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/jul/14/coronavirus-cases-donald-trump-mary-joe-biden-maxwell-alabama-maine-texas-primary-live-updates

The article has changed 29 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Coronavirus US: 61,492 new cases recorded, second highest day on record – live updates Coronavirus US: 61,492 new cases recorded, second highest day on record – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Alabama, Maine and Texas to vote in primaries today as Covid-19 numbers keep risingAlabama, Maine and Texas to vote in primaries today as Covid-19 numbers keep rising
Joe Biden has just concluded his remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, on his plan to rebuild the American economy, which has suffered greatly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee argued investing in clean energy could revitalize the US economy, describing the climate crisis as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to jolt new life into our economy.”
Biden promised bold change, saying, “We won’t just tinker around the edges. We’re going to make historic investments that will seize the opportunity and meet this moment in history.”
The quote was noteworthy considering one of Biden’s former primary rivals, Eiizabeth Warren, has previously said Democrats “can’t afford to just tinker around the edges.” Warren has now been named as a potential running mate for Biden.
Joe Biden repeatedly mocked some of Trump’s past comments about clean energy, which the president has previously expressed skepticism of.
“He said he doesn’t like LED because quote: ‘The light’s no good. I always look orange,’” Biden said in Wilmington.
In Septemeber, Trump said of energy-efficient light blubs, “The bulb that we’re being forced to use, number one, to me, most importantly, I always look orange.”
Biden also mocked Trump for his baseless suggestion that the noise from windmills, one form of clean energy, can cause cancer.
Joe Biden unveiled a clean energy plan, the second part of his “Build Back Better” proposal, in his remarks from Delaware today.
“When Donald Trump thinks about climate change, the only word he can muster is, ‘hoax,’” Biden said, referring to Trump’s previous claims that the crisis is fake.
“When I think about climate change, the word I think of is ‘jobs,’” Biden added. He said his proposal would create 1 million jobs in construction, engineering and manufacturing, helping the country to regain some of the economic ground last during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new proposal outlines $2tn for clean energy infrastructure and other climate solutions, to be spent as quickly as possible in the next four years, what would be the Democrat’s first term in office. Last year, he proposed $1.7tn in spending over 10 years.
The new goals align Biden more closely with three primary opponents, the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren and Jay Inslee, the Washington governor.
They follow the recommendations of a unity taskforce of Sanders and Biden supporters that was co-chaired by the New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who co-sponsored the Green New Deal.
Joe Biden is delivering remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, criticizing Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and outlining his plan for the country’s economic recovery.
“It’s gotten bad enough that even Donald Trump finally decided to wear a mask in public,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said of the recent surge in new coronavirus cases. “I’m glad he made the shift. But Mr. President, it’s not enough.”
Biden advised Trump to listen to public health experts, even though the White House has recently sought to cast doubt upon the credibility of Dr Anthony Fauci.
“Mr President, ‘Open everything now’ isn’t a strategy for success. It’s barely a slogan,” Biden said. “Mr President, please listen to your public health experts, instead of denigrating them. Do your job, Mr President. Because if we can’t deal with a public health crisis. we can’t deal with the economic crisis.”
The White House announced the president will hold a press conference in the Rose Garden at 5 pm ET today.The White House announced the president will hold a press conference in the Rose Garden at 5 pm ET today.
It’s unclear whether Trump will actually take questions from White House reporters at the event, considering the president has not stayed for questions at some of his recent press conferences.It’s unclear whether Trump will actually take questions from White House reporters at the event, considering the president has not stayed for questions at some of his recent press conferences.
If Trump does take questions, he will likely be pressed on his push for schools to reopen this fall, despite the coronavirus pandemic, and the White House’s recent efforts to cast doubt upon the credibility of Dr Anthony Fauci.If Trump does take questions, he will likely be pressed on his push for schools to reopen this fall, despite the coronavirus pandemic, and the White House’s recent efforts to cast doubt upon the credibility of Dr Anthony Fauci.
Ghislaine Maxwell appeared in Manhattan federal court via video feed on Tuesday, for arraignment and bail arguments regarding her alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls.Ghislaine Maxwell appeared in Manhattan federal court via video feed on Tuesday, for arraignment and bail arguments regarding her alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls.
The video feed featured four panels, one showing Maxwell, one showing her defense team, one showing the judge, and one panel showing prosecutors. The audio kept cutting out.The video feed featured four panels, one showing Maxwell, one showing her defense team, one showing the judge, and one panel showing prosecutors. The audio kept cutting out.
The judge told Maxwell to inform her if the audio feed didn’t work.The judge told Maxwell to inform her if the audio feed didn’t work.
“Thank you, your honor, I will do that,” Maxwell said with a refined voice.“Thank you, your honor, I will do that,” Maxwell said with a refined voice.
The proceeding moved to Maxwell’s arraignment shortly thereafter.The proceeding moved to Maxwell’s arraignment shortly thereafter.
“Ms Maxwell, have you had an opportunity to discuss the indictment in this case with your attorney?” the judge asked.“Ms Maxwell, have you had an opportunity to discuss the indictment in this case with your attorney?” the judge asked.
“I have, your honor...I have been able to discuss it, your honor, with my attorney.”“I have, your honor...I have been able to discuss it, your honor, with my attorney.”
Maxwell waived a public reading of the indictment.Maxwell waived a public reading of the indictment.
“And how do you plead?” the judge asked.“And how do you plead?” the judge asked.
“Not guilty, your honor.”“Not guilty, your honor.”
Republican congressman Morgan Griffith announced he has tested positive for coronavirus, days after participating in a press conference on the need to reopen schools.Republican congressman Morgan Griffith announced he has tested positive for coronavirus, days after participating in a press conference on the need to reopen schools.
“Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today was informed that he tested positive for COVID-19,” Griffith’s office said in a statement.“Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today was informed that he tested positive for COVID-19,” Griffith’s office said in a statement.
“Upon developing possible symptoms, he took the test and has since been self-isolating. Although he does not currently have significant symptoms, he will continue to self-isolate as he performs his duties on behalf of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District.”“Upon developing possible symptoms, he took the test and has since been self-isolating. Although he does not currently have significant symptoms, he will continue to self-isolate as he performs his duties on behalf of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District.”
The news comes less than a week after Griffith participated in a press conference to urge schools to reopen this fall, despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the classroom.The news comes less than a week after Griffith participated in a press conference to urge schools to reopen this fall, despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the classroom.
Griffith defended calls from the president and his allies to reopen schools by saying, “It’s about making sure that we mitigate the risks, which we can easily do. We can take care of the students; we can take care of the teachers.”Griffith defended calls from the president and his allies to reopen schools by saying, “It’s about making sure that we mitigate the risks, which we can easily do. We can take care of the students; we can take care of the teachers.”
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
The US carried out its first federal execution in 17 years. Convicted murderer Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death at a federal prison in Indiana after the supreme court issued a late night, 5-4 decision allowing the execution to proceed.The US carried out its first federal execution in 17 years. Convicted murderer Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death at a federal prison in Indiana after the supreme court issued a late night, 5-4 decision allowing the execution to proceed.
Florida reported a record 132 coronavirus deaths in a single day. The grim figure brings Florida’s total coronavirus death toll to 4,409, as the state struggles to respond to a recent surge in new cases.Florida reported a record 132 coronavirus deaths in a single day. The grim figure brings Florida’s total coronavirus death toll to 4,409, as the state struggles to respond to a recent surge in new cases.
Adm. Brett Giroir pushed back against a baseless claim, retweeted by the president, that the CDC is lying about coronavirus. Giroir, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, acknowledged mistakes in the government’s response to the pandemic, but he added, “None of us lie. We are completely transparent with the American people.”Adm. Brett Giroir pushed back against a baseless claim, retweeted by the president, that the CDC is lying about coronavirus. Giroir, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, acknowledged mistakes in the government’s response to the pandemic, but he added, “None of us lie. We are completely transparent with the American people.”
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
New York is expanding the list of states on its travel advisory, telling travelers from 22 states that they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.New York is expanding the list of states on its travel advisory, telling travelers from 22 states that they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Cuomo, along with the governors or New Jersey and Connecticut, announced last month that travelers from states with high levels of community spread of coronavirus would have to quarantine after arriving.Cuomo, along with the governors or New Jersey and Connecticut, announced last month that travelers from states with high levels of community spread of coronavirus would have to quarantine after arriving.
Today, New York added Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin to the list of impacted states and removed Delaware from the list.Today, New York added Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin to the list of impacted states and removed Delaware from the list.
The update comes one day after Cuomo announced out-of-state travelers would be required to provide their contact information upon arrival in New York. The Democratic governor warned those who refuse to do so could face a $2,000 fine.The update comes one day after Cuomo announced out-of-state travelers would be required to provide their contact information upon arrival in New York. The Democratic governor warned those who refuse to do so could face a $2,000 fine.
Attorney general William Barr said “justice was done” in the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, which took place this morning, making it the first federal execution since 2003.Attorney general William Barr said “justice was done” in the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, which took place this morning, making it the first federal execution since 2003.
“Today, Lee finally faced the justice he deserved,” Barr said in a statement released by the justice department.“Today, Lee finally faced the justice he deserved,” Barr said in a statement released by the justice department.
“The American people have made the considered choice to permit capital punishment for the most egregious federal crimes, and justice was done today in implementing the sentence for Lee’s horrific offenses.”“The American people have made the considered choice to permit capital punishment for the most egregious federal crimes, and justice was done today in implementing the sentence for Lee’s horrific offenses.”
Barr announced last year that the federal government was resuming capital punishment, which has only been carried out three times since the federal policy was reinstated in 1988.Barr announced last year that the federal government was resuming capital punishment, which has only been carried out three times since the federal policy was reinstated in 1988.
The Trump administration faced a number of legal hurdles in advancing the policy, but the supreme court said Lee’s execution should move forward in a late night, 5-4 decision.The Trump administration faced a number of legal hurdles in advancing the policy, but the supreme court said Lee’s execution should move forward in a late night, 5-4 decision.
Ghislaine Maxwell is due to appear on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court via video feed for arraignment and bail arguments involving her alleged participation in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls.Ghislaine Maxwell is due to appear on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court via video feed for arraignment and bail arguments involving her alleged participation in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls.
The British friend of Epstein is requesting bail, while prosecutors are fighting her release before trial.The British friend of Epstein is requesting bail, while prosecutors are fighting her release before trial.
The media presence at court prior to Maxwell’s appearance was quieter than one would expect. There was a queue outside the Downtown building, but not the thick throngs of journalists one often saw at major proceedings prior to COVID.The media presence at court prior to Maxwell’s appearance was quieter than one would expect. There was a queue outside the Downtown building, but not the thick throngs of journalists one often saw at major proceedings prior to COVID.
There were also fewer gawkers than normal. One couple walking by wondered aloud what was happening. “Oh, wait, I think that Jeffrey Epstein s--t” one of them remarked. Then, they kept walking.There were also fewer gawkers than normal. One couple walking by wondered aloud what was happening. “Oh, wait, I think that Jeffrey Epstein s--t” one of them remarked. Then, they kept walking.
The White House has released its readout of Trump’s call yesterday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the readout, unlike Canada’s, interestingly includes no mention of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The White House readout says, in full, “Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. The two leaders recognized the significance of the historic United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) recently entered into force on July 1, 2020.
“President Trump reiterated that USMCA is an unprecedented achievement for all three countries that will help ensure our economies emerge stronger from coronavirus. President Trump also underscored concerns regarding China’s deceptive and coercive behavior.”
In contrast, Trudeau tweeted yesterday that the two leaders “also discussed the Black Lives Matter movement and the need to end systemic racism.”
The call comes less than two months after George Floyd was killed in police custody, sparking protests across the country and a nationwide reckoning over racism and police brutality.
Trudeau participated in a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Ottawa last month, during which protesters called on the Canadian prime minister to stand up to Trump on issues of racism.
Ivanka Trump is holding an event at the White House this morning aimed at encouraging unemployed Americans to “find something new” in their careers.
According to the White House, the president’s daughter and senior adviser will hold a virtual roundtable this morning with IBM executive chair Ginni Rometty and Apple CEO Tim Cook to mark the launch of her “Find Something New” ad campaign.
The AP has more on the ad campaign:
The campaign quickly attracted the mockery of liberal commentators, many of whom argued the slogan was callous in the middle of a recession caused by a global pandemic.
From a former National Security Council spokesperson under Barack Obama:
From a New York Times columnist:
From an editor at large for the Daily Beast:
Florida has set a new record for the number of residents lost in a single day to coronavirus, as the state struggles to respond to a surge in new cases.
This morning, Florida reported 132 coronavirus deaths in the past day, bringing the state’s total death toll from the virus to 4,409.
Trump and other senior administration officials have pushed back against questions about the recent surge in cases by noting the death toll has not been rising as sharply.
However, a number of public health experts, including Dr Anthony Fauci, have noted the number of deaths often lags behind the number of new cases and warned the death toll could still see a sharp increase.
That grim predication now appears to be playing out in Florida, and other states may soon see similarly alarming numbers.
Louisiana’s attorney general will not be present to welcome Vice President Mike Pence today because he has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge reports:
The news is likely not the backdrop Pence wanted as he travels to Louisiana to tour an emergency operations center and hold a roundtable discussion on reopening universities this fall.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeated a false claim about Joe Biden and the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s stance on police reform.
“Our police officers are selfless heroes, but ... Joe Biden calls them ‘the ENEMY,’” McEnany said in a tweet from her personal Twitter account.
Vice President Mike Pence also made the “enemy” claim in a tweet last week, but fact-checkers have said the claim takes Biden’s comment out of context.
Biden was specifically talking about police officers coming into neighborhoods with military-grade equipment when he said last week, “Surplus military equipment for law enforcement: they don’t need that. The last thing you need is an up-armored Humvee coming into a neighborhood; it’s like the military invading. They don’t know anybody, they become the enemy; they’re supposed to be protecting these people.”
As the number of coronavirus cases continue to climb in many states, Trump is busy attacking the media on Twitter.
“Would be so great if the Media would get the word out to the people in a ‘fair and balanced’ way,” Trump said. “We will win anyway, but they are a far more difficult adversary than their Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Partner!”
“Fair and balanced” is the former motto of Fox News, Trump’s favorite new network that he has recently criticized for featuring commentators who challenge the president’s handling of the pandemic.
The president’s tweet comes as a number of battleground state polls show Joe Biden leading or running neck and neck with Trump, sparking fear among Repubicans that the president is running out of time to change the course of the election.
Four former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention penned an op-ed criticizing lawmakers for politicizing the health agency.
The four former directors -- Tom Frieden, Jeffrey Koplan, David Satcher and Richard Besser -- write in the Washington Post:
The op-ed comes one day after Trump retweeted a message that accused the CDC (without evidence) of lying about coronavirus.
The White House has also recently sought to cast doubts upon the credibility of Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
The latest challenge in the country’s coronavirus crisis centers on whether schools should reopen this fall, with the president and many of his advisers pushing for schools to resume in-person instruction.
However, many school districts have said they don’t have the money to safely reopen next month and have urged lawmakers to allocate additional funds for education in the next coronavirus relief bill.
Trump initially took the opposite approach, instead threatening to withhold government funding from schools that don’t reopen.
However, the president and his team now appear to be changing their tune. Senior White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said yesterday that Trump was willing to consider additional funding for states and localities where schools have reopened.
Speaking to governors yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence reportedly said, “We’re in active discussions with leadership in the Congress about additional education funding support in the upcoming relief bill.”
But it’s still unclear how much money Congress will approve and when the House and the Senate will be able to come to an agreement on the bill.
Adm. Brett Giroir has been doing the TV round this morning, and gave a pretty snappy response when he was asked about the accusation that Donald Trump retweeted yesterday that the CDC and “most” doctors were lying about the coronavirus outbreak.
Asked directly on NBC’s Today whether the CDC and other doctors are lying, Giroir, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force, said that mistakes have been made and that public guidance is updated when more is learned about the virus, “but none of us lie. We are completely transparent with the American people.”
Trump has said on several occasion that the virus will “just disappear.” Giroir said that is unlikely “unless we take active steps to make it disappear.” He appealed to people to wear masks, practice social distancing and to avoid bars and other tightly packed areas.
Asked by NBC News if he was bothered by the White House’s treatment of Dr Anthony Fauci over the last few days - the president has singled him out for criticism and there has been a negative briefing operation about him - Giroir didn’t answer directly, but said “none of us are always right and that’s just the way things are.”
Giroir also appeared to disagree with Trump and education secretary Betsy DeVos over school reopenings. Giroir said it was important to “get the virus under control” first. “And if we get the virus under better control, clearly kids can get back into school safely,” he said.
You can watch the interview segment here: Trump testing czar Brett Giroir – ‘None of us lie’ about coronavirus crisis
Richard Wolffe has a new column for us today - where he argues that Donald Trump may be no good at leading America – but he’s really, really good at lying
Read it here: Richard Wolffe – Trump may be no good at leading America – but he’s really, really good at lying