buzzfeed--2020-03-17--Rudy Giuliani Doesn’t Know What He’s Going To Do During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Rudy Giuliani stepped out of his apartment on Sunday night and , like he does most Sundays , walked into Nicola ’ s Restaurant on the Upper East Side .
“ That place is [ usually ] packed on a Sunday night — packed , packed , packed , ” he said .
“ When I walked in , I was the first one there — I got the best table in the house.
” He had dinner , some drinks .
“ By the time I left there was no more than 10 people.
” Giuliani gets the freakout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t really get it .
He wants people to wash their hands and drink lots of water and cough into their elbows , but these empty flights ?
Eating dinner at home ?
Canceling playdates ?
What is this , a war ?
“ When I walked down my city yesterday and I saw her empty , I said , this is out of a movie .
Like Mars has invaded , or — it reminded me of the man in the closet , that HBO thing.
” ( He probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Amazon thing . )
“ I mean , I was looking for the Nazis coming down the street .
I mean , it 's a little too much.
” In fact , the city he was once mayor of has been far from empty , and many , like Giuliani , went out to dinner and bars and cafés over the weekend despite the urging of public health professionals .
That is set to change on Tuesday , after Bill de Blasio , the current mayor , ordered all restaurants to switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York implements a series of measures to try to keep people at home .
Giuliani doesn ’ t know what he ’ s going to do .
“ One of my good friends pointed out to me I could starve to death because I do n't know how to cook , ” he said .
“ Could you put out an advertisement for a cook — for a nice man , eats reasonably , not picky ?
” Surely he could make ... something .
“ I 've been trying to learn — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some guy was gon na show me how to make pasta .
I could probably do it by instinct.
” At 75 , Giuliani is in the range of people for which the coronavirus could be very serious if caught .
But , reached by phone on Monday , he said he was feeling fine and was in an unusually chipper mood .
The president ’ s personal lawyer has faded from the headlines ( and , mainly , into a podcast studio ) after months of shouting — on Fox , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would listen — about his conspiracy theory connecting Joe Biden to corruption in Ukraine , an elaborate plot against the president ’ s presumptive rival for the election in November that prompted an impeachment trial that engulfed Washington and now feels several light-years away .
But now is the time of the coronavirus , and everything is upside down .
We live in a world where Sen. Ted Cruz , a staunch Republican , is praising Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for giving “ good advice ” on how to behave in these uncertain times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California , is praising Trump for some of his handling of the crisis , and is in turn getting praised by right-wing personalities like Tomi Lahren .
Those who were once enemies , are now — at least temporarily — partners .
What is a yeller like Giuliani to do ?
Jump on the bipartisan train of kindness .
In the course of our 20-minute conversation , Giuliani offered — with no prompting — defenses of Biden , Barack Obama , Nancy Pelosi , and Chuck Schumer .
He didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coughing into his hand during the Democratic debate on Sunday night ( coughing into your elbow is not “ the way we were taught ” and “ I probably would ’ ve done the same thing ” ) .
For some reason he brought up Obama , and said he was once unjustly criticized for underestimating the deaths in a war zone ( the military was to blame because they were “ sucking his you-know-what ” ) .
Pelosi and Schumer , he said , “ got a little political , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t even have harsh words for de Blasio , who drew the ire of the city and much of the internet after he was caught distinctly not socially distancing himself by attending his favorite gym on Monday morning .
“ Look , you know I 'm a reflexive critic of de Blasio , ” Giuliani said .
“ I empathize with the position the mayor is in , and the governor and the president .
After all , these people did not invent this virus.
” What the actual hell is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole world truly has gone topsy-turvy , rest assured that Giuliani borders on coronavirus truther , questioning whether it really is that different from the flu .
He worries that canceling playdates will turn children into “ a bunch of social invalids ” and compares the harsh measures being implemented by federal and local governments to if he had decided to crack down on crime by “ locking everybody up.
” He thinks that , come November , when the president is up for reelection , everyone will have forgotten about the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not something the country , and the world , will be grappling to recover from for a still-unknown period of time , even if the pandemic subsides by then ( which is no certainty ) .
“ I do n't think it 'll be tough for his reelection because I think it 's going to be over with by June or July , by nature of science , ” he said , relying on theories that COVID-19 could be seasonal , which remains unknown .
“ By mid-July , given the human memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The only people remembered West Nile in the off-season was me and my Department of Health.
” “ The minute that people do n't have the illness , they go back to watching the basketball games , ” he said .
“ And by the time we get to September and October , the Yankees are five games ahead .
I 'm not gon na be thinking about the coronavirus.
” Giuliani , who toyed with the idea of extending his term and delaying New York City ’ s mayoral election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was too soon for Trump to consider something similar .
“ Oh , no , no .
It 's way too early on the general election , way too early… .
By July , this is going to look very different than right now.
” Giuliani said he had talked to Trump in recent days , and that the president didn ’ t sound more stressed than usual .
“ I have to tell you about Donald J. Trump — he is never overwhelmed.
” Giuliani said Trump asked for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nile Virus outbreak in New York , and the anthrax attacks in the wake of 9/11 .
“ I told him my first bit of advice on emergency management , which I learned from reading Winston Churchill , ” Giuliani said .
“ Tell people all the facts , tell them the unvarnished truth , even scare them if you have to , but never leave them that way , always find a way to give them hope in the end.
” In his press briefing Sunday night , Trump tried to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell reporters that Americans shouldn ’ t worry about running out of groceries , and then skipping out to “ make some calls.
” On Monday , he stayed longer , and told Americans to avoid being in groups of more than 10 people , while admitting , in response to a question , that the virus was not under control .

Rudy Giuliani stepped out of his apartment on Sunday night and, like he does most Sundays, walked into Nicola’s Restaurant on the Upper East Side.
“That place is [usually] packed on a Sunday night — packed, packed, packed,” he said. “When I walked in, I was the first one there — I got the best table in the house.” He had dinner, some drinks. “By the time I left there was no more than 10 people.”
Giuliani gets the freakout over the coronavirus pandemic, but he doesn’t really get it. He wants people to wash their hands and drink lots of water and cough into their elbows, but these empty flights? Eating dinner at home? Canceling playdates? What is this, a war?
“When I walked down my city yesterday and I saw her empty, I said, this is out of a movie. Like Mars has invaded, or — it reminded me of the man in the closet, that HBO thing.” (He probably meant Man in the High Castle, that Amazon thing.) “I mean, I was looking for the Nazis coming down the street. I mean, it's a little too much.”
In fact, the city he was once mayor of has been far from empty, and many, like Giuliani, went out to dinner and bars and cafés over the weekend despite the urging of public health professionals. That is set to change on Tuesday, after Bill de Blasio, the current mayor, ordered all restaurants to switch to delivery or takeout only as New York implements a series of measures to try to keep people at home.
Giuliani doesn’t know what he’s going to do. “One of my good friends pointed out to me I could starve to death because I don't know how to cook,” he said. “Could you put out an advertisement for a cook — for a nice man, eats reasonably, not picky?” Surely he could make...something. “I've been trying to learn — I'm a couple of days behind. Some guy was gonna show me how to make pasta. I could probably do it by instinct.”
At 75, Giuliani is in the range of people for which the coronavirus could be very serious if caught. But, reached by phone on Monday, he said he was feeling fine and was in an unusually chipper mood.
The president’s personal lawyer has faded from the headlines (and, mainly, into a podcast studio) after months of shouting — on Fox, into the ear of any journalist who would listen — about his conspiracy theory connecting Joe Biden to corruption in Ukraine, an elaborate plot against the president’s presumptive rival for the election in November that prompted an impeachment trial that engulfed Washington and now feels several light-years away.
But now is the time of the coronavirus, and everything is upside down. We live in a world where Sen. Ted Cruz, a staunch Republican, is praising Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for giving “good advice” on how to behave in these uncertain times. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, is praising Trump for some of his handling of the crisis, and is in turn getting praised by right-wing personalities like Tomi Lahren. Those who were once enemies, are now — at least temporarily — partners. What is a yeller like Giuliani to do?
Jump on the bipartisan train of kindness. In the course of our 20-minute conversation, Giuliani offered — with no prompting — defenses of Biden, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer.
He didn’t get why people were teasing Biden for coughing into his hand during the Democratic debate on Sunday night (coughing into your elbow is not “the way we were taught” and “I probably would’ve done the same thing”). For some reason he brought up Obama, and said he was once unjustly criticized for underestimating the deaths in a war zone (the military was to blame because they were “sucking his you-know-what”). Pelosi and Schumer, he said, “got a little political, but they backed off it right away.”
He didn’t even have harsh words for de Blasio, who drew the ire of the city and much of the internet after he was caught distinctly not socially distancing himself by attending his favorite gym on Monday morning. “Look, you know I'm a reflexive critic of de Blasio,” Giuliani said. “I empathize with the position the mayor is in, and the governor and the president. After all, these people did not invent this virus.”
What the actual hell is going on?
Lest you think the whole world truly has gone topsy-turvy, rest assured that Giuliani borders on coronavirus truther, questioning whether it really is that different from the flu. He worries that canceling playdates will turn children into “a bunch of social invalids” and compares the harsh measures being implemented by federal and local governments to if he had decided to crack down on crime by “locking everybody up.”
He thinks that, come November, when the president is up for reelection, everyone will have forgotten about the coronavirus, as if the economic fallout is not something the country, and the world, will be grappling to recover from for a still-unknown period of time, even if the pandemic subsides by then (which is no certainty).
“I don't think it'll be tough for his reelection because I think it's going to be over with by June or July, by nature of science,” he said, relying on theories that COVID-19 could be seasonal, which remains unknown. “By mid-July, given the human memory, you're not gonna remember it. The only people remembered West Nile in the off-season was me and my Department of Health.”
“The minute that people don't have the illness, they go back to watching the basketball games,” he said. “And by the time we get to September and October, the Yankees are five games ahead. I'm not gonna be thinking about the coronavirus.”
Giuliani, who toyed with the idea of extending his term and delaying New York City’s mayoral election in the wake of Sept. 11, said it was too soon for Trump to consider something similar. “Oh, no, no. It's way too early on the general election, way too early…. By July, this is going to look very different than right now.”
Giuliani said he had talked to Trump in recent days, and that the president didn’t sound more stressed than usual. “I have to tell you about Donald J. Trump — he is never overwhelmed.”
Giuliani said Trump asked for what he learned from dealing with the West Nile Virus outbreak in New York, and the anthrax attacks in the wake of 9/11. “I told him my first bit of advice on emergency management, which I learned from reading Winston Churchill,” Giuliani said. “Tell people all the facts, tell them the unvarnished truth, even scare them if you have to, but never leave them that way, always find a way to give them hope in the end.”
In his press briefing Sunday night, Trump tried to do something like that, coming out to tell reporters that Americans shouldn’t worry about running out of groceries, and then skipping out to “make some calls.” On Monday, he stayed longer, and told Americans to avoid being in groups of more than 10 people, while admitting, in response to a question, that the virus was not under control.


buzzfeed--2020-03-17--Ohio's Governor Recommended His State Move Tuesday's Presidential Primary Because Of The Coronavirus

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said the state ’ s Tuesday primary can not meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for preventing community spread of the coronavirus and is recommending postponing the vote until June 2 while continuing to accept absentee ballots by mail in the interim .
At an afternoon press conference , DeWine talked of a tough decision , made in consultation with other officeholders and voters calling with concerns about plans to go through with the primary as scheduled .
“ We should not force them to make this choice , ” DeWine said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others worried about their health .
“ The choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as American citizens .
Further , we should not be in a situation where the votes of these individuals who are conflicted are suppressed.
” Technically , DeWine can not cancel or postpone the election himself .
A third-party lawsuit will be filed Monday in Franklin County , home of Columbus , the state capital .
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose , the state ’ s chief elections administrator , appeared at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not contest the lawsuit and submit to the court the recommendations DeWine outlined .
The situation was still in flux Monday night : a judge rejected the attempt to delay the election .
It was not immediately clear if the plaintiffs — independent of the state government but operating with their public blessing — would appeal .
DeWine and LaRose issued a joint statement late Monday that made no explicit order or any clear indication of their next moves , though they reiterated their belief that a primary can not be held Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a free and fair election is the health and safety of Ohioans , '' DeWine and LaRose said in the statement .
`` The Ohio Department of Health and the CDC have advised against anyone gathering in groups larger than 50 people , which will occur if the election goes forward .
Additionally , Ohioans over 65 and those with certain health conditions have been advised to limit their nonessential contact with others , affecting their ability to vote or serve as poll workers .
Logistically , under these extraordinary circumstances , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold an election tomorrow that will be considered legitimate by Ohioans .
They mustn ’ t be forced to choose between their health and exercising their constitutional rights . ''
The circumstances around Tuesday 's primaries have shifted rapidly in just the last three days .
On Friday , as some states with primaries later in March or April began to move toward delaying their elections , state officials from Ohio , Arizona , Illinois , and Florida said in a joint statement that they intended to stay on track .
`` Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past , and based on the best information we have from public health officials , we are confident that voters in our states can safely and securely cast their ballots in this election , and that otherwise healthy poll workers can and should carry out their patriotic duties on Tuesday , '' they said .
But in the days since then , states across the country , including Ohio and Illinois , have virtually shut down to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Some states scheduled to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly had trouble recruiting poll workers .
And on Sunday , the CDC recommended that public gatherings of more than 50 people in the next two months be canceled or delayed .
Polling centers often have at least that many people in one location at a given time .
“ We understand the apprehension that voters have right now , '' Katie Hobbs , the secretary of state in Arizona , another state with a Tuesday primary , said in a statement late Monday .
`` I have been in consultation with election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leaders from the Democratic Party who agree that the election should move forward tomorrow . ''
“ This decision was not made lightly , and what it all comes down to is that we have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the near future , and elections do not end on Election Day , '' Hobbs added .
`` There are thousands of workers in communities across the state that must continue the job of counting the ballots in the days following the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more difficult and dangerous it could become . ''
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee , meanwhile , said early Monday night that the state 's primary would go forward as planned .

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the state’s Tuesday primary cannot meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for preventing community spread of the coronavirus and is recommending postponing the vote until June 2 while continuing to accept absentee ballots by mail in the interim.
At an afternoon press conference, DeWine talked of a tough decision, made in consultation with other officeholders and voters calling with concerns about plans to go through with the primary as scheduled.
“We should not force them to make this choice,” DeWine said of senior citizens, pregnant voters, and others worried about their health. “The choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as American citizens. Further, we should not be in a situation where the votes of these individuals who are conflicted are suppressed.”
Technically, DeWine cannot cancel or postpone the election himself. A third-party lawsuit will be filed Monday in Franklin County, home of Columbus, the state capital. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state’s chief elections administrator, appeared at the press conference and said the state would not contest the lawsuit and submit to the court the recommendations DeWine outlined.
The situation was still in flux Monday night: a judge rejected the attempt to delay the election. It was not immediately clear if the plaintiffs — independent of the state government but operating with their public blessing — would appeal.
DeWine and LaRose issued a joint statement late Monday that made no explicit order or any clear indication of their next moves, though they reiterated their belief that a primary cannot be held Tuesday.
"The only thing more important than a free and fair election is the health and safety of Ohioans," DeWine and LaRose said in the statement. "The Ohio Department of Health and the CDC have advised against anyone gathering in groups larger than 50 people, which will occur if the election goes forward. Additionally, Ohioans over 65 and those with certain health conditions have been advised to limit their nonessential contact with others, affecting their ability to vote or serve as poll workers. Logistically, under these extraordinary circumstances, it simply isn’t possible to hold an election tomorrow that will be considered legitimate by Ohioans. They mustn’t be forced to choose between their health and exercising their constitutional rights."
The circumstances around Tuesday's primaries have shifted rapidly in just the last three days. On Friday, as some states with primaries later in March or April began to move toward delaying their elections, state officials from Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, and Florida said in a joint statement that they intended to stay on track.
"Americans have participated in elections during challenging times in the past, and based on the best information we have from public health officials, we are confident that voters in our states can safely and securely cast their ballots in this election, and that otherwise healthy poll workers can and should carry out their patriotic duties on Tuesday," they said.
But in the days since then, states across the country, including Ohio and Illinois, have virtually shut down to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Some states scheduled to vote Tuesday, including Ohio, have also reportedly had trouble recruiting poll workers. And on Sunday, the CDC recommended that public gatherings of more than 50 people in the next two months be canceled or delayed. Polling centers often have at least that many people in one location at a given time.
“We understand the apprehension that voters have right now," Katie Hobbs, the secretary of state in Arizona, another state with a Tuesday primary, said in a statement late Monday. "I have been in consultation with election officials across the state, health experts and leaders from the Democratic Party who agree that the election should move forward tomorrow."
“This decision was not made lightly, and what it all comes down to is that we have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the near future, and elections do not end on Election Day," Hobbs added. "There are thousands of workers in communities across the state that must continue the job of counting the ballots in the days following the election. The longer we wait, the more difficult and dangerous it could become."
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, meanwhile, said early Monday night that the state's primary would go forward as planned.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--Medicare For All And Paid Sick Leave Are Often Dismissed As Impractical. Progressives Say The Corona

Medicare For All And Paid Sick Leave Are Often Dismissed As Impractical. Progressives Say The Coronavirus Proves They’re Not.

Jayapal ’ s home state of Washington has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus .
The state had 769 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , and 42 deaths , according to the most recent data from Johns Hopkins University researchers .
“ I really think that our push for Medicare for All is being highlighted — or the need for a system like that is being highlighted — right now with this , ” Congressional Progressive Caucus cochair Rep. Pramila Jayapal said in an interview with BuzzFeed News Thursday .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs of tests … we 're waiving the costs of other barriers that would prevent people from seeking medical care .
And all of you know , a lot of those things would be a ) so much easier and b ) would n't be an issue if we have Medicare for All.
” But it ’ s also an opportunity , congressional progressives have said , to prove that their policies work at a time when they ’ re consistently under attack for being too expensive or unrealistic .
Early Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid sick leave for some people affected by the coronavirus , increase food assistance to students and families , and provide free testing for the disease .
WASHINGTON — The coronavirus pandemic is worsening across the United States , with some states limiting bars and restaurants to carry-out only and forcing gyms and other businesses to close .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter , Outbreak Today , will do its best to put everything we do know in one place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
As of last Thursday , about a dozen people in nursing homes in the state had tested positive , including one person in Jayapal ’ s own district , she said , a development that ’ s highly concerning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at the most risk should they contract the disease .
The coronavirus response package that passed the House requires some employers to provide full-time employees with up to 10 days of paid leave .
Jayapal said she believes it could be a rare test run for progressive policies .
“ We are clairvoyant , ” Jayapal said , referring to the inclusion of many progressive policies in the Democratic response to coronavirus .
It ’ s not only an opportunity to prove their priorities will work , she said , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the economy to survive.
” “ A lot of times what happens is , you know , these things get pitted against some other cost , ” she said .
“ They 're said to be too expensive or impractical or not necessary .
And what a crisis like this shows — in a time like this shows — is that they are actually all of those things .
They 're practical , they 're necessary , and we can afford them because the cost of not doing them is way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a perfect test for Jayapal .
After BuzzFeed News spoke with the Democrat , the bill ’ s paid sick leave policy was altered to exempt large companies with more than 500 employees .
The legislation , which also includes increased food security benefits , is still the subject of intense negotiation on Capitol Hill .
It still needs to pass the Senate and President Donald Trump is pushing for a payroll tax cut and federal assistance for the oil and gas industry in response to the pandemic .
“ Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , really , corporate interests , but also doing things that are illogical , like trying to bail out [ the ] oil industry that you know are completely unrelated ” Rep. Mark Pocan , who serves as Jayapal ’ s cochair on the Progressive Caucus , said in an interview with BuzzFeed News Thursday .
Trump ’ s bailout plan is similar to the response to the 2008 financial crisis , Pocan said , and he thinks it ’ s misguided .
“ We gave money to Wall Street , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we gave it to big companies or big industries , ” he said .
“ This time , Nancy [ Pelosi ] has been very , very clear that this is something that 's family-focused first.
” Republicans on Capitol Hill have balked at Trump ’ s payroll tax cut proposal , and though they have resisted House Democrats ’ plan , Jayapal said Thursday she believed it was possible to pick up some Republican votes on the package , particularly because the proposals are temporary and tied to the virus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are partisan .
I believe that they would bring enormous comfort to and support to everybody across the country , whether you 're in a red district or a blue district , ” she said — especially , now , she added , “ because the cost is death.
” Earlier Thursday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Democrats ’ proposal “ as currently drafted ” was dead on arrival in the Senate and merely “ left-wing political messaging.
” But Friday afternoon , House Democrats and the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House last week and is set to pass the Senate early this week .

As of last Thursday, about a dozen people in nursing homes in the state had tested positive, including one person in Jayapal’s own district, she said, a development that’s highly concerning due to the fact that older people are at the most risk should they contract the disease.
The coronavirus response package that passed the House requires some employers to provide full-time employees with up to 10 days of paid leave. Jayapal said she believes it could be a rare test run for progressive policies.
“We are clairvoyant,” Jayapal said, referring to the inclusion of many progressive policies in the Democratic response to coronavirus. It’s not only an opportunity to prove their priorities will work, she said, but also “that they are necessary for the rest of the economy to survive.”
“A lot of times what happens is, you know, these things get pitted against some other cost,” she said. “They're said to be too expensive or impractical or not necessary. And what a crisis like this shows — in a time like this shows — is that they are actually all of those things. They're practical, they're necessary, and we can afford them because the cost of not doing them is way more unaffordable.”
But it’s not a perfect test for Jayapal. After BuzzFeed News spoke with the Democrat, the bill’s paid sick leave policy was altered to exempt large companies with more than 500 employees.
The legislation, which also includes increased food security benefits, is still the subject of intense negotiation on Capitol Hill. It still needs to pass the Senate and President Donald Trump is pushing for a payroll tax cut and federal assistance for the oil and gas industry in response to the pandemic.
“Not only is he trying to focus on corporations and, really, corporate interests, but also doing things that are illogical, like trying to bail out [the] oil industry that you know are completely unrelated ” Rep. Mark Pocan, who serves as Jayapal’s cochair on the Progressive Caucus, said in an interview with BuzzFeed News Thursday.
Trump’s bailout plan is similar to the response to the 2008 financial crisis, Pocan said, and he thinks it’s misguided.
“We gave money to Wall Street, we gave money to the auto industry, we gave it to big companies or big industries,” he said. “This time, Nancy [Pelosi] has been very, very clear that this is something that's family-focused first.”
Republicans on Capitol Hill have balked at Trump’s payroll tax cut proposal, and though they have resisted House Democrats’ plan, Jayapal said Thursday she believed it was possible to pick up some Republican votes on the package, particularly because the proposals are temporary and tied to the virus.
“I've never believed that these ideas are partisan. I believe that they would bring enormous comfort to and support to everybody across the country, whether you're in a red district or a blue district,” she said — especially, now, she added, “because the cost is death.”
Earlier Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Democrats’ proposal “as currently drafted” was dead on arrival in the Senate and merely “left-wing political messaging.” But Friday afternoon, House Democrats and the White House struck a deal, which passed the House last week and is set to pass the Senate early this week.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--Mitt Romney Wants The Government To Give Every American Adult $1,000 During The Coronavirus Outbreak

WASHINGTON — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the US , people nationwide are being encouraged to stay inside their homes , and states and cities are beginning to close restaurants , bars , and other businesses .
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney has a plan he thinks can help : Give every adult in the US $ 1,000 .
“ Every American adult should immediately receive $ 1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy , ” a press release from Romney said Monday .
“ Congress took similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While expansions of paid leave , unemployment insurance , and SNAP benefits [ the program formally known as food stamps ] are crucial , the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options.
” The proposal to give every adult $ 1,000 is one of several put forth by Romney to try and address the pandemic — and was central to entrepreneur Andrew Yang ’ s Democratic presidential campaign .
Yang , who qualified for several debates before exiting the race last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a universal basic income proposal that would give every American adult $ 1,000 per month .
Early Monday morning , ahead of the release of Romney ’ s proposal , Yang tweeted , “ Putting money into people ’ s hands is the obvious thing to do in this situation .
I hope Congress wakes up to this before it ’ s too late .
Every day is enormous at this point.
” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , another Democrat running for president , has also called for all Americans to receive $ 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus crisis .
The House passed a bipartisan emergency coronavirus spending bill last week .
The bill requires paid leave for some workers — though large companies of more than 500 employees are exempted — and provides increased nutrition benefits as well as free testing for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The package is supported by the White House and still needs to pass the Senate .
“ We also urgently need to build on this legislation with additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on students entering the workforce , and protect health workers on the front lines and their patients by improving telehealth services , ” Romney said in the statement from his office Monday .
“ I will be pushing these measures as Senate discussions continue about an additional relief package.
” In addition to the $ 1,000 checks , Romney is also proposing grants for small businesses , including “ unexpected costs due to COVID-19 ” as part of the consideration for how much money students receive from Pell Grants , deferring loan repayment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and requiring all insurers to temporarily cover telehealth visits .

WASHINGTON — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the US, people nationwide are being encouraged to stay inside their homes, and states and cities are beginning to close restaurants, bars, and other businesses.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney has a plan he thinks can help: Give every adult in the US $1,000.
“Every American adult should immediately receive $1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy,” a press release from Romney said Monday. “Congress took similar action during the 2001 and 2008 recessions. While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits [the program formally known as food stamps] are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options.”
The proposal to give every adult $1,000 is one of several put forth by Romney to try and address the pandemic — and was central to entrepreneur Andrew Yang’s Democratic presidential campaign.
Yang, who qualified for several debates before exiting the race last month, ran a campaign almost entirely focused on a universal basic income proposal that would give every American adult $1,000 per month.
Early Monday morning, ahead of the release of Romney’s proposal, Yang tweeted, “Putting money into people’s hands is the obvious thing to do in this situation. I hope Congress wakes up to this before it’s too late. Every day is enormous at this point.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, another Democrat running for president, has also called for all Americans to receive $1,000 per month for the remainder of the coronavirus crisis.
The House passed a bipartisan emergency coronavirus spending bill last week. The bill requires paid leave for some workers — though large companies of more than 500 employees are exempted — and provides increased nutrition benefits as well as free testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The package is supported by the White House and still needs to pass the Senate.
“We also urgently need to build on this legislation with additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations, ease the financial burden on students entering the workforce, and protect health workers on the front lines and their patients by improving telehealth services,” Romney said in the statement from his office Monday. “I will be pushing these measures as Senate discussions continue about an additional relief package.”
In addition to the $1,000 checks, Romney is also proposing grants for small businesses, including “unexpected costs due to COVID-19” as part of the consideration for how much money students receive from Pell Grants, deferring loan repayment for students impacted by the disease, and requiring all insurers to temporarily cover telehealth visits.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--Joe Biden Committed To Picking A Woman For Vice President

Joe Biden said that he would choose a woman as his running mate during Sunday ’ s Democratic presidential debate .
Bernie Sanders , the only other candidate on stage with Biden , also told the moderators that he would “ in all likelihood ” choose a woman to be his vice president if he won the nomination .
He added that his thought process behind the decision was not “ just nominating a woman ” but pushing a progressive woman , and that there are progressive women that could receive the nomination .
“ My very strong tendencies is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders said .
“ If I 'm elected president , my cabinet , my administration will look like the country and I commit that I will , in fact , appoint a , pick a woman to be vice president , ” Biden told the debate moderators .
“ There are a number of women qualified to be president tomorrow .
I would pick a woman to be my vice president.
” Biden has previously floated the possibility of nominating a woman to be vice president but had not fully committed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s something he thought about a lot recently and he decided he wanted to make a big commitment on a big stage , '' Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders told reporters on a call after the debate .
In the past , Biden has floated four specific women who he might select : New Hampshire Sens .
Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan , former acting attorney general Sally Yates , and former Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia Stacey Abrams .
Biden has also received endorsements from two former presidential candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose supporters have called for his campaign to pick them to be on his ticket .
Later on the post-debate call , which included other Biden campaign officials , a reporter asked specifically about Abrams , who ’ s often mentioned as a vice presidential prospect and was among those House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn — a Biden supporter — suggested in an interview with Axios .
“ There are a number of women who would be great in that position , and he is committed to picking one , ” Rep. Cedric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign , responded on the call .
“ I don ’ t think it would be appropriate to say who he ’ s talked to or not talked to.
” Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted that when he ’ d spoken with Biden that he hadn ’ t brought up that he was committing to picking a woman as vice president .

Joe Biden said that he would choose a woman as his running mate during Sunday’s Democratic presidential debate.
Bernie Sanders, the only other candidate on stage with Biden, also told the moderators that he would “in all likelihood” choose a woman to be his vice president if he won the nomination. He added that his thought process behind the decision was not “just nominating a woman” but pushing a progressive woman, and that there are progressive women that could receive the nomination. “My very strong tendencies is to move in that direction,” Sanders said.
“If I'm elected president, my cabinet, my administration will look like the country and I commit that I will, in fact, appoint a, pick a woman to be vice president,” Biden told the debate moderators. “There are a number of women qualified to be president tomorrow. I would pick a woman to be my vice president.”
Biden has previously floated the possibility of nominating a woman to be vice president but had not fully committed to the idea until Sunday night.
“It’s something he thought about a lot recently and he decided he wanted to make a big commitment on a big stage," Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders told reporters on a call after the debate.
In the past, Biden has floated four specific women who he might select: New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and former Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia Stacey Abrams. Biden has also received endorsements from two former presidential candidates, Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris, whose supporters have called for his campaign to pick them to be on his ticket.
Later on the post-debate call, which included other Biden campaign officials, a reporter asked specifically about Abrams, who’s often mentioned as a vice presidential prospect and was among those House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn — a Biden supporter — suggested in an interview with Axios.
“There are a number of women who would be great in that position, and he is committed to picking one,” Rep. Cedric Richmond, a cochair of Biden’s campaign, responded on the call. “I don’t think it would be appropriate to say who he’s talked to or not talked to.”
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted that when he’d spoken with Biden that he hadn’t brought up that he was committing to picking a woman as vice president.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--How Nina Turner’s Ohio Rivalries Foreshadowed Her Future With Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders faces long odds to defeat Joe Biden in Ohio , a state where one of his top allies has gone up against an establishment leader for years .
CLEVELAND , Ohio — Before she joined Bernie Sanders ’ revolution , Nina Turner wanted to lead her own in Ohio .
Once on a trajectory to be the next mayor of Cleveland , Turner instead challenged the status quo .
She fought for local government reforms that ended an era of corruption but also enraged leaders in the local black political establishment .
And then she threatened to primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat in Congress , at least in part , to those leaders .
This rivalry between Fudge and Turner , now going on a decade , is an insider vs. outsider story that helps explain Democratic campaigns in the most Democratic part of Ohio — and in the county that provides the largest share of the state ’ s black vote .
It ’ s also instructive as the presidential race shifts here this week amid bleak prospects for Sanders .
Fudge and most of the other insiders are backing former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign cochair and one of his most visible allies , is again pushing from the outside .
“ I always find myself doing the hardest work , doing the most life-altering work , not going with the status quo , ” Turner said in an interview last week , the morning after Biden beat Sanders soundly in several big primaries , including Michigan ’ s .
“ When you take on the hardest assignments , you know the difficulty is there .
I don ’ t run from that .
I have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent thinker and doing what I believe is right , even if the political headwinds are against me .
And I ’ m going to continue to do that as long as I have the breath to do it.
” There ’ s been little reliable polling in Ohio since the field narrowed to Biden and Sanders .
But the state ’ s demographics ( a sizable black vote in the three largest cities , a big working-class population , and plenty of moderate suburbanites ) reflect the type of voter coalition Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsement list in the state features some of the party ’ s most reputable organizers and vote-getters , including Rep. Marcy Kaptur , the longest-serving woman in the House — and a Sanders supporter in 2016 .
Fudge , a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus , initially endorsed Kamala Harris , before she ended her presidential campaign in December .
She came to Biden late , after his victory in the South Carolina primary revived his candidacy , and as other mainstream Democrats lined up behind him .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fudge praised Biden ’ s commitment to civil and voting rights .
“ But above all , ” she said , “ I believe in winning — because that ’ s where all paths forward to every other big thing we want to do start.
” In an interview last week , Fudge said she ’ s known Biden for years , though they are not close .
“ I thought Joe Biden was the fit for the district , ” Fudge explained , “ and for me , personally.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where most of the constituents are black .
The seat itself is the legacy of Louis Stokes , who became Ohio ’ s first black member of Congress after winning a racial gerrymandering case in the late 1960s .
When he retired in 1993 , the seat went to Stephanie Tubbs Jones , who like Stokes was one of the most influential Cleveland politicos of her generation .
When Tubbs Jones died suddenly in 2008 , party leaders helped elevate Fudge , who had been Tubbs Jones ’ chief of staff , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deferential to her elders — very much unlike the vivacious Tubbs Jones .
Through attrition , she grew into at least some of the influence that comes with her job .
Stokes and others who maintained a long-lasting grip in the black wards and precincts either died or backed away from public life in recent years .
Frank Jackson , now in his fourth term as mayor of Cleveland , doesn ’ t much care for state or national politics .
Fudge ’ s loyalty sometimes costs her , as it did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former judge Lance Mason after he pleaded guilty to charges he assaulted his wife .
( “ Lance accepts full responsibility for his actions and has assured me that something like this will never happen again , ” Fudge wrote in a supportive letter that became public in 2018 , after Mason killed his then ex-wife , and just as Fudge was considering a run for speaker of the House . )
And Fudge ’ s candidates don ’ t always win .
Her endorsement doesn ’ t carry the same weight as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did in South Carolina last month after he backed Biden , setting in motion Biden ’ s big victory there .
She “ seems popular with voters , ” longtime Cleveland political writer Brent Larkin observed recently , “ but has yet to demonstrate that unique ability to transfer that popularity.
” Even so , Fudge ’ s hand is often felt in local politics , including at the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party , chaired by a Fudge protégé .
“ Marcia ’ s reach to elected leaders and political leaders is significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former mayor of the large Cleveland suburb of Parma and a well-wired Democrat in the state , said when asked about her Biden endorsement .
After first endorsing Michael Bloomberg , DePiero now supports the former vice president .
“ She understands Ohio well — that it ’ s maybe a center-right state , ” DePiero added .
As Fudge settled into Congress in 2009 , Turner , then a state senator , joined with a cast of predominantly white leaders in Cleveland ’ s progressive circles to overhaul the Cuyahoga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , also a county commissioner , was at the center of a federal corruption investigation that resulted in dozens of convictions .
Turner ’ s group favored replacing the three elected commissioners , and a row of other elected officeholders staffed by patronage hires , with an elected executive , an 11-member county council , and appointed administrators .
Nearly every other black leader , including Fudge , opposed the ballot initiative , fearful it would rewind the progress black candidates had made winning countywide office .
Cleveland ’ s black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King and at the time largely under the editorial control of a prominent powerbroker in the black community , depicted Turner in a front-page cartoon as Aunt Jemima — an image meant to brand her as subservient to white authority .
Still , Turner ’ s side won , and she subsequently was mentioned as a future mayor or a top prospect for the new county executive position .
Instead , she began preparing to take on Fudge .
Turner pulled petitions for the primary and , sounding a lot like the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she saw an “ opportunity to represent a constituency that feels they have been disillusioned.
” But , much like how moderate and establishment Democrats rallied around Biden in recent weeks to keep the democratic socialist Sanders at bay , many of Greater Cleveland ’ s top black activists closed rank around Fudge , culminating with an endorsement event headlined by Stokes .
Turner withdrew her candidacy a few weeks later .
She stayed active in progressive causes and became a minor MSNBC celebrity , back in the days of The Ed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state in 2014 , losing badly in a year when a weak gubernatorial candidate dragged down the entire Democratic ticket .
And then , after being an early booster for Hillary Clinton , Turner abruptly joined Sanders ’ 2016 campaign .
She quickly became one of the Vermont senator ’ s top surrogates .
Soon Fudge and Turner would collide again .
After leaked emails showed Democratic National Committee officials mocking Sanders during the 2016 primaries , Fudge was pressed into a high-profile gig presiding over the convention that nominated Clinton .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including actor Susan Sarandon , after plans for Turner to address the convention fell apart .
A few days later , she openly considered an invitation to be the Green Party ’ s candidate for vice president .
Both women downplay their rivalry .
“ That was something the media wanted to drive , ” said Fudge , who believes Turner “ brings great value ” to Sanders ’ campaign .
“ We do n't always have to agree , ” a similarly diplomatic Turner offered .
“ I think we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oftentimes we find ourselves in disagreements politically , and that ’ s OK. ” More recently they have been on opposite sides of other Ohio races .
In 2018 , Fudge endorsed Richard Cordray in the Democratic primary for governor .
Our Revolution , the pro-Sanders political organization that Turner led at the time , backed Dennis Kucinich .
Cordray won handily , with a big showing in Cuyahoga County .
( Biden endorsed him after the primary . )
But Fudge ’ s support was of little help in a state senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council member she backed lost in a primary .
And a Turner protégé — her handpicked successor on the city council — lost his reelection bid in 2017 .
These mixed results show that neither has a local political network likely to sway Tuesday ’ s race to Biden or Sanders , though Fudge at least has an operation that ’ s been in recent use .
She said she has loaned her political consultant , Kenn Dowell , to the Biden campaign and has signaled for other allies to help the effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minutelong radio spot for Biden ’ s Ohio campaign .
“ We had a meeting yesterday , and within 24 hours of [ Fudge ’ s ] support , 50 elected officials and grassroots organizers came out to put the wheels in motion , ” Blaine Griffin , a Cleveland city council member and pledged Biden delegate , told BuzzFeed News two days after Fudge endorsed Biden .
Griffin also admires Turner .
“ You won ’ t hear any of us say anything bad about Nina , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But I will tell you that Nina has not been on the ground the last few years , and the dynamics on the ground here have changed dramatically .
She won ’ t bring the same kind of clout that Fudge does.
” “ Well , that ’ s certainly my hope , ” she replied when asked if her connection to Ohio would be an advantage to Sanders .
“ This is home , no doubt , but I ’ ve really been on the road a lot.
” Turner said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an operation she helped assemble — remains mostly intact , though she was reluctant to take credit for it .
Tara Mosley-Samples , a Sanders ally and member of Akron ’ s city council , noted the more than 1 million votes Turner won in her secretary of state race six years ago .
“ I think Nina brings a lot to the table for the state and especially for Cuyahoga County , ” said Mosley-Samples , who was Kucinich ’ s running mate in 2018 .
“ I think what she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Sanders campaign but also for the city of Cleveland will show up in the numbers greatly.
” But Mosley-Samples also conceded Biden ’ s lead in big-name Ohio endorsements .
“ It seems like we ’ re bucking up against the machine.
” So Turner draws inspiration from her past fights in the state , especially the county government overhaul that passed in spite of its many powerful opponents .
“ All of the forces were against us and certainly mounted against me , ” Turner said .
“ But ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different idea.
” “ The headwinds are strong , no doubt about it , ” she said of the Sanders campaign , before wryly reaching for a rallying cry for Elizabeth Warren , the former presidential candidate who competed for similarly progressive voters but has not thrown her support to Sanders .

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Before she joined Bernie Sanders’ revolution, Nina Turner wanted to lead her own in Ohio.
Once on a trajectory to be the next mayor of Cleveland, Turner instead challenged the status quo. She fought for local government reforms that ended an era of corruption but also enraged leaders in the local black political establishment. And then she threatened to primary Rep. Marcia Fudge, who owed her seat in Congress, at least in part, to those leaders.
This rivalry between Fudge and Turner, now going on a decade, is an insider vs. outsider story that helps explain Democratic campaigns in the most Democratic part of Ohio — and in the county that provides the largest share of the state’s black vote. It’s also instructive as the presidential race shifts here this week amid bleak prospects for Sanders. Fudge and most of the other insiders are backing former vice president Joe Biden. Turner, a Sanders campaign cochair and one of his most visible allies, is again pushing from the outside.
“I always find myself doing the hardest work, doing the most life-altering work, not going with the status quo,” Turner said in an interview last week, the morning after Biden beat Sanders soundly in several big primaries, including Michigan’s. “When you take on the hardest assignments, you know the difficulty is there. I don’t run from that. I have a history in this state of being an independent thinker and doing what I believe is right, even if the political headwinds are against me. And I’m going to continue to do that as long as I have the breath to do it.”
There’s been little reliable polling in Ohio since the field narrowed to Biden and Sanders. But the state’s demographics (a sizable black vote in the three largest cities, a big working-class population, and plenty of moderate suburbanites) reflect the type of voter coalition Biden has built elsewhere. Biden’s endorsement list in the state features some of the party’s most reputable organizers and vote-getters, including Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House — and a Sanders supporter in 2016.
Fudge, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, initially endorsed Kamala Harris, before she ended her presidential campaign in December. She came to Biden late, after his victory in the South Carolina primary revived his candidacy, and as other mainstream Democrats lined up behind him. In a statement the campaign circulated to announce her support, Fudge praised Biden’s commitment to civil and voting rights. “But above all,” she said, “I believe in winning — because that’s where all paths forward to every other big thing we want to do start.”
In an interview last week, Fudge said she’s known Biden for years, though they are not close. “I thought Joe Biden was the fit for the district,” Fudge explained, “and for me, personally.”
The district is the only one in Ohio where most of the constituents are black. The seat itself is the legacy of Louis Stokes, who became Ohio’s first black member of Congress after winning a racial gerrymandering case in the late 1960s. When he retired in 1993, the seat went to Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who like Stokes was one of the most influential Cleveland politicos of her generation. When Tubbs Jones died suddenly in 2008, party leaders helped elevate Fudge, who had been Tubbs Jones’ chief of staff, as her successor.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--Joe Biden Won The Endorsement Of The Nation’s Largest Union

Joe Biden won the endorsement of the nation ’ s largest union on Saturday , adding to his surge of support from unions , members of Congress , and elected officials around the country .
The National Education Association endorsed Biden because he “ understands that as a nation we have a moral responsibility to provide a great neighborhood public school for every student in every ZIP code , ” union president Lily Eskelsen García said in a statement .
She added that Biden ’ s K–12 and higher education plans , along with his commitment to raising teachers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s wife , Dr. Jill Biden , was a teacher both in public high schools and community college .
“ Biden has championed public education throughout this campaign and beyond .
He and Dr. Jill Biden , herself an educator and NEA member , have consistently reached out to NEA members across the country building the broad support among NEA members , ” Eskelsen García said .
“ He attended all three of NEA ’ s presidential forums , including in Iowa , Pennsylvania , and Texas , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his case to educators.
” The NEA has over 3 million members , more than 75 % of whom are college-educated women — a group of voters that both parties will be vying to win over in the general election — making them the largest union in the country as well as one of the most influential .
The union ’ s leadership voted to endorse Biden on Saturday .
The leadership of several larger national unions including the second-largest teachers ’ union , the American Federation of Teachers , have avoided making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle , after rank-and-file members took issue with leadership-level decisions to back Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Various local affiliates have backed Biden , Sen. Bernie Sanders , or Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who recently dropped out of the race .
In January , Nevada ’ s largest teachers ’ union , the Clark County Education Association , endorsed Sanders , and the United Teachers Los Angeles endorsed Sanders last November .
While the AFT has not made an official endorsement , the union leadership has said that after a process including members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , members and leadership to “ to be actively involved in supporting and helping Vice President Biden , Sen. Sanders , and/or Sen. Warren.
” The AFT ’ s president , Randi Weingarten , individually endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren before she dropped out of the race .

Joe Biden won the endorsement of the nation’s largest union on Saturday, adding to his surge of support from unions, members of Congress, and elected officials around the country.
The National Education Association endorsed Biden because he “understands that as a nation we have a moral responsibility to provide a great neighborhood public school for every student in every ZIP code,” union president Lily Eskelsen García said in a statement.
She added that Biden’s K–12 and higher education plans, along with his commitment to raising teachers’ salaries and funding support staff positions. Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was a teacher both in public high schools and community college.
“Biden has championed public education throughout this campaign and beyond. He and Dr. Jill Biden, herself an educator and NEA member, have consistently reached out to NEA members across the country building the broad support among NEA members,” Eskelsen García said. “He attended all three of NEA’s presidential forums, including in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Texas, as well as sat for a video interview to make his case to educators.”
The NEA has over 3 million members, more than 75% of whom are college-educated women — a group of voters that both parties will be vying to win over in the general election — making them the largest union in the country as well as one of the most influential.
The union’s leadership voted to endorse Biden on Saturday.
The leadership of several larger national unions including the second-largest teachers’ union, the American Federation of Teachers, have avoided making endorsements on behalf of their members this cycle, after rank-and-file members took issue with leadership-level decisions to back Hillary Clinton in 2016. Various local affiliates have backed Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who recently dropped out of the race.
In January, Nevada’s largest teachers’ union, the Clark County Education Association, endorsed Sanders, and the United Teachers Los Angeles endorsed Sanders last November.
While the AFT has not made an official endorsement, the union leadership has said that after a process including members surveys and polls, they encourage affiliates, members and leadership to “to be actively involved in supporting and helping Vice President Biden, Sen. Sanders, and/or Sen. Warren.”
The AFT’s president, Randi Weingarten, individually endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren before she dropped out of the race.


buzzfeed--2020-03-16--A Senator From The State Hit Hardest By The Coronavirus Is “So Angry And Frustrated” With Trump For

A Senator From The State Hit Hardest By The Coronavirus Is “So Angry And Frustrated” With Trump For Not Responding Sooner

“ Look , from day one , when we started seeing this grow and develop in China and continue to grow rapidly and expansively , all of us should have been aware that issues like a virus don ’ t stay in one place .
That we are a global community , people travel .
...
Instead , the reaction from the federal government or from the person in the White House , in particular , was ‘ no worries , be happy , ’ ” Murray told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Friday .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Murray , the lead Democrat on the Senate ’ s Health Committee , first called on Trump ’ s administration to intervene as early as January and told BuzzFeed News Friday that the administration was largely unresponsive leading up to the death of a Washington resident , the first person to die in the US , two weeks ago .
WASHINGTON — When Washington state emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , Sen. Patty Murray was already pushing President Donald Trump and the administration to act .
Now that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached 37 with more than 1,900 confirmed cases nationwide , Murray is furious that the president didn ’ t act sooner .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter , Outbreak Today , will do its best to put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
On Feb. 15 , Murray and 25 other senators sent a letter to Trump pushing him to request emergency funding to combat the novel coronavirus .
By Feb. 24 , Trump asked Congress for $ 2.5 billion , a figure Democrats said wasn ’ t enough .
Four days later , Trump called coronavirus Democrats ’ “ new hoax.
” A few days later , he told people at a town hall in Scranton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit with the virus really three weeks ago ” — this after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared the first confirmed coronavirus case in the country more than six weeks earlier .
“ It seems to me , from day one , the message from the top [ of ] this administration has been to downplay it , ” Murray said .
“ I don ’ t believe in panicking people , but I believe that our response as a country has to be ... a sense of urgency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Trump ’ s administration were equally unresponsive .
Earlier this month , Murray and nine other senators sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking how her department is coordinating with public health officials as it relates to coronavirus preparedness .
“ My own granddaughter ’ s school at that point had been closed for a week , ” Murray told BuzzFeed News .
“ I saw specifically what they were dealing with in terms of making sure that kids get access to material , that nutritious lunches were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every day , was in the school — kids who were sick themselves.
” The letter went unanswered as schools across the nation have begun to close in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee , a former presidential candidate whom Trump called “ a snake ” during a news conference , announced statewide school closures on Friday and he has banned public gatherings of more than 250 people .
Globally , more than 140,000 have contracted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Friday evening , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
There have been 43 deaths in the US with 37 of them coming from Washington state .
Twenty-five of those deaths were linked to the Life Care Center , a nursing home in Kirkland , Washington .
Murray is one of several lawmakers who has expressed concerns about access to coronavirus testing , particularly after a briefing from administration officials on Capitol Hill left members furious with the lack of information on the issue .
Murray said that after she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a hearing asking when testing would be available , health officials told senators during the closed-door briefing : “ ‘ No , we can ’ t tell you when.
” “ I am still talking to families every day who are being told ‘ we don ’ t have the test , ’ ” Murray said .
“ The message , consistently to everybody is , if you are sick , stay home .
”

On Feb. 15, Murray and 25 other senators sent a letter to Trump pushing him to request emergency funding to combat the novel coronavirus. By Feb. 24, Trump asked Congress for $2.5 billion, a figure Democrats said wasn’t enough. Four days later, Trump called coronavirus Democrats’ “new hoax.” A few days later, he told people at a town hall in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that the US “got hit with the virus really three weeks ago” — this after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared the first confirmed coronavirus case in the country more than six weeks earlier.
“It seems to me, from day one, the message from the top [of] this administration has been to downplay it,” Murray said. “I don’t believe in panicking people, but I believe that our response as a country has to be ... a sense of urgency,” she added.
Murray said other members of Trump’s administration were equally unresponsive. Earlier this month, Murray and nine other senators sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking how her department is coordinating with public health officials as it relates to coronavirus preparedness.
“My own granddaughter’s school at that point had been closed for a week,” Murray told BuzzFeed News. “I saw specifically what they were dealing with in terms of making sure that kids get access to material, that nutritious lunches were being provided for kids whose only meal, every day, was in the school — kids who were sick themselves.”
The letter went unanswered as schools across the nation have begun to close in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a former presidential candidate whom Trump called “a snake” during a news conference, announced statewide school closures on Friday and he has banned public gatherings of more than 250 people.
Globally, more than 140,000 have contracted the disease with 1,998 in the US, as of Friday evening, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There have been 43 deaths in the US with 37 of them coming from Washington state. Twenty-five of those deaths were linked to the Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington.
Murray is one of several lawmakers who has expressed concerns about access to coronavirus testing, particularly after a briefing from administration officials on Capitol Hill left members furious with the lack of information on the issue.
Murray said that after she made numerous calls to administration officials and held a hearing asking when testing would be available, health officials told senators during the closed-door briefing: “‘No, we can’t tell you when.”
“I am still talking to families every day who are being told ‘we don’t have the test,’” Murray said. “The message, consistently to everybody is, if you are sick, stay home.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-13--Trump Said He Won't Self-Isolate After Coming Into Contact With Someone With The Coronavirus But He'

Trump Said He Won't Self-Isolate After Coming Into Contact With Someone With The Coronavirus But He'll "Most Likely" Get Tested

Trump said he will likely get tested , but not because he came into contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19 .
WASHINGTON — After shaking hands with several CEOs of major US companies , President Donald Trump said Friday he will “ most likely ” get tested for the coronavirus after coming into contact with a Brazilian official who later tested positive .
Trump dined with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago last weekend and was photographed standing next to Bolsonaro ’ s press secretary , Fabio Wajngarten .
Wajngarten tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Trump has so far declined to get tested or self-isolate , despite Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez doing so after coming in contact with Wajngarten .
Suarez tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday .
Several other Republicans have also self-isolated after coming into contact with an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference who later tested positive ; Trump gave a speech at the conference .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter Outbreak Today will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
During a lengthy press conference Friday , Trump interacted with several top administration officials and business leaders .
He said he did not need to get tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have a White House doctor — I should say many White House doctors , '' said Trump .
`` I asked them that same question , and they said , ‘ You don ’ t have any symptoms whatsoever.
’ And we do n't want people without symptoms to go and do the test .
The test is not insignificant . ''
But when he was pressed on his contact with the Brazilian staffer , Trump said , “ I didn ’ t say I wasn ’ t going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , he said , “ Most likely .
Not for that reason , but because I think I will do it anyway .
Fairly soon .
We ’ re working out a schedule.
” During the same press conference , he announced that all Americans returning from Europe would be directed to self-quarantine for 14 days , regardless of whether they showed symptoms .
Trump said he and Bolsonaro “ sat next to each other for a long period of time ” but he was not concerned , because the Brazilian president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said it was negative .
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham announced Thursday he was self-quarantining because he also was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend , though he said he has no recollection of direct contact with Bolsonaro or Wajngarten .
Graham 's office said he is awaiting the results of a coronavirus test .

WASHINGTON — After shaking hands with several CEOs of major US companies, President Donald Trump said Friday he will “most likely” get tested for the coronavirus after coming into contact with a Brazilian official who later tested positive.
Trump dined with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago last weekend and was photographed standing next to Bolsonaro’s press secretary, Fabio Wajngarten. Wajngarten tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on Thursday.
Trump has so far declined to get tested or self-isolate, despite Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez doing so after coming in contact with Wajngarten. Suarez tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Several other Republicans have also self-isolated after coming into contact with an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference who later tested positive; Trump gave a speech at the conference.


buzzfeed--2020-03-14--Chinese Diplomats Are Pushing Conspiracy Theories That The Coronavirus Didn't Originate In China

On Thursday , a prominent Chinese diplomat tweeted a false conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus did not originate in Wuhan , China , but in the United States .
“ This article is very much important to each and every one of us .
Please read and retweet it .
COVID-19 : Further Evidence that the Virus Originated in the US , ” Lijian Zhao , the deputy director-general of the Information Department of China 's Foreign Ministry , tweeted .
In a follow-up tweet , the diplomat wrote , “ Just take a few minutes to read one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it changed many things I used to believe in .
Please retweet to let more people know about it.
” The tweet linked to a story on conspiracy theory site Global Research that falsely claimed the novel coronavirus originated in the US .
Experts at the World Health Organization have concluded the disease first appeared in the Chinese province of Hubei .
As of Friday , the disease has infected 137,860 people and killed 5,074 around the world .
The false claim was far from the only piece of propaganda that Zhao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Foreign Ministry on Twitter , has pushed about the coronavirus outbreak in the last week — a strategy that did n't convince anyone , but appears designed to polarize the US government and disrupt any bipartisan mitigation efforts .
Zhao and Hua Chunying , another spokesperson for China ’ s Foreign Ministry , have flooded Twitter with posts lauding the Chinese Communist Party 's response to COVID-19 and indulging in conspiracy theories about the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Unlike other parts of China ’ s propaganda apparatus , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks like Weibo and WeChat , Zhao , Hua , and a small group of other diplomats have become more and more brazen about taking their information war to American platforms .
Following Zhao and Hua ’ s tweet , the State Department summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Friday .
The Chinese embassy did not respond to a request for comment .
President Donald Trump , in a coronavirus press conference Friday , was asked about Zhao 's propaganda efforts .
Trump waved them away , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They know where [ the virus ] came from , we all know where it came from , '' he said .
Del Harvey , Twitter 's vice president of trust and safety , said the platform is assessing things `` case by case '' and that government officials do n't have special rights to post harmful information , but the platform is also taking into account if the replies to tweets are providing `` corrective '' information .
Zhao , who currently has 284,000 followers on Twitter , first went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He did so again last November after he fired off an eight-part tweetstorm about American racism and mocked Trump .
“ This is a time for Chinese diplomats to tell the true picture , ” he told BuzzFeed News in December .

On Thursday, a prominent Chinese diplomat tweeted a false conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus did not originate in Wuhan, China, but in the United States.
“This article is very much important to each and every one of us. Please read and retweet it. COVID-19: Further Evidence that the Virus Originated in the US,” Lijian Zhao, the deputy director-general of the Information Department of China's Foreign Ministry, tweeted. In a follow-up tweet, the diplomat wrote, “Just take a few minutes to read one more article. This is so astonishing that it changed many things I used to believe in. Please retweet to let more people know about it.”
The tweet linked to a story on conspiracy theory site Global Research that falsely claimed the novel coronavirus originated in the US. Experts at the World Health Organization have concluded the disease first appeared in the Chinese province of Hubei. As of Friday, the disease has infected 137,860 people and killed 5,074 around the world.
The false claim was far from the only piece of propaganda that Zhao, the most prominent member of China's Foreign Ministry on Twitter, has pushed about the coronavirus outbreak in the last week — a strategy that didn't convince anyone, but appears designed to polarize the US government and disrupt any bipartisan mitigation efforts.
Zhao and Hua Chunying, another spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, have flooded Twitter with posts lauding the Chinese Communist Party's response to COVID-19 and indulging in conspiracy theories about the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Unlike other parts of China’s propaganda apparatus, which are typically concerned with manipulating homegrown social networks like Weibo and WeChat, Zhao, Hua, and a small group of other diplomats have become more and more brazen about taking their information war to American platforms.
Following Zhao and Hua’s tweet, the State Department summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Friday. The Chinese embassy did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump, in a coronavirus press conference Friday, was asked about Zhao's propaganda efforts. Trump waved them away, saying they wouldn't impact trade with China.
"They know where [the virus] came from, we all know where it came from," he said.
Del Harvey, Twitter's vice president of trust and safety, said the platform is assessing things "case by case" and that government officials don't have special rights to post harmful information, but the platform is also taking into account if the replies to tweets are providing "corrective" information.
Zhao, who currently has 284,000 followers on Twitter, first went viral in the US last July. He did so again last November after he fired off an eight-part tweetstorm about American racism and mocked Trump.
“This is a time for Chinese diplomats to tell the true picture,” he told BuzzFeed News in December.


buzzfeed--2020-03-14--Trump Declared A National State Of Emergency Over The Coronavirus Outbreak

Several states had been pleading with Trump to declare a state of emergency to help them fight the outbreak .
President Trump declared a national state of emergency on Friday over the coronavirus outbreak , unleashing billions of dollars in federal funding and ordering all states to set up emergency operations centers to combat the pandemic .
`` To unleash the full power of the federal government , I 'm officially declaring a national emergency , '' Trump told reporters in the White House Rose Garden .
`` Two very big words . ''
A number of cities and states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing them to access federal aid to address the health crisis , but Trump said the national emergency would unleash a further $ 50 billion nationally .
The president also ordered hospitals to activate emergency preparedness plans .
`` We 'll remove or eliminate every obstacle necessary to deliver our people the care that they need and that they 're entitled to , '' he said .
`` No resource will be spared .
Nothing whatsoever . ''
Trump said Google is setting up an online quiz that people can take to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Those who need the test will then be directed to a drive-thru testing area ; the CEOs of Walmart , Target , CVS , and Walgreens said they will open their parking lots across the country for testing .
But Google said Friday evening that Trump was incorrect , according to the Verge .
The website is being developed not by Google , but another division of its parent company Alphabet , and it will only direct people to testing sites in the Bay Area , at least initially .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public-private partnership to increase testing for COVID-19 , saying that the FDA had approved a new test within hours after receiving an application to do so .
`` We therefore expect up to half a million additional tests will be available early next week , '' he said .
`` We 'll be announcing locations probably on Sunday night . ''
The administration is also directing nursing homes to temporarily restrict visitors and nonessential personnel with a few exceptions , such as end-of-life situations , said Seema Verma , administrator for the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press conference .
“ We fully appreciate that this measure represents a severe trial for residents of nursing homes and those who love them .
But we are doing what we must to protect our vulnerable elderly , ” said Verma .
Elderly people are at a much higher risk of dying from a COVID-19 infection .
Studies show the mortality rate for people aged 80 and older could be over 20 % , while the mortality rates for people under the age of 50 are significantly below 1 % .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders to waive interest on student loans held by federal government agencies until further notice .
`` That 's a big thing for a lot of students that are left in the middle right now , '' he said .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter Outbreak Today will do its best to put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
Trump also said the United Kingdom may be added to the list of countries that are banned from air travel to the United States .
The UK was initially excluded from the ban of 26 European countries that make up the Schengen Area .
When asked why the UK was excluded when it has more cases of confirmed coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said , “ We may have to include them in the list.
” Trump also said that due to plummeting oil prices , he has directed Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to purchase large quantities of oil for strategic reserves .
Trump was also asked Friday about his contact with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago property .
A Bolsonaro staffer who was there tested positive for COVID-19 , while the Brazilian president himself has said he tested negative .
`` We have no symptoms whatsoever , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He later added , `` As you know , he tested negative , meaning nothing wrong this morning , and we got that word too — because we did have dinner with him , uh , we were sitting next to each other for a long period of time . ''
Asked why he was n't self-isolating , as other politicians who have interacted with those who have tested positive for the disease have done , Trump reiterated : `` I do n't have any of the symptoms .
We have a White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House doctors .
I asked them that same question , and they said , 'you do n't have any symptoms whatsoever . '
'' The national emergency comes amid widespread criticism over his administration 's slow response to the outbreak so far as well as the federal government 's missteps in testing for the disease .
States such as Washington and California had been pleading with Trump to declare a state of emergency so they can mobilize their Medicaid systems to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
As first reported by Talking Points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicaid rules to both provide more care and offer more options for people to receive health services .
Essentially , they want to make the system more flexible to prevent it from being overwhelmed .
However , they ’ ve been hamstrung by the Trump administration because making these changes requires specific waivers — known as 1135 waivers — that can only be used when the president has declared an emergency .
But for weeks now , Trump has refused such a declaration and downplayed the danger posed by the COVID-19 pandemic .

President Trump declared a national state of emergency on Friday over the coronavirus outbreak, unleashing billions of dollars in federal funding and ordering all states to set up emergency operations centers to combat the pandemic.
"To unleash the full power of the federal government, I'm officially declaring a national emergency," Trump told reporters in the White House Rose Garden. "Two very big words."
A number of cities and states have already declared states of emergency, allowing them to access federal aid to address the health crisis, but Trump said the national emergency would unleash a further $50 billion nationally.
The president also ordered hospitals to activate emergency preparedness plans.
"We'll remove or eliminate every obstacle necessary to deliver our people the care that they need and that they're entitled to," he said. "No resource will be spared. Nothing whatsoever."
Trump said Google is setting up an online quiz that people can take to determine whether they need to be tested for the coronavirus. Those who need the test will then be directed to a drive-thru testing area; the CEOs of Walmart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens said they will open their parking lots across the country for testing.
But Google said Friday evening that Trump was incorrect, according to the Verge. The website is being developed not by Google, but another division of its parent company Alphabet, and it will only direct people to testing sites in the Bay Area, at least initially.
Additionally on Friday, Trump announced a public-private partnership to increase testing for COVID-19, saying that the FDA had approved a new test within hours after receiving an application to do so.
"We therefore expect up to half a million additional tests will be available early next week," he said. "We'll be announcing locations probably on Sunday night."
The administration is also directing nursing homes to temporarily restrict visitors and nonessential personnel with a few exceptions, such as end-of-life situations, said Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, at the press conference. “We fully appreciate that this measure represents a severe trial for residents of nursing homes and those who love them. But we are doing what we must to protect our vulnerable elderly,” said Verma.
Elderly people are at a much higher risk of dying from a COVID-19 infection. Studies show the mortality rate for people aged 80 and older could be over 20%, while the mortality rates for people under the age of 50 are significantly below 1%.
The president also said he had signed executive orders to waive interest on student loans held by federal government agencies until further notice.
"That's a big thing for a lot of students that are left in the middle right now," he said.