No, federal government spending doesn’t have to be ‘paid for’. The crisis shows providing for our society is not a financial issue
Only a month ago, a stimulus bill of $2tn would have been unthinkable. Indignant deficit scolds would have asked how one planned to pay for it, and complained about burdening our grandchildren with debt and bankrupting our country. Bernie Sanders bent over backwards to explain how he was going to pay for a Green New Deal or Medicare for All. These program...
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Coronavirus US live: Pelosi says Trump’s WHO decision is ‘dangerous, illegal and will be challenged’
- House speaker condemns ‘senseless’ decision
- 2 million cases of coronavirus confirmed worldwide
- Elizabeth Warren endorses Joe Biden for president
- Live global updates
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5.21pm BST
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended the city’s stay-at-home order through at least May 15, ordering sc...
So merch for all that: how Bernie Sanders became politics’ least likely style icon
Never has one man in inexpensive rumpled suits been so loved by the style set - but Sanders’ clothes signal an authenticity other politicians can only dream of
Of all the things we’ll miss about Bernie Sanders, now that he has dropped out of the Democratic race, his style should be the least of it. Not only because his politics are so right on – this is the man who believes in free education and Medicare for all and who has had many Americans, who until recently felt disenfranchised ...
Coronavirus US live: Biden doubts Democratic convention can happen in July
- 6.65 million filed for US unemployment last week
- US facing hunger crisis as demand for food banks soars
- Trump casts doubt on China’s coronavirus figures
- Dr Fauci: security reportedly expanded amid threats
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Banks are warning the $350 billion small business loan program may not be ready by Friday as scheduled.
Politico reports:
The lenders complain that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin boxed them in with an unrealistic deadline and that the ground rules they’ve been given for the program, which is intended to deliver rapid aid to a huge number of ailing businesses, could delay the assistance for weeks or longer.
The banks, which will be responsible for processing loan applications and doling out money, are expecting millions of applications from businesses. Some fear a disaster that could dwarf the failed kickoff of the Obamacare enrollment web site in 2013.
Georgia’s governor said he only learned days ago that those with coronavirus who show no symptoms can still spread the virus, an astounding claim from a state leader considering health experts have been warning about asymptomatic transmissions for weeks.
A stunning admission of deadly ignorance from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who says he only just learned that asymptomatic people can transmit #Covid19. “[I]ndividuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad, but we didn’t know that until the last 24 hours.” pic.twitter.com/T7NZWk2GDR
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Coronavirus US live: Biden says Trump plan to relax physical distancing could be ‘catastrophic’
- How Trump practices distancing versus other leaders
- Trump family will not profit from $2tn package
- Are Trump’s coronavirus briefings the new 2020 campaign rallies?
- Experts: Trump’s ‘back-to-work’ plan would make things worse
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Here’s a clip of World Health Organization director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemning calls to bypass or lift social distancing restrictions.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus strongly warns against lifting social distancing measures too soon.
"The last thing any country needs is to open schools and businesses, only to be forced to close them again because of a resurgence." https://t.co/l7BtEcViAu pic.twitter.com/lsyAFYMbRV
The federal agency in charge of nursing homes nationwide confirmed that 140 have at least one confirmed coronavirus case. But the Washington Post reports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are refusing to say which ones.
From the Post:
Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control, the press release tucked the new figure in the seventh paragraph. The release said although “147 is a small fraction of the over 15,000 nursing homes across the country, given the disproportionate effect on our nation’s older population, this is a cause for concern.”
A CDC spokesman, Scott Pauley, told The Post he was “not sure [the list] will be released at this time.”
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Coronavirus US live: stimulus bill fails in Senate as experts urge Trump not to roll back social restrictions
- What to know about the US bailout
- Dr Anthony Fauci counters Trump’s claims
- Trump signals change in strategy that could clash with health experts
- Panic-buying disrupts food distribution
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6.36pm GMT
The Washington Post reports on a growing rift in the Trump administration as the president weighs l...
Trump signs coronavirus bill ordering free testing and aid for workers
Measure introduced by Democrats will expand Medicaid and unemployment benefits and mandate paid sick leave for some
- Coronavirus – latest updates
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Donald Trump has approved legislation that will expand Medicaid and unemployment benefits, mandate paid sick leave and childcare leave for certain employees, and order free coronavirus testing, in an effort to to limit the damage from the pandemic.
The bill, introduced by House ...
Democratic primaries: three states head to polls amid coronavirus crisis – live
- Arizona, Florida and Illinois voters decide between Biden and Sanders
- Former vice-president is ahead in polling
- Democratic primaries results – follow the votes
- Democratic primary delegate count – latest
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11.43pm GMT
Bernie Sanders delivered remarks on the coronavirus crisis, predicting it would cost the US up to $2 tri...
Bernie Sanders lost his last chance to take Joe Biden down | Nathan Robinson
On the whole, Sanders delivered the kind of performance that he needed to at this stage, with Biden now the favorite to win the nomination
A stark contrast was on display Sunday night, and both candidates on the Democratic debate stage knew it. Though Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders were united in their criticism of Donald Trump’s response to coronavirus, they clashed repeatedly on policy issues, and even their core messages on the virus were very different.
For Biden, coronavirus...
Top US health agency hit by cyber-attack amid coronavirus outbreak – live
- US Health and Human Services Department hacked
- Biden and Sanders team mull debate reaction
- Coronavirus – latest updates
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- Biden and Sanders confront coronavirus crisis in debate
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2.33pm GMT
The White House, exercising “an abundance of caution”, announced Monday it had cancelled its annual Easter E...