Democracy Now! 2020-04-10 Friday

• Headlines for April 10, 2020
• Noam Chomsky on Trump's Disastrous Coronavirus Response, Bernie Sanders & What Gives Him Hope

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In Part 2 of our interview, family physician and epidemiologist Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones explains why the coronavirus is taking a devastating toll on black Americans. “People who are devalued and those people with limited opportunity are going to be impacted the worst,” says Dr. Jones. She also outlines principles for “valuing all individuals and populations equally” and achieving health equity. Her recent piece for Newsweek magazine is headlined “Coronavirus Disease Discriminates. Our Health Care Doesn’t Have To.”

Democracy Now! 2020-04-09 Thursday

• Headlines for April 09, 2020
• Suspending the Campaign, Not the Movement: Sanders Pulls Out of 2020 Race But Will Stay on Ballot
• Naomi Klein: Sanders "Broke the Spell" of Neoliberalism as Trump Pushes Coronavirus Capitalism
• Noam Chomsky: Bernie Sanders Campaign Didn't Fail. It Energized Millions & Shifted U.S. Politics
• "Exposing U.S. Racism in a Stark New Way": COVID-19 Kills Disproportionate Number of Black Americans

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Democracy Now! 2020-04-08 Wednesday

• Headlines for April 08, 2020
• Journalist on Wisconsin Election: Republicans Are Letting People Die in Order to Hang On to Power
• "A Systematic Issue of Disparity": Black People in Louisiana Account for 70% of COVID-19 Deaths
• Albert Woodfox: COVID-19 Offers Public a "Small Window" into What Prisoners Face in Solitary Confinement
• "People Are Dying in the Streets": Ecuador Struggles to Cope with COVID-19 as Cases Skyrocket

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Democracy Now! 2020-04-07 Tuesday

• Headlines for April 07, 2020
• Amazon "Profiting from This Pandemic" as Warehouse Workers Walk Off Job to Demand Safer Conditions
• Deaths of Inequality: AOC on Black and Latinx Communities at Epicenter of Epicenter of the Pandemic
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders & Fight for a Progressive Future

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After 554 days living in sanctuary at a Philadelphia church, Honduran mother Suyapa Reyes finally received her freedom last month after federal immigration officials granted her a stay of her deportation order. Reyes had been living at First United Methodist Church of Germantown with her four young children since September of 2018. Reyes has now received a grant of deferred action, which will allow her to remain in the United States and get a work permit. Reyes has been living in Philadelphia since 2014, after she fled from her home country of Honduras with her two oldest children. Her other two children are U.S. citizens. We speak with Suyapa Reyes and Blanca Pacheco, co-director of the New Sanctuary Movement Philadelphia.

Coronavirus Cases Surge in U.S., Surgeon General Warns of “Pearl Harbor Moment” The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 70,000 with over 1.3 million confirmed cases. The U.S. has by far the highest number of known cases, with over 336,000 reported, as the country’s official death toll approaches 10,000. But public health and medical experts say the true number of COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. is much higher than reported due to inconsistent protocols on reporting, early failures to identify COVID-19, and unreported deaths in victims’ homes. The Pentagon said it is procuring 100,000 body bags as demand increases from morgues around the country. As hospitals around the country continue to report dire equipment and staffing shortages, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned Sunday the weeks ahead would be the toughest in the fight against the pandemic. Surgeon General Jerome Adams: “This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it’s not going to be localized. It’s going to be happening all over the country.” Over 90% of U.S. residents are now under some type of stay-at-home order. North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Iowa are the remaining states that have no such measures either on a local or state-wide level. The White House’s top medical expert on the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Sunday somewhere between 25 and 50% of people with COVID-19 could be asymptomatic. Gov. Cuomo Slashes Medicaid as New York Struggles to Get Handle on COVID-19 Cases New York remains the epicenter of the crisis in the U.S., representing nearly half of the country’s fatalities. Over the weekend, more than 1,200 New Yorkers died within a 48-hour window, bringing the state’s official death toll to over 4,000. There are over 123,000 confirmed cases. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has enough medical supplies to last until Tuesday or Wednesday, as he repeated a plea for any available healthcare workers to join the fight against the pandemic. Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Please, we need your help. We need supplies. We need medical personnel to come forward to volunteer. We will compensate them, but we need them to come forward and give us their time and energy where it’s needed most.” At his briefing, Mayor de Blasio also blamed the surge in New York cases on the lack of early testing and mobilization from the federal government. As New York races to keep up with the explosion of coronavirus cases, progressive critics say the state budget agreed to by Governor Cuomo and the New York Legislature last week will harm New Yorkers already suffering the most from the coronavirus crisis. The $177 billion budget will slash the state’s Medicaid program by $2.5 billion a year, including a $400 million cut in money for hospitals. The budget also rolls back bail reform. Meanwhile, a prisoner at Rikers Island in New York has died of complications from COVID-19. Hundreds of prisoners and prison workers at facilities across the city have tested positive as calls mount to release more detainees in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Black Communities Hit Disproportionately Hard by Coronavirus Data is emerging showing major racial disparities in coronavirus death rates across the country. In Chicago, 70% of COVID-19 fatalities have been black residents, despite making up less than 30% of the population. In New York City, coronavirus patients from the Bronx, which has large black and Latinx populations, are twice as likely to die from the infection as elsewhere in the city. City and public health officials say the disproportionately higher rate is due to a greater number of underlying health conditions, such as diabetes and asthma, lack of access to testing and healthcare, and poor conditions in public housing that promote the spread of the disease. New Orleans, a majority-black city, now has the highest coronavirus death rate in the entire country. Coronavirus Cases Appear to Level Off in Parts of Europe, But Death Tolls Remain High In Europe, Spain has surpassed Italy in COVID-19 cases with over 135,000 people infected. Italy has already lost nearly 16,000 people and Spain over 13,000. In France, the death toll has topped 8,000. But the death rate in all three countries, as well as in Germany, has begun to slow down. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged the EU to provide more robust financial support in the fight “against an invisible enemy that is putting the future of the European project to the test.” Boris Johnson Hospitalized for Acute Coronavirus Symptoms In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital Sunday, 10 days after he tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson has reportedly been given oxygen treatment. Johnson was widely criticized for his government’s initial approach to handling the outbreak, which has already killed nearly 5,000 in Britain. In a rare televised address Sunday, Queen Elizabeth called for Britons to unite and lauded the response of Britain’s healthcare and other essential workers. There are over 47,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Britain, including the prime minister and the queen’s son, Prince Charles. Greek authorities have quarantined a second refugee camp after at least one person there tested positive for COVID-19. Human rights groups and health experts have urged the Greek government to evacuate the over 100,000 people living in overcrowded, neglected camps around the country. Japan’s Shinzo Abe to Declare Emergency; Filipino Police Kills Man Who Flouted Coronavirus Rules Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reportedly planning to declare a state of emergency as Tokyo reported over 140 new coronavirus cases Sunday, its largest daily number. Japan has confirmed nearly 4,000 cases, though testing remains very limited. Japan has thus far resisted imposing a lockdown or other strict measures to contain the virus, over fears it will harm the economy. In the Philippines, a police officer fatally shot a man who refused to adhere to government restrictions on preventing the spread of COVID-19. The man was reprimanded for not wearing a face mask, after which he reportedly became angry and attacked a health worker. Authoritarian President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that police and military should shoot and kill any troublemakers. Low-Paid Garment Workers in Bangladesh Face Mass Unemployment In Bangladesh, an estimated 1 million garment workers have lost their jobs as the apparel industry has taken a huge hit from the coronavirus outbreak and its economic fallout. The low-paid, mostly female workers make on average less than $100 per month, and many say their families will not survive without that income. Ambia Begum: “We have not gotten our salaries and don’t know how many more days they will keep the factories closed. We are facing lots of problems, as we have to give rent and buy food to maintain our households. How can we run our families? The government should look after us.” Former Prime Ministers of Somalia and Libya Die from COVID-19 Former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril has died from the coronavirus. Jibril was Libya’s interim leader after the ouster and death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. He held the post until the country held its first free elections in 2012. Meanwhile, former Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein has died of the coronavirus in London at the age of 82. He was credited for overseeing peace talks in 2008 as tens of thousands of Somalis were forced to flee amid fighting between Islamist insurgents based in Eritrea and Western-backed Somali and Ethiopian forces. Complaint Filed at ICC over Jair Bolsonaro’s Handling of Coronavirus Outbreak; Death Toll Mounts in Honduras In Brazil, a criminal complaint has been filed before the International Criminal Court against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for ignoring measures recommended by the World Health Organization to control the spread of the coronavirus. In Central America, Honduran authorities have ordered mayors across the country to find land that may be suitable for mass graves, as fears mount over a possibly overwhelming death toll from the coronavirus, which is rapidly spreading in the region. Honduras has reported nearly 300 cases and 22 deaths. Trump Ignores His Govt’s Recommendations, Says He Won’t Wear Face Mask and Touts Anti-Malarial Drug In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday advised all Americans to wear nonmedical face masks when out in public. President Trump, however, said he would forego the recommendation, saying, “Somehow I don’t see it for myself.” Trump also once again urged Americans to take the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 symptoms, despite medical experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, warning there is still insufficient evidence for its effectiveness in treating the virus. President Donald Trump: “That’s hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. And again, you have to go through your medical people, get the approval. But I’ve seen things that I sort of like. So, what do I know? I’m not a doctor. I’m not a doctor, but I have common sense.” Later in Sunday’s press briefing, CNN correspondent Jeremy Diamond tried to question Dr. Anthony Fauci about the drug. Jeremy Diamond: “Would you also weigh in on this issue of hydroxychloroquine? What do you think about this? And what is the — what is the medical evidence?” President Donald Trump: “Do you know how many times he’s answered that question?” Dr. Anthony Fauci: “Yeah.” Jeremy Diamond: “But I’m [inaudible] to the doctor.” President Donald Trump: “Probably 15 — 15 times. You don’t have to ask the question.” Jeremy Diamond: “He’s your medical expert, correct?” President Donald Trump: “He’s answered that question 15 times.” The L.A. Times is reporting the Trump administration ended a pandemic early-warning program in China just two months before COVID-19 started spreading in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic. The program trained and supported researchers in labs around the world, including the Wuhan lab that identified the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. After funding was cut in September of last year, dozens of scientists and analysts were fired. Immigrant Women Launch Hunger Strike in Tacoma, WA as COVID-19 Cases Rise in Immigration Jails In immigration news, a prisoner being held at the privately owned Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego has tested positive for COVID-19; two facility employees also recently tested positive. There have been at least eight reported cases of COVID-19 among immigrant prisoners across the country. Meanwhile, over 60 immigrant women imprisoned at Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, have gone on hunger strike demanding the immediate release of vulnerable people, humanitarian visas to detainees, and a moratorium on deportations and transfers. On Friday, dozens of allies protested outside the facility in their cars, honking their horns in support of immigrant prisoners. This is Maru Mora-Villalpando, an activist with the immigrant rights group La Resistencia. Maru Mora-Villalpando: “As we are told that we should keep social distance, that we should clean our hands, that we should not go out, elected officials should be doing something to release people from detention, because people in detention have said, 'This is not only about us.' When guards come in or out, they’re also bringing the virus either in or they’re taking it out. As governments have asked us, stay home, save lives, we ask them: Get people out of cages, save lives.” In related news, ProPublica reports hospitals across New York City are leaving some non-English-speaking patients unattended and without proper care. Employees at Chicago Amazon, Food Processing Plants Among Rising Worker Actions Amid Pandemic In labor news, workers across a wide range of sectors are continuing to demand better safety measures to protect against infections. In Chicago, Amazon workers staged their fourth strike in under a week Saturday, days after Amazon fired a Staten Island employee who organized a similar walkout here in New York. Workers at food processing factories — which are often staffed by a majority-immigrant workforce — have been walking off the job to protest unsafe conditions. Recent strikes include workers at a chicken processing facility in Virginia, a flan and gelatin production factory in Illinois and a meatpacking plant in Colorado. Meanwhile, a union representing some 13,000 carpenters in Massachusetts has called for a strike starting today to protest Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s refusal to shut down all construction across the state. And nurses around the country continue to shine light on the ongoing lack of personal protective equipment, or PPE, and understaffing around the country. The University of Illinois Hospital and the Illinois Nurses Association recently announced an agreement to provide nurses with hazard pay for the duration of the state’s stay-at-home order. After headlines, we’ll head to Harlem Hospital, where nurses are staging a protest this morning, and speak to organizer, registered nurse Sarah Dowd. Tiger at Bronx Zoo Tests Positive for COVID-19 In other news about the pandemic, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19. At least four other tigers and lions at the zoo also exhibited symptoms consistent with the coronavirus. The infection is believed to be the result of “human-to-cat transmission.” Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline to Resume Despite Coronavirus and Environmental Threats In environmental news, construction on the Keystone XL pipeline is set to resume. Officials in Alberta, Canada, said they would hand over more than $1 billion to TC Energy — formerly known as TransCanada — so that construction can continue, even though it risks putting construction workers and residents on the pipeline’s path — many of them from indigenous communities — at heightened risk for contracting the coronavirus. South Dakota and several other states recently passed new laws criminalizing protests against pipelines. Fired U.S. Navy Captain Brett Crozier Tests Positive for COVID-19 Navy Captain Brett Crozier, who last week called for the evacuation of thousands of sailors stuck on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt in Guam, has tested positive for COVID-19. Captain Crozier was removed from his post just days earlier, after his defiant letter, in which he pleaded not to let sailors die, leaked to the press. At least 150 sailors on the nuclear-powered military ship had also contracted the virus. On Friday, videos emerged showing hundreds of sailors cheering and applauding Captain Crozier as he disembarked from the aircraft carrier at a U.S. naval base in Guam. Trump Fires Intelligence Community Watchdog Michael Atkinson Amid the escalating coronavirus crisis, President Trump has fired Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community’s inspector general. Atkinson alerted lawmakers to the whistleblower complaint that triggered Trump’s impeachment proceedings. Axios is reporting sources close to President Trump expect him to fire more inspectors general across the government. Longtime AP Writer, Deputy Tech Editor Anick Jesdanun Dies of COVID-19 Longtime Associated Press writer and deputy technology editor Anick Jesdanun died from complications due to COVID-19. His family says that although he was diagnosed, his case wasn’t severe enough to require hospitalization initially, and he even appeared to be on the mend before his symptoms took a turn for the worse. Jesdanun was an avid marathoner and participated in races on every continent. In other media news, CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin announced Friday she has tested positive for COVID-19. CNN host Chris Cuomo also tested positive earlier in the week. Journalist & Economist Martin Khor, Who Fought for Ecological Rights in the Global South, Dies at 68 Malaysian economist and journalist Martin Khor has died at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. Khor served until 2018 as the executive director of the South Centre, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries, and was previously head of the Third World Network. Khor advocated for collective solidarity among nations in the Global South to fight against ecological damage wrought by the world’s wealthiest nations. This is Martin Khor speaking to Democracy Now! in 2012 at the U.N. climate change summit in Doha. Martin Khor: “So, the catastrophe of climate change is already on us. We are not waiting for, you know, the next century or for our children. We are the children we are talking about who are suffering from climate change. And unfortunately, the talks that we are seeing in Doha are not reflecting the urgency that is required by what is happening out in the world.” That was Martin Khor, who passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Click here to see our other interviews with Khor. Legendary Soul Singer Bill Withers, Known for “Lean on Me”, “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Dies at 81 Legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers has died at the age of 81 from heart complications. Withers was a three-time Grammy Award winner whose most beloved songs include “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lovely Day” and “Just the Two of Us.” “Lean on Me” has found renewed popularity during the coronavirus pandemic as videos of neighbors, schoolchildren and others singing the classic hit in a show of solidarity and friendship have been appearing on social media. A message posted by Bill Withers’s family reads: “A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other.”

In Part 2 of our interview with Bishop Clifton Daniel, the dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, he discusses his decision to open 400 beds in the progressive and ecumenical place of worship in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, which is known to be against LGBTQI people and Muslims, and his message for religious leaders who refuse to follow social distancing guidelines as they prepare to celebrate Holy Week, Passover and Ramadan in the age of coronavirus.

Democracy Now! 2020-04-06 Monday

• Headlines for April 06, 2020
• One Mask for Five 12-Hour Shifts: Harlem Hospital Nurses Demand Better Protection Amid Pandemic
• "Leaving Us in Here to Die": Prisoners Plea for Release, Protection Amid Skyrocketing Infections
• NY Bishop Explains Why St John Divine Cathedral Is Working with Fundamentalist Group During Pandemic

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Democracy Now! 2020-04-03 Friday

• Headlines for April 03, 2020
• "Our Bodies Are On the Line": NYC Nurses Demand Protective Gear as COVID-19 Death Toll Skyrockets
• As Virus Spreads in Philippines, So Does Authoritarianism: Duterte Threatens Violence Amid Lockdown
• How Taiwan Contained COVID-19: Early Action, Technology & Millions of Face Masks
• Protect Immigrant Communities: Fear Mounts of Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak in U.S. Border Camps, ICE Jails

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Democracy Now! 2020-04-02 Thursday

• Headlines for April 02, 2020
• As U.S. Reels from COVID-19, Trump Backs Gilead's Exclusive Patent on Treatment & Suspends EPA Rules
• "Social Distancing Is a Privilege": Pandemic Highlights India's Class Divide as 1.3 Billion Lock Down
• "There Aren't Enough Tests": As Pandemic Intensifies, Global South Prepares for the Worst

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No Longer Downplaying Virus, Trump Says Up to 240,000 Will Die in U.S. from COVID-19 The White House coronavirus task force projected Tuesday between 100,000 and 240,000 people will die of COVID-19 in the United States — but only if the strictest quarantine measures are kept in place. President Donald Trump, who this week extended social distancing guidelines through the end of April, said the worst is yet to come. President Donald Trump: “We’re going to go through a very tough two weeks. And then, hopefully, as the experts are predicting, as I think a lot of us are predicting, after having studied it so hard, we’re going to start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel. But this is going to be a very painful, very, very painful, two weeks.” President Trump said without efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, up to 2.2 million Americans could die of COVID-19. The grim assessment stood in stark contrast to Trump’s repeated claims in recent weeks that the virus was “under control” and that it would “miraculously” go away by April. As of today, April 1, the United States has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, with over 188,000 people infected and over 4,000 dead. And the true rate of infection is certain to be far higher due to a critical shortage of test kits. FEMA Sends 85 Refrigerated Trucks to New York City as COVID-19 Deaths Grow Here in New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. crisis, the death toll from COVID-19 is nearly 1,100 and continuing to climb. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is dispatching more than 250 ambulances and 85 refrigerated trucks to New York to serve as temporary morgues. The Intercept reports that prisoners at the Rikers Island jail are being offered $6 an hour and personal protective equipment if they agree to dig mass graves at a public cemetery on Hart Island. The coronavirus continues to spread rapidly at Rikers, where at least 167 prisoners and 137 staff members have tested positive. In Central Park, an emergency field hospital began operations Tuesday treating spillover patients from nearby Mount Sinai Hospital. The effort is led by the Christian fundamentalist group Samaritan’s Purse, whose leader Franklin Graham is a virulently Islamophobic, anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ preacher. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to send aides to monitor the group to prevent discrimination against patients. As Confirmed U.S. Cases Top 188,000, Unhoused People Forced to Sleep in Las Vegas Parking Lot Nationwide, the United States has confirmed over 188,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 4,000 deaths. California hospitalizations have doubled over the past four days, with intensive care cases tripling in that time. California health officials predict the state’s peak of COVID-19 cases will be lower than New York’s because stringent social distancing policies were adopted sooner. In Las Vegas, 500 unhoused people were displaced from a Catholic Charities’ homeless shelter after a resident tested positive for COVID-19. City and county officials have since set up an open-air encampment, painting lines on the pavement of the Cashman Center parking lot to keep unhoused people six feet apart. Meanwhile, thousands of Las Vegas hotel rooms remain empty during the lockdown. Chicago COVID-19 Nurse Quits over Critical Lack of Personal Protective Equipment In Chicago, a COVID-19 unit nurse said she resigned Monday after hospital administrators barred her from wearing an N95 protective mask she brought with her to work. The nurse, Imarís Vera, posted this video on social media. Imarís Vera: “I had my own N95 mask. I told my manager, 'I understand we're short on supplies, but let me protect myself. Let me feel safe. I have family that I have to come home to.’ And the way things are looking, this isn’t going to get any better. America is not prepared, and nurses are not being protected.” In Austin, Texas, 28 young adults tested positive after a spring break trip to southern Baja California in Mexico, with dozens more under public health investigation. Meanwhile, Russia has promised to deliver a planeload of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies after President Trump placed a call to Vladimir Putin Monday. Fed Economists: U.S. Unemployment Could Reach Record 32% in June Federal Reserve economists are warning the coronavirus pandemic could push the U.S. unemployment rate above 32% by the end of June — higher than the peak jobless rate of 25% during the Great Depression. The news comes as thousands of tenants around the country are calling for immediate rent cancellation. Later in the broadcast, we’ll hear from an organizer of today’s April 1 “rent strike,” and we’ll hear from UPS drivers and Amazon employees organizing for safer working conditions amid the pandemic. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Demands Release of All Jailed Immigrants Amid Pandemic The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has joined thousands of medical professionals and immigration rights groups in demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, release all prisoners from immigration jails. At least four asylum seekers and five ICE agents have tested positive for COVID-19, raising fears for more than 37,000 immigrants jailed in crowded facilities across the U.S. In Louisiana, The Intercept reports women jailed at the privately owned South Louisiana ICE Processing Center are terrified that they have been exposed to a person ill with the coronavirus. The women flashed handmade signs to a “video visitation” camera describing an Ecuadorian woman who worked in the kitchen who was given oxygen and carried away on a gurney after presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Meanwhile, more than 80 immigrant prisoners at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, continued their hunger strike to protest conditions inside the privately owned facility, demanding their immediate release, reunification with their families and temporary humanitarian visas. On Tuesday, supporters surrounded the immigration jail in a caravan, honking car horns in support of the hunger strikers. California plans to release 3,500 nonviolent prisoners on parole in the next 60 days to try to reduce prison overcrowding. Although California’s total prison population is about 122,000, this would still be the largest mass release of U.S. prisoners since the pandemic began. Captain Calls for Evacuation of Infected U.S. Aircraft Carrier: “Sailors Do Not Need to Die” In Guam, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt pleaded with U.S. Navy officials to allow thousands of sailors to disembark to prevent the spread of the coronavirus aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, where more than 100 sailors have tested positive. Captain Brett Crozier warned in a letter to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our sailors.” CNN reports sailors aboard a second U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, have also tested positive. Governor Won’t Allow Sickened Cruise Ship Passengers to Be “Dumped” in Florida In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has warned the operators of a pair of stricken cruise ships not to seek refuge in his state, telling Fox News he doesn’t want to “see people dumped in southern Florida right now.” Four people have died on board one of the cruise ships, and dozens more have reported flu-like symptoms. This comes as Governor DeSantis has defied calls to order all residents to remain at home, even though Florida is home to one of the nation’s largest populations of people 65 and older. Italy Holds Moment of Silence as COVID-19 Deaths Reach 12,000 In Italy, cities nationwide observed a minute of silence at noon Tuesday to remember victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Italy has reported the world’s highest death toll from the disease — with 837 deaths in the last 24 hours alone, bringing the total to over 12,000. With Italy’s hospitals completely overwhelmed, Germany has continued to receive Italian coronavirus patients. Spain Records Highest COVID-19 Death Toll Yet, as Medical Workers Warn of “Inferno” Spain has reported its highest daily coronavirus toll, with 849 new deaths over 24 hours. One nurse in Madrid, posting on social media, said the official number of confirmed COVID-19 cases — now over 100,000 — is far lower than the true toll. Irene GS: “We are completely overflowed. Health workers are exhausted, physically and emotionally, because this is awful. This is an inferno. The numbers that I’m seeing on television are false. Why are they false? Because they are not testing people.” Asylum Seeker Gets COVID-19 in Greece; Brazilians Continue to Protest from Home In Greece, an asylum seeker tested positive for COVID-19 after a stay in a crowded refugee camp north of Athens that’s home to 2,500 people. In Russia, a doctor who gave President Vladimir Putin a tour of Moscow’s coronavirus hospital unit last week has himself tested positive. Putin says he’ll begin holding government meetings by video conference. In Brazil, authorities have set up field hospitals for COVID-19 patients in some of the world’s most storied soccer stadiums. Residents of high-rise apartment buildings in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro continue to hold nightly protests from their windows and balconies, banging pots and pans and calling for the resignation of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed COVID-19 as a “little flu” and urged Brazilians to get back to work. Nigerians Fear Starvation as Africa’s Largest City Enters Lockdown In Nigeria, Africa’s largest city, Lagos — home to 21 million people — fell quiet Tuesday as a stay-at-home order went into effect. Many residents said they’re more worried about starving than they are of contracting COVID-19. Omolara Adejokun: “So, it’s not easy at all. Even to buy one week’s food is not easy, talk less of two weeks. And we have three kids, and we still have our grandma that is living with us. So, it’s not easy at all, because the money to use to buy it even, we don’t have it now.” Ugandan Police Arrest Homeless LGBTQ Youth for Alleged Quarantine Violation In Uganda, police arrested at least three Catholic priests after they celebrated Mass on Sunday in violation of a ban on religious gatherings during the pandemic. On the outskirts of the capital Kampala, police raided a shelter for homeless LGBTQ youths, arresting 20 people for allegedly violating quarantine. Those arrested were reportedly beaten and forced to take a “walk of shame” through the village. Uganda LGBTQ campaigners say they were targeted because of their sexual orientation. Indonesian Drones Spray Clouds of Disinfectant, Raising Fears of Poisonings Authorities in Indonesia’s second-largest city, Surabaya, have deployed drones to spray clouds of disinfectant in residential neighborhoods, even though health officials warn the chemicals are likely to cause irritation and respiratory problems. CNN’s Chris Cuomo Tests Positive for COVID-19 as Fox News Fears Lawsuits over Coverage In media news, Vanity Fair reports that executives at Fox News are worried they could face lawsuits from viewers over the far-right cable network’s misleading coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. For weeks, as the virus spread, Fox News hosts portrayed the pandemic as a hoax designed to damage President Trump’s reelection prospects. Meanwhile, CNN’s primetime host Chris Cuomo has tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, Cuomo broadcast from his home basement, where he says he’ll remain in isolation until he recovers. Chris Cuomo is the younger brother of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Federal Appeals Court Will Allow Texas Abortion Ban to Remain in Effect for Now Texas will be allowed to enforce its abortion ban during the coronavirus outbreak after an appeals court judge overturned the ruling of a federal judge who had put a temporary hold on the abortion ban just hours before. Texas’s abortion ban was put in place last week as part of the state’s plan to stem the spread of the coronavirus, claiming abortions are “non-essential” procedures. Trump Finalizes Rollback of Mileage Standards, Gutting Efforts to Stem Climate Crisis In environmental news, the Trump administration has finalized its rollback of Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for new U.S. vehicles, in a massive blow against efforts to mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis. The rollbacks will allow U.S. vehicles to emit some 1 billion more tons of carbon dioxide than previously allowed — equivalent to at least a fifth of annual U.S. emissions. U.S. Shifts Policy on Venezuela, Suggesting “Power Sharing” Interim Government Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday proposed a gradual lifting of U.S. economic sanctions on Venezuela if opposition leaders and some members of President Nicolás Maduro’s political party form an interim government. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: “Broadly speaking, it would put the elected members of the National Assembly, representing both sides — would create an acceptable council of state to serve as the transitional government until presidential and National Assembly elections could be held, we hope within six to 12 months.” The proposal would require both President Maduro and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to step aside. A similar strategy was used in 1989 ahead of the U.S. invasion of Panama. Venezuela’s foreign ministry called the proposal “an effort to win geopolitical advantage in the midst of a frightening global pandemic.” The move comes less than a week after the Trump administration indicted Maduro on charges of narcoterrorism and international cocaine trafficking.

Democracy Now! 2020-04-01 Wednesday

• Headlines for April 01, 2020
• "Profit Over People": UPS Workers Say Company Not Prioritizing Safety as Workers Test Positive
• With Hospitals Reaching Breaking Point, Pregnant People Face Additional Uncertainty During Pandemic
• #CancelRent: Tenants Demand Rent Relief & Organize Strikes as Unemployment Surges Due to COVID-19

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The Supreme Court is in coronavirus lockdown and has postponed oral arguments until some future date, but they managed to hand down five opinions on last Monday, including a decision considered a blow for the civil rights community: the case of Comcast v. National Association of African American-Owned Media. We find out more from author Matt Stoller, who wrote about this in his in-depth new piece for The American Prospect headlined “Remote Control: A civil rights lawsuit highlights how Comcast’s monopoly crushes media diversity.”

U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 3,100 as Three-Quarters of the Population Are Told to Stay Home The coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the globe with nearly 38,000 known deaths and close to 800,000 confirmed cases. In the U.S., the death toll has topped 3,100, meaning more Americans have now died from COVID-19 than from the 9/11 terror attacks. Nearly 520 of those deaths were reported Monday — the highest number in a single day so far. Three-quarters of American residents are now under stay-at home-orders, as people in at least 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have been told by officials to stay home except for necessities or if they provide essential services. Some states have resisted such moves, though, including Missouri, where Governor Mike Parson has denied pleas from across the state’s medical community to issue a stay-at-home order, even as the state’s coronavirus cases recently topped 1,000. Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., enacted their own shelter-in-place orders Monday, with D.C. and Maryland residents subject to hefty fines and even imprisonment for violating the strict measures. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a member of President Trump’s coronavirus task force, said Monday another coronavirus outbreak in the fall is likely, but that the nation would be better equipped to handle it. Trump Alleges Lack of COVID-19 Tests No Longer an Issue as Governors Denounce Shortage of Medical Supplies On Monday, President Trump boasted that 1 million people in the U.S. have been tested for coronavirus — weeks after he vowed to hit that number within days. In a conference call with governors, Trump suggested there was no longer a problem with a lack of test kits despite repeated calls for more tests around the country. Montana Governor Steve Bullock said his state was one day away from running out of tests. Other governors, including J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, have called out the administration’s handling of the crisis and the severe shortages in medical equipment and personal protective equipment. Trump has also boasted about the government’s ability to produce ventilators, and said the U.S. would be able to send a surplus to other nations in need. During an interview on “Fox & Friends” Monday, President Trump celebrated the fact that the $2.2 trillion stimulus package left out provisions by Democrats in earlier versions of the bill that would have expanded voting access. President Donald Trump: “If you look at before and after, the things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting, that if you ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” NJ Nursing Home on Lockdown After a COVID-19 Outbreak Killed 8 People In New Jersey, a nursing home in Wanaque is on lockdown after a COVID-19 outbreak killed at least eight people and infected many others. Last week, nearly 100 residents at a nursing home in Woodbridge, New Jersey, were evacuated from the facility after two dozen people tested positive for the coronavirus — and all residents were presumed to be infected. Clusters of coronavirus cases have been observed at nursing homes around the country, including in Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. NYC Transit Passengers Call Out Dangerously Crowded Subways, Buses In New York City, public transit passengers are calling out dangerously crowded subways and buses, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has reduced service in response to a drop in ridership during the coronavirus outbreak. The MTA announced over the past week that seven employees have died due to complications from COVID-19. Over 300 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed among MTA employees. NY Rep. Velázquez Diagnosed with Presumed Coronavirus Infection As cases surge in the state of New York, the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., some nurses say they’ve been pressured to return to work despite having COVID-19 symptoms. Meanwhile, New York Congressmember Nydia Velázquez announced Monday she’s been diagnosed with “presumed coronavirus infection.” She said she likely has a mild case but experienced muscle aches, fevers, nasal congestion and stomach upset, and that she lost the ability to smell or taste food. Congressmember Velázquez spoke on the House floor and stood alongside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last Friday during the signing of the coronavirus stimulus bill. Amazon Fires Organizer of Staten Island Strike Action Labor rights advocates are condemning Amazon for firing a warehouse worker who organized a strike at its Staten Island facility Monday. The fired worker, Chris Smalls, and dozens of other employees walked out to demand more protective measures and that Amazon close and sanitize the warehouse after multiple co-workers tested positive for COVID-19. This is an Amazon worker speaking Monday from the walkout. Amazon worker: “And I’m doing this because of my health and my fellow workers’ health, as well. It should be closed down, it should be cleaned properly, and we shouldn’t be working in that environment. We can’t even get gloves from the machine.” Grocery store delivery app Instacart also staged a protest Monday to demand better worker protections and hazard pay. Beloved NYC Transgender Advocate Lorena Borjas Dies After Contracting COVID-19 In other New York City news, beloved transgender advocate Lorena Borjas has died after contracting COVID-19 at the age of 59. Originally from Mexico, Borjas has been called the mother of the transgender Latinx community in New York and fought tirelessly for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ people, immigrant communities and sex workers. Lorena Borjas started a mutual aid fund for members of the transgender community who were suffering financial hardship during the coronavirus crisis. Renowned Neurosurgeon Dr. James Goodrich Dies of COVID-19 Complications Also in New York, world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. James Goodrich has died from complications of COVID-19. Dr. Goodrich treated countless children with neurological diseases and was well known for his surgical work on conjoined twins. Tributes poured in Monday from colleagues at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he taught. Protesters in Philadelphia, New Jersey Demand Release of Nonviolent & Immigrant Prisoners In Philadelphia, at least 100 protesters shut down traffic and parked their cars in the middle of city streets surrounding City Hall and other government buildings to demand the city release nonviolent prisoners and immigrant prisoners in light of the coronavirus crisis. In New Jersey, families with loved ones imprisoned at the Bergen County Jail held a demonstration Friday outside the jail to demand Governor Phil Murphy free all immigrants in detention. GE and Ford to Produce 50,000 Ventilators as GE Workers in MA Demand Company Rehire Fired Workers In Michigan, Ford Motor Company and General Electric will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days to help fulfill the dire need for the life-saving device at hospitals across the country. The companies say they can produce 30,000 units per month as long as hospitals need them. The announcement came as GE workers in Massachusetts staged a protest to demand the facility where they work — which normally manufactures jet engines — start producing ventilators and rehire thousands of recently laid-off workers. GE announced last week it was firing 10% of its domestic aviation workforce due to staggering losses experienced by the airline industry because of the coronavirus pandemic. Florida Pastor Arrested for Violating Public Gathering Rules In Florida, the pastor of a megachurch in Tampa Bay was arrested for refusing to cancel massive church services, in violation of emergency orders against public gatherings. The Hillsborough County sheriff said that Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne demonstrated a “reckless disregard for human life.” Judges Strike Down Abortion Bans in Texas and Ohio Federal judges have struck down recent abortion bans that Texas and Ohio enacted as part of their response to the coronavirus outbreak by claiming abortions are “non-essential” procedures. Judge Lee Yeakel said, “Regarding a woman’s right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure.” Fired Peace Corps Volunteers Face Unemployment, Confusion Around Benefits Some 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers who were fired amid the pandemic are now facing steep challenges, including unemployment, the loss of a regular stipend, as well as housing and healthcare benefits, as they readjust to life back in the U.S. U.S. Military Reports First COVID-19 Death The first known death of a U.S. military member from coronavirus was reported Monday. At least 600 cases have been reported among members of the military. DOJ Investigates Lawmaker Stock Transaction Before Market Crash The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have launched a joint investigation after several lawmakers sold off stocks after they received privileged briefings about the coronavirus pandemic’s threat to the economy. The FBI has also contacted Republican Senator Richard Burr for information about the transactions. In other news from Capitol Hill, Mark Meadows resigned as a North Carolina congressmember Monday to officially start his new position today as Trump’s chief of staff. Scientists and Medical Experts Develop New Theories About Spread of Coronavirus As coronavirus cases surge across the country, infectious disease and medical experts are developing new theories about the spread of the disease and its manifestations. In Washington state, a gathering of asymptomatic choir singers earlier this month resulted in dozens of cases of COVID-19, including two deaths. Scientists say it was likely passed through the air, refuting earlier studies that say contagion via aerosolized particles is highly unlikely. Meanwhile, cardiologists are warning that some COVID-19 patients have worse cardiac symptoms than respiratory ones, in some cases mimicking a heart attack. Spain Reports 800+ New COVID-19 Deaths; Anti-Fascist Activist José María Galante Dies Spain reported over 800 new deaths Monday, as authorities called for a period of nationwide “hibernation.” Spain has now surpassed China in cases, reaching nearly 88,000. This includes over 12,000 healthcare workers. The director of emergency health services has also tested positive. Anti-fascist activist and former political prisoner José María Galante — known as “Chato” Galante — has died from coronavirus. Chato Galante fought against the dictatorship of Francisco Franco and belonged to the Revolutionary Communist League. He was arrested and tortured multiple times during Franco’s regime. Galante was featured in the acclaimed 2018 documentary “The Silence of Others.” Hungary Passes New Law Granting Sweeping Power to Authoritarian PM Viktor Orbán In Hungary, critics warn authoritarian and anti-immigrant Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the crisis to pass sweeping new laws to further consolidate his power, allowing him to rule by decree and giving him authority to override existing legislation, prevent elections, and arrest and jail journalists that may be critical of his nationalist government and their response to the pandemic. Italy Reports Lowest Daily Coronavirus Case Count in 2 Weeks as Death Toll Tops 11,000 In Italy, the death toll has topped 11,000, with confirmed cases nearing 102,000. But Italian officials have also reported the country experienced the lowest daily case count in two weeks, raising hopes that the country is slowly flattening the curve of infections. In Germany, 17 people have died at a nursing home in the city of Wolfsburg, where the majority of the city’s 145 confirmed coronavirus cases come from elderly residents living at the facility. In France, health authorities reported a new daily high Monday with more than 400 coronavirus deaths, bringing the total death toll to over 3,000. Israel PM Netanyahu Enters Quarantine After Aide Tests Positive for COVID-19 In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is entering into quarantine after an aide tested positive for COVID-19. Netanyahu is expected to agree on an emergency unity government with rival Benny Gantz amid the coronavirus crisis, in a blow to many who hoped to see Netanyahu lose political power after failing to win recent elections. Afghanistan Releases Hundreds of Prisoners to Limit Coronavirus Outbreaks In Afghanistan, authorities began releasing hundreds of prisoners as part of an effort to limit outbreaks of the coronavirus. Up to 10,000 older prisoners could be freed. Afghanistan has reported over 170 cases and four deaths. In other news from Afghanistan, at least 28 Afghan soldiers were killed in Taliban attacks across the country in recent days, postponing the release of around 100 Taliban prisoners. 1000s Gather in San Salvador to Demand Coronavirus Aid In Nicaragua, fears are mounting that a devastating outbreak could overwhelm the health system as the government of President Daniel Ortega has neglected to put in place proper mitigation measures, encouraging political rallies and other gatherings. Only four known cases have been reported thus far. In El Salvador, thousands gathered outside a government building in the capital San Salvador Monday to demand the $300 government checks President Nayib Bukele promised to some 1.5 million households who work as street vendors and other jobs in the informal economy. El Salvador has been on a nationwide lockdown for nearly two weeks. In Mexico, the government declared a health emergency Monday and issued stricter rules aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19, after cases nationwide topped 1,000 and the death toll is nearing 30 people. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come under fire for flouting social distancing guidelines and attending rallies and other crowded public events. Indian Health Workers Hose Migrant Workers with Disinfectant In India, footage has surfaced of health workers hosing migrant workers with disinfectant as they try to make their way home following a nationwide lockdown announced last week. Many migrants have reported harrowing journeys home following the order, including several reports of deaths along the way. China, Hong Kong, Singapore Impose Travel Restrictions to Prevent 2nd Outbreak of COVID-19 Across Asia, places that have successfully stabilized coronavirus outbreaks — such as China, Hong Kong and Singapore — now fear tourists who begin traveling back to these places will trigger a second wave of outbreaks. China, Hong Kong and Singapore have all barred foreign travelers from entering to stem the spread of coronavirus. South African Police Officer Arrested for Allegedly Killing Man Who Violated Nat’l Lockdown In South Africa, a police officer was arrested for allegedly killing a man who violated recently enacted lockdown measures. The man was reportedly shot to death on Sunday after a group of police officers followed him home from a bar. Zimbabwe has embarked on a 21-day coronavirus lockdown. This is a Harare resident. Steven Chatora: “Our issue is that the people were not given enough time to prepare, because the majority of these people survive from hand to mouth, so when it was announced, most people did not have enough money. So, in the meantime, people will not have food to eat, and we are so afraid as to how we will survive by the time 21 days have passed.” Despite Coronavirus Pandemic, Biden Continues to Reject Single-Payer Healthcare In the United States, Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden has doubled down on his rejection of single-payer healthcare as the coronavirus pandemic has already created record levels of unemployment — which is costing many their employer-sponsored healthcare — and millions of Americans face economic devastation. This is Biden speaking on MSNBC. Joe Biden: “Single payer will not solve that at all. The thing that is needed is, for example, we have a whole number of hospitals that are being so stretched, including rural hospitals, they’re going to need more financing. That doesn’t come from a single-payer system. That comes from the federal government stepping up and dealing with the concerns that they have.” Exit polls at primary voting sites show that Democrats largely favor a single-payer system, such as Medicare for All, including in conservative states. Several States Pass Laws to Criminalize Protests Against Fossil Fuel Industry As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, a number of states have quietly passed laws to criminalize protests against the fossil fuel industry. Kentucky, South Dakota and West Virginia recently approved new laws imposing harsh penalties, including jail time, on protest actions that damage or block so-called critical infrastructure — such as pipelines — that are used for the production and transport of fossil fuels. Gannett Will Cut Pay, Furlough Employees Amid Economic Loss From Coronavirus Pandemic In media news, Gannett — which owns USA Today — has announced it is cutting pay and furloughing employees after a major loss in advertising revenue amid the economic downturn spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Times said it is reducing its print publication to just two days per week and is furloughing workers during the coronavirus crisis. Idaho Signs Two Anti-Trans Bills on the Eve of Transgender Day of Visibility In Idaho, Republican Governor Brad Little signed into law two bills attacking the rights of transgender people. One measure prohibits transgender people from amending their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity; the other bars trans women and girls from playing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity. The anti-trans bills were signed on the eve of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is today. Rights groups have vowed to challenge the legislation. Trump Admin Revokes Federal Protected Status of Mashpee Tribe Land The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe said it will fight back after the Trump administration announced its reservation would be “disestablished” and it would lose its land trust status. Trump’s move will halt plans to build a casino which would have competed with nearby casinos in Rhode Island that have well-established ties to Trump.

Democracy Now! 2020-03-31 Tuesday

• Headlines for March 31, 2020
• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Communities Enduring Racism & Poverty Will Suffer Most Due to COVID-19
• "It Shattered My Life": Former Joe Biden Staffer Tara Reade Says He Sexually Assaulted Her in 1993

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Monday, March 30, 2020 — A Coronavirus pandemic news roundup from the United States to Spain and Italy, to Nigeria, Russia and the Philippines.

Democracy Now! 2020-03-30 Monday

• Headlines for March 30, 2020
• We Need a Public Health New Deal: Neoliberal Austerity & Private Healthcare Worsened U.S. Pandemic
• Housing Not Shelters: Amid Pandemic, Homeless New Yorkers Demand Refuge in Vacant Apartments, Hotels
• "Housing Is Health": Calls Grow for California to Give Vacant Homes to Unhoused People Amid Pandemic

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Vi er nødt til å etablere et økonomisk system som får bukt med klimakrisa i tillegg til en rekke andre problemer vi ser i dag. Vi må skape et globalt samfunn hvor økonomien kun er et middel som sikrer miljøet og gode liv.