buzzfeed--2020-03-09--The Working Families Party Is Endorsing Bernie Sanders After Elizabeth Warren’s Exit

The Working Families Party , a progressive grassroots organization that endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren early in the Democratic primary , is now throwing its support behind Sen. Bernie Sanders after Warren dropped out of the race .
“ It ’ s been really unfortunate to see Elizabeth Warren exit the campaign .
She ’ s a progressive lion .
We were really proud to stand along with her .
But now that she ’ s out , there ’ s only one clear choice to continue to push the issues and fight for big structural change and that is Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s director of strategy and partnerships , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Now that it ’ s a two-person race , it 's a very clear choice .
We ’ ve always said that there were two progressive champions in the race , and we believe that both of them can beat Donald Trump .
We ’ re going to do everything to unite progressives and unite the left to help Bernie be the nominee.
” The WFP said that it conducted its initial endorsement process through a ranked-choice voting system of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vote , Sanders finished in a strong second position and many of the voters who ’ d chosen Warren had listed Sanders as their second choice .
The group ’ s early endorsement of Warren was one of the first flash points and signs of some splintering on the left as some Sanders supporters were upset that the organization hadn ’ t chosen to initially endorse their candidate and demanded to see the organization ’ s mathematical process for calculating their endorsement .
The group ’ s Sanders endorsement comes as Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether to throw their support behind former vice president Joe Biden or Sanders , and as Sanders supporters have pressured Warren to endorse Sanders herself .
Other organizations that supported Warren , like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee , have encouraged their members in Michigan to strategically vote for Sanders in the primary to push progressive ideas forward but haven ’ t officially endorsed his campaign .
“ I , as much as many people , would love and welcome Elizabeth Warren to make an endorsement , but she ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Stamp told BuzzFeed News .
“ That is not a decision for us to make for her .
At the end of the day , would I love continuing to fight alongside her in this primary ?
Yes , and we would love that as an organization .
But that is her decision to make.
” Some Warren supporters have pointed to the harassment they ’ ve faced online from some Sanders supporters throughout the primary as a point of apprehension for moving to support the candidate .
The Working Families Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns and that it 's working to ease its supporters fears and steer them toward supporting Sanders .
Earlier in the week , it hosted a call for former Warren supporters to debrief about their experiences with the campaign and it 'll be holding another call with elected officials who supported Warren and who are now switching their support Sanders .
“ It ’ s hard !
I ’ m not going to pretend like this is going to be easy , ” Stamp said about the process of convincing some Warren supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people know in their heart know that the right side , the side that is just , is the side that wants free higher education , the side that wants cancellation of student debt because that ’ s why they got behind Elizabeth Warren .
”

The Working Families Party, a progressive grassroots organization that endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren early in the Democratic primary, is now throwing its support behind Sen. Bernie Sanders after Warren dropped out of the race.
“It’s been really unfortunate to see Elizabeth Warren exit the campaign. She’s a progressive lion. We were really proud to stand along with her. But now that she’s out, there’s only one clear choice to continue to push the issues and fight for big structural change and that is Bernie Sanders,” Nelini Stamp, WFP’s director of strategy and partnerships, told BuzzFeed News. “Now that it’s a two-person race, it's a very clear choice. We’ve always said that there were two progressive champions in the race, and we believe that both of them can beat Donald Trump. We’re going to do everything to unite progressives and unite the left to help Bernie be the nominee.”
The WFP said that it conducted its initial endorsement process through a ranked-choice voting system of its members, and while Warren won that vote, Sanders finished in a strong second position and many of the voters who’d chosen Warren had listed Sanders as their second choice. The group’s early endorsement of Warren was one of the first flash points and signs of some splintering on the left as some Sanders supporters were upset that the organization hadn’t chosen to initially endorse their candidate and demanded to see the organization’s mathematical process for calculating their endorsement.
The group’s Sanders endorsement comes as Warren supporters across the country have been calculating whether to throw their support behind former vice president Joe Biden or Sanders, and as Sanders supporters have pressured Warren to endorse Sanders herself. Other organizations that supported Warren, like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, have encouraged their members in Michigan to strategically vote for Sanders in the primary to push progressive ideas forward but haven’t officially endorsed his campaign.
“I, as much as many people, would love and welcome Elizabeth Warren to make an endorsement, but she’s going to do things on her own time,” Stamp told BuzzFeed News. “That is not a decision for us to make for her. At the end of the day, would I love continuing to fight alongside her in this primary? Yes, and we would love that as an organization. But that is her decision to make.”
Some Warren supporters have pointed to the harassment they’ve faced online from some Sanders supporters throughout the primary as a point of apprehension for moving to support the candidate. The Working Families Party has said it's aware of those concerns and that it's working to ease its supporters fears and steer them toward supporting Sanders. Earlier in the week, it hosted a call for former Warren supporters to debrief about their experiences with the campaign and it'll be holding another call with elected officials who supported Warren and who are now switching their support Sanders.
“It’s hard! I’m not going to pretend like this is going to be easy,” Stamp said about the process of convincing some Warren supporters to move to Sanders. “Most people know in their heart know that the right side, the side that is just, is the side that wants free higher education, the side that wants cancellation of student debt because that’s why they got behind Elizabeth Warren.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-09--Black Democrats Know They Saved Joe Biden’s Campaign

JACKSON , Mississippi — The past week and a half had seen his campaign turn around , and Joe Biden had no doubt about who to thank for his change in fortunes .
“ There ’ s only one reason I ’ ve come back .
The African American community all around the country , ” he told the congregation at the New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson on Sunday morning .
Biden had attended that morning ’ s services alongside Rep. Bennie Thompson , who recently endorsed him .
“ You ’ re the reason I ’ m back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said again .
Black voters in Missouri and Mississippi — stops Biden made over the weekend ahead of Tuesday ’ s primaries — were keenly aware of their impact on the Biden campaign .
Several older black Biden voters who spoke to BuzzFeed News said that while it certainly helps that Biden was Barack Obama 's number two , their support for him is also about what they think the country needs to recover from a turbulent couple of years under Trump .
They seriously considered their choices , but given the gravity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the Trump administration , Biden was the right choice .
And it was decidedly not , they said , an uninformed choice , as Sanders surrogate and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested on Thursday .
Biden is “ safe , and they realize the importance of getting Trump out of there , and they want to go for a sure thing , they want to go for something comfortable , something familiar , ” said Darryl Hayes , 61 , who was at Biden ’ s St. Louis rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and agrees with Sanders ’ policies but thinks Biden is more likely to win both the primary and the general election .
“ I think if this election wasn ’ t so crucial , they might take a chance with Bernie , but the situation with Trump being what it is , they don ’ t want to take a chance with Bernie , ” he said .
“ [ Biden ] doesn ’ t lean as far left as Bernie , but we ’ re hopeful that he ’ ll expand Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cares about the climate , global warming.
” “ If we do n't get the right president in this year , it is going to devastate African American communities and poor people , ” said Cleother Griffin , 60 , who drove to Biden ’ s rally in Jackson from Carthage , Mississippi , on Sunday .
Some Biden supporters said no one else has made serious inroads with black voters partly because they ’ re looking for stability over ambitious progressive changes , and someone with the ability to lessen divisions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too real for people in Mississippi when they flare up , especially off the back of racist political rhetoric .
“ It ’ s causing too much chaos amongst us in our communities .
It does n't matter what area or communities you 're in , you can see the division still .
I live in a neighborhood where there ’ s white and black , but you know that there ’ s still tension there just because of color , and so we need a president to understand that , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There ’ s too much division to keep going forward.
” The weekend saw another surge of momentum for Biden , as he heads into the next round of primaries on Tuesday : A rally in St Louis on Saturday drew 2,300 people , the largest turnout Biden has seen since his launch rally in Philadelphia last year .
An event at an HBCU campus in Jackson drew 1,300 , and was noticeably more enthusiastic than any Biden was drawing before South Carolina ( albeit noticeably older than crowds at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kamala Harris and Cory Booker , two of the most prominent black senators and former rivals of Biden ’ s , endorsed the former vice president and will appear with him at a rally in Michigan on Monday night .
Voters in Jackson said they think Biden is less polarizing and more realistic than other candidates at this point in US history .
“ Look at the result of having a female candidate for president .
Look at the result of having an African American man successfully run the country .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gilbert Manogin , 35 , of Trump being elected despite his racist rhetoric and misogynistic comments .
Manogin was at the event with her mother and 15-year-old sister ( who can ’ t yet vote but supports Bernie Sanders ) .
She said she would have loved to vote for Elizabeth Warren , but “ unfortunately we are not there .
The past few years have shown that to us . ''
“ I think our country is in the stage where it 's not a matter of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need , ” said Lonnie Harris , 65 , in Jackson , adding that he thinks Biden has the most experience and insight into how to run the country and maintain relationships with foreign leaders .
Sanders , in the lead-up to Super Tuesday , often said that “ the establishment is getting nervous ” about his candidacy .
On Wednesday , Biden told reporters in Los Angeles , “ The establishment are all those hard working middle class people , those African Americans , the single women in suburbia.
” Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Mississippi said that while there may be some truth in the idea that the party establishment doesn ’ t support Sanders , writing off their support for Biden as part of that system doesn ’ t add up to them .
Not everyone at Biden ’ s rallies this weekend was convinced that there was room for their concerns in his plan for the country , and while Biden has racked up endorsements from black elected officials , Sanders has backing from more grassroots activist organizations working across issues like criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration .
At his rally in Kansas City , Missouri , a young black woman who said she was evicted from her home after being diagnosed with cancer and having skyrocketing medical bills protested along with a small group of other activists , shouting that they want a “ housing guarantee , ” a platform advocated for by fair housing groups which would make safe housing a basic right .
Sanders has included the idea in his platform , earning him endorsements from some fair housing groups , but Biden has not .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , and there 's a place for you in our campaign , ” Biden said at the St. Louis rally , part of his updated post-South Carolina stump speech .
In East St. Louis , “ we ’ ve been overlooked , disrespected , stepped on , and we just want someone to be president who can come and see what they can do to help us with jobs , schools , ” said Sam Franklin , who added that the group was able to reach the Sanders campaign , who planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis the following day .
( The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether they had communicated with the group . )
“ What about us , Joe ?
” yelled Maria Franklin , Sam Franklin ’ s wife , and a member of the United Congregations of Metro East , an Illinois and Iowa-based group .
“ If you can ’ t pay attention to us and you ’ re five minutes away what ’ s going to happen when you ’ re in DC and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours away ?
” she said .
But with many voters , it didn ’ t go unnoticed that Biden came to Mississippi this weekend and Sanders did not .
“ I firmly believe if you want to know anything you have to read it for yourself and you have to take the knowledge you get to educate others , ” said Tinisha Woodberry , 38 , at Tougaloo College , an HBCU in Jackson that played a central role as a refuge for civil rights activists in the 1950s and '60s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should want to try to reach as many people as you can .
One big upset was Bernie Sanders not coming here .
The fact that he canceled his visit here , that means something to me.
” Despite Sanders ’ credentials of civil rights activism including sit-ins , getting arrested at protests , and the 1963 March on Washington , voters at Tougaloo College said they don ’ t know his connection to the civil rights movement as well as they know Biden , who they said has been a known figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to that by becoming someone who the first black president trusted enough to recruit as a vice president .
“ It 's a real signal of respect , total respect [ for black communities ] , ” that Biden served as Obama ’ s number two , Cleother Griffin said .
While Biden attended church , went to a local soul food spot to pick up lunch , and held a rally at an HBCU in Jackson on Sunday , Sanders canceled a planned trip to Mississippi on Friday to focus instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who endorsed Sanders after a caucus of city residents , attended a service at another Jackson church and campaigned on Sanders ’ behalf on Sunday .
`` We look forward to doing as well as we can in Mississippi .
It is going to be a tough state for us .
But , right now , our focus is here in Michigan , where we think we have the agenda that can win this state , ” Sanders said during a CNN interview on Sunday morning .

JACKSON, Mississippi — The past week and a half had seen his campaign turn around, and Joe Biden had no doubt about who to thank for his change in fortunes.
“There’s only one reason I’ve come back. The African American community all around the country,” he told the congregation at the New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson on Sunday morning. Biden had attended that morning’s services alongside Rep. Bennie Thompson, who recently endorsed him.
“You’re the reason I’m back, no one else,” Biden said again.
Black voters in Missouri and Mississippi — stops Biden made over the weekend ahead of Tuesday’s primaries — were keenly aware of their impact on the Biden campaign. Several older black Biden voters who spoke to BuzzFeed News said that while it certainly helps that Biden was Barack Obama's number two, their support for him is also about what they think the country needs to recover from a turbulent couple of years under Trump.
They seriously considered their choices, but given the gravity of the situation currently facing black communities under the Trump administration, Biden was the right choice. And it was decidedly not, they said, an uninformed choice, as Sanders surrogate and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested on Thursday.
Biden is “safe, and they realize the importance of getting Trump out of there, and they want to go for a sure thing, they want to go for something comfortable, something familiar,” said Darryl Hayes, 61, who was at Biden’s St. Louis rally on Saturday and said he generally likes and agrees with Sanders’ policies but thinks Biden is more likely to win both the primary and the general election.
“I think if this election wasn’t so crucial, they might take a chance with Bernie, but the situation with Trump being what it is, they don’t want to take a chance with Bernie,” he said. “[Biden] doesn’t lean as far left as Bernie, but we’re hopeful that he’ll expand Medicare, do something with trade, he cares about the climate, global warming.”
“If we don't get the right president in this year, it is going to devastate African American communities and poor people,” said Cleother Griffin, 60, who drove to Biden’s rally in Jackson from Carthage, Mississippi, on Sunday.
Some Biden supporters said no one else has made serious inroads with black voters partly because they’re looking for stability over ambitious progressive changes, and someone with the ability to lessen divisions in the country — divisions that feel all too real for people in Mississippi when they flare up, especially off the back of racist political rhetoric.
“It’s causing too much chaos amongst us in our communities. It doesn't matter what area or communities you're in, you can see the division still. I live in a neighborhood where there’s white and black, but you know that there’s still tension there just because of color, and so we need a president to understand that,” said Brenda Taylor, 53, in Jackson. “There’s too much division to keep going forward.”
The weekend saw another surge of momentum for Biden, as he heads into the next round of primaries on Tuesday: A rally in St Louis on Saturday drew 2,300 people, the largest turnout Biden has seen since his launch rally in Philadelphia last year. An event at an HBCU campus in Jackson drew 1,300, and was noticeably more enthusiastic than any Biden was drawing before South Carolina (albeit noticeably older than crowds at a Sanders swing through HBCUs). Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, two of the most prominent black senators and former rivals of Biden’s, endorsed the former vice president and will appear with him at a rally in Michigan on Monday night.
Voters in Jackson said they think Biden is less polarizing and more realistic than other candidates at this point in US history.
“Look at the result of having a female candidate for president. Look at the result of having an African American man successfully run the country. I believe there was a blowback,” said Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gilbert Manogin, 35, of Trump being elected despite his racist rhetoric and misogynistic comments.
Manogin was at the event with her mother and 15-year-old sister (who can’t yet vote but supports Bernie Sanders). She said she would have loved to vote for Elizabeth Warren, but “unfortunately we are not there. The past few years have shown that to us."
“I think our country is in the stage where it's not a matter of what we want, it’s what we need,” said Lonnie Harris, 65, in Jackson, adding that he thinks Biden has the most experience and insight into how to run the country and maintain relationships with foreign leaders.
Sanders, in the lead-up to Super Tuesday, often said that “the establishment is getting nervous” about his candidacy. On Wednesday, Biden told reporters in Los Angeles, “The establishment are all those hard working middle class people, those African Americans, the single women in suburbia.”
Black voters in Texas, California, Missouri, and Mississippi said that while there may be some truth in the idea that the party establishment doesn’t support Sanders, writing off their support for Biden as part of that system doesn’t add up to them.
Not everyone at Biden’s rallies this weekend was convinced that there was room for their concerns in his plan for the country, and while Biden has racked up endorsements from black elected officials, Sanders has backing from more grassroots activist organizations working across issues like criminal justice reform, climate change, and immigration.
At his rally in Kansas City, Missouri, a young black woman who said she was evicted from her home after being diagnosed with cancer and having skyrocketing medical bills protested along with a small group of other activists, shouting that they want a “housing guarantee,” a platform advocated for by fair housing groups which would make safe housing a basic right. Sanders has included the idea in his platform, earning him endorsements from some fair housing groups, but Biden has not.
“We need you, we want you, and there's a place for you in our campaign,” Biden said at the St. Louis rally, part of his updated post-South Carolina stump speech.
In East St. Louis, “we’ve been overlooked, disrespected, stepped on, and we just want someone to be president who can come and see what they can do to help us with jobs, schools,” said Sam Franklin, who added that the group was able to reach the Sanders campaign, who planned to send a surrogate to East St. Louis the following day. (The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether they had communicated with the group.)
“What about us, Joe?” yelled Maria Franklin, Sam Franklin’s wife, and a member of the United Congregations of Metro East, an Illinois and Iowa-based group. “If you can’t pay attention to us and you’re five minutes away what’s going to happen when you’re in DC and you’re five hours, or six hours away?” she said.
But with many voters, it didn’t go unnoticed that Biden came to Mississippi this weekend and Sanders did not.
“I firmly believe if you want to know anything you have to read it for yourself and you have to take the knowledge you get to educate others,” said Tinisha Woodberry, 38, at Tougaloo College, an HBCU in Jackson that played a central role as a refuge for civil rights activists in the 1950s and '60s. “But for that position, candidates should want to try to reach as many people as you can. One big upset was Bernie Sanders not coming here. The fact that he canceled his visit here, that means something to me.”
Despite Sanders’ credentials of civil rights activism including sit-ins, getting arrested at protests, and the 1963 March on Washington, voters at Tougaloo College said they don’t know his connection to the civil rights movement as well as they know Biden, who they said has been a known figure to black communities for decades, and added to that by becoming someone who the first black president trusted enough to recruit as a vice president.
“It's a real signal of respect, total respect [for black communities],” that Biden served as Obama’s number two, Cleother Griffin said.
While Biden attended church, went to a local soul food spot to pick up lunch, and held a rally at an HBCU in Jackson on Sunday, Sanders canceled a planned trip to Mississippi on Friday to focus instead on Michigan. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, who endorsed Sanders after a caucus of city residents, attended a service at another Jackson church and campaigned on Sanders’ behalf on Sunday.
"We look forward to doing as well as we can in Mississippi. It is going to be a tough state for us. But, right now, our focus is here in Michigan, where we think we have the agenda that can win this state,” Sanders said during a CNN interview on Sunday morning.


buzzfeed--2020-03-09--Live Results: Super Tuesday Democratic Primaries

It ’ s Super Tuesday , when one-third of the total delegates are up for grabs in 15 states and @ @ @ @ @ be updated as results come in .

It’s Super Tuesday, when one-third of the total delegates are up for grabs in 15 states and territories. This post will be updated as results come in.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--Here’s What To Watch For Tuesday As Six States Vote In The Democratic Primary

Six states with a total of 352 delegates vote in the Democratic presidential primary today , which isn ’ t really a second Super Tuesday , even though many are calling it that ( California , which voted last week , had 415 delegates on its own ) .
But with Biden already up just about 80 delegates over Sanders going into Tuesday , a strong performance in these states could give him a lead that will be tough for Sanders to overcome .
And alternatively , a surprising result for Sanders could make the primary more competitive than some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into states later this month that on paper look strong for Biden .
The 2020 Democratic primary radically changed last Tuesday , when Joe Biden surpassed even the highest expectations to build a delegate lead over Bernie Sanders .
This Tuesday , the race could effectively lock into place .
Michigan ( polls close between 8 and 9 p.m .
ET ) This is the big state tonight , with 125 delegates .
Sanders won the primary here in 2016 over Hillary Clinton in a surprise , helping to revive his campaign even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 67 for Sanders and 63 for Clinton ) .
Sanders and Biden have both spent much of the last week focused on winning the state .
A win for Biden , especially one by a decisive margin , could be brutal for Sanders .
A win for Sanders could prove that his promised coalition of young people — including young people of color — and the white working class still has life .
Recent polls have shown a double-digit lead for Biden , but they showed one for Clinton ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonight ’ s second biggest state , with 89 delegates .
Sanders won the state in a blowout in 2016 and is hoping to win by a decent margin again this year .
But Sanders has a disadvantage this year relative to 2016 : The state will no longer hold caucuses , where he performed well with hyper-engaged , organized supporters .
Washington this year is conducting its primary entirely by mail .
About 22 % of ballots were returned before Super Tuesday , which could limit a Biden bounce .
Voting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s coronavirus outbreak limiting turnout .
But the result here isn ’ t necessarily certain : There ’ s been limited recent polling , and neither candidate has campaigned here in the last week .
Missouri has 68 delegates up for stake , and was home of a very close Sanders loss in 2016 .
Sanders and Biden have each campaigned here in the last several days , with Sanders holding a rally in St. Louis on Monday .
Polling this month gave a slight edge to Biden , but data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates up tonight .
Sanders was blown out here in 2016 , and likely is looking at another big loss tonight .
Why ?
Then as now : black voters .
Black voters , particularly older voters in the South , have voted decisively in Biden ’ s favor in the last two weeks , since the South Carolina primary .
In 2016 , 71 % of the primary electorate was black , and 89 % of the primary ’ s black voters sided with Clinton .
Sanders has worked for years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but may not see a much better result tonight : He was originally scheduled to campaign here in the last week , but dropped those plans .
Idaho ( polls close between 10 and 11 p.m .
ET ) Idaho has 20 delegates .
Sanders won in a landslide in 2016 .
But again , a hiccup this year : The state has moved from caucuses to a primary .
There ’ s not really polling of the state , so we ’ ll all learn together tonight if Sanders is successful in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
North Dakota has 14 delegates .
Sanders did well here in 2016 , winning the state by a big margin .
And it ’ ll be awarding delegates via caucuses !
Though the process is a little more like a primary this year than it was in 2016 .
There have not been polls of the state , so let ’ s see .

Michigan (polls close between 8 and 9 p.m. ET)
This is the big state tonight, with 125 delegates. Sanders won the primary here in 2016 over Hillary Clinton in a surprise, helping to revive his campaign even as the two basically split delegates evenly (67 for Sanders and 63 for Clinton).
Sanders and Biden have both spent much of the last week focused on winning the state. A win for Biden, especially one by a decisive margin, could be brutal for Sanders. A win for Sanders could prove that his promised coalition of young people — including young people of color — and the white working class still has life. Recent polls have shown a double-digit lead for Biden, but they showed one for Clinton ahead of the 2016 primary, too.
Washington
This is tonight’s second-biggest state, with 89 delegates. Sanders won the state in a blowout in 2016 and is hoping to win by a decent margin again this year.
But Sanders has a disadvantage this year relative to 2016: The state will no longer hold caucuses, where he performed well with hyper-engaged, organized supporters. Washington this year is conducting its primary entirely by mail. About 22% of ballots were returned before Super Tuesday, which could limit a Biden bounce. Voting by mail has also reduced fears about the state’s coronavirus outbreak limiting turnout. But the result here isn’t necessarily certain: There’s been limited recent polling, and neither candidate has campaigned here in the last week.
Missouri (Polls close at 8 p.m. ET)
Missouri has 68 delegates up for stake and was home to a very close Sanders loss in 2016.
Sanders and Biden have each campaigned here in the last several days, with Sanders holding a rally in St. Louis on Monday. Polling this month gave a slight edge to Biden, but data has been limited.
Mississippi (Polls close at 8 p.m. ET)
Mississippi has 36 delegates up tonight. Sanders was blown out here in 2016, and likely is looking at another big loss tonight. Why? Then as now: black voters.
Black voters, particularly older voters in the South, have voted decisively in Biden’s favor in the last two weeks, since the South Carolina primary. In 2016, 71% of the primary electorate was black, and 89% of the primary’s black voters sided with Clinton. Sanders has worked for years to build greater support among black voters, but may not see a much better result tonight: He was originally scheduled to campaign here in the last week, but dropped those plans.
Idaho (polls close between 10 and 11 p.m. ET)
Idaho has 20 delegates. Sanders won in a landslide in 2016.
But again, a hiccup this year: The state has moved from caucuses to a primary. There’s not really polling of the state, so we’ll all learn together tonight if Sanders is successful in winning Idaho back even under a primary.
North Dakota (Polls close by 10 p.m. ET)
North Dakota has 14 delegates. Sanders did well here in 2016, winning the state by a big margin.
And it’ll be awarding delegates via caucuses! Though the process is a little more like a primary this year than it was in 2016. There have not been polls of the state, so let’s see.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--The Coronavirus Quarantine Has Officially Hit Congress

WASHINGTON — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz jokingly wore a large gas mask on the House floor when the chamber voted on a coronavirus spending bill last Wednesday .
By Monday , his office announced the Florida lawmaker was in self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus at CPAC , a conservative political conference , almost two weeks ago .
“ Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19 , ” his office tweeted Monday afternoon .
“ Congressman Gaetz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact , and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor.
” Gaetz doesn ’ t have any symptoms of the coronavirus , his office said on Twitter , and he has been tested for the virus , but the results haven ’ t come back yet .
He will remain in self-quarantine until later this week , after a two-week period since coming in contact with the person expires .
Gaetz also said on Twitter that his DC office will be closed while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his district office in Pensacola , Florida , will remain open .
One person from Gaetz ’ s district died from COVID-19 over the weekend .
Gaetz is one of four members of Congress currently in self-quarantine after interacting with a person diagnosed with the virus at CPAC last month .
Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona announced Sunday night that they were going into quarantine , and Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia announced he was going into quarantine Monday afternoon .
The CDC has recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid shaking hands .
Last week , after the CPAC conference , Collins visited the CDC with President Donald Trump and shook hands with the president Friday .

WASHINGTON — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz jokingly wore a large gas mask on the House floor when the chamber voted on a coronavirus spending bill last Wednesday.
By Monday, his office announced the Florida lawmaker was in self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus at CPAC, a conservative political conference, almost two weeks ago.
“Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19,” his office tweeted Monday afternoon. “Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor.”
Gaetz doesn’t have any symptoms of the coronavirus, his office said on Twitter, and he has been tested for the virus, but the results haven’t come back yet. He will remain in self-quarantine until later this week, after a two-week period since coming in contact with the person expires. Gaetz also said on Twitter that his DC office will be closed while the member is in quarantine, and that his district office in Pensacola, Florida, will remain open. One person from Gaetz’s district died from COVID-19 over the weekend.
Gaetz is one of four members of Congress currently in self-quarantine after interacting with a person diagnosed with the virus at CPAC last month. Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona announced Sunday night that they were going into quarantine, and Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia announced he was going into quarantine Monday afternoon.
The CDC has recommended that, as coronavirus spreads, people avoid shaking hands. Last week, after the CPAC conference, Collins visited the CDC with President Donald Trump and shook hands with the president Friday.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--Fox News And Donald Trump Are Embracing Xenophobia To Defend Against The Coronavirus

For a man who campaigned on inflammatory rhetoric and made anti-immigrant policies a cornerstone of his agenda , it should perhaps come as little surprise that appears to be the next turn in Donald Trump ’ s defense against the coronavirus .
With COVID-19 spreading across the US , Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning that “ we need the wall more than ever !
” falling back on his tried and tested trope of blaming immigrants for the country ’ s ills .
Trump ’ s allies in Washington and on Fox News have ramped up their rhetoric against China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core dilemma : how to prepare the population for severe disruptions while ensuring no blowback on the man in the White House ?
At least part of the answer seems to be : xenophobia .
Fox News has shifted to nearly non-stop coverage of the coronavirus .
During the day , viewers get largely straightforward information about the virus ’ s spread , the administration ’ s response , the danger of cruise ships , and general health advice .
When the channel ’ s opinion powerhouses come out at night , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday night , two of the network ’ s three main opinion hosts — Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham — leaned heavily into the fact that the virus originated in China and that any response should further isolate the US from the country .
( The third , Sean Hannity , focused on combating criticism of Trump ’ s handling of the crisis . )
“ People you know will get sick , some may die , this is real , ” Carlson said at the top of his hour , striking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the network .
He called out those on the right , including those in government for being overly blasé .
“ People you trust — people you probably voted for — have spent weeks minimizing what is a very serious problem , ” he said .
But first he had words for the left , speaking next to a graphic that blared : “ the Chinese coronavirus.
” “ On the left , you ’ ve heard them tell you that the real worry is you might use the wrong word to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ It ’ s racist , they ’ re telling you , to blame the most racist country in the world for the spread of this virus .
Right.
” “ It 's extraordinarily predictable , ” said Paul Lombardo , a professor at Georgia State University and expert on eugenics .
“ It 's consistent with the usual historical trend — you decide who you want to stay away from , people you do n't want in the country , and then you exploit them.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and his allies since before they entered the White House , and the language of infestation often deployed against those looking to enter America .
“ The bigotry against actual or would-be immigrants kind of goes hand in hand with the scapegoating of those same groups at a time of medical crisis.
” Attaching a Chinese descriptor to the virus — formally known as COVID-19 — has become a means of signaling xenophobic intent .
When the virus first emerged late last year , many called it the “ Wuhan flu ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization formally gave the virus a name .
“ On the one hand I think that there could be a relatively innocent reason , ” Lombardo said .
“ But that the messaging is coming out from people who know about messaging is not by chance.
” Rep. Kevin McCarthy has taken to calling the virus “ the Chinese coronavirus , ” first in a tweet Monday evening and then repeatedly that night in an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox .
Rep. Grace Meng , vice chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement Tuesday that his use of the term was “ embarrassing , disrespectful , offensive , and downright disgusting.
” She continued : “ Wrongly inserting ‘ Chinese ’ into the name of this disease only reinforces the disparaging and negative stereotypes of Asian Americans.
” Asian Americans and Asians around the world have already been targeted by racist slurs and attacks in the wake of the virus .
“ The naming of a novel disease is so critically important because of the power that a name — especially tied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — can have in producing stigma , ” said Alexandre White , an assistant professor of sociology and the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins .
In the past , diseases were often named after where they originated — from Lyme to West Nile — but White said those diseases were “ quite old ” and standards had evolved since then .
The way previous outbreaks of disease were discussed worked to both stigmatize entire populations and to mask forms of transmission , White said , pointing in particular to the HIV epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration to further disengage the US from the global , and particularly the Chinese , economy .
“ One of the first things we can do to prepare ourselves is break our dependence on China for essential medical supplies , ” Carlson said .
Ingraham said Trump should take “ steps that harken back to his original America First agenda.
” “ We can ’ t keep flooding America with migrant families on the bogus asylum pretense .
We got ta be stronger on these borders , ” she said , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are being flown back to Mexico pending their cases , thousands are still getting in and impossible to screen completely — for health , ” she said .
“ Now is not the time to take in any extra burdens on our schools or the health care system.
” “ The question I would have for Fox News especially is — what is the benefit of this blame ?
, ” White asked .
“ And the answer is , foundationally , that it allows you to justify very aggressive responses against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way in the interest of public health and solely in the interest of racist xenophobic anxieties or economic protectionism.
” “ The US has a particular history of epidemic control and particularly Sinophobia , ” he said , pointing to a 1900 outbreak of the bubonic plague in Hawaii following an epidemic in Asia .
Local authorities dealt with the outbreak through a strict quarantine of Honolulu ’ s Chinatown — avoiding buildings occupied by white people .
Later , they burned much of that Chinatown down .

For a man who campaigned on inflammatory rhetoric and made anti-immigrant policies a cornerstone of his agenda, it should perhaps come as little surprise that appears to be the next turn in Donald Trump’s defense against the coronavirus.
With COVID-19 spreading across the US, Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning that “we need the wall more than ever!” falling back on his tried and tested trope of blaming immigrants for the country’s ills.
Trump’s allies in Washington and on Fox News have ramped up their rhetoric against China, as they are faced with a core dilemma: how to prepare the population for severe disruptions while ensuring no blowback on the man in the White House? At least part of the answer seems to be: xenophobia.
Fox News has shifted to nearly nonstop coverage of the coronavirus. During the day, viewers get largely straightforward information about the virus’s spread, the administration’s response, the danger of cruise ships, and general health advice. When the channel’s opinion powerhouses come out at night, it’s a different story.
On Monday night, two of the network’s three main opinion hosts — Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham — leaned heavily into the fact that the virus originated in China and that any response should further isolate the US from the country. (The third, Sean Hannity, focused on combating criticism of Trump’s handling of the crisis.)
“People you know will get sick. Some may die. This is real,” Carlson said at the top of his hour, striking a more alarmist tone than anyone else on the network. He called out those on the right, including those in government for being overly blasé. “People you trust — people you probably voted for — have spent weeks minimizing what is a very serious problem,” he said. But first, he had words for the left, speaking next to a graphic that blared: “the Chinese coronavirus.”
“On the left, you’ve heard them tell you that the real worry is you might use the wrong word to describe what’s happening to the country,” he said. “It’s racist, they’re telling you, to blame the most racist country in the world for the spread of this virus. Right.”
“It's extraordinarily predictable,” said Paul Lombardo, a professor at Georgia State University and expert on eugenics. “It's consistent with the usual historical trend — you decide who you want to stay away from, people you don't want in the country, and then you exploit them.” He pointed to the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from Trump and his allies since before they entered the White House, and the language of infestation often deployed against those looking to enter America. “The bigotry against actual or would-be immigrants kind of goes hand in hand with the scapegoating of those same groups at a time of medical crisis.”
Attaching a Chinese descriptor to the virus — formally known as COVID-19 — has become a means of signaling xenophobic intent. When the virus first emerged late last year, many called it the “Wuhan flu” or something similar, but shifted after the World Health Organization formally gave the virus a name. “On the one hand I think that there could be a relatively innocent reason,” Lombardo said. “But that the messaging is coming out from people who know about messaging is not by chance.”
Rep. Kevin McCarthy has taken to calling the virus “the Chinese coronavirus,” first in a tweet Monday evening and then repeatedly that night in an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox. Rep. Grace Meng, vice-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement Tuesday that his use of the term was “embarrassing, disrespectful, offensive, and downright disgusting.” She continued: “Wrongly inserting ‘Chinese’ into the name of this disease only reinforces the disparaging and negative stereotypes of Asian Americans.” Asian Americans and Asians around the world have already been targeted by racist slurs and attacks in the wake of the virus.
“The naming of a novel disease is so critically important because of the power that a name — especially tied to a particular geography, region or place — can have in producing stigma,” said Alexandre White, an assistant professor of sociology and the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins. In the past, diseases were often named after where they originated — from Lyme to West Nile — but White said those diseases were “quite old” and standards had evolved since then.
The way previous outbreaks of disease were discussed worked to both stigmatize entire populations and to mask forms of transmission, White said, pointing in particular to the HIV epidemic.
Both Carlson and Ingraham called on the administration to further disengage the US from the global, and particularly the Chinese, economy. “One of the first things we can do to prepare ourselves is break our dependence on China for essential medical supplies,” Carlson said. Ingraham said Trump should take “steps that harken back to his original America First agenda.”
“We can’t keep flooding America with migrant families on the bogus asylum pretense. We gotta be stronger on these borders,” she said, while discussing the coronavirus. “While some people are being flown back to Mexico pending their cases, thousands are still getting in and impossible to screen completely — for health,” she said. “Now is not the time to take in any extra burdens on our schools or the health care system.”
“The question I would have for Fox News especially is: What is the benefit of this blame?” White asked. “And the answer is, foundationally, that it allows you to justify very aggressive responses against the Chinese economically, which are in no way in the interest of public health and solely in the interest of racist xenophobic anxieties or economic protectionism.”
“The US has a particular history of epidemic control and particularly Sinophobia,” he said, pointing to a 1900 outbreak of the bubonic plague in Hawaii following an epidemic in Asia. Local authorities dealt with the outbreak through a strict quarantine of Honolulu’s Chinatown — avoiding buildings occupied by white people. Later, they burned much of that Chinatown down.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--Joe Biden Went To Flint And Barely Mentioned The Water Crisis. Community Leaders Are Furious.

FLINT , Michigan — As the political world turns its attention to Michigan ’ s primary on Tuesday night , the people of Flint are very much still in crisis .
Flint residents have continued to die of Legionnaires disease .
The city is dealing with ongoing fallout : Children whose neurological development may have been irreversibly damaged ; pregnant women who had miscarriages after drinking the contaminated water — the number of miscarriages spiked by 58 % after the water was switched ; people whose trust in their elected officials and reliance on the infrastructure that runs through their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and corroded pipes in people ’ s homes that have yet to be replaced .
On Monday , Joe Biden passed through — flanked by Sen. Cory Booker , Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley , and Michigan Lt. Gov .
Garlin Gilchrist .
The attention from national politicians should conceivably be a good thing but much to the frustration of local community leaders , Biden barely mentioned the ongoing disaster during his stop there , instead repeating his stump speech and touting endorsements .
Those who met with the campaign before Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president mentioned the water crisis just once , 20 minutes into the private event he held in town , as part of a line taking aim at Sen. Bernie Sanders , and focused on showcasing endorsements from other politicians .
`` We 're not looking for a revolution .
What we want to do is to be able to trust the water that comes out of the pipes , '' Biden told the gathering , still fresh off the victories of the past week , delivered largely by black voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public health expert at Michigan State University ’ s College of Human Medicine , said he ’ d sat down with the campaign on Sunday after they reached out for advice on what steps would mean something for people in Flint .
He said he was disheartened to see Biden “ not really talking about the water crisis .
And to not acknowledge that it 's not over.
” “ When people who have power to elevate your story come and totally disregard your story , you ’ re retraumatized , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked out of the event early because he didn ’ t think Biden was addressing the residents ’ ongoing crisis in a way that was respectful or helpful .
“ It ’ s almost like being on the stranded island and you hear the helicopter and you get excited , oh good , somebody is going to be able to elevate me , lift me up , ” he said .
“ And then when they don ’ t , you sink down into this despair , this mental anguish , this distress.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not over .
No one took accountability for it .
It was not a natural disaster .
It was a man-made disaster , which makes it different from any other water crisis , ” Key said .
He , and another local community advocate , Marseille Allen , told the campaign it was important to hold a public event and to focus on the community and not elected leaders — who residents no longer trust — as the crisis drags on in various forms , six years after it began because of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s water source .
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment .
At the beginning of last summer , as the first presidential candidate of the 2020 election cycle passed through Flint , Key was already concerned about politicians using his town as a token of their commitment to black voters , without understanding that people in Flint are still in crisis .
Nine months later , as Michigan residents prepared to cast ballots in the primary and with the Democratic field winnowed down to two , that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are experiencing what I call water fatigue , ” Key told BuzzFeed News in June .
“ They ’ re emotionally and psychologically tired .
They ’ re tired physiologically with their health because of the effects of it .
People are fatigued , and the last thing we need to do is waste any of our energy on something that ’ s not going to be productive.
” Locals say this could have been an opportunity for the candidate to show black communities — who Biden says were solely responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks — that he understands and takes seriously the systemic failures and lasting trauma in Flint .
Community advocates said that both Biden and Sanders ’ approaches to Flint have been disappointing — and that events were hastily arranged in the past week ahead of the primary .
Sanders did visit the town in 2018 and held an event on Saturday that included a local activist and was open to the public .
But his event also drew criticism after his campaign promised a speech about racial inequality that turned mostly into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event said the room was filled with mostly white attendees , in a town that ’ s 53 % black , and where the black community was disproportionately hit by the contaminated water .
Nayyirah Shariff , another resident and activist , was asked by Sanders ’ campaign to speak at his event on Saturday .
She said she thought the audience wasn ’ t particularly less diverse than other public events she ’ s attended in several years working in Flint , and appreciated the open format and the platform for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , but said the Sanders campaign ’ s last-minute approach was also disappointing .
“ These things happen at the last minute .
Like we ’ re just expected to drop everything and be grateful , like we ’ re not fighting for our lives here in Flint , ” Shariff told BuzzFeed News .
Marseille Allen , a community activist who supported Sen. Kamala Harris ’ s campaign , also met with the Biden campaign when they reached out for advice .
She said she was hearing from local activists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the way Biden spoke about Flint .
“ Before it was even over , I got a bunch of text messages and calls from some activists , ” she said .
“ They ’ re livid … you ca n't put up a bunch of politicians that nobody likes and think that we ’ re going to vote for him.
” Allen organized meetings for Harris ’ s husband , Doug Emhoff , on his visit to Flint last year — she said that was an example of the right way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around meetings with community members .
She said she 's not endorsing any candidates , instead focusing on local issues , but would get more involved if Harris asks her to .
She , too , told them to hold a public event and to focus on the experiences of people in Flint , rather than generalized talking points from public officials .
“ They should have listened to me , because they ’ re getting slammed on social media , ” she said .
As Biden praised the work of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets broke the story that the city government is , for the second time , in violation of the federal Safe Water Drinking Act after failing to collect enough samples from residents ’ homes to test water quality .

FLINT, Michigan — As the political world turns its attention to Michigan’s primary on Tuesday night, the people of Flint are very much still in crisis.
Flint residents have continued to die of Legionnaires disease. The city is dealing with ongoing fallout: Children whose neurological development may have been irreversibly damaged; pregnant women who had miscarriages after drinking the contaminated water — the number of miscarriages spiked by 58% after the water was switched; people whose trust in their elected officials and reliance on the infrastructure that runs through their city has been turned upside down; and corroded pipes in people’s homes that have yet to be replaced.
On Monday, Joe Biden passed through — flanked by Sen. Cory Booker, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, and Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. The attention from national politicians should conceivably be a good thing but much to the frustration of local community leaders, Biden barely mentioned the ongoing disaster during his stop there, instead repeating his stump speech and touting endorsements.
Those who met with the campaign before Biden’s visit were disappointed and angry that the former vice president mentioned the water crisis just once, 20 minutes into the private event he held in town, as part of a line taking aim at Sen. Bernie Sanders, and focused on showcasing endorsements from other politicians.
"We're not looking for a revolution. What we want to do is to be able to trust the water that comes out of the pipes," Biden told the gathering, still fresh off the victories of the past week, delivered largely by black voters.
Dr. Kent Key, a Flint local and public health expert at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, said he’d sat down with the campaign on Sunday after they reached out for advice on what steps would mean something for people in Flint. He said he was disheartened to see Biden “not really talking about the water crisis. And to not acknowledge that it's not over.”
“When people who have power to elevate your story come and totally disregard your story, you’re retraumatized,” he said on Monday, after he walked out of the event early because he didn’t think Biden was addressing the residents’ ongoing crisis in a way that was respectful or helpful.
“It’s almost like being on the stranded island and you hear the helicopter and you get excited, oh good, somebody is going to be able to elevate me, lift me up,” he said. “And then when they don’t, you sink down into this despair, this mental anguish, this distress.”
“The Flint water crisis is not over. No one took accountability for it. It was not a natural disaster. It was a man-made disaster, which makes it different from any other water crisis,” Key said.
He, and another local community advocate, Marseille Allen, told the campaign it was important to hold a public event and to focus on the community and not elected leaders — who residents no longer trust — as the crisis drags on in various forms, six years after it began because of a cost-cutting government measure to switch the city’s water source.
The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
At the beginning of last summer, as the first presidential candidate of the 2020 election cycle passed through Flint, Key was already concerned about politicians using his town as a token of their commitment to black voters, without understanding that people in Flint are still in crisis. Nine months later, as Michigan residents prepared to cast ballots in the primary and with the Democratic field winnowed down to two, that is exactly what he saw happening.
“We are experiencing what I call water fatigue,” Key told BuzzFeed News in June. “They’re emotionally and psychologically tired. They’re tired physiologically with their health because of the effects of it. People are fatigued, and the last thing we need to do is waste any of our energy on something that’s not going to be productive.”
Locals say this could have been an opportunity for the candidate to show black communities — who Biden says were solely responsible for his campaign’s comeback in recent weeks — that he understands and takes seriously the systemic failures and lasting trauma in Flint.
Community advocates said that both Biden and Sanders’ approaches to Flint have been disappointing — and that events were hastily arranged in the past week ahead of the primary. Sanders did visit the town in 2018 and held an event on Saturday that included a local activist and was open to the public.
But his event also drew criticism after his campaign promised a speech about racial inequality that turned mostly into a regular stump speech. Journalists at the event said the room was filled with mostly white attendees, in a town that’s 53% black, and where the black community was disproportionately hit by the contaminated water.
Nayyirah Shariff, another resident and activist, was asked by Sanders’ campaign to speak at his event on Saturday. She said she thought the audience wasn’t particularly less diverse than other public events she’s attended in several years working in Flint, and appreciated the open format and the platform for her to talk about what’s happening there, but said the Sanders campaign’s last-minute approach was also disappointing.
“These things happen at the last minute. Like we’re just expected to drop everything and be grateful, like we’re not fighting for our lives here in Flint,” Shariff told BuzzFeed News.
Marseille Allen, a community activist who supported Sen. Kamala Harris’s campaign, also met with the Biden campaign when they reached out for advice. She said she was hearing from local activists and seeing their posts on social media railing against the way Biden spoke about Flint.
“Before it was even over, I got a bunch of text messages and calls from some activists,” she said. “They’re livid … you can't put up a bunch of politicians that nobody likes and think that we’re going to vote for him.”
Allen organized meetings for Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, on his visit to Flint last year — she said that was an example of the right way to visit Flint, without cameras and based around meetings with community members.
She said she's not endorsing any candidates, instead focusing on local issues, but would get more involved if Harris asks her to. She, too, told them to hold a public event and to focus on the experiences of people in Flint, rather than generalized talking points from public officials.
“They should have listened to me, because they’re getting slammed on social media,” she said.
As Biden praised the work of the state and city governments in Flint, local news outlets broke the story that the city government is, for the second time, in violation of the federal Safe Water Drinking Act after failing to collect enough samples from residents’ homes to test water quality.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--Bernie Sanders And Joe Biden Canceled Election Night Rallies Over Coronavirus Concerns

The Sanders campaign said that all future campaign events would “ be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
” Biden ’ s campaign said they would “ continue to consult with public health officials ” on future events .
ROMULUS , Michigan — Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden canceled their election night rallies in Cleveland at the last minute Tuesday over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak .
In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution , our rally in Cleveland , Ohio tonight is cancelled .
We will continue to consult with public health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about future events 1/ “ Out of concern for public health and safety , we are canceling tonight ’ s rally in Cleveland , ” Sanders communications director Mike Casca told reporters late on Tuesday afternoon , hours before he was scheduled to board a plane for a 7:30 p.m. rally in Cleveland .
“ We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials , who have communicated concern about holding large , indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak .
Sen. Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event tonight , ” Casca said in a statement .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said earlier Tuesday that he would recommend Ohioans avoid events with large crowds , after announcing three confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
DeWine asked that , among other things , indoor athletic events across the state proceed without spectators .
The recommendation to stay away from big public events would include political rallies , DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said .
But DeWine stopped short of calling on Sanders or Biden to cancel their planned events in Cleveland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters at an airport here outside Detroit that the candidate made the decision to cancel his event after seeing DeWine ’ s public guidance about spectators at athletic events .
`` We ’ re gon na continue to listen to health officials in the areas where we ’ re supposed to go , ” he said of campaign events going forward .
Sanders plans to take off for his home of Burlington , Vermont , on Tuesday evening , Casca said .
Biden 's campaign told reporters he would fly to speak to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Sanders campaign said they had heard no new guidance on whether Sunday ’ s CNN debate between Sanders and Biden in Arizona would be affected by the growing outbreak .
Over the last two weeks , as the virus has spread across the US , Sanders has held rallies before tens of thousands of people , including in states with active cases of COVID-19 , such as California .
Six states will vote in Tuesday ’ s primary contests , marking a crucial point for the Sanders campaign ’ s quest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s been casting as a two-person race with a stark policy contrast .
At an event in Detroit on Monday , Biden aides greeted attendees with squirts of hand sanitizer .
That same afternoon , Sanders held a policy discussion on the issue of COVID-19 .
“ All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis , ” Casca said in his statement .

“Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonight’s rally in Cleveland,” Sanders communications director Mike Casca told reporters late on Tuesday afternoon, hours before he was scheduled to board a plane for a 7:30 p.m. rally in Cleveland.
“We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak. Sen. Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight,” Casca said in a statement.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said earlier Tuesday that he would recommend Ohioans avoid events with large crowds, after announcing three confirmed cases of COVID-19. DeWine asked that, among other things, indoor athletic events across the state proceed without spectators. The recommendation to stay away from big public events would include political rallies, DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said. But DeWine stopped short of calling on Sanders or Biden to cancel their planned events in Cleveland, citing First Amendment issues.
Casca told reporters at an airport here outside Detroit that the candidate made the decision to cancel his event after seeing DeWine’s public guidance about spectators at athletic events.
"We’re gonna continue to listen to health officials in the areas where we’re supposed to go,” he said of campaign events going forward. Sanders plans to take off for his home of Burlington, Vermont, on Tuesday evening, Casca said. Biden's campaign told reporters he would fly to speak to reporters in Philadelphia later in the night.
The Sanders campaign said they had heard no new guidance on whether Sunday’s CNN debate between Sanders and Biden in Arizona would be affected by the growing outbreak.
Over the last two weeks, as the virus has spread across the US, Sanders has held rallies before tens of thousands of people, including in states with active cases of COVID-19, such as California.
Six states will vote in Tuesday’s primary contests, marking a crucial point for the Sanders campaign’s quest to catch up to Biden in what he’s been casting as a two-person race with a stark policy contrast.
At an event in Detroit on Monday, Biden aides greeted attendees with squirts of hand sanitizer. That same afternoon, Sanders held a policy discussion on the issue of COVID-19.
“All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,” Casca said in his statement.


buzzfeed--2020-03-10--Former Bloomberg Backer Rep. Gregory Meeks Will Now Endorse Joe Biden

WASHINGTON — Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York , who was previously one of Michael Bloomberg ’ s prominent supporters on Capitol Hill , will now endorse and back Joe Biden .
The move is not entirely shocking , given that Bloomberg endorsed Biden as he dropped out of the presidential race .
Meeks joins dozens of Congress members backing Biden .
Biden has strong support on Capitol Hill — especially among members of the Congressional Black Caucus .
`` We are grateful for the support of Congressman Meeks as we continue to build a broad and diverse coalition that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Biden adviser Andrew Bates .
Meeks told BuzzFeed News last week that Biden had not reached out to him , as did Rep. Bobby Rush , both CBC members .
The campaign , however , told BuzzFeed News the campaign reached out to both members and “ asked for their support previously during this election.
” Sources with knowledge of the situation said that the group of Congressional Black Caucus members who had previously backed Bloomberg would soon be announcing their support for Biden .
( Two sources had originally believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsure of the cause of the delay ) .
Meeks , while poised to support the more moderate candidate , told BuzzFeed News last week he would stand behind Sanders should he become the nominee .
But he also denounced Sanders ’ allies , saying he remains concerned about Justice Democrats , a group closely aligned with Sanders ’ surrogate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the fact they were launching primary challenges to several members of the CBC .
The endorsement speaks to the considerable shift in Biden ’ s campaign following the South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders in early primaries and caucuses .
Two presidential candidates exiting the race backed Biden , as did a host of congressional members who were either supporting another candidate or had been silent , including Reps. Val Demings and Bennie Thompson .
And Sens .
Cory Booker and Kamala Harris , two prominent black senators who had both run for president , came out in support of Biden and planned to rally with him in Michigan on Monday night .
Rep. Terri Sewell who helped deliver Alabama for Biden told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” last week .
Those gestures haven ’ t gone unrecognized .
Biden thanked a Mississippi congregation on Sunday , crediting his new frontrunner status to the African American community .
“ You ’ re the reason I ’ m back , no one else .
”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who was previously one of Michael Bloomberg’s prominent supporters on Capitol Hill, will now endorse and back Joe Biden.
The move is not entirely shocking, given that Bloomberg endorsed Biden as he dropped out of the presidential race. Meeks joins dozens of Congress members backing Biden. Biden has strong support on Capitol Hill — especially among members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
"We are grateful for the support of Congressman Meeks as we continue to build a broad and diverse coalition that will defeat Donald Trump this fall," said Biden adviser Andrew Bates.
Meeks told BuzzFeed News last week that Biden had not reached out to him, as did Rep. Bobby Rush, both CBC members. The campaign, however, told BuzzFeed News the campaign reached out to both members and “asked for their support previously during this election.”
Sources with knowledge of the situation said that the group of Congressional Black Caucus members who had previously backed Bloomberg would soon be announcing their support for Biden. (Two sources had originally believed it would happen on Monday but was unsure of the cause of the delay).
Meeks, while poised to support the more moderate candidate, told BuzzFeed News last week he would stand behind Sanders should he become the nominee. But he also denounced Sanders’ allies, saying he remains concerned about Justice Democrats, a group closely aligned with Sanders’ surrogate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the fact they were launching primary challenges to several members of the CBC.
The endorsement speaks to the considerable shift in Biden’s campaign following the South Carolina primary, who up until then trailed Bernie Sanders in early primaries and caucuses. Two presidential candidates exiting the race backed Biden, as did a host of congressional members who were either supporting another candidate or had been silent, including Reps. Val Demings and Bennie Thompson. And Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, two prominent black senators who had both run for president, came out in support of Biden and planned to rally with him in Michigan on Monday night.
Rep. Terri Sewell who helped deliver Alabama for Biden told BuzzFeed News “We brought it for Biden,” last week.
Those gestures haven’t gone unrecognized. Biden thanked a Mississippi congregation on Sunday, crediting his new frontrunner status to the African American community.
“You’re the reason I’m back, no one else.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-12--Coronavirus Is The Nightmare Situation People Worried About When Trump Won

Nobody knows what to do .
Is it ethical to go for a walk ?
Maybe ?
To the movies ?
Probably not .
How about to dinner with a friend ?
Likely not a great idea , but also small restaurants , and the people who work there , are suffering .
What is the right thing to do ?
Every decision in the time of COVID-19 has taken on extraordinary weight .
It ’ s up to us to stop this thing , we feel in our guts .
We know the tests just aren ’ t being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the task .
We look to a country on total lockdown and another digging mass graves and ask : Is this our future ?
This is the nightmare situation some feared when Donald Trump first came to power .
His favorability ratings have been about what you ’ d think — high among Republicans , low among Democrats .
But look at how many people view him as “ honest and trustworthy ” and you get a better picture .
One hundred days after he took office , he was viewed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , “ the lowest number ever recorded this early in a presidency , ” as my colleague Dan Vergano reported at the time .
That number stayed about flat at 34 % by summer of last year .
How do you live when you don ’ t trust your leader to do the right thing ?
We ’ ve seen mistakes before and disagreed with policies enacted by previous leaders .
Gay men probably know better than anyone what it ’ s like to live with a government that refuses to adequately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can wipe out millions of people .
To live amid a crisis without the basic assumption that your government is competent enough to handle it is a recipe for total anxiety .
Night after night , the president ’ s favorite acolytes on Fox News trot out a series of platitudes , as well as bleary-eyed senators and experts , to try to calm people down .
Sean Hannity , an informal Trump adviser , repeatedly insists that only elderly and immunocompromised people will die — as if those people aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ We ’ re not all gon na die , ” Laura Ingraham said Wednesday night , as if this was meant to make people feel better .
Later , a guest on her show assured those watching that only a fraction of the infected would face “ mortality issues , ” which is a new way of talking about death .
Millions of people around the world live this way , and have for decades , and it is unsettling to see this blanket of horror descend upon the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2002 when a group of Chechen militants took a crowded theater hostage in the middle of a musical .
The siege went on for days , and in the end 129 people were dead ( though some continue to insist the number was even higher ) .
Nearly all of them were killed not by the hostage-takers , but by a gas the Russian government pumped in through the vents to incapacitate the militants so they could storm the theater .
The government told no one — not police , not doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no way to treat people when they were pulled out .
Many of those who died had been loaded onto buses , seated with their heads slung back , and choked on their own vomit .
I was two years out of college then , a freelancer trying to make her way in the world , and have an image of myself absolutely frozen at the thought of what had just happened .
I ’ m standing wide-eyed in my living room , my hands covering my mouth , trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sacrifice dozens upon dozens of its people in a bid to look tough and decisive .
It could have been so different — why didn ’ t they do the bare minimum to ensure those people lived ?
Because they were fodder , a sacrifice for a bigger priority .
The Trump administration squandered weeks when they could have been preparing for COVID-19 by projecting denialism instead .
There they were , blaming China , hoping for warm weather , patting themselves on the back when they could have been getting tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health system under strain .
It seems like Trump only woke up to the crisis once the stock market began to crash , and spent the days after that focusing on the economic impact instead of informing an increasingly worried population .
Now he is calling for unity and trust .
Trump ’ s address to the nation — which contained numerous inaccuracies — was designed to project calm and resolve , according to aides .
Some of his supporters see the subsequent outcry as further evidence of a grand plan to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see is that everyone is screaming into the void , begging for guidance , but how are they supposed to trust a man for whom they know they are not the top priority ?
“ Epidemics do not create abnormal situations but rather sharpen existing behavior which ‘ betray deeply rooted and continuing social imbalances , ’ ” Roderick McGrew wrote in the last century , in a paper studying a cholera epidemic in Russia .
This pandemic is bringing everything into sharp focus — from class structures to the chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forcing us to reckon with the US 's role in the world , and our own image of ourselves .
And it is revealing the president for who he truly is , what he is capable of , and where his priorities lie , more than ever before .
That McGrew quote was cited in another paper , on a bubonic plague outbreak in South Africa in the early years of the previous century .
It begins with a quote from Benjamin Disraeli , the 19th century–era UK prime minister , speaking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foundation on which repose the happiness of the people and the power of a country .
The care of the public health is the first duty of a statesman.
” No wonder everyone feels at a complete loss .

Nobody knows what to do. Is it ethical to go for a walk? Maybe? To the movies? Probably not. How about to dinner with a friend? Likely not a great idea, but also small restaurants, and the people who work there, are suffering. What is the right thing to do?
Every decision in the time of COVID-19 has taken on extraordinary weight. It’s up to us to stop this thing, we feel in our guts. We know the tests just aren’t being done, the health system not up to the task. We look to a country on total lockdown and another digging mass graves and ask: Is this our future?
This is the nightmare situation some feared when Donald Trump first came to power. His favorability ratings have been about what you’d think — high among Republicans, low among Democrats. But look at how many people view him as “honest and trustworthy” and you get a better picture. One hundred days after he took office, he was viewed as such by only 36% of the public, “the lowest number ever recorded this early in a presidency,” as my colleague Dan Vergano reported at the time. That number stayed about flat at 34% by summer of last year.
How do you live when you don’t trust your leader to do the right thing?
We’ve seen mistakes before and disagreed with policies enacted by previous leaders. Gay men probably know better than anyone what it’s like to live with a government that refuses to adequately confront a deadly epidemic, one that can wipe out millions of people.
To live amid a crisis without the basic assumption that your government is competent enough to handle it is a recipe for total anxiety. Night after night, the president’s favorite acolytes on Fox News trot out a series of platitudes, as well as bleary-eyed senators and experts, to try to calm people down. Sean Hannity, an informal Trump adviser, repeatedly insists that only elderly and immunocompromised people will die — as if those people aren’t sitting there, at home, watching him. “We’re not all gonna die,” Laura Ingraham said Wednesday night, as if this was meant to make people feel better. Later, a guest on her show assured those watching that only a fraction of the infected would face “mortality issues,” which is a new way of talking about death.
Millions of people around the world live this way, and have for decades, and it is unsettling to see this blanket of horror descend upon the United States.
I was living in Moscow in 2002 when a group of Chechen militants took a crowded theater hostage in the middle of a musical. The siege went on for days, and in the end 129 people were dead (though some continue to insist the number was even higher). Nearly all of them were killed not by the hostage-takers, but by a gas the Russian government pumped in through the vents to incapacitate the militants so they could storm the theater. The government told no one — not police, not doctors — what the gas was, so there was no way to treat people when they were pulled out. Many of those who died had been loaded onto buses, seated with their heads slung back, and choked on their own vomit.
I was two years out of college then, a freelancer trying to make her way in the world, and have an image of myself absolutely frozen at the thought of what had just happened. I’m standing wide-eyed in my living room, my hands covering my mouth, trying to understand what it means for a government to sacrifice dozens upon dozens of its people in a bid to look tough and decisive. It could have been so different — why didn’t they do the bare minimum to ensure those people lived? Because they were fodder, a sacrifice for a bigger priority.
The Trump administration squandered weeks when they could have been preparing for COVID-19 by projecting denialism instead. There they were, blaming China, hoping for warm weather, patting themselves on the back when they could have been getting tests out and laying the groundwork for a health system under strain. It seems like Trump only woke up to the crisis once the stock market began to crash, and spent the days after that focusing on the economic impact instead of informing an increasingly worried population.
Now he is calling for unity and trust. Trump’s address to the nation — which contained numerous inaccuracies — was designed to project calm and resolve, according to aides. Some of his supporters see the subsequent outcry as further evidence of a grand plan to bring the president down. What they don’t see is that everyone is screaming into the void, begging for guidance, but how are they supposed to trust a man for whom they know they are not the top priority?
“Epidemics do not create abnormal situations but rather sharpen existing behavior which ‘betray deeply rooted and continuing social imbalances,’” Roderick McGrew wrote in the last century, in a paper studying a cholera epidemic in Russia. This pandemic is bringing everything into sharp focus — from class structures to the chaos of US health care. It is forcing us to reckon with the US's role in the world, and our own image of ourselves. And it is revealing the president for who he truly is, what he is capable of, and where his priorities lie, more than ever before.
That McGrew quote was cited in another paper, on a bubonic plague outbreak in South Africa in the early years of the previous century. It begins with a quote from Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century–era UK prime minister, speaking in 1875: “The public health is the foundation on which repose the happiness of the people and the power of a country. The care of the public health is the first duty of a statesman.” No wonder everyone feels at a complete loss.


buzzfeed--2020-03-12--Rep. Katie Porter Got A Trump Official To Promise Free Coronavirus Tests

California Rep. Katie Porter exacted a commitment from the director of the Center for Disease Control to pay for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ grilling the Trump administration official repeatedly in the middle of a Congressional hearing until he @ @ @ @ @ for the tests .
When CDC director Robert Redfield agreed to Porter ’ s demands @ @ @ @ @ the American public to urge them to get tested .
“ Everyone in America , @ @ @ @ @ eligible to go get tested for coronavirus and have that covered , regardless of insurance.
@ @ @ @ @ in federal administrative law to ask Redfield , if he would commit to “ using @ @ @ @ @ for diagnostic testing free to every American regardless of insurance .
”

California Rep. Katie Porter exacted a commitment from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pay for coronavirus testing for uninsured Americans, grilling the Trump administration official repeatedly in the middle of a congressional hearing until he agreed the government would pay for the tests.
When CDC Director Robert Redfield agreed to Porter’s demands, she quickly turned to the American public to urge them to get tested.
“Everyone in America, hear that. You are eligible to go get tested for coronavirus and have that covered, regardless of insurance.”
Porter cited a provision in federal administrative law to ask Redfield if he would commit to “using that existing authority to pay for diagnostic testing free to every American regardless of insurance.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-12--The Trump Administration Will Move Ahead With Its Plan To Kick People Off Of Food Stamps Despite The

The Trump Administration Will Move Ahead With Its Plan To Kick People Off Of Food Stamps Despite The Coronavirus Outbreak

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is moving ahead with its plan to enact strict work requirements on people who use food stamps despite the coronavirus pandemic — a move that could result in hundreds of thousands of people losing their eligibility for the program .
People could soon be forced to work public-facing jobs when they should stay home or else risk losing access to the assistance they get to buy food .
The Department of Agriculture confirmed this week it is sticking to its timeline to tighten work requirements starting April 1 .
People without a disability or children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualify for SNAP , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps .
The White House projects 700,000 people would lose SNAP eligibility .
Brookings Institution fellow Lauren Bauer filed access to information requests for figures from all 50 states and projected the number of people losing assistance would be much higher , at 1.3 million to 1.5 million .
But those projections all came out before the novel coronavirus swept across the United States , causing a wave of self-quarantines and threatening economic downturn .
“ That number is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ It ’ s going to cause harm both to the people who are eligible for SNAP , but it ’ s also going to cause harm for the economy.
” One fear is people who particularly work in the service industry or gig economy will see their hours cut as people stay indoors rather than go out to restaurants , bars and sporting events .
If those people fall below 80 hours per month , they can be kicked off SNAP .
There ’ s also a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into work while they feel ill , a dangerous proposition when officials are recommending most people stay home to help stop the spread of the disease .
The Trump administration had considered delaying the April 1 start day for the rule change but ultimately decided to stay on schedule , Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue confirmed on Tuesday to a House Appropriations Subcommittee .
Since the mid ’ 90s , adults between the ages of 18 and 49 without a disability or children have been required to work 80 hours per month , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SNAP eligibility over three years .
But states are currently waiving that requirement in high-unemployment areas .
The Trump administration rule change would make it harder for states to get those waivers .
Perdue said the administration , however , determined states can mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on SNAP enrollment through “ good cause ” waivers .
These exemptions apply when someone has a good cause for missing work , such as falling ill or an office building being shut down due to infection .
They can be authorized at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be approved federally .
“ Whether you are sick or your job says you can ’ t come to work , the good cause will eliminate need for work requirements under this rule , ” Perdue said in a statement released to BuzzFeed News .
Experts have raised concerns that good cause waivers need to be processed on a case-by-case basis .
This can cause case managers to become overloaded and people may not even know they are able to make such claims .
It also just seems like an odd time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work 80 hours of predominantly public-facing jobs , said Ed Bolen , senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
Because “ good cause ” is a relatively obscure provision , he said , it is not clear whether someone with a sick spouse at home would have cause to stay home from their food service job , even if that ’ s medically wise .
“ It just seems short-sighted and counter-productive to condition SNAP benefits on making those kinds of decisions during a public health emergency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee repeatedly pressed Perdue to delay the rule change until coronavirus was no longer a threat , as well as taking other steps to expand the social safety net .
“ Really it ’ s a cruel rule , taking food out of the mouths of hungry individuals , ” she said .
“ Why can ’ t we just postpone or delay this at least until at least this critical moment is over ?
” But Perdue said any response to coronavirus actions involving food programs would need to be approved by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a “ one government approach ” to the problem .
House Democrats included a blanket work requirement waiver during the length of the coronavirus outbreak in their signature legislation they introduced to address the crisis .
However , that policy package was rebuffed in the Senate , where Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell denounced the bill for creating a “ thicket of bureaucracy ” that will kill thousands of jobs .
What measures ultimately get passed will depend on negotiations between Congress and the White House .

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is moving ahead with its plan to enact strict work requirements on people who use food stamps despite the coronavirus pandemic — a move that could result in hundreds of thousands of people losing their eligibility for the program.
People could soon be forced to work public-facing jobs when they should stay home or else risk losing access to the assistance they get to buy food.
The Department of Agriculture confirmed this week it is sticking to its timeline to tighten work requirements starting April 1. People without a disability or children must work 20 hours per week to qualify for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.
The White House projects 700,000 people would lose SNAP eligibility. Lauren Bauer, a fellow with the Brookings Institution, filed access to information requests for figures from all 50 states and projected the number of people losing assistance would be much higher, at 1.3 million to 1.5 million.
But those projections all came out before the novel coronavirus swept across the United States, causing a wave of self-quarantines and threatening economic downturn.
“That number is going to be much, much higher,” she said. “It’s going to cause harm both to the people who are eligible for SNAP, but it’s also going to cause harm for the economy.”
One fear in particular is that those who work in the service industry or gig economy will see their hours cut as would-be customers stay inside rather than go out to restaurants, bars, and sporting events. If those workers fall below 80 hours per month, they can be kicked off SNAP. There’s also a public health issue: Hourly workers may go to their jobs while they feel ill, a dangerous proposition when officials are recommending most people stay home to help stop the spread of the disease.
The Trump administration had considered delaying the April 1 start day for the rule change but ultimately decided to stay on schedule, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue confirmed on Tuesday to a House Appropriations Subcommittee.
Since the mid-’90s, adults between the ages of 18 and 49 without a disability or children have been required to work 80 hours per month, or they are capped at three months of SNAP eligibility over three years. But states are currently waiving that requirement in high-unemployment areas. The Trump administration rule change would make it harder for states to get those waivers.
Perdue said the administration, however, determined states can mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on SNAP enrollment through “good cause” waivers. These exemptions apply when someone has a good cause for missing work, such as falling ill or an office building being shut down due to infection. They can be authorized at the state level and do not need to be approved federally.
“Whether you are sick or your job says you can’t come to work, the good cause will eliminate need for work requirements under this rule,” Perdue said in a statement released to BuzzFeed News.
Experts have raised concerns that good cause waivers need to be processed on a case-by-case basis. This can cause case managers to become overloaded, and people may not even know they are able to make such claims.
It also just seems like an odd time to be forcing people to go out and work 80 hours of predominantly public-facing jobs, said Ed Bolen, senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Because “good cause” is a relatively obscure provision, he said, it is not clear whether someone with a sick spouse would have cause to stay home from their food service job, even if that’s medically wise.
“It just seems shortsighted and counterproductive to condition SNAP benefits on making those kinds of decisions during a public health emergency,” he said.
Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee repeatedly pressed Perdue to delay the rule change until the coronavirus was no longer a threat, as well as taking other steps to expand the social safety net. “Really it’s a cruel rule, taking food out of the mouths of hungry individuals,” she said. “Why can’t we just postpone or delay this at least until at least this critical moment is over?”
But Perdue said any response to the coronavirus involving food programs would need to be approved by both the White House and Congress as part of a “one government approach” to the problem.
House Democrats included a blanket work requirement waiver during the length of the coronavirus outbreak in their signature legislation they introduced to address the crisis. However, that policy package was rebuffed in the Senate, where Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell denounced the bill for creating a “thicket of bureaucracy” that will kill thousands of jobs. What measures ultimately get passed will depend on negotiations between Congress and the White House.