theblaze--2020-04-01--Seattle's top cop urges residents to call 911 if they hear 'racist name-calling'

Seattle 's top cop urges residents to call 911 if they hear 'racist name-calling' Chief Carmen Best 's priorities are @ @ @ @ @ outbreak

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best has taken the time during the coronavirus pandemic to issue a public service announcement encouraging the residents of Washington state to call emergency services to report any incident of "racist name calling."
What are the details?
Chief Best joined forces with retired local news anchor Lori Matuskawa to record her "chief's brief" update urging folks to turn in anyone suspected of committing such a "hate crime," as her city faces a continued rise in COVID-19 cases.
"Washington State is no place for hate," Best wrote in a tweet promoting the video on Monday. "In a show of solidarity, @LoriMatsukawa joined me to remind everyone that hate has no place in our community. Report hate, including racist name calling, to 911. We are here to help, and will respond to investigate. #WeGotThisSeattle."
Chief Best's message comes amid reports from numerous outlets including the New York Times that "racial animus" against Asian Americans has emerged since the novel coronavirus — which originated in China — spread to the United States.
Indeed, there have been reports of actual hate crimes committed against Asian Americans in recent weeks, allegedly over fears that they were spreading the virus. The Daily Beast reported Monday that a man stabbed three members of an Asian American family at a Texas Sam's Club earlier this month — including a 2-year-old girl — telling the police that he believed the victims were Chinese and could be carrying the disease.
Federal authorities charged the attempted murders as hate crimes due to the motivation behind the attack. But it is important to note the difference between an actual crime and using language determined to be offensive.
Reason magazine senior editor Robby Soave argues in a recent piece that Chief Best's call for citizens to report name-calling to the police (especially during a crisis) is "a time-wasting imperative—and one that's at odds with the First Amendment."
"This is unhelpful guidance that conflates two completely different things," Soave writes of Best's message. "A hate crime takes place when a person, motivated by animus, engages in criminal activity against a protected class. Importantly, the underlying action has to be criminal in nature: vandalism, assault, etc." whereas "engaging in racist speech is not itself a criminal action."
Soave went on to point out that "inviting the police to intervene in speech-based disputes between people is a recipe for disaster," saying that "at best, it's wasting police officers' time."
The Seattle Police Department did not respond to Reason's request for comment on the matter.


theblaze--2020-04-01--WSJ report explains how China has been suppressing their statistics on coronavirus cases

WSJ report explains how China has been suppressing their statistics on coronavirus cases There 's plenty of reason to be @ @ @ @ @

China has been praised by many in the media over its apparent success in combatting the coronavirus, but a new report explains how the communist country has been suppressing the statistics.
A Wall Street Journal report published on Tuesday cited a top Chinese public health official who admitted that China was not counting those who tested positive without manifesting the coronavirus symptoms.
Chang Jile said that more than 1,500 people infected with the coronavirus were not counted in the national tally because they were asymptomatic.
He said that China would begin reporting the number of asymptomatic persons who tested positive on Wednesday.
China has been excoriated by many for covering up the emergence of the virus in Wuhan and for constantly propagating misinformation in order to divert from its government's incompetence in managing and reporting the contagion.
In one particularly egregious example, a Chinese official accused the U.S. military of introducing the virus to Wuhan. Experts agree that the most likely origin of the virus was from an infected bat being eaten by a human being in one of Wuhan's unsanitary "wet markets."
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was among those questioning the numbers from China and criticizing the media for reporting them without skepticism.
"Some in our media can't contain their glee & delight in reporting that the U.S. has more #CoronaVirus cases than #China," tweeted Rubio.
"Beyond being grotesque,its bad journalism," he added. "We have NO IDEA how many cases China really has but without any doubt its significantly more than why they admit to."
Here's more about the coronavirus in China:


theblaze--2020-04-01--Pastor arrested, jailed for holding Sunday services despite 'safer-at-home' orders

On Tuesday 's episode of `` The Steve Deace Show , '' Liberty Counsel 's Mat Staver joined Steve to @ @ @ @ @ Rodney Howard-Browne who was arrested Monday after allegedly holding two Sunday services in violation a @ @ @ @ @ limit the spread of COVID-19 in Tampa , Florida .
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On Tuesday's episode of "The Steve Deace Show," Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver joined Steve to discuss the case of Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne who was arrested Monday after allegedly holding two Sunday services in violation of a "safer-at-home" order to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Tampa, Florida.
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-04-01--FBI says skyrocketing demand for guns has broken record for background checks

FBI says skyrocketing demand for guns has broken record for background checks The coronavirus has turned out millions of new @ @

The panic over the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in such a demand for gun purchases that the FBI has noted a record-breaking number of gun background checks.
The FBI says it fulfilled 3.7 million background checks for the month of March, the largest monthly number it has ever seen.
Previously, the record for monthly background checks was 3.3 million in December 2015.
The record set for March is more than one million higher than that from a year previous in March, when the FBI said it fulfilled 2.64 million checks.
Gun store owners have reported a skyrocketing demand for firearms, and many have sold out their inventory. Long lines delay new gun owners, many of whom are frustrated by the gun control laws they face.
Gun control advocates decried the increase and said that higher numbers of gun possession during a time when people are locked in their homes would lead to more gun violence.
Some local governments have attempted to shut down gun shops, while others, like the state of Texas, have defined gun shops as "essential" businesses and kept them open.
Many Asian Americans are also rushing to buy firearms after a rise in racist incidents against the Asian American community in the news.
Here's more about America's strange new respect for the Second Amendment:


theblaze--2020-04-01--'I want to go right into the hurricane': MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is NOT afraid to speak out about

'I want to go right into the hurricane': MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is NOT afraid to speak out about his faith

' I want to go right into the hurricane ' : MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is NOT afraid to speak @ @ @ @ @ wo n't let the media intimidate him

MyPillow inventor and CEO Mike Lindell was lambasted by the left and the mainstream media after he announced at a White House press briefing on Monday that his company will start making tens of thousands of masks to fight against the spread of coronavirus. Lindell also thanked God for President Donald Trump and encouraged Americans to turn back to God in this time of crisis.
Read the details here.
Whether it was his support for President Trump or his strong religious beliefs, no one has stirred up the media quite like Mike Lindell. He joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Tuesday to talk about the president, the "horrible, crazy media," and how he's not afraid to keep speaking out about his faith.
"I think people are going to quit being brainwashed by this horrible, crazy media — they know who they are — and the public is going to see the amazing job that our president is doing," Lindell said. "I've done interview after interview today. I'm taking all the bad ones on — I think I'm going on 'The View' tomorrow. I love it. I want to go right into the hurricane. Finally, I get to speak out for Jesus like I want to."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
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theblaze--2020-04-01--Joe Biden offers to call President Trump to discuss COVID-19 response: report

The former vice president 's offer comes after White House counselor Kellie Ann Conway suggested he 'offer some support ' @ @ @ @ @ 'his bunker '

Democratic presidential front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden has reportedly offered to call President Donald Trump to discuss the federal government's strategy in fighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
What are the details?
Fox News published an exclusive story Wednesday reporting that Biden offered to reach out to the commander in chief after White House counselor Kellyanne Conway suggested Biden offer some help rather than simply criticizing President Trump's response from the safety of "his bunker" at home.
"I think it's really disappointing to have President Obama's number two, who apparently doesn't talk much to him, out there, criticizing, instead of saying, 'Hey, here is what we did that we thought was effective," Conway told "Fox & Friends" Wednesday morning.
"Why doesn't Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support?" Conway challenged. "I have to tell you we're not talking about politics here at the White House at all. We're talking about ventilators and vaccines, not Biden and Bernie. There's really no time for that, but it's very disappointing when you see the criticism."
Hours later, Fox News released its report that Biden is willing to take Conway up on her suggestion.
Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, told the outlet, "Vice President Biden has been extending his advice for months, and he did so again on the air last night. As he has said repeatedly, Donald Trump is not accountable for coronavirus itself — but he is accountable for the federal government's slow and chaotic response to this outbreak."
Bedingfield then went on to criticize President Trump, saying, "Unfortunately, Trump spent months after the virus was discovered disregarding repeated warnings from his scientific and intelligence experts, and downplaying the threat of this outbreak to the American people."
She added, "He could have heeded Vice President Biden's public advice not to take China's word as they misled the world about their efforts to stop the spread."
Biden continued to criticize President Trump's response to COVID-19 with tweets throughout the day on Wednesday. The White House has not yet responded to Biden's reported offer.
Editor's note: The original version of this story misspelled the name of Kellyanne Conway. TheBlaze regrets the error.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Florida Democrat says coronavirus pandemic is a 'gendered' crisis that disproportionately impacts wo

Florida Democrat says coronavirus pandemic is a 'gendered' crisis that disproportionately impacts women

Florida Democrat says coronavirus pandemic is a 'gendered ' crisis that disproportionately impacts women Is this what 's important right @ @

Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida said Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed tens of thousands of people worldwide and decimated the U.S. economy, is actually a "gendered crisis" that impacts women more than men.
"In so many ways, the #COVID19 pandemic is a gendered crisis. We're disproportionately on the frontlines as healthcare workers, food service workers, grocery." Wilson tweeted.
Wilson's comments are similar to those made by New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul in an op-ed in The Hill, co-written by Lauren Leader. They wrote:
76 percent of the health care workforce is female. A majority of the nurses, nurse practitioners, health aides and even a majority of doctors under the age of 45 are female. These everyday heroes are working tireless hours to save lives, while at the same time trying to protect their own health and the well-being of their families.
It's not just women in health care who are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Think about this: women comprise the majority in most of the economic sectors hit hardest economically by the shut down of our economy. 40 percent of mothers in the U.S. are the primary breadwinners. They are the majority of service workers, two-thirds of America's minimum wage workers, and they are more likely to be waitresses, cooks, hotel housekeepers now out of work.
Adding to the misery, 39 percent of small business owners are women — many living on the margins, now unsure whether they will even survive.
Still, the impact of the virus is clearly widespread and neither gender is getting a pass from the consequences. And notable in the above statistics is the fact that a majority of doctors over 45 are male, men are the primary breadwinners in most households, and most small business owners are men.
Additionally, current data shows that men are significantly more likely to die of COVID-19 than women. Dr. Deborah Birx, a response coordinator on the White House coronavirus task force, said the mortality rate in Italy is about twice as high among men as it is among women.
In short, everyone is suffering, and it takes a bit of statistical framing to portray the pandemic as "gendered."


theblaze--2020-04-01--Teacher accused of asking COVID-19 victims to cough on President Trump for money — and the school di

Teacher accused of asking COVID-19 victims to cough on President Trump for money — and the school district is investigating

The Woonsocket (Rhode Island) School Department is investigating a teacher accused of asking COVID-19 victims to cough on President Donald Trump, WJAR-TV reported.
"Somebody with Covid 19, I will pay you to cough on #Trump," the tweet read, according to the station:
Image source: Twitter
The user identified herself as a sixth-grade English Language Learner teacher at Villanova Middle School in Woonsocket in a subsequent post, WJAR reported, adding that the account has been deleted. The teacher's identity was not immediately released, the station said.
How is the school district responding?
School Committee Chairman Paul Bourget said he and Superintendent Paul McGee have been discussing the tweet since Sunday night and that an investigation started Monday to get "concrete evidence and a concrete determination," WJAR reported.
Bourget characterized the matter as "serious" and said he expected a decision by the April 8 School Committee meeting, the station said. He also told WJAR that the committee will likely support McGee's decision.
What did a state education official have to say?
"I was saddened & disappointed to see this tweet — it is unprofessional and sends the wrong message during a time when our whole education community is setting a national example," the state's Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angelica Infante-Green tweeted. "This is not acceptable and certainly not representative of the overwhelming majority of RI teachers."
(H/T: The American Mirror)


theblaze--2020-04-01--Hawaii travelers who break mandatory quarantine could face $5,000 fines and up to 1 year in prison

Hawaii travelers who break mandatory quarantine could face $ 5,000 fines and up to 1 year in prison

Hawaii Democratic Gov. David Ige issued an executive order Tuesday that requires all residents and visitors traveling between any of the state's islands to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Individuals who violate the order could face a misdemeanor charge, which carries fines up to $5,000 and jail time up to one year.
"These are unprecedented times," Ige said in a news conference Monday. "In order to protect the health and safety of Hawaii's people, I along with the county mayors have had to take drastic measures in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. But more must be done."
Those who need to travel between the islands to seek medical attention or to perform "essential" work activities, including health care, infrastructure, or journalism, will be allowed to so. All other nonessential travel is not permitted.
Even those traveling between the islands for permissible reasons are not allowed to meet with friends or visit any public spaces. Rather, they are required to remain in their hotels or places of residence.
Under the executive order, all travelers are required to to fill out an Interisland Declaration Form, which asks for their name, address, telephone number, destination, and purpose for traveling.
Officials in several states have ramped up social distancing guidelines recently due to the continued rise in coronavirus cases and deaths in the country. In many cases, state and local officials have implemented stay-at-home orders that are enforceable by law, but none so far carry as extreme a punishment as the one stipulated in Hawaii's most recent order.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Stu Burguiere explains why China can't be trusted and neither should your ex-wife

Stu Burguiere explains why China ca n't be trusted and neither should your ex-wife

"Stu Does America" host Stu Burguiere explains how China managed to stop the spread of coronavirus using the most fitting analogy imaginable.
Imagine you've found proof your wife is cheating. Naturally, you confront her about her infidelity, and her go-to response is to deny the allegations.
Then, she makes excuses, followed by blaming you. Finally, she makes her way around to an apology and promises she will never cheat again.
"Guys, that's China," Stu said.
Stu began pointing to similarities between China's most recent betrayal, COVID-19, and the cheating wife.
First, China denied the existence of prison camps and made excuses when confronted with the issue.
Next, China blamed the United States military with claims the U.S. troops brought the disease to China.
Finally, China apologized for failing to report the real number of coronavirus cases and deaths. Stu explained that China allowed the spread of COVID-19 to go out of control and could have saved lives had the communist nation been honest about the facts two weeks prior.
Now, China wants the rest of the world to believe that closing down recently reopened businesses has nothing to do with a second wave of coronavirus.
"Guys, I hate to break it to you, but, China is cheating on us," Stu said with a smirk.
Watch the clip below for more details.
Use Code STU for $30 off one year of BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-04-01--'The View' issues rare praise for President Donald Trump’s coronavirus stance and ensuing remarks

'The View ' issues rare praise for President Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus stance and ensuing remarks

The women on "The View" praised President Donald Trump for his stance on the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping the nation and the rest of the world.
What are the details?
During a Tuesday press briefing on the coronavirus outbreak, Trump said that his administration projects at least 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die from COVID-19.
"We're going to go through a very tough two weeks," Trump said during the briefing.
On Wednesday, "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg said, "It's nice to know that he's caught up with the rest of the country, because while everyone has been, you know, at home trying to cope with all of this, we have been aware that it's going to be a tough time ahead. Is this the honest account that we've needed to hear from him from the start?"
Co-host Sunny Hostin chimed in, "I think perhaps now we're hearing from the administration the gravity that we needed to hear from the administration probably in January or February. I'm happy in a sense that we're hearing that gravity, but I think we needed to hear it a long time ago."
Co-host Sara Haines added that she approves of the president's tenor in discussing the severity of the outbreak.
"I felt good hearing the more serious tone [from the president]," she responded.
"It's easy to get wrapped up in it, in the anxiety, the fear, the numbers, and so there was a little moment of gloom that all these people, even if we all act perfectly, they were quoting numbers of, you know, over six figures — over 100,000 — that even if we all behave perfectly, we will probably see pass," she continued. "And my heart went to just the deaths themselves, but also that so many people are dying alone."
She added, "That really broke my heart, because the one thing you hope when you pass or someone you love passes is that it's easy, it's pain-free, and that you're by their side. So hearing that kind of brought the human level to me. It was very heavy."
What else?
Haines pointed out that it's been difficult in her own house, so she can respect the president's leveling with the public about the dangers of COVID-19.
"It also reminded me that in the beginning in our household, we kept saying, 'It doesn't matter if we can't figure this out. Hopefully it will be a limited run.' Now, as you see, you know a month, two more months, we're kind of feeling the heat of figuring out how to run our household successfully and be the best versions of ourselves for the kids while also, you know, informing them in age-appropriate terms," she concluded. "So it's a lot. I think today is one of those days where I'm feeling a little heavier about all of it, but I was happy to hear a serious tone because I think that's lining up with the facts."
(H/T: Mediaite)


theblaze--2020-04-01--Left-wing officials angry that 'anti-LGBTQ' Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse are helping NYC coron

Left-wing officials angry that 'anti-LGBTQ' Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse are helping NYC coronavirus victims. Officials get smacked right down.

Left-wing officials angry that 'anti-LGBTQ ' Franklin Graham , Samaritan 's Purse are helping NYC coronavirus victims .
Officials get @ @ @ @ @ we can all really see where the actual hate comes from '

Upon hearing the news that Samaritan's Purse — the relief organization run by Christian evangelist Franklin Graham — is coming to the aid of coronavirus victims in New York City by setting up a temporary hospital in Central Park, a couple of officials were none too pleased.
A temporary hospital is built in Central Park during the coronavirus pandemic on Monday in New York City. The facility is a partnership between Mount Sinai Hospital and Christian humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse, and equipped with 68 beds to treat COVID-19 patients. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images
Who are the officials, and what did they say?
First up was New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who tweeted a statement berating the development: "Franklin Graham has a long history of spewing anti-LGBTQ hate speech, and I find it extremely troubling that he and his organization are involved in our relief efforts in any way. New York City is known around the world for its embrace of diversity, and Franklin Graham has spent his career standing against these values. I will be monitoring this situation closely and making sure that our city's values are being represented at all times."
Then there was New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman, who tweeted that "it's a shame that the federal government has left New York with no other choice but to accept charity from bigots." In a statement on his official Senate page, Hoylman called Graham a "notorious anti-LGBTQ pastor" and said he put Graham "on notice" that Samaritan's Purse must "treat all COVID-19 patients equally at the new medical tents."
Here's Hoylman's full statement:
COVID-19 doesn't discriminate, and neither should Franklin Graham. It's unacceptable that a New Yorker infected with COVID-19 could be subjected to discriminatory treatment from an organization whose leader calls us "immoral" and "detestable."
Today I'm calling on Franklin Graham to publicly assure LGBTQ New Yorkers that they will receive the same treatment as anyone else at the Central Park field hospital. The City of New York and the Mount Sinai hospital network must monitor conditions closely at Graham's facility and ensure every single LGBTQ patient is treated fairly. We cannot abandon our moral compass in the middle of a pandemic.
Sadly, beggars can't be choosers: New York needs every ventilator we can get. But homophobic pastor Franklin Graham and his field hospital operation in Central Park must guarantee all LGBTQ patients with COVID-19 are treated with dignity and respect.
We'll be watching.
Another view of the temporary hospitals set up in Central Park by Samaritan's Purse Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images
What was the reaction?
While Johnson and Hoylman tickled a few itching ears with their decidedly virtue-signaling statements, quite a few others found their words rather, er, prejudiced:
"The vast majority of voters see this as a group of well intended people bringing hope and light into a dark place right now. Put the partisan politics aside for a season and be thankful for the people willing to serve NYC. This is not the time to score political points sir."
"Now we can all really see where the actual hate comes from."
"As a gay New Yorker, I'd like to sit down with them over a cup of coffee and thank them for putting themselves in harm's way. That's how change of heart happens. They are risking their lives. We should be grateful."
"It's a shame that idiots like you would rather people die than have someone you don't agree with help them."
"Christians build a free hospital to help New Yorkers survive this crisis and you complain? Despicable."
"Whose the bigot? Christians believe what they believe. Get over it. They love people they disagree with. Even you!"
"Let it go. They are compassionate and want to help. Now who's the bigot?"
"Virtue-signaling boob."
"And spare us your woke outrage. Holding a sincerely held religious belief about marriage (I personally think his scripture read is wrong) is not the same as hate speech. Your religious intolerance in the name of wokeness is a bigger threat to our republic."
"It's pretty clear who's there to help New Yorkers and who's there to mouth off on twitter and do absolutely nothing."
How did Graham respond?
"We do not make distinctions about an individual's religion, race, sexual orientation, or economic status. We certainly do not discriminate, and we have a decades-long track record that confirms just that," Graham told NBC News in a statement. "This is a time for all of us to unite and work together, regardless of our political views. Let's support one another during this crisis, and we pray that God will bless the efforts of all those battling this vicious virus."


theblaze--2020-04-01--President Trump tweets that 'Iran or its proxies' are planning a 'sneak attack' on US forces in Iraq

President Trump tweets that 'Iran or its proxies ' are planning a 'sneak attack ' on US forces in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ will pay a very heavy price '

President Donald Trump reported in a tweet Wednesday afternoon that "Iran or its proxies" are preparing to launch a "sneak attack" on U.S. troops or assets stationed in Iraq.
Trump also warned the Iranian government and its partners in the region that if such an attack were to take place, the U.S. would retaliate.
"If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!" the president wrote.
In the tweet, Trump did not cite any specific evidence or elaborate on the details of the alleged forthcoming attack.
According to the Washington Post, "Iran-backed militias are becoming more audacious in attacking U.S. personnel in Iraq, with rocket strikes on military bases occurring more frequently and, for the first time, in broad daylight."
The Post added that U.S. officials have been receiving reports of "imminent" attacks on U.S.-linked facilities in the country on almost a daily basis.
Last week, the U.S. deployed Patriot air defense systems to an Iraqi military base as a precaution against Iranian-backed militia attacks, the Middle East Eye reported.
The two countries scuffled in early January when the U.S. launched a rocket strike that killed Iranian terrorist military leader Qassem Soleimani. In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes on numerous Iraqi military facilities housing U.S. troops.


theblaze--2020-04-01--England changes policy again to allow home medical abortions during coronavirus outbreak

England changes policy again to allow home medical abortions during coronavirus outbreak The policy has changed more than once recently

The United Kingdom has changed its policy on home medical abortions more than once over the past month to adjust for the coronavirus pandemic — first allowing home abortions, then denying that they ever intended to make that switch. Now, England has decided to officially allow women to get abortion pills delivered to their homes after a telemedicine appointment, the BBC reported.
Advocates of removing obstacles for women seeking medical abortions say that the previous requirement for women to be seen in-person at a clinic before getting the abortion pills created risk due to the threat of COVID-19, especially for people with underlying health conditions.
The governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are now considering whether to change their policies to allow women to receive abortion pills after telephone or video appointments with physicians. Abortion was decriminalized in Northern Ireland last year, and women from that country often travel to England to obtain abortions.
A member of Parliament from Northern Ireland advocated for home medical abortions by citing an anecdote from pro-abortion organization Alliance for Choice.
Allegedly, a woman from Northern Ireland had an appointment for an abortion in England. Her appointment was canceled due to coronavirus lockdowns, so she went to a hospital in Northern Ireland to try to get the abortion there. The medical staff allegedly refused to give her an abortion, and the woman was hospitalized there the next day after a suicide attempt.
All changes to abortion policy in the U.K. are being called "temporary" at this time.
According to the BBC, medical abortions (available during the first trimester) are the most common method among the approximately 180,000 abortions each year in England. It's a two-pill process. The first pill, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone. The result is that the lining of the uterus breaks down, killing the unborn child.
The second pill, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract, expelling the baby, the embryo, the embryonic sac, and the uterus lining. This can cause heavy bleeding and strong cramps.
This writer's perspective
Traveling during a pandemic can be dangerous for everyone, including and especially pregnant women. But an abortion is as much a loss of human life as a COVID-19 death is, and there is significant health risk associated with women taking abortion pills at home, potentially alone, after only a telephone conversation with a physician.
As governments around the world enact drastic policy changes with little evaluation or oversight, it will be important to watch in the months to come which allegedly temporary changes end up becoming permanent.


theblaze--2020-04-01--China is lying about COVID-19 death toll and confirmed cases, and the US intel community knows it

China is lying about COVID-19 death toll and confirmed cases , and the US intel community knows it

The Chinese government is underreporting the outbreak of the coronavirus in its country, the U.S. intelligence community concluded in a classified report to the White House, three U.S. officials confirmed to Bloomberg News Wednesday.
The officials were not at liberty to discuss the details of the secret report, which was sent to the White House last week, but confirmed that the upshot of the report is that "China's public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete."
Two officials told the news outlet that the report confirms that the communist country's publicly reported numbers are "fake."
As of Wednesday, China had reported about 82,000 confirmed cases of the virus resulting in around 3,300 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Those figures pale in comparison to the 190,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths already recorded in the United States.
During a press briefing Tuesday, Dr. Deborah Birx, a leading health official on the White House coronavirus task force, said that China's public reporting, or lack thereof, greatly influenced how the officials responded to the outbreak within America.
Birx argued that any lack of preparation from U.S. officials happened due to them "missing a significant amount of the data" from China.
Since the very start pandemic in Wuhan, China, earlier this year, many have suspected that the country was misleading the international community about the extent of outbreak.
On Tuesday, a Wall Street Journal report cited a top Chinese health official who admitted that the country was not reporting cases in which an individual tested positive but did not showcase any symptoms.
Only a day earlier, Bloomberg News reported on new photos of the outbreak's initial epicenter, Wuhan, which suggest that the death toll there is far greater — possibly by tens of thousands — than what's being reported.


theblaze--2020-04-01--'Now you're going to get the corona': Bus passenger allegedly spits on, punches driver — due to cell

'Now you're going to get the corona': Bus passenger allegedly spits on, punches driver — due to cellphone that cracked after he dropped it

'Now you 're going to get the corona ' : Bus passenger allegedly spits on , punches driver — due @ @ @ @ @ he dropped it

A 27-year-old man punched and spit on a Portland bus driver over the weekend and capped off the deed by declaring, "Now you're going to get the corona," the Oregonian reported, citing a probable cause affidavit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
What are the details?
JJ Lee Purcell was the only passenger on a TriMet bus driven by Don Tacha when Purcell allegedly started screaming at the driver after Purcell dropped his cellphone and it cracked, the paper said, citing court documents.
Purcell reportedly tried to punch Tacha around a plastic protective barrier that was installed on some buses last year due to increased assaults against drivers, the Oregonian added.
He "made contact" with his punch, spit on Tacha, and yelled that he had infected the operator with the coronavirus, the paper said, citing court documents.
Purcell — who stands 5-feet 6-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds — was booked into Multnomah County Jail just after 2 a.m. Saturday. Jail records indicated he remained an inmate as of Wednesday morning. No bail amount was listed.
He was charged with attempted assault, interfering with pubic transportation, and harassment — all misdemeanors.
TriMet spokeswoman Roberta Altstadt told the Oregonian that the transit agency appreciated the "quick work" of the district attorney's office in the case.
"The safety and security of our operators and passengers who must ride right now is of the utmost importance, especially during this time of so much uncertainty," Altstadt added to the paper.
Anything else?
The Oregonian also said TriMet rides were down 60% last week compared to February's ridership, and the agency said service cuts will begin Sunday.
Drivers have contacted TriMet's Operations Command Center a dozen times between March 24 and March 31 over concerns about possible coronavirus exposure, the paper said, citing public records. In those incidents, buses are returned to the garage and cleaned, the Oregonian said.
The paper added that it isn't clear if the spitting case was one of those 12 possible exposure instances. TriMet said Monday it had its first known case of an employee testing positive for COVID-19.


theblaze--2020-04-01--US provides nearly 15% of WHO's budget, China just .2%. Now, a GOP senator is calling for an investi

US provides nearly 15% of WHO's budget, China just .2%. Now, a GOP senator is calling for an investigation.

US provides nearly 15 % of WHO 's budget , China just .2 % .
Now , a GOP senator @ @ @ @ @ .
'They need to be held accountable '

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is calling for a congressional investigation into the World Health Organization for its "role in helping Communist China cover up" critical information about the coronavirus.
In a statement, Scott said the WHO is acting as a "pawn" for China's communist government.
Specifically, Scott is accusing the WHO of "willfully parroting propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party," "praising China's coronavirus response and transparency" despite facts showing China has been anything but transparent, allowing China to use top WHO advisers for their propaganda, and refusing to address concerns about the WHO's relationship — or lack thereof — with Taiwan.
Scott said:
The mission of the WHO is to get public health information to the world so every country can make the best decisions to keep their citizens safe. When it comes to Coronavirus, the WHO failed. They need to be held accountable for their role in promoting misinformation and helping Communist China cover up a global pandemic.
We know Communist China is lying about how many cases and deaths they have, what they knew and when they knew it – and the WHO never bothered to investigate further. Their inaction cost lives.
Interestingly, the United States is the primary funder for the WHO, contributing nearly 15% of the international body's annual budget. On the other hand, China contributes just .21% of China's annual budget.
Scott said a congressional investigation into the WHO should review whether the U.S. taxpayers continue to fund the WHO.
"As soon as Congress is back in session, there should be a hearing, along with a full investigation, to review whether American taxpayers should continue to spend millions of dollars every year to fund an organization that willfully parroted propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party," Scott said.
Not only has the WHO carried China's water, but its director-general, Tedros Adhanom, appears to have a symbiotic relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, further indicating why the WHO has so heavily relied on China during the COVID-19 crisis.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Top Dems reportedly thinking of canceling 2020 Democratic National Convention because of COVID-19

Top Dems reportedly thinking of canceling 2020 Democratic National Convention because of COVID-19 Convention is still set for July

A new report says top Democrats are considering canceling the party's 2020 national convention, which is slated for July.
The Democratic National Convention is still set for July 13-16 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Republican National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
As of noon Wednesday, the U.S. has 190,089 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and at least 4,102 people have died because of the deadly pandemic.
What are the details?
On Wednesday, Fox News reported that several "prominent Democrats" are considering canceling the convention.
One unnamed source, identified as a "senior Democrat," reportedly said, "I think the thing's going to be canceled. And I think a whole lot of people don't want to go, either."
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who is close to former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden, told the outlet, "I'm not sure we're going to have a convention."
"I think both parties are very likely, I hope, to agree on postponing the convention or doing something that won't bring thousands of people together to kill each other ultimately with COVID-19," he added.
On Tuesday, Biden said that it's "hard to envision" having the convention as scheduled.
"We should listen to the scientists," he deferred. "Who knows by the time we get into ... June, July, August, September, what it's going to look like."
In a statement, Katie Peters, communications director for the Democratic National Convention Committee, said that the situation as it stands is considerably "fluid."
"As we navigate the unprecedented challenge of responding to the coronavirus, we're exploring a range of contingency options to ensure we can deliver a successful convention without unnecessary risk to public health," Peters said. "This is a very fluid situation — and the convention is still more than three months away. We are committed to sharing updates with the public in the coming weeks and months as our plans continue to take shape."
What else?
On March 14, the official Twitter page for the 2020 Democratic National Convention stated, "As we continue our countdown to the 2020 Democratic National Convention scheduled for July 13-16 in Milwaukee, WI, we're faced with the unprecedented challenge as a country of responding to #COVID19. In this climate of uncertainty, we wanted to share an update on planning."
The tweet added, "Ensuring the safety of convention attendees and our host community is, and always will be, our top priority. As we continue to monitor the developing coronavirus situation, our team will remain in constant communication with the local, state, and federal officials responsible for protecting public health and security, and we will follow their guidance as we move forward.
"That said, we also remain focused on planning a successful convention in July, and nominating the next president and vice president of the United States here in Milwaukee," the statement continued. "When we began planning our convention, our goal was to be as transparent, inclusive, and respectful of our host community as possible. That has never been more important or true than it is today. Every decision we make will consider the health, safety, and well-being of those involved, in our host city, and across the country without exception."
The tweet added, "Our thoughts are with the families and communities struggling through this illness, and with those grieving the loss of loved ones. Our gratitude is with those who are working around the clock to contain the virus."
"Stay safe," the tweet concluded, "take care of one another, and stay tuned for future updates regarding our convention plans."


theblaze--2020-04-01--Boston Globe editorial staff: President Trump has ‘blood on his hands’ for coronavirus response

Boston Globe editorial staff : President Trump has ‘ blood on his hands ’ for coronavirus response

The Boston Globe editorial board said that President Donald Trump has "blood on his hands" for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in an editorial published Monday.
The writers called the president "epically outmatched" by the global pandemic, and argued that his delayed response to the outbreak — including his administration's refusal to adopt the World Health Organization's diagnostic test — "will cost thousands if not hundreds of thousands of American lives."
"As the American public braces itself for the worst of this crisis, it's worth remembering that the reach of the virus here is not attributable to an act of God or a foreign invasion, but a colossal failure of leadership," the editorial began.
"The months the administration wasted with prevarication [lies] about the threat and its subsequent missteps will amount to exponentially more COVID-19 cases than were necessary," it continued.
"In other words, the president has blood on his hands," the writers concluded.
The editorial staff maintained that the president's inaction must not go unpunished, however, asserting that "come November, there must be a reckoning for the lives lost."
America disagrees
The vehemently negative opinion shared by the Boston Globe editorial board is out of step with the rest of America, who approve of Trump's handling of the coronavirus by a slight margin, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
The editorial staff seem to paint a picture of a rogue president acting out of order and without the support of public health officials and state political officials. But, that is simply not the reality of the situation.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the two leading health officials on the Trump administration's coronavirus task force, came to Trump's defense Tuesday after a White House reporter launched a similar accusation at the president, suggesting that his delayed response to the virus cost countless lives.
"This may be an uncomfortable question, what would the models have looked like, that Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci showed us, if we had started the social distancing guidelines sooner in February, or January, when China and South Korea were doing those sorts of things," asked CNN reporter Jim Acosta in reference to updated death toll projections.
Birx hit back saying that a lack of information about the virus from China hampered the U.S. response.
Fauci went further, dismantling the question's assumptions and scolding Acosta for seeking a media soundbite.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 190,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., which had resulted in over 4,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. As confirmed cases and deaths continue to rise in America, on Tuesday, Trump warned of a "painful two weeks" ahead for the country.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Texas teen attempts to kill Asian American family — including young children — because he thought th

Texas teen attempts to kill Asian American family — including young children — because he thought they were Chinese and spreading coronavirus

Texas teen attempts to kill Asian American family — including young children — because he thought they were Chinese and @ @

A Texas teenager stabbed three people in a Sam's Club store — including a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old — because he thought they were Chinese people spreading the coronavirus, according to the Daily Beast.
The incident occurred at a Midland, Texas, store when 19-year-old Jose Gomez attacked an Asian American family of four at about 7:30 p.m. on March 14. According to the affidavit, a store employee and another customer intervened. The customer was stabbed in the leg and hand, but was able to knock the knife away.
An off-duty Border Patrol agent also stepped in and was able to help restrain Gomez. The agent, Bernie Ramirez, said he initially thought it was a fight over a scarce item. When he saw what was happening, he managed to put Gomez into a chokehold. No one was killed in the attack.
The case was turned over to the FBI, which produced a report that said Gomez admitted that his belief that the family was Chinese motivated his attack.
"The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with the coronavirus," the report read.
Gomez has been charged with three counts of attempted capital murder and one count of aggravated assault, and is being held on $1 million bond.
In the same report, the FBI warned of an expected increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans as the coronavirus spreads through the United States. From ABC News:
"The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities," according to the intelligence report, which was compiled by the FBI's Houston office and distributed to local law enforcement agencies across the country. "The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations."


theblaze--2020-04-01--A staggering 1,400 NYPD officers have tested positive for coronavirus — and the 911 calls keep comin

A staggering 1,400 NYPD officers have tested positive for coronavirus — and the 911 calls keep coming

More than 1,400 New York Police Department officers have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
What are the details?
On Wednesday, CNN reported that a law enforcement source said that at least 6,172 uniformed officers are out sick. That number, sources say, represents at least 17% of the police department. In total, the NYPD has more than 36,000 members in its vast force.
It's a big jump from even Tuesday: Fox News reported that 1,048 officers tested positive for COVID-19, and that at least 5,600 officers were out sick that same day.
On Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said, "I am worried about essential workers getting scared and not wanting to show up. That I am worried about. You know the number of police officers who are getting sick is going up."
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told CNN that coronavirus in hard-hit New York City has been "difficult."
"The message is to all New Yorkers that we're all in this together," he added, and insisted that the department is in a "constant state of planning" with regard to the COVID-19 response throughout the city.
"We are scrambling, but that shouldn't have a negative connotation," he warned. "We are able to handle many, many different tasks here. We're still fighting crime."
He continued, "Right now, we're in good shape in New York City. But the bottom line is anyone that can help will be asked upon to help to keep people safe."
Just two weeks ago, there were only 24 NYPD officers out sick. At the time, sources said that the city's 1st Precinct was like a "ghost town."
According to Fox News, in the past week, the NYPD has lost five members to coronavirus-related complications.
At the time of this writing, there have been at least 75,795 cases of COVID-19 in New York, which is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. At least 1,550 people across the state have died because of the virus.
What else?
On Wednesday, CNBC reported that 911 calls have hit a record high.
The outlet noted that there were at least 6,527 emergency medical calls placed to 911 on Monday alone.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "We'll keep bringing in reserves. We'll go to longer shifts if we have to. We'll do more overtime, whatever it takes. We have 36,000 officers, the finest police force in the country. We are going to keep the city safe. We'll make it work."
On Tuesday, Cuomo said he planned to send members of the New York State Police to help back up the NYPD if necessary.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Russian plane filled with medical supplies and equipment is en route to US

A Russian plane with medical supplies and equipment is on its way to the United States, according to reports.
The arrival of the plane reportedly follows a Monday discussion with President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during which Trump accepted an offer of help from Moscow.
What are the details?
During the conversation, Putin reportedly offered to send personal protective equipment and other medical-related gear to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.
At the time of this writing, nearly 190,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the U.S, and more than 4,000 people have died because of the virus.
A senior Trump administration official told Politico that the plane — an-124 Russian cargo aircraft — is filled with supplies to benefit Americans with coronavirus. The official added that all supplies will be immediately put to use, so long as they meet Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
"Likewise, the United States is sending equipment and supplies to many other countries and will continue to do more as we are able," the official said, according to the outlet.
In a tweet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, "Following phone talk between Presidents #Putin & @realDonaldTrump #Russia sends largest cargo aircraft An-124 Ruslan with medical supplies (masks + equipment) to #US to help fight #COVID19 pandemic, save lives of American citizens."
According to Fox News, Trump said that Russia's offer was "very nice."
"[W]e've had great relationships with a lot of countries," Trump said during a Monday briefing, according to the outlet. "China sent us some stuff, which was terrific. Russia sent us a very, very large planeload of things, medical equipment, which was very nice."
In a Tuesday tweet, the Russian Embassy said, "Importantly, when offering assistance to the American colleagues, President Putin is guided by the following consideration: when manufacturers of medical equipment gain momentum they will be able to reciprocate if need be."


theblaze--2020-04-01--A New York man hid potential coronavirus symptoms to visit pregnant wife in the maternity ward— then

A New York man hid potential coronavirus symptoms to visit pregnant wife in the maternity ward— then she got sick too

A New York man hid potential coronavirus symptoms to visit pregnant wife in the maternity ward— then she got sick @ @ @ @ @ We 're All In This Together '' inside the temporary field hospital at Jacob K. @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus continues to spread on Monday in New York City .
( John Lamparski/Getty Images @

A New York man who had been exposed to COVID-19, and who was experiencing symptoms, hid his illness from the hospital staff so he could visit his pregnant wife in the maternity ward — then she got sick, USA Today reported.
After the couple's child was born, the wife began experiencing respiratory symptoms. It was only then the husband admitted that he had been feeling sick and that he could have COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
To that point, the hospital had been relying on the word of visitors that they hadn't been exposed to COVID-19 and that they weren't feeling sick. After this incident, however, the rules will be stricter; visitors will be subjected to regular temperature checks while they're at the hospital.
Privacy laws prevent the hospital from revealing whether any member of the family tested positive for COVID-19. Hospital staff members that interacted with them have been notified of their potential exposure, but told to continue working until or unless they develop symptoms.
The situation highlights the difficult situations faced by hospitals and patients in the age of COVID-19. Family members who might normally be in the delivery room for the birth of a child now could be excluded due to stricter limits on who can visit. In this case, a father chose to lie about being sick so he could witness the birth of his child, risking exposing numerous others to the highly contagious coronavirus.
Hospital workers are now left to wonder whether they have been infected, and because some people are asymptomatic when they get COVID-19, they could unwittingly spread the virus to others before they even have a chance to verify their status with a test.
Hospitals, especially in New York, can't afford to lose doctors and nurses to quarantines. Although federal assistance has significantly expanded the state's capacity to treat patients, fears remain that if the number of serious COVID-19 cases continues to increase that hospitals could face staff and equipment shortages like those seen in Italy.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Store employee jailed with no bond after shooting one of three masked intruders who broke into busin

Store employee jailed with no bond after shooting one of three masked intruders who broke into business — and store owner is furious at authorities

Store employee jailed with no bond after shooting one of three masked intruders who broke into business — and store @ @ @ @ @ The employee had been under a protective order to not have a firearm

A Virginia store employee was jailed with no bond after shooting at three masked intruders who allegedly broke into the business, wounding one of them, WJLA-TV reported — and the owner of the Arlington Smoke Shop is outraged at authorities.
What happened?
Arlington County Police said three suspects forced their way into the smoke shop to steal cash and merchandise just before 5 a.m. Sunday, the station said.
Image source: WJLA-TV video screenshot
Hamzeh Abushariah, 33 — who was temporarily staying at the store and sleeping in a back room — got up and grabbed one of two guns that store owner Jowan Aqrawi purchased two weeks ago due to concerns over coronavirus crime spikes, WJLA reported.
"We bought protection for the store just in case, because on Facebook you see a lot of robberies, a lot of things going on," Aqrawi explained to the station.
Image source: WJLA-TV video screenshot
Abushariah opened the door to the sales floor and fired the gun, hitting one of the suspects — a juvenile, police told WJLA. He then retreated to the back room before reentering the sales floor and firing the gun again as the suspects tried to flee the business, police added to the station.
The wounded juvenile is expected to survive, the station noted, adding that breaking and entering charges are anticipated for the trio of alleged intruders.
Book thrown at employee
But Abushariah had the book thrown at him. He was charged with malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm, and violation of a protective order, WJLA said. Police told the station the protective order violation is due to Abushariah having been ordered to not to have a firearm — and as a result, he was jailed with no bond.
Arlington Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti offered the following statement to WJLA: "I cannot ethically discuss an ongoing investigation because doing so would not only risk compromising our work but also unfairly impede on the rights of the accused and interfere with the investigation. Suffice it to say, there is evidence we are not at liberty to share that support[s] the charges, the decision was not made lightly, and we ask the public not to rush to judgment on what is very much a live investigation."
Outrage
Aqrawi is furious over the charges leveled against his employee and told the station the shooting should have been considered self-defense: "4:30 a.m., three masked men entering your home where you're asleep. Put yourself in that position, and you'll have a better understanding."
The store owner added to WJLA that Abushariah was staying at the smoke shop to save money and to avoid the coronavirus, which had affected his Washington, D.C., apartment complex. Abushariah also is a father of two children who were not at the store at the time of the incident, the station said.
Image source: WJLA-TV video screenshot
Fox News' Tucker Carlson interviewed Aqrawi on Tuesday night about the incident and its aftermath, and the store owner noted that "the neighbor upstairs said when they broke the window it sounded like a car smashing into the store. The employee said it sounded like a shotgun."
"It's very sad for America today as American citizens practice their Second Amendment to protect the store and their lives," the owner added. "Do you know what the police officer told [Abushariah]? 'Why didn't you run out the back door?'"
Aqrawi added to Carlson that when he went to the jail to bond out his employee, the prosecutor appealed the $25,000 bond.
"This is very sad," the store owner told Fox News. "I was born in Arlington, I pay taxes. The gun is registered and everything is perfect. But I can't believe as American citizens we are being treated like this. And this gets the criminals out there [thinking], 'We can go rob stuff, kill people and hurt people and guess what, people have to run out the back door.' This is mind-boggling."
Aqrawi told Carlson that he's concerned about Abushariah's health after hearing him coughing heavily after only a short time in jail.


theblaze--2020-04-01--MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell fires back at Jim Acosta, mainstream media for mocking him and God

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell fires back at Jim Acosta , mainstream media for mocking him and God ' I 'm @ @ @ @ @ I see there '

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is firing back at critics after the mainstream media mocked him for appearing at President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force briefing on Monday.
Lindell announced with the president that his company has committed to producing 50,000 masks per day, along with a host of other essential items during the COVID-19 outbreak. Dozens of prominent Democrats and media figures bashed Lindell, who pleaded with America to turn toward God during the crisis.
For example, MSNBC host Chris Hayes opined the daily briefings are "bad for the country" because Trump gave Lindell a platform to mention God, and CNN reporter Jim Acosta characterized Lindell's appearance as a "PR stunt."
Speaking with Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Tuesday, Lindell responded to the criticism.
"I'll tell you what, I heard Jim Acosta attack me too, and he was 10 feet from me in the Rose Garden," Lindell said. "This is just evil, Lou. This is evil."
"I'm appalled by the journalists that I see there," Lindell added. "I used to think that, they are not really that evil. Well, yes, they are."
Not every media figure was critical of Lindell's appearance. MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, for example, praised Lindell and his company's ability to produce critical medical supplies.
"I'm not making 50,000 masks. If I had the capability of making 50,000 masks, I'd like to make 50,000 masks. I can't. That guy can. I salute him," Scarborough said Tuesday.
Editorial note: In the interest of full disclosure, MyPillow is a current advertiser on a program that appears on BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-04-01--70 spring breakers flouted social distancing guidelines to party in Cabo — now 28 of them have teste

70 spring breakers flouted social distancing guidelines to party in Cabo — now 28 of them have tested positive for COVID-19

70 spring breakers flouted social distancing guidelines to party in Cabo — now 28 of them have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ people they infected ?

More than two dozen spring breakers from the University of Texas tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home from a week and a half of partying in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
A group of roughly 70 students in their 20s had chartered a plane for Cabo about 10 days ago, the Austin Public Health Department said in a statement Tuesday. Officials said that some of the students took separate commercial flights back to the United States, which may have led to further spread of the virus.
Upon return, public health officials said that 28 students have tested positive for COVID-19, while dozens more are under public health investigation. Four students who tested positive were asymptomatic.
The students were not under a federal or state travel advisory at the time, noted KVUE-TV reporter Tony Plohetski. But at the time of their departure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had released guidance to limit "nonessential" international travel.
"A leisure vacation of any kind is not considered essential," Austin public health officials said in the statement.
Spring breakers have been scrutinized for ignoring social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite warnings from public officials, college students on vacation have been packing beaches in Florida, Texas, and abroad, choosing to party with friends rather than self-isolate.
Last week, the University of Tampa announced that at least five students had tested positive for the virus after traveling with other students to party over spring break.
The difficulty in the situation is that while young people appear to be less affected by the disease, by not cooperating with guidelines they risk contracting it and transmitting it to those who are more at-risk, such as people over 60 or people with underlying health conditions.
"The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying," said Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott. "While younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from COVID-19."
University and public health officials reported that they have made contact with every spring breaker onboard the chartered flight to Cabo and are undergoing investigation to track the spread.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Dolly Parton launches weekly online series — reading bedtime stories to children: 'Goodnight with Do

Dolly Parton launches weekly online series — reading bedtime stories to children: 'Goodnight with Dolly'

Just what we need in these dark times

Dolly Parton is launching a new online series called " Goodnight with Dolly."
What are the details?
The weekly web series will feature the entertainment icon reading bedtime stories, which have been taken from her book-lending program, Imagination Library.
The series kicks off Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
According to USA Today, Parton will read books "specifically chosen for their appropriate content at this unique time" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is something I have been wanting to do for quite a while, but the timing never felt quite right. I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love," Parton said in a statement.
"It is an honor for me to share the incredible talent of these authors and illustrators," Parton added. "They make us smile, they make us laugh, and they make us think."
The Imagination Library says that the series comes at a good time: "'Goodnight with Dolly' launches on April 2, 2020. This 10-week series will focus on comforting and reassuring children during the shelter-in-place mandates. Dolly hopes these videos will provide a welcomed distraction during a time of unrest and also inspire a love of reading and books in the hearts of the children who see them."
The program will feature classic books like "The Little Engine That Could," as well as other books written and published by Parton.
"The read alongs will be a personal gift from Dolly to all families. Free of charge but not free from obligation as the message will be to pass on the love and keep hope alive because we are all together, you and I," the group added.
"Goodnight with Dolly" Premiering April 2nd at 7 PM EDT www.youtube.com
This article has been updated to correct time of program.


theblaze--2020-04-01--Turkmenistan reportedly bans use of the word ‘coronavirus.’ Say it and you can be arrested.

Turkmenistan reportedly bans use of the word ‘ coronavirus.
’ Say it and you can be arrested .

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has reportedly banned any use of the word "coronavirus" — and people who utter the word are likely to be arrested.
What are the details?
According to a Tuesday NPR report, Berdymukhamedov — who has been in power in the central Asian nation since 2006 — banned the use of the word. NPR cited various reports from Reporters Without Borders and the Chronicles of Turkmenistan.
Such reports say that Berdymukhamedov and his government have forbidden its state-controlled media from using the word. Berdymukhamedov has also reportedly removed the word from all written literature.
Reporters Without Borders insists that Berdymukhamedov's government, in suppressing information about the deadly pandemic, is only putting citizens in danger.
Jeanne Cavelier, head of Reporters Without Borders' Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said, "This denial of information not only endangers the Turkmen citizens most at risk, but also reinforces the authoritarianism imposed by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. We urge the international community to react and to take him to task for his systematic human rights violations."
The Independent also reported that Berdymukhamedov has authorized arrests if citizens do not comply.
Reports say that Berdymukhamedov is hell-bent on quashing all talk of coronavirus because he "portrays himself very much as a superman of all trades, the one in charge, the one to be revered and listened to."
Berdymukhamedov's government insists that the country does not have any COVID-19 cases at the time of this writing.
The central Asian country is bordered by Iran, which, at the time of this writing, has seen at least 47,593 coronavirus cases. At least 3,036 have died in Iran because of the virus.
Other nations bordering Turkmenistan — including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan — have also reported a large influx of cases over the last several weeks.


theblaze--2020-04-02--Obama uses coronavirus pandemic to push global warming alarmism, and the internet hits back hard

Obama uses coronavirus pandemic to push global warming alarmism , and the internet hits back hard

Former President Barack Obama criticized the Trump administration for rolling back policies he put into place to combat global warming, but many objected to his comparison to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic," Obama tweeted. "We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial."
"All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall," he concluded.
The decision from the Trump administration would rescind gas mileage and emissions requirements imposed in 2012 under Obama.
Obama's attempt to conflate the global coronavirus pandemic with climate change found many critics on social media.
"Sorry, we're working on a global pandemic right now, call back later," responded Ben Shapiro, Daily Wire editor-in-chief.
"Talk about tone deaf," said California lawmaker John Dennis.
"Dear Dumbo, Warmer temperatures slow the virus," said Peabody-award winning actor Nick Searcy.
Others, like liberal actress Bette Midler, endorsed Obama's tweet and attacked President Donald Trump.
"We can't catch a break from the viciousness of the Trump administration," she responded. "They keep piling it on, knowing we are focused on the coronavirus."
Here's more about Trump's fuel emissions decision:


theblaze--2020-04-02--Officials in Laredo make it a criminal offense to go without a  mask in public buildings

Officials in Laredo make it a criminal offense to go without a mask in public buildings Offenders face a fine @ @ @ @ @ .
One councilman reasoned , ' I 'd rather bury them in debt than bury @ @ @ @ @ '

City leaders in Laredo, Texas, have moved to criminalize the act of entering a public building without a facial covering amid the coronavirus pandemic. Violators of the order could face arrest and a fine of up to $1,000.
What are the details?
The Laredo City Council passed a mandate obtained by Reuters dictating that beginning Thursday, "All persons over the age of five (5) are required to wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth, such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief, when: entering into or inside of any building open to the public; when using public transportation, taxis, or ride shares; or when pumping gas."
"The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00," the order read.
The Laredo Morning Times reported that the "council had originally voted that anyone who goes outside at all must cover their nose and mouth, but later refined the rule because it was so broad."
The Times reported that concern was expressed during the council's meeting that the fines attached to the new order might be too steep, particularly for citizens impacted by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus epidemic. To that, Councilman George Altgelt replied, "I'd rather bury them in debt than bury them in a coffin."
The new order passed by the council also clarifies that residents are not required to wear a mask while "engaging in permissible outside activity" or when they are in their own vehicle.
According to The Texas Tribune, the Laredo City Council also voted to place all citizens under a curfew that previously only applied to juveniles — which is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.


theblaze--2020-04-02--Locomotive engineer tried to ram train into hospital ship in Los Angeles

Locomotive engineer tried to ram train into hospital ship in Los Angeles 'People do n't know what 's going on @ @ @ @ @ '

Law enforcement officials say a locomotive engineer tried to ram a train into the hospital ship in Los Angeles, in order to warn others about what he said were ulterior motives for the ship.
The man worked at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday and he derailed the train at full speed in an attempt to crash into the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy.
The man was identified as 44-year-old Eduardo Moreno of San Pedro in a 10-page criminal complaint.
Moreno told officials that he believed the ship was there for a nefarious purpose and not simply to help patients suffering from the coronavirus.
"You only get this chance once. The whole world is watching. I had to," he reportedly told an official after he was captured.
"People don't know what's going on here. Now they will," he added.
The train crashed though a series of barriers but ended its path 250 yards away from the ship. Nobody was hurt in the strange incident.
Moreno was charged with a federal statute against train wrecking and faces 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Here's more about the bizarre crash:


theblaze--2020-04-02--Authorities force several Hobby Lobby stores to close in areas with stay-at-home orders

Authorities force several Hobby Lobby stores to close in areas with stay-at-home orders Locations across the Midwest have been shut @ @ @ @

Authorities in several Midwestern states have forced Hobby Lobby to close stores in locations currently under mandated stay-at-home orders that deem the arts and crafts store as a nonessential business during the spread of the coronavirus.
What are the details?
Hobby Lobby, which employs more than 43,000 Americans in 46 states, has pushed to keep stores open despite directives from officials who argue the stores' goods are not essential items for people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent weeks, the arts and crafts retailer temporarily closed a number of stores only to open them up again days later after company leadership informed employees it "planned to keep its stores open amid the coronavirus pandemic," according to the Daily Mail.
Now, authorities — including law enforcement — have stepped in to force locations to shut down, citing Hobby Lobby's non-compliance with state and local orders that nonessential businesses remain closed as part of shelter-in-place measures.
The Daily Mail reported that "police in Wisconsin and Indiana had to step in and close multiple" Hobby Lobby locations. USA Today reported that Hobby Lobby stores in Ohio and Wisconsin were also "shut down by law enforcement after reopening, defying orders."
CBS News reported that roughly a dozen Hobby Lobby locations were closed in the Dallas area last week and interviewed a department manager at one store who said their location reopened Monday.
A sign posted in the window of a Garland, Texas, Hobby Lobby read that the store was open and "operating as an essential business offering PPE mask supplies, educational supplies, office supplies, and various components for at home small businesses."
Anything else?
Hobby Lobby is not the only crafts store fighting to stay open amid the COVID-19 crisis. USA Today reported that two of Hobby Lobby's competitors, Michael's and JOANN, have also "kept many locations open with limited hours."
A spokeswoman for JOANN told the outlet that the company has "been declared essential by a number of states and entities," including the states of California, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Idaho, and several counties in other states.


theblaze--2020-04-02--LATE-NIGHT: Steven Crowder explains how coronavirus revealed Kimmel, Noah, and the rest as lazy hack

LATE-NIGHT: Steven Crowder explains how coronavirus revealed Kimmel, Noah, and the rest as lazy hacks

LATE-NIGHT : Steven Crowder explains how coronavirus revealed Kimmel , Noah , and the rest as lazy hacks

Need some relief from terrible late-night television? Steven Crowder has you covered with brand new late-night content Monday - Thursday for the entire month of April.
Crowder isn't a doctor caring for patients, nor is he a scientist searching for a COVID-19 vaccine.
But he is an entertainer who is beyond capable of saving us all from being stuck watching Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah battle it out as they attempt being quarantine YouTubers. After all, we're quarantined, not in prison.
Here's Crowder to explain why Samantha Bee and the rest of the late-night roster are lazy hacks. Take it away, Crowder ...
LATE NIGHT SUCKS: How Coronavirus Exposed Kimmel, Noah... | Louder with Crowder youtu.be
Use code LWC to save $30 off one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-02--MSNBC praises China for coronavirus response and warns Trump not to antagonize them

MSNBC praises China for coronavirus response and warns Trump not to antagonize them Rachel Maddow did not challenge the Chinese @ @ @ @ @

Progressive cable news network MSNBC praised China for its response to coronavirus and warned President Donald Trump against antagonizing the communist country in a segment on Rachel Maddow's show.
Despite skepticism from many experts that the official statistics from the communist Chinese government are correct, Maddow and her guest, New York Times science and health reporter Donald McNeil, propagated the doubtful propaganda on her show Tuesday.
McNeil claimed that Trump should stop insulting China because he may need to beg it for help later.
"In China, there are forty thousand doctors, nurses, and respiratory technicians, went from all over China to Wuhan and helped the Wuhan doctors fight the virus," said McNeil.
"There's no more virus in Wuhan," he claimed.
"Those doctors have all gone home; there've been victory parades for them, gratitude, flowers, and everything. They're heroes. They have skills in fighting COVID-19," McNeil continued.
"I don't see why we couldn't hire for our pandemic a lot of those doctors, nurses, respiratory technicians," he added.
"The bottleneck I fear," McNeil speculated, "is that the Trump administration may be so afraid to admit that it might need help from outside that it would refuse them visas, but again, that would cost lives; I think that would be a mistake."
McNeil went on to use "reporting out of China" to claim that Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Trump help during a phone call.
"I think it's not a good idea to keep insulting China and baiting them, because if you look far enough down the road, President Trump may have to go to them with his hat in his hand, because we're gonna be able to design a great vaccine, but I don't know if we're gonna be able to run our vaccine plants if too many are sick," McNeil continued.
"I'm not quite sure; we may need vaccine from China, and they, out of anger, could simply say, 'Sure, it'll be ten thousand dollars a dose,' and that's the free market working with you on the bad end of the stick," he said.
"We don't wanna face that," he concluded.
Maddow offered no pushback on McNeil's claims.
On Wednesday, U.S. intelligence officials confirmed reports that China has misreported the numbers of deaths from coronavirus by purposely not counting asymptomatic persons who tested positive.
Here's the Chinese propaganda segment:


theblaze--2020-04-02--Vermont orders 'big box' retailers to stop sales of items the state deems 'non-essential' in their s

Vermont orders 'big box' retailers to stop sales of items the state deems 'non-essential' in their stores

Vermont orders 'big box ' retailers to stop sales of items the state deems 'non-essential ' in their stores Walmart @ @ @ @ @ stores have been forced to 'close aisles , close portions of the store , or @ @ @ @ @ '

Vermont's Agency of Commerce and Community Development has ordered all "big box" retailers in the state such as Walmart, Target, and Costco to stop the in-store selling of items the agency has determined to be "non-essential" as part of its effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
What are the details?
The state's directive requires that "large 'big box' retailers must":
Restrict access to non-essential goods. Stores must close aisles, close portions of the store, or remove items from the floor.
Only offer non-essential items via online portals, telephone, delivery, or curbside pickup, to the extent possible.
Except in the event of emergencies threatening the health and welfare of a customer, showrooms and garden sections of large home improvement centers should be closed.
WCVB-TV reported that "according to the state, large retailers must cease in-person sales of items that include, but are not limited to: Arts and crafts, beauty supplies, carpet and flooring, clothing, consumer electronics, entertainment (books, music, movies), furniture, home and garden, jewelry, paint, photo services, sports equipment," and toys.
A spokesperson from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development told WCAX-TV that the restrictions are not new and were part of Gov. Phil Scott's (R) original "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order signed on March 24, which ordered all nonessential businesses to close. However, the news release about big box stores was sent out on March 31.
A post on a public Facebook group for citizens in communities in and around Bennington County urged people not to "panic" over the new order and posted photos from a local Walmart showing aisles and entire departments taped off with a notice to customers reading: "By order of the state of Vermont, items in this 'non-essential' area are not available for purchase."
Anything else?
While Vermont's order banning the in-person sales of "non-essential" items covers the entire state, municipalities across the country have issued comparable directives.
A similar crackdown has been imposed in Colorado's Summit County and in the city of Chicopee, Massachusetts.


theblaze--2020-04-02--PRANK CALL: Angry transgender calls out Dove's beauty campaign

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder .
But inclusive beauty is in the eye of the social justice @ @ @ @ @ illustrated this point by prank calling Dove to file a complaint about a recent beauty @ @ @ @ @ ( Crowder ) plays a gender non-conforming , person of color , quadruple amputee , @ @ @ @ @ to find out why the beauty brand did not recognize her as beautiful .
Enjoy @ @ @ @ @ Transgender Calls Out Dove 's Beauty Campaign | Louder with Crowder Use code LWC to @ @ @ @ @ year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more of Steven @ @ @ @ @ 's actually funny , subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who @ @ @ @ @ Constitution and live the American dream .

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But inclusive beauty is in the eye of the social justice warrior. Wednesday, Steven Crowder illustrated this point by prank-calling Dove to file a complaint about a recent beauty campaign.
Jess'e (Crowder) plays a gender-non-conforming, person of color, quadruple amputee with rickets who contacts Dove to find out why the beauty brand did not recognize her as beautiful. Enjoy ...
PRANK CALL: Angry Transgender Calls Out Dove's Beauty Campaign | Louder with Crowder www.youtube.com
Use code LWC to save $30 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-02--Ocasio-Cortez says illegal aliens pay as much in taxes as 'anyone else,' calls Republicans cruel for

Ocasio-Cortez says illegal aliens pay as much in taxes as 'anyone else,' calls Republicans cruel for preventing assistance to them

Ocasio-Cortez says illegal aliens pay as much in taxes as 'anyone else , ' calls Republicans cruel for preventing assistance @ @ @ @ @ were ignored by the mainstream media

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) excoriated the government's response to the coronavirus epidemic and claimed that children in the U.S. were attending schools funded by taxes paid by illegal aliens.
The firebrand democratic socialist made the claims in an online video published on Thursday.
"Yes, so this is a very important question. So this administration in the negotiations for this bill basically said anything for immigrants is a non-starter," she said, referring to illegal aliens.
She went on to say that Democrats fought for benefits for illegal aliens, but Republicans would not pass the bill with those provisions included.
"Yes, undocumented people pay taxes. Undocumented people pay billions of dollars in taxes every year. We send our kids to public school on the taxes that undocumented people pay," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"Undocumented people pay more money in taxes than Amazon or Facebook, or anything combined. So yes, I believe that if you pay into this system, you should benefit from this system, she added.
"So there is not cash assistance for the undocumented, you have to have a Social Security number," Ocasio-Cortez explained.
She also pointed illegal aliens to possible assistance from state-funded social safety net benefits. She concluded by saying that illegal aliens paid more in taxes than anyone else.
"So um, so some of these state programs are eligible for you if you are undocumented," she concluded, "but what just passed here in the CARE act very cruelly cut out undocumented people, despite the fact that they pay into the system just as much as anyone else."
Critics of these kinds of claims point out that although illegal aliens do indeed pay taxes in various forms, they also place an enormous burden on social services, with some estimates running into more than $100 billion per year.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted similar claims in July 2019, saying, "people who are undocumented pay taxes! Public goods aren't 'gifts' to immigrants - they pay for your kids' schooling too."
Despite tweeting that she would make her claim "for the last time," Ocasio-Cortez has repeated the claim many times since July 2019.
Here's the video of Ocasio-Cortez:


theblaze--2020-04-02--'We'll get through it...it's in our American blood': 95-year-old WWII vet who survived coronavirus s

'We'll get through it...it's in our American blood': 95-year-old WWII vet who survived coronavirus shares powerful message of hope

'We 'll get through it ... it 's in our American blood ' : 95-year-old WWII vet who survived coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ 'We 're that type of people .
We take care of each other '

William "Bill" Kelly is a 95-year-old World War II veteran from Oregon. He lived through the Great Depression.
He served in the South Pacific during World War II. And now he has just fought the coronavirus — and won.
Bill joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Thursday to share his experience and a hopeful message about why the younger generations can overcome this crisis.
"I want to tell the people that it wasn't pleasant, but on the other hand, you know, if you do what you're supposed to do, and you have some loved ones around you and do a lot of praying, why, you'll come through it okay. ... We've been through Pearl Harbor. We've been through the big Depression and who knows what else. We're tough. We get through it. Hang in there," Bill said.
"You know, it's just — it's born in our American blood," he added. "We're that type of people, that we take care of each other, and we are not going to break down. We're going to make it through, every time. Every time."
"There's people that don't think we are those people any more. That it was the Greatest Generation — your generation — they did it, and now we're not the same people. Do you agree with that?" Glenn asked.
"No, I don't," asserted Bill. "And the reason I say that is because I remember when I was a young kid, you know, and people, the older people, said 'all those young kids are soft' ... but when we were attacked at Pearl Harbor — sneak attack, you know — it's surprising how those so-called goofy kids turned into mighty fine fighting people. And they're very loyal. I have lots of faith in them ... no, I don't have any problems with this new generation. They'll take care of us. We're Americans."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
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theblaze--2020-04-02--Navy removes captain of coronavirus-plagued carrier who wrote letter pleading for help

Navy removes captain of coronavirus-plagued carrier who wrote letter pleading for help Capt .
Brett Crozier has been relieved from @ @ @ @ @ Roosevelt

The U.S. Navy has removed Capt. Brett Crozier from his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after the media obtained a letter he wrote begging for help for sailors amid a spreading COVID-19 outbreak on the aircraft carrier.
What are the details?
Last week, the ship was forced to dock in Guam with its roughly 4,800 crew members on board after around 100 tested positive for coronavirus. On Monday, Capt. Crozier sent a letter to senior military officials, pleading for help and pushing for a coordinated effort to remove most of the crew from the ship, warning that "the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating."
"This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do," Crozier wrote. "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors."
The letter was obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle and quickly made headlines in the U.S. and around the world.
On Thursday, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly announced Capt. Crozier had been removed from command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
"I don't know who leaked the letter to the media," Sec. Modly said during a briefing. "That would be something that would violate the principles of good order and discipline, if he were responsible for that. But I don't know that."
The Washington Post reported that "the Navy removed (Capt. Crozier) after becoming increasingly convinced that he was involved in leaking the letter to the media to force the service to address his concerns," according to Navy officials.
What else?
NBC News, also citing unnamed officials, reported that "the official reason for Crozier's relief of duty is a loss of trust and confidence."
While the secretary did not rule out disciplinary action, Capt. Crozier will keep his rank and remain in the Navy.
The Hill reported that after Crozier's letter went public, "Navy officials announced they would offload 2,700 sailors by Friday." More than 1,000 people had been removed from the ship as of Wednesday.


theblaze--2020-04-02--FDA walks back restrictions on gay men, former sex workers donating blood amid coronavirus supply sh

FDA walks back restrictions on gay men, former sex workers donating blood amid coronavirus supply shortage. Let the debate begin.

FDA walks back restrictions on gay men , former sex workers donating blood amid coronavirus supply shortage .
Let the @ @ @

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it's relaxing some restrictions that prevent gay men from donating blood amid a supply shortage brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, ABC News reported.
The FDA's recommended deferral period for men who've had sex with another man is changing from 12 months to three months, the network said.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams called the move "tremendous" and potentially life-saving as overall blood donations have fallen and hospitals face shortages as people stay home and blood drives are canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ABC News said.
The American Red Cross said last month nearly 2,700 blood drives — where the organization gets more than 80% of its blood donations — had been canceled due to the pandemic, The Hill reported.
"It is critically important we have rationally and scientifically based blood donation deferral periods," Adams said on a call with reporters, the network reported. "In particular, we know that reducing the deferral period for men who have sex with men can significantly increase life-saving blood donations, prevent drug shortages, and help reduce harmful stigma experienced by the MSM community."
"MSM" is an acronym for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. The Centers for Disease Control indicates this population is "disproportionately impacted by syphilis, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases."
Former sex workers and injection drug users, too
The revised guidelines also allow former sex workers and injection drug users to donate blood after a three-month deferral, Bloomberg Law reported, adding that the latter groups hadn't been allowed to donate blood at all in the past. The outlet also said people with recent tattoos or piercings can donate blood after three months instead of a year.
"Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data, we've concluded that the current policies regarding the eligibility of certain donors can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply," Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement, according to ABC News.
The new guidelines will remain throughout the pandemic and will be updated to incorporate public comment within 60 days of the emergency being lifted, The Hill reported.
ABC News said Democratic senators and gay rights advocacy groups in the last week have called on the federal government to loosen the blood-donation restrictions.
How did GLAAD respond?
"LGBTQ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement, according to the network. "This is a victory for all of us who raised our collective voices against the discriminatory ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. The FDA's decision to lower the deferral period on men who have sex with men from 12 months to 3 months is a step towards being more in line with science, but remains imperfect. We will keep fighting until the deferral period is lifted and gay and bi men, and all LGBTQ people, are treated equal to others."
Let the debate begin
Twitter commenters reacting to the loosened restrictions traded barbs about discrimination and safety. A number of them defending the move indicated that donated blood is tested before transfusions. Indeed the CDC says "all blood for transfusion is tested for evidence of certain infectious disease pathogens, such as hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)."
But others aren't convinced, with one detractor saying "this isn't a good idea":


theblaze--2020-04-02--NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio sends staff to monitor Christian coronavirus tent hospital over unfounded f

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio sends staff to monitor Christian coronavirus tent hospital over unfounded fear of LGBTQ patient discrimination @ @ @ @ @ with 68 beds to treat COVID-19 patients , is built in Central Park during the @ @ @ @ @ York City .
( Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images )

Evangelist Franklin Graham's charity organization, Samaritan's Purse, opened up a temporary tent hospital in Central Park to help treat patients infected with COVID-19, but New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio doesn't trust the organization not to discriminate against LGBTQ patients, FaithWire reported.
Samaritan's Purse set up a facility with 68 beds for the coronavirus patients, an attempt to ease the burden of overwhelmed hospitals in New York City. De Blasio expressed distrust that the organization would treat LGBTQ people equally, and reportedly sent city staffers to the site to monitor the situation.
"I said immediately to my team that we had to find out exactly what was happening," de Blasio said, according to the New York Post. "Was there going to be an approach that was truly consistent with the values and the laws in New York City, that everyone would be served and served equally? We've received those assurances from the organization. ... We're going to send people over from the Mayor's Office to monitor. I am very concerned that this is done right. But if it is done right, we need all the help we can get."
Samaritan's Purse signed a written pledge to treat all patients equally. Samaritan's Purse recruits Christian doctors and other health care workers, and requires them to sign a statement affirming traditional Christian doctrines, such as Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation, belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, and opposition to abortion.
De Blasio wasn't the only Democrat to take a shot at Samaritan's Purse while the organization was working to save lives amid a public health crisis.
"This is very disturbing," New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson wrote on Twitter. "We need reassurances from the city and from Mt. Sinai that Samaritan's Purse and its volunteers will be monitored, and that the LGBTQ community will not be discriminated against in any way. This is a crisis, but our values remain."
There is no evidence that Samaritan's Purse ever had any intention of discriminating against patients on the basis of sexuality or religious beliefs.
"We certainly do not discriminate, and we have a decades-long track record that confirms just that," Graham said in a statement to NBC News. "This is a time for all of us to unite and work together, regardless of our political views. Let's support one another during this crisis, and we pray that God will bless the efforts of all those battling this vicious virus."