Trump warns that easier voting means ‘you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again’

Rep. Thomas Massie objected to the same provision in coronavirus response, tweeting that “Universal vote by mail would be the end of our republic as we know it.” Because apparently our republic as we know it is dependent on it being easier for rich white people to vote. In 2018, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith “joked” about voting at…

ICE cancels request for 45,000 face masks for deportation agents following congressional pressure

Among the legislators condemning the order was Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, who has been a fierce critic of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies. “Instead of pausing deportation operations, ICE is trying to get 45,000 N95 masks from the government,” he tweeted. “That’s 45,000 masks our front line health care workers desperately need to save American lives,…

Trump team ignored a 2016 pandemic playbook that warned about testing and protective equipment

That’s not the only part that feels like a time-traveler’s pointed rebuke to how the Trump administration has handled COVID-19. “What is our level of confidence on the case detection rate?” the playbook asks. “Is diagnostic capacity keeping up?” The playbook also emphasizes the importance of a coordinated response and offers insights into how the different…

It’s time Congress gets serious about figuring out how to work remotely

After 9/11, Ornstein worked with several members of Congress to create a contingency plan for disaster. It was never adopted because of a combination of stubbornness, denial, and staunchly misguided institutionalism. Now is the time for congressional leaders to set that all aside. Congress needs to, as Ornstein says, “pass a plan that allows for a…

A breathtaking 3 million people filed for unemployment last week as coronavirus shutdowns hit

Daily Kos Staff Thursday March 26, 2020 · 5:58 AM PDT 2020/03/26 · 05:58 The all-time record for new jobless claims in a single week was set in 1982, with 695,000 new claims. Last week, as coronavirus shuttered many U.S. businesses, 3.28 million people filed for unemployment insurance. That’s not just breaking a record, it’s…

McConnell floats first unhelpful trial balloon for next phase in coronavirus response

It also would provide $300 billion in loans in to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, aimed at helping them survive the downturn and available through lenders certified by the Small Business Administration, with the maximum loan amount of $10 million. It also has the big bailouts to industry: “Up to $50 billion for passenger air carriers;…

‘Why did you bring Corona to America?’ Asian Americans detail Trump-inspired xenophobic attacks

Campaign Action The incident follows two other attacks against Asian Americans in New York on March 10. Last week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio condemned the coronavirus-related attacks during a media roundtable. “Right now, we’ve seen particularly troubling instances of discrimination directed at Asian communities, particularly in the Chinese community,” de Blasio said.…