Tuesday, April 7, 2020

And another day closer to losing our democracy comes to a close:

“I always feel like every song is the last song.” -- John Prine

Deaths
US: 12,854 (+1983)
World: 82,078 (+7376)

Officials reportedly warned not to contradict Trump on untested meds. It's a problem when officials are told to do research they don't support; it's a bigger problem when they're told not to contradict Trump's assumptions.

Trump removes watchdog at head of committee overseeing coronavirus relief funds. The move comes as Trump's critics take aim at a wave of presidential actions and comments that stand to reshape the ranks of independent federal watchdogs.

It’s Time To Say It: Trump Is Handling COVID-19 Like A Dictator. The world’s authoritarians, on the other hand, have responded to COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, with tantrums of paranoia and denial.

Wisconsin votes as National Guard is called out, many polling places closed.

Elizabeth Warren Has a Plan to Protect Your Right to Vote from the Coronavirus. Her plan comes as a rebuke to recent statements by President Trump, who said on Friday that he opposed mail voting—even though he himself requested an absentee ballot to vote in Florida’s March primary—because “a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting,” and reiterated his support for requiring voter ID. The week before, Trump said that if voting reforms Democrats had suggested be included in the first recovery package were adopted “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” The Trump campaign and the Republican Party are planning a legal onslaught to oppose efforts to expand voting during the pandemic.

Most Americans, unlike Trump, want mail-in ballots for November if coronavirus threatens. -- Demand your state moves permanently to mail-in ballots.

President Trump: "I think mail-in voting is horrible, it's corrupt."
Reporter: "You voted by mail in Florida's election last month, didn't you?"
Trump: "Sure. I can vote by mail"
Reporter: "How do you reconcile with that?"
Trump: "Because I'm allowed to."

“...but some animals are more equal than others.” -- George Orwell

Wisconsin GOP Speaker defends state holding election while wearing protective gear. -- Republicans are literally trying to kill you.

New York City has deadliest 24 hours with 806 deaths, total now over 3,500.

Hospitals say feds are seizing masks and other coronavirus supplies without a word. “Are they stockpiling this stuff? Are they distributing it? We don’t know.”

The VA Told Its Staff There Was Plenty Of Coronavirus Gear. Leaked Emails Tell A Different Story. The situation had grown so dire, according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News, that medical personnel caring for patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 would receive only a single surgical mask per shift rather than the N95 respirators recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

African Americans may be dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate. In Chicago, a recent report found that 70% of people who died from COVID-19 are black — even though the city's population is just 30% black. In Milwaukee County, which is 27% black, the figure is 81%.

Trump announces, then reverses, freeze on funding for World Health Organization. -- He wants to, or he wouldn’t have said it.

Stephanie Grisham out as Trump's press secretary without ever having held a briefing.

Acting Navy Secretary resigns after calling ousted aircraft carrier captain stupid. — Among a bunch of other shit he said.

After Trump's statements about hydroxychloroquine, lupus and arthritis patients face drug shortage.

Trump order encourages US to mine the moon. Executive order says US will oppose any international effort to bar it from removing chunks of moon, Mars or elsewhere in space

RIP John Prine. He was 73.

“There’s only two things. There’s life, and there’s death.” -- John Prine

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Good night.