talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--EXCLUSIVE: The Long Strange Trip Of One Shipment Of Millions Of KN95 Masks

As a shipment of millions of KN95 protective masks were on their way to New Jersey from China in early April , federal agents were hatching a plan .
The government deemed the mask shipment to be “ critical supplies , ” necessary for treating the COVID-19 crisis that was rapidly approaching its peak .
HHS officials worked to get a Defense Production Act order which would give the government the authority to take possession of the materials .
But this story didn ’ t turn out to be one in which the federal government intervened to divert the shipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of chaos at every level of the supply chain and how despite the chaos the shipment of KN95 masks cleared hurdle after hurdle to make it to health care providers on the front lines .
The episode , and the confusion between different government and private actors , illustrates that even for federal authorities and importers trying to ferry in huge supplies of protective masks and sanitary gowns needed to protect frontline medical workers , it ’ s the wild west , with few rules and little clarity about what is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 3 , bound for Newark-Liberty International Airport , as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to crest in the New York City area .
But it didn ’ t make it to the importer — and onwards to doctors and nurses — until April 7 , as the federal government wrestled with whether or not to use its power to purchase the shipment and divert it .
It was only after a seven-hour visit to the importer ’ s facility that the feds backed off .
The story of the shipment — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — illustrates the chaotic assortment of obstacles that importers , purchasers , and the government itself faces as they struggle over a limited supply of PPE in an opaque market .
It also aligns closely with a widely circulated account published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Friday by Dr. Andrew Artenstein of Baystate Health , a hospital network in western Massachusetts .
Artenstein told a harrowing tale in which first the FBI and then DHS nearly seized a much-needed PPE shipment that he was shepherding back to his hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ KN95 masks in question from Hong Kong to Newark , via Anchorage , on April 4 , internal government emails and documents obtained by TPM show .
The shipment ’ s importer was a south New Jersey smartphone reseller called GlobalGeeks , customs data attached to the emails say .
Ahmad Loul , the company ’ s CEO , told TPM that his company had been able to secure the KN95 masks in part because their consumer electronics “ remarketing ” business had involved importing smartphones from China and reselling them in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , he said , which helped the firm set up a KN95 mask supply chain , with the company paying the cool price of $ 1.6 million per FedEx flight to ferry them over .
“ I saw Trump give an interview weeks ago where he encouraged entrepreneurs to get creative , and it encouraged us as a company , ” Loul told TPM in a mid-April interview .
Loul confirmed to TPM that a FedEx tracking number which appeared in emails attached to the shipment was his .
Customs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shipment , after Health and Human Services “ determined that the items were critical supplies , ” the emails say , and after the Food and Drug Administration approved the shipment ’ s entry .
The FDA only began to allow the medical use of KN95 masks — approved in China and almost identical to the N95 masks that have long been certified for use in the U.S. — on April 3 .
Before that decision , the masks had been used in construction settings , but not for medical applications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the KN95 shipment ’ s arrival in Newark — the government was springing into action .
HHS Secretary Alex Azar signed a Defense Production Act order to obtain them , documents say .
The Korean War-era law allows the government to issue “ priority ratings , ” putting the feds at the front of the line to buy items from a company , at a fair-market rate .
An HHS spokesperson confirmed this to TPM in an April 21 statement , but with a catch : the DPA order , while issued , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ By utilizing the DPA , HHS is able to prevent hoarding or price gouging and ensure that PPE is going to the frontline healthcare workers who need it most .
In coordination with the DOJ , HHS issued a DPA order for the GlobalGeeks KN95 order because this was a suspected case of price gouging and/or hoarding , ” the statement reads .
“ After verifying GlobalGeeks ordered the masks on behalf of healthcare providers , GlobalGeeks was directed to distribute the KN95 respirators purchased from China to the healthcare providers the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
HHS made sure that critical supplies made it to the frontline without further delay.
” The account aligns with Loul ’ s description of a joint visit that the FBI made with Homeland Security to GlobalGeeks on April 7 .
Loul told TPM in an April 8 interview that the FBI and DHS had spent seven hours at his offices the day before in order to “ vet ” that the masks were going to proper destinations , and to ensure that price-gouging and hoarding was not occurring .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — was a purchaser of the shipment , saying that a hospital executive got involved in convincing the government that the mask order was headed to a legitimate destination .
“ We already had a purchase order from Baystate hospital , ” Loul told TPM .
“ They had a private jet they flew over because they had over 200 patients they were not doing surgeries on because they had no masks.
” Andrew Artenstein , Baystate ’ s chief physician executive , wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of three-ply face masks and KN95s .
Two FBI agents intercepted him while he was meeting with a broker to receive the masks , Artenstein wrote Friday , along with a team from Baystate that had been “ flown to a small airport near an industrial warehouse in the mid-Atlantic region.
” Artenstein also said that Baystate ’ s local congressman — Rep. Richard Neal ( D-MA ) — interceded to prevent DHS from diverting the shipment .
Loul did not confirm that the NEJM account was the story of his shipment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to comment .
A Baystate Health representative told TPM that it does not comment on specific vendor relationships and declined to make Artenstein available for an interview .
An FBI spokesperson told TPM that it neither confirms nor denies the existence of investigations .
But key details match up : Artenstein wrote that the FBI agents only left after he assured them “ that the shipment of PPE was bound for hospitals.
” “ After receiving my assurances and hearing about our health system ’ s urgent needs , the agents let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loaded into the trucks , ” Artenstein wrote .
And , in a sign of confusion within the government , federal law enforcement continued to tell TPM that the GlobalGeeks episode was a potential price-gouging case and that the shipment had not been released to the company , even after the shipment had gone through GlobalGeeks and onwards to the purchasers .
Loul ’ s account of what happened , and his assertion this wasn ’ t a price gouging case , was supported by the statement HHS provided to TPM on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Artenstein from whom he had purchased the masks , he declined to comment , telling the paper that “ he did not want to jeopardize his ability to work with the vendor again .
”

As a shipment of millions of KN95 protective masks were on their way to New Jersey from China in early April, federal agents were hatching a plan.
The government deemed the mask shipment to be “critical supplies,” necessary for treating the COVID-19 crisis that was rapidly approaching its peak. HHS officials worked to get a Defense Production Act order which would give the government the authority to take possession of the materials.
But this story didn’t turn out to be one in which the federal government intervened to divert the shipment. Rather, it’s a story of chaos at every level of the supply chain and how despite the chaos the shipment of KN95 masks cleared hurdle after hurdle to make it to health care providers on the front lines.
The episode, and the confusion between different government and private actors, illustrates that even for federal authorities and importers trying to ferry in huge supplies of protective masks and sanitary gowns needed to protect frontline medical workers, it’s the wild west, with few rules and little clarity about what is happening.
The shipment left Hong Kong on April 3, bound for Newark-Liberty International Airport, as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to crest in the New York City area.
But it didn’t make it to the importer — and onwards to doctors and nurses — until April 7, as the federal government wrestled with whether or not to use its power to purchase the shipment and divert it. It was only after a seven-hour visit to the importer’s facility that the feds backed off.
The story of the shipment — which TPM has been tracking since early April — illustrates the chaotic assortment of obstacles that importers, purchasers, and the government itself faces as they struggle over a limited supply of PPE in an opaque market.
It also aligns closely with a widely circulated account published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Friday by Dr. Andrew Artenstein of Baystate Health, a hospital network in western Massachusetts. Artenstein told a harrowing tale in which first the FBI and then DHS nearly seized a much-needed PPE shipment that he was shepherding back to his hospital.
A FedEx flight brought the shipment of KN95 masks in question from Hong Kong to Newark, via Anchorage, on April 4, internal government emails and documents obtained by TPM show.
The shipment’s importer was a south New Jersey smartphone reseller called GlobalGeeks, customs data attached to the emails say.
Ahmad Loul, the company’s CEO, told TPM that his company had been able to secure the KN95 masks in part because their consumer electronics “remarketing” business had involved importing smartphones from China and reselling them in the U.S. That gave GlobalGeeks a preexisting network in China, he said, which helped the firm set up a KN95 mask supply chain, with the company paying the cool price of $1.6 million per FedEx flight to ferry them over.
“I saw Trump give an interview weeks ago where he encouraged entrepreneurs to get creative, and it encouraged us as a company,” Loul told TPM in a mid-April interview.
Loul confirmed to TPM that a FedEx tracking number which appeared in emails attached to the shipment was his.
Customs and Border Protection initially placed a hold on the shipment, after Health and Human Services “determined that the items were critical supplies,” the emails say, and after the Food and Drug Administration approved the shipment’s entry.
The FDA only began to allow the medical use of KN95 masks — approved in China and almost identical to the N95 masks that have long been certified for use in the U.S. — on April 3. Before that decision, the masks had been used in construction settings, but not for medical applications.
By April 6 — the Monday following the KN95 shipment’s arrival in Newark — the government was springing into action.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar signed a Defense Production Act order to obtain them, documents say. The Korean War-era law allows the government to issue “priority ratings,” putting the feds at the front of the line to buy items from a company, at a fair-market rate.
An HHS spokesperson confirmed this to TPM in an April 21 statement, but with a catch: the DPA order, while issued, was never fully enforced on GlobalGeeks.
“By utilizing the DPA, HHS is able to prevent hoarding or price gouging and ensure that PPE is going to the frontline healthcare workers who need it most. In coordination with the DOJ, HHS issued a DPA order for the GlobalGeeks KN95 order because this was a suspected case of price gouging and/or hoarding,” the statement reads.
“After verifying GlobalGeeks ordered the masks on behalf of healthcare providers, GlobalGeeks was directed to distribute the KN95 respirators purchased from China to the healthcare providers the company partnered with when placing the order. HHS made sure that critical supplies made it to the frontline without further delay.”
The account aligns with Loul’s description of a joint visit that the FBI made with Homeland Security to GlobalGeeks on April 7.
Loul told TPM in an April 8 interview that the FBI and DHS had spent seven hours at his offices the day before in order to “vet” that the masks were going to proper destinations, and to ensure that price-gouging and hoarding was not occurring.
He added that Baystate Health — the Massachusetts hospital firm — was a purchaser of the shipment, saying that a hospital executive got involved in convincing the government that the mask order was headed to a legitimate destination.
“We already had a purchase order from Baystate hospital,” Loul told TPM. “They had a private jet they flew over because they had over 200 patients they were not doing surgeries on because they had no masks.”
Andrew Artenstein, Baystate’s chief physician executive, wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that he had secured a “large shipment” of three-ply face masks and KN95s.
Two FBI agents intercepted him while he was meeting with a broker to receive the masks, Artenstein wrote Friday, along with a team from Baystate that had been “flown to a small airport near an industrial warehouse in the mid-Atlantic region.”
Artenstein also said that Baystate’s local congressman — Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) — interceded to prevent DHS from diverting the shipment.
Loul did not confirm that the NEJM account was the story of his shipment.
Reached at home on Saturday, Artenstein declined to comment. A Baystate Health representative told TPM that it does not comment on specific vendor relationships and declined to make Artenstein available for an interview. An FBI spokesperson told TPM that it neither confirms nor denies the existence of investigations.
But key details match up: Artenstein wrote that the FBI agents only left after he assured them “that the shipment of PPE was bound for hospitals.”
“After receiving my assurances and hearing about our health system’s urgent needs, the agents let the boxes of equipment be released and loaded into the trucks,” Artenstein wrote.
And, in a sign of confusion within the government, federal law enforcement continued to tell TPM that the GlobalGeeks episode was a potential price-gouging case and that the shipment had not been released to the company, even after the shipment had gone through GlobalGeeks and onwards to the purchasers.
Loul’s account of what happened, and his assertion this wasn’t a price gouging case, was supported by the statement HHS provided to TPM on Tuesday.
When the New York Times asked Artenstein from whom he had purchased the masks, he declined to comment, telling the paper that “he did not want to jeopardize his ability to work with the vendor again.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Pastor Defying Health Orders Arrested For Allegedly Threatening Protester With His Bus

The pastor of a Louisiana church that has defied stay-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic was briefly arrested Tuesday over video showing him allegedly nearly running over a protester in a church bus Sunday .
“ Don ’ t take my bible !
” Pastor Tony Spell can be heard saying during his arrest posted by WAFB ’ s Graham Ulkins .
Spell has for weeks defined Louisiana ’ s COVID-19 orders barring large gatherings by continuing to hold services at Life Tabernacle Church in Central , Louisiana .
He was charged with aggravated assault and improper backing for allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inches of a regular protester , Trey Bennett , who has demonstrated against the ongoing services .
“ A fair viewing of the video will prove that Spell did not attempt to run over the protester , and the protester did not feel threatened , as he never moved when the bus came near , ” Spell ’ s attorney Joseph Long told NBC News Tuesday .
The pastor was less guarded in his assessment of Bennett .
“ I approached a man who verbally assaulted my wife and little girls .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against my church ladies , ” Spell told the Washington Post .
“ What would you do to a man like that ?
” The Post noted , “ When asked whether he considered Sunday ’ s incident to be an act of faith , he suggested he would block a Washington Post reporter on his phone.
” The pastor bonded out of jail a few hours after his arrest Tuesday and was greeted by members of his congregation , none wearing masks .
The Pentacostal church leader has said he can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But local authorities are weary of the large gatherings .
“ He has said that he has healed HIV , he ’ s healed cancer , he ’ s asked people with coronavirus to come to his church where he can heal them , ” Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran told the Post .
“ He can ’ t do that .
It ’ s a huge health risk.
” Prior to the aggravated assault allegation , Spell had been issued a misdemeanor summons for several violations related to holding his church services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 order .
Long is just one attorney on Spell ’ s team .
Another is the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice and failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore .
Yet another attorney helping the reverend , Moore ’ s local counsel Jeff Wittenbrink , was recently hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending a service of Long ’ s .
“ I went to Albertson ’ s twice a day , ” Wittenbrink told The Advocate , as oxygen was supplied to his nose .
“ I went to Sam ’ s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lowe ’ s .
I used the gas pumps .
I mean I just wasn ’ t careful .
God knows where I got it .
The bad thing is I might have spread to somebody .
I feel bad about that.
” Wittenbrink isn ’ t the only congregant to come down with COVID-19 .
BR Proud , which publishes news from local stations WVLA and WGMB , reported last week that the 78-year-old Life Tabernacle Church congregant Harold Orillion had died as a result of complications related to the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the outlet that Oriollion had COVID-19 , saying instead that the man had “ died of a broken heart ” due to his son ’ s recent death .
But coroner ’ s office records obtained by the outlet listed Oriollion ’ s cause of death as “ Acute respiratory distress syndrome , 2nd pneumonia , 2nd COVID-19.
” Spell has embraced the publicity from his continued services .
Last week , in a YouTube video called # PastorSpellStimulusChallenge , he urged viewers to donate their $ 1,200 federal stimulus checks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a church , give through my website , ” he said .

The pastor of a Louisiana church that has defied stay-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic was briefly arrested Tuesday over video showing him allegedly nearly running over a protester in a church bus Sunday.
“Don’t take my bible!” Pastor Tony Spell can be heard saying during his arrest posted by WAFB’s Graham Ulkins.
#BREAKING: Pastor Tony Spell just cuffed and en route to EBR Parish Prison. Charged with aggravated assault, improper backing, and outstanding bench warrants. Central PD releasing a statement soon. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/4hx1yQRV4N — Graham Ulkins (@GrahamUlkins) April 21, 2020
Spell has for weeks defied Louisiana’s COVID-19 orders barring large gatherings by continuing to hold services at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana.
He was charged with aggravated assault and improper backing for allegedly driving his church bus in reverse within inches of a regular protester, Trey Bennett, who has demonstrated against the ongoing services.
#BREAKING Central Pastor Tony Spell has a warrant out for his arrest for an incident with a protestor that happened on Sunday. Watch below. ⬇ ⬇⬇ @BRProudNews pic.twitter.com/mEaSJkPpt5 — Abbi Rocha (@AbbiRochaTV) April 20, 2020
“A fair viewing of the video will prove that Spell did not attempt to run over the protester, and the protester did not feel threatened, as he never moved when the bus came near,” Spell’s attorney Joseph Long told NBC News Tuesday.
The pastor was less guarded in his assessment of Bennett.
“I approached a man who verbally assaulted my wife and little girls. He’s a crotch-grabbing, middle-finger using against my church ladies,” Spell told the Washington Post. “What would you do to a man like that?”
The Post noted, “When asked whether he considered Sunday’s incident to be an act of faith, he suggested he would block a Washington Post reporter on his phone.”
The pastor bonded out of jail a few hours after his arrest Tuesday and was greeted by members of his congregation, none wearing masks.
The Pentacostal church leader has said he can’t easily switch to online services. But local authorities are weary of the large gatherings.
“He has said that he has healed HIV, he’s healed cancer, he’s asked people with coronavirus to come to his church where he can heal them,” Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran told the Post. “He can’t do that. It’s a huge health risk.”
Prior to the aggravated assault allegation, Spell had been issued a misdemeanor summons for several violations related to holding his church services in defiance of the state’s COVID-19 order.
Long is just one attorney on Spell’s team. Another is the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice and failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore.
Yet another attorney helping the reverend, Moore’s local counsel Jeff Wittenbrink, was recently hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending a service of Long’s.
“I went to Albertson’s twice a day,” Wittenbrink told The Advocate, as oxygen was supplied to his nose. “I went to Sam’s. I went to Walmart. I went to Lowe’s. I used the gas pumps. I mean I just wasn’t careful. God knows where I got it. The bad thing is I might have spread to somebody. I feel bad about that.”
Wittenbrink isn’t the only congregant to come down with COVID-19.
BR Proud, which publishes news from local stations WVLA and WGMB, reported last week that the 78-year-old Life Tabernacle Church congregant Harold Orillion had died as a result of complications related to the disease.
In an interview, Spell denied to the outlet that Oriollion had COVID-19, saying instead that the man had “died of a broken heart” due to his son’s recent death.
But coroner’s office records obtained by the outlet listed Oriollion’s cause of death as “Acute respiratory distress syndrome, 2nd pneumonia, 2nd COVID-19.”
Spell has embraced the publicity from his continued services.
Last week, in a YouTube video called #PastorSpellStimulusChallenge, he urged viewers to donate their $1,200 federal stimulus checks to evangelists.
“If you don’t have a church, give through my website,” he said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--McCrae Dowless, Accused Of Absentee Ballot Scheme, Nabbed For Alleged Disability Scam

McCrae Dowless , the man allegedly behind a 2018 North Carolina absentee ballot scheme , has been once again indicted , this time for allegedly defrauding the Social Security Administration .
He was also indicted last year on state charges , including two counts of felony obstruction of justice and perjury related to an absentee ballot fraud scheme , which he allegedly orchestrated to bolster the candidacy of Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris in North Carolina ’ s ninth district .
The new indictment involves Social Security disability fraud Dowless was allegedly committing at the same time .
While he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Harris ’ , he was also pocketing $ 14,203 in disability checks and retirement insurance benefits , the indictment said .
He initially filed for disability benefits in 2013 , and got a re-determination of those benefits in 2016 , during which he claimed that he remained disabled and brought in no income besides his social security checks , according to the indictment .
He received those payments through November 2018 .
In July 2018 , he also applied for retirement benefits from the SSA .
Meanwhile , unbeknownst to the SSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his work as a political operative .
The indictment specifically alleges that Dowless had earned $ 63,984.57 by the time he filed for the retirement benefits .
The new indictment contains four counts .
Dowless is being charged with “ willfully embezzling , stealing , purloining and converting to his own use ” money belonging to the United States over $ 1,000 , concealing his work and earnings from the SSA and making fraudulent statements on his retirement benefits application .
The SSA is now seeking to be reimbursed for the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seizure of Dowless ’ money or property .
The new indictment , filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina , is just the latest of Dowless ’ woes .
He has been hit with two different sets of election fraud charges , first stemming from the 2016 general election and 2018 primary , then related to the 2018 general election .
Dowless was accused of harvesting absentee ballots , changing up the ink and signatures to make them look legitimate and “ batching ” them , or submitting small groups at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Elections .
The Harris campaign ’ s absentee ballot scheme broke onto the national stage in February of 2019 , when the North Carolina Board of Elections held hearings to determine the legitimacy of the election between Harris and Democrat Dan McCready .
The board ultimately determined that the election was “ tainted ” and “ corrupted ” by the fraud and ordered a new one .
Dowless is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in mid-May , per a local report .

McCrae Dowless, the man allegedly behind a 2018 North Carolina absentee ballot scheme, has been once again indicted, this time for allegedly defrauding the Social Security Administration.
He was also indicted last year on state charges, including two counts of felony obstruction of justice and perjury related to an absentee ballot fraud scheme, which he allegedly orchestrated to bolster the candidacy of Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris in North Carolina’s ninth district.
The new indictment involves Social Security disability fraud Dowless was allegedly committing at the same time.
While he was working on 2018 midterm campaigns, including Harris’, he was also pocketing $14,203 in disability checks and retirement insurance benefits, the indictment said.
He initially filed for disability benefits in 2013, and got a re-determination of those benefits in 2016, during which he claimed that he remained disabled and brought in no income besides his social security checks, according to the indictment. He received those payments through November 2018. In July 2018, he also applied for retirement benefits from the SSA.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the SSA, Dowless allegedly raked in $132,365.57 from his work as a political operative.
The indictment specifically alleges that Dowless had earned $63,984.57 by the time he filed for the retirement benefits.
The new indictment contains four counts. Dowless is being charged with “willfully embezzling, stealing, purloining and converting to his own use” money belonging to the United States over $1,000, concealing his work and earnings from the SSA and making fraudulent statements on his retirement benefits application.
The SSA is now seeking to be reimbursed for the $14,203 of “unauthorized payments” through seizure of Dowless’ money or property.
The new indictment, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, is just the latest of Dowless’ woes.
He has been hit with two different sets of election fraud charges, first stemming from the 2016 general election and 2018 primary, then related to the 2018 general election.
Dowless was accused of harvesting absentee ballots, changing up the ink and signatures to make them look legitimate and “batching” them, or submitting small groups at a time, according to the state Board of Elections.
The Harris campaign’s absentee ballot scheme broke onto the national stage in February of 2019, when the North Carolina Board of Elections held hearings to determine the legitimacy of the election between Harris and Democrat Dan McCready. The board ultimately determined that the election was “tainted” and “corrupted” by the fraud and ordered a new one.
Dowless is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in mid-May, per a local report.
Read the newest indictment here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--AL Elections Chief Taunts Twitter Users Noting Hurdles In Absentee Voting Requirements

Some things never change .
Among them , the dismissiveness of Alabama ’ s top elections official to concerns raised about the state ’ s strict election policies .
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill ( R ) on Tuesday responded with mockery to tweets that noted the hurdles the state ’ s absentee voting rules pose , particularly during a pandemic .
The state requires a photo ID to vote , and as absentee voting expands due to the outbreak , one Twitter user tweeted at the secretary of state ’ s personal and official accounts asking for clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters casting ballots by mail .
The state requires that absentee ballot applications and the ballot itself both be submitted either by mail or in person .
“ So to exercise my right to vote I need to have a computer , with Internet , a printer , with toner and paper , and a smart phone with a camera or a scanner or a copy machine ?
” the user said , prompting a generic response from the official account that he either call that office or get in touch with local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballot application .
Merrill , via his personal account , jumped in when the user persisted in his question about the equipment required to prove one ’ s identity when voting absentee .
This is not the first time Merrill has blown off criticisms about the obstacles to vote Alabama imposes .
During a 2015 controversy over a mass closure of driver ’ s license offices in the state — closures that disproportionately hit majority black regions — Merrill dismissed the point that few voters had obtained the free IDs the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s license .
“ You can lead a horse to water but you can ’ t make him drink , ” Merrill told TPM at the time , while touting the free ID program as a reason the DMV closure criticisms were overblown .
When his office was criticized for not expending additional resources to educate ex-felons on their recently regained right to vote , he told ThinkProgress that , “ You ’ re assuming they even want to vote “ “ I don ’ t know if they do and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He ’ s also called automatic voter registration the “ sorry and lazy way out.
” Amid the Twitter brouhaha on Tuesday , another local journalist noted that Merrill had always been “ cordial ” and “ personable ” in their interactions on the phone but on Twitter turned “ into the raging id of Fox News.
” Merrill explained the difference in his tone by claiming that “ These trolls on Twitter have no interest ” in helping people understand what was going on .

Some things never change. Among them, the dismissiveness of Alabama’s top elections official to concerns raised about the state’s strict election policies.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) on Tuesday responded with mockery to tweets that noted the hurdles the state’s absentee voting rules pose, particularly during a pandemic.
The state requires a photo ID to vote, and as absentee voting expands due to the outbreak, one Twitter user tweeted at the secretary of state’s personal and official accounts asking for clarity on how the ID requirement applies to voters casting ballots by mail. The state requires that absentee ballot applications and the ballot itself both be submitted either by mail or in person.
“So to exercise my right to vote I need to have a computer, with Internet, a printer, with toner and paper, and a smart phone with a camera or a scanner or a copy machine?” the user said, prompting a generic response from the official account that he either call that office or get in touch with local election officials for assistance in getting an absentee ballot application.
Merrill, via his personal account, jumped in when the user persisted in his question about the equipment required to prove one’s identity when voting absentee.
When a local reporter retweeted Merrill’s response, Merrill pushed back in a similarly taunting tone.
This is not the first time Merrill has blown off criticisms about the obstacles to vote Alabama imposes. During a 2015 controversy over a mass closure of driver’s license offices in the state — closures that disproportionately hit majority black regions — Merrill dismissed the point that few voters had obtained the free IDs the state was offering to those without a driver’s license.
“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,” Merrill told TPM at the time, while touting the free ID program as a reason the DMV closure criticisms were overblown.
When his office was criticized for not expending additional resources to educate ex-felons on their recently regained right to vote, he told ThinkProgress that, “You’re assuming they even want to vote“
“I don’t know if they do and you don’t either,” he said.
He’s also called automatic voter registration the “sorry and lazy way out.”
Amid the Twitter brouhaha on Tuesday, another local journalist noted that Merrill had always been “cordial” and “personable” in their interactions on the phone but on Twitter turned “into the raging id of Fox News.”
Merrill explained the difference in his tone by claiming that “These trolls on Twitter have no interest” in helping people understand what was going on.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Barr Open To DOJ Going After Governors’ Stay-At-Home Orders If They Go ‘Too Far’

Attorney General Bill Barr signaled on Tuesday that the Justice Department may take legal action against governors ’ stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic if the opportunity arises .
During an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt , Barr said that if governors “ impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce ” with the orders , “ then we ’ ll have to address that.
” Speaking hypothetically , the attorney general — who described the government ’ s preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19 as “ unprecedented burdens on civil liberties ” — told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential citizen lawsuits that might take aim at the governors ’ mandates .
“ And if we think it ’ s justified , we would take a position , ” Barr said .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re doing now .
We ’ re looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place.
” The attorney general said that if his department believes a governor has “ gone too far ” and is sued as a result , then “ we file ( a ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaintiffs.
” “ We ’ re at sort of a sensitive stage where we ’ re really transitioning to starting a process of trying to get the nation back up and running , ” he continued .
“ I think that ’ s the best approach.
” President Donald Trump has been desperately pushing for an end to stay at home orders to allow businesses to reopen and boost the economy as the presidential election draws nearer .

Attorney General Bill Barr signaled on Tuesday that the Justice Department may take legal action against governors’ stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic if the opportunity arises.
During an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Barr said that if governors “impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce” with the orders, “then we’ll have to address that.”
Speaking hypothetically, the attorney general — who described the government’s preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19 as “unprecedented burdens on civil liberties” — told Hewitt that the DOJ would look at potential citizen lawsuits that might take aim at the governors’ mandates.
“And if we think it’s justified, we would take a position,” Barr said. “That’s what we’re doing now. We’re looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place.”
The attorney general said that if his department believes a governor has “gone too far” and is sued as a result, then “we file (a) statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs.”
“We’re at sort of a sensitive stage where we’re really transitioning to starting a process of trying to get the nation back up and running,” he continued. “I think that’s the best approach.”
President Donald Trump has been desperately pushing for an end to stay at home orders to allow businesses to reopen and boost the economy as the presidential election draws nearer.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Graham Worries Georgia’s Reopening Is ‘Going Too Fast Too Soon’

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) on Tuesday expressed his concerns with Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ’ s ( R ) decision to begin reopening businesses in the Peach State at the end of the month .
After tweeting that he backs South Carolina Gov .
Henry McMaster ’ s ( R ) announcement on Monday to begin reopening the state ’ s economy with “ a focus on social distancing , ” Graham then said he worries that Georgia is “ going too fast too soon ” and that what happens there will also affect his own state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia politicians following his announcement on Monday to begin rolling back the state ’ s stay-at-home orders at the end of the month .
On Tuesday morning , Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said that Kemp ( R ) had not given her or other state leaders a heads-up prior to his announcement the day before .
Georgia Democrat and former Kemp gubernatorial rival Stacey Abrams said that the governor ’ s move to reopen the state is “ trying to push a false opening of the economy ” and will risk putting more @ @ @ @

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Tuesday expressed his concerns with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) decision to begin reopening businesses in the Peach State at the end of the month.
After tweeting that he backs South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s (R) announcement on Monday to begin reopening the state’s economy with “a focus on social distancing,” Graham then said he worries that Georgia is “going too fast too soon” and that what happens there will also affect his own state.
We respect Georgia's right to determine its own fate, but we are all in this together. What happens in Georgia will impact us in South Carolina. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 21, 2020
Kemp has received backlash from fellow Georgia politicians following his announcement on Monday to begin rolling back the state’s stay-at-home orders at the end of the month.
On Tuesday morning, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said that Kemp (R) had not given her or other state leaders a heads-up prior to his announcement the day before.
Georgia Democrat and former Kemp gubernatorial rival Stacey Abrams said that the governor’s move to reopen the state is “trying to push a false opening of the economy” and will risk putting more lives in danger.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Stacey Abrams Jabs GA Governor For Pushing ‘False Opening Of The Economy’

Stacey Abrams had some choice words for her former gubernatorial rival Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) following his decision to begin rolling back the state ’ s stay-at-home orders at the end of the month .
During an interview on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” Tuesday morning , Abrams was asked about her reaction to Kemp ’ s decision to reopen businesses in Georgia starting Friday .
Abrams first pointed out that the state has the 14th highest infection rate and the seventh slowest testing rate , before arguing that “ trying to push a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk putting more lives in danger .
“ There ’ s nothing about this that makes sense , ” Abrams said .
“ The mayors of Atlanta , Albany and Savannah have all questioned the wisdom of doing this .
And the fact is the governor didn ’ t consult with mayors before making this decision.
” Abrams then shared her experience as a small business owner who understands “ the instinct ” to “ preserve your family ’ s economy ” while also protecting your workers .
“ The responsibility of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , ” Abrams said .
“ That can not happen when you have a nail salon where there ’ s no possible way for that technician to be distant from their customer , when you are running a restaurant that requires face-to-face service.
” Abrams also argued that the federal government should help all small business owners through the Paycheck Protection Act , which ran out of funds last week .
“ Instead of these large corporations receiving millions of dollars , they need to be directed to the small businesses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be putting people ’ s lives at risk because of the antiquated systems of financial delivery we ’ re facing .
”

Stacey Abrams had some choice words for her former gubernatorial rival Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) following his decision to begin rolling back the state’s stay-at-home orders at the end of the month.
During an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Tuesday morning, Abrams was asked about her reaction to Kemp’s decision to reopen businesses in Georgia starting Friday. Abrams first pointed out that the state has the 14th highest infection rate and the seventh slowest testing rate, before arguing that “trying to push a false opening of the economy” will risk putting more lives in danger.
“There’s nothing about this that makes sense,” Abrams said. “The mayors of Atlanta, Albany and Savannah have all questioned the wisdom of doing this. And the fact is the governor didn’t consult with mayors before making this decision.”
Abrams then shared her experience as a small business owner who understands “the instinct” to “preserve your family’s economy” while also protecting your workers.
“The responsibility of a business owner is to first protect your workers,” Abrams said. “That cannot happen when you have a nail salon where there’s no possible way for that technician to be distant from their customer, when you are running a restaurant that requires face-to-face service.”
Abrams also argued that the federal government should help all small business owners through the Paycheck Protection Act, which ran out of funds last week.
“Instead of these large corporations receiving millions of dollars, they need to be directed to the small businesses,” Abrams said. “We should not be putting people’s lives at risk because of the antiquated systems of financial delivery we’re facing.”
Watch Abrams’ remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Senate Panel Backs Intel Community’s Assessment Of Russia’s 2016 Meddling

The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee backed the Intelligence Community ’ s handling of its assessment , under President Obama , that Russia interfered with the 2016 election with the aim of boosting then-candidate Donald Trump .
The committee released a highly-redacted report on its review of that assessment Tuesday .
The review found that the assessment , assembled at the end of the Obama administration , was a “ sound intelligence product ” and that the committee was consistently told that the intelligence community analysts “ were under no politically motivated pressure to reach specific conclusions.
” “ Every witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or she saw no attempts or pressure to politicize the findings , ” the Senate Intel report said .
The committee ’ s conclusions come as Attorney General Bill Barr — with the help of U.S. Attorney John Durham , a prosecutor Barr himself tapped — has launched his own review of how the intelligence community came to its conclusions about Russia ’ s 2016 election interference .
President Trump has also bashed leaders of the intelligence community , while claiming the entire investigation into Russian election meddling was a “ hoax ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Intel committee ’ s report on its own examination of the approach of the various U.S. intelligence agencies is the fourth report it ’ s released about the Russian election meddling issue .
Its previous reports looked at efforts by Russia to influence the 2016 campaign via social media and Russia ’ s attempts to interfere with election infrastructure , as well as the actions the Obama administration took to respond to the attack .
In a statement with the release of the latest report , Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ found no reason to dispute the Intelligence Community ’ s conclusions.
” The overwhelming majority of the report itself remains classified .
But the spare unredacted details shed some light on what the committee found about the intelligence community ’ s use of the so-called Steele dossier .
The dossier was a collection of claims , some of them now debunked , about Trump-Russia connections that were collected by ex-British spy Christopher Steele , whose 2016 sleuthing was financed in part by the Democratic National Committee .
How the U.S. government handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspect of the Russia investigation , and the dossier has fueled some of most outlandish conspiracy theories put forward by Trump and his allies .
The report noted that the Steele materials were included only in an appendix to the Intelligence Community Assessment ( ICA ) .
While the source of financing for the material was not noted in the appendix , “ The Committee found no evidence that analysts working on the ICA were aware of the political provenance of the Steele material.
” “ All individuals the Committee interviewed stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way inform the analysis in the ICA — including the key judgments — because it was unverified information and had not been disseminated as serialized intelligence reporting , ” the Senate report said .

The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee backed the Intelligence Community’s handling of its assessment, under President Obama, that Russia interfered with the 2016 election with the aim of boosting then-candidate Donald Trump.
The committee released a highly-redacted report on its review of that assessment Tuesday. The review found that the assessment, assembled at the end of the Obama administration, was a “sound intelligence product” and that the committee was consistently told that the intelligence community analysts “were under no politically motivated pressure to reach specific conclusions.”
“Every witness interviewed by the Committee stated that he or she saw no attempts or pressure to politicize the findings,” the Senate Intel report said.
The committee’s conclusions come as Attorney General Bill Barr — with the help of U.S. Attorney John Durham, a prosecutor Barr himself tapped — has launched his own review of how the intelligence community came to its conclusions about Russia’s 2016 election interference.
President Trump has also bashed leaders of the intelligence community, while claiming the entire investigation into Russian election meddling was a “hoax” designed to take him down.
The Senate Intel committee’s report on its own examination of the approach of the various U.S. intelligence agencies is the fourth report it’s released about the Russian election meddling issue. Its previous reports looked at efforts by Russia to influence the 2016 campaign via social media and Russia’s attempts to interfere with election infrastructure, as well as the actions the Obama administration took to respond to the attack.
In a statement with the release of the latest report, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) said that the committee “found no reason to dispute the Intelligence Community’s conclusions.”
The overwhelming majority of the report itself remains classified. But the spare unredacted details shed some light on what the committee found about the intelligence community’s use of the so-called Steele dossier. The dossier was a collection of claims, some of them now debunked, about Trump-Russia connections that were collected by ex-British spy Christopher Steele, whose 2016 sleuthing was financed in part by the Democratic National Committee.
How the U.S. government handled the dossier has been the most controversial aspect of the Russia investigation, and the dossier has fueled some of most outlandish conspiracy theories put forward by Trump and his allies.
The report noted that the Steele materials were included only in an appendix to the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). While the source of financing for the material was not noted in the appendix, “The Committee found no evidence that analysts working on the ICA were aware of the political provenance of the Steele material.”
“All individuals the Committee interviewed stated that the Steele material did not in any way inform the analysis in the ICA — including the key judgments — because it was unverified information and had not been disseminated as serialized intelligence reporting,” the Senate report said.
Read the report below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-21--Trump-Boosted Malaria Drug Showed No Benefit In Study At Veterans Hospitals

A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals .
There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care , researchers reported .
The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment .
But with 368 patients , it ’ s the largest look so far of hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19 , which has killed more than 171,000 people as of Tuesday .
The study was posted on an online site for researchers and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Medicine , but has not been reviewed by other scientists .
Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia paid for the work .
Researchers analyzed medical records of 368 male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at Veterans Health Administration medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11 .
About 28 % who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died , versus 11 % of those getting routine care alone .
About 22 % of those getting the drug plus azithromycin died too , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care was not considered large enough to rule out other factors that could have affected survival .
Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine , either .
Researchers did not track side effects , but noted hints that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs .
The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects , including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death .
Earlier this month , scientists in Brazil stopped part of a hydroxychloroquine study after heart rhythm problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher of two doses being tested .
Many doctors have been leery of the drug .
At the University of Wisconsin , Madison , “ I think we ’ re all rather underwhelmed ” at what ’ s been seen among the few patients there who ’ ve tried it , said Dr. Nasia Safdar , medical director of infection control and prevention .
Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use , “ but now I think that people have realized we don ’ t know if it works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Safdar , who had no role in the VA analysis .
The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway .
Marilynn Marchione can be followed on Twitter : @ MMarchioneAP The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.
The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment. But with 368 patients, it’s the largest look so far of hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19, which has killed more than 171,000 people as of Tuesday.
The study was posted on an online site for researchers and has been submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine, but has not been reviewed by other scientists. Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia paid for the work.
Researchers analyzed medical records of 368 male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at Veterans Health Administration medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11.
About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. About 22% of those getting the drug plus azithromycin died too, but the difference between that group and usual care was not considered large enough to rule out other factors that could have affected survival.
Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine, either.
Researchers did not track side effects, but noted hints that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.
Earlier this month, scientists in Brazil stopped part of a hydroxychloroquine study after heart rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.
Many doctors have been leery of the drug.
At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “I think we’re all rather underwhelmed” at what’s been seen among the few patients there who’ve tried it, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control and prevention.
Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use, “but now I think that people have realized we don’t know if it works or not” and needs more study, said Safdar, who had no role in the VA analysis.
The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway.
___
Marilynn Marchione can be followed on Twitter: @MMarchioneAP
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Two People Died From COVID-19 In CA Before What Was Believed To Be First Death In US

Public health officials in Santa Clara County , California , announced on Tuesday that two individuals had died from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ believed to be the first death of a COVID-19 patient .
According to the announcement @ @ @ @ @ medical examiner-coroner discovered that the two people had died at home on February 6 and @ @ @ @ @ first death from the virus in the U.S. actually occurred weeks before the first announced @ @ @ @ @ Washington state .
The county officials noted that the individuals had passed away “ when @ @ @ @ @ ” by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , which had @ @ @ @ @ to medical facilities with “ specific symptoms ” and with “ a known travel history.
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s medical examiner-coroner may find even more early deaths , according to the officials @ @ @ @ @ Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county , we anticipate additional deaths from @ @ @ @ @ ” they said .

Public health officials in Santa Clara County, California, announced on Tuesday that two individuals had died from COVID-19 earlier than what was previously believed to be the first death of a COVID-19 patient.
According to the announcement, Santa Clara’s medical examiner-coroner discovered that the two people had died at home on February 6 and February 17, meaning the first death from the virus in the U.S. actually occurred weeks before the first announced death on February 29 in Washington state.
The county officials noted that the individuals had passed away “when very limited testing was available” by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which had only tested people who went to medical facilities with “specific symptoms” and with “a known travel history.”
Therefore, the county’s medical examiner-coroner may find even more early deaths, according to the officials.
“As the Medical Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from COVID-19 will be identified,” they said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Gov Scientist Says He Was Demoted For Opposing Trump’s Favorite Unproven COVID Drug

The recently demoted director of the federal agency leading COVID-19 research says he was given the boot because he insisted on thoroughly vetting the drug that President Donald Trump has sold as a miracle cure , hydroxychloroquine .
Dr. Rick Bright , a career government scientist , was until this week the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) , which is housed in the Department of Health and Human Services .
Stat News first reported Tuesday that Bright had been suddenly moved to a narrower role in the National Institutes of Health .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bright didn ’ t mince any words about the reasons for the demotion : He stood in the way of Trump ’ s favored potential COVID-19 treatment .
“ I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions , and not in drugs , vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit , ” Bright told the Times .
“ I am speaking out because to combat this deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cronyism — has to lead the way.
” “ Specifically , and contrary to misguided directives , I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , promoted by the administration as a panacea , but which clearly lack scientific merit , ” Bright said .
The drugs are seen as potential therapies for COVID-19 , but broad scientific proof to support their widespread use is nonexistent .
A recent VA study was one of several that did not determine the drugs to be helpful against the viral disease .
Nonetheless , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs as potential globe-changing cures for the pandemic disease .
“ I want them to try it , ” the President said at a press conference last month , one of many appeals for the unproven potential therapies .
“ And it may work , and it may not work .
But if it doesn ’ t work , it ’ s nothing lost by doing it .
Nothing.
” The FDA recently issued an unusual emergency authorization allowing BARDA to distribute hydroxychloroquine pills that it had been donated to hospitals for use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘ outside the box ’ for effective treatments , I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public , ” Bright told the Times .
“ I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalized patients with confirmed Covid-19 while under the supervision of a physician , ” he added , saying that he would request that the HHS inspector general investigate “ the manner in which this administration has politicized the work of BARDA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fund companies with political connections and efforts that lack scientific merit.
” “ Rushing blindly towards unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths , ” Bright said .
“ Science , in service to the health and safety of the American people , must always trump politics.
” Bright said in his statement that he clashed with HHS political leadership over vaccine investment and other matters , as well as “ efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections , ” though he did @ @ @ @

The recently demoted director of the federal agency leading COVID-19 research says he was given the boot because he insisted on thoroughly vetting the drug that President Donald Trump has sold as a miracle cure, hydroxychloroquine.
Dr. Rick Bright, a career government scientist, was until this week the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is housed in the Department of Health and Human Services. Stat News first reported Tuesday that Bright had been suddenly moved to a narrower role in the National Institutes of Health.
In a statement to the New York Times, Bright didn’t mince any words about the reasons for the demotion: He stood in the way of Trump’s favored potential COVID-19 treatment.
“I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit,” Bright told the Times. “I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science — not politics or cronyism — has to lead the way.”
“Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit,” Bright said.
The drugs are seen as potential therapies for COVID-19, but broad scientific proof to support their widespread use is nonexistent. A recent VA study was one of several that did not determine the drugs to be helpful against the viral disease.
Nonetheless, in recent weeks Trump has repeatedly promoted the drugs as potential globe-changing cures for the pandemic disease.
“I want them to try it,” the President said at a press conference earlier this month, one of many appeals for the unproven potential therapies. “And it may work, and it may not work. But if it doesn’t work, it’s nothing lost by doing it. Nothing.”
The FDA recently issued an unusual emergency authorization allowing BARDA to distribute hydroxychloroquine pills that it had been donated to hospitals for use with COVID-19 patients.
“While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public,” Bright told the Times.
“I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalized patients with confirmed Covid-19 while under the supervision of a physician,” he added, saying that he would request that the HHS inspector general investigate “the manner in which this administration has politicized the work of BARDA and has pressured me and other conscientious scientists to fund companies with political connections and efforts that lack scientific merit.”
“Rushing blindly towards unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths,” Bright said. “Science, in service to the health and safety of the American people, must always trump politics.”
Bright said in his statement that he clashed with HHS political leadership over vaccine investment and other matters, as well as “efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections,” though he did not specify who.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Las Vegas Mayor’s Interview With Anderson Cooper Was A Spectacular Train Wreck

The mayor of Las Vegas , Carolyn Goodman , appeared on CNN on Wednesday afternoon to discuss with Anderson Cooper how she wants all of her city ’ s casinos to reopen during the COVID-19 outbreak .
What followed was utter chaos .
The first eyebrow-raising moment came when Cooper asked Goodman how she expects jam-packed casinos that are ripe for infection to maintain social distancing measures to prevent the virus from spreading .
“ That ’ s up to them to figure out , ” the mayor replied .
“ I don ’ t own a casino.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would be “ the cleanest hotel with six feet figured out for every human being that comes in there.
” The mayor then asserted that if businesses reopen and then collapse if they become a source of COVID-19 and infect their customers , well , that ’ s just the free market at work .
“ That ’ s the competition in this country , ” she said .
“ The free enterprise , and to be able to make sure that what you offer the public meets the needs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for the virus was some sort of conspiracy .
“ No , that can ’ t work , ” she told Cooper .
“ We ’ re not getting the truth , and I know over the years , going back to the 1950s with the atomic bomb , ‘ Don ’ t worry about more testing in Nevada .
You ’ ll all be fine .
Take a shower . '
” A few minutes later , Cooper pulled up a chart that showed how one person with COVID-19 in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to which Goodman responded , “ This isn ’ t China , this is Las Vegas , Nevada.
” “ Wow , okay , that ’ s really ignorant , ” the CNN anchor retorted .
He tried to explain the chart and the risk of airborne infections to Goodman , but the mayor deflected with a list of other illnesses , such as Legionnaires ’ disease , typhoid , and Ebola .
“ None of those were as infectious in Las Vegas , ” Cooper said .
“ You didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casino floor.
” The discussion took another bizarre turn when Cooper tried to point out to the mayor that it would be the casino workers , not the casino owners , who would be put at serious risk if they were required to go back to work .
Near the end of the interview , Goodman told the CNN reporter that she had tried to offer Las Vegas as a control group for a COVID-19 vaccine trial to health experts , and that she would “ love ” for her city to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioned why the mayor wouldn ’ t want the actual vaccine .
“ The group that gets the placebo usually gets the short end of the stick , ” he told her .
“ Well , you don ’ t know , ” Goodman said with a laugh .
“ How do you know when you ’ re a part of that group ?
”

The mayor of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, appeared on CNN on Wednesday afternoon to discuss with Anderson Cooper how she wants all of her city’s casinos to reopen during the COVID-19 outbreak.
What followed was utter chaos.
The first eyebrow-raising moment came when Cooper asked Goodman how she expects jam-packed casinos that are ripe for infection to maintain social distancing measures to prevent the virus from spreading.
“That’s up to them to figure out,” the mayor replied. “I don’t own a casino.”
But rest assured knowing that if she did, it would be “the cleanest hotel with six feet figured out for every human being that comes in there.”
Anderson Cooper asks the Las Vegas mayor how casinos are supposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if they reopen. "That’s up to them to figure out," the mayor replies. pic.twitter.com/FmR9UTNd5e — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) April 22, 2020
The mayor then asserted that if businesses reopen and then collapse when they become a source of COVID-19 and infect their customers, well, that’s just the free market at work.
“That’s the competition in this country,” she said. “The free enterprise, and to be able to make sure that what you offer the public meets the needs of the public.”
Las Vegas Mayor says time to reopen the city, let private businesses compete for which business can drive the least viral spread. pic.twitter.com/E00wH6Yv74 — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020
Goodman also implied that testing for the virus was some sort of conspiracy.
“No, that can’t work,” she told Cooper. “We’re not getting the truth, and I know over the years, going back to the 1950s with the atomic bomb, ‘Don’t worry about more testing in Nevada. You’ll all be fine. Take a shower.'”
Asking about testing, Las Vegas Mayor says they trusted the government about testing atomic weapons in the 1950s and look how that worked out. pic.twitter.com/wEiOVomfyN — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020
A few minutes later, Cooper pulled up a chart that showed how one person with COVID-19 in a restaurant in China infected multiple people nearby, to which Goodman responded, “This isn’t China, this is Las Vegas, Nevada.”
“Wow, okay, that’s really ignorant,” the CNN anchor retorted.
He tried to explain the chart and the risk of airborne infections to Goodman, but the mayor deflected with a list of other illnesses, such as Legionnaires’ disease, typhoid, and Ebola.
“None of those were as infectious in Las Vegas,” Cooper said. “You didn’t have people with Ebola on a casino floor.”
“Well, we don’t know that,” Goodman replied.
And here's the part of the interview about legionnaires disease, typhoid mary and ebola on the casino floor. pic.twitter.com/t7wg7Z2pvE — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020
The discussion took another bizarre turn when Cooper tried to point out to the mayor that it would be the casino workers, not the casino owners, who would be put at serious risk if they were required to go back to work.
“You’re talking disease. I’m talking life,” Goodman said. “I’m talking life and living.”
“Okay, that makes no sense,” Cooper responded.
Anderson Cooper to Mayor: "Okay, that makes no sense." pic.twitter.com/8DUpfvaGVJ — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020
Near the end of the interview, Goodman told the CNN reporter that she had tried to offer Las Vegas as a control group for a COVID-19 vaccine trial to health experts, and that she would “love” for her city to be the placebo group.
A baffled Cooper questioned why the mayor wouldn’t want the actual vaccine.
“The group that gets the placebo usually gets the short end of the stick,” he told her.
“Well, you don’t know,” Goodman said with a laugh. “How do you know when you’re a part of that group?”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--WATCH LIVE: Trump, WH Coronavirus Task Force Hold Briefing

TPM is making our COVID-19 coverage free to all readers during this national health crisis .
If you ’ d @ @ @ @ @ reporters , editors and staff , the best way to do so is to become @ @ @

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters following a meeting of his coronavirus task force in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2020. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Governor Demands Wayward County Obey His COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order

Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D ) is demanding that a county commission in his state retract a resolution defying his statewide stay-at-home order to combat COVID-19 .
In a strongly worded letter Wednesday to the Franklin County Commission , Inslee ’ s counsel dismissed its decision to declare the county “ open for business ” as illegal and a threat to public health .
The governor ’ s reaction came after the three-member commission , all Republicans , voted Tuesday to allow businesses in the county to reopen , claiming that the governor ’ s stay-at-home order was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line as the local sheriff , who on Monday declared that he wouldn ’ t enforce the order against churches or businesses .
The commission ’ s dubious attempt to override the governor was in line with the conservative backlash to the extreme public health measures taken around the country in response to the pandemic .
More than 40,000 Americans have died , and the national economy has been brought to its knees .
“ During the pandemic , the health of the public is paramount , ” Inslee general counsel Kathryn Leathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As such , by and through this letter , the Governor directs you to immediately retract or rescind the resolution adopted on April 21 , 2020 , that declares the County to be ‘ open for business ’ and any relevant guidance that purports to supersede state enforcement authority.
” She added that the motion “ knowingly violates ” the governor ’ s order under his emergency powers , thus violating state law .
At a public meeting on Tuesday , the commissioners argued that the governor ’ s order is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is day 90 — the governor ’ s authority ended at day 30 , ” said Commissioner Brad Peck .
“ As far as I ’ m concerned , the county is open and I ’ d encourage people within the law and within the parameters of their own safety — we ’ re adults , we can make decisions — to behave accordingly.
” With that , Commissioner Clint Didier made a motion to make the reopening official , saying that the governor ’ s order had now been “ deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , though Peck expressed his desire that the motion undergo a legal review .
“ Barring evidence from anybody that says we can ’ t do this , I think we need to step up there and say it ’ s time , ” Peck said .
But , per Inslee ’ s office , the vote was nothing more than symbolic .
“ They do not have the authority to do this , ” Tara Lee , Inslee ’ s communication director , told TPM .
“ It is illegal.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge that stance .
“ We have a constitutional attorney right now and we are formulating a suit against the governor , ” Didier told the local NBC affiliate KNDO Tuesday .
“ Commissioner Peck brought up the fact that beyond 30 days , the governor doesn ’ t have the ability to extend this emergency proclamation without the legislature ’ s approval.
” Peck , however , was quick to wash his hands of the litigation .
“ I am NOT , nor is Franklin County , part of the litigation announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TPM on Wednesday .
Didier ’ s possible legal action may be dead on arrival anyway .
The crux of his argument seems to be that the legislature has not given its requisite approval to the governor ’ s order .
In fact , the state House and Senate leaders gave Inslee approval for his extension until May 4 .
On the other side of the equation , a spokesperson for state Attorney General Bob Ferguson declined to say if legal action was being considered against the county commissioners .
The commissioners acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County official who also chafed under Inslee ’ s order .
Sheriff J.D .
Raymond published a letter on Facebook Monday declaring that he would not enforce the stay-at-home order in cases where it infringed on freedom of religion or the operation of privately owned businesses .
“ Our governor has overstepped his constitutional powers and is trying to control us under the guise of protecting us , ” he wrote .
“ He states that he is protecting us from the current pandemic but is simultaneously creating an economic crisis.
” Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hit by the coronavirus pandemic , and now has 12,345 cases with 682 dead , per the state ’ s health department .
Franklin County , population 95,222 , has had 800 cases and four deaths so far .

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) is demanding that a county commission in his state retract a resolution defying his statewide stay-at-home order to combat COVID-19.
In a strongly worded letter Wednesday to the Franklin County Commission, Inslee’s counsel dismissed its decision to declare the county “open for business” as illegal and a threat to public health.
The governor’s reaction came after the three-member commission, all Republicans, voted Tuesday to allow businesses in the county to reopen, claiming that the governor’s stay-at-home order was unconstitutional. They echoed the same party line as the local sheriff, who on Monday declared that he wouldn’t enforce the order against churches or businesses.
The commission’s dubious attempt to override the governor was in line with the conservative backlash to the extreme public health measures taken around the country in response to the pandemic. More than 40,000 Americans have died, and the national economy has been brought to its knees.
“During the pandemic, the health of the public is paramount,” Inslee general counsel Kathryn Leathers wrote in the letter obtained by TPM. “As such, by and through this letter, the Governor directs you to immediately retract or rescind the resolution adopted on April 21, 2020, that declares the County to be ‘open for business’ and any relevant guidance that purports to supersede state enforcement authority.”
She added that the motion “knowingly violates” the governor’s order under his emergency powers, thus violating state law.
At a public meeting on Tuesday, the commissioners argued that the governor’s order is unconstitutional overreach.
“By my reading this is day 90 — the governor’s authority ended at day 30,” said Commissioner Brad Peck. “As far as I’m concerned, the county is open and I’d encourage people within the law and within the parameters of their own safety — we’re adults, we can make decisions — to behave accordingly.”
With that, Commissioner Clint Didier made a motion to make the reopening official, saying that the governor’s order had now been “deemed unconstitutional.”
The other two commissioners signed on, though Peck expressed his desire that the motion undergo a legal review.
“Barring evidence from anybody that says we can’t do this, I think we need to step up there and say it’s time,” Peck said.
But, per Inslee’s office, the vote was nothing more than symbolic.
“They do not have the authority to do this,” Tara Lee, Inslee’s communication director, told TPM. “It is illegal.”
At least one commissioner seems ready to challenge that stance.
“We have a constitutional attorney right now and we are formulating a suit against the governor,” Didier told the local NBC affiliate KNDO Tuesday. “Commissioner Peck brought up the fact that beyond 30 days, the governor doesn’t have the ability to extend this emergency proclamation without the legislature’s approval.”
Peck, however, was quick to wash his hands of the litigation.
“I am NOT, nor is Franklin County, part of the litigation announced by Commissioner Didier,” he told TPM on Wednesday.
Didier’s possible legal action may be dead on arrival anyway. The crux of his argument seems to be that the legislature has not given its requisite approval to the governor’s order. In fact, the state House and Senate leaders gave Inslee approval for his extension until May 4.
On the other side of the equation, a spokesperson for state Attorney General Bob Ferguson declined to say if legal action was being considered against the county commissioners.
The commissioners acted hot on the heels of another Franklin County official who also chafed under Inslee’s order.
Sheriff J.D. Raymond published a letter on Facebook Monday declaring that he would not enforce the stay-at-home order in cases where it infringed on freedom of religion or the operation of privately owned businesses.
“Our governor has overstepped his constitutional powers and is trying to control us under the guise of protecting us,” he wrote. “He states that he is protecting us from the current pandemic but is simultaneously creating an economic crisis.”
Washington was one of the first states to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and now has 12,345 cases with 682 dead, per the state’s health department. Franklin County, population 95,222, has had 800 cases and four deaths so far.
Read the letter from Inslee’s lawyer here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Tyson Foods Temporarily Closes Down Major Iowa Pork Plant After Outbreak

IOWA CITY , Iowa ( AP ) — Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation ’ s pork supply but was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community .
The Arkansas-based company said the closure of the plant in Waterloo would deny a vital market to hog farmers and further disrupt U.S. meat supply .
Tyson had kept the facility , its largest pork plant , open in recent days over the objections of alarmed local officials .
The plant can process 19,500 hogs per day , accounting for 3.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the National Pork Board .
More than 180 infections have been linked to the plant and officials expect that number to dramatically rise .
Testing of its 2,800 workers is expected to begin Friday .
Cases and hospitalizations in Black Hawk County have skyrocketed in recent days and local officials say the plant is the largest source of infections .
In addition to those who have tested positive for the virus , hundreds of workers were staying home out of fear , and the plant had been running at reduced production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in meatpacking plants , where workers toil side by side on production lines and often share crowded locker rooms , cafeterias and rides to work .
While plants have added safety measures , public health experts say social distancing is virtually impossible .
Several facilities have temporarily closed due to virus outbreaks , including a Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls , South Dakota , and a JBS USA plant in Worthington , Minnesota .
Others have stayed open or resumed production after pauses for worker testing and cleaning .
Tyson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure in Iowa was driven by “ the combination of worker absenteeism , COVID-19 cases and community concerns.
” He warned of “ significant ramifications ” for the farmers , distributors and grocers in the supply chain .
Tyson said workers would be compensated during the shutdown and that the timing of reopening would depend on several factors , including testing .
The Black Hawk County Board of Health requested Tuesday that Tyson or Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds temporarily close the plant .
The board warned that its continued operation would exacerbate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county .
A 65-year-old employee in the plant ’ s laundry department died Sunday after contracting the virus , the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported .
Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and local officials had called for a shutdown , saying Tyson was putting its workforce in danger .
Iowa ’ s worker safety agency said Tuesday that was investigating the plant .
The governor blocked local authorities from closing the plant in an April 16 order that banned social gatherings in northeastern Iowa .
It granted the exclusive power to the Iowa Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus concerns .
The governor and the department had been working with Tyson to keep the plant open .
Reynolds argued that the economic disruption caused by plant closures outweighed the health risks , warning that farmers would potentially have to euthanize their pigs .
She said that “ people are gon na get ” the virus in large workplaces but most will experience mild or no symptoms .
Lawmakers said an earlier closure would have better protected public health and been less harmful economically .
“ My concern is the impact this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act soon enough , ” said Democratic Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo .
The governor didn ’ t respond directly when asked Wednesday if the state should have intervened .
She defended her overall response to the crisis but said , “ There ’ s always more we could have done.
” Tyson resumed operations Tuesday at its pork plant in Columbus Junction , Iowa , which had been shut down for two weeks after an outbreak infected hundreds and killed two workers .
Associated Press writer David Pitt in Des Moines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation’s pork supply but was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community.
The Arkansas-based company said the closure of the plant in Waterloo would deny a vital market to hog farmers and further disrupt U.S. meat supply. Tyson had kept the facility, its largest pork plant, open in recent days over the objections of alarmed local officials.
The plant can process 19,500 hogs per day, accounting for 3.9% of U.S. pork processing capacity, according to the National Pork Board.
More than 180 infections have been linked to the plant and officials expect that number to dramatically rise. Testing of its 2,800 workers is expected to begin Friday. Cases and hospitalizations in Black Hawk County have skyrocketed in recent days and local officials say the plant is the largest source of infections.
In addition to those who have tested positive for the virus, hundreds of workers were staying home out of fear, and the plant had been running at reduced production levels.
Employers have struggled to contain the virus in meatpacking plants, where workers toil side by side on production lines and often share crowded locker rooms, cafeterias and rides to work. While plants have added safety measures, public health experts say social distancing is virtually impossible.
Several facilities have temporarily closed due to virus outbreaks, including a Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a JBS USA plant in Worthington, Minnesota. Others have stayed open or resumed production after pauses for worker testing and cleaning.
Tyson Fresh Meats president Steve Stouffer said the closure in Iowa was driven by “the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community concerns.” He warned of “significant ramifications” for the farmers, distributors and grocers in the supply chain.
Tyson said workers would be compensated during the shutdown and that the timing of reopening would depend on several factors, including testing.
The Black Hawk County Board of Health requested Tuesday that Tyson or Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds temporarily close the plant. The board warned that its continued operation would exacerbate the spread of the virus in the county.
A 65-year-old employee in the plant’s laundry department died Sunday after contracting the virus, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.
Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and local officials had called for a shutdown, saying Tyson was putting its workforce in danger. Iowa’s worker safety agency said Tuesday that was investigating the plant.
The governor blocked local authorities from closing the plant in an April 16 order that banned social gatherings in northeastern Iowa. It granted the exclusive power to the Iowa Department of Public Health to shut down businesses over coronavirus concerns.
The governor and the department had been working with Tyson to keep the plant open.
Reynolds argued that the economic disruption caused by plant closures outweighed the health risks, warning that farmers would potentially have to euthanize their pigs. She said that “people are gonna get” the virus in large workplaces but most will experience mild or no symptoms.
Lawmakers said an earlier closure would have better protected public health and been less harmful economically. “My concern is the impact this has had because we didn’t act soon enough,” said Democratic Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo.
The governor didn’t respond directly when asked Wednesday if the state should have intervened. She defended her overall response to the crisis but said, “There’s always more we could have done.”
Tyson resumed operations Tuesday at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, which had been shut down for two weeks after an outbreak infected hundreds and killed two workers.
___
Associated Press writer David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--World Health Organization Defends Early Response To Coronavirus

LONDON — The head of the World Health Organization says the agency declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a @ @ @ @ @ ” and that the pronouncement was made when there were fewer than 100 cases outside @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus was first detected .
In recent weeks , WHO has been criticized for moving @ @ @ @ @ rest of the world about the threat posed by COVID-19 .
Last week , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ to WHO , accusing it of mismanaging the response to the coronavirus epidemic .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ emergency on Jan. 30 , WHO declined to describe it as a pandemic until March @ @ @ @ @ , I think we declared ( an ) emergency at the right time , ” @ @ @ @ @ Adhanom Ghebreyesus said , dismissing criticism that the U.N. agency acted too slowly .
“ @ @ @ @ @ had enough time to respond , ” he said at a press briefing .

LONDON — The head of the World Health Organization says the agency declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global emergency “early enough” and that the pronouncement was made when there were fewer than 100 cases outside China, where the new coronavirus was first detected.
In recent weeks, WHO has been criticized for moving too slowly to warn the rest of the world about the threat posed by COVID-19. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended funding to WHO, accusing it of mismanaging the response to the coronavirus epidemic. Despite declaring the outbreak a global emergency on Jan. 30, WHO declined to describe it as a pandemic until March 11.
“Looking back, I think we declared (an) emergency at the right time,” WHO’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, dismissing criticism that the U.N. agency acted too slowly. “The rest of the world had enough time to respond,” he said at a press briefing.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--Top UK Health Adviser Warns Social Distance Guidelines May Continue All Year

LONDON — The British government ’ s chief medical adviser has warned that social distancing measures in the U.K. may @ @ @ @ @ place for the rest of the year .
Professor Chris Whitty says at the government @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s confident a vaccine will have “ proof of concept ” well within @ @ @ @ @ says the probability of having that , or a treatment , any time this calendar @ @ @ @ @ ” As a result , he says “ we ’ re going to have to @ @ @ @ @ , which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment.
@ @ @ @ @ have to decide what mix of measures will have to remain in place once the @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus and beyond .

LONDON — The British government’s chief medical adviser has warned that social distancing measures in the U.K. may well have to stay in place for the rest of the year.
Professor Chris Whitty says at the government’s daily briefing that he’s confident a vaccine will have “proof of concept” well within a year. But he says the probability of having that, or a treatment, any time this calendar year is “incredibly small.”
As a result, he says “we’re going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment.”
He says ministers will have to decide what mix of measures will have to remain in place once the U.K. goes through the peak of the coronavirus and beyond.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-04-22--GA Dem Who Endorsed Trump Abruptly Resigns, Vows ‘Full Energy’ For POTUS’ Reelection

Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones ( D ) , a Democrat who had issued a full-throated endorsement of President Donald Trump last week , announced on Wednesday that he was resigning , effective immediately .
“ I ’ m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democratic party for putting my country before my party , ” Jones said in a statement .
“ I take pride in being an independent thinker.
” In a separate tweet , the lawmaker swore he would devote his “ full energy ” to getting Trump reelected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have overtaken my party suffer a resounding defeat.
” Though Jones identified as a “ lifelong Democrat , ” he appeared on pro-Trump media outlet OAN with far-right activist Jack Posobiec last week to endorse Trump .
In one of his endorsement videos , Jones claimed that the President had supported the black community through criminal justice reform and reducing unemployment before the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ I 100 % support Donald Trump , and I want to call on every patriot , every great American out there….join me in reelecting Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next president , our reelected president , of the United States , ” he said .
The Georgia lawmaker also accused Democratic Party of “ defending the interests of illegals ” over “ actual American people ” on Tuesday .
However , it is unclear if Jones plans on leaving the party altogether , saying “ I didn ’ t leave the Democratic Party .
The Party left me.
” He did not respond to TPM ’ s request for clarification at the time of writing .

Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones (D), a Democrat who had issued a full-throated endorsement of President Donald Trump last week, announced on Wednesday that he was resigning, effective immediately.
“I’m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democratic party for putting my country before my party,” Jones said in a statement. “I take pride in being an independent thinker.”
In a separate tweet, the lawmaker swore he would devote his “full energy” to getting Trump reelected and “ensuring that the radical Democrats that have overtaken my party suffer a resounding defeat.”
Though Jones identified as a “lifelong Democrat,” he appeared on pro-Trump media outlet OAN with far-right activist Jack Posobiec last week to endorse Trump.
In one of his endorsement videos, Jones claimed that the President had supported the black community through criminal justice reform and reducing unemployment before the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I 100% support Donald Trump, and I want to call on every patriot, every great American out there….join me in reelecting Donald J. Trump as the president, our next president, our reelected president, of the United States,” he said.
The Georgia lawmaker also accused Democratic Party of “defending the interests of illegals” over “actual American people” on Tuesday.
However, it is unclear if Jones plans on leaving the party altogether, saying “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Party left me.”
He did not respond to TPM’s request for clarification at the time of writing.