This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/apr/09/coronavirus-us-live-trump-economy-unemployment-latest-updates
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus US live: Trump reportedly planning second taskforce for economy | Coronavirus US live: Trump reportedly planning second taskforce for economy |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Separate taskforce will reportedly focus on how to reopen US and what businesses need to rebound amid catastrophic conditions | Separate taskforce will reportedly focus on how to reopen US and what businesses need to rebound amid catastrophic conditions |
| The Senate failed to pass a bill allocating an additional $250 billion to the small business loan program created by last month’s stimulus package. | |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell tried to pass the bill by unanimous consent, but Senate Democrats objected because they are calling for an extra $250 billion for hospitals and state and local governments. | |
| McConnell objected to Democrats’ proposed amendement to the bill, making it impossible to pass the bill by unanimous consent. | |
| The Senate has now adjourned until Monday, when McConnell will have another chance to push the bill through as businessowners fear the program will soon run out of funds. | |
| Joe Biden holds a 4-point lead over Trump in a new national poll, which comes a day after Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential campaign. | |
| According to the Monmouth University poll, Biden attracts the support of 48% of registered voters, while Trump stands at 44%. The result is similar to Biden’s 3-point lead over Trump in a poll released last month. | |
| With Sanders dropping our of the race, such head-to-head polls between Trump and Biden have taken on a heightened level of significance as America looks ahead to the general election in November. | |
| However, national polls do not reflect the state-by-state nature of presidential elections. Hillary Clinton famously won the popular vote in 2016 but lost the electoral college, handing Trump a victory. | |
| Wisconsin continues to count ballots after its chaotic primary on Tuesday, which was disrupted by long lines and fears of spreading coronavirus at polling sites. | Wisconsin continues to count ballots after its chaotic primary on Tuesday, which was disrupted by long lines and fears of spreading coronavirus at polling sites. |
| More than a million absentee ballots have been returned, but the question remains whether turnout overall decreased due to people avoiding in-person voting. | More than a million absentee ballots have been returned, but the question remains whether turnout overall decreased due to people avoiding in-person voting. |
| Some Wisconsin voters said they never received their absentee ballots, which left them with an undesirable choice between not voting at all and risking their health by voting in person. | Some Wisconsin voters said they never received their absentee ballots, which left them with an undesirable choice between not voting at all and risking their health by voting in person. |
| A Wisconsin state senator said yesterday that one post office found three large tubs of unsent absentee ballots the day after the primary. | A Wisconsin state senator said yesterday that one post office found three large tubs of unsent absentee ballots the day after the primary. |
| Senate Democrats are introducing their own coronavirus relief bill in an effort to get more funds for hospitals and state and local governments. | Senate Democrats are introducing their own coronavirus relief bill in an effort to get more funds for hospitals and state and local governments. |
| In consultation with the Trump administration, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is trying to quickly pass a bill allocating an addition $250 billion to the small business loan program created by the stimulus package. The program was originally given $350 billion, but that money appears to be rapidly dwindling. | In consultation with the Trump administration, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is trying to quickly pass a bill allocating an addition $250 billion to the small business loan program created by the stimulus package. The program was originally given $350 billion, but that money appears to be rapidly dwindling. |
| Two Democratic senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, are now introducing their own bill to give additional funds to hospitals and state and local governments, as well as the small business loan program. | Two Democratic senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, are now introducing their own bill to give additional funds to hospitals and state and local governments, as well as the small business loan program. |
| But the conflict is unlikely to produce anything other than a messaging war, considering Republicans control the Senate and can push through their smaller bill, which Democrats are unlikely to oppose. | But the conflict is unlikely to produce anything other than a messaging war, considering Republicans control the Senate and can push through their smaller bill, which Democrats are unlikely to oppose. |
| When acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly traveled to Guam to criticize Captain Brett Crozier to his former crew members, it cost taxpayers approximately $243,000, according to a new report. | When acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly traveled to Guam to criticize Captain Brett Crozier to his former crew members, it cost taxpayers approximately $243,000, according to a new report. |
| Modly resigned earlier this week amid an uproar over his comments about Crozier, who raised concerns about the spread of coronavirus on his ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Crozier was later removed from his post. | Modly resigned earlier this week amid an uproar over his comments about Crozier, who raised concerns about the spread of coronavirus on his ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Crozier was later removed from his post. |
| Modly said that Crozier was either “too naive or too stupid” to command the ship if he did not think his letter expressing alarm would be made public. The acting secretary resigned a day after his comments came to light. | Modly said that Crozier was either “too naive or too stupid” to command the ship if he did not think his letter expressing alarm would be made public. The acting secretary resigned a day after his comments came to light. |
| USA Today reports: | USA Today reports: |
| The Guardian’s Dominic Rushe and Michael Sainato report: | The Guardian’s Dominic Rushe and Michael Sainato report: |
| More than 6.6 million Americans lost their jobs last week with 16 million jobs gone in the last three weeks as the coronavirus pandemic brought the US economy to a standstill, the US labor department confirmed on Thursday. | More than 6.6 million Americans lost their jobs last week with 16 million jobs gone in the last three weeks as the coronavirus pandemic brought the US economy to a standstill, the US labor department confirmed on Thursday. |
| Millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits again last week as shutdowns across the US led employers to lay off workers in nearly every corner of the job market. Economists had expected 5.25 million Americans to file for unemployment benefits for the week ending 4 April. | Millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits again last week as shutdowns across the US led employers to lay off workers in nearly every corner of the job market. Economists had expected 5.25 million Americans to file for unemployment benefits for the week ending 4 April. |
| In the previous two weeks the shutdowns cost close to 10 million people their jobs. Layoffs that started in the restaurant and leisure industries have now spread to include manufacturing, construction and even healthcare. Job losses are rising in every state and economists are predicting the unemployment rate will soon reach 15% or higher, levels unseen since before the second world war. | In the previous two weeks the shutdowns cost close to 10 million people their jobs. Layoffs that started in the restaurant and leisure industries have now spread to include manufacturing, construction and even healthcare. Job losses are rising in every state and economists are predicting the unemployment rate will soon reach 15% or higher, levels unseen since before the second world war. |
| The largest increases were in California (up 871,992), New York (up 286,596), Michigan (up 176,329) and Florida (up 154,171). | The largest increases were in California (up 871,992), New York (up 286,596), Michigan (up 176,329) and Florida (up 154,171). |
| But while the numbers are stark, economists cautioned it was too early to say what the long-term impact of Covid-19 will be on the economy. | But while the numbers are stark, economists cautioned it was too early to say what the long-term impact of Covid-19 will be on the economy. |
| “These figures don’t reflect a lack of demand,” said Dean Baker, visiting professor and senior economist at the University of Utah. During the last recession in 2008 unemployment reached close to 10% as the economy fell into recession. “That wasn’t in our control. This is literally in our control,” said Baker. “We are deliberately shutting down the economy.” | “These figures don’t reflect a lack of demand,” said Dean Baker, visiting professor and senior economist at the University of Utah. During the last recession in 2008 unemployment reached close to 10% as the economy fell into recession. “That wasn’t in our control. This is literally in our control,” said Baker. “We are deliberately shutting down the economy.” |
| Trump is reportedly planning to form a second coronavirus task force focused on reopening the US economy. | Trump is reportedly planning to form a second coronavirus task force focused on reopening the US economy. |
| The Washington Post reports: | The Washington Post reports: |
| News of the second taskforce – and the late April deadline – comes as health experts like Dr Anthony Fauci urge caution in declaring the virus to be defeated as encouraging signs indicate the US is starting to flatten the curve of cases. | News of the second taskforce – and the late April deadline – comes as health experts like Dr Anthony Fauci urge caution in declaring the virus to be defeated as encouraging signs indicate the US is starting to flatten the curve of cases. |
| Good morning, live blog readers. | Good morning, live blog readers. |
| There have been some promising signs in recent days that the US is starting to flatten the curve of its number of coronavirus cases, even as the death toll continues to climb. | There have been some promising signs in recent days that the US is starting to flatten the curve of its number of coronavirus cases, even as the death toll continues to climb. |
| New York, the state with the most coronavirus cases, is seeing a decline in the rate of hospitalizations, and a frequently cited model decreased its projected number of overall deaths in the country to 60,000. | New York, the state with the most coronavirus cases, is seeing a decline in the rate of hospitalizations, and a frequently cited model decreased its projected number of overall deaths in the country to 60,000. |
| At the daily White House briefing yesterday, Donald Trump sounded bullish on the perspective of soon reopening the economy, as reports indicate that he hopes to be able to relax physical distancing restrictions by the end of April. | At the daily White House briefing yesterday, Donald Trump sounded bullish on the perspective of soon reopening the economy, as reports indicate that he hopes to be able to relax physical distancing restrictions by the end of April. |
| “Aspirationally, I said let’s see if we can do it at Easter, but I said it would be very tough, and I was criticised for that,” Trump said. “But I don’t think we’re going to be very far behind and some of these models are looking like Easter’s going to be a very important date anyway because of the curve. It’s hitting the top and it’s starting to come down.” | “Aspirationally, I said let’s see if we can do it at Easter, but I said it would be very tough, and I was criticised for that,” Trump said. “But I don’t think we’re going to be very far behind and some of these models are looking like Easter’s going to be a very important date anyway because of the curve. It’s hitting the top and it’s starting to come down.” |
| But this morning, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, was hesitant to say that New York has flattened the curve, emphasizing that several days’ data will be needed. | But this morning, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, was hesitant to say that New York has flattened the curve, emphasizing that several days’ data will be needed. |
| “I don’t want to junmp the gun on that,” Fauci said when asked whether New York had flattened the curve. “But I think that is the case.” | “I don’t want to junmp the gun on that,” Fauci said when asked whether New York had flattened the curve. “But I think that is the case.” |
| He added, “I’m always very cautious about jumping the gun and saying, ‘Well, we have turned the corner.’ But I think we are really looking at the beginning of that, which would really be very encouraging. We need that right now.” | He added, “I’m always very cautious about jumping the gun and saying, ‘Well, we have turned the corner.’ But I think we are really looking at the beginning of that, which would really be very encouraging. We need that right now.” |