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| On Politics: How Available Is Virus Aid, Really? | On Politics: How Available Is Virus Aid, Really? |
| (2 months later) | |
| Good morning and welcome to On Politics, a daily political analysis of the 2020 elections based on reporting by New York Times journalists. | Good morning and welcome to On Politics, a daily political analysis of the 2020 elections based on reporting by New York Times journalists. |
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| With Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads in Washington, state governments may have to wait awhile to see if Congress will send them the new aid package that many governors say they need. But in the meantime, governors say they are having trouble getting access to even the relatively modest $139 billion that Congress allocated to the states last month as part of its $2 trillion CARES Act. At issue are new rules set by the Treasury Department stipulating that states can use this money only to cover costs directly related to coronavirus response. Many governors say they don’t need the cash for that — they need help covering budget shortfalls resulting from lost revenues, which themselves have been caused by the virus. “It is clear the revenue loss is going to be coronavirus related; it is just that the expenditures are not specifically for coronavirus,” said Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who joined 45 other Democratic senators in signing a letter over the weekend urging the Trump administration to loosen restrictions on funding for the states. | With Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads in Washington, state governments may have to wait awhile to see if Congress will send them the new aid package that many governors say they need. But in the meantime, governors say they are having trouble getting access to even the relatively modest $139 billion that Congress allocated to the states last month as part of its $2 trillion CARES Act. At issue are new rules set by the Treasury Department stipulating that states can use this money only to cover costs directly related to coronavirus response. Many governors say they don’t need the cash for that — they need help covering budget shortfalls resulting from lost revenues, which themselves have been caused by the virus. “It is clear the revenue loss is going to be coronavirus related; it is just that the expenditures are not specifically for coronavirus,” said Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who joined 45 other Democratic senators in signing a letter over the weekend urging the Trump administration to loosen restrictions on funding for the states. |
| The Supreme Court issued three rulings on Monday, including an 8-to-1 decision that effectively prevented Republicans in Congress from undermining a key part of the Affordable Care Act. The court ruled that Congress must make good on the law’s promise to reimburse insurers who sustained losses because of their participation in the health care exchanges set up under the 2010 legislation. In a separate case, the justices took a pass on issuing what would have been their first decision in over a decade on the scope of the Second Amendment. They decided that the case, which pertained to a gun control measure in New York City, was moot because the city had already repealed the law in question. | The Supreme Court issued three rulings on Monday, including an 8-to-1 decision that effectively prevented Republicans in Congress from undermining a key part of the Affordable Care Act. The court ruled that Congress must make good on the law’s promise to reimburse insurers who sustained losses because of their participation in the health care exchanges set up under the 2010 legislation. In a separate case, the justices took a pass on issuing what would have been their first decision in over a decade on the scope of the Second Amendment. They decided that the case, which pertained to a gun control measure in New York City, was moot because the city had already repealed the law in question. |
| In a third case, with seemingly esoteric but nevertheless far-reaching implications, the court ruled that Georgia could not copyright its entire legal code, which includes state laws and the official annotations explaining them. “If everything short of statutes and opinions were copyrightable, then states would be free to offer a whole range of premium legal works for those who can afford the extra benefit,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. “With today’s digital tools, states might even launch a subscription or pay-per-law service.” About 20 other states have similarly sought to copyright parts of their code and will now be forced to change course. | In a third case, with seemingly esoteric but nevertheless far-reaching implications, the court ruled that Georgia could not copyright its entire legal code, which includes state laws and the official annotations explaining them. “If everything short of statutes and opinions were copyrightable, then states would be free to offer a whole range of premium legal works for those who can afford the extra benefit,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. “With today’s digital tools, states might even launch a subscription or pay-per-law service.” About 20 other states have similarly sought to copyright parts of their code and will now be forced to change course. |
| Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement on Monday of Joe Biden for president came as a surprise to absolutely no one. But the language that the House speaker used may offer some clues as to how Biden plans to position himself as he pivots toward a general-election campaign upended by the pandemic. Biden has been conspicuously absent from the public eye of late, but those around him say he has been keenly focused on preparing to take charge of a country in crisis, should he win November’s election. In her remarks, Pelosi sought to portray Biden’s lack of visibility as a positive, arguing that he has been hard at work preparing for the office he hopes to assume. “As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience, with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis,” she said. “I want to tell you about the Joe Biden I’ve seen working behind the scenes, hammering out solutions for the American people — a leader with the humility to seek expertise in science and the competence to act upon it,” she said, drawing an implicit contrast between Biden and President Trump. | Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement on Monday of Joe Biden for president came as a surprise to absolutely no one. But the language that the House speaker used may offer some clues as to how Biden plans to position himself as he pivots toward a general-election campaign upended by the pandemic. Biden has been conspicuously absent from the public eye of late, but those around him say he has been keenly focused on preparing to take charge of a country in crisis, should he win November’s election. In her remarks, Pelosi sought to portray Biden’s lack of visibility as a positive, arguing that he has been hard at work preparing for the office he hopes to assume. “As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience, with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis,” she said. “I want to tell you about the Joe Biden I’ve seen working behind the scenes, hammering out solutions for the American people — a leader with the humility to seek expertise in science and the competence to act upon it,” she said, drawing an implicit contrast between Biden and President Trump. |
| President Trump appeared at a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday. | President Trump appeared at a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday. |
| By Nick Corasaniti | By Nick Corasaniti |
| Bernie Sanders’s suspended presidential campaign issued a scorching statement on Monday depicting the decision by the New York Board of Elections to cancel the state’s presidential primary election as nothing short of disenfranchisement. | Bernie Sanders’s suspended presidential campaign issued a scorching statement on Monday depicting the decision by the New York Board of Elections to cancel the state’s presidential primary election as nothing short of disenfranchisement. |
| Though he officially ended his campaign this month, Sanders has indicated that he wants every remaining primary to still be held, and for his supporters to still vote for him. | Though he officially ended his campaign this month, Sanders has indicated that he wants every remaining primary to still be held, and for his supporters to still vote for him. |
| His reasoning? For one, he wants to accrue more delegates before the Democratic National Convention, so he can use them as leverage in policy discussions with Biden. | His reasoning? For one, he wants to accrue more delegates before the Democratic National Convention, so he can use them as leverage in policy discussions with Biden. |
| But Sanders and his legion of loyalists also share another fear: The Vermont senator is a uniquely galvanizing force in progressive politics, and having his name atop the ticket was expected to turn out many liberal voters for New York’s June 23 election who otherwise might not come out to vote. That, in turn, could help put wind in the sails of progressive candidates in down-ballot races. | But Sanders and his legion of loyalists also share another fear: The Vermont senator is a uniquely galvanizing force in progressive politics, and having his name atop the ticket was expected to turn out many liberal voters for New York’s June 23 election who otherwise might not come out to vote. That, in turn, could help put wind in the sails of progressive candidates in down-ballot races. |
| The New York elections board did not call off the state and local elections that will be held on June 23 — only the presidential primary. | The New York elections board did not call off the state and local elections that will be held on June 23 — only the presidential primary. |
| One of the progressive candidates worried that New York voters have lost one of their greatest motivators is Jamaal Bowman, a middle school principal in the Bronx who is challenging Representative Eliot Engel in the 16th Congressional District. | One of the progressive candidates worried that New York voters have lost one of their greatest motivators is Jamaal Bowman, a middle school principal in the Bronx who is challenging Representative Eliot Engel in the 16th Congressional District. |
| Updated June 24, 2020 | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | |
| “I’m worried that this could depress turnout among younger voters in my primary challenge,” Bowman said in a statement. “This is terrible for our democracy and our party. My heart goes out to all the organizers who were part of the Bernie campaign and movement.” | “I’m worried that this could depress turnout among younger voters in my primary challenge,” Bowman said in a statement. “This is terrible for our democracy and our party. My heart goes out to all the organizers who were part of the Bernie campaign and movement.” |
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| Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. | Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. |