freebeacon--2020-03-23--Pompeo Strives to Salvage Stalled Afghanistan Peace Effort

DOHA/KABUL ( Reuters ) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought on Monday to salvage a U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan , meeting with Taliban officials at a Qatari military base after visiting Kabul to try to end a feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political foe .
U.S. officials said Pompeo held talks for about 75 minutes with Taliban officials at the Qatari section of al Udeid Air Base , which also houses the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East , as he flew home from a day-long mission to Kabul to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah .
The outcome of his meeting with the Taliban was not immediately clear .
But Pompeo 's extraordinary trip amid the global coronavirus pandemic indicated deep concern within the Trump administration over the stalled U.S. effort to end decades of conflict in Afghanistan .
His mission came nearly a month after his last visit to Doha for the Feb. 29 signing of a deal negotiated with Taliban officials for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan .
Ghani 's government was not a party to the agreement aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement was to have been followed by the opening by March 10 of negotiations on a political settlement between the insurgents and a delegation of Afghans that would include government officials .
But the process stalled over a Taliban demand for the release by Kabul of 5,000 prisoners and the feud between Ghani and Abdullah , both of whom claimed the presidency following a disputed September election marred by allegations of fraud .
While in Kabul , Pompeo met with Ghani and Abdullah , both separately and together .
Absent from the meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad , an Afghan-born veteran diplomat .
It was not immediately known why Khalilzad was not included .
A senior State Department official , speaking before the meetings ended , said the purpose of Pompeo 's visit was to try to mediate a solution between the two men .
`` The fear is that unless this crisis gets resolved … soon , that could affect the peace process … our agreement with the Talibs could be put at risk , '' the official said .
A diplomat in Kabul briefed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said they were inconclusive .
`` It did not work .
Neither of the two budged , '' the diplomat said , speaking on condition on anonymity .
A spokesman for Ghani declined to comment , saying details of the meetings had not yet been released .
Omid Maisam , a spokesman for Abdullah , said that if there were more meetings a solution was `` not impossible '' and that they wanted a peaceful end to the crisis .
Khalilzad , who has spent much of his time in Kabul since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plea to both sides last week to act quickly on the release of prisoners .
The Taliban and Afghan government spoke for more than two hours on prisoner releases on Sunday in a Skype call facilitated by the United States and Qatar , offering some hope of progress .
But domestic politics have been a complicating factor .
In February , Afghanistan 's Electoral Commission announced incumbent Ghani as the winner of the presidential election , but Abdullah said he and his allies had won and insisted that he would form a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two men have included Abdullah 's desire to retain the role of chief executive , which he held in the previous government , and that his camp be given more ministerial roles than Ghani was offering , according to the diplomat and an aide to Abdullah .

By Humeyra Pamuk, Hamid Shalizi and Charlotte Greenfield
DOHA/KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought on Monday to salvage a U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, meeting with Taliban officials at a Qatari military base after visiting Kabul to try to end a feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political foe.
U.S. officials said Pompeo held talks for about 75 minutes with Taliban officials at the Qatari section of al Udeid Air Base, which also houses the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, as he flew home from a day-long mission to Kabul to end completing claims to the presidency between Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.
The outcome of his meeting with the Taliban was not immediately clear. But Pompeo's extraordinary trip amid the global coronavirus pandemic indicated deep concern within the Trump administration over the stalled U.S. effort to end decades of conflict in Afghanistan.
His mission came nearly a month after his last visit to Doha for the Feb. 29 signing of a deal negotiated with Taliban officials for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Ghani's government was not a party to the agreement aimed at ending America's longest war.
The agreement was to have been followed by the opening by March 10 of negotiations on a political settlement between the insurgents and a delegation of Afghans that would include government officials.
But the process stalled over a Taliban demand for the release by Kabul of 5,000 prisoners and the feud between Ghani and Abdullah, both of whom claimed the presidency following a disputed September election marred by allegations of fraud.
While in Kabul, Pompeo met with Ghani and Abdullah, both separately and together.
Absent from the meetings was the chief U.S. negotiator, U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born veteran diplomat. It was not immediately known why Khalilzad was not included.
A senior State Department official, speaking before the meetings ended, said the purpose of Pompeo's visit was to try to mediate a solution between the two men.
"The fear is that unless this crisis gets resolved ... soon, that could affect the peace process ... our agreement with the Talibs could be put at risk," the official said.
A diplomat in Kabul briefed on the meetings and two other Afghan officials said they were inconclusive.
"It did not work. Neither of the two budged," the diplomat said, speaking on condition on anonymity.
A spokesman for Ghani declined to comment, saying details of the meetings had not yet been released.
Omid Maisam, a spokesman for Abdullah, said that if there were more meetings a solution was "not impossible" and that they wanted a peaceful end to the crisis.
SKYPE CALL
Khalilzad, who has spent much of his time in Kabul since the deal was signed, made a plea to both sides last week to act quickly on the release of prisoners.
The Taliban and Afghan government spoke for more than two hours on prisoner releases on Sunday in a Skype call facilitated by the United States and Qatar, offering some hope of progress. But domestic politics have been a complicating factor.
In February, Afghanistan's Electoral Commission announced incumbent Ghani as the winner of the presidential election, but Abdullah said he and his allies had won and insisted that he would form a government.
Key sticking points in recent weeks between the two men have included Abdullah's desire to retain the role of chief executive, which he held in the previous government, and that his camp be given more ministerial roles than Ghani was offering, according to the diplomat and an aide to Abdullah.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Charlotte Greenfield and Hamid Shalizi; additional reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi; writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Nick Tattersall, Leslie Adler and Tom Brown)


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Trump Says Won’t Allow Long-Lasting Damage to Economy From Virus

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will not allow the coronavirus to do @ @ @ @ @ economy and that he would consider how to move forward after a 15-day shutdown ends @ @ @ @ @ will again and soon be open for business , '' Trump told a news conference @ @ @ @ @ He added : `` We are not going to let it turn into a long-lasting @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will not allow the coronavirus to do long-lasting damage to the U.S. economy and that he would consider how to move forward after a 15-day shutdown ends next week.
"America will again and soon be open for business," Trump told a news conference at the White House. He added: "We are not going to let it turn into a long-lasting financial problem."
(Reporting By Jeff Mason, Alexandra Alper, Steve Holland, Lisa Lambert, Makini Brice and Sarah Lynch; Editing by Chris Reese)


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Pelosi’s Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Mentions ‘Diversity’ 32 Times

The word `` diversity '' appears 32 times in the coronavirus relief bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) unveiled on Monday .
Pelosi released her plan as critics questioned the priorities of Democratic lawmakers facing the China-caused pandemic .
Senate Democrats voted Sunday to block a coronavirus stimulus package worth up to $ 1.8 trillion , and continued voting down procedural motions on the bill Monday .
Democrats in the upper chamber were reportedly upset that the legislation does not do enough to increase fuel-emissions standards for the airline industry or to provide additional tax credits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) said Senate negotiations over the relief package were going well until Pelosi imposed herself on the process .
Democratic obstruction gave the House speaker time to introduce her own coronavirus relief package in the House .
At more than 1,100 pages , the `` Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act '' is in keeping with the controversial comments Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) reportedly made on a conference call with Democratic lawmakers last week .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit our vision , '' said Clyburn , in reference to the drafting of the House Democratic response bill .
The Pelosi bill focuses on `` diversity , '' for example , more than one might expect from an emergency economic relief package .
The plan includes a section on `` Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity '' that aims to `` ensure that corporate boards reflect the diversity and perspectives of the communities and consumers impacted by the hardships due to the coronavirus disease . ''
The word `` inclusion '' appears 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One section of the House Democratic bill , titled `` Diversity Report , '' would establish a congressional oversight panel requiring any corporation that receives federal aid related to coronavirus to provide `` diversity data '' to congress .
The panel would publish a report on its findings the following year .
The required data would include demographic information about the corporation 's employees and board members in terms of `` race , gender , and ethnic identity . ''
The panel would also demand demographics data on the corporation 's suppliers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the various financial institutions utilized by the company .
The `` Diversity Report '' section also requires companies to compare the salaries of employees based on gender and race and furnish information on the `` number of staff and budget dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives . ''
Furthermore , the House bill states that all corporations receiving federal aid `` must maintain officials and budget dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives for no less than 5 years after disbursement of funds . ''
The House , meanwhile , is not even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to cast votes on the legislation in the coming days , so any bipartisan deal on a stimulus package is almost certain to be hammered out in the Senate .
Pelosi 's decision to inject herself into the conversation had even the talking heads on MSNBC asking , `` What was the point of that ? ''
and warning that Democrats risk `` overreaching '' by demanding left-wing policy items that are `` not a part of the coronavirus crisis . ''

1,100-page bill would force all corporations receiving aid to fund 'inclusion initiatives' for at least 5 years
The word "diversity" appears 32 times in the coronavirus relief bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) unveiled on Monday. Pelosi released her plan as critics questioned the priorities of Democratic lawmakers facing the China-caused pandemic.
Senate Democrats voted Sunday to block a coronavirus stimulus package worth up to $1.8 trillion, and continued voting down procedural motions on the bill Monday. Democrats in the upper chamber were reportedly upset that the legislation does not do enough to increase fuel-emissions standards for the airline industry or to provide additional tax credits to promote wind and solar energy.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said Senate negotiations over the relief package were going well until Pelosi imposed herself on the process. Democratic obstruction gave the House speaker time to introduce her own coronavirus relief package in the House. At more than 1,100 pages, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act" is in keeping with the controversial comments Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) reportedly made on a conference call with Democratic lawmakers last week. "This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision," said Clyburn, in reference to the drafting of the House Democratic response bill.
The Pelosi bill focuses on "diversity," for example, more than one might expect from an emergency economic relief package. The plan includes a section on "Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity" that aims to "ensure that corporate boards reflect the diversity and perspectives of the communities and consumers impacted by the hardships due to the coronavirus disease." The word "inclusion" appears 14 times in the text of the bill.
One section of the House Democratic bill, titled "Diversity Report," would establish a congressional oversight panel requiring any corporation that receives federal aid related to coronavirus to provide "diversity data" to congress. The panel would publish a report on its findings the following year.
The required data would include demographic information about the corporation's employees and board members in terms of "race, gender, and ethnic identity." The panel would also demand demographics data on the corporation's suppliers, service providers, consultants, and the various financial institutions utilized by the company.
The "Diversity Report" section also requires companies to compare the salaries of employees based on gender and race and furnish information on the "number of staff and budget dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives."
Furthermore, the House bill states that all corporations receiving federal aid "must maintain officials and budget dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives for no less than 5 years after disbursement of funds."
The House, meanwhile, is not even in session right now. It would not be able to cast votes on the legislation in the coming days, so any bipartisan deal on a stimulus package is almost certain to be hammered out in the Senate.
Pelosi's decision to inject herself into the conversation had even the talking heads on MSNBC asking, "What was the point of that?" and warning that Democrats risk "overreaching" by demanding left-wing policy items that are "not a part of the coronavirus crisis."


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Coronavirus Negotiations Stall Out Amid Democrats’ Push for Long-Favored Policies

As Washington races to avert a coronavirus-driven economic depression , congressional Democrats are treating the crisis as an opportunity to make long-standing policy goals a reality .
But with the party 's presumptive presidential nominee out of view—former vice president Joe Biden 's campaign has moved online while he continues to dodge the Sunday show circuit—Democrats are struggling to unite behind a list of clear demands .
Instead , what has emerged is more typical of a party out of power : a cacophony of voices arguing for a flurry of long-favored policy proposals .
The result was that on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last minute blocked the Senate 's proposed stimulus bill , arguing it went too easy on businesses set to receive government bailouts .
The move sent market futures plunging .
The fiasco showcased an increasingly rudderless Democratic Party resorting to the kind of obstructionism typical of a party out of power .
Following House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn 's ( D. , S.C. ) admonition that `` this is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision , '' members have called for pay equity mandates , a $ 15 minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 1 trillion coin .
Those demands led Democrats to thwart Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's ( R. , Ky. ) bill , but in turn , put them in the unenviable position of being blamed for forestalling aid to an economy desperately in need of support .
Many of the proposals Democrats are pushing are unrelated to the crisis .
The bill now floated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) , for example , conditions bailouts on expanded corporate diversity and cuts in airline emissions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan debt .
In earlier coronavirus-related negotiations , Sen. Patty Murray ( D. , Wash. ) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro ( D. , Conn. ) pushed as an emergency measure the same paid family leave bill they have been introducing since 2004 .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , who as late as Sunday evening was praising Republicans for their `` bipartisan agreements , '' said he ultimately opposed the legislation because it provided `` huge bailouts without protections for people and workers . ''
But since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters that Democrats have pushed for major changes that go beyond those Schumer called for , including `` unprecedented collective bargaining powers for unions , '' `` increased fuel emissions standards for airlines , '' and an `` expansion of wind and solar credits . ''
McConnell has blamed Schumer 's about-face on Pelosi , who returned to Washington as negotiations for Congress 's `` phase three '' stimulus were coming to a close .
Pelosi has since begun circulating her own alternative legislation , a copy of which was obtained by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which runs to 1,119 pages , would impose numerous restrictions on businesses receiving bailouts from Washington , including some—like requirements to publicly report wage gap data or corporate board diversity—clearly unrelated to the current crisis .
It would also mandate early voting and vote-by-mail regimes nationwide , a longstanding Democratic goal that could boost turnout at the expense of voter information .
Pelosi 's stimulus plan will likely face opposition not only from Republicans , but also from progressive Democrats , who are frequently critical of the speaker for what they characterize as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party 's most prominent progressives have pushed to impose stringent requirements on any business that receives government aid during the crisis .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, for example , made headlines as discussion of the Senate 's bill was still in its early stages by insisting that bailed-out companies must implement a $ 15 minimum wage , permanently forgo share buybacks , and receive shareholder and board approval for any political spending .
Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , a freshman member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash payment to all Americans funded by the Treasury Department minting two $ 1 trillion coins—a longstanding Democratic proposal to circumvent the debt ceiling .
The man best positioned to unify the party is Biden , its presumptive leader .
Times of crisis are often when politicians make their reputations , and decisiveness from Biden may tip voters toward him in his competition against President Donald Trump .
The former vice president , however , has responded to the coronavirus by withdrawing from the public eye , shifting his presidential campaign online and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The disease 's constraints on public appearances , combined with Biden 's infamous unwillingness to face the media , have radically limited his ability to seize public attention and guide his party 's message .
It also remains unclear how much , if at all , he is guiding Schumer and Pelosi 's decision-making on Capitol Hill .
Lacking a decisive leader , the Democrats have instead defaulted to the now-standard obstructionism of a party in the minority .
It is adhering to the norms that , Brookings Institution scholar Steven S. Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect of Senate minorities : Buoyed by tight procedural constraints , `` the minority is quick to obstruct and the majority is quick to restrict . ''
That dynamic made Republicans the Party of `` No '' under President Barack Obama .
Now , even amid a global catastrophe , Democrats are taking their turn .

As Washington races to avert a coronavirus-driven economic depression, congressional Democrats are treating the crisis as an opportunity to make long-standing policy goals a reality.
But with the party's presumptive presidential nominee out of view—former vice president Joe Biden's campaign has moved online while he continues to dodge the Sunday show circuit—Democrats are struggling to unite behind a list of clear demands. Instead, what has emerged is more typical of a party out of power: a cacophony of voices arguing for a flurry of long-favored policy proposals.
The result was that on Sunday evening, Democratic lawmakers at the last minute blocked the Senate's proposed stimulus bill, arguing it went too easy on businesses set to receive government bailouts. The move sent market futures plunging.
The fiasco showcased an increasingly rudderless Democratic Party resorting to the kind of obstructionism typical of a party out of power. Following House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's (D., S.C.) admonition that "this is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision," members have called for pay equity mandates, a $15 minimum wage, and even the minting of a $1 trillion coin.
Those demands led Democrats to thwart Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R., Ky.) bill, but in turn, put them in the unenviable position of being blamed for forestalling aid to an economy desperately in need of support.
Many of the proposals Democrats are pushing are unrelated to the crisis. The bill now floated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), for example, conditions bailouts on expanded corporate diversity and cuts in airline emissions, and even mandates a reduction in student loan debt. In earlier coronavirus-related negotiations, Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D., Conn.) pushed as an emergency measure the same paid family leave bill they have been introducing since 2004.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who as late as Sunday evening was praising Republicans for their "bipartisan agreements," said he ultimately opposed the legislation because it provided "huge bailouts without protections for people and workers." But since the vote, a senior Republican aide told reporters that Democrats have pushed for major changes that go beyond those Schumer called for, including "unprecedented collective bargaining powers for unions," "increased fuel emissions standards for airlines," and an "expansion of wind and solar credits."
McConnell has blamed Schumer's about-face on Pelosi, who returned to Washington as negotiations for Congress's "phase three" stimulus were coming to a close. Pelosi has since begun circulating her own alternative legislation, a copy of which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The bill, which runs to 1,119 pages, would impose numerous restrictions on businesses receiving bailouts from Washington, including some—like requirements to publicly report wage gap data or corporate board diversity—clearly unrelated to the current crisis. It would also mandate early voting and vote-by-mail regimes nationwide, a longstanding Democratic goal that could boost turnout at the expense of voter information.
Pelosi's stimulus plan will likely face opposition not only from Republicans, but also from progressive Democrats, who are frequently critical of the speaker for what they characterize as an overzealousness for compromise.
Many of the party's most prominent progressives have pushed to impose stringent requirements on any business that receives government aid during the crisis. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), for example, made headlines as discussion of the Senate's bill was still in its early stages by insisting that bailed-out companies must implement a $15 minimum wage, permanently forgo share buybacks, and receive shareholder and board approval for any political spending.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), a freshman member of the so-called Squad, has proposed a cash payment to all Americans funded by the Treasury Department minting two $1 trillion coins—a longstanding Democratic proposal to circumvent the debt ceiling.
The man best positioned to unify the party is Biden, its presumptive leader. Times of crisis are often when politicians make their reputations, and decisiveness from Biden may tip voters toward him in his competition against President Donald Trump.
The former vice president, however, has responded to the coronavirus by withdrawing from the public eye, shifting his presidential campaign online and promising "shadow" coronavirus briefings. The disease's constraints on public appearances, combined with Biden's infamous unwillingness to face the media, have radically limited his ability to seize public attention and guide his party's message. It also remains unclear how much, if at all, he is guiding Schumer and Pelosi's decision-making on Capitol Hill.
Lacking a decisive leader, the Democrats have instead defaulted to the now-standard obstructionism of a party in the minority. It is adhering to the norms that, Brookings Institution scholar Steven S. Smith wrote, Senate majorities have come to expect of Senate minorities: Buoyed by tight procedural constraints, "the minority is quick to obstruct and the majority is quick to restrict." That dynamic made Republicans the Party of "No" under President Barack Obama. Now, even amid a global catastrophe, Democrats are taking their turn.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--BEASTMODE: Kennedy Says Democrats Blocking Stimulus Decided to ‘Double Down on Stupid’

Sen. John Kennedy ( R. , La . )
assailed Senate Democrats for stalling a coronavirus stimulus bill on Monday @ @ @ @ @ to `` double down on stupid . ''
`` You know what the American people @ @ @ @ @ Mr. President ?
They 're thinking , ‘ This country was founded by geniuses , @ @ @ @ @ by a bunch of idiots , ' '' Kennedy said on the Senate floor .
@ @ @ @ @ American people are thinking right now , Mr. President ?
They 're thinking , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ the United States Senate continue to double down on stupid ? '
'' Senate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ week to advance the emergency relief bill , calling it a corporate bailout with insufficient @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have criticized Democrats for gumming up the process by tacking on liberal policy wishes @ @ @ @ @ .

Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.) assailed Senate Democrats for stalling a coronavirus stimulus bill on Monday, saying they had decided to "double down on stupid."
"You know what the American people are wondering right now, Mr. President? They're thinking, 'This country was founded by geniuses, but it's being run by a bunch of idiots,'" Kennedy said on the Senate floor. "You know what the American people are thinking right now, Mr. President? They're thinking, 'Why do the members of the United States Senate continue to double down on stupid?'"
Senate Democrats have blocked two votes this week to advance the emergency relief bill, calling it a corporate bailout with insufficient measures for workers. Senate Republicans have criticized Democrats for gumming up the process by tacking on liberal policy wishes unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Former Bloomberg Staffers Sue Over Campaign Layoffs

Democrat Michael Bloomberg 's failed presidential campaign is facing at least two lawsuits from former staffers alleging it did n't keep its promise to pay them through the election .
One lawsuit from field organizer Donna Wood in Miami claims the campaign did n't fulfill its pledge to employ staffers through November 2020 and failed to pay for overtime work , according to the New York Times .
The campaign deprived staffers of `` promised income and health care benefits , leaving them and their families potentially uninsured in the face of a global pandemic , '' the complaint reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers under false pretenses .
She worked for the campaign in Miami , but she filed the lawsuit in New York .
Three former staffers in Utah , Washington , and Georgia also filed a lawsuit in New York City , arguing the campaign fraudulently guaranteed payment through the month of November , according to Politico .
The Bloomberg campaign laid off hundreds of workers on Friday as the former New York mayor told employees he would not be creating a super PAC .
Instead , Bloomberg used a loophole to transfer $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he also handed over control of his state operations .
After he dropped out of the race in early March , Bloomberg fired employees across all states in which he had operations , except six battleground states .
His cancellation of the super PAC last week was followed by the firing of the rest of his remaining staff .
Bloomberg promised field organizers a $ 6,000-per-month salary , along with a $ 5,000 relocation stipend and full health , dental , and vision benefits .
The Times reported the contracts it reviewed stipulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at-will , '' meaning it could be terminated at any time , as long as the termination is not illegal .
Bloomberg spent almost $ 1 billion in his failed presidential run , eventually winning just one Super Tuesday contest in American Samoa .
He dropped out on March 4 and endorsed Joe Biden .

Democrat Michael Bloomberg's failed presidential campaign is facing at least two lawsuits from former staffers alleging it didn't keep its promise to pay them through the election.
One lawsuit from field organizer Donna Wood in Miami claims the campaign didn't fulfill its pledge to employ staffers through November 2020 and failed to pay for overtime work, according to the New York Times.
The campaign deprived staffers of "promised income and health care benefits, leaving them and their families potentially uninsured in the face of a global pandemic," the complaint reads.
Wood accused the campaign of hiring workers under false pretenses. She worked for the campaign in Miami, but she filed the lawsuit in New York.
Three former staffers in Utah, Washington, and Georgia also filed a lawsuit in New York City, arguing the campaign fraudulently guaranteed payment through the month of November, according to Politico.
The Bloomberg campaign laid off hundreds of workers on Friday as the former New York mayor told employees he would not be creating a super PAC. Instead, Bloomberg used a loophole to transfer $18 million to the DNC, and he also handed over control of his state operations.
After he dropped out of the race in early March, Bloomberg fired employees across all states in which he had operations, except six battleground states. His cancellation of the super PAC last week was followed by the firing of the rest of his remaining staff.
Bloomberg promised field organizers a $6,000-per-month salary, along with a $5,000 relocation stipend and full health, dental, and vision benefits.
The Times reported the contracts it reviewed stipulated the employment with the campaign was "at-will," meaning it could be terminated at any time, as long as the termination is not illegal.
Bloomberg spent almost $1 billion in his failed presidential run, eventually winning just one Super Tuesday contest in American Samoa. He dropped out on March 4 and endorsed Joe Biden.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Biden Gaffes His Way Through Coronavirus Proof-of-Life Video

Former vice president Joe Biden delivered a live-streamed address to supporters on Monday in an effort to assuage concerns regarding his whereabouts and wellbeing during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Though Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president , appeared to be in relatively good health , he was unable to make it through the roughly 15-minute `` proof of life '' video without committing a series of gaffes , flubs , and incoherencies .
The address got off to an awkward start , as a visibly confused Biden required several reassurances from staffers that the camera was rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a teleprompter , which at one point experienced some technical difficulties .
Biden outlined steps he believes the federal government should take to combat the China-caused pandemic , but it was n't always clear what the hell he was talking about .
`` We need to build an arsenal of democracy , as we did in 1940 , '' Biden said at one point .
`` We can take , we can make a personal productive equipment . ''
The former vice president—who , as a 77-year-old man , is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus—went on to praise a number of Republican governors , including `` Gov .
Charlie Parker in Massachusetts . ''
He was presumably referring to Republican governor Charlie Baker , not to jazz legend Charlie Parker .
But maybe not .
After all , one of Biden 's greatest strengths as an orator is that he always keeps his audience on its toes .
Biden offered some much-deserved praise for the Americans on the front lines of the crisis , who have continued to perform vital functions during the pandemic—health care workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the workers delivering packages during the crisis .
`` We need to be sure we never forget what they 've done , '' Biden said .
However , Biden also singled out `` the journalists who keep us up to date and hold us accountable as leaders '' as a group of people `` putting all of it on the line for all of us . ''
That one may or may not have been a gaffe .
But perhaps Biden is n't wrong .
Our nation 's journalists have undergone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crisis , as evidenced by this heart-wrenching tweet from CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy .

Praises journalists for 'putting it all on the line for all of us'
Former vice president Joe Biden delivered a live-streamed address to supporters on Monday in an effort to assuage concerns regarding his whereabouts and wellbeing during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Though Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, appeared to be in relatively good health, he was unable to make it through the roughly 15-minute "proof of life" video without committing a series of gaffes, flubs, and incoherencies.
The address got off to an awkward start, as a visibly confused Biden required several reassurances from staffers that the camera was rolling before he began reading his scripted speech from a teleprompter, which at one point experienced some technical difficulties.
Biden outlined steps he believes the federal government should take to combat the China-caused pandemic, but it wasn't always clear what the hell he was talking about. "We need to build an arsenal of democracy, as we did in 1940," Biden said at one point. "We can take, we can make a personal productive equipment."
The former vice president—who, as a 77-year-old man, is in the demographic most at risk of dying from the coronavirus—went on to praise a number of Republican governors, including "Gov. Charlie Parker in Massachusetts." He was presumably referring to Republican governor Charlie Baker, not to jazz legend Charlie Parker. But maybe not. After all, one of Biden's greatest strengths as an orator is that he always keeps his audience on its toes.
Biden offered some much-deserved praise for the Americans on the front lines of the crisis, who have continued to perform vital functions during the pandemic—health care workers, first responders, grocery store clerks, and the workers delivering packages during the crisis. "We need to be sure we never forget what they've done," Biden said.
However, Biden also singled out "the journalists who keep us up to date and hold us accountable as leaders" as a group of people "putting all of it on the line for all of us." That one may or may not have been a gaffe.
But perhaps Biden isn't wrong. Our nation's journalists have undergone great suffering and sacrifice during this time of crisis, as evidenced by this heart-wrenching tweet from CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Bloomberg Anchor Scolds Warren for Democratic Obstruction on Coronavirus Stimulus

Bloomberg TV anchor Jonathan Ferro criticized Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
and other Democrats on Monday for the stalled coronavirus stimulus , telling her to quit blaming Republicans and come to an agreement .
Appearing on Markets after she and her Democratic colleagues voted against the $ 1.8 trillion package on Sunday , Warren spoke to a fed-up Ferro over the delay in economic relief .
`` In this bill , there are checks for everyday Americans , '' he said .
`` The reason this bill has n't gone through is because of Democratic senators .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stopping people from getting their checks to meet their rent at the end of this month ? ''
Warren replied that the blame should instead be placed on Republicans .
`` The reason this bill has not gone through is because of Republican senators , '' she said , `` and because of a Republican leadership that pretended to negotiate for three days with the Democrats and then at the end of that time basically introduced their own bill . ''
Ferro criticized lawmakers for not showing enough urgency on the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , '' he said .
`` The only thing stopping it from happening is yourselves , on both sides of the aisle .
There is no point coming on the TV shows today , on the networks , saying , ‘ It 's the Republicans ' fault . '
Because you know what 's happening on the other networks ?
‘ It 's the Democrats ' fault . '
It 's all of your fault . ''
The stimulus bill failed Sunday when Democrats voted it down .
They complained about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further protections for workers .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) criticized Democrats for `` obstruction '' and accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) of setting talks back during a crisis .
Pelosi has since announced House Democrats will present their own stimulus bill .
A Republican aide told National Review that Democrats are tacking on ideological demands unrelated to the coronavirus , such as new collective bargaining powers for unions and increased fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously attempted to exploit the deadly outbreak to push through a number of other progressive policies in relief legislation .

Bloomberg TV anchor Jonathan Ferro criticized Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and other Democrats on Monday for the stalled coronavirus stimulus, telling her to quit blaming Republicans and come to an agreement.
Appearing on Markets after she and her Democratic colleagues voted against the $1.8 trillion package on Sunday, Warren spoke to a fed-up Ferro over the delay in economic relief.
"In this bill, there are checks for everyday Americans," he said. "The reason this bill hasn't gone through is because of Democratic senators. Do you want to be the person that's stopping people from getting their checks to meet their rent at the end of this month?"
Warren replied that the blame should instead be placed on Republicans. "The reason this bill has not gone through is because of Republican senators," she said, "and because of a Republican leadership that pretended to negotiate for three days with the Democrats and then at the end of that time basically introduced their own bill."
Ferro criticized lawmakers for not showing enough urgency on the matter.
"You guys can get this done," he said. "The only thing stopping it from happening is yourselves, on both sides of the aisle. There is no point coming on the TV shows today, on the networks, saying, 'It's the Republicans' fault.' Because you know what's happening on the other networks? 'It's the Democrats' fault.' It's all of your fault."
The stimulus bill failed Sunday when Democrats voted it down. They complained about a lack of corporate oversight and called for further protections for workers.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) criticized Democrats for "obstruction" and accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) of setting talks back during a crisis. Pelosi has since announced House Democrats will present their own stimulus bill.
A Republican aide told National Review that Democrats are tacking on ideological demands unrelated to the coronavirus, such as new collective bargaining powers for unions and increased fuel emissions standards for airlines. Democrats have previously attempted to exploit the deadly outbreak to push through a number of other progressive policies in relief legislation.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Thune Rips Pelosi: Instead of ‘Helping Workers, We’re Talking About the Green New Deal’

Sen. John Thune ( R. , S.D . )
ripped Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) Monday for interfering and derailing a Senate vote on an emergency coronavirus stimulus package .
`` Yesterday , the speaker of the House showed up with an agenda , and all of a sudden it got taken over at the leadership level , '' Thune said on the Senate floor .
`` Now , instead of talking about helping workers , we 're talking about the Green New Deal and all kinds of other things , demands that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see in this deal . ''
`` Everything was going really quite well , there were a lot of working groups that were meeting .
There was great bipartisan cooperation .
Both sides were getting ideas included in a plan , '' Thune also said .
He went on to rip Democrats for demagoguing the bill as a `` bailout for big corporations . ''
Thune pointed to its provisions for direct payments to workers and families to help alleviate the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic .
He also said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are or will be laid off .
Pelosi said she planned on pushing her own stimulus bill Sunday shortly before the Senate took a vote on its proposed plan .
Senate Democrats defeated the package on a procedural vote .
House Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) said the coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity `` to restructure things to fit our vision '' late last week .

Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) ripped Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) Monday for interfering and derailing a Senate vote on an emergency coronavirus stimulus package.
"Yesterday, the speaker of the House showed up with an agenda, and all of a sudden it got taken over at the leadership level," Thune said on the Senate floor. "Now, instead of talking about helping workers, we're talking about the Green New Deal and all kinds of other things, demands that the unions and other special interest groups want to see in this deal."
"Everything was going really quite well, there were a lot of working groups that were meeting. There was great bipartisan cooperation. Both sides were getting ideas included in a plan," Thune also said.
He went on to rip Democrats for demagoguing the bill as a "bailout for big corporations."
Thune pointed to its provisions for direct payments to workers and families to help alleviate the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. He also said the bill expands unemployment benefits to help workers who are or will be laid off.
Pelosi said she planned on pushing her own stimulus bill Sunday shortly before the Senate took a vote on its proposed plan. Senate Democrats defeated the package on a procedural vote.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) said the coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity "to restructure things to fit our vision" late last week.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--McConnell to Dems: ‘This Isn’t a Juicy Political Opportunity, This Is a National Emergency’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) on Monday criticized Senate Democrats for blocking action on the coronavirus stimulus package , emphasizing that the United States is facing a `` national emergency . ''
`` They ought to be embarrassed , '' McConnell said on the Senate floor .
`` In fact , I heard from some of them who are embarrassed .
Talking like this is some juicy political opportunity .
This is not a juicy political opportunity .
This is a national emergency . ''
McConnell 's comments come after Senate Democrats blocked a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , told the New York Times that the current bill would not hold major corporations accountable when they receive bailouts .
McConnell castigated Democrats for `` playing politics '' and delaying relief for both hospitals and workers affected by the massive shutdown in response to the deadly outbreak .
`` Democrats are filibustering more masks and aid for hospitals ?
Everyday more Americans wake up to the news that their jobs are gone .
Their jobs are gone , '' McConnell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion of unemployment insurance , which they themselves negotiated and put into the bill . ''
Some Democrats have said the health crisis presents a political opportunity .
House Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) said last week the coronavirus was `` a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision . ''
McConnell said such opportunism `` has got to stop . ''
`` Hundreds of dollars extra per week for laid off workers on top of existing unemployment benefits and Democrats are blocking it ? ''
McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop and today is the day it has got to stop .
The country is out of time . ''

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Monday criticized Senate Democrats for blocking action on the coronavirus stimulus package, emphasizing that the United States is facing a "national emergency."
"They ought to be embarrassed," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "In fact, I heard from some of them who are embarrassed. Talking like this is some juicy political opportunity. This is not a juicy political opportunity. This is a national emergency."
McConnell's comments come after Senate Democrats blocked a $1.8 trillion aid package late Sunday night. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), told the New York Times that the current bill would not hold major corporations accountable when they receive bailouts.
McConnell castigated Democrats for "playing politics" and delaying relief for both hospitals and workers affected by the massive shutdown in response to the deadly outbreak.
"Democrats are filibustering more masks and aid for hospitals? Everyday more Americans wake up to the news that their jobs are gone. Their jobs are gone," McConnell said. "They're filibustering a huge expansion of unemployment insurance, which they themselves negotiated and put into the bill."
Some Democrats have said the health crisis presents a political opportunity. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) said last week the coronavirus was "a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision."
McConnell said such opportunism "has got to stop."
"Hundreds of dollars extra per week for laid off workers on top of existing unemployment benefits and Democrats are blocking it?" McConnell continued. "It's got to stop and today is the day it has got to stop. The country is out of time."


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Iranian Officials Stole More Than $1 Billion in Coronavirus Funds, Pompeo Says

Iranian regime officials stole more than $ 1 billion meant to help the country 's people fight the spread of coronavirus , according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
European countries intended for more than $ 1 billion cash for medical supplies to go to the Iranian people , who have been ravaged by the virus .
But American officials say regime leaders instead pocketed the money and are now using it to protect themselves from the virus as it spreads throughout the population .
This includes hoarding medical supplies that were meant to aid Iranian citizens .
Multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the virus began spreading , Iranian leaders stole funds purposed directly to support the ailing Iranian people .
Iran has been among the hardest hit by the virus , and its government 's response has drawn international criticism , especially from the Trump administration .
Secretary of State Pompeo accused Iran of mass corruption as the regime continues to spread propaganda , including accusations that the United States manufactured the coronavirus and is using its tough global sanctions campaign to prevent Iran from accessing medicine and humanitarian aid .
Pompeo on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran 's mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak .
`` Supreme leader [ Ali ] Khamenei 's fabrications regarding the Wuhan virus are dangerous and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk , '' Pompeo said .
`` Facts matter . ''
`` Regime officials stole over a billion euros intended for medical supplies , '' Pompeo said in one of the first public accountings of Iran 's alleged misuse of humanitarian funds that were meant to be used in cases such as the coronavirus outbreak .
That sum amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currency .
Pompeo also said Iranian officials `` continue to hoard desperately needed masks , gloves , and other medical equipment for sale on the black market . ''
Iranian officials have disseminated falsehoods about the nature of U.S. sanctions , which do not include restrictions on humanitarian assistance .
These talking points have been picked up by Tehran 's American allies , including members of the Obama administration 's so-called echo chamber , as part of an effort to see sanctions on Iran lifted .
Pompeo said part of the reason Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the regime refuses to stop flights between Tehran and China .
Iran 's Mahan Air—which is designated as a terrorist entity by the United States for its routine shipments of weapons and fighters across the Middle East—ran at least 55 flights between Tehran and China after most countries had enacted a travel ban .
International health authorities say at least five countries experienced their first cases of coronavirus as a direct result of contact with Iran .
It has also become clear in recent days that Iran failed to heed warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volatile and deadly the virus could be .
In a bid to hide this information from the world , Iran lied about the number of infections and deaths from the virus , the United States alleges .
Iran officially claims there have been 23,049 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,812 deaths in the country as of Monday .
However , the true numbers are likely far higher , though they are difficult to estimate due to Iran 's efforts to hide information from international health groups .
`` The regime continues to lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the number of cases and deaths , which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits , '' Pompeo said .
The U.S. government has continued to offer assistance to Iran but has been repeatedly turned down .
Iran , in turn , has used the global pandemic as an opportunity to spread anti-U.S. sentiment .
`` Khamenei rejected this offer because he works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritizes ideology over the Iranian people , '' Pompeo said .
U.S. sanctions have not and still do not target humanitarian channels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , food , equipment , and other life-saving items .
In fact , Iranian health companies `` have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January , '' according to the secretary of state .
Pompeo 's statements appear to be in direct response to Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif , who accused the United States of using sanctions as a weapon to ensure the virus 's spread across Iran .
`` Iranian people appreciate the growing global campaign of government & civil society leaders calling for lifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted on Monday .
`` US sanctions has created serious problem for sending medical equipment and supplies to Iran to confront coronavirus , '' Iran 's state-controlled Mehr News Agency claimed on Monday .
Prominent U.S. allies of the Iranian regime , who are now using the coronavirus outbreak to push against the Trump administration 's tough economic sanctions campaign , have disseminated these talking points to an American audience .
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has also spread inflammatory propaganda claiming the United States created the virus and is using it to poison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any U.S. medicine given to Iran could be used to `` further spread the disease . ''
`` You can not be trusted , '' Khamenei said of the United States in a wide-ranging speech late last week .
`` If you send some doctor or healer , he might want to come here to check on the effects of the poison you created . ''

Iranian regime officials stole more than $1 billion in humanitarian funds meant to be used to help the country's people fight the spread of coronavirus, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
European countries intended for more than $1 billion cash for medical supplies to go to the Iranian people, who have been ravaged by the virus. But American officials say regime leaders instead pocketed the money and are now using it to protect themselves from the virus as it spreads throughout the population. This includes hoarding medical supplies that were meant to aid Iranian citizens.
Multiple regional reports have showed that before and since the virus began spreading, Iranian leaders stole funds purposed directly to support the ailing Iranian people.
Iran has been among the hardest hit by the virus, and its government's response has drawn international criticism, especially from the Trump administration. Secretary of State Pompeo accused Iran of mass corruption as the regime continues to spread propaganda, including accusations that the United States manufactured the coronavirus and is using its tough global sanctions campaign to prevent Iran from accessing medicine and humanitarian aid.
Pompeo on Monday issued a series of new allegations about Tehran's mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak. "Supreme leader [Ali] Khamenei's fabrications regarding the Wuhan virus are dangerous and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk," Pompeo said. "Facts matter."
"Regime officials stole over a billion euros intended for medical supplies," Pompeo said in one of the first public accountings of Iran's alleged misuse of humanitarian funds that were meant to be used in cases such as the coronavirus outbreak. That sum amounts to well over one billion in American currency. Pompeo also said Iranian officials "continue to hoard desperately needed masks, gloves, and other medical equipment for sale on the black market."
The State Department made clear in facts sheets distributed to reporters that the billions in humanitarian funds Iran stole could have been used to fight the coronavirus in Iran. This includes misusing millions of dollars in late 2019 to purchase tobacco instead of medical supplies.
Iranian officials have disseminated falsehoods about the nature of U.S. sanctions, which do not include restrictions on humanitarian assistance. These talking points have been picked up by Tehran's American allies, including members of the Obama administration's so-called echo chamber, as part of an effort to see sanctions on Iran lifted.
Pompeo said part of the reason Iran has become a hotspot for the coronavirus is that the regime refuses to stop flights between Tehran and China. Iran's Mahan Air—which is designated as a terrorist entity by the United States for its routine shipments of weapons and fighters across the Middle East—ran at least 55 flights between Tehran and China after most countries had enacted a travel ban.
International health authorities say at least five countries experienced their first cases of coronavirus as a direct result of contact with Iran.
It has also become clear in recent days that Iran failed to heed warnings from its own health officials about how volatile and deadly the virus could be. In a bid to hide this information from the world, Iran lied about the number of infections and deaths from the virus, the United States alleges.
Iran officially claims there have been 23,049 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,812 deaths in the country as of Monday. However, the true numbers are likely far higher, though they are difficult to estimate due to Iran's efforts to hide information from international health groups.
"The regime continues to lie to the Iranian people and the world about the number of cases and deaths, which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits," Pompeo said.
The U.S. government has continued to offer assistance to Iran but has been repeatedly turned down. Iran, in turn, has used the global pandemic as an opportunity to spread anti-U.S. sentiment.
"Khamenei rejected this offer because he works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritizes ideology over the Iranian people," Pompeo said.
U.S. sanctions have not and still do not target humanitarian channels meant to allow Iran to access medicine, food, equipment, and other life-saving items. In fact, Iranian health companies "have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January," according to the secretary of state.
Pompeo's statements appear to be in direct response to Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, who accused the United States of using sanctions as a weapon to ensure the virus's spread across Iran.
"Iranian people appreciate the growing global campaign of government & civil society leaders calling for lifting of illegal US sanctions," Zarif tweeted on Monday.
"US sanctions has created serious problem for sending medical equipment and supplies to Iran to confront coronavirus," Iran's state-controlled Mehr News Agency claimed on Monday.
Prominent U.S. allies of the Iranian regime, who are now using the coronavirus outbreak to push against the Trump administration's tough economic sanctions campaign, have disseminated these talking points to an American audience.
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has also spread inflammatory propaganda claiming the United States created the virus and is using it to poison Iranian citizens. The ayatollah said that any U.S. medicine given to Iran could be used to "further spread the disease."
"You cannot be trusted," Khamenei said of the United States in a wide-ranging speech late last week. "If you send some doctor or healer, he might want to come here to check on the effects of the poison you created."
Update 7:44 p.m.: This report has been updated to provide additional clarifying information about the humanitarian funds the United States accuses Iranian officials of stealing. The State Department provided additional information about its claims Monday evening, after this initial report was published.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Dem Sen Warns Colleagues Not to Delay Coronavirus Stimulus With Partisan ‘Bickering’

Sen. Chris Coons ( D. , Del . )
said Senate Democrats need to `` quit the bickering '' and focus on passing a coronavirus stimulus package , one day after joining fellow Democrats to block a $ 1.8 trillion stimulus bill .
`` Both parties need to put down the partisan tools , quit the bickering , come to an agreement on things that will support our country in this pandemic crisis , '' Coons said Monday morning on MSNBC .
`` I frankly stand with the Democratic caucus on our values and our priorities in this bill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a lot of pressure on us to get this done today . ''
Coons 's comments come after Senate Democrats torpedoed a Republican aid package late Sunday night , claiming the package put too much money towards helping corporations .
Coons joined 46 colleagues in voting against advancing the legislation .
MSNBC anchor Ayman Mohyeldin asked Coons about Republican accusations that Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to accomplish their legislative priorities , leading Coons to warn against overreach .
`` I do think that we frankly need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're going to make in our community through this bill directly support the workers , the families that are going to be most directly affected by COVID-19 , '' Coons said .
`` We ought to focus on that menu and not on things beyond that . ''
Mohyeldin cited student debt cancellation as an example of a policy goal Democrats have tried to include in the emergency relief measures , while Coons called on Democrats to focus on the immediate impact of the virus .
Democratic House majority whip James Clyburn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week the coronavirus was `` a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision . ''

Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.) said Senate Democrats need to "quit the bickering" and focus on passing a coronavirus stimulus package, one day after joining fellow Democrats to block a $1.8 trillion stimulus bill.
"Both parties need to put down the partisan tools, quit the bickering, come to an agreement on things that will support our country in this pandemic crisis," Coons said Monday morning on MSNBC. "I frankly stand with the Democratic caucus on our values and our priorities in this bill. But at the end of the day there's a lot of pressure on us to get this done today."
Coons's comments come after Senate Democrats torpedoed a Republican aid package late Sunday night, claiming the package put too much money towards helping corporations. Coons joined 46 colleagues in voting against advancing the legislation.
MSNBC anchor Ayman Mohyeldin asked Coons about Republican accusations that Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to accomplish their legislative priorities, leading Coons to warn against overreach.
"I do think that we frankly need to make sure that the investments that we're going to make in our community through this bill directly support the workers, the families that are going to be most directly affected by COVID-19," Coons said. "We ought to focus on that menu and not on things beyond that."
Mohyeldin cited student debt cancellation as an example of a policy goal Democrats have tried to include in the emergency relief measures, while Coons called on Democrats to focus on the immediate impact of the virus. Democratic House majority whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) said last week the coronavirus was "a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision."


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Sanders Skips Coronavirus Stimulus Vote for Virtual Town Hall With AOC, Ilhan Omar

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) missed Sunday 's vote on a coronavirus economic stimulus package to do a virtual town hall about the pandemic .
Sanders skipped the vote to speak from his home in Vermont with supporters and far-left `` Squad '' congresswomen Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) .
The vote was four days after Sanders snapped at a reporter that he was `` dealing with a f—ing global crisis '' after being asked about his struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in attendance voted against the $ 1.8 trillion bill on Sunday , keeping it short of the 60 votes needed for advancement .
Democrats said the bill lacked oversight for the $ 500 billion allocated to large corporations selected by the U.S. Treasury Department .
It would have been 48 `` nays '' if Sanders had attended .
He slammed the bill as `` vulgar '' and said Congress should not give handouts to corporations with no strings attached .
`` It is hard for me to believe that , in the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a Senate Republican bill that will give the Trump administration a blank check to hand out corporate welfare to virtually any corporation in America without conditions as to how they can protect workers in this country , '' he said .
Ocasio-Cortez called the bill a `` complete mockery of public service '' during the town hall .
Sanders was the only member who caucuses with the Democrats not to vote on the bill .
Five Senate Republicans also missed the vote , albeit for health reasons .
Sen. Rand Paul ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after testing positive for coronavirus , and Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R. , Utah ) and Mike Lee ( R. , Utah ) said they would also self-quarantine because they 'd been in recent contact with Paul .
Sen. Rick Scott ( R. , Fla. ) and Sen. Cory Gardner ( R. , Colo. ) were already in quarantine because of their own potential exposure .
Sanders is the only remaining challenger in the 2020 Democratic race to frontrunner Joe Biden , who has taken a commanding delegate lead .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) missed Sunday's vote on a coronavirus economic stimulus package to do a virtual town hall about the pandemic.
Sanders skipped the vote to speak from his home in Vermont with supporters and far-left "Squad" congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.). The vote was four days after Sanders snapped at a reporter that he was "dealing with a f—ing global crisis" after being asked about his struggling presidential campaign.
All 47 Senate Democrats in attendance voted against the $1.8 trillion bill on Sunday, keeping it short of the 60 votes needed for advancement. Democrats said the bill lacked oversight for the $500 billion allocated to large corporations selected by the U.S. Treasury Department.
It would have been 48 "nays" if Sanders had attended. He slammed the bill as "vulgar" and said Congress should not give handouts to corporations with no strings attached.
"It is hard for me to believe that, in the midst of this terrible crisis, that we have a Senate Republican bill that will give the Trump administration a blank check to hand out corporate welfare to virtually any corporation in America without conditions as to how they can protect workers in this country," he said.
Ocasio-Cortez called the bill a "complete mockery of public service" during the town hall.
Sanders was the only member who caucuses with the Democrats not to vote on the bill. Five Senate Republicans also missed the vote, albeit for health reasons.
Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) was in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus, and Sens. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) and Mike Lee (R., Utah) said they would also self-quarantine because they'd been in recent contact with Paul. Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) and Sen. Cory Gardner (R., Colo.) were already in quarantine because of their own potential exposure.
Sanders is the only remaining challenger in the 2020 Democratic race to frontrunner Joe Biden, who has taken a commanding delegate lead.


freebeacon--2020-03-24--Soros Bankrolls Coronavirus Attack Ads Against Trump

The Democratic Party 's leading super PAC will begin hitting President Donald Trump over coronavirus in four battleground states , using millions from liberal billionaire George Soros .
Priorities USA Action—the Democratic Party 's largest super PAC—will spend $ 6 million this week on advertisements criticizing Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The ads will run in Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
The PAC received $ 3 million in contributions from Soros 's Democracy PAC on Feb. 21 , new filings show .
Soros 's seven-figure donation accounts for 77 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in last month .
Major Democratic donors have flooded battleground states , especially in the Midwest , with cash for anti-Trump campaigns in hopes of appealing to the president 's voter base .
CNN first reported Monday on Priorities USA 's new ads , which are part of a larger plan by deep-pocketed liberal financiers and activist groups to divert large sums of cash into the region .
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in several Midwestern states that she was expected to carry in the 2016 election .
As part of this plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend upward of $ 150 million against Trump in states like Michigan and Wisconsin .
The PAC has hauled in $ 27 million since January 2019 .
Its largest donor has been billionaire hedge fund manager Donald Sussman , who has given the group $ 8 million this cycle .
Soros is now the group 's second-largest donor at $ 5 million .
The group did not respond to a request for comment .
Priorities is not the only group using the coronavirus pandemic to attack Trump .
PACRONYM , a super PAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in charge of the botched Iowa app that caused chaos during the Iowa caucuses , is launching a similar campaign .
PACRONYM announced last Tuesday it will spend $ 5 million on digital advertising against Trump 's response to the pandemic .
Tara McGowan , the founder of ACRONYM , said it 's imperative that Democratic groups push anti-Trump messaging while Democratic presidential contenders remain positive during the pandemic .
Biden , however , slammed Trump on Monday over what he called a `` failure of planning and preparation '' for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health issue and a national security issue , but it 's also a public policy issue and thus a political one , '' McGowan told the Washington Post .
McGowan 's dark money nonprofit , which does not disclose its donors , has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi 's PAC .
It also received funding from failed presidential contender and billionaire donor Tom Steyer 's PAC .
PACRONYM received $ 250,000 from Soros 's Democracy PAC and $ 1 million from Sussman late last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kate Capshaw added $ 1 million .
In addition to Priorities and PACRONYM , liberal operative David Brock 's American Bridge PAC has assailed Trump 's coronavirus response .
American Bridge has also been active in Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
`` Our job is to hold Donald Trump accountable , and we have no plans to let up , particularly with a focus on economic issues as we 've done to date , '' Bradley Beychok , the president of American Bridge , said .
`` But as this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his incompetence , we 're not going to give him a pass for bungling the government 's response to this pandemic . ''
American Bridge plans to spend $ 50 million to `` weaken '' Trump in the Midwest .
`` We 're now set to leverage our expertise to launch the largest persuasion media effort we 've ever undertaken with the goal of making Trump a one-term president , '' Beychok said last year .
`` Donald Trump turned his back on the voters who gave him a lifeline in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Brock has close ties to the Democracy Alliance , a secretive club of millionaire and billionaire donors that Soros cofounded .
The group 's internal documents laid out a $ 275 million spending plan for the 2020 cycle .
Brock and his top employees—including Beychok—have appeared at alliance gatherings in recent years .
Soros has also funded another project , called the Heartland Fund , housed at dark money behemoth Arabella Advisors .
The fund targets Midwestern voters .
Soros was joined by Scott Wallace , who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in helping bankroll the effort .
Other efforts by liberal donors to campaign against Trump in the Midwest include at least $ 60 million from dark money group Future Majority .
The group is led by D.C. strategists Matt Tompkins and Mark Riddle , who launched the super PAC backing Biden 's candidacy .

The Democratic Party's leading super PAC will begin hitting President Donald Trump over coronavirus in four battleground states, using millions from liberal billionaire George Soros.
Priorities USA Action—the Democratic Party's largest super PAC—will spend $6 million this week on advertisements criticizing Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ads will run in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The PAC received $3 million in contributions from Soros's Democracy PAC on Feb. 21, new filings show. Soros's seven-figure donation accounts for 77 percent of the $3.9 million the PAC reported hauling in last month.
Major Democratic donors have flooded battleground states, especially in the Midwest, with cash for anti-Trump campaigns in hopes of appealing to the president's voter base. CNN first reported Monday on Priorities USA's new ads, which are part of a larger plan by deep-pocketed liberal financiers and activist groups to divert large sums of cash into the region. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in several Midwestern states that she was expected to carry in the 2016 election.
As part of this plan, Priorities USA has said it intends to spend upward of $150 million against Trump in states like Michigan and Wisconsin. The PAC has hauled in $27 million since January 2019. Its largest donor has been billionaire hedge fund manager Donald Sussman, who has given the group $8 million this cycle. Soros is now the group's second-largest donor at $5 million.
The group did not respond to a request for comment.
Priorities is not the only group using the coronavirus pandemic to attack Trump. PACRONYM, a super PAC tied to the nonprofit ACRONYM, which was in charge of the botched Iowa app that caused chaos during the Iowa caucuses, is launching a similar campaign.
PACRONYM announced last Tuesday it will spend $5 million on digital advertising against Trump's response to the pandemic. Tara McGowan, the founder of ACRONYM, said it's imperative that Democratic groups push anti-Trump messaging while Democratic presidential contenders remain positive during the pandemic. Biden, however, slammed Trump on Monday over what he called a "failure of planning and preparation" for the coronavirus.
"This is a public health issue and a national security issue, but it's also a public policy issue and thus a political one," McGowan told the Washington Post.
McGowan's dark money nonprofit, which does not disclose its donors, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's PAC. It also received funding from failed presidential contender and billionaire donor Tom Steyer's PAC.
PACRONYM received $250,000 from Soros's Democracy PAC and $1 million from Sussman late last year. Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw added $1 million.
In addition to Priorities and PACRONYM, liberal operative David Brock's American Bridge PAC has assailed Trump's coronavirus response. American Bridge has also been active in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
"Our job is to hold Donald Trump accountable, and we have no plans to let up, particularly with a focus on economic issues as we've done to date," Bradley Beychok, the president of American Bridge, said. "But as this crisis unfolds and the country experiences the consequences of his incompetence, we're not going to give him a pass for bungling the government's response to this pandemic."
American Bridge plans to spend $50 million to "weaken" Trump in the Midwest. "We're now set to leverage our expertise to launch the largest persuasion media effort we've ever undertaken with the goal of making Trump a one-term president," Beychok said last year. "Donald Trump turned his back on the voters who gave him a lifeline in 2016. We plan to cut it."
Brock has close ties to the Democracy Alliance, a secretive club of millionaire and billionaire donors that Soros cofounded. The group's internal documents laid out a $275 million spending plan for the 2020 cycle. Brock and his top employees—including Beychok—have appeared at alliance gatherings in recent years.
Soros has also funded another project, called the Heartland Fund, housed at dark money behemoth Arabella Advisors. The fund targets Midwestern voters. Soros was joined by Scott Wallace, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Pennsylvania's First Congressional District in 2018, in helping bankroll the effort.
Other efforts by liberal donors to campaign against Trump in the Midwest include at least $60 million from dark money group Future Majority. The group is led by D.C. strategists Matt Tompkins and Mark Riddle, who launched the super PAC backing Biden's candidacy.


freebeacon--2020-03-24--Chinese Propaganda Video Cites CNN, Democratic Politicians to Push Regime Narrative

China 's state-run propaganda outlets are using coronavirus coverage by U.S. media and Democratic politicians to push the regime narrative that the Chinese government bears no responsibility for the ongoing pandemic and that sourcing the origin of the virus to Wuhan is politically motivated .
A video posted Monday by the Global Times , a tabloid run by the Communist Party of China , uses footage of numerous American media outlets and Democratic politicians to portray criticism of China 's handling of the coronavirus as racist .
In addition to citing CNN 's Chris Cuomo and NBC 's Richard Engel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio parroting regime talking points .
`` It is easy to scapegoat people , and that is what has always happened when there have been pandemics or epidemics , '' Engel says in the clip featured in the video .
`` This is a virus that came from the territory of China but came from bats .
This is a bat virus , not a China virus . ''
In another video posted Sunday , Global Times editor in chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Chris Cillizza that argues President Donald Trump is `` weaponizing bigotry '' to shift blame away from his administration .
After questioning the virus 's point of origin in Wuhan , Xijin cites Cillizza 's piece as evidence that Trump is using China as a political `` scapegoat for his government 's slow response . ''
`` Reelection concerns are driving the Trump administration 's intense attack on China as a ploy to divert public anger over the federal government 's poor controls , '' Xijin says in a video pinned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account , which has more than 1.6 million followers .
`` They 've indeed been quite incompetent .
Perhaps they ca n't face their public without blaming China . ''
Neither CNN nor NBC responded to requests for comment .
The videos are part of a larger Chinese effort to deflect responsibility for the pandemic , which has spread across the globe since China covered up the December outbreak in Wuhan .
Chinese diplomats have worked simultaneously to shift blame away from the communist state .
China 's embassy in France pointed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration 's efforts to ensure China 's role in the worldwide crisis is known , labeling them `` naughty tactics . ''
`` The United States relies on lies and racism instead of science and effective measures to curb # COVID19 , '' the embassy wrote in a French-language tweet .
`` Take a look at @ thedailybeast on the White House 's naughty tactics to divert criticism from # TrumpPandemic . ''
A spokeswoman for the State Department scoffed at the propaganda outlets ' efforts to deflect blame .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know about the outbreak , which conferred a special responsibility to inform Chinese citizens and the world about it , '' spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said .
`` Instead , the Party covered-up the news and delayed their initial response , as authoritarian governments often do . ''
One study found that coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95 percent if China did not initially try to cover up the outbreak .
The State Department is now calling on the regime `` to be fully transparent '' as the pandemic kills thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We call on the CCP to be fully transparent about the outbreak now to help us save lives , and to prevent deaths when China produces the next possible global pandemic , '' Ortagus said .
`` The CCP should have learned after SARS in 2003 that a free media environment is necessary to prevent cover-ups and subsequent embarrassment . ''
China for decades has spent at least tens of millions of dollars publishing propaganda designed to look like legitimate news stories in U.S. newspapers , like the New York Times and Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6.6 billion to a foreign propaganda initiative in 2009 , spending $ 35 million on one state-run outlet , China Daily , since 2017 .
Rep. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
warned of the propaganda effort in a letter to Attorney General William Barr following a Washington Free Beacon exposé of China Daily ‘ s repeated breaches of federal law .
`` China Daily is a disgusting propaganda rag that 's used by the Chinese Communist Party to cover for the regime 's ongoing atrocities , '' Banks said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cold War , it 's that our victory was only possible because we convinced the world that democracy was superior to communist authoritarianism .
Well , it looks like we have to fight that battle again—this time against a far wealthier and equally determined adversary . ''
Though Chinese state-run media continue to accuse U.S. leaders of racism for pointing to the virus 's origin , the same propaganda outlets frequently used the term `` Wuhan virus '' during the outbreak 's initial stages .
Global Times referred to the `` Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after condemning American media for using the term in February .
The Global Times video is the latest in the propaganda arm 's # HuSays series , in which Xijin presents government talking points as his own opinions .
In a December # HuSays video , Xijin described Uyghur Muslim internment camps as `` boarding schools in poverty-stricken areas . ''
This is also not the first time the outlet has cited CNN in a propaganda campaign .
In a January # HuSays video , Xijin used CNN reporting on the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue that the strike would cause chaos in the region .
After one of the first known coronavirus patients developed symptoms in Wuhan in early December , Chinese officials censored a hospital director who sounded the alarm about the virus .
China went on to obfuscate about the virus for weeks , ordering labs to destroy testing samples in early January .
Two weeks later , Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization that there was `` no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus identified in Wuhan , China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the patient with the first confirmed U.S. case carried the coronavirus from Wuhan to Washington state .

China's state-run propaganda outlets are using coronavirus coverage by U.S. media and Democratic politicians to push the regime narrative that the Chinese government bears no responsibility for the ongoing pandemic and that sourcing the origin of the virus to Wuhan is politically motivated.
A video posted Monday by the Global Times, a tabloid run by the Communist Party of China, uses footage of numerous American media outlets and Democratic politicians to portray criticism of China's handling of the coronavirus as racist. In addition to citing CNN's Chris Cuomo and NBC's Richard Engel, the video highlights tweets from two-time failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio parroting regime talking points.
"It is easy to scapegoat people, and that is what has always happened when there have been pandemics or epidemics," Engel says in the clip featured in the video. "This is a virus that came from the territory of China but came from bats. This is a bat virus, not a China virus."
The US President’s rhetoric in using 'Chinese virus" to describe #COVID19, has sparked fierce public criticism from all walks of life in the US. pic.twitter.com/RMljngN7P3 — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 23, 2020
In another video posted Sunday, Global Times editor in chief Hu Xijin highlights a CNN opinion piece by Chris Cillizza that argues President Donald Trump is "weaponizing bigotry" to shift blame away from his administration. After questioning the virus's point of origin in Wuhan, Xijin cites Cillizza's piece as evidence that Trump is using China as a political "scapegoat for his government's slow response."
"Reelection concerns are driving the Trump administration's intense attack on China as a ploy to divert public anger over the federal government's poor controls," Xijin says in a video pinned to the top of the outlet's Twitter account, which has more than 1.6 million followers. "They've indeed been quite incompetent. Perhaps they can't face their public without blaming China."
Reelection concerns are driving the Trump administration's intense attack on China as a ploy to divert public anger over the federal government's poor controls: Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin #HuSays pic.twitter.com/jrTGmK2w0d — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 22, 2020
Neither CNN nor NBC responded to requests for comment.
The videos are part of a larger Chinese effort to deflect responsibility for the pandemic, which has spread across the globe since China covered up the December outbreak in Wuhan. Chinese diplomats have worked simultaneously to shift blame away from the communist state. China's embassy in France pointed on Monday to a Daily Beast report on the Trump administration's efforts to ensure China's role in the worldwide crisis is known, labeling them "naughty tactics."
"The United States relies on lies and racism instead of science and effective measures to curb #COVID19," the embassy wrote in a French-language tweet. "Take a look at @thedailybeast on the White House's naughty tactics to divert criticism from #TrumpPandemic."
A spokeswoman for the State Department scoffed at the propaganda outlets' efforts to deflect blame.
"The Chinese Communist Party was the first to know about the outbreak, which conferred a special responsibility to inform Chinese citizens and the world about it," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "Instead, the Party covered-up the news and delayed their initial response, as authoritarian governments often do."
One study found that coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95 percent if China did not initially try to cover up the outbreak. The State Department is now calling on the regime "to be fully transparent" as the pandemic kills thousands of people across the world.
"We call on the CCP to be fully transparent about the outbreak now to help us save lives, and to prevent deaths when China produces the next possible global pandemic," Ortagus said. "The CCP should have learned after SARS in 2003 that a free media environment is necessary to prevent cover-ups and subsequent embarrassment."
China for decades has spent at least tens of millions of dollars publishing propaganda designed to look like legitimate news stories in U.S. newspapers, like the New York Times and Washington Post. The communist country committed $6.6 billion to a foreign propaganda initiative in 2009, spending $35 million on one state-run outlet, China Daily, since 2017. Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.) warned of the propaganda effort in a letter to Attorney General William Barr following a Washington Free Beacon exposé of China Daily's repeated breaches of federal law.
"China Daily is a disgusting propaganda rag that's used by the Chinese Communist Party to cover for the regime's ongoing atrocities," Banks said. "If there's one lesson from the Cold War, it's that our victory was only possible because we convinced the world that democracy was superior to communist authoritarianism. Well, it looks like we have to fight that battle again—this time against a far wealthier and equally determined adversary."
Though Chinese state-run media continue to accuse U.S. leaders of racism for pointing to the virus's origin, the same propaganda outlets frequently used the term "Wuhan virus" during the outbreak's initial stages. Global Times referred to the "Wuhan virus" in a piece nearly two weeks after condemning American media for using the term in February.
The Global Times video is the latest in the propaganda arm's #HuSays series, in which Xijin presents government talking points as his own opinions. In a December #HuSays video, Xijin described Uyghur Muslim internment camps as "boarding schools in poverty-stricken areas."
This is also not the first time the outlet has cited CNN in a propaganda campaign. In a January #HuSays video, Xijin used CNN reporting on the killing of Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani to argue that the strike would cause chaos in the region.
After one of the first known coronavirus patients developed symptoms in Wuhan in early December, Chinese officials censored a hospital director who sounded the alarm about the virus. China went on to obfuscate about the virus for weeks, ordering labs to destroy testing samples in early January. Two weeks later, Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization that there was "no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus identified in Wuhan, China." The day after the announcement, the patient with the first confirmed U.S. case carried the coronavirus from Wuhan to Washington state.


freebeacon--2020-03-23--Iranian Officials Stole More Than $1 Billion in Humanitarian Coronavirus Funds, Pompeo Says

Iranian regime officials stole more than $ 1 billion in humanitarian funds meant to be used to help the country 's people fight the spread of coronavirus , according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
European countries intended for more than $ 1 billion cash for medical supplies to go to the Iranian people , who have been ravaged by the virus .
But American officials say regime leaders instead pocketed the money and are now using it to protect themselves from the virus as it spreads throughout the population .
This includes hoarding medical supplies that were meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports have showed that before and since the virus began spreading , Iranian leaders stole funds purposed directly to support the ailing Iranian people .
Iran has been among the hardest hit by the virus , and its government 's response has drawn international criticism , especially from the Trump administration .
Secretary of State Pompeo accused Iran of mass corruption as the regime continues to spread propaganda , including accusations that the United States manufactured the coronavirus and is using its tough global sanctions campaign to prevent Iran from accessing medicine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of new allegations about Tehran 's mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak .
`` Supreme leader [ Ali ] Khamenei 's fabrications regarding the Wuhan virus are dangerous and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk , '' Pompeo said .
`` Facts matter . ''
`` Regime officials stole over a billion euros intended for medical supplies , '' Pompeo said in one of the first public accountings of Iran 's alleged misuse of humanitarian funds that were meant to be used in cases such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well over one billion in American currency .
Pompeo also said Iranian officials `` continue to hoard desperately needed masks , gloves , and other medical equipment for sale on the black market . ''
The State Department made clear in facts sheets distributed to reporters that the billions in humanitarian funds Iran stole could have been used to fight the coronavirus in Iran .
This includes misusing millions of dollars in late 2019 to purchase tobacco instead of medical supplies .
Iranian officials have disseminated falsehoods about the nature of U.S. sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian assistance .
These talking points have been picked up by Tehran 's American allies , including members of the Obama administration 's so-called echo chamber , as part of an effort to see sanctions on Iran lifted .
Pompeo said part of the reason Iran has become a hotspot for the coronavirus is that the regime refuses to stop flights between Tehran and China .
Iran 's Mahan Air—which is designated as a terrorist entity by the United States for its routine shipments of weapons and fighters across the Middle East—ran at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after most countries had enacted a travel ban .
International health authorities say at least five countries experienced their first cases of coronavirus as a direct result of contact with Iran .
It has also become clear in recent days that Iran failed to heed warnings from its own health officials about how volatile and deadly the virus could be .
In a bid to hide this information from the world , Iran lied about the number of infections and deaths from the virus , the United States alleges .
Iran officially claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and 1,812 deaths in the country as of Monday .
However , the true numbers are likely far higher , though they are difficult to estimate due to Iran 's efforts to hide information from international health groups .
`` The regime continues to lie to the Iranian people and the world about the number of cases and deaths , which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits , '' Pompeo said .
The U.S. government has continued to offer assistance to Iran but has been repeatedly turned down .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global pandemic as an opportunity to spread anti-U.S. sentiment .
`` Khamenei rejected this offer because he works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritizes ideology over the Iranian people , '' Pompeo said .
U.S. sanctions have not and still do not target humanitarian channels meant to allow Iran to access medicine , food , equipment , and other life-saving items .
In fact , Iranian health companies `` have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January , '' according to the secretary of state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct response to Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif , who accused the United States of using sanctions as a weapon to ensure the virus 's spread across Iran .
`` Iranian people appreciate the growing global campaign of government & civil society leaders calling for lifting of illegal US sanctions , '' Zarif tweeted on Monday .
`` US sanctions has created serious problem for sending medical equipment and supplies to Iran to confront coronavirus , '' Iran 's state-controlled Mehr News Agency claimed on Monday .
Prominent U.S. allies of the Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak to push against the Trump administration 's tough economic sanctions campaign , have disseminated these talking points to an American audience .
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has also spread inflammatory propaganda claiming the United States created the virus and is using it to poison Iranian citizens .
The ayatollah said that any U.S. medicine given to Iran could be used to `` further spread the disease . ''
`` You can not be trusted , '' Khamenei said of the United States in a wide-ranging speech late last week .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he might want to come here to check on the effects of the poison you created . ''
Update 7:44 p.m. : This report has been updated to provide additional clarifying information about the humanitarian funds the United States accuses Iranian officials of stealing .
The State Department provided additional information about its claims Monday evening , after this initial report was published .