Category: News

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2nd GOP Senator Sold Millions In Stock After Receiving Intel On Coronavirus

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA)
Wow. Turns out a second Republican senator sold off millions in stock holdings after receiving high-level intelligence on the coronavirus. From The Daily Beast:

The Senate’s newest member sold off seven figures worth of stock holdings in the days and weeks after a private, all-senators meeting on the novel coronavirus that subsequently hammered U.S. equities.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) reported the first sale of stock jointly owned by her and her husband on Jan. 24, the very day that her committee, the Senate Health Committee, hosted a private, all-senators briefing from administration officials, including the CDC director and Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institutes of Health of the United States, on the coronavirus. 

“Appreciate today’s briefing from the President’s top health officials on the novel coronavirus outbreak,” she tweeted about the briefing at the time.

That first transaction was a sale of stock in the company Resideo Technologies worth between $50,001 and $100,000. The company’s stock price has fallen by more than half since then, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average overall has shed approximately 10,000 points, dropping about a third of its value.

Daily Beast reporter Sam Stein notes Loeffler had not made a single stock transaction during the three weeks she served in office prior to this one. This was her first. The day she got the coronavirus briefing. Earlier today I reported that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) sold more than $1.5 million in stock after being briefed on the impending coronavirus crisis while publicly telling the public everything would be fine. Note – Loeffler is married to Jeffrey Sprecher, the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, and the chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, which is NYSE’s parent company.  

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News Round-Up: March 19, 2020

(image via OMG Blog)
Some news items you might have missed: • OMG Blog: This dog (above) recreated Madonna’s iconic photos to hilarious results. • Reuters: A pill containing two HIV drugs that was touted as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus was not effective, according to a study released late on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. • Slate: The Coronavirus Diaries – “The guys are wild on Grindr right now.” • The Recount: As Trump pivots to coronavirus crisis mode (finally), let’s take a look at the months of downplaying and denial.

• Washington Post: Breaking with tradition, more than 80 career national security professionals have signed an open letter of support for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, saying that President Trump “has created an existential danger to the United States.” • Las Vegas Review-Journal: Little Darlings strip club in Las Vegas will begin offering drive-through strip shows for those who want to indulge in some adult entertainment, but do not want to enter the building, per the CDC’s recommendations that people keep 6 feet in distance between themselves and others. Ten minutes shows will cost $100 plus tip. • CBS News: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has announced the end to her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after consistently low rankings in national polls and dismal finishes in primary contests. Making her announcement, she endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president. • KIT212: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo chatting with his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo is pretty funny as the bros fight on-air about who was their mom’s favorite child, calling their parents, and breaking curfew growing up.

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Receiving Intel Reports GOP Senator Sold Stocks A Week Before Market Tanked

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
After assuring the public about the government’s coronavirus preparedness, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Richard Burr, in one day, sold off up to $1.6 million in stock. A week later, the market began its fall. ProPublica reports “Burr sold off a significant percentage of his stocks, unloading between $582,029 and $1.56 million of his holdings on February 13 in 29 separate transactions.”

As the head of the intelligence committee, Burr, a North Carolina Republican, has access to the government’s most highly classified information about threats to America’s security. His committee was receiving daily coronavirus briefings around this time, according to a Reuters story.

A week after Burr’s sales, the stock market began a sharp decline and has lost about 30% since.

His committee was receiving daily briefings. Additionally, NPR is reporting today that the North Carolina senator “warned a small group of well-connected constituents three weeks ago to prepare for dire economic and societal effects of the coronavirus, according to a secret recording obtained by NPR.” The remarks from Burr were more dire than any he had delivered in more public forums. According to the NPR report, Burr told attendees of the luncheon held at the Capitol Hill Club: “There’s one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history … It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.”  

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Amazon Warehouse Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus

An Amazon warehouse worker in Queens, New York, has tested positive for the Coronavirus rattling many of the employees who are already concerned for their health as they work in close proximity to others during the health crisis. Via The Atlantic:

Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Queens, New York, received a text Wednesday evening that they long feared might come: “We’re writing to let you know that a positive case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was found at our facility today.”

This is the realization of a major threat to Amazon’s operations. Millions of people across the nation are cloistered inside their homes, many of them relying on the company to provide basic goods.

Amazon is already struggling to meet demand, and some employees feel they’re being unfairly endangered by working in warehouses filled with other workers. It’s unclear how deliveries could continue if the workers who sort, pack, and ship Americans’ goods start getting sick in droves.

Check out this report from Bloomberg News on how the retail giant is coping with increased stresses during this time.

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News Round-Up: March 18, 2020

Me with birthday girl Vanessa Williams
Some news items you might have missed: • Happy Birthday: Bestest birthday wishes to my Syracuse University bestie, Vanessa Williams! V is currently in London where she’s starring in the (currently coronavirus-paused) West End production of the Tony Award-winning musical, City of Angels. The pic above was taken a couple of years ago when I introduced her at the Nevada Ballet Theatre’s ‘Woman of the Year’ event. Always much, much fun to catch up with, I can affirm she’s still ‘saving the best for last.’ • PrideSource: Devon Robinson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the spring 2019 shooting deaths of Alunte Davis, Timothy Blancher and Paris Cameron as well as assault with intent to murder two others. Both Davis and Blancher were gay and Cameron was a transgender woman. This week a jury found Robinson guilty of all charges. Prosecutors say Robinson’s actions were an attempt to cover up having taken part in an orgy with the trio. • Instinct Magazine: Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), the most conservative Democrat in the House, lost his primary race last night to progressive challenger Marie Newman, and LGBTQ folks are cheering. Lipinski has repeatedly voted against LGTBQ rights and protections. He voted “present” for a proposed U.S. constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, voted against an early version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and gave his support to the First Amendment Defense Act, which supported the “religious freedom” movement. #GoodRiddance • Yahoo News: A new survey released Tuesday from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist polling shows that only 37 percent of those polled have either “a good amount” or “a great deal” of trust in the information they hear from the president about the coronavirus, while 60 percent say they do “not very much” or “not at all” trust Trump’s words on the subject. • KIT212: Kenneth remembers 11 times hunky Lyle Waggoner stole the show on The Carol Burnett Show.
Lyle Waggoner (via kenneth-in-the-212)
• Washington Post: White House officials are working with congressional Republicans on an emergency stimulus package that could send two $1,000 checks to many Americans and also devote $300 billion towards helping small businesses avoid mass layoffs, according to two senior administration officials and a Treasury Department fact sheet. • LGBTQ Nation: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) voted against the “America First Coronavirus Response Act” this week because he said it “redefined family” by including sick leave to care for an unmarried partner’s children. Biggs went on to say that sick leave for domestic partner’s children has “nothing to do with the coronavirus.” • New York Post: After being found inebriated inside a Miami Beach hotel room with another man who allegedly overdosed on crystal meth, former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum has announced he is withdrawing from public life and entering rehab for alcohol abuse. • NBC News: By a vote of 90-8 the Senate voted to approve a second coronavirus aid bill Wednesday, paving the way for lawmakers to turn their attention to a third proposal that could include direct payments to Americans. Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law. The bill provides free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave for those who are infected or caring for a family member with the illness, additional Medicaid funding, food assistance, and unemployment benefits.  

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Gallup: Trump Approval Rating Drops Amid Mixed Coronavirus Messaging

Donald Trump (image public domain/White House)
Gallup Polling reports Donald Trump’s approval rating, which had risen in the aftermath of his impeachment acquittal, has dipped 5 points to 44 percent as he and his administration have sent conflicting messages about the severity of the COVID-19 threat.

The latest reading is from Gallup’s March 2-13 poll, which was conducted as the novel coronavirus spread throughout the U.S., eventually leading to international travel restrictions, the cancellation of major U.S. events and widespread school closures.

The magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. quickly evolved over the poll’s field period, and Americans’ (particularly Democrats’ and independents’) concern about it increased sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded historic declines in the past two weeks.

Graphic showing Donald Trump's approval rating dropping to 44 percent approval.
(graphic via Gallup)
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Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Cancelled

The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have announced this year’s edition has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 threat. In a post to Instagram, the statement read, in part:

It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.

Over the past few weeks we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead.

However, the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities – means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision that it is impossible to continue with the live event as planned.

We are very proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years and we, like the millions of fans around the world, are extremely saddened that it cannot take place in May.

This is the first time since the song contest began in 1956 the event been canceled. From ABBA’s win in 1974 to transgender singer Dana International of Israel in 1998 to Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst’s victory in 2014, the over-the-top performances and often queer-centric sensibility of the competition has made the annual event a highly-anticipated international television spectacle.

 

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It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam. . Over the past few weeks we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead. . However the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities – means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision that it is impossible to continue with the live event as planned. . We are very proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years and we, like the millions of fans around the world, are extremely saddened that it cannot take place in May. . The EBU, NPO, NOS, AVROTROS and the City of Rotterdam will continue a conversation regarding the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021. . We would ask people to bear with us while we work through the ramifications of this unprecedented decision and patiently await any further news in the coming days and weeks. . We would like to pay tribute to all the host broadcaster team in the Netherlands and our 41 Members who have worked so hard on planning this year’s event. . We are all as heartbroken as they are that the Eurovision Song Contest will not be able to be staged in May and know that the whole Eurovision family, across the world, will continue to provide love and support for each other at this difficult time.

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Washington Post: How Fox News Flip-Flopped On Coronavirus Threat

The Washington Post illustrates how Fox News hosts initially denounced any kind of serious measures to be taken against the coronavirus as they stood lockstep with Donald Trump’s tamping down of the threat.

For weeks, some of Fox News’s most popular hosts downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, characterizing it as a conspiracy by media organizations and Democrats to undermine President Trump.

Fox News personalities such as Sean Hannity and Laura In­graham accused the news media of whipping up “mass hysteria” and being “panic pushers.” Fox Business host Trish Regan called the alleged media-Democratic alliance “yet another attempt to impeach the president.”

But that was then.

With Trump’s declaration on Friday that the virus constitutes a national emergency, the tone on Fox News has quickly shifted.

In the video, each of the political personalities quickly flip-flops when the reality of the situation became apparent, even to Trump. You can read more details about each hypocritical u-turn by the Fox News folks here.

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Nevada Governor Orders 30-Day Closure Of Non-Essential Business

From my state of Nevada… The Hill reports:

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) announced a statewide closure of all “nonessential” businesses for 30 days amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking at a press conference in Carson City, Sisolak said the closure would apply to all casinos, restaurants, bars and other nonessential businesses. The move followed the statewide closing of K-12 schools that the governor ordered on Sunday.

“Every social contact increases your threat of exposure. The bigger the group, the higher the risk,” said Sisolak. 

Fifty-five coronavirus cases have been reported thus far in Nevada. One person has died in the state.

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Barcelona: Impromptu Balcony Jam Goes Viral During Coronavirus Quarantine

L-R Alberto Gestoso, Alex Lebron Torrent
With much of the world staying at home and/or practicing ‘social distancing,’ folks are finding ways to not only remain upbeat but in touch with their communities. A viral video from Spain (over 9.3 million views on Facebook in just two days) demonstrates the power music has to bring people together. Facebook user Pedrito Miguel shared the clip featuring out musician Alberto Gestoso playing the Céline Dion hit, “My Heart Will Go On,” on his piano out on his balcony in the Sagrada Familia neighborhood of Barcelona this past Sunday. As he plays for his neighbors, saxophone player Alexander Lebron Torrent joins in for the impromptu concert.

In the video, you can see Gestoso’s neighbors leaning on their balconies taking in the open-air serenade. “This made me cry with emotion,” wrote Miguel. “The video is from Barcelona, which is in Quarantine like the rest of Spain. Courage and strength to all.” Gestoso shared a post on his Instagram regarding the afternoon’s musical moment writing, “Thanks to all of you who are staying at home for the good of all,” He also encouraged others “who are going through everything” to think of others because “this is everyone’s responsibility.” The original video appears to have been recorded by his boyfriend, Roman Santana, who shared the clip on his Instagram which has been viewed over 1.4 million times. Saxophonist Alex Lebron Torrent shared the moment from his perspective as well.  

 

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❤❤Stay safe people and listen to some nice live TITANIC balcony music❤❤ . . A magic moment with the amazing @albertogestoso with his balcony piano… thank you man! . . #coronavirus #quarantine #quarantineactivities #stayinthehouse #stayhome #balconymusic #balconymusicclub #pianoplayer #saxophoneplayer #alexlebrontorrent #alwaysmakethemrememberyou #avingudagaudi #musicianship #timeofcrisis #musicbringspeopletogether #tenorsaxophone #tenorsax #balconyband #staysafe #balconyshow #impromptushow #nonoisecomplaintstoday #nonoisecomplaints #neighbourhood #neighborhoodbalconyentertainment #quedateacasa #quédateacasa #quarantinechallenge #stopcovid19 #stopcovid19⛔️

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If you’ve been to Barcelona (easily one of my favorite cities in Europe), you know exactly where this is with the world-famous Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in the background. Check out a few posts from the two musician’s Instagram accounts. Definitely worth perusing.  

 

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YO ME QUEDO EN CASA 🏠 ⬇️⬇️ Hoy toca leer un poco⬇️⬇️ Responsabilidad individual y empatía. Todas las medidas que se están tomando no serán eficaces si no somos una sociedad madura y procuramos reducir nuestras salidas y vida social al máximo posible. No solo para no infectarnos, sino para no infectar a nuestros grupos de riesgo: nuestros mayores, pluripatologias, inmunodeprimidos… además de por todos nuestros profesionales sanitarios, que se están entregando al máximo para poder atajar esto cuanto antes. El sistema sanitario colapsará si no nos concienciamos a tiempo y cambiamos nuestra actitud. Cuanto antes nos demos cuenta de la situación, menos tiempo permanecerán las medidas y antes controlaremos el COVID-19. #yomequedoencasa

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VIERNES I’M IN LOVE 💙

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El postureo no descansa ni en Navidad 😜

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JUBILADO MODE ON: Controlando las obras 👨‍🦳🏗

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Nueva etapa! Y con más ilusión que el primer día 🤪

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📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸 . . #Repost @flowportraits with @make_repost ・・・ I’ve been always photoshooting women. This is something way different 🙃. Thanks Alex for having a great time on this photo session 🙌. Model: @alexlebrontorrent Location: park near @basilicasagradafamilia . . . #saxman #columbian #blackmodel #malemodel #afro #afrohairstyles #redshirt #sax #jeans #maleportrait #placadegaudi #sagradafamilia #barcelona #spain #modelsbarcelona #barcelonamodels #musiciansbarcelona #barcelonamusicians #tenorsaxophone #saxophone #tenorsax #saxophoneplayer #ilovesax #forestonesaxophone #afromodel #barcelona2019 #alexlebrontorrent #alwaysmakethemrememberyou #modelingchocolate

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