westernjournal--2020-03-31--Washington State, Original Virus Hot Spot, Sees Significant Downturn in COVID Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations in Washington state of patients with symptoms of the novel coronavirus have declined over 20 percent in the past week .
A state Department of Health survey showed there were 193 patient admissions showing symptoms of fever , cough and shortness of breath from March 22-28 , down from 251 admissions the week before , The Seattle Times reported .
These numbers also mark the end of a month-long rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions in Washington , which once was the epicenter of the disease in the United States .
“ It ’ s a little bit of good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Seattle Times pointed out that the survey is currently incomplete because it does not include reporting from 16 percent of hospital emergency rooms and may not include patients who have the disease but not all the symptoms .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump ’ s CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts There have been indications that social distancing efforts taken throughout the state and country are significantly helping slow the spread of COVID-19 .
The Institute for Disease Modeling analyzed Facebook data that tracks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are actually spending more at home and less time in commercial areas .
The group found that although the epidemic has slowed in King County , Washington , more progress is needed to steadily reduce COVID-19 transmission .
“ The result is greatly encouraging for the people of King County , however compliance with social distancing policies has not been steady ( as evidenced by increased mobility over weekends ) , and thus progress is precarious , ” the report read .
Despite the drop in hospitalizations , Washington hospitals and health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases in April , The Seattle Times reported .
“ We have seen an increase in volume of COVID-19 patients but fortunately at a slower rate than we anticipated , which is great , ” said Dr. Doughlas Wood , chair of the University of Washington Medicine ’ s surgery department .
“ We have enough surgical masks to do our job .
But we have to anticipate tomorrow.
” A University of Washington analysis projects that Washington state will reach its peak of hospital resource use on April 15 .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be working , the analysis estimates over 83,000 people could die in the United States from COVID-19 by the first of July , 1,600 of them in Washington state .
“ The trajectory of the pandemic will change — dramatically for the worse — if people ease up on social distancing or relax other precautions , ” UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Director Dr. Christopher Murray said to The Seattle Times .
Dr. Jeffrey Duchin , health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County , had a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we ’ re making a very positive impact on the course of this epidemic , ” Duchin told The Seattle Times .
“ That the measures we put in place appear to be working and … the number of deaths that we are seeing are likely to be significantly less than we would have experienced without these important measures.
” He added , “ [ If ] we don ’ t continue to comply with these measures … I can tell you that the outbreak will come roaring back , big time.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Hospitalizations in Washington state of patients with symptoms of the novel coronavirus have declined over 20 percent in the past week.
A state Department of Health survey showed there were 193 patient admissions showing symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath from March 22-28, down from 251 admissions the week before, The Seattle Times reported.
These numbers also mark the end of a month-long rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions in Washington, which once was the epicenter of the disease in the United States.
“It’s a little bit of good news,” DOH spokeswoman Amy Reynolds said.
The Seattle Times pointed out that the survey is currently incomplete because it does not include reporting from 16 percent of hospital emergency rooms and may not include patients who have the disease but not all the symptoms.
There have been indications that social distancing efforts taken throughout the state and country are significantly helping slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Institute for Disease Modeling analyzed Facebook data that tracks changes in mobility and found that people are actually spending more at home and less time in commercial areas.
The group found that although the epidemic has slowed in King County, Washington, more progress is needed to steadily reduce COVID-19 transmission.
“The result is greatly encouraging for the people of King County, however compliance with social distancing policies has not been steady (as evidenced by increased mobility over weekends), and thus progress is precarious,” the report read.
Do you believe the pandemic will last through the summer? Yes No
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Despite the drop in hospitalizations, Washington hospitals and health care workers are wary of a possible surge in cases in April, The Seattle Times reported.
“We have seen an increase in volume of COVID-19 patients but fortunately at a slower rate than we anticipated, which is great,” said Dr. Doughlas Wood, chair of the University of Washington Medicine’s surgery department.
“We have enough surgical masks to do our job. But we have to anticipate tomorrow.”
A University of Washington analysis projects that Washington state will reach its peak of hospital resource use on April 15.
However, even though social distancing precautions seem to be working, the analysis estimates over 83,000 people could die in the United States from COVID-19 by the first of July, 1,600 of them in Washington state.
“The trajectory of the pandemic will change — dramatically for the worse — if people ease up on social distancing or relax other precautions,” UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Director Dr. Christopher Murray said to The Seattle Times.
Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, had a similar warning on Monday.
“We believe that we’re making a very positive impact on the course of this epidemic,” Duchin told The Seattle Times.
“That the measures we put in place appear to be working and … the number of deaths that we are seeing are likely to be significantly less than we would have experienced without these important measures.”
He added, “[If] we don’t continue to comply with these measures … I can tell you that the outbreak will come roaring back, big time.”
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westernjournal--2020-03-31--CNN’s Chris Cuomo Tests Positive for Coronavirus

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo announced Tuesday on Twitter that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 .
“ Sooooo in these difficult times that seem to get more difficult and complicated by the day , I just found out that I am positive for corona virus , ” his statement read .
“ I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fever , chills and shortness of breath .
“ I just hope I didn ’ t give it to the kids and Cristina .
That would make me feel worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dems Lie About Trump ’ s CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts The anchor added that he is quarantined in his basement and will host his 9 p.m. program “ Cuomo Prime Time ” from there .
“ We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united !
” he tweeted .
Cuomo was in CNN ’ s offices in New York City last Friday , CNN reported .
He anchored his show Monday from his basement and interviewed his brother , New York Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little sibling squabble over their mother ’ s tomato sauce and Chris Cuomo working in the basement .
“ You ’ ve always been good at manipulation , you ’ ve always been the meatball of the family , ” Gov .
Cuomo said .
“ Look , some of us have to work , right ?
” RELATED : CNN 's Chris Cuomo Hates His 'Fredo ' Nickname , Yet Insists on Calling Trump 'Dirty Donald' In response to his brother ’ s diagnosis , Gov .
Cuomo said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s young , in good shape , strong — not as strong as he thinks — but he will be fine , ” CNN reported .
Cuomo is CNN ’ s third case of coronavirus .
Like many other companies across the country , CNN has made changes to the workplace in response to the pandemic .
Most of CNN ’ s employees are working from home and broadcasting from small studios or small offices like Cuomo ’ s .
As of Tuesday morning , there are 175,067 cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to data from Johns Hopkins .
Of the 3,415 fatalities in the country from the disease , 914 of them were in New York City .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo announced Tuesday on Twitter that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
“Sooooo in these difficult times that seem to get more difficult and complicated by the day, I just found out that I am positive for corona virus,” his statement read.
“I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fever, chills and shortness of breath.
“I just hope I didn’t give it to the kids and Cristina. That would make me feel worse than this illness!”
The anchor added that he is quarantined in his basement and will host his 9 p.m. program “Cuomo Prime Time” from there.
“We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united!” he tweeted.
Cuomo was in CNN’s offices in New York City last Friday, CNN reported.
Do you think companies are doing enough to combat this disease? Yes No
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He anchored his show Monday from his basement and interviewed his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
There seemed to be a little sibling squabble over their mother’s tomato sauce and Chris Cuomo working in the basement.
“You’ve always been good at manipulation, you’ve always been the meatball of the family,” Gov. Cuomo said.
“Look, some of us have to work, right?”
In response to his brother’s diagnosis, Gov. Cuomo said, “He’s going to be fine. He’s young, in good shape, strong — not as strong as he thinks — but he will be fine,” CNN reported.
Cuomo is CNN’s third case of coronavirus.
Like many other companies across the country, CNN has made changes to the workplace in response to the pandemic. Most of CNN’s employees are working from home and broadcasting from small studios or small offices like Cuomo’s.
As of Tuesday morning, there are 175,067 cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
Of the 3,415 fatalities in the country from the disease, 914 of them were in New York City.
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westernjournal--2020-03-31--House Dems Want To Use Coronavirus as Excuse To Release ‘As Many Prisoners as Possible’

Well , here ’ s something that the men and women in law enforcement , stretched thin for resources as they are , will love to hear : House Democrats want to open federal prison cells across the country to “ release as many prisoners as possible , ” even as Attorney General William Barr tries to push for more home confinement .
According to Fox News , in a letter to Attorney General William Barr , Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee said it was time to let the inmates out after the death of the first federal prisoner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49-year-old man who was serving a 27-year sentence , died at a low-security facility in Oakdale , Louisiana , last week .
“ On Thursday , March 19 , 2020 , inmate Patrick Jones complained of a persistent cough at the Federal Correctional ( FCI ) Oakdale I in Oakdale , Louisiana .
He was evaluated by institutional medical staff and transported to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation , ” the federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement , according to Forbes .
“ While at the local hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday , March 20 , 2020 , his condition declined and he was placed on a ventilator .
On Saturday , March 28 , 2020 , who had a long-term , pre-existing medical conditions which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 diseases , was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts In the Monday letter , House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York and California Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subcommittee on Crime , Terrorism , and Homeland Security — both Democrats — urged Barr to start releasing inmates from prisons , given the high infection rate behind bars .
“ We call on you , in the most urgent terms , to do the right thing and exercise this authority [ to modify prisoners ’ sentences ] and immediately move to release medically-compromised , elderly and pregnant prisoners from the custody of the BOP , ” the letter read .
“ In addition , we urge that you use every tool at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible , to protect them from COVID-19.
” The representatives were also concerned the BOP didn ’ t have enough equipment to monitor prisoners once they ’ re released .
“ Your memorandum states that any individuals released because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be released with location monitoring , ” they said .
“ If this is the case , we ask that you ensure that there are enough resources to provide monitoring equipment free of charge to those individuals released and that you ensure that there is enough equipment available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind bars because of a lack of availability of equipment.
” Here ’ s the thing , though : Barr had already introduced an initiative to release some federal prisoners to home confinement .
In the memorandum to the Bureau of Prisons , sent Thursday , the attorney general said several factors would be taken into consideration when deciding to release prisoners , including their age , the crime they committed , the security level of the prison they were being held at , their conduct behind bars , their risk assessment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verifiable re-entry plan that will prevent recidivism and maximize public safety.
” That , according to House Democrats , wasn ’ t going to get enough prisoners released .
“ The criteria you set forth for BOP to utilize in prioritizing who should be placed in home confinement during the COVID- 19 pandemic , although discretionary , will likely preclude the expeditious release of many prisoners who should be released , ” the letter read .
Reps. Nadler and Bass expressed concern that PATTERN , the BOP ’ s risk assessment tool , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial/ethnic and gender bias and because of the tool ’ s overemphasis on static factors such as criminal history .
“ Moreover , as you know , PATTERN was created for an entirely different purpose than for assessing whether prisoners should be released during a pandemic .
For these reasons , we urge BOP not to use a prisoner ’ s PATTERN score as a consideration for whether they should be released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The letter also specified issues with the use of re-entry plans and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons .
“ Your memorandum specifies that priority should be given to inmates in low- and minimum-security facilities and that “ serious ” offenses should weigh more heavily against consideration for home detention , ” the letter read .
“ These limitations , unfortunately , beg the question of what you do with individuals who are at a high risk for contracting COVID-19 who are not in low- or minimum-security facilities , who have been convicted of serious offenses , or who have high PATTERN risk scores.
” Let ’ s leave aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question ” to mean “ raises the question ” as opposed to a logical fallacy .
It ’ s the least worrisome part of those two sentences .
Here ’ s a brilliant idea : Let ’ s let people out no matter what crime they committed or what their risk assessment score is .
Let ’ s further assume that people who are in low- and minimum-security prisons are just there because of a random accident .
I ’ m sure this will all work out just fine .
There were numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document before it was sent and released to the public , and nobody seemed to notice the problem there .
And that ’ s the crux of the issue with the entire document .
It ’ s become clear to everyone that we ’ re at the juncture where some prisoners need to be released to home confinement because of COVID-19 concerns .
In fact , Barr is in the process of doing just that .
The Democrats think he ’ s putting up too many roadblocks .
Fair enough .
That serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadler and Bass sign their names to a letter in which they actually say that taking the safety profile of the prisoners being released to home confinement into account begs the question of what you do with prisoners deemed not safe enough to release .
You … don ’ t release them .
Question un-begged .
There are other measures that can be taken to protect prisoners from exposure to coronavirus , including limiting transfers .
How effective these measures will be remains to be seen .
That said , releasing individuals with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is too dangerous to risk .
The fact that this request seems to align so nicely with the Democrats positions on the necessity of incarceration before the crisis probably ought to tip you off that this has less to do with the exigencies of the moment and more to do with expediency .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Well, here’s something that the men and women in law enforcement, stretched thin for resources as they are, will love to hear: House Democrats want to open federal prison cells across the country to “release as many prisoners as possible,” even as Attorney General William Barr tries to push for more home confinement.
According to Fox News, in a letter to Attorney General William Barr, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee said it was time to let the inmates out after the death of the first federal prisoner from COVID-19.
Patrick Jones, a 49-year-old man who was serving a 27-year sentence, died at a low-security facility in Oakdale, Louisiana, last week.
“On Thursday, March 19, 2020, inmate Patrick Jones complained of a persistent cough at the Federal Correctional (FCI) Oakdale I in Oakdale, Louisiana. He was evaluated by institutional medical staff and transported to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation,” the federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement, according to Forbes.
“While at the local hospital, Mr. Jones tested positive for COVID-19. On Friday, March 20, 2020, his condition declined and he was placed on a ventilator. On Saturday, March 28, 2020, who had a long-term, pre-existing medical conditions which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 diseases, was pronounced dead by hospital staff.”
In the Monday letter, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York and California Rep. Karen Bass, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security — both Democrats — urged Barr to start releasing inmates from prisons, given the high infection rate behind bars.
“We call on you, in the most urgent terms, to do the right thing and exercise this authority [to modify prisoners’ sentences] and immediately move to release medically-compromised, elderly and pregnant prisoners from the custody of the BOP,” the letter read.
“In addition, we urge that you use every tool at your disposal to release as many prisoners as possible, to protect them from COVID-19.”
The representatives were also concerned the BOP didn’t have enough equipment to monitor prisoners once they’re released.
Do you think prisoners should be released because of COVID-19? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 2% (19 Votes) No: 98% (823 Votes)
“Your memorandum states that any individuals released because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be released with location monitoring,” they said.
“If this is the case, we ask that you ensure that there are enough resources to provide monitoring equipment free of charge to those individuals released and that you ensure that there is enough equipment available, so that no one is kept behind bars because of a lack of availability of equipment.”
Here’s the thing, though: Barr had already introduced an initiative to release some federal prisoners to home confinement.
COVID-19 BOP-Memo Re Home-C… by Walt Pavlo on Scribd
In the memorandum to the Bureau of Prisons, sent Thursday, the attorney general said several factors would be taken into consideration when deciding to release prisoners, including their age, the crime they committed, the security level of the prison they were being held at, their conduct behind bars, their risk assessment and whether they have “a demonstrated and verifiable re-entry plan that will prevent recidivism and maximize public safety.”
That, according to House Democrats, wasn’t going to get enough prisoners released.
“The criteria you set forth for BOP to utilize in prioritizing who should be placed in home confinement during the COVID- 19 pandemic, although discretionary, will likely preclude the expeditious release of many prisoners who should be released,” the letter read.
Reps. Nadler and Bass expressed concern that PATTERN, the BOP’s risk assessment tool, may be problematic “because of possible racial/ethnic and gender bias and because of the tool’s overemphasis on static factors such as criminal history.
“Moreover, as you know, PATTERN was created for an entirely different purpose than for assessing whether prisoners should be released during a pandemic. For these reasons, we urge BOP not to use a prisoner’s PATTERN score as a consideration for whether they should be released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The letter also specified issues with the use of re-entry plans and the prioritization of inmates in low- and minimum-security prisons.
“Your memorandum specifies that priority should be given to inmates in low- and minimum-security facilities and that “serious” offenses should weigh more heavily against consideration for home detention,” the letter read.
“These limitations, unfortunately, beg the question of what you do with individuals who are at a high risk for contracting COVID-19 who are not in low- or minimum-security facilities, who have been convicted of serious offenses, or who have high PATTERN risk scores.”
Let’s leave aside the incorrect use of “beg the question” to mean “raises the question” as opposed to a logical fallacy. It’s the least worrisome part of those two sentences.
Here’s a brilliant idea: Let’s let people out no matter what crime they committed or what their risk assessment score is.
Let’s further assume that people who are in low- and minimum-security prisons are just there because of a random accident.
I’m sure this will all work out just fine.
There were numerous sets of eyes that read over this document before it was sent and released to the public, and nobody seemed to notice the problem there.
And that’s the crux of the issue with the entire document.
It’s become clear to everyone that we’re at the juncture where some prisoners need to be released to home confinement because of COVID-19 concerns. In fact, Barr is in the process of doing just that. The Democrats think he’s putting up too many roadblocks. Fair enough.
That serious concern becomes considerably less serious when Reps. Nadler and Bass sign their names to a letter in which they actually say that taking the safety profile of the prisoners being released to home confinement into account begs the question of what you do with prisoners deemed not safe enough to release. You … don’t release them. Question un-begged.
There are other measures that can be taken to protect prisoners from exposure to coronavirus, including limiting transfers.
How effective these measures will be remains to be seen.
That said, releasing individuals with a poor safety profile into the community is too dangerous to risk.
The fact that this request seems to align so nicely with the Democrats positions on the necessity of incarceration before the crisis probably ought to tip you off that this has less to do with the exigencies of the moment and more to do with expediency.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-03-31--US Navy Aircraft Carrier Captain Pleads for Help as Coronavirus Outbreak Worsens Aboard Ship

The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore , which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives .
In a memo to Navy leaders , the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating , and said that removing all but 10 percent of the crew is a “ necessary risk ” in order to stop the spread of the virus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy leaders on Tuesday were scrambling to determine how to best respond to the extraordinary request as dozens of crew members tested positive .
“ We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die .
If we do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our sailors , ” said its Navy Capt .
Brett Crozier , in a memo obtained by The Associated Press .
A U.S. Navy official said Crozier alerted commanders on Sunday evening of the continuing challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts The official , who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations , said Crozier wants more isolated housing for the crew and that Navy leadership is reviewing options to ensure the health and safety of the crew .
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN that they are doing the best they can to “ adjust on the fly ” and take care of sailors on the carrier .
“ The key is to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crew members that can maintain all those critical functions on the ship , make sure that they ’ re clean , and then get them back on while we clean the ship and get the other crew members off , ” he said .
In Asia , a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to “ great power competition.
” That means , principally , a bigger focus on China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South China Sea .
The outbreak on the carrier may be the Navy ’ s most dramatic , but it tracks an accelerating upward trend across the military .
The Pentagon said the number of cases in the military reached 673 on Tuesday morning , a jump of 104 from the day before and up from 174 a week ago .
Since March 20 , the total has surged tenfold , even as the Pentagon has taken many steps to try to limit the spread , including halting nearly all movement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Navy ships , is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters .
The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long ; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors .
Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters , but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end .
Listing many of those problems , Crozier ’ s memo , which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle , warns that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now require quarantine .
He said sailors have been moving off the ship into shore-based quarters , but much of that is also not adequate .
He said much of the off-ship locations available so far are group quarantine sites , and already two sailors housed in an auditorium have tested positive for the virus .
To stop the spread of the virus and prevent death , Crozier said they must take a methodical approach , move the majority of the sailors off the ship , isolate them and completely clean it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew would have to stay on board to secure the vessel , run critical systems and sanitize everything .
While that may seem like an extraordinary measure , he said it is a necessary risk .
“ It will enable the carrier and air wing to get back underway as quickly as possible while ensuring the health and safety of our sailors , ” Crozier said , adding that finding appropriate isolation for the crew “ will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do.
” Modly told CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship , while also ensuring that the Navy and the U.S. military continue to protect the country .
“ This is a unique circumstance , ” he said .
“ And we ’ re working through it and trying to maintain that proper balance to ensure that our friends and allies , and most importantly our foes and adversaries out there , understand that we are not standing down the watch.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
@ @ @ @ @

The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives.
In a memo to Navy leaders, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating, and said that removing all but 10 percent of the crew is a “necessary risk” in order to stop the spread of the virus. The ship is docked in Guam.
U.S. Navy leaders on Tuesday were scrambling to determine how to best respond to the extraordinary request as dozens of crew members tested positive.
“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our sailors,” said its Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, in a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
A U.S. Navy official said Crozier alerted commanders on Sunday evening of the continuing challenges in isolating the virus.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Crozier wants more isolated housing for the crew and that Navy leadership is reviewing options to ensure the health and safety of the crew.
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN that they are doing the best they can to “adjust on the fly” and take care of sailors on the carrier.
“The key is to make sure that we can get a set of crew members that can maintain all those critical functions on the ship, make sure that they’re clean, and then get them back on while we clean the ship and get the other crew members off,” he said.
In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to “great power competition.”
Do you think the coronavirus outbreak will last through the summer? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 48% (270 Votes) No: 52% (287 Votes)
That means, principally, a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea.
The outbreak on the carrier may be the Navy’s most dramatic, but it tracks an accelerating upward trend across the military.
The Pentagon said the number of cases in the military reached 673 on Tuesday morning, a jump of 104 from the day before and up from 174 a week ago.
Since March 20, the total has surged tenfold, even as the Pentagon has taken many steps to try to limit the spread, including halting nearly all movement of troops overseas.
The carrier, like other Navy ships, is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters.
The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors.
Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters, but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end.
Listing many of those problems, Crozier’s memo, which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, warns that the close quarters means that thousands of sailors now require quarantine.
He said sailors have been moving off the ship into shore-based quarters, but much of that is also not adequate. He said much of the off-ship locations available so far are group quarantine sites, and already two sailors housed in an auditorium have tested positive for the virus.
To stop the spread of the virus and prevent death, Crozier said they must take a methodical approach, move the majority of the sailors off the ship, isolate them and completely clean it.
He said about 10 percent of the crew would have to stay on board to secure the vessel, run critical systems and sanitize everything.
While that may seem like an extraordinary measure, he said it is a necessary risk.
“It will enable the carrier and air wing to get back underway as quickly as possible while ensuring the health and safety of our sailors,” Crozier said, adding that finding appropriate isolation for the crew “will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do.”
Modly told CNN that efforts are underway to help the ship, while also ensuring that the Navy and the U.S. military continue to protect the country.
“This is a unique circumstance,” he said. “And we’re working through it and trying to maintain that proper balance to ensure that our friends and allies, and most importantly our foes and adversaries out there, understand that we are not standing down the watch.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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Feel the Quarantine

For more A.F .
Branco cartoons , go to WesternJournal.com/opinion/cartoons .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all @ @ @ @ @ our editorial standards .

Bradley Cooper's latest role has not gone down well with everyone, particularly with regard to his use of a prosthetic nose.


westernjournal--2020-03-31--New Jersey Sends Ominous Warning After Breaking Up Large Gathering: ‘We Will Crash Your Party’

Some Americans are not taking the COVID-19 pandemic as seriously as they should be .
In New Jersey , that can be a punishable offense .
A party consisting of 47 people in Ewing Township was stopped by police Friday after they received an anonymous tip , according to WTXF-TV in nearby Philadelphia .
Wade Jackson , 47 , was charged with violating an executive order by organizing his “ corona party.
” New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy addressed the incident in a tweet Saturday .
“ Last night , Ewing Township Police broke up a party with 47 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a 550-square foot apartment , ” the Democrat said .
“ The organizer was charged , as they should have been and deserved to be .
This is not a game .
Stay home .
Be smart.
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Murphy had threatened to take such an action two days earlier , tweeting , “ Anybody who has a ‘ corona party ’ in New Jersey — we will crash your party .
And you will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There have been many other examples of citizens acting negligently in regard to the novel coronavirus .
On March 17 , spring breakers flooded Florida beaches despite calls from health officials to begin practicing social distancing .
In a video that has since gone viral , one spring breaker told Reuters , “ If I get corona , I get corona .
At the end of the day , I ’ m not gon na let it stop me from partying.
” Following the release of the video , an immense amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ron DeSantis to ensure that social distancing was being practiced in his state .
These stories showcase the delicate balancing act that local and state governments are performing during the COVID-19 pandemic .
In order to limit the spread , various government officials have issued executive orders that restrict Americans ’ constitutional liberties .
For example , New York Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to “ permanently ” shut down any house of worship that continues to hold services throughout the crisis .
“ If you go to your synagogue , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold services , after having been told so often not to , our enforcement agents will have no choice , but to shut down those services , ” de Blasio said during a news conference on Friday .
In addition to the First Amendment right to practice religion freely , it appears that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is under fire as well .
Several Democrat-run states and municipalities , such as Los Angeles County and New Jersey , have labeled gun stores as “ nonessential ” businesses that must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the crisis is over .
Many conservatives , including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , have pushed back against such policies .
State and local governments across the country will continue to weigh actions taken to protect the public from the coronavirus pandemic against the rights guaranteed under the Constitution .
It is becoming increasingly clear that following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s recommendations by limiting the number of large gatherings is vitally important in order to limit COVID-19 ’ s spread .
That being said , Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many freedoms they are willing to give up over the next several weeks and months in the name of safety .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Some Americans are not taking the COVID-19 pandemic as seriously as they should be. In New Jersey, that can be a punishable offense.
A party consisting of 47 people in Ewing Township was stopped by police Friday after they received an anonymous tip, according to WTXF-TV in nearby Philadelphia.
Wade Jackson, 47, was charged with violating an executive order by organizing his “corona party.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy addressed the incident in a tweet Saturday.
“Last night, Ewing Township Police broke up a party with 47 people – including a DJ – crammed into a 550-square foot apartment,” the Democrat said. “The organizer was charged, as they should have been and deserved to be. This is not a game. Stay home. Be smart.”
Last night, Ewing Township Police broke up a party with 47 people – including a DJ – crammed into a 550-square foot apartment. The organizer was charged, as they should have been and deserved to be. This is not a game. Stay home. Be smart. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 28, 2020
Murphy had threatened to take such an action two days earlier, tweeting, “Anybody who has a ‘corona party’ in New Jersey — we will crash your party. And you will pay a big price for that.”
Anybody who has a “corona party” in New Jersey – we will crash your party. And you will pay a big price for that. Stay home. Be smart. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 26, 2020
Was shutting down this party a government overreach? Yes No
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There have been many other examples of citizens acting negligently in regard to the novel coronavirus.
On March 17, spring breakers flooded Florida beaches despite calls from health officials to begin practicing social distancing.
In a video that has since gone viral, one spring breaker told Reuters, “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying.”
Following the release of the video, an immense amount of public pressure was put on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to ensure that social distancing was being practiced in his state.
These stories showcase the delicate balancing act that local and state governments are performing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to limit the spread, various government officials have issued executive orders that restrict Americans’ constitutional liberties.
For example, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to “permanently” shut down any house of worship that continues to hold services throughout the crisis.
“If you go to your synagogue, if you go to your church and attempt to hold services, after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice, but to shut down those services,” de Blasio said during a news conference on Friday.
In addition to the First Amendment right to practice religion freely, it appears that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is under fire as well.
Several Democrat-run states and municipalities, such as Los Angeles County and New Jersey, have labeled gun stores as “nonessential” businesses that must close for an indeterminate period of time until the crisis is over.
Many conservatives, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, have pushed back against such policies.
State and local governments across the country will continue to weigh actions taken to protect the public from the coronavirus pandemic against the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
It is becoming increasingly clear that following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations by limiting the number of large gatherings is vitally important in order to limit COVID-19’s spread.
That being said, Americans are going to have to decide just how many freedoms they are willing to give up over the next several weeks and months in the name of safety.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-03-31--While Dems Lie About Trump’s CDC Budget, Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts

You ’ d be forgiven for thinking that President Donald Trump had absolutely pillaged the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
That ’ s because the Democrats have made this claim a central part of their messaging .
“ They ’ ve cut the funding for the CDC , ” Joe Biden said on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” at the beginning of March .
“ They ’ ve cut the — the Centers for Disease Control .
They ’ ve cut the funding for — they ’ ve tried to cut the funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health.
” The former vice president doubled down on these arguments on Twitter just a few days ago : “ It ’ s never a matter of if another pandemic will happen , it ’ s just a matter of when — and it ’ s the president ’ s job to ensure we ’ re ready , ” Biden tweeted Friday .
“ Donald Trump ’ s careless , shortsighted actions left our nation ill-prepared and now Americans are paying the price.
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cuts He wasn ’ t the only one .
As FactCheck.org noted , former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg claimed during the Feb. 25 debate that Trump “ has defunded — he had defunded Centers for Disease Control , CDC , so we don ’ t have the organization we need.
” In the same debate , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that Trump had “ tried to cut back on the CDC.
” Two days later , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that “ [ t ] he Trump budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Centers for Disease Control .
And this was the budget which came out after we knew about the coronavirus threat.
” Now , Klobuchar and Pelosi ’ s claims were a bit more fact-based than Biden and Bloomberg ’ s .
But they ’ re still misleading .
Trump did not , in fact , successfully cut the CDC ’ s budget .
And while he did request budget cuts , it turns out former President Barack Obama did the exact same thing .
So , a bit of background : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget proposal to Congress .
This budget proposal is essentially a wish list .
Even if his party controls Congress — which is where the budget originates from — there ’ s nothing that says Congress needs to pay attention to it .
Realistically , of course , the budget could serve as a guide for lawmakers when it comes to what the White House ’ s priorities are .
At least this year , however , it doesn ’ t look like that ’ s going to be the case .
RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tells 360K People Hospital Is Out of Ventilators - It Wasn't Here ’ s what Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi , chairman of the Senate Budget Committee , had to say about the president ’ s 2021 budget proposal : “ Congress doesn ’ t pay any attention to the president ’ s budget exercise.
” He ’ s not even giving it a hearing .
Yes , the administration has proposed cuts to the CDC .
Congress has rejected them .
According to FactCheck.org , in the 2020 fiscal year budget , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in CDC funding ; Congress approved a budget that increased it by $ 420 million .
Trump signed it .
But , there still remains the fact Trump asked for a cut in CDC funding .
That looks bad — until you consider Obama did it in five out of his eight budget proposals .
“ In its fiscal year 2013 budget , while Biden was vice president , the Obama administration sought a total funding level of $ 5.9 billion from the CDC , or a $ 569 million cut from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fiscal year 2015 , the Obama administration wanted a $ 414 million cut year-over-year , and again in the fiscal year 2017 budget , the Obama administration looked to eliminate $ 251 million in CDC funding , ” Fox News reported Saturday .
“ The proposed cuts take into account money budgeted for The Prevention and Public Health Fund , which was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to bolster the nation ’ s health care system .
When not including that fund , the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight years.
” Obama also asked for a cut to immunization funding amid a measles outbreak in 2015 .
And yet , the claim that Trump and Trump alone has been responsible for cuts that haven ’ t happened has been coming out of the Biden campaign with the regularity of a drumbeat .
It ’ s not for lack of fact-checking .
FactCheck.org and The Associated Press have made it clear the claim is inaccurate .
“ Trump ’ s budgets have proposed cuts to public health , only to be overruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong bipartisan support for agencies such as the CDC and NIH .
Instead , financing has increased , ” the AP reported Feb. 26 .
“ Indeed , the money that government disease detectives first tapped to fight the latest outbreak was a congressional fund created for health emergencies .
“ Some public health experts say a bigger concern than White House budgets is the steady erosion of a CDC grant program for state and local public health emergency preparedness — the front lines in detecting and battling new disease .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional budget measure that predates Trump.
” This doesn ’ t get talked about very often because , well , we don ’ t talk that way about Saint Obama .
He couldn ’ t possibly have asked for the same sorts of cuts that President Trump did .
Like it or not , that ’ s the case .
Joe Biden , I would assume , knows this , given he was there in the White House when these cuts were proposed .
( Well , he was present . )
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the only way he can get play in the media these days .
The man who ’ s almost certain to win the Democratic presidential nomination has been almost entirely absent from the media discussion these past few weeks .
When he ’ s managed to pop his head up from wherever he ’ s been socially isolating , it hasn ’ t gone well .
Inaccurate at best and totally erroneous at worst , these claims need to be called out for what they are .
If the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must — or else this is going to be taken as gospel by voters when they go to the polls in November .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

You’d be forgiven for thinking that President Donald Trump had absolutely pillaged the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That’s because the Democrats have made this claim a central part of their messaging.
“They’ve cut the funding for the CDC,” Joe Biden said on ABC’s “This Week” at the beginning of March. “They’ve cut the — the Centers for Disease Control. They’ve cut the funding for — they’ve tried to cut the funding for NIH, the National Institute of Health.”
The former vice president doubled down on these arguments on Twitter just a few days ago: “It’s never a matter of if another pandemic will happen, it’s just a matter of when — and it’s the president’s job to ensure we’re ready,” Biden tweeted Friday. “Donald Trump’s careless, shortsighted actions left our nation ill-prepared and now Americans are paying the price.”
It’s never a matter of if another pandemic will happen, it’s just a matter of when — and it’s the president’s job to ensure we’re ready. Donald Trump’s careless, shortsighted actions left our nation ill-prepared and now Americans are paying the price. https://t.co/45GVHtxUHA — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 27, 2020
He wasn’t the only one. As FactCheck.org noted, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg claimed during the Feb. 25 debate that Trump “has defunded — he had defunded Centers for Disease Control, CDC, so we don’t have the organization we need.”
In the same debate, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that Trump had “tried to cut back on the CDC.”
Two days later, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that “[t]he Trump budget calls for slashing almost $700 million from the Centers for Disease Control. And this was the budget which came out after we knew about the coronavirus threat.”
Do you think that Donald Trump has managed the coronavirus crisis well? Yes No
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Now, Klobuchar and Pelosi’s claims were a bit more fact-based than Biden and Bloomberg’s. But they’re still misleading.
Trump did not, in fact, successfully cut the CDC’s budget. And while he did request budget cuts, it turns out former President Barack Obama did the exact same thing.
So, a bit of background: Every year, the president submits a budget proposal to Congress. This budget proposal is essentially a wish list.
Even if his party controls Congress — which is where the budget originates from — there’s nothing that says Congress needs to pay attention to it.
Realistically, of course, the budget could serve as a guide for lawmakers when it comes to what the White House’s priorities are. At least this year, however, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.
Here’s what Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, had to say about the president’s 2021 budget proposal: “Congress doesn’t pay any attention to the president’s budget exercise.” He’s not even giving it a hearing.
Yes, the administration has proposed cuts to the CDC. Congress has rejected them.
According to FactCheck.org, in the 2020 fiscal year budget, Trump proposed a $750.6 million cut in CDC funding; Congress approved a budget that increased it by $420 million. Trump signed it.
But, there still remains the fact Trump asked for a cut in CDC funding. That looks bad — until you consider Obama did it in five out of his eight budget proposals.
“In its fiscal year 2013 budget, while Biden was vice president, the Obama administration sought a total funding level of $5.9 billion from the CDC, or a $569 million cut from the 2012 budget of $6.46 billion. In fiscal year 2015, the Obama administration wanted a $414 million cut year-over-year, and again in the fiscal year 2017 budget, the Obama administration looked to eliminate $251 million in CDC funding,” Fox News reported Saturday.
“The proposed cuts take into account money budgeted for The Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to bolster the nation’s health care system. When not including that fund, the Obama administration sought CDC cuts in five of its eight years.”
Obama also asked for a cut to immunization funding amid a measles outbreak in 2015.
And yet, the claim that Trump and Trump alone has been responsible for cuts that haven’t happened has been coming out of the Biden campaign with the regularity of a drumbeat.
It’s not for lack of fact-checking. FactCheck.org and The Associated Press have made it clear the claim is inaccurate.
“Trump’s budgets have proposed cuts to public health, only to be overruled by Congress, where there’s strong bipartisan support for agencies such as the CDC and NIH. Instead, financing has increased,” the AP reported Feb. 26.
“Indeed, the money that government disease detectives first tapped to fight the latest outbreak was a congressional fund created for health emergencies.
“Some public health experts say a bigger concern than White House budgets is the steady erosion of a CDC grant program for state and local public health emergency preparedness — the front lines in detecting and battling new disease. But that decline was set in motion by a congressional budget measure that predates Trump.”
This doesn’t get talked about very often because, well, we don’t talk that way about Saint Obama. He couldn’t possibly have asked for the same sorts of cuts that President Trump did.
Like it or not, that’s the case. Joe Biden, I would assume, knows this, given he was there in the White House when these cuts were proposed. (Well, he was present.)
He’s hammering away at Trump because it’s the only way he can get play in the media these days. The man who’s almost certain to win the Democratic presidential nomination has been almost entirely absent from the media discussion these past few weeks. When he’s managed to pop his head up from wherever he’s been socially isolating, it hasn’t gone well.
Inaccurate at best and totally erroneous at worst, these claims need to be called out for what they are. If the media won’t do it, Republicans must — or else this is going to be taken as gospel by voters when they go to the polls in November.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-03-31--Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Democrats Play the Race Card

It was only a matter of time .
With huge portions of the American population on “ lockdown ” thanks to the coronavirus crisis and COVID-19 cases spreading rapidly , Democratic lawmakers have decided that a national emergency isn ’ t bad enough — it ’ s time to talk about racism , again .
And if that means federal health officials need to take valuable time counting irrelevancies so Democrats can continue playing identity politics in the face of a life-and-death enemy — get used to it .
It ’ s what Democrats do — and there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a letter sent Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , first reported by The Associated Press , Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley , both Massachusetts Democrats , demanded that health officials compile demographic data to identify COVID-19 cases so the all-important matter of skin color can be addressed .
“ Any attempt to contain COVID-19 in the United States will have to address its potential spread in low-income communities of color , first and foremost to protect the lives of people in those communities , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in the country as a whole , ” the lawmakers wrote .
“ This lack of information will exacerbate existing health disparities and result in the loss of lives in vulnerable communities.
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens .
Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey as well as Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois .
On its surface , the idea isn ’ t radical .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is most vulnerable to infection is an important step to managing the health risks .
But accepting that as the motivation behind Pressley and Warren ’ s letter would require accepting that leftist Democrats were making a good-faith effort to help the country grapple with a crisis of truly unprecedented scope .
And literally nothing Democrats have done in recent years has given rational Americans a reason to grant them the benefit of the doubt in matters of race or anything else .
While lots of liberals weighed in to support the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were plenty of social media users who understood what was really going on : RELATED : Ohio Jail Releases Hundreds To Protect Them from Coronavirus Despite No Known Cases The fact that all three senators who signed the letter were recent contenders for the Democratic Party ’ s presidential nomination is a pretty good indication that the motivation here isn ’ t so much an understanding of the virus as yet another use of victimhood as a political weapon .
And the wording of the letter — and its sourcing — makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go ( footnote numbers have been set apart in parentheses ) : “ Despite the clear vulnerability of people of color in this public health emergency , comprehensive demographic data on the racial and ethnic characteristics of people who are tested or treated for COVID-19 does not exist .
( 16 ) Health care providers have begun to express their concerns that Black and Hispanic people are less likely to have access to testing , which is crucial to tracking and containing the virus within a community .
( 17 ) They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjective criteria for which patients should receive a test could result in health care providers directing tests toward more affluent patients .
( 18 ) ” Those footnotes might look authoritative , but they all relate to the same article , published by the left-wing website BuzzFeed on March 22 headlined “ Doctors Are Concerned That Black Communities Might Not Be Getting Access To Coronavirus Tests.
” It might have been a coincidence that two of the four doctors cited in the BuzzFeed report are Dr. Cameron Webb , who ’ s running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 5th Congressional District , as The Roanoke ( Va. ) Times has reported , and his wife , Leigh-Ann Webb .
It ’ s not really hard to imagine a budding Democratic politician — a congressional hopeful , no less — would grab onto a racial issue to score political points .
For those who need a reminder , BuzzFeed News is probably best known for being the website that published the now-debunked “ Steele dossier ” that was the basis for the “ Russia collusion ” investigation that dogged President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In short , when Democratic presidential wannabes like Warren , Booker and Harris team up with leftists like Pressley ( a full-fledged member of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ’ s “ squad ” of radicals ) and Kelly ( and outspoken Trump opponent ) , and use as their argument an article published by a leftist organ like BuzzFeed , no sane American can assume politics is far behind .
The irony is that in another context , it would be easy to see how Democrats would paint information-gathering like this as incipient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the spread of the virus among Chinese American communities , for example , the likes of Ocasio-Cortez and Chuck Schumer would be howling as loudly as MSNBC and CNN audio monitors would allow .
But it ’ s Democrats doing the asking here , and no matter what they claim , the request won ’ t end up being about epidemiological data vitally needed to fight a health hazard that ’ s putting all Americans at risk .
It will be about Democrats playing the race card — again .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judging by this letter and who ’ s behind it , there ’ s going to be plenty more of it .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It was only a matter of time.
With huge portions of the American population on “lockdown” thanks to the coronavirus crisis and COVID-19 cases spreading rapidly, Democratic lawmakers have decided that a national emergency isn’t bad enough — it’s time to talk about racism, again.
And if that means federal health officials need to take valuable time counting irrelevancies so Democrats can continue playing identity politics in the face of a life-and-death enemy — get used to it. It’s what Democrats do — and there’s likely to be plenty more of it.
In a letter sent Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, first reported by The Associated Press, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, both Massachusetts Democrats, demanded that health officials compile demographic data to identify COVID-19 cases so the all-important matter of skin color can be addressed.
“Any attempt to contain COVID-19 in the United States will have to address its potential spread in low-income communities of color, first and foremost to protect the lives of people in those communities, but also to slow the spread of the virus in the country as a whole,” the lawmakers wrote. “This lack of information will exacerbate existing health disparities and result in the loss of lives in vulnerable communities.”
The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey as well as Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois.
On its surface, the idea isn’t radical. In any contagion situation, finding out who is most vulnerable to infection is an important step to managing the health risks.
But accepting that as the motivation behind Pressley and Warren’s letter would require accepting that leftist Democrats were making a good-faith effort to help the country grapple with a crisis of truly unprecedented scope.
And literally nothing Democrats have done in recent years has given rational Americans a reason to grant them the benefit of the doubt in matters of race or anything else.
While lots of liberals weighed in to support the idea — out of naivete or cynicism — there were plenty of social media users who understood what was really going on:
Of course they are. Because they are race baiting, modern day Al Sharptons. — Pablo Escobar (@pluglife2020) March 31, 2020
What does race have to do this? Are you serious right now!! — Sarah R Mahoney (@sassyromo) March 30, 2020
Because there is never a crisis Liberals won’t seize to try and make into to some racial division. The woke crowd is literally to retarded to function. — 24thCenturyBitcoin (@24thCenturyBTC) March 30, 2020
The fact that all three senators who signed the letter were recent contenders for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination is a pretty good indication that the motivation here isn’t so much an understanding of the virus as yet another use of victimhood as a political weapon.
And the wording of the letter — and its sourcing — makes clear what direction this is going to go (footnote numbers have been set apart in parentheses):
“Despite the clear vulnerability of people of color in this public health emergency, comprehensive demographic data on the racial and ethnic characteristics of people who are tested or treated for COVID-19 does not exist. (16) Health care providers have begun to express their concerns that Black and Hispanic people are less likely to have access to testing, which is crucial to tracking and containing the virus within a community. (17) They are also concerned that the CDC’s subjective criteria for which patients should receive a test could result in health care providers directing tests toward more affluent patients. (18)”
Those footnotes might look authoritative, but they all relate to the same article, published by the left-wing website BuzzFeed on March 22 headlined “Doctors Are Concerned That Black Communities Might Not Be Getting Access To Coronavirus Tests.”
It might have been a coincidence that two of the four doctors cited in the BuzzFeed report are Dr. Cameron Webb, who’s running for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, as The Roanoke (Va.) Times has reported, and his wife, Leigh-Ann Webb.
Do you think Democrats are trying to turn the coronavirus crisis into a race issue? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (1921 Votes) No: 0% (8 Votes)
It’s not really hard to imagine a budding Democratic politician — a congressional hopeful, no less — would grab onto a racial issue to score political points.
For those who need a reminder, BuzzFeed News is probably best known for being the website that published the now-debunked “Steele dossier” that was the basis for the “Russia collusion” investigation that dogged President Donald Trump’s first years in office.
In short, when Democratic presidential wannabes like Warren, Booker and Harris team up with leftists like Pressley (a full-fledged member of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “squad” of radicals) and Kelly (and outspoken Trump opponent), and use as their argument an article published by a leftist organ like BuzzFeed, no sane American can assume politics is far behind.
The irony is that in another context, it would be easy to see how Democrats would paint information-gathering like this as incipient racism. If Republicans demanded to know about the spread of the virus among Chinese American communities, for example, the likes of Ocasio-Cortez and Chuck Schumer would be howling as loudly as MSNBC and CNN audio monitors would allow.
But it’s Democrats doing the asking here, and no matter what they claim, the request won’t end up being about epidemiological data vitally needed to fight a health hazard that’s putting all Americans at risk.
It will be about Democrats playing the race card — again.
It was only a matter of time — but judging by this letter and who’s behind it, there’s going to be plenty more of it.
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westernjournal--2020-03-31--CNN’s Don Lemon Furious His Network Continues To Broadcast White House Coronavirus Briefing

Americans ’ prime source for unfiltered information about the battle against the coronavirus should be muzzled , according to CNN host Don Lemon .
Lemon and fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo were discussing live coverage of the coronavirus task force ’ s daily briefings Monday when Lemon said that coverage is a mistake , claiming that President Donald Trump uses the briefings to lie to the American people .
“ I have said , I don ’ t think you should really listen to what he says , ” Lemon said .
“ You should listen to what the experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually sure , if you want to be honest , that we should carry that live .
I think we should run snippets .
I think we should do it afterward and get the pertinent points to the American people .
Because he ’ s never , ever going to tell you the truth .
“ Guess what he ’ s going to do ?
If you ask a question that is a legitimate question , and if he doesn ’ t like the question , he ’ s going to say whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whatever he wants to call it , he ’ s going to say , ‘ That is a mean , nasty question . '
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Lemon said the president “ wants his base to think that the media is being mean to him and they ’ re attacking him .
It is all a plot .
It is all orchestrated .
And if you can ’ t see it , I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The CNN host likened Trump ’ s actions during the briefings to his work hosting the NBC reality show “ The Apprentice.
” “ It ’ s obvious , it ’ s transparent to me .
This has become , those press briefings have become his new ‘ Apprentice.
’ They ’ ve become his new rallies .
And he treats the press and the media as if he ’ s talking to the people in his rallies , ” Lemon said .
“ It ’ s the same thing .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just that the audience is not there.
” “ I ’ m saying play all of it .
I want to hear everything he has to say .
I want it all to be out there .
And I want him to be held to account , ” he said .
Cuomo also noted that Lemon was off base by saying Trump never told the truth .
“ What he said today was all truthful , you know ?
” he said .
CNN CEO Mark Zucker has said the briefings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and the health experts who speak , according to the Daily Beast .
“ It ’ s a very difficult decision , ” Zucker said .
“ As of now , we are going to continue to carry those briefings.
” On Monday , Trump sparred with CNN ’ s Jim Acosta after Acosta read the president a list of comments he had made calling for Americans to stay calm about the virus and then asked , “ What do you say to Americans who believe that you got this wrong ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what he expects Americans to do .
“ And I do want them to stay calm .
And we are doing a great job .
If you look at those individual statements , they ’ re all true .
Stay calm .
It will go away .
You know it — you know it is going away , and it will go away .
And we ’ re going to have a great victory , ” he said .
Then the president lowered the boom on Acosta and his network .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CNN that say things like that .
That — it ’ s why people just don ’ t want to listen to CNN anymore .
You could ask a normal question , ” Trump said , later adding , “ And instead of asking a nasty , snarky question like that , you should ask a real question.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Americans’ prime source for unfiltered information about the battle against the coronavirus should be muzzled, according to CNN host Don Lemon.
Lemon and fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo were discussing live coverage of the coronavirus task force’s daily briefings Monday when Lemon said that coverage is a mistake, claiming that President Donald Trump uses the briefings to lie to the American people.
“I have said, I don’t think you should really listen to what he says,” Lemon said. “You should listen to what the experts say.
“I’m not actually sure, if you want to be honest, that we should carry that live. I think we should run snippets. I think we should do it afterward and get the pertinent points to the American people. Because he’s never, ever going to tell you the truth.
“Guess what he’s going to do? If you ask a question that is a legitimate question, and if he doesn’t like the question, he’s going to say whether you’re being mean or not or whatever he wants to call it, he’s going to say, ‘That is a mean, nasty question.'”
Lemon said the president “wants his base to think that the media is being mean to him and they’re attacking him. It is all a plot. It is all orchestrated. And if you can’t see it, I don’t know what you’re looking at.”
The CNN host likened Trump’s actions during the briefings to his work hosting the NBC reality show “The Apprentice.”
“It’s obvious, it’s transparent to me. This has become, those press briefings have become his new ‘Apprentice.’ They’ve become his new rallies. And he treats the press and the media as if he’s talking to the people in his rallies,” Lemon said. “It’s the same thing. It’s no different. It’s just that the audience is not there.”
Cuomo disagreed.
“I’m saying play all of it. I want to hear everything he has to say. I want it all to be out there. And I want him to be held to account,” he said.
Cuomo also noted that Lemon was off base by saying Trump never told the truth.
“What he said today was all truthful, you know?” he said.
CNN CEO Mark Zucker has said the briefings are important because of the information provided by Trump and the health experts who speak, according to the Daily Beast.
“It’s a very difficult decision,” Zucker said. “As of now, we are going to continue to carry those briefings.”
On Monday, Trump sparred with CNN’s Jim Acosta after Acosta read the president a list of comments he had made calling for Americans to stay calm about the virus and then asked, “What do you say to Americans who believe that you got this wrong?”
First, Trump answered the question about what he expects Americans to do.
“And I do want them to stay calm. And we are doing a great job. If you look at those individual statements, they’re all true. Stay calm. It will go away. You know it — you know it is going away, and it will go away. And we’re going to have a great victory,” he said.
Then the president lowered the boom on Acosta and his network.
“And it’s people like you and CNN that say things like that. That — it’s why people just don’t want to listen to CNN anymore. You could ask a normal question,” Trump said, later adding, “And instead of asking a nasty, snarky question like that, you should ask a real question.”
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westernjournal--2020-03-31--Gov’t Finally Takes Over, Arrests Pastor for Holding Church Service in Violation of COVID Rules

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s never a particularly popular man among the conservative set , but there ’ s a line between progressivism and Constitution-baiting .
De Blasio crossed it and then some , saying that not only would places of worship face fines but could be shuttered for good .
At a Friday news conference , de Blasio said that if churches don ’ t respond to fines , authorities “ will take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently.
” “ No faith tradition endorses anything that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , the NYPD , Fire Department , Buildings Department , everyone has been instructed that if they see worship services going on , they will go to the officials of that congregation , they ’ ll inform them they need to stop the services and disperse , ” he said .
That ’ s basically nothing short of a guy standing outside the First Amendment ’ s house , drunkenly yelling at it to come out so they can fight .
I ’ ve seen these fights before and the drunk guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t de Blasio ’ s New York that ended up being the first to arrest a pastor for holding church services .
That honor ( probably not the right word ) goes to Hillsborough County , Florida , Sheriff Chad Chronister , who decided he had no choice but to arrest the head of a Tampa church that was continuing to worship .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts According to NBC News , Rodney Howard-Browne , head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday by sheriff ’ s deputies after a Sunday service .
“ Last night I made the decision to seek an arrest warrant for the pastor of a local church who intentionally and repeatedly chose to disregard the orders set in place by our president , our governor , the CDC and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group , ” Chronister said Monday .
“ His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people from his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contact with the church and told it not to hold in-person services , but goshdarnit , the church just refused to listen .
“ Dr .
Ronald Howard-Browne refused requests to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church and instead he was encouraging his large congregation to meet at his church , ” Chronister said , according to NBC .
“ Pastor Howard-Browne ’ s actions were a direct violation of Executive Order 20-5 , which went into effect on March 20 , limiting gatherings — including faith-based gatherings — to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De Blasio Threatens To 'Permanently ' Shutter Churches That Continue To Hold Worship Services Chronister was apparently misinformed about the efficacy of dealing with a sensitive situation by spouting hyperadministrative gobbledygook .
What part of Executive Order 20-5 did you not understand , Dr. Howard-Browne ?
A video of the service shows a church that wasn ’ t packed but worshippers closer together than six feet of distancing between congregants , NBC reported .
In a statement , Mat Staver , a lawyer for the church , said it was practicing social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to NBC .
“ They ’ re trying to beat me up , you know , having the church operational , ” Howard-Browne told the congregation on Sunday , according to NBC .
“ But we are not a nonessential service.
” He also said that worshippers shouldn ’ t talk to outsiders about the services .
“ My encouragement to you is not to talk to these people because they ’ re not looking for the truth , ” he said , according to NBC .
“ They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut the church down.
” Now , was going ahead with a large service that gathered hundreds of people together a smart decision in the face of the coronavirus threat ?
No , in italics .
Was arresting the head of the church for holding services smart ?
No , and it wasn ’ t constitutional , either .
The idea that constitutionally protected activities — particularly the freedom to worship — are subject to the whims of government , even in an emergency , is a dubious one .
It hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people agree with social distancing .
However , most states allow for essential services to remain open .
In New Jersey , for instance , the executive order clamping down on movement allowed liquor stores and print shops to remain open .
If you can get booze and get fliers printed , you should also be able to go to church , particularly when you consider the explicit constitutional protections for religion .
“ The problem with this administrative order is it was not reviewed by constitutional experts or vetted by a deliberative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Shutting down the ability to worship freely hasn ’ t been tested yet — and , according to constitutional law professor and author KrisAnne Hall , it ’ s not a right the government can suspend .
“ These laws try to justify unequal application based upon the definition of essential services .
By what authority does the government declare the church nonessential ?
” Hall wrote in an Op-Ed for The Western Journal published Sunday .
“ The Church is a place where people turn for help and for comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a time of crisis , people are fearful and in need of comfort and community , more than ever before .
Even people who do not attend church regularly , or perhaps never go to church , need to know that there is somewhere for them to go when they need help … “ There is nothing in the law or precedent to establish a blanket and arbitrary assertion of ‘ state of emergency ’ as an unquestionable authority , ” she continued .
“ There is also nothing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the number of people who can assemble in a church , for health reasons or otherwise , as a criterion for denying the essential right of freedom of religion.
” The issue is there ’ s really no precedent for the current situation , of course .
It ’ s curious that authorities would decide to test the waters on this .
If there ’ s anything that ’ s bound to raise certain Americans ’ hackles , it ’ s taking away their constitutional rights in a focused manner .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulgar hashtag , I ’ d just like to make something clear : I .
Do .
Not .
Endorse .
This .
The ability to do something constitutionally protected and actually doing it are two different things .
Rodney Howard-Browne is hardly the smartest pastor that I ’ ve come across and the congregants at the River at Tampa Bay Church probably ought to check themselves before they wreck themselves .
Then again , there ’ s also a danger to shoppers putting their grimy mitts all over Walmart shelves as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one has decided to thoroughly crack down upon this with the ostentatious alacrity that the likes of de Blasio and Chronister have with church services , even though there ’ s no constitutional right to TP .
There is , however , the freedom to assemble and freedom of religion , both front-loaded right at the very top of the Bill of Rights .
They ’ re both unpopular right now , and justifiably so .
That said , officials like Sheriff Chronister and Mayor de Blasio are hardly making things better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that drunken brawl with the First Amendment .
It ’ s a battle they ’ ll potentially lose , and one that has critical implications not just for our ability to fight coronavirus but also maintain our constitutional rights .
If the government can suspend those rights now , there ’ s nothing to stop it from doing so in the future , and not just in the face of a pandemic .
When the government takes a little bit of rope from us , it doesn ’ t give it back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and we will contain it — it ’ s high time we consider what kind of country we ’ re going to be on the other side .
It doesn ’ t look like a pretty picture from here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s never a particularly popular man among the conservative set, but there’s a line between progressivism and Constitution-baiting. De Blasio crossed it and then some, saying that not only would places of worship face fines but could be shuttered for good.
At a Friday news conference, de Blasio said that if churches don’t respond to fines, authorities “will take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently.”
“No faith tradition endorses anything that endangers the members of that faith. So, the NYPD, Fire Department, Buildings Department, everyone has been instructed that if they see worship services going on, they will go to the officials of that congregation, they’ll inform them they need to stop the services and disperse,” he said.
That’s basically nothing short of a guy standing outside the First Amendment’s house, drunkenly yelling at it to come out so they can fight. I’ve seen these fights before and the drunk guy usually loses.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t de Blasio’s New York that ended up being the first to arrest a pastor for holding church services. That honor (probably not the right word) goes to Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff Chad Chronister, who decided he had no choice but to arrest the head of a Tampa church that was continuing to worship.
#Breaking: @HCSOSheriff issues arrest warrants for Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne after, despite warnings, the River at Tampa Bay Church defiantly held two religious services Sunday in defiance of Hillsborough County‘s “safer at home“ order. pic.twitter.com/vG9s6I84Kc — Eric Glasser WTSP (@EricGlasserWTSP) March 30, 2020
According to NBC News, Rodney Howard-Browne, head of the River at Tampa Bay Church was arrested on Monday by sheriff’s deputies after a Sunday service.
“Last night I made the decision to seek an arrest warrant for the pastor of a local church who intentionally and repeatedly chose to disregard the orders set in place by our president, our governor, the CDC and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group,” Chronister said Monday.
Do you think this pastor should have been arrested? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 27% (77 Votes) No: 73% (206 Votes)
“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people from his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger.”
Chronister said authorities had been in contact with the church and told it not to hold in-person services, but goshdarnit, the church just refused to listen.
“Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne refused requests to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church and instead he was encouraging his large congregation to meet at his church,” Chronister said, according to NBC.
“Pastor Howard-Browne’s actions were a direct violation of Executive Order 20-5, which went into effect on March 20, limiting gatherings — including faith-based gatherings — to less than 10 people.”
Chronister was apparently misinformed about the efficacy of dealing with a sensitive situation by spouting hyperadministrative gobbledygook. What part of Executive Order 20-5 did you not understand, Dr. Howard-Browne?
(For the record, Chronister is a Republican — like most sheriffs in Florida — but told The Tampa Bay Times in a profile published in October that he’s “the most Democratic of Republicans.”)
A video of the service shows a church that wasn’t packed but worshippers closer together than six feet of distancing between congregants, NBC reported. In a statement, Mat Staver, a lawyer for the church, said it was practicing social distancing and providing safety items like hand sanitizer, according to NBC.
“They’re trying to beat me up, you know, having the church operational,” Howard-Browne told the congregation on Sunday, according to NBC. “But we are not a nonessential service.”
He also said that worshippers shouldn’t talk to outsiders about the services.
“My encouragement to you is not to talk to these people because they’re not looking for the truth,” he said, according to NBC. “They’re just trying to find an angle to shut the church down.”
Now, was going ahead with a large service that gathered hundreds of people together a smart decision in the face of the coronavirus threat? No, in italics. Was arresting the head of the church for holding services smart? No, and it wasn’t constitutional, either.
The idea that constitutionally protected activities — particularly the freedom to worship — are subject to the whims of government, even in an emergency, is a dubious one. It hasn’t been challenged in court because most people agree with social distancing.
However, most states allow for essential services to remain open. In New Jersey, for instance, the executive order clamping down on movement allowed liquor stores and print shops to remain open. If you can get booze and get fliers printed, you should also be able to go to church, particularly when you consider the explicit constitutional protections for religion.
“The problem with this administrative order is it was not reviewed by constitutional experts or vetted by a deliberative body,” Staver said in the statement.
Shutting down the ability to worship freely hasn’t been tested yet — and, according to constitutional law professor and author KrisAnne Hall, it’s not a right the government can suspend.
“These laws try to justify unequal application based upon the definition of essential services. By what authority does the government declare the church nonessential?” Hall wrote in an Op-Ed for The Western Journal published Sunday.
“The Church is a place where people turn for help and for comfort in a climate of fear and uncertainty. In a time of crisis, people are fearful and in need of comfort and community, more than ever before. Even people who do not attend church regularly, or perhaps never go to church, need to know that there is somewhere for them to go when they need help …
“There is nothing in the law or precedent to establish a blanket and arbitrary assertion of ‘state of emergency’ as an unquestionable authority,” she continued. “There is also nothing in the law or precedent to support a restriction on the number of people who can assemble in a church, for health reasons or otherwise, as a criterion for denying the essential right of freedom of religion.”
The issue is there’s really no precedent for the current situation, of course. It’s curious that authorities would decide to test the waters on this. If there’s anything that’s bound to raise certain Americans’ hackles, it’s taking away their constitutional rights in a focused manner.
Before you rouse me on Twitter with a vulgar hashtag, I’d just like to make something clear: I. Do. Not. Endorse. This. The ability to do something constitutionally protected and actually doing it are two different things. Rodney Howard-Browne is hardly the smartest pastor that I’ve come across and the congregants at the River at Tampa Bay Church probably ought to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
Then again, there’s also a danger to shoppers putting their grimy mitts all over Walmart shelves as they further denude the store of Charmin. No one has decided to thoroughly crack down upon this with the ostentatious alacrity that the likes of de Blasio and Chronister have with church services, even though there’s no constitutional right to TP.
There is, however, the freedom to assemble and freedom of religion, both front-loaded right at the very top of the Bill of Rights. They’re both unpopular right now, and justifiably so. That said, officials like Sheriff Chronister and Mayor de Blasio are hardly making things better by setting themselves on a crash course for that drunken brawl with the First Amendment.
It’s a battle they’ll potentially lose, and one that has critical implications not just for our ability to fight coronavirus but also maintain our constitutional rights.
If the government can suspend those rights now, there’s nothing to stop it from doing so in the future, and not just in the face of a pandemic. When the government takes a little bit of rope from us, it doesn’t give it back easily.
As we contain this virus — and we will contain it — it’s high time we consider what kind of country we’re going to be on the other side. It doesn’t look like a pretty picture from here.
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-03-31--California Fire Dept. Goes Grocery Shopping for Those Who Can’t During COVID-19 Outbreak

Firefighters in Glendale , California , are going the extra mile to help at-risk individuals amid the coronavirus pandemic .
After California urged those particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus to isolate , the Glendale Fire Department started encouraging its firefighters to pick up groceries for seniors and other residents with underlying health issues .
Glendale Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas told the Glendale News-Press that many of the older people who are in self-isolation may not be able to use technology to get their needs covered .
Lanzas asked the Glendale Firefighters Association whether any of its members would want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the essential services they need like food and medical prescriptions.
” “ I put out a memo [ on March 17 ] to the organization asking for volunteers who would be interested and , frankly , I ’ ve been overwhelmed by the response , ” he said .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Dozens of firefighters have since volunteered to take orders and purchase whatever is on the grocery lists of those in need after they get off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , ” Lanzas told KTTV .
“ We have over 100 volunteers that are coming in off-duty — helping them by going to the store , shopping … and delivering them to these seniors and other vulnerable people.
” Though firefighters themselves can ’ t stop the coronavirus , Lanzas said they ’ re trying to do what they can .
“ As firefighters , we want to help .
We want to solve the problem .
This one we can ’ t really solve , but we can certainly support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not an easy task at the moment , even for these local heroes who usually fight fires .
Just like everyone else , they are struggling to find everything that residents need because essential items are flying off the shelves far quicker due to high demand .
“ It ’ s hard enough with us having the time , looking for it , so I could imagine the challenge would be for an elderly person or some with any underlying issues out here , ” firefighter Dylan Butcher said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift or a long couple nights , but it ’ s for the good of the community — especially at a time like this.
” The Glendale Fire Department receives orders for groceries , medications and other essential items via phone call .
They then send a firefighter to retrieve the items .
After they complete the shopping trip , first responders present the resident with the receipt so that the department can be repaid .
However , they don ’ t require any payment for the delivery .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with this population , we want to encourage them to stay at home so that we can flatten the curve of this disease and this is just helping to do our part , ” Lanzas told the News-Press .
“ Remember , the fire department is always here for you when you need us , ” Lanzas said in a video posted to Twitter on March 17 , “ and together we will get through this.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our @ @ @

Firefighters in Glendale, California, are going the extra mile to help at-risk individuals amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After California urged those particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus to isolate, the Glendale Fire Department started encouraging its firefighters to pick up groceries for seniors and other residents with underlying health issues.
Glendale Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas told the Glendale News-Press that many of the older people who are in self-isolation may not be able to use technology to get their needs covered.
Lanzas asked the Glendale Firefighters Association whether any of its members would want to help the “vulnerable population receive some of the essential services they need like food and medical prescriptions.”
“I put out a memo [on March 17] to the organization asking for volunteers who would be interested and, frankly, I’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” he said.
Dozens of firefighters have since volunteered to take orders and purchase whatever is on the grocery lists of those in need after they get off work.
“Our fire department stepped up,” Lanzas told KTTV. “We have over 100 volunteers that are coming in off-duty — helping them by going to the store, shopping … and delivering them to these seniors and other vulnerable people.”
Has a stay-at-home order been issued in your state? Yes No
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Though firefighters themselves can’t stop the coronavirus, Lanzas said they’re trying to do what they can.
“As firefighters, we want to help. We want to solve the problem. This one we can’t really solve, but we can certainly support,” he said.
But grocery shopping is not an easy task at the moment, even for these local heroes who usually fight fires. Just like everyone else, they are struggling to find everything that residents need because essential items are flying off the shelves far quicker due to high demand.
“It’s hard enough with us having the time, looking for it, so I could imagine the challenge would be for an elderly person or some with any underlying issues out here,” firefighter Dylan Butcher said.
“It’s not easy to come off shift or a long couple nights, but it’s for the good of the community — especially at a time like this.”
The Glendale Fire Department receives orders for groceries, medications and other essential items via phone call.
They then send a firefighter to retrieve the items. After they complete the shopping trip, first responders present the resident with the receipt so that the department can be repaid.
However, they don’t require any payment for the delivery.
“It’s an out-of-the-box idea but we feel that, with this population, we want to encourage them to stay at home so that we can flatten the curve of this disease and this is just helping to do our part,” Lanzas told the News-Press.
If you are a senior, or individual with high risk exposure to the Corona Virus residing in Glendale and unable to leave your home for food, medications or other special needs, we ask that you please call us at (818) 548-4814 from 8:00 am- 5:00 pm Monday-Friday. pic.twitter.com/mD5JziCMaJ — Glendale Fire Department CA (@GlendaleFireCA) March 18, 2020
“Remember, the fire department is always here for you when you need us,” Lanzas said in a video posted to Twitter on March 17, “and together we will get through this.”
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