theblaze--2020-04-18--Marco Rubio mocks Nancy Pelosi by showcasing his own ice cream stash — and makes her an offer

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) offered the world a glimpse into his freezer in a video on Friday, mocking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) tone deaf clip from earlier in the week where she showcased the huge stash of ice cream she keeps in her freezer to get through "these trying times."
But Rubio's video had a purpose, and he offered the speaker all he's got in the way of frozen treats in exchange for her to stop withholding small business relief during the COVID-19 crisis.
What are the details?
Pelosi was accused of having a "let them eat cake" moment when she revealed the full stock of gourmet ice cream from her luxury kitchen for "The Late Late Show With James Corden" while millions of Americans are suffering from job loss and hunger during the ongoing pandemic.
Meanwhile, the wealthy California Democrat is facing pressure from members of both sides of the aisle to end her party's blockade against replenishing the small business loan program that was quickly depleted amid among the crisis as more businesses face closure due to social distancing measures.
In a tongue-in-cheek effort to get Pelosi to stop stonewalling, Sen. Rubio made a video of his own and posted it to Twitter with the message, "So I hear Speaker Pelosi really likes ice cream? Here is what I am willing to do if she will stop holding aid for #SmallBusiness hostage."
The Florida Republican is shown reaching into his freezer and revealing a bag of M&M treats, saying, "I will give you all the ice cream I have in here, Madam Speaker, if you will fund small business and stop holding it hostage."
He added, "All of this right here. These M&M's. Make it happen."


theblaze--2020-04-18--'I smell a rat with orange hair' — Democrat accuses Trump of cheating blue states for coronavirus fu

'I smell a rat with orange hair' — Democrat accuses Trump of cheating blue states for coronavirus funds

' I smell a rat with orange hair ' — Democrat accuses Trump of cheating blue states for coronavirus funds @ @ @ @ @ more funds from going out

Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of California accused President Donald Trump of intentionally cheating blue states out of financial aid from the coronavirus relief bill.
Speier tweeted a link to a report that showed where more of the relief ended up.
"I'm hard pressed not to think that this is political. Blue states like California got a pathetic number of loans issued. Nebraska got nearly 75% of loans requested," Speier tweeted.
"I smell a rat with orange hair," she added.
The report from Bloomberg News showed an infographic that indicated little of the relief went to states like California or New York, which are both heavily democratic.
During the first 13 days of the federal government's small-business rescue program, the spigot was wide open in Nebraska. Firms there got enough money to cover 82% of the state's eligible payrolls. It was a different picture in New York and California, where companies did only half as well.
The report noted that the relief addressed the fewest percentage of eligible payrolls in Washington D.C. and California, while the greatest percentage of eligible payrolls were addressed in Nebraska, North Dakota, and Kansas.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was asked about the disparity during a media briefing.
"We're trying to understand exactly why," he said.
Republicans are working to refund the rescue plan in order to help more businesses, but their efforts have been stymied by Democrats who wish to use the opportunity to push for other demands.
Here's more about the coronavirus relief bill:


theblaze--2020-04-19--NJ woman who organized anti-lockdown protest charged with violating stay-at-home orders

The protest to re-open New Jersey fell on deaf ears .

A New Jersey woman who organized an anti-lockdown protest has been charged with violating Gov. Phil Murphy's stay-at-home orders.
Kim Pagan, from Toms River, NJ, was the organizer behind an anti-lockdown protest outside the New Jersey State House in Trenton on mid-day Friday. Approximately two dozen cars lined up outside the State House; some vehicles had signs demanding that the state re-open. New Jersey State Troopers did not stop the demonstration, but Pagan was charged with violating the Garden State's stay-at-home order.
The Facebook page of the Central Jersey Libertarians posted a video of the protest, where a State Trooper is seen writing down license plate numbers of the cars involved with the demonstration.
Later that day, approximately a dozen people protested outside Gov. Phil Murphy's office building and demanded that he "open New Jersey."
On Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal tweeted: "If you think emergency orders are more like guidelines than actual rules, think again. Here's the latest on our enforcement actions. I know social distancing isn't exactly enjoyable, but now's not the time for fun & games. Please stay home & stay safe." The tweet linked to New Jersey's "Daily COVID-19 Enforcement Update," which included Pagan's charge of "violating the emergency orders."
New Jersey has over 81,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 4,070 deaths from the virus. New Jersey has the second-most COVID-19 death and cases following New York.
"We are cautiously optimistic," said NJ Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. She added that it appears that the state is "leveling off but we still expect it to be very high" into the beginning of May.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Mayor Bill de Blasio tells New Yorkers to take photos of anyone not social distancing and report the

Mayor Bill de Blasio tells New Yorkers to take photos of anyone not social distancing and report them to police @ @ @ @ @ is `` easier than ever '' to snitch on others .

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is encouraging people to snitch on anyone who isn't abiding by social distancing guidelines and report them to the police.
The Democratic mayor advised New Yorkers to take photos of anyone who was not keeping a distance of six feet away from others or any businesses that were violating the social distancing rules.
Mayor de Blasio released a video on Saturday that provided instructions on how people could tattle on their fellow New Yorkers.
"We still know there's some people who need to get the message," de Blasio said in the video posted on Twitter. "And that means sometimes making sure the enforcement is there to educate people and make clear we've got to have social distancing."
Mayor de Blasio boasted it is "easier than ever" to rat out others.
"When you see a crowd, when you see a line that's not distanced, when you see a supermarket that's too crowded — anything — you can report it right away so we can get help there to fix the problem," de Blasio said.
The mayor told people to take a photo of any overcrowded situation and text the photo and the location of the picture to 311-692.
"Bang, send a photo like this, and we will make sure that enforcement comes right away," the NYC mayor said.
"Enforcement will come to get the help we need," de Blasio said. "Sending that photo in is going to help make sure that people are kept apart, and that's going to stop the disease from spreading, and that's going to save lives."
On April 6, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he was raising the maximum fines for violating the state-mandated social distancing rules from $500 to $1,000.
Earlier this month, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti encouraged residents to report businesses that didn't obey the "safer at home" order.
"You know the old expression about snitches? Well, in this case snitches get rewards," Garcetti said. "We want to thank you for turning folks in and making sure we are all safe."


theblaze--2020-04-18--California city dumps 37 tons of sand into a skate park to prevent kids from skating during coronavi

California city dumps 37 tons of sand into a skate park to prevent kids from skating during coronavirus lockdown

Update: According to a post on the SC Skatepark Coalition's Facebook page, the private group "raised $50k for lights and continues to raise funds to improve skateboarding in SC." The post has been changed to reflect that they did not raise the money to build the park.
During the current coronavirus-inspired lockdown, outdoor activities have become a solace for many who have found themselves unwillingly locked in their homes without any available recreational activities. Parks have been vital for parents with kids, in particular — especially parents who don't want their kids to spend literally every waking hour watching television or playing video games.
The State of California, however, is so determined to keep people apart that they closed all parks effective April 1st, thus removing one of the few places for outdoor activities. However, some kids in the city of San Clemente apparently did not take the warning seriously enough and continued to skate in a local park as a way to blow off steam.
The city of San Clemente wasn't having it, however, and filled the park — at taxpayer expense — with 37 tons of sand in order to prevent kids from skating there while the lockdown continues.
The city's actions are all the more egregious because a substantial amount of money used to fund lighting from the park was raised by a nonprofit coalition of local families who wanted a place for their kids to be able to skate safely — and they were not even notified that the park would be filled with sand, according to KCAL-TV.
The move is just the latest by local and state governments who have been increasingly emboldened to take aggressive measures to enforce social distancing policies in many locations. Those measures have led to protests across the country, as frustrated citizens descended on numerous state capitols this week to protest various aspects of social distancing orders.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Commentary: WHO says drinking alcohol may increase chances of getting COVID-19. They really need to

Commentary: WHO says drinking alcohol may increase chances of getting COVID-19. They really need to mind their own business.

Commentary : WHO says drinking alcohol may increase chances of getting COVID-19 .
They really need to mind their own @ @

You are witnessing the entire world crumble in front of you because of the excruciating loss of life and paralyzing economic collapse. For weeks now, you have been inundated daily and sometimes hourly with incessant doom-and-gloom headlines. With seemingly no glimpse of hope in the immediate future, perhaps your one simple pleasure during this hurricane of tribulation is to pop the cork off your favorite 2014 malbec wine from Mendoza, Argentina.
Maybe you want to crack open an ice-cold IPA and sit on your porch because that is the closest you can get to visiting the outside world. Or maybe your one sweet temporary release from the steady stream of chaos is to fix yourself an old fashioned. Since the world seems to be ending, you treat yourself to two Amarena cherries imported from Modena, Italy, instead of the usual one.
However, the World Health Organization says that you shouldn't indulge in any alcohol, even in moderation. If you were against the WHO being defunded, you might be leading the brigade not to give them a dime now.
The World Health Organization is warning that drinking alcohol may put people more at risk for contracting coronavirus. The WHO also cautioned that alcohol consumption could increase the chances of engaging in risky behavior. That's kind of the deal with alcohol. You're not drinking six vodka sodas because it helps you file your taxes more accurately, you're guzzling them because you might engage in some risky behavior that you generally would not partake in.
WHO's Regional Office for Europe released a statement this week advocating that access to alcohol "should be restricted during lockdown." Maybe the WHO should restrict themselves from carrying water for the Chinese government, and then maybe we wouldn't be stuck at home drinking, and instead be happily at a bar drinking.
"Alcohol consumption is associated with a range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and mental health disorders, which can make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19," the WHO statement read. "In particular, alcohol compromises the body's immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Therefore, people should minimize their alcohol consumption at any time, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic."
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we should really ask ourselves what risks we are taking in leaving people under lockdown in their homes with a substance that is harmful both in terms of their health and the effects of their behavior on others, including violence," said Carina Ferreira-Borges, WHO Europe's program manager for alcohol and illicit drugs. Carina needs to sip on a cranberry Quarantini and stop trying to be the boss of me.
There are conspiracy theories on the internet that claim alcohol consumption can eliminate coronavirus (It doesn't, I tried).
"Fear and misinformation have generated a dangerous myth that consuming high-strength alcohol can kill the COVID-19 virus. It does not," the WHO stated. "Consuming any alcohol poses health risks, but consuming high-strength ethyl alcohol (ethanol), particularly if it has been adulterated with methanol, can result in severe health consequences, including death."
Last month, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko reportedly recommended that his constituents drink vodka to help fight COVID-19.
"People should not only wash their hands with vodka but also poison the virus with it," Lukashenko advised Belarusians, according to the Times of London. "You should drink the equivalent of 40-50 milliliters of rectified spirit daily. But not at work."
"When you come out of the sauna, not only wash your hands, but also your insides with 100 milliliters [of vodka]," Lukashenko said. We have shower beers in America, and Belarus has sauna vodkas.
The European WHO said that alcohol is responsible for "3 million deaths a year worldwide," and encouraged "governments to enforce measures which limit alcohol consumption." Maybe the WHO needs to focus a little more on not tweeting out Chinese propaganda and a bit less time telling Americans how to live their lives.
Many Americans have discovered a newfound hobby during the lockdown -- recreational drinking. Americans have been hitting the bottle hard during the coronavirus crisis. Alcohol sales catapulted 55 percent in the week ending March 21, according to market research firm Nielsen. Sales of tequila, gin, and pre-mixed cocktails skyrocketed 75 percent compared to the same period last year. Wine sales were up 66 percent, and beer sales rose 42 percent. Online alcohol sales were up an astounding 243 percent. I'll drink to that!
Liquor stores have been deemed "essential" businesses; thus they are one of the handful of retailers that have been permitted to stay open during the coronavirus shutdown. If the liquor stores weren't open, you can be sure that there would be a lot more civil disobedience right about now. And now the World Health Organization wants to take away something that is the last refuge for many Americans.
So when you indulge in your favorite adult beverage this weekend, please remember to make a toast to the buzzkills over at the World Health Organization. Cheers!


theblaze--2020-04-18--Coronavirus lockdown may cause the country to run out of beer, soda, and other carbonated beverages

Coronavirus lockdown may cause the country to run out of beer , soda , and other carbonated beverages

If you drink beer, soda, or any other carbonated beverage, then the coronavirus lockdown may soon have another unpleasant side effect: shelves that are empty of all carbonated beverages.
According to Reuters, beverage makers have begun issuing warnings that the nation's supply of compressed carbon dioxide is now threatened due to a chain of events caused by the coronavirus lockdown.
Due to travel restrictions, people are now driving less. In fact, the overall demand for fuel has dropped by over 30% since the pandemic began. That, in turn, has caused ethanol plants to stop producing as much ethanol, which is used as an additive in many fuel products in the United States.
That is a problem for consumers of fizzy beverages because a significant portion of the country's supply of compressed carbon dioxide — which is used to generate the fizz in these beverages — comes as a result of the byproduct of ethanol production, which produces carbon dioxide gas. Ethanol producers bottle the gas and sell it for use in carbonated beverages.
The gas is also used for the processing, packaging, and shipment of meat, which is one of the reasons that the country's meat supply is ominously threatened by the continuation of the lockdown.
Some of the country's larger producers of carbonated beverages will likely be fine, for now, as they have begun moving away from reliance on ethanol-generated carbon dioxide in anticipation of the country moving away from reliance on fossil fuels. However, craft breweries and smaller companies are already feeling the pinch, as prices for CO2 have already shot up over 25%.
Bob Pease, CEO of the Brewers Association, told Reuters, "The problem is accelerating. Every day we're hearing from more of our members about this."
According to Reuters, 34 of the 45 ethanol plants in the United States have either curtailed or completely eliminated production, and the problem is likely to get worse. If the problem continues, a major shortage of carbonated beverages could be right around the corner.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Man flying to St. Louis for a wake gets royalty treatment as the only passenger on a Southwest Airli

Man flying to St. Louis for a wake gets royalty treatment as the only passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight @ @ @ @ @ empty everywhere

It's no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has nearly completely shut down travel in the United States. But when Bob Pitts took a Southwest Airlines flight from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Louis to attend his mother's wake, he got a truly unexpected surprise: he was literally the only person on the entire plane.
According to video provided by Pitts to NBC News, Pitts was personally greeted by both the flight attendant and the pilot as he boarded the plane — as the pilot turned around and waved, "Hi Bob." When the flight attendant gave the usual pre-flight spiel to Pitts, she advised him tongue-in-cheek to make sure that his carry on items were stowed under the seat in front of him, so that the area around his feet could remain clear.
She continued, "I want to make sure we show you some of this Southwest hospitality. So when you land, you're going to take out that flip phone your grandma bought you for Christmas. You're going to call her. You're going to tell her, 'This was my best flight ever.' Welcome aboard, Bob."
In the video, Pitts can be seen wearing a gray bandana for a face covering. According to Pitts, his mother's death was unrelated to any complications from the coronavirus. He told NBC News that it was a "very, very, very unique experience," and he complimented the Southwest staff for making him feel "like a VIP."
Pitts' experience may not be unique. Airline travel has plummeted an estimated 97 percent since the outbreak of the coronavirus, and it is widely expected that the effects of the shutdown will lead to bankruptcies and even permanent business realignments in the airline industry, even though airlines around the world are receiving aid from governments. The airline industry was already widely expected to face long-term contraction before the coronavirus outbreak, and the near total shutdown of global travel may have already pushed many companies over the brink.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Survey: Only 45% of workers in Los Angeles have jobs as unemployment spikes

Survey : Only 45 % of workers in Los Angeles have jobs as unemployment spikes The entire economy of California @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .

The coronavirus lockdown has caused severe economic hardships for residents of Los Angeles. A new survey found that less than half of people in Los Angeles County still have jobs as unemployment spikes because of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
A new survey from the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research found that only 45% of workers in LA are still employed, compared with 61% in mid-March. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began affecting California, 1.3 million people have lost their jobs in Los Angeles County, according to the USC research.
Only 25 percent of LA residents who lost their jobs since mid-March have received unemployment benefits.
"In LA, there was a certain level of insecurity to begin with, and it has increased a little bit more than it has in the national average," said USC's Jill Darling, survey director for the Understanding America Study.
On Friday, California's Economic Development Department released its latest unemployment report, which showed that LA County's unemployment rate shot up from 4.3% in February to 6.3% in March.
The Department of Labor said that 660,966 Californians filed for unemployment last week, down from the 918,814 the week before. During the last four weeks, there have been 2.7 million processed claims in the most populous US state, according to the Employment Development Department.
California's unemployment rate was 5.3% in March, a 1.4 percentage increase, and the largest spike since 1976.
"We are now in a pandemic-induced recession here in the state of California," Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
The survey was also conducted nationwide, where researchers discovered that the number of employed Americans dropped from 62 percent to 52 percent. The study estimated a US job loss of 25.5 million. Only 36 percent of recently unemployed Americans were receiving benefits, according to the survey.
The survey, which was conducted between April 1–14, had 1,100 respondents from Los Angeles County and 5,500 participants from around the US.
On Thursday, the US Department of Labor reported that 5.245 million Americans filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance last week. Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis in the US, over 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past five weeks. The historic job losses have erased the 22 million jobs that the US economy added since the Great Recession recovery that began in mid-2009.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Protesters descend on Annapolis to demand that Gov. Hogan 'reopen Maryland'

Protesters descend on Annapolis to demand that Gov .
Hogan 'reopen Maryland '

A group of "hundreds" of people protested at the state capitol in Annapolis, Maryland on Saturday, calling on Republican Governor Larry Hogan to reopen the state in May, according to numerous local reports.
According to WTTG-TV, the "Reopen Maryland" group called the protests "Operation Gridlock Annapolis," and drove cars slowly around the capitol beginning at noon on Saturday.
Video taken by people who were present showed numerous cars honking, many of them with Trump 2020 flags, as well as a number of protesters who marched along on foot.
The protests mirrored similar protests that have happened in Michigan, Virginia, and other places this week. The "Reopen Maryland" Facebook group was opened about a week ago, and according to WTTG, grew to over 15,000 members in less than a week.
The organizers are pushing Hogan to reopen businesses, schools and churches as soon as April is over. Group member Evie Harris, who is a registered nurse, told WTTG, "We're aduls, we're Americans. We know how to self-modulate ourselves. We don't need our government banning us from our livelihoods. Too many households and families across the country and in Maryland have been devastated."
Governor Hogan, meanwhile, indicated in a press conference earlier this week that the Maryland state government has made plans to start a post-coronavirus recovery, but he also noted that the state's COVID-19 numbers were continuing to rise.
Maryland instituted a "stay at home" order effective March 30, 2020, and the penalties for violating that order are among the strictest in the country, including up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine. The organizers for the Maryland protest promised that protesters would follow applicable social distancing guidelines, unlike other protests that occurred earlier this week, most notably in Virginia.
However, early local reports did not indicate that police were arresting protesters, even though the very protest itself seemed to violate Governor Hogan's orders.


theblaze--2020-04-18--Washington Post fact check rates Trump claim about WHO 'false,' then provides at least nine examples

Washington Post fact check rates Trump claim about WHO 'false,' then provides at least nine examples showing that it was actually true

Washington Post fact check rates Trump claim about WHO 'false , ' then provides at least nine examples showing that @ @ @ @

In a remarkable display of journalistic activism, the Washington Post rated one of President Donald Trump's recent claims about the World Health Organization as "false," then proceeded to include dozens of examples illustrating why the claim is actually true.
The claim in question concerned Trump's assertion, in explaining why he was halting funding to the organization, that "Through the middle of January, [WHO] parroted and publicly endorsed the idea that there was not human-to-human transmission despite reports and clear evidence to the contrary... The WHO pushed China's misinformation about the virus, saying it was not communicable."
The Washington Post's fact checkers rated this as a "false claim," then went on to note the following facts:
That the WHO's initial alert from December 31st, 2019 about the virus indicated that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission, in spite of warnings from the Taiwanese CDC that this might have been possible. The Washington Post fact check dismisses this as irrelevant because "at best, we're talking about the last two days in December" that the WHO might have been warned. However, the fact check goes on to note:
The WHO issued a news release on Jan. 5, 2020, which stated, "Based on the preliminary information from the Chinese investigation team, no significant evidence of human-to-human transmission and no health care worker infections have been reported."
The WHO issued a news release on Jan. 9, 2020, which stated, "According to Chinese authorities, the virus in question can cause severe illness in some patients and does not transmit readily between people."
The WHO issued a news release on Jan. 12, 2020, which stated, "At this stage, there is no infection among healthcare workers, and no clear evidence of human to human transmission."
After Thailand announced its first imported case of the coronavirus, the WHO issued a release on Jan. 13, 2020, which stated, "The way these patients became infected is not yet known. To date, there has been no suggestion of human to human transmission of this new coronavirus. There have been no infections reported among health care workers, which can be an early indicator of person to person spread."
The WHO issued a news release on Jan. 14, which stated, "Based on the available information there is no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. No additional cases have been detected since 3 January 2020 in China."
On Jan. 14, WHO tweeted, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China."
On Jan. 14, WHO held a news briefing, at which WHO's head of the emerging diseases unit stated, "From the information that we have it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission."
On Jan. 19 2020, WHO issued another tweet, which still stated that there was only the possibility of "some limited human-to-human transmission occurring between close contacts."
On Jan. 20, 2020, WHO issued their first statement indicating that they may have been erroneous in their previous pronouncements, stating, "It is now very clear from the latest information that there is at least some human-to-human transmission of #nCov2019. Infections among health care workers strengthen the evidence for this."
In other words, the Washington Post's fact check listed at least nine instances in which Trump's claim — that the WHO parroted China's lies about human transmission — were literally proven true.
However, the Washington Post's fact check still rates this claim "false" and gives it "three Pinocchios."
Why? Well, first, the Washington Post excuses the WHO for parroting China's falsehoods because it is unfair to "put the onus on the WHO to investigate when it is largely dependent on information provided by member countries." Which, of course, leaves open the question of whether it was prudent for the WHO to pass on information it received from the Chinese government, when that government was not allowing them to verify any of that information.
The Washington Post also took issue with Trump phrasing his claim as the WHO "publicly endorsed the idea that there was not human-to-human transmission happening." Apparently, the repeated claims that there was "no clear evidence" of human-to-human transmission do not constitute publicly endorsing the idea that there was not human-to-human transmission happening, in Washington Post-world. The Post further excuses the WHO because, at the above-referenced Jan. 14 news conference, a WHO spokesperson said they could not rule out human-to-human transmission, after saying that "it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission."
But the real reason they assigned the claim three Pinocchios is that they think Trump is equally culpable, noting that "The WHO could have highlighted the human-to-human transmission sooner than it did and pressed China for more information. Trump, of course, could have done the same — and failed to do so, for weeks longer. Trump earns Three Pinocchios."


theblaze--2020-04-18--'No evidence' antibodies give coronavirus survivors immunity, according to WHO

'No evidence ' antibodies give coronavirus survivors immunity , according to WHO WHO health experts say `` nobody is sure @ @ @ @ @ antibodies could be reinfected .

The World Health Organization issued a warning that there is currently no evidence that people who recovered from the coronavirus and have antibodies in their blood plasma will be immune to the deadly virus, which suggests that people who have contracted the disease once might not be immune from being reinfected by the virus.
The WHO cautioned that serological tests, which look for the presence of antibodies in blood plasma, might not be as helpful in identifying immunity because there is no proof that humans can build up immunity to prevent being reinfected by COVID-19.
During a Friday news conference in Geneva, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said, "There are a lot of countries that are suggesting using rapid diagnostic serological tests to be able to capture what they think will be a measure of immunity. Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection."
"These antibody tests will be able to measure that level of seroprevalence - that level of antibodies - but that does not mean that somebody with antibodies means that they are immune," said Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit.
"What the use of these tests will do will measure the level of antibodies," Van Kerkhove said. "It's a response that the body has a week or two later after they've been infected with this virus."
Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies program, noted that "nobody is sure" if humans with coronavirus antibodies could be reinfected.
"Nobody is sure whether someone with antibodies is fully protected against having the disease or being exposed again," Ryan said on Monday. "Plus some of the tests have issues with sensitivity. They may give a false negative result."
"With regards to recovery and then reinfection, I believe we do not have the answers to that. That is an unknown," Ryan said. "One would expect that a person who generates a full-blown immune response with detectable antibodies should have protection for a period of time. We just don't know what that period of time is."
Van Kerkhove referenced a preliminary study of the blood plasma of 175 patients in Shanghai who had recovered from the coronavirus.
"And that found some individuals had a strong antibody response," Van Kerkhove stated. "Whether that antibody response actually means immunity is a separate question. That's something that we really need to better understand is what does that antibody response look like in terms of immunity."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled out a plan to do serologic testing in "more areas with high numbers of people with diagnosed infections." But the CDC also warned that "serologic test results have limitations that make them less than ideal tools for diagnosing people who are sick." The tests are "limited" because "it typically takes one to two weeks after someone becomes sick with COVID-19 for their body to make antibodies; some people may take longer to develop antibodies."
Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England, said the public should not use any unproven antibody tests.
"We are breaking new ground with this work every day, and I am confident this major research effort will make a breakthrough," Newton said. "Until then, please don't buy or take any unproven tests. They may not be reliable for your intended use; they may give a false reading and put you, your family or others at risk."
Over 582,000 people of the more than 2.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide have recovered.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Report says WHO's infamous COVID-19 human-to-human transmission tweet was to 'balance' coverage

Report says WHO 's infamous COVID-19 human-to-human transmission tweet was to 'balance ' coverage The WHO warned hospitals of a @ @ @ @ @ the same day as the infamous tweet .

The World Health Organization may have already known that the coronavirus was spread from human-to-human despite saying the contrary in a now-infamous tweet.
In a report from The Guardian, a top member of the WHO sounded the alarm about the potential for human-to-human transmission of COVID-19. The WHO tweeted that the Chinese government had "found no clear evidence" on the same day as the head of the WHO's emerging diseases warned about the potential for a rapid "super-spreading" event.
The official Twitter account for the World Health Organization, which has over 7.4 million followers, tweeted: "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China."
On Jan. 14, the same day as the WHO's "no human-to-human transmission" tweet, the agency's technical lead on coronavirus was cautioning everyone about the potential of mass human transmission.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove announced that the WHO had "given guidance to hospitals worldwide about infection control in case of spread, including by a 'super-spreading' event in a health care setting," as reported by Reuters.
"This is something on our radar, it is possible, we need to prepare ourselves," Kerkhove said at a news conference in Geneva on Jan. 14.
"Concerned that her briefing conflicted with the initial Chinese findings, a middle-ranking official told the social media team to put out a tweet to balance the Van Kerkhove briefing," wrote Julian Borger in The Guardian. "In so doing, the WHO exposed itself to the charge of contributing to an air of complacency. But the tweet was factually true and does not appear to have been part of a deliberate strategy."
According to internal documents obtained by the Associated Press, China knew about the deadly coronavirus spreading throughout Wuhan on Jan. 14, but didn't warn the public until six days later.
There are allegations that the WHO, as well as its Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, worked with China to assist the communist country in covering up the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is also the suspicious interview withBruce Aylward, senior adviser to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, where he appears to dodge any questions about Taiwan and abruptly ends the interview with the Radio Television Hong Kong reporter on Mar. 28.
This week, President Donald Trump announced that he was stopping all payments to the WHO, while an investigation is launched.
"Today I am instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," President Trump said.


theblaze--2020-04-20--Protests against stay-at-home orders erupt across the country from California to Michigan to New Jer

Protests against stay-at-home orders erupt across the country from California to Michigan to New Jersey Thousands of people in red @ @ @ @ @ be freed from lockdown .

Protesters from all over the country assembled over the last few days to voice their displeasure to stay-at-home orders as economic conditions deteriorate. Despite decrees from their governors to stay at home, Americans organized protests demanding an end to the coronavirus lockdown.
Over the past week, protests have erupted across the country — from California to Colorado to Texas to Michigan to Ohio to New Jersey. Residents from blue states and red states have demonstrated their desire to get out of their homes and return to their jobs.
California
An estimated 500 people gathered in downtown San Clemente on Sunday to publicly object to California's state-mandated stay-at-home order. This is the same place where the city government dumped 37 tons of sand into a skate park in order to prevent kids from skating.
At least 200 people showed up for the "Freedom Rally" in San Diego on Saturday.
On Friday, more than 200 Californians gathered in Huntington Beach for the "March for Freedom" event to protest against Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home orders.
Colorado
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday in downtown Denver near the Capitol building to protest Colorado's stay-home order. The act of defiance was dubbed as "Operation Gridlock."
Kentucky
At a demonstration outside of Kentucky's capitol in Frankfort on Friday, protestors shouted, "We want to work!" The protesters demanded for Gov. Andy Beshear (D) to "open up Kentucky."
Maryland
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Annapolis for the "Reopen Maryland" rally to demand Gov. Larry Hogan (R) lift stay-at-home restrictions. Many drove in their vehicles and honked their horns as their form of civil disobedience.
Michigan
In Friday's "Operation Gridlock" protest in Lansing, Michigan, an estimated 4,000 demonstrators displayed their ire for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), and her restrictive stay-at-home order. Whitmer threatened to extend stay-at-home orders if the people continued to engage in "irresponsible actions," such as protests.
Minnesota
Waving their American flags, several hundred protesters gathered outside the home of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Friday demanding that the state re-open.
New Hampshire
On Saturday, a few hundred people organized outside the New Hampshire State House in an effort to convince politicians to re-open the state. Protesters held signs that read: "Live Free or Die," "Restore Jobs," and "Kiss My Constitution."
New Jersey
A New Jersey woman who organized an anti-lockdown protest in Newark on Friday was charged with violating Gov. Phil Murphy's (D) stay-at-home orders.
North Carolina
On Tuesday, a rally was staged outside of the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh where protesters demanded that Gov. Roy Cooper (D) allow businesses to reopen. One woman was detained.
Ohio
In Columbus, demonstrators congregated outside the statehouse, where they pressured the governor to reopen the state for business. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said he was not opposed to protests as long as demonstrators did not violate social distancing guidelines.
Texas
There was a "Liberate" rally at the governor's mansion and Capitol building in Austin on Thursday. Protesters chanted, "Let us work," "We are essential," and "Open Texas Up."
There were also chants of "Fire Fauci!" A message to President Donald Trump to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the lead health members of the White House coronavirus task force.
Utah
On Friday, more than 1,000 people showed up at the Salt Lake City & County Building for the "Utah Business Revival" rally.


theblaze--2020-04-19--First we had to worry about toilet paper shortages. Now the big worry is ... frozen pizzas?

First we had to worry about toilet paper shortages .
Now the big worry is ... frozen pizzas ?

Americans have already suffered the indignity of toilet paper shortages — shortages that even led to criminal behavior.
Then we went through the great run on hand-sanitizer.
And now we have to endure a lack of frozen pizzas.
Combine this with a projected shortage of beer and soda, and you're looking at a potential total meltdown of American society.
Oh, the humanity.
What's that now?
AdWeek reported that frozen pizza sales across the U.S. are up more than 90% compared to a year ago. Some brands are seeing an increase of nearly 200% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Newman's Own President and COO Dave Best called the surge "unprecedented" and told AdWeek that in his 25 years in the business, "I've never seen a spike like this across the country." According to Best, his company's sales of frozen pizzas are up 190% since the start of the crisis.
The outlet noted that across Los Angeles grocery stores had been reporting shortage. Some frozen-food delivery drivers had to add locks to their trailers for fear of frantic shoppers looking for the pies.
AdWeek shared that data from analytics firm IRI showed that Americans spent $275 million on frozen pizzas for the four weeks ending April 5 — an increase of 92% from the same time last year.
The Fall River Harald News in Massachusetts reported that a driver for Schwan's line of frozen pizzas said that dealing with the surge in frozen pizza sales has been "horrendous." The driver told the paper that as the supply has diminished, the ongoing empty shelves have left a lot of customers upset.
“At a couple stores where I deliver, they had to have a police officer because people were threatening the store," the driver said, adding, "It's mass hysteria."
"I just don't understand where people are putting all this frozen pizza," the driver said.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Half of Americans still say the Bible should influence our laws: poll

Half of Americans still say the Bible should influence our laws : poll More than a quarter favor it over @ @ @ @ @

The Word of God has long played a role in the United States. It is part of our founding and has influenced much of our laws.
A poll from the Pew Research Center shows that half of Americans still want the Bible to have at least some influence on laws of the U.S. And when the will of the people comes in conflict with the Bible, more than a quarter side with having the Bible hold influence.
What did the poll say?
The survey details posted Monday showed that 49% of all U.S. adults say the Bible should have "a great deal" (23%) or "some" (26%) influence on laws of the use. The poll also said that 50% of Americans say the Bible should have "not much" influence (19%) or "none at all" (31%).
Broken down by faith, 68% of Christians, 31% of Jews, and 21% of "unaffiliated" — including 4% of atheists — said the Bible should have influence on our laws. Among Christians, 76% of Protestants and 51% of Catholics held this views.
Not surprisingly, when broken down further, white Evangelicals were the most likely group to support Biblical influence on U.S. laws at 89%.
Black Protestants came in second at 76%.
Of course, there was a major discrepancy between the two major political parties. Republicans were twice as likely to say the Bible should have influence on U.S. laws. Two-thirds of Republicans (67%) agreed with that stance, compared to 33% of Democrats (the party that famously "booed God" when debating the party platform in 2012).
Age also a played a factor: The older the respondent, the more likely he was so side with keeping the Bible as an influence. Sixty-four percent of adults 65+ held that view, while 30% of adults ages 18-29 said the same.
And when the Bible and the will of the people conflict, what then? Which should have more influence?
More than a quarter of Americans (28%) say the Bible should have more influence, 19% said will of the people.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Two Dallas officers injured in shooting after suspect hijacks bus. Police chase ends with gunman dea

Two Dallas officers injured in shooting after suspect hijacks bus. Police chase ends with gunman dead.

Two Dallas officers injured in shooting after suspect hijacks bus .
Police chase ends with gunman dead .
The gunman @ @ @ @ @ the police chase .

Two officers were wounded after an armed individual reportedly hijacked a Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus Sunday. The unidentified gunman led a police chase through several cities in North Texas while shooting at them. The suspect was eventually brought down by police.
A person boarded a DART bus around 11 a.m. on Sunday in Richardson, Texas. Once onboard, the gunman began shooting out the windows with a rifle. The suspect ordered the bus driver to drive.
Officers from the Garland Police Department chased the bus through Garland, Texas, then into the towns of Rowlett, Rockwall, and back to Rowlett, according to the Dallas Morning News. Police cruisers from the other cities joined the pursuit of the hijacked bus. Dozens of police cruisers, as well as SWAT vehicles, chased the bus.
Garland police spokesman Lt. Pedro Barineau said gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and police officers. Rowlett police spokesman Cruz Hernandez said the suspect leaned out the window and fired at cops chasing the bus.
"His patrol unit's front window was shot out when the suspect shot at officers through the bus window," a Rowlett police spokesperson said. Two police officers were injured during the pursuit of the shooter.
The police chase ended on the President George Bush Turnpike shortly before noon, Hernandez said. Officials said the police used spikes to flatten the tires, which forced the bus to ride on the rims, and eventually slowed the bus to a halt.
The shooter was taken to the hospital, but died. DART spokesman Gordon Shattles confirmed that the suspect was dead, but did not provide any details of the shooter or how they died.
According to officials, a DART officer was wounded in the leg, and a Rowlett officer was also hurt. Neither injuries are said to be life-threatening.
There was reportedly one other passenger on the bus, officials told WFAA. Authorities did not say if the shooter and passenger were connected. The passenger was not injured.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Joe Rogan says he has been tested for coronavirus twice. Of course, people are mad at him for it.

Joe Rogan says he has been tested for coronavirus twice .
Of course , people are mad at him for @ @ @ @ @ to get his guests tested , too

Hit podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan bragged this week about his ability to get tested for coronavirus multiple times — which of course made a whole swath of people really upset.
Not only is the podcaster getting tested, he's having all of his guests tested, too — and on his dime.
He's doing what?
On the April 15 episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," Rogan started his program declaring, "Chris D'Elia's negative. Yay!"
Rogan was referring to his guest, actor and comedian Chris D'Elia, who had just tested negative for coronavirus.
D'Elia replied, "That's right, I got the test. You know why I got the test? Because I know Joe Rogan. Because I came here, and he had a doctor."
Turns out Rogan has made coronavirus testing a policy for his show: He gets tested regularly, and his guests are all tested before they can come in studio.
"I've been tested twice already," Rogan told D'Elia. "I got tested yesterday, and I got tested two days before that. I'm just going to test myself every three or four days — f*** it."
Then he explained the show policy to his listeners: "So, I'm testing everybody. So, the way we're doing this here is when people come in to do the podcast, test them first, keep the f*** away from then, and then give them a hug."
D'Elia responded, "You're the first person I've hugged in a month. ... It felt good, honestly."
(Content warning: Lots of language):
Joe Rogan Experience #1458 - Chris D'Elia youtu.be
How's he doing it?
Though coronavirus tests have become hard to come by in much of the nation, Rogan seems to have easy access to as many test as he wants. But it's not the official nasal-swab tests that the FDA has approved and that the CDC recommends.
Instead, Rogan has an on-demand doctor, Dr. Abe Malkin, Vice news revealed. The doctor is part of Concierge MD LA, "a premium provider of high-end, on-demand, and personalized medical care in Los Angeles," Vice said.
Malkin told Vice that he is administering an antibody test that has not been approved by the FDA.
"There's about 70 companies producing antibody tests, and only one of them is FDA approved, that's Cellex. I don't know how the hell they got that contract that they got FDA approval, but it's impossible to get those tests," Malkin explained to Vice. "I give everyone a disclaimer, it's not FDA approved, you can't use this for diagnosis, it's more for peace of mind, for epidemiologic data. But if they need a definitive diagnosis, they have to get a nasal swab."
But just because they're not FDA approved doesn't mean they're not effective. Malkin told Vice: "I've tested about 300 [people] in the last week, about 5% of asymptomatic people turn up positive on antibody testing, and about 10 to 20% of symptomatic people have showed up positive on antibody testing. And everyone that was a known positive, has shown up positive on antibody testing."
Recent Rogan guest Bryan Callen shared a video of the results of his test at the Rogan studios with Dr. Malkin. The test reportedly takes only a few minutes.
Seems expensive
The tests cost $299 each, Yahoo reported, and Rogan appears more than happy to pay for it.
D'Elia told the back story of the testing on the "BUILD Series" podcast Thursday.
"I realized I haven't touched anybody except for my family, that I live with, and that's it," D'Elia said, according to Yahoo. "I went to do Joe Rogan's podcast [Wednesday] and said to him, I texted him, 'Are we still doing this? Should we do this?' And he's like, 'Ya, I have a doctor here he's going to test you first.'"
When interviewer Ricky Camilleri asked how Rogan was getting the tests, D'Elia answered, "Because Joe's paying for them, that's why," adding, "Joe is basically Bruce Wayne," Yahoo reported.
Camilleri replied, "Unreal. I don't want to let my blood pressure go off the chart while I'm doing an interview with you, but that's wild to me."
D'Elia responded, lamenting the cost of the tests, "I mean, there's plenty of tests. There's plenty of doctors, there's plenty of tests out there. I just think that it's tough for the actual public to get, it sucks. It sucks."
Naturally, people were upset
The New York Post noted that a lot of people — including several of Rogan's fans — were upset about the podcaster's many tests and shared a few of their responses to his recent revelation:


theblaze--2020-04-19--Iran disputes US Navy's accusations of 'provocative' encounter, warns 'any error in calculation will

Iran disputes US Navy's accusations of 'provocative' encounter, warns 'any error in calculation will receive a decisive response'

Iran disputes US Navy 's accusations of 'provocative ' encounter , warns 'any error in calculation will receive a decisive @ @ @ @ @ , Iran said the US Navy is telling a 'Hollywood tale '

U.S. Navy ships encountered Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy speedboats in the Persian Gulf last Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Defense called the maneuvers by the Iranian ships "dangerous and provocative." Iran has denied any wrongdoing and called Washington's accusations a "Hollywood tale." The IRGC also warned that any error in calculation "will receive a decisive response."
Six Navy and Coast Guard ships encountered 11 Iranian IRGC Navy speedboats last week in international waters. At one point, an armed Iranian vessel came within 10 yards of a Coast Guard cutter. The U.S. Navy stated that the Iranian boats "repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds."
U.S. military members captured video and photos of the face-off.
The U.S. Navy said that the IRGC Navy's repeated maneuvers "increased the risk of miscalculation and collision."
Despite photos and videos showing the IRGC speedboats getting within close proximity to U.S. ships, Iran claims that the U.S. is sharing "fake stories" and it would retaliate to any errors with a "decisive response."
"We advise the Americans to follow international regulations and maritime protocols in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and to refrain from any adventurism and false and fake stories," the IRGC said in a statement.
"They should be assured that the Revolutionary Guards navy and the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran sees the dangerous actions of foreigners in the region as a threat to national security and its red line and any error in calculation on their part will receive a decisive response," the Iranian military branch warned.
Iran said its naval ships were conducting a drill when they encountered "the unprofessional and provocative actions of the United States and their indifference to warnings."
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had increased patrols in the Gulf.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was asked about the incident during a Fox News interview last week and whether he had consulted the Pentagon about the situation.
"We've talked as a team. We're evaluating how best to respond and how best to communicate our displeasure with what ... took place," Pompeo responded.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Federal judge blocks Democratic governor's attempt to limit religious gatherings: 'Religious activit

Federal judge blocks Democratic governor's attempt to limit religious gatherings: 'Religious activity was targeted for stricter treatment'

Federal judge blocks Democratic governor 's attempt to limit religious gatherings : 'Religious activity was targeted for stricter treatment '

Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order April 7 prohibiting mass gatherings of more than 10 people — and explicitly called out religious services. But a federal judge issued a ruling Saturday blocking the governor's order.
U.S. District Judge John Broomes said that he believes the policy likely violates religious freedom as well as free speech protections, the Associated Press reported.
Broomes' ruling prevents the enforcement of Kelly's order as long as church officials and members of the congregation following social distancing guidelines, the AP said.
The case was brought by two Baptist churches — First Baptist Church of Dodge City and Calvary Baptist Church of Junction City — that were represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom.
What did the governor order?
Kelly has issued a string of executive orders addressing "mass gatherings" amid the coronavirus pandemic, with each new order replacing the previous and becoming more restrictive — especially with regard to religious gatherings.
Broomes noted that on March 17, the governor issued an order prohibited "mass gatherings" of 50 or more people. But the order included a list of exemptions, including “Religious gatherings, as long as attendees can engage in appropriate social distancing."
A week later, on March 24, Kelly issued a new order banning gatherings of 10 or more people. The exemption for religious gatherings was maintained.
And on March 27, the governor actually declared performing or attending religious services as an "essential function."
Then, on April 7, just days before Easter, Kelly issued a new executive order with an updated list of venues where the "mass gathering" rule applies — and for the first time the list included "churches or other religious facilities."
But that wasn't all that was updated.
The new order included new language specifically targeting churches:
With regard to churches or other religious services or activities, this order prohibits gatherings of more than ten congregants or parishioner in the same building or confined or enclosed space. However, the number of individuals – such as preachers, lay readers, choir or musical performer, or liturgists – conducting or performing a religious service may exceed ten as long as those individuals follow appropriate safety protocols, including maintaining a six-foot distance between individuals and following other directive regarding social distancing, hygiene, and other efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
And the order had a long list of exemptions, many of which seemed to be as problematic as church services:
Airports;
Schools for both instructional and non-instructional purposes;
Childcare facilities and group homes;
Hotels and motels;
Food pantries and shelters;
Detox centers;
Shopping malls where large numbers of people are present but are not close to each other for more than 10 minutes;
Libraries;
Senior centers; and
Restaurants and bars.
Broomes took a look at the governor's order that noted that, though the designation of religions gatherings as "essential functions" had not been changed, the governor had added restrictions on churches.
And then he wrote what was clear to any observer: The churches has been "singled out." He said (emphasis added):
The Governor previously designated the attendance of religious services as an “essential function" that was exempt from the general prohibition on mass gatherings. That designation has not been rescinded or modified, yet in EO 20-18 and EO 20-25 churches and religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment. It appears to be the only essential function whose core purpose — association for the purpose of worship — had been basically eliminated.
The judge then listed a number of "secular facilities that are still exempt from the mass gathering prohibition" or "are given more lenient treatment, despite the apparent likelihood they will involve mass gatherings."
Broomes made the logical point that the churches were "targeted" because of "the nature of the activity involved." He wrote (emphasis added):
The legitimate health and safety concerns arising from people attending religious services inside a church would logically be present with respect to most if not all these other essential activities. Defendant has not argued that mass gatherings at churches pose unique health risks that do not arise in mass gatherings at airports, offices, and production facilities. Yet the exemption for religious activities has been eliminated while it remains for a multitude of activities that appear comparable in terms of health risks. Based on the record now before the court, the most reasonable inference from this disparate treatment is that the essential function of religious activity was targeted for stricter treatment due to the nature of the activity involved, rather than because such gatherings pose unique health risks that mass gatherings at commercial and other facilities do not, or because the risks at religious gatherings uniquely cannot be adequately mitigated with safety protocols.
It is also an arbitrary distinction, in the sense that the disparity has been imposed without any apparent explanation for the differing treatment of religious gatherings. These facts undermine Defendant's contentions and lead the court to conclude that EO 20-18 and EO 20-25 are not neutral laws of general applicability. Instead, they restrict religious practice while failing to “prohibit secular activity that endangers the same interests to a similar or greater degree."
The judge's ruling striking down the governor's order does not permit churches to have restriction-free services. He ordered the churches to follow social distancing guidelines and to continue practices that they had already put in place.
Kelly continued to defend her order, the AP said, quoting her: “This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis."
The Alliance Defending Freedom celebrated the ruling. Senior counsel Tyson Langhofer said, "Public safety is important, but so is following the Constitution. We can prioritize the health of safety of ourselves and our neighbors without harming churches and people of faith," the AP reported.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Coronavirus recovery: South Carolina to re-open beaches and retail stores this week

Coronavirus recovery : South Carolina to re-open beaches and retail stores this week Southeast governors had a meeting about re-opening @ @ @

South Carolina will be one of the first states to attempt to get back to some kind of normalcy. South Carolina plans to re-open public beaches and retail stores this week.
Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will announce on Monday the re-opening of public beaches and retail stores, the Post and Courier reported. Beaches and retail locations had previously been closed since March 30 because of the governor's executive order in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday, state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch (R-S.C.) wrote on Facebook: "Beach Access being re-opened next week."
On Friday. McMaster allowed access to public boat ramps and landings.
On Saturday, McMaster talked with fellow southeast governors about the potential recovery timeline for South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida.
"We discussed each state's plans to safely get folks back into the workplace. Told them South Carolina was ready," McMaster's tweet read.
Currently, South Carolina has 4,246 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 119 deaths caused by the respiratory virus.
On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) gave municipalities in his state the authority to re-open beaches, but only if it can be done safely while observing social distancing guidelines.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry re-opened Duval County beaches Friday afternoon, but they can only be used for walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets, and surfing. Sunbathing, sitting in chairs, and groups of 50 or more are prohibited. The beaches will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Friday, Texas announced that they would be re-opening the state in the near future. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) unveiled a new "Strike Force to Open Texas" to assist in the health and economic recovery.
Abbott did not provide a definitive date as to when he would re-open Texas, but teased that some retail stores could be open for business as early as May 1. Abbott will announce a more detailed strategy on April 27.


theblaze--2020-04-19--Trump says China should face 'consequences' if they were 'knowingly responsible' for coronavirus pan

Trump says China should face 'consequences' if they were 'knowingly responsible' for coronavirus pandemic

Trump says China should face 'consequences ' if they were 'knowingly responsible ' for coronavirus pandemic

President Donald Trump said China should face "consequences" if the communist nation deliberately allowed the coronavirus to spread.
During his daily coronavirus press briefing at the White House on Saturday, President Trump was asked whether there should be consequences for China if it was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If they were knowingly responsible, certainly," Trump responded. "If it was a mistake, a mistake is a mistake. But if they were knowingly responsible, yeah, then there should be consequences."
The president did not specify what the consequences may be.
During the COVID-19 news conference on April 13, President Trump said, "China will find out" what consequences there will be if they are found to have deliberately withheld vital coronavirus information.
"This crisis could have been stopped in China," President Trump stated on Saturday. "It could have been stopped in China before it started and it wasn't, and the whole world is suffering because of it."
Trump added that Beijing was against his Jan. 31 executive order that blocked entry into the US to anyone who had been in China in the last 14 days.
"They didn't like the idea of closing off our country. They said it was a bad thing to do, actually, and they've since taken that back," Trump said. "But it was a very lucky thing that we did it. Very lucky. We would have had numbers that were very significantly greater. [Dr. Anthony] Fauci said that. He said it would have been very significantly greater had we not that."
"But it's still a very depressing subject, because there's a lot of death," the president lamented. "If it were stopped very early on, at the source, before it started blowing into these proportions, you have 184 countries that would have been in a lot better shape."
There are currently more than 740,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US and nearly 40,000 deaths. There are over 2.3 million confirmed cases and almost 162,000 deaths worldwide.
Also during the press briefing, the president compared the US mortality rate from coronavirus to other countries. "The United States has produced dramatically better health outcomes than any other country, with the possible exception of Germany," Trump noted.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, presented a slide with coronavirus mortality rates from various countries. President Trump interjected to question the COVID-19 statistics released by Iran and China.
As he pointed to Iran's reported mortality of 6.06 out of 100,000, Trump asked, "Does anybody believe this number?"
Trump then pointed at China's reported mortality rate of 0.33 per 100,000 people, and questioned, "Does anybody believe this number?" China's statistic was the only country on the slide that had an asterisk next to it.
Birx said China has a "moral obligation" to provide credible COVID-19 information to the rest of the world.
"I put China on there so you could see how basically unrealistic this could be," Birx said. "When highly-developed health care delivery systems of the United Kingdom and France and Belgium, Italy and Spain, with extraordinary doctors and nurses and equipment, have case mortality rates [percentages] in the 20s and up to 45 in Belgium, which has an extraordinary competent health care delivery system and then China at 0.33?"
Belgium has the highest mortality rate in the world with 45.2 fatalities per 100,000, followed by Spain with 42.81, and then Italy with 37.64. The US mortality rate is 11.24 per 100,000, which Birx said is half to a third of other countries.
President Trump implied that China is lying about their coronavirus figures, and said that China has more coronavirus cases and death that the US.
"China's number one. China's number one by a lot. It's not even close," Trump told White House reporters on Saturday. "They're way ahead of us in terms of death. It's not even close. You know it, I know, they know. But you don't want to report it."


theblaze--2020-04-19--Hong Kong uses coronavirus quarantine to arrest pro-democracy citizens

Never let a crisis go to waste Police escort media tycoon Jimmy Lai out of his House on April 18 @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong Police have arrested 14 people involved in last year 's pro-democracy protests .
@ @ @ @ @ via Getty Images )

Looks like the pro-Beijing leader of Hong Kong has learned a lesson about crises: Never let them go to waste. And now she's using the city's stay-at-home practices during the coronavirus pandemic to crack down and arrest democracy advocates.
What's the background?
Last summer, thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest their local government's push to pass a bill that would make it easier for China to extradite fugitives from the city to the mainland.
The protesters demanded the resignation of local officials, including Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who introduced the pro-Beijing bill.
Police armed with tear gas, water canons, and rubber bullets attempted to quell the pretests.
Then authorities brought in Chinese armored vehicles, leading to fears that a military crackdown was coming. And Communist officials in Beijing began planting rumors the the pro-democracy protests were showing "sprouts of terrorism."
President Donald Trump later revealed that U.S. intelligence was reporting that the Chinese government was moving troops to the Hong Kong border.
In early September, Lam finally scrapped the extradition bill that sparked the protests, but the democracy advocates still had other demands: free elections, a stop to prosecutions of protesters who had been arrested, and an investigation of the city's police.
At the end of September, as protests continued, at times descending into violence, and the Chinese national holiday marking the 70th anniversary of Communist rule approached, Beijing doubled its military presence in Hong Kong in an attempt to keep protests down.
But the protests have continued for months. Police have shot a few protesters and pepper-sprayed and tackled a pregnant woman. And masked men attacked a Hong Kong newspaper that had a record of being critical of Chinese authorities, setting fire to the printing press and papers.
What now?
With the streets currently more calm during the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong leader Lam decided now was the time to go after and arrest at least 14 leading pro-democracy activists, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
Those arrested Saturday for unlawful assembly included, "81-year-old activist and former lawmaker Martin Lee and democracy advocates Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Au Nok-hin. Police also arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who founded the local newspaper Apple Daily," the AP said. Also arrested were Yeung Sum, a former Democratic lawmaker, and leaders of the League of Social Democrats, including its chairman, Raphael Wong.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr condemned the arrests. From the AP:
“Beijing and its representatives in Hong Kong continue to take actions inconsistent with commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration that include transparency, the rule of law, and guarantees that Hong Kong will continue to 'enjoy a high degree of autonomy,'" Pompeo said. He was referring to the 1997 handover of the former British colony to China, which promised the city would enjoy political freedoms not afforded mainland China.
Attorney General William Barr also weighed in with a statement saying these events show how “antithetical the values of the Chinese Communist Party are to those we share in Western liberal democracies. These actions — along with its malign influence activity and industrial espionage here in the United States — demonstrate once again that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted."
China, of course, accused the U.S. of instigating the protests and demanded that the West butt out.


theblaze--2020-04-20--Soldier’s bedroom remained untouched for 102 years after he died in battle during World War I in 191

Soldier’s bedroom remained untouched for 102 years after he died in battle during World War I in 1918

Soldier ’ s bedroom remained untouched for 102 years after he died in battle during World War I in 1918

Peering into this room in France is as if you are stepping into a time portal into the early 1900s. The bedroom, which belonged to a French soldier, hasn't been touched since 1918.
If you drive three hours southwest of Paris, you'll find Belabre, a quaint French village with a population of fewer than 1,000. That is where you will discover the home of the parents of Hubert Guy Pierre Alphonse Rochereau.
When World War I was ravaging Europe, a young Rochereau was deployed to the Belgian battlefield. Sadly, Dragoons' Second Lieutenant Hubert Rochereau died at the age of 21. Rochereau, who was a graduate of the elite French Saint-Cyr military school, passed away in an English field ambulance after fighting in the village of Loker, Flanders, on April 26, 1918. World War I would officially end a few months later, on Nov. 11, 1918.
Rochereau was buried in a British cemetery, and his family didn't track down his burial site until 1922. Rochereau's parents brought their son's body back to their home town of Belabre.
The parents made Rochereau's bedroom a makeshift shrine of sorts, refusing to alter the room. The only change they made was placing a small bottle of soil from the Belgian field where he lost his life. The vial is labeled: "The earth of Flanders in which our dear child fell and which kept his remains for four years."
The memorial to Hubert Rochereau still stands today, 102 years after he breathed his last breath on that WWI battlefield. Rochereau's bedroom is untouched, seemingly frozen in time.
Hubert's parents wanted to honor their son past their time here on Earth, so they included a request in the home's deed: Leave the bedroom exactly how it is for the next 500 years. In 1935, the parents bequeathed their home to a military friend, General Eugene Bridoux, under the condition that their son's room would remain untouched for 500 years.
A small twin bed sits in the unspoiled chamber, as well as a wood desk. Books are stacked up high as they collect dust and spider webs. Rochereau's medals, the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur, sparkle in the achromatic room. Black and white photographs of friends who also died in the war decorate the somber walls.
Scattered about the room, you can see Hubert's blue uniform jacket, pistols, knife, keys, a notebook, military manuals, a filled pipe, and hand-rolled cigarettes.
"I tried to smoke one," the current owner of the house, Daniel Fabre, said of the old cigarettes. "It wasn't very nice."
French WWI soldier's bedroom frozen in time www.youtube.com
"He was young, a military officer, and I imagine him to be quite provincial, perhaps even narrow-minded," Fabre told the BBC. "But it's part of the history of the house, so I keep it."
"I like to say I live in his house, but not with him," Fabre said.
Fabre's daughter will inherit the house, and she too has agreed to never touch Hubert's room.


theblaze--2020-04-20--Walmart and Sam's Club to require all employees to wear face masks starting Monday

Walmart and Sam 's Club to require all employees to wear face masks starting Monday Walmart is also encouraging shoppers @ @ @ @ @

Walmart, the world's largest brick-and-mortar retailer, will require all employees to wear face masks starting on Monday. The immense retail chain will also encourage shoppers to don face coverings as a way to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Walmart made the announcement in a letter to its employees that was posted on the retailer's website.
"On Monday, we will begin requiring associates to wear masks or other face coverings at work," the letter read. "This includes our stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, as well as in our corporate offices."
Employees of Sam's Club, the membership warehouse that is owned by Walmart, will also have to wear masks.
The letter, which was written by Walmart President and CEO John Furner, as well as Sam's Club President and CEO Kath McLay, said the change in policy was congruent to the revision in health advisories regarding face masks and coronavirus protection.
"We have evolved our policy on face coverings from optional to mandatory as public health guidance has shifted," the CEOs said in the letter. "The CDC now recommends wearing face coverings in public settings, including grocery stores, to help curb the spread of the virus."
"Although most state and local governments do not mandate the use of face coverings in public settings, the CDC has reported that recent studies show a significant portion of individuals with the virus lack symptoms and can transmit the virus," the letter said. "With this knowledge, we believe it is simply in everyone's best interest to use masks or face coverings to curb the spread of this disease."
Employees are permitted to use their own masks at work as long as they are up to standards; otherwise Walmart and Sam's Club will provide them with PPE.
Shoppers also are being encouraged to wear face masks as part of the retailers' response to COVID-19.
On April 3, Walmart announced that it would limit the number of customers who could be in the store at one time.
"Stores will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a store's capacity," the retailer stated as its effort to help customers make sure they are practicing social distancing.


theblaze--2020-04-21--Shake Shack to return $10 million in stimulus funds it received from small business loan program

Shake Shack to return $ 10 million in stimulus funds it received from small business loan program The burger chain @ @ @ @ @ funds through the Paycheck Protection Program passed by Congress

Publicly traded burger chain Shake Shack announced Monday that it would return the $10 million it received through the congressionally approved (and now depleted) Paycheck Protection Program, after being criticized for securing the funds intended to help struggling small businesses survive the coronavirus shutdown.
What are the details?
NBC News reported that Shake Shack was one of "more than a dozen companies with annual revenues in the hundreds of millions that are reported to have received money" from the $349 billion loan program passed as part of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, the CARES Act.
But PPP ran out of money last week after Democrats refused to replenish it unless additional funds were added for hospitals and state and local governments, leaving desperate small businesses unable to find relief.
Critics and even Shake Shack executives themselves have questioned why such a large corporation qualified under the PPP loan program in the first place, placing blame on Congress for rushing through legislation that had been sold as lifeline for mom-and-pop shops.
In announcing that Shake Shack would return the funds it received from the Small Business Association, CEO Randy Garutti explained:
While the program was touted as relief for small businesses, we also learned it stipulated that any restaurant business — including restaurant chains — with no more than 500 employees per location would be eligible. We cheered the news, as it signaled that Congress had gotten the message that as both as an employer, and for the indispensable role we play in communities, restaurants needed to survive. There was no fine print, anywhere, that suggested: 'Apply now, or we will run out of money by the time you finally get in line.'
Garutti went on to say that his firm was able to secure additional private capital last week, adding, "We're thankful for that and we've decided to immediately return the entire $10 million PPP loan we received last week to the SBA so that those restaurants who need it most can get it now."
Following Shake Shack's announcement, billionaire Mark Cuban slammed the company on CNBC's "Fast Money," saying, "Shake Shack didn't give the money back because they didn't want the money. They saw what the public outcry was."
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley offered the firm praise for returning the funds, saying on Twitter, "Thank you to Shake Shack for remembering we are all in this together."


theblaze--2020-04-21--Tom Cotton accuses China of intentionally seeding coronavirus cases in other countries to maintain p

Tom Cotton accuses China of intentionally seeding coronavirus cases in other countries to maintain power 'There has to be consequences @ @ @

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said that he believes China purposely seeded the coronavirus in other countries in order to maintain its relative global power.
Cotton made the stunning accusations in an interview with Pat Robertson at CBN News.
"I think it's pretty clear that China is culpable for unleashing this pandemic on the world," said Cotton.
"First off, as you just reported, all the evidence, circumstantial to be sure, but all the evidence right now points to these laboratories in Wuhan as the most likely source for this virus. Perhaps it was an accidental breach that resulted from Chinese incompetence, but still they knew the risks, they knew the shortcomings in those labs," he explained.
"But even worse, by late December, early January, once it became clear to the Chinese Communist Party leaders that this virus was highly contagious and deadly and was being transmitted from humans to humans, they continued to encourage travel outside of China to the rest of the world," said Cotton.
"I believe that was a deliberate decision that was designed to seed cases around the world so China wouldn't be the only nation that suffered a relative decline of its power," he said.
"That's why I think China is culpable for this pandemic," Cotton concluded, "and why there has to be consequences for them."
Robertson was stunned at the accusation from Cotton against China, prompting the senator to list the many human rights violations of the communist government, including concentration camps against religious minority groups.
"They force women to have abortions, they harvest organs from political prisoners. And of course their communist forebears in the Chinese Communist Party, going back to the 1940s, are responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of their own people," said Cotton.
"Those kinds of people would think of nothing of putting this virus outside of China's borders, if that's what it took to maintain China's relative power in the world," he concluded.
Robertson highlighted the growing possibility of a military conflict over Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Cotton dismissed any military conflict but said that China must face some punitive consequences for its actions.
Here's the interview with Cotton:


theblaze--2020-04-20--Michael Malice: 21-year-old killed during raid was asleep when 'cops shot him through the window'

Michael Malice : 21-year-old killed during raid was asleep when 'cops shot him through the window' 'Even the KGB had @ @ @ @ @

Author, columnist, and media personality Michael Malice joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Monday to discuss the story of a 21-year-old Maryland man who was killed by police during an early-morning police raid last week and to talk about why all Americans should be worried about the escalation of police force being used throughout society.
The Montgomery County Police Department claimed that Duncan Socrates Lemp was armed and "refused to comply" with police who were attempting to serve a "high-risk" search warrant around 4:30 a.m. Lemp was fatally shot and his girlfriend was wounded.
"Lemp refused to comply with the officer's commands and proceeded towards the interior bedroom door where other officers were located," the police statement reports. "Upon entrance by officers into the Lemp's bedroom, Lemp was found to be in possession of a rifle and was located directly in front of the interior bedroom entrance door."
But eyewitnesses say Lemp was asleep in his bedroom when police opened fire from outside his parent's Maryland home. His parents, girlfriend, and 19-year-old brother, all home while this occurred, told an attorney that nobody heard any warnings or commands before police opened fire.
"There was a no-knock warrant that was issued to the police," Malice explained. "They decided at 4:30 in the morning — according to them, this is their side of the story — to execute the no-knock raid. [Police claim Lemp] was holding a gun. Now, there's no dispute that he was killed by the police. But, unfortunately for them, there were many eyewitnesses at the scene. He was living at home with his girlfriend, with his parents. And they say that the cops shot him through the window."
Malice went on to point out that "even the KGB had the courtesy to knock" on the doors of dissidents when conducting arrests in the Soviet Union.
"There is no reason in America why someone who is not an imminent threat to anyone should have S.W.A.T. teams coming in their house at four in the morning," he added.
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-04-20--Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announces some businesses can reopen Friday

Gyms , hair salons , and bowling alleys have all been given the green light to open with 'specific restrictions @

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced Monday that some businesses in the state will be able reopen from the coronavirus shelter-in-place order as early as Friday, with "specific restrictions" in place such as social distancing and sanitation measures.
What are the details?
During a press conference, Gov. Kemp cited the White House's plan for "Opening Up America Again" and said Georgia's businesses would be reopening incrementally in accordance with the Trump administration's guidance now that the state has met the criteria for the first of three phases.
The governor discussed the measures his state has taken in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, praising the hard work and sacrifice of health care professionals and citizens before announcing the plan to "safely reopen sectors of our economy."
Gyms, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors, and bowling alleys are on the list of businesses given the green light to reopen their doors as early as Friday. On Monday, movie theaters may also reopen and restaurants will be able to resume providing dine-in services.
For now, the governor said, bars, amusement parks, and concert venues will remain closed.
Gov. Kemp emphasized that "the entities that I am reopening are not reopening for 'business as usual.' Each of these entities will be subject to specific restrictions, including adherence to Minimum Basic Operations, social distancing, and regular sanitation."
He explained, "Minimum Basic Operations includes, but is not limited to, screening workers for fever and respiratory illness, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing masks and gloves if appropriate, separating workspaces by at least six feet, teleworking where at all possible, and implementing staggered shifts."
ABC News reported that Gov. Kemp's plan for reopening Georgia's economy is "one of the most aggressive in the nation."


theblaze--2020-04-20--Brian Stelter Cries About His Own Fake News

CNN's Brian Stelter decided that "it's okay to not be okay right now" on Friday while writing his nightly newsletter about the COVID-19 pandemic and how Americans have been effected.
Crowder used his comedic genius to describe Stelter's lame claim of hitting an emotional wall.
"He is crying over his own fake news," Crowder began.
Watch the video below to see Crowder and the "Louder with Crowder" crew give a play-by-play of Stelter's fake news-driven grief over the COVID-19 pandemic..
Brian Stelter Cries About His Own Fake News | Louder With Crowder youtu.be
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Watch the full episode by clicking here.
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theblaze--2020-04-20--Cops nab murder suspect after he breaks social distancing rules at Florida beach

Cops nab murder suspect after he breaks social distancing rules at Florida beach He had been on the run for @

The controversial social distancing rules in place to battle the coronavirus pandemic have led to the arrest of a murder suspect in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jacksonville Beach Police say that they identified 31-year-old Mario Matthew Gatti as a murder suspect wanted in relation to a criminal investigation in Pennsylvania.
Gatti was enjoying the beach in Jacksonville, but he was flouting the social distancing rules, which prompted police to apprehend him.
He was wanted for the homicide of 33-year-old Michael Coover Jr. in January. Coover was shot multiple times at a home in Westmoreland County.
Police at the time said that Gatti was considered armed and dangerous.
He was captured while wearing shorts with an American flag design. Police said that he had been "lounging" at the dunes at the beach.
In addition to the homicide charge in Pennsylvania, Gatti faces charges in Florida for giving false information to police and for drug possession.
Social distancing orders have caused an economic collapse in many sectors of the economy, leading many Americans to protest publicly for the reopening of society to ease the economic pain. Public health experts warn that opening up too soon could lead to a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry reopened the beaches on Friday, but only to limited use in order to try to maintain the social distancing guidelines.
Here's a local news video about the capture:


theblaze--2020-04-20--AOC celebrates plunge in crude prices: 'You absolutely love to see it'

AOC celebrates plunge in crude prices : 'You absolutely love to see it' The New York Democrat quickly deleted her @ @ @

Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was unable to hide her glee over news that crude oil prices plummeted to a historic low on Monday, reacting to the news by tweeting, "You absolutely love to see it."
What are the details?
In reaction to a report that oil prices dropped below zero after West Texas Intermediate crude went into a free fall and bottomed out at negative $37.63 a barrel, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "You absolutely love to see it. This along with record low interest rates means it's the right time for a worker-led, mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet *cough*"
The democratic socialist from New York deleted the post within minutes as critics pointed out the fact that she was celebrating market turmoil and the possibility of further job losses while more than 22 million Americans are already out of work due to the coronavirus crisis.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez did not acknowledge that she took down the post, but adjusted her messaging with a new response further reiterating her view that the news means an "opportunity" for climate initiatives such as her Green New Deal.
"This snapshot is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement," the congresswoman wrote. "Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline. This along w/ low interest rates means it's the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. A key opportunity."
Twitter users made it clear to the lawmaker that her initial tweet would not be forgotten, with several posting screenshots of the original message.
TheBlaze's Jessica Fletcher wrote, "Deleting your tweet celebrating the loss of American jobs doesn't make us forget. Try to contain your excitement while families lose everything."
The Daily Caller's Greg Price suggested the congresswoman "fix that cough" from her original message.
U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran, a Republican from Illinois, tweeted, "A sitting Member of Congress celebrating Americans losing their jobs and livelihood all because they work in the oil/gas industry. What a reprehensible comment."


theblaze--2020-04-20--NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is shocked that released criminals are committing more crimes

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday it is "unconscionable" that criminals released early from prison over coronavirus fears would commit new crimes.
"I think it's unconscionable just on a human level that folks were shown mercy and this is what some of them have done," de Blasio told reporters during a briefing Monday, according to the New York Post.
The mayor elected to release more than 1,400 city inmates as part of the state's prison break over concerns that the virus would ravage prisons and further the spread of the infectious disease.
De Blasio's comments follow news from over the weekend that at least 50 inmates who were released early have reoffended and landed back in jail — with some already being readmitted into society again.
"We do see some recidivism. I have not seen a huge amount, but any amount is obviously troubling," he said. "We're going to just keep buckling down on it, making sure there's close monitoring and supervision to the maximum step possible. And the NYPD is going to keep doing what they're doing."
Responding to the story on Twitter, conservative political analyst Ben Shapiro wrote: "De Blasio being surprised that criminals commit crimes is just pure 100% uncut De Blasio."
The Washington Free Beacon's Brent Scher added: "It's almost like we had them in prison for a reason!"
The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, which represents over 50,000 active duty and retired police officers, also joined the chorus of those slamming the mayor.
"Unconscionable? What did you think would happen @NYCMayor? Didn't your office review and sign off on the release of hundreds of these inmates?" the organization wrote.
According to the Post, city officials said last week that more than 300 inmates and 500 correction department employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least two inmates died.


theblaze--2020-04-20--Reopened beaches amid coronavirus should help 'thin the ranks' of President Trump's supporters, Miam

Reopened beaches amid coronavirus should help 'thin the ranks' of President Trump's supporters, Miami Herald columnist says

Reopened beaches amid coronavirus should help 'thin the ranks ' of President Trump 's supporters , Miami Herald columnist says @ @ @ @ @ ' people congregating in public as 'the red-hatted listening to their masters '

A Miami Herald columnist said that reopened beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic should help "thin the ranks" of President Donald Trump's supporters in Florida — as well as those who back Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Miami's Republican Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Fabiolia Santiago — in a now-deleted tweet — wrote: "Packed beaches should work nicely to thin the ranks of Trump/DeSantis/Gimenez supporters in #Florida who value money over health."
Image source: Twitter
Santiago piggybacked on a tweet by colleague Adriana Brasileiro — the Herald's environmental reporter — which highlighted a story she co-authored topped with the headline, "Packed Florida beach offers glimpse of what may come when outdoor spaces are reopened."
Brasileiro's story looked at partially reopened beaches in Jacksonville and elsewhere after DeSantis let some open as long as safety and social distancing were respected.
Interestingly, Brasileiro's tweet wasn't on her Twitter feed Monday afternoon.
Santiago gets dragged by Donald Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr. blasted Santiago over her "thin the herd" tweet as well as the Herald:
"This tweet from a Miami Herald columnist tells you all you need to know about her, and based on their hiring choices, likely everything you need to know about the Miami Herald as well," Trump Jr. tweeted. "Their flagrant bias continues to go on unchecked. Disgusting."
A change of heart?
Santiago soon apologized for her words: "I deleted the tweet commenting on people at the beach because it didn't accurately convey my sentiment and I want to apologize for the phrase I used that offended many people. Regardless of political differences, I would never wish any harm on anyone."
She added: "In fact, my intent was to sound an alarm about prematurely opening up the country and the state. I was trying to open eyes, minds and save lives, not create a controversy about me instead of the issue, which merits discussion."
Well, apparently not completely
Santiago, however, left up another tweet which excoriates "stupid" people gathering in Miami Lakes and calls them "the red-hatted listening to their masters" — an apparent reference to the "Make America Great Again" hats, which were the iconic symbols of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
How did folks react?
As you might expect, a number of Twitter users had little good to say about Santiago's mea culpa: