theintercept--2020-03-10--Federal Coronavirus Contract Requests Show the U.S. in a Desperate Scramble to Catch Up

After cutting much of the infrastructure necessary to protect the U.S. from the virus , officially known as SARS-CoV-2 and which causes a disease called Covid-19 , the Trump administration is now scrambling to play catch up , according to a survey of recently released documents .
A request for information from the Domestic Strategic National Stockpile ’ s Office of Resource Management asks vendors of medical supplies how much protective gear they have in stock .
The survey , which went out to government contractors on February 24 , queries the companies about their current and projected inventory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Coveralls , Tyvek Suits or equivalent Coverall , Gowns , Non-Splash Goggles , and Face Shields ” to assist with the outbreak .
Responses are due on March 24 .
First the good news : The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just put out a request for contracts for 500 million face masks .
Now the bad news : The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just issued its request on Wednesday for contracts for the masks that can give health care workers some measure of protection against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the virus , now sickening and killing people worldwide , began to spread in China .
And the proposals aren ’ t due back until March 18 .
The mask request is just one of several efforts on behalf of federal agencies to round up basic supplies for dealing with the new coronavirus that should have been made much , much earlier .
Some of the recently released announcements about federal funding opportunities are what you might expect from any government racing to keep up with a fast-moving crisis .
On March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modified an existing contract with Stanford University that was to do Ebola research and will soon include “ a near-term analysis of 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
” As the notice of intent to change makes clear , it “ leverages the technology and methodology for examining Ebola sequelae and Zika immunopathology ” that was already in place .
The just-added work entails characterizing the new virus “ using samples from non-human primate ( NHP ) animal models and human tissues ( pending availability ) to empower future regulatory decision making.
” But the requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now beginning to trickle out while the Trump administration is facing an avalanche of criticism for its delayed and bungled response to the virus , which as of Tuesday afternoon had caused at least 794 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the U.S. and more than 116,000 worldwide .
The fractured response “ has everything to do with the way we fund disaster preparedness , ” said Nicolette Louissaint , an expert in global health and pharmaceutical trade policy and the executive director of Healthcare Ready , an organization focused on meeting patient needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks and catastrophic events .
“ What we haven ’ t yet done as a nation is to determine and agree to what the baseline funding level should be in order to make sure that the nation is sufficiently protected for disasters and disease outbreaks.
” While Louissant described the U.S. government as chronically failing to prepare for epidemics , she said the problem has intensified in the last three years .
Since the emergence of the new coronavirus in January , the White House has focused on downplaying rather than addressing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early February , as the spread of the virus was accelerating throughout the world , the administration released a budget that included steep cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services , the federal agency responsible for health and well-being of Americans .
Weeks later , as the first American was dying of Covid-19 , Trump referred to the virus as a “ hoax ” at a campaign rally .
Last week , as the virus entered the community transmission phase in parts of the U.S. , the administration still had yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the extent of the crisis , with both Pence and Trump promising and failing to supply enough test kits for the growing number of people falling ill across the country .
The U.S. has managed to provide only 5 tests for every million people , whereas South Korea has supplied 3,692 .
Yesterday , the federal government took a step toward addressing the grave shortage of tests for the virus with a $ 699,000 grant to the health care technology company Hologic .
The grant came from a division of HHS known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authority , or BARDA , and will accelerate the development of the first rapid test for the new coronavirus .
Once it ’ s completed , the high-throughput tests should be able to provide results to clinicians within three hours , according to HHS , which noted that it should be possible to process up to 1,000 of the tests in 24 hours .
Unfortunately , just getting to the point when the FDA will begin considering the emergency use of the tests is still “ a matter of weeks ” off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion coronavirus aid package on Friday , which includes more than $ 3 billion for HHS to spend on the development of treatments and a vaccine as well as masks , gowns , and other protective equipment , more government contracts will undoubtedly come soon .
But scholars who study pandemics say the key to surviving them is doing as much as possible before crisis hits .
“ If you ’ re really thinking through this , you plan for it .
You don ’ t resist government planning for fear of creeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pathogen clearly killing your citizens , ” said Joshua Garoon , a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has studied international preparedness for pandemics .
Garoon is especially concerned that the particularly American lack of social supports such as paid sick time will worsen the epidemic in this country and put low-income workers who can ’ t afford to stay home at the highest risk of contracting the virus .
European countries are far better prepared in part because of their safety nets , he said .
“ In France you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping businesses help employees stay home and get compensated.
” As the number of new coronavirus cases climbs throughout the U.S. , the failure of government science policy to anticipate threats is even more striking .
“ The reason the coronavirus is a problem now is because , when we were dealing with SARS and MERS and research showed that bats harbored other viruses , nothing was done about it , ” said Robert Klitzman , referring to viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past and are , like the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Funding was not spent for research for the development of vaccines then , even though many public health people said it was only a matter of time before those viruses got into the human population , ” said Klitzman , who is a physician and director of the bioethics master ’ s program at Columbia University .
Even as the entire country is focused on the issue of disaster preparedness , the U.S. appears to be once again failing to prepare for future outbreaks .
According to an announcement of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency , which is responsible for protecting the American people from public health emergencies , has now suspended work on projects involving anthrax , Sudan ebolavirus , Marburg virus , smallpox , viral hemorrhagic fevers , and antimicrobial resistant threats .
As a note printed in red throughout the document explains , that work is now on hold : “ BARDA will only accept submissions related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or the COVID-19 disease until further notice .
”

First the good news: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just put out a request for contracts for 500 million face masks. Now the bad news: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just issued its request on Wednesday for contracts for the masks that can give health care workers some measure of protection against a new coronavirus — more than three months after the virus, now sickening and killing people worldwide, began to spread in China. And the proposals aren’t due back until March 18. The mask request is just one of several efforts on behalf of federal agencies to round up basic supplies for dealing with the new coronavirus that should have been made much, much earlier.
After cutting much of the infrastructure necessary to protect the U.S. from the virus, officially known as SARS-CoV-2 and which causes a disease called Covid-19, the Trump administration is now scrambling to play catch up, according to a survey of recently released documents. A request for information from the Domestic Strategic National Stockpile’s Office of Resource Management asks vendors of medical supplies how much protective gear they have in stock. The survey, which went out to government contractors on February 24, queries the companies about their current and projected inventory of “N95 Respirators, Surgical N95 Masks, Coveralls, Tyvek Suits or equivalent Coverall, Gowns, Non-Splash Goggles, and Face Shields” to assist with the outbreak. Responses are due on March 24.
Some of the recently released announcements about federal funding opportunities are what you might expect from any government racing to keep up with a fast-moving crisis. On March 5, for instance, the FDA modified an existing contract with Stanford University that was to do Ebola research and will soon include “a near-term analysis of 2019 Novel Coronavirus.” As the notice of intent to change makes clear, it “leverages the technology and methodology for examining Ebola sequelae and Zika immunopathology” that was already in place. The just-added work entails characterizing the new virus “using samples from non-human primate (NHP) animal models and human tissues (pending availability) to empower future regulatory decision making.”
But the requests for contract and spending proposals are only now beginning to trickle out while the Trump administration is facing an avalanche of criticism for its delayed and bungled response to the virus, which as of Tuesday afternoon had caused at least 794 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the U.S. and more than 116,000 worldwide.
The fractured response “has everything to do with the way we fund disaster preparedness,” said Nicolette Louissaint, an expert in global health and pharmaceutical trade policy and the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization focused on meeting patient needs before, during, and after disease outbreaks and catastrophic events. “What we haven’t yet done as a nation is to determine and agree to what the baseline funding level should be in order to make sure that the nation is sufficiently protected for disasters and disease outbreaks.” While Louissant described the U.S. government as chronically failing to prepare for epidemics, she said the problem has intensified in the last three years.
Since the emergence of the new coronavirus in January, the White House has focused on downplaying rather than addressing the global spread of the illness. In early February, as the spread of the virus was accelerating throughout the world, the administration released a budget that included steep cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal agency responsible for health and well-being of Americans. Weeks later, as the first American was dying of Covid-19, Trump referred to the virus as a “hoax” at a campaign rally. Last week, as the virus entered the community transmission phase in parts of the U.S., the administration still had yet to grasp — or adequately respond to — the extent of the crisis, with both Pence and Trump promising and failing to supply enough test kits for the growing number of people falling ill across the country. The U.S. has managed to provide only 5 tests for every million people, whereas South Korea has supplied 3,692.
Yesterday, the federal government took a step toward addressing the grave shortage of tests for the virus with a $699,000 grant to the health care technology company Hologic. The grant came from a division of HHS known as the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, and will accelerate the development of the first rapid test for the new coronavirus. Once it’s completed, the high-throughput tests should be able to provide results to clinicians within three hours, according to HHS, which noted that it should be possible to process up to 1,000 of the tests in 24 hours. Unfortunately, just getting to the point when the FDA will begin considering the emergency use of the tests is still “a matter of weeks” off.
With the approval of a $8.3 billion coronavirus aid package on Friday, which includes more than $3 billion for HHS to spend on the development of treatments and a vaccine as well as masks, gowns, and other protective equipment, more government contracts will undoubtedly come soon. But scholars who study pandemics say the key to surviving them is doing as much as possible before crisis hits.
“If you’re really thinking through this, you plan for it. You don’t resist government planning for fear of creeping socialism up until you have reports of a pathogen clearly killing your citizens,” said Joshua Garoon, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has studied international preparedness for pandemics.
Garoon is especially concerned that the particularly American lack of social supports such as paid sick time will worsen the epidemic in this country and put low-income workers who can’t afford to stay home at the highest risk of contracting the virus. European countries are far better prepared in part because of their safety nets, he said. “In France you have much better protections in place for helping businesses help employees stay home and get compensated.”
As the number of new coronavirus cases climbs throughout the U.S., the failure of government science policy to anticipate threats is even more striking. “The reason the coronavirus is a problem now is because, when we were dealing with SARS and MERS and research showed that bats harbored other viruses, nothing was done about it,” said Robert Klitzman, referring to viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past and are, like the new coronavirus, thought to be hosted by bats. “Funding was not spent for research for the development of vaccines then, even though many public health people said it was only a matter of time before those viruses got into the human population,” said Klitzman, who is a physician and director of the bioethics master’s program at Columbia University.
Even as the entire country is focused on the issue of disaster preparedness, the U.S. appears to be once again failing to prepare for future outbreaks. According to an announcement of new funding opportunities BARDA released last week, the agency, which is responsible for protecting the American people from public health emergencies, has now suspended work on projects involving anthrax, Sudan ebolavirus, Marburg virus, smallpox, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and antimicrobial resistant threats.
As a note printed in red throughout the document explains, that work is now on hold: “BARDA will only accept submissions related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or the COVID-19 disease until further notice.”


theintercept--2020-03-12--Chelsea Manning Ordered Free From Prison — but Will Still Have to Pay Massive Fines

a District Court judge in Virginia a District Court judge in Virginia ordered that Chelsea Manning be released from jail , where she has been held since last May for refusing to testify before a grand jury .
The ruling itself is striking in what it fails to recognize .
“ The court finds Ms. Manning ’ s appearance before the Grand Jury is no longer needed , in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose , ” the judge noted .
The fact that the coercive purpose of Manning ’ s detention had long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven herself incoercible beyond any doubt — was not mentioned .
Nor was the fact that on Wednesday , Manning attempted suicide .
It was the most absolute evidence that she could not be coerced : She would sooner die .
While Manning ’ s release is vastly long overdue and most welcome , the framing and timing of the decision are galling .
On Friday , Manning was scheduled to appear at a court hearing on a motion to end her continued imprisonment , predicated on her unshakeable resistance proving coercion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal .
She endured months of extreme suffering , driving her to near death , but never wavered on her principled refusal to speak .
The day before this hearing — and the day after she made an attempt on her own life — the judge ruled that Manning is “ no longer needed ” by the grand jury .
The court did not recognize that she is incoercible , nor that her detainment had become punitive .
Indeed , a profoundly punitive element of her treatment will remain , even after her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vacate the exorbitant fines Manning faces .
She owes the state $ 256,000 , which she is expected to pay , even though the fines were only accrued on the condition that they might coerce her to speak .
Again and again , Manning and her legal team showed that her imprisonment was nothing but punitive , and thus unjustifiable under the legal statutes governing federal grand juries .
Yet for nearly a year , Manning has been caged and fined $ 1,000 per day .
Ever since she was subpoenaed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is investigating WikiLeaks , Manning has also insisted that there was never any justifiable purpose to asking her to testify .
As her support committee noted in a statement last May , “ Chelsea gave voluminous testimony during her court martial .
She has stood by the truth of her prior statements , and there is no legitimate purpose to having her rehash them before a hostile grand jury.
” For the court to admit , after nearly a year of torturous treatment , that further testimony from her is unnecessary adds insult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s treatment of Manning has been putrid and continues to be — especially as she remains under the yoke of state-enforced financial ruin .
For her unwavering resistance to government oppression , in the name of social justice struggle and press freedom , Manning is owed our deepest admiration and all the support we can muster .

Photo: Jesse Dittmar/Redux
On Thursday afternoon,
a District Court judge in Virginia ordered that Chelsea Manning be released from jail, where she has been held since last May for refusing to testify before a grand jury.
The ruling itself is striking in what it fails to recognize. “The court finds Ms. Manning’s appearance before the Grand Jury is no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose,” the judge noted. The fact that the coercive purpose of Manning’s detention had long been shown to be absent — Manning has proven herself incoercible beyond any doubt — was not mentioned. Nor was the fact that on Wednesday, Manning attempted suicide. It was the most absolute evidence that she could not be coerced: She would sooner die.
She endured months of extreme suffering, driving her to near death, but never wavered on her principled refusal to speak.
While Manning’s release is vastly long overdue and most welcome, the framing and timing of the decision are galling. On Friday, Manning was scheduled to appear at a court hearing on a motion to end her continued imprisonment, predicated on her unshakeable resistance proving coercion to be impossible, and her incarceration therefore illegal. She endured months of extreme suffering, driving her to near death, but never wavered on her principled refusal to speak.
The day before this hearing — and the day after she made an attempt on her own life — the judge ruled that Manning is “no longer needed” by the grand jury. The court did not recognize that she is incoercible, nor that her detainment had become punitive. Indeed, a profoundly punitive element of her treatment will remain, even after her release: The judge denied a motion to vacate the exorbitant fines Manning faces. She owes the state $256,000, which she is expected to pay, even though the fines were only accrued on the condition that they might coerce her to speak.
Again and again, Manning and her legal team showed that her imprisonment was nothing but punitive, and thus unjustifiable under the legal statutes governing federal grand juries. Yet for nearly a year, Manning has been caged and fined $1,000 per day. Ever since she was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury, which is investigating WikiLeaks, Manning has also insisted that there was never any justifiable purpose to asking her to testify.
As her support committee noted in a statement last May, “Chelsea gave voluminous testimony during her court martial. She has stood by the truth of her prior statements, and there is no legitimate purpose to having her rehash them before a hostile grand jury.”
For the court to admit, after nearly a year of torturous treatment, that further testimony from her is unnecessary adds insult to very real injury.
The government’s treatment of Manning has been putrid and continues to be — especially as she remains under the yoke of state-enforced financial ruin. For her unwavering resistance to government oppression, in the name of social justice struggle and press freedom, Manning is owed our deepest admiration and all the support we can muster.


theintercept--2020-03-12--GOP Lawmaker Who Voted Against Paid Sick Leave in Florida Takes Paid Leave From Congress

Gaetz ’ s office did not respond to a request for comment .
The lawmaker has since tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus but is continuing to self-quarantine “ in an abundance of caution.
” Members of Congress get paid a salary of $ 174,000 or more no matter what .
They do not have to vote or be present in D.C. , and Gaetz has missed votes all week .
But Gaetz ’ s decision to take time away from his job at Congress without the fear of losing pay or being fired is a right few Americans share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibit Florida residents from sharing that right .
Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fla. , decided to self-quarantine this week after coming in contact with an individual who tested positive for a novel coronavirus , which causes the disease Covid-19 , at the Conservative Political Action Conference late last month .
Gaetz initially sought medical treatment from the Capitol ’ s Office of Attending Physician , the in-house government health clinic for high-level federal officials , alongside two other lawmakers , Reps. Mark Meadows , R-N.C. , and Doug Collins , R-Ga. , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for Americans to practice social distancing to curb spread of the coronavirus , many workers do not have the option to take paid sick leave or work remotely , and must continue to travel to work .
Workers in many industrialized countries have paid sick leave , a right that has been opposed by business interests in the U.S. for decades .
Over the last 10 years , many Americans have in fact lost the right for paid sick leave as corporate interests groups have pushed to roll back the right of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies .
In 2013 , then-Gov .
Rick Scott signed Gaetz-backed preemption legislation that barred every city and county in Florida from enacting paid sick leave legislation .
Disney World , Darden Restaurants , and the Florida Chamber of Commerce promoted the Florida preemption effort .
The Florida law was part of a national drive by industry that began as a reaction to an ordinance in San Francisco .
In 2006 , voters in San Francisco passed a referendum that required employers to provide paid medical leave for workers , a decision that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other cities developed similar policies .
The counterassault from the business lobby came a few years later , as Republicans began making electoral gains after the 2010 midterms .
In 2011 , then-Gov .
Scott Walker signed a preemption bill into law in Wisconsin designed to override the 2008 Milwaukee ordinance providing paid sick days to workers .
Later that year , the American Legislative Exchange Council , a lobbyist-run group that develops template legislation , championed the Walker legislation as a key policy that other states should emulate .
The ALEC committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local paid sick leave was headed by a lobbyist from Yum !
Brands , the company that owns Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell .
In states across the country , the ALEC legislation spread , with Republican-controlled legislative chambers rapidly passing laws to preempt paid sick leave .
All told , business lobbying groups have pushed 22 states to enact preemption laws to make local city and county paid sick ordinances illegal .
Although some large American employers have announced plans to voluntarily extend some paid sick leave policies to workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced the issue back into the national spotlight .
Earlier this week , congressional Democrats unveiled federal legislation to combat the spread of the virus .
The bill includes expanded food assistance , free lab testing for the coronavirus , extended unemployment benefits , and paid sick leave .
This morning , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , vigorously pushed back , highlighting paid sick leave as a key provision his caucus would oppose .
The bill , McCarthy said at a press conference , “ forces permanent paid sick leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunsets.
” The GOP stance , notably , reflects the demands of the most powerful business lobby in Washington , D.C. : the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , which represents the largest employers in America .
“ [ W ] e believe this crisis should not be used as an opportunity to try to pass legislation that is poorly tailored to the situation and will not be signed into law , ” Neil Bradley , the executive vice president of the Chamber wrote in a letter to Congress today .
“ This emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-size-fits-all , permanent leave mandate on employers , ” he added .

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., decided to self-quarantine this week after coming in contact with an individual who tested positive for a novel coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, at the Conservative Political Action Conference late last month.
But Gaetz’s decision to take time away from his job at Congress without the fear of losing pay or being fired is a right few Americans share. In fact, Gaetz voted to prohibit Florida residents from sharing that right.
Gaetz’s office did not respond to a request for comment. The lawmaker has since tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus but is continuing to self-quarantine “in an abundance of caution.” Members of Congress get paid a salary of $174,000 or more no matter what. They do not have to vote or be present in D.C., and Gaetz has missed votes all week.
Gaetz initially sought medical treatment from the Capitol’s Office of Attending Physician, the in-house government health clinic for high-level federal officials, alongside two other lawmakers, Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Doug Collins, R-Ga., who also attended CPAC.
Despite the national push for Americans to practice social distancing to curb spread of the coronavirus, many workers do not have the option to take paid sick leave or work remotely, and must continue to travel to work.
Workers in many industrialized countries have paid sick leave, a right that has been opposed by business interests in the U.S. for decades. Over the last 10 years, many Americans have in fact lost the right for paid sick leave as corporate interests groups have pushed to roll back the right of local governments to enact paid sick leave policies.
In 2013, then-Gov. Rick Scott signed Gaetz-backed preemption legislation that barred every city and county in Florida from enacting paid sick leave legislation. Disney World, Darden Restaurants, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce promoted the Florida preemption effort.
The Florida law was part of a national drive by industry that began as a reaction to an ordinance in San Francisco. In 2006, voters in San Francisco passed a referendum that required employers to provide paid medical leave for workers, a decision that sparked a movement across the country as other cities developed similar policies. The counterassault from the business lobby came a few years later, as Republicans began making electoral gains after the 2010 midterms.
In 2011, then-Gov. Scott Walker signed a preemption bill into law in Wisconsin designed to override the 2008 Milwaukee ordinance providing paid sick days to workers. Later that year, the American Legislative Exchange Council, a lobbyist-run group that develops template legislation, championed the Walker legislation as a key policy that other states should emulate.
The ALEC committee tasked with leading the charge on banning local paid sick leave was headed by a lobbyist from Yum! Brands, the company that owns Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell.
In states across the country, the ALEC legislation spread, with Republican-controlled legislative chambers rapidly passing laws to preempt paid sick leave. All told, business lobbying groups have pushed 22 states to enact preemption laws to make local city and county paid sick ordinances illegal.
Although some large American employers have announced plans to voluntarily extend some paid sick leave policies to workers, the crisis around the novel coronavirus has forced the issue back into the national spotlight.
Earlier this week, congressional Democrats unveiled federal legislation to combat the spread of the virus. The bill includes expanded food assistance, free lab testing for the coronavirus, extended unemployment benefits, and paid sick leave.
This morning, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., vigorously pushed back, highlighting paid sick leave as a key provision his caucus would oppose. The bill, McCarthy said at a press conference, “forces permanent paid sick leave for all business without exemptions and no sunsets.”
The GOP stance, notably, reflects the demands of the most powerful business lobby in Washington, D.C.: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents the largest employers in America.
“[W]e believe this crisis should not be used as an opportunity to try to pass legislation that is poorly tailored to the situation and will not be signed into law,” Neil Bradley, the executive vice president of the Chamber wrote in a letter to Congress today. “This emergency bill should not create a federal, one-size-fits-all, permanent leave mandate on employers,” he added.


theintercept--2020-03-12--Why I’d Rather Be in Italy for the Coronavirus Pandemic

the last week looking for flights from New York to Italy — not because of coronavirus-inspired flash sales , but because I would rather go home to a country that ’ s currently in the grip of one of the worst outbreaks in the world than stay in the United States , where life is about to get infinitely worse .
More than 15,000 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Italy , more than 1,000 have died , and hospitals are at a breaking point .
Hundreds of medical staff have been infected , and overwhelmed doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat .
They are begging the rest of the world to take this virus more seriously .
The entire country — 60.5 million people — has been on lockdown for almost a week .
In the U.S. , meanwhile , where some are just starting to realize the enormity of the crisis and far too many remain in denial , confusion reigns , largely aided by our top officials ’ inept response .
Last night , after President Donald Trump abruptly announced he was blocking travel from Europe to the U.S. — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that statement — people in Europe raced to airports , reportedly paying as much as $ 20,000 to try to catch flights out .
And still I am trying to figure out how to make the opposite trip .
Even as the death toll back home continues to climb and the lockdown gets stricter by the day , I would much rather weather this pandemic in Italy than here .
I just can ’ t shake the terror that the United States , my adopted country , is fundamentally unequipped to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first Covid-19 case three weeks ago , it started aggressively testing people , making it the first country in Europe to record skyrocketing numbers of infected patients and to see its markets collapse .
My ever-optimistic father , who worked in public health for decades and has been texting me calm and reasoned updates throughout the outbreak , wrote earlier this week that “ things are getting hard.
” Coming from him , that means they are really bad .
In the U.S. , despite weeks of notice , officials are scrambling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching disaster .
Trump ’ s press conference last night was the most terrifying public statement I have ever heard , even from him .
Days ago , as the number of infections rose at home , I began hearing about friends of friends here in New York who were struggling to get tested despite worsening symptoms .
And yet as cases multiply in the U.S. , the number of people tested here remains abysmally low .
No one knows what ’ s coming , but we know far less here in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is a tragic irony that a public health emergency unlike anything we have seen in generations would come as Americans are constantly told that the idea of health care as a fundamental right is entitled , radical , crazy talk .
What is crazy , to anyone outside the United States , is that it ’ s even a question .
Back in Italy , people are worried they ’ ll get themselves or their loved ones sick , they are angry at directives that came late , they are even scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep up .
But there are more hospital beds and doctors per capita in Italy than there are in the U.S .
The Italian government ’ s harsh restrictions are in part an effort to stop the virus from spreading to the south , where the health care system is weaker .
But for all their fears , Italians don ’ t have to worry that tests won ’ t be available , or that they ’ ll have to pay for those tests , or for any of their care .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if they seek help now , they ’ ll get a surprise bill later or that medical costs will bankrupt them .
As Italy shut down its schools , families scrambled to figure out what to do with their kids .
But the Italian government has moved to issue child care vouchers and paid leave .
Closing schools is causing major disruptions , but nobody argued that you shouldn ’ t close public schools because that ’ s where tens of thousands of children get their only guaranteed meals .
The Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion plan to help Italians through the crisis , and mortgage payments and bills are on hold .
The U.S. government will have to step in to mitigate the crisis too , but some politicians are already balking at the prospect , and I can ’ t blame my fellow Americans for going into this with low expectations .
If the 2008 financial crisis is any indication , regular people won ’ t see much of any future bailout .
Italians know that they ’ ll get through looming hard times because their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it is a particularly good , generous , or even functional government , but because that is what governments are supposed to do .
Yes , the Italian system is often a mess .
Italians love to complain about their elected officials , and this crisis is no exception .
Our government is notorious for its infighting and instability , and when the virus first hit , Italian politicians did what politicians do everywhere : They politicized the crisis , dragged their feet , pointed fingers .
And some Italians thought they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of quarantine , and went skiing .
The rollout of the new restrictions has been chaotic — though not quite as chaotic as it could have been , considering that these are unprecedented limitations of individual freedom for a nonauthoritarian regime .
One of the most tragic consequences of the lockdown has been a series of prison riots that has left 12 people dead .
There is no modern precedent for such violence in Italian prisons — but there are plenty of examples in the U.S. , where two million people are imprisoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard .
Italian inmates are not paid 65 cents an hour to mass produce hand sanitizer they may not be allowed to use .
Of course , there are people in Italy who are especially vulnerable .
For immigrants , the drama of the virus has been compounded by racism .
Disinformation on social media has been rampant — and my own elderly aunt shared dubious advice by self-proclaimed experts before a younger relative informed her it was fake .
Italy is no better than the U.S. on that front .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in my two countries have been similar : late and misleadingly reassuring .
But for all of Italy ’ s flaws , I would still rather be there than here .
I have no confidence that the U.S. will do what is right during and after this pandemic .
This country is structurally incapable and fundamentally unwilling to put people over money , and all people over just some .
In the U.S. , millions are uninsured or underinsured , people working multiple jobs can ’ t make rent , and workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told that if they miss a shift their hours will be cut .
This is a society that responds to poverty with police , and to health care needs with jail .
It may be true that viruses only see bodies , not class or immigration status , but there is no question that those who will bear the brunt of this pandemic will be the poorest and most marginalized .
The fundamental inequality on which everything in this country is predicated will be exacerbated by this crisis in ways we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy held about the United States , they have largely come undone over the years I have lived here .
I have found myself explaining countless times how everything from the U.S. criminal justice system to health care regularly fails to do what Italians expect of their institutions , no matter how much they criticize them .
I have explained to incredulous friends used to complaining about Italy ’ s crippling bureaucracy just how unjust and racist U.S. bureaucracy can be .
And now I try to explain to them why I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this scary time because of something more invisible even than a virus : the loneliness and isolation I feel here , in a country where everyone ’ s out for themselves .
The virus may be coming for all of us , but there is a fundamental difference between my two countries .
In Italy , children stuck at home have been drawing signs with the words “ Everything will be fine ” and hanging them from windows all across the country .
For a society as communal and physical in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been an extraordinary blow .
And yet even with people locked up in their homes away from family and neighbors , a strong sense of solidarity has emerged .
Italians know they ’ ll get through this because they have each other ’ s back .
I am not sure we Americans can say that .

Photo: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
I have spent the last week looking for flights from New York to Italy — not because of coronavirus-inspired flash sales, but because I would rather go home to a country that’s currently in the grip of one of the worst outbreaks in the world than stay in the United States, where life is about to get infinitely worse.
More than 15,000 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Italy, more than 1,000 have died, and hospitals are at a breaking point. Hundreds of medical staff have been infected, and overwhelmed doctors are reporting having to choose which patients to treat. They are begging the rest of the world to take this virus more seriously. The entire country — 60.5 million people — has been on lockdown for almost a week.
In the U.S., meanwhile, where some are just starting to realize the enormity of the crisis and far too many remain in denial, confusion reigns, largely aided by our top officials’ inept response. Last night, after President Donald Trump abruptly announced he was blocking travel from Europe to the U.S. — though officials later retracted and clarified much of that statement — people in Europe raced to airports, reportedly paying as much as $20,000 to try to catch flights out. And still I am trying to figure out how to make the opposite trip.
Even as the death toll back home continues to climb and the lockdown gets stricter by the day, I would much rather weather this pandemic in Italy than here. I just can’t shake the terror that the United States, my adopted country, is fundamentally unequipped to handle what lies ahead.
When Italy announced its first Covid-19 case three weeks ago, it started aggressively testing people, making it the first country in Europe to record skyrocketing numbers of infected patients and to see its markets collapse. My ever-optimistic father, who worked in public health for decades and has been texting me calm and reasoned updates throughout the outbreak, wrote earlier this week that “things are getting hard.” Coming from him, that means they are really bad.
In the U.S., despite weeks of notice, officials are scrambling to get a grip on a quickly approaching disaster. Trump’s press conference last night was the most terrifying public statement I have ever heard, even from him. Days ago, as the number of infections rose at home, I began hearing about friends of friends here in New York who were struggling to get tested despite worsening symptoms. And yet as cases multiply in the U.S., the number of people tested here remains abysmally low. No one knows what’s coming, but we know far less here in the U.S. than people do back home.
It is a tragic irony that a public health emergency unlike anything we have seen in generations would come as Americans are constantly told that the idea of health care as a fundamental right is entitled, radical, crazy talk. What is crazy, to anyone outside the United States, is that it’s even a question.
Back in Italy, people are worried they’ll get themselves or their loved ones sick, they are angry at directives that came late, they are even scared that hospitals won’t be able to keep up. But there are more hospital beds and doctors per capita in Italy than there are in the U.S. The Italian government’s harsh restrictions are in part an effort to stop the virus from spreading to the south, where the health care system is weaker. But for all their fears, Italians don’t have to worry that tests won’t be available, or that they’ll have to pay for those tests, or for any of their care. They don’t have to fear that if they seek help now, they’ll get a surprise bill later or that medical costs will bankrupt them.
As Italy shut down its schools, families scrambled to figure out what to do with their kids. But the Italian government has moved to issue child care vouchers and paid leave. Closing schools is causing major disruptions, but nobody argued that you shouldn’t close public schools because that’s where tens of thousands of children get their only guaranteed meals.
The Italian government has tentatively approved a $28 billion plan to help Italians through the crisis, and mortgage payments and bills are on hold. The U.S. government will have to step in to mitigate the crisis too, but some politicians are already balking at the prospect, and I can’t blame my fellow Americans for going into this with low expectations. If the 2008 financial crisis is any indication, regular people won’t see much of any future bailout. Italians know that they’ll get through looming hard times because their government will do its part — not because it is a particularly good, generous, or even functional government, but because that is what governments are supposed to do.
Photo: Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP
Yes, the Italian system is often a mess. Italians love to complain about their elected officials, and this crisis is no exception. Our government is notorious for its infighting and instability, and when the virus first hit, Italian politicians did what politicians do everywhere: They politicized the crisis, dragged their feet, pointed fingers. And some Italians thought they could outsmart the system, slipped out of quarantine, and went skiing.
The rollout of the new restrictions has been chaotic — though not quite as chaotic as it could have been, considering that these are unprecedented limitations of individual freedom for a nonauthoritarian regime. One of the most tragic consequences of the lockdown has been a series of prison riots that has left 12 people dead. There is no modern precedent for such violence in Italian prisons — but there are plenty of examples in the U.S., where two million people are imprisoned in conditions that counter every public health standard. Italian inmates are not paid 65 cents an hour to mass produce hand sanitizer they may not be allowed to use.
Of course, there are people in Italy who are especially vulnerable. For immigrants, the drama of the virus has been compounded by racism. Disinformation on social media has been rampant — and my own elderly aunt shared dubious advice by self-proclaimed experts before a younger relative informed her it was fake. Italy is no better than the U.S. on that front.
And in some ways, the responses to the virus in my two countries have been similar: late and misleadingly reassuring. But for all of Italy’s flaws, I would still rather be there than here. I have no confidence that the U.S. will do what is right during and after this pandemic. This country is structurally incapable and fundamentally unwilling to put people over money, and all people over just some.
This is a society that responds to poverty with police, and to health care needs with jail.
In the U.S., millions are uninsured or underinsured, people working multiple jobs can’t make rent, and workers making a few dollars an hour are told that if they miss a shift their hours will be cut. This is a society that responds to poverty with police, and to health care needs with jail. It may be true that viruses only see bodies, not class or immigration status, but there is no question that those who will bear the brunt of this pandemic will be the poorest and most marginalized. The fundamental inequality on which everything in this country is predicated will be exacerbated by this crisis in ways we cannot fathom.
Whatever myths my family in Italy held about the United States, they have largely come undone over the years I have lived here. I have found myself explaining countless times how everything from the U.S. criminal justice system to health care regularly fails to do what Italians expect of their institutions, no matter how much they criticize them. I have explained to incredulous friends used to complaining about Italy’s crippling bureaucracy just how unjust and racist U.S. bureaucracy can be.
And now I try to explain to them why I’d much rather be there than here at this scary time because of something more invisible even than a virus: the loneliness and isolation I feel here, in a country where everyone’s out for themselves.
The virus may be coming for all of us, but there is a fundamental difference between my two countries. In Italy, children stuck at home have been drawing signs with the words “Everything will be fine” and hanging them from windows all across the country. For a society as communal and physical in its affections as Italy, social distancing has been an extraordinary blow. And yet even with people locked up in their homes away from family and neighbors, a strong sense of solidarity has emerged. Italians know they’ll get through this because they have each other’s back. I am not sure we Americans can say that.


theintercept--2020-03-12--Facebook Contractors Must Work in Offices During Coronavirus Pandemic — While Staff Stay Home

Discussions from Facebook ’ s internal employee forum reviewed by The Intercept reveal a state of confusion , fear , and resentment , with precariously employed hourly contract workers stating that , contrary to statements to them from Facebook , they are barred by their actual employers from working from home , despite the technical feasibility and clear public health benefits of doing so .
Like other tech firms scrambling in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic , Facebook is encouraging staff worldwide to work from home , part of a so-called social distancing strategy to slow the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the social network ’ s army of contract workers , already often treated like second-class employees , have complained that they have no such luxury and are being asked to choose between their jobs and their health .
In some cases , workers said they ’ ve been told that the only way they can stay home is by using the finite paid time off days they ’ re allotted each year .
The discussions focus on Facebook contractors employed by Accenture and WiPro at facilities in Austin , Texas , and Mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Facebook offices .
( In Mountain View , a local state of emergency has already been declared over the coronavirus . )
The Intercept has seen posts from at least six contractors complaining about not being able to work from home and communicated with two more contractors directly about the matter .
One Accenture employee told The Intercept that their entire team of over 20 contractors had been told that they were not permitted to work from home to avoid infection .
“ Despite guidance from Facebook , ” reads one contractor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come into the Mountain View office to work , unless they have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.
” This employee added that “ We are being told that if we choose not to come in , whether it be for health concerns or out of an abundance of caution , that we will have to use PTO , and it ’ s unclear if our absence is going to be counted against us.
” Some of the contract workers in question are moderators , tasked with reviewing the most graphic and traumatizing content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech companies have for decades relied on two distinct tiers of workers : full-time employees lavished with generous pay and perks , and contractors with far fewer benefits who , like many American workers , can count on little job security even as they are pinched by rising housing and health care costs .
Decisions about who is allowed to work from home underscores this divide : While Facebook has said it will “ allow anyone whose job allows them to do so to voluntarily work remotely ” through at least April 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Facebook contracting vendors are enforcing very different policies .
According to a post from an Austin Facebook contractor , Accenture “ is only sending home people who ‘ exhibit flu like symptoms in the work place . '
” This contractor added that they “ just saw 3 people get sent home and we ’ re all still in the office trying to focus on our work like cross contamination doesn ’ t exist for 14 days prior to symptoms showing up…At this point , I ’ m at a loss.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve received from both Facebook and Accenture is confusing and contradictory .
A post from a Facebook employee who manages Accenture staff said that “ During this time period caused by Covid-19 , if any contingent worker falls ill and needs to take time to recover , they do not need to use their sick or PTO time.
” But Accenture employees said in the forum that this is not the case : “ This is not what I ’ ve been told , ” replied one contractor .
“ I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that contingent workers can choose either unpaid sick leave or use PTO .
They are not , however , allowed to have paid sick leave.
” Posts from an Accenture manager seem to confirm this policy contradiction : “ The current state for PTO has not changed from what ’ s has [ sic ] previously put out by your team leads , ” reads one internal post .
After another contractor asked this manager why working from home wasn ’ t an option , they explained that “ Currently [ Facebook ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
This is due to the content we review .
That is the current state .
Will it change ?
I ’ m not sure but will continue to keep you informed.
” “ I have a chronic respiratory disease , ” wrote another Accenture contractor , “ and while my team lead has been supportive , [ there ] hasn ’ t been guidance on what I ’ m supposed to do now that I ’ ve run out of PTO .
… I am going in tomorrow because I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this point.
” A co-worker added that Accenture ’ s human resources staff had asked anyone requesting sick leave to provide a note from any immunocompromised family members “ to show that we have a legitimate concern .
… This all seems quite unreal.
” “ Most people here are sick , coughing , and sneezing , ” wrote a Facebook contractor in Mountain View .
“ The office ran out of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizers , there are no masks or thermometer.
” At this office , the disparity between Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support staff is particularly galling : “ Some employees who work in the same building got paid 2 weeks of staying home !
So how is that fair ?
Why their lives matter more than others ?
Why some of us have to choose between risking their work or their health ?
” Neither Accenture , WiPro , nor Facebook could immediately comment .
After The Intercept contacted Facebook , sources said the company deleted at least once lengthy thread on the PTO grievances , with one Facebook employee saying in the online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained false and misleading information about COVID-19 that was causing unnecessary panic for some people working in the [ Mountain View ] office.
” This employee added that “ going forward , ” the company “ will remove any posts or comment about COVID-19 flagged to us that contains misinformation .
”

Like other tech firms scrambling in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Facebook is encouraging staff worldwide to work from home, part of a so-called social distancing strategy to slow the new coronavirus’s spread. But some in the social network’s army of contract workers, already often treated like second-class employees, have complained that they have no such luxury and are being asked to choose between their jobs and their health.
Discussions from Facebook’s internal employee forum reviewed by The Intercept reveal a state of confusion, fear, and resentment, with many precariously employed hourly contract workers stating that, contrary to statements to them from Facebook, they are barred by their actual employers from working from home, despite the technical feasibility and clear public health benefits of doing so.
The discussions focus on Facebook contractors employed by Accenture and WiPro at facilities in Austin, Texas, and Mountain View, California, including at least two Facebook offices. (In Mountain View, a local state of emergency has already been declared over the coronavirus.) The Intercept has seen posts from at least six contractors complaining about not being able to work from home and communicated with two more contractors directly about the matter. One Accenture employee told The Intercept that their entire team of over 20 contractors had been told that they were not permitted to work from home to avoid infection.
A Facebook spokesperson told The Intercept that “for both our full-time employees and contingent workforce there is some work that cannot be done from home…for content reviewers, some of this work must be done from the office for safety, privacy and legal reasons,” adding that “we’re exploring work from home options on a temporary basis, and have already enabled it in some locations.” The spokesperson added that Facebook is “taking additional steps to limit contact for those in the office, like physically spreading people out, limiting in-person meetings, eliminating social visitors, making changes to food service, increasing office cleaning and encouraging people who don’t need to be in the office to stay home.”
In some cases, workers said they’ve been told that the only way they can stay home is by using the finite paid time off days they’re allotted each year.
“Most people here are sick, coughing, and sneezing. The office ran out of Clorox wipes.”
“Despite guidance from Facebook,” reads one contractor post, “contractors are being asked to come into the Mountain View office to work, unless they have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.” This employee added that “We are being told that if we choose not to come in, whether it be for health concerns or out of an abundance of caution, that we will have to use PTO, and it’s unclear if our absence is going to be counted against us.”
Some of the contract workers in question are moderators, tasked with reviewing the most graphic and traumatizing content across Facebook’s apps. Large tech companies have for decades relied on two distinct tiers of workers: full-time employees lavished with generous pay and perks, and contractors with far fewer benefits who, like many American workers, can count on little job security even as they are pinched by rising housing and health care costs. Decisions about who is allowed to work from home underscores this divide: While Facebook has said it will “allow anyone whose job allows them to do so to voluntarily work remotely” through at least April 10, posters in the employee forum said that Facebook contracting vendors are enforcing very different policies.
According to a post from an Austin Facebook contractor, Accenture “is only sending home people who ‘exhibit flu like symptoms in the work place.'” This contractor added that they “just saw 3 people get sent home and we’re all still in the office trying to focus on our work like cross contamination doesn’t exist for 14 days prior to symptoms showing up…At this point, I’m at a loss.”
These contractors said the information they’ve received from both Facebook and Accenture is confusing and contradictory. A post from a Facebook employee who manages Accenture staff said that “During this time period caused by Covid-19, if any contingent worker falls ill and needs to take time to recover, they do not need to use their sick or PTO time.” But Accenture employees said in the forum that this is not the case: “This is not what I’ve been told,” replied one contractor. “I’ve been informed by [Accenture] … that contingent workers can choose either unpaid sick leave or use PTO. They are not, however, allowed to have paid sick leave.”
Posts from an Accenture manager seem to confirm this policy contradiction: “The current state for PTO has not changed from what’s has [sic] previously put out by your team leads,” reads one internal post. After another contractor asked this manager why working from home wasn’t an option, they explained that “Currently [Facebook] does not allow us to work from home. This is due to the content we review. That is the current state. Will it change? I’m not sure but will continue to keep you informed.”
“I have a chronic respiratory disease,” wrote another Accenture contractor, “and while my team lead has been supportive, [there] hasn’t been guidance on what I’m supposed to do now that I’ve run out of PTO. … I am going in tomorrow because I’m not sure what to do at this point.” A co-worker added that Accenture’s human resources staff had asked anyone requesting sick leave to provide a note from any immunocompromised family members “to show that we have a legitimate concern. … This all seems quite unreal.”
“Most people here are sick, coughing, and sneezing,” wrote a Facebook contractor in Mountain View. “The office ran out of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizers, there are no masks or thermometer.” At this office, the disparity between Facebook’s full-time employees and their hourly support staff is particularly galling: “Some employees who work in the same building got paid 2 weeks of staying home! So how is that fair? Why their lives matter more than others? Why some of us have to choose between risking their work or their health?”
Neither Accenture nor WiPro could immediately comment. After The Intercept contacted Facebook, sources said the company deleted at least once lengthy thread on the PTO grievances, with one Facebook employee saying in the online workplace forum that the deleted post “contained false and misleading information about COVID-19 that was causing unnecessary panic for some people working in the [Mountain View] office.” This employee added that “going forward,” the company “will remove any posts or comment about COVID-19 flagged to us that contains misinformation.”
Update: March 12, 2020, 7:54 pm ET
This article was updated to include a statement from a Facebook spokesperson.


theintercept--2020-03-12--Chelsea Manning’s Suicide Attempt While Imprisoned for Resisting a Grand Jury Is Further Proof She M

Chelsea Manning’s Suicide Attempt While Imprisoned for Resisting a Grand Jury Is Further Proof She Must Be Freed

and political prisoner Chelsea Manning attempted suicide in a Virginia jail .
Had Manning , who is currently recovering in a hospital , died , it would have been the state that killed her .
Her current imprisonment , as I have previously written , is a brutal violation of Manning ’ s human rights and American law ; it has now proven near-deadly in its violence .
Since May , Manning has been imprisoned for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating WikiLeaks .
Every day of her incarceration , she is charged $ 1,000 ; she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250,000 .
The sole purpose of Manning ’ s detention has been to coerce her to testify .
Under the arcane laws dictating federal grand jury procedure , she can only legally be held in jail on the grounds that imprisonment could be successful in its coercion .
Manning ’ s suicide attempt is grim fulfillment of the vow she made on entering prison last year : “ I would rather starve to death , ” she said , than testify .
According to her lawyers , Manning is still scheduled to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judge overseeing the grand jury , Anthony Trenga , will rule on a motion to end her imprisonment and fines .
The motion , filed by Manning ’ s legal team earlier this month , asserts that Manning has proven herself incoercible and so must , according to legal statute , be released from her incarceration .
The judge has unassailable evidence that she will never speak and now the stakes of his Friday decision are in sharp relief : He does not have the choice to coerce her to testify — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to free her immediately or continue to coerce her to possible death .
In a letter to Trenga last year , Manning wrote , “ I have had these values since I was a child , and I ’ ve had years of confinement to reflect on them .
For much of that time , I depended for survival on my values , my decisions , and my conscience .
I will not abandon them now.
” On New Year ’ s Eve last year , a tweet from Manning ’ s account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her time since 2009 in jail .
Every day she has spent in a cage has been a consequence of principled political action .
And for this , the U.S. government and military has shown a consistent willingness to reduce her to bare life : stripped of legal rights but held under law .
When Manning was held in a military brig for seven years before her sentence was commuted , she went on hunger strike to obtain gender-affirming surgery .
At another point in 2016 , she was driven to attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sentenced to solitary confinement for threatening the “ good order and discipline ” of the prison .
Again and again , the state has been willing to push Manning , along with so many other prisoners nationwide , to the edge of death .
At every point , Manning has reasserted her commitment to resisting state violence .
There can be no doubt that Manning lives for her principles and is willing to die for them too .
It is at the very center of the inability to coerce her .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is whether he is willing to follow legal statute and free her , or to see her driven to death .

Photo: Cliff Owen/AP
On Wednesday, whistleblower and political prisoner Chelsea Manning attempted suicide in a Virginia jail. Had Manning, who is currently recovering in a hospital, died, it would have been the state that killed her. Her current imprisonment, as I have previously written, is a brutal violation of Manning’s human rights and American law; it has now proven near-deadly in its violence.
Manning’s suicide attempt is grim fulfillment of the vow she made on entering prison last year: “I would rather starve to death,” she said, than testify.
Since May, Manning has been imprisoned for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. Every day of her incarceration, she is charged $1,000; she now owes the government upwards of $250,000. The sole purpose of Manning’s detention has been to coerce her to testify. Under the arcane laws dictating federal grand jury procedure, she can only legally be held in jail on the grounds that imprisonment could be successful in its coercion. Manning’s suicide attempt is grim fulfillment of the vow she made on entering prison last year: “I would rather starve to death,” she said, than testify.
According to her lawyers, Manning is still scheduled to attend a court hearing on Friday, when the judge overseeing the grand jury, Anthony Trenga, will rule on a motion to end her imprisonment and fines. The motion, filed by Manning’s legal team earlier this month, asserts that Manning has proven herself incoercible and so must, according to legal statute, be released from her incarceration. The judge has unassailable evidence that she will never speak and now the stakes of his Friday decision are in sharp relief: He does not have the choice to coerce her to testify — she will not. He can choose to free her immediately or continue to coerce her to possible death.
In a letter to Trenga last year, Manning wrote, “I have had these values since I was a child, and I’ve had years of confinement to reflect on them. For much of that time, I depended for survival on my values, my decisions, and my conscience. I will not abandon them now.” On New Year’s Eve last year, a tweet from Manning’s account noted that she had spent 77.76 percent of her time since 2009 in jail. Every day she has spent in a cage has been a consequence of principled political action. And for this, the U.S. government and military has shown a consistent willingness to reduce her to bare life: stripped of legal rights but held under law.
When Manning was held in a military brig for seven years before her sentence was commuted, she went on hunger strike to obtain gender-affirming surgery. At another point in 2016, she was driven to attempt suicide — an act for which she was sentenced to solitary confinement for threatening the “good order and discipline” of the prison.
Again and again, the state has been willing to push Manning, along with so many other prisoners nationwide, to the edge of death. At every point, Manning has reasserted her commitment to resisting state violence. There can be no doubt that Manning lives for her principles and is willing to die for them too. It is at the very center of the inability to coerce her. The question before the judge, therefore, is whether he is willing to follow legal statute and free her, or to see her driven to death.


theintercept--2020-03-12--Bolsonaro Aide Who Visited With Trump Tested Positive for Coronavirus — And Three Other Members of t

Bolsonaro Aide Who Visited With Trump Tested Positive for Coronavirus — And Three Other Members of the Delegation Have Flu-Like Symptoms

who met with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday tested positive for Covid-19 , the disease caused by the novel strain of coronavirus that has risen to pandemic levels .
Fábio Wajngarten serves as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s communications secretary and traveled with his boss to Trump ’ s Florida resort for a meeting over the weekend , before testing positive upon his return to Brazil .
A source also confirmed to The Intercept that three other members of the delegation to Florida are showing flu-like symptoms , including fevers , though it is unclear what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The source , who has direct knowledge of the conditions of some members of the delegation that traveled with Bolsonaro to the U.S. , asked for anonymity for fear of retaliation .
The Florida event brought together Trump , Bolsonaro , and several top Brazilian government officials .
The Saturday event at Mar-a-Lago was to celebrate the birthday of Trump fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle , who is also dating the president ’ s son Donald Trump Jr. Trump Jr. was also in attendance , as were Vice President Mike Pence , Ivanka Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rudy Giuliani , many of whom are seen in close contact with the Brazilian delegation in video and photos of the event .
The four Brazilians who fell ill — one confirmed and three possible cases — did not take tests in Miami .
Instead , some members of the delegation with symptoms chose to return to Brazil to take the test in São Paulo , a move that went against recommendations of the World Health Organization .
Bolsonaro was tested for coronavirus this Thursday and results are expected on Friday .
Wajngarten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , confirmed her husband ’ s infection on a WhatsApp group for parents of the school attended by the couple ’ s children .
The Intercept obtained a copy of the conversation from a source who asked not to be identified .
Brazil ’ s Palácio do Planalto , the president ’ s official office , also confirmed Wajngarten ’ s positive test .
“ The medical service of the Presidency of the Republic has adopted and is adopting all the necessary preventive measures to preserve the health of the president and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a recent official trip to the United States , ” the Palácio do Planalto said in a statement .
The same day he returned to Brazil , Wanjgarten made a joke on Twitter about the possibility of contracting the illness in the U.S .
The president ’ s wife , Michelle Bolsonaro , and other government officials were also in the U.S. , including , Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo ; Minister of the Institutional Security Office former Gen. Augusto Heleno ; Minister of Defense Fernando Azevedo e Silva ; Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister of Science , Technology and Communications Marcos Pontes ; and Eduardo Bolsonaro , the president ’ s son who serves as a member of Congress .
The entire group had contact with Wajngarten and , according to WHO recommendations , should be quarantined for 14 days to prevent the virus from spreading .
Wajngarten is at the center of one of the Bolsonaro government ’ s scandals , as reported by the daily newspaper Folha de São Paulo .
A company owned by Wajngarten began to see a windfall from its contracts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part to an infusion of cash from the Secretariat of Communication , which Wajngarten himself runs .
Despite the suspicions , Wajngarten was cleared of wrongdoing by Bolsonaro ’ s ethics council and kept in office .
A major political rally against the Congress and Judiciary — and in support of Bolsonaro — is scheduled to take place across Brazil on Sunday .
Bolsonaro previously promoted the event via WhatsApp , but now denies having done so .
As cases of coronavirus have increased in Brazil , Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event .

A Brazilian official who met with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel strain of coronavirus that has risen to pandemic levels. Fábio Wajngarten serves as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s communications secretary and traveled with his boss to Trump’s Florida resort for a meeting over the weekend, before testing positive upon his return to Brazil.
A source also confirmed to The Intercept that three other members of the delegation to Florida are showing flu-like symptoms, including fevers, though it is unclear what the results of coronavirus tests may be. The source, who has direct knowledge of the conditions of some members of the delegation that traveled with Bolsonaro to the U.S., asked for anonymity for fear of retaliation.
The Florida event brought together Trump, Bolsonaro, and several top Brazilian government officials.
Screenshot: The Intercept
A source also confirmed to The Intercept that three other members of the delegation to Florida are showing flu-like symptoms, including fevers.
The Saturday event at Mar-a-Lago was to celebrate the birthday of Trump fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is also dating the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. Trump Jr. was also in attendance, as were Vice President Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, and Rudy Giuliani, many of whom are seen in close contact with the Brazilian delegation in video and photos of the event.
The four Brazilians who fell ill — one confirmed and three possible cases — did not take tests in Miami. Instead, some members of the delegation with symptoms chose to return to Brazil to take the test in São Paulo, a move that went against recommendations of the World Health Organization. Bolsonaro was tested for coronavirus this Thursday and results are expected on Friday.
Wajngarten’s wife, publicist Sophie Wajngarten, confirmed her husband’s infection on a WhatsApp group for parents of the school attended by the couple’s children. The Intercept obtained a copy of the conversation from a source who asked not to be identified.
Brazil’s Palácio do Planalto, the president’s official office, also confirmed Wajngarten’s positive test. “The medical service of the Presidency of the Republic has adopted and is adopting all the necessary preventive measures to preserve the health of the president and of the entire presidential delegation that accompanied him on a recent official trip to the United States,” the Palácio do Planalto said in a statement.
Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
The same day he returned to Brazil, Wanjgarten made a joke on Twitter about the possibility of contracting the illness in the U.S.
The president’s wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and other government officials were also in the U.S., including, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo; Minister of the Institutional Security Office former Gen. Augusto Heleno; Minister of Defense Fernando Azevedo e Silva; Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque; Minister of Science, Technology and Communications Marcos Pontes; and Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president’s son who serves as a member of Congress. The entire group had contact with Wajngarten and, according to WHO recommendations, should be quarantined for 14 days to prevent the virus from spreading.
Wajngarten is at the center of one of the Bolsonaro government’s scandals, as reported by the daily newspaper Folha de São Paulo. A company owned by Wajngarten began to see a windfall from its contracts with pro-Bolsonaro television stations, thanks in part to an infusion of cash from the Secretariat of Communication, which Wajngarten himself runs. Despite the suspicions, Wajngarten was cleared of wrongdoing by Bolsonaro’s ethics council and kept in office.
A major political rally against the Congress and Judiciary — and in support of Bolsonaro — is scheduled to take place across Brazil on Sunday. Bolsonaro previously promoted the event via WhatsApp, but now denies having done so. As cases of coronavirus have increased in Brazil, Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks and organizers have so far refused to cancel the event.


theintercept--2020-03-12--Republicans Continue to Deny Coronavirus Threat as Public Health Official Warns of Catastrophe

the new coronavirus outbreak is yet to come , Dr. Anthony Fauci told members of Congress during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday .
“ We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now , ” said Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Yet despite his stern warnings , several Republicans remained focused on the idea that Democrats have exaggerated the gravity of the public health threat posed by the virus .
“ I ’ m incredibly disappointed in the politicization of this Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is undergoing is unwarranted at a minimum and absolutely maligns the hard work done , ” said Rep. Mark E. Green , R-Tenn. “ Meanwhile the CDC , the NIH , and all the agencies in our scientific community with acronyms that boggle the mind have been working feverishly to sequence the RNA of the virus.
” In an effort to balance a proactive response with “ instigating overreaction ” in this “ hyperpoliticized environment , ” Rep. Michael Cloud , R-Texas , asked Fauci to explain that the new coronavirus was less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ No , absolutely not , ” and clarified that , in fact , the new virus was 10 times more lethal than the common flu .
“ This is a really serious problem that we have to take seriously , ” he said , going on to explain that the high death rate is “ why I want to emphasize we have to stay ahead of the game in preventing ” it .
For their part , Democrats fiercely rejected the accusation that they have politicized or overreacted to the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization ’ s announcement later in the day that the coronavirus outbreak was a pandemic .
Instead , they pointed to the Trump administration ’ s bungling of the crisis .
Much of their fury was focused on the failure to provide adequate numbers of tests .
While the first cases of the virus emerged at roughly the same time in South Korea and the U.S. , South Korea can now test more people in a single day than we have in the past two months , as Rep. Carolyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats made wide-ranging criticisms of President Donald Trump , who defunded parts of the federal government that were focused on dealing with global epidemics and recently dismissed the virus as a hoax at a campaign rally .
His administration has also put people without medical or public health experience in charge of the coronavirus task force and , after downplaying the significance of the threat , has scrambled to order critical supplies .
These failures make the accusations of politicization that much more galling , according to Rep. Gerry Connolly , D-Va.. “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not cover up the fact that this administration was not prepared for the crisis and it put lives at risk , American lives at risk .
We didn ’ t have the tests we needed , we didn ’ t have the diagnostics we needed , the president made patently false assertions , ” said Connolly .
“ We aren ’ t the ones that called the alarm being raised about this pandemic ‘ fake news.
’ That came out of the president of the United States ’ mouth — and no gaslighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared to be shaking with rage as he recounted that Trump wore a “ Keep America Great ” hat on his recent visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ He appeared wearing this hat — a campaign hat — in the middle of a crisis.
” In addition to Fauci , the other public health officials testifying at the hearing — Robert Redfield , director of the CDC ; Robert Kadlec , assistant secretary of preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services ; and Terry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defense for health readiness policy and oversight at the Department of Defense — also received some of the Democrats ’ criticisms .
Rep. Stephen Lynch , D-Mass.
, took particular issue with the failure of federal doctors to contradict Trump ’ s bizarre and inaccurate statements about the virus , including his promise that every American who wants a coronavirus test can get one and that they were “ beautiful tests.
” “ ‘ Beautiful test ’ is not a medical term , ” Lynch said to the doctors .
Lynch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the number of cases in his district doubled on Tuesday , despite Trump ’ s recent statement that coronavirus cases were going down .
“ We need a unity of purpose , but we are not going to get that when the president is telling people that the cases of coronavirus are going down , not up , ” he said .
“ We need pushback from the public health officials , you know .
Standing behind him and nodding silently , or an eye roll every once in a while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Americans ’ ability to respond to public health emergencies has been chronically hobbled by politics and government inefficiencies , as Chris Currie reminded the members of the oversight committee .
“ For decades , we ’ ve been concerned about the U.S. ’ s preparedness for these types of events , ” said Currie , director of emergency management and national preparedness at the Government Accountability Office .
“ Over two dozen presidentially appointed officials and agencies have some sort of roles or responsibilities in biodefense , and so coordination just at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the politics of this particular threat are particularly hard to navigate , even for Fauci , who served in five other presidential administrations .
This president is not only openly hostile to both science and scientists , but he is also prone to firing staff on a whim .
There have already been reports that Fauci has been at least temporarily chastened for speaking out in February , after he acknowledged at a meeting that the virus “ has adapted extremely well to human species.
” At the hearing , Fauci defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific facts while serving under Trump .
“ I have never ever held back telling exactly what is going on from a public health standpoint , ” he said to the lawmakers .
But he hesitated briefly after Connolly asked him whether it was a mistake for the president to dismantle the office within the National Security Council that oversaw global health and security .
“ I wouldn ’ t necessarily characterize it as a mistake , ” he said , before adding that “ it would be nice if the office was @ @ @ @

The worst of the new coronavirus outbreak is yet to come, Dr. Anthony Fauci told members of Congress during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. “We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now,” said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Yet despite his stern warnings, several Republicans remained focused on the idea that Democrats have exaggerated the gravity of the public health threat posed by the virus.
“I’m incredibly disappointed in the politicization of this Covid-19 response. The 24/7 criticism the president is undergoing is unwarranted at a minimum and absolutely maligns the hard work done,” said Rep. Mark E. Green, R-Tenn. “Meanwhile the CDC, the NIH, and all the agencies in our scientific community with acronyms that boggle the mind have been working feverishly to sequence the RNA of the virus.”
In an effort to balance a proactive response with “instigating overreaction” in this “hyperpoliticized environment,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, asked Fauci to explain that the new coronavirus was less lethal than other viruses. Fauci responded, “No, absolutely not,” and clarified that, in fact, the new virus was 10 times more lethal than the common flu. “This is a really serious problem that we have to take seriously,” he said, going on to explain that the high death rate is “why I want to emphasize we have to stay ahead of the game in preventing” it.
For their part, Democrats fiercely rejected the accusation that they have politicized or overreacted to the virus — a position that was bolstered by the World Health Organization’s announcement later in the day that the coronavirus outbreak was a pandemic. Instead, they pointed to the Trump administration’s bungling of the crisis. Much of their fury was focused on the failure to provide adequate numbers of tests. While the first cases of the virus emerged at roughly the same time in South Korea and the U.S., South Korea can now test more people in a single day than we have in the past two months, as Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., pointed out.
Democrats made wide-ranging criticisms of President Donald Trump, who defunded parts of the federal government that were focused on dealing with global epidemics and recently dismissed the virus as a hoax at a campaign rally. His administration has also put people without medical or public health experience in charge of the coronavirus task force and, after downplaying the significance of the threat, has scrambled to order critical supplies. These failures make the accusations of politicization that much more galling, according to Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va..
“All of your words and sanctimony will not cover up the fact that this administration was not prepared for the crisis and it put lives at risk, American lives at risk. We didn’t have the tests we needed, we didn’t have the diagnostics we needed, the president made patently false assertions,” said Connolly. “We aren’t the ones that called the alarm being raised about this pandemic ‘fake news.’ That came out of the president of the United States’ mouth — and no gaslighting is going to hide that.”
Connolly appeared to be shaking with rage as he recounted that Trump wore a “Keep America Great” hat on his recent visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “He appeared wearing this hat — a campaign hat — in the middle of a crisis.”
“All of your words and sanctimony will not cover up the fact that this administration was not prepared for the crisis and it put lives at risk, American lives at risk.”
In addition to Fauci, the other public health officials testifying at the hearing — Robert Redfield, director of the CDC; Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary of preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services; and Terry M. Rauch, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for health readiness policy and oversight at the Department of Defense — also received some of the Democrats’ criticisms.
Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., took particular issue with the failure of federal doctors to contradict Trump’s bizarre and inaccurate statements about the virus, including his promise that every American who wants a coronavirus test can get one and that they were “beautiful tests.”
“‘Beautiful test’ is not a medical term,” Lynch said to the doctors.
Lynch, whose district includes parts of Boston, noted that the number of cases in his district doubled on Tuesday, despite Trump’s recent statement that coronavirus cases were going down. “We need a unity of purpose, but we are not going to get that when the president is telling people that the cases of coronavirus are going down, not up,” he said. “We need pushback from the public health officials, you know. Standing behind him and nodding silently, or an eye roll every once in a while, is not going to get it.”
Americans’ ability to respond to public health emergencies has been chronically hobbled by politics and government inefficiencies, as Chris Currie reminded the members of the oversight committee. “For decades, we’ve been concerned about the U.S.’s preparedness for these types of events,” said Currie, director of emergency management and national preparedness at the Government Accountability Office. “Over two dozen presidentially appointed officials and agencies have some sort of roles or responsibilities in biodefense, and so coordination just at the federal level is extremely difficult.”
But the politics of this particular threat are particularly hard to navigate, even for Fauci, who served in five other presidential administrations. This president is not only openly hostile to both science and scientists, but he is also prone to firing staff on a whim. There have already been reports that Fauci has been at least temporarily chastened for speaking out in February, after he acknowledged at a meeting that the virus “has adapted extremely well to human species.”
At the hearing, Fauci defended his ability to be forthright about the scientific facts while serving under Trump. “I have never ever held back telling exactly what is going on from a public health standpoint,” he said to the lawmakers. But he hesitated briefly after Connolly asked him whether it was a mistake for the president to dismantle the office within the National Security Council that oversaw global health and security. “I wouldn’t necessarily characterize it as a mistake,” he said, before adding that “it would be nice if the office was still there.”