Within hours of floating the idea of ordering a quarantine on New York amid surging COVID-19 cases in the state, President Trump walked his proposal back in a Saturday evening tweet. Continue reading “Trump Backs Off His NY State Quarantine Idea To Contain Coronavirus”
Ron DeSantis Previews the Trumpist Line on Who’s to Blame for COVID-19
The future is Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida. Today the governor who resolutely refused to close the state’s beaches or much if any of its commerce while the coronavirus spread like wildfire across the country has now decided to blame New York and New Yorkers. DeSantis was the first to order anyone arriving from New York City-area airports to enter a 14 day quarantine. That was on Monday. He told reporters he was pursuing the travel-ban approach rather than a statewide lockdown because, he claimed, the crisis in New York proved lockdowns don’t work.
DeSantis looks like the spur to the White House’s announcement late last week that New Yorkers traveling to any other parts of the country should be self-quarantining. According to the Post, a conversation with DeSantis this morning was behind the President Trump saying he’s “considering” a quarantine of the New York metro region. (This evening Trump opted instead for a “strong travel advisory”).
Continue reading “Ron DeSantis Previews the Trumpist Line on Who’s to Blame for COVID-19”
Report: White House Officials Are Warning Trump Against Social Distancing Deadlines
President Donald Trump’s been campaigning for an end to social distancing measures against the COVID-19 pandemic by Easter, and several of his aides are reportedly trying to tell him that setting such a deadline is a bad idea.
Trump Floats ‘Enforceable’ Quarantine On Entire New York State To Contain Coronavirus
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he’s considering ordering a quarantine on New York as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to skyrocket in the state.
Fox Business Host Who Ranted About Coronavirus ‘Scam’ Gets Axed
Fox Business announced on Friday that Trish Regan, the host of the network’s “Trish Regan Primetime” program, has been let go in the aftermath of her infamous tirade claiming that the COVID-19 outbreak was part of some kind of anti-Trump scheme run by Democrats and the media.
Continue reading “Fox Business Host Who Ranted About Coronavirus ‘Scam’ Gets Axed”
Report: Trump Wants His Signature On Direct Payment Checks From Coronavirus Package
President Donald Trump reportedly wants his own personal touch on the assistance checks from the $2.2 trillion relief package.
Here’s What TPM Is Reading While Social Distancing
Staying mentally grounded has become increasingly difficult as COVID-19 continues to dominate the news cycle and our lives. Finding things to help distract ourselves and to get out of our heads for a little bit are a must, whether it’s a new hobby or skill, talking to family and friends, TV shows, movies or a good book. While we at TPM join much of the world in practicing social distancing, we asked our staff to share what books they’re reading while they cope with isolation.
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Trump Signs $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law Friday, after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress this week to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.
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WATCH LIVE: WH Coronavirus Task Force Holds Briefing At 5:30 PM ET
President Donald Trump and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force are scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET. Trump is likely to discuss his decision to finally use the Defense Production Act to ramp up the production of necessary medical supplies.
Ahead of the briefing, Trump signed further authorizations under the Defense Production Act, the wartime law that allows the federal government to order corporations to prioritize the production of certain supplies deemed essential to the COVID-19 response.
“[I]t is the policy of the United States to expand domestic production of health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19, including personal protective equipment and ventilators,” Trump said in an executive order.
“Accordingly, I am delegating authority under title III of the [Defense Production] Act to guarantee loans by private institutions, make loans, make provision for purchases and commitments to purchase, and take additional actions to create, maintain, protect, expand, and restore domestic industrial base capabilities to produce such resources.”
Crowds At Parks, Beaches And Trails Force Closures As COVID-19 Spreads
OAK PARK, Ill. (AP) — It was a sunny day, the first in about a week when temperatures had climbed past the 50-degree mark, and people in Chicago did what they always do on such a day: They flocked to the shores of Lake Michigan.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not consider that the kind of postcard perfect scene that attracts visitors from around the world. She saw danger. She saw “packs” of people and worried about the possibility that the coronavirus that has killed more than 25,000 worldwide was spreading from one person to another.
Continue reading “Crowds At Parks, Beaches And Trails Force Closures As COVID-19 Spreads”