CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: April 16th

April 16, 2020

WRITER

Glenn gives the latest coronavirus numbers, updating YOU on everything needed to know as Americans and officials monitor China's new COVID-19 virus:

Daily Stats as of 5:30 AM CT (from John's Hopkins)

Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 2,094,897 (up from 2,014,006 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 135,569 (up from 127,594 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 520,946 (up from 491,824 yesterday)
US has 644,348 Confirmed Cases and 28,554 deaths, up from 614,246 cases and 26,064 deaths yesterday
Among Active Cases in the US, 2.3% of cases require ICU, compared to 4.7% of cases requiring ICU globally
ICU rate among African American victims in the US is more than double the overall average at 5.1% (CDC figures) [note not all states report race of victims]

Death Rate in France Rips Higherhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-15/france-reports-1-438-new-virus-deaths-highest-toll-to-date

While Americans lost another 2,300+ fellow citizens yesterday for the 2nd straight day in a row, the death rate in France is 300% higher.
France lost 1,438 people to COVID-19 yesterday, compared to 2,371 in the US, but has only a population of 67,000 compared to over 330,000,000 in the US.
France has lost 263 people for every 1 Million citizens, compared to only 87 deaths per 1 million in the US.
US is 14th in rate of death, with all 13 countries ahead of it having some form of European/Socialized medicine.
Some analysts have also pointed out that the rate of death in the US is also higher because the US CDC counts 'presumptive' cases (no positive COVID-19 test), whereas most EU countries require a positive COVID-19 test to put COVID-19 on death certificates, so death rates in the EU are likely higher than official numbers.

Amazon To Cease Operations in Francehttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/business/amazon-france-covid.html

Move comes as a French Court rules Amazon can only provide delivery services for "essential items" such as food & medicines.
Amazon indicated it cannot fully comply with the order as written, so will simply suspend operations entirely.
French court had also ruled that Amazon must provide for testing of facilities and packages to ensure they do not contain viral infections that threaten workers or customers.
Amazon has provided over 4.5 Million grocery deliveries in Franch since March 1st, the company said.
The Company is appealing the court decision to the French Supreme Court, which is officially in recess through May 15th due to COVID-19.

Sonny Perdue Reassures Americans: There is Plenty of Foodhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/markets/agriculture-secretary-says-e2-80-98plenty-of-food-e2-80-99-despite-disruptions/ar-BB12GMJm

Despite numerous Meat Processing plants being closed, The US Ag Secretary assured Americans "There is plenty of food. No American will go hungry."
"The bare store shelves that you may see in some cities in the country are a demand issue and not a supply issue," Perdue said Wednesday at a White House briefing with President Donald Trump.
"It has taken us a few days" for food companies to address a "misalignment" in distribution as restaurants close and more food is sold through grocery stores.
Shoppers at times have already experienced shortages of staples such as eggs, milk and toilet paper.
Recent tweets from shoppers have also shown empty shelves in butcher and meat departments in US stores.
Perdue assured Americans "There is plenty of meat, plenty of it. If your local store doesn't have meat today, it will by tomorrow," he said.

Canadian Meat Industry Warns of "Immediate and Drastic Cut to Supply"https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/covid-19-to-have-immediate-and-drastic-impact-on-canadian-meat-supply-industry-group-1.4894557

Some of North America's largest meat producers have been forced to close their plants or reduce production amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, prompting industry leaders to warn of "immediate and drastic" effects on Canada's supply chain.
Beef processing capabilities have been reduced at a number of facilities in Canada and the U.S., including a temporary closure at a Cargill meat plant in High River, Alta., where dozens of employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
"This single facility represents just over one-third of Canada's total processing capability, so the impacts to the Canadian beef industry are expected to be immediate and drastic," Michelle McMullen, communications manager at the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA), told CTVNews.ca by email.
Cargill also announced the temporary closure of its largest been processing plant in the US on Wednesday.
With North American beef production "severely limited," CCA president Bob Lowe is calling on the Canadian government to introduce measures to support Canadian farmers and protect the country's supply chain.
"The Canadian beef industry is facing a period of extraordinary uncertainty," Lowe said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca Monday.
"Existing programs do not address the particular threats we are facing and in fact fall quite short. These are challenging times for all Canadians; it is together that we can implement solutions to ensure healthy and affordable food continues to be readily available."
The CCA cited a survey this week noting that over 58% of its members are having issues placing cattle with meat processors for slaughter. "There are plenty of cattle, but no packing plants to send them to," said Lowe.

USDA to Directly Buy/Distribute to Food Banks

Sonny Perdue announces USDA will directly buy Milk, Eggs and Meat to donate to food banks.
"No farmers should be dumping milk down the drain, the USDA will buy any excess production," he said.
The announcement was made on Fox Business News this morning.
USDA also plans to make a lending program available to farmers and ranchers, he said, although no details were released this morning. "Help is coming," he said.
Perdue said the US would buy over $10 Billion in foods each week to donate to charitable organizations.

Operation Gridlock Spreading to Other Citieshttps://www.fox2detroit.com/video/674344

Thousands of motorists clogged streets in Michigan in protests to Governor Whitmer's seemingly arbitrary COVID-19 related orders.
Similar protests are planned for today and Friday in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado.
Meanwhile, Governors in several states warned that "Protesting" is not considered an essential activity, and threatened that similar protests may be met with citations or arrest, according to Fox News.
Collectively more than 1 Million people have signed up for various Facebook groups planning Drive By or Park In type protests around the US.

What we DO and DON'T know about Thomas Matthew Crooks

Jim Vondruska / Stringer | Getty Images

It has been over a week since 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks narrowly failed to assassinate President Trump while the president gave a speech at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennslyvania. Despite the ongoing investigations, we still know very little about the would-be assassin, which has left many wondering if the agencies involved are limiting the information that Congress and the public are receiving.

As Glenn has pointed out, there are still major questions about the shooter that are unanswered, and the American people are left at the whim of unreliable federal agencies. Here is everything we know—and everything we don't know—about Thomas Matthew Crooks:

Who was he?

What we know:Thomas Crooks lived in Bethel Parks, Pennsylvania, approximately an hour south of Butler. Crooks went to high school in Bethel Parks, where he would graduate in 2022. Teachers and classmates described him as a loner and as nerdy, but generally nice, friendly, and intelligent. Crooks tried out for the school rifle team but was rejected due to his poor aim, and reports indicate that Crooks was often bullied for his nerdy demeanor and for wearing camo hunting gear to school.

After high school, Crooks began work at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as a dietary aide. In fact, he was scheduled to work on the day of the rally but requested the day off. He passed a background check to work at the facility and was reportedly an unproblematic employee. Crooks was also a member of a local gun club where he practiced shooting the day before the rally.

It was recently revealed that sometime before his attempted assassination, Crooks posted the following message on Steam, a popular computer application used for playing video games: "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds." Aside from this, Crooks posted no warning or manifesto regarding his attack, and little other relevant information is known about him.

What we don't know:It is unclear what Crook's political affiliations or views were, or if he was aligned with any extremist organizations. Crooks was a registered Republican, and his classmates recall him defending conservative ideas and viewpoints in class. On the other hand, the Federal Election Commission has revealed he donated to a progressive PAC on the day Biden was inaugurated. He also reportedly wore a COVID mask to school much longer than was required.

Clearly, we are missing the full picture. Why would a Republican attempt to assassinate the Republican presidential nominee? What is to gain? And why would he donate to a progressive organization as a conservative? This doesn't add up, and so far the federal agencies investigating the attack have yet to reveal anything more.

What were his goals?

What we know: Obviously we know he was trying to assassinate President Trump—and came very close to succeeding, but beyond that, Crooks' goals are unknown. He left no manifesto or any sort of written motive behind, or if he did, the authorities haven't published it yet. We have frustratingly little to go off of.

What we don't know: As stated before, we don't know anything about the movies behind Crooks' heinous actions. We are left with disjointed pieces that make it difficult to paint a cohesive picture of this man. There is also the matter that he left explosives, ammo, and a bulletproof vest in his car. Why? Did he assume he was going to make it back to his car? Or were those supplies meant for an accomplice that never showed up?

The shocking lack of information on Crooks' motives makes it seem likely that we are not being let on to the whole truth.

Did he work alone?

What we know: Reportedly, Crooks was the only gunman on the site, and as of now, no other suspects have been identified. The rifle used during the assassination attempt was purchased and registered by Crooks' father. However, it is unlikely that the father was involved as he reported both his son and rifle missing the night of the assassination attempt. Crooks' former classmates described him as a "loner," which seems to corroborate the narrative that he worked alone.

What we don't know: We know how Crooks acquired his rifle, but what about the rest of his equipment? He reportedly had nearly a hundred extra rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and several homemade bombs in his car. Could these have been meant for a co-conspirator who didn't show? Did Crooks acquire all of this equipment himself, or did he have help?

There's also the matter of the message Crooks left on the video game platform Steam that served as his only warning of the attack. Who was the message for? Are there people out there who were aware of the attack before it occurred? Why didn't they alert authorities?

We know authorities have access to Crooks' laptop and cellphone that probably contain the answers to these pertinent questions. Why haven't we heard any clarity from the authorities? It seems we are again at the mercy of the federal bureaucracy, which begs one more question: Will we ever know the whole truth?

Who will be Kamala Harris' VP pick?

JIM WATSON / Contributor, Chris duMond / Stringer, Justin Sullivan / Staff | Getty Images

Over the weekend, President Joe Biden officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential election and put forward his endorsement behind his Vice President Kamala Harris.

Glenn recently predicted that Biden would step down due to the mountain of pressure within his party to do so. But now that we are here we are faced with an all-new line of questions, like, who will be the candidate on the Democratic ticket? Who will be their pick for vice president?

As of now, the answer to the first question seems to be Kamala Harris, who received the support of the president and several prominent democrats. It's still too early to call for certain, and Glenn doesn't think it's likely, but assuming Kamala becomes the Democrat nominee, who will her VP pick be? There are endless possible options, but there are a 5 big names that could prove beneficial to Harris' campaign:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Bill Pugliano / Stringer | Getty Images

Governor Newsom has spiked in popularity within his party since his taking office in 2019 due to his scathing criticisms of President Trump and other Republicans. Newsom has been a popular contender as a possible Biden replacement, and a future presidential bid seems likely.

His widespread recognition may be a boon to Kamala's ticket, but the California governor comes with a dark side. Newsom was famously nearly recalled as Governor in 2021, hanging on to his office by a narrow margin. He also faced criticism for his hypocrisy during the COVID lockdowns, attending large gatherings while the rest of his state was locked inside. There's also the issue that both Newsom and Kamala are from California, meaning that if they were to appear on the same ticket, that ticket would lack geographical balance and would potentially lead to a Constitutional issue that would force the duo to forfeit all 54 of the states' Electoral College votes.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Tom Williams / Contributor | Getty Images

Another prominent Democrat Governor, Josh Shapiro has also been floated as a potential VP pick. Governor Shapiro has become a viable pick due to his well-received performance as Pennslyvania's Governor. The governor has good support within the swing state due to his handling of the I-95 bridge collapse, the train derailment in East Palestine, which had effects on his state, and the assassination attempt on the former president last week. Shapiro would bring much-needed support from the swing state if he was put on the ticket.

That being said, Shapiro has little time to build nationwide name recognition before the DNC in August and the November election. This would be Shapiro's debut on the national stage, and he would find himself in the most unforgiving situation possible.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

FREDERIC J. BROWN / Contributor | Getty Images

Former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and opponent of Biden during the 2020 Democratic primaries, "Mayor Pete's" name recognition might be what Kamala needs on her presidential ticket. Buttigieg rose to popularity during the 2020 election due to his youth and status as "openly gay." Buttigieg has served as the Secretary of Transportation during the Biden administration for the past four years and has formally endorsed Harris.

Nevertheless, Buttigieg has some dark spots on his resume. The East Palestine train derailment disaster has besmirched his reputation as Secretary of Transportation. And while his youth may work in his favor when compared to the other elderly members of our federal government, it also means Buttigieg lacks the experience and prestige that other politicians enjoy.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Noam Galai / Stringer | Getty Images

Yet another governor of a crucial swing state, Whitmer was elected in 2018, two years after President Trump was elected, helping secure the state for the Democrats. Whitmer is known for her strong opposition to Trump, both during his presidency and his reelection campaign. Whitmer serves as co-chair for the Biden-Harris campaign and as vice chairperson of the DNC, which gives her influence over the Democratic party, something that would come in handy as a Vice President. Gov. Whitmer also established the Fight Like Hell PAC, which is dedicated to helping Democrats get elected and to stopping Trump by any means.

On the other hand, in a statement following Biden's resignation from the election, Governor Whitmer stated that her role “will remain the same.” It is also worth noting that if she were to be chosen as Kamala's VP, that would make their ticket all-female, which may foster some "woke points," but is politically risky.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear

Lexington Herald-Leader / Contributor | Getty Images

Andy Bashear has seemingly beaten the odds twice, having been elected and reelected as the Governor of Kentucky, despite the deep-red nature of the state. Beshear, who has moderate tendencies, would be a boon to the Harris campaign as he has a track record of reaching rural, typically conservative regions where Democrats tend to struggle. He is also known for his propensity to talk about his Christian faith and willingness to work with Republicans, which are traits that might help win over moderates.

But, like Gov. Shapiro, Bashear has very little time to whip up national support and recognition. He also is unlikely to be very much help for the Harris campaign in winning over important swing states.

Five times Glenn had J.D. Vance on his show and where he stands on key issues

CHANDAN KHANNAMANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

We finally have an answer to the long-awaited question of who Trump will pick for his running mate, and it's none other than Ohio Senator and friend of the show, J.D. Vance. At the RNC in Milwaukee, Trump officially accepted the party's nomination as the Republican candidate and announced J.D. Vance as his running mate.

Glenn has had Senator Vance on the show several times to discuss everything from DEI to the Southern Border. If you are looking to familiarize yourself with the next potential Vice President, look no further, here are five conversations Glenn had with Trump's VP pick:

Why Biden Won't Stop "Racist" Government DEI Programs, But Trump Would

How Trump’s Trials Could HELP Him in the 2024 Election

Could THIS new Senate bill DOOM a Trump presidency?

MIDTERM UPDATE: What Republicans must do to WIN BACK the Senate

'Greatest risk of a terrorist attack in 20 years': Senator SLAMS 'atrocious' Biden move

How RFK's example can help our nation in the wake of Trump's attack

Rowland Scherman / Contributor | Getty Images

How did you feel last Saturday when you heard the news that a former president of the United States narrowly avoided an assassin's bullet by a mere few inches? Were you angry at the media for their constant demonization of Trump and his conservative contingency? Did you blame the left for curating a political climate that fostered an assassination attempt?

In his immediate reaction to the news, Glenn pointed us back to a similar moment in American history: April 4th, 1968—the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

"The best speech I've ever heard given was by RFK Sr. on the day Martin Luther King was killed" - Glenn

Robert F. Kennedy, the father of current independent presidential candidate RFK Jr., was en route to Indianapolis when he heard the terrible news. His security team, expecting violent outrage across the country, asked RFK Sr. to turn around and head back to safety. But as Glenn said, RFK Sr. believed in the good in people and demanded to give his speech. He arrived in Indianapolis Park late in the day, and he addressed the crowd of predominantly black campaign supporters.

There were no riots in Indianapolis that night.

The message RFK Sr. gave that night wasn't one of vengeance, hatred, or hopelessness, but of calm and goodness. He appealed to the best in people. He called for people to set aside their differences, anger, fear, and confusion and instead express love and compassion towards one another. RFK Sr. asked for wisdom and the pursuit of justice so that we might be resolute in our unity as the country faces another difficult chapter.

What we need in this country is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another.

Glenn has made a similar plea to our nation—a plea for unity and not to lash out in fear and anger. Don't use this time to blame your friends and family who disagree with you politically for what happened or to tell them "I told you so!" Instead, reach out with compassion and grace. This is a turning point in American history. Let's turn it upward, away from hatred and violence and towards unison and compassion.

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