talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-03--Inside The County With The Highest Rate Of COVID Cases On The West Coast

SPOKANE , Wash. ( AP ) — The highest rate of coronavirus cases of any county on the U.S. West Coast is in Washington state ’ s Yakima County .
Health experts point to a large number of essential workers , a large number of cases in long-term care facilities and a large agricultural workforce living and working in close quarters as the causes .
The county has about 250,000 residents .
“ We just haven ’ t been as much down as the rest of the state because our workforce is going to work , ” said Lilian Bravo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District .
“ Physically going to work every day is going to put you at a higher risk than others.
” As of Friday , Yakima County had 1,203 positive cases , a rate of 455 cases per 100,000 residents , the highest in the state .
Second was Franklin County at 326 cases per 100,000 .
The statewide average was 185 cases per 100,000 residents .
Yakima County , 140 miles ( 225 kilometres ) southeast of Seattle , also had a relatively high number of deaths from coronavirus with 47 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for about a third of cases and most of the deaths from COVID-19 in the county .
Bravo said the health district is involved with testing staff and residents at long-term care facilities .
State health officer Dr. Kathy Lofy said Washington Department of Health officials were sent to Yakima to help the long-term care facilities deal with the outbreaks .
“ I think what we ’ re seeing in some of these outbreaks , whether it ’ s a long-term care facility or a food processing plant , is that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a lot of transmission , and then all these individuals go home and back to their own communities and infect others in their family and others in their community , ” Lofy said .
Meanwhile , nearly 73,000 of the 115,000 Yakima County jobs , or 63 % , are in essential industries such as agriculture , health care and wholesale trade , according to the Yakima County Development Association .
“ We ’ re not as shut down as some areas in the state , ” Bravo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the agriculture and food processing industries .
Many live and work in close quarters , which can spread the disease .
With the harvest season just getting underway , Bravo said the health district is wary that the infection rate will continue to grow , especially in housing for migrant workers that tends to be cramped .
The state recently issued new guidelines to protect agriculture workers against COVID-19 .
The new Department of Labor and Industry rules require growers and operators to have procedures for a suspected or confirmed case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on health recommendations , and to have employees stay home if they are sick .
They are also required to ensure social distance and physical barriers between workers , to have hand-washing stations and to increase sanitation .
But two farmworker groups filed lawsuits in Skagit County Superior Court seeking tougher rules and immediate oversight .
Yakima-based advocacy group Latino Civic Alliance is demanding the state adopt enforceable standards to protect agricultural workers from exposure .
The organization noted 96 % of the state ’ s agricultural workers are Latinos , with many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care benefits .
Despite the high number of cases , the health care system in Yakima County is not overwhelmed , Bravo said .
“ We do have the capacity to serve individuals , ” she said .
“ The community has done a great job.
” For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough , that clear up in two to three weeks .
But it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , for some people , especially older adults and @ @ @ @ @ @

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The highest rate of coronavirus cases of any county on the U.S. West Coast is in Washington state’s Yakima County.
Health experts point to a large number of essential workers, a large number of cases in long-term care facilities and a large agricultural workforce living and working in close quarters as the causes. The county has about 250,000 residents.
“We just haven’t been as much down as the rest of the state because our workforce is going to work,” said Lilian Bravo, a spokeswoman for the Yakima Health District. “Physically going to work every day is going to put you at a higher risk than others.”
As of Friday, Yakima County had 1,203 positive cases, a rate of 455 cases per 100,000 residents, the highest in the state. Second was Franklin County at 326 cases per 100,000. The statewide average was 185 cases per 100,000 residents.
Yakima County, 140 miles (225 kilometres) southeast of Seattle, also had a relatively high number of deaths from coronavirus with 47. Bravo said people in long-term care facilities account for about a third of cases and most of the deaths from COVID-19 in the county.
Bravo said the health district is involved with testing staff and residents at long-term care facilities.
State health officer Dr. Kathy Lofy said Washington Department of Health officials were sent to Yakima to help the long-term care facilities deal with the outbreaks.
“I think what we’re seeing in some of these outbreaks, whether it’s a long-term care facility or a food processing plant, is that you get a lot of people together, there’s a lot of transmission, and then all these individuals go home and back to their own communities and infect others in their family and others in their community,” Lofy said.
Meanwhile, nearly 73,000 of the 115,000 Yakima County jobs, or 63%, are in essential industries such as agriculture, health care and wholesale trade, according to the Yakima County Development Association.
“We’re not as shut down as some areas in the state,” Bravo said.
The county has a large number of people in the agriculture and food processing industries. Many live and work in close quarters, which can spread the disease.
With the harvest season just getting underway, Bravo said the health district is wary that the infection rate will continue to grow, especially in housing for migrant workers that tends to be cramped.
The state recently issued new guidelines to protect agriculture workers against COVID-19.
The new Department of Labor and Industry rules require growers and operators to have procedures for a suspected or confirmed case of the virus, to educate workers on health recommendations, and to have employees stay home if they are sick. They are also required to ensure social distance and physical barriers between workers, to have hand-washing stations and to increase sanitation.
But two farmworker groups filed lawsuits in Skagit County Superior Court seeking tougher rules and immediate oversight.
Yakima-based advocacy group Latino Civic Alliance is demanding the state adopt enforceable standards to protect agricultural workers from exposure. The organization noted 96% of the state’s agricultural workers are Latinos, with many living below poverty levels and without health care benefits.
Despite the high number of cases, the health care system in Yakima County is not overwhelmed, Bravo said.
“We do have the capacity to serve individuals,” she said. “The community has done a great job.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--DeWine Comes To State Health Director’s Defense Amid Attacks

Gov .
Mike DeWine ( R ) came to state health director Amy Acton ’ s defense Monday after she ’ d become the target of protests and antisemitic attacks .
“ I ’ m the elected official .
I ’ m the one who ran for office , I ’ m the one who makes the policy decisions , ” he said at his daily press briefing .
“ Members of my cabinet , Dr. Acton included , work exceedingly , exceedingly hard but I set the policy .
So when you don ’ t like the policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that is certainly fair game — but to bother the family of Dr. Acton , I don ’ t think that ’ s fair game .
I don ’ t think that ’ s right.
” On Saturday , a small group of protesters gathered at Acton ’ s home in Bexley , a suburb of Columbus .
Per the Cleveland Plain Dealer , signs included such messages as : “ DR .
AMY OVER-RE-ACTON HAIRSTYLISTS ARE ESSENTIAL.
” Acton has signed the state ’ s stay-at-home orders , the most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 .
The health director , who is Jewish , has also been on the receiving end of antisemitic criticism from Republican lawmakers in the state .
On Friday , Rep. Nino Vitale ( R ) raged against Acton and the extended stay-at-home order in a Facebook post .
In it , he called her a “ globalist , ” a common , antisemitic code for Jewish people used by the far right .
“ Your basic human rights of life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness do not come from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order in the dark of night , ” he wrote .
“ Your basic human rights are inalienable and can not be bought , sold , traded or taken from you.
” The post was trailed by a flock of hashtags , including “ # StopSpreadingFear , ” “ # Think ” and “ # MasksDoNotWork.
” A couple weeks before , Sen. Andrew Brenner ( R ) amplified his wife ’ s Facebook post , which she tagged him in , comparing Acton ’ s orders to Nazi Germany .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sara Brenner responded to Acton ’ s approval of other countries looking into issuing certificates to those immune to COVID-19 .
“ This actually feels like Hitler ’ s Germany where you had to have blonde hair and blue eyes to be able to function anyway , and you were damned otherwise , ” she wrote .
“ When are people going to say enough is enough ?
” In the comments , Andrew Brenner responded .
“ We won ’ t allow that to happen in Ohio , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his statements and receiving a bipartisan firestorm of criticism , he eventually apologized .
Acton did not respond to a request for comment .
“ Reopen ” protesters have been gathering at the Ohio state capitol in recent days to demonstrate against the stay-at-home orders .
As of Monday afternoon , per the state health department , Ohio had 20,474 cases of coronavirus ; 1,056 people have died .

Gov. Mike DeWine (R) came to state health director Amy Acton’s defense Monday after she’d become the target of protests and antisemitic attacks.
“I’m the elected official. I’m the one who ran for office, I’m the one who makes the policy decisions,” he said at his daily press briefing. “Members of my cabinet, Dr. Acton included, work exceedingly, exceedingly hard but I set the policy. So when you don’t like the policy, again, you can demonstrate against me, that is certainly fair game — but to bother the family of Dr. Acton, I don’t think that’s fair game. I don’t think that’s right.”
On Saturday, a small group of protesters gathered at Acton’s home in Bexley, a suburb of Columbus. Per the Cleveland Plain Dealer, signs included such messages as: “DR. AMY OVER-RE-ACTON HAIRSTYLISTS ARE ESSENTIAL.”
Acton has signed the state’s stay-at-home orders, the most recent of which is in effect until May 29.
The health director, who is Jewish, has also been on the receiving end of antisemitic criticism from Republican lawmakers in the state.
On Friday, Rep. Nino Vitale (R) raged against Acton and the extended stay-at-home order in a Facebook post. In it, he called her a “globalist,” a common, antisemitic code for Jewish people used by the far right.
“Your basic human rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness do not come from an unelected Globalist Health Director, who signed the order in the dark of night,” he wrote. “Your basic human rights are inalienable and cannot be bought, sold, traded or taken from you.”
The post was trailed by a flock of hashtags, including “#StopSpreadingFear,” “#Think” and “#MasksDoNotWork.”
A couple weeks before, Sen. Andrew Brenner (R) amplified his wife’s Facebook post, which she tagged him in, comparing Acton’s orders to Nazi Germany.
In screenshots captured by the Ohio Capital Journal, Sara Brenner responded to Acton’s approval of other countries looking into issuing certificates to those immune to COVID-19.
“This actually feels like Hitler’s Germany where you had to have blonde hair and blue eyes to be able to function anyway, and you were damned otherwise,” she wrote. “When are people going to say enough is enough?”
In the comments, Andrew Brenner responded. “We won’t allow that to happen in Ohio,” he said.
After first blaming reporters for misconstruing his statements and receiving a bipartisan firestorm of criticism, he eventually apologized.
Acton’s office had no comment. Spokesperson Melanie Amato pointed TPM to the governor’s responses to the attacks.
“Reopen” protesters have been gathering at the Ohio state capitol in recent days to demonstrate against the stay-at-home orders.
As of Monday afternoon, per the state health department, Ohio had 20,474 cases of coronavirus; 1,056 people have died.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--Treasury Will Borrow Record $2.99 Trillion In Q2 To Fund Coronavirus Rescue Efforts

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Treasury Department says it will need to borrow a record $ 2.99 trillion during the current April-June quarter to cover the cost of various rescue efforts dealing with the coronavirus pandemic .
Treasury said Monday that the $ 2.99 trillion it plans to borrow this quarter will far surpass the $ 530 billion quarterly borrowing it did in the July-September 2008 quarter as it dealt with the 2008 financial crisis .
The extraordinary sum of $ 2.99 trillion of borrowing in a single quarter dwarfs the $ 1.28 trillion the government borrowed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury said the huge sum is needed to fund the nearly $ 3 trillion the government has approved in various programs to support workers and businesses with direct economic payments , the Paycheck Protection Program and other efforts .
In addition , the government needs to borrow to cover the shortfall in revenue that will occur because the Trump administration has delayed the deadline for tax payments this year from April to June .
In a stark demonstration of how the government ’ s financial situation has changed , three months ago before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , Treasury was projecting that it would be able to pay down $ 56 billion in debt during the quarter rather than borrowing an additional $ 2.99 trillion .
Treasury projected that it will have to borrow an additional $ 677 billion in the July-September quarter .
The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting that the government will run a record budget deficit of $ 3.7 trillion this year .
CBO is projecting the overall economy will shrink by a record 40 % at an annual rate in the current April-June quarter @

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department says it will need to borrow a record $2.99 trillion during the current April-June quarter to cover the cost of various rescue efforts dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Treasury said Monday that the $2.99 trillion it plans to borrow this quarter will far surpass the $530 billion quarterly borrowing it did in the July-September 2008 quarter as it dealt with the 2008 financial crisis.
The extraordinary sum of $2.99 trillion of borrowing in a single quarter dwarfs the $1.28 trillion the government borrowed in the bond market for all of 2019.
Treasury said the huge sum is needed to fund the nearly $3 trillion the government has approved in various programs to support workers and businesses with direct economic payments, the Paycheck Protection Program and other efforts.
In addition, the government needs to borrow to cover the shortfall in revenue that will occur because the Trump administration has delayed the deadline for tax payments this year from April to June.
In a stark demonstration of how the government’s financial situation has changed, three months ago before the virus caused widespread shutdowns in the United States, Treasury was projecting that it would be able to pay down $56 billion in debt during the quarter rather than borrowing an additional $2.99 trillion.
Treasury projected that it will have to borrow an additional $677 billion in the July-September quarter.
The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting that the government will run a record budget deficit of $3.7 trillion this year. CBO is projecting the overall economy will shrink by a record 40% at an annual rate in the current April-June quarter.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--McCarthy Clashes With McConnell On Accepting Quick COVID Tests From Trump

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) said on Monday that he disagreed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) decision to turn down the Abbott COVID-19 tests that President Donald Trump had offered to Congress .
“ I do disagree about the testing , ” McCarthy said during an interview with Politico .
“ Let ’ s be realistic about this … as we open up , we can not assume there will not be a flare-up somewhere.
” “ I want to be prepared for that , ” he continued .
The GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of not allowing the government to “ collapse ” as members of Congress are kept from convening .
“ What does that say to the country ?
What does that say to the rest of the world ?
” McCarthy said .
“ You want to make sure it ’ s functioning.
” “ So I do not think it would be wrong to have one of the Abbott tests where you can have a quick response , ” he told Politico .
McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they “ respectfully decline ” the administration ’ s offer to send Abbott tests , which present results within minutes .
“ Our country ’ s testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly , ” the congressional leaders said .
Trump didn ’ t take the rejection too kindly , tweeting later on Saturday that there was “ no reason ” not to accept his offer “ except politics ” even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was clearly bipartisan in nature .
He posted another sour tweet about the matter on Monday .
“ Interesting ?
By Congress not wanting the special 5 minute testing apparatus , they are saying that they are not ‘ essential , ' ” he wrote .
“ In any event , we have great testing capacity , and have performed 6.5 million tests , which is more than every country in the world , combined !
”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said on Monday that he disagreed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) decision to turn down the Abbott COVID-19 tests that President Donald Trump had offered to Congress.
“I do disagree about the testing,” McCarthy said during an interview with Politico. “Let’s be realistic about this … as we open up, we cannot assume there will not be a flare-up somewhere.”
“I want to be prepared for that,” he continued.
The GOP House leader argued that it was a matter of not allowing the government to “collapse” as members of Congress are kept from convening.
“What does that say to the country? What does that say to the rest of the world?” McCarthy said. “You want to make sure it’s functioning.”
“So I do not think it would be wrong to have one of the Abbott tests where you can have a quick response,” he told Politico.
McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a joint statement on Saturday saying they “respectfully decline” the administration’s offer to send Abbott tests, which present results within minutes.
“Our country’s testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly,” the congressional leaders said.
Trump didn’t take the rejection too kindly, tweeting later on Saturday that there was “no reason” not to accept his offer “except politics” even though McConnell and Pelosi’s decision was clearly bipartisan in nature.
He posted another sour tweet about the matter on Monday.
“Interesting? By Congress not wanting the special 5 minute testing apparatus, they are saying that they are not ‘essential,'” he wrote. “In any event, we have great testing capacity, and have performed 6.5 million tests, which is more than every country in the world, combined!”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--Trump Camp Uses Outbreak To Flaunt POTUS’ Response In New Ad Amid Rising Death Toll

The Trump reelection campaign unveiled a new ad titled “ American Comeback ” on Sunday that trumpeted President Donald Trump ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic even as the number of fatalities from the virus in the U.S. continues to grow .
The 60-second spot , which aired right before Trump ’ s virtual town hall on Fox News , features soundbites of New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) and California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) praising the administration ’ s assistance to their states , plus images of people holding banners thanking Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump claiming that he built “ the greatest economy the world has ever seen ” amid the outbreak , which has cost approximately 30 million jobs in the U.S .
The campaign ad is a continuation of Trump ’ s self-congratulatory attitude toward the outbreak , which has tanked the U.S. economy and killed more than 67,000 Americans .
White House adviser Jared Kushner , who is also Trump ’ s son-in-law , claimed last week that the administration ’ s response was “ a great success story.
” After initially downplaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take action on the virus and proceeded to blame governors for the medical supply shortages .

The Trump reelection campaign unveiled a new ad titled “American Comeback” on Sunday that trumpeted President Donald Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic even as the number of fatalities from the virus in the U.S. continues to grow.
The 60-second spot, which aired right before Trump’s virtual town hall on Fox News, features soundbites of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) praising the administration’s assistance to their states, plus images of people holding banners thanking Trump.
The ad also uses a soundbite of Trump claiming that he built “the greatest economy the world has ever seen” amid the outbreak, which has cost approximately 30 million jobs in the U.S.
The campaign ad is a continuation of Trump’s self-congratulatory attitude toward the outbreak, which has tanked the U.S. economy and killed more than 67,000 Americans.
White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is also Trump’s son-in-law, claimed last week that the administration’s response was “a great success story.”
After initially downplaying the severity of COVID-19, Trump scrambled to take action on the virus and proceeded to blame governors for the medical supply shortages.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--New Gov’t Document: COVID Deaths Projected To Increase To 3,000 Per Day By June 1

The Trump administration anticipates that more than 3,000 Americans will be dying each day of COVID-19 by June 1 , according to a newly revealed internal government document obtained by the New York Times .
The Times obtained an internal Centers for Disease Control document providing detailed projections on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic around the country .
The data goes up to May 2 .
The document says that new cases will grow to a rate of around 225,000 per day by June 1 , and that deaths will reach around 3,000 per day by the same date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases each day in the United States , and around 2,000 deaths each day .
The CDC gathered the data and built the models on which the projections are based , the Times reported , while the Federal Emergency Management Agency created the charts .
The report also suggests that infection rates will increase more in rural America over the coming months .
The document names “ the Great Lakes region , parts of the Southeast , Northeast , and around southern California ” as potential new hotspots , while Louisiana and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the federal government ’ s modeling .
“ There remains a large number of counties whose burden continues to grow , ” the report says .
Separately , the report provides new information from the federal government on COVID-19 death rates in the U.S. Around 16 percent of those hospitalized during a period beginning on March 1 died of COVID-19 , per available discharge data .
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere pushed back against the document , saying that it had not “ been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed.
” The grim and sobering statistics come as the Trump administration pushes to “ reopen ” the country , moving to bring federal employees back to work and using the bully pulpit to have local administrators end lockdown policies .
Several states around the country , most of which are governed by Republicans , have done so .
Read the document that the New York Times obtained here :

The Trump administration anticipates that more than 3,000 Americans will be dying each day of COVID-19 by June 1, according to a newly revealed internal government document obtained by the New York Times.
The Times obtained an internal Centers for Disease Control document providing detailed projections on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic around the country. The data goes up to May 2.
The document says that new cases will grow to a rate of around 225,000 per day by June 1, and that deaths will reach around 3,000 per day by the same date.
There are currently around 25,000 new cases each day in the United States, and around 2,000 deaths each day.
The CDC gathered the data and built the models on which the projections are based, the Times reported, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency created the charts.
The report also suggests that infection rates will increase more in rural America over the coming months. The document names “the Great Lakes region, parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and around southern California” as potential new hotspots, while Louisiana and New York City remain on a downwards trajectory in the federal government’s modeling.
“There remains a large number of counties whose burden continues to grow,” the report says.
Separately, the report provides new information from the federal government on COVID-19 death rates in the U.S. Around 16 percent of those hospitalized during a period beginning on March 1 died of COVID-19, per available discharge data.
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere pushed back against the document, saying that it had not “been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force or gone through interagency vetting. This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed.”
The grim and sobering statistics come as the Trump administration pushes to “reopen” the country, moving to bring federal employees back to work and using the bully pulpit to have local administrators end lockdown policies. Several states around the country, most of which are governed by Republicans, have done so.
Read the document that the New York Times obtained here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--Oklahoma Mayor Forced To Revise Mask Mandate After Rash Of Violent Threats

A proclamation went into effect in Stillwater , Oklahoma on Friday requiring that patrons of newly reopened stores and restaurants don masks while inside .
Just hours later , Mayor Will Joyce was forced to revise the order amid a ferocious backlash .
“ In the short time beginning on May 1 , 2020 , that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants , store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse , ” said City Manager Norman McNickle in a statement .
“ In addition , there has been one threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of COVID-19.
” Calling the protesters “ self-absorbed , ” McNickle added that they claimed the mask mandate was “ unconstitutional.
” Citing a recent decision from federal court in Oklahoma ’ s western district , along with businesses ’ common practice of enforcing “ no shirt , no shoes , no service , ” McNickle dismissed that argument .
Still , Joyce quickly revised his proclamation , making mask-wearing recommended rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public-facing industries will still be required to wear them .
The amendment is part of the city of 50,000 ’ s comprehensive state of emergency , newly extended through May 31 .
“ I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies , but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me , ” he wrote on Twitter ( where , notably , he is wearing a face mask in his picture ) .
“ I issued a revised order this afternoon to correct this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reevaluate our approach to face coverings.
” While he said that the order was “ clearly not ” unconstitutional and that those who abused the employees should be ashamed , he also apologized to those who were subjected to the abuse .
“ It wasn ’ t the right approach for Stillwater , ” he said .
The protesters in Stillwater were not the only ones who found mask requirements too large of an imposition to tolerate .
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ( R ) reversed his announcement that masks must be worn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it on April 27 .
“ It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far , ” he said Sunday on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.
” He added that getting “ hung up ” on mandatory mask rules would just hurt his ability to communicate with Ohioans .
He , like Joyce , has downgraded the requirement to just employees having to wear the masks .
In at least one case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually culminated in physical violence and death .
In Flint , Michigan , per local reports , police are investigating claims that a security guard at Dollar General was shot and killed over a dispute with a patron about wearing a mask .
The state police are handling the investigation , Flint ’ s communication director Marjory Raymer told TPM .
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
A GoFundMe page set up for the victim cites the mask dispute as the cause of the violence .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and husband who lost his life while doing his job securing the place of business and asking all customers to wear a mask for our own safety as well as others .
He leaves behind 8 amazing kids , a super loving wife , & his wonderful mother , ” it said .
Per Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s executive order , Michiganders are required to wear face coverings in public , enclosed spaces , though those not wearing masks will not be fined .
Businesses are permitted to turn away maskless @ @

A proclamation went into effect in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday requiring that patrons of newly reopened stores and restaurants don masks while inside. Just hours later, Mayor Will Joyce was forced to revise the order amid a ferocious backlash.
“In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” said City Manager Norman McNickle in a statement. “In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm. This has occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of COVID-19.”
Calling the protesters “self-absorbed,” McNickle added that they claimed the mask mandate was “unconstitutional.” Citing a recent decision from federal court in Oklahoma’s western district, along with businesses’ common practice of enforcing “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” McNickle dismissed that argument.
Still, Joyce quickly revised his proclamation, making mask-wearing recommended rather than required for patrons. Employees in most public-facing industries will still be required to wear them. The amendment is part of the city of 50,000’s comprehensive state of emergency, newly extended through May 31.
“I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies, but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me,” he wrote on Twitter (where, notably, he is wearing a face mask in his picture). “I issued a revised order this afternoon to correct this problem, and we will continue to reevaluate our approach to face coverings.”
While he said that the order was “clearly not” unconstitutional and that those who abused the employees should be ashamed, he also apologized to those who were subjected to the abuse. “It wasn’t the right approach for Stillwater,” he said.
The protesters in Stillwater were not the only ones who found mask requirements too large of an imposition to tolerate.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) reversed his announcement that masks must be worn in stores a day after he made it on April 27.
“It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far,” he said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.”
He added that getting “hung up” on mandatory mask rules would just hurt his ability to communicate with Ohioans. He, like Joyce, has downgraded the requirement to just employees having to wear the masks.
In at least one case, resistance to wearing a mask may have actually culminated in physical violence and death.
In Flint, Michigan, per local reports, police are investigating claims that a security guard at Dollar General was shot and killed over a dispute with a patron about wearing a mask.
The state police are handling the investigation, Flint’s communication director Marjory Raymer told TPM. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A GoFundMe page set up for the victim cites the mask dispute as the cause of the violence.
“Duper was a hard working, father and husband who lost his life while doing his job securing the place of business and asking all customers to wear a mask for our own safety as well as others. He leaves behind 8 amazing kids, a super loving wife, & his wonderful mother,” it said.
Per Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order, Michiganders are required to wear face coverings in public, enclosed spaces, though those not wearing masks will not be fined. Businesses are permitted to turn away maskless customers.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--Mnuchin Urges People To ‘Explore’ US Despite CDC Warning Against Non-Essential Travel

There ’ s a global pandemic going on , so what better time to have a picnic in Yosemite ?
@ @ @ @ @ Business Network host Maria Bartiromo on Monday , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said it was @ @ @ @ @ at this point ” whether international travel would be possible this year due to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ s great time to explore America , ” the Trump administration official told Bartiromo .
@ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t seen many parts of America.
” “ I wish I could get @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s @ @ @ @ @ people against embarking on any kind of non-essential travel , including road trips .
“ @ @ @ @ @ getting and spreading COVID-19 , ” the agency warned .
“ CDC recommends you stay @ @ @ @ @ , especially if your trip is not essential , and practice social distancing especially if @ @ @ @ @ of severe illness .
”

There’s a global pandemic going on, so what better time to have a picnic in Yosemite?
During an interview with Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo on Monday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said it was “too hard to tell at this point” whether international travel would be possible this year due to COVID-19.
“But it’s great time to explore America,” the Trump administration official told Bartiromo. “A lot of people haven’t seen many parts of America.”
“I wish I could get back on the road soon,” he added.
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines urge people against embarking on any kind of non-essential travel, including road trips.
“Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the agency warned. “CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential, and practice social distancing especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness.”
Watch Mnuchin:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--Trump Abandons Early COVID Death Toll Projection, Now Admits It Could Hit 100K

President Donald Trump hiked up his original projected death toll of 50,000 to 100,000 on Sunday .
“ Look , we ’ re going to lose anywhere from 75 , 80 to 100,000 people , ” he told Fox News hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier during a virtual town hall .
“ That ’ s a horrible thing .
We shouldn ’ t lose one person over this.
” Later in the event , Trump pushed his projected number down slightly .
“ I used to say 65,000 , ” he said .
“ Now I ’ m saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it goes up rapidly.
” In fact , the President used to say it would be 50,000 .
Back before that he said a handful of cases in the U.S. would soon go down to zero .
There was also a moment Sunday when Trump seemed to agree with his son-in-law and White House adviser , Jared Kushner , when Baier brought up Kushner ’ s claim that the administration ’ s response to the outbreak was “ a great success story.
” But then he took a step back after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a success story .
“ Well , it ’ s too soon to say that really , I guess , because we ’ re still in the middle of something , ” Trump told the Fox News host .
“ But certainly we would have lost a lot more people , Bret , ” he added .
John Hopkins University reported more than 67,700 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Monday morning .

President Donald Trump hiked up his original projected death toll of 50,000 to 100,000 on Sunday.
“Look, we’re going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people,” he told Fox News hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier during a virtual town hall. “That’s a horrible thing. We shouldn’t lose one person over this.”
Trump: "Look, we're going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people" to COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/lwAH7zPDQR — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 4, 2020
Later in the event, Trump pushed his projected number down slightly.
“I used to say 65,000,” he said. “Now I’m saying 80 or 90 and it goes up, and it goes up rapidly.”
In fact, the President used to say it would be 50,000. Back before that he said a handful of cases in the U.S. would soon go down to zero.
There was also a moment Sunday when Trump seemed to agree with his son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner, when Baier brought up Kushner’s claim that the administration’s response to the outbreak was “a great success story.”
“It is,” Trump said.
But then he took a step back after Baier asked him directly if he believed it was a success story.
“Well, it’s too soon to say that really, I guess, because we’re still in the middle of something,” Trump told the Fox News host.
“But certainly we would have lost a lot more people, Bret,” he added.
Trump changes his projected COVID-19 death toll of 50k (while falsely claiming it was 65k): "Now I'm saying 80 or 90." pic.twitter.com/qXLN3ahFxf — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 4, 2020
John Hopkins University reported more than 67,700 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Monday morning.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-04--DOJ Takes Shot At Virginia COVID-19 Public Health Order Amid Dispute With Church

The Justice Department on Sunday dipped its toe in another dispute between a church and government officials seeking to enforce public health orders for the pandemic .
The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in a case brought by a church in Virginia .
Lighthouse Fellowship Church sued in federal court after facing criminal citations for holding a service that violated Virginia ’ s ban on 10-plus person gatherings .
As lockdown orders continue across the country , a growing number of religious organizations are fighting those ordinances in courts .
Those churches so far have found a Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of local or state officials .
In the Sunday filing , the Trump administration said that Virginia had not met its legal burden in explaining why it could treat religious organizations differently than certain businesses in its public health ordinance .
According to the DOJ filing , Virginia is allowing gatherings of over 10 people for non-retail business like law firms or accounting offices .
“ [ The ] United States believes that the church has set forth a strong case that the Orders , by exempting other activities permitting similar opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals , while at the same time prohibiting churches from gathering in groups of more than ten—even with social distancing measures and other precautions—has impermissibly interfered with the church ’ s free exercise of religion , ” the Justice Department said .
Sunday ’ s filing marked the second time that the Justice Department sided with a church that was fighting a pandemic public health ordinance in court .
The Department last month filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought by a Mississippi church , which sued city officials for shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Bill Barr also issued a memo last week signaling that going after public ordinances that “ overreach ” would be a priority of the Justice Department during the pandemic .
Its involvement in the Virginia church case grew out of that initiative , the Justice Department said .
Lighthouse Fellowship was cited by local officials as violating the public health order after holding a 16-person service , where , according to the church ’ s filings in the case , “ social distancing and personal hygiene protocols ” were maintained .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had failed to convince a U.S. district court in Eastern Virginia to halt enforcement of Virginia ’ s lockdown ordinance against the church .
It is now appealing to the 4th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .

The Justice Department on Sunday dipped its toe in another dispute between a church and government officials seeking to enforce public health orders for the pandemic.
The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in a case brought by a church in Virginia. Lighthouse Fellowship Church sued in federal court after facing criminal citations for holding a service that violated Virginia’s ban on 10-plus person gatherings.
As lockdown orders continue across the country, a growing number of religious organizations are fighting those ordinances in courts. Those churches so far have found a Justice Department willing to take their side over that of local or state officials.
In the Sunday filing, the Trump administration said that Virginia had not met its legal burden in explaining why it could treat religious organizations differently than certain businesses in its public health ordinance. According to the DOJ filing, Virginia is allowing gatherings of over 10 people for non-retail business like law firms or accounting offices.
“[The] United States believes that the church has set forth a strong case that the Orders, by exempting other activities permitting similar opportunities for in-person gatherings of more than ten individuals, while at the same time prohibiting churches from gathering in groups of more than ten—even with social distancing measures and other precautions—has impermissibly interfered with the church’s free exercise of religion,” the Justice Department said.
Sunday’s filing marked the second time that the Justice Department sided with a church that was fighting a pandemic public health ordinance in court. The Department last month filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought by a Mississippi church, which sued city officials for shutting down its drive-in church services. Attorney General Bill Barr also issued a memo last week signaling that going after public ordinances that “overreach” would be a priority of the Justice Department during the pandemic.
Its involvement in the Virginia church case grew out of that initiative, the Justice Department said.
Lighthouse Fellowship was cited by local officials as violating the public health order after holding a 16-person service, where, according to the church’s filings in the case, “social distancing and personal hygiene protocols” were maintained.
The church, which is in Chincoteague Island, had failed to convince a U.S. district court in Eastern Virginia to halt enforcement of Virginia’s lockdown ordinance against the church. It is now appealing to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Read the DOJ filing below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--HHS Health Expert Says He Was Demoted For Blowing Whistle On Hydroxychloroquine

A top Trump administration public health official alleged Tuesday that he was demoted after raising concerns about widely distributing a drug that President Donald Trump touted as a potential “ game changer ” against COVID-19 .
Dr. Rick Bright used to be the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , which is responsible for preparing countermeasures against infectious disease and is a key agency in the fight against COVID-19 .
Bright was recently transferred to a different post at the National Institutes of Health .
Bright ’ s complaint said he stopped receiving a paycheck on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibilities in his new role .
Bright was removed from BARDA “ because his efforts to prioritize science and safety over political expediency and to expose practices that posed a substantial risk to public health and safety , especially as it applied to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , rankled those in the Administration who wished to continue to push this false narrative , ” a whistleblower complaint posted on his lawyers ’ website alleged Tuesday .
The complaint requested that Bright ’ s move to NIH be stayed pending an Office of Special Counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert alleged in a statement after his demotion that he had been moved for political reasons .
But the 89-page whistleblower complaint put narrative meat on the bones of Bright ’ s allegations .
The Department of Health and Human Services didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaint .
According to the complaint , the White House and Health Secretary Alex Azar passed down a directive in March to make millions of donated chloroquine pills “ widely available to the American public , ” in the complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of clinical evidence supporting their efficacy .
Bright and others were wary of the directive , the complaint alleged , and instead submitted an application for an “ emergency use authorization ” from the FDA , which would limit how widely the donated pills were distributed .
“ Implementing the EUA was a compromise position , to rein in HHS leadership ’ s initial campaign to make the drugs available to the public outside of a hospital setting and without physician supervision , ” the complaint alleged .
The FDA ultimately did issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donated pills .
The EUA was limited to hospitalized patients who didn ’ t have access to a clinical trial of the drug .
And even then , the authorization drew criticism from public health experts who thought it wasn ’ t backed by enough evidence .
Even after the EUA , Bright ’ s complaint alleged , senior Trump administration officials including members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force pushed for the drugs to be distributed more widely .
After Bright leaked emails to a journalist that illustrated this push from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the source within HHS , the complaint alleged .
“ HHS leadership , including Secretary Azar and Dr. Kadlec , were already gunning for Dr.
Bright ’ s removal because of other issues he had raised about fraud , waste , and abuse , but they chose to remove him as BARDA Director within days of publication of the article about chloroquine because they suspected that he was the source , ” Bright ’ s complaint alleged .
Bright ’ s lengthy allegation discussed more than just his concerns over hydroxychloroquine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Department of Health and Human Services — specifically Dr. Robert Kadlec , HHS ’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response — over the administration ’ s failure to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic .
Bright alleged that he pressed Azar and Kadlec in late January to better fund efforts to prepare for the pandemic , but that his comments “ were met with skepticism and were clearly not welcome.
” Bright also singled out John Clerici , a pharmaceutical industry consultant with a connection to Kadlec .
Among other things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kadlec ’ s office pressured him to extend a contract to a client of Clerici ’ s .
The company ’ s CEO was “ friends with Jared [ Kushner ] , ” Bright alleged that Clerici told him .

A top Trump administration public health official alleged Tuesday that he was demoted after raising concerns about widely distributing a drug that President Donald Trump touted as a potential “game changer” against COVID-19.
Dr. Rick Bright used to be the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is responsible for preparing countermeasures against infectious disease and is a key agency in the fight against COVID-19.
Bright was recently transferred to a different post at the National Institutes of Health. Bright’s complaint said he stopped receiving a paycheck on April 20 and has not been assigned any responsibilities in his new role.
“Dr. Bright was transferred to NIH to work on diagnostics testing – critical to combatting COVID-19 – where he has been entrusted to spend upwards of $1 billion to advance that effort,” Caitlin B. Oakley, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, told TPM Tuesday. “We are deeply disappointed that he has not shown up to work on behalf of the American people and lead on this critical endeavor.”
Bright was removed from BARDA “because his efforts to prioritize science and safety over political expediency and to expose practices that posed a substantial risk to public health and safety, especially as it applied to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, rankled those in the Administration who wished to continue to push this false narrative,” a whistleblower complaint posted on his lawyers’ website alleged Tuesday.
The complaint requested that Bright’s move to NIH be stayed pending an Office of Special Counsel investigation of his allegations.
The disease expert alleged in a statement after his demotion that he had been moved for political reasons. But the 89-page whistleblower complaint put narrative meat on the bones of Bright’s allegations. The Department of Health and Human Services didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaint.
According to the complaint, the White House and Health Secretary Alex Azar passed down a directive in March to make millions of donated chloroquine pills “widely available to the American public,” in the complaint’s words, despite a lack of clinical evidence supporting their efficacy.
Bright and others were wary of the directive, the complaint alleged, and instead submitted an application for an “emergency use authorization” from the FDA, which would limit how widely the donated pills were distributed.
“Implementing the EUA was a compromise position, to rein in HHS leadership’s initial campaign to make the drugs available to the public outside of a hospital setting and without physician supervision,” the complaint alleged.
The FDA ultimately did issue an emergency use authorization to distribute the donated pills. The EUA was limited to hospitalized patients who didn’t have access to a clinical trial of the drug. And even then, the authorization drew criticism from public health experts who thought it wasn’t backed by enough evidence.
Even after the EUA, Bright’s complaint alleged, senior Trump administration officials including members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force pushed for the drugs to be distributed more widely. After Bright leaked emails to a journalist that illustrated this push from the Trump administration, he was suspected as the source within HHS, the complaint alleged.
“HHS leadership, including Secretary Azar and Dr. Kadlec, were already gunning for Dr. Bright’s removal because of other issues he had raised about fraud, waste, and abuse, but they chose to remove him as BARDA Director within days of publication of the article about chloroquine because they suspected that he was the source,” Bright’s complaint alleged.
Bright’s lengthy allegation discussed more than just his concerns over hydroxychloroquine, and details a long-simmering tension with higher-ups at the Department of Health and Human Services — specifically Dr. Robert Kadlec, HHS’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response — over the administration’s failure to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic. Bright alleged that he pressed Azar and Kadlec in late January to better fund efforts to prepare for the pandemic, but that his comments “were met with skepticism and were clearly not welcome.”
Bright also singled out John Clerici, a pharmaceutical industry consultant with a connection to Kadlec. Among other things, Bright alleged that Clerici and staff in Kadlec’s office pressured him to extend a contract to a client of Clerici’s. The company’s CEO was “friends with Jared [Kushner],” Bright alleged that Clerici told him.
Read Bright’s complaint here.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Report: White House Plans To Nix COVID-19 Task Force Even As Outbreak Rages On

The White House is planning to put the kibosh on President Donald Trump ’ s task force operations , the New York Times reported on Tuesday .
Task force members are reportedly being informed of the change right now .
It is not yet known why the Trump administration is disbanding the team , given that the COVID-19 outbreak has yet to be contained in the U.S. Pence confirmed that the administration is talking about winding down the task force , according to the Wall Street Journal .
“ We ’ re having conversations about that and about what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complete its work , ” he told reporters , according to the Journal .
The task force officials ’ efforts , particularly that of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx , have been plagued by inconsistent messaging from Trump , along with his bombastic press briefings .
Officials have had to clean up the President ’ s overly optimistic claims and predictions about vaccines for the virus and when the outbreak will be contained enough to reopen the economy .
The apex of the off-the-rails briefings arrived less than two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cured of COVID-19 by injecting themselves with disinfectant .
The White House did not immediately respond to request for comment .

Farewell, COVID-19 task force. We barely knew ye.
The White House is planning to put the kibosh on President Donald Trump’s task force operations, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
Task force members are reportedly being informed of the change right now. It is not yet known why the Trump administration is disbanding the team, given that the COVID-19 outbreak has yet to be contained in the U.S.
Pence confirmed that the administration is talking about winding down the task force, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“We’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work,” he told reporters, according to the Journal.
The task force officials’ efforts, particularly that of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, have been plagued by inconsistent messaging from Trump, along with his bombastic press briefings. Officials have had to clean up the President’s overly optimistic claims and predictions about vaccines for the virus and when the outbreak will be contained enough to reopen the economy.
The apex of the off-the-rails briefings arrived less than two weeks ago when Trump argued that one could be cured of COVID-19 by injecting themselves with disinfectant.
The White House did not immediately respond to request for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Justice Compares Wisconsin COVID Shutdown Order To Internment Of Japanese-Americans

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley invoked Korematsu v. the United States , the Supreme Court case which upheld Japanese-American internment during World War II , in the midst of oral arguments centered on the state ’ s stay-at-home order Tuesday .
Republicans in the state legislature sued the state ’ s top health officials last month , claiming that they were ruling by “ administrative fiat ” after secretary-designee of the Department of Health Services Andrea Palm extended the stay-at-home order to May 26 .
“ One of the rationales that we ’ re hearing justifying the Secretary ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well , it ’ s a pandemic and there isn ’ t enough time to promulgate a rule and have the legislature involved with determining the details of the scope of the Secretary ’ s authority , ” Bradley said .
“ I ’ ll direct your attention to another time in history , in the Korematsu decision , where the Court said the need for action is great and time is short , and that justified ‘ assembling together and placing under guard all those of Japanese ancestry ’ in assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Could the Secretary , under this broad delegation of legislative or legislative-like power , order people out of their homes and into centers where they ’ d be properly socially distanced in order to combat the pandemic ?
” she asked .
Assistant Attorney General Colin Roth , defending Palm , argued that the complaint was not based on a constitutional challenge like Korematsu .
“ Korematsu was an equal protection challenge to the actions the government took to address the crisis — this is not a substantive constitutional challenge to what DHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the Wisconsin Department of Public Health .
“ My question to you , in invoking Korematsu , is not the basis claims brought in that case versus this case : what are limits , constitutional or statutory ?
There have to be some , don ’ t there , counsel ?
” she asked .
Korematsu , often cited as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever made , was directly repudiated by members of the Court in 2018 .
The theme Bradley hit was a frequent one from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings .
She also compared the order to “ tyranny.
” Lame duck Justice Daniel Kelly , a conservative recently beaten in an election by Democratic-backed Justice Jill Karofsky , pummeled what he characterized as Palm ’ s unilateral creation of new criminal laws based on the punishments for defying the stay-at-home order .
During one of the few minutes the liberal justices snagged to question Roth , Justice Ann Walsh Bradley asked about the “ implications ” of the court repealing the stay-at-home order and leaving nothing in its wake .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoined with nothing to replace it , people will pour into the streets and the disease will spread like wildfire , ” Roth responded , adding that “ people will die.
” The crux of the Republican legislature ’ s complaint , which many of the conservative justices seemed heartily to agree with , is that Palm stepped outside the bounds of the authority given to her via a state law granting her emergency powers .
The Republicans , led by House Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald , further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials had elbowed the legislature out of the process and were claiming emergency powers even broader than the governor ’ s .
In the six-one decision to take the case , the justices said that they ’ d be determining whether Palm had the authority to issue the extended stay-at-home order unilaterally under state law .
And even if she did , they said they ’ d also examine whether the order to keep Wisconsinites at home , limit travel and shutter nonessential businesses was outside the bounds of the Health Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a liberal , was the lone dissenting vote on taking up the case .
The court has a five-two conservative lean .
Karofsky will not take her seat until August .
Even if legislative Republicans lose the case , their cause may have a second bite at the apple .
Two Wisconsin residents asked the court Monday to take up their case arguing that the stay-at-home order has infringed on their constitutional rights of religion and free speech .
The lawsuit was filed against Department of Health Services officials , Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief David Erwin and a tranche of county officials .

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley invoked Korematsu v. the United States, the Supreme Court case which upheld Japanese-American internment during World War II, in the midst of oral arguments centered on the state’s stay-at-home order Tuesday.
Republicans in the state legislature sued the state’s top health officials last month, claiming that they were ruling by “administrative fiat” after secretary-designee of the Department of Health Services Andrea Palm extended the stay-at-home order to May 26.
“One of the rationales that we’re hearing justifying the Secretary’s order in this case is that, well, it’s a pandemic and there isn’t enough time to promulgate a rule and have the legislature involved with determining the details of the scope of the Secretary’s authority,” Bradley said. “I’ll direct your attention to another time in history, in the Korematsu decision, where the Court said the need for action is great and time is short, and that justified ‘assembling together and placing under guard all those of Japanese ancestry’ in assembly centers during World War II.”
“Could the Secretary, under this broad delegation of legislative or legislative-like power, order people out of their homes and into centers where they’d be properly socially distanced in order to combat the pandemic?” she asked.
Assistant Attorney General Colin Roth, defending Palm, argued that the complaint was not based on a constitutional challenge like Korematsu.
“Korematsu was an equal protection challenge to the actions the government took to address the crisis — this is not a substantive constitutional challenge to what DHS has done,” he said, referring to the Wisconsin Department of Public Health.
Bradley cut him off.
“My question to you, in invoking Korematsu, is not the basis claims brought in that case versus this case: what are limits, constitutional or statutory? There have to be some, don’t there, counsel?” she asked.
Korematsu, often cited as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever made, was directly repudiated by members of the Court in 2018.
The theme Bradley hit was a frequent one from the conservative justices during Tuesday’s Zoom-hosted proceedings. She also compared the order to “tyranny.” Lame duck Justice Daniel Kelly, a conservative recently beaten in an election by Democratic-backed Justice Jill Karofsky, pummeled what he characterized as Palm’s unilateral creation of new criminal laws based on the punishments for defying the stay-at-home order.
During one of the few minutes the liberal justices snagged to question Roth, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley asked about the “implications” of the court repealing the stay-at-home order and leaving nothing in its wake.
“The legislature understands that if Safer-At-Home is enjoined with nothing to replace it, people will pour into the streets and the disease will spread like wildfire,” Roth responded, adding that “people will die.”
The crux of the Republican legislature’s complaint, which many of the conservative justices seemed heartily to agree with, is that Palm stepped outside the bounds of the authority given to her via a state law granting her emergency powers.
The Republicans, led by House Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, further argued that the state’s top health officials had elbowed the legislature out of the process and were claiming emergency powers even broader than the governor’s.
In the six-one decision to take the case, the justices said that they’d be determining whether Palm had the authority to issue the extended stay-at-home order unilaterally under state law. And even if she did, they said they’d also examine whether the order to keep Wisconsinites at home, limit travel and shutter nonessential businesses was outside the bounds of the Health Department’s authority.
Justice Rebecca Dallet, a liberal, was the lone dissenting vote on taking up the case.
The court has a five-two conservative lean. Karofsky will not take her seat until August.
Even if legislative Republicans lose the case, their cause may have a second bite at the apple.
Two Wisconsin residents asked the court Monday to take up their case arguing that the stay-at-home order has infringed on their constitutional rights of religion and free speech. The lawsuit was filed against Department of Health Services officials, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Wisconsin State Capitol police chief David Erwin and a tranche of county officials.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Barack Obama Will Deliver Televised Commencement Address For 2020 Grads

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James , Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt , among others .
ABC , CBS , Fox and NBC will simultaneously air the special May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern along with more than 20 other broadcast and digital streaming partners , according to the announcement Tuesday from organizers .
Several high school students from Chicago public schools and the Obama Youth Jobs Corps will join , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bad Bunny , Lena Waithe , Pharrell Williams , Megan Rapinoe and H.E.R .
The event is titled “ Graduate Together : America Honors the High School Class of 2020.
” It ’ s hosted by the education advocacy group XQ Institute , The LeBron James Family Foundation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation .
Obama will reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic ’ s disruption of school life , especially for seniors who have missed out on their milestone rites of passage .
“ This high school graduation season will be anything but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more reason why the Class of 2020 deserves extraordinary advice , heartfelt encouragement , and hard-won wisdom about facing new challenges in an uncertain world , ” Russlynn Ali , CEO and co-founder of XQ Institute , said in a statement .
“ We are grateful to President Obama for giving this gift to our nation ’ s three million high school seniors as they # GraduateTogether , ” he added .

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt, among others.
ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC will simultaneously air the special May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern along with more than 20 other broadcast and digital streaming partners, according to the announcement Tuesday from organizers.
Several high school students from Chicago public schools and the Obama Youth Jobs Corps will join, as will the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Bad Bunny, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe and H.E.R.
The event is titled “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020.” It’s hosted by the education advocacy group XQ Institute, The LeBron James Family Foundation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Obama will reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of school life, especially for seniors who have missed out on their milestone rites of passage.
“This high school graduation season will be anything but ordinary — but that’s all the more reason why the Class of 2020 deserves extraordinary advice, heartfelt encouragement, and hard-won wisdom about facing new challenges in an uncertain world,” Russlynn Ali, CEO and co-founder of XQ Institute, said in a statement.
“We are grateful to President Obama for giving this gift to our nation’s three million high school seniors as they #GraduateTogether,” he added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Ohio GOPer Refuses To Wear A Mask Because It Covers ‘The Image Of God’

Ohio state Rep. Nino Vitale ( R ) got biblical on Monday while railing against protective face masks that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Vitale posted a screed on Facebook in which he argued that the U.S. was “ founded on Judeo-Christian Principles ” that proclaim that “ we are all created in the image and likeness of God.
” “ That image is seen the most by our face , ” he wrote .
“ I will not wear a mask.
” The post included a video of Ohio state health director Dr. Amy Acton and Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue , bookended by a recording of Vitale reiterating his opposition to requiring people to wear masks .
“ When we think of image , do we think of a chest or our legs or our arms ?
” the GOP lawmaker asked .
“ We think of their face…that ’ s the image of God right there , and I want to see it in my brothers and sisters.
” Vitale has vehemently opposed the state ’ s COVID-19 containment measures , particularly DeWine ’ s stay at home order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom Vitale disparaged last week as an “ unelected Globalist , ” an anti-Semitic dog whistle .

Ohio state Rep. Nino Vitale (R) got biblical on Monday while railing against protective face masks that help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Vitale posted a screed on Facebook in which he argued that the U.S. was “founded on Judeo-Christian Principles” that proclaim that “we are all created in the image and likeness of God.”
“That image is seen the most by our face,” he wrote. “I will not wear a mask.”
The post included a video of Ohio state health director Dr. Amy Acton and Gov. Mike DeWine (R) discussing the issue, bookended by a recording of Vitale reiterating his opposition to requiring people to wear masks.
“When we think of image, do we think of a chest or our legs or our arms?” the GOP lawmaker asked. “We think of their face…that’s the image of God right there, and I want to see it in my brothers and sisters.”
Vitale has vehemently opposed the state’s COVID-19 containment measures, particularly DeWine’s stay at home order. The mandate was signed by Acton, whom Vitale disparaged last week as an “unelected Globalist,” an anti-Semitic dog whistle.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Trump Didn’t Let Fauci Testify Before House Because They’re ‘A Bunch Of Trump Haters’

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he barred Dr. Anthony Fauci , a top official on the White House COVID-19 task force , from testifying in front of the Democratic-controlled House last week because the hearing was supposedly a “ setup ” orchestrated by Trump ’ s political enemies .
“ The House is a bunch of Trump haters , ” the President told reporters on the White House lawn before leaving for Arizona .
“ They put every Trump hater on the committee , the same old stuff.
” “ They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued .
Trump accused House Democrats trying to sabotage his administration ’ s efforts to fight the outbreak “ so they can win an election.
” Last week , the White House blocked Fauci from appearing at a House Appropriations Committee hearing that was scheduled for April 29 , claiming that having him testify would be “ counterproductive.
” Then this week the White House issued sweeping restrictions forbidding all task force members from testifying in front of the Senate without receiving clearance from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci and other officials to appear before the GOP-controlled Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Senate Committee next week .

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he barred Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top official on the White House COVID-19 task force, from testifying in front of the Democratic-controlled House last week because the hearing was supposedly a “setup” orchestrated by Trump’s political enemies.
“The House is a bunch of Trump haters,” the President told reporters on the White House lawn before leaving for Arizona. “They put every Trump hater on the committee, the same old stuff.”
“They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death,” he continued.
Trump accused House Democrats trying to sabotage his administration’s efforts to fight the outbreak “so they can win an election.”
Last week, the White House blocked Fauci from appearing at a House Appropriations Committee hearing that was scheduled for April 29, claiming that having him testify would be “counterproductive.”
Then this week the White House issued sweeping restrictions forbidding all task force members from testifying in front of the Senate without receiving clearance from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to do so.
So far he has allowed Fauci and other officials to appear before the GOP-controlled Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Senate Committee next week.
Watch Trump below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--Rural Infection Rates Spike As Urban Outbreaks Subside, Data Says

As COVID-19 may be on a slow , downward trend in the hotspots of New York City , New Orleans , and Detroit , the virus appears to be finding new ground elsewhere : in rural America .
Data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that infection rates are increasing at higher rates in rural areas than in urban settings .
It ’ s a significant , if not unsurprising trend : the disease is fanning out from big , urban areas like New York City to more sparsely populated parts of the country .
Researchers found that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates and more cases per capita , the growth rate of both metrics is now higher in rural America .
According to the study , between April 13 and April 27 , the per capita rate of COVID-19 cases went from 51 cases per 100,000 people to 115 per 100,000 — a 125 percent increase .
The death rate rose commensurately , jumping 169 percent from 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people to 4.4 per 100,000 .
Josh Michaud , Associate Director for Global Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation and a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense , told TPM that COVID-19 appeared to be following a similar pattern to previous large-scale pandemics .
“ It makes sense that it was urban areas that got hit earlier and hit faster , that ’ s where the disease was first , where the outbreaks were first seeded , ” Michaud said .
“ And it takes time for that to spread to other geographic regions and because of the less dense geography in rural areas — that partially explains the time delay.
” Projections by the Centers for Disease Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday suggested that the federal government also expects COVID-19 to begin hitting rural areas harder than urban ones .
Citing data from up to May 2 , the document said that , over the coming months , cases in “ the Great Lakes region , parts of the Southeast , Northeast , and around southern California ” were expected to increase .
( A White House spokesperson said that the leaked numbers were “ not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Director for the Program on the Affordable Care Act , told TPM that there was a chance the pandemic could worsen an already fragile health care situation in rural communities .
“ Those are also the same areas that have fewer health care resources and have older populations , and even the younger population tend to be sicker , ” Cox said .
“ So it ’ s possible that even if the virus continues to spread , this is a troubling sign because those areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is uniquely vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19 .
A decade-long crisis has led to scores of rural hospitals shutting down , with 126 closing since 2010 .
Forty-seven percent of rural hospitals in the U.S. were in the red in 2019 , according to statistics from the Chartis Center for Rural Health .
The nature of the illness as well could wreak havoc on rural communities .
America ’ s rural population is , on average , older and and has more preexisting conditions that make COVID-19 more dangerous .
Rural counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita as well , limiting the amount of capacity they may have in the event of widespread outbreaks .
Michaud said that data showing how “ concentrated outbreaks can be , even in rural counties , ” surprised him .
“ In rural areas , there ’ s a problem of meat processing plants and the prisons and institutional areas where we ’ re seeing such a rise in cases that has to do with the way their work is set up and the way conditions are and the lack of lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these places , ” he said .
Some of the same largely rural states that have had serious outbreaks — like North Dakota and Georgia — are at the forefront of the effort to open up , casting social distancing restrictions aside .
Cox noted an irony in that , saying that “ some states are opening up despite the fact that the rural areas in those states have the highest rates of death and infection of coronavirus.
” Michaud cautioned that the data suggested that rural America was likely on the upward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If we are asleep at the wheel a little bit and we don ’ t recognize that large-scale outbreaks can occur and will occur in rural counties that are especially vulnerable , we could find ourselves very rapidly in a situation where we ’ re looking at severe epidemics , ” Michaud said .
“ In that case , it would ’ ve been premature to relax social distancing and expect that the cases would decline .
”

As COVID-19 may be on a slow, downward trend in the hotspots of New York City, New Orleans, and Detroit, the virus appears to be finding new ground elsewhere: in rural America.
Data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that infection rates are increasing at higher rates in rural areas than in urban settings.
It’s a significant, if not unsurprising trend: the disease is fanning out from big, urban areas like New York City to more sparsely populated parts of the country.
Researchers found that while urban areas continue to have higher death rates and more cases per capita, the growth rate of both metrics is now higher in rural America.
According to the study, between April 13 and April 27, the per capita rate of COVID-19 cases went from 51 cases per 100,000 people to 115 per 100,000 — a 125 percent increase.
The death rate rose commensurately, jumping 169 percent from 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people to 4.4 per 100,000.
Josh Michaud, Associate Director for Global Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation and a former infectious disease epidemiologist with the Department of Defense, told TPM that COVID-19 appeared to be following a similar pattern to previous large-scale pandemics.
“It makes sense that it was urban areas that got hit earlier and hit faster, that’s where the disease was first, where the outbreaks were first seeded,” Michaud said. “And it takes time for that to spread to other geographic regions and because of the less dense geography in rural areas — that partially explains the time delay.”
Projections by the Centers for Disease Control leaked to the New York Times on Monday suggested that the federal government also expects COVID-19 to begin hitting rural areas harder than urban ones. Citing data from up to May 2, the document said that, over the coming months, cases in “the Great Lakes region, parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and around southern California” were expected to increase. (A White House spokesperson said that the leaked numbers were “not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed.)
Cynthia Cox, Vice President at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Director for the Program on the Affordable Care Act, told TPM that there was a chance the pandemic could worsen an already fragile health care situation in rural communities.
“Those are also the same areas that have fewer health care resources and have older populations, and even the younger population tend to be sicker,” Cox said. “So it’s possible that even if the virus continues to spread, this is a troubling sign because those areas could be harder hit.”
Rural America is uniquely vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19. A decade-long crisis has led to scores of rural hospitals shutting down, with 126 closing since 2010. Forty-seven percent of rural hospitals in the U.S. were in the red in 2019, according to statistics from the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
The nature of the illness as well could wreak havoc on rural communities. America’s rural population is, on average, older and and has more preexisting conditions that make COVID-19 more dangerous.
Rural counties have far fewer intensive care unit beds per capita as well, limiting the amount of capacity they may have in the event of widespread outbreaks.
Michaud said that data showing how “concentrated outbreaks can be, even in rural counties,” surprised him.
“In rural areas, there’s a problem of meat processing plants and the prisons and institutional areas where we’re seeing such a rise in cases that has to do with the way their work is set up and the way conditions are and the lack of lockdown procedures that have occurred in some of these places,” he said.
Some of the same largely rural states that have had serious outbreaks — like North Dakota and Georgia — are at the forefront of the effort to open up, casting social distancing restrictions aside.
Cox noted an irony in that, saying that “some states are opening up despite the fact that the rural areas in those states have the highest rates of death and infection of coronavirus.”
Michaud cautioned that the data suggested that rural America was likely on the upward bound of a potentially steep infection curve.
“If we are asleep at the wheel a little bit and we don’t recognize that large-scale outbreaks can occur and will occur in rural counties that are especially vulnerable, we could find ourselves very rapidly in a situation where we’re looking at severe epidemics,” Michaud said. “In that case, it would’ve been premature to relax social distancing and expect that the cases would decline.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--CNN: Even Barr Is Warning Trump Against SCOTUS Case That Would Nuke Obamacare

The longstanding internal Trump administration battle over tearing down Obamacare has come to a head again .
Attorney General Bill Barr , in a White House meeting Monday , renewed his push for the White House to back off from its aggressive anti-Obamacare stance in a pending Supreme Court case , CNN reported .
The deadline is in the coming days for any changes to the administration ’ s position in the case .
Barr reportedly argued to White House aides that the Justice Department ’ s current posture — asking the Supreme Court to fully dismantle the health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election season , particularly as the coronavirus outbreak rages throughout the United States .
The Supreme Court is slated to hear the case in its next term , which begins in October .
Already , the Justice Department ’ s handling of the case was departure from the norm .
The Department has not only refused to defend the law , but has adopted a stance opposed even by some of the administration ’ s congressional allies .
The way that politics apparently has dominated the administration ’ s litigative decisions has fueled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Currently , the administration is backing the argument of several red states , led by Texas , that claim that changes to the law passed in the 2017 GOP tax bill make the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional .
Even congressional Republicans who supported the tax measure have pushed back on the administration ’ s current arguments .
When the Trump administration , under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions , first indicated it would not be defending the law , its arguments against it were less far reaching than they are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the protections for pre-existing conditions and other Obamacare provisions closely tied to the individual mandate , which was zeroed out in the 2017 tax bill .
In 2019 , in a move that reportedly pit then White House chief-of-staff Mick Mulvaney against Barr and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , the administration expanded its opposition in the lawsuit .
( Mulvaney supported the more aggressive stance , Azar and Barr reportedly did not . )
Now , if the Trump administration gets its way , the entire law , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out by the Supreme Court .
In previous White House debates over the case , Barr has reportedly pointed to the skepticism even among conservative legal experts that the Supreme Court would actually blow up Obamacare now , after refusing to do so in the face of two other major legal attacks that were far less flimsy than the current one .
But even if the justices uphold the law yet again , the Court ’ s decision won ’ t likely come until after the election .
Democrats have made clear they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration to take down the law — a message that served Democrats well in their 2018 midterm sweep .
The Justice Department declined to comment in the CNN report and a Department spokesperson did not respond to TPM ’ s inquiry .
Vice President Mike Pence , White House counsel Pat Cipollone , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and members of the Domestic Policy Council were among those to whom Barr made his case Monday , according to CNN .
No final decision was made on changing the administration ’ s position , @ @ @

The longstanding internal Trump administration battle over tearing down Obamacare has come to a head again.
Attorney General Bill Barr, in a White House meeting Monday, renewed his push for the White House to back off from its aggressive anti-Obamacare stance in a pending Supreme Court case, CNN reported.
The deadline is in the coming days for any changes to the administration’s position in the case.
Barr reportedly argued to White House aides that the Justice Department’s current posture — asking the Supreme Court to fully dismantle the health care law — was politically risky in an election season, particularly as the coronavirus outbreak rages throughout the United States.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear the case in its next term, which begins in October.
Already, the Justice Department’s handling of the case was departure from the norm. The Department has not only refused to defend the law, but has adopted a stance opposed even by some of the administration’s congressional allies.
The way that politics apparently has dominated the administration’s litigative decisions has fueled criticisms of the Justice Department under President Trump.
Currently, the administration is backing the argument of several red states, led by Texas, that claim that changes to the law passed in the 2017 GOP tax bill make the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.
Even congressional Republicans who supported the tax measure have pushed back on the administration’s current arguments.
When the Trump administration, under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, first indicated it would not be defending the law, its arguments against it were less far reaching than they are now. The administration initially supported the invalidation of the protections for pre-existing conditions and other Obamacare provisions closely tied to the individual mandate, which was zeroed out in the 2017 tax bill.
In 2019, in a move that reportedly pit then White House chief-of-staff Mick Mulvaney against Barr and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, the administration expanded its opposition in the lawsuit. (Mulvaney supported the more aggressive stance, Azar and Barr reportedly did not.) Now, if the Trump administration gets its way, the entire law, including its Medicaid expansion, could be knocked out by the Supreme Court.
In previous White House debates over the case, Barr has reportedly pointed to the skepticism even among conservative legal experts that the Supreme Court would actually blow up Obamacare now, after refusing to do so in the face of two other major legal attacks that were far less flimsy than the current one.
But even if the justices uphold the law yet again, the Court’s decision won’t likely come until after the election. Democrats have made clear they intend to focus on the efforts by the administration to take down the law — a message that served Democrats well in their 2018 midterm sweep.
The Justice Department declined to comment in the CNN report and a Department spokesperson did not respond to TPM’s inquiry.
Vice President Mike Pence, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and members of the Domestic Policy Council were among those to whom Barr made his case Monday, according to CNN. No final decision was made on changing the administration’s position, CNN said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-05-05--WH Blocks COVID Task Force Members From Testifying Before Congress Without Permission

The White House has ordered officials on the White House coronavirus task force to seek permission from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows before accepting Congress ’ request for testimony , a senior administration official confirmed to TPM via email on Tuesday .
Per a White House memo to task force leaders obtained by the Washington Post , officials are prohibited from testifying without Meadows ’ “ express approval.
” The White House has also limited the number of hearings on COVID-19 that officials at the Health and Human Services , Homeland Security and State Departments may attend this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that the officials ’ energy is focused on defeating the virus , according to the memo .
“ Given these competing demands in these unprecedented times , it is reasonable to expect that agencies will have to decline invitations to hearings to remain focused on implementing of COVID-19 response , including declining to participate in multiple hearings on the same or overlapping topics , ” the White House told the task force officials .
The senior administration official who confirmed the guidelines to TPM brushed off concerns about transparency “ given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with committees.
” “ But we need to make sure the Task Force members have the time they need to focus on the task at hand , not on preparing for four-hour hearings several times a week , ” the official said .
The stated rationale echoes the White House ’ s explanation for not allowing Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the task force , to testify in front of a House subcommittee led by Democrats last Wednesday .
“ While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expediting vaccine development , it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings , ” White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in an emailed statement to TPM last week .
However , Meadows has permitted Fauci and others to testify in front of the GOP-controlled Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee next week on Tuesday .

The White House has ordered officials on the White House coronavirus task force to seek permission from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows before accepting Congress’ request for testimony, a senior administration official confirmed to TPM via email on Tuesday.
Per a White House memo to task force leaders obtained by the Washington Post, officials are prohibited from testifying without Meadows’ “express approval.”
The White House has also limited the number of hearings on COVID-19 that officials at the Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and State Departments may attend this month to four.
The restrictions are to ensure that the officials’ energy is focused on defeating the virus, according to the memo.
“Given these competing demands in these unprecedented times, it is reasonable to expect that agencies will have to decline invitations to hearings to remain focused on implementing of COVID-19 response, including declining to participate in multiple hearings on the same or overlapping topics,” the White House told the task force officials.
The senior administration official who confirmed the guidelines to TPM brushed off concerns about transparency “given the continual press briefings and agency-led briefings with committees.”
“But we need to make sure the Task Force members have the time they need to focus on the task at hand, not on preparing for four-hour hearings several times a week,” the official said.
The stated rationale echoes the White House’s explanation for not allowing Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the task force, to testify in front of a House subcommittee led by Democrats last Wednesday.
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings,” White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in an emailed statement to TPM last week.
However, Meadows has permitted Fauci and others to testify in front of the GOP-controlled Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee next week on Tuesday.