Donald Trump has branded House speaker Nancy Pelosi “a sick puppy” during an interview with Fox and Friends after extending the timeline for the US to remain in lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic until at least 30 April, abandoning his “aspiration” to have the country back in business by Easter.
The White House’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has meanwhile warned that his projection of a potential 100,000 to 200,000 American deaths is “entirely conceivable” if not enough is done to mitigate the crisis, with the president commenting that containing the disaster to that level would represent “a very good job”.
Elsewhere, New York City welcomed 1,000-bed hospital ship USNS Comfort at a harbour to assist the city while fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked the US Navy and President Donald Trump for sending the hospital ship. It will house non-coronavirus patients so hospitals on land can focus their efforts towards those infected.
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Federal government sends broken ventilators to California, state governor says
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Saturday that the state received 170 broken ventilators from the federal government.
The governor explained that the ventilators came from the national stockpile and were delivered directly to Los Angeles County.
He said that "rather than lamenting about it, rather than complaining about it, rather than pointing fingers, rather than generating headlines in order to generate more stress and anxiety," it was arranged for a California company to fix the machines.
Oliver O'Connell with the full story:
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Saturday that the state received 170 broken ventilators from the federal government.
The governor explained that the ventilators came from the national stockpile and were delivered directly to Los Angeles County.
He said that "rather than lamenting about it, rather than complaining about it, rather than pointing fingers, rather than generating headlines in order to generate more stress and anxiety," it was arranged for a California company to fix the machines.
Oliver O'Connell with the full story:
Federal government sends California broken ventilators
The IndependentThe faulty machines are being refurbished by Bloom Energy, a green energy company that has retooled to fix ventilators for the state
New York governor confirms stockpile of hospital equipment after Trump criticism
Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke with reporters on Monday about accusations of the state storing equipment like PPE and ventilators instead of bringing it into use right away.
The governor addressing these accusations comes after President Donald Trump said the federal government sent thousands of ventilators to the state that are not being used.
"You have to prepare before the storm hits," Mr Cuomo said. "We've been behind the virus from day one. Prepare for the high point of the curve and do it now."
This New York government is using a warehouse to "stockpile" equipment before the anticipated apex, which is estimated to hit in two weeks.
Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke with reporters on Monday about accusations of the state storing equipment like PPE and ventilators instead of bringing it into use right away.
The governor addressing these accusations comes after President Donald Trump said the federal government sent thousands of ventilators to the state that are not being used.
"You have to prepare before the storm hits," Mr Cuomo said. "We've been behind the virus from day one. Prepare for the high point of the curve and do it now."
This New York government is using a warehouse to "stockpile" equipment before the anticipated apex, which is estimated to hit in two weeks.
Republican lawmakers slow to introduce social distancing guidelines, study find
States with Republican governors were generally slower to react to the coronavirus outbreak and implement social distancing guidelines than their Democratic peers, according to a new study released by the University of Washington.
The study looks at a number of potential variables for understanding differences in response times between states -- including state income, how neighbouring states reacted, state economics and the a state's political makeup -- and reported that it was "unambiguous" that "political variables are the strongest predictor of the early adoption of social distancing policies."
"All else equal states with Republican governors and Republican electorates delayed each social distancing measure by an average of 2.70 days (95% CI: 249 to 2.88), a far larger effect than any other factor, including state income per capita, the percentage of neighbouring states with mandates, or even confirmed cases in state."
Graig Graziosi reports:
States with Republican governors were generally slower to react to the coronavirus outbreak and implement social distancing guidelines than their Democratic peers, according to a new study released by the University of Washington.
The study looks at a number of potential variables for understanding differences in response times between states -- including state income, how neighbouring states reacted, state economics and the a state's political makeup -- and reported that it was "unambiguous" that "political variables are the strongest predictor of the early adoption of social distancing policies."
"All else equal states with Republican governors and Republican electorates delayed each social distancing measure by an average of 2.70 days (95% CI: 249 to 2.88), a far larger effect than any other factor, including state income per capita, the percentage of neighbouring states with mandates, or even confirmed cases in state."
Graig Graziosi reports:
Republican leaders slower to introduce social distancing, study finds
The IndependentFox News also tagged as a likely contributor to delay in response from many Republican governors
Video chat service Zoom used by US workers and students promises to not sell data
Zoom has promised not to monitor conversations or sell users' data amid concerns over its privacy.
The video chat app has surged in popularity in recent weeks, as workplaces, schools, families, friends and more use it to meet up without leaving the house and breaking coronavirus lockdowns.
At the same time, it has faced a flurry of questions over its privacy policy. Issues including a bug that allowed users to be spied on through their webcam and the discovery that the app was sending information to Facebook have led to concerns the company could be failing to protect the personal data of users.
Andrew Griffin with the full story:
Zoom has promised not to monitor conversations or sell users' data amid concerns over its privacy.
The video chat app has surged in popularity in recent weeks, as workplaces, schools, families, friends and more use it to meet up without leaving the house and breaking coronavirus lockdowns.
At the same time, it has faced a flurry of questions over its privacy policy. Issues including a bug that allowed users to be spied on through their webcam and the discovery that the app was sending information to Facebook have led to concerns the company could be failing to protect the personal data of users.
Andrew Griffin with the full story:
Zoom responds to concerns over privacy
The IndependentCompany promises not to monitor conversations or sell data
New York City will fine residents who violate social distancing regulations
New York City residents who break social distancing rules will now be fined, according to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The fines will be between $250-$500.
The police have been instructed to close parks and playgrounds and dismantle basketball hoops and soccer goals if they find that they are frequently in use by too many people.
Subway riders are being asked to resist crowding into cars, and instead wait for a less packed train. The mayor is encouraging them to call 311 if they see crowded cars.
Breaking news story here:
New York City residents who break social distancing rules will now be fined, according to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The fines will be between $250-$500.
The police have been instructed to close parks and playgrounds and dismantle basketball hoops and soccer goals if they find that they are frequently in use by too many people.
Subway riders are being asked to resist crowding into cars, and instead wait for a less packed train. The mayor is encouraging them to call 311 if they see crowded cars.
Breaking news story here:
New York to fine people who violate social distancing rules
The IndependentNew York City residents who break social distancing rules will now be fined, according to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. The fines will be between $250-$500. The police have been instructed to close parks and playgrounds and dismantle basketball hoops and soccer goals if they find that they are frequently in use by too many people. Subway riders are being asked to resist
Hundreds flock to Florida beaches despite Covid-19 cases rising to nearly 5,000
Florida's government faces backlash as hundreds of residents still flood the state's beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic instead of shutting them down.
Despite criticism for keeping the beaches open, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said he has no regrets for allowing people to use the public space and even compared the beaches to the New York City subway system.
"Do you hear the same people complaining about the New York City subway system being open?" he said at a press conference on Saturday. "I mean, give me a break. Which one is more conducive to having Covid-19 spread or any respiratory virus? It's not even close."
Florida's government faces backlash as hundreds of residents still flood the state's beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic instead of shutting them down.
Despite criticism for keeping the beaches open, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said he has no regrets for allowing people to use the public space and even compared the beaches to the New York City subway system.
"Do you hear the same people complaining about the New York City subway system being open?" he said at a press conference on Saturday. "I mean, give me a break. Which one is more conducive to having Covid-19 spread or any respiratory virus? It's not even close."
Danielle Zoellner has more on this.
Coronavirus spread in Seattle slows down, suggesting restrictions are working
Well this at least is positive.
Well this at least is positive.
Amazon and Instacart workers go on strike over coronavirus safety concerns
As many as 200,000 Instacart workers are to go on strike on Monday over unsafe working conditions brought on by the coronavirus.
Similar action is being planned by 100 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York.
Oliver O'Connell has the full story.
As many as 200,000 Instacart workers are to go on strike on Monday over unsafe working conditions brought on by the coronavirus.
Similar action is being planned by 100 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York.
Oliver O'Connell has the full story.
US Navy ship arrives in New York City harbour as encampment set up in Central Park
While the news from NYC remains very grave, whatever the president says, the relief effort is underway.
Here's Andrew Naughtie with this update.
While the news from NYC remains very grave, whatever the president says, the relief effort is underway.
The USNS Comfort has arrived in the city harbour - bringing 1,000 beds and 12 operating rooms - a field hospital is under construction in Central Park and nurses are flying in from Georgia and elsewhere to offer invaluable reinforcement.
Here's Andrew Naughtie with this update.
Team Trump blames Joe Biden for shortage of surgical masks
Andrew Naughtie has this on a particularly desperate look for Trump's re-election team, still blaming the previous administration after three years and two months in government, during which time this president abolished a key pandemic response unit.
Andrew Naughtie has this on a particularly desperate look for Trump's re-election team, still blaming the previous administration after three years and two months in government, during which time this president abolished a key pandemic response unit.
New York 'really in trouble' but will be 'fine', says Trump after 100 die in one day
In case you missed the excitement on Fox and Friends earlier, Alex Woodward has this recap of the president's alarmingly casual assessment of the situation in NYC - his own hometown, don't forget - which remains the American epicentre of the current crisis.
In case you missed the excitement on Fox and Friends earlier, Alex Woodward has this recap of the president's alarmingly casual assessment of the situation in NYC - his own hometown, don't forget - which remains the American epicentre of the current crisis.
The families devastated by the ban on US hospital visits
Of all the ways the coronavirus pandemic has undermined the conventions of normal life, perhaps none is as cruel as the separation of seriously ill patients and their loved ones.
Of all the ways the coronavirus pandemic has undermined the conventions of normal life, perhaps none is as cruel as the separation of seriously ill patients and their loved ones.
When will the coronavirus lockdown end in the US?
With America now on more than 125,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and having already lost over 1,000 of its citizens to the respiratory disease, Lucy Gray answers the question on everybody's lips.
With America now on more than 125,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and having already lost over 1,000 of its citizens to the respiratory disease, Lucy Gray answers the question on everybody's lips.
‘No one is thinking about you’
John Oliver has also laid into the president over the crisis from his quarantine bunker, suggesting Trump is envious of the one thing on this planet more toxic than his own personality.
Louis Chilton brings you this one.
Jim Carrey and Stephen King rebuke Trump over coronavirus response
The Hollywood actor, reinventing himself as a scathing political cartoonist these days, is on vicious form here portaying Trump asleep on the job...
...while the billion-selling horror novelist - who of course wrote The Shining and The Stand, about the trauma of isolation and a world-ending plague respectively - has a few sharp words for the president of his own, says Ellie Harrison.
The Hollywood actor, reinventing himself as a scathing political cartoonist these days, is on vicious form here portaying Trump asleep on the job...
...while the billion-selling horror novelist - who of course wrote The Shining and The Stand, about the trauma of isolation and a world-ending plague respectively - has a few sharp words for the president of his own, says Ellie Harrison.
Justice Department investigating senators who dumped stock after coronavirus tip-off
The US Department of Justice is investigating several senators for highly profitable stock transactions they made in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, apparently after being briefed on how badly the US and its economy might be hit.
According to CNN, the department is co-ordinating with the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish whether their behaviour was above board or a case of insider trading.
The inquiry, still in its early stages, has already seen the FBI reach out to North Carolina senator Richard Burr, who was the first to incur criticism for selling stock in companies that were later badly hurt by the markets’ disastrous plunge in March.
Andrew Naughtie has the whole story.
The US Department of Justice is investigating several senators for highly profitable stock transactions they made in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, apparently after being briefed on how badly the US and its economy might be hit.
According to CNN, the department is co-ordinating with the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish whether their behaviour was above board or a case of insider trading.
The inquiry, still in its early stages, has already seen the FBI reach out to North Carolina senator Richard Burr, who was the first to incur criticism for selling stock in companies that were later badly hurt by the markets’ disastrous plunge in March.
Andrew Naughtie has the whole story.
Trump says we should know if hydroxychloroquine works 'in the next three days'
A penny for Doc Fauci's thoughts right now...
The president says his son Barron is "not unhappy" about missing school and taking lessons online but refuses to rise to Doocy's bait by endorsing the suggestion that he and Melania are "watching Fox Nation all day".
Ainsley Earhardt ends with this toadying question: "How can we pray for you?"
And that's it!
A penny for Doc Fauci's thoughts right now...
The president says his son Barron is "not unhappy" about missing school and taking lessons online but refuses to rise to Doocy's bait by endorsing the suggestion that he and Melania are "watching Fox Nation all day".
Ainsley Earhardt ends with this toadying question: "How can we pray for you?"
And that's it!
President insists he's 'not the soft guy' in relations with Russia
Trump is currently lecturing a confused-looking Brian Kilmeade on the Second World War in response to a question on keeping open dialogue with America's enemies.
He says this on his relations with Putin:
Trump is currently lecturing a confused-looking Brian Kilmeade on the Second World War in response to a question on keeping open dialogue with America's enemies.
He says this on his relations with Putin:
Trump says hazard payment for nurses could be 'an amendment or something'
We're well past the half hour mark here and the president is rambling with the best of them.
This vagueness is not encouraging.
He's now saying his next call after this one is with Vladimir Putin, suggesting he's keeping the Kremlin on hold to talk to Fox!
He says they will talk about the Saudi-Russia oil fight.
We're well past the half hour mark here and the president is rambling with the best of them.
This vagueness is not encouraging.
He's now saying his next call after this one is with Vladimir Putin, suggesting he's keeping the Kremlin on hold to talk to Fox!
He says they will talk about the Saudi-Russia oil fight.
Trump scorns Biden and suggests Andrew Cuomo would be superior Democratic presidential candidate
The president is laying into "Sleepy Joe", doubting he writes his own press statements and even somehow taking credit for Cuomo's leadership.
He also offers this brilliant insight into the situation in the Big Apple.
Now he's slamming the Green New Deal and accusing the Democrats of interfering in the $2.2trn stimulus package, accusing them of providing only "a complicated way of screwing things up".
The president is laying into "Sleepy Joe", doubting he writes his own press statements and even somehow taking credit for Cuomo's leadership.
He also offers this brilliant insight into the situation in the Big Apple.
Now he's slamming the Green New Deal and accusing the Democrats of interfering in the $2.2trn stimulus package, accusing them of providing only "a complicated way of screwing things up".
Here's John T Bennett on the president's comments about Cuomo.
