Our quote of the day comes from The Atlantic's David Frum, a onetime George W. Bush speechwriter. On Donald Trump and the coronavirus and how Trump continually makes the coronavirus crisis worse: "At every turn, President Trump’s policy to coronavirus has unfolded as if guided by one rule: How can I make this crisis worse? Presidents are not all-powerful, especially not … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: David Frum on Donald Trump and the Coronavirus
How big will the coronavirus epidemic be?
The Harvard historian Jill Lepore recounted recently in The New Yorker magazine that when democracies sink into crisis, the question “where are we going?” leaps to everyone’s mind as if we were waiting for a weather forecast to tell us how healthy our democracy was going to be tomorrow. Quoting Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce, Lepore writes that “political problems are not … [Read more...] about How big will the coronavirus epidemic be?
Coronavirus control measures aren’t pointless – just slowing down the pandemic could save millions of lives
The point is to make sure hospitals have space for those who get sick. Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision via Getty Images Matthew McQueen, University of Colorado Boulder Anywhere from 20% to 60% of the adults around the world may be infected with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19. That’s the estimate from leading … [Read more...] about Coronavirus control measures aren’t pointless – just slowing down the pandemic could save millions of lives
WHO declares coronavirus pandemic but Trump and world leaders are unprepared
[button link="#"] The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic from which no country is safe but President Donald Trump’s somber speech signaled that even the US is not prepared for combat on this unprecedented scale. "WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming … [Read more...] about WHO declares coronavirus pandemic but Trump and world leaders are unprepared
TRUMP AND CORONAVIRUS (Cartoon)
Trump announces travel ban from most of Europe: U.S. stock futures immediately tumble
Donald Trumps speech on the coronavirus was not the perfect speech. But will it help? Early signs aren't hopeful. Ever since President Harry Truman delivered the first televised speech from the Oval Office on Oct. 5, 1947, American Presidents have used the Oval Office speech as a speech that addressed a grave, serious, troubling, or exceptionally sad moment. It has been … [Read more...] about Trump announces travel ban from most of Europe: U.S. stock futures immediately tumble
THE RULE OF THE THIRTY TYRANTS
“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” - Socrates We have been here before. While it seems to so many that Donald Trump and his regime swept into power in 2016 through a crudely assembled catalogue of cheating, pandering, lying, stealing, and most prominently, through extortion - his triumph was, in truth, a pastiche … [Read more...] about THE RULE OF THE THIRTY TYRANTS
Coronavirus crisis now a pandemic, WHO declares
The World Health Organization declared the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic and expressed increasing alarm about mounting infections.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said Wednesday the WHO is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”“We … [Read more...] about Coronavirus crisis now a pandemic, WHO declares
Biden’s big night with moderates, African Americans and Baby Boomers
Vice President Joe Biden enters a campaign event in Columbus, Ohio on March 10. AP Photo/Paul Vernon Luke Perry, Utica College; Keisha N. Blain, University of Pittsburgh, and Matthew May, Boise State University Editor’s note: With the race for the Democratic nomination narrowed to two front-runners, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, six states went to the … [Read more...] about Biden’s big night with moderates, African Americans and Baby Boomers
How big will the coronavirus epidemic be? An epidemiologist updates his concerns
A security guard wears gloves while holding a basketball during halftime of an NBA game in Houston on March 5, 2020. The NBA has told players to avoid high-fiving fans and to avoid taking any item for autographs. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Maciej F. Boni, Pennsylvania State University The Harvard historian Jill Lepore recounted recently in The New … [Read more...] about How big will the coronavirus epidemic be? An epidemiologist updates his concerns
Where’s My Andrew Yang?
Nearly 12 years ago, the housing bubble burst, taking the economy down with it. Bear Stearns was out, and the Bear Market was in. Lehman Brothers shattered, and Treasury Secretary Henry Poulson told Americans that our spacious skies were falling. The presidential election campaign was in its autumnal swing, and the nominees were scheduled to hold their first debate. John … [Read more...] about Where’s My Andrew Yang?
Supply and Demand in the Plague Year
We're on the verge of financial panic: Nihar Kabinittal / ABC News: Dow sinks more than 2,000 points amid coronavirus uncertainty and plunging oil prices — Markets are teetering close to bear market territory. — Coronavirus fears and the steep sell-off in crude oil caused U.S. markets to continue their precipitous fall, with the Dow Jones Industrial … 'The sleep of … [Read more...] about Supply and Demand in the Plague Year
Corona Beer, Coronavirus and Related Disinformation
As coronavirus spreads around the globe and in the United States, so too are disinformation, rumors, bogus, ridiculous and just plain false claims spreading like wildfire. Qualifying as ridiculous is certainly the linking of Corona beer with the coronavirus. A recent survey found that “38% of American beer drinkers surveyed…said they wouldn't buy Corona ‘under any … [Read more...] about Corona Beer, Coronavirus and Related Disinformation
Markets tumble as Trump attacks media, political rivals and spreads misinformation on Twitter
From the days of the 2016 Republican nomination campaign, to the 2016 election to when Donald Trump took office there were always some who predicted he would grow in office. In his response to the coronavirus crisis and markets nose-diving there is now an established fact: While Donald Trump's waistline has grown in office, he hasn't. Trump unleashed a 13 tweet … [Read more...] about Markets tumble as Trump attacks media, political rivals and spreads misinformation on Twitter
Here Comes the Cavalry
Thank God! Our dear leader seems to agree that we have a problem with the Covid 19 virus and has placed one of America’s top virologists and infectious disease specialists in charge- Vice-President Michael Pence. With Pence’s scientific background and reservoir of knowledge, America can be sure that the pandemic of this new virus will soon be brought to heel. Though our Dear … [Read more...] about Here Comes the Cavalry
Asian markets collapse as virus spreads, oil prices crash
Hong Kong (AFP) - Equity markets collapsed Monday as the rapidly spreading coronavirus fans fears over the global economy, while a crash in oil prices added to the panic with energy firms taking a hammering.As the deadly disease claims more lives around the world, dealers are fleeing out of riskier assets and into safe havens, sending gold and the yen surging and pushing US … [Read more...] about Asian markets collapse as virus spreads, oil prices crash
What really works to keep coronavirus away? 4 questions answered by a public health professional
Duane Clark works to sanitize surfaces at the Avenue X subway station in New York City on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. AP Photo/Kevin Hagen Brian Labus, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Editor’s note: The World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has a higher fatality rate than the flu. As of March 4, … [Read more...] about What really works to keep coronavirus away? 4 questions answered by a public health professional
Believe It Or Not, Eisenhower Was More Conservative Than Senator Bernie Sanders
Since President Obama vowed to repeal the Bush tax cuts, there has been an increase in the ever-lasting clash over how much taxes the rich should pay. Obama was calling for taxes to be raised on the highest income bracket to be approximately 50 percent. Bill Maher defended this call for higher taxes, and pointed out that the taxes on the upper middle class bracket were actually … [Read more...] about Believe It Or Not, Eisenhower Was More Conservative Than Senator Bernie Sanders
Biden’s resurrection was unprecedented – and well-timed
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally in Los Angeles on Super Tuesday. Ronen Tivony/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Robert Shrum, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The dominant question going into Super Tuesday was: Did Joe Biden’s sweeping victory in … [Read more...] about Biden’s resurrection was unprecedented – and well-timed
Quarter of Italians on lockdown as virus sweeps globe
Rome (AFP) - A quarter of Italy's population was in lockdown Sunday as the government announced a spike in deaths and took drastic steps to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus sweeping the globe, while Iran recorded another 49 deaths and the national airline suspended flights to Europe. Italy's COVID-19 death count rose 133 inside 24 hours to 366, more than any other … [Read more...] about Quarter of Italians on lockdown as virus sweeps globe