freebeacon--2020-03-10--Saudi Arabia, Russia Raise Stakes in Oil Price War

DUBAI/MOSCOW ( Reuters ) – Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would increase its crude oil supply to a record high , raising the stakes in its price war with Russia and effectively rejecting Moscow ’ s overtures for new talks .
The clash of the two oil titans sparked a 25 % slump in oil prices on Monday , triggering panic selling and heavy losses on Wall Street ’ s main stock indexes , already hit badly by the coronavirus outbreak .
On Tuesday , Amin Nasser , chief executive of Saudi Aramco ( 2222.SE ) said the oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barrels per day ( bpd ) in April for customers inside the kingdom and abroad .
That ’ s 300,000 bpd above its maximum production capacity , indicating Aramco may also free up crude from storage .
Saudi Arabia has also agreed with Kuwait to resume output from jointly operated oilfields in the so-called Neutral Zone , production which is not accounted for under Aramco ’ s output capacity of 12 million bpd .
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Russia ’ s ambassador to the United States on Monday that energy markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising concerns that extra supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia could trigger bankruptcies among higher-cost U.S. shale oil producers .
Saudi Arabia has been pumping around 9.7 million bpd in the past few months .
The kingdom holds hundreds of millions of barrels of oil in storage so its can supply oil above its production capacity .
Brent oil prices jumped 10 % on Tuesday above $ 37 per barrel after Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was ready to discuss new measures with OPEC , effectively offering an olive branch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman appeared to rebuffed the idea .
`` I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures , '' Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters .
Riyadh ’ s unprecedented hike in crude supply follows the collapse of talks between OPEC and other producers led by Russia – a grouping known as OPEC+ – which had sought to extend their joint efforts to curb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three years of cooperation among OPEC+ producers ended in acrimony on Friday after Moscow refused to support deeper production cuts to support prices hit by the coronavirus outbreak .
OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own output .
Oil prices plunged as the development revived fears of a repeat of the 2014 price crash , when Saudi Arabia and Russia fought for market share with U.S. shale oil producers , which have never participated in agreed output curbs .
Russia ’ s energy ministry has called a meeting with oil companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OPEC , two sources told Reuters .
Novak said Russian oil companies may boost output by up to 300,000 bpd , and that the country ’ s producers have the potential to increase output by 500,000 bpd .
OPEC+ has been effectively cutting production by 2.1 million bpd led by Saudi Arabia , which has been reducing its output by more than agreed .
Russia and Saudi Arabia have both accumulated vast financial cushions that will help them weather a lengthy price war .
Aramco shares were up 9.5 % at 31.05 riyals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below its December IPO price of 32 riyals .
Reporting by Rania El Gamal ; editing by Maha El Dahan and Jason Neely

By Rania El Gamal, Olesya Astakhova
DUBAI/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would increase its crude oil supply to a record high, raising the stakes in its price war with Russia and effectively rejecting Moscow’s overtures for new talks.
The clash of the two oil titans sparked a 25% slump in oil prices on Monday, triggering panic selling and heavy losses on Wall Street’s main stock indexes, already hit badly by the coronavirus outbreak.
On Tuesday, Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) said the oil giant would increase supply to 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April for customers inside the kingdom and abroad.
That’s 300,000 bpd above its maximum production capacity, indicating Aramco may also free up crude from storage.
Saudi Arabia has also agreed with Kuwait to resume output from jointly operated oilfields in the so-called Neutral Zone, production which is not accounted for under Aramco’s output capacity of 12 million bpd.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Russia’s ambassador to the United States on Monday that energy markets needed to stay "orderly" amid rising concerns that extra supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia could trigger bankruptcies among higher-cost U.S. shale oil producers.
Saudi Arabia has been pumping around 9.7 million bpd in the past few months. The kingdom holds hundreds of millions of barrels of oil in storage so its can supply oil above its production capacity.
Brent oil prices jumped 10% on Tuesday above $37 per barrel after Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was ready to discuss new measures with OPEC, effectively offering an olive branch to Riyadh.
But Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman appeared to rebuffed the idea.
"I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures," Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters.
Riyadh’s unprecedented hike in crude supply follows the collapse of talks between OPEC and other producers led by Russia - a grouping known as OPEC+ - which had sought to extend their joint efforts to curb supply beyond the end of March.
Three years of cooperation among OPEC+ producers ended in acrimony on Friday after Moscow refused to support deeper production cuts to support prices hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own output. Oil prices plunged as the development revived fears of a repeat of the 2014 price crash, when Saudi Arabia and Russia fought for market share with U.S. shale oil producers, which have never participated in agreed output curbs.
MEETING IN MOSCOW
Russia’s energy ministry has called a meeting with oil companies on Wednesday to discuss future cooperation with OPEC, two sources told Reuters.
Novak said Russian oil companies may boost output by up to 300,000 bpd, and that the country’s producers have the potential to increase output by 500,000 bpd.
OPEC+ has been effectively cutting production by 2.1 million bpd led by Saudi Arabia, which has been reducing its output by more than agreed.
Russia and Saudi Arabia have both accumulated vast financial cushions that will help them weather a lengthy price war.
Aramco shares were up 9.5% at 31.05 riyals at 1052 GMT, but still trading below its December IPO price of 32 riyals.
Reporting by Rania El Gamal; editing by Maha El Dahan and Jason Neely


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Kentucky House Passes Constitutional Amendment Specifying There’s No Right to Abortion

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed two pro-life bills , including legislation that seeks to amend the state constitution to specify that it provides no legal right to an abortion .
`` To protect human life , nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion , '' the amendment proposed in the bill states .
The bill received bipartisan support , passing in a 71-21 vote on Tuesday .
The bill 's sponsor , Rep. Joe Fischer ( R. ) , said it would `` end the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' according to the Courier Journal .
The amendment still faces a vote in the state senate , after which it would be put to a referendum from Kentucky voters if it receives support from three-fifths of the senate .
The referendum would occur in the fall .
Democratic lawmakers criticized the amendment for being `` arrogant '' and `` patronizing , '' and they said it would worsen economic disparities for low-income women .
They also criticized the amendment for not including exceptions for incest , rape , or health of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second bill expanding the state attorney general 's ability to regulate abortion facilities .
The bill allows the attorney general to pursue civil or criminal penalties if an abortion facility fails to meet regulatory requirements .
The issue of abortion was at the forefront of Kentucky 's gubernatorial election in 2019 .
Pro-choice Democrat Andy Beshear narrowly defeated Republican Matt Bevin and criticized Bevin for being too extreme on abortion .
The Susan B. Anthony List , a pro-life group , said Kentucky residents should have an opportunity to decide whether the amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens of Kentucky , who elected Daniel Cameron as their strong pro-life attorney general , deserve the chance to make their voices heard on life directly at the ballot box , '' Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told the Free Beacon .

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed two pro-life bills, including legislation that seeks to amend the state constitution to specify that it provides no legal right to an abortion.
"To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion," the amendment proposed in the bill states. The bill received bipartisan support, passing in a 71-21 vote on Tuesday.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Fischer (R.), said it would "end the slaughter of unborn children in Kentucky," according to the Courier Journal.
The amendment still faces a vote in the state senate, after which it would be put to a referendum from Kentucky voters if it receives support from three-fifths of the senate. The referendum would occur in the fall.
Democratic lawmakers criticized the amendment for being "arrogant" and "patronizing," and they said it would worsen economic disparities for low-income women. They also criticized the amendment for not including exceptions for incest, rape, or health of the mother.
The chamber also passed a second bill expanding the state attorney general's ability to regulate abortion facilities. The bill allows the attorney general to pursue civil or criminal penalties if an abortion facility fails to meet regulatory requirements.
The issue of abortion was at the forefront of Kentucky's gubernatorial election in 2019. Pro-choice Democrat Andy Beshear narrowly defeated Republican Matt Bevin and criticized Bevin for being too extreme on abortion.
The Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group, said Kentucky residents should have an opportunity to decide whether the amendment would go into effect.
"The citizens of Kentucky, who elected Daniel Cameron as their strong pro-life attorney general, deserve the chance to make their voices heard on life directly at the ballot box," Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told the Free Beacon.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Biden Deploys Debunked Attack in Attempt to Capitalize on Coronavirus

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is working to capitalize on President Donald Trump 's management of the coronavirus crisis , accusing the Trump administration of `` severe shortcomings '' in its response to the pandemic .
But Biden deployed an already-debunked Democratic talking point in Thursday remarks aimed at showcasing his own ability to lead the country through the crisis .
The former vice president falsely stated that the Trump administration has cut investments in global health , a claim the Washington Post ’ s fact checker rated `` Three Pinocchios '' just days ago .
`` By cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has left us woefully unprepared for the exact crisis we now face , '' Biden said in his address .
The attack mirrored a February tweet from Sen. Chris Murphy ( D. , Conn. ) that accused Trump of shutting down `` 37 of 47 global anti-pandemic programs . ''
Both Biden and Murphy were referring to the Global Health Security Agenda ( GHSA ) , which the United States helped fund through a $ 600 million supplemental package to the CDC in 2015 .
As the initial funding dwindled in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration would scale back GHSA operations in all but 10 countries .
But the cuts never happened , and the Trump administration ’ s proposed 2021 budget includes an increase in the GHSA ’ s annual appropriation .
`` Murphy jumped to conclusions , assuming the funding reductions had gone into effect and the programs in nearly 40 countries were closed , '' the Post wrote in March .
`` But that 's not correct.… The Trump administration backed off and now appears to fully support GHSA . ''
The Biden campaign did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump administration ’ s requested CDC funding in 2021 includes $ 175 million for global health security , up from $ 125 million in 2020 .
The CDC currently operates in more than 60 countries under its current funding , and the Trump administration committed to extending GHSA funding beyond 2021 .
`` To ensure these successes continue their trajectory and maintain momentum , the administration has affirmed its commitment to strengthening global health security and fully supports the next phase , the GHSA 2024 , '' the White House budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden appeared to attack the Trump administration for general cuts in CDC funding , saying , `` Our government 's ability to respond effectively has been undermined by hollowing out our agencies . ''
But the Obama administration also proposed cuts to the CDC 's budget before the 2014 Ebola outbreak .
According to the CDC , Obama requested $ 4.99 billion in 2013 CDC funding , down from $ 6.31 billion in 2010 , $ 6.26 billion in 2011 , and $ 5.81 billion in 2012 .
Biden also called for measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has already adopted .
The former vice president called the administration 's effort to test for the virus a failure , adding that `` Anyone who needs to be tested based on medical guidance should be tested at no charge . ''
The White House on Tuesday announced that insurance companies would waive all copays on coronavirus testing .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is working to capitalize on President Donald Trump's management of the coronavirus crisis, accusing the Trump administration of "severe shortcomings" in its response to the pandemic.
But Biden deployed an already-debunked Democratic talking point in Thursday remarks aimed at showcasing his own ability to lead the country through the crisis. The former vice president falsely stated that the Trump administration has cut investments in global health, a claim the Washington Post’s fact checker rated "Three Pinocchios" just days ago.
"By cutting our investment in global health, this administration has left us woefully unprepared for the exact crisis we now face," Biden said in his address. The attack mirrored a February tweet from Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) that accused Trump of shutting down "37 of 47 global anti-pandemic programs."
Both Biden and Murphy were referring to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), which the United States helped fund through a $600 million supplemental package to the CDC in 2015. As the initial funding dwindled in early 2018, reports emerged suggesting the Trump administration would scale back GHSA operations in all but 10 countries. But the cuts never happened, and the Trump administration’s proposed 2021 budget includes an increase in the GHSA’s annual appropriation.
"Murphy jumped to conclusions, assuming the funding reductions had gone into effect and the programs in nearly 40 countries were closed," the Post wrote in March. "But that's not correct.… The Trump administration backed off and now appears to fully support GHSA."
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration’s requested CDC funding in 2021 includes $175 million for global health security, up from $125 million in 2020. The CDC currently operates in more than 60 countries under its current funding, and the Trump administration committed to extending GHSA funding beyond 2021.
"To ensure these successes continue their trajectory and maintain momentum, the administration has affirmed its commitment to strengthening global health security and fully supports the next phase, the GHSA 2024," the White House budget proposal states.
In his address, Biden appeared to attack the Trump administration for general cuts in CDC funding, saying, "Our government's ability to respond effectively has been undermined by hollowing out our agencies." But the Obama administration also proposed cuts to the CDC's budget before the 2014 Ebola outbreak. According to the CDC, Obama requested $4.99 billion in 2013 CDC funding, down from $6.31 billion in 2010, $6.26 billion in 2011, and $5.81 billion in 2012.
Biden also called for measures to fight the coronavirus that the Trump administration has already adopted. The former vice president called the administration's effort to test for the virus a failure, adding that "Anyone who needs to be tested based on medical guidance should be tested at no charge." The White House on Tuesday announced that insurance companies would waive all copays on coronavirus testing.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Supreme Court to Shut Doors to Public Amid Wuhan Virus Pandemic

The Supreme Court building will close to the public as of Thursday afternoon , given continued concerns over the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus .
Though access to much of the building is restricted , its public areas include spaces where law clerks , court police , and other employees interact with hundreds of visitors daily , including bathrooms , a cafeteria , and the courtroom itself .
`` Out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees , the Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public from 4:30 p.m. on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' a statement on the Court 's website reads .
`` The Building will remain open for official business . ''
The Court did not indicate whether it will proceed with its next argument session , called a sitting .
The next sitting begins March 23 and runs until April 1 .
The Court is set to consider several high-profile cases during that period , including subpoenas for President Donald Trump 's financial records and whether two Catholic schools can exercise an exemption from employment bias suits .
Older individuals with preexisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infections , according to the World Health Organization .
Several members of the Court qualify as high-risk persons .
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , 86 , has a coronary stent and is a four-time cancer survivor .
Justices Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas are 81 and 71 , respectively , though neither is known to have serious ailments .
Several of the Court 's longstanding traditions afford opportunities for transmission of the virus .
The justices shake hands with one another before taking the bench for argument and do so again when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court , a nonpartisan judicial watchdog , said the Court should consider livestreaming arguments to ensure normal business continues without risk to the justices .
While the Supreme Court 's proceedings are open to the public , cameras are not permitted and audio recordings are not released until the Friday following a particular argument .
`` Given the crowds that often gather in and around the Supreme Court , not to mention the advanced age of several of the justices , it 's the right call to close the building to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gabe Roth said .
`` That said , if this state of affairs continues through March 23 , the next time the justices hear arguments , the Court should at a minimum permit the public to listen to a livestream of argument audio from its website . ''
`` Live audio is the smartest way to balance the now-competing concerns of public safety and public access , '' Roth added .
The Court has canceled sittings before .
The justices recessed for one month in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The justices generally sit from October to late June , followed by a summer hiatus .
Suspension of public proceedings would necessarily extend the Court 's business deep into July .
Cold War-era contingency measures provided that the Supreme Court would relocate to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville , N.C. , in the event of a national emergency .
Contemporary security plans are unknown .

The Supreme Court building will close to the public as of Thursday afternoon, given continued concerns over the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.
Though access to much of the building is restricted, its public areas include spaces where law clerks, court police, and other employees interact with hundreds of visitors daily, including bathrooms, a cafeteria, and the courtroom itself.
"Out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees, the Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public from 4:30 p.m. on March 12, 2020, until further notice," a statement on the Court's website reads. "The Building will remain open for official business."
The Court did not indicate whether it will proceed with its next argument session, called a sitting. The next sitting begins March 23 and runs until April 1. The Court is set to consider several high-profile cases during that period, including subpoenas for President Donald Trump's financial records and whether two Catholic schools can exercise an exemption from employment bias suits.
Older individuals with preexisting medical conditions are especially susceptible to serious coronavirus infections, according to the World Health Organization. Several members of the Court qualify as high-risk persons. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 86, has a coronary stent and is a four-time cancer survivor. Justices Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas are 81 and 71, respectively, though neither is known to have serious ailments.
Several of the Court's longstanding traditions afford opportunities for transmission of the virus. The justices shake hands with one another before taking the bench for argument and do so again when meeting in private conference.
Fix the Court, a nonpartisan judicial watchdog, said the Court should consider livestreaming arguments to ensure normal business continues without risk to the justices. While the Supreme Court's proceedings are open to the public, cameras are not permitted and audio recordings are not released until the Friday following a particular argument.
"Given the crowds that often gather in and around the Supreme Court, not to mention the advanced age of several of the justices, it's the right call to close the building to the public until further notice," executive director Gabe Roth said. "That said, if this state of affairs continues through March 23, the next time the justices hear arguments, the Court should at a minimum permit the public to listen to a livestream of argument audio from its website."
"Live audio is the smartest way to balance the now-competing concerns of public safety and public access," Roth added.
The Court has canceled sittings before. The justices recessed for one month in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic. The move is a dramatic one, however. The justices generally sit from October to late June, followed by a summer hiatus. Suspension of public proceedings would necessarily extend the Court's business deep into July.
Cold War-era contingency measures provided that the Supreme Court would relocate to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., in the event of a national emergency. Contemporary security plans are unknown.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--FLASHBACK: Liberal Pundits Slammed Joe Biden as a Feckless Racist

Stock markets plummeted on Thursday at the news that former vice president Joe Biden had , for the first time ever , overtaken President Donald J. Trump as the betting-odds favorite to win the 2020 election .
Biden , 77 , is the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination .
He 's also among the most vulnerable members of the population—very old and male—when it comes to the risk of dying from the Wuhan bat plague .
Few pundits thought he stood a chance in the Democratic primary , given his bumbling campaign , incoherent message , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other ideas , mostly due to their diehard commitment to male superiority .
Members of the mainstream media and other liberal pundits have no choice now but to praise Biden as the savior of the republic .
For many , this will involve a complete about-face after spending 2019 routinely savaging Biden as an incompetent , feckless racist .
`` I do n't want Joe Biden to run for president .
He 's the wrong candidate for the political moment . ''
( March 2019 ) '' In 2019 , it is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet another bad presidential campaign .
What ’ s stunning is the insistence from the Democratic Party 's leadership that Biden is their best bet for defeating Donald Trump . ''
( June 2019 ) '' Biden 's positioning on racial issues has been problematic . ''
( September 2019 ) '' [ Biden has ] an antiquated view on racial matters and racial sensitivities . ''
( September 2019 ) '' [ Biden ] has demonstrated tone-deafness on race in a way that is disturbing . ''
( September 2019 ) '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care ] plan would preserve the crazy-quilt , Rube Goldberg aspects of our current system , which impose a lot of unnecessary costs and make it too easy for people to fall through the cracks . ''
( July 2019 ) '' Until recently I wondered whether Joe Biden 's seeming naivety about the GOP , his insistence that he could work with Rs , was a pose .
But it 's now clear that he really was clueless about the ruthlessness of his opponents .
Not a good sign . ''
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubling past of positions on abortion , race , and other issues key to mobilizing the Democratic electorate . ''
( April 2019 ) '' I 'm no doctor , and I had a family member whose dementia contributed to his death .
I will be the last one here speculating wildly about Biden 's cognitive abilities relative to his age .
But his campaign is irresponsible to let this go unexplained — or undiagnosed , if the case may be . ''
( August 2019 ) '' Biden is not only deficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one , but he is saying things — at a Democratic debate on an HBCU campus , no less — that make it absolutely impossible to trust him to be the party ’ s best candidate to address systemic racism and to ameliorate the nation the current administration leaves behind… .
`` If defeating Trump in 2020 is as important to Biden as he so often claims , he should end his campaign and remove himself from contention for president . ''
( September 2019 ) '' Biden made a straightforward defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities that viewed integration with suspicion and hostility .
He articulated their anger .
And while Biden tried to distance himself from outright demagogues like George Wallace , the former governor of Alabama and presidential candidate , his rhetoric was on the same wavelength… .
`` Consider the message this would send .
For decades Biden gave liberal cover to white backlash .
He wasn ’ t an incidental opponent of busing ; he was a leader who helped derail integration .
He didn ’ t just vote for punitive legislation on crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His political persona is still informed by that past , even if he were to repudiate those positions now .
Biden could lead Democrats to victory over Trump , but his political style might affirm the assumptions behind Trumpism .
The outward signs of our political dysfunction would be gone , but the disease would still remain . ''
( March 2019 )

Stock markets plummeted on Thursday at the news that former vice president Joe Biden had, for the first time ever, overtaken President Donald J. Trump as the betting-odds favorite to win the 2020 election.
Biden, 77, is the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination. He's also among the most vulnerable members of the population—very old and male—when it comes to the risk of dying from the Wuhan bat plague. Few pundits thought he stood a chance in the Democratic primary, given his bumbling campaign, incoherent message, and frequently malfunctioning brain.
Democratic voters had other ideas, mostly due to their diehard commitment to male superiority. Members of the mainstream media and other liberal pundits have no choice now but to praise Biden as the savior of the republic. For many, this will involve a complete about-face after spending 2019 routinely savaging Biden as an incompetent, feckless racist.
Sally Kohn, USA Today contributor
"I don't want Joe Biden to run for president. He's the wrong candidate for the political moment." (March 2019)
Zach Carter, Huffington Post senior reporter
"In 2019, it is no longer a surprise that Biden is running yet another bad presidential campaign. What’s stunning is the insistence from the Democratic Party's leadership that Biden is their best bet for defeating Donald Trump." (June 2019)
Charles Blow, New York Times columnist
"Biden's positioning on racial issues has been problematic." (September 2019)
"[Biden has] an antiquated view on racial matters and racial sensitivities." (September 2019)
Roger Cohen, New York Times columnist
"[Biden] has demonstrated tone-deafness on race in a way that is disturbing." (September 2019)
Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist
"[T]he Biden [health care] plan would preserve the crazy-quilt, Rube Goldberg aspects of our current system, which impose a lot of unnecessary costs and make it too easy for people to fall through the cracks." (July 2019)
"Until recently I wondered whether Joe Biden's seeming naivety about the GOP, his insistence that he could work with Rs, was a pose. But it's now clear that he really was clueless about the ruthlessness of his opponents. Not a good sign." (October 2019)
Jamil Smith, Rolling Stone senior writer
"Biden has a troubling past of positions on abortion, race, and other issues key to mobilizing the Democratic electorate." (April 2019)
"I'm no doctor, and I had a family member whose dementia contributed to his death. I will be the last one here speculating wildly about Biden's cognitive abilities relative to his age. But his campaign is irresponsible to let this go unexplained — or undiagnosed, if the case may be." (August 2019)
"Biden is not only deficient as an antiracist, if he ever was one, but he is saying things — at a Democratic debate on an HBCU campus, no less — that make it absolutely impossible to trust him to be the party’s best candidate to address systemic racism and to ameliorate the nation the current administration leaves behind....
"If defeating Trump in 2020 is as important to Biden as he so often claims, he should end his campaign and remove himself from contention for president." (September 2019)
Jamelle Bouie, New York Times columnist
"Biden made a straightforward defense of white racial advantage aimed at those communities that viewed integration with suspicion and hostility. He articulated their anger. And while Biden tried to distance himself from outright demagogues like George Wallace, the former governor of Alabama and presidential candidate, his rhetoric was on the same wavelength....
"Consider the message this would send. For decades Biden gave liberal cover to white backlash. He wasn’t an incidental opponent of busing; he was a leader who helped derail integration. He didn’t just vote for punitive legislation on crime and drugs; he wrote it. His political persona is still informed by that past, even if he were to repudiate those positions now. Biden could lead Democrats to victory over Trump, but his political style might affirm the assumptions behind Trumpism. The outward signs of our political dysfunction would be gone, but the disease would still remain." (March 2019)


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Justice Dem Fundraises Off Wuhan Virus, Says School Closures Constitute Voter Suppression

A Justice Democrats-backed candidate is trying to cash in on fears of the Wuhan virus , claiming in a fundraising email that Ohio State University 's decision to cancel classes is a form of voter suppression .
On Monday , the public university canceled all in-person classes and told its nearly 45,000 undergraduate students to stay home through March to contain the coronavirus .
Morgan Harper , a far-left Democrat , took to Twitter to criticize the decision .
`` First , I want to thank everyone for all they 're doing to keep Ohioans safe , '' Harper said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to point out … how decisions have already been made that could potentially disenfranchise certain populations of voters , including Ohio State students , who have now been told that in-person classes are canceled through the end of the month . ''
The coronavirus closure also presented a fundraising opportunity for Harper 's team , which sent out emails on Tuesday urging donors to give to an emergency fund because the `` student vote [ is ] suppressed by coronavirus , '' putting Harper at a `` huge disadvantage . ''
`` Urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOW , '' read one of the fundraising emails .
`` We need ALL HANDS ON DECK in the next 24 hours to contact thousands of students to request an absentee ballot and vote for Morgan.… Can you donate to our Emergency Student Voter Contact Fund ? ''
Harper is running against incumbent Democrat Rep. Joyce Beatty in the Columbus , Ohio , district that contains the university .
The progressive is backed by Justice Democrats , the group that orchestrated the surprise primary victory of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harper 's campaign did not respond to requests for comment .
Harper , like many progressives , has been banking on student and youth turnout to secure her victory .
Due to the class cancellations over pandemic fears , many Ohio State students will not be in the district for the March 17 primary .
In response , Harper demanded that the state government extend the postmark deadline for absentee ballots from March 16 to the end of the month in her Twitter video on Tuesday .
She said that such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as voters with compromised immune systems who can not go to the voting booth .
No U.S. states accept absentee ballots postmarked after the election date .
Harper 's campaign launched its fundraising push on the same day , asking donors to fund an emergency outreach campaign to compel student voters to request absentee ballots .
`` THOUSANDS of progressive votes in Columbus are at risk if we are n't able to reach these student voters—and we only have a few hours , '' a fundraising email read .
`` Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure their votes count ? ''
Another Justice Democrat is also capitalizing on coronavirus threats to bolster his war chest .
The campaign team for Jamaal Bowman , a progressive running against Democratic heavyweight Rep. Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) , asked donors on Thursday to fund a new `` digital canvass '' operation to minimize human-to-human contact between campaign staffers and prospective voters .
Bowman 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
`` We are taking the appropriate measures to make sure our volunteers and supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across our district , '' the email said .
`` We 're asking for your help to secure the services we need to digitally canvass our neighborhoods by reaching potential voters online and by phone and texts .
Will you help our volunteers with a $ 10 contribution ? ''
Harper 's and Bowman 's attempts to fundraise off of the deadly virus come as the entire country enters crisis mode to combat the pandemic .
With 1,200 cases already confirmed in the United States , President Donald J. Trump suspended all U.S.-bound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The coronavirus threat also provoked a rare moment of bipartisan unity on Capitol Hill , as Congress passed an $ 8.3 billion emergency coronavirus bill on March 5 .
The president signed the bill into law the next day .

A Justice Democrats-backed candidate is trying to cash in on fears of the Wuhan virus, claiming in a fundraising email that Ohio State University's decision to cancel classes is a form of voter suppression.
On Monday, the public university canceled all in-person classes and told its nearly 45,000 undergraduate students to stay home through March to contain the coronavirus. Morgan Harper, a far-left Democrat, took to Twitter to criticize the decision.
"First, I want to thank everyone for all they're doing to keep Ohioans safe," Harper said on Tuesday. "But I want to point out … how decisions have already been made that could potentially disenfranchise certain populations of voters, including Ohio State students, who have now been told that in-person classes are canceled through the end of the month."
The coronavirus closure also presented a fundraising opportunity for Harper's team, which sent out emails on Tuesday urging donors to give to an emergency fund because the "student vote [is] suppressed by coronavirus," putting Harper at a "huge disadvantage."
"Urgent funds needed for emergency student outreach RIGHT NOW," read one of the fundraising emails. "We need ALL HANDS ON DECK in the next 24 hours to contact thousands of students to request an absentee ballot and vote for Morgan.… Can you donate to our Emergency Student Voter Contact Fund?"
Harper is running against incumbent Democrat Rep. Joyce Beatty in the Columbus, Ohio, district that contains the university. The progressive is backed by Justice Democrats, the group that orchestrated the surprise primary victory of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) against a Democratic incumbent in 2018. Harper's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Harper, like many progressives, has been banking on student and youth turnout to secure her victory. Due to the class cancellations over pandemic fears, many Ohio State students will not be in the district for the March 17 primary.
In response, Harper demanded that the state government extend the postmark deadline for absentee ballots from March 16 to the end of the month in her Twitter video on Tuesday. She said that such a move is necessary to accommodate students, as well as voters with compromised immune systems who cannot go to the voting booth. No U.S. states accept absentee ballots postmarked after the election date.
Harper's campaign launched its fundraising push on the same day, asking donors to fund an emergency outreach campaign to compel student voters to request absentee ballots.
"THOUSANDS of progressive votes in Columbus are at risk if we aren't able to reach these student voters—and we only have a few hours," a fundraising email read. "Can you donate today so we can make sure their votes count?"
Another Justice Democrat is also capitalizing on coronavirus threats to bolster his war chest. The campaign team for Jamaal Bowman, a progressive running against Democratic heavyweight Rep. Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), asked donors on Thursday to fund a new "digital canvass" operation to minimize human-to-human contact between campaign staffers and prospective voters. Bowman's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
"We are taking the appropriate measures to make sure our volunteers and supporters remain safe and healthy while reaching voters across our district," the email said. "We're asking for your help to secure the services we need to digitally canvass our neighborhoods by reaching potential voters online and by phone and texts. Will you help our volunteers with a $10 contribution?"
Harper's and Bowman's attempts to fundraise off of the deadly virus come as the entire country enters crisis mode to combat the pandemic. With 1,200 cases already confirmed in the United States, President Donald J. Trump suspended all U.S.-bound European flights for a month on Wednesday. The coronavirus threat also provoked a rare moment of bipartisan unity on Capitol Hill, as Congress passed an $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus bill on March 5. The president signed the bill into law the next day.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste: Democrats Cite Wuhan Virus to Push Longstanding Policy Priorities

As the nation braces for the effects of the Wuhan coronavirus , congressional Democrats and left-leaning groups have seized on the moment of crisis to push for the enactment of longstanding policy goals .
Legislation introduced by House and Senate Democrats has snuck in universal , employer-funded sick leave alongside temporary emergency measures , potentially shuttering employers and serving as a poison pill to slow congressional negotiations .
Democratic electoral groups , meanwhile , have already included the coronavirus in their attack-ad messaging , while left-leaning policy organizations have called for substantial reductions in incarceration and enforcement , in alignment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to push through longstanding legislative priorities recall the attitude of former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel during the Great Recession , who is remembered for his now-infamous exhortation that `` you never let a serious crisis go to waste . ''
House Democrats on Wednesday released their proposal for a comprehensive fiscal response to the impending pandemic .
Much of the bill pertains to emergency-related funding , including an additional $ 500 million for SNAP and guaranteed sick leave for individuals quarantined with the disease .
But the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers to allow employees to accrue sick leave regardless of whether or not there is a national crisis , and which will persist after the pandemic is over .
In effect , the bill would impose a paid-leave mandate on employers nationwide , independent of current emergency conditions—a longstanding legislative priority of Democrats , which Republicans have consistently opposed for fear of costs .
Sen. Patty Murray ( D. , Wash. ) scored approving headlines for attempting and failing to pass a proposal for employer-funded sick leave through the Senate health committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) blocked her efforts , saying that while universal sick leave would be `` a good idea , '' the federal government should pay the costs , not small employers already facing an impending recession .
Although Murray and cosponsor Rep. Rosa DeLauro ( D. , Conn. ) framed their bill as an emergency measure in response to the Wuhan coronavirus , the pair were , in fact , reintroducing a bill they have pushed before .
As Samuel Hammond , director of poverty and welfare policy for the libertarian Niskanen Center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced versions of this bill in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future .
For better or worse , Republicans are simply not about to pass a new and permanent paid leave mandate , but they may be open to something more temporary . ''
DeLauro and Murray 's original bill , Healthy Families Act , would cost employers roughly $ 1.5 billion a year , according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office of a version of the bill released in the 2007-2008 Congress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on businesses with 15 or more employees , many of which are likely to face substantial financial strain in the coming months .
While congressional Democrats have focused on implementing universal sick leave , other liberal groups have used the crisis as a pretext for pushing other priorities .
Multiple criminal justice reform organizations have called for the mass release of jail detainees and a major reduction in arrests .
The Center for American Progress , one of the nation 's leading liberal think tanks , called for a moratorium on immigration enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing no evidence that federal immigration officials were prioritizing such enforcement efforts during the current crisis .
Democratic spending groups have also moved to leverage the coronavirus to their electoral advantage .
One major dark money group , Protect Our Care , has launched an ad attacking incumbent Republican senator Steve Daines 's ( Mont . )
opposition to Obamacare .
Senate Majority PAC , which pushes for the election of Democrats to the Senate , has also launched an ad hitting Republican and Michigan Senate contender John James for his record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis to further a preexisting agenda is hardly unprecedented .
The idea that crises are opportunities for political change is perhaps best captured by Emanuel , who as the newly appointed chief of staff , told a Wall Street Journal panel that `` you never let a serious crisis go to waste , '' adding that such events are `` an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before . ''
Emanuel 's comments presaged the Obama administration 's all-of-government response to the crisis , which proponents cheered for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics , however , perceived the bailout of major banks and the effective nationalization of the U.S. automotive industry as a dangerous expansion of federal power , one which helped prompt the rise of the libertarian Tea Party movement .
The `` never let a crisis go to waste '' mentality has also informed the far-left 's response to global warming .
Proposals for a Green New Deal floated by , among others , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) would have little effect on global warming ( thanks in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of global emissions ) but would implement a slew of socialist policy goals , including a Universal Basic Income and jobs guarantee .

As the nation braces for the effects of the Wuhan coronavirus, congressional Democrats and left-leaning groups have seized on the moment of crisis to push for the enactment of longstanding policy goals.
Legislation introduced by House and Senate Democrats has snuck in universal, employer-funded sick leave alongside temporary emergency measures, potentially shuttering employers and serving as a poison pill to slow congressional negotiations. Democratic electoral groups, meanwhile, have already included the coronavirus in their attack-ad messaging, while left-leaning policy organizations have called for substantial reductions in incarceration and enforcement, in alignment with their preexisting policy goals.
Such efforts to push through longstanding legislative priorities recall the attitude of former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel during the Great Recession, who is remembered for his now-infamous exhortation that "you never let a serious crisis go to waste."
House Democrats on Wednesday released their proposal for a comprehensive fiscal response to the impending pandemic. Much of the bill pertains to emergency-related funding, including an additional $500 million for SNAP and guaranteed sick leave for individuals quarantined with the disease.
But the bill's sick-leave section creates new obligations for employers to allow employees to accrue sick leave regardless of whether or not there is a national crisis, and which will persist after the pandemic is over. In effect, the bill would impose a paid-leave mandate on employers nationwide, independent of current emergency conditions—a longstanding legislative priority of Democrats, which Republicans have consistently opposed for fear of costs.
Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.) scored approving headlines for attempting and failing to pass a proposal for employer-funded sick leave through the Senate health committee. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.) blocked her efforts, saying that while universal sick leave would be "a good idea," the federal government should pay the costs, not small employers already facing an impending recession.
Although Murray and cosponsor Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D., Conn.) framed their bill as an emergency measure in response to the Wuhan coronavirus, the pair were, in fact, reintroducing a bill they have pushed before. As Samuel Hammond, director of poverty and welfare policy for the libertarian Niskanen Center, noted, "DeLauro and Murray have introduced versions of this bill in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future. For better or worse, Republicans are simply not about to pass a new and permanent paid leave mandate, but they may be open to something more temporary."
DeLauro and Murray's original bill, the Healthy Families Act, would cost employers roughly $1.5 billion a year, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office of a version of the bill released in the 2007-2008 Congress. The DeLauro-Murray bill would impose these requirements on businesses with 15 or more employees, many of which are likely to face substantial financial strain in the coming months.
While congressional Democrats have focused on implementing universal sick leave, other liberal groups have used the crisis as a pretext for pushing other priorities. Multiple criminal justice reform organizations have called for the mass release of jail detainees and a major reduction in arrests. The Center for American Progress, one of the nation's leading liberal think tanks, called for a moratorium on immigration enforcement at or near testing sites and hospitals, citing no evidence that federal immigration officials were prioritizing such enforcement efforts during the current crisis.
Democratic spending groups have also moved to leverage the coronavirus to their electoral advantage. One major dark money group, Protect Our Care, has launched an ad attacking incumbent Republican senator Steve Daines's (Mont.) opposition to Obamacare. Senate Majority PAC, which pushes for the election of Democrats to the Senate, has also launched an ad hitting Republican and Michigan Senate contender John James for his record on health care.
The use of a crisis to further a preexisting agenda is hardly unprecedented. The idea that crises are opportunities for political change is perhaps best captured by Emanuel, who as the newly appointed chief of staff, told a Wall Street Journal panel that "you never let a serious crisis go to waste," adding that such events are "an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."
Emanuel's comments presaged the Obama administration's all-of-government response to the crisis, which proponents cheered for keeping the recession from growing worse. Critics, however, perceived the bailout of major banks and the effective nationalization of the U.S. automotive industry as a dangerous expansion of federal power, one which helped prompt the rise of the libertarian Tea Party movement.
The "never let a crisis go to waste" mentality has also informed the far-left's response to global warming. Proposals for a Green New Deal floated by, among others, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) would have little effect on global warming (thanks in part to the United States' shrinking share of global emissions) but would implement a slew of socialist policy goals, including a Universal Basic Income and jobs guarantee.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Judge Approves Settlement Allowing Hunter Biden’s Finances to Remain Under Wraps

The settlement agreement reached between Hunter Biden and the Arkansas mother of his child earlier this week was approved by the court on Thursday , allowing the former vice president 's son to avoid appearing in court and keep his highly scrutinized financial situation under wraps .
The redacted court order filed Thursday mandates that Biden begin making monthly child support payments to Lunden Alexis Roberts on April 1 , pay for the child 's health insurance , and reimburse Roberts for legal costs of the case .
All financial information , including both the amount Biden has already paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future payments , is redacted from the publicly released order .
The settlement comes after a nearly yearlong legal fight between Biden and Roberts , who filed suit last summer asking the court for an order declaring Biden to be the father of their child and for child support .
After months of avoiding service of the lawsuit , Biden agreed to undergo a paternity test and was declared the father by the court .
Biden has since worked to delay both appearances in court and required financial disclosures , likely due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business connections have gotten as his father , former vice president Joe Biden , runs for president .
Earlier this week , Biden 's lawyers argued that he was unable to travel to Arkansas for a scheduled deposition due to his current wife 's pregnancy , travel restrictions caused by the Wuhan virus , and the media attention on him and his family .
The settlement was reached between the sides hours after the court firmly denied Biden 's latest delay attempts .
Roberts 's lawyer told the Free Beacon that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was reached and that the case is now concluded . ''
He also said all information regarding Biden 's income was sealed by the judge , and does n't expect any of it to become public .
`` All information about Mr. Biden ’ s income and child support paid is sealed by Judge Holly Meyer , '' said lawyer Clinton Lancaster .
`` We expect that no information about either of these items will be made public . ''
Biden 's lawyer Brent Langdon also declined to share details .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the case has been concluded , '' Langdon said .
`` There is no hearing tomorrow . ''
Though the exact terms of the deal are sealed , the order says the monthly payment amount was calculated according to Arkansas statute—which determines child support payments based on monthly income and number of defendants .
The state lays out the exact dollar amount owed for salaries ranging up to $ 5,000 a month and stipulates that 15 percent of each dollar earned in excess of $ 5,000 be added to the monthly payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 50,000 Biden earned per month as a board member for Ukrainian energy giant Burisma , he would be required to pay $ 7,441 in child support to Roberts .
Biden is also required to fork over 15 percent of any bonuses he receives , the law states .
Biden had claimed financial hardship during his legal fight with Roberts .
After years of lucrative foreign business work , Biden says he is currently working in Los Angeles as an artist .
Lawyers for the mother of his child had asked earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from his paintings , which were recently showcased in the New York Times .
UPDATE 5:00 p.m. : This piece has been updated with statements from attorneys for both Biden and Roberts .

The settlement agreement reached between Hunter Biden and the Arkansas mother of his child earlier this week was approved by the court on Thursday, allowing the former vice president's son to avoid appearing in court and keep his highly scrutinized financial situation under wraps.
The redacted court order filed Thursday mandates that Biden begin making monthly child support payments to Lunden Alexis Roberts on April 1, pay for the child's health insurance, and reimburse Roberts for legal costs of the case. All financial information, including both the amount Biden has already paid to Roberts and the amount of his future payments, is redacted from the publicly released order.
The settlement comes after a nearly yearlong legal fight between Biden and Roberts, who filed suit last summer asking the court for an order declaring Biden to be the father of their child and for child support. After months of avoiding service of the lawsuit, Biden agreed to undergo a paternity test and was declared the father by the court.
Biden has since worked to delay both appearances in court and required financial disclosures, likely due to the political attention his finances and overseas business connections have gotten as his father, former vice president Joe Biden, runs for president. Earlier this week, Biden's lawyers argued that he was unable to travel to Arkansas for a scheduled deposition due to his current wife's pregnancy, travel restrictions caused by the Wuhan virus, and the media attention on him and his family. The settlement was reached between the sides hours after the court firmly denied Biden's latest delay attempts.
Roberts's lawyer told the Free Beacon that she was "happy a positive resolution of this case was reached and that the case is now concluded." He also said all information regarding Biden's income was sealed by the judge, and doesn't expect any of it to become public.
"All information about Mr. Biden’s income and child support paid is sealed by Judge Holly Meyer," said lawyer Clinton Lancaster. "We expect that no information about either of these items will be made public."
Biden's lawyer Brent Langdon also declined to share details. "The Judge has approved the final order and the case has been concluded," Langdon said. "There is no hearing tomorrow."
Though the exact terms of the deal are sealed, the order says the monthly payment amount was calculated according to Arkansas statute—which determines child support payments based on monthly income and number of defendants. The state lays out the exact dollar amount owed for salaries ranging up to $5,000 a month and stipulates that 15 percent of each dollar earned in excess of $5,000 be added to the monthly payment.
For example, based on the $50,000 Biden earned per month as a board member for Ukrainian energy giant Burisma, he would be required to pay $7,441 in child support to Roberts. Biden is also required to fork over 15 percent of any bonuses he receives, the law states.
Biden had claimed financial hardship during his legal fight with Roberts. After years of lucrative foreign business work, Biden says he is currently working in Los Angeles as an artist. Lawyers for the mother of his child had asked earlier in the case whether Biden was making any money from his paintings, which were recently showcased in the New York Times.
UPDATE 5:00 p.m.: This piece has been updated with statements from attorneys for both Biden and Roberts.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Sanders Supporter: Long Lines Have ‘Suppressed’ Youth Vote

Bernie Sanders supporter Jennifer Epps-Addison said on Wednesday that young voters were `` suppressed '' by long lines in many locations , despite record voter turnout in primary states .
`` Young people have come out in record numbers .
They came out higher than they did in 2016 , '' said Epps-Addison , the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy .
`` The difference is that they have three-to-seven-hour long waits in their polling places .
So one thing that young people need to hear is that the Democratic Party actually believes they deserve the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they are being suppressed . ''
Epps-Addison was responding to a point raised by fellow MSNBC guest and Joe Biden supporter Michael Eric Dyson , who said younger voters did not turn out for Sen. Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) like they did in 2016 , and that has widened Biden 's lead .
According to exit polls in Michigan , Mississippi , and Missouri , Dyson is correct that young voters failed to turn out in this week 's primary states as much as they did in the 2016 Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the lines would not have similarly affected Biden voters .
Sanders was soundly defeated by Biden in three of the five primary states Tuesday night , giving the former vice president a nearly insurmountable lead in delegates .
Sanders left for his home state of Vermont and refrained from speaking publicly about his campaign 's future until Wednesday , when he declared he would fight on .

Bernie Sanders supporter Jennifer Epps-Addison said on Wednesday that young voters were "suppressed" by long lines in many locations, despite record voter turnout in primary states.
"Young people have come out in record numbers. They came out higher than they did in 2016," said Epps-Addison, the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy. "The difference is that they have three-to-seven-hour long waits in their polling places. So one thing that young people need to hear is that the Democratic Party actually believes they deserve the right to vote and will deal with the fact that they are being suppressed."
Epps-Addison was responding to a point raised by fellow MSNBC guest and Joe Biden supporter Michael Eric Dyson, who said younger voters did not turn out for Sen. Sanders (I., Vt.) like they did in 2016, and that has widened Biden's lead.
According to exit polls in Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri, Dyson is correct that young voters failed to turn out in this week's primary states as much as they did in the 2016 Democratic primary. Epps-Addison also did not explain why the lines would not have similarly affected Biden voters.
Sanders was soundly defeated by Biden in three of the five primary states Tuesday night, giving the former vice president a nearly insurmountable lead in delegates. Sanders left for his home state of Vermont and refrained from speaking publicly about his campaign's future until Wednesday, when he declared he would fight on.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Media Balk at Trump Calling Wuhan Virus ‘Foreign’

President Donald Trump 's referral to the Wuhan coronavirus as a `` foreign virus '' in Wednesday 's national address has drawn sharp criticism from members of the media .
CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta said Trump 's language in his Oval Office speech could come off as xenophobic to `` a lot of Americans . ''
`` Now , why the president would go as far as to describe it as a foreign virus ?
That is something we 'll also be asking questions about , '' he said Wednesday .
`` But it should be pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration hardliner … was a driving force in writing this speech .
I think it is going to come across to a lot of Americans as smacking of xenophobia to use that kind of term in this speech . ''
Acosta , however , quoted a CNN article using the phrase `` Wuhan Coronavirus '' in a tweet on Jan. 23 .
A CNN article by Paul LeBlanc addressed Trump 's language and said , `` The characterization of the global pandemic as a foreign virus aligns with how some Trump allies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which critics have called xenophobic . ''
`` The militaristic , nationalistic language of Trump 's speech tonight is striking , '' New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser wrote on Twitter .
`` A ‘ foreign virus , ' keeping out China and Europe .
But the virus is already here in America . ''
CNN national security analyst and former Obama administration official Lisa Monaco connected Trump 's rhetoric to his order to restrict travel to the United States from most of Europe .
`` I do n't think the travel restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeling it a foreign virus , '' she said Thursday .
CNN New Day anchor Alisyn Camerota also referenced Trump 's words on Tuesday , saying `` obviously viruses do n't have a nationality . ''
On CBS This Morning , fill-in anchor Michelle Miller asked White House correspondent Major Garrett what Trump had `` accomplished by making this an outsider 's problem . ''
`` It is kind of an America-first rhetorical flourish that has nothing to do with public health , safety , or public health communication , '' Garrett said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oval Office address scare-quoted or criticized his use of the term .
Trump 's `` War Room '' Twitter account compiled a montage of CNN and MSNBC figures referring to the coronavirus as a `` Wuhan '' or `` Chinese '' virus .
The coronavirus 's first reported occurrence was in Wuhan , China , in December 2019 .
The United States has reported more than 1,300 cases and 38 deaths from coronavirus as of Thursday , with those numbers expected to grow sharply .
Now characterized as a pandemic by the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets to slide over fears of a global economic downturn .

Acosta: 'Going to come across to a lot of Americans as smacking of xenophobia'
President Donald Trump's referral to the Wuhan coronavirus as a "foreign virus" in Wednesday's national address has drawn sharp criticism from members of the media.
CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta said Trump's language in his Oval Office speech could come off as xenophobic to "a lot of Americans."
"Now, why the president would go as far as to describe it as a foreign virus? That is something we'll also be asking questions about," he said Wednesday. "But it should be pointed out that Stephen Miller, who is an immigration hardliner ... was a driving force in writing this speech. I think it is going to come across to a lot of Americans as smacking of xenophobia to use that kind of term in this speech."
Acosta, however, quoted a CNN article using the phrase "Wuhan Coronavirus" in a tweet on Jan. 23.
CNN International: Authorities in Beijing have cancelled all large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations in an effort to contain the growing spread of Wuhan Coronavirus. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 23, 2020
A CNN article by Paul LeBlanc addressed Trump's language and said, "The characterization of the global pandemic as a foreign virus aligns with how some Trump allies have described the coronavirus in recent days, which critics have called xenophobic."
"The militaristic, nationalistic language of Trump's speech tonight is striking," New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser wrote on Twitter. "A 'foreign virus,' keeping out China and Europe. But the virus is already here in America."
The militaristic, nationalistic language of Trump's speech tonight is striking: a 'foreign virus,' keeping out China and Europe. But the virus is already here in America. — Susan Glasser (@sbg1) March 12, 2020
CNN national security analyst and former Obama administration official Lisa Monaco connected Trump's rhetoric to his order to restrict travel to the United States from most of Europe.
"I don't think the travel restrictions are the panacea here, nor is labeling it a foreign virus," she said Thursday.
CNN New Day anchor Alisyn Camerota also referenced Trump's words on Tuesday, saying "obviously viruses don't have a nationality."
On CBS This Morning, fill-in anchor Michelle Miller asked White House correspondent Major Garrett what Trump had "accomplished by making this an outsider's problem."
"It is kind of an America-first rhetorical flourish that has nothing to do with public health, safety, or public health communication," Garrett said.
Reporters and pundits live-tweeting Trump's Oval Office address scare-quoted or criticized his use of the term.
https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/1237907505675714561?s=20
In the first 30 seconds, President Trump says the virus 'started in China' and then calls it a 'foreign virus' — Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 12, 2020
Did Trump think that by calling it a 'foreign virus" he could close our borders to it, he could deny it status to immigrate to our country, he could lock it in cages? The president is not competent to run the country amidst this crisis. He’s not up to this moment in time. #25A — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) March 12, 2020
The WHO called coronavirus a pandemic, or a global threat, not bound to any location. President Trump called it a foreign virus. Yes, it started in China, but how can a more-or-less lifeless virus be foreign? — Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 12, 2020
Trump's "War Room" Twitter account compiled a montage of CNN and MSNBC figures referring to the coronavirus as a "Wuhan" or "Chinese" virus. The coronavirus's first reported occurrence was in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
Democrats & the Fake News Media are politicizing the coronavirus. They are accusing President Trump of racism and xenophobia for stating the facts. This is a foreign virus that originated in Wuhan, China. Just a few weeks ago, Democrats and the media were all saying it! pic.twitter.com/nb9elJvN6H — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) March 12, 2020
The United States has reported more than 1,300 cases and 38 deaths from coronavirus as of Thursday, with those numbers expected to grow sharply. Now characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the coronavirus has caused markets to slide over fears of a global economic downturn.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--After Funneling Half a Million Dollars to Her Political Consultant—And Denying Relationship—Ilhan Om

After Funneling Half a Million Dollars to Her Political Consultant—And Denying Relationship—Ilhan Omar Marries Him

Democratic representative Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) married her top political consultant , whose firm received more than half a million dollars from Omar 's campaign coffers last year .
Omar denied allegations of an affair with Tim Mynett , her top campaign consultant , after reports surfaced last August alleging the two were romantically involved .
During this time , cash flowed freely from Omar 's campaign to the E Street Group , a consulting firm owned by Mynett .
`` Got Married !
From partners in politics to life partners , so blessed .
Alhamdulillah , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post with a photo of herself and Mynett .
Throughout 2019 , Omar funneled $ 525,000 to Mynett 's firm for consulting , direct mail , research services , travel expenses , advertisements , and graphic designs .
The payments to Mynett 's firm steadily increased as the year progressed .
During the last three months of 2019 , Omar 's campaign spent $ 404,000 .
Mynett 's firm received $ 215,000 of that amount , more than 50 percent of the campaign 's total expenditures .
The affair went public after Mynett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in divorce papers that her husband was involved with Omar .
`` The parties physically separated on or about April 7 , 2019 , when Defendant told Plaintiff that he was romantically involved with and in love with another woman , Ilhan Omar , '' court papers said .
`` By way of example , days prior to Defendant 's devastating and shocking declaration of love for Rep. Omar and admission of their affair , he and Rep. Omar took the parties ' son to dinner to formally meet for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant while Plaintiff was out of town , '' the papers said .
`` Rep. Omar gave the parties ' son a gift and the Defendant later brought her back inside the family 's home . ''
Omar claimed that she was not having an affair and was not separated from her then-husband Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi .
`` I have no interest in allowing the conversation about my personal life to continue and so I have no desire to discuss it , '' Omar said .
Mynett also denied the affair and claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his career . ''
`` Since the time of Mr. Mynett ’ s departure from the marital home , Ms. Mynett began a negative campaign against Mr. Mynett , seemingly in an effort to ruin his career and permanently damage his relationship with William and his step-daughter , '' court papers said .
Despite the denials , the pair was regularly seen together in public .
The Washington Free Beacon spotted the couple last November at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Washington , D.C. , during a secretive gathering of the Democracy Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club .
Omar 's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the payments in light of the couple now tying the knot .

Democratic representative Ilhan Omar (Minn.) married her top political consultant, whose firm received more than half a million dollars from Omar's campaign coffers last year.
Omar denied allegations of an affair with Tim Mynett, her top campaign consultant, after reports surfaced last August alleging the two were romantically involved. During this time, cash flowed freely from Omar's campaign to the E Street Group, a consulting firm owned by Mynett.
"Got Married! From partners in politics to life partners, so blessed. Alhamdulillah," the congresswoman wrote in a Wednesday night Instagram post with a photo of herself and Mynett.
Throughout 2019, Omar funneled $525,000 to Mynett's firm for consulting, direct mail, research services, travel expenses, advertisements, and graphic designs. The payments to Mynett's firm steadily increased as the year progressed. During the last three months of 2019, Omar's campaign spent $404,000. Mynett's firm received $215,000 of that amount, more than 50 percent of the campaign's total expenditures.
The affair went public after Mynett's ex-wife, Dr. Beth Mynett, said in divorce papers that her husband was involved with Omar. "The parties physically separated on or about April 7, 2019, when Defendant told Plaintiff that he was romantically involved with and in love with another woman, Ilhan Omar," court papers said.
"By way of example, days prior to Defendant's devastating and shocking declaration of love for Rep. Omar and admission of their affair, he and Rep. Omar took the parties' son to dinner to formally meet for the first time at the family's favorite neighborhood restaurant while Plaintiff was out of town," the papers said. "Rep. Omar gave the parties' son a gift and the Defendant later brought her back inside the family's home."
Omar claimed that she was not having an affair and was not separated from her then-husband Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. "I have no interest in allowing the conversation about my personal life to continue and so I have no desire to discuss it," Omar said.
Mynett also denied the affair and claimed his ex-wife was attempting to "ruin his career." "Since the time of Mr. Mynett’s departure from the marital home, Ms. Mynett began a negative campaign against Mr. Mynett, seemingly in an effort to ruin his career and permanently damage his relationship with William and his step-daughter," court papers said.
Despite the denials, the pair was regularly seen together in public. The Washington Free Beacon spotted the couple last November at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Washington, D.C., during a secretive gathering of the Democracy Alliance, a liberal millionaire and billionaire donor club.
Omar's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the payments in light of the couple now tying the knot.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Dems Behind Iowa Caucus Debacle Fault Trump Admin for ‘Failure,’ ‘Lack of Testing’

The political action committee affiliated with the team behind the Iowa Democratic caucus debacle accused President Donald Trump of poor planning and incompetency in a series of tweets .
`` There is nothing proactive or decisive about this president .
The biggest failure of this administration has been the lack of testing , '' Pacronym tweeted in response to a tweet from Rep. Jim Jordan ( R. , Ohio ) praising the president 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` They knew this was coming and failed to plan ahead , '' Pacronym wrote in another tweet .
Pacronym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ c ) ( 4 ) dark-money group Acronym , whose tech firm Shadow Inc. created the failed reporting app used in the Iowa caucus .
After the app 's massive failure , IT experts specifically faulted Shadow 's lack of testing and failure to plan ahead .
`` The app appears rushed , '' one expert told NBC News .
`` Someone was not paying attention or on a deadline . ''
The Tom Steyer and Nancy Pelosi-funded Acronym once proudly claimed ownership of Shadow .
But after the Iowa caucus suddenly ruined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its website of references to having `` launched '' the tech firm .
The group now claims to have only `` invested in '' Shadow .
In another piece of Twitter irony , Shadow CEO Gerard Niemira 's banner image during the entire Iowa debacle was a humorous Internet meme reading , `` Plan Ahead . ''

The political action committee affiliated with the team behind the Iowa Democratic caucus debacle accused President Donald Trump of poor planning and incompetency in a series of tweets.
"There is nothing proactive or decisive about this president. The biggest failure of this administration has been the lack of testing," Pacronym tweeted in response to a tweet from Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) praising the president's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is nothing proactive or decisive about this president. The biggest failure of this administration has been the lack of testing. pic.twitter.com/5YWVdmHNzy — PACRONYM (@PACRONYM) March 12, 2020
"They knew this was coming and failed to plan ahead," Pacronym wrote in another tweet.
The Trump administration has come under fire for the lack of available coronavirus test kits. They knew this was coming and failed to plan ahead. American lives are at risk. pic.twitter.com/Hz4jlE3rjz — PACRONYM (@PACRONYM) March 10, 2020
Pacronym is the PAC for the 501(c)(4) dark-money group Acronym, whose tech firm Shadow Inc. created the failed reporting app used in the Iowa caucus. After the app's massive failure, IT experts specifically faulted Shadow's lack of testing and failure to plan ahead.
"The app appears rushed," one expert told NBC News. "Someone was not paying attention or on a deadline."
The Tom Steyer and Nancy Pelosi-funded Acronym once proudly claimed ownership of Shadow. But after the Iowa caucus suddenly ruined Shadow's public image, Acronym scrubbed its website of references to having "launched" the tech firm. The group now claims to have only "invested in" Shadow.
In another piece of Twitter irony, Shadow CEO Gerard Niemira's banner image during the entire Iowa debacle was a humorous Internet meme reading, "Plan Ahead."


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Liberal Groups Call for Jailbreak to Fight Coronavirus

Multiple left-leaning organizations have called for governments to respond to the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus by mass releasing prisoners , reducing arrests , and limiting immigration enforcement .
The proposals from major criminal justice reform groups , in particular , push preexisting policy goals as a solution to the impending epidemic .
While prisons pose a unique challenge for public health , it is unclear that such drastic measures are necessary to curtail the risk of infection .
The Sentencing Project , a pro-reform advocacy organization , called on public officials on Wednesday to `` also prioritize the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their responses to the virus .
Nazgol Ghandnoosh , a senior research analyst with the project , said specifically that state and local governments should `` release individuals who do not pose a public safety risk , '' including elderly prisoners , `` rehabilitated individuals in prison , '' and those in pretrial detention—this latter population accounting for almost 500,000 people on an average day .
The Prison Policy Initiative on Friday published recommendations for how to aid the `` justice-involved population '' during the outbreak .
It also called for the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' citing higher rates of chronic illness among prisoners .
In addition , PPI called for the implementation of several of its preferred policies to lower jail admissions and reduce `` jail churn , '' including `` reclassifying misdemeanor offenses that do not threaten public safety into non-jailable offenses ; using citations instead of arrests for all low-level crimes ; and diverting as many people as possible … to community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment . ''
The group also called for the elimination of parole revocations for technical violations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ major liberal think tank , argued Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security should `` suspend certain immigration enforcement practices during the coronavirus outbreak . ''
Specifically , the group called on DHS to explicitly affirm that it would not conduct enforcement operations around hospitals , health care facilities , and other testing sites .
CAP did not cite any examples of DHS engaging in such enforcement but objected to the absence of an explicit policy announcement from the department .
Prisons—which are densely packed and contain a large aging population—do pose a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
But health experts have pointed to solutions besides mass release which may be worth trying first .
Writing for Health Affairs , three medical experts suggested reducing arrests but also emphasized the need for better coordination and testing , which would help current prisoners without stopping the operation of the justice system altogether .
Based on their messaging thus far , however , left-leaning groups may prefer a more direct decarceral approach .
PPI approvingly cited the government of Iran 's decision to temporarily release more than 54,000 people , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fewer than five years ( the median length of a sentence in the United States is 16 months ) and post bail .

Multiple left-leaning organizations have called for governments to respond to the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus by mass releasing prisoners, reducing arrests, and limiting immigration enforcement.
The proposals from major criminal justice reform groups, in particular, push preexisting policy goals as a solution to the impending epidemic. While prisons pose a unique challenge for public health, it is unclear that such drastic measures are necessary to curtail the risk of infection.
The Sentencing Project, a pro-reform advocacy organization, called on public officials on Wednesday to "also prioritize the health and well-being of incarcerated people" in their responses to the virus. Nazgol Ghandnoosh, a senior research analyst with the project, said specifically that state and local governments should "release individuals who do not pose a public safety risk," including elderly prisoners, "rehabilitated individuals in prison," and those in pretrial detention—this latter population accounting for almost 500,000 people on an average day.
The Prison Policy Initiative on Friday published recommendations for how to aid the "justice-involved population" during the outbreak. It also called for the release of "medically fragile and older adults," citing higher rates of chronic illness among prisoners.
In addition, PPI called for the implementation of several of its preferred policies to lower jail admissions and reduce "jail churn," including "reclassifying misdemeanor offenses that do not threaten public safety into non-jailable offenses; using citations instead of arrests for all low-level crimes; and diverting as many people as possible ... to community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment." The group also called for the elimination of parole revocations for technical violations.
The Center for American Progress, a major liberal think tank, argued Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security should "suspend certain immigration enforcement practices during the coronavirus outbreak." Specifically, the group called on DHS to explicitly affirm that it would not conduct enforcement operations around hospitals, health care facilities, and other testing sites. CAP did not cite any examples of DHS engaging in such enforcement but objected to the absence of an explicit policy announcement from the department.
Prisons—which are densely packed and contain a large aging population—do pose a unique challenge in the face of a pandemic. But health experts have pointed to solutions besides mass release which may be worth trying first. Writing for Health Affairs, three medical experts suggested reducing arrests but also emphasized the need for better coordination and testing, which would help current prisoners without stopping the operation of the justice system altogether.
Based on their messaging thus far, however, left-leaning groups may prefer a more direct decarceral approach. PPI approvingly cited the government of Iran's decision to temporarily release more than 54,000 people, so long as those individuals have a sentence of fewer than five years (the median length of a sentence in the United States is 16 months) and post bail.


freebeacon--2020-03-12--Trump Suspends All Travel From Europe to the U.S. to Fight Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended travel from Europe to the United States , except for the UK , for 30 days starting on Friday as he responded to mounting pressure to take action against the spread of the coronavirus .
The president took the dramatic step in a somber Oval Office speech as he battles to address the health and economic shocks to Americans from the sometimes fatal virus and responds to criticism he has not taken the threat seriously enough .
Trump also announced several economic steps aimed at cushioning the blow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of consumer demand .
`` This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history , '' he said .
`` I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures , we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens , and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus . ''
Trump walked back his remarks suggesting that `` trade and cargo '' from Europe would also be banned , tweeting moments after the speech that `` trade will in no way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The restriction stops people not goods , '' he said in the tweet .
U.S. stock futures ESv1 slid further as the president spoke , down more than 4 % and signaling another day of losses awaits Wall Street .
Trump , whose re-election bid on Nov. 3 could hinge on how well he responds to a crisis that has suddenly enveloped his presidency , stopped short of declaring a national emergency .
He is facing criticism from Democrats for not moving quickly enough to provide testing for Americans to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled no punches in saying Europe was partly to blame for the virus ’ spread in the United States , where it has killed at least 37 people and infected 1,281 .
His travel restrictions on Europe were similar to what he declared on travel from China earlier this year when the illness was spreading wildly there .
`` The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots .
As a result , a large number of new clusters in the United States were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Trump signed an order that suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States .
The list of countries included Austria , Belgium , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department said .
The order did not apply to legal permanent residents , immediate family members of U.S. citizens , and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation .
Trump said the restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground .
As the U.S. stock market took another hit from the virus on Wednesday , Trump said he would take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill , quarantined or caring for others due to the illness .
He said he was instructing the Treasury Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties for certain businesses and individuals affected .
Trump added he was also instructing the Small Business Administration to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the virus .
Reporting by Steve Holland , Eric Beech , Makini Brice , Alexandra Alper and Phil Stewart ; Editing by Sandra Maler , Peter Cooney and Lincoln Feast .

By Steve Holland, Alexandra Alper
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended travel from Europe to the United States, except for the UK, for 30 days starting on Friday as he responded to mounting pressure to take action against the spread of the coronavirus.
The president took the dramatic step in a somber Oval Office speech as he battles to address the health and economic shocks to Americans from the sometimes fatal virus and responds to criticism he has not taken the threat seriously enough.
Trump also announced several economic steps aimed at cushioning the blow to American businesses struggling with a sudden loss of consumer demand.
"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," he said.
"I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus."
Trump walked back his remarks suggesting that "trade and cargo" from Europe would also be banned, tweeting moments after the speech that "trade will in no way be affected" by the travel restriction.
"The restriction stops people not goods," he said in the tweet.
U.S. stock futures ESv1 slid further as the president spoke, down more than 4% and signaling another day of losses awaits Wall Street.
Trump, whose re-election bid on Nov. 3 could hinge on how well he responds to a crisis that has suddenly enveloped his presidency, stopped short of declaring a national emergency.
He is facing criticism from Democrats for not moving quickly enough to provide testing for Americans to determine whether they have the contagion.
EUROPEAN PRECAUTIONS NOT ENOUGH
Trump pulled no punches in saying Europe was partly to blame for the virus’ spread in the United States, where it has killed at least 37 people and infected 1,281.
His travel restrictions on Europe were similar to what he declared on travel from China earlier this year when the illness was spreading wildly there.
"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe," he said.
Trump signed an order that suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States.
The list of countries included Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, the Homeland Security Department said.
The order did not apply to legal permanent residents, immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.
Trump said the restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.
As the U.S. stock market took another hit from the virus on Wednesday, Trump said he would take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to the illness.
He said he was instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain businesses and individuals affected.
Trump added he was also instructing the Small Business Administration to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the virus.
Reporting by Steve Holland, Eric Beech, Makini Brice, Alexandra Alper and Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler, Peter Cooney and Lincoln Feast.


freebeacon--2020-03-11--CA Dem Who Owes $145,000 in Back Taxes Blocks Tax Lien Disclosure Bill

A California Democrat who owes nearly $ 145,000 in unpaid federal income taxes voted on Wednesday to block a bill requiring members of Congress to disclose tax liens .
The IRS filed a tax lien against Rep. T.J. Cox ( D. , Calif. ) in January , listing nearly $ 87,000 and $ 57,000 in unpaid federal income taxes from 2016 and 2017 , respectively .
The congressman on Wednesday voted to block legislation that would force politicians to reveal such liens in congressional financial disclosures .
The bill would also garnish federal wages from elected officials until the debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cox faces a tough reelection fight in 2020 against former California Republican representative David Valadao , who Cox defeated by less than 1 point in the closest congressional race of 2018 .
While election observers , including the Cook Political Report , rate the 21st Congressional District as `` lean Democratic , '' Republicans have seen positive signs that they will be able to flip the district following the March primary .
California has open primaries in which the two candidates with the most votes , regardless of party , face off in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of the primary vote , compared with Cox 's 36 percent .
The Valadao campaign rebuked Cox for his vote in a comment to the Washington Free Beacon , accusing the Democrat of prioritizing his bank account over his official duties .
`` T.J. Cox owes the IRS over $ 140,000 in taxes and now is using his vote in Congress to protect himself , '' said campaign manager Andrew Renteria .
`` T.J. has proven time and again that voters ca n't trust him because he 's willing to put his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Central Valley . ''
Cox 's January tax lien is hardly his first financial misstep with the IRS .
In 2017 , the California Democrat paid out $ 48,000 in unpaid income taxes dating back to 2015 .
He blamed the lien on `` bureaucratic incompetence , '' arguing that his `` check was stuck on the back of somebody else 's payment . ''
Cox has also faced multiple liens against his businesses and was sued in December for alleged fraud and failure to pay back $ 150,000 in loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment .
Cox voted to block the Members of Congress Tax Liability and Garnishment Accountability Act of 2020 , which was introduced by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) in March .
The bill requires members of Congress to report unpaid back taxes in their financial disclosures , garnishes their federal wages to resolve the debt , and holds their pay in escrow until the liens are fulfilled .
Rep. Rodney Davis ( R. , Ill. ) argued in favor of the bill on the House floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` We expect every American to file their taxes .
Those same hardworking Americans deserve to know if their representatives are doing the same , '' Davis said .
`` If it 's the position of the [ Democratic ] Party to force Americans to support politicians with their tax dollars and raise the taxes of hardworking families , we should at least let those same Americans know which of us in this body are even paying our own taxes . ''
The legislation was rejected in a 226-186 party-line vote @ @ @

A California Democrat who owes nearly $145,000 in unpaid federal income taxes voted on Wednesday to block a bill requiring members of Congress to disclose tax liens.
The IRS filed a tax lien against Rep. T.J. Cox (D., Calif.) in January, listing nearly $87,000 and $57,000 in unpaid federal income taxes from 2016 and 2017, respectively. The congressman on Wednesday voted to block legislation that would force politicians to reveal such liens in congressional financial disclosures. The bill would also garnish federal wages from elected officials until the debt is resolved.
The vote comes as Cox faces a tough reelection fight in 2020 against former California Republican representative David Valadao, who Cox defeated by less than 1 point in the closest congressional race of 2018. While election observers, including the Cook Political Report, rate the 21st Congressional District as "lean Democratic," Republicans have seen positive signs that they will be able to flip the district following the March primary. California has open primaries in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, face off in the general election. Valadao received 53 percent of the primary vote, compared with Cox's 36 percent.
The Valadao campaign rebuked Cox for his vote in a comment to the Washington Free Beacon, accusing the Democrat of prioritizing his bank account over his official duties.
"T.J. Cox owes the IRS over $140,000 in taxes and now is using his vote in Congress to protect himself," said campaign manager Andrew Renteria. "T.J. has proven time and again that voters can't trust him because he's willing to put his own personal financial interests ahead of voters in the Central Valley."
Cox's January tax lien is hardly his first financial misstep with the IRS. In 2017, the California Democrat paid out $48,000 in unpaid income taxes dating back to 2015. He blamed the lien on "bureaucratic incompetence," arguing that his "check was stuck on the back of somebody else's payment." Cox has also faced multiple liens against his businesses and was sued in December for alleged fraud and failure to pay back $150,000 in loans.
Cox did not respond to a request for comment.
Cox voted to block the Members of Congress Tax Liability and Garnishment Accountability Act of 2020, which was introduced by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) in March. The bill requires members of Congress to report unpaid back taxes in their financial disclosures, garnishes their federal wages to resolve the debt, and holds their pay in escrow until the liens are fulfilled.
Rep. Rodney Davis (R., Ill.) argued in favor of the bill on the House floor Wednesday, calling it "responsible governing."
"We expect every American to file their taxes. Those same hardworking Americans deserve to know if their representatives are doing the same," Davis said. "If it's the position of the [Democratic] Party to force Americans to support politicians with their tax dollars and raise the taxes of hardworking families, we should at least let those same Americans know which of us in this body are even paying our own taxes."
The legislation was rejected in a 226-186 party-line vote on Wednesday.