vox--2020-04-30--Jeff Bezos warns that Amazon may lose money despite the pandemic shopping surge

Amazon ’ s revenue grew 26 percent in the first three months of the year , the company announced Thursday .
The tech giant became an essential shopping destination in March after the Covid-19 pandemic incited stay-at-home orders across the globe .
But CEO Jeff Bezos warned investors that the company ’ s profit would suffer over the next few months as it spent billions on safety measures for its workforce and other coronavirus-related measures .
“ Under normal circumstances , in this coming Q2 , we ’ d expect to make some $ 4 billion or more in operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ But these aren ’ t normal circumstances .
Instead , we expect to spend the entirety of that $ 4 billion , and perhaps a bit more , on Covid-related expenses , getting products to customers , and keeping employees safe.
” Bezos said the new investments include paying for personal protective equipment for Amazon ’ s front-line warehouse workforce and extra cleaning in its facilities .
The $ 4 billion figure also includes productivity losses from changes Amazon is making to its warehouses , including spreading workers out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own Covid-19 testing lab and said it would start by testing some of its front-line workers .
The testing initiative will cost Amazon around $ 300 million over the next three months , and , if successful , nearly $ 1 billion for the year , Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said on a call with reporters .
Amazon registered $ 75.5 billion in revenue in the first quarter and a net profit of $ 2.5 billion .
The results reflect only part of the coronavirus ’ s impact to date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of March and many stay-at-home orders did not begin until the middle of that month .
But the numbers offer a snapshot of the pandemic ’ s impact on Amazon , which has been transformed from the leader in convenience shopping to an essential service for millions of US residents abiding by stay-at-home orders during the crisis .
Sales at Amazon ’ s physical retail stores — most notably its Whole Foods grocery chain — rose 8 percent in the first quarter amid a rush by shoppers to stock up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same brick-and-mortar sales only increased 1 percent in the same period of 2019 .
Amazon does not disclose specific sales numbers for Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh delivery services , which have seen unprecedented demand during the pandemic .
Amazon has also seen more engagement from its Prime members during the pandemic , Olsavsky told Wall Street analysts on Thursday .
He said Prime members are shopping more often and increasing the size of orders .
The number of first-time users of Prime ’ s video streaming service “ nearly doubled ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recode reported earlier this month that Prime membership sales rose significantly since the crisis began .
In March , Amazon overhauled some of its long-held business practices to try to prioritize shipments of the most in-demand items .
The company stopped accepting nonessential items at its warehouses for several weeks and pushed back delivery of some items as much as a month .
Some Amazon merchants benefited from the changes while others suffered when Amazon hid their faster shipping speeds , in a move the company called at the time an “ error.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastic changes to its warehouse operations .
The company said last week that it has spent nearly $ 700 million globally in extra wages for its hourly warehouse workforce and delivery contractors during the pandemic , both through increasing hourly pay by $ 2 and by doubling wages for overtime work .
Amazon also hired an additional 175,000 warehouse workers since the pandemic began .
Some of that expansion is designed to keep up with demand that at times has resembled holiday season volume ; some new hires have been made to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have either called out sick or decided to take unpaid time off during the crisis .
Along the way , Amazon has also added safety precautions such as personal protective gear for warehouse associates , enhanced cleaning , and temperature checks at the start of each shift .
But some warehouse workers , activist groups , and corporate employees have said the measures came too late or have not been adequate .
Workers have participated in several small walkouts at facilities in the past month .
Amazon has also fired several corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , though the company has said their employment was terminated for other reasons .
The firings have sparked questions for CEO Jeff Bezos from politicians like Sen. Cory Booker ( D-NJ ) , as well as outrage from some of Amazon ’ s own white-collar employees .
On Amazon ’ s earning call with reporters , a spokesperson declined to reveal neither the total number of warehouse employees who have tested positive for Covid-19 nor the number of Amazon warehouses that have confirmed cases of the virus .
Every day at Vox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Amazon’s revenue grew 26 percent in the first three months of the year, the company announced Thursday. The tech giant became an essential shopping destination in March after the Covid-19 pandemic incited stay-at-home orders across the globe.
But CEO Jeff Bezos warned investors that the company’s profit would suffer over the next few months as it spent billions on safety measures for its workforce and other coronavirus-related measures.
“Under normal circumstances, in this coming Q2, we’d expect to make some $4 billion or more in operating profit,” Bezos wrote in a statement. “But these aren’t normal circumstances. Instead, we expect to spend the entirety of that $4 billion, and perhaps a bit more, on Covid-related expenses, getting products to customers, and keeping employees safe.”
Bezos said the new investments include paying for personal protective equipment for Amazon’s front-line warehouse workforce and extra cleaning in its facilities. The $4 billion figure also includes productivity losses from changes Amazon is making to its warehouses, including spreading workers out. Amazon is also working to develop its own Covid-19 testing lab and said it would start by testing some of its front-line workers. The testing initiative will cost Amazon around $300 million over the next three months, and, if successful, nearly $1 billion for the year, Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said on a call with reporters.
Amazon registered $75.5 billion in revenue in the first quarter and a net profit of $2.5 billion.
The results reflect only part of the coronavirus’s impact to date, since the financial quarter only runs through the end of March and many stay-at-home orders did not begin until the middle of that month. But the numbers offer a snapshot of the pandemic’s impact on Amazon, which has been transformed from the leader in convenience shopping to an essential service for millions of US residents abiding by stay-at-home orders during the crisis.
Sales at Amazon’s physical retail stores — most notably its Whole Foods grocery chain — rose 8 percent in the first quarter amid a rush by shoppers to stock up on essential items during the crisis. These same brick-and-mortar sales only increased 1 percent in the same period of 2019. Amazon does not disclose specific sales numbers for Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh delivery services, which have seen unprecedented demand during the pandemic.
Amazon has also seen more engagement from its Prime members during the pandemic, Olsavsky told Wall Street analysts on Thursday. He said Prime members are shopping more often and increasing the size of orders. The number of first-time users of Prime’s video streaming service “nearly doubled” in the first quarter, he said. Recode reported earlier this month that Prime membership sales rose significantly since the crisis began.
In March, Amazon overhauled some of its long-held business practices to try to prioritize shipments of the most in-demand items. The company stopped accepting nonessential items at its warehouses for several weeks and pushed back delivery of some items as much as a month. Some Amazon merchants benefited from the changes while others suffered when Amazon hid their faster shipping speeds, in a move the company called at the time an “error.”
Amazon has also had to make drastic changes to its warehouse operations. The company said last week that it has spent nearly $700 million globally in extra wages for its hourly warehouse workforce and delivery contractors during the pandemic, both through increasing hourly pay by $2 and by doubling wages for overtime work. Amazon also hired an additional 175,000 warehouse workers since the pandemic began. Some of that expansion is designed to keep up with demand that at times has resembled holiday season volume; some new hires have been made to fill in the gaps for existing warehouse employees who have either called out sick or decided to take unpaid time off during the crisis.
Along the way, Amazon has also added safety precautions such as personal protective gear for warehouse associates, enhanced cleaning, and temperature checks at the start of each shift. But some warehouse workers, activist groups, and corporate employees have said the measures came too late or have not been adequate. Workers have participated in several small walkouts at facilities in the past month. Amazon has also fired several corporate employees and warehouse workers involved in organizing protests, though the company has said their employment was terminated for other reasons. The firings have sparked questions for CEO Jeff Bezos from politicians like Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), as well as outrage from some of Amazon’s own white-collar employees.
On Amazon’s earning call with reporters, a spokesperson declined to reveal neither the total number of warehouse employees who have tested positive for Covid-19 nor the number of Amazon warehouses that have confirmed cases of the virus.


vox--2020-04-30--Trump is blaming Obama for leaving him with “broken tests” for a virus that didn’t exist. Yes, reall

Trump is blaming Obama for leaving him with “broken tests” for a virus that didn’t exist. Yes, really.

Observers of American politics sometimes wonder why White House reporters don ’ t do a better job asking President Donald Trump questions that expose his obviously false claims for what they are .
An exchange on Thursday showed why it isn ’ t so simple .
During a White House press availability on Thursday , CNN ’ s Jim Acosta asked Trump to explain how it makes sense to blame former President Barack Obama for testing problems pertaining to a virus that didn ’ t even exist until nearly thee years after he left office .
“ The last administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with bad , broken tests , and obsolete tests , ” Trump asserted , prompting Acosta to jump in and ask : “ You say ‘ broken tests ’ — it ’ s a new virus , so how could the tests be broken ?
” Acosta ’ s question succinctly revealed the fundamental absurdity of Trump ’ s ongoing efforts to pin blame for coronavirus testing problems on his predecessor .
Trump , however , just plowed forward with variations of the same false claim over and over again .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were obsolete .
We had tests that didn ’ t take care of people , ” Trump insisted , before pivoting to bashing Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden for their handling of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak , which killed about 12,500 Americans .
( As of April 30 , the coronavirus has killed more than 61,000 people in the US . )
Trump has been using this particular “ Pants on Fire ” lie for weeks now , even though anyone with a basic understanding of how time works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 didn ’ t even exist until late 2019 , and didn ’ t arrive in the US until January .
So barring some sort of time travel , it was not possible for Obama to develop a test for a virus that didn ’ t exist until nearly three years after he left office .
It ’ s total nonsense , but for those not paying close attention , it perhaps sounds plausible enough .
And so Trump keeps saying it again and again and again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s failure to develop and mass-produce a reliable coronavirus test during a crucial period in January and February , when the virus was spreading across the country in a mostly undetected manner .
While it wasn ’ t possible for Obama to leave coronavirus tests for Trump , his administration did leave behind a detailed pandemic response playbook put together by Obama ’ s National Security Council in 2016 .
But instead of using it , Trump fired the government ’ s pandemic preparedness team in 2018 , and later spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US downplaying it at every turn .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Observers of American politics sometimes wonder why White House reporters don’t do a better job asking President Donald Trump questions that expose his obviously false claims for what they are. An exchange on Thursday showed why it isn’t so simple.
During a White House press availability on Thursday, CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Trump to explain how it makes sense to blame former President Barack Obama for testing problems pertaining to a virus that didn’t even exist until nearly three years after he left office.
“The last administration left us nothing. We started off with bad, broken tests, and obsolete tests,” Trump asserted, prompting Acosta to jump in and ask: “You say ‘broken tests’ — it’s a new virus, so how could the tests be broken?”
Acosta’s question succinctly revealed the fundamental absurdity of Trump’s ongoing efforts to pin blame for coronavirus testing problems on his predecessor. Trump, however, just plowed forward with variations of the same false claim over and over again.
“We had broken tests. We had tests that were obsolete. We had tests that didn’t take care of people,” Trump insisted, before pivoting to bashing Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden for their handling of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, which killed about 12,500 Americans. (As of April 30, the coronavirus has killed more than 61,000 people in the US.)
Trump never answered Acosta’s question. Watch:
.@Acosta: You say you had "broken tests" from Obama -- the coronavirus is a new virus, so how could the tests be broken?
TRUMP: "We have broken tests. We had tests that were obsolete. We had tests that didn't take care of people." (None of this makes sense.) pic.twitter.com/r7oobJNFU2 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2020
Trump has been using this particular “Pants on Fire” lie for weeks now, even though anyone with a basic understanding of how time works can easily see how absurd it is. The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 didn’t even exist until late 2019, and didn’t arrive in the US until January. So barring some sort of time travel, it was not possible for Obama to develop a test for a virus that didn’t exist until nearly three years after he left office.
It’s total nonsense, but for those not paying close attention, it perhaps sounds plausible enough. And so Trump keeps saying it again and again and again in his efforts to distract from his government’s failure to develop and mass-produce a reliable coronavirus test during a crucial period in January and February, when the virus was spreading across the country in a mostly undetected manner.
"We inherited obsolete tests" -- Trump ludicrously tries to blame Obama for the fact that the CDC he oversees failed to develop a functional test in January and February. Pence then takes the podium to try to clean up the mess. pic.twitter.com/cQ5JSOq3AU — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 31, 2020
While it wasn’t possible for Obama to leave coronavirus tests for Trump, his administration did leave behind a detailed pandemic response playbook put together by Obama’s National Security Council in 2016. But instead of using it, Trump fired the government’s pandemic preparedness team in 2018, and later spent six weeks after the coronavirus arrived in the US downplaying it at every turn.


vox--2020-04-30--Why new restaurants are still, somehow, opening during the pandemic

Across the country , the novel coronavirus has closed countless restaurants , temporarily or permanently .
Yet , even as the future for food businesses looks dire and restaurants struggle to attain financial support from Congress , new restaurants are opening their doors against economic headwinds .
Established names and first-time owners are untangling health and safety requirements and navigating the murky ethical waters of employing staff , all to offer bagels , Vietnamese coffee , Korean fine dining , cheese boards , and pizza to home diners and frontline workers .
“ Some people think we ’ re crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Chen Dien of Coffeeholic House in Seattle .
Along with his wife Trang Cao , Dien opened the cafe , which specializes in brewing with Vietnamese slow-drip phin filters , for takeout only on March 17 , one day after Seattle closed restaurants for dine-in service .
The couple closed the cafe soon after , for two weeks , as the situation grew worse .
But after Gov .
Jay Inslee extended the stay-at-home order until May 4 , they decided to reopen for good , without seating and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing .
“ It ’ s been our dream for many years to open our own coffee shop , ” Dien explains .
They simply couldn ’ t let the business die , and remaining closed wasn ’ t an option .
“ It ’ s very hard for a small business like ours to shut down for a few months and not do anything .
We still have bills to pay.
” Many others are in a similar spot , opening in the middle of stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Litsa and Joshua Adrian , co-owners of the new Dear Diary Coffeehouse in Austin , decided to open their cafe for takeout on April 4 , weeks after the city ordered restaurants to suspend dine-in service on March 17 .
“ It ’ s not like a business just pops up out of nowhere , ” Litsa says .
“ Business loans , personal capital , building out a space for nine months — the business existed well before the brick-and-mortar part of it did.
” The partners opened , even while other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they lacked the funds to fully ride out the storm .
“ No matter what , we ’ re going to operate at a loss , but even a weak revenue stream would slow that loss , ” Litsa says .
“ It ’ s our best chance of surviving at all.
” Even restaurant groups , which could concentrate resources and staff at existing businesses , have decided it sometimes makes more economic sense to add another venue to their rosters .
Brendan McGill , chef and owner of Hitchcock in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants in Seattle , had been leasing a space in the Georgetown neighborhood for seven years before soft opening Panino Taglio on March 21 .
The cafe , an extension of his downtown restaurant Bar Taglio , offers take-and-bake pizzas alongside Italian pantry items .
“ I had been paying for an empty space , so I figured doing some business in there , especially if it made sense in relation to the other businesses , why not activate it ?
” McGill says .
The team limited expenses as much as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment from a friend ’ s warehouse during build-out and employed a delivery person in-house to avoid paying fees to delivery platforms .
McGill adds , “ The landscape could change constantly as we attempt it , but that ’ s not much different from the restaurant business anyway.
” Without foot traffic , new business owners must rely ( even more than usual ) on social and digital media to spread the word about opening .
“ There ’ s a lot of noise on social right now , but everyone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McGill says .
“ I think there ’ s good reach right now.
” He points out it ’ s tricky to thread the needle on messaging , encouraging people to pick up food in person while government and health authorities are telling people to stay home .
But Panino Taglio offers CSA boxes , wine , prepared items , and pantry goods all in one place , letting shoppers stock up on all their needs in one fell swoop .
“ We ’ re just trying to encourage people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than one of the big chains , ” McGill says .
“ We felt like we needed to try something if we were to sustain everyone.
” Andrew Dana , co-owner of Call Your Mother in D.C. , actually wanted to keep things quiet while opening a second location of the bagel shop in Capitol Hill on April 15 .
“ This isn ’ t the opening where you want tons and tons of people there .
You want it to feel safe , ” he says .
But word spread quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local media .
“ Every food blog in the city has picked up on it because it ’ s not like there are a lot of other restaurants opening.
” To temper the hype and keep the operation safe , he has been cutting off orders after 1,600 bagels , often the day before people can even pick up .
Beautiful Rind , a specialty cheese cafe in Chicago , passed all of its inspections on March 19 , the day before Illinois Gov .
Jay Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 10 , even as work crews continued touch-ups on the space .
Felts originally planned to service the local community during the first year of business , then launch digital offerings in year two to expand customer reach .
Now he says his local customers are digital too , so he ’ s accelerating his web plans .
Beautiful Rind debuted by offering digital classes : Felts delivers all the cheese boards himself ( “ it ’ s actually how I started in the restaurant industry , delivering sandwiches , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s come full circle ) , then returns to the shop to lead customers through a tasting .
“ The big challenge for me right now as a business owner is quickly learning how to be a website manager or a webinar host , ” Felts says , though he admits it ’ s not too different from other ways he ’ s had to pivot as a business owner — he ’ s a pretty good plumber , too .
That scrappy spirit has allowed small businesses like Dear Diary and Coffeeholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delaying hiring until they can consistently afford full staffs .
At Dear Diary , Litsa and Adrian are only opening the shop five days a week .
The buffer allows either partner to step in if their one barista becomes ill .
But for larger operations , payroll often necessitates opening .
On April 10 , Corey Lee of three-Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco launched a preview of the hotly awaited San Ho Won , a Korean concept that was announced last fall .
The restaurant was supposed to open this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the form of a set menu , is being orchestrated from the Benu kitchen .
Lee tells Eater via email that the business is providing healthcare and a meal program to all furloughed employees across his restaurant empire , as well as financial aid to international workers on visas who don ’ t qualify for unemployment benefits .
“ We felt like we needed to try something if we were to sustain everyone ’ s situation for an unknown period of time , ” he says .
Opening San Ho Won now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to perfect recipes for the forthcoming restaurant , and allows Lee to funnel money directly to his workers .
Dana similarly had staff in mind when he moved ahead with opening a second Call Your Mother .
While the original location is only doing 10 percent less retail business at the moment , he says , the business makes almost half its revenue from farmers markets and catering , which have dried up completely .
The shop hasn ’ t cut employee salaries at all , though , so they needed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in revenue .
Before opening the second location , Dana sent out a survey to the team asking employees how they got to work , whether they lived with high-risk individuals , and whether they wanted to work at all .
The responses informed managers ’ decision to open and allowed them to identify employees who could safely walk to the new location rather than taking public transit to the original shop .
They ’ re also paying some employees to work from home , helping maintain the new online ordering system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New business owners may be excited about big plans for the future , but for now they too must adjust expectations .
“ There ’ s a lot of good stuff we want to launch , but we ’ re waiting for the best timing , ” Dien says , though he remains optimistic .
“ We ’ ve been waiting for more than a year already , so it ’ s okay to wait for a little bit more.
” In the summer , he hopes Coffeeholic can offer more drinks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lychee or passion fruit tea .
Both the original Call Your Mother shop and the new one are limiting offerings to streamline operations for reduced kitchen staff : The new location only offers whole bagels with cream cheese .
Felts also cut down offerings , and he had to pivot to feature domestic cheese and charcuterie as the pandemic affected international trade with European suppliers .
“ We ’ ve been able to transition more to those guys and spread the love as best we can , ” he says .
Felts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local partners , offering online pairing classes featuring beer and cider makers .
The Dear Diary menu reflects shifting supply in Austin , too .
“ There didn ’ t used to be this much demand for growlers , ” Litsa explains , “ but now every coffee shop in town is offering cold brew growlers , so they ’ re really hard to get from any distributor.
” She and Adrian looked for alternative packaging on Amazon and came upon plastic honey bears , popular among home beekeepers .
They now package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ syrups in 8-ounce versions .
As fellow coffee shops have closed , though , Litsa has also noticed the opposite problem : local bakeries and caterers with nowhere to sell their goods .
Rather than spread small orders between a lot of suppliers , Litsa has decided to concentrate on developing quality relationships through substantial orders from a select few partners .
Litsa argues that new restaurants are particularly flexible to the changing situation .
“ In a way we ’ re blessed by having less business because it gives us more time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do next and we can experiment without pissing off as many people , ” she says .
“ By the time we have more business , either because corona has lifted or our economy has morphed , we ’ ll be really frickin ’ good at what we do.
” Litsa brought her sewing machine to the cafe to produce masks during slow hours ; she sells the masks alongside coffee .
There are plans for goodie boxes of art supplies and postcards .
“ Corona is indefinite .
It could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It could be the economy is forever changed .
We just need to accept that now and adapt , ” Litsa says .
“ We ’ re bleeding over the edges of a strict coffee shop definition.
” Even as they work constantly to adapt to the rapidly changing situation , many argue their businesses are positioned to provide hope and positive energy , both in demand as much as food .
“ It ’ s a nice reminder that there ’ s something to look forward to , ” Lee says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering altered versions of existing concepts and being reminded just how much our lives have been ruptured by this pandemic.
” That positivity flows in all directions .
Many owners are passing along that goodwill through charity work , sending food and drinks to hospital workers or those in need .
Customers also provide owners with the necessary confidence to open and stay open .
“ I know I seem a little crazy to be opening a restaurant right now , ” Felts says .
“ But when people come in and thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re excited to see the food , to get some cheese and just have a little happiness , it makes it totally worth it .
”

Across the country, the novel coronavirus has closed countless restaurants, temporarily or permanently. Yet, even as the future for food businesses looks dire and restaurants struggle to attain financial support from Congress, new restaurants are opening their doors against economic headwinds. Established names and first-time owners are untangling health and safety requirements and navigating the murky ethical waters of employing staff, all to offer bagels, Vietnamese coffee, Korean fine dining, cheese boards, and pizza to home diners and frontline workers.
“Some people think we’re crazy to have our opening day right now,” says Chen Dien of Coffeeholic House in Seattle. Along with his wife Trang Cao, Dien opened the cafe, which specializes in brewing with Vietnamese slow-drip phin filters, for takeout only on March 17, one day after Seattle closed restaurants for dine-in service. The couple closed the cafe soon after, for two weeks, as the situation grew worse. But after Gov. Jay Inslee extended the stay-at-home order until May 4, they decided to reopen for good, without seating and with guide markers on the floor to ensure social distancing.
“It’s been our dream for many years to open our own coffee shop,” Dien explains. They simply couldn’t let the business die, and remaining closed wasn’t an option. “It’s very hard for a small business like ours to shut down for a few months and not do anything. We still have bills to pay.” Many others are in a similar spot, opening in the middle of stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures because they had little choice.
Amalia Litsa and Joshua Adrian, co-owners of the new Dear Diary Coffeehouse in Austin, decided to open their cafe for takeout on April 4, weeks after the city ordered restaurants to suspend dine-in service on March 17. “It’s not like a business just pops up out of nowhere,” Litsa says. “Business loans, personal capital, building out a space for nine months — the business existed well before the brick-and-mortar part of it did.” The partners opened, even while other restaurants around town were closing, partly because they lacked the funds to fully ride out the storm. “No matter what, we’re going to operate at a loss, but even a weak revenue stream would slow that loss,” Litsa says. “It’s our best chance of surviving at all.”
Even restaurant groups, which could concentrate resources and staff at existing businesses, have decided it sometimes makes more economic sense to add another venue to their rosters. Brendan McGill, chef and owner of Hitchcock in Bainbridge Island, Washington, and sister restaurants in Seattle, had been leasing a space in the Georgetown neighborhood for seven years before soft opening Panino Taglio on March 21. The cafe, an extension of his downtown restaurant Bar Taglio, offers take-and-bake pizzas alongside Italian pantry items.
“I had been paying for an empty space, so I figured doing some business in there, especially if it made sense in relation to the other businesses, why not activate it?” McGill says. The team limited expenses as much as possible for the low-lift venture. McGill borrowed equipment from a friend’s warehouse during build-out and employed a delivery person in-house to avoid paying fees to delivery platforms. McGill adds, “The landscape could change constantly as we attempt it, but that’s not much different from the restaurant business anyway.”
Without foot traffic, new business owners must rely (even more than usual) on social and digital media to spread the word about opening. “There’s a lot of noise on social right now, but everyone is just at home glued to their phones,” McGill says. “I think there’s good reach right now.” He points out it’s tricky to thread the needle on messaging, encouraging people to pick up food in person while government and health authorities are telling people to stay home. But Panino Taglio offers CSA boxes, wine, prepared items, and pantry goods all in one place, letting shoppers stock up on all their needs in one fell swoop. “We’re just trying to encourage people to do it from a local foods company rather than one of the big chains,” McGill says.
“We felt like we needed to try something if we were to sustain everyone.”
Andrew Dana, co-owner of Call Your Mother in D.C., actually wanted to keep things quiet while opening a second location of the bagel shop in Capitol Hill on April 15. “This isn’t the opening where you want tons and tons of people there. You want it to feel safe,” he says. But word spread quickly through the neighborhood listservs and from there to local media. “Every food blog in the city has picked up on it because it’s not like there are a lot of other restaurants opening.” To temper the hype and keep the operation safe, he has been cutting off orders after 1,600 bagels, often the day before people can even pick up.
Beautiful Rind, a specialty cheese cafe in Chicago, passed all of its inspections on March 19, the day before Illinois Gov. Jay Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order. Cheesemonger Randall Felts officially opened his business on April 10, even as work crews continued touch-ups on the space. Felts originally planned to service the local community during the first year of business, then launch digital offerings in year two to expand customer reach. Now he says his local customers are digital too, so he’s accelerating his web plans.
Beautiful Rind debuted by offering digital classes: Felts delivers all the cheese boards himself (“it’s actually how I started in the restaurant industry, delivering sandwiches,” he says, noting how he’s come full circle), then returns to the shop to lead customers through a tasting. “The big challenge for me right now as a business owner is quickly learning how to be a website manager or a webinar host,” Felts says, though he admits it’s not too different from other ways he’s had to pivot as a business owner — he’s a pretty good plumber, too.
That scrappy spirit has allowed small businesses like Dear Diary and Coffeeholic to open with little or no staff, delaying hiring until they can consistently afford full staffs. At Dear Diary, Litsa and Adrian are only opening the shop five days a week. The buffer allows either partner to step in if their one barista becomes ill. But for larger operations, payroll often necessitates opening.
On April 10, Corey Lee of three-Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco launched a preview of the hotly awaited San Ho Won, a Korean concept that was announced last fall. The restaurant was supposed to open this summer, but its recent takeout-only debut, in the form of a set menu, is being orchestrated from the Benu kitchen. Lee tells Eater via email that the business is providing healthcare and a meal program to all furloughed employees across his restaurant empire, as well as financial aid to international workers on visas who don’t qualify for unemployment benefits. “We felt like we needed to try something if we were to sustain everyone’s situation for an unknown period of time,” he says. Opening San Ho Won now as a takeout concept gives staff a chance to perfect recipes for the forthcoming restaurant, and allows Lee to funnel money directly to his workers.
Dana similarly had staff in mind when he moved ahead with opening a second Call Your Mother. While the original location is only doing 10 percent less retail business at the moment, he says, the business makes almost half its revenue from farmers markets and catering, which have dried up completely. The shop hasn’t cut employee salaries at all, though, so they needed the second location to make up the difference in revenue.
Before opening the second location, Dana sent out a survey to the team asking employees how they got to work, whether they lived with high-risk individuals, and whether they wanted to work at all. The responses informed managers’ decision to open and allowed them to identify employees who could safely walk to the new location rather than taking public transit to the original shop. They’re also paying some employees to work from home, helping maintain the new online ordering system and providing customer support over the phone.
New business owners may be excited about big plans for the future, but for now they too must adjust expectations. “There’s a lot of good stuff we want to launch, but we’re waiting for the best timing,” Dien says, though he remains optimistic. “We’ve been waiting for more than a year already, so it’s okay to wait for a little bit more.” In the summer, he hopes Coffeeholic can offer more drinks, like watermelon juice, coconut coffee, and lychee or passion fruit tea.
Both the original Call Your Mother shop and the new one are limiting offerings to streamline operations for reduced kitchen staff: The new location only offers whole bagels with cream cheese. Felts also cut down offerings, and he had to pivot to feature domestic cheese and charcuterie as the pandemic affected international trade with European suppliers. “We’ve been able to transition more to those guys and spread the love as best we can,” he says. Felts has also worked to incorporate small, local partners, offering online pairing classes featuring beer and cider makers.
The Dear Diary menu reflects shifting supply in Austin, too. “There didn’t used to be this much demand for growlers,” Litsa explains, “but now every coffee shop in town is offering cold brew growlers, so they’re really hard to get from any distributor.” She and Adrian looked for alternative packaging on Amazon and came upon plastic honey bears, popular among home beekeepers. They now package cold brew in 22-ounce bears and to-go syrups in 8-ounce versions.
As fellow coffee shops have closed, though, Litsa has also noticed the opposite problem: local bakeries and caterers with nowhere to sell their goods. Rather than spread small orders between a lot of suppliers, Litsa has decided to concentrate on developing quality relationships through substantial orders from a select few partners.
Litsa argues that new restaurants are particularly flexible to the changing situation. “In a way we’re blessed by having less business because it gives us more time to wrap our heads around what to do next and we can experiment without pissing off as many people,” she says. “By the time we have more business, either because corona has lifted or our economy has morphed, we’ll be really frickin’ good at what we do.”
Litsa brought her sewing machine to the cafe to produce masks during slow hours; she sells the masks alongside coffee. There are plans for goodie boxes of art supplies and postcards. “Corona is indefinite. It could be a year. It could be two years. It could be the economy is forever changed. We just need to accept that now and adapt,” Litsa says. “We’re bleeding over the edges of a strict coffee shop definition.”
Even as they work constantly to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, many argue their businesses are positioned to provide hope and positive energy, both in demand as much as food. “It’s a nice reminder that there’s something to look forward to,” Lee says of the pop-up, “instead of offering altered versions of existing concepts and being reminded just how much our lives have been ruptured by this pandemic.”
That positivity flows in all directions. Many owners are passing along that goodwill through charity work, sending food and drinks to hospital workers or those in need. Customers also provide owners with the necessary confidence to open and stay open.
“I know I seem a little crazy to be opening a restaurant right now,” Felts says. “But when people come in and thank me for doing that and they’re excited to see the food, to get some cheese and just have a little happiness, it makes it totally worth it.”


vox--2020-04-30--8 great TV comedies to watch while you’re looking at your phone

I get it .
You want to watch TV while you ’ re also looking at your phone .
If watching TV is a distraction from [ waves hands around ] all of this , and looking at your phone is also a distraction from all of this , then both at once is double the distraction !
Below , I ’ ve listed eight classic TV comedies that are perfect viewing , whether you ’ re the poster child of concentration or watching while you ’ re otherwise distracted .
If you look up for a couple seconds between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you ’ re making dinner , or while you ’ re playing a board game , you ’ ll surely catch a great joke or two .
And if you actually sit there and focus , you ’ ll be treated to some of the best comedy the medium has to offer .
Here ’ s the loose criteria I used to compile this list : I wanted these shows to have at least 100 episodes — for maximum “ zone out with your phone out ” time — and I wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on verbal dexterity than visual humor for laughs .
I nixed lightning-quick shows with lots of gags ( bye to 30 Rock and Community , champions both ) , and I skewed away from super-recent shows you probably already know about ( like The Office and Parks and Recreation ) in favor of classics from throughout TV history .
These shows are all sure to delight , even when you ’ re texting with your friends about how bored you are .
With eight seasons and 249 episodes , The Andy Griffith Show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s the ideal black-and-white sitcom for the social-distancing era .
Set in the warm and whimsical burg of Mayberry , North Carolina , the series follows an affable small-town sheriff , his goofball deputy , and his endlessly sweet son .
The Andy Griffith Show ’ s slower pace might make it a tricky marathon in other circumstances , but it ’ s excellent background viewing .
And if you happen to see a few seconds of , say , “ Opie the Birdman ” ( in which young Opie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must care for her chicks ) , you ’ ll be watching some of the best first-rate sitcom stuff ever produced .
( In addition to streaming on Netflix , The Andy Griffith Show is available on the streaming service Tubi , which is free with ads . )
If you somehow haven ’ t seen all 11 seasons and 275 ( ! )
episodes of Cheers , which ran from 1982 to 1993 , consider making it your next big project .
Quite possibly the finest sitcom ever produced , the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialogue .
At first , that dialogue was mostly concentrated between Cheers ’ Hepburn-and-Tracy-style lovers — Sam Malone ( Ted Danson ) and Diane Chambers ( Shelley Long ) .
But it later came to encompass the entire crew at the bar Cheers , after Long left the show at the end of season five and it subsequently became more of an ensemble comedy .
Cheers also launched the careers of a veritable who ’ s-who of sitcom talent , including a young Woody Harrelson and Kelsey Grammer — whose Cheers character later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good background show .
( In addition to streaming on Netflix and Hulu , Cheers is available on Amazon and CBS All Access . )
It ’ s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ( streaming on Hulu ) After 14 seasons and 154 episodes ( and counting ) , It ’ s Always Sunny in Philadelphia , which debuted in 2005 , is the sitcom of scumbums everywhere .
The hijinks of the folks at Paddy ’ s Pub in Philadelphia are at once a subversion of sitcom tropes that have existed since time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans in love with their own misanthropy .
But there ’ s also more touching pathos in later seasons than you might expect .
( Indeed , the whole series is worth sticking with even through its off episodes , so that a very particular dance sequence in a later season hits as hard as it should . )
It ’ s Always Sunny is another show set in a bar with a terrific ensemble cast that went on to do so many other great things — but in this case , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make new episodes .
Before you object , hear me out : Yes , Jane the Virgin is hyperserialized ; yes , its candy-coated world is worth devoting attention to so as to absorb every frame ; and yes , it ’ s an hour-long dramedy and not a half-hour sitcom like the rest of the shows on this list .
But across five seasons and 100 episodes ( which aired between 2014 and 2019 ) , Jane tells a wildly involving , telenovela-inspired story about a young woman who is accidentally inseminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man she ’ s never met .
The show comes up with even more unbelievable story ideas from there , but thanks to several smart storytelling devices ( a narrator who keeps you up to date with everything , so many plot twists that you soon realize many of them don ’ t matter ) , Jane the Virgin will let you zone out , too , dialing in every so often to watch one of its many effortlessly heartfelt scenes .
King of the Hill ( streaming on Hulu ) Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as great dialogue — think of all those goofy signs in the background of The Simpsons and Bob ’ s Burgers .
And King of the Hill has some of those gags spread throughout its 13 seasons and 259 episodes ( which ran from 1997 to 2010 ) .
But its low-key tale about a Texas man with weirdo neighbors who just wants to raise his son right has big Andy Griffith Show vibes , with a ( slightly ) more modern sensibility .
King of the Hill is also one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get red-state America right , capturing both the reasons so many people love living there and the reasons so many can ’ t wait to leave .
And it boasts a roster of top-notch characters beyond its central trio of Hank , Peggy , and Bobby Hill .
Malcolm in the Middle ( streaming on Hulu ) Many of the shows on this list are about people in the working class , sitcoms that have both a high batting average and a tendency to engage in wacky shenanigans that nonetheless remain grounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitcom sweet spot ) .
And few shows engage in wackier shenanigans or are better grounded in reality than Malcolm in the Middle , which ran for seven seasons and 151 episodes from 2000 to 2006 .
Malcolm ( Frankie Muniz ) is the narrator , and when the series begins , he ’ s been placed in a gifted school program that looks like it will be his ticket out of the blue-collar milieu in which his family exists .
His parents ( Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek ) are constantly stretched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other brothers make his home a chaotic one .
But for Malcolm , the future is only looking bright .
And yet as the series runs , its affection for all of its characters grows , even as its disenchantment for Malcolm ’ s stabs at upward mobility grows in tandem .
It ’ s an interesting , nervy series , and one of the best ever made about class in America .
The innovations pioneered by The Mary Tyler Moore Show ( which ran for seven seasons and 168 episodes between 1970 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly notable to modern audiences .
For one thing , the idea that a show could be based on a single woman defined more by her job than any romantic connections was revolutionary in 1970 , and ... that ’ s at least somewhat less revolutionary in 2020 .
But watching Mary Richards ( Moore ) and her friends and co-workers look out for each other as they fumble through a tumultuous decade makes for one of the warmest and most inviting sitcoms ever made — and one of the few to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven seasons it aired , with a series finale so great that it became the template for every sitcom finale going forward .
Mom , which has so far run for seven seasons and 152 episodes since it premiered in 2013 , is an excellent show about breaking the often-intertwined cycles of poverty , trauma , and addiction .
That sounds heavy , and it is — but Mom is also incredibly funny once it hits its stride ( which , admittedly , takes a while ; if you just want to skip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Anna Faris and Allison Janney play a daughter and mother whose contentious relationship is driven by the addiction issues they both struggle with , and as the series begins , they ’ re making a concerted effort to stay sober together .
It takes a bit of time for Mom to figure out what works ( the various other members of the pair ’ s addiction support group ) and what doesn ’ t ( Faris ’ s character ’ s restaurant job ) , but even at its worst , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America rarely seen on TV anymore .
( Mom is also available on CBS All Access . )
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

I get it. You want to watch TV while you’re also looking at your phone. If watching TV is a distraction from [waves hands around] all of this, and looking at your phone is also a distraction from all of this, then both at once is double the distraction!
Below, I’ve listed eight classic TV comedies that are perfect viewing, whether you’re the poster child of concentration or watching while you’re otherwise distracted. If you look up for a couple seconds between levels of your favorite mobile game, as you’re making dinner, or while you’re playing a board game, you’ll surely catch a great joke or two. And if you actually sit there and focus, you’ll be treated to some of the best comedy the medium has to offer.
Here’s the loose criteria I used to compile this list: I wanted these shows to have at least 100 episodes — for maximum “zone out with your phone out” time — and I wanted all of them to be more reliant on verbal dexterity than visual humor for laughs. I nixed lightning-quick shows with lots of gags (bye to 30 Rock and Community, champions both), and I skewed away from super-recent shows you probably already know about (like The Office and Parks and Recreation) in favor of classics from throughout TV history.
These shows are all sure to delight, even when you’re texting with your friends about how bored you are.
The Andy Griffith Show (streaming on Netflix)
With eight seasons and 249 episodes, The Andy Griffith Show originally ran from 1960 to 1968 — and it’s the ideal black-and-white sitcom for the social-distancing era. Set in the warm and whimsical burg of Mayberry, North Carolina, the series follows an affable small-town sheriff, his goofball deputy, and his endlessly sweet son. The Andy Griffith Show’s slower pace might make it a tricky marathon in other circumstances, but it’s excellent background viewing. And if you happen to see a few seconds of, say, “Opie the Birdman” (in which young Opie Taylor kills a mother bird and then must care for her chicks), you’ll be watching some of the best first-rate sitcom stuff ever produced. (In addition to streaming on Netflix, The Andy Griffith Show is available on the streaming service Tubi, which is free with ads.)
Cheers (streaming on Netflix and Hulu)
If you somehow haven’t seen all 11 seasons and 275(!) episodes of Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993, consider making it your next big project. Quite possibly the finest sitcom ever produced, the show’s strength is in its sparkling dialogue. At first, that dialogue was mostly concentrated between Cheers’ Hepburn-and-Tracy-style lovers — Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). But it later came to encompass the entire crew at the bar Cheers, after Long left the show at the end of season five and it subsequently became more of an ensemble comedy. Cheers also launched the careers of a veritable who’s-who of sitcom talent, including a young Woody Harrelson and Kelsey Grammer — whose Cheers character later spun off into Frasier, another very good background show. (In addition to streaming on Netflix and Hulu, Cheers is available on Amazon and CBS All Access.)
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (streaming on Hulu)
After 14 seasons and 154 episodes (and counting), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which debuted in 2005, is the sitcom of scumbums everywhere. The hijinks of the folks at Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia are at once a subversion of sitcom tropes that have existed since time immemorial and an increasingly bitter tale about Americans in love with their own misanthropy. But there’s also more touching pathos in later seasons than you might expect. (Indeed, the whole series is worth sticking with even through its off episodes, so that a very particular dance sequence in a later season hits as hard as it should.) It’s Always Sunny is another show set in a bar with a terrific ensemble cast that went on to do so many other great things — but in this case, that cast keeps coming back every year to make new episodes.
Jane the Virgin (streaming on Netflix)
Before you object, hear me out: Yes, Jane the Virgin is hyperserialized; yes, its candy-coated world is worth devoting attention to so as to absorb every frame; and yes, it’s an hour-long dramedy and not a half-hour sitcom like the rest of the shows on this list. But across five seasons and 100 episodes (which aired between 2014 and 2019), Jane tells a wildly involving, telenovela-inspired story about a young woman who is accidentally inseminated and becomes pregnant with the baby of a man she’s never met. The show comes up with even more unbelievable story ideas from there, but thanks to several smart storytelling devices (a narrator who keeps you up to date with everything, so many plot twists that you soon realize many of them don’t matter), Jane the Virgin will let you zone out, too, dialing in every so often to watch one of its many effortlessly heartfelt scenes.
King of the Hill (streaming on Hulu)
Most animated sitcoms are driven by visual gags as much as great dialogue — think of all those goofy signs in the background of The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers. And King of the Hill has some of those gags spread throughout its 13 seasons and 259 episodes (which ran from 1997 to 2010). But its low-key tale about a Texas man with weirdo neighbors who just wants to raise his son right has big Andy Griffith Show vibes, with a (slightly) more modern sensibility. King of the Hill is also one of the few shows in TV history to get red-state America right, capturing both the reasons so many people love living there and the reasons so many can’t wait to leave. And it boasts a roster of top-notch characters beyond its central trio of Hank, Peggy, and Bobby Hill.
Malcolm in the Middle (streaming on Hulu)
Many of the shows on this list are about people in the working class, sitcoms that have both a high batting average and a tendency to engage in wacky shenanigans that nonetheless remain grounded in something real (a.k.a. the sitcom sweet spot). And few shows engage in wackier shenanigans or are better grounded in reality than Malcolm in the Middle, which ran for seven seasons and 151 episodes from 2000 to 2006. Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) is the narrator, and when the series begins, he’s been placed in a gifted school program that looks like it will be his ticket out of the blue-collar milieu in which his family exists. His parents (Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek) are constantly stretched thin, and Malcom’s three other brothers make his home a chaotic one. But for Malcolm, the future is only looking bright. And yet as the series runs, its affection for all of its characters grows, even as its disenchantment for Malcolm’s stabs at upward mobility grows in tandem. It’s an interesting, nervy series, and one of the best ever made about class in America.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (streaming on Hulu)
The innovations pioneered by The Mary Tyler Moore Show (which ran for seven seasons and 168 episodes between 1970 and 1977) won’t seem particularly notable to modern audiences. For one thing, the idea that a show could be based on a single woman defined more by her job than any romantic connections was revolutionary in 1970, and ... that’s at least somewhat less revolutionary in 2020. But watching Mary Richards (Moore) and her friends and co-workers look out for each other as they fumble through a tumultuous decade makes for one of the warmest and most inviting sitcoms ever made — and one of the few to remain good for every single one of the seven seasons it aired, with a series finale so great that it became the template for every sitcom finale going forward.
Mom (streaming on Hulu)
Mom, which has so far run for seven seasons and 152 episodes since it premiered in 2013, is an excellent show about breaking the often-intertwined cycles of poverty, trauma, and addiction. That sounds heavy, and it is — but Mom is also incredibly funny once it hits its stride (which, admittedly, takes a while; if you just want to skip the first season, you probably can). Anna Faris and Allison Janney play a daughter and mother whose contentious relationship is driven by the addiction issues they both struggle with, and as the series begins, they’re making a concerted effort to stay sober together. It takes a bit of time for Mom to figure out what works (the various other members of the pair’s addiction support group) and what doesn’t (Faris’s character’s restaurant job), but even at its worst, the show offers a look at an America rarely seen on TV anymore. (Mom is also available on CBS All Access.)


vox--2020-04-30--The new Michael Flynn documents aren’t the bombshell Trump is making them out to be

President Donald Trump on Thursday seized upon new developments in the Michael Flynn case to reinvigorate his pet conspiracy theories about Obama-era law enforcement and intelligence community officials conspiring to bring him down .
“ What happened to General Michael Flynn , a war hero , should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again !
” Trump thundered on Twitter .
Trump ’ s latest string of tweets about the Flynn case came days after he retweeted a post from Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo teasing that “ sources tell me @ GenFlynn will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a total fraud .
A Set up.
” Suffice it to say nothing that has emerged this week delivers on that promise .
First , some brief backstory .
After being fired from his position as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency by President Obama in 2014 , Flynn cozied up to Russia and became one of Trump ’ s more prominent campaign surrogates .
Trump ignored advice Obama gave him during their November 2016 White House meeting and tapped him to be his first national security adviser — but Flynn planted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he even started the job by having secretive communications with Russian officials during the transition period .
Now , however , Trumpworld wants you to believe that Flynn was a victim — and is using newly released documents to make the case .
Posting a bunch of vindictive tweets about how he overcame the forces arrayed against him may have served as a pleasant distraction for a president besieged by the coronavirus pandemic and the human and economic carnage it has produced .
But a close look at the context of what Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reveals it ’ s not all he ’ s framing it to be .
At issue are newly released documents detailing how top FBI officials handled a key January 24 , 2017 , interview with Flynn , who at the time had just started his brief , ill-fated tenure as Trump ’ s national security adviser .
FBI leadership was already aware at that time that Flynn had phone calls with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period .
In those calls , Flynn advised Kislyak not to respond to new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for interfering ( on Trump ’ s behalf ) in the just-completed presidential election .
Intercepts of Flynn ’ s conversations with Kislyak raised concerns within the bureau that Flynn had violated the Logan Act , a law that prohibits unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments .
The newly unsealed documents , which were released by Flynn ’ s lawyer on Wednesday and are the first fruits of Attorney General William Barr ’ s investigation of the Flynn investigation , indicate that FBI officials debated how to question Flynn about his contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get him to admit any wrongdoing .
In one handwritten note that Trump and his backers in Congress and on Fox News are trumpeting as a bombshell , Bill Priestap , then the FBI ’ s head of counterintelligence , wrote , “ What ’ s our goal ?
Truth/Admission or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act , give facts to DOJ & have them decide .
Or , if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ redacted ] & he admits it , document for DOJ , & let them decide how to address it.
” On that same piece of paper , Priestap wrote , “ If we ’ re seen as playing games , WH [ White House ] will be furious .
Protect our institution by not playing games.
” Another note says , “ We regularly show subjects evidence , with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing .
I don ’ t see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this may seem like a big deal .
But to Trumpworld , it ’ s evidence that Flynn was set up by “ dirty cops ” who were already resolved at that early date to bring Trump down .
Trump even went as far as to retweet a post from his son Donald Trump Jr. calling for the imprisonment of FBI officials involved in the case .
What this effort to portray Flynn as a victim ignores is not only that the FBI already had evidence that he may have broken the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also that Flynn did lie to FBI officials during the January 24 interview , saying that he and Kislyak did not discuss sanctions .
Flynn resigned as national security adviser in February 2017 amid reports that the DOJ had caught him in this lie .
He was ultimately prosecuted by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller , pleaded guilty , and cooperated with Mueller .
But now , after copping to wrongdoing , Flynn is seeking to withdraw his plea .
While Trump now seems to believe that Flynn didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once acknowledged in 2017 that he brought his legal troubles on himself by lying to a bunch of officials about his Russia contacts .
Now , however , Trump is trying to reframe Flynn ’ s prosecution as a symptom of the same anti-Trump bias that produced the Mueller “ witch hunt.
” And with the Mueller investigation having wrapped up without charges being brought against him , Trump is trying to turn the tables against his old foes in law enforcement and the intelligence community .
Of course , Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already investigated by the Justice Department inspector general , who found it did not .
Trump is already lying about the FBI ’ s Flynn notes It ’ s hard to assess the full significance of the Priestap notes without more context .
While Trumpworld and Flynn ’ s lawyer are hyping it up as smoking gun evidence of FBI misconduct , former US attorney and FBI congressional liaison Greg Brower told CNN that “ To the extent this is being advertised as evidence of something nefarious , I certainly don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ...
I don ’ t know what this means and I don ’ t know that it ’ s important at all.
” What we do know is that Trump is lying about them .
During a press availability on Thursday , Trump claimed that the notes show the FBI was “ trying to force [ Flynn ] to lie.
” But they show no such thing — all they show is that officials debated how aggressively and on what grounds to confront Flynn about his Russia contacts .
Nonetheless , in another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look at those notes from yesterday , that was total exoneration.
” He wouldn ’ t even close the door to Flynn ’ s possible return to the administration .
There ’ s precedent for Trump spiking the football over out-of-context bits of information .
Recall that he spawned an entire conspiracy theory out of selective readings of text messages between former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and FBI agent Peter Strzok , even though read in context they are clearly informal musings between two people who were having an affair and happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president who continues to flail in response to a deadly pandemic he wasn ’ t prepared for that has now killed more Americans than the Vietnam War , the opportunity to pivot back to a day of bashing the “ deep state ” is likely a pleasant diversion .
And it sets the stage for another news cycle that Trump will relish in the increasingly likely event he pardons Flynn .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump on Thursday seized upon new developments in the Michael Flynn case to reinvigorate his pet conspiracy theories about Obama-era law enforcement and intelligence community officials conspiring to bring him down.
“What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!” Trump thundered on Twitter.
What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020
Trump’s latest string of tweets about the Flynn case came days after he retweeted a post from Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo teasing that “sources tell me @GenFlynn will be completely exonerated this week. It was a total fraud. A Set up.” Suffice it to say nothing that has emerged this week delivers on that promise.
First, some brief backstory. After being fired from his position as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency by President Obama in 2014, Flynn cozied up to Russia and became one of Trump’s more prominent campaign surrogates. Trump ignored advice Obama gave him during their November 2016 White House meeting and tapped him to be his first national security adviser — but Flynn planted the seeds of his own undoing before he even started the job by having secretive communications with Russian officials during the transition period.
Now, however, Trumpworld wants you to believe that Flynn was a victim — and is using newly released documents to make the case.
.@CNN doesn’t want to speak about their persecution of General Michael Flynn & why they got the story so wrong. They, along with others, should pay a big price for what they have purposely done to this man & his family. They won’t even cover the big breaking news about this scam! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020
Posting a bunch of vindictive tweets about how he overcame the forces arrayed against him may have served as a pleasant distraction for a president besieged by the coronavirus pandemic and the human and economic carnage it has produced. But a close look at the context of what Trump is saying about the new Flynn revelations reveals it’s not all he’s framing it to be.
The new Flynn documents, briefly explained
At issue are newly released documents detailing how top FBI officials handled a key January 24, 2017, interview with Flynn, who at the time had just started his brief, ill-fated tenure as Trump’s national security adviser.
FBI leadership was already aware at that time that Flynn had phone calls with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period. In those calls, Flynn advised Kislyak not to respond to new sanctions the Obama administration placed on Russia for interfering (on Trump’s behalf) in the just-completed presidential election. Intercepts of Flynn’s conversations with Kislyak raised concerns within the bureau that Flynn had violated the Logan Act, a law that prohibits unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.
The newly unsealed documents, which were released by Flynn’s lawyer on Wednesday and are the first fruits of Attorney General William Barr’s investigation of the Flynn investigation, indicate that FBI officials debated how to question Flynn about his contacts with Russia and whether their aim was to get him to admit any wrongdoing.
In one handwritten note that Trump and his backers in Congress and on Fox News are trumpeting as a bombshell, Bill Priestap, then the FBI’s head of counterintelligence, wrote, “What’s our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired? If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & have them decide. Or, if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] & he admits it, document for DOJ, & let them decide how to address it.”
#FLYNN docs just unsealed, including handwritten notes 1/24/2017 day of Flynn FBI interview. Transcript: “What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” Read transcript notes, copy original just filed. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/8oqUok8i7m — Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) April 29, 2020
On that same piece of paper, Priestap wrote, “If we’re seen as playing games, WH [White House] will be furious. Protect our institution by not playing games.” Another note says, “We regularly show subjects evidence, with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing. I don’t see how getting someone to admit their wrongdoing is going easy on him.”
None of this may seem like a big deal. But to Trumpworld, it’s evidence that Flynn was set up by “dirty cops” who were already resolved at that early date to bring Trump down.
Clear now that General Flynn was set up by dirty cops at the highest levels of our government... — Devin Nunes (@DevinNunes) April 29, 2020
Trump even went as far as to retweet a post from his son Donald Trump Jr. calling for the imprisonment of FBI officials involved in the case.
What this effort to portray Flynn as a victim ignores is not only that the FBI already had evidence that he may have broken the law at the time the notes were written, but also that Flynn did lie to FBI officials during the January 24 interview, saying that he and Kislyak did not discuss sanctions.
Flynn resigned as national security adviser in February 2017 amid reports that the DOJ had caught him in this lie. He was ultimately prosecuted by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, pleaded guilty, and cooperated with Mueller. But now, after copping to wrongdoing, Flynn is seeking to withdraw his plea.
While Trump now seems to believe that Flynn didn’t do anything wrong, he once acknowledged in 2017 that he brought his legal troubles on himself by lying to a bunch of officials about his Russia contacts.
I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017
Now, however, Trump is trying to reframe Flynn’s prosecution as a symptom of the same anti-Trump bias that produced the Mueller “witch hunt.” And with the Mueller investigation having wrapped up without charges being brought against him, Trump is trying to turn the tables against his old foes in law enforcement and the intelligence community.
DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2020
Of course, Trump’s allegations that bias affecting the Russia investigation were already investigated by the Justice Department inspector general, who found it did not.
Trump is already lying about the FBI’s Flynn notes
It’s hard to assess the full significance of the Priestap notes without more context. While Trumpworld and Flynn’s lawyer are hyping it up as smoking gun evidence of FBI misconduct, former US attorney and FBI congressional liaison Greg Brower told CNN that “To the extent this is being advertised as evidence of something nefarious, I certainly don’t see it in that way. ... I don’t know what this means and I don’t know that it’s important at all.”
What we do know is that Trump is lying about them. During a press availability on Thursday, Trump claimed that the notes show the FBI was “trying to force [Flynn] to lie.” But they show no such thing — all they show is that officials debated how aggressively and on what grounds to confront Flynn about his Russia contacts.
Trump claims the newly released Michael Flynn documents show that the FBI was "trying to force him to lie." They show no such thing -- all they show is that agents deliberated how aggressively to confront Flynn about contacts with Russia that he later lied about. pic.twitter.com/DR23F6WJql — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2020
Nonetheless, in another lie, Trump added that “if you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration.” He wouldn’t even close the door to Flynn’s possible return to the administration.
There’s precedent for Trump spiking the football over out-of-context bits of information. Recall that he spawned an entire conspiracy theory out of selective readings of text messages between former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and FBI agent Peter Strzok, even though read in context they are clearly informal musings between two people who were having an affair and happened to dislike him.
But for a president who continues to flail in response to a deadly pandemic he wasn’t prepared for that has now killed more Americans than the Vietnam War, the opportunity to pivot back to a day of bashing the “deep state” is likely a pleasant diversion. And it sets the stage for another news cycle that Trump will relish in the increasingly likely event he pardons Flynn.


vox--2020-04-30--Airlines are still flying crowded planes, and travelers are worried

The evening before her DC-bound flight on April 26 , Libby L. called American Airlines to inquire how full the plane would be .
The 29-year-old New York City resident , who declined to share her last name for privacy reasons , wanted to know if she would have another passenger sitting beside her and if the airline would seat travelers according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s social distancing guidelines .
She was heading to the DC metropolitan area to stay indefinitely with her mom , who ’ s recovering from severe laryngitis .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their best to social distance passengers , and it sounded like people would be seated in every other row or seat , ” Libby told me of her customer service call .
“ The representative did say someone would be sitting beside me , but that I could ask the gate agent to change my seat because my flight wasn ’ t sold out.
” The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a historic slowdown in air travel : Airlines are reportedly flying planes with much smaller passenger loads , decreasing the number of available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fares .
More than 300 million people in 42 states are under state or local stay-at-home orders , and yet every day , hundreds of thousands of travelers like Libby are still flying in the United States .
That number is a drop in the bucket compared to the 2 million-plus travelers the Transportation Security Administration used to screen daily before the coronavirus pandemic , but flights are still filling up — some close to capacity , according to passengers .
Libby approximates her own was about 85 percent full .
JetBlue announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require all passengers to wear a face covering or a mask and is continuing to thoroughly disinfect its aircrafts .
Alaska Airlines said it will keep all middle seats vacant in economy class throughout May .
American Airlines will require face masks for flight attendants as of May 1 and begin distributing sanitizing wipes , gels , or face masks to customers .
Over the weekend , American Airlines was criticized for operating flights that appeared to be nearly at capacity , with passengers forced to sit close to each other .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from New York showed almost every seat in the main cabin occupied .
The woman who posted the clip was sitting in a middle seat and wrote , “ I ’ ve never felt less safe or cared for in my entire life.
” Another American passenger , who recently flew from Miami to New York City , told the New York Post that nearly half the people on her crammed flight were not wearing masks .
Since late March , the US has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these circumstances , the most responsible thing to do is stay where you are and travel only if you have to .
People across the country have been fleeing high-density cities for rural areas , a phenomenon that has potentially contributed to community spread in smaller towns .
However , most of the recent travelers I spoke with considered their flights essential : Libby was helping take care of her sick mom ; a couple was returning home to New York after being stuck in Florida for several weeks ; and a Denver-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery .
They assured me they took the risk of coronavirus seriously by wearing masks and gloves on flights , wiping down their personal spaces , and trying their best to distance themselves from others .
Some felt , though , that the airlines didn ’ t do enough to promote safety and social distancing among passengers and crew members .
When Libby arrived at her terminal in LaGuardia Airport and found her flight fairly full , she wasn ’ t able to change her seat .
“ I travel frequently , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve ever seen , ” she said .
“ Most of the rows ahead of me were two people per side of the aisle and were full , and I had a person sitting next to me.
” As a passenger , Libby “ felt misled ” by the conversation she had with the American Airlines , adding that if she was shown a photo of the final seating arrangement , she “ wouldn ’ t have boarded the plane.
” “ Most of the rows ahead of me were two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were full , and I had a person sitting next to me ” Curtis Blessing , an airline spokesperson , didn ’ t directly respond to my question about whether American was implementing social distancing guidelines or specifically capping the number of passengers on its flights .
“ On flights through May 31 , American is limiting the number of passengers on each aircraft , ” Blessing wrote to me via email .
“ As part of this limit , American will not assign 50 percent of main cabin middle seats or seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight , and will only use those middle seats when necessary.
” He added that gate agents are continuing to reassign seats to create more space between customers , and passengers are offered “ options to create more room , including rebooking on other flights.
” A senior couple who ’ d been residing in West Palm Beach , Florida , for the past couple of months had booked multiple Southwest flights trying to get back home to Long Island , New York , according to their daughter Caroline , who I spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier flights had been canceled , and they were finally able to fly in on April 28 .
Caroline , who didn ’ t travel with her parents , posted on Twitter to complain that Southwest didn ’ t comply with social distancing measures on her family ’ s flight .
What was even more egregious , in her opinion , was that flight attendants were not masked or requiring passengers to wear masks .
“ I understand my parents made the risky decision to fly , but the conditions are beyond unsafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC has required , ” she told me .
Brian Parrish , a Southwest spokesperson , responded via email that flight attendants are encouraged “ to invite customers to space out at comfortable distances ” if empty seats are available .
He added that the carrier has an open seating policy that makes social distancing easier , and customers have been asked to not occupy the first or last three rows to separate themselves from crew members .
“ We haven ’ t announced plans to limit capacity at the present time ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s earnings call that the measure is under consideration to support social distancing , ” Parrish wrote , adding that passengers are boarding in smaller groups so they can maintain distance .
Flight attendants are also allowed to wear face masks and are offered personal protective equipment by the airline , according to Parrish .
US airlines decreased their commercial flight routes by more than 60 percent by late April , according to global travel data provider OAG .
With reduced service , it ’ s possible there are now fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could lead to more crowded planes .
Two Delta passengers I recently spoke with , however , said that the carrier did a good job in spacing out passengers on their flights .
Tone Frink , a 28-year-old Atlanta resident who was visiting his daughter in Orlando , Florida , said that after settling in on the plane , he felt relaxed since most passengers were taking precautions .
“ I chose to travel over the health risk at hand , but I did feel safe and comfortable enough to return home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost everyone on board was wearing a mask , and he felt that Delta had “ a safe layout plan ” for travelers .
Angie Cavallari , an author and Denver resident , took a Delta flight on April 16 to be with her aunt in Atlanta , who was undergoing emergency surgery .
Cavallari told me there were only 25 to 30 people on her first flight , and Delta allowed her and other passengers seated in the back rows to board early .
While on board , she was given a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water bottle , and anti-bacterial wipes , and Cavallari added that “ this was the cleanest ” plane she ’ d ever been on .
Flight attendants and about half of the passengers were wearing masks .
“ I thought Delta did an excellent job , ” Cavallari said .
“ My assigned seat , whether it was deliberate or not , happened to be at the back of the plane and I was beyond 6 feet away from anyone else .
The majority of the people were also seated at the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight on April 20 was more crowded , Cavallari told me she was seated far away from anyone else and wasn ’ t worried .
“ I don ’ t want to speak to the other airlines , but I do want to say that if a company follows the guidelines put forth , people should be able to travel safely , ” she said .
While most people are isolating in their homes , Cavallari acknowledged that in certain situations , some people still need to travel .
“ I wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromised immune system to fly , but if I really had to fly tomorrow , the pandemic wouldn ’ t deter me from doing so.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The evening before her DC-bound flight on April 26, Libby L. called American Airlines to inquire how full the plane would be. The 29-year-old New York City resident, who declined to share her last name for privacy reasons, wanted to know if she would have another passenger sitting beside her and if the airline would seat travelers according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing guidelines. She was heading to the DC metropolitan area to stay indefinitely with her mom, who’s recovering from severe laryngitis.
“I was told American Airlines was doing their best to social distance passengers, and it sounded like people would be seated in every other row or seat,” Libby told me of her customer service call. “The representative did say someone would be sitting beside me, but that I could ask the gate agent to change my seat because my flight wasn’t sold out.”
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a historic slowdown in air travel: Airlines are reportedly flying planes with much smaller passenger loads, decreasing the number of available flight routes, and offering absurdly affordable fares. More than 300 million people in 42 states are under state or local stay-at-home orders, and yet every day, hundreds of thousands of travelers like Libby are still flying in the United States. That number is a drop in the bucket compared to the 2 million-plus travelers the Transportation Security Administration used to screen daily before the coronavirus pandemic, but flights are still filling up — some close to capacity, according to passengers. Libby approximates her own was about 85 percent full.
JetBlue announced on April 28 that the carrier would require all passengers to wear a face covering or a mask and is continuing to thoroughly disinfect its aircrafts. Within a few days, several other airlines — including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United — announced they will implement similar requirements in May. Alaska, Delta, and United have also been keeping their middle seats vacant.
American Airlines was criticized in late April for operating flights that appeared to be nearly at capacity, with passengers forced to sit close to each other. A Twitter video of a North Carolina-bound flight from New York showed almost every seat in the main cabin occupied. The woman who posted the clip was sitting in a middle seat and wrote, “I’ve never felt less safe or cared for in my entire life.” Another American passenger, who recently flew from Miami to New York City, told the New York Post that nearly half the people on her crammed flight were not wearing masks.
Well silly me thinking that an airline would adhere to social distancing guidelines. Currently abroad a nearly full @AmericanAir flight and I’ve never felt less safe or cared for in my entire life pic.twitter.com/sx5STfHKBI — erin strine (@ErinStrine) April 25, 2020
Since late March, the US has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and recently surpassed 1 million confirmed cases. In these circumstances, the most responsible thing to do is stay where you are and travel only if you have to. People across the country have been fleeing high-density cities for rural areas, a phenomenon that has potentially contributed to community spread in smaller towns.
However, most of the recent travelers I spoke with considered their flights essential: Libby was helping take care of her sick mom; a couple was returning home to New York after being stuck in Florida for several weeks; and a Denver-based author was visiting a relative undergoing emergency surgery. They assured me they took the risk of coronavirus seriously by wearing masks and gloves on flights, wiping down their personal spaces, and trying their best to distance themselves from others. Some felt, though, that the airlines didn’t do enough to promote safety and social distancing among passengers and crew members.
When Libby arrived at her terminal in LaGuardia Airport and found her flight fairly full, she wasn’t able to change her seat. “I travel frequently, and this was one of the calmest boardings I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Most of the rows ahead of me were two people per side of the aisle and were full, and I had a person sitting next to me.” As a passenger, Libby “felt misled” by the conversation she had with the American Airlines, adding that if she was shown a photo of the final seating arrangement, she “wouldn’t have boarded the plane.”
“Most of the rows ahead of me were two people per side of the aisle and were full, and I had a person sitting next to me”
Curtis Blessing, an airline spokesperson, didn’t directly respond to my question about whether American was implementing social distancing guidelines or specifically capping the number of passengers on its flights. “On flights through May 31, American is limiting the number of passengers on each aircraft,” Blessing wrote to me via email. “As part of this limit, American will not assign 50 percent of main cabin middle seats or seats near flight attendant jump seats on every flight, and will only use those middle seats when necessary.” He added that gate agents are continuing to reassign seats to create more space between customers, and passengers are offered “options to create more room, including rebooking on other flights.”
A senior couple who’d been residing in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the past couple of months had booked multiple Southwest flights trying to get back home to Long Island, New York, according to their daughter Caroline, who I spoke with on Twitter. Several of their earlier flights had been canceled, and they were finally able to fly in on April 28.
Caroline, who didn’t travel with her parents, posted on Twitter to complain that Southwest didn’t comply with social distancing measures on her family’s flight. What was even more egregious, in her opinion, was that flight attendants were not masked or requiring passengers to wear masks. “I understand my parents made the risky decision to fly, but the conditions are beyond unsafe and do not comply with what the CDC has required,” she told me.
Brian Parrish, a Southwest spokesperson, responded via email that flight attendants are encouraged “to invite customers to space out at comfortable distances” if empty seats are available. He added that the carrier has an open seating policy that makes social distancing easier, and customers have been asked to not occupy the first or last three rows to separate themselves from crew members.
“We haven’t announced plans to limit capacity at the present time; although, our CEO did mention in today’s earnings call that the measure is under consideration to support social distancing,” Parrish wrote, adding that passengers are boarding in smaller groups so they can maintain distance. Flight attendants are also allowed to wear face masks and are offered personal protective equipment by the airline, according to Parrish.
US airlines decreased their commercial flight routes by more than 60 percent by late April, according to global travel data provider OAG. With reduced service, it’s possible there are now fewer options travelers can choose from, which could lead to more crowded planes. Two Delta passengers I recently spoke with, however, said that the carrier did a good job in spacing out passengers on their flights.
Tone Frink, a 28-year-old Atlanta resident who was visiting his daughter in Orlando, Florida, said that after settling in on the plane, he felt relaxed since most passengers were taking precautions. “I chose to travel over the health risk at hand, but I did feel safe and comfortable enough to return home,” Frink told me over Twitter. Almost everyone on board was wearing a mask, and he felt that Delta had “a safe layout plan” for travelers.
Angie Cavallari, an author and Denver resident, took a Delta flight on April 16 to be with her aunt in Atlanta, who was undergoing emergency surgery. Cavallari told me there were only 25 to 30 people on her first flight, and Delta allowed her and other passengers seated in the back rows to board early. While on board, she was given a plastic bag with pre-packed snacks, a water bottle, and anti-bacterial wipes, and Cavallari added that “this was the cleanest” plane she’d ever been on. Flight attendants and about half of the passengers were wearing masks.
“I thought Delta did an excellent job,” Cavallari said. “My assigned seat, whether it was deliberate or not, happened to be at the back of the plane and I was beyond 6 feet away from anyone else. The majority of the people were also seated at the front of the airplane.” While her return flight on April 20 was more crowded, Cavallari told me she was seated far away from anyone else and wasn’t worried.
“I don’t want to speak to the other airlines, but I do want to say that if a company follows the guidelines put forth, people should be able to travel safely,” she said. While most people are isolating in their homes, Cavallari acknowledged that in certain situations, some people still need to travel. “I wouldn’t advise anyone sick or with a compromised immune system to fly, but if I really had to fly tomorrow, the pandemic wouldn’t deter me from doing so.”
Update May 1, 2020: This article has been updated with information about how most US airlines are requiring passengers to wear masks.