huffpost--2020-05-26--Inside A Federal Prison With A Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak, Compromised Men Beg For Help

Nine inmates incarcerated at Butner have died since the pandemic began .
The latest was Eric Spiwak , a 73-year-old man serving a 15-year sentence for possession of photos of child sexual exploitation , who had been at Butner since 2009 .
Like most other Butner inmates who died , Spiwak was not brought to the hospital until Friday , after he had experienced respiratory failure .
Spiwak was pronounced dead on Monday .
“ The situation inside [ Federal Correctional Complex ] Butner is dire , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Plaintiffs , many of whom are medically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical conditions , must not be forced to sit helpless , hoping that chance favors them while Defendants ’ combined inaction and defective practices roll the dice with their lives.
” Declarations from Butner inmates describe a dirty environment where social distancing is impossible .
The lawsuit states that inmates “ are housed in close quarters and forced to eat , bathe , and perform all daily life activities in a communal setting where they can not adequately social distance and protect themselves from this dangerous disease.
” Both staff members and inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must line up multiple times a day for food and medicine .
Inmates with symptoms are only removed if they meet certain conditions ― including requesting a sick call , which they have to pay for .
Michael Harrington , a 40-year-old inmate at Butner on a sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony , said he has stage IV colorectal cancer that spread to his liver .
Doctors told him he has 13 months to live , and he has a bit over two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a floor housing other inmates with cancer .
He says he ’ s one of the youngest on the floor , and that most are older than 65 .
Since mid-March , Harrington says he ’ s been locked down in his cell “ essentially 24 hours a day.
” He shares the 12-foot-by-12-foot cell with another man , and says it is impossible for them to stay 6 feet away from each other when their beds are 4 feet apart .
“ At the last pill call that I can recall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer telling the man in the cell next to me that he was going to be quarantined because his cellmate had tested positive for the coronavirus and passed away , ” Harrington said .
He recalled speaking to the man in the cell next door a few days prior , and worried that the coronavirus would spread through the vents through which they communicate .
“ I know that I do not have much time left , and I want to spend the remainder of my time at home with my family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fearful that , if I remain at [ Butner ] , my time will be cut even shorter by the coronavirus and I will never see my family again.
” Roger Goodwin , a 61-year-old serving an eight-year sentence for mail fraud , was transferred to Butner because of a rare immunodeficiency disorder .
He also has type II diabetes , high blood pressure and heart issues , but was denied compassionate release by the warden .
Days later , after he passed out twice , Goodwin tested positive for COVID-19 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said the floors were filthy and “ looked as if they had not been mopped in ages.
” While he was told to drink plenty of fluids , he says he wasn ’ t given a cup for three days .
He started urinating blood in late April , and when he was allowed to meet with a doctor he was told that his kidney might be failing .
He wants out so he doesn ’ t lose his kidney transplant , but the warden rejected his request for compassionate release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , but I am still very concerned for the health and lives of those who remain at Butner .
I fear that remaining in prison with so many people sick will be a death sentence for them , ” Huntley said .
The lawsuit seeks an injunction that would force the identification of inmates who are particularly medically vulnerable so that they could be released .
It seeks mandatory COVID-19 testing and better quarantines of the infected , as well as better sanitation and mandatory mask usage from Butner staff .

Butner Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
Inmates locked up in a complex that houses some of the federal prison system’s most medically vulnerable prisoners say decrepit conditions and failed social distancing policies have allowed COVID-19 to spread throughout the facility in an outbreak that has already claimed the lives of nine men.
A new class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the inmates at federal facilities in Butner, North Carolina, gives the public an inside look at what life is like as the coronavirus pandemic ripped through a federal prison complex that houses inmates with severe medical needs.
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Nine inmates incarcerated at Butner have died since the pandemic began. The latest was Eric Spiwak, a 73-year-old man serving a 15-year sentence for possession of photos of child sexual exploitation, who had been at Butner since 2009. Like most other Butner inmates who died, Spiwak was not brought to the hospital until Friday, after he had experienced respiratory failure. Spiwak was pronounced dead on Monday.
“The situation inside [Federal Correctional Complex] Butner is dire,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiffs, many of whom are medically vulnerable because of their age or serious medical conditions, must not be forced to sit helpless, hoping that chance favors them while Defendants’ combined inaction and defective practices roll the dice with their lives.”
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of Butner’s prisoners by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of North Carolina, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the law firm of Winston & Strawn. The suit names Butner warden Thomas Scarantino, Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal and BOP Medical Director Jeffery Allen.
Declarations from Butner inmates describe a dirty environment where social distancing is impossible. The lawsuit states that inmates “are housed in close quarters and forced to eat, bathe, and perform all daily life activities in a communal setting where they cannot adequately social distance and protect themselves from this dangerous disease.” Both staff members and inmates travel throughout the complex, and inmates must line up multiple times a day for food and medicine. Inmates with symptoms are only removed if they meet certain conditions ― including requesting a sick call, which they have to pay for.
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Michael Harrington, a 40-year-old inmate at Butner on a sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, said he has stage IV colorectal cancer that spread to his liver. Doctors told him he has 13 months to live, and he has a bit over two years left on his sentence.
Harrington lives on a floor housing other inmates with cancer. He says he’s one of the youngest on the floor, and that most are older than 65. Since mid-March, Harrington says he’s been locked down in his cell “essentially 24 hours a day.” He shares the 12-foot-by-12-foot cell with another man, and says it is impossible for them to stay 6 feet away from each other when their beds are 4 feet apart.
“Prison officials have said that my floor is covered with coronavirus and that is why they have us locked in our cells,” Harrington said in his declaration.
“At the last pill call that I can recall before lockdown, I overheard a correctional officer telling the man in the cell next to me that he was going to be quarantined because his cellmate had tested positive for the coronavirus and passed away,” Harrington said. He recalled speaking to the man in the cell next door a few days prior, and worried that the coronavirus would spread through the vents through which they communicate.
“I know that I do not have much time left, and I want to spend the remainder of my time at home with my family,” Harrington said. “I am fearful that, if I remain at [Butner], my time will be cut even shorter by the coronavirus and I will never see my family again.”
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Roger Goodwin, a 61-year-old serving an eight-year sentence for mail fraud, was transferred to Butner because of a rare immunodeficiency disorder. He also has type II diabetes, high blood pressure and heart issues, but was denied compassionate release by the warden. Days later, after he passed out twice, Goodwin tested positive for COVID-19. He was moved to a solitary cell where he said the floors were filthy and “looked as if they had not been mopped in ages.” While he was told to drink plenty of fluids, he says he wasn’t given a cup for three days.
Phone access was cut off for several days. When Goodwin eventually was allowed to reach his wife, she told him that she thought the prison was calling to tell her he had died.
Jorge Maldonado, a 52-year-old who has served roughly half of a 84-month sentence for conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government property and aggravated identity theft, said he had two kidney transplants before his incarceration, but hasn’t been allowed to go for his regular kidney checkups since lockdown.
He started urinating blood in late April, and when he was allowed to meet with a doctor he was told that his kidney might be failing. He wants out so he doesn’t lose his kidney transplant, but the warden rejected his request for compassionate release.
Charles Hallinan, a 79-year-old prisoner serving 14 years on racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud charges, said he was previously diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, and has hypertension and severe celiac disease. He’s been sleeping within 6 feet of five people, and his scheduled treatment in April for his bladder cancer was canceled.
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Lewis Huntley, a 44-year-old wheelchair-bound paraplegic who was held at Butler until May 7, said the government opposed his compassionate release “at every stage” before he was eventually ordered released.
“I am relieved to be at home, but I am still very concerned for the health and lives of those who remain at Butner. I fear that remaining in prison with so many people sick will be a death sentence for them,” Huntley said.
The federal lawsuit accuses BOP officials of failing to take responsible steps to mitigate the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Butner’s efforts to increase home confinement, as directed by Attorney General William Barr, have been “sluggish and ineffective.” The “deliberate indifference” of federal officials has left prisoners “at imminent risk of serious harm and death,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction that would force the identification of inmates who are particularly medically vulnerable so that they could be released. It seeks mandatory COVID-19 testing and better quarantines of the infected, as well as better sanitation and mandatory mask usage from Butner staff.
Maria Morris, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s National Prison Project, called the outbreak at Butner “a tragic result of the Trump administration’s failure” to heed warnings about the “devastating consequences” of coronavirus outbreaks in prisons. “People’s lives are at stake, and we’re asking for immediate action to stem the outbreak.”
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huffpost--2020-03-17--Anna Wintour Says The Met Gala Is Postponed, Slams Trump's Coronavirus Response

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the temporary closure of its three locations in New York City on Thursday after @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
A museum spokesperson told USA Today @ @ @ @ @ locations will remain closed until April 4 .
In accordance with guidelines from the Centers @ @ @ @ @ that recommend canceling or postponing events of 50 or more people over the next eight @ @ @ @ @ that “ all programs and events through May 15 will be canceled or postponed.
” @ @ @ @ @ the postponement of the Met Gala , Wintour endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus .

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the temporary closure of its three locations in New York City on Thursday after two employees showed symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. A museum spokesperson told USA Today in a statement that its locations will remain closed until April 4.
In accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommend canceling or postponing events of 50 or more people over the next eight weeks, the spokesperson added that “all programs and events through May 15 will be canceled or postponed.”
In the same article about the postponement of the Met Gala, Wintour endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president and slammed President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus.


huffpost--2020-03-17--California Man Starts Street Corner Toilet Paper Exchange

ENCINITAS , Calif. ( AP ) — Disturbed by empty store shelves and reports of hoarding during the coronavirus crisis , a man stood on a Southern California street corner and held up a homemade cardboard sign with a simple request : “ Share your toilet paper.
” Jonny Blue told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Saturday that the response to his impromptu toilet paper exchange in Encinitas was immediate and positive .
Drivers honked horns in support and stopped to drop off rolls of toilet paper .
Just as quickly , Blue would hand rolls to those in need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he plans to be out on the corner again Sunday to “ encourage people to be better ” amid the global pandemic .
Blue gave a few rolls to a grateful motorist who said he came up empty at several stores .
“ He was like , ‘ Do you want me to pay you ?
’ I said , ‘ No , man .
Somebody gave it to me .
Take it.
’ ” The 33-year-old told the newspaper he made his sign after a friend had a difficult time finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think people want a sense of community , ” Blue said .
“ When things are really challenging , people are looking to band together and be unified .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) — Disturbed by empty store shelves and reports of hoarding during the coronavirus crisis, a man stood on a Southern California street corner and held up a homemade cardboard sign with a simple request: “Share your toilet paper.”
Jonny Blue told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Saturday that the response to his impromptu toilet paper exchange in Encinitas was immediate and positive.
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Drivers honked horns in support and stopped to drop off rolls of toilet paper. Just as quickly, Blue would hand rolls to those in need.
Blue, a physical therapist, said he plans to be out on the corner again Sunday to “encourage people to be better” amid the global pandemic.
Blue gave a few rolls to a grateful motorist who said he came up empty at several stores.
“He was like, ‘Do you want me to pay you?’ I said, ‘No, man. Somebody gave it to me. Take it.’”
The 33-year-old told the newspaper he made his sign after a friend had a difficult time finding diapers and essential supplies for his kids.


huffpost--2020-03-17--The Heartbreaking Reality Of Parenting In The Coronavirus Pandemic

My son and I live in New York City , a hot spot in the COVID-19 outbreak spreading around the world .
As of this week , the largest school system in the nation , serving 1.1 million students , has shut down .
All nightclubs , movie theaters and concert venues were required to have closed their doors by Monday night .
Bars and restaurants not shuttering will move to takeout and delivery service only .
Citizens are being urged to avoid public transportation unless they have essential job functions , such as health care workers or first responders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to witness the city locking itself down , and that ’ s if you ’ re an adult observing the rapid-fire changes .
One can only imagine what it feels like to children , many of whom had no forewarning that this was coming and the younger of whom have little capacity to process and comprehend it .
Kids are like tiny sponges for adult emotions ― the tension and worry of their caregivers are as unsettling as the sudden collapse of the structures they have always known .
A sensitive kid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently a bundle of what we in our house call “ big feelings.
” I am one of the lucky ones who is able to do my job remotely , which I am doing while supervising my child whenever his dad , with whom I share joint custody , has to work at his job on the front lines of a grocery store .
That means when my son and I are together , I ’ m on my own in trying to skirt the fine line between keeping him safe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I ’ m the only one wincing as I watch him adapt to this new reality .
Like the panic that seized my heart when he attempted to leap down the stairs this morning , because the last thing we need right now is a visit to a potentially overcrowded emergency room .
Like the fact that he keeps saying he wants to go to school , despite being the kind of kid who would normally be overjoyed to miss school , because I know he just wants everything to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad wiped something off his face near his eyes and he indignantly yelled , “ Germs !
” And like the fact that he keeps asking me everyone ’ s ages , because he knows older people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus .
I asked other parents on Twitter about the moments with their kids that have been getting to them .
For one , it was her 5-year-old crying and asking when he can visit his grandparents again .
For another , it was breaking the news to her young twins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponed .
One has kids who put their stuffed animals on “ lockdown ” so “ they don ’ t get sick.
” And one mom who has been in lockdown for weeks in Italy said it ’ s when her 19-month-old daughter brings her her little shoes because she wants to go out .
On Monday , our first proper day of work from home together , my son was restless and bored , begging me to take him outside .
When we went out and he realized that the world had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing was going on outside either , he deflated in front of me .
After a few minutes on his bike , he asked to go back home .
Again , something inside me crumpled .
There are so many questions parents have during this uncertain time : Will my family be safe ?
What effect is all this trauma and anxiety going to have on our children ’ s developing minds ?
And just how the hell are those of us working from home supposed to do so with our bored , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of a potentially long haul , and I know he will get used to new rules and routines .
( “ Now , we wash our hands every time we enter the house.
” “ Now , we never hug our friends.
” ) But I hate that he has to ― that I am training him to follow guidelines set by uncertainty and fear .
My son , for instance , has been giving impassioned speeches in the toilet paper aisle of our local store about taking only what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends and neighbors , inspiring smiles and interactions from the others gazing at the empty rack of Charmin .
When I asked him what he wanted to do last weekend , he said we should buy hand sanitizer ( good luck finding it , kid ) and then hand it out to people who need it .
I try to remind him that for all the toilet paper hoarders , there are people like the young guy in our apartment complex who put up a sign offering to run errands for anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a riff on “ looking for the helpers.
” Together , we wipe down the front door handles and common areas of our building to help everyone stay healthy .
I remind him that we are all working together now to keep the most vulnerable among us safe .

kyonntra via Getty Images
My heart first started to break one night last week when my 8-year-old son had a sobbing meltdown in the bath because kids at school were saying they had the coronavirus and he didn’t know whether or not they were telling the truth.
The coronavirus, he told me, was scarier than the time he’d had an accident at summer camp and had to be rushed to the hospital.
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My son and I live in New York City, a hot spot in the COVID-19 outbreak spreading around the world. As of this week, the largest school system in the nation, serving 1.1 million students, has shut down. All nightclubs, movie theaters and concert venues were required to have closed their doors by Monday night. Bars and restaurants not shuttering will move to takeout and delivery service only. Citizens are being urged to avoid public transportation unless they have essential job functions, such as health care workers or first responders.
It’s unprecedented and surreal to witness the city locking itself down, and that’s if you’re an adult observing the rapid-fire changes. One can only imagine what it feels like to children, many of whom had no forewarning that this was coming and the younger of whom have little capacity to process and comprehend it.
Kids are like tiny sponges for adult emotions ― the tension and worry of their caregivers are as unsettling as the sudden collapse of the structures they have always known. A sensitive kid in the best of times, my kid is currently a bundle of what we in our house call “big feelings.”
I am one of the lucky ones who is able to do my job remotely, which I am doing while supervising my child whenever his dad, with whom I share joint custody, has to work at his job on the front lines of a grocery store. That means when my son and I are together, I’m on my own in trying to skirt the fine line between keeping him safe and scaring the ever-loving crap out of him. And I’m the only one wincing as I watch him adapt to this new reality.
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For instance, last night at bath time, in imitation of Mom’s continual Lysol-wiping of surfaces, my son grabbed a plain baby wipe and attempted to clean the handle of the tub. Another time, we ran into a young friend during our daily walk through the sparsely populated park, and my son matter-of-factly explained: “We can’t have any physical contact because of the coronavirus.”
“The heartbreaking moments come regularly now, and threaten to puncture the false calm I’m attempting to project for him.”
The heartbreaking moments come regularly now, and threaten to puncture the false calm I’m attempting to project for him — like keeping him away from his friends, when kids naturally want to wriggle together like puppies, hug and high-five and hold hands.
Like the panic that seized my heart when he attempted to leap down the stairs this morning, because the last thing we need right now is a visit to a potentially overcrowded emergency room. Like the fact that he keeps saying he wants to go to school, despite being the kind of kid who would normally be overjoyed to miss school, because I know he just wants everything to feel safe and normal. Like when his dad wiped something off his face near his eyes and he indignantly yelled, “Germs!” And like the fact that he keeps asking me everyone’s ages, because he knows older people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus.
All of this hurts.
It hurts that he’s pressed up against me right now watching cartoons while I type when he should be learning something, because I can’t work from home and home-school a third grader at the same time.
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I asked other parents on Twitter about the moments with their kids that have been getting to them. For one, it was her 5-year-old crying and asking when he can visit his grandparents again. For another, it was breaking the news to her young twins that their birthday party had to be postponed. One has kids who put their stuffed animals on “lockdown” so “they don’t get sick.” And one mom who has been in lockdown for weeks in Italy said it’s when her 19-month-old daughter brings her her little shoes because she wants to go out.
On Monday, our first proper day of work from home together, my son was restless and bored, begging me to take him outside. When we went out and he realized that the world had effectively come to a standstill, that nothing was going on outside either, he deflated in front of me. After a few minutes on his bike, he asked to go back home. Again, something inside me crumpled.
There are so many questions parents have during this uncertain time: Will my family be safe? What effect is all this trauma and anxiety going to have on our children’s developing minds? And just how the hell are those of us working from home supposed to do so with our bored, cooped-up offspring underfoot?
But also, how do we handle seeing our children afraid and experiencing other difficult emotions? How do we weather the heartbreak of seeing our children lose the things of childhood, including their faith in a steady and certain world?
Even as an adult, it’s difficult to know how to make sense of and handle the current events that have changed everything overnight. Watching my child navigate the task is only exacerbating my grief.
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This is just the beginning of a potentially long haul, and I know he will get used to new rules and routines. (“Now, we wash our hands every time we enter the house.” “Now, we never hug our friends.”) But I hate that he has to ― that I am training him to follow guidelines set by uncertainty and fear.
It is a privilege too, I know, to have children who are just discovering fear ― a privilege not shared by parents in many parts of the world.
“Despite the pain, there are uplifting moments, too, and lessons to be learned about how we care for each other and the world.”
Despite the pain, there are uplifting moments, too, and lessons to be learned about how we care for each other and the world.
My son, for instance, has been giving impassioned speeches in the toilet paper aisle of our local store about taking only what we need in order to care for our friends and neighbors, inspiring smiles and interactions from the others gazing at the empty rack of Charmin. When I asked him what he wanted to do last weekend, he said we should buy hand sanitizer (good luck finding it, kid) and then hand it out to people who need it.
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I try to remind him that for all the toilet paper hoarders, there are people like the young guy in our apartment complex who put up a sign offering to run errands for anyone who is unable to leave the building, a riff on “looking for the helpers.” Together, we wipe down the front door handles and common areas of our building to help everyone stay healthy. I remind him that we are all working together now to keep the most vulnerable among us safe.
It seems clear that our children will be forever changed by the remarkable events of the coming days and weeks. We can only hope that if we remain strong and steady, at least a few of those changes will be for the better.


huffpost--2020-03-17--Confusion And Delay Plague Illinois Primary As States Shutter Due To Coronavirus

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images An election official cleaned a voting machine in Chicago as Illinois proceeded with its presidential primary on Tuesday .
In-person voting in Illinois was marred by occasional complications and disruptions on Tuesday as the state proceeded with its presidential primary amid the spread of the coronavirus that has prompted shutdowns of schools , restaurants and other workplaces across the U.S .
The decision to go ahead with the long-scheduled vote posed a variety of challenges and hurdles .
Local officials moved precinct locations to public buildings and away from senior homes and community centers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be close to a polling place .
In Chicago , that meant relocating 200 of the city ’ s roughly 2,000 precincts .
With elderly people considered especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new virus , officials also were faced with a deluge of resignations by older election judges .
It didn ’ t take long for officials with the Chicago Elections Board to note that concerns about the pandemic would severely depress voter turnout .
Despite this being a presidential election cycle that typically spurs the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only about 10,000 ballots cast in the first hour of voting — typically a pre-work rush hour .
“ I would call conducting an election in the middle of a global pandemic , where people are scared to show up to a polling place , a curse , ” Jim Allen , spokesperson for the Chicago Elections Board , said on a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning .
Chicago election commissioners last week asked the office of Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ( D ) to either postpone the primary or cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That request was denied .
In Florida , several polling stations didn ’ t open because workers didn ’ t show up for duty and in Arizona , 80 polling stations were preemptively shuttered after polling workers canceled their shifts .
In Illinois , one poll worker at a Chicago precinct tweeted about a number of glitches at her locale .
The worker , who identified herself as Rebecca Gross , said missing items included a box containing voting machines and ballots .
Election Day so far : 5/8 election staff are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning supplies , we are missing an ENTIRE blue box ( meaning anyone who comes to this precinct can not vote ) , we are missing 2 election judges & nobody is answering our calls .
pic.twitter.com/aPfmZ5McCt — rebecca 🌹🔥 ( @ rebeccapearl21 ) March 17 , 2020 She noted that this was hardly an ideal alternative .
“ There are workers who are coming to vote early in the morning who don ’ t have the time to go vote at a precinct that ’ s about a mile away , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really kind of unreasonable for many of these working voters to go vote outside of the precinct.
” Another Twitter user claiming to be a supporter of the presidential bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) campaign said large crowds were gathered at a public library , waiting hours to vote .
Timna Axel , communications director for the Chicago Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights , said while some confusion typically surrounds the voting process , the various measures taken and warnings issued about the coronavirus piled on additional complications on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights hotline on election days , and Axel said “ it seems like a lot of the confusion and the delay is because of these last-minute relocations and last-minute substitutions by election judges.
” Last week , Chicago election commissioners asked the office of Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ( D ) to either postpone the primary or cancel in-person voting and move to vote-by-mail only .
That request was denied .

An election official cleaned a voting machine in Chicago as Illinois proceeded with its presidential primary on Tuesday. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images
In-person voting in Illinois was marred by occasional complications and disruptions on Tuesday as the state proceeded with its presidential primary amid the spread of the coronavirus that has prompted shutdowns of schools, restaurants and other workplaces across the U.S.
The decision to go ahead with the long-scheduled vote posed a variety of challenges and hurdles. Local officials moved precinct locations to public buildings and away from senior homes and community centers to minimize the number of people who would be close to a polling place. In Chicago, that meant relocating 200 of the city’s roughly 2,000 precincts.
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With elderly people considered especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, officials also were faced with a deluge of resignations by older election judges.
It didn’t take long for officials with the Chicago Elections Board to note that concerns about the pandemic would severely depress voter turnout. Despite this being a presidential election cycle that typically spurs the most enthusiasm among voters, the board reported only about 10,000 ballots cast in the first hour of voting — typically a pre-work rush hour.
“I would call conducting an election in the middle of a global pandemic, where people are scared to show up to a polling place, a curse,” Jim Allen, spokesperson for the Chicago Elections Board, said on a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning.
Chicago election commissioners last week asked the office of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) to either postpone the primary or cancel in-person voting and move to vote-by-mail only. That request was denied.
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By contrast, Ohio’s Tuesday primary was canceled at the behest of Gov. Mike DeWine (R). But Florida and Arizona joined Illinois in proceeding with scheduled primaries.
In Florida, several polling stations didn’t open because workers didn’t show up for duty and in Arizona, 80 polling stations were preemptively shuttered after polling workers canceled their shifts.
In Illinois, one poll worker at a Chicago precinct tweeted about a number of glitches at her locale. The worker, who identified herself as Rebecca Gross, said missing items included a box containing voting machines and ballots.
Election Day so far: 5/8 election staff are elderly, we were provided with no cleaning supplies, we are missing an ENTIRE blue box (meaning anyone who comes to this precinct cannot vote), we are missing 2 election judges & nobody is answering our calls. pic.twitter.com/aPfmZ5McCt — rebecca 🌹🔥 (@rebeccapearl21) March 17, 2020
She told HuffPost that election officials instructed poll workers dealing with the problems to redirect voters to a police station serving as a voting precinct.
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She noted that this was hardly an ideal alternative. “There are workers who are coming to vote early in the morning who don’t have the time to go vote at a precinct that’s about a mile away,” Gross said. “It’s really kind of unreasonable for many of these working voters to go vote outside of the precinct.”
Another Twitter user claiming to be a supporter of the presidential bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) campaign said large crowds were gathered at a public library, waiting hours to vote.
At the Thurgood Marshall Public Library a predominately black senior population is waiting on average 2 hrs to vote in crowded rooms. This is not safe! #COVID19 #IllinoisPrimary pic.twitter.com/q4Fav9h1nW — Abshir Omar (@AbshirDSM) March 17, 2020
Timna Axel, communications director for the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, said while some confusion typically surrounds the voting process, the various measures taken and warnings issued about the coronavirus piled on additional complications on Tuesday.
Her group operates a voting rights hotline on election days, and Axel said “it seems like a lot of the confusion and the delay is because of these last-minute relocations and last-minute substitutions by election judges.”
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She added, “I don’t think we’d see anything like this in a normal election.”
Last week, Chicago election commissioners asked the office of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) to either postpone the primary or cancel in-person voting and move to vote-by-mail only. That request was denied.
In Florida, several polling stations didn’t open because workers didn’t show up for duty. In Arizona, 80 polling stations were preemptively shuttered after polling workers canceled their shifts.


huffpost--2020-03-17--Trump Sends Hateful ‘Chinese Virus’ Tweet, But He Praised The Country’s Response For Weeks

President Donald Trump sent a xenophobic tweet Monday evening , noting that he plans to bail out airlines and other industries “ that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus.
” Only a few hours earlier , Trump held a White House news conference on the emerging coronavirus outbreak and was praised for finally offering a relatively sober assessment of the emerging disaster .
But the president unleashed the real Trump online not long after , calling COVID-19 the “ China virus ” for the first time and giving voice to a hateful blame game that has been simmering among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phrase in a tweet again Tuesday morning .
Prominent Fox News voices like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham have been intoning for weeks that the dangerous virus was China ’ s fault and decrying any criticism they faced for tying the infection to one country .
“ On the left , you ’ ve heard them tell you that the real worry is you might use the wrong word to describe what ’ s happening to the country , ” Carlson said in late February .
“ Wokeness is a cult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted that diversity is not our strength , ” he would later say .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-Ark . )
, a close Trump ally , even suggested in January that the coronavirus was the product of a Chinese “ super laboratory that works with the world ’ s most deadly pathogens.
” It would also be hypocritical .
For weeks beginning in late January , Trump praised Chinese officials profusely for their response to the virus , even as some global observers were raising reasonable concerns about early Chinese efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time and again , Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his handling of the outbreak and even boasted of a U.S. partnership in helping China fight the virus — until Trump seemed to find a useful scapegoat .
Three days later , on Feb. 7 , a reporter on the White House lawn asked Trump if he was concerned that China might be covering up the extent of the coronavirus .
The World Health Organization has consistently praised China for sharing information with the global health community early and often , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different story , with Chinese officials keeping citizens in the dark and downplaying the severity of the coronavirus spread until it could no longer be denied ― and after many thousands of people had already been infected .
Questions about the Chinese government ’ s handling of the emerging global crisis soiled a talking point Trump was keen to push as the presidential election drew closer : that the economy was doing great , with no signs of trouble .
In January Trump “ signaled to advisers that he wanted to play it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to rattle financial markets , according to The New York Times .
Trump also wanted to boast about a new trade deal with China and his former rival Xi .
That was apparent at a Feb. 10 campaign rally in Manchester , New Hampshire .
“ Last month , we signed a groundbreaking trade agreement with China that will defeat so many of our opponents .
The money that ’ s pouring in , people don ’ t even believe it , ” Trump said at the rally .
“ And , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re working hard .
Looks like by April , you know , in theory , when it gets a little warmer , it miraculously goes away.
” That same day , he did an interview with Fox News .
“ Well , I think China is very , you know , professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control .
I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon , ” Trump said .
“ You know in April , supposedly , it dies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a beautiful date to look forward to .
But China , I can tell you , is working very hard.
” Three days after that , on Feb. 13 , reporter Geraldo Rivera again asked Trump if China was being honest about the damage being wrought there by the coronavirus .
Trump granted maybe not — but sympathized with Xi .
“ I think they want to put the best face on it .
So , you know , I mean , if somebody ― if you were running it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to run out to the world and go crazy and start saying whatever it is because you don ’ t want to create a panic , ” Trump said .
“ But , no , I think they ’ ve handled it professionally and I think they ’ re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it ’ s going to be resolved.
” Trump repeated these lines again and again in the following days .
“ I know this : President Xi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loves his country , and he ’ s doing a very good job with a very , very tough situation , ” Trump told a reporter on the White House lawn on Feb. 18 .
The next day , he told a local reporter in Arizona , “ I mean , I know President Xi ― I get along with him very well .
We ’ ve just made a great trade deal , which is going to be a lot of business for Arizona and every other place .
But they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think the numbers are going to get progressively better as we go along.
” Five days later : “ President Xi loves his country .
He ’ s working very hard to solve the problem and he will solve the problem .
OK ?
” As the novel coronavirus spread around the globe and looked to threaten the United States , Trump ’ s praise ceased .
The first hint in public comments that Trump might seek to blame China came at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 29 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my administration has taken the most aggressive action in modern history to control our borders and protect Americans from the coronavirus , ” Trump said .
The virus , he added curtly , “ Came from China.
” Early , constructive pressure from Trump on China to be honest with its people about the outbreak might have helped slow its spread .
But Trump declined because lavishing praise on Xi Jinping and the deal they struck helped Trump ’ s politics .
At the time , it was also in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a global pandemic , which would spook investors .
Now Trump looks to be pulling a 180-degree turn and looking to blame the entire outbreak on China .
It again suits his politics — and they are very dark .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump sent a xenophobic tweet Monday evening, noting that he plans to bail out airlines and other industries “that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus.” Only a few hours earlier, Trump held a White House news conference on the emerging coronavirus outbreak and was praised for finally offering a relatively sober assessment of the emerging disaster. But the president unleashed the real Trump online not long after, calling COVID-19 the “China virus” for the first time and giving voice to a hateful blame game that has been simmering among hardcore right-wingers for weeks. He used the phrase in a tweet again Tuesday morning.
Prominent Fox News voices like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham have been intoning for weeks that the dangerous virus was China’s fault and decrying any criticism they faced for tying the infection to one country. “On the left, you’ve heard them tell you that the real worry is you might use the wrong word to describe what’s happening to the country,” Carlson said in late February. “Wokeness is a cult. They would let you die before they admitted that diversity is not our strength,” he would later say. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a close Trump ally, even suggested in January that the coronavirus was the product of a Chinese “super laboratory that works with the world’s most deadly pathogens.”
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There have been anti-Asian hate crimes in several places affected by the outbreak, and they appeared in New York City over the past week. It would be a dangerous development if the U.S. president decided to elevate that xenophobia.
It would also be hypocritical. For weeks beginning in late January, Trump praised Chinese officials profusely for their response to the virus, even as some global observers were raising reasonable concerns about early Chinese efforts to downplay the severity of the crisis. Time and again, Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his handling of the outbreak and even boasted of a U.S. partnership in helping China fight the virus — until Trump seemed to find a useful scapegoat.
In an interview with Sean Hannity that aired right before the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, Trump declared: “We have a tremendous relationship with China, which is a very positive thing... . We’re offering them tremendous help. We have the best in the world for that.”
Three days later, on Feb. 7, a reporter on the White House lawn asked Trump if he was concerned that China might be covering up the extent of the coronavirus. The World Health Organization has consistently praised China for sharing information with the global health community early and often, but inside the country, it was a different story, with Chinese officials keeping citizens in the dark and downplaying the severity of the coronavirus spread until it could no longer be denied ― and after many thousands of people had already been infected.
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President Donald Trump holds a news briefing Monday on the coronavirus outbreak while accompanied by members of the coronavirus task force at the White House Leah Millis/Reuters
“No. China is working very hard,” Trump said in response to the reporter’s question. “They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job.”
Questions about the Chinese government’s handling of the emerging global crisis soiled a talking point Trump was keen to push as the presidential election drew closer: that the economy was doing great, with no signs of trouble. In January Trump “signaled to advisers that he wanted to play it down” because he didn’t want to rattle financial markets, according to The New York Times. Trump also wanted to boast about a new trade deal with China and his former rival Xi. That was apparent at a Feb. 10 campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.
“Last month, we signed a groundbreaking trade agreement with China that will defeat so many of our opponents. The money that’s pouring in, people don’t even believe it,” Trump said at the rally. “And, by the way, the virus, they’re working hard. Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”
That same day, he did an interview with Fox News. “Well, I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon,” Trump said. “You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that’s a beautiful date to look forward to. But China, I can tell you, is working very hard.”
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Three days after that, on Feb. 13, reporter Geraldo Rivera again asked Trump if China was being honest about the damage being wrought there by the coronavirus. Trump granted maybe not — but sympathized with Xi. “I think they want to put the best face on it. So, you know, I mean, if somebody ― if you were running it, you’d probably ― you wouldn’t want to run out to the world and go crazy and start saying whatever it is because you don’t want to create a panic,” Trump said. “But, no, I think they’ve handled it professionally and I think they’re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it’s going to be resolved.”
Trump repeated these lines again and again in the following days. “I know this: President Xi loves the people of China, he loves his country, and he’s doing a very good job with a very, very tough situation,” Trump told a reporter on the White House lawn on Feb. 18. The next day, he told a local reporter in Arizona, “I mean, I know President Xi ― I get along with him very well. We’ve just made a great trade deal, which is going to be a lot of business for Arizona and every other place. But they are trying very, very hard, and I think the numbers are going to get progressively better as we go along.” Five days later: “President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem and he will solve the problem. OK?”
By this time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was already criticizing China publicly for failing to let medical personnel in the country speak freely about the virus in the early days of the outbreak.
As the novel coronavirus spread around the globe and looked to threaten the United States, Trump’s praise ceased. The first hint in public comments that Trump might seek to blame China came at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 29. “In our efforts to keep America safe, my administration has taken the most aggressive action in modern history to control our borders and protect Americans from the coronavirus,” Trump said. The virus, he added curtly, “Came from China.”
Early, constructive pressure from Trump on China to be honest with its people about the outbreak might have helped slow its spread. But Trump declined because lavishing praise on Xi Jinping and the deal they struck helped Trump’s politics. At the time, it was also in Trump’s interest to minimize the risk of a global pandemic, which would spook investors. Now Trump looks to be pulling a 180-degree turn and looking to blame the entire outbreak on China. It again suits his politics — and they are very dark.


huffpost--2020-03-17--Stocks Climb Higher After Worst Drop Since 1987

NEW YORK ( AP ) — U.S. stocks jittered higher at the start of trading Tuesday , a day after plunging to their worst loss in more than three decades , as uncertainty about how badly the coronavirus will hit the economy continues to dominate markets .
The Trump administration is proposing a roughly $ 850 billion stimulus plan to help the economy , including relief for small businesses and the airline industry , as well as a tax cut for wage-earners , sources told The Associated Press .
The travel industry has been among the industries hardest hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hotels and casinos shut their doors .
Trading is unsettled around the world beyond the S & P 500 , where an initial gain of 3.2 % trimmed to 1 % within 10 minutes .
European stocks swung from gains to losses .
South Korean stocks fell to their fifth straight loss of 2.5 % , but Japanese stocks shook off an early loss to edge higher .
Stocks have had a few rebounds since the market began selling off in mid-February on worries that COVID-19 will slam the economy and corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-lived .
The S & P 500 has had four days in the last few weeks where it surged more than 4 % , a remarkably large amount in normal times , and has slumped more than 2.8 % the following day each time .
The S & P 500 is nearly 28 % below its record set last month and is back to where it was in late 2018 , erasing most of the best year for stocks in decades .
The big question for investors is when the new coronavirus will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy can begin to recover from shutdowns affecting a growing list of industries by the day , from airlines to restaurants .
The virus has spread so quickly that its effects haven ’ t shown up in much U.S. economic data yet .
A report on Monday about manufacturing in New York State was the first piece of evidence that manufacturing is contracting due to the outbreak .
They say initial data from China suggests its economy was hit harder than expected , though it has begun to stabilize .
“ Europe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the economists wrote .
The S & P 500 was up 1 % , as of 9:41 a.m. Eastern time .
A day earlier , it plunged 12 % Monday after President Donald Trump said the economy may be heading for a recession , its worst day since the Black Monday crash of 1987 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 100 points , or 0.5 % , at 20,289 , and the Nasdaq was up 1.1 % .

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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks jittered higher at the start of trading Tuesday, a day after plunging to their worst loss in more than three decades, as uncertainty about how badly the coronavirus will hit the economy continues to dominate markets.
The Trump administration is proposing a roughly $850 billion stimulus plan to help the economy, including relief for small businesses and the airline industry, as well as a tax cut for wage-earners, sources told The Associated Press. The travel industry has been among the industries hardest hit by the outbreak, as planes sit grounded and hotels and casinos shut their doors.
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Trading is unsettled around the world beyond the S&P 500, where an initial gain of 3.2% trimmed to 1% within 10 minutes. European stocks swung from gains to losses. South Korean stocks fell to their fifth straight loss of 2.5%, but Japanese stocks shook off an early loss to edge higher.
Stocks have had a few rebounds since the market began selling off in mid-February on worries that COVID-19 will slam the economy and corporate profits. But all have ended up short-lived. The S&P 500 has had four days in the last few weeks where it surged more than 4%, a remarkably large amount in normal times, and has slumped more than 2.8% the following day each time.
The S&P 500 is nearly 28% below its record set last month and is back to where it was in late 2018, erasing most of the best year for stocks in decades.
The big question for investors is when the new coronavirus will slow its spread, and when the economy can begin to recover from shutdowns affecting a growing list of industries by the day, from airlines to restaurants.
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The virus has spread so quickly that its effects haven’t shown up in much U.S. economic data yet. A report on Monday about manufacturing in New York State was the first piece of evidence that manufacturing is contracting due to the outbreak.
“The global recession is here and now,” S&P Global economists wrote in a report Tuesday.
They say initial data from China suggests its economy was hit harder than expected, though it has begun to stabilize. “Europe and the U.S. are following a similar path,” the economists wrote.
The S&P 500 was up 1%, as of 9:41 a.m. Eastern time. A day earlier, it plunged 12% Monday after President Donald Trump said the economy may be heading for a recession, its worst day since the Black Monday crash of 1987.


huffpost--2020-03-17--Historic Market Plunge Amid Global Scramble To Contain 'Invisible Enemy'

March 16 ( Reuters ) - Coronavirus fears led to a historic drop in U.S. stocks , shut borders and disrupted daily life around the world , as governments took increasingly drastic measures to try to reduce the severity of the global outbreak .
Financial markets had their worst day in 30 years despite emergency action by global central banks to try to prevent a recession , with U.S. stock markets falling 12 % to 13 % , wiping out trillions of dollars in market value .
Just a month ago , financial markets were hitting record highs on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China and not cause disruptions beyond what was seen with earlier viral outbreaks of Ebola , SARS and MERS .
There have now been more cases and more deaths outside mainland China than inside , with 180,000 cases worldwide and over 7,000 deaths .
Canada , Chile and other countries closed their borders to visitors .
Peru deployed masked military personnel to block major roads , while Ireland launched a campaign to recruit more healthcare workers .
Airlines slashed flights , shed jobs and asked governments for billions of dollars in loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world , Mexico and Brazil still held large political rallies and the United Kingdom kept its schools open .
U.S. states pleaded with the Trump administration on Monday to coordinate a national response to the outbreak , saying patchwork measures enacted by state and local authorities were insufficient to confront the coast-to-coast emergency that has killed at least 74 Americans .
A few hours later , President Donald Trump urged Americans to halt most social activities for 15 days and not congregate in groups larger than 10 people in a newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Calling the highly contagious virus an “ invisible enemy , ” Trump said the worst of the outbreak could be over by July , August or later and warned a recession was possible .
However , the United States was not yet closing its borders or mandating curfews or business closures on a national scale .
Many states and cities had already taken those steps or were preparing to .
San Francisco area residents will be urged to shelter in place for three weeks starting on Tuesday , the San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser said the United States could pump $ 800 billion or more into the economy to minimize economic damage .
EU finance ministers were planning a coordinated economic response to the virus , which the European Commission says could push the European Union into recession .

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March 16 (Reuters) - Coronavirus fears led to a historic drop in U.S. stocks, shut borders and disrupted daily life around the world, as governments took increasingly drastic measures to try to reduce the severity of the global outbreak.
Financial markets had their worst day in 30 years despite emergency action by global central banks to try to prevent a recession, with U.S. stock markets falling 12% to 13%, wiping out trillions of dollars in market value.
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Just a month ago, financial markets were hitting record highs on the assumption the outbreak would largely be contained in China and not cause disruptions beyond what was seen with earlier viral outbreaks of Ebola, SARS and MERS. There have now been more cases and more deaths outside mainland China than inside, with 180,000 cases worldwide and over 7,000 deaths.
Canada, Chile and other countries closed their borders to visitors. Peru deployed masked military personnel to block major roads, while Ireland launched a campaign to recruit more healthcare workers. Airlines slashed flights, shed jobs and asked governments for billions of dollars in loans and grants.
In contrast to much of the world, Mexico and Brazil still held large political rallies and the United Kingdom kept its schools open.
U.S. states pleaded with the Trump administration on Monday to coordinate a national response to the outbreak, saying patchwork measures enacted by state and local authorities were insufficient to confront the coast-to-coast emergency that has killed at least 74 Americans.
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A few hours later, President Donald Trump urged Americans to halt most social activities for 15 days and not congregate in groups larger than 10 people in a newly aggressive effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Calling the highly contagious virus an “invisible enemy,” Trump said the worst of the outbreak could be over by July, August or later and warned a recession was possible.
However, the United States was not yet closing its borders or mandating curfews or business closures on a national scale.
Many states and cities had already taken those steps or were preparing to. San Francisco area residents will be urged to shelter in place for three weeks starting on Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
A White House adviser said the United States could pump $800 billion or more into the economy to minimize economic damage.
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huffpost--2020-03-17--Put Down The Guinness And Drink This Actualy Irish-Made Booze Instead

So while it remains an undeniably delicious brew , it ’ s not quite as uniquely Irish as it used to be .
And with a flood of booze made in Ireland washing up on U.S. shores , now is the perfect time to drink something other than that tremendous stout on St. Patrick ’ s Day .
To help you to figure out what to drink ― which will likely be from home this year , thanks to many bars being close due to the coronavirus ― we surveyed U.S.-based Irish bartenders on what to drink this St. Paddy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guinness .
Sláinte !
“ Gin accompanied with flavored tonic is the go-to drink in Ireland , ” said Darragh McConnon , Sligo native and bartender at Jackdaw NYC , which serves a gin and elderflower tonic cocktail .
“ Its resurgence is partially because Irish whiskey must be distilled for at least three years and one day .
That disrupts cash flow , so distilleries began producing gin.
” Luckily for those distilleries , the Irish began to love and appreciate gin on another level .
It also doesn ’ t hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as this recipe from NYC ’ s Mustang Harry ’ s proves .
Robby Linnane , the County Clare native who pours drinks at the sports bar , told HuffPost that the cucumber tonic water “ brings out the crispness and the botanicals in the Drumshanbo.
” Even better : It ’ s simple to prepare .
Ian Montgomery moved to the U.S. from Dublin 13 years ago , and has since opened a pub in Dublin … Ohio .
He ’ s currently a partner in Fado Pub and Kitchen there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Patrick ’ s Day .
One of the drinks the pub plans to sell plenty of is the whiskey-focused Irish Sunset .
“ We use Teeling Small Batch in it , ” Montgomery said .
“ It ’ s an old distillery in Dublin that went out of business a few years ago , and the great-grandkids of the owners of the distillery brought it back to life .
They make really good whiskey.
” He said the name of the cocktail is related to the bright orange color of the drink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fresh lime juice , it ’ s the ideal drink to greet the warmer temperatures of spring .
Sometimes the tastiest drinks can be exceedingly easy to prepare .
“ Our most popular whiskey drink is a simple one , ” Montgomery said .
“ Many years ago , we came across Crabbie ’ s Alcoholic Ginger Beer .
It ’ s made with real ginger and it ’ s amazing .
And it ’ s two drinks in one , so you have to be careful !
” Full disclosure : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is produced in England .
But considering Jameson is an Irish-made booze and a whiskey/ginger is one of the more perfect drinks to enjoy on St. Patrick ’ s Day , we ’ ll make an exception .
For some reason , cider isn ’ t as popular in the U.S. as it is in the U.K. , and is less available at bars and restaurants .
But since you ’ ll likely be posting up at an Irish pub this St. Patrick ’ s Day , take the opportunity to order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t ask for a Bulmers .
“ Magners is from County Tipperary in the middle of Ireland , ” Montgomery said .
“ In Ireland , it ’ s called Bulmers .
I ’ m not sure if it ’ s because of a trademark in the name , [ but ] it ’ s the same drink.
” And he ’ s right , it ’ s the same cider with a different name !
It ’ s only called Magners in the U.S. because the company that produced it only owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
Another gem from the folks at Mustang Harry ’ s , this is an Irish whiskey-based cocktail that you don ’ t need to barrel-age to enjoy it ( though if you order it at the pub , they ’ ve aged it four weeks ) .
“ This is one of our signature cocktails , and an ode to our hometown in Ireland , ” Linnane said , referring to County Tipperary .
“ It ’ s strong and aromatic.
” Those strong flavors are partially due to the addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The big distillery everyone ’ s heard of that makes Tullamore Dew and Jameson is in Middleton in East Cork , ” explained Colm O ’ Neill , a longtime bartender and entrepreneur who developed the Irish whiskey cream Hard Chaw .
“ But West Cork also has its own distillery .
It ’ s got a little map of West Cork in its label , so it ’ s quite distinctive , and it ’ s gotten pretty good reviews .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Guinness is a fantastic beer made in Ireland. It’s also made in Baltimore.
So while it remains an undeniably delicious brew, it’s not quite as uniquely Irish as it used to be. And with a flood of booze made in Ireland washing up on U.S. shores, now is the perfect time to drink something other than that tremendous stout on St. Patrick’s Day.
To help you to figure out what to drink ― which will likely be from home this year, thanks to many bars being close due to the coronavirus ― we surveyed U.S.-based Irish bartenders on what to drink this St. Paddy’s Day that’s not Guinness. Sláinte!
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Courtesy of Mustang Harry's “Gin accompanied with flavored tonic is the go-to drink in Ireland,” says bartender Darragh McConnon.
Exceptional Irish whiskey brands, including labels like Bushmills and Redbreast, have won fans the world over. But despite whiskey’s popularity, gin is having quite a moment in the Republic.
“Gin accompanied with flavored tonic is the go-to drink in Ireland,” said Darragh McConnon, Sligo native and bartender at Jackdaw NYC, which serves a gin and elderflower tonic cocktail. “Its resurgence is partially because Irish whiskey must be distilled for at least three years and one day. That disrupts cash flow, so distilleries began producing gin.”
Luckily for those distilleries, the Irish began to love and appreciate gin on another level. It also doesn’t hurt that gin and flavored tonic is delicious, as this recipe from NYC’s Mustang Harry’s proves. Robby Linnane, the County Clare native who pours drinks at the sports bar, told HuffPost that the cucumber tonic water “brings out the crispness and the botanicals in the Drumshanbo.” Even better: It’s simple to prepare.
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Drumshanbo Gin and Tonic
Serves 1
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
4 ounces Fever-Tree cucumber tonic
Grapefruit wedge
Directions
1. Combine ingredients and serve over ice in a highball glass.
2. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Fado Pub and Kitchen The Irish Sunset is an ideal drink to greet the warmer temperatures of spring.
Ian Montgomery moved to the U.S. from Dublin 13 years ago, and has since opened a pub in Dublin … Ohio. He’s currently a partner in Fado Pub and Kitchen there, which does a brisk business on St. Patrick’s Day.
One of the drinks the pub plans to sell plenty of is the whiskey-focused Irish Sunset. “We use Teeling Small Batch in it,” Montgomery said. “It’s an old distillery in Dublin that went out of business a few years ago, and the great-grandkids of the owners of the distillery brought it back to life. They make really good whiskey.”
He said the name of the cocktail is related to the bright orange color of the drink. And because it includes pineapple puree and fresh lime juice, it’s the ideal drink to greet the warmer temperatures of spring.
Irish Sunset
Serves 1
Ingredients
2 ounces Teeling Small Batch whiskey
1/2 ounce Aperol
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce pineapple puree infused syrup (instructions below)
Directions
1. Prepare pineapple puree syrup by heating 8 ounces pineapple juice and 1/3 cup of brown sugar on a stove to reduce. Let cool.
2. Combine 1/2 ounce of syrup with all other ingredients over ice, and serve cold.
Fado Pub and Kitchen Jameson and Crabbie's uses Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, which is made with real ginger.
Sometimes the tastiest drinks can be exceedingly easy to prepare. “Our most popular whiskey drink is a simple one,” Montgomery said. “Many years ago, we came across Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer. It’s made with real ginger and it’s amazing. And it’s two drinks in one, so you have to be careful!”
Full disclosure: Crabbie’s was formulated in Scotland and is produced in England. But considering Jameson is an Irish-made booze and a whiskey/ginger is one of the more perfect drinks to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll make an exception.
Jameson and Crabbie’s
Serves 1
Ingredients
2 ounces Jameson
1 bottle Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Directions
Combine over ice and serve in a highball glass.
Magners Magners is known as Bulmers in Ireland.
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Magners Irish Cider
For some reason, cider isn’t as popular in the U.S. as it is in the U.K., and is less available at bars and restaurants. But since you’ll likely be posting up at an Irish pub this St. Patrick’s Day, take the opportunity to order an Irish cider. Just don’t ask for a Bulmers.
“Magners is from County Tipperary in the middle of Ireland,” Montgomery said. “In Ireland, it’s called Bulmers. I’m not sure if it’s because of a trademark in the name, [but] it’s the same drink.”
And he’s right, it’s the same cider with a different name! It’s only called Magners in the U.S. because the company that produced it only owned the rights to the Bulmers name inside Ireland.
Mustang Harry's West Cork Irish Whiskey, at right, is an ingredient in the Harry's Barrel Aged Tipperary cocktail.
Another gem from the folks at Mustang Harry’s, this is an Irish whiskey-based cocktail that you don’t need to barrel-age to enjoy it (though if you order it at the pub, they’ve aged it four weeks).
Advertisement
“This is one of our signature cocktails, and an ode to our hometown in Ireland,” Linnane said, referring to County Tipperary. “It’s strong and aromatic.” Those strong flavors are partially due to the addition of West Cork Irish Whiskey.
“The big distillery everyone’s heard of that makes Tullamore Dew and Jameson is in Middleton in East Cork,” explained Colm O’Neill, a longtime bartender and entrepreneur who developed the Irish whiskey cream Hard Chaw. “But West Cork also has its own distillery. It’s got a little map of West Cork in its label, so it’s quite distinctive, and it’s gotten pretty good reviews.”
Harry’s Barrel Aged Tipperary
Serves 1
Ingredients
2 ounces West Cork Irish Whiskey
3/4 ounce Green Chartreuse
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes angostura bitters
Lemon peel
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir for a 17-count.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.


huffpost--2020-03-16--4 Takeaways From Bernie Sanders And Joe Biden’s Head-To-Head Debate

Sanders and Biden largely agree on how to address the coronavirus pandemic in the short-term .
They don ’ t agree on whether it ’ s time to talk about the long-term .
“ People are looking for results , not a revolution .
They want to deal with the results they need right now , ” Biden said .
“ That has nothing to do with the legitimate concern about income inequality in America .
That ’ s real .
That ’ s real .
But that does not affect the need for us to act swiftly and very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forces that we need to bring to bear to deal with the crisis now so no one is thrown out of their home .
No one loses their mortgage .
No one is kicked out of their house .
No one loses their paycheck .
No one is in a position where they have a significant financial disability as a consequence of this.
” “ Well , I think it goes without saying that as a nation we have to respond as forcefully as we can to the current crisis , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be understanding how we got here and where we want to go into the future , ” Sanders said .
“ So how does it happen that today in the wealthiest country in the history of the world , half of our people are scared to death ?
” Sanders finally got the Social Security debate he had been hoping for .
Biden outright denied doing a lot of things that he has done ― and the moderators did not correct him .
If a Democrat wins the presidential election , the vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stood behind lecterns 6 feet apart in CNN’s Washington, D.C., studio. Instead of shaking hands as they walked on stage, the two Democratic presidential candidates bumped elbows. There was no audience to cheer them on.
In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Biden and Sanders participated in a somewhat surreal 11th presidential primary debate — and the first in which the two Democratic front-runners were able to go head-to-head.
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The COVID-19 outbreak, which has the potential to infect millions of Americans, has completely upended presidential politics; both campaigns have told staff to work from home and have canceled all public appearances, opting to do virtual rallies and town halls instead.
But despite this national emergency, voters in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona are scheduled to go to the polls on Tuesday, the day that will in all likelihood determine the outcome of the presidential primary.
Everything is looking in Biden’s favor. Sanders has had a series of bad election nights, starting with the South Carolina primary, and Tuesday looks like it could be another sweep for the former vice president. Sanders won California, the state with the primary’s biggest delegate haul, but still lags behind Biden in the tally by more than 150 delegates.
The Sanders team was hoping a spectacularly good debate performance on the senator’s part ― or a disastrous one on Biden’s ― could potentially turn the tides. But Sunday night didn’t deliver on either front, and the debate was completely overshadowed by a global public health crisis. Here are four takeaways.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stood 6 feet apart to limit spread of the coronavirus in a head-to-head debate in Washington on Sunday. MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images
Sanders and Biden largely agree on how to address the coronavirus pandemic in the short-term. They don’t agree on whether it’s time to talk about the long-term.
Rightly so, the first half hour of the debate was spent on the coronavirus outbreak. Although the candidates were addressing the same topic, it was like watching two separate conversations in tandem.
Biden and Sanders have each laid out plans to address the pandemic, and they look very similar: Both are calling for free medical testing and treatment, establishing mobile testing sites, expanding hospital capacity, ensuring paid time off and expanded benefits.
During the debate, Biden was focused on the short-term. Sanders wanted to talk more about the future. Specifically, he wanted to make the case for his signature “Medicare for All” health insurance system, which would guarantee government-sponsored health insurance for all Americans.
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So over and over again, the two candidates essentially debated what they should be debating.
“People are looking for results, not a revolution. They want to deal with the results they need right now,” Biden said. “That has nothing to do with the legitimate concern about income inequality in America. That’s real. That’s real. But that does not affect the need for us to act swiftly and very thoroughly and in concert with all of the forces that we need to bring to bear to deal with the crisis now so no one is thrown out of their home. No one loses their mortgage. No one is kicked out of their house. No one loses their paycheck. No one is in a position where they have a significant financial disability as a consequence of this.”
Sanders didn’t necessarily disagree. But he was also trying to make a different point.
“Well, I think it goes without saying that as a nation we have to respond as forcefully as we can to the current crisis, but it is not good enough not to be understanding how we got here and where we want to go into the future,” Sanders said. “So how does it happen that today in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, half of our people are scared to death?”
Sanders said during the debate that the national crisis over a pandemic is an appropriate time to discuss long-term reforms to the U.S. health care system. MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images
Sanders finally got the Social Security debate he had been hoping for.
A highlight of the debate for Sanders was a prolonged exchange with Biden over the former vice president’s history of supporting Social Security cuts. It’s a vulnerability that Sanders has sought to expose for some time, but he previously hadn’t had the chance to have an uninterrupted back-and-forth with Biden on the subject.
Biden actually brought up the topic while claiming that one of Sanders’ television advertisements, which blasts Biden for previously supporting Social Security cuts, is inaccurate.
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But in the conversation that followed, Sanders managed to catch Biden flat-footed. Even as he denied calling for the cuts, Biden admitted that “everything was on the table” ― including Social Security cuts ― when he participated in bipartisan budget talks as part of the Obama administration.
Biden tried to claim that the talks did not constitute support for Social Security cuts because he and the Obama administration discussed them “in order to get the kinds of changes we need on other things.”
But Sanders argued the reason didn’t matter ― the conversation had still occurred. “Maybe it’s a good reason, maybe it’s not,” he said. “All that I am saying is you were prepared to cut and advocated for the cuts.”
Biden outright denied doing a lot of things that he has done ― and the moderators did not correct him.
Sanders wanted to get Biden to address his record, repeatedly asking him about his history with welfare reform, consumer finance and environmental policy. But instead of admitting past errors in judgment, Biden gave blanket denials about his past record.
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At multiple junctures during the debate, Biden either misrepresented or outright lied about his record without any objection from the moderators.
Biden denied calling for Social Security cuts on the floor of the Senate. But in a Senate floor speech in January 1995, Biden boasted about a vote to freeze federal spending that would have effectively cut Social Security and other social programs. Later that year, he voted for a narrowly defeated constitutional amendment that would have jeopardized Social Security benefits with automatic cuts in the event that Congress did not offset budget deficits.
Sanders pressed Biden about helping craft the 2005 Republican bankruptcy bill, a piece of legislation that made it harder for individuals to file for bankruptcy. Biden denied having a major role in the bill’s development, claiming the bill’s passage was inevitable and that he had sought to lessen its negative impact by, among other things, protecting women and children in need of alimony money.
In fact, Biden was a proponent of making it harder for households declare bankruptcy throughout the 1990s. He promoted it even when Elizabeth Warren, a bankruptcy law professor at the time, pushed then-first lady Hillary Clinton to convince President Bill Clinton to veto it. When the bill passed under President George W. Bush in 2005, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) singled out Biden, praising him and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) for “doing their best” over the years to get the bill passed.
President Barack Obama and Biden even disagreed on the issue. Obama, who voted against the law in 2005, attacked then-Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on the presidential campaign trail in 2008 for supporting the legislation and “siding with banking industry lobbyists.”
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And in an exchange on environmental policy Sunday night, Biden, under pressure from Sanders to adopt a bigger climate plan, appeared to say he supported a ban on fracking — even though his own campaign’s platform does not support such a policy.
Sanders pointed out the discrepancy, but there was little followup.
After the debate, the Biden campaign clarified that Biden was referring to his proposal to forbid new oil and gas fracking on public lands, rather than in the country at large.
Debate moderators didn't step in when Biden made some inaccurate claims about his record. MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images
If a Democrat wins the presidential election, the vice president will likely be a woman.
Biden made a commitment on stage Sunday night: If he is made the nominee, his pick for vice president will be a woman.
Sanders said that “in all likelihood” he would pick a woman to join him on the ticket.
“To me, it’s not just nominating a woman,” Sanders said. “It is making sure that we have a progressive woman, and there are progressive women out there.”
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huffpost--2020-03-17--Here's How The Royals Are Adjusting To The Coronavirus Outbreak

“ As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances , a number of changes are being made to The Queen ’ s diary , ” the statement said .
The queen will keep her scheduled meetings at the palace this week with the prime minister , the commander of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Bishop of Hereford .
But the 93-year-old monarch will leave for her Easter break at Windsor Castle on Thursday , one week earlier than expected , the statement added , and she will likely stay at the castle longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queen had planned to attend , including the annual Maundy Service as well as a few garden parties , will be canceled , and investiture ceremonies will be delayed .
“ In consultation with the Medical Household and Government , a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen , and other Members of the Royal Family , in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed , ” the statement said .
The palace added that decisions about delaying or canceling Trooping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place on June 13 , the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan “ will be made in due course.
” The queen ’ s schedule changes were announced as other members of the royal family also adjusted to the coronavirus pandemic .
Last week , Prince Charles and Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , canceled their royal tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina , Cyprus and Jordan that had been set to take place from March 17 to March 25 .
Prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ schedule , some royals were taking matters into their own hands ― by not shaking hands .
Prince Harry gave singer Craig David an elbow “ bump ” at Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey last week .
And Charles has been doling out “ namaste ” greetings for the past few days .
Charles uses a Namaste gesture to greet Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood as he attends the Prince 's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards at London Palladium on March 11 in London .

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Buckingham Palace on Tuesday announced major scheduling changes affecting Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances, a number of changes are being made to The Queen’s diary,” the statement said.
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The queen will keep her scheduled meetings at the palace this week with the prime minister, the commander of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Bishop of Hereford. But the 93-year-old monarch will leave for her Easter break at Windsor Castle on Thursday, one week earlier than expected, the statement added, and she will likely stay at the castle longer than anticipated.
Other events that the queen had planned to attend, including the annual Maundy Service as well as a few garden parties, will be canceled, and investiture ceremonies will be delayed.
“In consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen, and other Members of the Royal Family, in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed,” the statement said.
Queen Elizabeth II departs the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 9 in London. Chris Jackson via Getty Images
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The palace added that decisions about delaying or canceling Trooping the Colour, which had been set to take place on June 13, the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan “will be made in due course.”
The queen’s schedule changes were announced as other members of the royal family also adjusted to the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, canceled their royal tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan that had been set to take place from March 17 to March 25.
Prior to the cancellations and changes to the royals’ schedule, some royals were taking matters into their own hands ― by not shaking hands. Prince Harry gave singer Craig David an elbow “bump” at Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey last week.
And Charles has been doling out “namaste” greetings for the past few days.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales attend the Commonwealth Day reception 2020 on March 9. WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles uses a Namaste gesture to greet Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood as he attends the Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards at London Palladium on March 11 in London. WPA Pool via Getty Images
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Charles greets Michaela Coel (centre) as he attends the Prince's Trust And TK Maxx & Homesense Awards at London Palladium on March 11. WPA Pool via Getty Images


huffpost--2020-03-17--Two Oscar Nominees Join Netflix This Week

Netflix added two movies this week that earned Academy Award nominations in the last decade .
“ Silver Linings Playbook ” and “ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ” both joined the streaming service on March 16 .
The former earned eight Oscar nominations in 2013 , including for Best Picture , and Jennifer Lawrence won the Best Actress award for her performance .
And the latter , espionage-centric movie earned three nominations in 2012 .
As more and more Americans self-distance during the spread of the coronavirus , these movies are a welcome addition to the Netflix library .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , check out an article I wrote two months ago about movies to stream on the service .
Netflix changes its library frequently , so a few of them are gone .
But the list should still serve as a good starting place .
Read on for the full list of movies joining Netflix this week .
And if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix on a weekly basis , subscribe to the Streamline newsletter .
Details : In this romantic comedy , a Pennsylvania man with bipolar disorder moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mental health care facility .
He ’ s still hung up on winning back his ex-wife when he happens to meet someone new .
The two have unique personalities that work well together .
Both need a win in their lives , so they decide to team up to compete in a dance contest .

JoJo Whilden/The Weinstein Company Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in "Silver Linings Playbook"
Netflix added two movies this week that earned Academy Award nominations in the last decade.
“Silver Linings Playbook” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” both joined the streaming service on March 16.
The former earned eight Oscar nominations in 2013, including for Best Picture, and Jennifer Lawrence won the Best Actress award for her performance. And the latter, espionage-centric movie earned three nominations in 2012.
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As more and more Americans self-distance during the spread of the coronavirus, these movies are a welcome addition to the Netflix library. For more options on what to watch now, check out an article I wrote two months ago about movies to stream on the service. Netflix changes its library frequently, so a few of them are gone. But the list should still serve as a good starting place.
You can read more about “Silver Linings Playbook” and watch the trailer below.
Read on for the full list of movies joining Netflix this week. And if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix on a weekly basis, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.
Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost
Notable Movie: “Silver Linings Playbook,” March 16
"Silver Linings Playbook" Lawrence and Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook"
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Details: In this romantic comedy, a Pennsylvania man with bipolar disorder moves back in with his parents after leaving a mental health care facility. He’s still hung up on winning back his ex-wife when he happens to meet someone new. The two have unique personalities that work well together.
Both need a win in their lives, so they decide to team up to compete in a dance contest.
The main cast includes Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Tucker and Jacki Weaver.
“Silver Linings Playbook” runs 2 hours, 2 minutes.
Watch On: Here’s a behind-the-scenes feature with cast and crew interviews.
Trailer:
The Full List Of Movies Joining Netflix
March 15
“Aftermath”
March 16
“Search Party”
“Silver Linings Playbook”
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
“The Young Messiah”
March 18


huffpost--2020-03-17--China Expels American Journalists Over Escalating Spat With U.S.

BEIJING/WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - China announced early on Wednesday that it was retaliating against U.S. restrictions on Chinese journalists , with actions that include rescinding the press credentials of American correspondents with the New York Times , Wall Street Journal and Washington Post .
The move escalates a tit-for-tat between China and the United States over resident foreign media that saw Washington this month slash the number of Chinese nationals permitted to work at the U.S. offices of major Chinese state-owned media outlets .
In a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday , China ’ s foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists for the three organizations and whose press credentials expire by the end of this year must hand back their press cards within ten days and would not be permitted to work in mainland China , Hong Kong or Macau .
Chinese Foreign Ministry new spokesman Zhao Lijian gestures as he speaks during a daily briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing , Monday , Feb. 24 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Andy Wong ) China also said that “ in the spirit of reciprocity , ” the China branches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times , the Wall Street Journal , the Washington Post and Time magazine must “ declare in written form information about their staff , finance , operation and real estate in China.
” China also said it will take further “ reciprocal measures against American journalists ” , without giving specifics .
“ We unequivocally condemn any action by China to expel U.S. reporters , ” said Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron in a statement .
“ The Chinese government ’ s decision is particularly regrettable because it comes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when clear and reliable information about the international response to COVID-19 is essential.
” Representatives from the New York Times , owned by the New York Times Co < NYT.N > , and News Corp < NWSA.O > -owned Wall Street Journal could not immediately be reached for comment .
Beijing said the moves “ are entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures that China is compelled to take in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations experience in the United States.
” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would deprive the world and the Chinese people of information in “ incredibly challenging ” times brought about by the coronavirus .
In cutting the number of Chinese nationals permitted to work for state media firms in the United States this month , Washington said it was retaliating for what it called Beijing ’ s “ long-standing intimidation and harassment of journalists ” .
“ The action taken against The Journal correspondents is an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Club of China in a statement at the time .

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BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China announced early on Wednesday that it was retaliating against U.S. restrictions on Chinese journalists, with actions that include rescinding the press credentials of American correspondents with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
The move escalates a tit-for-tat between China and the United States over resident foreign media that saw Washington this month slash the number of Chinese nationals permitted to work at the U.S. offices of major Chinese state-owned media outlets.
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In a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry said U.S. citizens who work as journalists for the three organizations and whose press credentials expire by the end of this year must hand back their press cards within ten days and would not be permitted to work in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau.
It was not immediately clear how many journalists would be affected.
Chinese Foreign Ministry new spokesman Zhao Lijian gestures as he speaks during a daily briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) ASSOCIATED PRESS
China also said that “in the spirit of reciprocity,” the China branches of Voice of America, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Time magazine must “declare in written form information about their staff, finance, operation and real estate in China.”
China also said it will take further “reciprocal measures against American journalists”, without giving specifics.
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“We unequivocally condemn any action by China to expel U.S. reporters,” said Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron in a statement. “The Chinese government’s decision is particularly regrettable because it comes in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis, when clear and reliable information about the international response to COVID-19 is essential.”
Representatives from the New York Times, owned by the New York Times Co , and News Corp -owned Wall Street Journal could not immediately be reached for comment.
Beijing said the moves “are entirely necessary and reciprocal countermeasures that China is compelled to take in response to the unreasonable oppression the Chinese media organizations experience in the United States.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at a State Department news conference that the move would deprive the world and the Chinese people of information in “incredibly challenging” times brought about by the coronavirus.
“This is unfortunate... I hope they’ll reconsider,” he said.
In cutting the number of Chinese nationals permitted to work for state media firms in the United States this month, Washington said it was retaliating for what it called Beijing’s “long-standing intimidation and harassment of journalists”.
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Last month, Beijing expelled three Wall Street Journal correspondents, including two Americans and an Australian.
“The action taken against The Journal correspondents is an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based correspondents,” said the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China in a statement at the time.