Category Archives: US Politics

Can Trump be trusted not to abuse his coronavirus emergency powers?

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Even the president’s critics have urged him to use the full power of the federal government to tackle the pandemic but experts warn of potential dangers

Standing in the Brady briefing room at the White House last week Donald Trump said that despite new restrictions on the number of journalists allowed in the room, there were still too many reporters around.

“You’re actually sitting too close,” the president told the journalists. “We should probably get rid of about another 75, 80% of you. I have just two or three that I like in this room.”

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Trump’s push to shorten the coronavirus shutdown proves the captain is flying blind | David Smith

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To watch Trump is to witness the awesome and terrifying power of the American president over life and death – a burden he is unqualified to bear

Due to social distancing, there were only two dozen or so reporters in the White House press briefing room on Monday, making it feel like a flight with numerous empty seats and lots of legroom.

But when Donald Trump let rip for nearly two hours, it was as if the captain had announced a sudden whim to land the plane on water while wearing a blindfold. We sat tight for an unnerving journey.

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Coronavirus US live: stimulus bill fails in Senate as experts urge Trump not to roll back social restrictions

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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.

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‘Invisible enemy’: Trump says he is ‘wartime president’ in coronavirus battle – video

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US president says the country is at war with coronavirus, while accusing China of not asking for help at the beginning of the crisis 'out of pride'. Trump also said the US economy will 'skyrocket' once the coronavirus outbreak is contained

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US coronavirus: Trump says national guard to be sent to New York, California and Washington – live

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The vice-president, Mike Pence, is speaking now. He says there is a “bipartisan” spirit to the fight against Covid-19 and it is a great credit to America. He says testing is becoming more widely available every day.

Peter Gaynor, the Fema administrator, speaks and emphasizes that the deployment of the National Guard does not mean martial law has been imposed in the three states where they will serve.

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Trump talks himself up as ‘wartime president’ to lead America through a crisis

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The president initially scoffed at the coronavirus. Now he seems convinced he can lead – and secure four more years in November

Bill Clinton used to lament that his time as US president was broadly peaceful, and lacked a historic test of his mettle. Donald Trump believes that his moment has arrived: a crisis on a par with leading a nation at war.

Related: Lay off those war metaphors, world leaders. You could be the next casualty… | Simon Tisdall

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A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump review: dispatches from a time before the virus

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David Plouffe went to the White House with Obama then predicted a Clinton victory. Has he learned from that reverse? Have we?

On Tuesday, Joe Biden and his juggernaut left Bernie Sanders’ dream in tatters. The former vice-president swept primaries in Arizona, Florida and Illinois. Fact: Sanders looks a lot less appealing without Hillary Clinton to kick around.

Related: MBS review: why Trump and the west took a pass on the Khashoggi killing

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Congress and White House resume talks on $1tn pandemic rescue deal

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Officials say the economic package could pump $2tn into the US economy which would provide paychecks and funds to hospitals

Negotiators from Congress and the White House resumed top-level talks Saturday on a ballooning $1tn-plus economic rescue package, urged by Donald Trump to strike a deal to steady a nation thoroughly upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

It was an extraordinary moment in Washington: Congress undertaking the most ambitious federal effort yet to shore up households and the US economy and a president angry and lashing out at all comers. All while the global outbreak and the nationwide shutdown grip an anxious, isolated population bracing for a healthcare crisis and looming recession.

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The US military would be superb at fighting coronavirus. Let’s use it | Ann Lee and Sean Penn

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After the 2010 Haitian earthquake, we saw the US military in action as a humanitarian force. They can do this

In 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti. In three minutes it killed more than 200,000 people and displaced two million more.

Our humanitarian aid organization, the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), was on the ground in Haiti. In Haiti – as well as on the front lines of other disasters, like Hurricane Florence in North Carolina and Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas just a few months ago – we saw how dangerous inaction and political paralysis can be, and how rapid mobilization saves lives. In a crisis, every minute – every second – counts.

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Strangely competent Mike Pence finds his 9/11 moment in coronavirus crisis

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Critics flagged up his anti-science background and questionable record as governor but the vice-president has won praise as the Covid-19 taskforce head

His past record made him seem an odd choice. He remains as servile to Donald Trump as ever. But Mike Pence, the US vice-president, is said to be having “a good war” against the coronavirus outbreak.

Related: Coronavirus travel updates: which countries have restrictions and FCO warnings in place?

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‘You’re a terrible reporter’: Trump throws tantrum over question about coronavirus fears – video

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Donald Trump has hit out at NBC's Peter Alexander after the reporter asked the president if he was being too positive about drugs and therapies that have not been clinically trialled to help with Covid-19. Trump defended his approach and said the journalist asked a 'nasty question', calling him a 'terrible reporter'. He also attacked NBC and Comcast

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US coronavirus news: Mexican border closed to non-essential travel as New York ordered to stay at home – live

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Here’s where the day stands so far:

Well, that was an eventful daily coronavirus briefing. Here are some of the highlights:

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US state department warns against all Americans leaving country amid pandemic – live

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Connecticut has become the latest state to announce it is moving its presidential primary, which was originally scheduled to take place on April 28.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said the primary would instead take place on June 2.

In coordination with other states and our Secretary of the State, and in an effort to carry out Democracy while keeping public health a top priority, I have decided to move our presidential primary to June 2nd. I will provide more information later today. #COVID19 #2020Primaries

The State Department’s Level 4 advisory on all international travel comes a week after the government issued a Level 3 advisory, which urged Americans to reconsider their travel plans.

A number of Americans are already trying to get back home from countries like Guatemala, which has implemented harsh restrictions on flights going into and out of the country.

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Coronavirus: Donald Trump steps up attacks on China and the media – video

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The US president has sought to deflect criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic by attacking China and the media over their coverage of it. Speaking at his daily taskforce briefing, Trump accused Beijing of suppressing early information about the spread of the virus in Wuhan, and the media of corruption. ‘They’re siding with China,’ he said. ‘It’s more than fake news; it’s corrupt news’

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Tulsi Gabbard quits 2020 Democratic presidential race

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Hawaii congresswoman who assembled eclectic group of supporters backs Joe Biden and thanks Bernie Sanders

The controversial Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has dropped out of the Democratic presidential race. She had been the last woman in the contest – albeit a very long shot from the start – after Elizabeth Warren decided to quit within two days of a poor showing on Super Tuesday.

Gabbard, who won two Democratic delegates, both in American Samoa, endorsed Joe Biden as she suspended her campaign, a surprise move given she was one of few Democrats in Congress to back Bernie Sanders in 2016.

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Trump keeps immigration courts open despite coronavirus risks

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With 58 courts still open, the prospect of courthouses acting as incubators and disseminators of the virus remains pronounced

The Trump administration is putting the health and potentially lives of thousands of federal judges, lawyers, court staff and undocumented immigrants and their families at risk by insisting that immigration courts remain open for the deportation hearings of detained immigrants, despite the threat of coronavirus.

On Wednesday the Department of Justice announced the temporary closure of 10 immigration courts in addition to the already shuttered location in Seattle. All deportation hearings relating to undocumented people who are not in custody have also been suspended.

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‘Not racist at all’: Donald Trump defends calling coronavirus the ‘Chinese virus’ – video

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The US president has dismissed accusations that his use of the term 'Chinese virus' to refer to the coronavirus is racist. Speaking at his daily coronavirus taskforce briefing, he said it was 'not racist at all. It comes from China; I want to be accurate.' The World Health Organization has advised against terms that link the virus to China to avoid stigmatisation 

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Bernie Sanders reassesses campaign after Biden builds formidable lead

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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.

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Sanders to ‘assess campaign’ after Biden sweeps to victory amid coronavirus crisis – live updates

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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

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Biden wins Florida and Illinois primaries as he edges towards Democratic nomination – live

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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.

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