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| Coronavirus US live: Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President says lawmakers are blocking his ability to make appointments | |
| White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx is speaking now. | |
| She echoed what Trump said, that numbers are declining over the last five to six days. | |
| Still, she said Americans should hold off on any social gatherings for the foreseeable future. | |
| “To all of you out there that would like to join together and just have that dinner party for 20, don’t do it yet”, she said. “Continue to follow the presidential guidelines. | |
| Trump repeated that tomorrow he will be speaking with governors regarding when states can be reopened. | |
| “We’ll be opening up states some states much sooner than others”, he said.”And we think some of the states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1”. | |
| Fact check: WHO | |
| Trump again disparaged the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. | |
| “I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on”, he said. “The US government has put a hold on funding to the World Health Organization pending a review of the organization’s cover up and mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak”. | |
| He has previously accused the organization of initially “minimizing the threat” of coronavirus and getting everything “wrong”. | |
| The WHO has been criticized for a 14 January tweet, which Trump has referenced, that noted that a preliminary investigation by Chinese officials found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. | |
| However, by 30 January, the organization declared coronavirus a “public health emergency”, and went on to declare a pandemic on 11 March after numerous countries - including the US and UK - failed to follow its advice. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of “alarming levels of inaction” from many countries. | |
| The WHO “has been drained of power and resources”, said Richard Horton, editor of the influential medical journal the Lancet. “Its coordinating authority and capacity are weak. Its ability to direct an international response to a life-threatening epidemic is non-existent.” | |
| The Trump administration and the president himself repeatedly played down the crisis - specifically downplaying the threat to the US, inaccurately compared it to the flu and told his supporters that growing worries about the coronavirus was a “hoax”. | |
| Trump threatened to close both chambers of Congress for “obstructing” his ability to appoint judges and other positions. | |
| He claimed he has confirmed close to 250 judges through the Senate, but said there are 129 positions stuck in Congress that could be working on coronavirus solutions. | |
| He specifically called out the stalling of his appointee to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, saying Voice of America’s coverage was “disgusting”. | |
| “The things they say are disgusting toward our country,” he said. | |
| Trump has proceeded to play an advertisement from General Motors showing that the company is making ventilators. | |
| “I think they might be wanting to play that for your benefit”, Trump said of the clip, which was provided by GM to the president. | |
| Trump said 48 coronavirus tests have been authorized by the FDA, including an antibody test from Abbott Labs that will determine if someone has previously been infected with coronavirus and developed immunity. | |
| Trump said the FDA is working with 300 companies and labs to widen testing capacity in the coming weeks. | |
| In opening remarks today, Trump said “it is clear our aggressive strategy is working”, citing numbers of new coronavirus cases in New York and Detroit falling. | |
| “Data suggests we have passed the peak in new cases”, Trump said. | |
| He added that in a news conference on Thursday the administration will be announcing guidelines for reopening the United States. | |
| CDC director Robert Redfield said on Wednesday 19-20 U.S. states may be ready to reopen May 1, but warned some mitigation measures would have to remain in effect. | |
| Fact check: | |
| “New cases are declining throughout the New York metropolitan area. Cases in the Detroit and Denver metro areas are flat.” | |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed 11,571 additional cases of novel coronavirus today – the largest single-day volume so fa – bringing the statewide total to 213,779 confirmed cases in New York state. | |
| Detroit: 1,058 new cases today, about 300 less than Tuesday, but in line with the last several days. 153 new deaths reported. | |
| Officials have previously noted the delay in progress, that peaks in deaths may appear before new cases fall off. | |
| The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: | The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: |
| Utility shutoffs are in the spotlight again, with 113 lawmakers calling for a suspension of all utility shut-offs - water, gas, electricity and internet - to be included in the next Covid-19 stimulus package. | Utility shutoffs are in the spotlight again, with 113 lawmakers calling for a suspension of all utility shut-offs - water, gas, electricity and internet - to be included in the next Covid-19 stimulus package. |
| In a letter addressed to House speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, and minority leaders Kevin McCarthy and Chuck Schumer, the signatories call for a nationwide moratorium to protect the most vulnerable Americans until the pandemic threat has passed and the country’s economy has stabilized. | In a letter addressed to House speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, and minority leaders Kevin McCarthy and Chuck Schumer, the signatories call for a nationwide moratorium to protect the most vulnerable Americans until the pandemic threat has passed and the country’s economy has stabilized. |
| It says: “Utility services are especially critical for public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Water service ensures that Americans can handwash and disinfect surfaces necessary to slow and stop the coronavirus outbreak. Electricity is necessary for families to turn on the lights and have refrigerated food to eat. Internet access is essential for many employees to be able to work from home and for children who are out of school to access educational resources. ... | It says: “Utility services are especially critical for public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Water service ensures that Americans can handwash and disinfect surfaces necessary to slow and stop the coronavirus outbreak. Electricity is necessary for families to turn on the lights and have refrigerated food to eat. Internet access is essential for many employees to be able to work from home and for children who are out of school to access educational resources. ... |
| “Utility insecurity is felt by low-wealth Americans, rural and tribal communities and people of color. Newly unemployed Americans are facing disconnection because of loss of income. ... These are the communities that need congressional protections the most.” | “Utility insecurity is felt by low-wealth Americans, rural and tribal communities and people of color. Newly unemployed Americans are facing disconnection because of loss of income. ... These are the communities that need congressional protections the most.” |
| Signatories include several former presidential candidates - Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker - as well as the four congresswomen of color collectively known as “the Squad” - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. | Signatories include several former presidential candidates - Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker - as well as the four congresswomen of color collectively known as “the Squad” - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. |
| Today’s letter comes after a similar letter from 830 advocacy groups was sent to Congress on Monday, and a federal bill, the Emergency Water is a Human Right Act, was introduced by congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell last week. | Today’s letter comes after a similar letter from 830 advocacy groups was sent to Congress on Monday, and a federal bill, the Emergency Water is a Human Right Act, was introduced by congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell last week. |
| Amid growing public outcry, a growing number of water and energy utilities have suspended shutoffs, with a small proportion agreeing to reconnect services. But millions of Americans are still without water or face the threat of taps being turned off if they can’t keep up with bills. Read more here: | Amid growing public outcry, a growing number of water and energy utilities have suspended shutoffs, with a small proportion agreeing to reconnect services. But millions of Americans are still without water or face the threat of taps being turned off if they can’t keep up with bills. Read more here: |
| We are awaiting the White House presser on coronavirus response, scheduled for 5:30 pm ET/2:30 pm PST. Stay tuned. | We are awaiting the White House presser on coronavirus response, scheduled for 5:30 pm ET/2:30 pm PST. Stay tuned. |
| The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: | The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: |
| Texas voters can’t request a mail-in ballot for upcoming elections if they fear contracting Covid-19 and groups that encourage them to do so could face criminal consequences, the state attorney general’s office said Wednesday. | Texas voters can’t request a mail-in ballot for upcoming elections if they fear contracting Covid-19 and groups that encourage them to do so could face criminal consequences, the state attorney general’s office said Wednesday. |
| Texas tightly regulates the use of mail-in ballots, only allowing people 65 or older, with disabilities, and those out of their county during an election to use them. Many states are loosening their requirements for requesting an absentee ballot, but the Wednesday letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, makes it clear the state will remain inflexible on its policy. | Texas tightly regulates the use of mail-in ballots, only allowing people 65 or older, with disabilities, and those out of their county during an election to use them. Many states are loosening their requirements for requesting an absentee ballot, but the Wednesday letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, makes it clear the state will remain inflexible on its policy. |
| “Fear of contracting Covid-19 unaccompanied by a qualifying sickness or physical condition does not constitute a disability under the Election Code for purposes of receiving a ballot by mail,” Ryan Vassar, an attorney in the attorney general’s office, wrote to the legislature. “To the extent that third parties advise voters to apply for a mail-in ballot based solely on fear of contracting Covid-19, such activity could subject those third parties to criminal sanctions.” | “Fear of contracting Covid-19 unaccompanied by a qualifying sickness or physical condition does not constitute a disability under the Election Code for purposes of receiving a ballot by mail,” Ryan Vassar, an attorney in the attorney general’s office, wrote to the legislature. “To the extent that third parties advise voters to apply for a mail-in ballot based solely on fear of contracting Covid-19, such activity could subject those third parties to criminal sanctions.” |
| The letter came on the same day that a judge in Travis County, home of Austin, heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to allow every Texan to vote by mail. The judge said he was “inclined” to grant the request. | The letter came on the same day that a judge in Travis County, home of Austin, heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to allow every Texan to vote by mail. The judge said he was “inclined” to grant the request. |
| Texas held its presidential primary in March, but the state has upcoming local elections on May 2. | Texas held its presidential primary in March, but the state has upcoming local elections on May 2. |
| Hello readers, Kari Paul here taking over for the next few hours from San Francisco. Stay tuned for more news. | Hello readers, Kari Paul here taking over for the next few hours from San Francisco. Stay tuned for more news. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York is controlling the spread of coronavirus, but he emphasized the state is not yet out of the woods. Cuomo also announced that he would sign an executive order requiring New Yorkers to wear face coverings where social distancing is not possible, such as on public transportation. | Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York is controlling the spread of coronavirus, but he emphasized the state is not yet out of the woods. Cuomo also announced that he would sign an executive order requiring New Yorkers to wear face coverings where social distancing is not possible, such as on public transportation. |
| Thousands of people protested Michigan’s stay-at-home order at the state capital. The protesters chanted “Lock her up!” in connection to Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer, even though Whitmer’s handling of the crisis receives a favorable review from 71% of Michigan residents. | Thousands of people protested Michigan’s stay-at-home order at the state capital. The protesters chanted “Lock her up!” in connection to Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer, even though Whitmer’s handling of the crisis receives a favorable review from 71% of Michigan residents. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Trump’s decision to halt funding to the WHO. Pelosi said the move was “dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged.” The move was also criticized by a number of world leaders and former president Jimmy Carter. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Trump’s decision to halt funding to the WHO. Pelosi said the move was “dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged.” The move was also criticized by a number of world leaders and former president Jimmy Carter. |
| Elizabeth Warren endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid. The Democratic senator and former presidential candidate said in a video announcing the endorsement, “We can’t afford to let Donald Trump continue to endanger the lives and livelihoods of every American.” | Elizabeth Warren endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid. The Democratic senator and former presidential candidate said in a video announcing the endorsement, “We can’t afford to let Donald Trump continue to endanger the lives and livelihoods of every American.” |
| California is creating a disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants. Governor Gavin Newsom said of the $125 million fund, “Regardless of your status, documented or undocumented, there are people in need.” | California is creating a disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants. Governor Gavin Newsom said of the $125 million fund, “Regardless of your status, documented or undocumented, there are people in need.” |
| Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer responded to protests at the state capital regarding her stay-at-home order. | Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer responded to protests at the state capital regarding her stay-at-home order. |
| Whitmer expressed sadness that the thousands of people who attended the protest may have jeopardized their own health by participating. | Whitmer expressed sadness that the thousands of people who attended the protest may have jeopardized their own health by participating. |
| “We know this demonstration is going to come at a cost to people’s health,” Whitmer said. “That’s how Covid-19 spreads.” | “We know this demonstration is going to come at a cost to people’s health,” Whitmer said. “That’s how Covid-19 spreads.” |
| The Democratic governor added that ignoring the social distancing guidelines will likely only serve to extend the stay-at-home order. | The Democratic governor added that ignoring the social distancing guidelines will likely only serve to extend the stay-at-home order. |
| “The sad irony here was the protest is they don’t like being in this stay at home order and they may have just caused a need to lengthen it,” Whitmer said. | “The sad irony here was the protest is they don’t like being in this stay at home order and they may have just caused a need to lengthen it,” Whitmer said. |
| The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: | The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: |
| California contributed $75m of the $125m disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants, with philanthropic groups such as the Emerson Collective, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the James Irvine Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation and the California Endowment providing the additional $50m. | California contributed $75m of the $125m disaster relief fund for undocumented immigrants, with philanthropic groups such as the Emerson Collective, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the James Irvine Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation and the California Endowment providing the additional $50m. |
| The amount should allow for $500 to $1,000 in household assistance, which governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged barely scratched the surface in a state with as high a cost of living as California. “I’m not here to suggest that $125m is enough, but I am here to suggest that it’s a good start and I am very proud that it is starting here in the state of California,” he said. | The amount should allow for $500 to $1,000 in household assistance, which governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged barely scratched the surface in a state with as high a cost of living as California. “I’m not here to suggest that $125m is enough, but I am here to suggest that it’s a good start and I am very proud that it is starting here in the state of California,” he said. |
| “I recognize that we still have more to do in this space,” Newsom said. “We will endeavor to find more areas of support in the next days and weeks and over the next year as we transition back to some version of normalcy.” | “I recognize that we still have more to do in this space,” Newsom said. “We will endeavor to find more areas of support in the next days and weeks and over the next year as we transition back to some version of normalcy.” |
| The relief fund comes as the number of Californians filing for unemployment insurance tops 2.7 million, Newsom said. The need for unemployment assistance has risen to a point that the governor signed an executive order launching a new call center to run 12 hours a day, seven days a week to handle the influx. | The relief fund comes as the number of Californians filing for unemployment insurance tops 2.7 million, Newsom said. The need for unemployment assistance has risen to a point that the governor signed an executive order launching a new call center to run 12 hours a day, seven days a week to handle the influx. |
| There were 24,421 positive cases reported in California on Wednesday, with 821 deaths. | There were 24,421 positive cases reported in California on Wednesday, with 821 deaths. |