the administration also comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has begun an investigation into the WHO .
“ The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain , vet , and share information in a timely and transparent fashion , ” Trump said from the Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The world depends on the WHO to work with countries to ensure that accurate information about international health threats is shared in a timely manner .
If it ’ s not , to independently tell the world the truth about what is happening.
” Trump also faulted the WHO for delays in declaring a public health emergency that he said “ cost valuable time , tremendous amounts of time.
” On Jan. 14 , WHO unquestioningly circulated China ’ s official talking points in a tweet , saying , “ Preliminary investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) identified in # Wuhan , # China.
” “ The WHO failed to investigate credible reports in Wuhan that conflicted directly with the Chinese government ’ s official accounts , ” Trump said .
“ There was credible information to suspect human-to-human transmission in December 2019 , which should have spurred the WHO to investigate immediately .
Through the middle of January , it parroted and publicly endorsed the idea that there was not human-to-human contact despite reports and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D. Schaefer , a fellow in international regulatory affairs at The Heritage Foundation , contends this may not be the best time to cut funding for the WHO , and worse yet , could make it more difficult to hold the organization accountable .
“ Instead of ending funding during the current crisis , the U.S. should condition future funding to specific actions by the World Health Organization , ” Schaefer wrote in an op-ed for The Daily Signal .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , director-general of the World Health Organization , said Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new standard for outbreak response.
” China backed Tedros in May 2017 when he ran for the top job at the World Health Organization .
During the press conference , Trump also announced the formation of Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups , which would involve bringing together leaders from different sectors of the economy and American life .
“ We have a list of people that I ’ ll be speaking to over the next very short period of time , in many cases , tomorrow , ” Trump said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heritage Foundation , is among those in the thought leaders group , which also includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and John Allison , former president and CEO of the Cato Institute .
Others involved include top executives from health care , retail , sports , tech , and agriculture , among other sectors .

President Donald Trump made it official Tuesday that the administration was halting money to the World Health Organization, the international body that said in January that COVID-19 could not be spread by human-to-human contact, and praised China’s response to the virus.
“Our countries are now experiencing—look all over the world—tremendous death and economic devastation because those tasked with protecting us by being truthful and transparent failed to do so,” Trump said. “It would have been so easy to be truthful. And so much death has been caused by their mistakes. We will continue to engage with the WHO to see if it can make meaningful reforms.”
Trump said funding will be stopped during a review of the organization.
“American taxpayers provide between $400 million and $500 million per year to the WHO. In contrast, China contributes roughly $40 million per year, and even less,” Trump said. “As the organization’s leading sponsor, the United States has a duty to insist on full accountability.”
“One of the most dangerous and costly decisions from the WHO was its disastrous decision to oppose travel restrictions from China and other nations,” Trump continued, adding, “The WHO’s attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above lifesaving measures.”
The United States contributes 14.7% of the World Health Organization’s $38 billion budget, while China contributes only 0.21%, according to WHO’s numbers.
According to WHO, contributions from the U.S. government, American citizens, and U.S.-based charities make up 76% of all voluntary contributions to the organization. That amounted to $945.6 million from 2016 to 2017.
Congress authorized about $123 million in taxpayer funding for WHO in the last fiscal year, and Trump’s fiscal 2021 budget request proposed to reduce funding to about $58 million.
The announced review by the administration also comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has begun an investigation into the WHO.
“The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent fashion,” Trump said from the Rose Garden during the daily press briefing. “The world depends on the WHO to work with countries to ensure that accurate information about international health threats is shared in a timely manner. If it’s not, to independently tell the world the truth about what is happening.”
Trump also faulted the WHO for delays in declaring a public health emergency that he said “cost valuable time, tremendous amounts of time.”
On Jan. 14, WHO unquestioningly circulated China’s official talking points in a tweet, saying, “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China.”
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China??. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020
“The WHO failed to investigate credible reports in Wuhan that conflicted directly with the Chinese government’s official accounts,” Trump said. “There was credible information to suspect human-to-human transmission in December 2019, which should have spurred the WHO to investigate immediately. Through the middle of January, it parroted and publicly endorsed the idea that there was not human-to-human contact despite reports and clear evidence to the contrary.”
Brett D. Schaefer, a fellow in international regulatory affairs at The Heritage Foundation, contends this may not be the best time to cut funding for the WHO, and worse yet, could make it more difficult to hold the organization accountable.
“Instead of ending funding during the current crisis, the U.S. should condition future funding to specific actions by the World Health Organization,” Schaefer wrote in an op-ed for The Daily Signal.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said Jan. 30 that “China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response.”
China backed Tedros in May 2017 when he ran for the top job at the World Health Organization.
President Trump announced @KayColesJames will be a part of the Great American Economic Revival—working to #reopenAmerica and begin economic recovery.
We look forward to sharing recommendations from the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission. pic.twitter.com/vrL0dGHf3u — Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) April 15, 2020
During the press conference, Trump also announced the formation of Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, which would involve bringing together leaders from different sectors of the economy and American life.
“We have a list of people that I’ll be speaking to over the next very short period of time, in many cases, tomorrow,” Trump said.
Kay C. James, president of The Heritage Foundation, is among those in the thought leaders group, which also includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and John Allison, former president and CEO of the Cato Institute. Others involved include top executives from health care, retail, sports, tech, and agriculture, among other sectors.


dailysignal--2020-04-14--Trump, Fauci Express Frustration With How Media Covers COVID-19 Response

President Donald Trump lashed out again Monday evening at the “ fake news , ” played a short video about media coverage of the coronavirus crisis , and affirmed his support for government immunologist Anthony Fauci ’ s key role in fighting the pandemic .
The president ’ s focus on the media at the beginning of the White House coronavirus task force ’ s daily briefing followed reports of a rift sparked by a comment from Fauci during an appearance Sunday on CNN .
Fauci , the longtime director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ You could logically say that if you had a process that was ongoing and you started mitigation earlier , you could have saved lives.
” CNN and other media outlets covered the remark as Fauci ’ s criticizing Trump ’ s handling of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Trump , later Sunday , retweeted a tweet in which an observer called for the firing of Fauci .
The White House almost immediately denied any plans to do so .
“ Hypothetical questions can sometimes get you into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have or could have [ happened ] , ” Fauci said shortly after the opening of Monday ’ s press briefing .
( His remarks begin at 47:48 in the video above . )
“ I ’ ve been up here many times telling you mitigation works and [ if ] you initiate it earlier , you will probably have saved more lives , ” he said , referring to such guidance from the government as washing hands and social distancing .
“ If you initiate it later , you probably would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump all along has listened to advice both from him and from Dr. Deborah Birx , response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force .
He said : The first and only time that Dr. Birx and I went in and formally made a recommendation to the president to actually have a ‘ shutdown , ’ not really a shutdown , but to have strong mitigation … the president listened to the recommendation and went to the mitigation .
The next , second time , I went with Dr. Birx into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not enough , we need to go 30 days , ’ obviously there were people who had a problem with that because of the potential secondary effects .
Nonetheless , at that time , the president went with the health recommendations and we extended it another 30 days .
The mild-mannered Fauci seemed to grimace with disgust when a reporter asked , “ Are you doing this voluntarily ?
” Fauci responded : “ Everything I do is voluntarily .
Please , don ’ t even imply that.
” Trump stressed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is not a political appointee , in his role on the task force .
“ I like him .
Today I walk in and I hear I ’ m going to fire him .
I ’ m not going to fire him .
I think he ’ s a wonderful person , ” Trump said .
Asked about his retweet , Trump replied : “ I retweeted somebody , I don ’ t know .
They said fire him.
” Asked if he noticed that sentiment was in the tweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything.
” “ Not everybody is happy with Anthony , ” Trump said .
“ Not everybody is happy with everybody .
But , I will tell you , we have done a job the likes of which nobody has ever done.
” Trump then showed a video on the screens of the briefing room promoting the administration ’ s response to the spread of the coronavirus .
Running under five minutes , it included media figures and Democrats early on scoffing at the notion that the virus would become harmful to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 58:30 in the video above . )
It also included prominent Democrats such as New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and California Gov .
Gavin Newsom saying that Trump was responsive to the needs of their states .
“ I think I ’ ve educated a lot of people as to the press , ” Trump said later .
“ I would love to be able to say we ’ ve got a very honest press.
” When a reporter said the video was something like a campaign ad and asked who put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That was done by a group in the office.
” “ We just put some clips together , ” the president said .
“ I bet you I have 100 more clips that are even better than that .
They were just pieced together over the last two hours .
We have far better than that .
… We ’ re getting fake news , and we wanted to have it corrected.
” Trump ripped into The New York Times in particular for a news story last week that was critical of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you had libel laws , they would have been out of business even before they will end up going out of business.
” On other fronts , one reporter challenged Trump ’ s authority to decide when and how to reopen the national economy .
“ I have the ultimate authority , ” he replied , and later said , as similar questions continued , that the White House would make the case in writing .
Another reporter asked Trump why there have been “ no consequences ” for China for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 began in the Chinese city of Wuhan , but Chinese officials did not inform its own population or the rest of the world about the severity of the spread .
Trump snapped at the reporter : “ How do you know there are no consequences ?
You would be the last person I would tell .
”

President Donald Trump lashed out again Monday evening at the “fake news,” played a short video about media coverage of the coronavirus crisis, and affirmed his support for government immunologist Anthony Fauci’s key role in fighting the pandemic.
The president’s focus on the media at the beginning of the White House coronavirus task force’s daily briefing followed reports of a rift sparked by a comment from Fauci during an appearance Sunday on CNN.
Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responded at one point during the interview: “You could logically say that if you had a process that was ongoing and you started mitigation earlier, you could have saved lives.”
CNN and other media outlets covered the remark as Fauci’s criticizing Trump’s handling of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Trump, later Sunday, retweeted a tweet in which an observer called for the firing of Fauci. The White House almost immediately denied any plans to do so.
“Hypothetical questions can sometimes get you into some difficulty, since it is what would have or could have [happened],” Fauci said shortly after the opening of Monday’s press briefing. (His remarks begin at 47:48 in the video above.)
“I’ve been up here many times telling you mitigation works and [if] you initiate it earlier, you will probably have saved more lives,” he said, referring to such guidance from the government as washing hands and social distancing. “If you initiate it later, you probably would have lost more lives.”
Fauci stressed that Trump all along has listened to advice both from him and from Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force. He said:
The first and only time that Dr. Birx and I went in and formally made a recommendation to the president to actually have a ‘shutdown,’ not really a shutdown, but to have strong mitigation … the president listened to the recommendation and went to the mitigation. The next, second time, I went with Dr. Birx into the president and said ‘Fifteen days are not enough, we need to go 30 days,’ obviously there were people who had a problem with that because of the potential secondary effects. Nonetheless, at that time, the president went with the health recommendations and we extended it another 30 days.
The mild-mannered Fauci seemed to grimace with disgust when a reporter asked, “Are you doing this voluntarily?”
Fauci responded: “Everything I do is voluntarily. Please, don’t even imply that.”
Trump stressed that he had no intent to terminate Fauci, who is not a political appointee, in his role on the task force.
“I like him. Today I walk in and I hear I’m going to fire him. I’m not going to fire him. I think he’s a wonderful person,” Trump said.
Asked about his retweet, Trump replied: “I retweeted somebody, I don’t know. They said fire him.”
Asked if he noticed that sentiment was in the tweet, the president answered, “I notice everything.”
“Not everybody is happy with Anthony,” Trump said. “Not everybody is happy with everybody. But, I will tell you, we have done a job the likes of which nobody has ever done.”
Trump then showed a video on the screens of the briefing room promoting the administration’s response to the spread of the coronavirus. Running under five minutes, it included media figures and Democrats early on scoffing at the notion that the virus would become harmful to the nation. (The clips begin at 58:30 in the video above.)
It also included prominent Democrats such as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying that Trump was responsive to the needs of their states.
“I think I’ve educated a lot of people as to the press,” Trump said later. “I would love to be able to say we’ve got a very honest press.”
When a reporter said the video was something like a campaign ad and asked who put it together, Trump responded: “That was done by a group in the office.”
“We just put some clips together,” the president said. “I bet you I have 100 more clips that are even better than that. They were just pieced together over the last two hours. We have far better than that. … We’re getting fake news, and we wanted to have it corrected.”
Trump ripped into The New York Times in particular for a news story last week that was critical of the administration’s response, saying, “If you had libel laws, they would have been out of business even before they will end up going out of business.”
On other fronts, one reporter challenged Trump’s authority to decide when and how to reopen the national economy.
“I have the ultimate authority,” he replied, and later said, as similar questions continued, that the White House would make the case in writing.
Another reporter asked Trump why there have been “no consequences” for China for its disinformation campaign about the coronavirus. COVID-19 began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, but Chinese officials did not inform its own population or the rest of the world about the severity of the spread.
Trump snapped at the reporter: “How do you know there are no consequences? You would be the last person I would tell.”


dailysignal--2020-04-13--Lawmakers Need to Reform Postal Service, Not Provide Massive Bailout

Democrats and U.S .
Postal Service officials are seeking a $ 75 billion bailout from taxpayers .
While they seek to blame the COVID-19 pandemic , the facts are plain .
Unsustainable wage and benefit costs , along with unaffordable and inefficient service requirements in light of reduced demand—not the new coronavirus—are the real reasons for the Postal Service ’ s financial troubles .
In recent weeks , the Postal Service has seen a reduction in first-class mail revenue and an increase in operational costs .
While it ’ s too soon to tell the full extent of the damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely pale in comparison to the operational losses the Postal Service has racked up over many years .
In fiscal 2019 , a time when the overall economy was still thriving , the Postal Service lost a whopping $ 8.8 billion .
It has suffered an operating deficit for 13 years in a row .
All of this predates the new coronavirus .
During debate over the $ 2.3 trillion CARES Act , House Democrats sought $ 25 billion in subsidies , $ 11 billion in loan forgiveness , and a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The final CARES Act legislation provided USPS with a $ 10 billion loan while the calls for a much larger handout have continued unabated .
The financial vulnerability of the Postal Service is not a new development .
The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has cited Postal Service finances as a worsening “ high-risk ” concern since 2009 .
This GAO assessment was based on basic math and obvious trends : First-class mail volume declined due to the proliferation of electronic communications , while USPS labor costs continue to escalate .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee compensation .
That includes salaries for mail deliverers , sorters , and post office clerks , along with health and pension benefits for retirees .
The importance of that final component can not be overstated .
A Treasury Department report from December 2018 showed that the Postal Service faces more than $ 120 billion in unfunded liabilities for retiree benefits .
The Postal Service is required by law to fund the expected future cost of retiree pension and health benefits to prevent a future taxpayer bailout .
The House voted to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grounds that it would improve immediate Postal Service finances .
That would only mask the organization ’ s liabilities and increase the financial risk for taxpayers .
President Donald Trump ’ s most recent budget includes a Postal Service reform plan that would save $ 91 billion over the next decade .
Many aspects of the president ’ s postal reform are similar to other proposals , such as a Heritage Foundation plan from 2013 .
While part of the solution involves finding ways to potentially increase Postal Service revenue , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cost efficiencies for the Postal Service could include streamlining the number of post office locations to better fit in-person demand , changing delivery schedules to be in line with a lower volume of mail , and responsibly adjusting compensation levels .
Congress has failed to act on these long-standing ideas , largely due to political disincentives .
After all , many legislators use post office naming rights as a way to curry favor with constituents , passing dozens of laws every year to that effect .
Perhaps most importantly , the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of workers ) is vocal in support of continuing the broken status quo .
Too many members of Congress place the demands of well-organized unions above consideration of what ’ s fair to taxpaying constituents .
Make no mistake , however : The Postal Service is in trouble .
The solution is not handing it the equivalent of a blank check to enable larger and larger losses of public money .
That would merely put a Band-Aid on a gushing wound .
Rather than capitulating to opportunistic demands and catastrophic rhetoric , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift unsustainable mandates on the Postal Service and ensure that taxpayers are protected from unfunded liabilities .
Congress has ignored the systemic problems hamstringing the Postal Service for too long .
Lawmakers should not put taxpayers on the hook for tens of billions of dollars in bailouts to put off politically inconvenient reforms .
USPS needs real , structural reforms—even after the COVID-19 crisis abates .

Democrats and U.S. Postal Service officials are seeking a $75 billion bailout from taxpayers.
While they seek to blame the COVID-19 pandemic, the facts are plain. Unsustainable wage and benefit costs, along with unaffordable and inefficient service requirements in light of reduced demand—not the new coronavirus—are the real reasons for the Postal Service’s financial troubles.
In recent weeks, the Postal Service has seen a reduction in first-class mail revenue and an increase in operational costs. While it’s too soon to tell the full extent of the damage, any coronavirus-related net losses this year will likely pale in comparison to the operational losses the Postal Service has racked up over many years.
In fiscal 2019, a time when the overall economy was still thriving, the Postal Service lost a whopping $8.8 billion. It has suffered an operating deficit for 13 years in a row.
All of this predates the new coronavirus.
During debate over the $2.3 trillion CARES Act, House Democrats sought $25 billion in subsidies, $11 billion in loan forgiveness, and a $15 billion loan for the Postal Service. The final CARES Act legislation provided USPS with a $10 billion loan while the calls for a much larger handout have continued unabated.
The financial vulnerability of the Postal Service is not a new development. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has cited Postal Service finances as a worsening “high-risk” concern since 2009.
This GAO assessment was based on basic math and obvious trends: First-class mail volume declined due to the proliferation of electronic communications, while USPS labor costs continue to escalate.
More than three-quarters of Postal Service expenses are for employee compensation. That includes salaries for mail deliverers, sorters, and post office clerks, along with health and pension benefits for retirees.
The importance of that final component cannot be overstated. A Treasury Department report from December 2018 showed that the Postal Service faces more than $120 billion in unfunded liabilities for retiree benefits.
The Postal Service is required by law to fund the expected future cost of retiree pension and health benefits to prevent a future taxpayer bailout. The House voted to remove the prepayment requirement in February, on the grounds that it would improve immediate Postal Service finances. That would only mask the organization’s liabilities and increase the financial risk for taxpayers.
President Donald Trump’s most recent budget includes a Postal Service reform plan that would save $91 billion over the next decade. Many aspects of the president’s postal reform are similar to other proposals, such as a Heritage Foundation plan from 2013.
While part of the solution involves finding ways to potentially increase Postal Service revenue, the most important thing is to reduce costs.
Cost efficiencies for the Postal Service could include streamlining the number of post office locations to better fit in-person demand, changing delivery schedules to be in line with a lower volume of mail, and responsibly adjusting compensation levels.
Congress has failed to act on these long-standing ideas, largely due to political disincentives. After all, many legislators use post office naming rights as a way to curry favor with constituents, passing dozens of laws every year to that effect.
Perhaps most importantly, the American Postal Workers Union (representing hundreds of thousands of workers) is vocal in support of continuing the broken status quo. Too many members of Congress place the demands of well-organized unions above consideration of what’s fair to taxpaying constituents.
Make no mistake, however: The Postal Service is in trouble. The solution is not handing it the equivalent of a blank check to enable larger and larger losses of public money. That would merely put a Band-Aid on a gushing wound.
Rather than capitulating to opportunistic demands and catastrophic rhetoric, Congress should work on a plan to lift unsustainable mandates on the Postal Service and ensure that taxpayers are protected from unfunded liabilities.
Congress has ignored the systemic problems hamstringing the Postal Service for too long.
Lawmakers should not put taxpayers on the hook for tens of billions of dollars in bailouts to put off politically inconvenient reforms. USPS needs real, structural reforms—even after the COVID-19 crisis abates.


dailysignal--2020-04-13--Trump Derangement Syndrome Becomes a Threat to Public Health

Trump derangement syndrome—a well-documented illness that predominantly afflicts coastal elites and congressional Democrats—has turned into a political pandemic .
It is the reflexive refusal to agree with any position that President Donald Trump takes , regardless of merit .
In a time of national emergency , this contagion is particularly dangerous .
Take hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine , two drugs that doctors historically have used to treat or prevent malaria .
When the president suggested that hydroxychloroquine could be helpful in treating COVID-19 , sufferers from TDS immediately set out to prove him wrong .
CNN published an “ analysis ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in dark times , ” and The Washington Post proclaimed : “ Trump is giving people false hope of coronavirus cures .
It ’ s all snake oil.
” But several medical studies have suggested that these drugs have promise .
Dr. William Schaffner , a Vanderbilt University expert on infectious diseases , cited an independent study from Chinese doctors that discovered a group of moderately ill COVID-19 patients improved when given hydroxychloroquine .
The patients who received the drug saw their coughing and fever ease a day or so earlier than did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t receive the drug .
Another study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents found that a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin could be especially effective in treating COVID-19 .
None of this is conclusive , of course .
Trump has acknowledged that although hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine may not “ go as planned , ” the drugs have tremendous promise if they end up being safe and effective to treat COVID-19 .
Most neutral observers would conclude that the president ’ s invocation of those drugs is a way of demonstrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with drugs to treat COVID-19 .
But TDS sufferers , obsessed with finding ill intent in every one of the president ’ s actions , chose to pick nits instead of check facts .
A key talking point , repeated endlessly on cable news , is that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are not “ FDA-approved ” for treating COVID-19 .
However , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did issue an emergency use authorization for the drugs March 28 , again demonstrating the potential upside of the drugs .
Formal FDA approval takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of Americans afflicted with COVID-19 don ’ t have years to wait .
In the meantime , it is perfectly legal and appropriate for doctors to prescribe the drugs “ off-label ” for COVID-19 .
Contrary to the TDS narrative , off-label uses often are the standard of care and vital to patients .
For example , doctors routinely use off-label drugs to treat cancer .
Unfortunately , there ’ s no cure , off-label or otherwise , for Trump derangement syndrome .
The elite media and liberals also profess alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on scarce hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine supplies .
But this isn ’ t a product that you can buy off the shelf at your local pharmacy .
This is a prescription drug , and you can ’ t get it unless a doctor , in his or her medical judgment , decides you need it .
The president has done nothing to force doctors to prescribe the drug against their own better judgment .
Nor did he force Italy and France to give the green light for doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine .
He didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors to begin prescribing the drug .
It ’ s clear , though , that these countries see the same potential benefits of hydroxychloroquine that our president does .
The president and his coronavirus task force have worked around the clock to monitor and prevent the spread of the virus .
In January , he proactively enacted travel restrictions on flights from China .
In March , he implemented further travel restrictions on parts of Europe .
Trump signed the CARES Act into law , providing sweeping relief to workers and small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up states , territories , and tribes to access billions in existing funding ; signed legislation securing $ 8.3 billion for an initial coronavirus response ; created a task force ; and instructed the FDA to cut red tape that was preventing the rollout of tests .
Despite facing vicious attacks from sufferers of Trump derangement syndrome , the president has done everything he can to protect our country during this once-in-a-century global pandemic .
He is going to keep projecting strength and hope during this crisis .
Too bad there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are left only with their blind hatred of the president .

Trump derangement syndrome—a well-documented illness that predominantly afflicts coastal elites and congressional Democrats—has turned into a political pandemic.
It is the reflexive refusal to agree with any position that President Donald Trump takes, regardless of merit. In a time of national emergency, this contagion is particularly dangerous.
Take hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, two drugs that doctors historically have used to treat or prevent malaria. When the president suggested that hydroxychloroquine could be helpful in treating COVID-19, sufferers from TDS immediately set out to prove him wrong.
CNN published an “analysis” titled: “Trump peddles unsubstantiated hope in dark times,” and The Washington Post proclaimed: “Trump is giving people false hope of coronavirus cures. It’s all snake oil.”
But several medical studies have suggested that these drugs have promise.
Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University expert on infectious diseases, cited an independent study from Chinese doctors that discovered a group of moderately ill COVID-19 patients improved when given hydroxychloroquine. The patients who received the drug saw their coughing and fever ease a day or so earlier than did patients in the control group who didn’t receive the drug.
Another study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents found that a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin could be especially effective in treating COVID-19.
None of this is conclusive, of course. Trump has acknowledged that although hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine may not “go as planned,” the drugs have tremendous promise if they end up being safe and effective to treat COVID-19.
Most neutral observers would conclude that the president’s invocation of those drugs is a way of demonstrating hope that our medical community will come up with drugs to treat COVID-19.
But TDS sufferers, obsessed with finding ill intent in every one of the president’s actions, chose to pick nits instead of check facts.
A key talking point, repeated endlessly on cable news, is that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are not “FDA-approved” for treating COVID-19. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did issue an emergency use authorization for the drugs March 28, again demonstrating the potential upside of the drugs.
Formal FDA approval takes years to obtain, but the hundreds of thousands of Americans afflicted with COVID-19 don’t have years to wait. In the meantime, it is perfectly legal and appropriate for doctors to prescribe the drugs “off-label” for COVID-19.
Contrary to the TDS narrative, off-label uses often are the standard of care and vital to patients. For example, doctors routinely use off-label drugs to treat cancer. Unfortunately, there’s no cure, off-label or otherwise, for Trump derangement syndrome.
The elite media and liberals also profess alarm that the president is encouraging a run on scarce hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine supplies.
But this isn’t a product that you can buy off the shelf at your local pharmacy. This is a prescription drug, and you can’t get it unless a doctor, in his or her medical judgment, decides you need it.
The president has done nothing to force doctors to prescribe the drug against their own better judgment. Nor did he force Italy and France to give the green light for doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine. He didn’t require South Korean and Indian doctors to begin prescribing the drug.
It’s clear, though, that these countries see the same potential benefits of hydroxychloroquine that our president does.
Let’s talk about the facts.
The president and his coronavirus task force have worked around the clock to monitor and prevent the spread of the virus. In January, he proactively enacted travel restrictions on flights from China. In March, he implemented further travel restrictions on parts of Europe.
Trump signed the CARES Act into law, providing sweeping relief to workers and small businesses; declared a national emergency, freeing up states, territories, and tribes to access billions in existing funding; signed legislation securing $8.3 billion for an initial coronavirus response; created a task force; and instructed the FDA to cut red tape that was preventing the rollout of tests.
Despite facing vicious attacks from sufferers of Trump derangement syndrome, the president has done everything he can to protect our country during this once-in-a-century global pandemic. He is going to keep projecting strength and hope during this crisis.
Too bad there’s no hope for the TDS folks, who are left only with their blind hatred of the president.


dailysignal--2020-04-08--Pompeo: US Brings Home 50,000 From 90 Countries

In the midst of Holy Week , which is also supposed to be the point of peak coronavirus deaths , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was able to deliver some welcome news .
“ Since Jan. 29 , we have now repatriated over 50,000 United States citizens back to their homes from more than 90 countries , more than 490 flights back to the United States from all across the world , ” Pompeo said Wednesday during the White House press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ This worldwide scale of our repatriation efforts is without parallel in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or business became stranded after the coronavirus outbreak when many countries shut down the flights , rail lines , and busses needed to leave the country or even a specific part of the country .
“ We are coordinating with foreign governments , militaries , airport authorities , medical units , transportation companies , hotels , you name it—we are working with them to make sure the American people get back to be with their families , ” Pompeo added .
In response to a question , he later said , “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can travel on their own again.
” This week Christians are celebrating Holy Thursday , Good Friday , and Easter , and Jews are marking Passover .
“ Earlier today , I spoke with 10,000 of America ’ s faith leaders to thank them for raising the spirits of our people during these very difficult days , ” Trump said .
“ While we may be physically apart , we can use this time to pray , to reflect , and to focus on our personal relationship with God.
” Pompeo was asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said Tuesday he would consider holding funding for .
“ At this point we are reevaluating our funding with respect to the World Health Organization , ” Pompeo said .
“ This is very consistent with what President Trump said since the beginning of his campaign .
Organizations have to work .
They have to deliver .
They have to deliver the outcomes for which they were intended.
” The United States is the largest funder of the WHO , contributing about 15 % of the organization ’ s $ 38 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % .
However , the WHO unquestioningly parroted China ’ s propaganda in the early days of the coronavirus spread , downplaying the threat of the spread .
“ We have to make sure that not only the World Health Organization but every international organization that we take taxpayer money and give it to them for the benefit of America , they need to make sure it ’ s delivering on those taxpayer dollars , ” Pompeo said .
“ The World Health Organization is no different in that respect , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execute on the mission that they were designed to achieve .
And , we ’ ve seen with respect to the World Health Organization , … it hasn ’ t accomplished what it was intended to deliver .
”

In the midst of Holy Week, which is also supposed to be the point of peak coronavirus deaths, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was able to deliver some welcome news.
“Since Jan. 29, we have now repatriated over 50,000 United States citizens back to their homes from more than 90 countries, more than 490 flights back to the United States from all across the world,” Pompeo said Wednesday during the White House press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic. “This worldwide scale of our repatriation efforts is without parallel in our lifetime.”
Americans traveling abroad for vacation or business became stranded after the coronavirus outbreak when many countries shut down the flights, rail lines, and busses needed to leave the country or even a specific part of the country.
“We are coordinating with foreign governments, militaries, airport authorities, medical units, transportation companies, hotels, you name it—we are working with them to make sure the American people get back to be with their families,” Pompeo added. In response to a question, he later said, “We are going to be done when people can travel on their own again.”
This week Christians are celebrating Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, and Jews are marking Passover.
“Earlier today, I spoke with 10,000 of America’s faith leaders to thank them for raising the spirits of our people during these very difficult days,” Trump said. “While we may be physically apart, we can use this time to pray, to reflect, and to focus on our personal relationship with God.”
Pompeo was asked about the World Health Organization, which Trump said Tuesday he would consider holding funding for.
“At this point we are reevaluating our funding with respect to the World Health Organization,” Pompeo said. “This is very consistent with what President Trump said since the beginning of his campaign. Organizations have to work. They have to deliver. They have to deliver the outcomes for which they were intended.”
The United States is the largest funder of the WHO, contributing about 15% of the organization’s $38 billion budget, while China contributes less than 1%. However, the WHO unquestioningly parroted China’s propaganda in the early days of the coronavirus spread, downplaying the threat of the spread.
“We have to make sure that not only the World Health Organization but every international organization that we take taxpayer money and give it to them for the benefit of America, they need to make sure it’s delivering on those taxpayer dollars,” Pompeo said.
“The World Health Organization is no different in that respect,” he added. “They have to execute on the mission that they were designed to achieve. And, we’ve seen with respect to the World Health Organization, … it hasn’t accomplished what it was intended to deliver.”


dailysignal--2020-04-08--How Reporter From Pro-Beijing Outlet Got Access to White House Coronavirus Press Briefing

A reporter from a Hong Kong outlet aligned with the Communist Party of China is a member of the White House Foreign Press Group and has rotating access to White House press briefings .
That is how the Phoenix TV reporter was able to push pro-Beijing talking points , touting Chinese aid to other countries , during the White House coronavirus task force ’ s press briefing on Monday .
Her question prompted President Donald Trump to question if she was working for China .
China Wise International Limited , a subsidiary of a Chinese government-run bank , owns a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Phoenix TV ’ s 2018 interim report .
The Hoover Institution , a public policy think tank at Stanford University , describes Phoenix TV as a “ quasi-official ” news outlet with links to China ’ s Ministry of State Security .
Richard Latendresse , a Canadian journalist who serves as the White House Foreign Press Group ’ s secretary , told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an email that the Phoenix TV reporter is a member of the organization with rotating access to the foreign press ’ seat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter in question is a member of the White House Correspondents ’ Association .
As a result , she became a member of the White House Foreign Press Group because she not only is a member of the [ White House Correspondents ’ Association ] , but also has a ‘ hard pass ’ to be in the White House Briefing Room that was granted to her by the current administration , ” Latendresse said .
“ This reporter is therefore part of our regular rotation of members who have access to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , ” he added .
“ There are usually about two dozen of our members who have access to that one seat .
During this time of social distancing , only nine are opting to physically attend the briefings.
” The White House declined to comment on whether it would revoke the Phoenix TV reporter ’ s hard press pass .
The Trump administration has previously been sued for revoking White House press passes .
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday said it ’ s “ disgraceful and reckless ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings amid China ’ s propaganda campaign meant to absolve itself of responsibility for the virus ’ outbreak .
The Hong Kong-based outlet is owned by a former Chinese military officer with close ties to Beijing officials , pro-democracy think tank Freedom House said in a 2017 report .
“ Phoenix TV ’ s coverage is typically favorable to the CCP [ Chinese Communist Party ] , ” the report said .
“ Moreover , over the past two years , it has been used as an outlet for airing televised confessions by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics , most notably all five Hong Kong booksellers abducted by Chinese security forces in late 2015.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities for this original content , email [ email protected ] .

A reporter from a Hong Kong outlet aligned with the Communist Party of China is a member of the White House Foreign Press Group and has rotating access to White House press briefings.
That is how the Phoenix TV reporter was able to push pro-Beijing talking points, touting Chinese aid to other countries, during the White House coronavirus task force’s press briefing on Monday. Her question prompted President Donald Trump to question if she was working for China.
President Trump asks a reporter "who are you working for, China?"
She says that her company is private and based in Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/jDNcAlO4Y4 — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 6, 2020
China Wise International Limited, a subsidiary of a Chinese government-run bank, owns a minority stake in the media company, according to Phoenix TV’s 2018 interim report.
The Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank at Stanford University, describes Phoenix TV as a “quasi-official” news outlet with links to China’s Ministry of State Security.
Richard Latendresse, a Canadian journalist who serves as the White House Foreign Press Group’s secretary, told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an email that the Phoenix TV reporter is a member of the organization with rotating access to the foreign press’ seat for press briefings.
“The Phoenix TV reporter in question is a member of the White House Correspondents’ Association. As a result, she became a member of the White House Foreign Press Group because she not only is a member of the [White House Correspondents’ Association], but also has a ‘hard pass’ to be in the White House Briefing Room that was granted to her by the current administration,” Latendresse said.
“This reporter is therefore part of our regular rotation of members who have access to our seat during press briefings in the White House,” he added. “There are usually about two dozen of our members who have access to that one seat. During this time of social distancing, only nine are opting to physically attend the briefings.”
The White House declined to comment on whether it would revoke the Phoenix TV reporter’s hard press pass. The Trump administration has previously been sued for revoking White House press passes.
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday said it’s “disgraceful and reckless” that Phoenix TV is allowed into the press briefings amid China’s propaganda campaign meant to absolve itself of responsibility for the virus’ outbreak.
In 2018 I warned @FCC about Phoenix TV a nominally "private" company long financially controlled by China state-owned enterprises. It’s disgraceful & reckless they have a seat at WH press briefings as China wages a propaganda campaign to cover up its role in #CoronavirusPandemic. pic.twitter.com/efbo5WBAIa — Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) April 7, 2020
The Hong Kong-based outlet is owned by a former Chinese military officer with close ties to Beijing officials, pro-democracy think tank Freedom House said in a 2017 report.
“Phoenix TV’s coverage is typically favorable to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party],” the report said.
“Moreover, over the past two years, it has been used as an outlet for airing televised confessions by various detained [Chinese Communist Party] critics, most notably all five Hong Kong booksellers abducted by Chinese security forces in late 2015.”
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


dailysignal--2020-04-08--Trump Considers Defunding ‘China-Centric’ WHO for Botched COVID-19 Response

President Donald Trump floated the idea of defunding the World Health Organization after its botched response to the coronavirus pandemic on the same day the international body marked its 72nd anniversary .
“ We are going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO .
We are going to put a very powerful hold on it and we ’ re going to see , ” Trump said .
The president also called WHO “ China-centric.
” The organization unquestioningly repeated numerous Chinese propaganda points early in the process .
During the daily press briefing on Tuesday , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was talking about .
“ They missed the call .
They could have called it months earlier .
They would have known .
They should have known , ” Trump said .
“ They probably did know .
So , we ’ ll be looking into that very carefully and we are going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO .
We are going to put a very powerful hold on it and we ’ re going to see.
” Asked later about holding WHO funding , Trump said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m going to do it , but we ’ re going to look at it .
No , I didn ’ t .
I said we are going to investigate it .
We are going to look at it .
We will look at ending funding.
” The United States contributes 14.7 % of the World Health Organization ’ s $ 38 billion budget , while China contributes only 0.21 % , according to WHO ’ s numbers .
According to WHO , contributions from the U.S. government , American citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all voluntary contributions to the organization .
That amounted to $ 945.6 million from 2016 to 2017 .
Congress authorized about $ 123 million in taxpayer funding for WHO in the last fiscal year , and Trump ’ s fiscal 2021 budget request proposed to reduce funding to about $ 58 million .
Trump tweeted about the matter earlier on Tuesday .
April 7 , 1948 is the day that WHO—an appendage of the United Nations—began .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered a message about World Health Day on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s earlier tweet .
“ On the 7th of April 1948 , @ WHO came into being .
We mark this day every year as # WorldHealthDay , ” the director-general tweeted .
“ Today & throughout 2020 , we ’ re highlighting the vital role of nurses and midwives , as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
” Tedros said Jan. 30 that “ China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response.
” China backed Tedros in May 2017 when he ran for the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tedros also criticized the U.S. ban on travel from China .
“ They actually criticized and disagreed with my travel ban at the time I did it .
They were wrong , ” Trump said during the Tuesday press briefing .
“ They ’ ve been wrong about a lot of things .
They had a lot of information early .
They seemed to be very China-centric .
We have to look into that .
So , we are going to look into it.
” On Jan. 14 , WHO unquestioningly circulated China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet , saying : Sen. Rick Scott , R-Fla. , told The Daily Signal last week he was pushing for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate WHO ’ s poor response .

President Donald Trump floated the idea of defunding the World Health Organization after its botched response to the coronavirus pandemic on the same day the international body marked its 72nd anniversary.
“We are going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We are going to put a very powerful hold on it and we’re going to see,” Trump said.
The president also called WHO “China-centric.” The organization unquestioningly repeated numerous Chinese propaganda points early in the process.
During the daily press briefing on Tuesday, Trump said WHO probably knew more than it was talking about.
“They missed the call. They could have called it months earlier. They would have known. They should have known,” Trump said. “They probably did know. So, we’ll be looking into that very carefully and we are going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We are going to put a very powerful hold on it and we’re going to see.”
Asked later about holding WHO funding, Trump said: “I’m not saying I’m going to do it, but we’re going to look at it. No, I didn’t. I said we are going to investigate it. We are going to look at it. We will look at ending funding.”
The United States contributes 14.7% of the World Health Organization’s $38 billion budget, while China contributes only 0.21%, according to WHO’s numbers.
According to WHO, contributions from the U.S. government, American citizens, and U.S.-based charities make up 76% of all voluntary contributions to the organization. That amounted to $945.6 million from 2016 to 2017.
Congress authorized about $123 million in taxpayer funding for WHO in the last fiscal year, and Trump’s fiscal 2021 budget request proposed to reduce funding to about $58 million.
Trump tweeted about the matter earlier on Tuesday.
The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2020
April 7, 1948 is the day that WHO—an appendage of the United Nations—began.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered a message about World Health Day on Tuesday, but did not directly acknowledge Trump’s earlier tweet.
On the 7th of April 1948, @WHO came into being.
We mark this day every year as #WorldHealthDay.
Today & throughout 2020, we’re highlighting the vital role of nurses and midwives, as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. pic.twitter.com/mQXRgqitlg — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 7, 2020
“On the 7th of April 1948, @WHO came into being. We mark this day every year as #WorldHealthDay,” the director-general tweeted. “Today & throughout 2020, we’re highlighting the vital role of nurses and midwives, as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.”
Tedros said Jan. 30 that “China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response.”
China backed Tedros in May 2017 when he ran for the top job at the World Health Organization.
Tedros also criticized the U.S. ban on travel from China.
“They actually criticized and disagreed with my travel ban at the time I did it. They were wrong,” Trump said during the Tuesday press briefing. “They’ve been wrong about a lot of things. They had a lot of information early. They seemed to be very China-centric. We have to look into that. So, we are going to look into it.”
On Jan. 14, WHO unquestioningly circulated China’s official talking points in a tweet, saying:
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China??. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told The Daily Signal last week he was pushing for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate WHO’s poor response.


dailysignal--2020-04-07--Trump Asks Reporter If She’s Working for Chinese Government After Pro-Beijing Questions

President Donald Trump pressed a reporter on Monday about whether she was working for the Chinese government after she asked a question about medical supplies that Beijing has provided the United States .
The reporter , who said she was with Phoenix TV , a Hong Kong-based outlet sympathetic to Beijing , began her question by noting that the Chinese government and companies like Huawei and Alibaba have donated medical supplies and equipment to the U.S. to handle the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It ’ s a statement more than a question , ” Trump said after the reporter finished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on a riff about a massive trade deficit between the U.S. and China that he said he has addressed during his administration .
The reporter interjected to ask Trump , “ Are you cooperating with China ?
” Trump shot back : “ Who are you working for , China ?
” “ Do you work for China , or are you with a newspaper ?
Who are you with ?
” he continued .
The reporter said that she works for Phoenix TV .
“ Who owns that , China ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it owned by the state ?
” Trump pressed .
While Phoenix TV is not wholly owned by the Chinese government , its content is widely considered to be sympathetic to Beijing .
The Hoover Institution regards it as a “ quasi-official ” news outlet with links to the Chinese government ’ s ministry of state security .
Freedom House , a pro-democracy think tank , said in a 2017 report that Phoenix TV is owned by a former Chinese military officer with close ties to Beijing officials .
“ Phoenix TV ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCP [ Chinese Communist Party ] , ” the report says .
“ Moreover , over the past two years , it has been used as an outlet for airing televised confessions by various detained CCP critics , most notably all five Hong Kong booksellers abducted by Chinese security forces in late 2015.
” The Chinese government ’ s propaganda machine has hyped medical aid that it has provided the United States and other countries during the pandemic .
Cui Tiankai , China ’ s ambassador to the U.S. , published a New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid .
Chinese officials have downplayed the government ’ s role in hiding the true extent of the coronavirus outbreak , which began at a wildlife food market in Wuhan .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of this original content , email [ email protected ]

President Donald Trump pressed a reporter on Monday about whether she was working for the Chinese government after she asked a question about medical supplies that Beijing has provided the United States.
The reporter, who said she was with Phoenix TV, a Hong Kong-based outlet sympathetic to Beijing, began her question by noting that the Chinese government and companies like Huawei and Alibaba have donated medical supplies and equipment to the U.S. to handle the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s a statement more than a question,” Trump said after the reporter finished listing off the aid.
Trump then went on a riff about a massive trade deficit between the U.S. and China that he said he has addressed during his administration.
The reporter interjected to ask Trump, “Are you cooperating with China?”
President Trump asks a reporter “who are you working for, China?”
She says that her company is private and based in Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/jDNcAlO4Y4 — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 6, 2020
Trump shot back: “Who are you working for, China?”
“Do you work for China, or are you with a newspaper? Who are you with?” he continued.
The reporter said that she works for Phoenix TV.
“Who owns that, China? Is it owned by China? Is it owned by the state?” Trump pressed.
“It’s a private company,” the reporter said.
While Phoenix TV is not wholly owned by the Chinese government, its content is widely considered to be sympathetic to Beijing.
The Hoover Institution regards it as a “quasi-official” news outlet with links to the Chinese government’s ministry of state security.
Freedom House, a pro-democracy think tank, said in a 2017 report that Phoenix TV is owned by a former Chinese military officer with close ties to Beijing officials.
“Phoenix TV’s coverage is typically favorable to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party],” the report says.
“Moreover, over the past two years, it has been used as an outlet for airing televised confessions by various detained CCP critics, most notably all five Hong Kong booksellers abducted by Chinese security forces in late 2015.”
The Chinese government’s propaganda machine has hyped medical aid that it has provided the United States and other countries during the pandemic. Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the U.S., published a New York Times op-ed on Sunday highlighting the aid.
Chinese officials have downplayed the government’s role in hiding the true extent of the coronavirus outbreak, which began at a wildlife food market in Wuhan.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


dailysignal--2020-04-06--Ahead of COVID-19 ‘Peak,’ Trump Touts ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’

President Donald Trump has warned that the week ahead could be the worst yet in the COVID-19 crisis , but he and other administration officials also shared a positive note Sunday , using terms such as “ glimmers of progress ” and “ light at the end of the tunnel.
” “ In the days ahead .
America will endure the peak of this terrible pandemic , ” Trump said .
“ Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors and nurses and health care workers on the front line of the fight.
” Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to be reached in the next two weeks .
“ Things are happening .
We ’ re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel , ” Trump said at the press briefing .
“ And hopefully in the not-too-distant future , we ’ ll be very proud of the job we all did.
” Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force , noted data coming from two of the hardest hit countries .
“ As you can see from the hopeful signs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally new cases and deaths declining , it ’ s giving us hope of what our future could be , ” Birx said .
Birx turned to charts showing the number of state cases per 100,000 citizens .
The District of Columbia and Pennsylvania are new to the list of jurisdictions where 10 % or more are testing positive for the coronavirus .
New York , the hardest hit state , actually has seen a decrease among those testing positive for coronavirus .
However , New Jersey is seeing an increase , Birx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases are Louisiana , Massachusetts , Michigan , Connecticut , Washington , Illinois , and Colorado .
Vice President Mike Pence , chairman of the task force , spoke to governors from New Jersey , Michigan , Illinois , and Louisiana earlier Sunday , and had some positive news .
“ We are seeing a trend of some leveling [ from ] all the governors I spoke to today , ” Pence said , later adding : We are beginning to see the glimmers of progress .
The experts will tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I ’ m not .
But , like your president , I ’ m an optimistic person and I ’ m hopeful .
The truth is we ’ re starting to see cases , most importantly losses , and hospitalizations beginning to stabilize .
But , make no mistake about it , I want to say to the American people , if that holds , if that is happening , it ’ s because of what all of you are doing .
During the press briefing , Trump said the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hydroxychloroquine , a malaria drug that has been used in other countries to treat coronavirus , while waiting for a vaccine .
“ I ’ m not looking at it one way or another , but we want to get out of this .
If it does work , it would be a shame if we didn ’ t do it early , ” Trump said of the drug ’ s effectiveness .
“ I ’ ve seen things I sort of like ; so what do I know , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president added .
“ But I have common sense .
The FDA feels good about it .
As you know , they approved it , they gave it a rapid approval .
”

President Donald Trump has warned that the week ahead could be the worst yet in the COVID-19 crisis, but he and other administration officials also shared a positive note Sunday, using terms such as “glimmers of progress” and “light at the end of the tunnel.”
“In the days ahead. America will endure the peak of this terrible pandemic,” Trump said. “Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors and nurses and health care workers on the front line of the fight.”
Last week Trump announced that the peak death toll is expected to be reached in the next two weeks.
“Things are happening. We’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel,” Trump said at the press briefing. “And hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we’ll be very proud of the job we all did.”
Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, noted data coming from two of the hardest hit countries.
“As you can see from the hopeful signs in Italy and Spain, where we see finally new cases and deaths declining, it’s giving us hope of what our future could be,” Birx said.
Birx turned to charts showing the number of state cases per 100,000 citizens. The District of Columbia and Pennsylvania are new to the list of jurisdictions where 10% or more are testing positive for the coronavirus.
New York, the hardest hit state, actually has seen a decrease among those testing positive for coronavirus. However, New Jersey is seeing an increase, Birx said.
Other states with a high number of cases are Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, Washington, Illinois, and Colorado.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the task force, spoke to governors from New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, and Louisiana earlier Sunday, and had some positive news.
“We are seeing a trend of some leveling [from] all the governors I spoke to today,” Pence said, later adding:
We are beginning to see the glimmers of progress. The experts will tell me not to jump to any conclusions, and I’m not. But, like your president, I’m an optimistic person and I’m hopeful. The truth is we’re starting to see cases, most importantly losses, and hospitalizations beginning to stabilize. But, make no mistake about it, I want to say to the American people, if that holds, if that is happening, it’s because of what all of you are doing.
During the press briefing, Trump said the government has purchased and stockpiled 29 million pills of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that has been used in other countries to treat coronavirus, while waiting for a vaccine.
“I’m not looking at it one way or another, but we want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didn’t do it early,” Trump said of the drug’s effectiveness.
“I’ve seen things I sort of like; so what do I know, I’m not a doctor,” the president added. “But I have common sense. The FDA feels good about it. As you know, they approved it, they gave it a rapid approval.”


dailysignal--2020-04-03--Mike Lindell, Not the Media, Is the Hero

MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell , a self-made former crack addict , is going to transform 75 % of his manufacturing capacity to make 10,000 cotton face masks per day by the end of the week , ramping up production to 50,000 a day in a month .
That sounds like a patriotic act to me , especially given that Lindell is undertaking the effort without being forced to do so by a federal agency .
I hope the guy becomes a billionaire after this is all over .
NBC ?
Not so much .
The headline on its “ analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Trump fluffs MyPillow in Rose Garden.
” This matched the basic tone taken by a large faction within the political press .
Why ?
Presumably because , at the end of his remarks , Lindell claimed that the Lord Almighty had helped elect Donald Trump president to save our once-beleaguered nation from its alleged depravations .
Listen , if there is a God , I hope He refrains from tipping the scales of presidential contests .
But it ’ s not surprising to hear an evangelical Christian talking about the world this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never met one .
Of course , anyone who shows anything less than hostility toward the president is immediately cast as a reactionary and their actions dismissed as questionable and self-serving .
Many of the CEOs who have stood with Trump at his press conferences—this week , or in weeks prior—hold varying religious and partisan beliefs .
The press didn ’ t have similar qualms about the CEOs of CVS or Walgreens , because they kept their views to themselves .
Lindell is a villain for speaking his truth , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our age—White House political correspondents—are applauded for speaking theirs .
Yesterday , PBS ’ Yamiche Alcindor , one of the many pundits masquerading as a dispassionate journalist , was chided by Trump during his presser .
Immediately , journalists , who are perhaps the most tribalistic group in American political life , rallied around her with fawning tributes to her bravery and victimhood ( because Trump only lashes out at black women , apparently ) .
# WeLoveYamiche is the hashtag , if you ’ re interested .
Philip Rucker of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets under his skin with probing questions , ” as if rattling our irascible president was a noteworthy accomplishment , or an act of heroism , or , in and of itself , a reliable indication that a reporter is doing a good job .
The Post ’ s media critic , Erik Wemple , meanwhile , was forced to reimagine what Alcindor ’ s question might have sounded like had it been more coherent .
And , simply because Trump had been rude to her , he claimed that Alcindor has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s Alcindor ’ s prerogative to try and bait the president , as she has done on numerous occasions over the past weeks , and it ’ s PBS ’ prerogative to send her to ask questions that do absolutely nothing to help the public gain a better understanding of the government ’ s efforts to fight the coronavirus .
But we should not forget that most of her narcissistic defenders are really talking about themselves .
Some journalists are indeed on the front lines of “ war zones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN ’ s S. E. Cupp put it recently .
But Alcindor , whose Twitter feed is littered with all kinds of absurdity , is not .
She risks absolutely nothing by asking the president questions .
Like Jim Acosta , who titled his book , “ Enemy of the People : A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America , ” she is stealing valor .
The overall breadth and intensity of the anti-Trump press demonstrates there are few inhibitions and zero limitations on free press ( though many in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech ) .
No one has been stopped from engaging , investigating , writing , or sharing their antagonism toward Trump .
Nor should they .
Some lucky Americans , such as Alcindor , are afforded the benefit of challenging the president personally .
That ’ s fine .
I wish the press had exhibited the same level of reflexive antagonism toward every president .
They don ’ t .
But Lindell ’ s political and religious views do not diminish his patriotic act , just as Alcindor ’ s ability to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a hero .
It doesn ’ t even make her good at her job .
Perhaps our media culture has spent so much time politicizing the world that they ’ ve confused patriotism with victimhood .
Or maybe they ’ re so obsessed with fighting the president that they can ’ t recognize that his fans might be capable of a good deed .
But if where you stand on Trump is your guiding definition of patriotism and heroism , your moral compass might be broken .

MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell, a self-made former crack addict, is going to transform 75% of his manufacturing capacity to make 10,000 cotton face masks per day by the end of the week, ramping up production to 50,000 a day in a month.
That sounds like a patriotic act to me, especially given that Lindell is undertaking the effort without being forced to do so by a federal agency. I hope the guy becomes a billionaire after this is all over.
NBC? Not so much. The headline on its “analysis” of Lindell’s remarks was “Trump fluffs MyPillow in Rose Garden.”
This matched the basic tone taken by a large faction within the political press. Why? Presumably because, at the end of his remarks, Lindell claimed that the Lord Almighty had helped elect Donald Trump president to save our once-beleaguered nation from its alleged depravations.
Listen, if there is a God, I hope He refrains from tipping the scales of presidential contests. But it’s not surprising to hear an evangelical Christian talking about the world this way—unless, that is, you’ve never met one.
Of course, anyone who shows anything less than hostility toward the president is immediately cast as a reactionary and their actions dismissed as questionable and self-serving.
Many of the CEOs who have stood with Trump at his press conferences—this week, or in weeks prior—hold varying religious and partisan beliefs. The press didn’t have similar qualms about the CEOs of CVS or Walgreens, because they kept their views to themselves.
Lindell is a villain for speaking his truth, as the kids say. Yet the real heroes of our age—White House political correspondents—are applauded for speaking theirs.
Yesterday, PBS’ Yamiche Alcindor, one of the many pundits masquerading as a dispassionate journalist, was chided by Trump during his presser.
Immediately, journalists, who are perhaps the most tribalistic group in American political life, rallied around her with fawning tributes to her bravery and victimhood (because Trump only lashes out at black women, apparently). #WeLoveYamiche is the hashtag, if you’re interested.
Philip Rucker of The Washington Post noted that Alcindor “routinely gets under his skin with probing questions,” as if rattling our irascible president was a noteworthy accomplishment, or an act of heroism, or, in and of itself, a reliable indication that a reporter is doing a good job.
The Post’s media critic, Erik Wemple, meanwhile, was forced to reimagine what Alcindor’s question might have sounded like had it been more coherent. And, simply because Trump had been rude to her, he claimed that Alcindor has now become “the symbol of American journalism.”
Yes, that’s the problem.
It’s Alcindor’s prerogative to try and bait the president, as she has done on numerous occasions over the past weeks, and it’s PBS’ prerogative to send her to ask questions that do absolutely nothing to help the public gain a better understanding of the government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus. But we should not forget that most of her narcissistic defenders are really talking about themselves.
Some journalists are indeed on the front lines of “war zones, refugee crises, genocides,” as CNN’s S. E. Cupp put it recently. But Alcindor, whose Twitter feed is littered with all kinds of absurdity, is not.
She risks absolutely nothing by asking the president questions. Like Jim Acosta, who titled his book, “Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America,” she is stealing valor.
The overall breadth and intensity of the anti-Trump press demonstrates there are few inhibitions and zero limitations on free press (though many in the media do advocate to limit your free speech). No one has been stopped from engaging, investigating, writing, or sharing their antagonism toward Trump. Nor should they.
Some lucky Americans, such as Alcindor, are afforded the benefit of challenging the president personally. That’s fine. I wish the press had exhibited the same level of reflexive antagonism toward every president. They don’t.
But Lindell’s political and religious views do not diminish his patriotic act, just as Alcindor’s ability to make the president mad does not transform her into a hero. It doesn’t even make her good at her job.
Perhaps our media culture has spent so much time politicizing the world that they’ve confused patriotism with victimhood. Or maybe they’re so obsessed with fighting the president that they can’t recognize that his fans might be capable of a good deed.
But if where you stand on Trump is your guiding definition of patriotism and heroism, your moral compass might be broken.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


dailysignal--2020-04-02--In California, a Sign the Coronavirus Crisis Won’t ‘Go to Waste’

“ You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.
” That was what Rahm Emanuel , a former mayor of Chicago who also served as chief of staff for President Barack Obama , said about the 2007-2008 financial crash , viewing that moment as an opportunity to pass legislation that likely otherwise would not be seriously considered .
“ [ W ] hat I mean by that , it ’ s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before , ” Emanuel explained at the time .
Fast-forward to today .
California Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking Emanuel ’ s admonition to heart .
When asked by reporters on Wednesday whether the coronavirus pandemic will usher in a new “ progressive era , ” Newsom said : I think it ’ s an opportunity anew for both parties to come together and meet this moment and really start to think more systemically , not situationally .
Not just about getting out of this moment , but more sustainably and systemically to consider where we can go together in this historic moment if we meet it at a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level .
Needless to say , America is facing an emergency health crisis that has prompted not only the federal government , but also especially state and local governments , to take extreme actions .
Many of those actions are intended to “ flatten the curve ” of the coronavirus pandemic to stabilize our health care system and to save lives .
However , as we come to grips with the full impact of government actions at this time , it ’ s still important to be wary of constitutional and governmental overreach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Institute for Constitutional Government and director of the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation , wrote that President Donald Trump and most state governors have operated within their constitutional authority in their responses to the crisis .
Malcolm also noted that the 10th Amendment to the Constitution gives enormous latitude to state governments to “ regulate behavior and enforce order within their territory in order to protect the health , safety , and general welfare of their inhabitants.
” Controlling pandemics is certainly one of the key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , authorities are using the current crisis as a justification for , among other things , implementing gun control .
For instance , the city of Champaign , Illinois , released an ordinance that doesn ’ t outright ban guns , but does give authorities the likely unconstitutional power to do so .
And some local governments seem to be going out of their way to restrict firearms purchases .
San Jose , California , Mayor Sam Liccardo deemed firearms a nonessential item and effectively shut down gun shops in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide “ shelter in place ” order .
“ We are having panic-buying right now for food , ” Liccardo said in mid-March , according to the San Jose Mercury News .
“ The one thing we can not have is panic-buying of guns.
” California governments have an interesting take , however , on what ’ s essential versus nonessential .
Los Angeles County listed cannabis dispensaries as among the essential businesses .
But if Newsom is serious about helping Californians as much as possible and not just in furthering a progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could take .
Since California is taking some of the more extreme measures to clamp down on the spread of the coronavirus , perhaps state officials should be more aggressive about suspending—or even repealing—laws that make it harder to stay safe and make a living at this time .
One law to take a look at is AB 5 , an absurd new restriction on gig employment and freelancing .
The law was bad enough in normal times , but it ’ s particularly pernicious now as it actively discourages expanded use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home , not to mention others who may need gig work to make up for lost jobs and wages as a result of the mandated closures of many businesses and other employers .
If the state is serious about quarantines and social distancing , surely it should be promoting laws that allow people to make a living outside of a traditional office , right ?
While some governments have been overzealous in putting their policy preferences ahead of simply protecting the public good , the critical needs of the moment might allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as unnecessary and/or ineffectual .
Tristan Justice at The Federalist compiled an interesting rundown of some regulatory rollbacks during this crisis that could lead to more permanent change .
From less-consequential things , such as loosening rules on alcohol delivery , to more impactful ones , such as giving more leeway to doctors and nurses working across state lines , such stopgap measures could lead to a rethinking of such policies in the future .
For instance , telemedicine will be an incredibly helpful tool in stemming the pandemic , but it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local regulations have controlled the growth of that industry , but maybe now circumstances will change that .
In this moment of necessity , one should have faith that Americans—the most entrepreneurial people in human history—will look to themselves and their communities to find ways to come out the other side of this crisis stronger than before .
Perhaps it shouldn ’ t be about not letting a serious crisis go to waste or about launching another “ progressive era , ” but about finding pragmatic ways to jump-start a country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow by the coronavirus and economic shutdowns .

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
That was what Rahm Emanuel, a former mayor of Chicago who also served as chief of staff for President Barack Obama, said about the 2007-2008 financial crash, viewing that moment as an opportunity to pass legislation that likely otherwise would not be seriously considered.
“[W]hat I mean by that, it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before,” Emanuel explained at the time.
Fast-forward to today. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat, is taking Emanuel’s admonition to heart.
When asked by reporters on Wednesday whether the coronavirus pandemic will usher in a new “progressive era,” Newsom said:
I think it’s an opportunity anew for both parties to come together and meet this moment and really start to think more systemically, not situationally. Not just about getting out of this moment, but more sustainably and systemically to consider where we can go together in this historic moment if we meet it at a national level and at a state and subnational level.
Needless to say, America is facing an emergency health crisis that has prompted not only the federal government, but also especially state and local governments, to take extreme actions.
Many of those actions are intended to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic to stabilize our health care system and to save lives.
However, as we come to grips with the full impact of government actions at this time, it’s still important to be wary of constitutional and governmental overreach.
John Malcolm, vice president of the Institute for Constitutional Government and director of the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, wrote that President Donald Trump and most state governors have operated within their constitutional authority in their responses to the crisis.
Malcolm also noted that the 10th Amendment to the Constitution gives enormous latitude to state governments to “regulate behavior and enforce order within their territory in order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of their inhabitants.”
Controlling pandemics is certainly one of the key functions of government. In some cases, however, authorities are using the current crisis as a justification for, among other things, implementing gun control.
For instance, the city of Champaign, Illinois, released an ordinance that doesn’t outright ban guns, but does give authorities the likely unconstitutional power to do so.
And some local governments seem to be going out of their way to restrict firearms purchases.
San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo deemed firearms a nonessential item and effectively shut down gun shops in the city in response to California’s statewide “shelter in place” order.
“We are having panic-buying right now for food,” Liccardo said in mid-March, according to the San Jose Mercury News. “The one thing we cannot have is panic-buying of guns.”
California governments have an interesting take, however, on what’s essential versus nonessential. Los Angeles County listed cannabis dispensaries as among the essential businesses.
But if Newsom is serious about helping Californians as much as possible and not just in furthering a progressive agenda, there are some positive steps he could take.
Since California is taking some of the more extreme measures to clamp down on the spread of the coronavirus, perhaps state officials should be more aggressive about suspending—or even repealing—laws that make it harder to stay safe and make a living at this time.
One law to take a look at is AB 5, an absurd new restriction on gig employment and freelancing.
The law was bad enough in normal times, but it’s particularly pernicious now as it actively discourages expanded use of freelance writers, who can work from home, not to mention others who may need gig work to make up for lost jobs and wages as a result of the mandated closures of many businesses and other employers.
If the state is serious about quarantines and social distancing, surely it should be promoting laws that allow people to make a living outside of a traditional office, right?
While some governments have been overzealous in putting their policy preferences ahead of simply protecting the public good, the critical needs of the moment might allow us to see other laws and regulations as unnecessary and/or ineffectual.
Tristan Justice at The Federalist compiled an interesting rundown of some regulatory rollbacks during this crisis that could lead to more permanent change.
From less-consequential things, such as loosening rules on alcohol delivery, to more impactful ones, such as giving more leeway to doctors and nurses working across state lines, such stopgap measures could lead to a rethinking of such policies in the future.
For instance, telemedicine will be an incredibly helpful tool in stemming the pandemic, but it has many other uses, too. State and local regulations have controlled the growth of that industry, but maybe now circumstances will change that.
In this moment of necessity, one should have faith that Americans—the most entrepreneurial people in human history—will look to themselves and their communities to find ways to come out the other side of this crisis stronger than before.
Perhaps it shouldn’t be about not letting a serious crisis go to waste or about launching another “progressive era,” but about finding pragmatic ways to jump-start a country and economy that have been dealt a terrible blow by the coronavirus and economic shutdowns.