huffpost--2020-04-07--Trump Steaks And Trump Vodka Flopped, But Trump COVID 'Cure' Could Win Him Reelection

“ His fixation is due to his only interest : himself and getting himself reelected .
He ’ s got to control the narrative .
Fooling people into thinking he ’ s responsible for the ‘ cure ’ gives him a narrative , ” said former congressman Joe Walsh , who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination .
“ He ’ s lost the economy , he can ’ t control the deaths , he knows he botched our response , so he will glom onto ‘ miracle cures ’ to help save his ass.
” Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus offers a case study in how that approach could work for Trump .
She attributed her improvement to medicine she said she would not have taken had it not been for Trump , according to a news article .
Trump then promoted that to his 76 million Twitter followers Monday afternoon .
“ Congratulations to State Representative Karen Whitsett of Michigan .
So glad you are getting better , ” he wrote .
Trump ’ s boosterism for the therapy quickly turned it into another front in his culture war against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-free assertions about the world around him .
His devoted followers — who only recently switched from repeating his claims that the disease was no worse than the seasonal flu to accepting that it is a dangerous illness — have bought into its efficacy wholeheartedly , on Fox News and across talk radio .
The president ’ s support for the drugs has , unsurprisingly , made many who come down with COVID-19 insist on taking them , particularly after hearing that one has been used to treat malaria for many decades and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That in turn has pushed other public officials , including Democratic governors like New York ’ s Andrew Cuomo and Michigan ’ s Gretchen Whitmer , into embracing the “ what harm can it do ” approach .
“ There are reasons we want to be avoiding these things , ” he said about untested therapies , but added that having Trump offer medical advice of any kind is bad for the country .
“ The precedent that it sets , for the president of the United States , who is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is just dangerous from a public policy point of view ...
He ’ s become the principal monarch over the death of expertise.
” Mehmet Oz , a heart surgeon and Fox News contributor who has become one of the more listened-to voices inside the White House of late , explained in a video posted to Twitter that the controversial French doctor who initially championed the therapy would have new , encouraging data soon showing that only a tiny percentage of patients suffering mild cases of the disease who take the medicines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulties .
He said the reason the virus is so lethal is that human bodies “ overreact ” to it , causing inflammation in the lungs , rather than a toxicity in the virus itself .
That was why , Oz said , it was critical for patients to start the drugs when the infection is still mild .
Anthony Fauci , who has headed the infectious disease program at the National Institutes for Health for years , has notably declined to endorse the drugs , even as he shares a podium with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
The answer is no , ” he said when asked if there was proof hydroxychloroquine works against COVID-19 .
Further , having many tens of millions of people around the world taking a broad-spectrum antibiotic like azithromycin would lessen its effectiveness against bacteria .
“ It is currently used to treat a variety of diseases and unnecessary use could lead to drug resistance , which is already a problem , ” Kuppalli said .
Such doubts , though , do not appear to matter to Trump .
While he has conceded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What do I know ?
I ’ m not a doctor , ” he said Sunday — he has nevertheless aggressively pushed the drugs and stifled dissent .
When a journalist specifically asked Fauci to address a question about the drugs , Trump interjected and refused to let him do so .
Last month , when he was asked if continually touting the untested drugs was not offering a “ false sense of hope , ” Trump lashed out at his questioner .
Stuart Stevens , a longtime Republican political consultant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2012 presidential campaign , said the drugs may or may not work against COVID-19 , but either way , Trump was cementing the party ’ s new image .
“ The big picture is that what has happened is just an extension of the anti-science , ‘ stupid party ’ trend of Republicans , ” he said .

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WASHINGTON — Sure, Trump Steaks and Trump Vodka and Trump Deodorant were all flops, but Trump Coronavirus Cure — whether the drugs the president is pushing wind up working or not — could very well help win him reelection in November.
With hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from the deadly virus and desperate for a cure, President Donald Trump has positioned himself to claim credit for every single person who uses the drugs and recovers, regardless of whether the medicines helped get them better.
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“His fixation is due to his only interest: himself and getting himself reelected. He’s got to control the narrative. Fooling people into thinking he’s responsible for the ‘cure’ gives him a narrative,” said former congressman Joe Walsh, who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination. “He’s lost the economy, he can’t control the deaths, he knows he botched our response, so he will glom onto ‘miracle cures’ to help save his ass.”
Yet a Michigan lawmaker’s recovery from coronavirus offers a case study in how that approach could work for Trump. She attributed her improvement to medicine she said she would not have taken had it not been for Trump, according to a news article. Trump then promoted that to his 76 million Twitter followers Monday afternoon. “Congratulations to State Representative Karen Whitsett of Michigan. So glad you are getting better,” he wrote.
Trump embellished on the story at Tuesday’s White House briefing as he again pushed the drugs. “This is a woman who thought she was going to die,” he said. “I think she’ll be voting for me now, even though she’s a Democratic representative.”
Trump has been enthusiastically pushing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a “game changer” in the pandemic since March 19, despite little clinical proof that they work against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and plenty of caution from doctors who specialize in infectious diseases.
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“The rationales of saving lives or acting for the public good don’t enter into his thinking.” - New York University professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Trump’s boosterism for the therapy quickly turned it into another front in his culture war against the “elites” who challenge his often fact-free assertions about the world around him. His devoted followers — who only recently switched from repeating his claims that the disease was no worse than the seasonal flu to accepting that it is a dangerous illness — have bought into its efficacy wholeheartedly, on Fox News and across talk radio.
At Trump’s insistence, many in his executive branch are treating the hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin therapy as a de facto cure.
“We are working the distribution there to push the same thing to the same impacted areas, working to get it into hospitals and to every pharmacy,” Navy Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, who is handling logistics for the White House coronavirus task force, said at Monday’s briefing.
The president’s support for the drugs has, unsurprisingly, made many who come down with COVID-19 insist on taking them, particularly after hearing that one has been used to treat malaria for many decades and the other is a common antibiotic. That in turn has pushed other public officials, including Democratic governors like New York’s Andrew Cuomo and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, into embracing the “what harm can it do” approach.
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Howard Forman, a physician and professor of public health at Yale University, said he remembers when drugs such as Thalidomide, Vioxx, Laetrile and AZT, all hailed as effective medicines, were abandoned because they didn’t work or, worse, because of their deadly side effects.
“There are reasons we want to be avoiding these things,” he said about untested therapies, but added that having Trump offer medical advice of any kind is bad for the country. “The precedent that it sets, for the president of the United States, who is not a subject matter expert, nor a physician, is just dangerous from a public policy point of view ... He’s become the principal monarch over the death of expertise.”
Expert advice notwithstanding, Trump supporters continue to push the two drugs even as large-scale clinical trials continue.
Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon and Fox News contributor who has become one of the more listened-to voices inside the White House of late, explained in a video posted to Twitter that the controversial French doctor who initially championed the therapy would have new, encouraging data soon showing that only a tiny percentage of patients suffering mild cases of the disease who take the medicines wind up in intensive care with breathing difficulties.
He said the reason the virus is so lethal is that human bodies “overreact” to it, causing inflammation in the lungs, rather than a toxicity in the virus itself. That was why, Oz said, it was critical for patients to start the drugs when the infection is still mild.
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Actual infectious disease specialists, though, are far less sanguine about Trump’s favored protocol.
Anthony Fauci, who has headed the infectious disease program at the National Institutes for Health for years, has notably declined to endorse the drugs, even as he shares a podium with Trump at White House briefings. “No. The answer is no,” he said when asked if there was proof hydroxychloroquine works against COVID-19.
Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician and an Emerging Leader in Biosecurity Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said the French study Trump’s supporters are relying on is rife with methodological problems.
“We have a hypothesis of how azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine work but nothing that has been proved for this virus,” she said, adding that the medications are not benign and that patients have to be monitored for drug interactions.
Further, having many tens of millions of people around the world taking a broad-spectrum antibiotic like azithromycin would lessen its effectiveness against bacteria. “It is currently used to treat a variety of diseases and unnecessary use could lead to drug resistance, which is already a problem,” Kuppalli said.
Such doubts, though, do not appear to matter to Trump. While he has conceded that he is not an expert — “What do I know? I’m not a doctor,” he said Sunday — he has nevertheless aggressively pushed the drugs and stifled dissent. When a journalist specifically asked Fauci to address a question about the drugs, Trump interjected and refused to let him do so. Last month, when he was asked if continually touting the untested drugs was not offering a “false sense of hope,” Trump lashed out at his questioner.
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“You’re a terrible reporter,” he said.
Stuart Stevens, a longtime Republican political consultant and a top aide to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, said the drugs may or may not work against COVID-19, but either way, Trump was cementing the party’s new image. “The big picture is that what has happened is just an extension of the anti-science, ‘stupid party’ trend of Republicans,” he said.
Likely Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign said it would be guided by the public health professionals. “Vice President Biden believes this is a decision that should be guided by science and made by the relevant professionals, a point he has regularly made in recent months,” campaign press secretary TJ Ducklo said. “This is not a place for politics. Lives are at risk.”
And Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a New York University history professor who has long warned of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, said his advocacy of hydroxychloroquine is more proof of his willingness to help his friends and donors who manufacture the drug while building himself up as the people’s only savior.
“It is hard to accept that we have a president who truly does not care if we live or die, especially at such a tragic moment in our history, but the sooner we recognize this the better off we will be,” she said. “The rationales of saving lives or acting for the public good don’t enter into his thinking.”


huffpost--2020-03-25--Democrats Are Handing Donald Trump The Keys To The Country

Final text of the bill has not been released , but according to a legislative draft , the new law would establish a $ 4.5 trillion corporate bailout fund overseen by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , with few substantive constraints .
Some outlets are reporting this as a $ 500 billion fund , but $ 425 billion of that can be leveraged 10 times over by the Federal Reserve , resulting in a multi-trillion-dollar program .
The bill permits bailed out companies to lay off up to 10 % of their workforce over the next six months , with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to waive any upside for the public in its new investments , and the bill ’ s restrictions on stock buybacks at bailed-out firms are too temporary to be significant .
Bailed out companies could even pay dividends to their shareholders .
In exchange for this takeover , Democrats got four months of more generous unemployment benefits for the millions who will be laid off and a one-time check of $ 1,200 per adult , eliminating a Republican restriction that would have limited poor people to just $ 600 and phasing out payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad provisions , but they pale in comparison to the handout offered to the rich .
There is , in fact , an economic emergency right now — just not for the super rich or massive conglomerates .
On Monday , the Federal Reserve announced essentially unlimited support for the banking sector and , for the first time , used its authority to directly finance corporate debt .
Large corporations can get money , as Boeing CEO David Calhoun made clear on Tuesday when he said his company would “ just look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got plenty of them , ” if Congress were to demand an equity stake in the companies it assists .
Bailouts will eventually be necessary , but Congress has plenty of time to craft serious programs designed to save industry , not merely people who own stock in industry .
Working people , by contrast , do not have time to wait .
The coronavirus layoffs have already begun , and when official numbers begin rolling in on Thursday , they will be shocking .
Democrats and Republicans have essentially decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people hit hardest hostage to the most reckless and , at the moment , unnecessary corporate welfare program ever conceived .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) boasted that the package is “ a wartime level of investment into our nation.
” But nothing about the legislation resembles the way a nation prepares for an ambitious military operation .
The legislation provides nothing of substance to address the coronavirus pandemic itself .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) has already said the package will do next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his state .
It mobilizes no new resources , organizes no production , improves no medical supply delivery and trains no new nurses .
Instead , it moves an enormous amount of money around and puts the Trump administration in charge of its movement .
The dissonance between the actions of Senate Democrats today and those from just a few short months ago is mortifying .
In December , House Democrats voted to impeach President Donald Trump for withholding congressionally mandated aid to a national ally , arguing persuasively that Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rival for the presidency , Joe Biden .
Democrats literally tried to remove Trump from office for abusing the public purse for personal political gain .
On Wednesday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) and every Senate Democrat were preparing to authorize more than $ 4 trillion for Trump ’ s top lieutenants to pass around .
For too long , Democrats have ignored the suffering and dysfunction caused by structural problems with the American economy , trusting that social welfare payments will be sufficient to counter the power disparity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
They are wrong to accept such a bargain now .
We live in an era in which the wealthy and the well-connected dominate almost every aspect of our society .
The rich not only live different lives than the rest of us ― they live significantly longer lives , a trend that is likely to be exacerbated as the medical system cracks under the pressure of the incoming coronavirus caseloads and as working people lose access to basic care .
The financial crisis of 2008 and the bank bailouts it inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabric .
The financial sector essentially became a criminal syndicate , as fraud settlements became a simple cost of doing business for bailed-out banks like Wells Fargo .
The government ’ s unheard-of largesse for wealthy bankers made an infuriating contrast with the unemployment lines and foreclosure signs that became commonplace across the country , and our politics were transformed as a result .
We are about to replay this nightmare with a more frightening cast of demons .
The small business relief the Senate has agreed to authorize on Wednesday will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failures , and will arrive too late to help too many firms that will go under , while the biggest companies in America feast on the fruits of the bailout .
“ We will be lucky if most small businesses see any assistance in less than two months , ” law professors Adam Levitin and Satyam Khanna wrote in a New York Times op-ed on Tuesday .
“ That is time they — and their employees — do not have.
” As with the bank bailouts , big companies will grow larger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way what we still call a democracy is organized .
But these horrors will only be realized if the House of Representatives approves this monstrosity .
The House voted down the first bank bailout bill in 2008 .
It could do so again , and demand instead a simple relief bill for people who really need it ― working families ― and emergency measures to actually fight the coronavirus pandemic .

The emergency coronavirus legislation that the Senate agreed to on Tuesday can only be described as an outrage. It is not an economic rescue package, but a sentence of unprecedented economic inequality and corporate control over our politics that will resonate for a generation.
It represents a transfer of wealth and power to the super rich from the rest of us, with the support of both political parties ― a damning statement about the condition of American democracy.
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Final text of the bill has not been released, but according to a legislative draft, the new law would establish a $4.5 trillion corporate bailout fund overseen by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, with few substantive constraints. Some outlets are reporting this as a $500 billion fund, but $425 billion of that can be leveraged 10 times over by the Federal Reserve, resulting in a multi-trillion-dollar program.
The bill permits bailed out companies to lay off up to 10% of their workforce over the next six months, with no restrictions thereafter. Mnuchin would have authority to waive any upside for the public in its new investments, and the bill’s restrictions on stock buybacks at bailed-out firms are too temporary to be significant. Bailed out companies could even pay dividends to their shareholders.
Bailout money will flow to the shareholders of large corporations, otherwise known as rich people. The oversight terms that Democrats secured are purely cosmetic, replicating the toothless provisions of the 2008 bank bailout that enabled watchdogs to report abuse but not actually prevent or rectify it.
“If you give vast amounts of public money to a single person with no real accountability, you won’t like what happens next,” Damon Silvers, the deputy chair of the oversight panel for the bank bailout, wrote on Tuesday.
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In exchange for this takeover, Democrats got four months of more generous unemployment benefits for the millions who will be laid off and a one-time check of $1,200 per adult, eliminating a Republican restriction that would have limited poor people to just $600 and phasing out payments for six-figure incomes. These are not bad provisions, but they pale in comparison to the handout offered to the rich.
“$1,200 isn’t enough,” the Economic Security Project, a liberal think tank, tweeted on Wednesday. By agreeing to the deal, Senate Democrats in effect accept a horrendous future in exchange for a somewhat less burdensome present.
“It is a panicked and reckless legislative response,” Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an anti-monopoly advocacy group, said in a statement on Wednesday. It’s one that “will repeat most of the mistakes made in the 2008-2010 bailouts” and “fundamentally transform the American economy,” she added.
There is, in fact, an economic emergency right now — just not for the super rich or massive conglomerates. On Monday, the Federal Reserve announced essentially unlimited support for the banking sector and, for the first time, used its authority to directly finance corporate debt. Large corporations can get money, as Boeing CEO David Calhoun made clear on Tuesday when he said his company would “just look at all the other options, and we’ve got plenty of them,” if Congress were to demand an equity stake in the companies it assists. Bailouts will eventually be necessary, but Congress has plenty of time to craft serious programs designed to save industry, not merely people who own stock in industry.
Unnecessary Corporate Welfare
Working people, by contrast, do not have time to wait. The coronavirus layoffs have already begun, and when official numbers begin rolling in on Thursday, they will be shocking. Democrats and Republicans have essentially decided to hold a pittance of relief for the people hit hardest hostage to the most reckless and, at the moment, unnecessary corporate welfare program ever conceived.
Advertisement
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) boasted that the package is “a wartime level of investment into our nation.” But nothing about the legislation resembles the way a nation prepares for an ambitious military operation. The legislation provides nothing of substance to address the coronavirus pandemic itself. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has already said the package will do next to nothing to assuage the disaster unfolding in his state. It mobilizes no new resources, organizes no production, improves no medical supply delivery and trains no new nurses. Instead, it moves an enormous amount of money around and puts the Trump administration in charge of its movement.
The dissonance between the actions of Senate Democrats today and those from just a few short months ago is mortifying. In December, House Democrats voted to impeach President Donald Trump for withholding congressionally mandated aid to a national ally, arguing persuasively that Trump’s actions were designed to undermine his political rival for the presidency, Joe Biden. Democrats literally tried to remove Trump from office for abusing the public purse for personal political gain. On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and every Senate Democrat were preparing to authorize more than $4 trillion for Trump’s top lieutenants to pass around.
For too long, Democrats have ignored the suffering and dysfunction caused by structural problems with the American economy, trusting that social welfare payments will be sufficient to counter the power disparity between the rich and the rest of us. They are wrong to accept such a bargain now.
We live in an era in which the wealthy and the well-connected dominate almost every aspect of our society. The rich not only live different lives than the rest of us ― they live significantly longer lives, a trend that is likely to be exacerbated as the medical system cracks under the pressure of the incoming coronavirus caseloads and as working people lose access to basic care.
A Warning From 2008
The financial crisis of 2008 and the bank bailouts it inspired did long-term damage to the American social fabric. The financial sector essentially became a criminal syndicate, as fraud settlements became a simple cost of doing business for bailed-out banks like Wells Fargo. The government’s unheard-of largesse for wealthy bankers made an infuriating contrast with the unemployment lines and foreclosure signs that became commonplace across the country, and our politics were transformed as a result.
Advertisement
The campaigns of both Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) largely grew out of the anger and resentment that the bank bailouts and the outrageous inequality of both the crash and the recovery inspired.
We are about to replay this nightmare with a more frightening cast of demons. The small business relief the Senate has agreed to authorize on Wednesday will be too little to stem the tide of failures, and will arrive too late to help too many firms that will go under, while the biggest companies in America feast on the fruits of the bailout.
“We will be lucky if most small businesses see any assistance in less than two months,” law professors Adam Levitin and Satyam Khanna wrote in a New York Times op-ed on Tuesday. “That is time they — and their employees — do not have.” As with the bank bailouts, big companies will grow larger and more profitable and demand further control over the way what we still call a democracy is organized.
But these horrors will only be realized if the House of Representatives approves this monstrosity. The House voted down the first bank bailout bill in 2008. It could do so again, and demand instead a simple relief bill for people who really need it ― working families ― and emergency measures to actually fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats control the House. They can pass any bill they like and dare Senate Republicans and the president to oppose a serious bill for a serious problem.
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Or they can rubber-stamp the Senate bill and help Donald Trump foreclose on the next generation of American democracy.


huffpost--2020-03-25--For Asian Americans, There Are Two Pandemics: COVID-19 And Daily Bigotry

While President Trump finally called for Asian Americans to be protected on March 23 , he failed to acknowledge the part he ’ s played in their vilification .
He continues to interchangeably call COVID-19 the “ Chinese virus , ” even as the World Health Organization warns against the shorthand .
He even changed his own news conference script to reflect that ( a viral photograph shows the word “ corona ” crossed out and replaced with “ Chinese ” in the president ’ s handwriting ) .
At least one member of his staff reportedly joked that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 10 , a Korean woman in midtown Manhattan was confronted on the street by somebody yelling , “ Where is your corona mask , you Asian bitch ?
” before punching the woman and dislocating her jaw .
A week later in Queens , New York , a father walking with his 10-year-old son was harassed by a person yelling , “ Where the fuck is your mask ?
You fucking Chinese ” before being struck over the head .
And on March 14 , a man was arrested after stabbing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Sam ’ s Club in Midland , Texas .
( Graphic photos on social media show the boy with a huge gash reaching from behind his ear all the way across to his eye . )
“ I was confused at first , but after realizing he was instigating me , I got in his face and returned the same energy back , ” Matthew said .
“ He went on more about how the Chinese brought that ‘ dirty virus ’ over here and when I didn ’ t back down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got spit on my face and shirt , then a minor fight ensued.
” “ It was ‘ oh they ’ re eating bat soup ’ and lots of ‘ coronavirus check ’ comments simply for us just being Asian , ” she said .
“ It ’ s really disheartening to see these comments by the dozen come up in my inbox just because I am Asian , and to see that many treat this virus as a joke or feel that their racism is justified .
”

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In early March, just before California put out a stay-at-home order, writer and educator Rachelle Cruz’s parents were taking the BART train back to their home in Hayward in the San Francisco Bay area after a long day at work in the city.
The couple owns a small remittance business with a largely Filipino and migrant clientele who send a portion of their wages back to their home countries. To protect themselves from the growing threat of COVID-19, the couple were wearing masks. It drew attention.
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“All of a sudden another passenger yelled at them, telling them to go back to their country,” Cruz told HuffPost. “The person called my Filipino mother a ‘Chinese Coronavirus bitch’ and said that both of my parents are ‘bearers of the virus.’”
They stopped taking the BART train last week, a day shy of the lockdown in San Francisco. When Cruz asked her mother if it was OK that she shared the story with HuffPost, she agreed with one request.
“My mother wanted to clarify that this was the third racist incident she’s personally experienced or witnessed on the train in the last few weeks,” Cruz said. “My parents are now working from home, where my mother misses her clients, but not the racists on the train.”
Encounters like those experienced by Cruz’s parents have become commonplace for Asian Americans in the wake of the current global public health emergency.
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Because COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, Asian Americans have been widely scapegoated, regardless of whether they’re Chinese or not. (Asian Americans ― Indonesians, Chinese, Koreans, Thai, Filipinos, and others ― aren’t a monolith, but for Americans with bigoted views, that hardly matters.)
Asian Americans of every descent are dealing not only with the virus itself, but verbal and physical violence from xenophobic neighbors. The choice to wear a mask or not is widely debated among friends and relatives ― do you wear one to protect yourself from the virus or does it draw unnecessary attention?
The encounters are not unlike what American Muslims and other Arabs and South Asians experienced after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
While President Trump finally called for Asian Americans to be protected on March 23, he failed to acknowledge the part he’s played in their vilification. He continues to interchangeably call COVID-19 the “Chinese virus,” even as the World Health Organization warns against the shorthand. He even changed his own news conference script to reflect that (a viral photograph shows the word “corona” crossed out and replaced with “Chinese” in the president’s handwriting). At least one member of his staff reportedly joked that it was the “Kung Flu.”
Given all that, it’s not really surprising that a bipartisan pair of House lawmakers recently unveiled a resolution that blames China for causing a global pandemic and calls on the Chinese government to publicly declare that COVID-19 began there.
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But words matter and have the potential to stoke an already racially charged American landscape.
A videotaped attack on an Asian man collecting recyclables in San Francisco in late February sparked outrage and gave a glimpse into what was to come.
On March 10, a Korean woman in midtown Manhattan was confronted on the street by somebody yelling, “Where is your corona mask, you Asian bitch?” before punching the woman and dislocating her jaw. A week later in Queens, New York, a father walking with his 10-year-old son was harassed by a person yelling, “Where the fuck is your mask? You fucking Chinese” before being struck over the head. And on March 14, a man was arrested after stabbing a Burmese man and his young son in a Sam’s Club in Midland, Texas. (Graphic photos on social media show the boy with a huge gash reaching from behind his ear all the way across to his eye.)
“Stereotypes unfortunately [are] only intensified when President Trump uses terms like 'Chinese virus,' which indirectly suggest that Asians are to blame.” - Therese Mascardo, a psychologist who works within the Asian American community
There are no official numbers on hate crimes yet, but San Francisco State University found a 50% rise in the number of news articles related to the coronavirus and anti-Asian discrimination between Feb. 9 and March 7.
The anxiety triggered by stories like this has many Asian Americans glad to follow stay-at-home orders, given what could await them at their local supermarkets. In public, they’re fearful of what an errant cough or wearing a mask might do, said Therese Mascardo, a psychologist of Filipino descent who works within the Asian American community.
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“Asians are experiencing reluctance to seek medical care when they are ill, for fear that they will confirm stereotypes about Asians being more responsible for spreading the virus,” she said.
This is called a “stereotype threat,” which refers to the risk of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s social group.
“This stereotype is unfortunately only intensified when President Trump uses terms like ‘Chinese virus,’ which indirectly suggest that Asians are to blame,” Mascardo said.
The H1N1 swine flu pandemic that infected up to 1.4 billion people and killed up to 575,000 originated in factory farmed pigs in the United States. Yet nobody ever calls it the “American Pig Flu.” Let’s stop calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus.” We’re all in this together. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) March 22, 2020
Vivian Shaw, a post-doctorate sociologist at Harvard University, is collecting stories documenting xenophobia and racism related to coronavirus. Looking at the uptick of stories she’s received, she, too, believes Trump’s rhetoric is fueling these racially charged encounters.
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She also believes it’s a highly calculated move on the president’s part.
“Trump’s current stoking of xenophobic populism is his way of signaling that the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are useful to the U.S. insofar as they provide a way for the administration to sidestep its utter mishandling of this disaster,” she said.
The violent incidents against Asian Americans make headlines, but there’s also heavy-handed microaggressions (sideways glances in the market, rushing out of an elevator when a person of Asian descent gets in) and verbal abuse to contend with. In interviews over the past week, readers told HuffPost that such experiences have become an everyday part of life.
On March 11, Filipinx poet Kay Ulanday Barrett, was taking a flight home from Denver, CO to Newark, NJ. Barrett, who’s disabled and often wears a mask due to asthma, sat down early for pre-boarding given their disability.
“While getting on the plane, a few white people looked at me with obvious disgust. There were eye rolls and exasperated ‘Ughs,’” Barrett told HuffPost. “One person even looked my way and called me gross.”
“It was degrading,” the writer said. “The comments I used to get about wearing a mask were ones of curiosity but in these cases, white people felt completely OK commenting on a total stranger. It was like my humanity or feelings didn’t matter.”
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d3sign via Getty Images Many Asian Americans say they're doubly afraid to leave home, fearing not only the coronavirus but racism, too.
Jon Yoon, a musician who lives in Seattle, said that in late February, his 18-year old daughter had gone to a Joann’s Fabrics to get some knitting supplies. While shopping, she encountered a hostile older white woman.
“The woman got into her face saying, ‘You can’t be here! You could have corona!’” Yoon said. “My daughter was shocked, confused, and uncomfortable and tried to avoid this woman, but she wouldn’t leave her alone and continued.”
Employees witnessed the verbal attack and immediately ejected the woman from the store.
In the parking lot, the woman found another target in an Asian family getting out of their car.
“She went straight toward them, saying the same racist things she’d told my daughter,” Yoon said. “She even had the nerve to deliberately spit on them. The family was in shock and store employees quickly called the police.”
On March 16, Matthew L, a business analyst from New York, was at Crunch Fitness in the Financial District when a fellow gymgoer made comments about the city going on lockdown and singled him out. “Your people and your government caused this,” the man told Matthew.
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“I was confused at first, but after realizing he was instigating me, I got in his face and returned the same energy back,” Matthew said. “He went on more about how the Chinese brought that ‘dirty virus’ over here and when I didn’t back down, the argument turned physical. I got spit on my face and shirt, then a minor fight ensued.”
“It’s really disheartening to see these comments by the dozen come up in my inbox just because I am Asian, and to see that many treat this virus as a joke or feel that their racism is justified.” - Trang Dong, a UC Berkeley student on her experiences on TikTok
Matthew left the altercation without serious injuries and alerted the Crunch staff to what had happened. And a good Samaritan stepped in to let the other man know what he did was “fucked up,” Matthew said.
Online, where people are emboldened by the anonymity of comment sections, the taunts and racial slurs are commonplace.
Before the stay-at-home orders were put out, Trang Dong, a UC Berkeley student, filmed a video where she and her cousin were “goofily eating pho” on TikTok.
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As fears about the coronavirus intensified, Dong said the nasty comments began pouring in.
“It was ‘oh they’re eating bat soup’ and lots of ‘coronavirus check’ comments simply for us just being Asian,” she said. “It’s really disheartening to see these comments by the dozen come up in my inbox just because I am Asian, and to see that many treat this virus as a joke or feel that their racism is justified.”
When she considers how Asian Americans are treated versus Italian Americans ― in Italy, deaths from COVID-19 have exceeded China’s ― Dong gets a little frustrated.
“I’ve seen no anti-Italian rhetoric surrounding their culture and food,” she said. “Most posts I’ve seen shared from Italy are the signs of unity as citizens sing together from their balconies whereas news about China is repeatedly portrayed in a negative light. It’s a vicious double standard that is only hurting Asian communities.”
I planned to go out for groceries today and this gives me pause. So sorry this happened to you Jeff. https://t.co/IWVlSLTyLh — Nancy Wang *Not A Virus* Yuen (@nancywyuen) March 23, 2020
Reactions to such casual, offhand racism inevitably vary. That’s understandable, said Gabrielle Zhuang-Estrin, a clinical social worker who works in the Asian American community in Los Angeles.
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“It’s daunting and overwhelming to respond to someone who is profiling you or using abusive racist language,” she said. “If it happens to you, remember that your response, whatever it is, is the right response: Perhaps you ignore the assailant, perhaps you walk away, perhaps you engage and tell them you see them for what they are doing: being racist.”
Accepting how you handled the encounter in the moment is important, Zhuang-Estrin said, because you don’t want to deal with that “pang of guilt or concern that you haven’t handled the situation ‘right’ on top of everything else.”
Talk about it online, too. To distance themselves and combat some of the xenophobia, Asian Americans have started a #IAmNotAVirus campaign (In France, #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus has been trending.)
We are not diseased.
We are not scapegoats.
We are not a virus.
We are Asian-Americans tired of the anti-Asian sentiment from COVID-19.
Tell your story and join the collective of pan-asian youth retaking our narrative. #IAmNotaVirus pic.twitter.com/TQQ8YkdF2e — Burnt Rice Bunch (@BurntRiceBunch) March 20, 2020
Hearing others’ stories can be heartening, especially when you’re doubting the validity of your own experiences, Mascardo said.
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“It’s important because when under attack, it’s easy to second-guess oneself, or minimize the act,” she said. “You might think, ‘Did that really happen or was it all in my head? Maybe it wasn’t really that big of a deal,’” she said.
Online communities ― NextShark.com or the Facebook group Subtle Asian Traits — can serve as sources for support and validation, Mascardo said.
For those who aren’t Asian American, be an ally and speak up against injustice. Earlier this month, a viral video showed people on a train in the UK defending an Asian woman who was being racially harassed for wearing a mask to protect herself as a cancer survivor.
Responding thoughtfully in the moment like the traingoers is huge, especially if you have bystander training. But allyship can also just mean checking in on your Asian American friends to see how they’re doing, Mascardo said.
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“Don’t be afraid to be direct. You can say something like: ‘With all the racism against Asians lately, I was wondering if anyone has treated you differently?’ Just listen and support them,” she said. “And please, don’t minimize their experience.”


huffpost--2020-03-25--Senate Coronavirus Bill Prohibits Trump Hotels From Receiving Bailouts

“ I ’ ve learned , let ’ s just see what happens , ” the president told reporters at @ @ @ @ @ about the Trump Organization .
“ Because we have to save some of these great @ @ @ @ @ office , Trump announced he was leaving “ total control ” of his business to @ @ @ @ @ Eric and Don Jr. ― who would manage what he called a “ blind trust.
@ @ @ @ @ 11 hotel properties on its website .
The Senate bill also includes some oversight over @ @ @ @ @ aimed at propping up struggling industries .
Under the terms of the deal reached on @ @ @ @ @ general and a congressional oversight board will be in charge of scrutinizing the lending provided @ @ @ @ @ to what was done for the 2008 Wall Street bailout a decade ago .

“I’ve learned, let’s just see what happens,” the president told reporters at the White House when asked about the Trump Organization. “Because we have to save some of these great companies.”
Prior to assuming office, Trump announced he was leaving “total control” of his business to his children ― Ivanka, Eric and Don Jr. ― who would manage what he called a “blind trust.” The Trump Organization lists 11 hotel properties on its website.
The Senate bill also includes some oversight over the $450 billion fund aimed at propping up struggling industries. Under the terms of the deal reached on Wednesday, an independent inspector general and a congressional oversight board will be in charge of scrutinizing the lending provided to big businesses ― similar to what was done for the 2008 Wall Street bailout a decade ago.


huffpost--2020-03-25--Kylie Jenner Donates $1 Million To First Responders For Coronavirus Relief

Since everything else in this country besides Kylie Jenner ’ s money seems to be running out , the makeup mogul has made a $ 1 million donation to medical workers at the front lines of the coronavirus crisis .
The reality TV star ’ s donation will go toward purchasing “ hundreds of thousands of masks , face shields , and other protective gear ” for first responders in Los Angeles-area hospitals .
“ I am speechless , my eyes are filled with tears of joy and my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude , ” Aliabadi captioned a side-by-side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I made a wish to the Universe to gather protective masks for our brave healthcare workers and today my dream came true.
” “ One of my patients , a beautiful Living Angel just donated $ 1,000,000 to help us buy hundreds of thousands of masks , face shields , and other protective gear which we will have delivered directly to our first responders , as too many masks at hospitals are disappearing before making their way onto the faces of our front line heroes , ” she wrote .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor , as helping our brave ER and ICU workers feels just as gratifying as helping my own patients .
From the bottom of our hearts , THANK YOU @ kyliejenner , ” Aliabadi continued .
“ You are my hero .
This generous donation will help save many precious lives .
Our world is a better place with you in it .
I love you so much .
Thank you X a million ... .
” Jenner liked the post and confirmed the donation in the comments below , writing , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the love and care you put into everything that you do !
you ’ re an angel on earth.
” The state of California has been under “ Safer at Home ” orders since earlier this month , with all nonessential businesses barred from operating as part of the ongoing effort to control the spread of the coronavirus .
As of Wednesday afternoon , California had the fourth-largest outbreak in the U.S. , with 2,100 confirmed cases and 40 related deaths , according to CNN .
The rising number of cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals around the country , with the Los Angeles Times reporting that ICU beds at Los Angeles Country hospitals are already at or nearing capacity .
Jenner has been encouraging her millions of followers to stay at home while extending her gratitude to people working during the crisis .
“ Today marks my 2nd week inside and self quarantine , ” she wrote on Instagram on Tuesday .
“ We can do this .
Let ’ s take this SERIOUS .
”

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Since everything else in this country besides Kylie Jenner’s money seems to be running out, the makeup mogul has made a $1 million donation to medical workers at the front lines of the coronavirus crisis.
The reality TV star’s donation will go toward purchasing “hundreds of thousands of masks, face shields, and other protective gear” for first responders in Los Angeles-area hospitals.
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Dr. Thais Aliabadi of Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai Medical Center, who delivered Jenner’s daughter Stormi in February 2018, made the announcement on her Instagram page on Wednesday.
“I am speechless, my eyes are filled with tears of joy and my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude,” Aliabadi captioned a side-by-side photo of herself and Jenner. “I made a wish to the Universe to gather protective masks for our brave healthcare workers and today my dream came true.”
“One of my patients, a beautiful Living Angel just donated $1,000,000 to help us buy hundreds of thousands of masks, face shields, and other protective gear which we will have delivered directly to our first responders, as too many masks at hospitals are disappearing before making their way onto the faces of our front line heroes,” she wrote.
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“I have never felt more blessed to be a doctor, as helping our brave ER and ICU workers feels just as gratifying as helping my own patients. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU @kyliejenner,” Aliabadi continued. “You are my hero. This generous donation will help save many precious lives. Our world is a better place with you in it. I love you so much. Thank you X a million....”
Jenner liked the post and confirmed the donation in the comments below, writing, “love you! and thank YOU for all the love and care you put into everything that you do! you’re an angel on earth.”
The state of California has been under “Safer at Home” orders since earlier this month, with all nonessential businesses barred from operating as part of the ongoing effort to control the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Wednesday afternoon, California had the fourth-largest outbreak in the U.S., with 2,100 confirmed cases and 40 related deaths, according to CNN.
The rising number of cases, of course, puts a strain on hospitals around the country, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that ICU beds at Los Angeles Country hospitals are already at or nearing capacity.
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Jenner has been encouraging her millions of followers to stay at home while extending her gratitude to people working during the crisis.
“Today marks my 2nd week inside and self quarantine,” she wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “We can do this. Let’s take this SERIOUS.”
Earlier this year, Jenner donated $1 million to the Australian bushfire relief efforts after she was criticized for showing off her $1,480 mink fur Louis Vuitton slippers, considering an estimated 1 billion animals died amid the devastation.


huffpost--2020-03-25--It Was Hard Living Paycheck To Paycheck Before Coronavirus. Now It’s Impossible.

“ You need to buy a few things so you can stock up , ” my aunt advises via text .
I know she ’ s right , but we budget and can not spend more than usual — because like so many other families in the same financial situation , there is not much extra money .
We do not vacation .
We hold credit card debt .
We stress over trying to contribute to our retirement and college funds .
This is what life is like .
But I still go to the grocery store .
Standing there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little is left of certain things .
As I begin filling my cart with some essentials and some canned goods , I do the math in my head .
This is something I have learned to do in every situation ― adding some items , putting some things back , picking up cheaper versions of items , all while evaluating what we really need versus what is a luxury .
I ’ ve become quite adept at this skill and have even taught it to my children .
“ Buy the store brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ” are my two most-frequent shopping requests for them .
However , on this day at the grocery store , there are no cheap versions of many of the things we normally buy .
Other people , probably also feeling the pinch of this pandemic , have already bought all of the lowest-priced things and left behind the versions I never buy .
Words like “ organic ” and “ gluten-free , ” along with more expensive price tags , flash before me , and I feel hopeless .
Ultimately , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to , but there isn ’ t much there .
Luckily , we aren ’ t worried about the stock market because we didn ’ t have the money to invest in it .
I do worry about my husband and his job .
While he can still work , I ’ m not sure what work remains for him .
Sure , people need life insurance right now , but he can ’ t go meet with them .
The loss of income for the families he serves will affect what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job is based heavily on commission .
We can not live on his base salary .
In truth , there isn ’ t much of a base .
We ’ ve had to draw from our retirement fund to live during hard months in the past , which is part of the reason we don ’ t have much left in that fund .
I also stress about my health .
I have asthma , and therefore I ’ m considered high-risk for potentially experiencing serious difficulties if I end up contracting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mild body ache I feel causes panic .
In the grocery store , I turn down a different aisle when I see someone and I limit my trips in order to avoid contact with other people .
I have come to fear people , even as I miss them .
If I get sick , what will it cost ?
Even those of us with insurance often pay monthly medical bills if a kid breaks an arm or someone needs surgery .
It took me over two years to pay off my daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a zip line and hurt her wrist .
Once that bill was paid off , another one sprung up in its place .
With such precarious financial footing , many families will be pushed to their limits if they get sick and need care , especially if they are also in a high-risk group .
Still , I consider myself am lucky : I am home with my kids , and many paycheck-to-paycheck families are worried about child care .
With more and more restrictions on what can remain open as we try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , child care options are limited , so many parents are forced to stay home .
Often , this means working from home , too .
These parents who are juggling work while caring for their kids must now try to help with the online learning program kids are participating in from home .
This is what it is like for so many of us now .
We ’ re trying to balance the needs of our children , the shifting of income we thought we could count on , the fear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the budgets we had set up that will now be stretched to the limit ― and possibly beyond .
How will we continue to pay bills , juggle child care and work and live on such limited ― and now vanishing ― funds ?
There are so many reasons to be stressed and worried right now , and it ’ s already taking a toll .
I cried on the way to work on Friday .
It was my last day for at least six weeks but I didn ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cried , I made contingency plans in my head and promised to remember them and make notes when I got to work .
They swirled in and out of my head before I got there .
It will take a lot of shuffling finances and pushing things off that we really need and tabling projects that we already couldn ’ t afford , like fixing our leaky roof and the broken dishwasher .
This is the reality now for so many families who were already living paycheck to paycheck .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have to confront the fact that the paychecks may stop coming altogether or might be much less than they were before .
I promise myself to do a million simple things to cut corners ― cut down on hot water use by showering less or washing the million dishes a family of six generates with cold water or shutting off lights or eating less myself so my children don ’ t have to , but I don ’ t know if it will be enough .
We know the struggle that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been through to survive with what we have , and we will make do .
We ’ ll make it through this .
We always do .
We have to .

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I’m in a special education classroom when I hear the news. They’ve had the first presumptive positive case of the coronavirus in Maine. We talk throughout the day about what that will mean as we wait for news from the superintendent. Will schools close down?
While I am a school employee, I am not a teacher. I am an educational technician. I don’t make enough to cover the expenses for my family, and I’m not contractually paid all year, but rather during the months I work. My husband works in life insurance and investments. His job is hard even without the chaos a pandemic promises to bring.
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Even before COVID-19 arrived, we struggled to pay the mortgage, to cover the rising electric bill, to make the monthly payments for my daughter’s braces, and to juggle the million other expenses that are simply part of living and raising a family. Somehow, we’ve gotten by and felt the comfort of knowing we are not alone in this struggle.
My family is like many others ― we live paycheck to paycheck with a bit stashed away in retirement. A small safety net is the only thing that separates us from financial devastation. I think about this every single day of my life in the best of times.
This is not the best of times. Navigating this new world with even less is a new reality for many of us.
“You need to buy a few things so you can stock up,” my aunt advises via text. I know she’s right, but we budget and cannot spend more than usual — because like so many other families in the same financial situation, there is not much extra money. We do not vacation. We hold credit card debt. We stress over trying to contribute to our retirement and college funds. This is what life is like.
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We accept it, but when something comes along that adds even more pressure to our already-overloaded lives, we feel an overwhelming sense of dread. The powerlessness is unbearable.
“A small safety net is the only thing that separates us from financial devastation. I think about this every single day of my life in the best of times. This is not the best of times.”
But I still go to the grocery store. Standing there, I am first struck by how little is left of certain things. As I begin filling my cart with some essentials and some canned goods, I do the math in my head. This is something I have learned to do in every situation ― adding some items, putting some things back, picking up cheaper versions of items, all while evaluating what we really need versus what is a luxury.
I’ve become quite adept at this skill and have even taught it to my children. “Buy the store brand” and “Look for the cheapest one” are my two most-frequent shopping requests for them. However, on this day at the grocery store, there are no cheap versions of many of the things we normally buy. Other people, probably also feeling the pinch of this pandemic, have already bought all of the lowest-priced things and left behind the versions I never buy. Words like “organic” and “gluten-free,” along with more expensive price tags, flash before me, and I feel hopeless.
Ultimately, we can use my retirement savings if we have to, but there isn’t much there. Luckily, we aren’t worried about the stock market because we didn’t have the money to invest in it. I do worry about my husband and his job. While he can still work, I’m not sure what work remains for him.
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Sure, people need life insurance right now, but he can’t go meet with them. The loss of income for the families he serves will affect what he earns, too, since his job is based heavily on commission. We cannot live on his base salary. In truth, there isn’t much of a base. We’ve had to draw from our retirement fund to live during hard months in the past, which is part of the reason we don’t have much left in that fund.
I also stress about my health. I have asthma, and therefore I’m considered high-risk for potentially experiencing serious difficulties if I end up contracting the coronavirus. Now, each cough or mild body ache I feel causes panic. In the grocery store, I turn down a different aisle when I see someone and I limit my trips in order to avoid contact with other people. I have come to fear people, even as I miss them.
If I get sick, what will it cost? Even those of us with insurance often pay monthly medical bills if a kid breaks an arm or someone needs surgery. It took me over two years to pay off my daughter’s surgery when she fell from a zip line and hurt her wrist. Once that bill was paid off, another one sprung up in its place. With such precarious financial footing, many families will be pushed to their limits if they get sick and need care, especially if they are also in a high-risk group.
Still, I consider myself am lucky: I am home with my kids, and many paycheck-to-paycheck families are worried about child care. With more and more restrictions on what can remain open as we try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, child care options are limited, so many parents are forced to stay home. Often, this means working from home, too. These parents who are juggling work while caring for their kids must now try to help with the online learning program kids are participating in from home.
This is what it is like for so many of us now. We’re trying to balance the needs of our children, the shifting of income we thought we could count on, the fear of sickness and what it will cost, and the budgets we had set up that will now be stretched to the limit ― and possibly beyond. How will we continue to pay bills, juggle child care and work and live on such limited ― and now vanishing ― funds? There are so many reasons to be stressed and worried right now, and it’s already taking a toll.
Advertisement
“We’re trying to balance the needs of our children, the shifting of income we thought we could count on, the fear of sickness and what it will cost, and the budgets we had set up that will now be stretched to the limit — and possibly beyond.”
I cried on the way to work on Friday. It was my last day for at least six weeks but I didn’t know that at the time. As I cried, I made contingency plans in my head and promised to remember them and make notes when I got to work. They swirled in and out of my head before I got there.
We will make it though. We will. I have to believe that, because I have no other choice. This is also what it means to live paycheck to paycheck: finding reserves of optimism amid financial chaos.
It will take a lot of shuffling finances and pushing things off that we really need and tabling projects that we already couldn’t afford, like fixing our leaky roof and the broken dishwasher. This is the reality now for so many families who were already living paycheck to paycheck. What’s worse ― we’re finding we may have to confront the fact that the paychecks may stop coming altogether or might be much less than they were before.
I promise myself to do a million simple things to cut corners ― cut down on hot water use by showering less or washing the million dishes a family of six generates with cold water or shutting off lights or eating less myself so my children don’t have to, but I don’t know if it will be enough. We know the struggle that we ― and millions of others ― have been through to survive with what we have, and we will make do. We’ll make it through this. We always do. We have to.
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Nicole Johnson is a freelance writer whose work has been featured on The Washington Post, Redbook, Parents, Ms., Scary Mommy, Your Teen For Parents, Yahoo, MSN, and Vox Curbed. She is the creator of Suburban Sh*t Show, a site where she discusses the real and raw truths of motherhood, midlife, childhood dysfunction and marriage. Nicole is also a fiction writer and mother of four.


huffpost--2020-03-31--How To Make A Coronavirus Face Mask That Requires Absolutely No Sewing

The coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for face masks in the medical profession , as millions of masks are needed to protect the doctors , nurses and other health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients .
Sewers around the world have been doing their best to produce masks that can be donated to local hospitals , following tutorials for how to sew a face mask that ’ s effective against the coronavirus .
And now , the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) advises everyone to wear face masks in public .
In light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks , it ’ s imperative that those of us who can should refrain from buying the masks our health care workers so badly need .
The next best option is making our own , and since many of us either don ’ t know how to sew or don ’ t have access to sewing supplies , no-sew DIY face masks are the best option .
A little background on DIY face masks for coronavirus There are two types of face masks that can help cut your odds of getting coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical grade , and then surgical face masks ― the ones featured in the tutorials below ― which are loose-fitting and relatively thin .
Surgical masks aren ’ t ideal for hospital use with COVID-19 because they allow tiny droplets to seep in through parts of the mask , but they ’ re helpful for those of us venturing out in public to buy groceries or run errands .
A study of homemade face masks by SmartAirFilters.com found that cotton T-shirts and cotton pillowcases are the best at-home materials for making DIY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to capture particles yet remain breathable , and that they perform comparably to surgical-grade masks .
The WHO reminds us that masks are only effective when they ’ re used in combination with frequent and proper hand-washing .
And if you do wear a mask , you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly .
And of course , follow all of your local protocols and avoid leaving the house unless it ’ s absolutely necessary .
We ’ ve gathered several no-sew mask tutorials that require very few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your personal protection .
Keep in mind that the edges of the mask should fit snuggly against the skin .
Read through the tutorials and choose one that best suits you .

The coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for face masks in the medical profession, as millions of masks are needed to protect the doctors, nurses and other health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients. Sewers around the world have been doing their best to produce masks that can be donated to local hospitals, following tutorials for how to sew a face mask that’s effective against the coronavirus.
And now, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises everyone to wear face masks in public.
In light of the medical profession’s shortage of face masks, it’s imperative that those of us who can should refrain from buying the masks our health care workers so badly need. The next best option is making our own, and since many of us either don’t know how to sew or don’t have access to sewing supplies, no-sew DIY face masks are the best option.
A little background on DIY face masks for coronavirus
There are two types of face masks that can help cut your odds of getting coronavirus: N95 masks, which are tight-fitting and medical grade, and then surgical face masks ― the ones featured in the tutorials below ― which are loose-fitting and relatively thin.
Surgical masks aren’t ideal for hospital use with COVID-19 because they allow tiny droplets to seep in through parts of the mask, but they’re helpful for those of us venturing out in public to buy groceries or run errands.
A study of homemade face masks by SmartAirFilters.com found that cotton T-shirts and cotton pillowcases are the best at-home materials for making DIY face masks, based on their ability to capture particles yet remain breathable, and that they perform comparably to surgical-grade masks.
The WHO reminds us that masks are only effective when they’re used in combination with frequent and proper hand-washing. And if you do wear a mask, you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
And of course, follow all of your local protocols and avoid leaving the house unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Tutorials for no-sew face masks
We’ve gathered several no-sew mask tutorials that require very few crafting skills and can be used for your personal protection. Keep in mind that the edges of the mask should fit snuggly against the skin. Read through the tutorials and choose one that best suits you.


huffpost--2020-03-31--Idaho Governor Signs 2 Anti-Transgender Bills Into Law

BOISE , Idaho ( AP ) — Idaho Gov .
Brad Little on Monday signed into law two anti-transgender bills , making Idaho the first among states that introduced some 40 such bills this year to enact them .
The Republican governor approved legislation that prohibits transgender people from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates , and another that bans transgender girls and women from competing in women ’ s sports .
The birth certificate measure ignores a 2018 federal court ruling that a past law barring transgender people from making the birth certificate changes violated the Equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The judge scrapped the ban and warned against new rules .
The Idaho attorney general ’ s office , which didn ’ t appeal the ruling , said it could cost $ 1 million if the state had to defend the ban again and lost .
“ There ’ s an injunction that already absolutely forbids this policy , and the government can ’ t enforce this law without violating a court order , ” said Peter Renn of Lambda Legal , the law firm that represented two transgender women whose lawsuit led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramifications of contempt ( of court ) are quite furious.
” He said the court could impose fines and hold top officials at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare responsible should the court order be violated .
Backers of the legislation said the federal court was wrong , and the law is needed so Idaho has accurate birth records .
It takes effect July 1 .
The sports ban applies to all sports teams sponsored by public schools , colleges and universities .
A girls ’ or women ’ s team will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identify as female .
Opponents said it discriminated against transgender girls and women , and would subject athletes to invasive tests to prove their gender , likely causing some potential athletes to avoid sports .
Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt , who sponsored the sports ban , has consistently argued that allowing the practice would negate Title IX , the 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education and is credited with opening up athletic competition for girls and women .
Both the anti-transgender bills had overwhelming support among Republicans in the House and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto .
Rather than wait out a potential veto , though , both chambers adjourned earlier this month because of coronavirus concerns and would have been powerless to override vetoes .
“ We condemn Governor Little ’ s actions and the actions of dozens of Idaho legislators who are so focused on pleasing their bigoted base instead of doing what is right , ” said Mistie Tolman , Idaho director for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii , adding the laws make Idaho one of the “ cruelest states in the country.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills were introduced this year targeting transgender youth .
About half , like one of the Idaho bills , sought to ban transgender girls from competing at various levels of girls ’ sports .
Another large batch of bills sought to ban certain types of gender-transition medical treatment for minors .
None of these bills have been enacted , and most have died .
In some other states — including Ohio , Alabama , Tennessee , Kansas , Louisiana , South Carolina , Missouri and Arizona — bills of one or both categories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered unlikely to win final passage .
In some cases , the legislatures are in recess and future scheduling is in limbo because of the coronavirus outbreak .

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Monday signed into law two anti-transgender bills, making Idaho the first among states that introduced some 40 such bills this year to enact them.
The Republican governor approved legislation that prohibits transgender people from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates, and another that bans transgender girls and women from competing in women’s sports.
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The birth certificate measure ignores a 2018 federal court ruling that a past law barring transgender people from making the birth certificate changes violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The judge scrapped the ban and warned against new rules. The Idaho attorney general’s office, which didn’t appeal the ruling, said it could cost $1 million if the state had to defend the ban again and lost.
“There’s an injunction that already absolutely forbids this policy, and the government can’t enforce this law without violating a court order,” said Peter Renn of Lambda Legal, the law firm that represented two transgender women whose lawsuit led to the court ruling. “The ramifications of contempt (of court) are quite furious.”
He said the court could impose fines and hold top officials at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare responsible should the court order be violated.
Backers of the legislation said the federal court was wrong, and the law is needed so Idaho has accurate birth records. It takes effect July 1.
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The sports ban applies to all sports teams sponsored by public schools, colleges and universities. A girls’ or women’s team will not be open to transgender students who identify as female.
Backers said the law was needed because transgender female athletes have physical advantages.
Opponents said it discriminated against transgender girls and women, and would subject athletes to invasive tests to prove their gender, likely causing some potential athletes to avoid sports.
Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt, who sponsored the sports ban, has consistently argued that allowing the practice would negate Title IX, the 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education and is credited with opening up athletic competition for girls and women.
She didn’t return a call from The Associated Press on Monday.
Both the anti-transgender bills had overwhelming support among Republicans in the House and Senate in numbers great enough to override a veto. Rather than wait out a potential veto, though, both chambers adjourned earlier this month because of coronavirus concerns and would have been powerless to override vetoes.
“We condemn Governor Little’s actions and the actions of dozens of Idaho legislators who are so focused on pleasing their bigoted base instead of doing what is right,” said Mistie Tolman, Idaho director for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, adding the laws make Idaho one of the “cruelest states in the country.”
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Across the U.S., more than 40 bills were introduced this year targeting transgender youth. About half, like one of the Idaho bills, sought to ban transgender girls from competing at various levels of girls’ sports. Another large batch of bills sought to ban certain types of gender-transition medical treatment for minors.
None of these bills have been enacted, and most have died. In some other states — including Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri and Arizona — bills of one or both categories remain technically alive, but most are considered unlikely to win final passage. In some cases, the legislatures are in recess and future scheduling is in limbo because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, the families of three female high school runners have filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from participating in girls’ sports.
On March 24, the U.S. Justice Department came out in support of the lawsuit, arguing that the state’s inclusive policy violates the federal Title IX law allowing girls equal educational and athletic opportunities.
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Associated Press writer David Crary in New York contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-03-31--Why We Waited So Long To Take The Coronavirus Seriously

Illustration : Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost ; Photo : Getty `` Humans aren ’ t very good at predicting or assessing risk .
We tend to look to our emotional reactions to judge how likely a threat is , '' says clinical psychologist Steven Taylor .
Instead , as the weather turned nice and scientists were calling for self-quarantines , Americans spilled onto bar patios , beaches and boarded flights for vacations .
Some people insisted on commuting to work , and in New York , the virus ’ biggest U.S. playground , people are still going to speakeasies and hosting potlucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus would disappear shortly and that America would go back to business as usual .
Look outside your window right now or go to a park , and you ’ ll see that many people still aren ’ t staying the recommended six feet apart .
While it ’ s infuriating to know that people are still congregating on their stoops for neighborhood happy hours while elsewhere , dead bodies are being loaded onto refrigerated trucks , this behavior is also human nature .
Steven Taylor : No , I wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have what ’ s called an unrealistic optimism bias .
It ’ s a tendency to underplay threats and to see yourself as being more impervious than the average person .
To many people , the coronavirus seemed like a disease that was in another country .
People were not seeing it in their communities .
People were being reactive rather than proactive , wanting it to be overblown , wanting things to be OK. People ’ s reactions boil down to their worldviews .
How dangerous do you think the world is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have in your life ?
How much do you think something comes from foreigners versus in your own community ?
People want to be in control of things .
This bias allows people to go about their daily lives without experiencing anxiety .
It gets us away from being consumed with the existential dread of fearing for our lives .
When you run experiments , the people who predict things most accurately under some circumstances are mildly depressed .
It ’ s called depressive realism .
Denial can be adaptive in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ’ s existence .
However , denial also comes with obvious shortcomings .
If you believe that you ’ re impervious to COVID-19 and you go out and party on the beach , you ’ re going to actively contribute to the spread of infection .
It can have catastrophic consequences .
I encountered a really good example of this recently .
A guy I know had been downplaying the whole thing .
He wasn ’ t social distancing or doing anything like that .
But then a friend of his suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimism bias was shattered .
The crisis suddenly got brought home to him in a very vivid , personal way that the statistics or news reports couldn ’ t do .
That changed his behavior a lot .
Humans aren ’ t very good at predicting or assessing risk .
We tend to look to our emotional reactions to judge how likely a threat is .
People aren ’ t going to social distance if they see the virus as not their problem .
But when they suddenly realize , “ Oh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease to my grandmother who could die from that ” can bring it home for them .
People are tribalistic , given the way we evolved as a species .
We care for our in-group .
From an evolutionary perspective , it was strangers who brought in diseases or threats to our communities .
We ’ re seeing an increase in altruism and solidarity [ because of the virus ] , but many of these people pulling together are highly xenophobic .
People join together in their community to look after one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing down borders .
In the context of every pandemic outbreak , there ’ s always an upsurge in xenophobia and racism .
I think that ’ s one of the big lessons we ’ ve not learned .
I guess , partly , we have to look to our leaders .
If a leader takes a position that we have got to blame someone for this , then that ’ s going to incite racism .
It ’ s hugely important .
People pick up cues about how to behave or how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a politician appears confused or inconsistent or contradictory in their behavior , that ’ s going to add to people ’ s anxieties .
It can make the anxious people more anxious and it can cause the overall optimistic people to say , “ Well , even he doesn ’ t know , so I don ’ t need to worry about it.
” We have been asking people “ Why are you afraid of COVID-19 ?
What are you afraid of ?
” Many people are afraid of the economic fallout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their mortgages , houses and so forth .
So , faced with that fear , there ’ s almost a psychological incentive for them to not feel the threat because that allows them to overcome or avoid that anxiety .

"Humans aren’t very good at predicting or assessing risk. We tend to look to our emotional reactions to judge how likely a threat is," says clinical psychologist Steven Taylor. Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photo: Getty
One of the most frustrating aspects of the coronavirus outbreak is that fewer people would be dead now had we taken the pandemic seriously a month ago.
Instead, as the weather turned nice and scientists were calling for self-quarantines, Americans spilled onto bar patios, beaches and boarded flights for vacations. Some people insisted on commuting to work, and in New York, the virus’ biggest U.S. playground, people are still going to speakeasies and hosting potlucks. Even the president spent weeks insisting the virus would disappear shortly and that America would go back to business as usual.
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Look outside your window right now or go to a park, and you’ll see that many people still aren’t staying the recommended six feet apart. While it’s infuriating to know that people are still congregating on their stoops for neighborhood happy hours while elsewhere, dead bodies are being loaded onto refrigerated trucks, this behavior is also human nature.
So why were Americans so slow to grasp the scale of this outbreak? We talked to Steven Taylor, a professor and clinical psychologist at the University of British Columbia, about the science behind this kind of denial.
Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.
HuffPost: You recently published a perfectly timed book called “The Psychology of Pandemics” that looks at how people respond to outbreaks. Were you surprised by the fact that Americans didn’t really begin to socially isolate until the coronavirus had already killed hundreds of people?
Steven Taylor: No, I wasn’t surprised at all. Many people have what’s called an unrealistic optimism bias. It’s a tendency to underplay threats and to see yourself as being more impervious than the average person. To many people, the coronavirus seemed like a disease that was in another country. People were not seeing it in their communities. People were being reactive rather than proactive, wanting it to be overblown, wanting things to be OK.
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People’s reactions boil down to their worldviews. How dangerous do you think the world is? How much control do you think you have in your life? How much do you think something comes from foreigners versus in your own community?
Is there some kind of advantage to having an optimism bias, or being in denial about big crises?
People want to be in control of things. This bias allows people to go about their daily lives without experiencing anxiety. It gets us away from being consumed with the existential dread of fearing for our lives. When you run experiments, the people who predict things most accurately under some circumstances are mildly depressed. It’s called depressive realism.
Denial can be adaptive in the face of unavoidable, uncontrollable threats to one’s existence. However, denial also comes with obvious shortcomings. If you believe that you’re impervious to COVID-19 and you go out and party on the beach, you’re going to actively contribute to the spread of infection. It can have catastrophic consequences.
The idea that we’ll let the economy go on, this virus will burn itself out and we’ll carry on as before could lead to countless deaths.
It seems like many people only begin to take the coronavirus seriously when they know someone who is infected. Why is that?
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I encountered a really good example of this recently. A guy I know had been downplaying the whole thing. He wasn’t social distancing or doing anything like that. But then a friend of his suddenly died in New York, and his optimism bias was shattered. The crisis suddenly got brought home to him in a very vivid, personal way that the statistics or news reports couldn’t do. That changed his behavior a lot.
Humans aren’t very good at predicting or assessing risk. We tend to look to our emotional reactions to judge how likely a threat is. People aren’t going to social distance if they see the virus as not their problem. But when they suddenly realize, “Oh, I’m at risk for giving the disease to my grandmother who could die from that” can bring it home for them.
“The idea that we’ll let the economy go on, this virus will burn itself out and we’ll carry on as before could lead to countless deaths.” - Steven Taylor, University of British Columbia
Is there any evolutionary explanation for this instinct?
People are tribalistic, given the way we evolved as a species. We care for our in-group. From an evolutionary perspective, it was strangers who brought in diseases or threats to our communities. We’re seeing an increase in altruism and solidarity [because of the virus], but many of these people pulling together are highly xenophobic.
People join together in their community to look after one another. And yet they’re closing down borders. In the context of every pandemic outbreak, there’s always an upsurge in xenophobia and racism. I think that’s one of the big lessons we’ve not learned. I guess, partly, we have to look to our leaders. If a leader takes a position that we have got to blame someone for this, then that’s going to incite racism.
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Trump has called COVID-19 the ‘Chinese Virus’ and flip-flopped on how seriously Americans should take the outbreak. How much does a president’s messaging influence people’s actions?
It’s hugely important. People pick up cues about how to behave or how to feel from their leaders. If a politician appears confused or inconsistent or contradictory in their behavior, that’s going to add to people’s anxieties. It can make the anxious people more anxious and it can cause the overall optimistic people to say, “Well, even he doesn’t know, so I don’t need to worry about it.”
If you don’t trust your government, that can have disastrous consequences. During the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the people who were not socially distancing were the ones who didn’t trust the government’s social guidelines.
Trump has a vested interest in denying the scale of this pandemic: He wants the economy to go back to normal so he can get reelected. Is this same kind of denial happening on an individual level?
We have been asking people “Why are you afraid of COVID-19? What are you afraid of?” Many people are afraid of the economic fallout, that they’ll lose their jobs, their mortgages, houses and so forth. So, faced with that fear, there’s almost a psychological incentive for them to not feel the threat because that allows them to overcome or avoid that anxiety.
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So yes, people have strong, personal incentives for denial, and it’s easy to do that when you don’t have your neighbor coughing in their apartment next door from COVID-19. It’s easier to do when it’s just limited to stuff you can see on the computer screen or TV.
If statistics don’t resonate with people, how do we convince those who are still gathering in groups to take the virus seriously?


huffpost--2020-03-31--World's Oldest Living Man Celebrates 112th Birthday In Isolation

Weighton , of Hampshire in southern England , hit the milestone on Sunday , but he didn ’ t spend it partying with friends and loved ones .
Like millions of people , he was in isolation because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Still , the assisted living facility where Weighton is a resident did arrange to have “ Happy Birthday ” sung to him from a safe distance while he listened on his balcony .
Weighton also got a memorable present : A plaque from Guinness World Records honoring him as the current holder of the title “ World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was awarded the record after the Feb. 23 death of Chitetsu Watanabe , the previous oldest living male .
He was 112 years and 355 days .
“ I can ’ t say I was pleased to hear the previous holder had died but I am very pleased that I ’ ve been able to live so long and make so many friends , ” he said , according to The Guardian .
Although Weighton lived through the 1918-20 flu pandemic and two world wars , nothing in his 11-plus decades prepared him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ It is bizarre .
I ’ ve never experienced anything like coronavirus before , ” he told the paper .
“ I ’ m a bit frustrated but then again I ’ ve been in situations where you just had to accept what was happening.
” “ I had about 10 and I don ’ t see why I should require the Queen to keep giving me cards , ” he told The Irish Times .
“ It costs the taxpayer , not her , something , so I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smiling , looking happy and contented and that ’ s the one I like and I keep that .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Bob Weighton will probably never forget his 112th birthday.
Weighton, of Hampshire in southern England, hit the milestone on Sunday, but he didn’t spend it partying with friends and loved ones. Like millions of people, he was in isolation because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, the assisted living facility where Weighton is a resident did arrange to have “Happy Birthday” sung to him from a safe distance while he listened on his balcony.
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Weighton also got a memorable present: A plaque from Guinness World Records honoring him as the current holder of the title “World’s Oldest Living Male.”
Weighton was awarded the record after the Feb. 23 death of Chitetsu Watanabe, the previous oldest living male. He was 112 years and 355 days.
Weighton had mixed feelings about the honor.
“I can’t say I was pleased to hear the previous holder had died but I am very pleased that I’ve been able to live so long and make so many friends,” he said, according to The Guardian.
Although Weighton lived through the 1918-20 flu pandemic and two world wars, nothing in his 11-plus decades prepared him for life in the COVID-19 era, he said.
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“It is bizarre. I’ve never experienced anything like coronavirus before,” he told the paper. “I’m a bit frustrated but then again I’ve been in situations where you just had to accept what was happening.”
Weighton happily accepted the Guinness plaque, but turned down about a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth.
“I had about 10 and I don’t see why I should require the Queen to keep giving me cards,” he told The Irish Times. “It costs the taxpayer, not her, something, so I have selected one in which she is smiling, looking happy and contented and that’s the one I like and I keep that.”