newyorkpost--2020-04-19--Health care workers face off against anti-lockdown protesters in Colorado

I ’ m just watching the classic games go ’ round and ’ round , ...

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Health care workers on Sunday faced off against protesters calling for an end to Colorado’s coronavirus stay-at-home order.
Two medical workers in scrubs and N95 masks were spotted blocking horn-honking motorists who had gathered at the State Capitol in Denver to challenge the mitigation methods, photos and videos posted on social media show.
“They were blocking the roads until the police force stepped in,” photojournalist Alyson McClaran, who posted images of the exchange on Facebook, told the New York Times.
“People were putting their cars right up against them.”
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Video of the incident showed a woman in an American flag T-shirt hanging out of her car window to yell at the health care workers.
“Go to China if you want communism,” she says, over loud honking.
“You can go to work, why can’t I go to work?” the woman asks, referring to the closure of non-essential businesses in the state.
The workers didn’t appear to respond.
Several hundred demonstrators lined the streets to the city in their vehicles while honking their horns before circling it as pedestrians.
Many waved American flags and held signs that read “End the Virus, Not the Economy” and “We need stability to stay healthy,” according to the Denver Post.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Tua Tagovailoa is most polarizing figure of NFL Draft 2020

As the NFL Draft 2020 draws near , it ’ s open season ...

The slogan, as recently as October, was Tank for Tua. Now, as the NFL draft nears, it has been altered, to Roll the Dice with Tua.
There isn’t a more debated prospect than Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in this year’s draft. Some see a future superstar who produced at a prolific rate when healthy in the nation’s premier conference. Others envision an undersized bust who can’t stay on the field. His mock draft results show how opinions vary on him, from going in the top five to falling into the late teens.
He’s a polarizing figure, the big mystery of an already intriguing draft that will be run virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic that has led to the cancellation or postponement of all sports.
“It’s going to be the million-dollar question,” lead ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said on WEEI radio in Boston.
Most of the questions surround the southpaw’s health. The 22-year-old Hawaiian appeared in just nine games last year due to a high ankle sprain and dislocated hip, both of which required surgery. The year before, he also suffered a high ankle sprain that led to a minor operation. He’s 6-foot and 217 pounds, leading some to believe staying healthy will be a hurdle he can’t overcome, even though he did reportedly get a medical recheck recently at the NFL combine to “overwhelmingly positive” results.
Former Jets and Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum has said “it would be irresponsible to take him in the top 10.” ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who has coached the Jets and Bills, said he is “the biggest gamble in the history of the NFL draft.” Former NFL general manager Mike Lombardi called him “brittle,” listing all his injuries as proof. NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah has Tagovailoa rated higher than Oregon signal-caller Justin Herbert, but still expects Herbert to get selected before Tagovailoa.
There have been rumors the Dolphins will pass on Tagovailoa and select Herbert fifth. The Oregon quarterback is the more traditional quarterback, standing 6-6 and weighing 236 pounds. He doesn’t have the injury concerns of Tagovailoa, but he also lacks the upside.
“Let’s be clear. If Herbert gets picked over Tua in my opinion it’s only about injury,” former Eagles and Browns executive Joe Banner tweeted. “To me Tua is much better on tape. Better feel, more accurate and better movement in the pocket.”
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said the gap between the two is “astronomical.”
“It’s like an ocean,” he said.
When Tagovailoa was on the field for the Crimson Tide, he was brilliant more often than not. He was so dynamic a thrower, coach Nick Saban went to a pass-first attack to take advantage of his skill set.
This past season, he threw for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 71.4 completion percentage in nine games. The year before, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy race, throwing for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, six interceptions and 69.0 completion percentage. And nobody can forget his freshman year, when he backed up Jalen Hurts all the way until halftime of the national championship game. With Alabama trailing Georgia 13-0, he was thrown into the fire, and led the Crimson Tide to a dramatic overtime victory, throwing the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in the extra session.
“From an intangible [standpoint], he’s a 12 out of 10,” ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on a conference call. “The linemen will love him, the receivers will love him, the defensive linemen will love him, the coaching staff will love him, the fan base will love him. I don’t know if I covered a guy who checked every box as far as intangibles are concerned.
“There’s a lot to fall in love with.”
There are also, it seems, just as many reasons to question selecting him. It’s the story of this draft: Who is willing to gamble on Tua Tagovailoa?


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Coronavirus-stricken George Stephanopoulos ignores mask mandate during Hamptons stroll

George Stephanopoulos , who revealed this week he has tested positive ...

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George Stephanopoulos had already irked Hamptons residents by going out in public after his wife contracted COVID-19 — but now the “Good Morning America” anchor is battling the virus himself and is ignoring mandates to wear a mask in public.
The pale-looking ABC newsman was spotted by The Post on Monday afternoon taking a stroll in East Hampton, engrossed in a long conversation on his mobile phone with a mask hanging around his neck.
One outraged witness said Stephanopoulos — who announced he tested positive for the virus last week after his wife, Ali Wentworth, contracted it — was seen leaving his Hamptons home in a pair of shorts and walking for about a mile along East Hampton lanes, with his mask down the entire time.
The witness said, “For somebody who reports on the pandemic every day, and is broadcasting guidelines about safe social distancing, George didn’t really seem to care.
“He was on his own, walking through the lanes and past East Hampton Guild Hall, on his cellphone the whole time, yakking with his mask around his neck.
“He tested positive, his wife tested positive, why can’t he follow the local mandates to wear a mask in public, why can’t he just stay home?”
Related Video George Stephanopoulos tests positive for coronavirus two weeks after wife Ali Wentworth
According to the town of East Hampton website, a mandate for people to wear masks in public was already in place when Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order saying everyone must wear a face covering went into effect on April 17.
Stephanopoulos, 59, has already been accused by a hacked-off neighbor in the Hamptons of not appropriately following social distancing guidelines.
He was spotted visiting a local drugstore on April 10 and then walking his dog on a private golf course prior to his COVID-19 diagnosis, according to the neighbor, Carrie Doyle.
She wrote in a since-deleted Facebook message, “If you know someone’s wife has corona and the wife has been very very sick with it, do you think that the husband should be out at pharmacies picking up prescriptions when the pharmacy delivers and does curbside pickup?”
He was seen at White’s Apothecary in East Hampton wearing a mask and gloves, even though the pharmacy has been offering to deliver medications to protect its staff.
“I was staying home, I was self-monitoring, I never had a temperature, and I never had any of the classic symptoms,” Stephanopoulos told the New York Times about his visit. “I was wearing a mask and gloves in White’s.”
The next day, April 11, he was tested at an urgent care facility in Bridgehampton, and then walked on a golf course near his home.
“I was carrying a mask,” Stephanopoulos said. “I was nowhere near any people.” He then learned he had tested positive and announced his diagnosis on April 13, nearly two weeks after his wife was diagnosed.
Announcing his diagnosis on “GMA,” he said he has been “basically asymptomatic,” unlike Wentworth, who previously described her condition as “pure misery.”
A spokesperson for Stephanopoulos and “GMA” didn’t immediately get back to us.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Pat Kiernan offers to Zoom-officiate weddings for NY1 viewers

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Pat Kiernan is bringing love @ @ @ @ @ The beloved NY1 anchor has offered himself as a wedding officiant over Zoom to couples @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
Kiernan tweeted his officiant certificate over the weekend , saying , “ I @ @ @ @ @ now .
If your routine as a couple includes spending mornings with NY1 and you @ @ @ @ @ it official , let ’ s try to make it happen.
” Kiernan clarified on @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not gon na facilitate that for every New Yorker … but if you @ @ @ @ @ , if you have been watching every morning through your courtship , I ’ ll @ @ @ @

Pat Kiernan is bringing love to these dark times. The beloved NY1 anchor has offered himself as a wedding officiant over Zoom to couples wanting to get hitched in lockdown.
Kiernan tweeted his officiant certificate over the weekend, saying, “I can perform weddings by videoconference now. If your routine as a couple includes spending mornings with NY1 and you’re looking to make it official, let’s try to make it happen.”
Kiernan clarified on air Monday, “I’m not gonna facilitate that for every New Yorker … but if you have a relationship with NY1, if you have been watching every morning through your courtship, I’ll step in.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Mike Bloomberg spent over $1 billion on failed presidential bid

Mike Bloomberg spent more than $ 1 billion on his failed presidential campaign , according to filings on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ mayor ended his bid on March 4 but spent $ 176 million that month anyway @ @ @ @ @ finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission .
That set his roughly four-month campaign @ @ @ @ @ than $ 1.2 billion .
The media mogul , who is estimated to be worth @ @ @ @ @ only one primary — in the tiny island territory of American Samoa , and pocketed @ @ @ @ @ campaign staffers have filed suit against Bloomberg for allegedly reneging on a promise to pay @ @ @ @ @ , even if he weren ’ t the nominee .

Mike Bloomberg spent more than $1 billion on his failed presidential campaign, according to filings on Monday.
The former New York City mayor ended his bid on March 4 but spent $176 million that month anyway, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
That set his roughly four-month campaign’s spending at more than $1.2 billion.
The media mogul, who is estimated to be worth $55 billion, won only one primary — in the tiny island territory of American Samoa, and pocketed just 55 delegates.
Some campaign staffers have filed suit against Bloomberg for allegedly reneging on a promise to pay them through the general election, even if he weren’t the nominee.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--4/20 blues: Pot industry struggles during coronavirus

The unofficial holiday celebrating all things marijuana is Monday , but the coronavirus pandemic has made the special day a time of melancholy .
It was supposed to be a long weekend of festivals and music culminating on April 20 , or 4/20 , the code for marijuana ’ s high holiday .
Instead , it has been reduced to an online replica because of stay-at-home orders to curb the pandemic .
Virtual parties and video chats are replacing vast outdoor smoking sessions to mark the rise of legalization and celebrate cannabis culture .
The origins of the annual celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern California high school friends , who used the code as slang for smoking pot in the early 1970s .
As the nation ’ s emerging legal marijuana market braces for an economic blow from the coronavirus crisis , many consumers are reducing spending or going underground for deals .
Some customers could be especially vulnerable during an economic downturn .
Among cannabis users in states where its legal , 32 percent have incomes below $ 35,000 and only 54 percent have full-time employment , according to BDS Analytics .
Anyone on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid taxes that go with legal purchases and buy from illicit market dealers .
“ Stay home , ” the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws , or NORML , said bluntly .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed threatened arrests : “ We will not tolerate anyone coming to San Francisco for 4/20 this year.
” For businesses , 4/20 is usually their once-a-year Black Friday , when sales soar .
Instead , they are reporting up-and-down buying and pondering an uncertain future .
The pandemic means the world economy could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depression in the 1930s .
In a sign of what ’ s to come , U.S. retail sales overall dropped nearly 9 percent in March — a record .
Millions are out of work .
As for the holiday , “ there ’ s a somber feeling to this one , ” said Jordan Lams , CEO of Pure CA , which specializes in marijuana extracts and does business as Moxie brand products .
Before the outbreak , “ it was going to be the biggest 4/20 in history , ” Lams said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvest Health & Recreation , said he ’ s watching to see if consumers treat marijuana more like beer or toilet paper when money runs short .
When the economy tumbles , beer sales traditionally spike .
With toilet paper , panic-buying might empty shelves but people do not use more of it .
They just buy less later .
It will be a telling year , because no one in the relatively new industry knows if sales will plunge , stay flat or even rise .
“ Do people buy less cannabis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of their daily life ?
” White said .
The uncertainty in the market poses the latest challenge for an industry that ’ s expanded in some form to all but a handful of states .
The risks are spotlighted in California , where businesses contend with hefty taxes , an illicit market that still dwarfs the legal one and a tourism-reliant economy that ’ s crippled by virus restrictions .
Because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level , most banks don ’ t want to do business with pot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coronavirus rescue package that will help other businesses .
Steve DeAngelo , co-founder of Harborside dispensaries in California , said it ’ s difficult to predict what ’ s next , with no template for how cannabis consumers will react in a deep economic downturn .
Still , he notes that the industry has endured for years through times good and bad , even when consumers had only one option : illegal purchases .
Consumers who see marijuana as part of their daily routine will keep coming back , he predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a “ sorting out , ” DeAngelo said .
Companies with strong brands and cash reserves are likely to fare better in a poor economy ; those saddled with heavy debt and that made too-rosy promises to investors will face challenges .
“ There is not going to be an extinction moment , ” DeAngelo said .
“ It ’ s going to prove more resilient than many , many other industries .
”

The unofficial holiday celebrating all things marijuana is Monday, but the coronavirus pandemic has made the special day a time of melancholy.
It was supposed to be a long weekend of festivals and music culminating on April 20, or 4/20, the code for marijuana’s high holiday. Instead, it has been reduced to an online replica because of stay-at-home orders to curb the pandemic.
Virtual parties and video chats are replacing vast outdoor smoking sessions to mark the rise of legalization and celebrate cannabis culture. The origins of the annual celebration are believed tied to a group of Northern California high school friends, who used the code as slang for smoking pot in the early 1970s.
As the nation’s emerging legal marijuana market braces for an economic blow from the coronavirus crisis, many consumers are reducing spending or going underground for deals.
Some customers could be especially vulnerable during an economic downturn. Among cannabis users in states where its legal, 32 percent have incomes below $35,000 and only 54 percent have full-time employment, according to BDS Analytics. Anyone on a tight budget might be more apt to avoid taxes that go with legal purchases and buy from illicit market dealers.
“Stay home,” the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said bluntly. San Francisco Mayor London Breed threatened arrests: “We will not tolerate anyone coming to San Francisco for 4/20 this year.”
For businesses, 4/20 is usually their once-a-year Black Friday, when sales soar. Instead, they are reporting up-and-down buying and pondering an uncertain future.
The pandemic means the world economy could face its worst year since the Great Depression in the 1930s. In a sign of what’s to come, U.S. retail sales overall dropped nearly 9 percent in March — a record. Millions are out of work.
As for the holiday, “there’s a somber feeling to this one,” said Jordan Lams, CEO of Pure CA, which specializes in marijuana extracts and does business as Moxie brand products. Before the outbreak, “it was going to be the biggest 4/20 in history,” Lams said.
Steve White, CEO of Arizona-based Harvest Health & Recreation, said he’s watching to see if consumers treat marijuana more like beer or toilet paper when money runs short.
When the economy tumbles, beer sales traditionally spike. With toilet paper, panic-buying might empty shelves but people do not use more of it. They just buy less later.
It will be a telling year, because no one in the relatively new industry knows if sales will plunge, stay flat or even rise.
“Do people buy less cannabis, or does it become more ingrained as part of their daily life?” White said.
The uncertainty in the market poses the latest challenge for an industry that’s expanded in some form to all but a handful of states.
The risks are spotlighted in California, where businesses contend with hefty taxes, an illicit market that still dwarfs the legal one and a tourism-reliant economy that’s crippled by virus restrictions.
Because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, most banks don’t want to do business with pot companies and they aren’t included in the coronavirus rescue package that will help other businesses.
Steve DeAngelo, co-founder of Harborside dispensaries in California, said it’s difficult to predict what’s next, with no template for how cannabis consumers will react in a deep economic downturn.
Still, he notes that the industry has endured for years through times good and bad, even when consumers had only one option: illegal purchases. Consumers who see marijuana as part of their daily routine will keep coming back, he predicted.
But, for businesses, there will be a “sorting out,” DeAngelo said. Companies with strong brands and cash reserves are likely to fare better in a poor economy; those saddled with heavy debt and that made too-rosy promises to investors will face challenges.
“There is not going to be an extinction moment,” DeAngelo said. “It’s going to prove more resilient than many, many other industries.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Westchester residents sue WHO for alleged coronavirus cover-up

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Three Westchester residents — including a doctor — have filed a class action lawsuit against the World Health Organization , claiming the agency covered up the coronavirus pandemic .
The suit , filed Monday in the federal court in White Plains , also accuses the WHO of gross negligence for its handling and response to the global outbreak .
“ The WHO mishandled and mismanaged the response to the discovery of the coronavirus and upon information and belief , engaged in a cover-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ read part of the suit .
The lawsuit accuses the WHO of “ causing and/or contributing to the subsequent spread of the coronavirus all over the world , including to the United States of America and the State of New York.
” The lead plaintiffs in the suit — Richard Kling , a doctor , Steve Rotker , and Gennaro Purchia — claim they were “ injured and damaged by WHO ’ s negligent conduct.
” Both Kling and Rotker are from New Rochelle — the first coronavirus hot spot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mile-radius coronavirus “ containment zone ” in a part of the community .
On March 2 , attorney Lawrence Garbuz , 50 , was revealed to be the first known carrier in New Rochelle after he attended the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue .
The suit seeks unspecified damages for what they called WHO ’ s “ incalculable ” harm to the roughly 756,000 adult residents in Westchester County who would make up the class .
Chimène Keitner , an international law professor at the University of California , Hastings College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the lawsuit will likely be dismissed because US law affords the WHO “ functional immunity ” from such cases .
Neither the WHO or lawyers representing the plaintiffs responded to requests for comment from Reuters .

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Three Westchester residents — including a doctor — have filed a class action lawsuit against the World Health Organization, claiming the agency covered up the coronavirus pandemic.
The suit, filed Monday in the federal court in White Plains, also accuses the WHO of gross negligence for its handling and response to the global outbreak.
“The WHO mishandled and mismanaged the response to the discovery of the coronavirus and upon information and belief, engaged in a cover-up of the COVID- 19 pandemic in China,“ read part of the suit.
The lawsuit accuses the WHO of “causing and/or contributing to the subsequent spread of the coronavirus all over the world, including to the United States of America and the State of New York.”
The lead plaintiffs in the suit — Richard Kling, a doctor, Steve Rotker, and Gennaro Purchia — claim they were “injured and damaged by WHO’s negligent conduct.”
Both Kling and Rotker are from New Rochelle — the first coronavirus hot spot in the state that in early March had a mile-radius coronavirus “containment zone” in a part of the community.
On March 2, attorney Lawrence Garbuz, 50, was revealed to be the first known carrier in New Rochelle after he attended the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue.
The suit seeks unspecified damages for what they called WHO’s “incalculable” harm to the roughly 756,000 adult residents in Westchester County who would make up the class.
Chimène Keitner, an international law professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, said the lawsuit will likely be dismissed because US law affords the WHO “functional immunity” from such cases.
Neither the WHO or lawyers representing the plaintiffs responded to requests for comment from Reuters.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Former Playboy Playmate Ashley Mattingly dead at 33

Former Playboy Playmate Ashley Mattingly has died , Fox News can confirm .
She was 33 .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ County Medical Examiner ’ s Office said that any toxicology or autopsy into Mattingly ’ @ @ @ @ @ could take anywhere from 30 to 90 days .
Mattingly ’ s twin brother , @ @ @ @ @ tragic news of his sister ’ s passing on Facebook on Sunday , remembering Mattingly @ @ @ @ @ and “ beauty queen.
” Mattingly ’ s sister , Christy Deweese , also wrote @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t find the words to say I will just leave this here @ @ @ @ @ will miss you every day .
Fly high sister , I know you are the @ @ @ @ @ !
”

Former Playboy Playmate Ashley Mattingly has died, Fox News can confirm. She was 33.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office in Austin, Texas, said any toxicology or autopsy into Mattingly’s official cause of death could take anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
Mattingly’s twin brother, Billy, also confirmed the tragic news of his sister’s passing on Facebook on Sunday, remembering Mattingly as a “rockstar” and “beauty queen.”
Mattingly’s sister, Christy Deweese, also wrote on Facebook, “Because I can’t find the words to say I will just leave this here. I love you and will miss you every day. Fly high sister, I know you are the most gorgeous angel in heaven!”


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Never mind the media critics: Team Trump got it right on ventilators

President Trump on Sunday declared that the US is the ...

At a coronavirus-task-force briefing at the beginning of April, White House adviser Jared Kushner explained the approach that would — as events proved — get the country through its ventilator crisis.
The media relentlessly pilloried and mocked him, distorting his words in the process.
Kushner said at one point that states shouldn’t be drawing on the federal stockpile just to hold ventilators in their own reserves (the administration was worried about ventilators sent to New York state not making it to hard-pressed hospitals in the Big Apple).
This led to a flurry of media criticism alleging that Kushner wanted to hoard the federal ventilator stockpile. In a piece for The New Yorker, Susan Glasser predicted that the briefing would “surely go down as one of the administration’s most callous performances.”
Actually, the emphasis on data and shrewd allocation that Kushner discussed at the April 2 briefing has clearly worked.
At the outset, the country was looking at a daunting, perhaps impossible challenge. A chilling briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency early on posited that the United States could be short 130,000 ventilators by April 1. The federal government had about 16,000 ventilators on hand in its stockpile and several thousand more from Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
A couple of insights drove the administration’s effort to get its arms around the problem.
Officials realized, as one White House adviser puts it, that there was “too much guesstimating” going on. Many governors didn’t know how many ventilators their states had and were acting on the normal impulse to have more than enough, just in case.
The administration created a data team. It used hospital billings to estimate how many ventilators were in each state and how many were being utilized, so it didn’t have to depend on perhaps panicky, poorly informed requests from states.
Another important realization was that FEMA could pull off just-in-time delivery. This created a lot of flexibility. The administration could wait to see how things really played out rather than making decisions based on projections weeks in the future.
The media portrayed it as a failure every time the administration gave a state a fraction of its request, but this was a key element of the strategy.
If the administration had tried to meet New York’s initial estimated need for 40,000 additional ventilators, for instance, everything would have gone out the door — and for no good reason.
Another insight was that most ventilators out in the country weren’t being used, since virus hotspots are geographically limited. That meant there was a tremendous capacity to be tapped. This led to the Dynamic Ventilator Reserve. States and hospitals with a safe margin of ventilators not in use could lend them to places that needed them.
The lubricant for the system was a federal guarantee that a hospital lending a ventilator would get a replacement in 24 or 48 hours if it turned out that it needed it back. This removed the fear and the risk of giving up ventilators.
To add to the nation’s overall supply, FEMA acted quickly — much faster than is possible in the regular process — to get so-called notifications to purchase to ventilator manufacturers, so they could start work and hold their inventory, which ensured it wasn’t lost to foreign countries. The Defense Production Act was invoked with General Motors to get production moving as quickly as possible, not backloaded later in the summer.
Last year, according to administration figures, the country produced 30,000 ventilators. This year, it’s going to produce something on the order of 200,000, and they are already coming in.
“The balance now is growing daily,” the White House adviser says of the federal stockpile. “We are going to be swimming in ventilators.”
By any measure, that’s a success, certainly compared with where we thought we would be less than a month ago. If the media weren’t so devoted to gotcha idiocy, more people might know about it.
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez take step in bid to buy Mets

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez appear to be getting serious about buying the Mets .
The power couple retained JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for a possible bid , according to Scott Soshnick of Sportico , two months after The Post first reported A-Rod and J.Lo had emerged as a potential suitor to purchase the team .
Rodriguez , the 44-year-old who grew up a Mets fan before starring for the Yankees , was “ kicking the tires ” on the idea of getting into an upcoming auction for the team , The Post reported in February .
That came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cohen walked away from a $ 2.6 billion deal to purchase 80 percent of the franchise from the Wilpons , who refused to surrender control of the team for the first five years of Cohen ’ s ownership .
Those conditions are not believed to be attached to any future deal .
Rodriguez and Lopez , his fiancèe , the famed 50-year-old recording star and actress , have a combined net worth of around $ 700 million , meaning deeper pockets would have to surround them in order to make a potential purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to buy the Miami Marlins with venture capitalist Bruce Sherman .
“ I will say this , if the opportunity [ to buy the Mets ] came up , I would certainly look at it , ” A-Rod said in March during an appearance on “ The Tonight Show ” with Jimmy Fallon .
Rodriguez flirted with playing for the Mets in 2000 before signing a then-record 10-year , $ 252 million deal with the Texas Rangers .
He was traded to the Yankees four years later , and won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 .
Since his steroid-tainted playing days ended in 2016 , Rodriguez has found success as a baseball analyst and businessman .

Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez appear to be getting serious about buying the Mets.
The power couple retained JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for a possible bid, a source confirmed to The Post on Monday, two months after our newspaper first reported A-Rod and J.Lo had emerged as potential suitors to purchase the team.
“It’s real,” a source with knowledge of the situation told The Post’s Thornton McEnery of the JPMorgan Chase move.
The development was first reported by Scott Soshnick of the business platform Sportico.
Rodriguez, the controversial baseball fixture who grew up a Mets fan before becoming a polarizing star with the Yankees, was “kicking the tires” on the idea of getting into an upcoming auction for the team, The Post reported in February.
Earlier that month, local billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen walked away from a $2.6 billion deal to purchase 80 percent of the Mets from the Wilpons, who refused to surrender control of the team for the first five years of Cohen’s ownership. Cohen still maintains his 8 percent stake in the team and hasn’t completely been ruled out as a potential buyer. No such conditions are believed to be attached moving forward as the Wilpons plan to sell the team in an auction being conducted by the team’s longtime investment banker Allen & Co.
The 44-year-old Rodriguez and his fiancèe, Lopez, the famed 50-year-old recording star and actress, reportedly have a combined net worth of around $700 million, meaning deeper pockets would have to supplement them in order to make a potential purchase work — similar to how Derek Jeter was able to buy the Marlins for $1.2 billion with financial help from venture capitalist Bruce Sherman.
“I will say this, if the opportunity [to buy the Mets] came up, I would certainly look at it,” A-Rod said in March during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.
“Maybe you can buy them with me,” Rodriguez told Fallon. “I need a partner.”
At the time, the idea of A-Rod buying the Mets was believed to be a long shot.
Now, he and Lopez are working with JPMorgan Chase managing director Eric Menell, who is the bank’s co-head of North American media investment banking. A JP Morgan spokesman declined to comment when reached Monday night.
It’s not the first time Rodriguez and the Mets have been linked, as the 14-time All-Star shortstop and third baseman flirted with playing for the Mets in 2000 before signing a then-record 10-year, $252 million deal with the Rangers. He was traded to the Yankees four years later and won a World Series with Jeter and company in 2009.
Since his steroid-tainted playing days ended in 2016, Rodriguez has found success as a baseball analyst with Fox and ESPN, and as a businessman. His investment firm, A-Rod Corp., has invested in numerous real estate deals and tech startups. And perhaps more crucial to his push to buy the Mets, Rodriguez has attended high-profile investment conferences full of big-time potential partners.
The Wilpons purchased the majority of the Mets in 2002, but have mostly been loathed by fans of the team because in recent years, they haven’t spent as much as other big-market teams. The family never seemed to rebound after it was hit hard by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. After the Wilpons and partner Saul Katz were accused of allegedly turning a blind eye to the fraud they benefited from, they reached a settlement to pay $162 million to Madoff’s victims.
Related Video Alex Rodriguez struck out with many celebs before Jennifer Lopez
No other known suitors have emerged as potential candidates to buy the Mets.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Trump blasts criticism of coronavirus testing as partisan attack

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President Trump on Monday blasted criticism of the nation ’ s coronavirus testing as a political smear .
During a White House briefing , the president was asked why he views the issue as a “ political attack , ” despite governors on both sides of the aisle and health experts emphasizing the importance of testing .
“ We are dealing in politics .
We are dealing in the thing called November third of this year… It ’ s called the presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter what I do , where we go , if I came up with a tablet and this thing was gone , they would say ‘ Trump did a terrible job.
’ That ’ s the political soundbite.
” But Trump then discussed criticism from Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , who said he was forced to get the crucial materials from South Korea due to a shortage .
“ He didn ’ t really know [ about federal laboratory testing capacity ] , ” Trump said .
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in testing is necessary and defended the nation ’ s capacity .
“ We don ’ t need so much , ” he said .
“ Democrats and others , they want maximum because they want to be able to criticize.
” The Trump administration on Monday provided governors with a list of labs where they could find additional testing capacity , the president said , adding “ We ’ re in very good shape on testing.
” Vice President Mike Pence claimed the US has “ enough testing capacity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the White House ’ s plan on reopening .
Testing in the nation was bogged down as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struggled to develop its own test in January — warning in early February that kits it had distributed to state labs did not work properly .
It took more than two weeks to resolve the problem , leading to delays in diagnoses through February .
The FDA also did not allow private labs to develop their own tests until Feb. 29 — almost six weeks after the first @ @ @ @

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
President Trump on Monday blasted criticism of the nation’s coronavirus testing as a political smear.
During a White House briefing, the president was asked why he views the issue as a “political attack,” despite governors on both sides of the aisle and health experts emphasizing the importance of testing.
“It’s not bipartisan. It’s mostly partisan,” Trump responded.
“We are dealing in politics. We are dealing in the thing called November third of this year… It’s called the presidential election,” he continued.
“No matter what I do, where we go, if I came up with a tablet and this thing was gone, they would say ‘Trump did a terrible job.’ That’s the political soundbite.”
But Trump then discussed criticism from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, who said he was forced to get the crucial materials from South Korea due to a shortage.
“He didn’t really know [about federal laboratory testing capacity],” Trump said.
The president claimed that “not everyone believes” an increase in testing is necessary and defended the nation’s capacity.
“We don’t need so much,” he said. “Democrats and others, they want maximum because they want to be able to criticize.”
The Trump administration on Monday provided governors with a list of labs where they could find additional testing capacity, the president said, adding “We’re in very good shape on testing.”
Vice President Mike Pence claimed the US has “enough testing capacity” for every state to start phase one of the White House’s plan on reopening.
Testing in the nation was bogged down as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struggled to develop its own test in January — warning in early February that kits it had distributed to state labs did not work properly.
It took more than two weeks to resolve the problem, leading to delays in diagnoses through February.
The FDA also did not allow private labs to develop their own tests until Feb. 29 — almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Washington has no need to fund New York’s wasteful ways

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo will meet President Trump for ...

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With the coronavirus lockdown continuing to erode tax revenues, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has turned up the volume on his demands for a federal bailout of the New York state budget. In a weekend briefing, the governor repeated his estimate that the Empire State will need help closing a deficit of $10 billion to $15 billion. “I don’t have any funding to do what I normally do,” he said.
It’s reasonable to ask for federal help right now. But Congress shouldn’t feel compelled to subsidize what any state or local government “normally” does. New York’s budgetary “normal” would include funding $360 million a year in scheduled increases for unionized state-government employees, plus school aid to help underwrite more than $400 million in raises for teachers and other school-district employees outside the Big Apple.
Then there is Gotham, where Mayor Bill de Blasio is asking for his own federal bailout. His “normal” budget would include $1.5 billion in retroactive payments still owed to teachers and other city employees under Hizzoner’s backloaded first-term sweetheart deal with municipal unions.
Cuomo had good reason to complain that some key provisions of the $2 trillion federal rescue bill passed in late March shortchanged New York. But in repeatedly complaining that the bill provided “zero, nada, niente, zilch” assistance to states, he has been stretching the truth on a multilingual basis.
In fact, the rescue bill also included enhanced federal aid for state K-12 education programs serving disadvantaged students. New York’s share came to $1.1 billion, which translated into a $1.1 billion savings of state funds in Cuomo’s new budget. Even by Albany standards, a billion dollars isn’t exactly “nada,” much less “zilch.”
Of course, that wasn’t nearly enough to solve his growing problem. While all states will grapple with shortfalls due to the economic shutdowns, New York’s 11-digit operating deficit can be blamed in part on the state’s own risky policy choices during the late economic expansion (remember that?).
Cuomo perpetuated New York’s already heavy reliance on the volatile incomes of the highest-earning 1 percent, whose investment gains have crashed with the financial markets. In 10 years of healthy revenue growth, padded by an extraordinary $12 billion in civil penalties paid by various banks, Cuomo did far too little to build up the state’s core budget reserves.
And even before the pandemic hit, he had to close a $6 billion gap caused mainly by his failure to control Medicaid spending.
No one ever said Cuomo lacked nerve — but for sheer chutzpah, he has been outdone by the Illinois state Senate leader, who has asked the feds for $41 billion, including $10 billion to replenish the nearly insolvent Illinois public-pension funds.
New York at least can boast that its main pension system is well-funded by national standards — if only because the state’s highest court rejected an attempt by the current governor’s father, Mario Cuomo, to reduce pension contributions in the early 1990s.
Any federal aid secured by Cuomo and his fellow governors will only amount to a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution. There is a growing consensus that the economy may not be fully back to normal until next year, and tax revenues could easily take years longer to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
Doling out federal aid to states and localities with no strings attached — as Senate Democrats just proposed — would only perpetuate unsustainable spending habits.
In any coming aid package, Congress should shape its own version of a new normal — by attaching at least two conditions designed to foster prudent choices and accountability to taxpayers:
First, stipulate that federal aid otherwise due to any state will be reduced by an amount equal to money spent on higher wages or benefits for current government employees.
Second, require states and large cities to produce budgets that are balanced on the basis of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the same condition New York state imposed on Gotham after the fiscal crisis of the 1970s.
GAAP budgeting isn’t in itself a guarantee of good results. But tighter accounting will make it much harder for New York and other states to engage in the kind of fiscal gimmickry digging them into bigger holes in the future.
E.J. McMahon is research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy and a Manhattan Institute adjunct fellow. Twitter: @EJMEJ


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Wealthy Harvard gets a bailout — while the rest of us struggle

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said it was his idea to ...

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One thing our new normal has made inarguably clear: The gap between the haves and have-nots is becoming more painful and more intractable with each passing day.
Our latest example comes courtesy of Harvard University, wealthiest in the nation, with an endowment of $40 billion.
Guess which institute of higher learning is getting a coronavirus bailout?
Yep. Harvard has been granted, and is accepting, $8.7 million in federal aid — and only half of that must be reserved for emergency financial aid for students. Consider that in fiscal year 2019, Harvard spent $1.9 billion of its endowment covering the gaps for students in need and ended the year with a nearly $300 million surplus.
Meanwhile, 22 million Americans are suddenly unemployed, many waiting on a $1,200 federal rescue check — which Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin implied could hold most Americans over for 10 weeks. Newly jobless New Yorkers in particular have struggled to even file for unemployment, so overloaded is the state Department of Labor system.
Amid this devastation to the lower and middle classes, big businesses have availed themselves of money designated for the small business program, which hit its (current) $350 million cap three days ago. Anyone who missed out — and many did, due to the Small Business Administration website crashing, structural logjams and dense amounts of paperwork required — need not apply anytime soon.
“The SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations,” said SBA spokeswoman Jennifer Kelly. “Similarly, we are unable to enroll new PPP lenders at this time.”
Know who didn’t miss out on SBA loans? Large chain restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris steakhouse ($20 million loan, $468 million in sales last year, approximately 5,600 employees), Potbelly ($10 million loan, sales of $410 million last year, 6,000 employees — and, the same day that loan came through, the company paid a $100,000 signing bonus to a new executive), and Shake Shack ($10 million loan, sales of $574.6 million last year, 6,101 employees).
Only Shake Shack, in a face-saving move, is returning its PPP loan, “so that those restaurants that need it most can get it now,” said CEO Randy Garutti, even as he argued that Shake Shack, with about 45 workers per restaurant, “could and should apply to protect as many of our employees’ jobs as possible.”
Technically, that may be true, but the optics and the reality — true small-business owners desperately trying to navigate a complex, bureaucratically sclerotic network while national multimillion corporations easily swoop in and make off with millions — are grotesque.
It all feels far too reminiscent of 2008, the federal government bailing out big banks while millions of ordinary Americans lost their jobs, their health insurance, their savings, their homes. We were supposed to learn a lesson from that kind of top-down safety net.
As Lev Menand and Ganesh Sitaraman recently wrote in The American Prospect, the federal government must not miss this chance to prioritize Main Street. “Stabilizing household balance sheets,” they write, “will address one of the roots of [this] crisis and lay the foundation for economic recovery.”
Yet in the kind of illogic specific to the federal government, it’s not like the Congressional Oversight Commission has any oversight here. Commission member Bharat Ramamurti told NPR over the weekend that the commission “does not have jurisdiction over the small-business program.” Then what’s it for?
Furthermore, Ramamurti said he sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Reserve last week, asking for details as to which companies they’re lending money to and how they are managing these loans.
But just like a laid-off waitress or bartender calling the unemployment office, Ramamurti has gotten no answer.
Over the weekend, PBS reran “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” the stupendous multi-part documentary by Ken Burns. One episode chronicled, in terrifying detail, how close FDR — and the Americans who so desperately relied on his New Deal — came to losing minimum wage, the National Labor Relations Act, Social Security.
Watching from our new vantage point, a diseased America on the verge of experiencing an economic apocalypse more savage than the Great Depression, it no longer seems unthinkable that such resistance, such callousness, would again befall the neediest among us.
Yet nearly a century later, the little guy still struggles to get through.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Jets must act fast before Jamal Adams war gets uglier

Jets general manager Joe Douglas said he still wants Jamal ...

Joe Douglas still wants Jamal Adams to be a Jet For Life.
And most Jets fans want Jamal Adams to be a Jet For Life.
But the $64 million question now is this:
Does Jamal Adams want to be a Jet For Life if the Jets do not show him the money, and show him the money now?
“I’ve made it known that the plan would be for Jamal to be here long term,” Douglas said. “And again, I’ve also made it known that I have to do what’s in the best interests of this team. If other teams call to talk about players, I’ll listen. But heading into this draft, my intent isn’t to move any players. But if a team calls, we’re gonna have conversations.”
Douglas doesn’t need my advice on this, but I’ll give it to him for free anyway:
If somebody makes you an offer you can’t refuse, don’t refuse it.
A first-round pick and a pair of second-rounders, for example.
Sam Darnold is untouchable.
A safety is not.
“I feel quarterback’s the most important position in all of professional sports, and I feel like we have a very good young player in Sam Darnold,” Douglas said. “My opinion on Jamal has been consistent since I arrived here. Jamal’s an unbelievable young player. Again, our plan is to keep Jamal here a long time.”
And you know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and the Jets?
Adams’ plan is to become the league’s highest-paid safety, and ASAP, and word leaking out that he won’t participate in the voluntary, virtual OTAs beginning Monday should be viewed as a shot across the green-and-white bow.
“The highlighted word’s ‘voluntary,’ ” Douglas said diplomatically.
Everyone knows that Adams, 24, is a terrific young player. The fiery leader of Gregg Williams’ defense. A dawg who plays with defiance and patience and carries a chip the size of the Empire State Building on his shoulders. If you’re wearing a different jersey, he doesn’t like you. Only two career interceptions? Former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones has two INTs over five seasons and the Dolphins signed him to a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent deal. Adams did have 6.5 sacks last season and stole the ball from Daniel Jones and took it 25 yards to pay dirt, remember?
Adams has made the case to become the NFL’s highest-paid safety, $15 million per year at the minimum, for however long that would last, leapfrogging Eddie Jackson ($14.6M), Kevin Byard ($14.1M), Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins ($14M each).
But here’s the fly in Adams’ ointment: Douglas has contract control over him for 2020 ($3.5 million) and 2021 ($9.9 million for his fifth-year option), and then a potential franchise tag in 2022.
If the plan to keep Adams a Jet For Life remains intact after Thursday night’s virtual NFL draft, Douglas will need to conduct a Zoom meeting with him to get a better read on his mindset.
“The plan is gonna be to connect with Jamal at some point after the draft,” Douglas said.
Adams loves the bright lights and the big stage. You should always want to keep your homegrown stars. You want players who hate to lose more than they love to win. But Douglas needs to find out exactly how sick of losing Adams is. The Jets are 16-32 over his three seasons. A far cry from his glorious LSU days.
Douglas will not be held hostage by a player who is not all-in. If Adams decides he sees no light at the end of the financial tunnel, the last thing Douglas and Adam Gase need is a summer distraction should there be training camp.
In which case, Jet For Life becomes Jet For Strife.
“Nothing’s changed,” Douglas said.
Remember Adams’ tweet at October’s trade deadline?
“The Rams don’t take calls on Aaron Donald. The Patriots don’t take calls on Tom Brady. I hold myself in high regard. That’s how I look at myself.”
That’s part of what makes him a great player. But it’s not how Joe Douglas looks at him. And shouldn’t be.
“I haven’t had any conversations recently with Jamal. I will say that our voluntary offseason begins April 27 and the highlighted word’s voluntary.”
Jet For Life still your plan?
“Nothing’s changed.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--There’s just no end to China’s outrages

There’s just no end to China’s outrages

If Beijing ’ s role in the pandemic leaves any doubt about its horrific nature , the arrest Saturday of more than a dozen of Hong Kong ’ s biggest advocates for democracy should put an end to that , once and for all .
The arrests include 71-year-old media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 81-year-old Martin Lee , considered the father of Hong Kong democracy — all on bogus charges for their involvement in democracy protests last year .
It ’ s the biggest crackdown since the mass protests began , after Chief Executive Carrie Lam , with Beijing behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow extradition of the regime ’ s critics to the mainland .
When China got control of Hong Kong from Britain , it promised a “ one-country , two-system ” arrangement and no meddling in Hong Kong ’ s internal affairs .
But as Benedict Rogers noted in The Post on Monday , it now claims that doesn ’ t apply to the Chinese government bodies overseeing Hong Kong — effectively negating the whole deal .
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put it : “ Beijing and its representatives in Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
” China ’ s message is clear : Demand freedom at your own risk .
At this point , is there anything redeeming about this regime ?

If Beijing’s role in the pandemic leaves any doubt about its horrific nature, the arrest Saturday of more than a dozen of Hong Kong’s biggest advocates for democracy should put an end to that, once and for all.
The arrests include 71-year-old media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 81-year-old Martin Lee, considered the father of Hong Kong democracy — all on bogus charges for their involvement in democracy protests last year.
It’s the biggest crackdown since the mass protests began, after Chief Executive Carrie Lam, with Beijing behind her, tried to ram through legislation to allow extradition of the regime’s critics to the mainland.
When China got control of Hong Kong from Britain, it promised a “one-country, two-system” arrangement and no meddling in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
But as Benedict Rogers noted in The Post on Monday, it now claims that doesn’t apply to the Chinese government bodies overseeing Hong Kong — effectively negating the whole deal.
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put it: “Beijing and its representatives in Hong Kong continue to take actions inconsistent with commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.”
China’s message is clear: Demand freedom at your own risk. At this point, is there anything redeeming about this regime?


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--A pre-election season presidential history primer

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) April 30 , 1789 , George Washington became president .
Eventually played by Jeff Daniels in the 2000 TV movie “ The Crossing , ” we ’ re all familiar with this Founding Father .
Second was John Adams , who was given a lovely portrayal by Paul Giamatti in a miniseries , reigned from 1797 to 1801 .
Cow-milking farmboy , adopted patrician airs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had zero respect for the vice president , and was the first inhabitant of the White House .
Fifth president .
James Monroe .
1817 to 1825 .
He grabbed Florida from Spain so at least did good for our seniors .
But in his own old age , he went bust in NYC and had to apply for a congressional grant to pay off debts .
Sixth president .
John Quincy Adams .
1825 to 1829 .
Unforgiving fighter .
Cold , austere , haughty , proprietary .
Crippled by partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , my namesake got swept out of office .
17th president .
Andrew Johnson .
1865 to 1869 .
Southern senator racist .
Congress voted to impeach him , but may Nancy Pelousy know Senate acquittal was decided to uphold the cogency and dignity of the office for posterity .
18th president .
Ulysses S. Grant .
1869 to 1877 .
Boozer .
Unkempt .
Neglectful .
Graft , scandal , corruption , bad associates — maybe because he had to overcome his lousy first name .
But we must be nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYC .
21st president .
Chester Alan Arthur .
1881 to 1885 .
Social .
Always wanting a grander place , and fancy people did his bidding without question .
But , prepping along the way , Chester carefully got no dirt on his own hands .
Grover Cleveland was our 22nd ( and 24th ) president .
1885 to 1889 .
USA in a depression .
Companies , banks failing , factories shutting , farms foreclosing , gold supply dwindling .
Solution ?
Hard money .
Sound currency .
Poor Grover tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1897 to 1901 .
Acquired Puerto Rico from Spain , Samoan islands from Germany , took over the Pacific ’ s Wake Island , annexed Hawaii and helped us to the Philippines .
He was very busy .
27th president .
William Howard Taft .
1909 to 1913 .
Progressives opposed his leadership .
Controlling party machinery , he fought the Progressives .
Lost .
And said : “ Glad to be going .
This is the loneliest place in the world.
” 29th president .
Warren Harding .
1921 to 1923 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teapot Dome scandal , corruption , wrongdoing , highest tariffs and the limitation of immigration .
30th president .
Calvin Coolidge .
1923 to 1929 .
Agriculture was depressed , mortgages frequent .
No great talker yet , he said : “ There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody , anywhere , anytime.
” Gerald Ford was our 38th president from 1974 to 1977 .
He said we ’ re “ a country of laws not men.
” He pardoned Nixon ( a bit later portrayed by pre-scandal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frank Langella ) .
But couldn ’ t handle inflation , industry slowdown and USA ’ s depression .
There was no further Ford in White House future .
39th president .
Jimmy Carter .
1977 to 1981 .
Pardoned conscientious objectors .
Lifted travel bans to Cuba and North Korea .
Peanut farmer , folksy , wears sweaters , carries his own bags .
Nice gentleman — but so what .
Because of our system of election , and locals de Blasio and Cuomo itchy for that someday office , remember it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
And may Democrats also know to send Biden a 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. floor plan .
In case time comes and he can ’ t locate the urinal .
Only in America , kids , only in America .

April 30, 1789, George Washington became president. Eventually played by Jeff Daniels in the 2000 TV movie “The Crossing,” we’re all familiar with this Founding Father.
Second was John Adams, who was given a lovely portrayal by Paul Giamatti in a miniseries, reigned from 1797 to 1801. Cow-milking farmboy, adopted patrician airs, saw his presidency as a monarchy, had zero respect for the vice president, and was the first inhabitant of the White House.
Fifth president. James Monroe. 1817 to 1825. He grabbed Florida from Spain so at least did good for our seniors. But in his own old age, he went bust in NYC and had to apply for a congressional grant to pay off debts.
Sixth president. John Quincy Adams. 1825 to 1829. Unforgiving fighter. Cold, austere, haughty, proprietary. Crippled by partisan bickering, unable to create cohesive political party, my namesake got swept out of office.
17th president. Andrew Johnson. 1865 to 1869. Southern senator racist. Congress voted to impeach him, but may Nancy Pelousy know Senate acquittal was decided to uphold the cogency and dignity of the office for posterity.
18th president. Ulysses S. Grant. 1869 to 1877. Boozer. Unkempt. Neglectful. Graft, scandal, corruption, bad associates — maybe because he had to overcome his lousy first name. But we must be nice to him because his resting place is NYC.
21st president. Chester Alan Arthur. 1881 to 1885. Social. Always wanting a grander place, and fancy people did his bidding without question. But, prepping along the way, Chester carefully got no dirt on his own hands.
Paradigm shift
Grover Cleveland was our 22nd (and 24th) president. 1885 to 1889. USA in a depression. Companies, banks failing, factories shutting, farms foreclosing, gold supply dwindling. Solution? Hard money. Sound currency. Poor Grover tried.
25th president. William McKinley. 1897 to 1901. Acquired Puerto Rico from Spain, Samoan islands from Germany, took over the Pacific’s Wake Island, annexed Hawaii and helped us to the Philippines. He was very busy.
27th president. William Howard Taft. 1909 to 1913. Progressives opposed his leadership. Controlling party machinery, he fought the Progressives. Lost. And said: “Glad to be going. This is the loneliest place in the world.”
29th president. Warren Harding. 1921 to 1923. Administration known for graft, the brazen Teapot Dome scandal, corruption, wrongdoing, highest tariffs and the limitation of immigration.
30th president. Calvin Coolidge. 1923 to 1929. Agriculture was depressed, mortgages frequent. No great talker yet, he said: “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
Heading the modern world
Gerald Ford was our 38th president from 1974 to 1977. He said we’re “a country of laws not men.” He pardoned Nixon (a bit later portrayed by pre-scandal Kevin Spacey as well as the great Frank Langella). But couldn’t handle inflation, industry slowdown and USA’s depression. There was no further Ford in White House future.
39th president. Jimmy Carter. 1977 to 1981. Pardoned conscientious objectors. Lifted travel bans to Cuba and North Korea. Peanut farmer, folksy, wears sweaters, carries his own bags. Nice gentleman — but so what.
Because of our system of election, and locals de Blasio and Cuomo itchy for that someday office, remember it’s nearly time for us to vote. And may Democrats also know to send Biden a 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. floor plan. In case time comes and he can’t locate the urinal.
Only in America, kids, only in America.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--A shocking way to put historic oil price drop in perspective

Got a big swimming pool that ’ s empty and you don ’ t plan to use ?
Well , here ’ s a money-making idea that your town and neighbors will hate .
Here ’ s how bizarre the oil market was on Monday .
The price of a barrel of crude oil declined to a negative $ 38 .
NEGATIVE $ 38 !
That was a better than 300 percent decline for the day .
That means , for every one barrel of oil investors owned , they not only lost their initial investment , but also another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand : That price is on a barrel of oil in the May futures contract that expires today Tuesday .
And the way this works , the holder must either sell the contract or take possession of actual barrels of oil at expiration .
Because of the dreadful economy these days , nobody anywhere in the world is using a lot of oil and gasoline .
Normally , oil would be in demand this time of year because gasoline use goes up and that makes oil more valuable .
Not this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas is now sitting in tanks on land or tanker ships at sea .
And there is little or no room to store more oil .
With no place to put the stuff , the last thing anyone who owns those futures contracts wants is to have to take possession of more oil .
That ’ s where your pool comes in .
Technically – and I ’ m not seriously suggesting this – one of those hard luck investors could give you $ 35 to dump every barrel of his oil into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into perspective , there are 1,000 gallons of oil associated with each futures contract .
So , one contract alone could earn you $ 35,000 if you are willing to give up swimming for the summer .
( Seriously , you would probably also need a new pool next year .
But this is only fantasy , so humor me . )
You are going to see stories about how oil became worth less than nothing on Monday .
That really isn ’ t true ; it was the May futures contract that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still trading at more than $ 20 a barrel , at least until investors wake up and start worrying about oil all over again next month .

Got a big swimming pool that’s empty and you don’t plan to use? Well, here’s a money-making idea that your town and neighbors will hate.
Fill it with crude oil.
Here’s how bizarre the oil market was on Monday.
The price of a barrel of crude oil declined to a negative $38. NEGATIVE $38! That was a better than 300 percent decline for the day.
That means, for every one barrel of oil investors owned, they not only lost their initial investment, but also another $38.
Now, you have to understand: That price is on a barrel of oil in the May futures contract that expires today Tuesday. And the way this works, the holder must either sell the contract or take possession of actual barrels of oil at expiration.
Because of the dreadful economy these days, nobody anywhere in the world is using a lot of oil and gasoline. Normally, oil would be in demand this time of year because gasoline use goes up and that makes oil more valuable.
Not this year.
So that extra unneeded oil and gas is now sitting in tanks on land or tanker ships at sea. And there is little or no room to store more oil. With no place to put the stuff, the last thing anyone who owns those futures contracts wants is to have to take possession of more oil.
That’s where your pool comes in.
Technically – and I’m not seriously suggesting this – one of those hard luck investors could give you $35 to dump every barrel of his oil into your pool. And to put it into perspective, there are 1,000 barrels of oil associated with each futures contract.
So, one contract alone could earn you $35,000 if you are willing to give up swimming for the summer. (Seriously, you would probably also need a new pool next year. But this is only fantasy, so humor me.)
You are going to see stories about how oil became worth less than nothing on Monday. That really isn’t true; it was the May futures contract that did that.
The June futures contract was still trading at more than $20 a barrel, at least until investors wake up and start worrying about oil all over again next month.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--No, NY Times — Fox News didn’t kill Joe Joyce

The New York Times has done some shameless things in its past , but exploiting a man ’ s death to serve its agenda has to be among its worst .
That ’ s what it did in a recent portrait of , as New York magazine ’ s Jonathan Chait put it , “ a man killed by Fox News ” : Ginia Bellafante ’ s story of the COVID-19 death of Joe Joyce , owner of Brooklyn ’ s JJ Bubbles bar .
On March 1 , Joyce and his wife took a cruise to Spain .
Joyce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially host Sean Hannity , who declared on air that Americans were getting “ unnecessarily ” scared by “ this new hoax , ” Bellafante wrote .
Eventually , Fox “ took the virus more seriously , but the Joyces were long gone by then.
” That is , Joyce died because he listened to Fox News .
Yet the Joyces were actually long gone by the time Hannity said those words , March 9 .
And there ’ s no indication their decision had anything to do with Fox or that Joyce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , guess who else downplayed the virus .
That ’ s right : Ginia Bellafante .
“ I fundamentally don ’ t understand the panic , ” she tweeted on Feb. 27 .
“ Virus is not deadly in vast majority of cases.
” Fact is , lots of people were pooh-poohing the risk at that point — Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , Mayor Bill de Blasio and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Yet the Times , like much of the left-leaning media , has been trying to blame only Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously enough .
“ Arizona Man Dies After Taking Chemical in Coronavirus Treatment Touted by President Trump , ” a Time magazine headline proclaimed — about a man who ingested fish-tank cleaner containing chloroquine phosphate .
So it ’ s not just the Times out to get Trump .
But the paper ’ s hypocrisy in doing so in this case couldn ’ t be clearer .

The New York Times has done some shameless things in its past, but exploiting a man’s death to serve its agenda has to be among its worst.
That’s what it did in a recent portrait of, as New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait put it, “a man killed by Fox News”: Ginia Bellafante’s story of the COVID-19 death of Joe Joyce, owner of Brooklyn’s JJ Bubbles bar.
On March 1, Joyce and his wife took a cruise to Spain. Joyce was a fan of Fox News, especially host Sean Hannity, who declared on air that Americans were getting “unnecessarily” scared by “this new hoax,” Bellafante wrote. Eventually, Fox “took the virus more seriously, but the Joyces were long gone by then.” That is, Joyce died because he listened to Fox News.
Yet the Joyces were actually long gone by the time Hannity said those words, March 9. And there’s no indication their decision had anything to do with Fox or that Joyce contracted the coronavirus on the cruise.
Meanwhile, guess who else downplayed the virus. That’s right: Ginia Bellafante.
“I fundamentally don’t understand the panic,” she tweeted on Feb. 27. “Virus is not deadly in vast majority of cases.”
Fact is, lots of people were pooh-poohing the risk at that point — Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Yet the Times, like much of the left-leaning media, has been trying to blame only Trump and conservative outlets for not taking the virus seriously enough.
“Arizona Man Dies After Taking Chemical in Coronavirus Treatment Touted by President Trump,” a Time magazine headline proclaimed — about a man who ingested fish-tank cleaner containing chloroquine phosphate.
So it’s not just the Times out to get Trump. But the paper’s hypocrisy in doing so in this case couldn’t be clearer.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Natalie Dormer plays four roles in ‘Penny Dreadful: City of Angels’

Few actors on TV this year have set themselves the task that Natalie Dormer gave herself when she agreed to appear on Showtime ’ s “ Penny Dreadful.
” The imperious Margaery Tyrell of “ Game of Thrones ” and vixen-like Anne Boleyn of “ The Tudors ” is playing four different characters over the course of 10 episodes .
And not one of them suffers from multiple personality disorder .
The fourth season of “ Penny Dreadful , ” “ Penny Dreadful : City of Angels ” — premiering Sunday ( 10 p.m. ) on Showtime — is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical years before World War II when the city was building highways to connect the downtown area with then-far-flung enclaves like Pasadena .
Nazism was also on the rise and radio evangelists such as Aimee Semple McPherson had a devoted following .
Dormer , 38 , enters the picture as Magda , a demon who is expert at pitting rival factions against each other and whose malevolence manifests itself throughout the series in the guises of three other women .
Demon Elsa is an unhappily married German refugee from World War I who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own country and who seduces her son ’ s pediatrician ( Rory Kinnear ) .
Alex is the middle-aged assistant to Councilman Charlton Townsend ( Michael Gladis ) , the head of the City Council ’ s Transportation Committee .
Rio is the bisexual ringleader of the pachucos , a Chicano gang that may be connected to the brutal murders of a Beverly Hills family whose bodies , dressed up like Day of the Dead figures , are found along the Los Angeles River by Detectives Tiago Vega ( Daniel Zovatto ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Madga is the top of the pyramid from which the other iterations are born , ” Dormer tells The Post .
“ [ Creator ] John Logan wanted to create an antagonist for the stories .
I was looking forward to the technical challenge while trying to humanize and make plausible these three characters.
” Suffused with Magda ’ s venom , each woman is capable of murder — even mousy , bespectacled Alex , whose crimped hair and nondescript features mark the greatest contrast with Dormer ’ s natural vivacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s favorite role to play among the quartet .
She wore tinted contact lenses and a mouth guard set against her bottom row of teeth .
“ I specifically asked the costume designer to tailor my skirts in such a way that I didn ’ t move in a feminine way at all , ” says Dormer .
Both Alex and Elsa have ties to the Nazi party , whose supporters rally downtown in Pershing Square and insinuate themselves into the city ’ s power structure through Alex ’ s boss in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different political agenda .
“ The pachucos were the first counter teenage culture , ” she says .
“ The statement of the dress code and the hair was way before the Beat Generation was doing it .
The Chicano culture was saying , ‘ We ’ re not American and we ’ re not our immigrant parents who came across the border and are doing all these menial jobs .
We ’ re first-born.
’ ” Logan says Dormer was the perfect choice to play Magda et al .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and constantly mysterious actor ; she draws you in , ” he says .
“ The way she effortlessly moves through her many roles in the series — all of which are very different — is amazing to watch .
“ There are no camera tricks or heavy makeup , it ’ s all acting .
She ’ s truly chameleonic.
” “ Penny Dreadful ” interweaves the struggles of immigrants such as Rio and Elsa but as derivatives of the diabolical Magda , it ’ s a foregone conclusion that they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natures .
“ Magda is arguing that mankind has it within himself to take the more selfish course of action , ” Dormer says .
“ He just needs a gentle push .
”

Few actors on TV this year have set themselves the task that Natalie Dormer gave herself when she agreed to appear on Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful.”
The imperious Margaery Tyrell of “Game of Thrones” and vixen-like Anne Boleyn of “The Tudors” is playing four different characters over the course of 10 episodes. And not one of them suffers from multiple personality disorder.
The fourth season of “Penny Dreadful,” “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” — premiering Sunday (10 p.m.) on Showtime — is set in LA in 1938, in the critical years before World War II when the city was building highways to connect the downtown area with then-far-flung enclaves like Pasadena. Nazism was also on the rise and radio evangelists such as Aimee Semple McPherson had a devoted following. Dormer, 38, enters the picture as Magda, a demon who is expert at pitting rival factions against each other and whose malevolence manifests itself throughout the series in the guises of three other women.
Demon Elsa is an unhappily married German refugee from World War I who is disillusioned with what has happened in her own country and who seduces her son’s pediatrician (Rory Kinnear). Alex is the middle-aged assistant to Councilman Charlton Townsend (Michael Gladis), the head of the City Council’s Transportation Committee. Rio is the bisexual ringleader of the pachucos, a Chicano gang that may be connected to the brutal murders of a Beverly Hills family whose bodies, dressed up like Day of the Dead figures, are found along the Los Angeles River by Detectives Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) and Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane).
“Madga is the top of the pyramid from which the other iterations are born,” Dormer tells The Post. “[Creator] John Logan wanted to create an antagonist for the stories. I was looking forward to the technical challenge while trying to humanize and make plausible these three characters.”
Suffused with Magda’s venom, each woman is capable of murder — even mousy, bespectacled Alex, whose crimped hair and nondescript features mark the greatest contrast with Dormer’s natural vivacity. It also may have been Dormer’s favorite role to play among the quartet. She wore tinted contact lenses and a mouth guard set against her bottom row of teeth. “I specifically asked the costume designer to tailor my skirts in such a way that I didn’t move in a feminine way at all,” says Dormer.
Both Alex and Elsa have ties to the Nazi party, whose supporters rally downtown in Pershing Square and insinuate themselves into the city’s power structure through Alex’s boss in the city council. Rio has a different political agenda. “The pachucos were the first counter teenage culture,” she says. “The statement of the dress code and the hair was way before the Beat Generation was doing it. The Chicano culture was saying, ‘We’re not American and we’re not our immigrant parents who came across the border and are doing all these menial jobs. We’re first-born.’ ”
Logan says Dormer was the perfect choice to play Magda et al.
“I’ve always found Natalie a constantly surprising and constantly mysterious actor; she draws you in,” he says. “The way she effortlessly moves through her many roles in the series — all of which are very different — is amazing to watch.
“There are no camera tricks or heavy makeup, it’s all acting. She’s truly chameleonic.”
“Penny Dreadful” interweaves the struggles of immigrants such as Rio and Elsa but as derivatives of the diabolical Magda, it’s a foregone conclusion that they will favor their lower rather than their higher natures.
“Magda is arguing that mankind has it within himself to take the more selfish course of action,” Dormer says. “He just needs a gentle push.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Candidate accuses BOE, Brooklyn Democrats of scheming to fill vacant Council post

Espinal , who advocated for NYC nightlife , recently ended his campaign ...

A Bushwick community activist running for ex-Councilman Rafael Espinal’s vacant seat is accusing the city’s Board of Elections of playing politics to help ensure the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s preferred candidate runs unopposed in the June primary.
Candidate Sandy Nurse told The Post Monday that she believes the BOE and party leaders are in cahoots to ensure 54th Assembly district leader Darma Diaz gets the Democratic nomination for the council.
“Instead of using their clout to help the people of New York City during a crisis, Darma and her allies in Democratic establishment are resorting to a dirty move that is a blatant abuse of power,” said Nurse, whose endorsements include Comptroller Scott Stringer and the Working Families Party.
“They are using this technical glitch to exploit the pandemic and try to kick myself and the other three people running off the ballot. These petition challenges were filed to suppress democracy, not to protect it.”
The City Charter says the petition threshold is normally 450 signatures, while the state uses 900. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order last month that slashed the number of signatures required for the primary to just 30 percent of what is normally required for the primary.
With the governor’s reduction, that’s the difference between 135 or 270 signatures being needed.
Nurse and most candidates targeted the lower number for the primary ballot.
The BOE, however, is claiming that candidates must meet the higher threshold — setting up Diaz as the only candidate to potentially qualify.
The matter is ultimately expected to be decided by a judge.
BOE did not return messages, but Kings County Democratic Committee spokesman Bob Liff said Nurse and her campaign only have themselves to blame.
“Everybody worked under the same rules and the same constraints,” he said.
Epsinal stepped down in January to take a job with the Freelancers Union. It came as a surprise because his current term runs until Dec. 31, 2021.
In a bizarre twist, Church has qualified for a special election also on June 23 to fill the post until Election Day this November.
The primary will help decide who fills out Espinal’s term from November through the end of next year.


newyorkpost--2020-04-20--Northwell hospital workers get $2,500 coronavirus bonuses as hazard pay

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New York ’ s largest hospital system is giving 45,0000 of its “ heroic ” workers lump sum $ 2,500 bonuses and a paid week off for fighting the coronavirus epidemic , it announced Monday — as Gov .
Andrew Cuomo urged the feds to provide “ hazard pay ” to other front-line workers .
“ Our dedicated staff ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of heroic .
Thanks to the courage and commitment of our front-line caregivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patients and communities who entrust us with their care , ” said Northwell Health president and CEO Michael Dowling .
Northwell ’ s network of hospitals include Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side , LIJ in Forest Hills and New Hyde Park , and the Staten Island University medical facilities , among others in the suburbs .
Mitchell Katz , the CEO of the city ’ s network of 11 public hospitals , also said last week he wants to provide bonus pay to his front-line workers .
New York Presbyterian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also offered bonuses to their direct care workers .
Meanwhile , Cuomo on Monday proposed that federal funds be used to reward front-line workers –including transit workers , building cleaners , day care workers as well as medical workers .
The state is broke , so the governor is depending on President Trump and Congress to cough up the dough to reward workers risking their health and lives to serve and save others .
“ Pay them what they deserve .
I ’ d say hazard pay .
Give them a 50 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cuomo said during an Albany press briefing Monday .
“ Our front-line workers are heroes .
They are carrying us through this crisis , ” he said .
The head of the union representing the city ’ s paramedics and EMTs — the emergency responders who often are the first to treat COVID-19 patients and transport them to the hospital — welcomed Cuomo ’ s call .
The starting pay for entry-level emergency management technicians is $ 16 an hour — a dollar more than the minimum wage , said Oren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s hard to survive on $ 16 an hour , ” Barzilay said .
“ That would be great , ” Barzilay said the hazard pay proposal .
“ We ’ ll see.
” It ’ s long been a sore point that EMTs and paramedics make less than firefighters .
All are employed by the FDNY .
Other state lawmakers are also pushing for hazard pay for front-line workers .
State Senator Andrew Gounardes ( D-Brooklyn ) sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation urging support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief package — and suggesting it be extended to any gig or freelance workers , including delivery workers , freelance journalists and drivers .
Senator Jessica Ramos ( D-Brooklyn ) and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas ( D-Queens ) also sent a letter to the governor and legislative leaders last week requesting that federal stimulus funds be earmarked for front-line workers .

Carl Campanile, Rich Calder, Bernadette Hogan

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
New York’s largest hospital system is giving 45,0000 of its “heroic” workers lump sum $2,500 bonuses and a paid week off for fighting the coronavirus epidemic, it announced Monday — as Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged the feds to provide “hazard pay” to other front-line workers.
“Our dedicated staff’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of heroic. Thanks to the courage and commitment of our front-line caregivers, we answered the call-in service to the patients and communities who entrust us with their care,” said Northwell Health president and CEO Michael Dowling.
Northwell’s network of hospitals include Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side, LIJ in Forest Hills and New Hyde Park, and the Staten Island University medical facilities, among others in the suburbs.
Mitchell Katz, the CEO of the city’s network of 11 public hospitals, also said last week he wants to provide bonus pay to his front-line workers.
New York Presbyterian and Mt. Sinai hospital systems have also offered bonuses to their direct care workers.
Meanwhile, Cuomo on Monday proposed that federal funds be used to reward front-line workers –including transit workers, building cleaners, day care workers as well as medical workers.
The state is broke, so the governor is depending on President Trump and Congress to cough up the dough to reward workers risking their health and lives to serve and save others.
“Pay them what they deserve. I’d say hazard pay. Give them a 50 percent bonus and I would do that now,” Cuomo said during an Albany press briefing Monday.
“Our front-line workers are heroes. They are carrying us through this crisis,” he said.
The head of the union representing the city’s paramedics and EMTs — the emergency responders who often are the first to treat COVID-19 patients and transport them to the hospital — welcomed Cuomo’s call.
The starting pay for entry-level emergency management technicians is $16 an hour — a dollar more than the minimum wage, said Oren Barzilay, president of Local 2507.
“It’s hard to survive on $16 an hour,” Barzilay said.
“That would be great,” Barzilay said the hazard pay proposal. “We’ll see.”
It’s long been a sore point that EMTs and paramedics make less than firefighters. All are employed by the FDNY.
Other state lawmakers are also pushing for hazard pay for front-line workers.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation urging support for hazard pay in the next federal COVID relief package — and suggesting it be extended to any gig or freelance workers, including delivery workers, freelance journalists and drivers.
Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Brooklyn) and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas (D-Queens) also sent a letter to the governor and legislative leaders last week requesting that federal stimulus funds be earmarked for front-line workers.


newyorkpost--2020-04-21--Trump tunes into ‘Morning Joe’ to confirm Joe Scarborough is ‘nuts’

President Trump said early Tuesday that he finally tuned in to watch longtime critic Joe Scarborough — just to confirm that he was “ nuts.
” “ Watched the first 5 minutes of poorly rated Morning Psycho on MSDNC just to see if he is as “ nuts ” as people are saying .
He ’ s worse , ” Trump wrote on Twitter of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” “ Such hatred and contempt !
I used to do his show all the time before the 2016 election , then cut him off , ” the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort , his mind is shot !
” Trump claimed of 57-year-old Scarborough , who co-hosts the morning show with Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist .
In a follow-up Tweet , he said it was “ amazing that I became President of the United States with such a totally corrupt and dishonest Lamestream Media going after me all day , and all night.
” “ Either I ’ m really good , far better than the Fake News wants to admit , or they don ’ t have nearly the power as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He then bragged about the “ great ‘ ratings ' ” he ’ s had his “ whole life ” — and how the “ White House News Conference ratings are ‘ through the roof . '
” “ But I don ’ t care about that .
I care about going around the Fake News to the PEOPLE !
” Trump wrote .

President Trump said early Tuesday that he finally tuned in to watch longtime critic Joe Scarborough — just to confirm that he was “nuts.”
“Watched the first 5 minutes of poorly rated Morning Psycho on MSDNC just to see if he is as ‘nuts’ as people are saying. He’s worse,” Trump wrote on Twitter of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“Such hatred and contempt! I used to do his show all the time before the 2016 election, then cut him off,” the president continued.
“Wasn’t worth the effort, his mind is shot!” Trump claimed of 57-year-old Scarborough, who co-hosts the morning show with Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist.
In a follow-up tweet, he said it was “amazing that I became President of the United States with such a totally corrupt and dishonest Lamestream Media going after me all day, and all night.”
“Either I’m really good, far better than the Fake News wants to admit, or they don’t have nearly the power as once thought!” he claimed.
He then bragged about the “great ‘ratings'” he’s had his “whole life” — and how the “White House News Conference ratings are ‘through the roof.'”
“But I don’t care about that. I care about going around the Fake News to the PEOPLE!” Trump wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-04-21--The Jets’ best NFL Draft steals

The Jets’ best NFL Draft steals

Joe Douglas still wants Jamal Adams to be a Jet ...

The Jets have drafted poorly for too long, but now GM Joe Douglas gets his first crack at helping Adam Gase end a nine-year playoff drought.
Anyone can draft a Joe Namath, or a Darelle Revis, but nobody passed a law that says you are not allowed to find gems in the middle rounds who can challenge for a starting position or at least provide quality depth.
If the Patriots can find a Tom Brady with the 199th pick, why can’t the football gods smile on the Jets for once? When does the statue of limitations on bad fortune and bad draft choices end?
Who are the draft choices over the Super Bowl era who defied the odds and the experts and gave the Jets more bang for their bucks than expected?
1. Joe Klecko, DL, Temple: A sixth-rounder in 1977. An undersized brawler on the New York Sack Exchange with elite quickness and power who was All-Pro at three different positions and belongs in the Hall of Fame.
2. Joe Fields, C Widener College: A 6-foot-2, 250-pound 14th-round pick in 1975 nicknamed The General who played 13 years as a Jet and was a two-time Pro Bowler. “I deal in leverage,” he told the New York Times. “I enjoy getting under them.”
3. Dan Alexander, OG, LSU: An eighth-rounder in 1977 who was drafted as a defensive lineman and started as a rookie at RG. Didn’t miss a game until the 1987 season. A tough, ornery blocker for Freeman McNeil they called Gator. He played all 13 of his seasons as a Jet.
4. Bobby Jackson, CB, Florida State: A feisty, fearless 5-9, 183-pound sixth-round pick in 1978 with 4.35 speed and a chip on his shoulder. “I was always told I was too small,” he told NewYorkJets.com. 21 INTs in eight seasons as a Jet.
5. Jason Fabini, OT, Cincinnati: A fourth-rounder in 1998. Started 114 games over eight seasons as a Jet.
6. John Elliott, DT, Texas: A seventh-rounder in 1967. A 245-pounder with a lightning get-off who was a two-time AFL All-Star and Super Bowl III champion. Started 52 games over seven seasons as a Jet; registered 48 sacks, including 15 in 1970 as team MVP.
7. Abdul Salaam, DT, Kent State: A seventh-round pick in 1976. Started 85 games as the tough, steady, dependable unsung run-stuffing hero of the New York Sack Exchange.
8. Marvin Washington, DE, Idaho: A developmental sixth-round pick in 1989 who had more of a basketball background. 37.5 sacks in eight seasons as a Jet.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
9. Jason Ferguson, NT, Georgia: A seventh-round pick in 1997. A playful 310-pounder who was a Bill Parcells favorite. Recorded 20.5 sacks and 378 tackles in eight seasons as a Jet. “He’s a very powerful person,” Parcells said when he reunited with him in Dallas.
10. Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville: A fourth-round pick in 2011. A backup who has caught 211 passes and rushed for 3,675 yards with 20 combined TDs over nine seasons as a Jet.
11. Richie Anderson, RB, Penn State: A sixth-rounder in 1993. A backup to Curtis Martin, caught 305 passes and 10 TDs over 10 seasons as a Jet.
12. Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU: A fifth-rounder in 2011. Caught 204 passes and 10 TDs and twice averaged 10.9 on punt returns in six years as a Jet.
13. Roger Duffy, OL, Penn State: An eighth-rounder in 1990. Versatile enough to start 68 games anywhere on the line.
14. Adrian Murrell, RB, West Virginia: A fifth-rounder in 1993. Rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice and scored 18 TDs in five years as a Jet. Was a safety valve for Boomer Esiason with 71 receptions in 1995.
15. Stan Blinka, MLB, Sam Houston State: A fifth-round pick in 1979. Started 58 consecutive games and led the team in tackles twice before No. 1 draft pick Bob Crable displaced him.
16. John Ebersole, MLB, Penn State: A fourth-round pick in 1970. Eight INTs in 59 blue-collar starts over eight years as a Jet.
17. Marcus Coleman, CB/S, Texas Tech: A fifth-rounder in 1996. 14 INTs over six seasons as a Jet.
18. Derrick Gaffney, WR, Florida: An eighth-rounder in 1978. Possession receiver and complement to deep threat Wesley Walker who caught 156 passes for 2,613 yards and seven TDs in eight seasons as a Jet.
19. Kerry Rhodes, S, Louisville: A fourth-round pick in 2005. A 6-3 playmaker nicknamed “Hollywood” for his off-the-field interests that led to Rex Ryan trading him. 15 INTs and nine sacks in five years as a Jet.
20. Brad Smith, WR/KR, Missouri: A fourth-rounder in 2006 A dual threat who averaged 28.6 yards on 50 kickoff returns in 2010. Spent five years as a Jet.
Douglas will have eight picks in the first draft he oversees as the Jets GM — four of which will come after Round 3. Is there a Joe Klecko anywhere?


newyorkpost--2020-04-21--George Stephanopoulos says he is ‘cleared’ of the coronavirus, will donate plasma

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George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday said he has been “ cleared ” of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that he plans to donate his blood plasma .
“ Good news for me and my family .
Last week I tested positive for Covid antibodies , confirming I cleared the virus after weeks without symptoms , ” the 59-year-old co-host of ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” said in a tweet .
“ I ’ ve also signed up for a clinical trial to donate my blood plasma and expect to make the donation in the coming weeks , ” he added .
Stephanopoulos ’ announcement comes after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the disease after his wife Ali Wentworth contracted it .
The newsman , who ticked off Hampton residents by going out in public after her diagnosis , was spotted by The Post on Monday as he took a stroll in East Hampton without his mask on .
“ For somebody who reports on the pandemic every day , and is broadcasting guidelines about safe social distancing , George didn ’ t really seem to care , ” a witness said .
“ He tested positive , his wife tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local mandates to wear a mask in public , why can ’ t he just stay home ?
” he said .
On April 10 , he was spotted visiting local drugstore White ’ s Apothecary and then walking his pooch on a private golf course prior to his diagnosis , according to a neighbor .
“ I was staying home , I was self-monitoring , I never had a temperature , and I never had any of the classic symptoms , ” Stephanopoulos told The New York Times about his visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask and gloves in White ’ s , ” he added .

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Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
George Stephanopoulos said Tuesday he has been “cleared” of COVID-19 after testing positive for antibodies last week, adding that he plans to donate his blood plasma.
“Good news for me and my family. Last week I tested positive for Covid antibodies, confirming I cleared the virus after weeks without symptoms,” the 59-year-old co-host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” said in a tweet.
“I’ve also signed up for a clinical trial to donate my blood plasma and expect to make the donation in the coming weeks,” he added.
Stephanopoulos’ announcement comes after he said last week that he had tested positive for the disease after his wife, Ali Wentworth, contracted it.
The newsman, who ticked off Hampton residents by going out in public after her diagnosis, was spotted by The Post on Monday as he took a stroll in East Hampton without his mask on.
“For somebody who reports on the pandemic every day, and is broadcasting guidelines about safe social distancing, George didn’t really seem to care,” a witness said.
“He tested positive, his wife tested positive, why can’t he follow the local mandates to wear a mask in public, why can’t he just stay home?” he said.
A source later insisted to Page Six that Stephanopoulos only had his face uncovered because he was a safe distance from anyone else.
“He was wearing a mask, ready to put it on if he saw anyone,” the source said.
It was not the first time he had been accused by his Hamptons neighbors of flouting safety guidelines, however.
On April 10, he was spotted visiting local drugstore White’s Apothecary and then walking his pooch on a private golf course prior to his diagnosis — but a week after his wife had been confirmed infected.
“I was staying home, I was self-monitoring, I never had a temperature, and I never had any of the classic symptoms,” Stephanopoulos told The New York Times about his visit to the pharmacy.
“I was wearing a mask and gloves in White’s,” he added.
The next day, he was tested at an urgent care facility in Bridgehampton, and then walked on a golf course near his home.
“I was carrying a mask,” Stephanopoulos said. “I was nowhere near any people.”
He tested positive two days later, but insisting as he announced his diagnosis on “Good Morning America” that he had been “basically asymptomatic,” unlike Wentworth, who previously described her condition as “pure misery.”