COVID-19: Relief Package Passes Senate As Jobless Claims Break All Records

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Economy & Jobs & Deficit, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

636: Number of confirmed cases in the state of North Carolina12,910: Number of coronavirus tests conducted in the state2: Number of deaths related to the coronavirus in North Carolina 17: Cases in Forsyth County; zero deaths Winston-Salem will go into “stay at home” order beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. A full list of essential businesses, along with the full stay-at-home order … Read More

COVID-19: Cake Or Death?

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Economy & Jobs & Deficit, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

World as of 10 am: Spain’s coronavirus death toll overtook that of China on Wednesday, rising to 3,434 after 738 people died over the past 24 hours, the government said. The spiraling number of deaths came as Spain entered the 11th day of an unprecedented lockdown to try and rein in the COVID-19 epidemic that has now infected 47,610 people. Prince Charles has … Read More

COVID-19: Day 5

Ken AshfordCongress, Crime, Ebola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Political Scandals, Republicans, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

As of 12:30 pm: US cases are 14,322 (with 210 deaths). That’s quite a leap over yesterday’s 9,000 or so, but we are testing more. NC has 123 cases, zero deaths. Five cases in my county. Dow is down 200 points. Again, seems to be veering from huge changes. The biggest development — GOP scandal: Senator Richard M. Burr sold … Read More

COVID-19: St. Patty’s Day

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Right Wing and Inept Media, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

He’s at it early. I like how he thinks calling governors “failing” means “working very well with”. If you are wondering why Trump randomly attacked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, it’s because of this. https://t.co/NXLyhlPFJJ pic.twitter.com/aqBngtoDo0 — Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) March 17, 2020 It is also voting day in 4 state primaries, including Ohio and Arizona. Biden is expected to … Read More

In The Thick Of It: COVID-19 Days

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

We’re still part of a community even when we’re by ourselves. Stay home and stay positive. We're #AloneTogether pic.twitter.com/eBRBPBqIJw — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 16, 2020 Everything is cancelled. Schools, courts, public buildings… bars and restaurants are open, but few are going. Broadway shut down. And everybody is social distancing. I am remote working. First time doing that. Can’t … Read More

Trump Continues To Mislead On COVID-19; Markets Continue To Plummet

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

REPORTER: What was this Obama-era rule that you are blaming for the coronavirus testing problems? PENCE: “The last administration asserted FDA jurisdiction over testing, and the development of tests like this. The president changed that on Saturday.” pic.twitter.com/S3EOycBS6B — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 4, 2020 Um, does this sounds like Trump has moved testing oversight to an agency with less … Read More

What Do You Know? It’s Uncle Joe

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

The dominant question going into Super Tuesday was: Did Joe Biden’s sweeping victory in South Carolina come just in time, or was it too late? The answer is now clear. Biden all-but-swept Super Tuesday states, propelled by a tsunami of late-deciding voters. Last night’s lessons, in order of how clear they are: Mike Bloomberg has provided us a salutory lesson: you can’t just buy a … Read More

It’s Super-Duper-Tuesday!

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

A third of all pledged delegates in the Democratic presidential race will be doled out on Tuesday across 14 states — from California to Maine — in the single biggest day of the 2020 contest.So, what’s going to happen? California and Texas are the two biggest states voting today, and obviously, much focus is on them. Here in North Carolina, I already … Read More

COVID-19 Is Immune To Trump’s Lies And Bullying

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

So how does Trump handle the combination of the virus and the economic fallout from it? He can’t blame it on a political conspiracy, though he has flirted with the notion—suggesting at one point that the whole thing was a new Democratic “hoax” before denying he had said that. And there’s no enemy here to finger as the villain either. There’s no … Read More

Steyer Out Saturday; Buttigieg Out Last Night; Klobachar Out Just Now

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

Basically, the day before Super Tuesday, we’re down Biden, Sanders, Bloomber and Warren. But the knockout of Pete Buttigieg means perhaps the most. And this just in… Breaking: Pete Buttigieg plans to endorse Joe Biden — Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) March 2, 2020 People complain about the incompetence of the Democratic party, but at least they managed to thin the field … Read More

Coronavirus, In Pictures And Graphics

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Yup, prayer. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, told Fox News that Democrats “seemingly hope that it comes here, and kills millions of people so that they could end Donald Trump’s streak of winning.” No elected official, Democratic or otherwise, have said any such thing. Some Democrats — and some Republicans — have, however, been critical of the Trump administration’s … Read More

The Daily COVID-19: Downer and Downer

Ken AshfordEbola/Zika/COVID-19 Viruses, Economy & Jobs & Deficit, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

1) #Coronavirus now in 56 countries2) World Health Organization raises risk assessment to its highest level 3) Financial loss to Americans estimated at $4 trillion this week4) Silence on this from President today; econ advisor Kudlow thinks market oversold — West Wing Reports (edited by Paul Brandus) (@WestWingReport) February 28, 2020 At its low today, the Dow wiped out all … Read More