The Hill Articles: April 9, 2020

Insurance companies reduce premiums amid coronavirus outbreak Amazon developing lab to test workers for COVID-19 Steyer endorses Biden for president California sees first decrease in coronavirus ICU hospitalizations Louisiana state lawmaker dies of coronavirus CDC extends ‘no sail order’ for all cruise ships New York hires laborers to bury coronavirus victims on Hart Island potter’s field: report Kudlow slams senators who allegedly traded stock before pandemic Sanders says he wouldn’t ‘drop dead’ if Trump decided on universal healthcare Poor state reporting hampers pandemic fight Pelosi calls for investigation into reports of mistreatment of pregnant women in DHS custody State AGs highlight racial disparities in early coronavirus data Overnight Health Care: Trump officials lay groundwork for May reopening | Democrats ramp up talks with Mnuchin on next relief deal | Fauci says death toll could be around 60,000 Wisconsin highlights why states need a bipartisan plan that doesn’t include Democrats federalizing elections National Guard deployed to NJ veterans home that suffered 10 coronavirus deaths Obama warns group of mayors that the ‘biggest mistake’ is to ‘misinform’ during the pandemic Hillicon Valley: State officials push for more election funds | Coronavirus surveillance concerns ramp up pressure for privacy bill | Senators warned not to use Zoom | Agencies ask FCC to revoke China Telecom’s license Governors have the duty — and power — to protect the public Trump downplays need for widespread testing before reopening economy Sanders 2020 press secretary: Democratic leadership interested in ‘corporate status quo’ or ‘they’re planning to replace Joe’ Biden joins calls to release racial breakdowns of coronavirus cases, deaths Financial recovery and prevention of disasters must be inclusive Trump hits record approval in Fox News poll Federal judge rules some abortions in Texas can resume Pence reverses position barring coronavirus task force members from appearing on CNN: report State and local governments fighting coronavirus need our help now Overnight Defense: Sailor in ICU with coronavirus | Pentagon expects outbreaks on more ships | Rockets strike US bases in Afghanistan On The Money: Trump officials lay groundwork for May reopening | More than 6M file for jobless benefits | Fed launches $2T in economic relief | Dems, Mnuchin in talks over next aid deal Stacey Abrams: I would be ‘honored’ to be Biden’s running mate Senators, bipartisan state officials press Congress for more election funds What celebrities can learn from Ellen’s missteps during the coronavirus pandemic Pelosi defends push for mail-in voting: GOP ‘afraid’ to let people vote Pennsylvania’s pandemic response — a return to Prohibition What America’s Thinking: April 9, 2020 Bipartisan senators call on China to close all wet markets OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Tentative deal would slash global oil production by 10 percent| Democrat questions WH transparency in rollback of bedrock environmental law Tentative deal would slash global oil production by 10 percent White House reporter tests negative for coronavirus California county official: I don’t expect ‘any sports games until at least Thanksgiving’ Fox’s Hume slams Trump for ‘ridiculous tweet’: ‘Bragging, endlessly repeating himself’ Fox News host Jedediah Bila says she has coronavirus Congress must assure public health and democracy are secured this fall Kansas governor to sue lawmakers who overturned order limiting size of religious gatherings Yelp lays off 1,000 workers, furloughs more than 1,000 more Study warns of coronavirus resurgence if lockdowns eased too soon FDA warns Alex Jones to stop promoting false coronavirus cures Coronavirus mystery: Disease infects more women but kills more men Ocasio-Cortez calls for extending census period Two Democrats roll out bill to protect inspectors general from politically motivated firing 12 things to know about coronavirus for today In midst of COVID crisis, a special health care enrollment period would save lives 86-year-old woman dies after being shoved over breaking social distancing rules Marijuana lobby calls for relief from states Noah Centineo, other Netflix stars team up with Facebook to promote mental health during the coronavirus pandemic Fauci has ‘cautious optimism’ that efforts against the coronavirus are working The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden faces tough task of uniting Democrats Jennifer Stone from ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ says she’s now a nurse and ready to join the coronavirus ‘front lines’ Wife of imprisoned former congressman cites COVID-19 risk in plea to Trump for husband’s freedom Lessons from the climate and COVID-19 crises Trump hits back at WSJ over editorial criticizing focus of virus briefings Airline travel has dropped 96 percent amid coronavirus Sanders campaign adviser on what went right and what went wrong Pelosi rejects remote voting amid coronavirus scare – again Why telehealth is crucial in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic Executive agencies recommend FCC strip China Telecom of authorizations Stocks finish best four-day stretch since 1974 Sanders staffers will remain on campaign’s health care plan through fall COVID-19 is no excuse for Attorney General Barr to skirt the rule of law Coronavirus death toll surges in US, worldwide cases top 1.5 million Coronavirus surveillance concerns ramp up pressure to pass federal privacy law Coronavirus watch: Southern, Midwest states see spike in cases Joy Behar denies she’s retiring from ‘The View’ Postmaster General warns that Postal Service will run out of money by end of fiscal year without aid An Ellis Island lesson for the coronavirus era Coronavirus real estate crisis: Nearly a third of US apartment renters didn’t pay rent on time this month Cenk Uygur: Assumption progressives need to get excited about Biden is wrong Biden releases plans to expand Medicare, forgive student debt ‘Saturday Night Live’ will air remotely produced content this weekend Trump officials lay groundwork for May reopening The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former Trump advisor Bossert says to test the well, not ill; Senate standoff on next relief bill St. Louis health director: ‘All 12 COVID-19 deaths’ in St. Louis have been black Democrat questions WH transparency in rollback of bedrock environmental law Coronavirus Report: The Hill’s Steve Clemons interviews Tom Bossert Trump’s big gamble on an unproven pandemic drug Intercept chief: Sanders supporters think they can influence Biden Americans regard CDC, HHS highly during coronavirus pandemic: poll Coronavirus now leading cause of death in US McCarthy slams Democrats on funding for mail-in balloting US fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near Alaska More people are booking cruises for 2021 compared to 2019 despite coronavirus Nike is turning their sneakers into much-needed PPE in coronavirus relief effort China takes measures to contain coronavirus ‘silent carriers,’ prevent second wave Watch live: Coronavirus task force holds press briefing These changes could mobilize key medical personnel to fight a pandemic Tracy Morgan: ‘We’ve all got to pull together’ and stop blaming Trump on coronavirus White House to give coronavirus test to reporters attending daily briefing Sens. Booker, Gillibrand press Amazon for details over employee fired amid coronavirus walkout Pence bars coronavirus task force members from appearing on CNN: report China reclassifies dogs as pets instead of livestock ACLU sues to block Baltimore’s aerial surveillance program NIH begins clinical trial to test hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 Megan McCain knocks Trump over comments honoring POWs US coronavirus death toll hits 15,000 Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care Prosecutors deny allegations of withheld, fabricated evidence in college admissions case Maryland county councilmember proposes freezing rents at current prices Mexico’s suspicious interest in the US Census Pentagon expects coronavirus to hit more Navy ships after first outbreak One-third of county in Maryland worried about paying rent, says city council member Man charged after allegedly stealing boxes of masks from VA medical center in Reno Restaurant industry calls for changes to small-business loan program Harris, Ocasio-Cortez among Democrats calling for recurring direct payments in fourth coronavirus bill Italy reports 4,204 new cases of coronavirus Progressive immigrant voter organization endorses Biden Senate subcommittee chairman requests WHO director-general’s testimony Why the US must quit negotiating with Iran Trump’s IG firings prompt questions of whether more are coming NBA to pay players full checks April 15 despite no games in past month Bebe Winans says he, his brother and his mother had contracted the coronavirus Democrats ramp up talks with Mnuchin on next COVID-19 relief deal Pelosi digs in on next coronavirus bill: ‘We have made our statement’ Florida Republican becomes sixth member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus Why we need to transition, quickly, from fossil fuels to clean energy Alphabet’s drone delivery service takes off amid coronavirus woes Voting rights group pushes steps to protect voters during coronavirus pandemic Four news groups call on Congress for coronavirus relief for local media Bill O’Reilly: Many of those dying from coronavirus ‘were on their last legs anyway’ Liberty University police issue arrest warrants for NYT, ProPublica reporters The PPP won’t deliver the support small businesses need The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Senate deadlocked on relief measures Fauci: US death toll ‘looks more like 60,000’ than 100-200K estimate Senate ‘unlikely’ to return on April 20, top GOP senator says Cuomo warns New York can’t handle ‘worst-case scenario’ of coronavirus outbreak Senate Armed Services shelves ‘paper hearing’ plans DC mayor: All shoppers at grocery stores must wear masks Will independent government oversight die in this pandemic? Rural areas with vacation homes more susceptible to coronavirus outbreaks Pro-Trump group reserves $26.6 million in ad buys in Florida, North Carolina Unions push White House for more protective equipment for essential workers Masked UK activist handing out free coronavirus ‘essentials’: Weed, toilet paper, hand sanitizer Cuomo says New York’s new net hospitalizations hit low since coronavirus pandemic New York reaches highest number of single-day coronavirus deaths at 799 Melania Trump tweets photo of herself in a mask, encourages Americans to wear them in public ‘Drag Race’ teases first look at guest judge Ocasio-Cortez Randy Newman doesn’t want you to get coronavirus How to save the 2020 election Saudi Arabia, Russia strike deal to reduce oil production amid market tumult: reports Poll finds Biden with 11-point national lead on Trump Cabin fever? Worried about coronavirus? Solution: find a trail and get walking, running or biking Black Americans raising concerns about being profiled for wearing masks amid coronavirus Fauci: Recovered coronavirus patients will likely be immune if second wave hits in fall Border apprehensions drop during coronavirus pandemic Trump’s OPEC gambit exposes folly of Arctic drilling Georgia bar pays staff unemployed by coronavirus from dollar bills stapled to the walls MSNBC’s Chris Hayes ripped for suggesting initial death toll projections were inflated for Trump victory lap Senate sergeant at arms warns lawmakers against using Zoom: report Democratic super PAC launches ad targeting Trump’s ‘alternative facts’ on coronavirus Fed chair warns against ‘false start’ as Trump eyes May reopening of economy Kissinger’s post-pandemic world order and the demise of the Chinese Communist Party Energy chief Brouillette confident oil price drop will push production cuts Grandmother who went viral after inviting wrong teenager to Thanksgiving loses husband to coronavirus Georgia further delays primary election to June Senate blocks dueling coronavirus relief plans Roosevelt sailor with coronavirus admitted to intensive care Debrief — America needs a ‘ferociously bipartisan’ coronavirus commission Rising: April 9, 2020 People in India say they’re seeing the Himalayas for first time in decades amid drop in air pollution Watch live: New York Gov. Cuomo gives coronavirus updates Coronavirus could push half a billion people into poverty: report Here’s how you can get tested for COVID-19 150 members of the Saudi royal family have coronavirus: report CNBC’s Cramer: Fed moves, Fauci optimism ‘all preparation for a May opening’ of economy Boris Johnson making ‘steady progress’ as UK discusses lockdown extensions Mnuchin says he thinks US businesses could reopen in May Biden holds small lead over Trump nationally: poll Hydroxy hysteria: When saving lives collides with politics and bureaucracy Bill Gates: Government can’t ‘wave a wand’ and fix the economy to how it was Senate Democrats unveil $500 billion short-term coronavirus relief plan Markets jump on Fed’s $2.3 trillion program, despite 6.6M jobless claims Taiwan rejects WHO chief’s allegations of responsibility for racist attacks 103-year-old woman credits ‘courage’ and ‘faith’ in surviving coronavirus Ramadan gatherings may be banned in Iran, supreme leader says Democratic reps ask Trump not to issue region-specific social distancing guidelines Migrants’ rights and health must be protected in the face of COVID-19 Fed will finance up to $2T in new coronavirus relief targeting businesses, states New York coronavirus outbreak originated in Europe, studies show Talking drones issuing social distancing warnings in New Jersey More coronavirus patients testing positive again after recovery: report Bipartisan lawmakers call for global ‘wet markets’ ban amid coronavirus crisis COVID-19 shows why we need misdemeanor criminal justice reform GE workers protest at multiple sites in pitch to make ventilators More than 6 million file for jobless benefits as coronavirus layoffs wrack economy 5 critical factors needed to flatten the anxiety curve Guatemalan woman who gave birth in Border Patrol station says requests for help were ignored George Conway group rejects Trump claim of impeachment distraction in coronavirus response US ambassador to South Korea mulling exit: report As civil war rages, diplomacy fails with Libya’s Haftar Barr says ‘draconian’ lockdown measures should be reexamined by May Colorado Democrat: Shipment of ventilators to her state seems like favor to Gardner External headwinds for a US economic recovery Barr claims media ‘jihad’ against Trump over promotion of anti-malaria drug Rockets strike US base in Afghanistan The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden vs. Trump as Sanders exits race Coronavirus business booms for alcohol app Drizly Coronavirus double whammy: unemployed and uninsured Five problems banks face in getting coronavirus relief out the door The Memo: Sanders’s influence endures as campaign ends States move to protect prisoners from coronavirus outbreaks Pandemic sparks partisan brawl over voting by mail Easter, Passover, Ramadan come with coronavirus restrictions