Part 1
Scott Braddock
We speak to Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report. We discuss the effects of the Corona Virus in Texas. The governor is dithering, and has not declared a Shelter at Home order. Instead Governor Abbot has sided with Hotze (a Conservative Republican of Texas) and made an exemption for churches, and declared them as essential services. This allows them to avoid the limits on the number of people who can assemble. Of course, this puts many elderly people at risk.
Adelson has praised both Republican and Democratic governors for their decisiveness in implementing ‘stay home’ orders. Not having such an order in place strains health care systems, and, puts resident in danger. Dan Patrick, of Texas, has suggested that elderly people should sacrifice themselves for the economy. Home stays should be considered a collective sacrifice, to save the lives of others. Some cities, e.g. Laredo, have ordered all residents to wear masks. N95 masks should be saved for health care providers. In Texas, over 100 counties have at least one person who is Covid-19 positive.
The construction industry is still going in Texas, and the anticipation of having to build more hospitals is likely a reason. Additionally, construction workers have habitually worn masks.
There is not much discussion about persons who are in the detention centers. Some discussion has taken place about releasing prisoners from prisons, but there is the problem of where they would be housed. Many do not have a place to live outside of prison. The question of testing is also a problem, given the lack of test kits.
– This is a make or break week for people all across the United States and here in Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission received a record 1.7 million calls in one day
Previous record was 60,000. Last Friday, the TWC received more claims than they did in the entire month of February
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/04/02/unemployment-claims-soar-in-texas-as-nation-sees.html
Gov. Greg Abbott sides with arch-conservative Steve Hotze, the man behind the bathroom bill, in fight over Houston area church closures during pandemic
Nugget New executive order lists church services as “essential” and Abbott added that his directive overrides local orders if they are in conflict; Hotze and Woodfill have argued in court for church services to continue despite Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s order on staying at home
https://www.law360.com/texas/articles/1258781/texas-gov-says-churches-may-remain-open-amid-covid-19
Indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton is fighting abortion providers in Texas over whether abortions can be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has been trying to explain his comments about senior citizens sacrificing their lives in exchange for saving the economy
https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/retiree-alliance-dan-patrick-sacrifice-elderly-economy-11896624
Texas schools will remain closed at least until Monday, May 4
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-abbott-to-give-update-on-efforts-to-fight-coronavirus-in-texas/273-db46ff78-b651-420a-bf5a-788a045349c2
Abbott seeks to make clear that he wants Texans to stay home, despite the fact his executive order does not require it https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1245465326407606278
Part 2
We had a conversation with Bill Curry, writer, columnist, and former aide to Bill Clinton.
In Connecticut, the virus has overwhelmed the political processes. The election process seems to be stalled. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is not an eloquent speaker, and has been mostly silent. Part of this is due to the fact that campaigns are run by consultants, who are cautious. People are forgetting that we are the United States of America, rather than individual states, each out for itself. Trump has fed into this, by creating a false narrative. Fauci and other medical advisors are pandering to Trump by not calling him out, and telling the truth regarding the necessity of a total shutdown of the US activity immediately. They should remember that their first obligation is to the public, more than Trump. The press conferences that are held daily are misinformation than information, and cause confusion. Prisons and detention centers are turning into death camps. Testing and treatment needs are not being met. Trump has appointed Jared Kushner, who has no qualifications, as a point person on Covid-19. The situation is dire.
CNN, MSNBC CUT AWAY FROM TRUMP’S CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING AS AMERICANS CALL FOR END TO CONTINUOUS COVERAGE
https://www.newsweek.com/cnn-msnbc-cut-away-trump-coronavirus-briefing-americans-call-end-continuous-coverage-1495754
As Coronavirus Surges, ‘Medicare for All’ Support Hits 9-Month High https://morningconsult.com/2020/04/01/medicare-for-all-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://prospect.org/blogs/tap/medicare-for-all-teachable-moment/
76 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS SAY THEY’D VOTE FOR A SOCIALIST FOR PRESIDENT, NEW POLL SHOWS
https://www.newsweek.com/76-percent-democrats-say-theyd-vote-socialist-president-new-poll-shows-1486732
Releasing prisoners isn’t being soft on crime: An important policing realization in the age of coronavirus
