March 31, 2020

Life in a developed market economy: People seeking medical care for coronavirus infections may result in a spike in insurance premiums. “Without help (from Congress) lowering their costs, (California Covered executive director Peter) Lee warned that insurers are likely to seek rates that are double their additional costs from the virus.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-nyt-coronavirus-health-insurance-20200330-umpj6duzw5erfkoqpfbjjl5saa-story.html Because, despite all the exclusions, deductibles and co-pays, if people actually USE their health insurance for a serious illness, it reduces corporate profits.

Joe Biden still opposed to Medicare for All. “Biden’s health care plan would preserve employer-based coverage while expanding the safety net for those who find themselves without coverage.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/the-coronavirus-crisis-hasnt-changed-joe-bidens-mind-on-medicare-for-all/ar-BB11VS15

China claims only 2,535 Wuhan residents have died of coronavirus. “A truck driver in Wuhan delivered about 5,000 (cremation) urns to a single funeral home over two days last week, according to the South China Morning Post, which cited a Caixin magazine report.” https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-residents-say-chinese-government-coronavirus-death-toll-is-low-2020-3

Life in a developed market economy: Las Vegas’ new, emergency homeless shelter is an uncovered parking lot. “Officials turned a parking lot into a makeshift shelter, saying spaces for sleeping were drawn 6 ft apart in observance of federal social distancing guidelines.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/las-vegas-parking-lot-homeless-shelter

Governor of Virginia orders residents to stay in their homes until June 10th. “The exemptions allow people to leave their homes for medical purposes, food, and work.” https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/virginia-issues-stay-at-home-order-until-mid-june

Mayor of Washington D.C. threatens resident with jail time and fines for breaking stay-at-home order. “Mayor Muriel Bowser is threatening residents of Washington, DC, with 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine if they leave their homes during the coronavirus outbreak.” https://nypost.com/2020/03/30/dc-mayor-threatens-jail-time-for-leaving-home-during-coronavirus/

Federal courts block coronavirus abortion bans imposed in Alabama, Ohio and Texas. “The attorney general’s interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/30/politics/texas-order-abortion-block-coronavirus/index.html

President Trump, criticizing Democrats’ coronavirus election proposals, admits that the Republican party is only able to win through voter suppression. “They had things, levels of voting, that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/trump-republican-party-voting-reform-coronavirus

New York City man arrested for selling masks, gowns and other medical supplies out of his home, and for coughing on FBI agents. “On Sunday, (FBI agents conducting undercover surveillance) said they witnessed ‘multiple instances’ of people approach (Baruch) Feldheim’s residence and walked away with what appeared to be medical supplies.” https://nypost.com/2020/03/30/brooklyn-man-arrested-for-hoarding-masks-coughing-on-fbi-agents/

Amazon fires Staten Island strike organizer. “Chris Smalls, a management assistant at the facility, known as JFK8, said he was fired Monday afternoon following the strike. Smalls and other employees walked out to call attention to the lack of protections for warehouse workers.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/amazon-fires-staten-island-coronavirus-strike-leader-chris-smalls.html

Federal Reserve estimates 47 million Americans could lose their jobs. “(An unemployment rate of 32%) would be the highest jobless rate on records dating to 1948 and easily top the 25% rate during the Great Depression.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/30/coronavirus-unemployment-could-top-32-47-million-lose-jobs-fed-says/5091156002/

Military ‘continuity of government’ teams set up additional command centers at Cheyenne Mountain and another, undisclosed, location. “The Department of Defense does maintain an array of so-called “continuity” sites across the country specifically to help make sure that U.S. military personnel can carry out essential functions during any major contingency scenario, from a nuclear attack to a pandemic, such as the one the world is experiencing now.” https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32777/covid-19-drives-command-teams-charged-with-homeland-defense-into-cheyenne-mountain-bunker Since the coronavirus has a very low death rate, you have to wonder what this is all about. “The research, published in the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, estimated that about 0.66% of those infected with the virus will die.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/30/health/coronavirus-lower-death-rate/index.html Maybe they are worried about social unrest in the wake of record unemployment?

Saudi Arabia accused of exploiting mobile phone networks’ ‘SS7’ weaknesses to track its citizen overseas. “With little built-in security for carriers to verify one another, SS7 has always posed a potential hole that people with access could exploit to track the real-time location of individual users. SS7 abuse also makes it possible for spies to snoop on calls and text messages.” https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/03/saudi-arabia-reportedly-tracked-phones-by-using-industry-wide-carrier-weakness/

Israel accused of dismantling Palestinian coronavirus clinic. “Officials from the Israeli Civil Administration came to the village of Khirbet Ibziq with a military escort, bulldozer and two trucks equipped with cranes on Thursday morning to demolish (the) community clinic and emergency housing, according to Israeli human rights monitor Btselem.” https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-forcesdemolish-emergency-coronavirus-clinic-for-palestinians/

Mainstream media accused of downplaying Joe Biden’s past attempts to cut Social Security benefits. “(The Washington Post’s fact checker, Glenn) Kessler (3/8/20)… (asserted) that (Bernie) Sanders ‘offers a misleading portrayal’ and is ‘missing important context’, because Biden’s attempts to cut Social Security through the ‘raising the retirement age’ scam in the 1980s was ‘not a controversial position at the time’. It’s ‘misleading’ to claim that Biden wanted to cut Social Security since both Democrats and Republicans wanted to cut Social Security, as both parties bought into the austerity mindset during the Reagan era (as they still do).” https://fair.org/home/how-corporate-media-factchecked-bidens-calls-for-social-security-cuts-into-oblivion/

GE employees ask the company to put them to work making ventilators instead of laying them off. “GE announced last week it was laying off nearly 2,600 workers—10% of its domestic aviation workforce—as the coronavirus pandemic sharply reduced demand in the aviation industry.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/30/facing-layoffs-general-electric-workers-demand-company-put-them-work-producing

Only 24% of Joe Biden’s supporters are ‘very enthusiastic’ about his candidacy. “Meanwhile, 53% of President Donald Trump’s supporters said they were ‘very enthusiastic’ about voting for his re-election in the poll.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/30/poor-omen-just-24-bidens-supporters-very-enthusiastic-less-half-trumps-53 Surprising that with a slogan like ‘We’re still alive’ people are not more excited. How about ‘Turn back the clock’ or ‘Restore the status quo’? ‘Hope Without Change’?

Trump administration accused of dissolving tribe’s reservation status to block casino development, as a favor to lobbyist from CPAC. “Matt Schlapp, chairman of the Conservative Political Action Committee, is a lobbyist for Twin River casinos, Keating noted. His wife, Mercedes Schlapp, is the White House strategic communications director.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mashpee-wampanoag-cape-cod-trump-casino-caronavirus_n_5e7febfdc5b6256a7a2bea44

Associated Press story warns of threat to democracy posed by coronavirus emergency measures – threats occurring in other countries that is. “In Russia, authorities have turned up the pressure on media outlets and social media users to control the narrative amid the country’s growing coronavirus outbreak.” https://www.courthousenews.com/coronavirus-is-killing-democracies/

New York’s Supreme Court rules that some gig workers are eligible for unemployment benefits. “To put it bluntly, Postmates did not hire entrepreneurs as delivery persons, and Postmates’ attempt to create the illusion of entrepreneurialism does not transform these employees into a fleet of independent contractors.” https://www.courthousenews.com/new-york-high-court-gig-workers-qualify-for-unemployment-benefits/

European countries waive U.S. sanctions, deliver medical supplies to Iran. “France, Germany and the United Kingdom confirm that Instex has successfully concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran. These goods are now in Iran.” https://www.courthousenews.com/europe-busts-sanctions-to-help-iran-recover/

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March 30, 2020

North Carolina county seals its borders. “Dare County, a popular summer vacation area in the state’s Outer Banks, has established checkpoints around the county to stop visitors and non-resident property owners from entering.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/29/us/dare-county-north-carolina-state-of-emergency-trnd/index.html Is this legal? Probably not.

Armed vigilantes in Maine confront man from out-of-state. “The group had dispersed by the time law enforcement arrived, the sheriff’s office added, but ‘it was apparent that the tree had been cut down and dragged into the roadway to block it’.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/us/maine-coronavirus-quarantine-tree.html

Planeload of medical supplies arrives from China. “A commercial carrier landed at John F. Kennedy airport carrying gloves, gowns and masks for distribution in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, three hard-hit states battling to care for a crush of coronavirus patients…. Additional flights will carry similar gear from China, Malaysia and Vietnam, the (FEMA) official said.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-airlift/white-house-led-airlift-of-urgently-needed-medical-supplies-arrives-in-new-york-idUSKBN21G0LB Oh, how the mighty have fallen – the United States of America being bailed out of a medical emergency by the countries of Asia.

Former Trump spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders says coronavirus-induced collapse of Venezuela’s healthcare system could present an opportunity for regime change. “In a failed socialist country like Venezuela, hospitals cannot come close to meeting the needs of patients suffering through a pandemic.” https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/sarah-huckabee-sanders-coronavirus-shows-failures-of-socialism-in-venezuela Says woman from a country where overwhelmed medical staff are debating whether or not to let critically ill patients die, due to a lack of medical supplies. “The conversations are driven by the realization that the risk to staff amid dwindling stores of protective equipment — such as masks, gowns and gloves — may be too great to justify the conventional response when a patient ‘codes’, and their heart or breathing stops.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/25/coronavirus-patients-do-not-resucitate/

Price of oil plunges amid supply glut and drop in demand. “Oil prices fell to the lowest in more than 17 years as demand plunged as a result of the pandemic and an unrelenting price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia showed no signs of easing.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/oil-falls-amid-saudi-arabia-russia-price-war-coronavirus-hits-demand.html The drop in demand is good for the environment, but cheap oil is not. But look what consumers could do to gasoline prices if we drove less!

200,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. is an optimistic scenario, says coronavirus response coordinator. “(Dr. Deborah) Birx said the projections by Dr. Anthony Fauci that U.S. deaths could range from 1.6 million to 2.2 million is a worst case scenario if the country did ‘nothing’ to contain the outbreak, but said even ‘if we do things almost perfectly’, she still predicts up to 200,000 U.S. deaths.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dr-deborah-birx-predicts-200-000-deaths-if-we-do-n1171876

Amazon and Instacart workers threatening to strike over safety and pay. “Online shopping and grocery home delivery is skyrocketing as much of the nation hunkers down and people stay at home, following orders and recommendations from the federal and local governments.” https://www.npr.org/2020/03/30/823767492/amazon-instacart-grocery-delivery-workers-strike-for-coronavirus-protection-and-

Afghan civilians demand investigation into fatal U.S. drone strikes. “They keep saying that they are killing terrorists. But that’s not true. Farmers, shepherds, and women are not terrorists.” https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/27/afghanistan-drones-america-legacy-taliban/

New Zealand withdraws its troops from Iraq. “The New Zealand Defence Force has finished its mission in Taji, Iraq, ending its involvement with training that began in 2015.” https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-zealand-finishes-defence-force-mission-in-taji-iraq

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules that detained asylum seekers have a right to bond hearings. “In a 2-1 split, a Ninth Circuit panel affirmed (Judge Marsha) Pechman’s ruling, finding the U.S. Constitution guarantees detained immigrants a right to due process.” https://www.courthousenews.com/asylum-seekers-must-get-bond-hearings-ninth-circuit-rules/

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals rules against releasing grand jury transcripts in unsolved Georgia lynching case. “The two black couples were stopped by a mob as they drove along a road outside of Atlanta and were dragged from their car, tied to a tree and shot.” https://www.courthousenews.com/full-11th-circuit-blocks-release-of-lynching-records/

March 29, 2020

Washington doctor fired after criticizing his hospital’s coronavirus response. “On Facebook and in media interviews, (Dr. Ming) Lin criticized the hospital for a sluggish response to the coronavirus threat. He charged that the hospital was slow to screen visitors, negligent in not testing staff, wrong to rely on a company that was taking 10 days to process COVID-19 test results, and derelict in obtaining protective equipment for staff.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/washington-doctor-loses-job-criticizing-coranavirus-response Better not to say anything, and just let the hospital screw things up. (sarcasm)

Top hospital executives accused of waiting out the coronavirus crisis in their vacation homes. “Dr. Kenneth Davis, 72, the CEO of the Mount Sinai Health System who pulled down nearly $6 million in compensation in 2018, is ensconced in his waterfront mansion near Palm Beach.” https://nypost.com/2020/03/28/mount-sinai-hospital-leaders-holed-up-in-florida-vacation-homes-during-coronavirus-crisis/

New Jersey police breaking up house parties over coronavirus concerns, Gov. Phil Murphy reminds the public of the state’s party ban. “NO CORONA PARTIES. They’re illegal, dangerous, and stupid. We will crash your party. You will pay a big fine.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/illegal-house-party-violated-n-j-s-stay-home-order-n1171291

President Trump reportedly wants his signature on coronvirus stimulus checks. “Trump has told people he wants his signature to appear on the direct payment checks, an administration official told the Wall Street Journal. A civil servant would normally sign the checks.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/trump-wants-signature-coronavirus-stimulus-checks.html Don’t forget the ‘Trump bucks’ I sent you, when you vote in November!

Residents of Hubei, China clash with Jiangxi police blocking a bridge across the provincial border. “The confrontation happened Friday on the Yangtze River Bridge, which separates citizens from Huangmei County in Hubei province and the city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi, after a police officer attempted to block persons from Hubei from boarding a bus taking them to the Jiujiang railway station.” https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/chinese-riot-police-clash-with-civilians-after-travel-restrictions-eased-in-coronavirus-epicenter

Federal agencies botched coronvirus response. “The CDC… tightly restricted who could get tested and was slow to conduct ‘community-based surveillance’, a standard screening practice to detect the virus’s reach. Had the United States been able to track its earliest movements and identify hidden hot spots, local quarantines might have confined the disease.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/us/testing-coronavirus-pandemic.html Or maybe it was President Trump. “(South Korea) acted swiftly and aggressively to detect and isolate the virus, and by doing so has largely contained the crisis. The (United States) dithered and procrastinated, became mired in chaos and confusion, was distracted by the individual whims of its leader, and is now confronted by a health emergency of daunting proportions.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/28/trump-coronavirus-politics-us-health-disaster

Security forces in South Africa open fire on crowd waiting to enter supermarket. “South African police and soldiers have used rubber bullets to enforce lockdown after hundreds of shoppers gathered outside a supermarket in Johannesburg…. between 200 and 300 people had gathered in a tight-packed crowd outside a popular grocery store, Shoprite, in Yeoville, a crime-prone area in Johannesburg’s central business district.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/28/south-africa-police-rubber-bullets-shoppers-covid-19-lockdown

Government officials were discussing possible shortages of protective gear for health care workers as early as late February. “The emails, part of a lengthy chain titled ‘Red Dawn Breaking Bad’, includes senior officials across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as outside academics and some state health officials.” https://khn.org/news/red-dawn-breaking-bad-officials-warned-about-safety-gear-shortfall-early-on-emails-show/

Life in a developed market economy: Italian doctors re-purposing scuba gear into make-shift ventilators. “Doctors at the Maggiore Hospital in Parma are using a 3D printer to modify the masks so they connect to oxygen. It’s a quick fix Dr. Franceso Minardi likens to wartime triage.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-italian-hospital-says-its-turning-scuba-masks-into-ventilators-as-supplies-run-low/

Employee of national company that reportedly makes ‘hundreds of millions’ in profit a year, says his employer is planning to reduce employee paychecks by ‘100% of any money received under the stimulus bill’. “The worker said his company emailed a form titled ‘Employee Acknowledgement of ‘Government Assistance’ Pay Reduction’ to some staffers on Wednesday.” https://myfox8.com/news/texas-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-for-those-receiving-stimulus-checks/

No federal charges for Denver police officers who fatally shot fleeing teen in the back. “The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office both reviewed the Aug. 3 shooting of De’Von Bailey, 19 in Colorado Springs but determined that there was no evidence of a criminal civil rights violation, the agencies said in an announcement.” https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/03/27/devon-bailey-police-shooting-colorado-springs-3/

Oregon state troopers fatally shoot man during traffic stop. “During the traffic stop, an argument ensued. The Salem Police Department said (the troopers) then shot the suspect (William Patrick Floyd). The details of what happened during the altercation were not released by authorities.” https://www.koin.com/news/crime/troopers-involved-in-deadly-shooting-near-salem-identified/

Ormond Beach, Florida cops fatally shoot couple, provide few details. “Police spokesman Keith Walker said officers arrived on scene and a short time later shot the man and woman. Walker would not say what led to police shooting the man and woman. Five officers fired their weapons. None of them were injured…” https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200326/2-killed-in-ormond-beach-officer-involved-shooting

Fatal police shooting of mentally ill Burlington, Vermont man could have been avoided according to report. “… then-Police Chief Brandon del Pozo decided to have officers enter the apartment as del Pozo was concerned (Phil) Grenon would kill himself. Officers found Grenon in the bathtub holding the two knives, and shot him with a taser that did not subdue him. Bowers then shot Grenon as Grenon advanced toward the officers, according to the report.” https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/27/shooting-death-of-burlington-man-by-police-was-preventable-report-finds/

Lynn, Massachusetts settles police shooting lawsuit for $1.2 million. “Authorities said the officer fired at (Rafael) Suazo because he ‘purposefully accelerated’ his car and drove straight at (Det. Stephen) Emery. Suazo died after he was struck in the head by a bullet that went through his windshield.” https://www.itemlive.com/2020/03/26/city-of-lynn-pays-widow-1-2m-settlement-after-fatal-police-shooting/

Trump administration reportedly debating wiping out Iraqi militia that helped in fight against Islamic State. “Some top officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, have been pushing for aggressive new action against Iran and its proxy forces — and see an opportunity to try to destroy Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq as leaders in Iran are distracted by the pandemic crisis in their country.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/world/middleeast/pentagon-iran-iraq-militias-coronavirus.html

March 28, 2020

Los Angeles County teen dies of coronavirus after being turned away from clinic for not having health insurance. “The staff of the unknown (urgent care) clinic told him to go to Antelope Valley Hospital’s emergency room. ‘But by the time he got there, it was too late.'” https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-uninsured-teen-dies-refused-care-mayor-says-2020-3

President Trump issues ‘signing statement’ undercutting special inspector who was to be appointed to monitor coronavirus aid to businesses. “Trump, in his signing statement, is now suggesting that any legal requirement that an inspector general report to Congress is inherently improper without allowing for the president to make the ultimate decision.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/27/trump-congress-coronavirus-relief-oversight-152560

Mayors say their cities are ill-equipped to deal with coronavirus epidemic. “Their cities are short 5 million face masks, 4 million personal protective equipment items, 8 million test kits, and 139,000 ventilators, according to a survey released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8161637/Nations-mayors-plead-139-000-ventilators-9-million-test-kits-fight-coronavirus.html Medical professionals also warn of shortages. “Hospitals in New York City, New Orleans, Detroit and other virus hot spots have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, medical supplies and trained staff while the number of confirmed U.S. cases rose by about 18,000 on Friday, the highest jump in a single day, to more than 103,000.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/as-us-virus-cases-exceed-100000-doctors-decry-scarcity-of-drugs-and-equipment-idUSKBN21E27W

Rhode Island police reportedly stopping cars with New York license plates to interrogate occupants. “On Saturday, the National Guard will help them conduct house-to-house searches to find people who traveled from New York and demand 14 days of self-quarantine.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/rhode-island-police-to-hunt-down-new-yorkers-seeking-refuge

Florida imposes 14 day quarantine on visitors from Louisiana. “To enforce the measure, (Gov. Ron DeSantis) is asking the Florida Highway Patrol to set up a checkpoint on Interstate 10 to intercept drivers.” https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241565916.html Sorry, you have to turn around. No one is allowed to leave Hubei province.

California’s governor orders landlords not to evict tenants impacted by coronavirus crisis. “Under the order, renters cannot be removed from their apartments during the next two months if they can’t pay rent. It covers those who have lost work because of the coronavirus, and who need to take care of children who are out of closed schools or family members with COVID-19.” https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-03-27/coronavirus-newsom-eviction-ban-california

Civil rights activist Rev. Joseph Lowery dead at 98. “In 1957, as racial tensions rose across the United States, Lowery helped start the Southern Christian Leadership Conference civil rights organization with (the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.).” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/us/joseph-lowery-dead/index.html

673 hate incidents reported against Asian Americans in one week. “The attacks are part of a wave of racial discrimination that has escalated since COVID-19 was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan about three months ago…. even elected officials, including President Trump, have insisted on calling the illness the ‘Chinese virus’…” https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-asian-americans-report-hundreds-of-racist-attacks-20200327-pglnpbrupnd3ppasu7uf2itanu-story.html

Russians split almost evenly on issue of President Putin staying in office. “The poll by the Levada Centre found 6% of 1,624 people of different ages polled across Russia from March 19-25 said they were unable to answer the questions posed, while 47% opposed the measure (to allow Putin to continue in office) and 48% supported it.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-poll/poll-finds-russians-split-over-allowing-putin-to-extend-rule-idUSKBN21E1T2

April rent strike being led by retails chains. “On March 18, Cheesecake Factory CEO David Overton asked landlords for patience and help—and announced the restaurant would not be paying rent in April. Mattress Firm has told its landlords the same. And Subway declared the pandemic a force majeure, a legal term for an unforeseen event that voids contract obligations.” https://slate.com/business/2020/03/coronavirus-rent-landlords-strike-unemployment.html

Bob Dylan releases JFK assassination ballad, Murder Most Foul. “Now fans may actually have the kind of ‘deep listening’ time on their hands required to absorb the complex litany of cultural references Dylan weaves into this tale that begins as a retelling of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963.” https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-03-27/bob-dylan-murder-most-foul-new-song-jfk You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NbQkyvbw18 Sounds like Bob is not buying the Warren Report.

Video shows how company tracked spring break beach goers across the country using their cell phone data. “I don’t know what scares me more,” tweeted CBC News reporter Roberto Rocha, “the spread of Florida beach revelers or that this data is being tracked.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/27/cell-phone-tracking-analysis-shows-where-florida-springbreakers-and-new-yorkers Direct link to the video: https://twitter.com/TectonixGEO/status/1242628347034767361 Imagine these are the phones of French Resistance members, as they disperse after a secret meeting to plot the overthrow of the Nazi occupation of their country, and the Gestapo is tracking them. (Yes, I know there were no cell phones back then, I’m just trying to make a point.)

Life in a developed market economy: Hospitals may have to set up ‘capitalist death panels’ to choose who dies. “Some patients will be extremely sick and very unlikely to survive their illness even with critical treatment. Treating these patients would take away resources for patients who might survive.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/27/us-now-epicenter-global-pandemic-hospitals-forced-consider-do-not-resuscitate-orders

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounces Senate over ‘corporate bailouts’ in coronavirus relief bill. “… Ocasio-Cortez excoriated Republican leaders for presenting lawmakers with an impossible choice: Do nothing for people in dire need of financial assistance or provide a small amount of relief alongside massive bailouts for large corporations.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/27/there-should-be-shame-watch-ocasio-cortez-excoriate-gop-over-massive-corporate

March 27, 2020

Nurses being evicted by their landlords. “I’m sorry for the abrupt (24 hour) notice, but given the situation, it’s the choice I’m making to protect myself.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-heroes-getting-tossed-homes-080432629.html

Mexicans block border crossing to keep American visitors out due to coronavirus fears. “The blockade was led by members of the group Sonorans for Health and Life, who called for medical testing to be done on anyone who crosses from the US into Mexico.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52053656 They’re bringing viruses, they’re buying up our toilet paper, and some of them, I’m sure, are good people.

Record 3.28 million Americans have applied for unemployment. “The number shatters the Great Recession peak of 665,000 in March 2009 and the all-time mark of 695,000 in October 1982.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/26/weekly-jobless-claims.html

U.S. still facing toilet paper, cleaning product shortages. “… local supermarkets and pharmacies… (look) like something you’d imagine in communist Cuba or Venezuela.” https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/26/coronavirus-why-is-there-still-no-toilet-paper-in-stores/

Many healthcare workers in U.S. reduced to reusing disposable items. “Normally in what we would call conventional care, we would wear a different mask for every single patient. But we’re already being asked to use those for multiple patients if not multiple days.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/26/politics/coronavirus-doctors-white-house/index.html Sort of like in Venezuela.

Employers set to get two-year payroll tax holiday if coronavirus bill passes. “Companies also won significant tax relief, including a two-year delay in employer-side payroll taxes, giving businesses a payroll tax holiday through the election.” https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/489747-lobbying-blitz-yields-wins-for-airlines-corporations-banks-unions

Bernie Sanders wanted more money for coronavirus stimulus checks. “I wanted every American family to be able to receive $2,000 every single month that we continue to exist within the crisis. So this does not do that.” https://www.democracynow.org/2020/3/26/coronavirus_relief_bill_bernie_sanders

Laid off Americans losing employer-provided health insurance. “3.3 million people just lost their ‘if you like your employer benefits you can keep them’ benefits.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/26/we-need-medicare-all-massive-coronavirus-job-losses-expose-obvious-failure-employer

Some U.S. states have tested fewer than 120 per million residents for coronavirus. “New York so far is testing people at the highest rate of any state, while there are other states with a growing number of cases (like Texas, Georgia, and Michigan) where testing rates still remain quite low.” https://www.vox.com/2020/3/26/21193848/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths-tests-by-state Actually, the states doing the least testing are Maryland, Arizona, Missouri and Delaware, according the helpful chart showing number of tests, cases, deaths and test per million.

Police in India filmed beating citizens suspected of violating coronavirus lockdown. “Authorities in Mumbai are beating citizens with batons as punishment for disobeying orders to stay inside, according to Reuters.” https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/489676-baton-wielding-police-strike-people-violating-lockdown

U.S. takes the lead in number of coronavirus cases, despite limited testing. “According to a running count by Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected in the U.S. topped 82,000 on Thursday. That’s just ahead of the 81,000 cases in China and 80,000 in Italy.” https://www.kron4.com/health/coronavirus/us-now-leads-world-in-number-of-confirmed-coronavirus-cases/

Federal Reserve has bought up more than $5 trillion in bonds and foreign currency to boost money supply. “As of Wednesday, the Fed’s stash of assets totaled $5.3 trillion, according to data released on Thursday.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-fed-balancesheet/fed-balance-sheet-tops-5-trln-for-first-time-as-it-enters-coronavirus-war-mode-idUSKBN21D3K9

Corporate CEO’s who ignored basic rule of personal finance now seeking government bailouts. “An emergency (savings) cushion should consist of three-to-six months’ worth of fixed expenses…” https://www.salon.com/2020/03/26/corporate-ceos-flunk-basic-personal-finance-still-get-a-bailout_partner/

EPA tells companies not to worry about following environmental rules during coronavirus emergency. “The temporary policy, for which EPA has set no end date, would allow any number of industries to skirt environmental laws, with the agency saying it will not ‘seek penalties for noncompliance with routine monitoring and reporting obligations’.” https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/489753-epa-suspends-enforcement-of-environmental-laws-amid-coronavirus And if you need to bribe any government officials, fix prices with your competitors, or do some insider trading, we’ll let that slide too. (sarcasm)

U.S. troops evacuating bases in Iraq. “‘Today the coalition transferred Qayyarah airbase to the full control of the Iraqi security forces,’ Myles Caggins, a coalition spokesman, told AFP…. In the coming weeks, they will also leave an expansive base in Kirkuk.” https://news.yahoo.com/rockets-hit-iraqs-green-zone-us-led-coalition-092238277.html

President Trump questions New York governor’s request for additional ventilators for coronavirus patients. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go into major hospitals, sometimes they’ll have two ventilators,” Trump said. “And now, all of a sudden they’re saying can we order 30,000 ventilators. So, look, it’s a very bad situation, we haven’t seen anything like it, but the end result is we gotta get back to work, and I think we can start by opening up certain parts of the country.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/27/set-approve-45-trillion-bail-out-corporations-trump-white-house-objects-1-billion He is a genius, after all. (sarcasm)

Judge rules evidence of Saudi witness tampering admissible in 9/11 families lawsuit. “(U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah) Netburn shot down both (defense) motions Thursday in a terse, 1-page ruling, which ordered attorneys for the 9/11 families to share information with her under seal about any efforts to inform the Department of Justice about the alleged acts of intimidation.” https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-saudi-arabia-cant-duck-9-11-families-allegations-of-wrongdoing/

Coronavirus epidemic revealing flaws of privatized, for-profit health care systems. “Key to any discussion (about the coronavirus response) has to be the sheer collapse of state institutions in most of the capitalist world, where these institutions have been privatized, and where private institutions have operated to minimize costs and maximize profit. This is most clear in the health sector, where public health institutions have been underfunded, where medical care has been transferred to private corporations, and where private hospitals and clinics operate without any surge capacity. This means that there are simply not enough hospital beds or medical equipment (masks, ventilators, etc.) and that the nurses, doctors, paramedics, janitors, and others on the front line are forced to operate in conditions of acute scarcity, in many cases without basic protection.” https://consortiumnews.com/2020/03/27/covid-19-we-wont-go-back-to-normal-because-normal-was-the-problem/

March 26, 2020

There’s a government protocol for handling pandemics, but the Trump administration decided not to follow it. “The project was driven by career civil servants as well as political appointees, aware that global leaders had initially fumbled their response to the 2014-2015 spread of Ebola and wanting to be sure that the next response to an epidemic was better handled.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/25/trump-coronavirus-national-security-council-149285

Trump campaign sues to block ad criticizing his coronavirus response. “The spot features a graph mapping coronavirus cases in the U.S. over the past two months, with audio of comments Trump has made downplaying the threat of the virus.” https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-donald-trump-prioritiesusa-action-1202892924/

Many ‘essential workers’ who come into frequent contact with the public don’t have health insurance. “… many members of the working poor without insurance also make up the workforce now deemed ‘essential’: cashiers, stock clerks, agricultural workers, delivery drivers, elderly caregivers, child care workers, health care workers and gas station clerks.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uninsured-front-lines-america-s-working-poor-face-pandemic-without-n1169026

Federal court throws out Dakota Access pipeline permits, orders new environmental review. “The ruling is a huge victory for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of North Dakota, which rallied support from across the world and sued the US government in a campaign to stop the environmentally risky pipeline being built on tribal lands.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/25/dakota-access-pipeline-permits-court-standing-rock

An estimated 50,000 American trapped in foreign countries due to coronavirus travel restrictions and cancelled flights. “The U.S. has been urging Americans to return home on commercial flights when possible, if they are not ready to stay overseas an ‘indefinite period of time’.” https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/25/821731668/50-000-americans-stranded-abroad-by-coronavirus-events-state-department-says

France announces it is withdrawing its troops from Iraq, claims they are needed at home to fight coronavirus. “The chief of staff of the French armed forces said in a statement Wednesday night that France is suspending its anti-terrorism training operations in Iraq and also bringing home its Iraq-based troops involved in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group.” https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/france-pulls-military-forces-iraq-amid-virus-demands-69800943

Czech Republic withdrawing its troops from Iraq. “The reasons include security threats, the current coronavirus epidemic and also a planned restructuring of both (the NATO and training) missions.” https://www.news24.com/World/News/czech-republic-pulls-troops-from-iraq-over-coronavirus-20200324

Congressional commission recommends registering women for the draft. “… the time is right for women as well as men to sign up for a possible revival of the military draft, which has been mothballed since the U.S. military became volunteer-only in 1973.” https://www.npr.org/2020/03/25/821615322/commission-issues-verdict-women-like-men-should-have-to-sign-up-for-draft ‘Possible revival’?

Phone companies reportedly discussing tracking mobile phone users world-wide. “The aim of such a global network would be to enact ‘contact tracing’, enabling authorities to use mobile location data to track who a person infected with Covid-19 may have come in contact with.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/mobile-phone-industry-explores-worldwide-tracking-of-users-coronavirus

Hundreds of social media users arrested in Turkey over coronavirus posts. “The (interior) minister said almost 2,000 social media accounts had been identified making provocative posts about the outbreak, resulting in the detention of 410 people ‘attempting to stir unrest’.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-turkey/turkey-rounds-up-hundreds-for-social-media-posts-about-coronavirus-idUKKBN21C1SI

French hospital official says government only counting coronavirus deaths that occur in hospitals. “… the absolute numbers would no doubt be effectively much higher if we aggregated what is happening in retirement homes as well as the people who die at home or who are not counted.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-france-tally/french-coronavirus-death-tally-much-higher-than-official-data-hospitals-chief-idUKKBN21C11E

Senate’s coronavirus bail-out bill criticized for $4.5 trillion corporate bail-out fund. “Over and over, the American people are told there is ‘no money’—for student debt relief, for Medicare for All, for a Green New Deal, to create millions of jobs and save our planet. And now, at the moment when the American people are most in need, our coffers are being looted by the wealthy and well-connected.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/26/looting-america-big-corporations-progressives-appalled-senate-unanimously-passes

Federal appeals court overturns lower court ruling that traffic stop after Virginia man flipped off cop was justified. “The evidence establishes (Officer Rob) Coleman effectuated a seizure of (Brian) Clark without reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing, and that his actions, under color of law, amount to a constitutional violation,” (Judge Michael Urbanski) wrote. “Because the evidence does not reveal any reasonable basis for the seizure of Clark following his constitutionally protected speech, however crude, inappropriate, and unwarranted it may have been, the jury’s verdict is contrary to law and must be set aside.” https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-overturns-verdict-against-man-who-flipped-off-cop/

Toilets on renovated aircraft carriers require regular $400,000 ‘acid flushes’ to keep them from clogging. “… the Navy has yet to determine how often the acid flushes will need to be repeated. Also currently unknown, according to the report, is exactly how many ships will need to undergo this treatment.” https://www.courthousenews.com/audit-unclogging-navy-ship-toilets-costs-400k-per-flush/

March 25, 2020

Amazon Relief Fund reportedly soliciting donations from the public for its delivery contractors who catch coronavirus. “(The fund is) focused on ‘supporting our US-based Delivery Associates employed by Delivery Service Providers, our Amazon Flex Delivery Partners, and Associates working for Integrity Staffing, Adecco Staffing, and RES Staffing, and drivers and support team members of line haul partners under financial distress due to a Covid-19 diagnosis or quarantine’.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-amazon-jeff-bezos-relief-fund-covid-19-billionaire-net-worth-a9422236.html Understandable, since business is so slow these days. They’re probably having trouble even making payroll. (sarcasm)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expresses his frustration with slow federal response to coronavirus. “If more ventilators aren’t sent within weeks, Cuomo told the feds, ‘You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die’.” https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/03/24/cuomo-to-trump-administration-you-pick-the-26k-people-who-are-going-to-die-1268833

Justice Department warns people thinking about intentionally spreading coronavirus. “Because Coronavirus appears to meet the statutory definition of a ‘biological agent’… such acts potentially could implicate the Nation’s terrorism-related statutes,” Rosen wrote. “Threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/24/coronavirus-terrorism-justice-department-147821 What about people who have facilitated the spread of the virus through negligence, official misconduct, mismanagement or poor job performance?

Man facing terrorism charges for coughing on supermarket employee and claiming to have coronavirus. “George Falcone, 50, has been charged with making terroristic threats while in a branch of Wegmans in Manalapan, New Jersey, on Sunday evening.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/george-falcone-coronavirus-cough-085419954.html

Missouri man who licked outside of deodorant sticks at Walmart facing terrorism charges. “Cody Lee Pfister, 26, of Warrenton, has been charged by the Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with a terrorist threat in the second degree.” https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/man-charged-after-police-say-he-licked-items-at-warrenton/article_2e9d0fc7-b21a-5ebc-a8e9-cc181f3f3934.html

Bill Gates says we missed our chance to avoid shutdowns. “It’s January when everybody should’ve been on notice.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/bill-gates-us-missed-its-chance-to-avoid-coronavirus-shutdown.html And how did that happen?

Doctors reportedly hoarding coronavirus drugs by writing prescriptions for themselves or family members. “The A.M.A. is calling for a stop to any inappropriate prescribing and ordering of medications, including chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, and appealing to physicians and all health care professionals to follow the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/business/doctors-buying-coronavirus-drugs.html

Shortages of medical supplies blamed on drop in imports from China. “Trade data shows the decline in shipments started in mid-February after the spiraling coronavirus outbreak in China led the country to shutter factories and disrupted ports.” https://apnews.com/6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1

Indian government locks down entire country. “(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi said the lockdown would start at midnight local time, would last for a minimum of 21 days, and would apply to all of India’s 36 states and territories.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/24/asia/india-lockdown-coronavirus-intl/index.html

Senate reaches $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus deal with White House, Trump-owned businesses not eligible for benefits. “The (Trump Organization) controls several hotels, resorts and golf clubs, including Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-trump-businesses-wont-get-money.html Bill makes gig workers eligible for unemployment benefits. “Workers would get normal (unemployment) benefits from their state, plus an additional $600 per week from the federal package. This applies to employees, those who are self-employed, and gig economy workers.” https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-bill-gig-economy-unemployment-benefit-a3534c5d-2841-48ca-a492-705d5af79534.html

Food and Drug Administration gives pharmaceutical company’s possible coronavirus treatment ‘rare disease’ designation. “The agency’s decision would provide lucrative incentives to the drug’s maker, Gilead Sciences, and could keep lower-priced generic versions of the medicine off the market for several years if remdesivir is approved for use, public health advocates say.” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/24/821035311/fda-grants-experimental-coronavirus-drug-benefits-for-rare-disease-treatments

U.S. coronavirus cases spiking at a rate similar to Italy’s. “Italy took strong measures. Its mistake was not that it didn’t react at all — it’s that it kept being a little bit behind the ball. Each measure was appropriate to the situation the Italians observed. But the real situation was always much worse.” https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/3/20/21179040/coronavirus-us-italy-not-overreacting

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Taliban leader in Qatar. “According to Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for Taliban’s Qatar office, the two discussed ways and means for better implementation of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal and subsequent prisoners’ swap in Afghanistan.” https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/pompeo-meets-talibans-deputy-leader-in-qatar-/1776981

U.S. intelligence agencies accused of failing to warn country’s leadership about coronavirus threat. “… (the National Center for Medical Intelligence’s) first Infectious Disease Risk Assessment for COVID-19 was issued on January 5, 2020, reporting that 59 people had been taken ill in Wuhan, China. This report was derived not from any sensitive intelligence collection effort or independent biosurveillance activity, but rather from a report issued to the WHO by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, dated January 5, 2020.” https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-staggering-collapse-of-u-s-intelligence-on-the-coronavirus/

Denver reverses order closing liquor and marijuana shops after large crowds gather to panic buy before city-wide lockdown. “(A Denver Post news report) suggested residents were violating social distancing orders in their attempts to stock up before the closure.” https://sg.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-denver-mayor-forced-reverse-215050529.html

Times Up accused of failing to back Joe Biden accuser. “Unfortunately, the (Time’s Up Legal Defense) Fund’s decision remains the same. … Please know how much I appreciate your courage in speaking out and appreciate what you shared over the phone, that you are speaking out so that your daughter and other young people can start their careers free of harassment.” https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/joe-biden-metoo-times-up/

Nurses’ union accuses Kaiser Permanente hospitals in California of threatening to fire nurses who provide their own masks. “The news comes after nurses were ordered to reuse disposable protective gear to save supplies in the face of shortages brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.” https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/kaiser-permanente-nurses-coronavirus/

Constitutional rights group warns of threat of possible civil liberties infringements linked to coronvirus epidemic. “It’s one thing to encourage people to stay home and close down businesses in order to reduce the reasons for people to gather, but people should still be free to go outside, drive places, and move freely without having to justify their movements to the government,” Fight for the Future said. “People should not be stopped by police or military officers asking people where they are going, or be forced to get approval just to leave their house.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/24/take-seriously-digital-rights-group-urges-americans-beat-back-attempts-exploit

Off-the-charts, record number of laid-off Americans file unemployment claims. “An estimated 3.4 million Americans filed such claims for the week ending March 21, according to the findings from the Economic Policy Institute.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/24/chart-holy-sht-analysis-shows-more-workers-filed-unemployment-last-week-any-other-us

Federal judge lets First Amendment case against Donald Trump proceed. “Plaintiff has constitutional standing to pursue First Amendment claims against defendant’s practice of selectively barring access to the White House press corps, including by revoking or threatening to revoke press credentials, due to hostility to the reporters’ speech and revoking or threatening to revoke the security clearances of former government officials whose commentary he dislikes.” https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-must-face-lawsuit-over-attacks-on-news-media/

Los Angeles County orders gun stores to close. “(Sheriff Alex) Villanueva said the order is to help ‘make sure (non-essential businesses) honor the social distancing and display some common sense’.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/24/us/los-angeles-gun-store-close-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

2nd amendment groups sue New Jersey over closures of gun shops. “At a time where the Second Amendment is most critical and vital, Governor Murphy believes liquor and home improvement is more critical than self-defense.” https://www.courthousenews.com/new-jersey-sued-for-closing-gun-shops-in-pandemic/

March 24, 2020

Federal Reserve announces Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility program, which will loan money directly to corporations. “… its direct loans are simply a way to assume default risk without receiving a compensatory return. This is simply a direct taxpayer subsidy to corporate shareholders.” https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-23/coronavirus-crisis-fed-should-never-lend-outside-banking-system

Federal Reserve to provide ‘nearly unlimited’ amounts of stimulus to the economy, and to buy up bonds and other securities as investors sell off their holdings. “All the Fed’s emergency steps are intended to pump cash into a financial system that has seen a spike in demand for dollars as investors unload Treasuries, municipal bonds, and other securities.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/federal-reserve-to-lend-additional-1-trillion-a-day-to-large-banks Whatever happened to ‘self-regulating markets’?

Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, signs bill abolishing capital punishment. “Colorado abolished the death penalty Monday, making it the 22nd state to do away with capital punishment since it was reinstated in 1976.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/colorado-abolishes-death-penalty-n1167231

Chairman of New York Stock Exchange accused of dumping stock before coronavirus crash. “Jeffrey Sprecher, who is the husband of Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, on February 26 sold $3.5 million in shares of (Intercontinental Exchange)… at an average price of $93.42 each, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since then, ICE shares have plunged nearly 25% amid a broader downdraft in stocks.” https://www.news9.com/story/41924467/nyse-boss-sold-his-own-stock-ahead-of-coronavirus-market-meltdown

Eleven states allowing anyone without health insurance to sign up for Obamacare immediately. “Under the Affordable Care Act, people who lose insurance coverage when they lose their job are already allowed to buy their own insurance. But the creation of a broad special enrollment period would mean that anyone without comprehensive insurance could simply sign up for a health plan, without having to prove such special conditions.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/upshot/coronavirus-obamacare-marketplaces-reopen.html Not as good as Medicare for All, but better than no health insurance at all.

Supreme Court upholds Kansas law banning insanity defense. “The state essentially allows consideration of mental status only at the sentencing phase of a trial.” https://www.npr.org/2020/03/23/820190552/supreme-court-allows-states-to-virtually-eliminate-the-insanity-defense

52 Cuban doctors arrive in Italy to help over-stretched medical staff treat coronavirus patients. “… this is the first time Cuba has sent an emergency contingent to Italy, one of the world’s richest countries, demonstrating the reach of its medical diplomacy.” https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/watch-cuban-doctors-arrive-in-italy-to-fight-coronavirus-get-a-loud-welcome-1658771-2020-03-23

March 19th was the 17th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. “Iraq (is) still in chaos 17 years after US invasion…. The US invasion in 2003, which promised liberty and democracy, led to the deaths of millions of Iraqis, destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure, and established an unstable political system.” https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2020/3/23/iraq-still-in-chaos-17-years-after-us-invasion

Texas joins Ohio in banning abortions ‘due to coronavirus’. “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday directed abortion providers in the state to offer the procedure only in cases where a pregnant patient’s life or health is in danger as part of the state order to halt all “non-essential” surgeries to preserve resources during the outbreak.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/24/texas-and-ohio-use-coronavirus-pandemic-cynical-cover-abortion-bans-ordering-clinics

Nuclear industry asks for a $23 billion coronavirus tax credit. “Our member companies are anticipating—or are already experiencing—severe financial strain as product orders are delayed or canceled, as industrial electricity demand falls, and as workforce availability becomes increasingly constrained.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/23/nuclear-industry-effort-exploit-coronavirus-crisis-backdoor-bailout-decried-disaster

UK temporarily nationalizes railways, then hires former private owners to management them for a commission. “A (transport) ministry statement warned that leaving operators to go bust ‘would cause significantly more disruption to passengers and higher costs to the taxpayer’.” https://www.courthousenews.com/british-government-takes-over-the-railways/ Nice deal, I’m sure British taxpayers are just fine with covering a private company’s losses after not sharing in their profits.

March 23, 2020

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin promises $4 trillion in financing for businesses hurt by coronavirus. “We can lever up to $4 trillion to help everything from small business to big business get through the next 90 to 120 days as we win this war.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/22/mnuchin-financing-efforts-from-fed-and-treasury-could-be-4-trillion.html

Ohio’s attorney general orders family planning clinics to stop performing elective abortions. “Ohio’s attorney general, Dave Yost, ordered several clinics to stop all ‘nonessential’ surgical abortions, defined as any ‘that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient’. The order applies to all clinics in the state.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/ohio-orders-halt-nonessential-abortions-coronavirus-preview.html

Bipartisan opposition in Congress to Dept. of Justice request for enhanced emergency powers. “Trump’s declaration of a national emergency is a major boon to states struggling to respond to the crisis because it frees up $42.6 billion in federal funds that can be used for testing, medical facilities, and other supplies. But a national emergency declaration also gives Trump access to more than 120 broad powers, many with few restrictions.” https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/22/21189937/coronavirus-department-justice-doj-powers

Mass testing halted as states shift from ‘containment’ to ‘treatment’ of those hospitalized by coronavirus. “In New York, California, and other areas that have been hit hard by a surge in coronavirus patients, officials are sending the message that the fight to contain the virus has been lost and now the focus needs to shift to responding to the pandemic in the most efficient way possible.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/hard-hit-states-give-up-broad-coronavirus-testing-containment.html Or should we say ‘planned mass testing that didn’t actually happen’.

Trump administration reportedly abolished CDC post in Beijing in July of 2019. “As an American CDC employee, they said, (Dr. Linda) Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier.” https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/03/22/world/asia/22reuters-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusive.html

President Trump accused of stoking xenophobia with references to ‘Chinese virus’. “It is dangerous for him to continue calling it the Chinese coronavirus,” Rep. Judy Chu, a California Democrat and the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress…. “And we can see the results in what’s happening to Asian Americans across this country.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/judy-chu-coronavirus-trump-china/index.html

World Health Organization expert Mike Ryan says locking down countries is not a solution. “What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-ryan/lockdowns-not-enough-to-defeat-coronavirus-whos-ryan-idUSKBN2190FM Probably too late for that now in countries where the virus has spread widely, like the U.S. Locking down cities is just a way of buying time.

Life in a developed market economy: 17 stock market crashes since 1901. “Some of the sell-offs that rank on this list spanned just a few days. In other cases, they lasted for weeks and even months.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/21/stock-market-collapse-how-does-todays-compare-others/2890885001/

Pro-democracy groups call for election reforms. “… over 200 voting rights groups (have joined together) to call on governors and state elections officials to adopt a number of key policies to ensure both the public’s safety and the orderly conduct of the 2020 primary and general elections in light of the current threat posed by COVID-19.” https://rightsanddissent.org/news/voting-rights-groups-call-on-election-officials-to-act-now-to-protect-voting-rights/

Egyptian man dies in custody two weeks after his arrest by the country’s National Security Agency. “(Hisham) Abu Ali was the 16th detainee to die behind bars in Egypt since the beginning of the year.” https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/3/21/egyptian-engineer-dies-after-alleged-torture-inside-security-headquarters

Germany bans public gatherings of more than two people. “For at least the next two weeks, people will not be allowed to form groups of more than two in public unless they live together in the same household or the gathering is work-related…” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-meeting-ban/germany-bans-meetings-of-more-than-two-people-in-public-idUKKBN2190UJ

Some members of Congress hesitant to approve $1 trillion coronavirus bill. “In this time of unprecedented crisis, we need an unprecedented legislative response that focuses on the emergency health care needs of the American people and that puts working families and the poor ahead of CEOs and huge corporations.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/22/sanders-calls-unprecedented-legislative-response-coronavirus-crisis-not-corporate

March 22, 2020

Department of Justice reportedly asked Congress for legislation allowing indefinite detention of suspects without trials during ’emergencies’, and for the power to try defendants via video. “So that means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/21/doj-coronavirus-emergency-powers-140023 Sounds like someone is thinking about declaring martial law…

Former South Korean soldier says his “killing company” was tasked with committing massacres of civilians during Vietnam War. “Hundreds of thousands of South Korean soldiers fought alongside the Americans in Vietnam, but the story of South Korea’s involvement in the conflict is largely untold.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gsrz

Final California primary election results may be delayed. “Almost one-fifth of those (313,739 uncounted) ballots were cast in Los Angeles County, where a series of problems with ballot marking devices and electronic registration tablets hindered in-person voting in many locations on election day.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-20/california-presidential-primary-results-could-be-delayed-by-coronavirus-crisis

President Trump blames China for not reporting coronavirus outbreak sooner. “I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside,” Trump said during a briefing on the federal government’s coronavirus response. “We didn’t know about it until it started coming out publicly.” https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/trump-china-told-us-coronavirus/index.html China reported the virus to the World Health Organization at the end of December. “Dec. 31: Authorities inform the WHO China Country Office of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology (unknown cause) detected in Wuhan.” https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-the-coronavirus-spread-around-the-world-so-rapidly-and-what-we-can-learn-from-missteps-made-in-those-critical-early-days-2020-03-04 Intelligence officials claim they warned Trump administration about coronavirus in January. “Donald Trump may not have been expecting this, but a lot of other people in the government were — they just couldn’t get him to do anything about it,” this official said. “The system was blinking red.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-intelligence-reports-from-january-and-february-warned-about-a-likely-pandemic/2020/03/20/299d8cda-6ad5-11ea-b5f1-a5a804158597_story.html

House members and Senate aides also bought and sold stocks prior to market crash. “Previously unreported lawmakers who sold assets in the weeks leading up to the market crash include Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), who unloaded thousands of dollars of stock in Alaska Air and Royal Caribbean cruises.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/21/coronavirus-trading-house-senate-140260

Seattle-area Target stores apologize for selling N95 masks to the public. “Hospitals have been running out of the coveted masks, and health care workers have resorted to begging on social media for mask donations.” https://www.businessinsider.com/target-apologizes-selling-n95-masks-seattle-stores-amid-shortage-2020-3

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