The Hill Articles: March 18, 2020

House lawmakers look to tamp down panic, amp up response efforts in their districts Scalise to self-quarantine in response to Diaz-Balart test Walmart joins group of retailers reducing hours, adding special shopping time for seniors De Blasio calls on Trump to deploy military to set up hospitals in New York Utah Democrat becomes second lawmaker to test positive for coronavirus Colorado county issues shelter-in-place order Hillicon Valley: Facebook launches portal for coronavirus information | EU sees spike in Russian misinformation on outbreak | Senate Dem bill would encourage mail-in voting | Lawmakers question safety of Google virus website ICE pausing most immigration enforcement during coronavirus crisis We need a massive economic response to counter the threat of the coronavirus USDA will appeal order blocking it from purging food stamp recipients Trump signs coronavirus aid package with paid sick leave, free testing The Memo: Trump tests limits of fiery attacks during crisis President Trump calls on us to follow traditions and protect fellow citizens Textron to furlough 7,000 workers as aviation industry takes hit from coronavirus Movie theaters ask for bailout after closing during coronavirus crisis Video of spring breakers saying coronavirus won’t ‘stop me from partying’ sparks viral condemnation 3 keys to mitigating severe supply shortages from coronavirus disruption Overnight Health Care: Senate passes coronavirus aid bill, sending it to Trump | First lawmaker tests positive for coronavirus | Trump invokes defense law to boost response | Lawmakers push for surprise medical bill fix in package Kudlow says GM CEO offers to make ventilators in shuttered auto factories Public health requires temporary universal basic income Florida Republican becomes first lawmaker to test positive for coronavirus On The Money: Senate sends coronavirus aid package to Trump | Lawmakers race to draft next stimulus | Stocks close with steep loses | Treasury offers guidance on deferring tax payments Iran sees biggest single-day increase in coronavirus fatalities Sanders when asked about timeframe for 2020 decision: ‘I’m dealing with a f—ing global crisis’ Overnight Energy: EPA faces possible coronavirus outbreaks at multiple offices | Oil prices lowest since 2003 | Park service waives entrance fees during outbreak Biden holds sizable lead in new Hill/HarrisX 2020 poll GOP chairwoman negative for COVID War in the time of coronavirus Overnight Defense: Navy hospital ship deploying to New York | Trump invokes defense law to boost coronavirus response | Air Force moves 500K virus test swabs to US 15 things to know today about coronavirus 200 patients and workers at Wisconsin children’s hospital being tested for coronavirus after doctor tests positive: report The bad record of this national crisis Democrats introduce bill to promote mail-in voting amid coronavirus crisis Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus McConnell takes reins of third coronavirus bill House panel demands explanations from travel insurance firms not covering coronavirus cancellations GOP embraces big stimulus after years of decrying it What America’s Thinking: March 18, 2020 Florida health official fears coronavirus cases in 19 long-term care facilities: report Town hall reveals stark choice for Pennsylvania voters in 2020 EPA sued for allegedly violating laws for approving new chemicals White House partners with media companies for coronavirus public awareness campaign Senate Republicans eye $75K income threshold for coronavirus checks New York Stock Exchange shuts trading floor amid coronavirus, switches to electronic trades Trump to nominate Russell Vought as budget chief CDC analysis shows coronavirus poses serious risk for younger people EPA faces possible coronavirus outbreaks at multiple offices Trump campaign spokesperson: Biden embracing ‘Bernie Sanders agenda’ Russia using coronavirus fears to spread misinformation in Western countries House Republicans oppose remote voting during crisis The Hill’s Campaign Report: Campaigns scale back amid coronavirus threat Democratic senators press Google over privacy of coronavirus screening site COVID-19 poses an unequal risk of isolation and loneliness Warren asks CDC director to clarify agency authority over free COVID-19 testing and treatment State warns foreigners ‘attacked’ in Ethiopia over coronavirus fears Japanese flu drug reportedly shows promise against coronavirus in clinical trials Louisiana church defies coronavirus recommendations to hold service for 300 Chamber calls on Trump to designate ‘essential businesses and services’ during crisis WHO announces global trial to study coronavirus treatments Fox News tweets for first time since 2018 In ‘coronapocalypse’ the worst shortages could be deadly Largest mall group announces closure of all properties due to coronavirus Congressional testimony on pause for White House officials handling coronavirus response Baltimore to stop prosecuting some nonviolent charges amid coronavirus outbreak Florida governor refuses to close beaches as coronavirus cases rise Germany closing its borders to travelers from EU Stocks close with steep losses as coronavirus crash threatens ‘Trump bump’ Senate passes House’s coronavirus aid bill, sending it to Trump Idaho bill barring transgender changes to birth certificates heads to governor Axios issues apology after incorrectly reporting Sanders suspended his 2020 campaign CDC: 80 percent of US coronavirus deaths are people 65 and older NASA data reveals Greenland lost 600B tons of ice last summer What other cities can learn from coronavirus US ground zero, Seattle Don’t let China turn the Wuhan virus narrative to its advantage Lawmakers pushing to include surprise medical billing in coronavirus package Facebook launching coronavirus info portal Tuesday primary turnout slumps amid coronavirus anxiety FDIC: Deposits safe amid coronavirus crisis Ventilators in short supply, will be increased by Defense Production Act IRS releases guidance on deferring tax payments due to coronavirus Weld drops out of GOP primary US health official warns millennials coronavirus could be serious for them, too Louisiana governor says shelter in place order ‘may be necessary’ for some areas At least 50 DC firefighters self-quarantined after one tests positive for coronavirus: report National Park Service suspends park entrance fees amid coronavirus outbreak As Italy quarantines over coronavirus, misleading reports of swans and dolphins in Venice canals go viral National Park Service waives entrance fees during coronavirus outbreak Air Force moves 500K coronavirus test swabs from Italy to US St. Paddy’s primaries were Bernie’s Waterloo Kellyanne Conway says it’s ‘highly offensive’ to refer to coronavirus as ‘kung flu’ UK schools to close starting Friday Top health official pushes back against theory that ibuprofen worsens coronavirus Census Bureau to suspend field operations until April 1 Meghan McCain invokes father in call to self-isolate, asks public to ‘be selfless’ McSally campaign to suspend TV ads, canvassing amid pandemic People convert book-sharing libraries into mini food banks during coronavirus Vote at home saves our democracy and saves lives Southern Poverty Law Center reports uptick in white nationalist groups, warns of violence Officials preparing public for long-term disruption Merkel calls coronavirus biggest challenge for Germany since end of WWII Italy reports 475 coronavirus deaths in one day, cases top 35,000 Detroit automakers to close down factories Working poor will suffer the worst health and economic effects of COVID-19 Poll: Americans view coronavirus outbreak as more of a threat to economy rather than their own health 70 percent of Americans believe media is doing well covering the coronavirus Trump, GOP ‘dog whistle’ over coronavirus inflames anti-Chinese rhetoric online: analysis Democrats call for pollution reduction requirements in any aid for airlines, cruises Poll: Biden leads Sanders by 44 points in Georgia Senate GOP expects vote on third coronavirus package next week US Conference of Mayors requests $250B in localized aid to fight coronavirus Former prosecutor sues Netflix, claiming series portrayed her as ‘mastermind behind a racist plot’ Whoopi Goldberg joins ‘The View’ from home as social distancing on TV becomes new normal First NHL player diagnosed with coronavirus Retail industry calls for federal loans to sustain it through coronavirus Congress needs to prod the IRS to capture carbon Hillary Clinton: Trump using ‘racist’ rhetoric to distract from failures ACLU calls on Justice Department, Bureau of Prisons to release inmates vulnerable to coronavirus Senate GOP racing the clock to draft stimulus package Trump administration advises delaying all ‘nonessential’ medical procedures Senator calls for cybersecurity review at health agencies after hacking incident VA secretary confirms first veteran death due to coronavirus Liquor company Pernod Ricard USA to make and donate hand sanitizer Business group says drop in CEO optimism likely worst since Great Recession Italian volunteers 3D print expensive life-saving coronavirus equipment for about $1 Trump: Wealthy shouldn’t get special access to coronavirus tests, but ‘that’s been the story of life’ Navy officer sues Pentagon over transgender military ban Trump likens himself to a wartime president amid coronavirus pandemic Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival postponed to September Navy hospital ship deploying to New York to help with coronavirus crisis Trump defends calling COVID-19 a ‘Chinese virus’ Texas governor calls for May local elections to be postponed COVID-19: Why America prevails in the ‘clash of civilizations’ ‘Sing across rooftops’: Bono performs new song dedicated to Italy amid coronavirus outbreak The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump invokes defense law to bolster coronavirus response Cuomo orders businesses to limit number of employees in workplaces Dow erases all gains made since Trump took office New study estimates 86 percent of coronavirus infections in China went undiagnosed prior to travel ban Rethinking wealth in the age of coronavirus Trump orders HUD to suspend evictions and foreclosures Asian Development Bank to give $6.5 billion to developing member countries for coronavirus response Trump invokes Defense Production Act as coronavirus response Chrissy Teigen: Melania Trump failing to ‘be best’ amid coronavirus Restaurant industry estimates $225B in losses from coronavirus Community and connection are essential for coping in the time of corona Former FDA commissioner mulls mask requirements for some age groups in public FBI slowing down public record requests due to coronavirus Mnuchin: We won’t let unemployment get to 20 percent Alabama postpones March 31 GOP Senate runoff The 80/20 solution is what we need now Charities seek $60B in stimulus funding due to coronavirus Anti-gay GOP lawmaker voted against coronavirus bill because it ‘redefined family’ Multiple attendees at LGBTQ festival in Miami test positive for coronavirus McConnell lengthening votes, encouraging social distancing amid coronavirus New study finds coronavirus can survive in air for hours, on surfaces for days Warren joins calls for Trump to mobilize Army Corp of Engineers Eurovision canceled due to coronavirus US slaps new sanctions on Iran amid renewed rocket attacks in Iraq Biden has broken all the ‘rules’ of presidential primaries Utah hit with its strongest earthquake since 1992 People with food allergies face extra risk during coronavirus pandemic Netflix ‘Party’ extension helps self-isolation feel less lonely Brad Paisley delivering free groceries to Nashville’s elderly amid coronavirus Watch live: White House coronavirus task force holds press briefing Travel bans can’t stop this pandemic Trump taps new director for National Counterterrorism Center Rising: March 18, 2020 Iranian president defends virus response: ‘We spoke to people in a honest way’ Norwegians face fines of $2K for ignoring quarantine Tom Hanks in isolation: ‘No fever but the blahs’ New Jersey woman charged with falsely telling police she had coronavirus Memo to Bernie Sanders: Turn on, tune in, drop out ‘Today’ show’s Savannah Guthrie to work from home amid coronavirus pandemic Italy will rush 10,000 student doctors into service, scrapping final exams Five arrested for stealing 100K surgical masks at gunpoint in Ukraine Google to limit federal access to location data as it fights coronavirus Manchin calls West Virginia unprepared: ‘People think we’re immune from this’ Trump says US, Canada to close border to ‘non-essential traffic’ amid coronavirus Stocks nosedive as questions linger about coronavirus stimulus Coronavirus wake-up call: A bigger national security threat is at work Trump predicts Sanders will ‘soon’ drop out of Democratic primary contest Target cutting store hours to allow extra time for cleaning, restocking CNN’s Tapper to people defying social distancing: ‘Who the hell are you?’ NY MTA seeks $4B federal bailout Oil prices lowest since 2003 Coronavirus’s first political fatality: Sanders — too soon to tell for Trump US home supply retailer accused of illegally raising prices on masks, bleach amidst coronavirus pandemic Sanders to ‘assess his campaign’ after Tuesday losses Confirmed coronavirus cases top 200,000 worldwide China defends expulsion of journalists, warns more possible ‘Human biosecurity emergency’ declared in Australia White House postpones state visit for king and queen of Spain Don’t wait till it’s too late — the coronavirus view of an American expat in Italy WHO: Mideast nations need to communicate more about virus Is there a right to anonymity for coronavirus carriers in America? US embassies suspending visa services in countries with travel warnings US immigration offices temporarily closing over coronavirus Thank you, Jerome Powell Trump promises help for Americans out of work because of virus WHO spokesman says agency had no talks with CDC about providing tests Presidential do’s and don’ts during natural disasters The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden wins big; will Bernie drop out? The Memo: Biden subdues Sanders amid virus upheaval GOP divided on next steps for massive stimulus package Fauci successfully walks tightrope with Trump Mexico under international criticism for coronavirus response How campaigns are adapting to coronavirus Trump admin to begin turning back all undocumented immigrants, asylum-seekers at borders: report US, Canada preparing to unveil border restrictions: reports Dan Lipinski defeated in Illinois House primary Five takeaways from Tuesday’s primary night Four US banks are the world’s largest fossil fuel financers: analysis