April 7th: New York and New Jersey await their peak
Headlines
New York and New Jersey record one-day highs for deaths. NY Governor reports 731 deaths since Monday and New Jersey reports 232.
Fox News Is Preparing to Be Sued Over Coronavirus Misinformation.
African-Americans are suffering virus infections at disturbing rates,
Huge lines at Wisconsin polling places. Milwaukee went from 180 polling places to 5. Shoutout to my Aunt Betty for voting absentee!
Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic. Today Trump said he never saw the memo, but was circulated among many members of his staff. Said it didn’t matter since he “closed everything down early.”
NY Times reports that Trump has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.
Spain taking steps to institute Universal Basic Income to help citizens weather the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus. An intriguing idea promoted by Andrew Yang during his US presidential campaign.
As I contemplate the state of the world after the latest White House press conference, I try to focus on all the people banding together together.
It’s heartwarming to see efforts to help spring up all over the country. My best friend Nikki and her family own a smoothie business in Ohio and have raised money online that will go to making smoothies for local Dayton healthcare workers. Since their locations are inside local malls, they’ve been forced to close temporarily, so it’s wonderful they’re able to provide this for local workers.
Here in Berkeley, NY Times bestselling author Ayelet Waldman started the East Bay Feed ER project to deliver meals from local, independently owned restaurants to five East Bay hospitals. Jenny Schwarz of Hopscotch is organizing with other local restaurants who want to participate. Thus far they’ve raised $280,000 and delivered 2,000 meals.
Berkeley City Council approved $3 million for emergency relief grants to small businesses, nonprofit arts organizations, and residential tenants that are hardest hit by COVID-19 and the Berkeley Relief Fund was created in hopes that donations would match that amount.
On a larger scale, Jack Dorsey, chief executive of Twitter and Square, said that he plans to donate $1 billion to relief programs related to Coronavirus.
Voters line up at Riverside High School in Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 7
Photo by Morry Gash / AP
I must continue to focus on good news while I contemplate some remarks Trump made at the briefing today. He said he’d never seen a memo dated January 29th by his trade advisor Peter Navarro, but seemed completely unbothered by the fact he still hasn’t read it, nor that he failed to take earlier action.
When asked about the controversy surrounding the Wisconsin Primary, he declared that “mail ballots are corrupt,” that “there are forgeries in many cases,” and that no one cared about moving the election until he endorsed Justice Daniel Kelly for the state Supreme Court in WI.
The irony here is that he voted in the recent Florida primary via a mail-in ballot. When questioned, he proclaimed that it was fine for out of state voters like himself. I’m trying to make sense of his explanation - I guess he thinks it’s okay if you’re out of state and unable to vote in person, but otherwise terrible and corrupt? It’s confusing.
Favorite Politicians of the Day:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who declared the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy essential workers during this crisis.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for taking the virus seriously very early, and to the makers of this hilarious video showing DeWine and director of the Ohio Department of Health Dr. Amy Acton. It’s set to the Laverne & Shirley title song and credits.
Video Calls
Please enjoy these new conference call backgrounds, courtesy of HBO. I recommend the iron throne.
Issues with Zoom’s security have been uncovered as many have been “Zoombombing” into calls. This Forbes article gives tips on how to hold meetings securely, advising to password protect your meeting and to never share your meeting ID.