theblaze--2020-03-16--College student faces felony terrorism charges after he took a  photo with an AR-15 and joked about

College student faces felony terrorism charges after he took a  photo with an AR-15 and joked about melting ‘snowflakes’

College student faces felony terrorism charges after he took a photo with an AR-15 and joked about melting ‘ snowflakes @ @ @ @ @ in jail and now faces up to 20 years in prison

A college student from Michigan is facing felony terrorist charges after sending a photo of an AR-15 to friends, and joking about how the gun would "make the snowflakes melt."
What are the details?
Lucas Gerhard, 20, shared the image of him touting the firearm with a private group of friends on Snapchat on Aug. 22, the night before he was scheduled to return to Lake Superior State University for the fall semester, according to the College Fix.
"Takin this bad boy up, this outta make the snowflakes melt, aye? And I mean snowflakes as in snow," a caption for the image read.
He was planning to bring his new gun to school because LSSU allows student to bring guns onto the campus. Students can store them in a guarded armory while they attend classes during the semester.
But when a young woman outside of the Snapchat group was shown the image, she perceived it as threatening. She took a screenshot of the image and reported it to school authorities, who in turn alerted local law enforcement.
When Gerhard arrived on campus for the fall semester, he was arrested on a felony charge of terrorism and his bond bail set for $250,000. He ended up spending 83 days in jail before he could be bailed out in mid-November.
Now, Gerhard is under house arrest at his father's home and awaits a potential jury trial in April where he faces up to 20 years in prison.
'Extreme political views'
In a copy of the search warrant used by police during Gerhard's arrest, obtained by the College Fix, the probable cause for the warrant cites one student's testimony of Gerhard's "extreme political views," but did not go into any further detail. Gerhard reportedly holds conservative political beliefs.
According to the Associated Press, Gerhard told an officer that the term "snowflake" referred to people whose political ideology is liberal and that making the snowflakes "melt" referred to their emotional reaction at his bringing an AR-15 to school. He insisted that he did not intend to harm anyone and was studying to become a police officer himself.
He was arrested anyway, despite his explanation.
The AP reported that public safety officers at the school said "they had numerous prior incidents and contacts with Gerhard, including when an anonymous tip was made to downstate law enforcement warning that he was a potential school shooter," but no more information was given.
The young woman who saw the image and reported Gerhard allegedly had "political arguments" with him before. Gerhard's father, Mark Gerhard, confirmed that his son is a conservative at a liberal school and is outspoken about his beliefs, but said that he is "never vindictive about anything, never antagonistic."
Gerhard's father added that he was "in disbelief" over the incident. "I couldn't believe the prosecutor had actually decided to press charges," he said.
Oddly enough, Gerhard's father noted in conversation with the College Fix, "There was no contact by law enforcement until approximately 4-5 hours after his arrival on campus. This is well after he checked in his rifle and ammunition, received his room key and a building pass that opened virtually every door on campus."
He argued that if school officials really believed his son to be a threat, they would have asked police to arrest him much earlier.
Michigan lawmakers come to his defense
After news of the incident broke, Michigan lawmakers moved to redefine the state's terrorism law.
Republican state Rep. John Reilly blasted the arrest and the leniency of the law that allowed officers to detain Gerhard.
"I never thought our society was so fragile that someone's life could be ruined for telling a joke among friends," Reilly said. "It's a travesty that the county prosecutor charged him with any crime, for something that is clearly and undeniably protected speech under the First Amendment."
In a phone call with the College Fix, Michigan state Rep. Beau LaFave expressed his concern over how law enforcement and the judiciary had operated in this case.
"I think in this particular instance it's pretty clear that an individual at LSSU exercised his First Amendment right to talk about his Second Amendment right and the police, the university and everybody involved made grievous mistakes in charging him with a 20 year terrorism felony. And I think it's disturbing to have de facto red flag laws implemented by the police, the judge, the prosecutor and the university when he broke, to my knowledge, no laws," LaFave said.


theblaze--2020-03-16--Mitt Romney calls for U.S. to give $1,000 to every American adult to bolster economy amid COVID-19 e

Mitt Romney calls for U.S. to give $1,000 to every American adult to bolster economy amid COVID-19 emergency

Mitt Romney calls for U.S. to give $ 1,000 to every American adult to bolster economy amid COVID-19 emergency Legislation @ @ @ @ @ workers can meet their short-term obligations '

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has proposed giving $1,000 to each American adult in response to the spread of COVID-19.
What are the details?
Romney made the proposal on Monday, encouraged the Senate to take up the House-approved COVID-19 package, and insisted that Congress should take greater steps to bolster the U.S. economy.
"We also urgently need to build on this legislation with additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations, ease the financial burden on students entering the workforce, and protect health workers on the front lines and their patients by improving telehealth services," Romney said in a statement obtained by The Hill.
The outlet reported that such a stimulus payment would "help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy."
"Congress took similar action during the 2001 and 2008 recessions," Romney's office reasoned in the statement. "While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options."
CNBC reported that the Republican lawmaker's proposed stimulus would "ease the financial pain of the coronavirus pandemic that has tanked global markets and threatened to grind U.S. economic activity to a halt."
What else?
Larry Kudlow, who is national economic council director, said in a statement that the White House "might" support direct cash assistance to adult Americans during this time of crisis.
"The answer," he said, "[is] 'could be.'"
Despite the Federal Reserve's measures in slashing its benchmark rate to zero percent over the weekend, the U.S. stock market tumbled even further upon its Monday opening.
According to CNBC, Romney also proposed measures to provide small business grants and student loan deferment for recent grads.


theblaze--2020-03-16--Oregon distillery makes free hand sanitizer amid coronavirus outbreak

'We 're handing out free bottles while the supplies last ! '

An Oregon distillery is helping out during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak by making and giving out free bottles of hand sanitizer to people.
According to KPTV-TV, Shine Distillery and Grill in Portland makes the in-house hand sanitizer using a byproduct of the distillation process that's not meant for human consumption, rather than the stuff they serve at the bar:
Basically, when they distill the alcohol, the first part that comes out isn't meant to drink, so they make a cleaner out of it.
"I had a lady sitting at the bar the other night and she asked if she could have some and I wasn't sure, so over the weekend, we did our research and checked with the controlling authorities and come to find, as long as we're not making a medical claim or selling it, we're allowed to give it away," owner Jon Poteet said.
Now with 80 percent alcohol (above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation of at least 60 percent), xanthan gum to thicken the mix, and a little bit of water, they're making hand sanitizer for customers.
Legally, Poteet can't even call what he makes a "sanitizer," according to Willamette Week, and instead labels the alcohol-laden product a "hand cleaner."
Local distillery is using its spare spirits to make hand sanitizer www.youtube.com
According to its website, the Portland-based distillery was founded in 2018 and makes multiple kinds of liquor, including vodka, gin and whiskey.
In a social media post last week, the local distiller touted the new product, saying that those in need of come could come by and pick some up.
"House distilled hand cleaner made at Shine- stop by if you're in need," the company wrote on its Facebook page. "We're handing out free bottles while the supplies last!"
Consumers' rush to stock up on hand sanitizer in response to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — has led to shortages of the product as of late. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration announced on Saturday that it wouldn't take action against doctors and pharmacists who decide to make it for people themselves, so long as they follow certain guidelines on how to make it.
Earlier this month, Texas-based Tito's Vodka made headlines when its Twitter account repeatedly warned customers not to use the product as a replacement for hand sanitizer.
"Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol," the company told several Twitter users. "Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC."


theblaze--2020-03-16--US researchers have begun the first set of coronavirus vaccine clinical tests

US researchers have begun the first set of coronavirus vaccine clinical tests 'Everyone wants to do what they can in @ @ @

U.S. researchers have started the initial phases of clinical safety testing for a potential coronavirus vaccine, marking the beginning of a long, multistep process.
According to the Associated Press, which first reported the story, the clinical trial of healthy adults began Monday in hard-hit Washington state:
With a careful jab in a healthy volunteer's arm, scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle begin an anxiously awaited first-stage study of a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in record time after the new virus exploded from China and fanned across the globe.
"We're team coronavirus now," Kaiser Permanente study leader Dr. Lisa Jackson said on the eve of the experiment. "Everyone wants to do what they can in this emergency."
The Associated Press observed as the study's first participant, an operations manager at a small tech company, received the injection inside an exam room. Three others were next in line for a test that will ultimately give 45 volunteers two doses, a month apart.
One of the study participants, a 43-year-old woman from Seattle, told the outlet that taking part in the trial was "an amazing opportunity for me to do something," in response to the global outbreak.
A Monday statement from the National Institutes for Health explained that the vaccine being tested is called mRNA-1273 and that it was developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases "and their collaborators at the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc.," which is based in Massachusetts.
"The investigational vaccine was developed using a genetic platform called mRNA (messenger RNA)," NIH says. "The investigational vaccine directs the body's cells to express a virus protein that it is hoped will elicit a robust immune response. The mRNA-1273 vaccine has shown promise in animal models, and this is the first trial to examine it in humans."
While Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has previously said that the whole process of getting a vaccine out for public consumption "is going to take a year, a year and a half, at least," according to Business Insider, he praised Monday's development as a key step in the right direction.
"Finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infection with [coronavirus] is an urgent public health priority," Fauci said in a written statement Monday. "This Phase 1 study, launched in record speed, is an important first step toward achieving that goal."
The Associated Press also pointed out that "dozens" of other research groups around the world are also working to develop a vaccine and that trials for another candidate developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, is expected to begin a separate safety study in multiple countries next month.
In its own statement about Monday's news, Moderna said that it's already looking ahead and preparing for the next steps of the clinical trial process.
"In order to continue to progress this potential vaccine during the the ongoing global public health emergency, Moderna intends to work with the FDA and other government and non-government organizations to be ready for a Phase 2 and any subsequent trials, which are anticipated to include a larger number of subjects and which will seek to generate additional safety and immunogenicity data," the company said in a news release about the trials. "Manufacture of the mRNA-1273 material for the potential Phase 2 trial, which could begin in a few months, is underway."


theblaze--2020-03-16--Ryan: Becoming a father during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ryan : Becoming a father during the COVID-19 pandemic A letter to my unborn daughter about the coronavirus and the @ @ @ @

Driftwood
It's perfectly fine to be confused by the strangeness of life, Margo — sometimes it's even admirable. In about a month, you will be born. Margo, my daughter, my first child. Tiny, barefooted little girl, brave inside your watery shelter for now. Protected from an ocean-wide disease, a constituency of fever.
Someday, you will ask me about the world you were born into, about how it felt to be a person in the spring of 2020, as a global pandemic hurled our planet into "Night of the Living Dead," sparing nobody, not even Tom Hanks — Forrest Gump, Sheriff Woody, the only man capable of portraying Mister Rogers. He caught the virus.
Nobody is immune to tragedy or pain, Margo.
All it took to ruin everyday human life on a global scale was a spiky virus called COVID-19, the highly infectious disease caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which possibly originated from an animal of some kind in Wuhan, China. The virus attacks respiratory cells, hijacks them, then converts them into disease production mills.
More often, in public, people wear surgeon's masks and shift their eyes. People are scared. People are dying all over the world. The worst of it hasn't even hit America. Hospitals — vulnerable — brace for the onslaught of infected people. People are terrified. The virus lurks everywhere. The virus could be anywhere. You cannot see it, but you can feel the anxiety and paranoia it causes, as if the virus itself were in the air all around you. A smithereen curtain of tumor yellow. Cellophane that suctions over your mouth and constricts your breathing.
So, all month, I've had "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana stuck in my head:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous.
Here we are now, entertain us.
I feel stupid and contagious.
Here we are now.
Corinthians
Reid Wilson diagrams the path of an outbreak in his book, "Epidemic," focusing on the spread of the Ebola virus from 2014-16, and all the unbelievable stories and inconceivable coincidences that made it one of the deadliest diseases known to man.
The book takes the stylistic and metaphorical form of a spark that builds into flame, then eventually into an all-encompassing force of nature. He writes:
Every fire starts with a spark. Every spark, under the right circumstances, can become a conflagration burning out of control, consuming everything within its path — a house, a forest, a people, a country.
The COVID-19 inferno started with a 55-year-old man from Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million people, last November. It quickly spread through the region via a seafood market that sold live animals. The timing of it all is tragically impeccable. By early January, the coronavirus had become a health concern throughout Hubei province, but it was contained enough that people went about their lives. This aligned perfectly with Chunyun, the 40-day travel season in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
The holiday sees Chinese people from around the globe return home, to spend time with friends and family. It is the largest human migration on earth, with nearly 3 billion people traveling through China then returning to every curve of the world.
By late January, the World Health Organization designated the coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Within a month, the virus metastasized further, spurring a global emergency unlike anything we had ever seen.
In the time it took me to write the introduction to this article, five new countries/territories/areas reported outbreaks of COVID-19.
In total, 175,000 cases, roughly 6,500 dead, across 158 nations and territories.
1 Corinthians 15:52: ''We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.''
Or, in this case, in the droplets of a sneeze, through tiny lifeforms infecting the air. Early on — a month ago — as COVID-19 spread, people erroneously compared it to the influenza. Sometimes infected people remain asymptomatic. Otherwise, they exhibit flu-like symptoms. Fever, difficulty breathing, runny nose, and a dry, windless cough. It quickly became apparent that the virus was highly contagious, far more than we expected.
It spread too fast, we were lagging. We have struggled to keep pace, to understand the virus' behavior. Epidemiologists and virologists didn't know how long the virus could remain in the air and on surfaces. Worse, nobody seems able to agree on a reliable fatality rate, the percentage of infected who die or survive, depending how you see it.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "Globally, about 3.4 percent of reported COVID-19 cases have died."
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, President Trump balked at that number.
"I think the 3.4 percent number is really a false number," he said. "Now, this is just my hunch, but based on a lot of conversations ... personally, I'd say the number is way under 1 percent."
The actual percentage is a combination of the two. It accords to each country, each region, and the severity of the outbreak in those areas. More cases of the coronavirus means a higher death rate. Fewer cases, a lower death rate.
As of Monday, March 16, there is no vaccine.
Life in 2020
Early on, as the COVID-19 ravaged various countries, we, in America, were largely distracted. By the soap-opera histrionics of an election year and an especially viperous one at that.
By most accounts, Trump was rounding out his first — and perhaps only — term. So far, his presidency had been a nonstop bighorn ram fight, headbutt after headbutt after headbutt. Incompatible arguments between Trump and his enemies. Both sides, Trump and anti-Trump, remained loyal to themselves and hostile to anyone else, an airtight exclusion of unity. The stature and renown of Trump's presidency varied — often humorously — depending on where you got your news. The legacy media saw disaster and collapse in Trump, and made it their duty to surveil the man, ready for the moment that would earn him a second impeachment.
Trump and his followers, in turn, saw "winning, winning, winning," and a news media that was hostile and sulky. Trump made it his duty to heckle and goad the media. At Trump rallies, the WiFi password in the press pen is "!!TRUMP2020!!" Meaning that any journalist who reports on Trump rallies is forced to type !!TRUMP2020!! in order to get any work done. On Air Force One, Trump keeps the TVs in the press cabin tuned to Fox News.
But none of that matters now.
As of Monday, there were 3,155 coronavirus cases in 49 states, with at least 62 deaths. Every state and territory except West Virginia.
Decades from now, we will likely think of this as an era of tumult and upheaval and insecurity, balancing disagreement and convenience. Believe it or not, Margo, this is an age of revolution. Do people realize when they're inside a Renaissance? Well, I think we are in one such transformative period. When every day swarms with advancement and innovation.
Americans are just and fair, Margo. You will fit right in.
Social distancing
Oddly, COVID-19 could be the terrifying event that unites us, in an old-world kind of way. Yet, the isolation of mandated social distancing could lead to a social recession, a widespread bout of loneliness, isolation, boredom. It's a paradoxical dynamic that journalist Sebastian Junger writes about in his book, "Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging." Junger, who first achieved success with "The Perfect Storm" then as a war correspondent, documentarian, and author, has had a life filled with catastrophes. "Tribe" is the culmination of all that tragedy and combat:
Humans don't mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary. It's time for that to end.
A month ago, I stopped posting these weekly stories. Partly because my wife was seven months pregnant and we spent February moving from Fort Worth, Texas, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be closer to family, and, as I've mentioned before, Oklahoma is my favorite state in the nation. A dusky, hill-steeped, pink-sunset-crowned Cinderella.
Before the move, I wrote six or seven stories over a three-month period, with the hope that I could run them while I was busy with the move. But they all fell apart. Flimsy things. For the first time in a while, I had a story rejected. A few days later, I fumbled another story, this time for radio.
Language is power, Margo. If you have language, you have the world.
At the time, in the chaos and fever of my life, it felt like I'd lost my claim to language, my creative wildness. Which is especially terrifying when your job depends on the strength of your claim to language, your ability to cull the words everyone always needed.
Writer's block is not an option for me.
I was exhausted. But, upon arriving in Tulsa, renewed in a good wholesome kind of way. Came through the other side. Where I was surprised to see that there were people waiting there. And I received some lovely emails and DMs:
"Where ya been? Die hard fan over here... where's the press?"
Thank you, Neil. I needed the pep talk. Who knows how the next six months will play out, but, for now, I've got plenty to write about. Because, Margo, you will find that there are variances of grace. It's about living with Agape, universal love, spiritual and unconditional.
1 Corinthians 13: 11-12
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Through a glass darkly
First, COVID-19 spooked Wall Street. Even people who don't know a thing about the stock market — I am no expert myself — noticed the early pinches of disruption that worsened with the spread of the highly contagious virus. On Sunday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to nearly zero percent, the second emergency rate cut in two weeks. For reference, the last time the Federal Reserve made such dramatic cuts was December 2008, at the height of the financial crisis.
Via conference call, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said:
Families, businesses, schools, organizations and governments at all levels are taking steps to protect people's health. These measures, which are essential for containing the outbreak, will nonetheless understandably take a toll on economic activity in the near term.
Dominos. One falling on the next, down a line, until the whole row has spilled into wreckage.
The cruise ship outbreaks were an early glimpse at COVID-19's rampant spreadability. Any amount of person-to-person contact increased the spread, we were told. The most effective prevention was social distancing, coupled with vigorous hand-washing and avoidance of hand-to-face contact.
By the hour, the parameters of social isolation tightened, the restrictions intensified. Laxity causes needless deaths. Our best option was to commit to social distancing — everyone; the agreement had to be thorough and widespread.
Last Friday, President Trump suspended all cruise ship sailing for at least 30 days.
Social distancing requires that people avoid travel, avoid crowds and large gatherings, avoid hugs and kisses and handshakes, and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from anyone who is sneezing or coughing. "Do not," the experts said, "get too close to others."
All of which is inevitable when you're on a plane. So the airline industry took a massive hit. At first, the running joke was, "If you've ever wanted to have a plane to yourself for dirt-cheap, now is the time." But the grimness kept going so people cooled it with the dark humor.
Trump instituted a travel ban on most countries in Europe. The entire country of Italy went on lockdown, following the alarmingly high spread of the virus. On Sunday, there were 368 COVID-19-caused deaths in Italy, the highest in a single day. Among the events canceled was Venice Carnival, which is itself a perfect symbol for the "Twilight Zone" spookiness of the pandemic.
The State Department urged Americans to avoid travel, raising the global health advisory to level 3, the second highest. The Defense Department issued a 60-day ban on service members and their families traveling to countries affected by the virus.
Last week, thousands of K-12 schools in a dozen states and Washington, D.C., closed, affecting more than 15 million children, roughly a quarter of the school-going population. Colleges moved classes online. New York University, Columbia University, Princeton University, University of Florida, Harvard ordered all on-campus undergraduate students to leave their dormitories for the remainder of the semester.
The Washington National Cathedral was one of the many religious institutions to be shuttered. Zoos. Cemeteries. Conferences, summits, conventions. The GLAAD Awards.
Five Republican congressmen, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, underwent self-quarantine after a person they had interacted with at the Conservative Political Action Conference was diagnosed with the virus. Louisiana delayed its presidential primary two months. Both Democratic presidential candidates — Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden — canceled campaign events. President Trump called off rallies in Nevada, Colorado, and Illinois. Literally hours before this story ran online, I received an email from the board of the White House Correspondents' Association informing all press corps members that they are "reducing the number of seats available in the White House briefing room to accommodate social distancing guidelines as best as practicable."
All month, companies have encouraged employees work from home. Mercury Studios, home of Glenn Beck Radio, BlazeMedia, and TheBlaze was among them, an entire media ecosystem, empty.
Earlier, through my home-office window, I caught a glimpse of the Tulsa skyline and heard the quiet highway rumble that is usually louder. In the backyard, dark yellow leaves slow-danced with breakneck curvature. But then a towering breeze gutted them, shredding their wings.
Here we are, now entertain us
Every public, communal form of leisure and escape receded like a hermit crab into an old plastic cup.
As one Twitter user quipped: "Oh sweet, I was wondering how every corporation I've ever given my email to was handling COVID-19."
Starbucks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom closed all bars in the entire state. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti took it a step further, closing all movie theaters, restaurants, nightclubs, and gyms until at least March 31. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Lots of politicians did. Too many to keep track of, like the rest of the updates related to this catastrophe.
Many libraries shut their doors indefinitely. The Louvre Museum in Paris, home of "The Mona Lisa," site of the The Carters' mesmerizing "Ape S**t" video. The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The Boston Marathon. March Madness, a staple of American sport, was canceled. English Premier League, the most elite soccer league in the world, postponed the season to early April, after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta contracted COVID-19. Leagues in Spain, Italy, France, Germany followed suit, including the UEFA Champions League.
NASCAR originally planned to hold races without fans in attendance, but as the virus spread, they decided to postpone. New York International Auto Show. Disneyland. Universal Studios. SeaWorld. E3, the largest gaming convention in the world. ComicCons. Even RuPaul's DragCon.
St. Patrick's Day parades were canceled in most major cities, including Dublin and Cork, in Ireland. The Tucson Festival of Books.
The NBA suspended all games a month shy of playoffs, after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert became the first NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus, days after he mocked the virus during a news conference.
To be fair, he seems truly to feel bad about it.
The PGA. The NHL. The MLB. The MLS.
Nobody knows how long the pandemic could last. So the 2020 Summer Olympics has become an uncertainty. Will Tokyo be safe by late July?
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo — the largest indoor livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world, held annually at the 72,000-seat NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, adjacent to the Astrodome, where for the entire month of March, roughly 2 1/2 million people from all over the world gather for Houston's signature event — canceled.
In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned "gatherings with 500 people or more." Unbelievably, New York City grounded to a halt. Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall. Broadway suspended all performances for 32 days, longer than the shutdown following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Cancelations and bans came at every level of every industry. The music industry as a whole took swift action. Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents. Left and right, concerts cancelled. The Who. Cher. Madonna. Pearl Jam. Michael Buble. Slipknot. The 35th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Even Billie Eilish, who swept all four of the major categories at this year's Grammy Awards.
Coachella, and its country music counterpart iHeartCountry Festival, postponed six months. South By Southwest, the crown of the industry, was canceled. A wise decision, but also one that will likely set music back at least an entire year, affecting thousands of musicians, vendors, artists, filmmakers, producers, promoters, recruiters — an enormity of funding and money lost, opportunities missed.
Comedy tours by Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, and Trevor Noah. Late-night talk shows. Same with "Price is Right." "The Amazing Race," "Survivor," and "The Bachelorette." ABC's "The View" taped without an audience. And the film industry. At every level. High-brow: Tribeca Film Festival. Low-brow: Fast & Furious. Even the new James Bond film, the aptly titled, "No Time to Die."
You shouldn't go too long without some humor, Margo, especially when times get dark.
Darkness
If the timeline of known life were a year, with the creation of our our universe on Jan. 1 of Year One, and today at 12:00 of Jan. 1 of the next year, the evolution of modern humans — which, in real time, took 200,000 years — would begin at 11:52 of Dec. 31, 8 minutes before midnight of the new year. The birth of Christ would take place in the last 4 seconds of the year. Columbus arriving in America would happen 1.2 seconds before midnight.
Margo, I am afraid to say that the Earth, which I know you will love, cannot exist forever. Best case, the planet will sustain life for another 1.5 billion years or so. Which is hopefully enough time to find our way to a freshly habitable planet, which is kind of sad when you think about it, leaving everything behind.
In 7.5 billion years, the Sun will engulf Earth, and every trace of us and our time here will vanish. Then, eventually, the Sun will die. Then the rest of the stars, until the last star burns out.
Motion is life, Margo. Life is a motionable force, a living creature. And black holes invalidate motion. They are the vultures of the galaxy.
So much of life involves pointless endeavors or a misapprehension of time. Launch off into the unknown, see where you land. Probably, it will improve you, to have embedded in a new somewhere. So, for now, the satellite-rocked sky undulates above us, perfect and solemn and pale blue silver with white drifting clouds. Lopsided, full of floating airplanes, luminous, as processions of geese drift across each bellnote shadow.
The next killer outbreak
A couple years ago, Reid Wilson appeared on Glenn Beck's radio show. In preparation, I was assigned Wilson's book, "Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak." It's the story of Ebola, as I mentioned above-head, but it's also an examination of how governments can do better, particularly the United Nations and the World Health Organization, especially in a time when international borders blend, and people are connected globally more easily than ever.
Wilson writes, "The global heath chain is only as strong as its weakest link."
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and came up with solid questions for Wilson's interview. As news of COVID-19 spread this year, I returned to Wilson's book and that list of questions.
Check out the last one:
Reid, you note that, while the Ebola virus has an extremely high mortality rate, it has a low transmissibility, whereas a disease like Zika is the opposite. We were lucky with Ebola. You write that a disease which is both highly lethal and highly transmissible would be catastrophic, especially if it happens somewhere that is hostile toward Americans. We've most likely faced the end of the Ebola virus. We have a cure and strategy. What's next? What can we do to stop the next outbreak? And what will the next pathogen look like? A flu strain from China? You write that we're unprepared for the next outbreak. What's the solution?
Nirvana
Last Thursday, at midnight, I drifted along empty highways to the grocery store, and stocked up for doomsday.
Frozen meat pies, water, milk, eggs.
Back outside, in the whipping breeze and the empty parking lot, the night hurled into a fresco of violet. Full-moon stillness. The underscent of rain, a cascade of waiting. The vibrato simplicity to each red light. All that quiet. That plunge and "Welcome" banner. A reedy whisper to the air, when the birds were asleep. An occasional monotonous drone.
The outdoors had become depopulated. How long would life be haunted like this?
In "Tribe," Sebastian Junger wrote,"If you want to make a society work, then you don't keep underscoring the places where you're different — you underscore your shared humanity."
Margo, right now you are the size of a honeydew melon, four pounds of life eager to grow and expand. You are secretive but always moving, and, recently, find yourself without adequate space, all writhe and elbow, not realizing that an entire civilization awaits you.
Entire histories and premonitions. Legacies, sports, etiquette, decorum. An ancestry of human achievement, of language, of literature and art and music, an artistic lineage that extends farther and deeper than any one person could ever know, vested in truth, and despite all our second-guessing.
Humans are collectors, Margo. So never miss a chance to be wholesome or kind.
Thanks for reading. New stories come out every Monday. Check out my Twitter. Send all notes, tips, corrections to kryan@blazemedia.com


theblaze--2020-03-16--Colorado nurse recounts her harrowing experience with coronavirus: 'It's nothing like I expected'

Colorado nurse recounts her harrowing experience with coronavirus : 'It 's nothing like I expected' 'Finally , on Sunday night @ @ @ @ @ , I need you take me to the ER '

A Colorado nurse who contracted the coronavirus after attending a medical conference in Hawaii is speaking out about her harrowing experience.
Lisa Merck of Crested Butte told KDVR-TV in a recent interview — taken from her home because she is still under quarantine — that her bout with coronavirus began with the "sniffles" at the end of a three-week trip to Hawaii with her husband.
"We were on buses, trains — we were on planes having fun," Merck said. "We went to a medical conference over there and on the day we were going to leave, I had little sniffles. That's it."
But when she returned to the U.S., Merck said her condition took a turn for the worst: body aches, a fever, and nausea.
"We got back and my muscles ached, my bones ached and my joints ached really bad. It felt like someone was stabbing me with an ice pick and I was like, 'I wonder if I have the flu,'" she explained. "Finally, on Sunday night, I told my husband, 'I need you take me to the ER. I don't feel very good, and I feel like whenever I stand up I want to collapse.'"
Despite returning a negative flu test, the CDC and her local health clinic initially told Merck that she did not meet criteria for coronavirus testing.
Then, finally, she tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
"I'm feeling really short on breath. I get extremely exhausted," Merck said.
Although nausea is not a symptom commonly associated with coronavirus, Merck said she as lost about five pounds due to the nausea she has experienced.
According to KDVR, Merck is being isolated at her home with her husband until she no longer shows symptoms of coronavirus. She will only be permitted to leave isolation once she tests negative for the disease on consecutive tests at least 24 hours apart.
In the end, Merck said of coronavirus, "It's nothing like I expected."


theblaze--2020-03-16--NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio heads to gym despite announced coronavirus closures — and the backlash is f

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio heads to gym despite announced coronavirus closures — and the backlash is fierce Apparently , @ @ @ @ @ to *everybody*

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey agreed to close all theaters, gyms, restaurants, and bars beginning at 8 p.m. Monday in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
But that did not stop New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from hitting the gym.
The far-left mayor, who is known to exercise daily before heading to city hall, was spotted Monday morning at the Park Slope, Brooklyn, YMCA.
In a statement, the mayor's office said de Blasio hit the gym "one last time" to keep him "grounded" — behavior that health officials warn will further spread COVID-19.
The statement read:
The YMCA has been a huge part of [de Blasio's] and his family's life, like it has been for a lot of New Yorkers. It's clear that's about to change and before that, the mayor wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time. That doesn't change the fact that he is working around the clock to ensure the safety of New Yorkers. After today, gyms will close and he will no longer be visiting the YMCA for the foreseeable future.
In response, numerous former city hall staffers spoke to the New York Post and slammed de Blasio.
"Every New Yorker's regular routine has been put on hold. His should be, too. Get to work. Set an example. This is embarrassing," one former employee said.
"He went to the f***ing gym? Jesus!" another exclaimed.
"If we're supposed to be social distancing, then what does that even mean if he gets to play by his own rules? Leaders are supposed to set by example. What kind of example does this set?" another former city hall staffer told the Post. "Also, why is he at the gym and not hunkered down 24/7 working on this? It's a pandemic, and people are dying. Stunning."
"How many people have to die before he stops getting chauffeured to the gym is my question. What's the appropriate number of deaths before he finds it uncouth," the former staffer added.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Katz, one of de Blasio's former top aides, condemned his actions as "reckless" and "inexcusable."
The mayor was similarly condemned on social media.
"Lead by example, dolt," CNN host S.E. Cupp said.
"Okay, the 'people hate DeBlasio because of his weird gym habits' thing now makes sense," liberal commentator Matthew Yglesias said.


theblaze--2020-03-16--Man who bought 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer forced to donate them all after being banned from eB

Man who bought 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer forced to donate them all after being banned from eBay and Amazon

A Tennessee man who purchased more than 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer to resell online ended up with a massive financial loss, having been forced into donating the entire stockpile after the state attorney general's office got involved, according to The Hill.
What's the story?
Matt Colvin and his brother, Noah, began buying up all the hand sanitizer they could find from stores in Tennessee and Kentucky the day after the first recorded U.S. coronavirus death.
They make a habit of buying large quantities of hot items to resell for a profit on Amazon and eBay, and saw an opportunity as consumers sought out hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to protect against the spread of infection.
How'd that work out?
The Colvins were right about the demand for the product, and things got off to a good start. They were able to sell 300 bottles on Amazon — until the company removed all their items and banned him from the platform for price gouging.
Matt Colvin spoke to the New York Times on Saturday about the situation, which put a target on his back for outrage. Anger over his scheme spread online, and his address was eventually publicized, leading to at least one angry visitor banging on his door.
Sunday, the Tennessee attorney general's office sent Colvin a cease-and-desist letter, promising to take "aggressive action" against people who attempted to price-gouge "in this time of exceptional need."
So, the Colvin brothers accepted defeat and donated two-thirds of the product to a local church, and the other third to the attorney general's office, which will distribute it to Kentucky where much of it was purchased.
Didn't mean any harm?
Matt Colvin claims he didn't realize that if he purchased all the hand sanitizer in every store that other people wouldn't be able to get any.
"I've been buying and selling things for 10 years now. There's been hot product after hot product. But the thing is, there's always another one on the shelf," Colvin told the Times. "When we did this trip, I had no idea that these stores wouldn't be able to get replenished. It was never my intention to keep necessary medical supplies out of the hands of people who needed them. That's not who I am as a person. And all I've been told for the last 48 hours is how much of that person I am."


theblaze--2020-03-16--SCOTUS postpones hearing arguments due to coronavirus spread

They 'll still meet privately , but will be able to do so via conference call .

Businesses, schools, and public events around the United States have begun to temporarily shut down some operations for the near future due to the global spread of the coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19. Now the highest court in the land is following suit.
According to a Monday announcement from the Supreme Court of the United States, all oral arguments for the rest of the month have been postponed for the foreseeable future. The news release says that the court made the decision "in keeping with public health precautions recommended in response" to the virus' global outbreak and that it "will examine the options for rescheduling those cases in due course in light of the developing circumstances."
Despite the postponement, members of the court will still hold their scheduled conference — where they discuss and make decisions about cases — on Friday, but will have the option of participating in the meeting via telephone instead of showing up in-person. Additionally, the court will also issue orders as scheduled on the following Monday morning, the announcement said.
The cases with now-postponed arguments include a high-profile intellectual property case against Google, a case about Congress' efforts to get ahold of President Donald Trump's tax information, and two consolidated religious freedomcases dealing with the rights of Catholic schools to hire and fire employees in line with their institutional missions.
Last week — following similar decisions at the White House and the Capitol complex — the Supreme Court closed the doors of its building to the general public in an effort to protect "the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees," according to a statement on its website.
Monday's announcement explained that the building will remain open for official business and closed to the general public while the court works to expand "remote working capabilities to reduce the number of employees in the Building, consistent with public health guidance."
This isn't the first time that the Supreme Court has taken a break from hearing cases in response to a global disease outbreak. During the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, the court recessed for nearly one full month during October and November of that year, according to more-than-century-old reporting from the Washington Post. That was back when the court still met in the Old Senate Chamber of the Capitol Building.


theblaze--2020-03-16--Joe Biden vows 'no deportations' in his first 100 days. And after that, only convicted felons will b

Joe Biden vows 'no deportations' in his first 100 days. And after that, only convicted felons will be removed.

Joe Biden vows 'no deportations ' in his first 100 days .
And after that , only convicted felons will @ @ @

Former Vice President Joe Biden vowed during Sunday night's Democratic debate that his administration would not deport any illegal immigrants in his first 100 days in office.
The Democratic front-runner also added that after the first 100 days, only those immigrants who have been convicted of felonies in the United States would be removed from the country.
"In the first 100 days of my administration — no one — no one will be deported at all," Biden stated. "From that point on, the only deportations that will take place are commissions of felonies in the United States of America."
Joe Biden: “In The First 100 Days Of My Administration, No One, No One Will Be Deported At All" youtu.be
Univision anchor Ilia Calderon pressed Biden to confirm the statement, saying, "So to be clear, only felons get deported and everyone else gets to stay?"
"Period. Yes," Biden answered. "The reason is it's about uniting families, it's about making sure that we can both be a nation of immigrants as well as a nation that is decent."
Seconds before he made the declaration, the former vice president also vowed that he would immediately grant citizenship to 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
Both Biden and Sanders want a 'sanctuary nation'
During the debate, Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) asserted that local law enforcement should not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities such as U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
When asked point-blank if illegals who are arrested by local police should be turned over to federal immigration enforcement authorities, Biden flatly said, "no."
"Of course not," Sanders added. "This is a country significantly built by immigrants. We have to appreciate each other and end this demonization coming from the Trump administration."
Discussing the exchange on Twitter, The Hill's Saagar Enjeti called the two Democratic candidates' perspective essentially a "sanctuary nation policy."
"AKA they would be at war with their own Departments of Homeland Security," he added.
Biden is considered the moderate candidate in comparison to Sanders, who is a progressive and a self-proclaimed socialist. But many of the arguments Biden made during Sunday night's debate called that notion into question.
Townhall editor and Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich made such a point after Biden called for taxpayer-funded abortion and tax increases in addition to open borders immigration policy.
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-03-16--Man drops 'f-bombs' on TV news crew in front of supermarket for 'hyping' coronavirus: 'It's your fau

Man drops 'f-bombs' on TV news crew in front of supermarket for 'hyping' coronavirus: 'It's your fault that people are freaking out here!'

Man drops ' f-bombs ' on TV news crew in front of supermarket for 'hyping ' coronavirus : 'It 's @ @ @ @ @ freaking out here ! '
' Y'all are the scum of the earth ! '

A reporter from Houston's KTRK-TV was in the middle of a live segment in front of an H-E-B supermarket early in the morning Thursday when an man interrupted her report and blamed the media for spreading fear about the coronavirus — and it all got caught on the camera operator's video.
What happened?
"It's your fault that people are freaking out here!" the man said, walking up to and pointing at reporter Miya Shay and the camera operator. "You all are the ones who are at fault! This no worse than the flu!"
A man's voice — presumably the camera operator — replied, "Uh, you're the one here at 6 o'clock in the morning."
"I'm reacting to other people's reactions!" the man shot back.
"OK, bye," Shay said, trying to end the argument — but nothing doing. The man then dropped what Shay later said were "F-bombs" on her. They're bleeped out in the video she posted.
"Y'all are the scum of the earth!" the man said while walking away — before heading back to the TV crew and continuing to dress them down.
"I don't even blame the Chinese; I don't blame them at all. They did everything right," the man said before finally walking toward the store. "It's you all that are hyping things up. Goodbye. Have a good morning."
"Stay classy," the presumed camera operator replied while Shay shook her head and rolled her eyes.
Here's the clip:
"I'm just going to assume this guy dropped a bunch of F bombs on me this morning because his wife sent him for toilet paper too early," Shay wrote with a tweet about the encounter. She added that coronavirus "is serious. We are not hyping it."
What was the reaction?
Shay's tweet has received over 18,000 likes, but it has spread globally since she posted it Thursday. She noted that her cousin in Beijing sent her a clip that "made it on TikTok & then to her WeChat group. Love the Chinese subtitles and dramatic music!" The clip also is on World Star Hip Hop.
While the majority of comments under Shay's tweet defended her and the media, quite a few commenters on World Star Hip Hop sided with the angry shopper:


theblaze--2020-03-16--Maine landlord goes viral after announcing he will not collect rent due to COVID-19 outbreak

A Portland, Maine, landlord is giving back to the community in a very tangible way: He won't charge his tenants rent for the month of April.
What are the details?
The landlord, Nathan Nichols, made the announcement on his Facebook page.
Nichols, who owns two rental units in South Portland, said that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he would not be collecting rent. In his posting, which went viral, Nichols also urged other landlords to follow suit in order to ease the burden on renters.
The post read, "COVID19 is going to cause serious financial hardship for service and hourly workers around the country. I own a two unit in South Portland and all of my tenants are in this category. Because I have the good fortune and of being able to afford it and the privilege of being in the owner class, I just let them know I would not be collecting rent in April. I ask any other landlords out there to take a serious look at your own situation and consider giving your tenants some rent relief as well."
At the time of this writing, Nichols' post has been shared more than 17,000 times.
What else?
In a statement, Nichols told WMTW-TV that he hopes his post will be far-reaching in order to help out people who may be financially strapped at this difficult time.
"I am quite surprised and I am happy that it got shared a lot because I do seriously hope that people who have some privilege will see this and take a hard look and see what they can do," he said.
"One of my units is one family with a small child on a single income that is hourly and I know that they are under financial stress a lot of the time. It would be a lot more expensive for me to lose a tenant than to give one month's rent off," he added.
"If more people do this, which is the only reason I posted this in the first place, to hopefully get people to take a hard look at what they can do to keep things working," he concluded.
covid-19 landlord www.youtube.com
(H/T: Newsweek)


theblaze--2020-03-16--Cyberattack hits US Department of Health and Human Services, was meant to disrupt coronavirus respon

Cyberattack hits US Department of Health and Human Services, was meant to disrupt coronavirus response, spread misinformation: report

Cyberattack hits US Department of Health and Human Services , was meant to disrupt coronavirus response , spread misinformation : @ @ @ @ @ things

A cyberattack hit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to a Monday Bloomberg report.
According to ABC News, the attack — which took place on Sunday night — was meant to slow the U.S. response to COVID-19.
What are the details?
Administration sources told ABC News that the attack was directly related to the government's coronavirus response.
John Cohen, former acting Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said, "As federal, state, and local governments focus on handling the current public health crisis, national security officials are also tracking other threats — in particular those posed by terrorist or extremist groups and foreign adversaries who may seek to take advantage of all of the attention being focused on the coronavirus and conduct an attack."
Bloomberg reported that the attack luckily did not impact the agency's systems in a "meaningful way."
Just before midnight, the National Security Council tweeted, "Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on #COVID19."
A source told Bloomberg that the tweet was related to the cyberattack, which reportedly began pumping false information about the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.
Bloomberg reported, "The tweet was in part meant to address the hacking, which involved multiple incidents. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and other Trump administration officials are aware of the incident, one of the people said."
What else?
At the time of this writing, it does not appear that any hackers were able to extract data from the systems, and the outlet notes that Trump administration officials believe that the attacker was a "hostile foreign actor" but have neither officially confirmed the belief nor publicly identified a suspect in the cyberattack.
Bloomberg reported that Paul Nakasone — head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command — is looking into the incident.


theblaze--2020-03-16--America hunkers down as states begin to shut down schools, businesses, and large gatherings

America hunkers down as states begin to shut down schools , businesses , and large gatherings Is this just the @ @

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading health official in charge of the coronavirus response in the U.S., urged Americans to employ harsher social distancing and community mitigation efforts Sunday in order to combat the spread of the infectious disease.
"I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Fauci's advice came alongside a Centers for Disease Control recommendation that event organizers cancel or postpone events consisting of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks, excluding day-to-day operations of schools and businesses.
States shutting down restaurants, bars
Over the weekend, several states responded by enacting their most extreme measures yet to restrict the gathering of crowds and the potential spread of disease.
Governors in five states — California, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Washington state — issued guidelines temporarily closing or limiting capacity at bars and restaurants. Food service businesses in those states will still be able to offer carry-out and delivery options, but will not be permitted to seat people inside.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wrote on Twitter that he is aware of the economic impact such guidelines will have, but insisted, "every day we delay, more people will die."
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee made the announcement that bars, restaurants, and recreational facilities would be temporarily closed Sunday evening only hours after he forcefully admonished state residents who were not practicing social distancing.
"Your actions could kill someone. Stop it," he wrote on Twitter.
Officials in New York City also moved to close down entertainment venues in addition to bars and restaurants.
Schools across the country have closed
Parents and students are bracing for weeks without classes as schools in many states have closed amid the outbreak.
Schools in more than 30 states and many school districts in other states are scrambling to adjust schedules and move to online curriculum. Working parents, who are used to having the kids away at school during the work day, are feeling the effects, too.
But it is not just bars, restaurants, and schools that have been affected by the coronavirus. These latest announcements come on the heels of other changes that have already significantly altered the day-to-day life of Americans, such as the cancellation of church gatherings, sports seasons, and planned vacations. Also, many employees and businesses unfamiliar or unpracticed with remote work are undergoing some on-the-job training.
As of Monday morning, more than 3,700 people in the U.S. have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, resulting in at least 69 deaths, according to CBS News. Globally, the death toll is over 6,500.
Here's more on America's response to the coronavirus outbreak:


theblaze--2020-03-16--Stocks plunge dramatically at opening as coronavirus concerns fuel trading halt

'No amount of money raining from the sky will cure this virus .
Only time and medicine will '

Financial markets appear to be off to yet another coronavirus-driven rollercoaster week with a post-opening bell stock plummet and a short trading halt on Monday morning.
According to the Associated Press:
Stocks dropped 8% in the first minutes of trading Monday on Wall Street and triggered another temporary halt to trading as huge swaths of the economy come closer to shutting down, from airlines to restaurants ...
The selling was just as aggressive in markets around the world. European stocks and crude oil were both down close to 10%. The world's brightest spot may have been Japan, where the central bank announced more stimulus for the economy, and stocks still lost 2.5%.
Yahoo! Finance reporter Ines Ferre noted that the short "circuit breaker" pause in trading happened "just seconds" after the markets opened to the sharp initial decline Monday morning. She noted that just after 10 a.m. the Dow Jones Industrial Average was still down by more than 2,500 points.
Monday morning's opening plummet comes after stocks rallied considerably ahead of closing on Friday afternoon as President Donald Trump gave a speech at the White House announcing a national emergency declaration to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. Noting it was the Dow's largest point gain in history, The Washington Post reported that the Friday afternoon spike "was Wall Street's biggest rally since 2008."
Citing unnamed investors, the Associated Press said that Monday's early stock plunge might have been set off by the Federal Reserve's Sunday announcement of emergency efforts to stave off an economic recession as several businesses and industries have been hit hard by efforts to confront of the virus' global spread through social distancing and quarantine measures.
The emergency measures are meant to encourage economic activity and will take the form of the dramatic step of lowering interest rates to almost zero in order as well as a monetary infusion of $700 billion in quantitative easing purchases.
"The Federal Reserve is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses," the central bank said in a statement. "The committee will continue to closely monitor market conditions and is prepared to adjust its plans as appropriate."
Those moves might help ease markets, but some investors aren't going to be reassured until it appears that the United States is on the other side of the coronavirus outbreak's peak.
"The Fed blasted its monetary bazooka for sure," Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, told CNBC. "This better work because I don't know what they have left and no amount of money raining from the sky will cure this virus. Only time and medicine will."
At the time of this story's publication, however, the Dow had started to slightly recover some of the losses from the morning's initial drop, as had the S&P 500.


theblaze--2020-03-16--Andrew Gillum enters alcohol rehab after Miami hotel incident allegedly involving crystal meth and a

Andrew Gillum enters alcohol rehab after Miami hotel incident allegedly involving crystal meth and a male escort

Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum announced Sunday that he is entering alcohol rehab , after a Thursday night incident in which police found him intoxicated in a hotel room where they also found bags of crystal meth , the Daily Caller reported .
Gillum said he had too much to drink that night in Miami Beach , but denied ever having done methamphetamines .
Gillum says he suffers from depression '' After conversation with my family and deep reflection , I have made the decision to seek help , guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This has been a wake-up call for me .
Since my race for governor ended , I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse .
I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated .
I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles .
I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person . ''
Miami Beach Police found Gillum in the hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dyson , 30 , was allegedly suffering from an overdose , and Gillum , 40 , was found in the bathroom vomiting , unable to communicate , according to the incident report .
Gillum said in a statement later that he was out celebrating a wedding and had too much to drink .
Dyson , who is reportedly a gay male escort and self-describes as a `` porn-star performer , '' said he was not celebrating a wedding and said Gillum never mentioned one .
A source told TheBlaze 's Giancarlo Sopo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
He reported :

Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum announced Sunday that he is entering alcohol rehab, after a Thursday night incident in which police found him intoxicated in a hotel room where they also found bags of crystal meth, the Daily Caller reported.
Gillum said he had too much to drink that night in Miami Beach, but denied ever having done methamphetamines.
Gillum says he suffers from depression
"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time," Gillum said in a statement. "This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person."
What happened in Miami Beach?
Miami Beach Police found Gillum in the hotel room with another man, Travis Dyson. Dyson, 30, was allegedly suffering from an overdose, and Gillum, 40, was found in the bathroom vomiting, unable to communicate, according to the incident report.
Gillum said in a statement later that he was out celebrating a wedding and had too much to drink. Dyson, who is reportedly a gay male escort and self-describes as a "porn-star performer," said he was not celebrating a wedding and said Gillum never mentioned one.
A source told TheBlaze's Giancarlo Sopo that police found Gillum in a compromising state. He reported:
A source with direct knowledge of the Miami Beach Police Department's response to the scene told TheBlaze that first responders said they allegedly found Gillum in a state of complete undress and Dyson wearing "chaps," which Dictionary.com defines as "a kinky or provocative article of clothing, which leave the butt and sometimes crotch exposed," when they arrived at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel room.


theblaze--2020-03-16--5 dead — including police officer — in Missouri mass killing

Prayers for the impacted loved ones

At least five people — including a local police officer and the alleged gunman — are dead following a mass killing at a gas station in Springfield, Missouri, the Associated Press reported Monday.
What are the details?
According to reports, the unnamed gunman entered the gas station and began shooting late Sunday after crashing into the Kum & Go gas station. NBC News reported that the two officers who first responded to the attack were "immediately fired upon by the suspect."
When police officers were able to gain access to the scene, they discovered three dead citizens. The gunman reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot.
The outlet also reported that the police department received calls about three separate shootings within a five-mile radius before the attack at the gas station.
Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams announced that a second officer was injured along with another local citizen. Authorities are working to determine a motive in the deadly attack.
KYTV-TV reported that Williams said, "It's way too early. ... I'll leave it at that."
Police have yet to identify the other victims involved in the killing, but revealed that Officer Christopher Walsh, 32, was shot and killed. Walsh was with the department for more than three years. Officer Josiah Overton, 25, was also injured but his injury is not life-threatening.


theblaze--2020-03-16--CBP agents bust alleged smuggling attempt of phony coronavirus tests at US airport

CBP agents bust alleged smuggling attempt of phony coronavirus tests at US airport Officials say that the shipment had been @ @ @ @ @

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol announced over the weekend that agents had seized a package filled with what authorities believe to be phony coronavirus testing kits, and stopped them from entering the United States.
According to a Saturday CBP news release, agents at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday inspected a package that had been manifested as containing "purified water vials" valued at just under $200. Inside that package, they actually found six plastic bags that contained numerous vials full of white liquid. The vials had been labeled "Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)" and "Virus1 Test Kit," authorities said.
The agency says that the shipment came in on a flight from the United Kingdom and the suspected fraudulent tests were turned over to the Food and Drug Administration for testing after they were seized.
"CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment," LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP's LAX Port Director, explained in a statement in the release. "Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments."
The agency goes on to say that authorized testing for the coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — is currently being conducted "in verified state and local public health laboratories across the United States" and that consumers need to be on the lookout for "bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings."
Carlos Martel, CBP's director of field operations in Los Angeles, said the "significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a national emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers' vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people."
As U.S. officials pointed out last week, the ongoing worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus creates a prime opportunity for scammers and criminals to try to take advantage of other people's fears and uncertainty.
The FDA and Federal Trade Commission sent multiple companies warning letters last week "for selling fraudulent COVID-19 products," accusing the corporation of making phony health claims about products like teas, essential oils and colloidal silver. The FDA says that there are still no approved vaccines or treatments for the fast-spreading virus and that "investigational products are in the early stages of product development and have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness."
After the FDA and FTC announcement, the U.S. Secret Service also issued a warning for people to be on their guard against various online scamming and phishing attempts related to the coronavirus outbreak.
"Criminals are opportunists, and as seen in the past, any major news event can become an opportunity for groups or individuals with malicious intentions. The Coronavirus is no different," the federal law enforcement agency warned in a statement. "In fact, the Coronavirus is a prime opportunity for enterprising criminals because it plays on one of the basic human conditions … fear."


theblaze--2020-03-17--Trump calls the New York Times a 'disgrace to journalism' for misrepresentation of his coronavirus q

Trump calls the New York Times a 'disgrace to journalism' for misrepresentation of his coronavirus quote

Trump calls the New York Times a 'disgrace to journalism ' for misrepresentation of his coronavirus quote 'Respirators , ventilators @ @ @ @ @ getting it yourselves '

Media pundits criticized President Donald Trump based on an incomplete quote from a recording of the president's conference call with state governors about the crisis from the coronavirus pandemic.
The quote appeared in a report by the New York Times.
"Trump tells governors not to wait for federal government to look for needed medical equipment on their own," tweeted Peter Baker of the New York Times.
"Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment—try getting it yourselves," the quote read.
But according to the Washington Examiner, the president followed up that quote with a clarification that the White House would help governors with the effort to obtain medical equipment.
"We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves," he said. "Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself."
Trump retweeted the Examiner post, adding, "The 'Times' is a disgrace to journalism!"
Critics of the president have quested whether the administration has taken the coronavirus epidemic seriously enough, while Trump maintains that he has acted as well as anyone could have possibly expected.
Here's more about Trump's response to the pandemic:


theblaze--2020-03-17--ACLU threatens to sue if Idaho passes law banning biological males from competing against biological

ACLU threatens to sue if Idaho passes law banning biological males from competing against biological females in sports The ACLU @ @ @ @ @ law is signed into law

LGBT groups are decrying the state government in Idaho as a bill banning biological males from competing against biological females in sports comes closer to becoming a legal reality.
The bill was approved by the Senate and will go the House for approval. Critics say the bill is unconstitutional and allows for discrimination against transgender persons.
Supporters of the law say it will protect females from unfair competition by biological males.
"It started to level the playing field. But now we are in a new crisis," said Republican Sen. Mary Souza according to the Associated Press.
"Girls who have been struggling and training and competing in their sport are suddenly confronted by biological males," she explained.
Trangender advocates and supporters complained about the bill on social media.
"The notion the Idaho House would spend time during #CoronavirusOutbreak looking for new ways to persecute transgender people is just beyond the pale. Don't do this," pleaded Montel Williams.
"While the world grapples with #coronavirus the Idaho Senate focused on discriminating by legislating against #transgender people and voting 24-11 to pass a bill barring transgender girls and women from women's high school and college sports teams," said Democratic strategist Meghan Stabler.
"We will sue"
The ACLU promised legal action if the governor signed the bill.
"The Idaho Senate just passed a bill targeting trans student athletes. This bill could subject any student athlete to invasive screenings," the ACLU tweeted. "If @GovernorLittle signs this bill, we will sue."
Here's more about the proposed Idaho law:


theblaze--2020-03-17--'It's gonna be ok': Sanitation worker's encouraging message amid COVID-19 outbreak goes viral

'It 's gon na be ok ' : Sanitation worker 's encouraging message amid COVID-19 outbreak goes viral 'Right now @ @ @ @ @ am feeling an extra sense of pride and purpose as I do my work '

A California garbageman's encouraging social media post amid the COVID-19 pandemic has gone viral, after he inspired people with his message that sanitation workers will remain on the front lines during the ongoing crisis while reassuring the public that "it's gonna be ok."
What are the details?
Twitter user Jester D, who is reportedly from California, wrote a Twitter thread on Friday night that has reached hundreds of thousands of people:
"I'm a garbageman," Jester began. "I can't work from home and my job is an essential city service that must get done. It's a tough job, from getting up pre-dawn to the physical toll it takes on my body to the monotonous nature of the job, at times it's hard to keep on going."
"Right now though, right now I am feeling an extra sense of pride and purpose as I do my work," Jester continued. "I see the people my, my people, of my city, peeking out their windows at me. They're scared, we're scared. Scared but resilient."
Jester added, "Us garbagemen are gonna keep collecting the garbage, doctors and nurses are gonna keep doctoring and nurse-ering. It's gonna be ok, we're gonna make it be ok. I love my city. I love my country. I love my planet Earth. Be good to each other and we'll get through this."
By Monday night, Jester's post had been "loved" by nearly 500,000 people, and more than 10,000 folks had left comments either thanking him for his inspiring words, weighing in with their own voices of encouragement, or both.
Jester acknowledged the popularity of his viral message with a follow-up as it blew up on the social media platform, tweeting, "Wow you guys I don't even know what to do with a viral tweet. I have nothing to promote and if I did I wouldn't do it on this tweet. My heart is filled to bursting with this response to my words. I'm just a dude with a phone and a little spare time. Thank you."


theblaze--2020-03-17--Amazon seeks to hire 100,000 amid 'unprecedented' surge in orders

The online retailer is also issuing a temporary pay raise for hourly employees

Amazon announced Monday that it is hoping to hire another 100,000 U.S. employees as the online retailer works to fulfill the "unprecedented" surge in orders it is experiencing as more consumers stay home and shop online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the details?
The Associated Press reported Amazon is seeking workers to fill full-time and part-time positions at its warehouses, delivery centers, and Whole Foods grocery stores amid a sharp increase in demand from American consumers who have been encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing as the novel coronavirus continues to spread.
The firm, which is the second-largest U.S.-based employer, is also promising a $2 an hour pay raise for its hourly workers in several countries through the month of April. The company reported that its commitment to the pay increase "represents an investment of over $350 million in increased compensation for hourly employees across the U.S., Europe and Canada."
Dave Clark, who oversees Amazon's warehouse and delivery network, told the AP, "We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year."
The Hill reported that Amazon signaled over the weekend that the Seattle-based company's "supply lines were facing stress as a result of the outbreak, leading to delivery delays and items possibly going out of stock."
"In particular, you will notice that we are currently out of stock on some popular brands and items, especially in household staples categories," the company said in a Sunday blog post. "We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on all of our products, and bring on additional capacity to deliver all of your orders."
In a separate post announcing its hiring initiative on Monday, Amazon wrote, "We also know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants, and travel are lost or furloughed as part of this crisis. We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back."


theblaze--2020-03-17--Mike Pompeo lashes out at China for spreading 'disinformation and outlandish rumors' about coronavir

Mike Pompeo lashes out at China for spreading 'disinformation and outlandish rumors' about coronavirus

Mike Pompeo lashes out at China for spreading 'disinformation and outlandish rumors ' about coronavirus 'Beijing must acknowledge its role @ @ @ @ @ solution '

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashed out at the government of China over unsubstantiated accusations made by a spokesman that the U.S. might have originated the coronavirus and spread it in Wuhan.
According to a statement from the State Department on Monday, Pompeo objected to the rumors during a phone call with Yang Jiechi, the director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China.
"Secretary Pompeo conveyed strong U.S. objections to PRC efforts shift blame for COVID-19 to the United States," read the statement.
"The Secretary stressed that this is not the time to spread disinformation and outlandish rumors," it continued, "but rather a time for all nations to come together to fight this common threat."
On Thursday, a Chinese spokesman made headlines when he asked on Twitter if perhaps the coronavirus was introduced to Wuhan in China by the U.S. Army.
"CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals?" Zhao Lijian asked in a tweet.
"It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent!" he added emphatically. "Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!"
Experts are nearly certain that the contagion originated when the virus jumped from bats to human beings in Wuhan, contrary to the conspiracy theory spouted by the Chinese spokesman.
The confusion has been compounded by pundits objecting to coronavirus being described as the "Chinese Wuhan virus" or the "Chinese virus" out of fears that these names may lead to racist attitudes and behavior against the Chinese.
Pompeo reiterated his concerns via Twitter on Monday.
"Spoke today with Director Yang Jiechi about disinformation and outlandish rumors that are being spread through official PRC channels," he said.
"The United States is sparing no effort to protect our people and contain the global #coronavirus pandemic. Beijing must acknowledge its role and be part of the solution," he concluded in a second tweet.
Here's more about China spreading conspiracy theories:


theblaze--2020-03-17--'I can prove this isn't a conspiracy...the documents exist': Lara Logan exposes the media's liberal

'I can prove this isn't a conspiracy...the documents exist': Lara Logan exposes the media's liberal 'playbook'

' I can prove this is n't a conspiracy ... the documents exist ' : Lara Logan exposes the media @ @ @ @ @ n't hold anything back -- because without the truth , what else is left ?

Today's journalists are expected to fall in line with the media narrative. If they dare to do real journalism — they'd better watch their backs.
South African-born investigative journalist Lara Logan has built her career on the front lines of history, and she's paid a heavier price for truth than most can imagine — targeted and smeared by the media, not to mention the brutal atrocities she's lived through in the field.
Lara joined Glenn Beck in the studio to talk about her remarkable career reporting from active war zones and everything she's learned about the Left's media "playbook" for spreading disinformation, launching smear campaigns, and using pressure tactics to promote a radical progressive agenda.
"Go back and read the document produced in, I think it was 2012, about gun control and how to guide people through that movement to make your case. It literally says in there, 'Don't take on this argument. Don't take on the Second Amendment ... because that doesn't work. Use the emotional argument.' That's the playbook, and it's the playbook across all different kinds of platforms," Lara told Glenn. "I can prove this isn't a conspiracy because those documents exist."
Watch the video clip below for more details:
Click here to catch the full interview.
Use code GLENN to save $10 off one year of your subscription.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-03-17--Crowds flock to open Florida beaches despite calls for social distancing

Despite nationwide calls for social distancing, crowds continued to swarm the remaining open beaches in Florida, sparking concerns of community spread of COVID-19 in the state and beyond as spring break tourists continue to mingle amid the coronavirus pandemic.
What are the details?
Videos and photos of the crowds at Clearwater Beach on Monday caused the destination to trend on Twitter, and footage of other open Florida beaches began to circulate on social media.
WFLA-TV shared a video stating that Clearwater Beach was "packed," while a reporter from WFTS-TV posted pictures from the same beach with the message, "BUSY BEACH! This is what @MyClearwater Beach looks like right now as spring break crowds flock to the sand. #Clearwater leaders haven't decided if they should add a curfew or close beaches but they may vote on measures related to the #coronavirus this Thursday."
A video reportedly taken from over the weekend also showed an even denser crowd at Fort Lauderdale Beach, where officials have since imposed a ban on gatherings of 250 people or more and required bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. and keep occupancy at 50% or lower, the Associated Press reported.
WTSP-TV reported Saturday that beaches became the go-to spot for people due to the cancellation or postponement of "nearly every major event" at popular spring break destinations.
One tourist visiting Clearwater from Ohio told the outlet, "I'm shocked the beaches aren't shut down. I mean we need something to do, other than sit inside, but I'm shocked the beaches aren't shut down."
Not all beaches remain open in Florida. Several have closed including Hollywood and Miami Beach's public beaches in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state, where there are now more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus.
Anything else?
While some beaches are closed, Florida has opted to keep all of its polling booths open.
Gov. Rick DeSantis (R) announced Monday that the state's planned presidential primary election will move forward as planned on Tuesday, the Sun-Sentinel reported. The outlet noted that the states of "Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana all have pushed back their primaries because of the coronavirus."
"We are dealing with this in a thoughtful way, but we are not going to panic," DeSantis said during his announcement. "These things can be done in ways where there are not large crowds."


theblaze--2020-03-17--New Jersey officials: COVID-19 patient 'at large' after giving false info and leaving hospital

New Jersey officials : COVID-19 patient 'at large ' after giving false info and leaving hospital The unidentified 'young lady @ @ @ @ @ and address

New Jersey officials are scrambling to find a COVID-19 patient who is "at large" after providing a false name and address and then leaving the hospital where she was tested for the virus.
What are the details?
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) announced in a Facebook video Tuesday that an unidentified woman was tested for the novel coronavirus at East Orange General Hospital on Saturday. When the positive test results came back, authorities went to the address that the woman provided and discovered that she "had lied about her identity and residence," Fox News reported.
In his address, Mayor Baraka addressed the patient directly, saying, "Because you gave a false name, because you gave a false address, you put yourself and many, many people at risk — not only just in the city of Newark, but all of the surrounding cities in the state as well. I'm urging you immediately to contact your health provider, go back to East Orange General Hospital."
He added, "We are searching for you and we are looking for you."
The mayor said prosecutors, law enforcement, and health department officials are all working to find the unidentified COVID-19 patient and pressed the hospital to provide security footage to assist authorities in finding out who the woman is.
"Hopefully," Baraka said in the video, "by the time this gets out, East Orange General Hospital will have completed what we needed them to complete and begin to give us the information that we need to get to begin to find this young lady who is at large at this point."
Baraka emphasized: "This is not a joke."
East Orange General Hospital issued a statement saying that it is cooperating with officials on the case, saying, "East Orange General Hospital has been working closely with the Newark Department of Health, Newark Police Department, East Orange Department of Health and East Orange Police Department," the Daily Mail reported.
The statement added, "We have already provided them with all information requested. Patient privacy laws constrain us from providing further comment to the public about a specific patient or case."
Anything else?
As of Tuesday evening, New Jersey had 267 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and three people had died from the virus.


theblaze--2020-03-17--Actress Vanessa Hudgens walks back insensitive video about coronavirus, but it only fuels more outra

Actress Vanessa Hudgens walks back insensitive video about coronavirus, but it only fuels more outrage

Actress Vanessa Hudgens walks back insensitive video about coronavirus , but it only fuels more outrage 'Like , even if @ @ @ @ @ , yeah , people are gon na die , which is terrible , but like @ @ @ @

Celebrity actress Vanessa Hudgens posted a video about coronavirus that was immediately blasted on social media for its insensitivity on Tuesday.
"Umm, yeah, till July sounds like a bunch of bullsh*t," said Hudgens on the video posted to her Instagram account, which has more than 38 million followers.
"I'm sorry, but like, it's a virus, I get it, like, I respect it, but at the same time, like, even if everybody gets it, like, yeah, people are gonna die, which is terrible, but like, inevitable?" she added.
"I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be doing this right now!" she laughed.
Nearly the entire internet agreed with Hudgens that she should not have been doing that right now. Her video was circulated widely and condemned vehemently.
Owing to the outrage around her video, "Vanessa Hudgens" was the number-one trending topic nationally on Tuesday.
"Are we calling it yet on Vanessa Hudgens being the first celebrity to get quarantine-cancelled?" tweeted comedian Randy Rainbow.
In a follow-up video, she offered a a half-hearted attempt to apologize for her comments, which she said were "taken out of context." Hudgens also apologized in a message on Twitter.
"Hey guys. I'm so sorry for the way i have offended anyone and everyone who has seen the clip from my Instagram live yesterday. I realize my words were insensitive and not at all appropriate for the situation our country and the world are in right now," Hudgens said.
"This has been a huge wake up call about the significance my words have, now more than ever," she concluded. "I'm sending safe wishes to everyone to stay safe and healthy during this crazy time."
Many critics found her apology to be insincere and out of proportion to the message in her first video.
Here's more about the Hudgens outrage:


theblaze--2020-03-17--GOOD NEWS: As Italy's coronavirus death toll surges, local innovator uses 3D printer to save lives

GOOD NEWS : As Italy 's coronavirus death toll surges , local innovator uses 3D printer to save lives 'Technology @ @ @ @ @ '

There's a lot of scary news circulating the media as countries across the globe continue the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, this week, Italy recorded the worst 24-hour death toll yet — far worse than even China's most deadliest day.
Northern Italy's Lombardy region is taking the brunt of it: Hospitals are overwhelmed, medical staff is working around the clock, and there's not enough lifesaving equipment for all the patients who need it.
Nevertheless, there is some good coming out of this worldwide crisis, especially when it comes to technology. When a hospital in northern Italy ran out of valves in the ICU to help patients breathe, an Italian entrepreneur stepped up. Using a 3D printer, he designed, printed, and produced enough valves to save several lives — all within a matter of hours.
"Technology is going to save us," Glenn Beck said on Tuesday's radio program. "As Stephen Hawking said once, 'Science can lift the people out of poverty and cure disease. That, in turn, will reduce civil unrest.'"
Glenn went on to note that no matter what happens, man is always either retreating or advancing in response to the circumstances around us. Throughout history, Americans have always chosen to advance.
Watch the video below for more:
Use code Glenn to save $10 off one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-03-17--Here's why Andrew Gillum stepped away from politics

Here 's why Andrew Gillum stepped away from politics Former Florida mayor found in hotel room with escort

On Tuesday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat and Keith discussed an incident last week involving former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and reportedly a gay male escort, who police say may have overdosed on crystal meth. Gillum was found by first responders in a Florida hotel room along with the self-proclaimed "porn star performer."
Gillum claimed he slipped into a state of depression that led to alcohol abuse after he narrowly lost the Florida gubernatorial race to Ron DeSantos.
Gillum has since checked himself into rehab for treatment.
Watch the video below for the bizarre story.
Andrew Gillum's Gay Meth Overdose Scandal EXPOSED | Pat Gray Unleashed youtu.be
Use code PAT for $10 off one year of BlazeTV.
To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-03-17--World Health Organization weighs 'airborne precautions' after study shows coronavirus can survive in

World Health Organization weighs 'airborne precautions' after study shows coronavirus can survive in the air for hours

World Health Organization weighs 'airborne precautions ' after study shows coronavirus can survive in the air for hours A new @ @ @ @ @ can stay on certain surfaces for as many as three days

The World Health Organization is considering recommending "airborne precautions" for medical professionals in response to a new study that found the coronavirus can survive in the air for a few hours.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, made the announcement in a conference call with reporters Monday, CNBC reported.
"When you do an aerosol-generating procedure like in a medical care facility, you have the possibility to what we call aerosolize these particles, which means they can stay in the air a little bit longer," Kerkhove said.
"It's very important that health-care workers take additional precautions when they're working on patients and doing those procedures," she added.
Kerkhove stressed that no decision has been made and that, at this point, the WHO is "confident" in the guidance they already have in place. It is currently recommended that medical workers wear N95 masks, which filter out more than 95% of liquid and airborne particles.
Kerkhove reportedly did not discuss changing recommendations for people outside of the health care professions.
Study finds the virus can survive in air for hours
The announcement came in response to a new study conducted by the U.S. government and the National Science Foundation that found that the coronavirus can survive in the air for a few hours and on certain surfaces for as many as three days.
According to the New York Post, researchers used "a nebulizer device to put samples of the new virus into the air, imitating what might happen if an infected person coughed or made the virus airborne some other way."
They found that the virus could be detected in the air up three hours after it had been expelled. The study also showed that the virus could be detected up to four hours later on copper, up to one day later on cardboard, and up to three days later on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
Researchers did emphasize, however, that the study does not prove that anyone has been infected by breathing in contaminated air or touching a contaminated surface.
"We're not by any way saying there is aerosolized transmission of the virus, but this work shows that the virus stays viable for long periods in those conditions, so it's theoretically possible," said study leader Neeltje van Doremalen at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
What does the CDC say?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus is mainly spread through person-to-person contact between two people who are within six feet of each other through water droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
"It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes," the CDC said. "But this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads."


theblaze--2020-03-17--CNN host credits Trump for 'remarkable' response to coronavirus pandemic: 'He is being the kind of l

CNN host credits Trump for 'remarkable' response to coronavirus pandemic: 'He is being the kind of leader that people need'

CNN host credits Trump for 'remarkable ' response to coronavirus pandemic : 'He is being the kind of leader that @ @ @

President Donald Trump has been taking the coronavirus threat more seriously in the past week, and even one CNN host has taken notice and given the president credit for his response.
CNN's Dana Bash on Tuesday pushed back on criticism of Trump by pointing out that, at least with his recent words and tone, he's doing a good job managing the crisis.
"If you look at the big picture, this was remarkable by the president of the United States," Bash said. "This is a nonpartisan, this is an important thing to note and to applaud, from an American standpoint, from a human standpoint. He is being the kind of leader that people need, at least in tone, today and yesterday, in tone, that people need and want and yearn for in times of crisis and uncertainty."
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll showed that 49% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the pandemic, compared to 44% who approve. Only 37% say they have either a "good amount" or a "great deal" of trust in information from the president about the coronavirus, while 60% say they trust the president "not very much" or "not at all" on the issue.
After initially taking a more casual stance toward the significance of the coronavirus, President Trump in recent days has shown a willingness to enact drastic measures, both socially and economically, to help the United States reduce the spread of the coronavirus and minimize the economic impact on businesses and Americans.
With the stock market significantly down over the past week and several industries being crippled by a lack of consumer activity directly resulting from the threat of the coronavirus, the Trump administration is working with Congress on an economic stimulus package that could exceed $1 trillion and may include bailouts for travel and hospitality companies, direct payments to Americans, and various forms of support or relief for small businesses.
On Monday, the president urged all Americans to stay home as much as possible from work and school, and to limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer to slow the spread of the coronavirus so that a high number of cases doesn't overwhelm the health care system.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)