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/world/live/2020/may/15/coronavirus-us-live-house-vote-stimulus-package-donald-trump-latest-news-updates
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus US live: Trump's press conference disrupted by trucker protest | Coronavirus US live: Trump's press conference disrupted by trucker protest |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The president claimed honking was ‘showing support’ for him but earlier this month truckers protested against the president over low rates of shipping | The president claimed honking was ‘showing support’ for him but earlier this month truckers protested against the president over low rates of shipping |
| The Guardian’s Mario Koran writes in about Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey announced that he will donate $10 million for computers and internet access to help close the digital divide in Oakland: | |
| Dorsey dropped the news after Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf tweeted a video of one of the estimated 25,000 students who lack access to the internet. “Every student deserves the ability to learn from home”, wrote Schaaf. The mayor also spotlighted a $12.5M plan “to close the digital divide for good.” | |
| @jack quickly answered the call. | |
| Roughly two months into the switch from brick-and-mortar schools to online education, millions of families with school-aged children still remain offline. | |
| The need persists even in the shadow of Silicon Valley. As schools shut down, and educators hustled to equip students with devices, the need for internet access was often unmet. Back orders mounted, compounding wait times for unconnected students. | |
| The same families without internet often face food scarcity or unstable living conditions — both of which have been exacerbated with businesses closed and parents out of work. | |
| Dorsey’s donation, by itself, won’t be enough to close the digital divide in Oakland. But will certainly help. Schaaf called Dorsey’s announcement a “game changer”. | |
| Long-haul trucking industry website, The Trucker, has a deeply reported look at the truckers’ protest movement, which has been active for 15 days. | |
| The protest was thrust into the global spotlight on Friday, when trucker’s air horns provided a disruptive soundtrack to Donald Trump’s afternoon press conference. Trump said the horns were a show of support – “They love their president,” he said – but he was wrong. | |
| Truckers began a protest in Washington DC at the beginning of the month. They have not received targeted support in any stimulus package and have said they don’t have adequate access to protective equipment and healthcare. They have also voiced serious concerns about the rates they are getting through brokers who connect them with people needing to ship goods. | |
| On Wednesday, White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, met with the protestors for nearly 15 minutes. The Trucker said this gave some people enough hope to return to work, though many also decided to return to work simply because they can’t afford to take more unpaid leave. | |
| The Trucker’s report from Wednesday detailed the meeting with Meadows and Michael Landis, founder and CEO of the United States Transportation Alliance, who acted as a spokesman for the group: | |
| Debate is underway for the $3tn House stimulus bill – the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act. | Debate is underway for the $3tn House stimulus bill – the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act. |
| Members have two hours to discuss the bill, after they spent the morning voting on rules. | Members have two hours to discuss the bill, after they spent the morning voting on rules. |
| The bill includes assistance to state and local governments, hazard pay for frontline health care workers, forgiveness of student debt and boosts to the health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare. | The bill includes assistance to state and local governments, hazard pay for frontline health care workers, forgiveness of student debt and boosts to the health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare. |
| Trump has threatened to veto the bill, but more progressive Democrats have also said they would vote against it. | Trump has threatened to veto the bill, but more progressive Democrats have also said they would vote against it. |
| A reporter asked McEnany why Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of committing a crime this week and asked McEnany to name the crime. | A reporter asked McEnany why Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of committing a crime this week and asked McEnany to name the crime. |
| After listing issues with people in office while Obama was president, she said it was reporters responsibility to “answer the question” of what Obama did that was against the law. | After listing issues with people in office while Obama was president, she said it was reporters responsibility to “answer the question” of what Obama did that was against the law. |
| She ignored the reporter pointing out it is the White House press secretary’s duty to respond to questions about something the president said. | She ignored the reporter pointing out it is the White House press secretary’s duty to respond to questions about something the president said. |
| White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany began today’s White House briefing with a theatrical dismissal of the pandemic plans Barack Obama’s administration left the Trump White House. | White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany began today’s White House briefing with a theatrical dismissal of the pandemic plans Barack Obama’s administration left the Trump White House. |
| McEnany is responding to questions about gaps in the Trump administration’s readiness by criticizing the Obama administration. | McEnany is responding to questions about gaps in the Trump administration’s readiness by criticizing the Obama administration. |
| A reporter asks about one of today’s top issues - that the FDA has issued concerns about the type of test kit being used in the White House. McEnany said the issue raised about the kits, false negatives, have been tied to user error and that if people get a negative but are presenting symptoms like fever or coughing, they will be tested again. | A reporter asks about one of today’s top issues - that the FDA has issued concerns about the type of test kit being used in the White House. McEnany said the issue raised about the kits, false negatives, have been tied to user error and that if people get a negative but are presenting symptoms like fever or coughing, they will be tested again. |
| Never Trump Republicans are holding a rival gathering during the Republican National Convention this year, reports the Washington Post. | Never Trump Republicans are holding a rival gathering during the Republican National Convention this year, reports the Washington Post. |
| It will take place in the same city as the RNC – Charlotte, North Carolina – and happen on the same days: | It will take place in the same city as the RNC – Charlotte, North Carolina – and happen on the same days: |
| Add a new name to the list of possible running mates for Joe Biden. | Add a new name to the list of possible running mates for Joe Biden. |
| The VoteVets pac has floated Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth as their pick for the vice presidency. Duckworth, a veteran, is the first senator to give birth while in office. | The VoteVets pac has floated Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth as their pick for the vice presidency. Duckworth, a veteran, is the first senator to give birth while in office. |
| “We seem to have this view that paid family leave is some sort of touchy-feely women’s only policy,” Duckworth told the Guardian in 2018. “This isn’t just an entitlement. It’s really an economic imperative for our nation.” | “We seem to have this view that paid family leave is some sort of touchy-feely women’s only policy,” Duckworth told the Guardian in 2018. “This isn’t just an entitlement. It’s really an economic imperative for our nation.” |
| Thanks to Guardian senior politics correspondent, Lauren Gambino, for the tip. Her insights on the Veep race from earlier this month, here: | Thanks to Guardian senior politics correspondent, Lauren Gambino, for the tip. Her insights on the Veep race from earlier this month, here: |
| If you would like to experience the sound of a trucker protest, Newsday White House correspondent Laura Figueroa Hernandez has you covered: | If you would like to experience the sound of a trucker protest, Newsday White House correspondent Laura Figueroa Hernandez has you covered: |
| And NBCNews White House Correspondent, Geoff Bennett, shared a photo of the impressive line-up of trucks near the White House. | And NBCNews White House Correspondent, Geoff Bennett, shared a photo of the impressive line-up of trucks near the White House. |
| Donald Trump says he “assumes” the reported coronavirus death toll in the US is accurate. | Donald Trump says he “assumes” the reported coronavirus death toll in the US is accurate. |
| A reporter asked if he was worried it could be higher, and he said “or lower.” | A reporter asked if he was worried it could be higher, and he said “or lower.” |
| But, despite concerns Trump would try and downplay the death toll, he said the number should be accurate. Then, he launched into a tirade against China. | But, despite concerns Trump would try and downplay the death toll, he said the number should be accurate. Then, he launched into a tirade against China. |
| “I’d be happier if they were lower... this should never have happened ... this came from China.” | “I’d be happier if they were lower... this should never have happened ... this came from China.” |
| Trump is now taking questions from the press. | Trump is now taking questions from the press. |
| He’s insisting the US has “no ego” when it comes to vaccine trials and that the US will work with other countries to create a vaccine. Other countries have said this is not happening. | He’s insisting the US has “no ego” when it comes to vaccine trials and that the US will work with other countries to create a vaccine. Other countries have said this is not happening. |
| A reporter asks if the president is concerned about the Abbott Labs’ coronavirus test, which is being used in the White House but has been reported to show false positives. He says it’s a “great” test and is not concerned. | A reporter asks if the president is concerned about the Abbott Labs’ coronavirus test, which is being used in the White House but has been reported to show false positives. He says it’s a “great” test and is not concerned. |
| Trump says he gave his task force the option to where masks, which is why some of them are wearing them and some are not. He noted they are outside and standing at a distance from each other. | Trump says he gave his task force the option to where masks, which is why some of them are wearing them and some are not. He noted they are outside and standing at a distance from each other. |
| During the president’s remarks, a low hum can be heard on the video feed. | During the president’s remarks, a low hum can be heard on the video feed. |
| Trump said the sound was truckers “showing support,” but the honking may have actually been a protest. | Trump said the sound was truckers “showing support,” but the honking may have actually been a protest. |
| Earlier this month, a convoy of trucks in Washington DC blasted their air horns to protest low shipping rates, which truckers say threaten their livelihoods. | Earlier this month, a convoy of trucks in Washington DC blasted their air horns to protest low shipping rates, which truckers say threaten their livelihoods. |
| The Washington Post covered the protests earlier this month: | The Washington Post covered the protests earlier this month: |