Thursday News: “Trump’s Blame Game”; “Captain Trump hits the rocks”; “Trump’s big show of opening the economy will hide the real story”; “Barack Obama reminds us how normal presidents sound”; “Northam Says COVID-19 Imposes a ‘New Normal'”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise (e.g., COVID-19), for Thursday, April 16.

• 8 ways Trump trashed US relationships with allies around the world
• W.H.O., Now Trump’s Scapegoat, Warned About Coronavirus Early and Often (“The World Health Organization, always cautious, acted more forcefully and faster than many national governments. But President Trump has decided to cut off U.S. funding to the organization.”)
• Trump Administration Officials Warned Against Halting Funding to WHO, Leaked Memo Shows
• Trump’s Deadly Search for a Scapegoat (“If the president had listened to the World Health Organization, American lives would have been saved.”)
• Trump’s ugly new blame-shifting scam spotlights his own failures
• Spain Cases Rise; Trump to Unveil Reopening Plans: Virus Update
• How the Russian-Saudi Oil War Went Awry—for Putin Most of All
• Coronavirus live news: Trump casts doubt on China death toll as IMF issues Asia warning (“Cases pass 2 million; WHO chief hopes US will remain a ‘friend’; almost 700 test positive on French aircraft carrier.”)
• Coronavirus UK live: Lockdown to be extended as as minister warns no return to normal without vaccine
• Explainer: Why are some South Koreans who recovered from the coronavirus testing positive again? (“Although re-infection would be the most concerning scenario because of its implications for developing immunity in a population, both the KCDC and many experts say this is unlikely.”)
• Europe can be 60% powered by solar before 2050 (“A study by Solarpower Europe and LUT: Three different cases for the transformation of the European energy system were examined in this study. The more ambitious scenario with 100% renewable energy and a high proportion of PV might be cheaper than less ambitious paths to a green Europe.”)
• Shell Targets Power and Renewables Growth for New Net-Zero Push (“Renewable investments to be advanced as company becomes the second of oil’s supermajors to target net-zero status by 2050.”)
• Trump fans flames of Chinese lab coronavirus theory during daily briefing
• US explores possibility that coronavirus started in Chinese lab, not a market (“The theory is one of multiple being pursued by investigators as they attempt to determine the origin of the coronavirus that has resulted in a pandemic and killed hundreds of thousands. The US does not believe the virus was associated with bioweapons research, and officials noted that the intelligence community is also exploring a range of other theories regarding the origination of the virus, as would typically be the case for high-profile incidents, according to an intelligence source.”)
• Donald Trump Is Treating His Decision to “Reopen” the Country Like Reality TV (In November, we all need to say, “YOU’RE FIRED!”)
• Trump’s Coronavirus Claims Collapse When Met by Limits on Powers
• Trump denied he wanted his name on stimulus checks. Here’s how it happened.
• Fact check: Trump repeats false claim he has power over state coronavirus restrictions, threatens to shut down Congress
• Pelosi calls Trump’s name appearing on stimulus checks ‘shameful’
• Barack Obama reminds us how normal presidents sound
• White House snubs Azar, installs Trump loyalist Michael Caputo as HHS spokesperson
• Trump’s inaction has a staggering toll (“His legacy: Unnecessary deaths and economic turmoil.”)
• Trump is predicting a rapid economic recovery. Experts say it’s not likely. (“The impact of the pandemic on business and employment will probably be felt for years, according to multiple economists.”)
• Governors are leading, while Trump is faking it (“The president reminds us daily why we are grateful for our governors.”)
• Trump’s big show of opening the economy will hide the real story (“Multiple governors said Wednesday that their states are nowhere near opening, with some warning their coronavirus cases had yet to peak…The fact that it is constitutionally superfluous for Trump to authorize states to open up suggests his real intent is an election-year political device that positions him as leading the resurgence and those who oppose him as laggards holding America back.”)
• Trump threatens to adjourn Congress to get his nominees but likely would be impeded by Senate rules
• Captain Trump hits the rocks
• Ignoring Scientists’ Advice, Trump’s EPA Rejects Stricter Air Quality Standard (“The decision flies in the face of large-scale studies that indicated tightening the standard would save tens of thousands of lives.”)
• Testing Falls Woefully Short as Trump Seeks an End to Stay-at-Home Orders (“Flawed tests, scarce supplies and limited access to screening have hurt the U.S.’s ability to monitor Covid-19, governors and health officials warn.”)
• A Decade After the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Offshore Drilling Is Still Unsafe
• This is now Trump’s official policy: Deflect all the blame, steal all the credit
• Will the Supreme Court’s Federalist Society Five Abandon Their Devotion to…Federalism?
• Stephen Miller’s hardline policies on refugee families make a comeback at HHS (This guy is evil.)
• Progressive movement wary of Warren for VP after bitter clash with Sanders (“The left has no consensus choice for Biden’s No. 2 — a reflection of a movement without a clear leader after Sanders dropped out.”)
• Americans Trust The CDC On COVID-19. Trump, Not So Much.
• Trump’s ‘Opening Our Country Council’ Runs Into Its Own Opening Problems
• Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. to Issue New Social Guidelines as Jobless Figures Are Set to Soar (“Flaws in testing are hindering efforts to track the virus, adding to the risks of reopening the U.S. for business too quickly. Another dizzying jump in unemployment numbers is expected on Thursday.”)
• U.S. Unemployment Claims Likely Held at Record Levels
• Trump’s Coronavirus Economic Council Was a Disaster Before It Began
• Trump’s call with Wall Street didn’t go as planned
• Trump’s attempt to enlist businesses in reopening push gets off to rocky start
• Ivanka Trump, Disregarding Federal Guidelines, Travels to N.J. for Passover (Like father, like daughter.)
• The Country Could Use a First Lady. But Melania Trump Has Gone AWOL. (“Melania could be out there sewing masks, visiting caregivers, working at a food bank; whatever. That’s what first ladies do during crises. So where is she?”)
• As Coronavirus Rages, Republicans Still Don’t Have a Plan to Give Americans Health-Care Coverage
• What’s It Going To Take To End The Shutdown? 5 Keys To Containing Coronavirus (“1. Improve rapid testing…2. Massively upgrade contact tracing capacit…3. Create systems to isolate the sick and protect the vulnerable…4. Build up hospital capacity and the PPE supply chain…5. Zero in on effective treatments”)
• In coronavirus scramble for N95 masks, Trump administration pays premium to third-party vendors
• Navy May Reinstate Fired Captain to Command of Roosevelt
• Coronavirus Cases at D.C. Whole Foods Highlight Risks Facing Grocery Workers
• Attorney General Barr Refuses to Release 9/11 Documents to Families of the Victims
• Rescue Fund to Run Dry Today, Leaving Small Firms Shut Out
• New poll: Nearly half of frequent Fox viewers say COVID-19 death toll is inflated
• We’ve never backed a Democrat for president. But Trump must be defeated.
• Warren says she would agree to be Biden’s vice president
• What about the veep stakes? (“Three high profile contenders show their strengths.”)
• The anti-Trump coalition is forming. The left and right must join.
• Video, Transcript: Sen. Elizabeth Warren Endorses Joe Biden for President; Says “Empathy Matters…We’re All In This Together Now”
• Biden: People are dying while Trump is ‘having temper tantrums’
• Sara Gideon leapfrogs Susan Collins in fundraising ahead of 2020 US Senate race
• Lindsey Graham outraised by Democrat Jaime Harrison in SC’s record-setting Senate race
• Coronavirus could halt L.A. concerts, sporting events until 2021, Garcetti says
• After Anonymous Tip, 17 Bodies Are Found at Nursing Home Hit by Virus
• A caravan of angry Michiganders exposes the complicated politics of the coronavirus shutdown
• Florida Gov. DeSantis declared WWE an “essential service.” His explanation doesn’t make much sense.
• Michigan Protests Signal the Nonsense Is Coming
• Rep. Spanberger hosts telephone town hall on COVID-19’s impact on students, parents & teachers
• Judge grants Republicans extension to nominate Spanberger challenger
• AG Mark Herring Calls on EPA to Rescind Policy Limiting Enforcement of Federal Civil Enviro, Public Health Laws
• Governor Northam Announces $70 Million in New Funding to Expand Access to Child Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Live Video, Highlights: Gov. Ralph Northam’s Wednesday (4/15) Virginia COVID-19 Briefing
• Virginia House Democrats Applaud Their Landmark Legislation Becoming Law
• As Almost All Health Experts Urge Caution on COVID-19, Virginia Republicans Increasingly Push to Reopen the State (Sen. Amanda Chase (R) says Gov. Northam “setting it up” to keep state shut down through August, in part to keep people upset at new, progressive laws from “storm[ing] the Capitol”)
• Virginia GOP lawmaker claims social distancing is meant to silence conservatives (“State Sen. Amanda Chase thinks Gov. Ralph Northam will keep the state closed so protesters don’t storm the Capitol.”)
• Virginia’s new gun restrictions have been 13 years in the making
• Wednesday (4/15) Virginia Data on COVID-19 Finds +329 Cases (to 6,500), +70 Hospitalizations (to 1,048), +41 Deaths (to 195) From Yesterday
• Business shutdowns in D.C. area will extend into May
• Governor Northam Extends Business Closures for Two Weeks to May 8
• A Look at What to Expect from the General Assembly Next Week
• Virginia Democrats and Virtual Conventions: Potential Challenges Ahead
• How Virginia’s new gun laws will reduce intimate partner homicide
• Governor Northam Issues Call for Additional Volunteers to Meet COVID-19 Health Care Demand
• In Open Letter to Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran, 8 Commonwealth’s Attorneys Call for Safe Release of Incarcerated Youth Amid COVID-19
• Details of $27 million order for personal protective equipment still unavailable, more than a week after announcement
• Northam Says COVID-19 Imposes a ‘New Normal’ (Yep, no way to go back to the old normal as long as this virus is around.)
• Groups plan ‘Reopen Virginia’ protest at Virginia capitol (Not smart at all.)
• Regulators approve major electric rate increase for Old Dominion Power
• Fairfax Co. schools cancel online classes for the week for ‘necessary updates’ (“Amid widespread technical issues preventing students from accessing distance learning tools, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia announced Wednesday that all teacher-led instruction has been canceled for the week in order to make necessary updates. The school system and Blackboard, the county’s online learning provider, believe they have identified the root cause of the connectivity problems and that they involve a software issue.”)
• 30 staff members at Loudoun Co. senior living community stop working amid coronavirus concerns (“Loudoun County officials learned about the situation at Waltonwood at Ashburn on Tuesday night, and how the shortage has impacted the community’s memory care service.”)
• Editorial: On painful anniversary, signs of progress (“On a cold, blustery morning in Blacksburg 13 years ago today, a 23-year-old English major went to a residence hall and, hours later, a classroom building on the campus of Virginia Tech, opening fire in each location.”)
• Mill Mountain Zoo patches together funding to keep animals fed, healthy during pandemic closure
• UVa Medical Center staff create virus-battling robot
• A Richmond doctor’s dramatic story of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and survival
• Brisk sunshine today while clouds and showers return Friday