freebeacon--2020-03-16--Pompeo Conveyed ‘Strong U.S. Objections’ to Beijing Over COVID-19 Accusations

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – A war of words between China and the United States showed no signs of let up on Monday , with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call with a top Chinese diplomat expressing `` strong U.S. objections '' over what Washington sees as Beijing ’ s efforts to shift blame for the spread of the coronavirus .
Ties between the world ’ s top two economies , already complicated due to issues including trade , intellectual property rights as well as press freedoms , have further been tested by the outbreak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , highly contagious respiratory illness COVID-19 .
`` Secretary Pompeo conveyed strong U.S. objections to PRC efforts to shift blame for COVID-19 to the United States , '' Morgan Ortagus , State Department spokeswoman said in a statement about Pompeo ’ s call with Yang Jiechi , director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China .
`` The Secretary stressed that this is not the time to spread disinformation and outlandish rumors , but rather a time for all nations to come together to fight this common threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States on Friday summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest against comments by Beijing suggesting the U.S. military might have brought the coronavirus to Wuhan .
David Stilwell , the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia , delivered a very `` stern representation '' to China ’ s ambassador Cui Tiankai .
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday that in the phone call Yang told Pompeo that attempts to smear China ’ s efforts to control the coronavirus `` will not succeed '' and that actions that harmed China ’ s interests would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which emerged in China late last year , has spread around the world , upended many countries ’ daily lives , pummeled financial markets , brought flights to a standstill , shut down schools and forced the postponement of almost all gatherings including sports and arts events .
Globally over 174,100 have been infected and nearly 6,700 have died .
U.S. death toll reached 71 , with more than 4,100 people having tested positive for the disease .
Beijing was criticized for initially attempting to censor some Chinese doctors who sounded an alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has imposed draconian containment measures , effectively locking down Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province , home to 60 million people .
Pompeo , who has sharply criticized Beijing on a number of issues from its trade practices to religious freedoms , has complained that the U.S. response had been hindered by what he called imperfect data from Beijing .
However on Friday , U.S. President Donald Trump praised China for its `` data sharing '' and appeared to brush off any concern , saying he had read one article on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it was representative of his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping .
Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk , Editing by Franklin Paul and Marguerita Choy

By Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A war of words between China and the United States showed no signs of let up on Monday, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call with a top Chinese diplomat expressing "strong U.S. objections" over what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to shift blame for the spread of the coronavirus.
Ties between the world’s top two economies, already complicated due to issues including trade, intellectual property rights as well as press freedoms, have further been tested by the outbreak of coronavirus, which causes the sometimes fatal, highly contagious respiratory illness COVID-19.
"Secretary Pompeo conveyed strong U.S. objections to PRC efforts to shift blame for COVID-19 to the United States," Morgan Ortagus, State Department spokeswoman said in a statement about Pompeo’s call with Yang Jiechi, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China.
"The Secretary stressed that this is not the time to spread disinformation and outlandish rumors, but rather a time for all nations to come together to fight this common threat," Ortagus said.
The United States on Friday summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest against comments by Beijing suggesting the U.S. military might have brought the coronavirus to Wuhan. David Stilwell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, delivered a very "stern representation" to China’s ambassador Cui Tiankai.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday that in the phone call Yang told Pompeo that attempts to smear China’s efforts to control the coronavirus "will not succeed" and that actions that harmed China’s interests would be retaliated against.
The coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, has spread around the world, upended many countries’ daily lives, pummeled financial markets, brought flights to a standstill, shut down schools and forced the postponement of almost all gatherings including sports and arts events.
Globally over 174,100 have been infected and nearly 6,700 have died. U.S. death toll reached 71, with more than 4,100 people having tested positive for the disease.
Beijing was criticized for initially attempting to censor some Chinese doctors who sounded an alarm over the virus. Since January, it has imposed draconian containment measures, effectively locking down Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province, home to 60 million people.
Pompeo, who has sharply criticized Beijing on a number of issues from its trade practices to religious freedoms, has complained that the U.S. response had been hindered by what he called imperfect data from Beijing.
However on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump praised China for its "data sharing" and appeared to brush off any concern, saying he had read one article on the subject, but that he did not think it was representative of his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Editing by Franklin Paul and Marguerita Choy


freebeacon--2020-03-16--Trump Urges No Gatherings Larger Than 10 People to Fight Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump issued new guidelines on Monday to help fight the coronavirus , including a recommendation that people avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people , discretionary travel , and going to bars , restaurants and food courts .
Trump said the new guidelines from his coronavirus task force applied for 15 days and were meant to slow the spread of the virus .
`` We ’ ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the curve than behind it , '' Trump said .
Trump said the worst of the virus could be over by July , August or later .
`` With several weeks of focused action , we can turn the corner and turn it quickly , '' he said .
Trump said a nationwide curfew was not under consideration at this point .
Trump said the U.S. economy could be heading into a recession .
He said the administration has talked regularly about domestic travel restrictions but hopes not to have to put such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic after earlier playing down its seriousness in the early days of the virus ’ spread .
Reporting by Jeff Mason , Steve Holland and Timothy Ahmann , Editing by Franklin Paul and Lisa Shumaker

By Jeff Mason, Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump issued new guidelines on Monday to help fight the coronavirus, including a recommendation that people avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people, discretionary travel, and going to bars, restaurants and food courts.
Trump said the new guidelines from his coronavirus task force applied for 15 days and were meant to slow the spread of the virus.
"We’ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We’d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it," Trump said.
Trump said the worst of the virus could be over by July, August or later.
"With several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner and turn it quickly," he said.
Trump said a nationwide curfew was not under consideration at this point.
Trump said the U.S. economy could be heading into a recession. He said the administration has talked regularly about domestic travel restrictions but hopes not to have to put such things in place.
The president has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic after earlier playing down its seriousness in the early days of the virus’ spread.
Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Timothy Ahmann, Editing by Franklin Paul and Lisa Shumaker


freebeacon--2020-03-16--Sanders Claims Medicare for All Would Fix Coronavirus. It Might Make Things Worse

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) once again argued during Sunday night 's presidential primary debate that America is less equipped to handle the coronavirus pandemic because it does not have a single-payer health care system .
`` Let 's be honest and understand that this coronavirus pandemic exposes the incredible weakness and dysfunctionality of our current health care system , '' Sanders said .
`` We 're spending twice as much per person on health care as the people of any other country… .
We 're spending so much money and yet we 're not even prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have enough doctors ?
How come hospitals in rural areas are shutting down ?
How come people ca n't afford to get the prescription drugs they need ? ''
The talking point—that America 's patchwork health care system leaves the country at greater risk in a pandemic—was part of Sanders 's messaging throughout the preceding week .
At a speech in Burlington , Vt. , on Thursday , Sanders claimed `` the United States is at a severe disadvantage , because , unlike every other major country on earth , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human right . ''
On Saturday , he tweeted , `` if this situation is n't a red flag for our current dysfunctional and wasteful health care system , frankly , I do n't know what is . ''
While essentially no health care system has the capacity for a large-scale pandemic , experts tell the Washington Free Beacon that Americans are in fact slightly better prepared than others , thanks in large part to our higher rates of health care spending .
By contrast , single-payer systems like those in Italy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
A similar system in the United States runs the risk of making disaster preparedness worse , not better .
Americans spend a lot of money on health care—the most in the OECD , a group of the world 's economically developed countries .
Christopher Pope , a health care policy expert and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute , told the Free Beacon this added cost is driven in part by higher wage rates for skilled labor , in part by higher rates of obesity , but most of all by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care is generally greater .
`` Part of the higher spending is that we simply get more—we 're not operating close to capacity or tightly rationing health care services at normal times , '' Pope said .
`` It also allows us to have greater capacity of high-end services , such as ICUs , which other countries skimp on . ''
One reason the United States spends more is that the average American has more wealth to throw at health care .
Across countries , as households ' real disposable income goes up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
America 's spending reflects , however , not just having more money , but having more opportunities to spend it .
In a more market-based system , patients can trade money for time , spending more to avoid longer waits and lower-quality care .
For example , Americans are able to spend large sums of money to increase the supply of specialty services .
This helps explain why the United States has more MRI machines and more CT scanners per capita than most other developed countries .
Americans opt to pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait longer to use them .
This same dynamic is at play with the technology needed to combat the coronavirus .
While the United States has fewer hospital beds per capita than most developed countries , it has substantially more intensive care unit beds per capita and a per capita number of ventilators that `` exceeds those reported by other developed countries . ''
Such resources are vital in combating a disease which attacks the lungs , requiring intubation , ventilation , and intensive care for many patients .
America 's higher spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : more technological innovation , particularly in the domain of drug discovery .
As Dr. Robert Graboyes , a health care scholar at the Mercatus Center , told the Free Beacon , `` The fact that Americans spend a great deal means that there 's an incentive to develop things that they 're willing to spend on . ''
Americans ' higher rate of spending drives much of the world 's pharmaceutical innovation .
As scholars at the liberal Brookings Institution put it , `` drug development activity is sensitive to expected future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
This may matter less for the development of a coronavirus vaccine , already in the works , but does indicate that the American system has helped bolster humanity 's pharmaceutical toolkit more broadly .
Whereas America 's current system offers benefits vis-à-vis combating the pandemic , a single-payer regime of the sort Sanders backs would likely make the country less prepared for a demand shock to its medical resources .
As Sanders opponent Joe Biden put it Sunday evening , things are `` not working in Italy right now , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Italy 's single-payer system is completely inadequate for this challenge , '' Michael Cannon , a health care scholar at the Cato Institute , told the Free Beacon .
`` And Italy 's health care system would not be as closed and repressive as Bernie Sanders 's Medicare for All program would be .
Italy allows people to purchase supplemental private insurance to get you access to better care than what the government provides .
Bernie Sanders would not . ''
One of Sanders 's major arguments for his plan is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less expensive than the current patchwork approach .
This is largely because a single-payer system is able to unilaterally set payments below the operating costs of health care providers .
At present , for example , Medicare compensates providers 87 to 89 cents on the dollar , compared with $ 1.45 from private insurers .
Medicare for All would save money on national health expenditures only under the assumption that similar compensation rates would continue to obtain .
But here , again , the time-money tradeoff comes into effect .
Less money in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excess capacity that can be called on in times of crisis .
This could lead to rationing of care , the closure of rural hospitals , or a decline in the number of doctors—all vital resources if and when a pandemic strikes .
The experts to whom the Free Beacon spoke emphasized that while in some regards the United States is better equipped than other nations , that does not mean Americans have nothing to fear .
Even higher per capita numbers of ICU beds and ventilators will not be enough to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not adequately contained .
Following CDC guidelines—staying home , washing hands frequently , cleaning surfaces , and covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing—is essential for ensuring public health and keeping those most at risk alive .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) once again argued during Sunday night's presidential primary debate that America is less equipped to handle the coronavirus pandemic because it does not have a single-payer health care system.
"Let's be honest and understand that this coronavirus pandemic exposes the incredible weakness and dysfunctionality of our current health care system," Sanders said. "We're spending twice as much per person on health care as the people of any other country…. We're spending so much money and yet we're not even prepared for this pandemic. How come we don't have enough doctors? How come hospitals in rural areas are shutting down? How come people can't afford to get the prescription drugs they need?"
The talking point—that America's patchwork health care system leaves the country at greater risk in a pandemic—was part of Sanders's messaging throughout the preceding week. At a speech in Burlington, Vt., on Thursday, Sanders claimed "the United States is at a severe disadvantage, because, unlike every other major country on earth, we do not guarantee health care as a human right." On Saturday, he tweeted, "if this situation isn't a red flag for our current dysfunctional and wasteful health care system, frankly, I don't know what is."
While essentially no health care system has the capacity for a large-scale pandemic, experts tell the Washington Free Beacon that Americans are in fact slightly better prepared than others, thanks in large part to our higher rates of health care spending. By contrast, single-payer systems like those in Italy and Spain appear unequipped to face the current crisis. A similar system in the United States runs the risk of making disaster preparedness worse, not better.
Americans spend a lot of money on health care—the most in the OECD, a group of the world's economically developed countries. Christopher Pope, a health care policy expert and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told the Free Beacon this added cost is driven in part by higher wage rates for skilled labor, in part by higher rates of obesity, but most of all by the fact that American demand for health care is generally greater.
"Part of the higher spending is that we simply get more—we're not operating close to capacity or tightly rationing health care services at normal times," Pope said. "It also allows us to have greater capacity of high-end services, such as ICUs, which other countries skimp on."
One reason the United States spends more is that the average American has more wealth to throw at health care. Across countries, as households' real disposable income goes up, spending on health care rises proportionally. America's spending reflects, however, not just having more money, but having more opportunities to spend it. In a more market-based system, patients can trade money for time, spending more to avoid longer waits and lower-quality care.
For example, Americans are able to spend large sums of money to increase the supply of specialty services. This helps explain why the United States has more MRI machines and more CT scanners per capita than most other developed countries. Americans opt to pay for more of those machines, rather than wait longer to use them.
This same dynamic is at play with the technology needed to combat the coronavirus. While the United States has fewer hospital beds per capita than most developed countries, it has substantially more intensive care unit beds per capita and a per capita number of ventilators that "exceeds those reported by other developed countries." Such resources are vital in combating a disease which attacks the lungs, requiring intubation, ventilation, and intensive care for many patients.
America's higher spending appetite for health care has another benefit: more technological innovation, particularly in the domain of drug discovery. As Dr. Robert Graboyes, a health care scholar at the Mercatus Center, told the Free Beacon, "The fact that Americans spend a great deal means that there's an incentive to develop things that they're willing to spend on."
Americans' higher rate of spending drives much of the world's pharmaceutical innovation. As scholars at the liberal Brookings Institution put it, "drug development activity is sensitive to expected future revenues in the market for those drugs." This may matter less for the development of a coronavirus vaccine, already in the works, but does indicate that the American system has helped bolster humanity's pharmaceutical toolkit more broadly.
Whereas America's current system offers benefits vis-à-vis combating the pandemic, a single-payer regime of the sort Sanders backs would likely make the country less prepared for a demand shock to its medical resources. As Sanders opponent Joe Biden put it Sunday evening, things are "not working in Italy right now, and they have a single-payer system."
"Italy's single-payer system is completely inadequate for this challenge," Michael Cannon, a health care scholar at the Cato Institute, told the Free Beacon. "And Italy's health care system would not be as closed and repressive as Bernie Sanders's Medicare for All program would be. Italy allows people to purchase supplemental private insurance to get you access to better care than what the government provides. Bernie Sanders would not."
One of Sanders's major arguments for his plan is that it will, on net, be less expensive than the current patchwork approach. This is largely because a single-payer system is able to unilaterally set payments below the operating costs of health care providers. At present, for example, Medicare compensates providers 87 to 89 cents on the dollar, compared with $1.45 from private insurers. Medicare for All would save money on national health expenditures only under the assumption that similar compensation rates would continue to obtain.
But here, again, the time-money tradeoff comes into effect. Less money in the system overall means less spent on excess capacity that can be called on in times of crisis. This could lead to rationing of care, the closure of rural hospitals, or a decline in the number of doctors—all vital resources if and when a pandemic strikes.
The experts to whom the Free Beacon spoke emphasized that while in some regards the United States is better equipped than other nations, that does not mean Americans have nothing to fear. Even higher per capita numbers of ICU beds and ventilators will not be enough to provide for every patient if the crisis is not adequately contained. Following CDC guidelines—staying home, washing hands frequently, cleaning surfaces, and covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing—is essential for ensuring public health and keeping those most at risk alive.


freebeacon--2020-03-16--‘Pathetic’: Ex-Aides Slam De Blasio’s Gym Trip Amid Outbreak

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio worked out at his favorite gym on Monday , just as New York state ordered all gyms to shut down due to coronavirus fears .
De Blasio , a former Democratic presidential candidate , was spotted entering the public YMCA gym in Brooklyn on Monday morning .
While de Blasio completed his workout , New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closure of all gyms , restaurants , and bars in the state beginning at 8 p.m. Monday .
Former top advisers skewered de Blasio for setting a poor example for fellow New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far infected 463 people in the city .
Rebecca Katz , a former special adviser to the mayor , called him `` inexcusable and reckless . ''
Another former adviser , Jonathan Rosen , piled on , saying the Democrat was `` pathetic '' and `` self-involved . ''
De Blasio has declared a state of emergency in his city , arguing that the United States must adopt a `` war-footing '' to deal with the pandemic .
As part of his response , he closed down the city 's public schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also urged city residents to stay indoors .
Less than 12 hours before the mayor attended the gym , the city 's health department said that `` everyone in NYC should act as if they have been exposed to coronavirus . ''
De Blasio 's spokeswoman defended the mayor 's visit in a statement , saying that the mayor was attending the gym for `` one last time . ''
`` The YMCA has been a huge part of his and his family 's life , like it has been for a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's about to change and before that , the mayor wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time , '' she said .
`` After today , gyms will close and he will no longer be visiting the YMCA for the foreseeable future . ''
De Blasio usually starts his day with a 12-mile cross-borough journey to exercise at the YMCA gym .
He usually arrives at his office around 10:30 a.m .
Critics have long ridiculed the mayor for his morning workout routine , arguing that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
De Blasio spent only seven hours at City Hall in May 2019 , the month he launched his failed presidential campaign .
Meanwhile , local residents near the gym have complained that the mayor often does not wipe down the gym equipment after he uses it—behavior that has been linked to the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
Under de Blasio 's watch , the pandemic has claimed the lives of five New York City residents .
Coronavirus cases continue to grow at a breakneck pace in the city , tripling from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
Employees in the city 's health department accused de Blasio of stifling the city 's response to the outbreak , according to the New York Post .

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio worked out at his favorite gym on Monday, just as New York state ordered all gyms to shut down due to coronavirus fears.
De Blasio, a former Democratic presidential candidate, was spotted entering the public YMCA gym in Brooklyn on Monday morning. While de Blasio completed his workout, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closure of all gyms, restaurants, and bars in the state beginning at 8 p.m. Monday.
Former top advisers skewered de Blasio for setting a poor example for fellow New Yorkers amid an outbreak that has so far infected 463 people in the city. Rebecca Katz, a former special adviser to the mayor, called him "inexcusable and reckless." Another former adviser, Jonathan Rosen, piled on, saying the Democrat was "pathetic" and "self-involved."
She right. It’s pathetic. Self-involved. Inexcusable. — Jonathan Rosen (@JonathanRosenBR) March 16, 2020
De Blasio has declared a state of emergency in his city, arguing that the United States must adopt a "war-footing" to deal with the pandemic. As part of his response, he closed down the city's public schools and restricted restaurants to take-out only. He also urged city residents to stay indoors.
Less than 12 hours before the mayor attended the gym, the city's health department said that "everyone in NYC should act as if they have been exposed to coronavirus." De Blasio's spokeswoman defended the mayor's visit in a statement, saying that the mayor was attending the gym for "one last time."
"The YMCA has been a huge part of his and his family's life, like it has been for a lot of New Yorkers. It's clear that's about to change and before that, the mayor wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time," she said. "After today, gyms will close and he will no longer be visiting the YMCA for the foreseeable future."
De Blasio usually starts his day with a 12-mile cross-borough journey to exercise at the YMCA gym. He usually arrives at his office around 10:30 a.m.
Critics have long ridiculed the mayor for his morning workout routine, arguing that it takes time away from his mayoral duties. De Blasio spent only seven hours at City Hall in May 2019, the month he launched his failed presidential campaign. Meanwhile, local residents near the gym have complained that the mayor often does not wipe down the gym equipment after he uses it—behavior that has been linked to the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Under de Blasio's watch, the pandemic has claimed the lives of five New York City residents. Coronavirus cases continue to grow at a breakneck pace in the city, tripling from 154 on Friday to 463 cases on Monday. Employees in the city's health department accused de Blasio of stifling the city's response to the outbreak, according to the New York Post.


freebeacon--2020-03-16--Supreme Court Suspends Arguments Amid Coronavirus Fears

The Supreme Court postponed its March argument session on Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Among the cases scheduled for the upcoming session are three disputes over subpoenas for President Donald Trump 's financial records .
The sitting was scheduled to run from March 23 to April 1 .
`` In keeping with public health precautions recommended in response to COVID-19 , the Supreme Court is postponing the oral arguments currently scheduled for the March session , '' Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement .
`` The Court will examine the options for rescheduling those cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing circumstances . ''
`` The Court is expanding remote working capabilities to reduce the number of employees in the building , consistent with public health guidance , '' the statement adds .
Despite Monday 's extraordinary announcement , much of the Court 's business will continue as normal .
The justices will meet in a private conference to discuss petitions and other internal business on Friday .
Some justices may participate remotely , according to Monday 's statement .
The Court will also release orders in pending cases on March 23 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and preparing opinions , Monday 's postponement notwithstanding .
Filing deadlines will remain in place for lawyers with cases before the Court .
However , it 's not clear if the Court will announce decisions in the coming weeks .
The justices have handed down just 12 opinions since the current term began in October .
Six of the nine justices are considered at risk of death or serious complications should they contract the virus .
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are in their 80s , while Chief Justice John Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Sonia Sotomayor are over 65 .
The Court has not yet announced when it will hear arguments in the March cases .
Other matters scheduled for the March sitting involve two Catholic elementary schools and the scope of an exemption to employment discrimination claims , as well as an $ 8 billion copyright dispute between Google and Oracle Corp. A final argument session , from April 20 to April 29 , was not disturbed by Monday 's announcement .
The Supreme Court building closed to the public on Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a public health crisis in over a century .
The last time the justices delayed scheduled arguments was in October 1918 , as the Spanish flu ravaged the United States .
Outbreaks of yellow fever prompted early recesses twice in the 1790s .

The Supreme Court postponed its March argument session on Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the cases scheduled for the upcoming session are three disputes over subpoenas for President Donald Trump's financial records. The sitting was scheduled to run from March 23 to April 1.
"In keeping with public health precautions recommended in response to COVID-19, the Supreme Court is postponing the oral arguments currently scheduled for the March session," Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement. "The Court will examine the options for rescheduling those cases in due course in light of the developing circumstances."
"The Court is expanding remote working capabilities to reduce the number of employees in the building, consistent with public health guidance," the statement adds.
Despite Monday's extraordinary announcement, much of the Court's business will continue as normal. The justices will meet in a private conference to discuss petitions and other internal business on Friday. Some justices may participate remotely, according to Monday's statement. The Court will also release orders in pending cases on March 23.
The justices can also continue reviewing cases and preparing opinions, Monday's postponement notwithstanding. Filing deadlines will remain in place for lawyers with cases before the Court. However, it's not clear if the Court will announce decisions in the coming weeks. The justices have handed down just 12 opinions since the current term began in October.
Six of the nine justices are considered at risk of death or serious complications should they contract the virus. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are in their 80s, while Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor are over 65.
The Court has not yet announced when it will hear arguments in the March cases. Other matters scheduled for the March sitting involve two Catholic elementary schools and the scope of an exemption to employment discrimination claims, as well as an $8 billion copyright dispute between Google and Oracle Corp.
A final argument session, from April 20 to April 29, was not disturbed by Monday's announcement.
The Supreme Court building closed to the public on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has not canceled a sitting due to a public health crisis in over a century. The last time the justices delayed scheduled arguments was in October 1918, as the Spanish flu ravaged the United States. Outbreaks of yellow fever prompted early recesses twice in the 1790s.


freebeacon--2020-03-16--Iran on ‘Warlike’ Footing as Senior Leader Admits He Has Coronavirus

Iranian forces have taken a `` warlike '' posture across the Islamic Republic as another of Tehran 's top political figures admits he has contracted the coronavirus , according to reports in Iran 's state-controlled media .
Ali Akbar Velayati , a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has been infected with the coronavirus and is now in isolation , according to reports in Iran 's state-controlled press outlets .
Velayati is one of many top Iranian officials to contract the virus since it began spreading across Iran .
Several Iranian officials have already died as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has rapidly deteriorated over the past several weeks and prompted the country to galvanize a military response to stymie the virus 's spread .
Iranian forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) have now taken a `` warlike '' posture across the country , officials said .
`` All provincial units of IRGC along with medical science universities are really in a warlike arrangement , '' Major General Hossein Salami said Monday during a videoconference with IRGC leaders .
These military forces are working to disinfect areas and move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I assure people that we can defeat this virus by preserving unity and resistance provided that people would stay at home and follow the hygienic requirements , '' Salami said .
Official estimates issued by Iranian officials put the number of coronavirus infections at nearly 15,000 , though the true number is likely much higher .
At least 853 have died .
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered a message of support to Velayati on Monday .
`` When ministers , senior officials , and doctors in Iran accept responsibility and official figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that they and their families have not fled elsewhere for safety , '' the Hezbollah leader said .
`` They are fighting against coronavirus alongside the people , and this is an honor for them . ''
Reports from the region allege that Nasrallah also has contracted the coronavirus .
The terror leader has self-quarantined since meeting with Hezbollah operatives who tested positive for the sickness .

Iranian forces have taken a "warlike" posture across the Islamic Republic as another of Tehran's top political figures admits he has contracted the coronavirus, according to reports in Iran's state-controlled media.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been infected with the coronavirus and is now in isolation, according to reports in Iran's state-controlled press outlets. Velayati is one of many top Iranian officials to contract the virus since it began spreading across Iran. Several Iranian officials have already died as a result of the illness.
The situation in Iran has rapidly deteriorated over the past several weeks and prompted the country to galvanize a military response to stymie the virus's spread.
Iranian forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have now taken a "warlike" posture across the country, officials said.
"All provincial units of IRGC along with medical science universities are really in a warlike arrangement," Major General Hossein Salami said Monday during a videoconference with IRGC leaders.
These military forces are working to disinfect areas and move infected individuals into makeshift quarantine facilities.
"I assure people that we can defeat this virus by preserving unity and resistance provided that people would stay at home and follow the hygienic requirements," Salami said.
Official estimates issued by Iranian officials put the number of coronavirus infections at nearly 15,000, though the true number is likely much higher. At least 853 have died.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered a message of support to Velayati on Monday.
"When ministers, senior officials, and doctors in Iran accept responsibility and official figures have been infected with coronavirus, it means that they and their families have not fled elsewhere for safety," the Hezbollah leader said. "They are fighting against coronavirus alongside the people, and this is an honor for them."
Reports from the region allege that Nasrallah also has contracted the coronavirus. The terror leader has self-quarantined since meeting with Hezbollah operatives who tested positive for the sickness.


freebeacon--2020-03-16--Hunter Biden’s Foreign Visits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $200,000, According to Gov’t Database

Then-vice president Joe Biden spared no words when he extolled the virtues of his second son , Hunter Biden , in a 2013 address to South Korean students at the elite Yonsei University .
`` And as I speak , my son has just boarded—my grown son has just boarded a plane , an aircraft—he ’ s heading to the Philippines , '' Biden said .
`` His name is Hunter Biden .
He ’ s chairman of the World Food Program USA , and he 's going there out in the field , like so many of you did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and the tens of thousands of young people around the world who either went or wanted to . ''
But Hunter Biden was n't exactly going `` out in the fields '' in the same way a naive 20-something might travel to the developing world to dig wells and build schools .
What Joe Biden did n't tell the next generation of South Korean elite was that his son was visiting the Philippines with a Secret Service entourage that was costing U.S. taxpayers a fortune .
As Hunter Biden zipped across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid $ 193,696 for his Secret Service entourage , according to an official database that reports unclassified government expenditures .
That amount is nearly four times the recorded security bill of the four adult Trump children—combined .
While his father Joe Biden was vice president , Hunter Biden traveled with a Secret Service entourage to at least 10 different countries , including China , Qatar , and South Africa , according to a government expenditure database .
He racked up 28 separate bills , all of which involved taxpayer payments to a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign awardee . ''
Many of the bills explicitly said that the money was used to pay for accommodations for the Secret Service , but others were scant on details .
With few details about Hunter Biden 's travels publicly disclosed , the database is far from a complete account of his foreign activities .
The limited disclosures do shed light on the taxpayer burden of Hunter Biden 's lucrative global business career , which far eclipses the Secret Service costs for other presidential and vice-presidential family members disclosed in the database .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not respond to a request for comment .
The Trump children combined , for example , are recorded to have spent about $ 40,000 .
The one exception to this rule is security costs for first ladies : Critics have denounced both Michelle Obama and Melania Trump for excessive security costs .
But first ladies often , though not always , accrue those fees on official government visits , while Hunter Biden never held an official government position .
Sean Moulton , a senior policy analyst at the Project on Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far from complete because the Secret Service withholds much information for security reasons .
He added that it is unclear why Hunter Biden 's security is so expensive compared to his peers—it could be Hunter Biden traveled more frequently or in larger groups , but there is no way to know without more complete details .
The Secret Service did not return a request for comment .
As Joe Biden cements his place as the presumptive Democratic nominee , Sens .
Chuck Grassley ( R. , Iowa ) and Ron Johnson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny of Biden 's troubled son .
As part of their probe , the senators requested Hunter Biden 's travel records from the Secret Service in February to unearth `` potential conflicts of interest posed by the business activities of Hunter Biden and his associates . ''
In their letter to the Secret Service , Grassley and Johnson zeroed in on two examples of Hunter Biden 's foreign entanglement , one each in Ukraine and China .
Hunter Biden was a board member of Burisma , a Ukrainian energy company , while his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine policy .
He also served on the board of Chinese private equity company BHR Partners , organizing a meet-and-greet between Joe Biden and BHR CEO Jonathan Li on Dec. 4 , 2013 , according to the New Yorker .
The database has not disclosed details about the Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden 's time in Ukraine .
It does , however , show that Hunter visited China on at least two other occasions , once each before and after the December 2013 meeting .
The records show that Hunter Biden stayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June 2013 and March 2014 , costing taxpayers nearly $ 13,000 .
Expenditures related to Hunter Biden 's trips to the Phillippines are filed under `` WFP , '' which stands for World Food Program USA , the nonprofit group that Joe Biden told the South Korean students about .
But while Hunter Biden snapped pictures of himself as a man-of-the-people mingling with the disaster-struck children of the Philippines , that did not stop him and his Secret Service guards from checking into rooms at the St. Regis Doha in Qatar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 11,000 .
The disclosed expenditures provide scant details about the exact purpose of Hunter Biden 's trips .
Moulton said that the categorization of all Secret Service expenditures as `` miscellaneous '' is a `` frustrating lack of transparency . ''
`` Sometimes there are security concerns for recipients of USA money ( either contracts or aid ) that require keeping them anonymous to protect them from possible reprisals from those unhappy with our country , '' he said in an email .
`` But too often the convention is used for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the information required to be reported for each foreign contractor . ''
This is not the first time the Biden family has used the Secret Service for its personal benefit .
While in the White House , Joe Biden charged rent for the Secret Service agents stationed in his Wilmington , Del.
, property , costing taxpayers $ 171,600 between 2011 and 2017 .
Biden 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Then-vice president Joe Biden spared no words when he extolled the virtues of his second son, Hunter Biden, in a 2013 address to South Korean students at the elite Yonsei University.
"And as I speak, my son has just boarded—my grown son has just boarded a plane, an aircraft—he’s heading to the Philippines," Biden said. "His name is Hunter Biden. He’s chairman of the World Food Program USA, and he's going there out in the field, like so many of you did. I'm so incredibly proud of him and the tens of thousands of young people around the world who either went or wanted to."
But Hunter Biden wasn't exactly going "out in the fields" in the same way a naive 20-something might travel to the developing world to dig wells and build schools. What Joe Biden didn't tell the next generation of South Korean elite was that his son was visiting the Philippines with a Secret Service entourage that was costing U.S. taxpayers a fortune.
As Hunter Biden zipped across the globe for his business deals, taxpayers paid $193,696 for his Secret Service entourage, according to an official database that reports unclassified government expenditures. That amount is nearly four times the recorded security bill of the four adult Trump children—combined.
While his father Joe Biden was vice president, Hunter Biden traveled with a Secret Service entourage to at least 10 different countries, including China, Qatar, and South Africa, according to a government expenditure database. He racked up 28 separate bills, all of which involved taxpayer payments to a "miscellaneous foreign contractor" or "miscellaneous foreign awardee." Many of the bills explicitly said that the money was used to pay for accommodations for the Secret Service, but others were scant on details.
With few details about Hunter Biden's travels publicly disclosed, the database is far from a complete account of his foreign activities. The limited disclosures do shed light on the taxpayer burden of Hunter Biden's lucrative global business career, which far eclipses the Secret Service costs for other presidential and vice-presidential family members disclosed in the database. George Mesires, Hunter Biden's attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Trump children combined, for example, are recorded to have spent about $40,000. The one exception to this rule is security costs for first ladies: Critics have denounced both Michelle Obama and Melania Trump for excessive security costs. But first ladies often, though not always, accrue those fees on official government visits, while Hunter Biden never held an official government position.
Sean Moulton, a senior policy analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, cautioned that the government database is far from complete because the Secret Service withholds much information for security reasons. He added that it is unclear why Hunter Biden's security is so expensive compared to his peers—it could be Hunter Biden traveled more frequently or in larger groups, but there is no way to know without more complete details.
The Secret Service did not return a request for comment.
As Joe Biden cements his place as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) have renewed congressional scrutiny of Biden's troubled son. As part of their probe, the senators requested Hunter Biden's travel records from the Secret Service in February to unearth "potential conflicts of interest posed by the business activities of Hunter Biden and his associates."
In their letter to the Secret Service, Grassley and Johnson zeroed in on two examples of Hunter Biden's foreign entanglement, one each in Ukraine and China. Hunter Biden was a board member of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father handled the Obama White House's Ukraine policy. He also served on the board of Chinese private equity company BHR Partners, organizing a meet-and-greet between Joe Biden and BHR CEO Jonathan Li on Dec. 4, 2013, according to the New Yorker.
The database has not disclosed details about the Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden's time in Ukraine. It does, however, show that Hunter visited China on at least two other occasions, once each before and after the December 2013 meeting. The records show that Hunter Biden stayed in China for one to two weeks in June 2013 and March 2014, costing taxpayers nearly $13,000.
Expenditures related to Hunter Biden's trips to the Phillippines are filed under "WFP," which stands for World Food Program USA, the nonprofit group that Joe Biden told the South Korean students about. But while Hunter Biden snapped pictures of himself as a man-of-the-people mingling with the disaster-struck children of the Philippines, that did not stop him and his Secret Service guards from checking into rooms at the St. Regis Doha in Qatar, a luxury hotel that cost taxpayers roughly $11,000.
The disclosed expenditures provide scant details about the exact purpose of Hunter Biden's trips. Moulton said that the categorization of all Secret Service expenditures as "miscellaneous" is a "frustrating lack of transparency."
"Sometimes there are security concerns for recipients of USA money (either contracts or aid) that require keeping them anonymous to protect them from possible reprisals from those unhappy with our country," he said in an email. "But too often the convention is used for convenience because agencies may not have all of the information required to be reported for each foreign contractor."
This is not the first time the Biden family has used the Secret Service for its personal benefit. While in the White House, Joe Biden charged rent for the Secret Service agents stationed in his Wilmington, Del., property, costing taxpayers $171,600 between 2011 and 2017. Biden's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-03-17--Biden Poised to Strengthen Hold on Nomination With Big Wins in Florida, Illinois

Notwithstanding the national disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic , the Democratic primary remains ( sort of ) a going concern .
Democratic voters in Arizona , Florida , and Illinois are set to cast ballots on Tuesday , and the results are expected to favor former vice president Joe Biden .
Ohio was also on track to hold its primary on Tuesday after a state judge rejected a petition by Gov .
Mike DeWine ( R. ) to postpone the vote until June .
Judge Richard Frye ruled late Monday that the governor had not `` proceeded in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so soon before the polls opened .
Hours after the judge 's ruling , however , DeWine announced that state health director Amy Action would order the polls closed due to a health emergency .
Whenever the votes are ultimately cast , decisive victories in these states would help Biden strengthen his lead in a race that is all but over .
More than 400 convention delegates are up for grabs , enough to significantly widen the gap between Biden and socialist insurgent Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 894-743 ) over Sanders .
After Tuesday 's contests , the former VP could be well on his way to securing the 1,991 delegates required to win the nomination .
Recent polling shows Biden leading by at least 20 points in every state scheduled to vote on Tuesday .
Sanders , meanwhile , is running on fumes after getting trounced in the slate of primaries held on March 10 .
Tuesday 's primary elections follow the first two-person debate of the cycle .
The debate , originally scheduled to take place in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to the CNN studios in Washington , D.C. , and scaled back dramatically in response to growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic , which originated in Wuhan , China .
Coronavirus dominated the conversation .
The candidates did not shake hands and stood at podiums six feet apart , per Centers for Disease Control guidelines .
The states holding elections on Tuesday are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus , sanitizing voting machines and working with local health officials to ensure public safety .
The pandemic is certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is unlikely to change the result .
At this point in the race , with the nomination all but decided , public attention has turned toward other questions , such as who Biden will choose as a running mate .
He narrowed it down a bit at Sunday 's debate , pledging to choose a female candidate .
Sanders also promised to support Biden if ( when ) the former vice president wins the nomination—a welcome development for establishment Democrats concerned about the socialist 's desire to run as an independent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or otherwise cause a ruckus at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee .
Since reemerging as the Democratic frontrunner , Biden has not followed the path of other presumptive nominees by taking a centrist approach to policy .
Instead , he has embraced a number of far-left policies , presumably in an effort to appeal to Sanders supporters .
During the debate on Sunday , for example , Biden pledged that there would be `` no more drilling '' for oil under his administration .
Biden 's choice of a running mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age .
According to science , the 77-year-old is among the most vulnerable members of the population when it comes to the likelihood of dying from the coronavirus .

Notwithstanding the national disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic primary remains (sort of) a going concern. Democratic voters in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois are set to cast ballots on Tuesday, and the results are expected to favor former vice president Joe Biden.
Ohio was also on track to hold its primary on Tuesday after a state judge rejected a petition by Gov. Mike DeWine (R.) to postpone the vote until June. Judge Richard Frye ruled late Monday that the governor had not "proceeded in a timely manner" by filing the lawsuit so soon before the polls opened. Hours after the judge's ruling, however, DeWine announced that state health director Amy Action would order the polls closed due to a health emergency.
Whenever the votes are ultimately cast, decisive victories in these states would help Biden strengthen his lead in a race that is all but over. More than 400 convention delegates are up for grabs, enough to significantly widen the gap between Biden and socialist insurgent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Biden currently enjoys a significant delegate lead (894-743) over Sanders. After Tuesday's contests, the former VP could be well on his way to securing the 1,991 delegates required to win the nomination. Recent polling shows Biden leading by at least 20 points in every state scheduled to vote on Tuesday. Sanders, meanwhile, is running on fumes after getting trounced in the slate of primaries held on March 10.
Tuesday's primary elections follow the first two-person debate of the cycle. The debate, originally scheduled to take place in front of an audience in Arizona, was moved to the CNN studios in Washington, D.C., and scaled back dramatically in response to growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China. Coronavirus dominated the conversation. The candidates did not shake hands and stood at podiums six feet apart, per Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
The states holding elections on Tuesday are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, sanitizing voting machines and working with local health officials to ensure public safety. The pandemic is certain to have an impact on voter turnout but is unlikely to change the result.
At this point in the race, with the nomination all but decided, public attention has turned toward other questions, such as who Biden will choose as a running mate. He narrowed it down a bit at Sunday's debate, pledging to choose a female candidate. Sanders also promised to support Biden if (when) the former vice president wins the nomination—a welcome development for establishment Democrats concerned about the socialist's desire to run as an independent, refuse to endorse the party's nominee, or otherwise cause a ruckus at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.
Since reemerging as the Democratic frontrunner, Biden has not followed the path of other presumptive nominees by taking a centrist approach to policy. Instead, he has embraced a number of far-left policies, presumably in an effort to appeal to Sanders supporters. During the debate on Sunday, for example, Biden pledged that there would be "no more drilling" for oil under his administration.
Biden's choice of a running mate is of particular interest given his advanced age. According to science, the 77-year-old is among the most vulnerable members of the population when it comes to the likelihood of dying from the coronavirus.


freebeacon--2020-03-17--Abortion Groups, Justice Dems Spend Big to Oust Pro-Life Dem

One of Congress 's last remaining pro-life Democrats faces an onslaught of progressive challengers Tuesday in a race that will help determine whether a place remains in the party for opponents of abortion .
Rep. Dan Lipinski ( D. , Ill. ) , one of four remaining pro-life House Democrats , narrowly survived a primary challenge from the left in 2018 , edging out progressive Marie Newman by just 2 points .
The pair is set for a rematch Tuesday , despite the outbreak of coronavirus , and abortion groups are again threatening the eight-term incumbent .
Also challenging Lipinski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has charged that Newman is insufficiently anti-Israel .
Darwish accused Newman , who is backed by the Soros-funded organization J Street , of taking on pro-Israel views to attract `` Jewish donors '' in October—a claim Newman called `` an absolute lie . ''
Lipinski 's tough reelection fight comes as Democratic leaders lurch left on abortion .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) refused to welcome pro-life voters into the party in February , calling support for abortion `` an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abortion for decades , former vice president Joe Biden said he could `` no longer support '' the Hyde Amendment in June .
Newman is backed by the same big-spending national organizations that fueled her 2018 run , abortion giants Planned Parenthood Action Fund , NARAL Pro-Choice America , and EMILY 's List , as well as Justice Democrats—the same group that fueled Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's ( D. , N.Y. ) 2018 victory .
The support has proved lucrative for Newman , who has benefited from more than $ 1.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newman has also landed endorsements from prominent national progressives , including Sanders , Ocasio-Cortez , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, and Reps. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
and Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) .
Warren cited Newman 's `` unwavering commitment '' to abortion when announcing her endorsement in September .
The out-of-state attention has helped Newman more than double Lipinski 's fundraising efforts down the stretch , raking in a pre-primary haul of more than $ 490,000 to Lipinski 's nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attracted a blitz of national opposition , but it may prove to boost the incumbent at the ballot box .
Only 39 percent of national Democrats support abortion `` under any circumstances , '' and while Lipinski 's district is strongly Democratic , it is made up of Chicago 's west and southwest suburbs , which are predominantly Catholic and tend to hold more socially conservative views .
A poll released by the Lipinski campaign in January showed the incumbent holding a 22-point lead over Newman , though 26 percent remained undecided .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life groups , including Susan B. Anthony List .
`` Rep. Lipinski knows who his constituents are and their opposition to the current Democratic Party platform that supports abortion on demand , up until birth , paid for by taxpayers , '' SBA List spokeswoman Mallory Quigley said .
`` The Democratic Party is working overtime to kick out pro-life Democrats and it will be to their own political peril . ''
In addition to abortion , Israel has emerged as an unlikely issue in the primary .
Lipinski in 2014 cosponsored legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , a move that Newman 's campaign chair criticized in a previously unseen 2018 campaign ad .
The ad assured that Newman `` does n't pander to special interest groups like AIPAC '' in an attempt to attract the district 's Arab-American population of more than 100,000 .
Darwish entered the race in June and has faulted Newman for being insufficiently anti-Israel .
He criticized Newman for no longer supporting BDS and for backing a two-state solution , which he claims no longer `` works . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the changes to `` attract more Jewish voters , '' a claim Newman denies .
Lipinski , who is staunchly pro-Israel , said Newman `` continues down the same road '' as Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) in February , adding that his far-left challenger has `` embraced every so-called progressive position , and unfortunately in the past year we have seen even more that the progressive position has become anti-Israel to some extent . ''
In addition to backing Newman , Justice Democrats also supported Omar in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group 's electoral failure in 2020—its handpicked candidate to challenge pro-life Rep. Henry Cuellar ( D. , Texas ) lost in March .
While the state of Ohio faces legal challenges as it attempts to postpone its Tuesday primary due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , Illinois election officials announced Monday that the state 's primary would proceed as planned .
Democratic Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker assured voters that holding the election was the `` right thing to do '' despite his order to cancel gatherings of 50 or more people .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In my opinion , this is the right thing to do , '' the governor said .
`` I feel good about the decision to have the election . ''

'The Democratic Party is working overtime to kick out pro-life Democrats and it will be to their own political peril'
One of Congress's last remaining pro-life Democrats faces an onslaught of progressive challengers Tuesday in a race that will help determine whether a place remains in the party for opponents of abortion.
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D., Ill.), one of four remaining pro-life House Democrats, narrowly survived a primary challenge from the left in 2018, edging out progressive Marie Newman by just 2 points. The pair is set for a rematch Tuesday, despite the outbreak of coronavirus, and abortion groups are again threatening the eight-term incumbent.
Also challenging Lipinski from the left is Palestinian-American Rush Darwish, who has charged that Newman is insufficiently anti-Israel. Darwish accused Newman, who is backed by the Soros-funded organization J Street, of taking on pro-Israel views to attract "Jewish donors" in October—a claim Newman called "an absolute lie."
Lipinski's tough reelection fight comes as Democratic leaders lurch left on abortion. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) refused to welcome pro-life voters into the party in February, calling support for abortion "an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat." And after opposing the federal funding of abortion for decades, former vice president Joe Biden said he could "no longer support" the Hyde Amendment in June.
Newman is backed by the same big-spending national organizations that fueled her 2018 run, abortion giants Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and EMILY's List, as well as Justice Democrats—the same group that fueled Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D., N.Y.) 2018 victory. The support has proved lucrative for Newman, who has benefited from more than $1.5 million in outside spending on her behalf.
Newman has also landed endorsements from prominent national progressives, including Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), and Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) and Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.). Warren cited Newman's "unwavering commitment" to abortion when announcing her endorsement in September. The out-of-state attention has helped Newman more than double Lipinski's fundraising efforts down the stretch, raking in a pre-primary haul of more than $490,000 to Lipinski's nearly $223,000.
Lipinski's pro-life stance has attracted a blitz of national opposition, but it may prove to boost the incumbent at the ballot box. Only 39 percent of national Democrats support abortion "under any circumstances," and while Lipinski's district is strongly Democratic, it is made up of Chicago's west and southwest suburbs, which are predominantly Catholic and tend to hold more socially conservative views. A poll released by the Lipinski campaign in January showed the incumbent holding a 22-point lead over Newman, though 26 percent remained undecided. His record has attracted support from national pro-life groups, including Susan B. Anthony List.
"Rep. Lipinski knows who his constituents are and their opposition to the current Democratic Party platform that supports abortion on demand, up until birth, paid for by taxpayers," SBA List spokeswoman Mallory Quigley said. "The Democratic Party is working overtime to kick out pro-life Democrats and it will be to their own political peril."
In addition to abortion, Israel has emerged as an unlikely issue in the primary. Lipinski in 2014 cosponsored legislation opposing the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a move that Newman's campaign chair criticized in a previously unseen 2018 campaign ad. The ad assured that Newman "doesn't pander to special interest groups like AIPAC" in an attempt to attract the district's Arab-American population of more than 100,000.
Darwish entered the race in June and has faulted Newman for being insufficiently anti-Israel. He criticized Newman for no longer supporting BDS and for backing a two-state solution, which he claims no longer "works." According to Darwish, Newman said she made the changes to "attract more Jewish voters," a claim Newman denies.
Lipinski, who is staunchly pro-Israel, said Newman "continues down the same road" as Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) in February, adding that his far-left challenger has "embraced every so-called progressive position, and unfortunately in the past year we have seen even more that the progressive position has become anti-Israel to some extent." In addition to backing Newman, Justice Democrats also supported Omar in 2018. Newman will hope to reverse the group's electoral failure in 2020—its handpicked candidate to challenge pro-life Rep. Henry Cuellar (D., Texas) lost in March.
While the state of Ohio faces legal challenges as it attempts to postpone its Tuesday primary due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Illinois election officials announced Monday that the state's primary would proceed as planned. Democratic Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker assured voters that holding the election was the "right thing to do" despite his order to cancel gatherings of 50 or more people.
"We have to have our elections continue. In my opinion, this is the right thing to do," the governor said. "I feel good about the decision to have the election."


freebeacon--2020-03-17--White House Preparing to Call On Military to Boost Coronavirus Medical Response

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The White House is in talks with the Pentagon about how the military can be deployed to deal with the fast-moving coronavirus , U.S. officials said on Tuesday , including setting up field hospitals in states with a surge in cases .
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday at the White House that the Army Corp could deploy field hospitals , known as `` MASH '' units ( mobile army surgical hospital ) or help renovate or expand existing hospitals .
Such units can be deployed very quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that he has been in talks with Washington state Governor Jay Inslee .
`` The Army Corp of Engineers is ready , willing and able .
We have to give them the go-ahead if we find that it ’ s going to be necessary , '' President Donald Trump said during the same briefing .
`` We think we can have quite a few units up very rapidly , '' he said , adding that he would work with the governors of New York and California .
In a New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Andrew Cuomo called on Trump to use the Army Corps of Engineers to build more medical facilities .
Cases topped 5,000 on Tuesday and the U.S. death toll was approaching 100 .
While the military has said it is willing to help , the Pentagon earlier appeared to play down the impact its resources could have in helping deal with coronavirus .
`` What we ’ re trying to be very careful about is not over-promising .
You know , we want be factual about what we have , '' Brigadier General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Monday .
Friedrichs said that while the military had deployable hospitals , they were designed to take care of trauma patients and combat casualties .
`` We don ’ t have any 500 bed hospitals designed for infectious disease outbreaks .
That does not exist , '' he added .
Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Susan Heavey ; Writing by Idrees Ali ; Editing by Lisa Shumaker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is in talks with the Pentagon about how the military can be deployed to deal with the fast-moving coronavirus, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, including setting up field hospitals in states with a surge in cases.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday at the White House that the Army Corp could deploy field hospitals, known as "MASH" units (mobile army surgical hospital) or help renovate or expand existing hospitals.
Such units can be deployed very quickly at governors’ requests, Pence said, adding that he has been in talks with Washington state Governor Jay Inslee.
"The Army Corp of Engineers is ready, willing and able. We have to give them the go-ahead if we find that it’s going to be necessary," President Donald Trump said during the same briefing.
"We think we can have quite a few units up very rapidly," he said, adding that he would work with the governors of New York and California.
In a New York times op-ed on Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called on Trump to use the Army Corps of Engineers to build more medical facilities.
Cases topped 5,000 on Tuesday and the U.S. death toll was approaching 100.
While the military has said it is willing to help, the Pentagon earlier appeared to play down the impact its resources could have in helping deal with coronavirus.
"What we’re trying to be very careful about is not over-promising. You know, we want be factual about what we have," Brigadier General Paul Friedrichs, Joint Staff surgeon, said during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Monday.
Friedrichs said that while the military had deployable hospitals, they were designed to take care of trauma patients and combat casualties.
"We don’t have any 500 bed hospitals designed for infectious disease outbreaks. That does not exist," he added.
Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Susan Heavey; Writing by Idrees Ali; Editing by Lisa Shumaker


freebeacon--2020-03-17--Student Vets Could Be Left Homeless Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

A loophole in federal law could leave thousands of student veterans unable to pay rent as universities switch to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic .
As hundreds of universities convert classes from in-person to online , veterans who rely on funds from the GI bill to pay for tuition and housing may see those payments slashed in accord with regulations for distance learning .
Members of Congress in both chambers and parties are scrambling to correct the issue , but face the challenges of recesses and health concerns .
In practice , thousands of student vets and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need to pay rent , stranding those who have served their country alongside the millions of other Americans unsure of how the coronavirus will affect their economic prospects .
The source of the problem is in simple statutory language .
Under the post-9/11 GI Bill , the federal government pays partial tuition and housing costs for veterans enrolled at universities .
The amounts of those reimbursements , however , depend on whether a student is taking classes in person or online .
Distance learners ' monthly housing allowance is about half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes must be specifically registered as online in order to qualify for tuition coverage .
Those are both big problems in the current crisis .
A House of Representatives aide working on Veterans ' Affairs told the Washington Free Beacon that if students ' classes suddenly go online , but those classes have not been approved for online learning , veteran students `` are now ineligible for GI Bill payments . ''
Even if classes are approved , however , many vets will suddenly find their housing stipend `` significantly smaller , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Student Veterans of America ( SVA ) , a nonprofit , told lawmakers in a letter obtained by the Free Beacon that it estimates campus closures will affect `` tens of thousands '' of GI bill beneficiaries , as well as `` spouses and children who depend on housing allowances as a family . ''
SVA in its letter called on Congress to act swiftly , granting the Department of Veterans Affairs the authority to `` administer VA education benefits by considering prior on-site courses as continuing on-site regardless of class changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' In plain English , that means student vets ' online classes would be treated as though they were still in-person for purposes of GI Bill payments .
There are two bills already in the works .
One , introduced by Sens .
Jerry Moran ( R. , Kans . )
and Jon Tester ( D. , Mont . )
, passed late Monday evening with universal assent .
Rep. Phil Roe ( R. , Tenn. ) introduced a companion version in the House , on Tuesday asking `` Speaker Pelosi and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar urgency and pass this bill as soon as possible . ''
`` Hundreds of thousands of veterans , dependents , and spouses are counting on us , '' Roe added .
The House , however , is currently in recess and may not return until the next round of coronavirus-related legislation is ready .
Politico reported that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D. , Md . )
had told Democrats not to expect to return by March 23 , as House leadership weighs the need for legislation against the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That may leave many vets and their families without a legislative fix as , like thousands of other Americans , they wait for the rent to come due .
Update 5:32 p.m. : This post has been updated .

A loophole in federal law could leave thousands of student veterans unable to pay rent as universities switch to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As hundreds of universities convert classes from in-person to online, veterans who rely on funds from the GI bill to pay for tuition and housing may see those payments slashed in accord with regulations for distance learning. Members of Congress in both chambers and parties are scrambling to correct the issue, but face the challenges of recesses and health concerns.
In practice, thousands of student vets and their families could be left without the cash they need to pay rent, stranding those who have served their country alongside the millions of other Americans unsure of how the coronavirus will affect their economic prospects.
The source of the problem is in simple statutory language. Under the post-9/11 GI Bill, the federal government pays partial tuition and housing costs for veterans enrolled at universities. The amounts of those reimbursements, however, depend on whether a student is taking classes in person or online. Distance learners' monthly housing allowance is about half of what in-person students receive, and their classes must be specifically registered as online in order to qualify for tuition coverage.
Those are both big problems in the current crisis. A House of Representatives aide working on Veterans' Affairs told the Washington Free Beacon that if students' classes suddenly go online, but those classes have not been approved for online learning, veteran students "are now ineligible for GI Bill payments." Even if classes are approved, however, many vets will suddenly find their housing stipend "significantly smaller," leaving some struggling to pay the bills.
Student Veterans of America (SVA), a nonprofit, told lawmakers in a letter obtained by the Free Beacon that it estimates campus closures will affect "tens of thousands" of GI bill beneficiaries, as well as "spouses and children who depend on housing allowances as a family."
SVA in its letter called on Congress to act swiftly, granting the Department of Veterans Affairs the authority to "administer VA education benefits by considering prior on-site courses as continuing on-site regardless of class changes implemented for emergency or health-related purposes." In plain English, that means student vets' online classes would be treated as though they were still in-person for purposes of GI Bill payments.
There are two bills already in the works. One, introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R., Kans.) and Jon Tester (D., Mont.), passed late Monday evening with universal assent. Rep. Phil Roe (R., Tenn.) introduced a companion version in the House, on Tuesday asking "Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues in the House to act with similar urgency and pass this bill as soon as possible."
"Hundreds of thousands of veterans, dependents, and spouses are counting on us," Roe added.
The House, however, is currently in recess and may not return until the next round of coronavirus-related legislation is ready. Politico reported that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) had told Democrats not to expect to return by March 23, as House leadership weighs the need for legislation against the risk of the virus for Congress's oldest members. That may leave many vets and their families without a legislative fix as, like thousands of other Americans, they wait for the rent to come due.
Update 5:32 p.m.: This post has been updated.


freebeacon--2020-03-17--China Boots U.S. Journalists

China Boots U.S. Journalists

The Chinese government announced on Tuesday that it is revoking the press credentials of reporters from the New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and Washington Post as tensions mount over the Communist regime 's restrictions on the press .
`` China demands that journalists of U.S. citizenship working with the New York Times , the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post whose press credentials are due to expire before the end of 2020 notify the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within four calendar days starting from today and hand back their press cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced .
`` They will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People 's Republic of China , including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions . ''
China says it is taking this step as recompense for the Trump administration 's recent decision to limit the number of Chinese state-controlled reporters operating in the United States .
The expulsion of these American media outlets comes on the heels of China 's recent decision to eject three WSJ reporters from the country in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ op-ed that Beijing deemed overly critical .
That piece , authored by Walter Russell Mead , was the subject of debate in the WSJ newsroom after some worried it would provoke Chinese authorities .
Tensions between China and the American press have been simmering for weeks over reports highlighting the Communist Party 's inadequate response to the coronavirus .
U.S. lawmakers and experts have accused Beijing of failing to provide accurate updates about the virus 's spread and containment efforts .
In addition to ejecting these outlets , authorities will now require that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the New York Times , the Wall Street Journal , the Washington Post and Time declare in written form information about their staff , finance , operation and real estate in China , '' according to the announcement .
China said it is taking these steps due to what it says is the Trump administration 's unfair treatment of its reporters in the United States .
The new measures `` are entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures that China is compelled to take in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Ministry said .
`` They are legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense .
What the U.S. has done is exclusively targeting Chinese media organizations , and hence driven by a Cold War mentality and ideological bias .
It has seriously tarnished the reputation and image of Chinese media organizations , seriously affected their normal operation in the U.S. , and seriously disrupted people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries . ''
`` China will take reciprocal measures against American journalists , '' the ministry vowed .
Sen. Ben Sasse ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence , said China 's move is yet another sign that it is `` terrified of a free and independent press . ''
`` Chairman Xi is terrified of a free and independent press because he does n't want to be challenged when his government regularly spews insane propaganda—like the recent conspiracy theory that the United States created the coronavirus , '' Sasse said .
`` These thin-skinned communist hacks hate the truth and are committed to covering-up their failures .
The Chinese Communist Party only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the one source of ‘ objective news ' in and out of China—that 's why ‘ journalists ' from state-run outlets are employees of the Chinese Communist Party .
Chairman Xi can expel all the real journalists he wants , but he ca n't change the fact that his coronavirus cover-up killed thousands of his own people and put the world at risk . ''

The Chinese government announced on Tuesday that it is revoking the press credentials of reporters from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post as tensions mount over the Communist regime's restrictions on the press.
"China demands that journalists of U.S. citizenship working with the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post whose press credentials are due to expire before the end of 2020 notify the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within four calendar days starting from today and hand back their press cards within ten calendar days," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. "They will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People's Republic of China, including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions."
China says it is taking this step as recompense for the Trump administration's recent decision to limit the number of Chinese state-controlled reporters operating in the United States.
The expulsion of these American media outlets comes on the heels of China's recent decision to eject three WSJ reporters from the country in response to the paper's publishing of an op-ed that Beijing deemed overly critical. That piece, authored by Walter Russell Mead, was the subject of debate in the WSJ newsroom after some worried it would provoke Chinese authorities.
Tensions between China and the American press have been simmering for weeks over reports highlighting the Communist Party's inadequate response to the coronavirus. U.S. lawmakers and experts have accused Beijing of failing to provide accurate updates about the virus's spread and containment efforts.
In addition to ejecting these outlets, authorities will now require that "China-based branches of Voice of America, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Time declare in written form information about their staff, finance, operation and real estate in China," according to the announcement.
China said it is taking these steps due to what it says is the Trump administration's unfair treatment of its reporters in the United States.
The new measures "are entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures that China is compelled to take in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations experience in the U.S.," the Foreign Ministry said. "They are legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense. What the U.S. has done is exclusively targeting Chinese media organizations, and hence driven by a Cold War mentality and ideological bias. It has seriously tarnished the reputation and image of Chinese media organizations, seriously affected their normal operation in the U.S., and seriously disrupted people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries."
"China will take reciprocal measures against American journalists," the ministry vowed.
Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said China's move is yet another sign that it is "terrified of a free and independent press."
"Chairman Xi is terrified of a free and independent press because he doesn't want to be challenged when his government regularly spews insane propaganda—like the recent conspiracy theory that the United States created the coronavirus," Sasse said. "These thin-skinned communist hacks hate the truth and are committed to covering-up their failures. The Chinese Communist Party only cares about establishing Xi Jinping's voice as the one source of 'objective news' in and out of China—that's why 'journalists' from state-run outlets are employees of the Chinese Communist Party. Chairman Xi can expel all the real journalists he wants, but he can't change the fact that his coronavirus cover-up killed thousands of his own people and put the world at risk."


freebeacon--2020-03-17--Biden Gets Secret Service Protection in Response to Vegan Threat

Former vice president Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president , will receive Secret Service protection beginning on Tuesday .
The move comes after a series of disruptions at Biden campaign events , such as the time a pair of menacing `` anti-dairy '' vegan protesters rushed the stage while Biden was speaking at a Super Tuesday rally in Los Angeles .
The Biden campaign officially requested Secret Service protection , which is typically provided to presidential candidates at this stage in the race , in response to the mayhem caused by the vegans .
The agitators shouted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before being ushered off stage .
In the absence of professional government bodyguards , the unruly vegans were neutralized by campaign adviser Symone D. Sanders and the candidate 's wife , Dr. Jill Biden , among others .
The request for Secret Service protection raises doubts about Biden 's confidence in the abilities of his wife and female campaign staffers to perform duties stereotypically assigned to men .
Video evidence suggests that Sanders and Dr. Jill are at least as capable as any male Secret Service agent of protecting the presumptive nominee from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trust in Sanders and Dr. Jill raises further doubts about the former VP 's alleged commitment to select a female running mate .
The choice will be heavily scrutinized in light of Biden 's advanced age .
At 77 , Biden is in the demographic most at risk of dying from the Chinese coronavirus currently sweeping the globe , according to science .
Critics may also raise concerns about Biden 's willingness to stand up to adversaries more intimidating than a couple of vegans , Russian dictator Vladimir Putin , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that attempted to disrupt Biden campaign events .
During a rally in New Hampshire on the eve of the state 's primary in February , a man of undetermined ideology heckled Biden shortly after the candidate began to address the sparse crowd .
The protester demanded to know if `` Creepy Joe '' would apologize for `` touching women and kids . ''
He was removed from the venue by campaign staff , but not before loudly and repeatedly accusing the former VP of being a `` pedo-filer . ''
Biden previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Obama administration .
During this time , the Secret Service even provided an entourage for Biden 's renegade son , Hunter , while he tended to his myriad shady business interest around the globe .
American taxpayers footed the bill , of course , to the tune of nearly $ 200,000 .
That 's more than triple the amount taxpayers spent to provide Secret Service protection to President Obama 's two daughters , Sasha and Malia .
Hunter Biden ’ s Foreign Visits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $ 200,000 , According to @ @ @ @

Former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, will receive Secret Service protection beginning on Tuesday. The move comes after a series of disruptions at Biden campaign events, such as the time a pair of menacing "anti-dairy" vegan protesters rushed the stage while Biden was speaking at a Super Tuesday rally in Los Angeles.
The Biden campaign officially requested Secret Service protection, which is typically provided to presidential candidates at this stage in the race, in response to the mayhem caused by the vegans. The agitators shouted, "Let dairy die!" before being ushered off stage. In the absence of professional government bodyguards, the unruly vegans were neutralized by campaign adviser Symone D. Sanders and the candidate's wife, Dr. Jill Biden, among others.
The request for Secret Service protection raises doubts about Biden's confidence in the abilities of his wife and female campaign staffers to perform duties stereotypically assigned to men. Video evidence suggests that Sanders and Dr. Jill are at least as capable as any male Secret Service agent of protecting the presumptive nominee from vegan threats.
https://twitter.com/seankent/status/1235067630437855232
Biden's apparent lack of trust in Sanders and Dr. Jill raises further doubts about the former VP's alleged commitment to select a female running mate. The choice will be heavily scrutinized in light of Biden's advanced age. At 77, Biden is in the demographic most at risk of dying from the Chinese coronavirus currently sweeping the globe, according to science.
Critics may also raise concerns about Biden's willingness to stand up to adversaries more intimidating than a couple of vegans, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, for example.
Vegans aren't the only fringe group that attempted to disrupt Biden campaign events. During a rally in New Hampshire on the eve of the state's primary in February, a man of undetermined ideology heckled Biden shortly after the candidate began to address the sparse crowd. The protester demanded to know if "Creepy Joe" would apologize for "touching women and kids." He was removed from the venue by campaign staff, but not before loudly and repeatedly accusing the former VP of being a "pedo-filer."
Biden previously enjoyed Secret Service protection as vice president during the Obama administration. During this time, the Secret Service even provided an entourage for Biden's renegade son, Hunter, while he tended to his myriad shady business interest around the globe. American taxpayers footed the bill, of course, to the tune of nearly $200,000. That's more than triple the amount taxpayers spent to provide Secret Service protection to President Obama's two daughters, Sasha and Malia.
Hunter Biden’s Foreign Visits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $200,000, According to Gov’t Database


freebeacon--2020-03-17--MSNBC Anchor: Proposed $800 Billion Stimulus Is Proof U.S. Can Afford Green New Deal

MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes cited a potential $ 800 billion in proposed economic stimulus money as proof the United States could afford a Green New Deal that would cost tens of trillions of dollars .
`` BREAKING : We can , of course , afford a Green New Deal .
That 's been true all along , '' Hayes tweeted , linking to a report that President Donald Trump will ask Congress for an $ 800 billion stimulus package to respond to the coronavirus .
What would constitute a Green New Deal varies among Democratic politicians and pundits , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legislation for combating climate change .
A version floated by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Sen. Ed Markey ( D. , Mass . )
last year carried one estimated price tag of $ 94 trillion and called for an `` economic transformation , '' a complete overhaul of transportation systems , and retrofitting every building in the United States .
In comparison , an $ 800 billion economic stimulus would account for 0.85 percent of the cost of Ocasio-Cortez and Markey 's proposed legislation .
Various Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Green New Deal .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) went on Hayes 's show in August to discuss his Green New Deal , which calls for $ 16.3 trillion in spending to move the United States to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and completely decarbonize by 2050 .
Primary rival Joe Biden 's plan would cost $ 1.7 trillion .
MSNBC was the home of another recent misadventure in math .
On March 5 , the 11th Hour with Brian Williams aired a tweet claiming former Democratic candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign spending could have provided every American with $ 1 million apiece .
In reality , he could have given them less than two dollars each , but anchor Brian Williams and New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay marveled at the false statistic .
`` It 's an incredible way of putting it , '' Gay said .
`` It 's true .
It 's disturbing . ''

MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes cited a potential $800 billion in proposed economic stimulus money as proof the United States could afford a Green New Deal that would cost tens of trillions of dollars.
"BREAKING: We can, of course, afford a Green New Deal. That's been true all along," Hayes tweeted, linking to a report that President Donald Trump will ask Congress for an $800 billion stimulus package to respond to the coronavirus.
BREAKING: We can, of course, afford a Green New Deal. That’s been true all along. https://t.co/NRsOLF87H1 — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 17, 2020
What would constitute a Green New Deal varies among Democratic politicians and pundits, but it generally refers to a proposed package of legislation for combating climate change. A version floated by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) last year carried one estimated price tag of $94 trillion and called for an "economic transformation," a complete overhaul of transportation systems, and retrofitting every building in the United States. In comparison, an $800 billion economic stimulus would account for 0.85 percent of the cost of Ocasio-Cortez and Markey's proposed legislation.
Various Democratic presidential candidates have proposed their own version of the Green New Deal. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) went on Hayes's show in August to discuss his Green New Deal, which calls for $16.3 trillion in spending to move the United States to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and completely decarbonize by 2050. Primary rival Joe Biden's plan would cost $1.7 trillion.
MSNBC was the home of another recent misadventure in math.
On March 5, the 11th Hour with Brian Williams aired a tweet claiming former Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg's $500 million in campaign spending could have provided every American with $1 million apiece. In reality, he could have given them less than two dollars each, but anchor Brian Williams and New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay marveled at the false statistic.
"It's an incredible way of putting it," Gay said. "It's true. It's disturbing."


freebeacon--2020-03-17--Report: Bernie to Drag Out Election Regardless of Primary Results

Former and current aides and allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) expect the candidate to stay in the Democratic primary race even as his chances of winning shrink , according to a Politico report .
`` What I know about Sen. Sanders 's thought process and focus is , it 's all about representing the movement and leading what he initially called the political revolution , '' Kurt Ehrenberg , who served as a political strategist for Sanders prior to leaving the campaign in September , told the outlet .
`` I think he 's in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop out ? ''
another former aide said .
The aide added that current Sanders staffers can work for a Sanders-founded group after the campaign ends .
Justice Democrats , an influential far-left group that helped Reps. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) win office in 2018 , was founded by former Sanders staffers in the wake of his failed 2016 presidential run .
Another former senior adviser to Sanders told Politico the Vermont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` influence the platform '' of the Democratic Party .
While former vice president Joe Biden leads the delegate count by more than 100 , he has shifted to the left to try to appeal to more ideological voters .
Biden pledged to adopt Sanders 's plan to offer free public college for families with incomes below $ 125,000 , along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's ( D. , Mass . )
bankruptcy plan .
Sanders also has staff in place to compete in primaries through April 28 , according to Politico .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , which has led several states to postpone primaries .
Voters in Arizona , Florida , and Illinois are expected to vote today .
Biden is leading in all three states , and an across-the-board sweep could cement his delegate lead over Sanders .

Former and current aides and allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) expect the candidate to stay in the Democratic primary race even as his chances of winning shrink, according to a Politico report.
"What I know about Sen. Sanders's thought process and focus is, it's all about representing the movement and leading what he initially called the political revolution," Kurt Ehrenberg, who served as a political strategist for Sanders prior to leaving the campaign in September, told the outlet.
"I think he's in. Who is going to advise him to drop out?" another former aide said. The aide added that current Sanders staffers can work for a Sanders-founded group after the campaign ends.
Justice Democrats, an influential far-left group that helped Reps. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) win office in 2018, was founded by former Sanders staffers in the wake of his failed 2016 presidential run.
Another former senior adviser to Sanders told Politico the Vermont senator already has the political leverage to "influence the platform" of the Democratic Party.
While former vice president Joe Biden leads the delegate count by more than 100, he has shifted to the left to try to appeal to more ideological voters. Biden pledged to adopt Sanders's plan to offer free public college for families with incomes below $125,000, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D., Mass.) bankruptcy plan.
First: Bernie has put forward a plan that would make public colleges and universities free for families whose income is below $125,000. It's a good idea, and after consideration, I am proud to add it to my platform. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 15, 2020
Sanders also has staff in place to compete in primaries through April 28, according to Politico. He could also benefit from the coronavirus pandemic, which has led several states to postpone primaries.
Voters in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois are expected to vote today. Biden is leading in all three states, and an across-the-board sweep could cement his delegate lead over Sanders.