Donald Trump (image via public domain/White House) The U.S. stock markets had their worst day since the 1987 crash as the Dow Jones dropped more than 2,300+ points. From the New York Times:
Stocks continued their plunge on Thursday, as President Trump’s latest effort to address the coronavirus outbreak — a ban on the entry from most European countries to the United States — disappointed investors who have been waiting for Washington to take steps to bolster the economy.
The S&P 500 closed down about 9.5 percent, its biggest daily drop since the stock market crashed in 1987, on what came to be known as Black Monday. The decline has left stocks in the United States firmly in a bear market — a term that signifies a decline of 20 percent from the most recent highs.
For the Dow Jones industrial average, the drop of 10 percent was also its worst since the 1987 stock market crash.
Before he was president, Donald Trump had strong opinions about who should be held accountable when the markets had huge drops. #TheresAlwaysATweet
England’s Joe Marler grabs (screen capture) An independent commissioner handed English rugby player Joe Marler a 10-week suspension for grabbing an opposing player’s genitals during Saturday’s Six Nations win over Wales. The decision was made at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin reports the BBC. The shortest ban under World Rugby rules for “grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals” is 12 weeks, though the commission reduced that by three weeks to take account of mitigating factors, including good character and remorse. However, they also increased the ban by one week after taking into account Marler’s recent disciplinary record.
England prop Joe Marler caught on camera grabbing Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones' GENITALS during on-field melee in Six Nations clash at Twickenham..
Marler’s teammate Danny Care told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast he doesn’t believe there was any malicious intent in the grab. “If you know Joe and you’ve played with him or spent a lot of time with him, you know he hasn’t done it in a malicious way,” said Care. “You know he hasn’t gone out there to annoy anyone or anger anyone or disrespect anyone. He’s done it in Joe’s way of being Joe.” “When I saw it, I just thought it was two lads messing around who were good mates but I can completely understand the massively split reaction,” he added. “Out of the context of sport and as a bit of banter, it obviously isn’t funny. You put that in any other place of work and there’s going to be some serious repercussions from it.” “I think anyone involved in rugby, things like that are seen as a joke,” Care concluded. “It’s seen as a bit of banter. I don’t see an awful lot wrong with it.”
An open letter signed by over 100 LGBTQ or LGBTQ supportive organizations asks media outlets and health care providers to be aware that LGBTQ people have particular vulnerabilities in regard to the coronavirus. The list of original signers to the open letter include the National LGBT Cancer Network, LGBTQ seniors advocacy group SAGE, New York Transgender Advocacy Group, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and Whitman-Walker Health. “As the spread of the novel coronavirus a.k.a. COVID-19 increases, many LGBTQ+ people are understandably concerned about how this virus may affect us and our communities,” begins the letter. “The undersigned want to remind all parties handling COVID-19 surveillance, response, treatment, and media coverage that LGBTQ+ communities are among those who are particularly vulnerable to the negative health effects of this virus.” The group points to three specific factors that can lead to increased vulnerability for LGBTQ people: • The LGBTQ+ population uses tobacco at rates that are 50% higher than the general population. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that has proven particularly harmful to smokers. • The LGBTQ+ population has higher rates of HIV and cancer, which means a greater number of us may have compromised immune systems, leaving us more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. • LGBTQ+ people continue to experience discrimination, unwelcoming attitudes, and lack of understanding from providers and staff in many health care settings, and as a result, many are reluctant to seek medical care except in situations that feel urgent – and perhaps not even then. The letter also notes that there are more than 3 million LGBTQ seniors in the U.S. Studies have shown queer elders are less likely than heterosexual counterparts to reach out for aid from health and aging providers due to fear of discrimination. In that COVID-19 has a much higher impact on people over 60, this dynamic becomes heightened during the current coronavirus threat. The group encourages LGBTQ people to find welcoming health providers if they are experiencing symptoms like fever or coughing. If you don’t have a medical provider you feel comfortable with, GLMA provides a directory for welcoming providers here. Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign has a list of LGBTQ-friendly medical centers and hospitals here. You can read the full letter at cancer-network.org/coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control lists several steps to help prevent coronavirus infection here.
(image via Instagram/FabioWajngarten)The Washington Post is reporting a Brazilian official who attended meetings with Donald Trump and Mike Pence at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday has tested positive for coronavirus. Fabio Wajngarten, a spokesman for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for covid-19, Brazilian officials said. Wajngarten posted a photo to his Instagram account where he is standing directly on Trump’s left side.
Bolsonaro has reportedly canceled his official agenda on Thursday and remains at the presidential palace. He is under medical observation, according to two people close to him who requested anonymity because the information isn’t public. Trump said he “isn’t concerned” about the development, according to a White House pool report.
The guy standing to Trump’s left just tested positive for coronavirus, according to Brazilian media. Fabio Wajngarten posted this photo, taken during meetings at Mar-a-Lago, five days ago. pic.twitter.com/qioU4qIlxl
After a player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus, the NBA announced the rest of the season would be suspended until further notice. More on CNN here.
Tom Hanks (image via Flickr/Duetsche Bank) Some news items you might have missed: • Australia: Academy Award winner Tom Hanks announced he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with coronavirus while shooting a movie in Australia.
• Washington Post: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus a pandemic, reflecting alarm that countries aren’t working quickly and aggressively enough to fight the disease it causes, covid-19. • NY Times: Donald Trump told the U.S. tonight he would be suspending all travel from Europe for the next 30 days starting Friday. The restrictions will not apply to Britain.
Breaking News: President Trump announced he was suspending travel from Europe for 30 days in the fight to contain the coronavirus, starting on Friday https://t.co/rZCBYoMmr3
• Instinct: Riley Knoxx, known to be the most prolific Beyonce impersonator in the game today, became the first openly transgender woman to perform at an NBA halftime show. She performed a three-song medley of Beyonce’s classic hits and was joined by the Washington Wizards dancers at the Washington Wizards annual Pride Night. • Associated Press: Authorities in Italy have announced that all stores except pharmacies and food outlets will close in response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak. So far, 827 people have died from Covid-19 inside Italy, whereas 12,462 have been infected with the virus in the country. • The Advocate: Netflix has renewed the Emmy Award-winning ‘make better’ reality show Queer Eye for a sixth season scheduled to be filmed in and around Austin, Texas. While season 6 does not yet have a release date, season 5, based in Philadelphia, will debut this summer on Netflix.
Grab a Texas-sized box of tissues y’all because the Fab 5 just arrived in the Lone Star State to film Queer Eye Season 6! 🤠🌵(oh and P.S. Queer Eye Season 5 is coming real soon✨) pic.twitter.com/ROH1eCXzPZ
• Manchester Evening News: David Bailey, 18, and Ashley Roberts, 19, have both been sentenced to 32 months in a young offender institution after attacking a gay couple for holding hands. During the incident, the victims were punched and kicked while being told they would “burn in hell.” Bailey blamed his behavior on being drunk. • Out Music: Nonbinary singer/songwriter Claud teams up with buddy Del Water Gap for the collaborative single, “My Body.” The track has a chill, easy feel that fall’s comfortably on the ear. The duo calls the loping, retro-styled pop bop “a light-hearted jaunt and a funny take on our friendship.” With DIY graphics and moments of singing into hairbrushes in the music video, you get that the two aren’t really singing about “my body.” #wink
Axios is reporting Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician for Congress, held a closed-door meeting with Senate chiefs of staff, chief clerks, and staff directors for both parties informing them that they “should prepare for the worst” regarding the ongoing coronavirus threat. According to reports, Monahan said he “expects 70-150 million people in the U.S.” to become infected with the virus. That would constitute roughly a third of the country. That prediction would align with other health experts even though Donald Trump and the White House have repeatedly told the public there’s little need to worry. Monahan did share that roughly 80% of those who contract coronavirus eventually recover, according to Axios.
Donald Trump (image via White House/Public Domain)Politico reports that Donald Trump is wary of announcing an all-out emergency regarding the coronavirus threat because he’s afraid of escalating fears ramping up even further.
Trump’s concern at this point is that going further could hamper his narrative that the coronavirus is similar to the seasonal flu, said the three people familiar with the discussions. The administration is also negotiating with Congress over a stimulus package designed to cushion the coronavirus-hampered economy. But that calculation could change in the coming weeks.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is pushing for the designation but Vice President Mike Pence, who Trump tapped to lead the administration’s coronavirus response, doesn’t want Trump to act until Congress passes a stimulus package, according to two of the people.
There’s no deadline for a decision, but one of the people familiar with the talks said the task force will not give Trump its final verdict until Jared Kushner, the president’s senior adviser and son-in-law, finishes his research and comes to a conclusion himself.
So, Jared is now an expert on the coronavirus…? Or is he doing a cost-benefit analysis trying to figure out an acceptable number of Americans who can die in the pandemic? The White House cancelled the coronavirus task force briefing today, as well as Trump’s scheduled dinner with the Pences at the Naval Observatory. The White House has announced Trump will address the nation tonight at 9 pm ET regarding economic and health steps to mitigate the ongoing crisis.
(photo: Phil Roeder/Flickr – CC License) The NCAA has announced that the 2020 March Madness basketball tournaments will restrict attendance to only “essential staff and limited family” due to the ongoing coronavirus threat. Alumni are certain to be angry as fans will be barred from attending. In a statement, NCAA President Mark Emmert said that the organization “will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.” “While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States,” Emmert added. Emmert said the NCAA has been consulting with public health officials and its own advisory panel.
The 11-year Dow Jones bull market that began on March 9, 2009, under President Obama has ended under Donald Trump as the stock market has now declined 20% from recent record highs. We’re now officially in bear market territory. From NBC News:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down more than 1,400 points on Wednesday, crossing firmly into bear market territory, or a 20 percent decline from a 52-week high. The losses came as the World Health Organization labeled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
The S&P 500 and the Dow are currently down more than 14 percent from the record highs they hit just last month, making this the fastest drawdown from peak to decline.
Wednesday’s massive sell-off is a response to the lack of concerted policy action from President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been criticized for its mixed messaging about the best ways to address and contain the virus.
— (((Michelle Blechman))) (@TheBlechster) March 11, 2020
In related news, the World Health Organization on Wednesday characterized the coronavirus as a pandemic for the first time. Currently, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States. Experts say that number that is expected to rise as testing becomes more widely available.
Before he was president, Donald Trump had strong opinions about who should be held accountable when the markets had huge drops. #TheresAlwaysATweet 
