Today so far
- The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $ 1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic. Trump attacked the press for the second day in a row
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
New York and Illinois told residents to stay home except for essential activities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus
- . The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 53 million residents.
- The US-Mexico border is closing to all non- essential travel, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight. The Dow closed down (points,
- extending its weekly loss to 27%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the (financial crisis.)
- Senators are negotiating over the stimulus package, Which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell
- said he wants an “Agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $ 1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote.
- Senator Richard Burr called for a Senate ethics investigation into his recent stock trades.
during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s
- Peter Alexander,
Julia will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated
The Dow has closed down points, capping the worst week for the markets since the financial crisis.
Overall, the Dow’s weekly loss landed at 27% as investors’ fears about the economic fallout from coronavirus intensified.
Meanwhile, senators continue to negotiate over the stimulus package to bolster the economy through the crisis, a proposal that will likely end up costing more than $ 1 trillion.
For more analysis on the market drop, read the Guardian’s business live blog:
Illinois Governor
- J.B. Pritzker said essential services like grocery stores would remain open and urged residents to only buy the supplies they need, as many stores’ shelves go empty.
“Grocery stories, pharmacies, gas stations, these sources of fundamental supplies will continue to operate,” Pritzker said.
“There is no need to run out and hoard food, gas, or medicine. Buy what you need within reason. There is enough to go around as long as people do not hoard. ”
The “stay at home” order will take effect tomorrow evening and last until at least April 7.
4. (pm) EDT :
- have introduced legislation that would require every voter to be mailed a ballot.
The Brennan Center’s estimate review the many systems states would need to invest in to guarantee vote by mail. The center estimated it would cost between $ 72 and $ million to print a ballot for every American. It would cost between $ 592 million and $ 728 million to cover the cost of mailing and receiving mail-in ballots.
The estimate also lays out the costs of some of the technological upgrades to switch to voting by mail, including implementing ballot tracking ($ 4.2 million), and better mail-in ballot processing technology ($ 413 to $ 544 million).
4. (PM EDT 25:- The Trump Organization is feeling the effect of coronavirus as well, closing properties and cutting staff as the pandemic leaves hotels are empty.
The New York Times reports
In recent days, the Trump Organization cut staff from hotels in New York and Washington, halted new reservations at a hotel overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and closed golf courses in Los Angeles and the Miami area, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It also closed the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, which normally would be at a peak right now, with regular seasonal visits by Mr. Trump himself.
The cutbacks, expected to continue in coming days, were a last resort, a company executive said, as the priority had been keeping thousands of employees and contract workers on the job. The company has a portfolio of more than a dozen golf clubs and at least partially owns or operates five-star hotels in Chicago, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York, Vancouver and Washington, as well as Ireland and Scotland.
Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this month, meeting with Brazilian President
- Jair Bolsonaro.
- Two of the Brazilian president’s colleagues who accompanied him to Mar-a-Lago later tested positive for coronavirus.
(3.) (pm) (EDT) : 59- The closure of DC bars and restaurants will also extend until April , Mayor Muriel Bowser just announced.
The city had already shut down bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery, and that order will now last for at least another month.
Bowser said the city’s previous restrictions on mass gatherings would similarly be extended until at least April .
(3.) pm EDT 23:DC will keep its schools closed until April , Mayor
- Muriel Bowser announced at a press conference moments ago .
DC Public Schools (@ dcpublicschools)🚨UPDATE🚨
DCPS will be closed to all staff and students through Friday, April 32 to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID – 27 in our region. Classes will resume for all students on Monday, April 37. For more info please visit:
.
pic.twitter.com/NsgeUntaAx
(March) ,Bowser’s announcement comes just after DC recorded its first coronavirus-related death, a 89 – year-old man with underlying health conditions.
Mayor Muriel Bowser (@ MayorBowser) (1/3) It is with great sadness that we announce a tragic death and, on behalf of our residents, I share our love and condolences with the patient’s family and friends.
pic.twitter.com/fT1aNBP5zt
(March) , 7555
(3.) (PM) (EDT) :
Trump’s campaign launched its own attack on Joe Biden (after the Democratic candidate) criticized the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Most of what Biden says the government should do are things President Trump is already doing,” Trump’s campaign communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement.
“The President is leading an unprecedented mobilization of America against the coronavirus and all Joe Biden can offer is ineffective partisan sniping from the sidelines.”
Biden said in a campaign call with reporters that Trump’s response to the crisis had alternated between “over-promising and buck-passing.”
(3) (pm) EDT
: 15Joe Biden criticized Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in a campaign conference call with reporters.
The Democratic presidential candidate said he was “inspired” by how Americans have responded to the crisis but argued Trump has not met the moment.
“In times of crisis the American people deserve a president who tells them the truth and takes responsibility,” Biden said. “Unfortunately, President Trump has not been that president.”
Trump has come under repeated criticism for making statements or promises during White House briefings that later have to be corrected or clarified by other officials. Just moments ago , the Mexican foreign minister came out to say Trump’s statement that Mexico was suspending flights from Europe was false.
Biden gave Trump this advice: “Stop, stop stop. Stop swerving between over-promising and buck-passing. … Stop saying false things that make you sound like a hero. ”
The former vice president also promised he would be taking regular questions on-camera as the coronavirus crisis unfolds.
“I want to be in daily or at least significant contact with the American people and communicate what I would be doing and what I think we should be doing,” Biden said.
(2) pm EDT
23:
Three states are now ordering all residents to stay home except for essential activities: California, New York and Illinois.
The three states collectively have million residents, meaning roughly 1 in every 5 Americans is under an order to remain indoors right now .
Considering the rising number of coronavirus cases across the country, other states may likely soon follow suit.
4). (pm) (EDT) : Illinois issues ‘stay at home’ order
Illinois is ordering all residents to stay at home except for essential activities, mirroring the restrictions in New York and California.
The order will take effect tomorrow evening and will apply to all 21 million residents until at least April 7.
Illinois held its presidential primary on Tuesday, which raised concerns about exposing residents to coronavirus in order to cast their ballots.
Updated
4) (pm EDT :
The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports:
Guaranteeing that every American can cast a mail-in ballot this year would cost between $ 7523 million and $ 1.4 billion, according to a
from the Brennan Center for Justice.
The projection comes as many states are rushing
to expand vote-by-mail options amid the coronavirus outbreak. States have a wide range of rules on who can use an absentee ballot ( states require an excuse) and there is deep concern that unless states act urgently, Americans will have to choose between between risking their health and casting a ballot in November. Senators Ron Wyde (n
- and Amy Klobuchar
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the state has had its first death from coronavirus, as the number of cases across the country continues to climb.
DeWine said he was acquainted with the unnamed individual, who was “very well respected by everyone who knew him.”
On a more emotional note, the governor asked state residents to remember that every coronavirus death represents not a statistic but a person who was loved.
Governor Mike DeWine (@ GovMikeDeWine) When we hear about these deaths, most of the time we won’t know the individual. It will be another number, but we must remember that when we hear about a death, it was someone who was loved, someone who wanted to live longer. (March) ,
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