From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano on Thursday slammed governors for issuing strict quarantine measures during the coronavirus pandemic, “crushing” Americans’ civil liberties in the process. Continue reading “Judge Napolitano blasts governors for ‘crushing civil liberties’ during coronavirus shutdown”
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was cutting off U.S. payments to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic, accusing the organization of failing to do enough to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China. Continue reading “Trump ends US aid to WHO, says not enough done to stop virus”
Patrons were caught on surveillance video streaming into an illegal San Francisco nightclub in early April in breach of tight restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Continue reading “People Stream Into Illegal San Francisco Nightclub During Coronavirus Shutdown”
At least 16 people were killed after tornadoes began ripping through the South on Easter, destroying homes and storefronts and leaving over 1 million people without power from an intense storm system now headed towards the Mid-Atlantic. Continue reading “At least 16 dead as dozens of tornadoes rip through the South”
Californian police say six people have been shot and injured at a “large” party despite the “stay at home” order in place in the US state. Continue reading “Six people shot at California house party during lockdown”
Faith-based organizations like churches and other houses of worship can be eligible to receive federally-funded, forgivable loans through the coronavirus stimulus package, authorities clarified this week.
And that includes payroll loans that could compensate ministers. Continue reading “Faith-based organizations eligible for SBA loans in coronavirus stimulus, officials say”
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Major U.S. lenders are preparing to become operators of oil and gas fields across the country for the first time in a generation to avoid losses on loans to energy companies that may go bankrupt, sources aware of the plans told Reuters. Continue reading “U.S. banks prepare to seize energy assets as shale boom goes bust”
New York Times – by Justin Wolfers
The jobless rate today is almost certainly higher than at any point since the Great Depression. We think it’s around 13 percent and rising at a speed unmatched in American history.
Continue reading “The Unemployment Rate Is Probably Around 13 Percent”
It’s the first day that America’s small businesses can apply for the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, i.e., the $350BN program that is part of the bigger $2 trillion bailout package designed to provide small businesses access to capital for payroll and other overhead costs to the tune of 2.5 months of average payroll and which must be accessed via an existing banking relationship – and the rollout is predictably a mess, with some banks such as BofA already accepting loans (which convert to grants if used exclusively for payrolls and business continuity purposes), while others like JPM delaying the roll out to 1pm; a third group of banks such as Wells Fargo has conspicuously failed to provide its rollout plans – perhaps it is scheming how to cross-sell bailout loans with auto insurance or engage in some other typically Wellsfargoian fraud. Continue reading “Millions Of Small Businesses Stunned To Learn They Are Not Eligible For Bailout Loans”
A record-smashing 6,648,000 people filed for unemployment in the week ending March 28 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday. Continue reading “Record 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment amid coronavirus crisis”
The FBI ran more than 3.7 million background checks on Americans buying guns under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in March, smashing the previous record as Americans armed themselves amid growing fears about the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading “March blows past record for gun background checks amid coronavirus pandemic”
President Trump said Wednesday that Iran is planning a “sneak attack” on U.S. troops or “assets” in Iraq, warning the country will pay a “heavy price” if this happens. Continue reading “Trump says Iran planning ‘sneak attack’ on US troops, assets in Iraq”
Common Dreams – by Julia Conley
Labor rights advocates on Monday urged the public to show support and solidarity with Amazon employees who walked off the job at a Staten Island warehouse following what the workers said was an unacceptable response by the company to at least one case of coronavirus at the facility. Continue reading “Amazon, Whole Foods Workers Walk Off Job to Protest Unjust and Unsafe Labor Practices”
President Trump on Saturday night said the administration would not be issuing a quarantine on New York, parts of New Jersey and some of Connecticut as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Continue reading “Trump says coronavirus quarantine on New York, New Jersey, Connecticut not necessary, CDC issues 14-day ‘travel advisory’”
Congress has passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill includes direct cash assistance, additional unemployment funds, and tax credits to employers. Called the CARES Act, the 880-page long legislation represented a rare moment of bipartisanship; it passed unanimously in the Senate. Continue reading “Will you get a ‘coronavirus check’? $2 trillion stimulus package explained”
The U.S. Department of Energy is suspending its plans to buy crude for the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve after the requested $3 billion in funding for the project was left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package. Continue reading “US suspends plans to buy oil after funding is left out of $2 trillion stimulus package”
Americans displaced by the coronavirus crisis filed unemployment claims in record numbers last week, with the Labor Department reporting Thursday a surge to 3.28 million. Continue reading “Jobless claims soar past 3 million to record high”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has released 1,700 inmates from county facilities and is ordering gun stores in the county closed.
Continue reading “LA County Sheriff Orders Closure of Gun Stores, Releases 1,700 Inmates”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti threatened “non-essential” businesses Tuesday that if they do not obey the city’s “stay at home” order to close during the pandemic crises, he will cut off their water and their electricity. Continue reading “Eric Garcetti Threat: Water, Power Shut Off if You Don’t Close Up Shop”