Bernie Sanders, the 78-year-old senator from Vermont who reshaped American politics with his youth-led movement for sweeping social change, announced on Wednesday that he was ending his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination. 'I wish I could give you better news, but I think you know the truth,' Sanders said. 'I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful, and so today I am announcing the suspension of my campaign'
Continue reading...Category Archives: Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders, who reshaped US politics, ends 2020 presidential run
Inspirational senator’s youth-led movement pushed for sweeping social change but fell far behind Joe Biden in bid for nomination
Bernie Sanders, the 78-year-old senator from Vermont who reshaped American politics with his youth-led movement for sweeping social change, announced on Wednesday that he was ending his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Sanders informed staff he was suspending his presidential campaign during a conference call on Wednesday morning, capping what has been an extraordinary rise from relative obscurity to standard-bearer of the American left as an unabashed democratic socialist who championed the working class and called for political revolution.
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: Trump reportedly knew pandemic was likely in January
- Wisconsin voters go to the polls in controversial election
- How an unproven drug became Trump’s ‘miracle cure’
- Live global updates
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Joe Biden said he would like Bernie Sanders to be “part of the journey,” although not his running mate, if he wins the Democratic nomination.
Biden has a significant lead in the delegate count, but Sanders remains in the race, despite an increasingly narrow path to the nomination.
President Trump said he had a friendly phone conversation with former Vice President Joe Biden to talk about the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Biden told @craigmelvin in a one-on-one interview that he doesn't want the November election delayed. pic.twitter.com/DICLhBafTE
The White House has confirmed Stephanie Grisham is leaving her role as press secretary to rejoin the first lady’s team.
“My replacements will be announced in the coming days and I will stay in the West Wing to help with a smooth transition for as long as needed,” Grisham said in a statement released by the White House.
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: Trump says country will reopen ‘sooner than people think’
- New York governor extends ‘stay at home’ order
- Adviser pits himself against Fauci over drug
- Trump mocks Biden over ‘virtual’ convention
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Dr Birx shared a personal story about her granddaughter’s current high fever and her inability to visit. Earlier, Trump accidentally referred to her “grandson”.
“I’m sure it’s roseola or something,” Birx says of her 10-month-old granddaughter’s high fever.
She doubts it’s coronavirus because her family is self-isolating.
“No one is allowed into that house or out of that house because there’s too much precious cargo inside,” Birx says https://t.co/zvWlrulgbf
More details from the Guardian’s Sam Levine on the Wisconsin election:
The US supreme court ruled 5-4 that Wisconsin voters have to have their mail-in ballots postmarked by 7 April, election day, in order to have them counted in the state’s closely watched election. The deadline for election officials to receive the ballot is 13 April. The decision, which came shortly after the state supreme court ordered the election to move forward on Tuesday, ends days of legal fighting over the deadline for receiving absentee ballots in the state.
While I do not doubt the good faith of my colleagues, the court’s order, I fear, will result in massive disenfranchisement. A voter cannot deliver for postmarking a ballot she has not received. The question here is whether tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens can vote safely in the midst of a pandemic.”
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: Trump uses Defense Production Act to make ventilators
- DNC confirms nominating convention postponed
- 6.65 million filed for US unemployment last week
- US facing hunger crisis as demand for food banks soars
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The president was tested this morning, according to the White House physician.
True paper statement from the White House, passed out to reporters in the briefing room just now. pic.twitter.com/K0SVhLAk1X
LIVE: Press Briefing with Coronavirus Task Force https://t.co/L80j4W1c8O
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: Donald Trump predicts ‘a very, very painful two weeks’
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Dr. Fauci said “I believe we acted early,” in response to a question about whether the US could have done more, earlier. But he conceded that earlier action could have helped.
Dr. Birx, as well, evaded the question, asserting that it remains to be seen whether the disease was spreading through the US in February or earlier.
Fact check: Hydroxychloroquine cure
Trump once again touted hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus cure, asserting that it won’t kill people because it has already been used to treat other conditions. But the drug can have serious side effects even when it is used as recommended, to treat malaria, as well as lupus and arthritis.
Continue reading...#WhereIsJoe: Biden campaign tries to stay relevant amid coronavirus
The Democratic frontrunner faces an unprecedented political challenge as he seeks traction while working from home
Video conferences from a basement, glitchy internet and bouts of restlessness. Joe Biden, like the rest of America, is working from home.
The former vice-president’s confinement began abruptly on 10 March, when he touched down in Cleveland for a primary-night campaign event only to learn that the state’s governor had called for all major indoor events to be canceled as the nation slowly grasped the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic.
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: House passes $2.2tn economic stimulus package
- Trump on requests for ventilators: ‘I don’t believe you need 30,000’
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- Did a New York Times article inspire Trump’s ‘back to work’ plan?
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Donald Trump will be signing the stimulus package at 4pm this afternoon.
Will be signing the CARE Act in the Oval Office today at 4:00 P.M. Eastern! https://t.co/0WnTNFZPZD
Donald Trump just released an ad called “Hope” that uses sound bytes from various public figures that make it appear they are praising the president for his efforts combating Covid-19.
Reposting - the president, who has accused Democrats of politicizing the coronavirus, is out with an ad using various public statements in misleading ways to highlight his response https://t.co/QwrG5AivMY
Continue reading...Coronavirus US live: US now has more cases than any other country – as it happened
- US now has 82,404 confirmed cases, according to tracker
- New York governor rails at Congress for lack of aid
- After surviving Katrina, New Orleans battles Covid-19
- Record 3.3 million Americans file for unemployment
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The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports:
California’s homeless census was already troubled. Covid-19 is making it impossible.
Related: California's homeless census was already troubled. Covid-19 is making it impossible
Continue reading...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
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- Panic-buying disrupts food distribution
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The death toll in New York City is now approaching 100. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city on Monday was 12,339 with 99 deaths. There are just over 20,000 confirmed cases in New York state as a whole and 157 deaths. For context, there are around 41,200 confirmed cases in the entire United States.
The State Department says it is trying to help around 13,500 US citizens who wish to return home from abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. An official told reporters on Monday that the department is looking at chartering planes to repatriate Americans abroad, and priority would be given to those in need. “If we have somebody who is 70 years old with an underlying condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, that person is going to get a higher priority on one of those flights, than the hale and hearty 20 year old,” the official said.
Continue reading...Bernie Sanders reassesses campaign after Biden builds formidable lead
The Vermont senator’s presidential campaign has seen little but bad news recently as it admits ‘losing the battle over electability’
The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders got thumped in the latest round of Democratic presidential primary contests and, once again, Sanders and his team are reassessing their path forward.
It’s becoming a familiar cycle: former vice-president Joe Biden beats Sanders, the darling of progressive grassroots voters; the Sanders campaign concedes the situation isn’t ideal, and spends some time reassessing. That’s what happened earlier this month after the Super Tuesday contests on 3 March, and this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Continue reading...Sanders to ‘assess campaign’ after Biden sweeps to victory amid coronavirus crisis – live updates
- Biden sweeps key primaries
- Sanders pressured to exit in push for unity against virus and Trump
- Closures and confusion as US voters go to the polls
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- See all our coronavirus coverage
News of Bernie Sanders assessing his campaign comes after Joe Biden made an overture to Sanders supporters last night.
In a video following Biden’s wins, Biden said he and Sanders shared common goals on regarding healthcare, inequality and the climate crisis.
“So let me say especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders, I hear you. I know what to stake, [...]
I know what we have to do. Our goal is as a campaign, and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify this party, and then to unify the nation.
The Sanders’s campaign has just issued the following statement via campaign manager Faiz Shakir:
The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with his supporters to assess his campaign. In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people the most vulnerable
Continue reading...Sanders pressured to exit in push for unity against twin threats: virus and Trump
Joe Biden’s latest string of victories prompts renewed calls for senator to call it quits for the national good
For more than three years it seemed impossible to millions of Americans that anything could be more important than voting for an alternative to Donald Trump.
Yet right now the US president is no longer seen as the most pressing threat to national security. The coronavirus crisis has temporarily turned the US presidential election into a sideshow.
Continue reading...Biden wins Florida and Illinois primaries as he edges towards Democratic nomination – live
- Polling places in Illinois stay open late due to long lines
- Trump secures Republican nomination after winning Florida and Illinois
- Democratic primaries results – follow the votes
- Democratic primary delegate count – latest
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Bernie Sanders is not currently winning a single Florida county, underscoring the scale of Joe Biden’s victory there.
Bernie Sanders got crushed in Florida in 2016, but he still managed to win 9 counties and get 33% of the vote.
Now looks like he's not going to win single county and is just shy of 23%. pic.twitter.com/E5a4iNMKLM
Joe Biden will soon start delivering a primary-night speech after winning Florida and Illinois. (Watch his remarks here.)
Biden is hoping to pull off a sweep tonight once Arizona’s polls close in about 45 minutes.
Continue reading...Three Democratic primaries due but Ohio cancelled amid coronavirus crisis – live updates
Florida, Illinois, Arizona go to polls against backdrop of emergency measures and disruption that have cancelled Ohio primary
- US states improvise coronavirus rules in absence of federal leadership
- Joe Biden poised for another successful night
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It was an unprecedented move to cancel the Ohio primaries at the 11th hour due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine failed to get a judge to halt the primary Monday evening, even though he contended the election results wouldn’t be viewed as legitimate in light of the pandemic.
“Democrats now must to find a way to complete this primary given the uncertainty of when each state is going to vote and whether we’re even going to be able to have a convention in July.”
That was veteran Democratic consultant Simon Rosenberg yesterday reflecting the reality that the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak in the US is now so severe that there’s a real possibility that Democrats will have to rearrange their whole plan for nominating a challenger to Donald Trump.
Related: Three states hold primaries as coronavirus upends 2020 election
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Utah senator Mitt Romney appeared to endorse a key component of Democratic presidential platforms Monday: a living wage - if only temporarily.
NEW from @MittRomney:
“Every American adult should immediately receive $1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy.”
Thank you Andrew Yang.
But...but...socialism!
Here’s what you may have missed in the rush:
Continue reading...Biden and Sanders bump elbows in ‘hands-off’ Democratic debate – video
Democratic president candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders faced off in TV studio without an audience on Sunday night. The two stood far apart and bumped elbows instead of shaking hands in a nod to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Sanders said the first thing he would do to tackle the crisis is ' shut this president up right now because he is undermining the doctors and scientists who are trying to help the American people'. Biden drew on his experience tackling the Ebola crisis and emphasised the importance of listening to the experts. Biden also said he would pick a woman as his running mate.
Continue reading...Tony Blair: nominating Bernie Sanders would be ‘an enormous gamble’
- Former PM doubts ‘appetite for socialist revolution’
- Debate: ‘Sledgehammer on Trump, scalpel on Sanders’
Tony Blair has warned Democrats in the US that nominating Bernie Sanders to face Donald Trump for the presidency would be “an enormous gamble”, risking defeat on a similar scale to that suffered by the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.
Related: How Bernie Sanders went from frontrunner to the last-chance saloon
Continue reading...‘Sledgehammer on Trump, scalpel on Sanders’: Biden approaches key debate
The coronavirus pandemic has shifted Sunday’s Democratic debate behind closed doors – but it is still hugely important
Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will square off in the 11th Democratic debate on Sunday night, in a contest moved from Arizona to Washington DC and held without a live audience due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Related: Can Democrats unite the party in time for November's election?
Continue reading...Trump says he takes ‘no responsibility’ for coronavirus failures as he declares national emergency – live
- Declaring emergency allows easier flow of federal aid
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Nearly 19,000 schools have or will close across the US, affecting more than 8.1m students and counting, according to Education Week, one of the few outlets tracking school closures nationally. There are roughly 76 million students in US schools.
That number will likely rise as coronavirus spreads to Midwest and rural areas of the country.
Update: At least 18,700 schools have closed or will close, affecting at least 8.1 million students, due to #coronavirus, as of today at 11 a.m. (Some of those schools have reopened.)
Six governors have ordered or asked schools to close; via @educationweek https://t.co/0U0CPCCyYm pic.twitter.com/yn5wwSvHVv
Hours before the House was scheduled to vote on a package that would provide assistance those affected by the coronavirus outbreak, President Trump criticized the proposal, throwing a compromise into question.
“We don’t think they’re giving enough,” Trump said, referring to Democrats during a midday press conference from the Rose Garden. “They’re not doing what’s right for the country.”