huffpost--2020-03-12--Trump Twiddles His Thumbs With Economy In A Tailspin

It ’ s not yet clear that a recession would be as painful or prolonged as it was a decade ago .
Once the threat of the virus recedes , things could bounce back .
However , serious signs of a downturn are here already , showing up in the bond market and stock market , which had its worst day since 1987 on Thursday , and in the plunging price of oil .
Layoffs in sectors already affected by the virus have begun .
And there ’ s been a widespread downturn in spending as events are canceled and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any questions about whether there would be economic repercussions are gone , ” said Jay Shambaugh , an economist and director of the Hamilton Project .
“ It is clear , ” he said .
The NBA suspending its season and the NCAA canceling March Madness ― and all the lost revenue that comes with those decisions ― are just a few examples .
Yet the policy response from the White House has been almost nonexistent .
In his Oval Office speech Wednesday night , President Donald Trump spoke vaguely about paid leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies to shore up small businesses .
Trump has repeatedly criticized Federal Reserve chair , Jerome Powell , and is pushing for more rate cuts .
But interest rates are already at historic lows .
The Fed also announced other moves on Thursday to stabilize the markets , but no one thinks that will be enough to cushion the crisis .
The fact that the Trump administration and the Republicans have not come out with a clear plan is an outrage .
It is an outright cruelty .
Claudia Sahm , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Equitable Growth “ The payroll cut is better than nothing , but we can do a lot better , ” said Furman , who helped design a similar tax cut during the Obama administration .
For starters , it would only help those Americans who are still employed .
It would take too long before working people would feel its impact , as it would mean just slightly higher earnings .
And the cut would give a bigger boost to those who earn bigger paychecks .
Economists Have A Plan , Even If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s a clear need to get more money to individuals and households to help them smooth over what is hopefully a temporary economic shock , ” said Shambaugh .
“ This isn ’ t trying to get people to [ go on a ] shopping spree , it ’ s trying to get people to meet their daily needs.
” “ You want the bounce back to be really strong , you want people to have the resources to do it , ” said Josh Bivens , an economist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hope is for a “ V-shaped ” downturn , in which the economy plunges temporarily during the crisis and comes back quickly when people can stop social distancing measures .
The Difference Between Now And 2008 The key difference , of course , between now and the financial crisis in 2008 is that this time around , the country is facing a public health crisis that ’ s creating an economic downturn .
Last time around , it was the finance sector , courtesy of the mortgage bust , that sent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no such thing as an overreaction , he said .
“ The likelihood that someone does more than needed and looks back and regrets it is almost zero , ” he said .
“ A week from now , you ’ re going to wish you ’ ve done more .
”

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Economists say that a recession fueled by the coronavirus pandemic is on the horizon and warn that if policymakers don’t move quickly, the damage could be painful. Yet so far, the White House and congressional Republicans haven’t released any actual policy proposals to deal with the economic blows of COVID-19.
“It could very plausibly be worse than the financial crisis,” said Jason Furman, a Harvard economist and former economic adviser to President Barack Obama who helped design the 2009 stimulus bill crafted in response to the Great Recession.
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It’s not yet clear that a recession would be as painful or prolonged as it was a decade ago. Once the threat of the virus recedes, things could bounce back. However, serious signs of a downturn are here already, showing up in the bond market and stock market, which had its worst day since 1987 on Thursday, and in the plunging price of oil. Layoffs in sectors already affected by the virus have begun. And there’s been a widespread downturn in spending as events are canceled and Americans encouraged to stay home.
“Any questions about whether there would be economic repercussions are gone,” said Jay Shambaugh, an economist and director of the Hamilton Project. “It is clear,” he said. The NBA suspending its season and the NCAA canceling March Madness ― and all the lost revenue that comes with those decisions ― are just a few examples.
Yet the policy response from the White House has been almost nonexistent. In his Oval Office speech Wednesday night, President Donald Trump spoke vaguely about paid leave, financing for coronavirus-related health care and policies to shore up small businesses. Trump has repeatedly criticized Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, and is pushing for more rate cuts. But interest rates are already at historic lows. The Fed also announced other moves on Thursday to stabilize the markets, but no one thinks that will be enough to cushion the crisis.
Trump has also been pushing hard for a cut to payroll taxes in response to the outbreak. Such a tax cut would increase working Americans’ paychecks by a small percentage and would do little to offset the economic pain of a pandemic.
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“The fact that the Trump administration and the Republicans have not come out with a clear plan is an outrage. It is an outright cruelty.” - Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth
“The payroll cut is better than nothing, but we can do a lot better,” said Furman, who helped design a similar tax cut during the Obama administration. For starters, it would only help those Americans who are still employed. It would take too long before working people would feel its impact, as it would mean just slightly higher earnings. And the cut would give a bigger boost to those who earn bigger paychecks.
“It drips out,” he said. “it’s too much money for people who don’t need it. And too little for people who really do need it.”
Even conservative economists say it’s not a good solution.
Republicans in the House and Senate have been lukewarm on a payroll tax cut and are also pushing back on a plan from House Democrats that would mandate paid sick leave.
They’ve offered no solutions of their own.
“The fact that the Trump administration and the Republicans have not come out with a clear plan is an outrage,” said Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It is an outright cruelty.”
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Sahm said that without fast and bold actions, the coronavirus will spread faster and hurt more people. And the economic blows would be significant.
Economists Have A Plan, Even If The White House Doesn’t
Economists are pushing for direct cash payments to all Americans; similar to what was done under the George W. Bush administration during the financial crisis.
The money would help many meet their day-to-day expenses as work slows or dries up.
“There’s a clear need to get more money to individuals and households to help them smooth over what is hopefully a temporary economic shock,” said Shambaugh. “This isn’t trying to get people to [go on a] shopping spree, it’s trying to get people to meet their daily needs.”
Still, the hope is that when the economy does come back after the virus fades, those checks would provide an immediate boost of cash to an ailing economy.
“You want the bounce back to be really strong, you want people to have the resources to do it,” said Josh Bivens, an economist at the progressive Economic Policy Institute. He said the hope is for a “V-shaped” downturn, in which the economy plunges temporarily during the crisis and comes back quickly when people can stop social distancing measures.
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The Difference Between Now And 2008
The key difference, of course, between now and the financial crisis in 2008 is that this time around, the country is facing a public health crisis that’s creating an economic downturn. Last time around, it was the finance sector, courtesy of the mortgage bust, that sent the country into freefall.
That means the first order of business is addressing public health, making COVID-19 testing available and widespread, beefing up funding for Medicaid to the states, and ensuring that sick workers can stay home and still get paid.
But part of keeping citizens healthy will involve taking economic measures to ensure they can access health care and practice the social distancing measures that are key to slowing the spread of the virus.
Paid sick leave is crucial. Also helpful: Making sure folks that need food assistance can get it.
Though the ’08 financial crisis was obviously quite severe, back then, many Americans did keep spending money. Now Americans are already slowing down on spending, with more pain to come.
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In fact, the recommended way to solve this public health crisis is to literally slow the economy ― forbidding large events and gatherings, keeping people home and away from work and shops and restaurants and theaters.
Consider all the events and travel that’s already been canceled: There will be no spectators for the NCAA basketball tournament. The NBA regular season has been suspended. Colleges are shutting down campuses. That’s all lost revenue that can’t be recovered and lost work for millions.
“Everyone in the U.S. is cutting back on their spending, not counting the stocking up they’re doing at this moment,” said Furman, who also chaired the Council of Economic Advisers from 2013-2017. “If everyone who was going to spend $1,000 spends $950, that’s a recession.”
All the economists who spoke to HuffPost emphasized that the coronavirus should not be a political issue. It’s a virus that doesn’t care about political affiliation.
During the financial crisis, the idea of who was to blame came up constantly. Homebuyers were often criticized for taking on bigger mortgages than they could handle, and bailing them out was viewed in some corners as unethical.
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“This is not about particular groups that might not have done what they need to do,” said Sahm. “The coronavirus is highly infectious. The coronavirus does not care if you’re going to vote for Biden or Trump this fall.”
Shambaugh put it this way: “I’m still hopeful, and maybe I’m naive that this doesn’t need to be partisan, [but] people need help and we need to do it fast.”


huffpost--2020-03-13--How To Freeze The Food You're Cooking For Self-Quarantine

The coronavirus outbreak and its resulting self-quarantines have sent us all flocking to grocery stores to stock up on food and prepare our pantries .
We ’ ve been sharing recipes you can make with shelf-stable foods in your pantry like tuna , pasta , rice and beans , but you shouldn ’ t forget about another valuable item in the kitchen ― your freezer .
Some recipes lend themselves to freezing perfectly , such as casseroles , soups , stews , chilis , meatballs and pasta dishes ― here are a few of our favorites .
But keep in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be labeled “ freezer-friendly ” to be freezable .
You can freeze virtually anything ( though the aforementioned foods maintain their flavor and texture the best after being reheated ) .
Buy fresh ingredients now while they ’ re still in stores , then cook some dishes and stash them in your freezer for a time when you may not be able to access fresh fruits , vegetables and meats as easily .
There are just a few things to keep in mind when it comes to preparing foods for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to know about food containers , how long the food will last , how to thaw it and more .
How To Prepare Food For Freezing It ’ s important to let hot food cool to room temperature before putting it in your freezer .
A hot dish of lasagna , for example , will raise the temperature of the freezer , making the food in it less safe .
In addition , never , ever freeze in glass jars unless they ’ re explicitly freezer-safe , as the glass could shatter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a liquid like soup , which could expand as it freezes ) .
Instead , use plastic containers or a freezer-safe zip-seal plastic bag .
Freezer bags are a great option here .
Pour your soup into a few different bags to keep them manageable in your freezer , and you ’ ll be able to stack them easily when it comes time to save some room .
They also make single-serving thawing a breeze .
Freezer bags are also your best bet for these items , because they can seal airtight around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can cause freezer burn .
The less air in the bag , the better .
You may be tempted to freeze a glass casserole dish or pan , but only do so if you ’ ve completely cooled it down to room temperature after baking .
Otherwise , you could risk the glass shattering .
Aluminum pans are a better option .
Before you put your room-temp dish in the freezer , seal it well with foil and then put plastic wrap on top of that .
BonAppetit.com says you can even take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ line a baking dish with foil , bake and freeze it , then lift the frozen casserole out of the dish whole , wrap it up tightly , and store it in a freezer bag.
” If you ’ ve got fresh thyme , dill , basil , parsley , cilantro , chives , etc.
, do this : Wash them , chop them finely and pack them into ice cube molds .
Just drizzle a tiny bit of water into each cube , then freeze .
When you ’ re ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a hot pan and they ’ ll dissolve .
You can also blend herbs into room temperature butter , roll the butter into a log between parchment paper , and freeze it .
When you ’ re ready to top your salmon with some dill butter or your baked potato with chive butter , just chop off a slice and you ’ re good to go .
In the refrigerator : This will take the longest , but it ’ s arguably the safest method .
Some items , depending on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this way .
How long will frozen meals last in the freezer ?
The internet is full of helpful guides that tell us how long our food will last in the freezer , but the USDA says those guides aren ’ t referring to safety at all .
That ’ s because all frozen food is safe to eat , provided it was safe to eat at the time it was frozen .

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The coronavirus outbreak and its resulting self-quarantines have sent us all flocking to grocery stores to stock up on food and prepare our pantries. We’ve been sharing recipes you can make with shelf-stable foods in your pantry like tuna, pasta, rice and beans, but you shouldn’t forget about another valuable item in the kitchen ― your freezer.
Some recipes lend themselves to freezing perfectly, such as casseroles, soups, stews, chilis, meatballs and pasta dishes ― here are a few of our favorites. But keep in mind that a recipe doesn’t have to be labeled “freezer-friendly” to be freezable. You can freeze virtually anything (though the aforementioned foods maintain their flavor and texture the best after being reheated). Buy fresh ingredients now while they’re still in stores, then cook some dishes and stash them in your freezer for a time when you may not be able to access fresh fruits, vegetables and meats as easily.
There are just a few things to keep in mind when it comes to preparing foods for your freezer. Here’s everything you need to know about food containers, how long the food will last, how to thaw it and more.
How To Prepare Food For Freezing
It’s important to let hot food cool to room temperature before putting it in your freezer. A hot dish of lasagna, for example, will raise the temperature of the freezer, making the food in it less safe.
Follow these helpful guidelines from allrecipes.com for safe freezing:
Use only specialty freezer wrappings. They should be both moisture-proof and vapor-proof.
Leave as little air as possible in the packages and containers. When freezing liquids in containers, allow a small amount of head room for expansion. When using freezer bags, be sure to remove as much air as possible before closing.
Wrap solids foods like meats and baked goods tightly in foil before you bag them.
Use rigid containers with an airtight lid and keep the sealing edge free from moisture or food to ensure proper closure.
Secure wrapped packages and containers with freezer tape, and write the dish and the date on the tape with a marker.
In many cases, meats and fish wrapped by the grocer or butcher need no extra attention before freezing. However, meat wrapped on Styrofoam trays with plastic wrap will not hold up well to freezing. If the food you want to freeze was not specially wrapped, then rewrap them at home.
Freeze in small containers with no more than a 1-quart capacity to ensure that freezing takes place in a timely manner (i.e., within four hours). Food that is 2 inches thick will take about two hours to freeze completely.
In addition, never, ever freeze in glass jars unless they’re explicitly freezer-safe, as the glass could shatter (particularly if you’re freezing a liquid like soup, which could expand as it freezes). Instead, use plastic containers or a freezer-safe zip-seal plastic bag.
Soups, Stews and Chilis
Freezer bags are a great option here. Pour your soup into a few different bags to keep them manageable in your freezer, and you’ll be able to stack them easily when it comes time to save some room. They also make single-serving thawing a breeze.
Cooked Meat, Poultry and Fish
Freezer bags are also your best bet for these items, because they can seal airtight around the meat, eliminating air gaps that can cause freezer burn. The less air in the bag, the better.
Cooked poultry — 4 months
Uncooked poultry parts — 9 months
Uncooked whole poultry — 12 months
Cooked meat — 2 to 3 months
Uncooked roasts — 4 to 12 months
Uncooked steaks or chops — 4 to 12 months
Uncooked ground meat — 3 to 4 months
Casseroles and Baked Pasta Dishes
You may be tempted to freeze a glass casserole dish or pan, but only do so if you’ve completely cooled it down to room temperature after baking. Otherwise, you could risk the glass shattering. Aluminum pans are a better option. Before you put your room-temp dish in the freezer, seal it well with foil and then put plastic wrap on top of that. BonAppetit.com says you can even take it one step further: You can “line a baking dish with foil, bake and freeze it, then lift the frozen casserole out of the dish whole, wrap it up tightly, and store it in a freezer bag.”
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Rimma_Bondarenko via Getty Images If you're freezing lasagna that you baked in a glass dish, be very careful. It needs to cool completely before you freeze it.
Fresh Herbs
If you’ve got fresh thyme, dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, chives, etc., do this: Wash them, chop them finely and pack them into ice cube molds. Just drizzle a tiny bit of water into each cube, then freeze. When you’re ready to use them, just toss them into a hot pan and they’ll dissolve.
You can also blend herbs into room temperature butter, roll the butter into a log between parchment paper, and freeze it. When you’re ready to top your salmon with some dill butter or your baked potato with chive butter, just chop off a slice and you’re good to go.
How to thaw frozen food
The USDA’s guide to safe thawing recommends the following methods:
In the refrigerator: This will take the longest, but it’s arguably the safest method. Some items, depending on their size, could take days to defrost this way.
In cold water: This is a little faster. Place the frozen food in a leak-proof bag and put it in a large container of cold water.
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In a microwave on the defrost setting: This is the fastest method, but you must cook your food immediately after it’s defrosted.
How long will frozen meals last in the freezer?
The internet is full of helpful guides that tell us how long our food will last in the freezer, but the USDA says those guides aren’t referring to safety at all. That’s because all frozen food is safe to eat, provided it was safe to eat at the time it was frozen.
“Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only,” according to the USDA. “Food stored constantly at 0 degrees Fahrenheit will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.”
But in case you’re interested in how long your food will remain at its highest quality, refer to this chart:


huffpost--2020-03-13--Emily Blunt Has One Big Orange Regret From Her Wedding Day

Emily Blunt has only one regret from her wedding day : her budget fake tan .
The actor chatted Wednesday with James Corden on “ The Late Late Show ” about her upcoming 10th wedding anniversary with John Krasinski .
Corden asked if , looking back , Blunt would change anything about her special day , which took place in Lake Como , Italy , in July 2010 .
“ I got a bad spray tan , and I would probably change ... that , ” Blunt said .
“ I look at the pictures and it just has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skin colors.
” “ Why was I on a budget on my wedding day ?
” she asked , explaining that the tan had been a DIY job .
It was just “ seeping orange ” on her white dress in the European summer heat , she added .
“ Oh , it was terrible .
Yeah , it was bad.
” Blunt and Krasinski began dating in 2008 and became engaged in August 2009 , then married the following year .
They share two daughters , Violet , 3 , and Hazel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting their new film this week , “ A Quiet Place Part II , ” but they announced Thursday its release had been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic .

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Emily Blunt has only one regret from her wedding day: her budget fake tan.
The actor chatted Wednesday with James Corden on “The Late Late Show” about her upcoming 10th wedding anniversary with John Krasinski.
Corden asked if, looking back, Blunt would change anything about her special day, which took place in Lake Como, Italy, in July 2010.
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“I got a bad spray tan, and I would probably change... that,” Blunt said. “I look at the pictures and it just has an orange hue that is unnatural to normal skin colors.”
“Why was I on a budget on my wedding day?” she asked, explaining that the tan had been a DIY job. It was just “seeping orange” on her white dress in the European summer heat, she added.
“Oh, it was terrible. Yeah, it was bad.”
Blunt and Krasinski began dating in 2008 and became engaged in August 2009, then married the following year. They share two daughters, Violet, 3, and Hazel, 6.
The pair had been promoting their new film this week, “A Quiet Place Part II,” but they announced Thursday its release had been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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huffpost--2020-03-13--Iraq Army Says U.S. Strikes Kill 5 Security Forces, 1 Civilian

BAGHDAD ( AP ) — Iraq ’ s military said five security force members and a civilian were killed early Friday in a barrage of U.S. airstrikes launched hours after a rocket attack killed and wounded American and British servicemen at a base north of Baghdad .
An Iran-backed Shiite militia group vowed to exact revenge for the U.S. strikes , potentially signalling another cycle of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out inside Iraq .
U.S. officials said the airstrikes ’ intended targets were mainly weapons facilities belonging to Kataib Hezbollah , the militia group believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on Camp Taji base .
However , Iraq ’ s military said the strikes killed three Iraqi army commandos and two federal police officers .
A Shiite endowment in the holy city of Karbala said the strikes resulted in the death of one civilian in an airport complex being constructed by the endowment .
A gaping crater was left in the wake of the U.S. airstrike outside Karbala ’ s defunct airport .
Iraqi forces inspected an area covered in shards of glass and debris .
Kataib Hezbollah did not immediately comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Nujaba , an Iran-backed militia group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. , vowed to retaliate with “ an eye for an eye ” in a statement Friday .
The Iraqi military statement also said the U.S. strikes wounded five militia members belonging to the Popular Mobilization Units , an umbrella group that comprises an array of Iraqi militia groups , some of them Iran-backed .
Wednesday ’ s attack on Camp Taji was the deadliest to target U.S. troops in Iraq since a late December rocket attack on an Iraqi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set in motion a series of tit-for-tat attacks that brought Iraq to the brink of war .
A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad then killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani , a top commander responsible for expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast .
Iran struck back with a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq , the Islamic Republic ’ s most direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran .
The U.S. and Iran stepped stepped back from further attacks after the Soleimani incident .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when U.S.-Iran tensions had cooled , that the killing of Americans constituted a red line that could spark more violence .
Iraq ’ s military and senior officials condemned Friday ’ s airstrikes , saying they were in breach of the country ’ s sovereignty , potentially reversing an ease in U.S.-Iraq diplomatic tensions that reached fever pitch following the assassination of Soleimani on Iraqi soil .
“ The pretext that this attack came as a response to the aggressive action targeting Taji Camp is a false one , and leads to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation , ” the statement said .
Iraq ’ s caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has already ordered an investigation into the rocket attack on Camp Taji , calling it “ a very serious security challenge and hostile act.
” Iraq ’ s presidency said the continual violations of sovereignty constituted a “ serious weakening ” of the state ’ s capabilities during a time when the country is facing unprecedented challenges politically , economically and by the coronavirus pandemic .
Senior political leaders Ammar al-Hakim of the Hikma Movement and Muqtada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warned against turning Iraq into an arena for conflict and called for restraint .

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s military said five security force members and a civilian were killed early Friday in a barrage of U.S. airstrikes launched hours after a rocket attack killed and wounded American and British servicemen at a base north of Baghdad.
An Iran-backed Shiite militia group vowed to exact revenge for the U.S. strikes, potentially signalling another cycle of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out inside Iraq.
U.S. officials said the airstrikes’ intended targets were mainly weapons facilities belonging to Kataib Hezbollah, the militia group believed to be responsible for Wednesday’s attack on Camp Taji base.
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However, Iraq’s military said the strikes killed three Iraqi army commandos and two federal police officers. A Shiite endowment in the holy city of Karbala said the strikes resulted in the death of one civilian in an airport complex being constructed by the endowment.
A gaping crater was left in the wake of the U.S. airstrike outside Karbala’s defunct airport. Iraqi forces inspected an area covered in shards of glass and debris.
Kataib Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the airstrikes. But Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iran-backed militia group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., vowed to retaliate with “an eye for an eye” in a statement Friday.
The Iraqi military statement also said the U.S. strikes wounded five militia members belonging to the Popular Mobilization Units, an umbrella group that comprises an array of Iraqi militia groups, some of them Iran-backed.
Wednesday’s attack on Camp Taji was the deadliest to target U.S. troops in Iraq since a late December rocket attack on an Iraqi base that killed a U.S. contractor and set in motion a series of tit-for-tat attacks that brought Iraq to the brink of war.
American airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah led to protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad then killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top commander responsible for expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast. Iran struck back with a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq, the Islamic Republic’s most direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
The U.S. and Iran stepped stepped back from further attacks after the Soleimani incident. A senior U.S. official said in late January, when U.S.-Iran tensions had cooled, that the killing of Americans constituted a red line that could spark more violence.
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Iraq’s military and senior officials condemned Friday’s airstrikes, saying they were in breach of the country’s sovereignty, potentially reversing an ease in U.S.-Iraq diplomatic tensions that reached fever pitch following the assassination of Soleimani on Iraqi soil.
“The pretext that this attack came as a response to the aggressive action targeting Taji Camp is a false one, and leads to escalation without providing any solutions to control the situation,” the statement said.
Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has already ordered an investigation into the rocket attack on Camp Taji, calling it “a very serious security challenge and hostile act.”
Iraq’s presidency said the continual violations of sovereignty constituted a “serious weakening” of the state’s capabilities during a time when the country is facing unprecedented challenges politically, economically and by the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement called on the international community to support Iraq in respecting its sovereignty.
Senior political leaders Ammar al-Hakim of the Hikma Movement and Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Saeroon bloc, warned against turning Iraq into an arena for conflict and called for restraint.
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In Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, the hub of a six-month protest movement, crowds gathered to reject the U.S. strike.


huffpost--2020-03-13--Trevor Noah Hails Trump's Coronavirus 'Blooper' Reel As 'Comedy Gold'

Trevor Noah on Thursday shredded President Donald Trump ’ s Oval Office speech on his plan to stem the spreading coronavirus , wondering : “ How is it possible to have so many things wrong in a prewritten speech ?
” But Noah ’ s favorite of all were Trump ’ s “ bloopers , ” captured on camera before and after his speech , which “ The Daily Show ” host deemed “ comedy gold.
” Noah first had the audience groaning with a list of all the things in the actual speech the president screwed up : Warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned from much of Europe when the new policy only pertains to foreign nationals ; that cargo would also be prohibited when it won ’ t , and that health insurance companies would eliminate co-pays for coronavirus treatments , when he meant to say tests .
Noah called Trump ’ s speech about as “ calming as a pack of fireworks dropped in bag of cocaine.
” The best was Trump caught on camera fiddling with a binder beforehand asking if it looked better as a prop — or not .
Then he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pen mark on his shirt .
“ Anybody have any white stuff ?
” Trump called out .
Noah quipped : “ First of all , his name is Mike Pence , OK , Mr. President ?
” Check out the video , complete with bloopers , above .

Trevor Noah on Thursday shredded President Donald Trump’s Oval Office speech on his plan to stem the spreading coronavirus, wondering: “How is it possible to have so many things wrong in a prewritten speech?”
But Noah’s favorite of all were Trump’s “bloopers,” captured on camera before and after his speech, which “The Daily Show” host deemed “comedy gold.”
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Noah first had the audience groaning with a list of all the things in the actual speech the president screwed up: Warning that travelers to the U.S. would be banned from much of Europe when the new policy only pertains to foreign nationals; that cargo would also be prohibited when it won’t, and that health insurance companies would eliminate co-pays for coronavirus treatments, when he meant to say tests.
Noah called Trump’s speech about as “calming as a pack of fireworks dropped in bag of cocaine.”
The best was Trump caught on camera fiddling with a binder beforehand asking if it looked better as a prop — or not. Then he dropped the F-bomb when he suddenly noticed a pen mark on his shirt. “Anybody have any white stuff?” Trump called out.
Noah quipped: “First of all, his name is Mike Pence, OK, Mr. President?”


huffpost--2020-03-13--6 Experts On Why We Panic About The Coronavirus But Not About The Climate Crisis

Coronavirus is a simple , scary threat — and we ’ re not the villain .
Climate change is too complex .
People struggle to see the impacts .
People see climate change as an “ over there ” and “ future ” problem .
We pay attention when there ’ s a disaster and then we move on .
I hope we don ’ t wait for that but start on it now .
What do we need to do now ?
We need to get massive public support for action .
For that to happen , we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics that divide America and reach out to people ― those with and without college degrees ― including those who have not yet accepted climate change science or the data .
It is doable .
People care more about their health than the climate , even though climate change is a health threat .
The coronavirus can set a very real example for climate change .
And governments and organizations are more likely to act if they know that their constituents demand it .
Businesses are waking up to climate change because investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply chains and central banks are warning of the potential impact on financial stability .
We still have a long way to go before we solve the problem , but the momentum is picking up .
We need to use that momentum and accelerate it .

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We face two global crises. In both cases, the science is crystal clear, the economic and social impacts are devastating, and people are dying. But our reactions to them are very different.
One is the coronavirus pandemic. While many governments have been criticized for slow and uneven responses to the virus, they are now scrambling into action with emergency plans and stimulus programs.
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People are washing their hands, practicing social distancing and hoarding hand sanitizer.
Compare this to the world’s response to the climate crisis. Evidence of climate breakdown is coming at us fast. The polar ice caps are melting six times faster than in the 1990s, according to data published on Wednesday; whole ecosystems threaten to collapse in the next few decades; and scientists say we may be approaching tipping points that would irreversibly lock us into a far hotter world.
People are already dying. Around seven million people a year die from air pollution. The World Health Organization has predicted there will be around 250,000 additional deaths from 2030 to 2050 due to malaria, diarrhea, heat stress and malnutrition caused by climate change.
Yet despite this tide of bleak and terrifying scientific evidence, climate change action has been painfully slow, muted and wholly out of step with the urgency of the situation.
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We spoke to six experts in climate change to try to understand why people cannot muster the kind of strong and wide-reaching action for the environment that they can for the coronavirus. Here’s what the experts had to say:
Coronavirus is a simple, scary threat — and we’re not the villain.
Lise Van Susteren Lise Van Susteren
Lise Van Susteren, a Washington, D.C., psychiatrist with a special interest in the psychological effects of climate change
The coronavirus has immediate, visible consequences. This is a very powerful message. There are also empowering actions we can take ― many of us can take immediate life-saving or health-preserving actions. So we pounce on this, and it’s much easier than something [like the climate crisis] which is more nebulous.
It is a sudden specific threat. Everybody is doing something or talking about it and this creates a social norm to take action. And nothing is more powerful than what the people around you are doing. We have a herd mentality, we’re social animals.
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We also don’t have to understand the details of the DNA of the virus, we’ve had experience of the flu. We know that this happens, we can see people getting sick, we’ve heard of people dying ― it’s something that is not unknown to us. It doesn’t require a scientific mind to understand.
But the climate crisis, in many aspects, is complex scientifically, even if the outcomes are not.
“The climate crisis is much more psychologically demanding. ... It requires compassion to imagine what is going to be down the road and to drive ourselves to take action now for the benefits that we may not personally receive.” - Lise Van Susteren
The climate crisis is also much more psychologically demanding. Being fearful is really easy ― that is a very primitive impulse. It’s an immediate and powerful way to muster everything that we’ve got to focus on the threat.
To tackle climate change, however, requires compassion. It requires compassion to imagine what is going to be down the road and to drive ourselves to take action now for the benefits that we may not personally receive but we can understand, intellectually and out of empathy, will happen to others.
Ultimately, the coronavirus is easy, it’s specific, it’s identifiable, it allows us to take empowering actions so we’re more willing to go there.
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And we’re not the villain ― the virus is ― so it decriminalizes us. We’re all complicit with climate change.
Climate change is too complex. People struggle to see the impacts.
Marshall Shepherd UGA Photographic Services
Marshall Shepherd, professor of geography and atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia, international expert in weather and climate, and past president of the American Meteorological Society
People are very dismissive of threats seen as creeping or long-term. This [coronavirus] seems like a more immediate threat even as climate change is now impacting extreme weather events or sea level.
The nature of climate change is too complex, but we do see hints of concern when there are weather disasters. It is more of a psychology issue than a meteorology/climate science one. People struggle to see current impacts of climate change on weather, health, agriculture and other kitchen table issues.
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People see climate change as an “over there” and “future” problem.
Steve Trent EJF
Steve Trent, co-founder and director of the U.K.-based Environmental Justice Foundation
For most of the previous two decades, people have viewed climate change as “over there” and in the future. They hadn’t understood the near-term implications. It’s exactly like a pension ― the benefits of saving when you’re 20 are magnified tenfold. The benefits of acting earlier would have been much, much greater but they didn’t have that foresight.
I also think that while some political leaders are incredibly smart, astute and engaged, across a broad landscape of political complexion very few have been bedded in the science and even those that have felt more compelled by near-term economic gain. They haven’t been able to grapple with it intellectually or emotionally.
And the political lobbying, the behind-the-scenes activism by fossil fuel companies ― married with the financial institutions that, even now, are doing all they can to resist the so-called “stranded assets” that they will get if we move rapidly out of carbon ― has been the political game-changer of the second half of the 20th century and into the present.
Anyone who doesn’t understand that is really not living in the real world.
Trillions of dollars have been invested in oil, in one way or another, and the architecture of our current industrial regime. It is that as much as anything else that has controlled political and economic decision-making. And that’s why nobody’s taking climate seriously.
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It’s exactly why they are taking the coronavirus seriously. Because there, it’s not just a demand-side thing, it’s a supply-side thing, and they see their assets being weakened because of the inability to get people in to carry on producing them.
We pay attention when there’s a disaster and then we move on.
Ram Ramanathan Ram Ramanathan
Ram Ramanathan, the Edward A. Frieman endowed presidential chair in climate sustainability at the University of California, San Diego
The coronavirus is current and happening now. For climate change, which has been happening for decades, we pay attention when there is a weather disaster and then move on. Likewise, if COVID-19 lingers on beyond this summer, we will also move on.
Is there a lesson to be learned from COVID-19 for climate change? I have predicted that the warming will cross the dangerous threshold by 2030. When that happens ― and I am more than 50% certain it will ― climate change will move into our living rooms, and there will be panic and a huge cry for action.
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I hope we don’t wait for that but start on it now. What do we need to do now? We need to get massive public support for action. For that to happen, we need to unpack climate change from all the politics that divide America and reach out to people ― those with and without college degrees ― including those who have not yet accepted climate change science or the data. It is doable.
People care more about their health than the climate, even though climate change is a health threat.
Robert Gifford Robert Gifford
Robert Gifford, professor of psychology and environmental studies at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada
My first response to the question is immediacy. Even though so far the virus is far away for many, the threat seems more salient and has the potential to make an important impact sooner.
My second response is journalism. All are doing their job, no criticism, but just the sheer amount of coverage is putting it in everyone’s face (but don’t touch it!).
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My third response is that most people care more about their health than climate change, even though climate change is also a threat to health and is now near the top of concerns.
My broader answer is the “Dragons of Inaction” ― a term I use to describe the set of psychological barriers that people use for not engaging in climate-positive behavior, even those actions they agree would be helpful. These include lack of knowledge of the problem, fear that changes will cost us, mistrust and numbness.
The coronavirus can set a very real example for climate change.
Michele Wucker Michele Wucker
Michele Wucker, author of “The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore”
With climate change and the coronavirus, things seem to go slowly until all of a sudden they go fast. While they’re still going slowly is when you have a chance to stop them ― but, of course, people don’t usually act until they are about to get trampled.
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The coronavirus can set a very real example for climate change: The sooner you act, the more chance you have of surviving. This is true for individuals, organizations and governments alike. Everyone needs to buy in.
In both cases, individual people are more likely to act if they feel they can do something concrete that makes a difference, especially when it affects them personally.
“The thing about obvious dangers is that we don’t pay attention soon enough because they are so obvious” - Michele Wucker
With the virus, it’s washing hands thoroughly, working from home, avoiding crowds. With climate change, it’s tracking the emissions you create and reducing them.
And governments and organizations are more likely to act if they know that their constituents demand it. Businesses are waking up to climate change because investors are recognizing the potential impact on their supply chains and central banks are warning of the potential impact on financial stability. We still have a long way to go before we solve the problem, but the momentum is picking up. We need to use that momentum and accelerate it.
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The thing about obvious dangers is that we don’t pay attention soon enough because they are so obvious. It’s like living next to a train that you learn to tune out so you can sleep. But when we remember that we are vulnerable to missing the obvious, we can consciously change that.
I ask people to imagine a giant rhino charging at them, with the name of whatever their challenge is written on its forehead. What’s your gray rhino? And what are you doing about it?
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huffpost--2020-03-13--What 'Distance Learning' Looks Like For Students Without Computers Or Wi-Fi

James Hill III , a first-year student at Borough of Manhattan Community College , depends on a delicate routine to make his life work .
He doesn ’ t have the money to buy a computer or access Wi-Fi , so he does his homework at his college ’ s library .
In addition to taking a full course load , he works three jobs to pay for his living expenses and is saving up to transfer to a four-year college .
On Wednesday , that routine was thrown into disarray .
To combat the spread of coronavirus , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D ) announced that all SUNY and CUNY schools ― like the one Hill attends ― would be switching to a “ distance learning model , ” meaning that all classes would move online .
The SUNY and CUNY closures will affect hundreds of thousands of students .
And students without access to a computer or internet are scrambling to figure out what the rest of the semester will look like for them .
“ I don ’ t know how these schools are going to be able to ensure , if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have access to the technology they need , ” she said .
A 2019 survey of over 10,000 community college students , conducted by Wolff-Eisenberg and other researchers , found that only 78 % of students reported having reliable access to a computer or laptop .
Eight in 10 students said they would find it helpful to be able to borrow or use Wi-Fi hotspots from their university .
Over 70 % said they would like to borrow computers .
“ I can ’ t imagine this is going to impact Harvard the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the community colleges that are closing , ” she said .
“ It felt like they pulled the rug out from underneath me , ” says Borough of Manhattan Community College student James Hill III .
Campuses around the country have switched to online learning due to the spread of the coronavirus .
The Borough of Manhattan Community College has said it will keep its library open .
Hill anticipates that between using the computers there to access classes and do homework , he will spend upwards of 15 hours a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he would use one of the city ’ s other public libraries for computer access as backup .
But as of Friday , all New York Public Library locations are closed through March .
“ It felt like they pulled the rug out from underneath me , ” Hill told HuffPost of the school closures announcement .
“ There ’ s other students in my situation or similar situations .
I think there could be a significant number of people at the library.
” Hill is still waiting to hear back about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One can be done virtually ― a paid advocacy fellowship with the group Young Invincibles .
Some of the second ― working with the CUNY Census Corps ― can also be done over the computer .
He hasn ’ t heard about the third ― a work-study job provided through campus .
It ’ s money he relies on .
He lives in an apartment with a roommate in the Bronx .
Without the cash , he will have to turn to an older brother for help with the basics .
Sara Goldrick-Rab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sociology at Temple University , is concerned that after a life-altering event like this , some students will choose not to go back to school at all .
“ It ’ s going to be so financially stressful … some of these students are not going to return to college , ” said Goldrick-Rab .
“ This is a make it or break it moment for them .
”

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James Hill III, a first-year student at Borough of Manhattan Community College, depends on a delicate routine to make his life work. He doesn’t have the money to buy a computer or access Wi-Fi, so he does his homework at his college’s library. In addition to taking a full course load, he works three jobs to pay for his living expenses and is saving up to transfer to a four-year college.
On Wednesday, that routine was thrown into disarray. To combat the spread of coronavirus, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that all SUNY and CUNY schools ― like the one Hill attends ― would be switching to a “distance learning model,” meaning that all classes would move online.
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The SUNY and CUNY closures will affect hundreds of thousands of students. And students without access to a computer or internet are scrambling to figure out what the rest of the semester will look like for them.
Community college students like Hill are the ones Christine Wolff-Eisenberg, manager of surveys and research at the nonprofit research organization Ithaka S+R, says she’s particularly worried about.
“I don’t know how these schools are going to be able to ensure, if they do move online, all their students have access to the technology they need,” she said.
A 2019 survey of over 10,000 community college students, conducted by Wolff-Eisenberg and other researchers, found that only 78% of students reported having reliable access to a computer or laptop. Eight in 10 students said they would find it helpful to be able to borrow or use Wi-Fi hotspots from their university. Over 70% said they would like to borrow computers.
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“I can’t imagine this is going to impact Harvard the same way as it will impact some of the community colleges that are closing,” she said.
“It felt like they pulled the rug out from underneath me,” says Borough of Manhattan Community College student James Hill III. Campuses around the country have switched to online learning due to the spread of the coronavirus. Philip Pacheco via Getty Images
The Borough of Manhattan Community College has said it will keep its library open. Hill anticipates that between using the computers there to access classes and do homework, he will spend upwards of 15 hours a week at the library. Under normal circumstances, he would use one of the city’s other public libraries for computer access as backup. But as of Friday, all New York Public Library locations are closed through March.
If his university library closes, Hill doesn’t know what he’ll do.
“It felt like they pulled the rug out from underneath me,” Hill told HuffPost of the school closures announcement. “There’s other students in my situation or similar situations. I think there could be a significant number of people at the library.”
Hill is still waiting to hear back about what will become of his jobs. One can be done virtually ― a paid advocacy fellowship with the group Young Invincibles. Some of the second ― working with the CUNY Census Corps ― can also be done over the computer. He hasn’t heard about the third ― a work-study job provided through campus.
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It’s money he relies on. He lives in an apartment with a roommate in the Bronx. Without the cash, he will have to turn to an older brother for help with the basics.
“It’s very important for me to get paid,” Hill said.
Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University, is concerned that after a life-altering event like this, some students will choose not to go back to school at all.
“It’s going to be so financially stressful … some of these students are not going to return to college,” said Goldrick-Rab. “This is a make it or break it moment for them.”
Hill is on the dean’s list. He is involved in multiple student organizations and clubs. He’s in awe of his professors, whom he describes as hardworking and dedicated.
Nonetheless, “I don’t know if professors have thought about people like me,” he said.


huffpost--2020-03-13--25 Baking Recipes For Self-Quarantine And Self-Care

Researchers are still learning the specifics of how COVID-19 is transmitted , but we do know that the disease can @ @ @ @ @ released from the nose or mouth when someone coughs , sneezes or exhales ― as @ @ @ @ @ s no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through food .
If you stock up on the @ @ @ @ @ amount of groceries , a self-quarantine doesn ’ t have to leave you hungry .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ re healthy , it can be a chance to finally spend a few extra @ @ @ @ @ master some baking recipes that you haven ’ t had the time to tackle .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got plenty of time to binge-watch “ The Great British Bakeoff ” and @ @ @ @

Researchers are still learning the specifics of how COVID-19 is transmitted, but we do know that the disease can spread through droplets that are released from the nose or mouth when someone coughs, sneezes or exhales ― as of now, there’s no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through food.
If you stock up on the right foods and the right amount of groceries, a self-quarantine doesn’t have to leave you hungry. In fact, if you’re healthy, it can be a chance to finally spend a few extra hours in the kitchen and master some baking recipes that you haven’t had the time to tackle. After all, now you’ve got plenty of time to binge-watch “The Great British Bakeoff” and find some inspiration.


huffpost--2020-03-13--Louisiana Is First State To Postpone Primary Over Coronavirus

The state ’ s April 4 primary will be moved to June 20 , and its May 9 general election will be held on July 25 , Ardoin said at a press conference .
“ Today I have certified that a state of emergency exists , and requested that the governor issue an executive order postponing the elections this spring , ” he said .
The decision , he continued , “ has been made out of an absolute abundance of caution for Louisiana ’ s voters , voting officials and the general public as a whole.
” Over half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioners are age 65 and over , he noted , adding that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that people in that age group are more vulnerable to COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
As of Friday , there are 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana , up from 19 the day before .
Moving the entire state onto absentee ballots was not a viable option this close to the election , Ardoin said , even with the state ’ s past experience moving elections because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
John Bel Edwards ( D ) told The Advocate that state officials think early April “ could potentially be the height ” of the outbreak in Louisiana .
Moving the election is an “ extraordinary measure but one we feel is prudent , ” she said .
Officials in Arizona , Florida , Illinois and Ohio ― all of which are holding primaries on March 17 , this coming Tuesday ― said later on Friday that they do not plan to delay their elections .
“ Americans have participated in elections during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the secretaries of state said in a joint statement , “ and based on the best information we have from public health officials , we are confident that voters in our states can safely and securely cast their ballots in this election.
” Following the Louisiana news , Wyoming Democrats announced on Friday that they are suspending the in-person portion of their April 4 caucuses and only accepting votes by mail or via ballot drop-off on March 28 and April 4 .
Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our @ @ @

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Louisiana is the first state to postpone its 2020 primary over the coronavirus outbreak, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said Friday.
The state’s April 4 primary will be moved to June 20, and its May 9 general election will be held on July 25, Ardoin said at a press conference.
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“Today I have certified that a state of emergency exists, and requested that the governor issue an executive order postponing the elections this spring,” he said.
The decision, he continued, “has been made out of an absolute abundance of caution for Louisiana’s voters, voting officials and the general public as a whole.”
Over half of the state’s Election Day commissioners are age 65 and over, he noted, adding that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that people in that age group are more vulnerable to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. As of Friday, there are 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana, up from 19 the day before.
Moving the entire state onto absentee ballots was not a viable option this close to the election, Ardoin said, even with the state’s past experience moving elections because of hurricanes.
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A spokesperson for Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) told The Advocate that state officials think early April “could potentially be the height” of the outbreak in Louisiana. Moving the election is an “extraordinary measure but one we feel is prudent,” she said.
Officials in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio ― all of which are holding primaries on March 17, this coming Tuesday ― said later on Friday that they do not plan to delay their elections.
“Americans have participated in elections during challenging times in the past,” the secretaries of state said in a joint statement, “and based on the best information we have from public health officials, we are confident that voters in our states can safely and securely cast their ballots in this election.”
Following the Louisiana news, Wyoming Democrats announced on Friday that they are suspending the in-person portion of their April 4 caucuses and only accepting votes by mail or via ballot drop-off on March 28 and April 4.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Recovery In The Time Of The Coronavirus

Recovery In The Time Of The Coronavirus

SEATTLE ― “ Keep coming back , it works if you work it , and we ’ re all worth it !
” That ’ s the chant at the end of most meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Seattle area , done while everyone is still holding hands after saying the Serenity Prayer .
It ’ s an affirmation that a program rooted in mutual , in-person support can keep people sober , as long as they keep coming back to meetings .
But here at the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the United States , where county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50 people and imposed strict requirements on smaller gatherings , mutual support groups like AA , Narcotics Anonymous and Smart Recovery are struggling to cope .
Meetings that were once held in churches , hospitals and retirement homes have been canceled or moved online .
Those gatherings that continue to take place are sparsely attended as residents hunker down .
Several regional events for AA and NA members have been canceled or postponed .
Brian , an AA member in Snohomish , Washington , just northeast of Seattle , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly meeting since the outbreak hit the area a few weeks ago , and he ’ s feeling the effects .
“ Anytime I don ’ t get to go to meetings , it impacts me , whether I think so or not , ” said Brian , who asked that we use his first name only .
“ The meeting where I usually go is in a hospital , so that ’ s canceled.
” Amir Islam , a Seattle NA member who works in the music business , said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay away from groups .
On Friday , he said he had just chaired a meeting where people tried to avoid touching at the beginning but ended the meeting with their arms around each other — the NA equivalent to AA ’ s hand-holding ritual .
“ People were doing the elbow bump and the fist bump at the beginning , and then it goes from that to everyone hugging at the end , ” he said .
“ It was like , ‘ Really ?
Are we avoiding each other or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AA is nonhierarchical .
Decisions are mostly made at the level of individual groups , not by the organization itself .
Because of this , AA as an organization is making no formal recommendations to members about whether to meet or how to modify meetings in response to the pandemic .
A spokeswoman for AA ’ s New York-based General Service Office , the closest thing the organization has to a coordinating body , said the office has heard from individual groups that they are “ making changes to their formats , adapting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing alternative plans in case they are temporarily unable to meet in person .
”

SEATTLE ― “Keep coming back, it works if you work it, and we’re all worth it!”
That’s the chant at the end of most meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Seattle area, done while everyone is still holding hands after saying the Serenity Prayer. It’s an affirmation that a program rooted in mutual, in-person support can keep people sober, as long as they keep coming back to meetings.
But here at the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the United States, where county officials have officially banned all gatherings of more than 50 people and imposed strict requirements on smaller gatherings, mutual support groups like AA, Narcotics Anonymous and Smart Recovery are struggling to cope.
Meetings that were once held in churches, hospitals and retirement homes have been canceled or moved online. Those gatherings that continue to take place are sparsely attended as residents hunker down. Several regional events for AA and NA members have been canceled or postponed.
Brian, an AA member in Snohomish, Washington, just northeast of Seattle, said he hasn’t gone to his usual weekly meeting since the outbreak hit the area a few weeks ago, and he’s feeling the effects.
“Anytime I don’t get to go to meetings, it impacts me, whether I think so or not,” said Brian, who asked that we use his first name only. “The meeting where I usually go is in a hospital, so that’s canceled.”
Amir Islam, a Seattle NA member who works in the music business, said he’s still going to meetings despite warnings to stay away from groups. On Friday, he said he had just chaired a meeting where people tried to avoid touching at the beginning but ended the meeting with their arms around each other — the NA equivalent to AA’s hand-holding ritual.
“People were doing the elbow bump and the fist bump at the beginning, and then it goes from that to everyone hugging at the end,” he said. “It was like, ‘Really? Are we avoiding each other or not?’”
The structure of AA is nonhierarchical. Decisions are mostly made at the level of individual groups, not by the organization itself. Because of this, AA as an organization is making no formal recommendations to members about whether to meet or how to modify meetings in response to the pandemic. A spokeswoman for AA’s New York-based General Service Office, the closest thing the organization has to a coordinating body, said the office has heard from individual groups that they are “making changes to their formats, adapting when and how they meet, and developing alternative plans in case they are temporarily unable to meet in person.”


huffpost--2020-03-16--How Not To Be The Drive-Thru Customer Everyone Hates

Since some U.S. states and cities are shuttering sit-down restaurants and bars to minimize the spread of the coronavirus , lines at drive-thrus might get long .
Since everyone is in the same boat ― though in different cars ― it ’ s imperative to practice courtesy and efficiency to keep things running smoothly .
Here are some tips to keep you from being “ that person ” in the drive-thru , courtesy of Reader ’ s Digest and WikiHow : If time is of the essence , the fastest drive-thru chains , according to QSR Magazine , are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , Burger King , Taco Bell , Carl ’ s Jr. , KFC , Arby ’ s , Hardee ’ s , McDonald ’ s , Chick-fil-A .
And so you know , if you ’ re picking up food from a national chain , The New York Times points out there ’ s a good chance the person serving you doesn ’ t get paid sick leave if they come down with an illness .
That means employees might choose to go to work sick , and your idea of picking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulate you from catching what they have .

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Since some U.S. states and cities are shuttering sit-down restaurants and bars to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, lines at drive-thrus might get long.
Since everyone is in the same boat ― though in different cars ― it’s imperative to practice courtesy and efficiency to keep things running smoothly.
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Here are some tips to keep you from being “that person” in the drive-thru, courtesy of Reader’s Digest and WikiHow:
Know what you want to order in advance. Don’t spend a lot of time at the order window hemming and hawing over whether you want a burger or chicken sandwich. The people behind you are hungry, too.
When you’re placing your order, speak clearly. Drive-thru intercoms have notoriously bad audio and repeats of “I want a cheese Danish” is probably the last thing the person behind you wants to keep hearing.
Turn off your radio or music when ordering to ensure employees can hear your order clearly.
When it’s time to move to the checkout window, don’t dilly-dally. And make sure you are close enough to the window so you don’t waste time getting out of the car to reach your food.
Don’t suddenly decide to change your order at the window. That’s going to force the restaurant employees to start everything over and slow things down.
If you’re ordering a big spread for lots of people, don’t make your cashier deal with multiple payment cards. You can split up the bill with your other dining partners later. That’s what Venmo is for.
Make sure to have your method of payment ready so you don’t have to fumble around in a pocket or purse looking for cash or a credit card.
If it’s raining, turn off your windshield wipers at the window. Splashing the person serving you isn’t cool.
If you’re ordering drinks, clear out your cup holder in advance.
Mistakes will happen, so be patient with restaurant employees if anything goes amiss. Remember, they’re working so that you can go home and self-quarantine.
If time is of the essence, the fastest drive-thru chains, according to QSR Magazine, are in order: Dunkin’, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr., KFC, Arby’s, Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A.
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huffpost--2020-03-16--3 States Move Forward With Primaries Despite Coronavirus

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) — Florida , Illinois , Ohio and Arizona are pushing forward with Tuesday ’ s primary election , although the coronavirus is causing headaches as polling places need to be moved and workers afraid of catching the disease drop out .
The governors ’ offices in those states said Monday they are not planning to delay the primary despite the viral outbreak .
Georgia already postponed next week ’ s primary and Louisiana has postponed its scheduled April 4 primary .
“ This is unprecedented so it ’ s not clear exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though it likely would involve a request to the attorney general to seek a court order , ” Dietrich said .
As of Monday morning , Ohio ’ s primary election was on , according to Jon Keeling , a spokesman for Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose .
LaRose , however , postponed a Monday morning press briefing until the afternoon , when he will appear with GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine .
( Update : Ohio governor announced Monday afternoon that the state would postpone Tuesday ’ s primary elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polling places is already expected to be light Tuesday as only the Democrats have a contested presidential primary and that is down to two contenders : Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders .
Add in that the states were pushing early voting and vote-by-mail even before the outbreak and many fewer voters are expected to appear Tuesday at their neighborhood precinct .
In Florida and Arizona , the states moved polling places located in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to avoid exposing the residents to outsiders .
For some counties like Volusia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — by far that state ’ s largest — that became a benefit .
The counties combined those polling places with others nearby , meaning they needed fewer workers .
Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose previously ordered all county boards of elections to offer curbside voting Tuesday to any voter “ concerned about coming inside a polling location.
” His latest order also required the boards to accept absentee ballots from hospitalized voters and others who are self-quarantined until 3 p.m. on Election Day .
One Ohio county , Cincinnati ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own ink pens , blue or black only , to mark their ballots and urges people to bring their own hand sanitizer to the polls .
In Arizona , the Republican governor and Democratic secretary of state released a video early Monday outlining the steps they ’ re taking to keep voters safe .
Those include measures to keep distance between people , frequent hand washing by poll workers and disinfecting equipment regularly .
They also asked voters to wash hands before and after visiting the polls .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s well worth it because our democracy is worth it , ” Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in the video .
“ We ’ ve purchased gallons of rubbing alcohol and are having them transferred to spray bottles , ” said spokesperson Steve Vancore .
“ We ’ ve ordered cases upon case of Clorox wipes so polls workers can frequently wipe down the equipment and wipe down the voting booths.
” The states have also been pushing early voting and voting by mail as a way to curtail any crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the effort paid off with 118,000 voters casting ballots in the mail in the city , which is an all-time record , according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: A Maricopa County Elections Department sign directs voters to a polling station on November 8, 2016 in Cave Creek, Arizona. Ralph Freso via Getty Images
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona are pushing forward with Tuesday’s primary election, although the coronavirus is causing headaches as polling places need to be moved and workers afraid of catching the disease drop out.
The governors’ offices in those states said Monday they are not planning to delay the primary despite the viral outbreak. Georgia already postponed next week’s primary and Louisiana has postponed its scheduled April 4 primary.
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In Illinois, there’s no process for canceling or postponing the vote, said Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the State Board of Elections.
“This is unprecedented so it’s not clear exactly what the process would be for changing it, though it likely would involve a request to the attorney general to seek a court order,” Dietrich said.
As of Monday morning, Ohio’s primary election was on, according to Jon Keeling, a spokesman for Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose. LaRose, however, postponed a Monday morning press briefing until the afternoon, when he will appear with GOP Gov. Mike DeWine. (Update: Ohio governor announced Monday afternoon that the state would postpone Tuesday’s primary elections until June 2).
Turnout at the polling places is already expected to be light Tuesday as only the Democrats have a contested presidential primary and that is down to two contenders: Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Add in that the states were pushing early voting and vote-by-mail even before the outbreak and many fewer voters are expected to appear Tuesday at their neighborhood precinct.
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The states are taking steps to limit voter and poll worker exposure to the coronavirus.
In Florida and Arizona, the states moved polling places located in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to avoid exposing the residents to outsiders. For some counties like Volusia, Florida, and Maricopa, Arizona — by far that state’s largest — that became a benefit. The counties combined those polling places with others nearby, meaning they needed fewer workers.
Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose previously ordered all county boards of elections to offer curbside voting Tuesday to any voter “concerned about coming inside a polling location.” His latest order also required the boards to accept absentee ballots from hospitalized voters and others who are self-quarantined until 3 p.m. on Election Day.
One Ohio county, Cincinnati’s Hamilton, invited voters to use their own ink pens, blue or black only, to mark their ballots and urges people to bring their own hand sanitizer to the polls.
In Arizona, the Republican governor and Democratic secretary of state released a video early Monday outlining the steps they’re taking to keep voters safe. Those include measures to keep distance between people, frequent hand washing by poll workers and disinfecting equipment regularly. They also asked voters to wash hands before and after visiting the polls.
“It’s been a lot of work but it’s well worth it because our democracy is worth it,” Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in the video.
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Broward County, Florida, is stocking its 421 polling locations with extra supplies, including 4,000 rolls of paper towels, gloves and more than 400 bars of soap.
“We’ve purchased gallons of rubbing alcohol and are having them transferred to spray bottles,” said spokesperson Steve Vancore. “We’ve ordered cases upon case of Clorox wipes so polls workers can frequently wipe down the equipment and wipe down the voting booths.”
The states have also been pushing early voting and voting by mail as a way to curtail any crowds at the polls. Chicago election officials say the effort paid off with 118,000 voters casting ballots in the mail in the city, which is an all-time record, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Supreme Court Postpones Arguments Because Of Coronavirus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Supreme Court announced Monday that it is postponing arguments for late March and early April because of the coronavirus , including fights over subpoenas for President Donald Trump ’ s financial records .
Other business will go on as planned , including the justices ’ private conference on Friday and the release of orders in a week ’ s time .
Some justices may participate by telephone , the court said in a statement .
Six of the nine justices are 65 and older , at higher risk of getting very sick from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention .
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg , 87 , and Stephen Breyer , 81 , are the oldest members of the court .
There is no new date set for the postponed arguments .
The building has been closed to the public since last week .
The only other time the 85-year-old court building was closed for arguments was in October 2001 , when anthrax was detected in the court mailroom .
That led the justices to hold arguments in the federal courthouse about a half mile from the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a thorough cleaning , the court reopened .
In 1918 , when the court still met inside the Capitol , arguments were postponed for a month because of the flu pandemic .
In the nation ’ s early years , in August 1793 and August 1798 , adjustments were made because of yellow fever outbreaks , the court said .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court announced Monday that it is postponing arguments for late March and early April because of the coronavirus, including fights over subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records.
Other business will go on as planned, including the justices’ private conference on Friday and the release of orders in a week’s time. Some justices may participate by telephone, the court said in a statement.
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Six of the nine justices are 65 and older, at higher risk of getting very sick from the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, and Stephen Breyer, 81, are the oldest members of the court.
There is no new date set for the postponed arguments. The building has been closed to the public since last week.
The only other time the 85-year-old court building was closed for arguments was in October 2001, when anthrax was detected in the court mailroom. That led the justices to hold arguments in the federal courthouse about a half mile from the Supreme Court,
Within a week and after a thorough cleaning, the court reopened.
In 1918, when the court still met inside the Capitol, arguments were postponed for a month because of the flu pandemic. In the nation’s early years, in August 1793 and August 1798, adjustments were made because of yellow fever outbreaks, the court said.


huffpost--2020-03-16--Bailouts Aren't The Problem: Corporations Are

Andrew Kelly / Reuters A trader reacts as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on March 11 , 2020 .
The global economy is hurtling toward a disaster of historic proportions .
Supply chains have been broken , businesses have been shuttered , and every measure that the United States can now take to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic will bring economic life to a standstill .
If people are to avoid contact with one another ― an essential step at this point ― they can not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to work , the economy does not function .
Large corporations are announcing widespread layoffs and the economists at Goldman Sachs now predict a 5 % contraction in the U.S. economy over the next three months ― the worst such drop since the administration of President Herbert Hoover .
There is no way for any nation to survive what is coming without massive economic support from the government .
The obvious , easy remedies include immediate financial relief for working families .
An infusion of cold , hard cash to households can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession , but it can rescue families and maintain some foundation for commercial society .
People still have bills to pay when the economy craters .
This simple task has already proved too arduous for President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , whose first effort at a paid sick leave bill can only be described as pathetic , providing only partial sick leave benefits to just 20 % of the American workforce .
One can hope that the escalating severity of the crash will persuade them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have swayed radicals like Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , who on Monday proposed sending $ 1,000 a month to every American adult for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak .
But helping households is the easy part .
Other necessary rescue measures will prove far more controversial .
Many , if not most , sectors of American industry will require government help to make it to the other side of this collapse .
And the prospect of public assistance to massive corporations will not sit well with a public still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank bailouts .
Rescuing American industry should not be inherently scandalous .
Most people want there to be airlines and factories and banks and retailers when this crisis is over , and only a tiny percentage of hardline libertarian true believers would resist the idea that the government should actually do something about a once-in-a-century pandemic .
It is not the bailouts that should be offensive , but American industry itself .
Over the past 35 years , policymakers in both parties have encouraged risky corporate excess that has delivered tremendous short-term gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leaving companies unprepared for the unexpected .
Economists sometimes refer to this practice as “ efficiency , ” but to ordinary people , it looks more like theft .
In 2018 , corporations spent a record $ 806 billion buying back their own stock ― by far the highest number on record , followed by $ 710 billion in 2019 , the second-highest annual total on record .
This is an economy-wide phenomenon .
American Airlines spent $ 15 billion buying back its own stock between 2014 and 2020 .
In June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to buy back over $ 29 billion of its own stock over the next 12 months .
The Marriott hotel chain buys back 5 % of its stock every year and has been increasing direct cash payouts to shareholders for more than eight years .
Pharmaceutical companies spend more money on stock buybacks than they do on research for new drugs .
Which is great , if you own stock .
But about half of U.S. households don ’ t ― not even through retirement plans ― while only 22 % own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher up the wealth ladder you go , the fewer people there are , and the bigger their chunk of stock ownership .
Bailing out this inequality machine is quite reasonably abhorrent to most people .
They struggle to make ends meet as these companies pay workers barely enough to get by so that people at the top can become fabulously wealthy .
And when a disaster comes , it is vile to think of the richest people in the world being rewarded for their recklessness .
The solution is not to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with very strong strings attached .
Corporations who accept public money in any form ― be it emergency lending from the Federal Reserve , cash bailouts from Congress , or creative new tax breaks ― should be prohibited from paying dividends or buying back stock for , say , a decade .
Executive compensation from the past decade should be clawed back , and , most importantly , shareholders in these companies should be wiped out .
Stock prices should go to zero , and new stock issued to prevent old shareholders from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and retirement accounts could swap their stock for government bonds before being wiped out to prevent the stock write-offs from hitting retirees .
The U.S. economy can not and should not go through the coronavirus pandemic without government help .
As John Maynard Keynes observed more than 80 years ago , there is no natural bottom to an economic downturn .
Things can — and in this case , in particular — will keep getting worse until our leaders step in to restore economic order .
But we must ensure that aid benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zach Carter is the author of “ The Price of Peace : Money , Democracy , and the Life of John Maynard Keynes , ” available now for pre-order from Random House .

A trader reacts as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on March 11, 2020. Andrew Kelly / Reuters
The global economy is hurtling toward a disaster of historic proportions. Supply chains have been broken, businesses have been shuttered, and every measure that the United States can now take to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic will bring economic life to a standstill.
If people are to avoid contact with one another ― an essential step at this point ― they cannot go to work. If people do not go to work, the economy does not function. Large corporations are announcing widespread layoffs and the economists at Goldman Sachs now predict a 5% contraction in the U.S. economy over the next three months ― the worst such drop since the administration of President Herbert Hoover.
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There is no way for any nation to survive what is coming without massive economic support from the government. The obvious, easy remedies include immediate financial relief for working families. An infusion of cold, hard cash to households cannot at this point prevent a devastating recession, but it can rescue families and maintain some foundation for commercial society. People still have bills to pay when the economy craters.
This simple task has already proved too arduous for President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose first effort at a paid sick leave bill can only be described as pathetic, providing only partial sick leave benefits to just 20% of the American workforce. One can hope that the escalating severity of the crash will persuade them to take economic support seriously. It seems to have swayed radicals like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who on Monday proposed sending $1,000 a month to every American adult for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.
But helping households is the easy part. Other necessary rescue measures will prove far more controversial. Many, if not most, sectors of American industry will require government help to make it to the other side of this collapse. And the prospect of public assistance to massive corporations will not sit well with a public still stinging from the outrages of the 2008 bank bailouts.
Rescuing American industry should not be inherently scandalous. Most people want there to be airlines and factories and banks and retailers when this crisis is over, and only a tiny percentage of hardline libertarian true believers would resist the idea that the government should actually do something about a once-in-a-century pandemic.
Advertisement
It is not the bailouts that should be offensive, but American industry itself. Over the past 35 years, policymakers in both parties have encouraged risky corporate excess that has delivered tremendous short-term gains to shareholders and executives while shortchanging workers and leaving companies unprepared for the unexpected. Economists sometimes refer to this practice as “efficiency,” but to ordinary people, it looks more like theft. In 2018, corporations spent a record $806 billion buying back their own stock ― by far the highest number on record, followed by $710 billion in 2019, the second-highest annual total on record.
“It is not the bailouts that should be offensive, but American industry itself.”
This is an economy-wide phenomenon. American Airlines spent $15 billion buying back its own stock between 2014 and 2020. In June of last year, J.P. Morgan announced plans to buy back over $29 billion of its own stock over the next 12 months. The Marriott hotel chain buys back 5% of its stock every year and has been increasing direct cash payouts to shareholders for more than eight years. Pharmaceutical companies spend more money on stock buybacks than they do on research for new drugs.
Companies could put this money to better use ― investing in new ideas, upgrading equipment or simply paying workers more. Stock buybacks just inflate the short-term value of a company’s shares. If you own stock, they make you richer.
Which is great, if you own stock. But about half of U.S. households don’t ― not even through retirement plans ― while only 22% own at least $25,000 worth. The higher up the wealth ladder you go, the fewer people there are, and the bigger their chunk of stock ownership.
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In short, the primary product of American business is inequality. Our corporations are designed to create a small number of very rich people. Whatever else they produce in the process is incidental.
Bailing out this inequality machine is quite reasonably abhorrent to most people. They struggle to make ends meet as these companies pay workers barely enough to get by so that people at the top can become fabulously wealthy. And when a disaster comes, it is vile to think of the richest people in the world being rewarded for their recklessness.
The solution is not to block the bailouts, but to implement them with very strong strings attached. Corporations who accept public money in any form ― be it emergency lending from the Federal Reserve, cash bailouts from Congress, or creative new tax breaks ― should be prohibited from paying dividends or buying back stock for, say, a decade. Executive compensation from the past decade should be clawed back, and, most importantly, shareholders in these companies should be wiped out. Stock prices should go to zero, and new stock issued to prevent old shareholders from profiting from public largesse. Pension funds and retirement accounts could swap their stock for government bonds before being wiped out to prevent the stock write-offs from hitting retirees.
If you need the government to save you in bad times, you don’t deserve to keep your profits from the good times.
The U.S. economy cannot and should not go through the coronavirus pandemic without government help. As John Maynard Keynes observed more than 80 years ago, there is no natural bottom to an economic downturn. Things can — and in this case, in particular — will keep getting worse until our leaders step in to restore economic order. But we must ensure that aid benefits the public, not the superrich.
Zach Carter is the author of “The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes,” available now for pre-order from Random House.


huffpost--2020-03-16--National Teachers Union Calls For All Schools To Shut Down Immediately

The National Education Association , the largest national teachers union in the country , is calling on all schools to shut down immediately for at least two weeks to combat the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “ has recommended banning all gatherings of more than 50 people , but exempted schools .
We are calling on the CDC to update their guidance and include schools for the safety of everyone , ” said a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García provided to HuffPost .
on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other national teachers union , said earlier in the day that all U.S. schools needed to plan for a shutdown , but stopped short of calling for one immediately .
It said a national school shutdown is “ inevitable.
” “ Closing schools is an agonizing decision , but , with caveats , it ’ s the inevitable and correct one in the midst of this unprecedented national emergency , ” said a statement from AFT President Randi Weingarten .
There are nearly 51 million children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education Statistics .
As of March 15 , some 64,000 schools in the U.S. had closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic , affecting 32.5 million students , according to EdWeek .
Many of the schools that have closed are setting up distance-learning programs so that students can learn remotely , though this can be problematic for families without access to a computer or the internet .
Some schools are also setting up programs to provide breakfast and lunch for students even when classes are canceled .
As of 2017 , nearly 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were members of families living in poverty .
For these families , schools can be a lifeline to childcare , health care and food , in addition to academics .
“ When we close schools , we need to be doubly sure that adequate supports are in place , ” noted Weingarten in a statement .
“ That means services for medically fragile students and other vulnerable children , an emergency support plan for all first responders and healthcare workers to support child care and other needs , access to appropriate testing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packets and specific guidance for online learning.
” “ I have to deal with the anxiety my members are having .
We looked really carefully at the guidance the CDC gave , and we realized it has to be long term , ” AFSA President Ernest Logan told HuffPost .
“ We ’ ve never done this before .
We can handle snow days .
We can handle pipe bursts.
” Last week , the CDC released guidance saying that only long-term school closures of eight weeks or more are likely to mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to medium-term closures , of two to four weeks , do not appear to limit the virus ’ s spread , according to the guidance .
Logan said he hoped that , if anything , perhaps the pandemic would show the public how many services schools are expected to provide with limited resources .
He referenced students who rely on school for showers and hot meals , behavioral and occupational therapy , and basic health needs like care for asthma and eyesight .
“ The crisis has woke up people to say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than just places where people take tests.
’ The problem is there is no backup , ” Logan said .

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The National Education Association, the largest national teachers union in the country, is calling on all schools to shut down immediately for at least two weeks to combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has recommended banning all gatherings of more than 50 people, but exempted schools. We are calling on the CDC to update their guidance and include schools for the safety of everyone,” said a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García provided to HuffPost. on Monday.
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The American Federation of Teachers, the other national teachers union, said earlier in the day that all U.S. schools needed to plan for a shutdown, but stopped short of calling for one immediately. It said a national school shutdown is “inevitable.”
“Closing schools is an agonizing decision, but, with caveats, it’s the inevitable and correct one in the midst of this unprecedented national emergency,” said a statement from AFT President Randi Weingarten.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten (right) and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia (second from right) lead a group to deliver report cards to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Feb. 8, 2018. Alex Wong via Getty Images
The National Education Association represents over 3 million members who work in classrooms across the country. The American Federation of Teachers represents 1.7 million members.
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There are nearly 51 million children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. As of March 15, some 64,000 schools in the U.S. had closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, affecting 32.5 million students, according to EdWeek.
Many of the schools that have closed are setting up distance-learning programs so that students can learn remotely, though this can be problematic for families without access to a computer or the internet. Some schools are also setting up programs to provide breakfast and lunch for students even when classes are canceled. As of 2017, nearly 13 million children under the age of 18 were members of families living in poverty. For these families, schools can be a lifeline to childcare, health care and food, in addition to academics.
“When we close schools, we need to be doubly sure that adequate supports are in place,” noted Weingarten in a statement. “That means services for medically fragile students and other vulnerable children, an emergency support plan for all first responders and healthcare workers to support child care and other needs, access to appropriate testing and care, feeding programs, and learning packets and specific guidance for online learning.”
On Sunday, the American Federation of School Administrators also called for a national school shutdown. The AFSA is a trade union representing around 20,000 school administrators, including principals and vice principals.
“I have to deal with the anxiety my members are having. We looked really carefully at the guidance the CDC gave, and we realized it has to be long term,” AFSA President Ernest Logan told HuffPost. “We’ve never done this before. We can handle snow days. We can handle pipe bursts.”
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Last week, the CDC released guidance saying that only long-term school closures of eight weeks or more are likely to mitigate the spread of the virus. Short- to medium-term closures, of two to four weeks, do not appear to limit the virus’s spread, according to the guidance.
Logan said he hoped that, if anything, perhaps the pandemic would show the public how many services schools are expected to provide with limited resources. He referenced students who rely on school for showers and hot meals, behavioral and occupational therapy, and basic health needs like care for asthma and eyesight.
“The crisis has woke up people to say, ‘Oh my god, schools are more than just places where people take tests.’ The problem is there is no backup,” Logan said.