White House memos warned in run-up to pandemic of up to 2M deaths, economic devastation

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-memos-warned-in-run-up-to-pandemic-of-up-to-2m-deaths-economic-devastation

Top White House trade adviser Peter Navarro warned in stark terms about how deadly and economically devastating the coronavirus outbreak could be, weeks before it became a full-blown pandemic.

Navarro delivered the warnings to others at the White House in internal memos in January and February, saying that the United States could see up to 2 million deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.

The first Navarro memo was dated Jan. 29 and was addressed to the White House National Security Council, according to The New York Times, which first reported on the document. In it, Navarro made his case for an “immediate travel ban on China.”

In that memo, Navarro also reportedly warned that “the lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless in the case of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on U.S. soil.”

“This lack of protection elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans,” Navarro wrote in the memo, according to the Times.

Navarro’s first memo came as the president was downplaying the prospect of the virus coming to the U.S., while, at the same time, just days later on Jan. 31 restricting travel from China, after it was reported that COVID-19 was first discovered in China in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province.

The memo reportedly warned of up to $5.7 trillion in economic costs and up to a half-million American deaths in a worst-case scenario.

In late February Navarro penned another memo, this time addressed to the president himself and escalating the warnings.

The Feb. 23 memo, first reported by Axios and confirmed by Fox News, warned that “there is an increasing probability of a full-blown COVID-19 pandemic that could infect as many as 100 million Americans, with a loss of life as many as 1-2 million souls.”

The estimate was ultimately in line with what officials say could have happened without any social distancing measures and other precautions now in place across the country.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx said last week that without any measures in place to mitigate the virus’ spread, projections jump to between 1.5 and 2.2 million deaths from COVID-19.

But with extensive restrictions in place, they said the coronavirus could still leave 100,000 to 240,000 people in the U.S. dead and millions infected.

In his memo, Navarro outlined such scenarios and called for funding to tackle the problem.

“To minimize economic and social disruptions and loss of life, there is an urgent need for an immediate supplemental appropriation of at least $30 billion dollars [sic] to support efforts at prevention, treatment, inoculation, and diagnostics,” Navarro wrote. “This is NOT a time for penny-pinching or horse trading on the Hill. Uncertainties associated with developing a vaccine and viable treatment options should NOT slow down investments in these high risk, high reward ventures.”


https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/06/peter-navarro-memo-in-late-january-warned-of-coronavirus-pandemic/


...Hope this is not fake news coming from Foxnews...

...Trump cares more about his ratings than the current health issues...

Trump backs off his Easter plans; wants social distancing until April 30

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/03/29/donald-trump-extends-coronavirus-guidelines-april-30/

President Donald Trump on Sunday said that guidelines for Americans fighting the coronavirus will be extended to April 30.

“Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won, that would be the greatest loss of all,” T[b]rump said, acknowledging that his hopeful Easter deadline for loosening restrictions was shattered.[/b]

The president said he thought about differentiating restrictions between different areas in the country, depending on the threat posed by the virus, but was strongly advised against it by the experts.

Trump urged Americans to continue following the “Slow the Spread” guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the federal government.

“The better you do the faster this whole nightmare will end, therefore we will extend our guidelines to April 30 to slow the spread,” he said.

Trump said that on Tuesday his task force will share additional updates and data to demonstrate why the sustained guidelines were necessary.

He reminded Americans that they were still making a difference, but warned them that deaths and infections would continue rising for two weeks.

“The peak will likely hit in two weeks,” Trump said.

Trump predicted that by June 1, the United States would successfully be getting back to normal.

“By June 1st we will be well on our way to recovering,” he said.

He said that the virus continued to spread at a rapid pace, but that Americans were preventing a much worse spread by following the federal guidelines.

Trump acknowledged that early models showed that 2.2 million would have died, but thanks to all of America’s efforts to stop the spread, it was looking to be much less at 200,000.

“This is a tough one because it spreads so quickly, like nothing we’ve seen,” Trump said. “It spreads so easily, so quickly.”

Trump said that he did not care about approval ratings.

“I wish we could have our old life back. We had the greatest economy that we’ve ever had, and we didn’t have death. We didn’t have this. We didn’t have this horrible scourge, this plague. Call it whatever you want. The virus. But we’re working very hard. That’s all I know.”

...In just the past few days, he's reversed himself on opening up the country on Easter and instituting a quarantine on New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, whatever that meant....

obixcel:
And Obama endorsed him

...Yes Obama did endorsed him...shows most politicians have secrets locking in their closets...

https://eu.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/10/01/obama-endorses-andrew-gillum-florida-governor/1488080002/

Senate Coronavirus Bill Prohibits Trump’s Hotels From Receiving Bailouts: Democrats pushed to ban Trump family businesses from cashing in on the Senate’s $2 trillion rescue package.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-trump-hotels-bill_n_5e7af656c5b6d01bd1544cb5

WASHINGTON ― The Senate’s $2 trillion package aimed at reducing the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic appears to ban businesses controlled by President Donald Trump and his family from receiving taxpayer assistance.

A provision in the bill prohibits businesses controlled by the president, vice president, members of Congress, and heads of executive departments from receiving loans or investments from U.S. Treasury programs. The prohibition also applies to their children, spouses, and in-laws, according to a summary from the office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The measure was added in the portion of the bill aimed at helping distressed industries with at least $450 billion in loans. The massive fund would be controlled by the Treasury Department and could include bailouts to hotels, casinos, cruise lines, and the oil and gas industry. Since earlier drafts of the legislation included virtually no restrictions on how the money would be distributed, Democrats feared it would allow properties owned directly by Trump or his family to receive bailouts.

Asked about the matter on Sunday, Trump refused to say if he would bar his own company from receiving stimulus money to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve learned, let’s just see what happens,” the president told reporters at the White House when asked about the Trump Organization. “Because we have to save some of these great companies.”

Prior to assuming office, Trump announced he was leaving “total control” of his business to his children ― Ivanka, Eric and Don Jr. ― who would manage what he called a “blind trust.” The Trump Organization lists 11 hotel properties on its website.

The Senate bill also includes some oversight over the $450 billion fund aimed at propping up struggling industries. Under the terms of the deal reached on Wednesday, an independent inspector general and a congressional oversight board will be in charge of scrutinizing the lending provided to big businesses ― similar to what was done for the 2008 Wall Street bailout a decade ago.


https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-would-ban-companies-owned-by-trump-or-his-children-from-receiving-bailout-money/

vibre:
Photo Shows Naked Andrew Gillum On Vomit Covered Towels

https://www.centralfloridapost.com/2020/03/20/photo-appears-to-show-naked-andrew-gillum-on-vomit-covered-towels/

...Very sad...Andrew nearly got elected as governor in Florida...he has even been compared as the next Obama...

...Our most stable genius speaking...

Trump tells Fox News' virtual coronavirus town hall country could reopen by Easter

https://video.foxnews.com/v/5614615980001#sp=watch-live

Fox News Channel is hosting a two-hour virtual town hall with President Trump and members of the White House coronavirus task force.

The president and his team will be answering text and video questions you submit to Fox News' Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as email submissions for the special live event at live-blog@foxnews.com.

Anchors Harris Faulkner and Bill Hemmer will co-moderate the event, and will be joined by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Fox News contributors Dr. Nicole Saphier and Dr. Marc Siegel.

...From Trump...

...19 days Normal by Easter Sunday
...We’ve never closed the country before
...Practice social distancing
...The country wants to go back to work
...The cure is worse than the problem
...We can’t delay things because we’d lose more people

Trump fires all staff at Mar a Lago and DC resort; may seek bailout

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8136571/Trumps-company-CLOSES-Mar-Lago-fires-staff-shutters-golf-courses.html

President Donald Trump's company has closed Mar-a-Lago, fired staff, and even shut down the bars at its Washington D.C. luxury hotel in the wake of the coronavirus.

'Various facilities are temporarily closed given local, state and federal mandates. We anxiously await the day when this pandemic is over and our world-class facilities can reopen,' a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told DailyMail.com.

The company did not respond to an inquiry about whether or not it would apply for a financial aid bailout under legislation being passed by Congress and signed by the president.

Born2Freak:



Coronavirus can always turn the tide.........
.

...Current delegate count (so far)...

Biden - 1147
Bernie - 861

Senate approves coronavirus legislation as Trump harnesses wartime powers

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-18/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-trump-treasury

The Senate on Wednesday passed a measure to provide sick leave and free coronavirus testing to Americans, as President Trump invoked wartime powers to boost manufacturing of medical equipment needed to fight the pandemic and the U.S. restricted its border with Canada.
The legislation — approved by the House on Saturday — passed 90-8 in the Senate and next goes to Trump’s desk for signature. Congress is already working on the next emergency package, expected to top $1 trillion, including aid to struggling industries and individual checks to most taxpayers.

By signing a declaration under the Defense Production Act, Trump can direct private industries to churn out protective masks and gowns for hospital workers, as well as ventilators needed to keep critically ill patients alive. Healthcare officials have repeatedly warned that stockpiles of medical equipment could be wiped out as coronavirus-related infections spiral.

8 Republicans voted against

Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin
Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky
Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

New York Stock Exchange temporarily closing trading floors, going all electronic

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/futures-dow-opening-plunge-800-points/story?id=69661006&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_twopack_hed

The New York Stock Exchange will temporarily close its trading floors and switch to all-electronic trading beginning when markets open next Monday amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"Trading and regulatory oversight of all NYSE-listed securities will continue without interruption," its operator, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., said in a statement Wednesday.

The facilities that will be closed include the equities trading floors in New York and San Francisco.

"While we are taking the precautionary step of closing the trading floors, we continue to firmly believe the markets should remain open and accessible to investors," Stacey Cunningham, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, said in a statement. "All NYSE markets will continue to operate under normal trading hours despite the closure of the trading floors."

The news comes after a roller coaster past few weeks for U.S. financial markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled Wednesday, closing down by more than 1,300 points or 6.28%, in another day of massive volatility over the novel coronavirus crisis.

Stocks Hammered, Dow Drops To Lowest Since February 2017

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2020/03/18/stocks-hammered-dow-drops-to-lowest-since-february-2017/

Nearly all of the Trump stock market boom has now fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,338.46 points, around 6.3 percent, to 19,898.92. That is the first close below 20,000 since February 2017. The Dow was even lower earlier in the day, at one point falling to levels unseen since December 2016.

The S&P 500 fell 5.2 percent. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 4.7 percent. The small cap Russell 2000 was smashed with a 10.42 percent decline, highlighting just how devastating investors think the coronavirus and social distancing will be to smaller businesses.

Unlike Tuesday, when stocks rallied during a White House press conference announcing economic rescue measures, Wednesday’s sell-off accelerated during the now daily coronavrius press conference. The selling pressure created a new worry: what if the White House can no longer calm markets? A spiral of negativity.

The bond market also sold off, marking the first time in a while that bond yields have moved up while stock prices crashed. That could reflect a view that investors believe the rescue package will be effective, leading interest rates higher in the future. A more conventional view, however, would see the results as merely an reaction to the news of huge spending plans that a certain to push up debt levels.

...The price of PMS should be lower than the proposed 125 naira...as international crude oil prices have fallen more than half...

Biden won big

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/leslie-marshall-sanders-should-end-campaign-primary-wins-show-biden-will-be-dem-presidential-nominee

Biden’s margin of victory over Sanders was nearly 40 points in Florida and 23 points in Illinois with almost all votes counted, and about 12 points in Arizona with 87 percent of precincts reporting.

And Biden received strong support from African-Americans; rural and suburban voters; Catholics, Protestants and Jews; blue-collar workers; and older voters. Biden won every county in Florida.

This broad support cuts the legs out from under Sanders’ argument that he is the candidate of the people while Biden is the candidate of the Democratic establishment and billionaire donors.

Latino and younger voters are warming to Biden

Biden chipped away at Sanders’ coalition of progressive young people and Latinos. In Florida, exit polls showed Biden got 56 percent of the Cuban-American vote and 65 percent of the Puerto Rican vote. And among progressive voters in Florida, Biden won 53 percent to Sanders’ 37 percent.

Voters across the country have clearly have shown that they prefer Biden’s message of pragmatic progressive change to Sanders’ calls for a democratic socialist revolution.

Biden’s lead of nearly 300 delegates in the race for the presidential nomination is simply insurmountable at this point. This leave Sanders with no pathway going forward to overtake Biden.

...Very dangerous statement...with the way some Asia looking people have been attacked and assaulted...

Justice Department drops plans for trial over Russian interference in 2016 U.S. election

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/16/russia-election-justice-department-132875

The Justice Department is abandoning plans for a looming criminal trial focused on claims of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

With jury selection set to begin in just over two weeks, prosecutors asked a federal judge to permanently dismiss the charges special counsel Robert Mueller brought two years ago against two Russian firms linked to a St. Petersburg businessman known as Putin's chef, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

How ugly could it get? Trump faces echoes of 1929 in coronavirus crisis.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/16/trump-faces-1929-save-economy-133053

The early signals from the coronavirus crisis point to a scale of damage unseen in the modern U.S. economy: the potential for millions of jobs lost in a single month, a historic and sudden plunge in economic activity across the nation and a pace of sharp market swings not seen since the Great Depression.

As the coronavirus outbreak ravages a paralyzed nation, Wall Street suffered another brutal bloodbath on Monday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average diving around 13 percent in its worst percentage loss since 1987’s “Black Monday” crash. A reading on business conditions in the New York area plunged a record 34.4 points to -21.5 in March, suggesting a recession is underway that could be sharp and deep as revenue quickly bleeds out of major industries from airlines to hotels, restaurants, bars and sports leagues.

The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, the broadest gauge of U.S. companies, fell 12 percent. It has shed $6 trillion in value since peaking in February, slamming retirement accounts for millions of Americans in ways that could have psychological ripples for many months to come. The last time the S&P had three days of similar wild swings was 1929, on the eve of the Great Depression.

The S&P is now only around 300 points away from wiping out all its gains since Donald Trump won the White House in November 2016. President Trump himself, one of the grandest boasters of the strength and resilience of markets and the American economy, appeared to capitulate on Monday with a more somber tone reflecting the immense magnitude of the challenge facing the nation.

raumdeuter:


Why will it be? Biden already said he will pick a woman

Which woman fits the bill

...Biden must make sure he picks the right woman for the VP post...I don't know which woman will be the right choice appealing to the electorates (either Warren or Kloubacher)...but definetely he mustn't make the mistake of going for an African-American woman...that will be a political own-goal...

Goldmaxx:
Why hasn't CNN said anything concerning Andrew gillum, the crystal meth and the gay escort orgy?

Andrew Gillum Going to Rehab After Being Linked to Suspected Meth Overdose Incident

Andrew Gillum said on Sunday that he will voluntarily enter a rehabilitation facility after he was found with another man suffering from a suspected meth overdose in a Miami hotel room on Friday. “This has been a wake-up call for me,” the former Democratic nominee for the governor of Florida said in a statement.

“Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles,” Gillum continued.

Gillum was determined to be in an “inebriated state” on Friday after Miami Beach police found three plastic bags “containing suspected crystal meth.”

...His statement keeps changing by the day...can't believe he almost got to be elected governor of one of the biggest state in America, Florida...he still need to explain how a gubernatorial candidate and a gay escort could wind up in a hotel...

https://www.theblaze.com/news/andrew_gillum_crystal_meth_scandal_alibi

raumdeuter:
I am suspecting that Biden will pick Stacy Adams or Kamala Harris as Vice President

...Anyone of this VP pick by Biden if true....will be a recipe for complete disaster and huge annihilation by Trump in the November presidential election...it will be a bad combination...

Trading temporarily halted as markets plummet despite Fed intervention: trading halt comes even after the Fed announced it was slashing rates.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/stock-market-futures-plummet-fed-intervention/story?id=69617320&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_headlines_hed

Trading on Wall Street was temporarily halted after markets plunged early Monday as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to upend business and travel across the world.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 2,250 points or 9.7% just after trading began. The S&P 500 fell more than 8%, triggering a "circuit-breaker" halt of 15 minutes.

Trading resumed just before 10 a.m., but the losses continued.

Federal Reserve slashes rates to near zero, announces $700 billion quantitative easing program

https://abcnews.go.com/US/federal-reserve-slashes-rates-launches-700-billion-quantitative/story?id=69610447&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_hero_related

The Federal Reserve announced on Sunday that it's slashing interest rates again to help buoy the economy during the coronavirus outbreak.

The plan to ease the economic downturn caused by the virus includes lowering interest rates to near zero and implementing a $700 billion quantitative easing program.

"The effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook," the committee said in a statement. "In light of these developments, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to 1/4 percent."

President Donald Trump praised the decision during a press conference from the White House Sunday afternoon.

"It's really good news," Trump said. "It's something that's really great for our country."

Twenty minutes after S&P 500 Futures opened, they plunged 5%, their "limit down," the most they can decline until markets open on Monday.

Andrew Gillum issued the following statement:

"I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends. While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines. I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement.

"I’m thankful to the incredible Miami Beach EMS team for their efforts. I will spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate privacy during this time."


...Crystal meth is used by gay men in what's called booty bumps... That anti gay pastor Ted Haggard from back in the day got caught doing meth with a gay escort...They inject it into the walls of the anus so they can't feel pain....Gays of all colors use meth they stick it up their butt to numb the pain of an4l $ex...Proof that God designed for stuff to come OUT of that cavity and not go in...That's how the L.A. News Anchor Chris Burrows (also married with kids) died last year...

Breaking News:

Andrew Gillum Named in Miami Beach Police Report

https://tallahasseereports.com/2020/03/13/breaking-andrew-gillum-named-in-miami-beach-police-report/

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/03/13/andrew-gillum-involved-in-suspected-crystal-meth-incident-in-miami-beach-police-say/

https://eu.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2020/03/13/andrew-gillum-miami-democrat-linked-meth-overdose-florida-hotel/5041450002/

According to a City of Miami Beach police report, former Tallahassee Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was found in a Miami Beach hotel room in which paramedics were called due to a medical emergency. According to the report, one of the men, Aldo Mejias, 56, told officers that he gave Travis Dyson, 30, his credit card information to rent a hotel room for the night.
Gillum was not arrested.
The report indicates that Gillum was unable to communicate with authorities on the scene and ultimately returned to his residence without incident. The police report indicates clear plastic baggies containing suspected crystal meth were found in the hotel room.


...Recently, perhaps last week, Andrew Gillium was part of a panel on CNN during the DNC Super Tuesday 1 primaries...Laid up with a Mexican and a White man, doing that zombie drug...His has kicked his political penalty to throw-in...

Russian election meddling is back -- via Ghana and Nigeria -- and in your feeds

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/12/world/russia-ghana-troll-farms-2020-ward/index.html

EXCLUSIVE: By Clarissa Ward, Katie Polglase, Sebastian Shukla, Gianluca Mezzofiore and Tim Lister, CNN

Updated 1002 GMT (1802 HKT) March 13, 2020

Accra, Ghana (CNN)The Russian trolls are back -- and once again trying to poison the political atmosphere in the United States ahead of this year's elections. But this time they are better disguised and more targeted, harder to identify and track. And they have found an unlikely home, far from Russia itself.

In 2016, much of the trolling aimed at the US election operated from an office block in St. Petersburg, Russia. A months-long CNN investigation has discovered that, in this election cycle, at least part of the campaign has been outsourced -- to trolls in the west African nations of Ghana and Nigeria.
They have focused almost exclusively on racial issues in the US, promoting black empowerment and often displaying anger towards white Americans. The goal, according to experts who follow Russian disinformation campaigns, is to inflame divisions among Americans and provoke social unrest.
The language and images used in the posts -- on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram -- are sometimes graphic.
One of the Ghanaian trolls -- @africamustwake -- linked to a story from a left-wing conspiracy website and commented on Facebook: "America's descent into a fascist police state continues."


....No wonder there have been increase number of 'trolls' on this site...

...Latest update on delegates count to the DNC nomination...

Australian official who met with AG Barr, Kellyanne Conway and Ivanka Trump tests positive for coronavirus

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/australian-official-coronavirus-barr-conway-127988


An Australian government minister who last week interacted with Attorney General William Barr, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and White House adviser Ivanka Trump announced Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"This morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat. I immediately contacted the Queensland Department of Health and was subsequently tested for COVID-19. I was advised by Queensland Health this afternoon that the test had returned positive," Peter Dutton, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, said in a statement.

Dutton's statement comes after he traveled to Washington and met last Thursday with Barr, Conway and Ivanka Trump — as well as representatives of the "Five Eyes" international intelligence alliance — to discuss efforts to combat online child exploitation.

The revelation from the high-ranking foreign official represents the latest example of the coronavirus infecting the upper echelons of governments around the world, and opens up President Donald Trump to another avenue of potential exposure to the fast-spreading disease.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's press secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus after having met and dined with Trump during the Brazilian delegation's visit to his Mar-a Lago resort last weekend.