Cabbage News Network Week #163

[kmusser]

Friday 3/6

• Mulvaney is out as DJT's chief of staff, congressman Mark Meadows is named his replacement (source).
  
• DJT holds press conference at CDC to spread misinformation about the U.S. state of preparedness, which is poor (source).

Monday 3/9

• DJT is busy golfing (source).
  
• Congress to get briefed on Russian manipulation going on in the current election (source).
  
• U.S. begins troop withdrawal in Afghanistan (source).
  
• So far administration has contradicted itself 14 times on coronavirus response (source).

Tuesday 3/10

• National Guard deployed in New York to assist in virus containment (source).
  
• Congress reaches deal on FISA reauthorization (source).
  
• DJT orders immigration courts to remove coronavirus warning materials (source).

Wednesday 3/11

• White House makes coronavirus deliberations classified, restricting access to public health info (source).
  
• GOP blocks bill guaranteeing sick leave for coronavirus victims (source).
  
• World Health Organization declares coronavirus a pandemic (source)
  
• State and local governments are starting to take drastic measures in fighting the virus (source).
  
• Administration officials thinking about maybe considering the coronavirus a serious threat and doing something about it (source).
  
• DJT bans air travel from the EU to the U.S. for 1 month (source).
  
• DJT mis-states own policies in television address, travel ban has lots of exemptions, does not include cargo, also insurance companies are not covering treatment for free (source, conservative source).
  
• Supreme Court okays "remain in mexico" policy for asylum seekers (source).

Thursday 3/12

• Dems put together plan for fighting Covid-19 (source).
  
• Fed offers $1.5 trillion in short-term loans to try and stabilize markets (source).
  
• Court blocks the expansion of logging in Tongass National Forest (source).
  
• U.S. conducts military strikes against militias in Iraq (source).
  

Friday 3/13

• Administration blocks states from using Medicaid money in coronavirus response (source).
  
• Travel restrictions list.
  
• After spending 3 years trying to discourage telework, administration of now suddenly in favor of it (source).
  
• More on preparations for Federal workers to go all telework (source).
  
• Deal on FISA legislation may fall through (source).

In news elsewhere

• You should be avoiding crowds/doing the social distancing thing now - long explanation of why that's the most effective way to fight Covid-19.
  
• How Hong Kong and Singapore beat Covid-19.
  
• Vladimir Putin is now president for life (source).
  
• Saudi Arabia and Russia are busy having a price war over oil which is hurting energy companies worldwide (source).

Map of the week

• Current status of Coronavirus pandemic

Legislative update

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • 1 minor bill
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • Resolution forbidding military action against Iran that had not been approved by Congress https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/sjres68
    
  • 7 new minor bills
    
  • 11 total pending bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • FISA reauthorization https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr6172
    
  • 5 minor bills
    
  • 420 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • 2 minor bills
    
  • 120 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk

Comments

[selki]

Grr on the removal of coronavirus info from immigration courts.
So Mulvaney is going to Northern Ireland -- does Trump have properties there? Hmm.

[dewline]

1. Agreed. That's one more wave of the cape to irritate civil rights-minded bulls and endanger fellow humans' lives. Not the first nor - I fear - the last such.

2. Yes, he does in Ireland itself. Also, I think the idea is to screw up the Good Friday Agreement somehow.

[selki]

They do love chaos.