CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: April 21st

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: 2,498,474 (up from 2,418,980 Yesterday)
  • Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 171,332 (up from 2,197,161 Yesterday)
  • Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 657,808 (up from 633,376 Yesterday)
  • The US has 792,938 Confirmed Cases and 42,518 Deaths, up from 746,265 cases and 40,766 deaths yesterday
  • The US currently has 13,951 people in Serious or Critical Condition, up from 13,336 yesterday
  • The US has now tested 4,027,367 people but still lags behind 36 other countries in terms of testing per capita. US has done less testing per capita than Estonia, Slovenia, Ireland, Aruba and Venezuela...
Iowa Deploys National Guard to Meatpacking Plantshttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/iowa-sends-national-guard-troops-225054924.html
  • The National Guard has been deployed to two meat processing plants in Iowa.
  • After the Smithfield Meats plant was closed in North Dakota last week, workers from Smithfield were apparently hired by JBS National Beef Packing Inc.
  • Tyson Foods also had an outbreak and is closing one of its Iowa-based meat processing plants.
  • The National Guard is expected to help with testing and medical care of workers in an attempt to try to get the food processing plants back online more quickly.
  • Iowa meatpackers produce about 1/3 of the nation's Pork and 15% of all Beef.
  • With the processing plants offline, many Hog farmers may be forced to euthanize hogs. https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/pork-producers-could-kill-hogs-to-offset-losses-from-coronavirus/
  • Even if the FDA buys hogs from farmers, without production plants to slaughter and process the meat, animals would have to be euthanized.
Russia for the Win - West Texas Oil Crashes 300% to Negative $41 per Barrelhttps://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/oil-markets-us-crude-futures-in-focus-as-coronavirus-dents-demand.html, https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/Whats-Next-For-Oil-As-Prices-Go-Negative.html
  • In February, Russia broke with OPEC+ and increased oil production by over 20%, just as demand for oil/gas dropped of a cliff due to COVID-19.
  • Saudi Arabia followed suit and also increased production in an effort to prevent Russia from capturing market share.
  • The Price War resulted in a massive oversupply of oil, even as demand for oil and fuel dropped by over 35% globally.
  • President Trump had negotiated a production decrease of 9 Million Barrels per day between Russia and OPEC+, but that production cut doesn't go into effect until May.
  • In the interim, there is no place to store the excess oil already in the system, so the May futures contracts, for 1000 barrels of oil each, dropped to negative $41/barrel yesterday in intraday trading. Those contracts 'expire' today, meaning the holder of the contract is forced to either take delivery or pay someone else to take/store the oil.
  • The May futures contract had been trading at $64/barrel as recently as late January.
  • June WTI futures are still trading near $20/barrel, down from $68 in January.
Trump to Temporarily Suspend Immigration Into the UShttps://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3080803/trump-says-hell-suspend-immigration-us
  • US President Donald Trump said he will temporarily suspend all immigration to the United States because of the coronavirus outbreak
  • Trump referred to the "Invisible Enemy" in a late-night tweet on Monday, a phrase he has used to describe the virus that has killed more than 42,000 people out of more than 787,370 confirmed infections in the US
  • He said the move would protect Americans' jobs after almost 22 million people in the US were put out of work.
  • "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" Trump tweeted, without providing details.
  • Details are said to be forthcoming, but no word yet on whether H2-A Agricultural Worker visas would be exempt from the immigration ban. About 55% of ag and food production workers in the US come from Mexico on H2-A visas.
  • Industry analysts have warned of potential production disruptions if the more than 2 Million H2-A visas aren't exempted.
New Study From China Indicates Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Strains, Some Deadlier Than Othershttps://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3080771/coronavirus-mutations-affect-deadliness-strains-chinese-study
  • A new study by one of China's top scientists has found the ability of the new coronavirus to mutate has been vastly underestimated and different strains may account for different impacts of the disease in various parts of the world.
  • Professor Li Lanjuan and her colleagues from Zhejiang University found within a small pool of patients many mutations not previously reported. These mutations included changes so rare that scientists had never considered they might occur.
  • They also confirmed for the first time with laboratory evidence that certain mutations could create strains deadlier than others.
  • "Sars-CoV-2 has acquired mutations capable of substantially changing its pathogenicity," Li and her collaborators wrote in a non-peer reviewed paper released on preprint service medRxiv.org on Sunday.
  • The study provided the first hard evidence that mutation could affect how severely the virus caused disease or damage in its host.
  • The most aggressive strains of Sars-COV-2 could generate 270 times as much viral load as the least potent type, the study indicated.
  • New York may have a deadlier strain imported from Europe, compared to less deadly viruses elsewhere in the United States.
  • The various strains may help explain why some outbreak regions are so much worse than others, and may also make vaccine production much more complex, the research study concluded.
A Story of Two Pandemics - Sisters Killed 100 Years Apart https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article242145151.html
  • A 96-year-old Texas woman died from coronavirus last week, more than a century after her older sister died from the Spanish Flu, according to an obituary and media reports.
  • Selma Esther Ryan has lived at an Austin assisted living center for the past three years after previously living in San Antonio.
  • Her daughter, Vicki Spencer, said she got a call April 3 that her mother was sick along with four other residents at the center.
  • "Over the next five days I watched through the window as she got sicker and sicker," Spencer said. "It was so hard to not be with her. Her 96th birthday was April 11. Our family gathered outside her window, but it was obvious that something terrible had happened to her."
  • Her death April 14 came 102 years after her older sister, 5-year-old Esther, died from the Spanish Flu, Selma's obituary states. Esther is one of at least 50 million people who died during the 1918 pandemic.
Many Georgia Businesses Allowed to Reopen This Weekhttps://nypost.com/2020/04/20/many-georgia-businesses-may-reopen-by-friday-tennessee-eyes-next-week/
  • Businesses including Salons, Gyms, Spas, Movie Theaters, Restaurants - including limited dine-in services, and tattoo parlors are among those businesses that will be allowed to reopen.
  • Customers and business owners will still be expected to follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines, including maintaining 6 feet of separation.
  • Businesses will also be required to provide hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations for customers, as well as to frequency disinfect surfaces that may be touched by customers.
  • It is unclear how hygiene and disinfection guidelines will be observed and enforced, if at all.
  • Tennessee also expected to relax business closures by next week.
Swiss Study Finds Damage to Multiple Organs from COVID-19https://www.todayonline.com/world/coronavirus-attacks-lining-blood-vessels-all-over-body-swiss-study-finds
  • COVID-19 attacks the body at all locations that have high ACE-2 cell protein types.
  • ACE-2 cells are found in the lungs and respiratory tract but also found in the Kidneys, Liver, Heart, Gut, Testicles and Brain.
  • COVID-19 appears to prevent blood flow to vital organs by damaging the mico-blood-vessels that feed oxygenated blood to these organs.
  • The study, from the Journal Lancet, looked at cell samples from 119 COVID-19 victims who had succumbed to the virus, as part of an expanded autopsy study.
  • This virus does not only attack the lungs, it attacks the vessels everywhere," said Dr Frank Ruschitzka, an author of the paper from University Hospital Zurich.
  • He said the researchers had found that the deadly virus caused more than pneumonia.
  • "It enters the endothelium [layer of cells], which is the defense line for blood vessels. So it causes severe problems in microcirculation," said Dr Ruschitzka, referring to circulation in the smallest of blood vessels.
  • It then reduces the blood flow to different parts of the body and eventually stops blood circulation, according to Dr Ruschitzka, chairman of the heart center and cardiology department at the university hospital in Switzerland.
  • "From what we do see clinically, patients have problems in all organs — in the heart, kidney, intestine, everywhere," he said.

Was this the most PATRIOTIC Super Bowl yet?

CHANDAN KHANNA / Contributor | Getty Images

The 2025 Super Bowl demonstrated Trump’s vision of a new America.

On Sunday, February 9th, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the biggest sporting event of the year. But this wasn't just a victory for Eagles fans. For those watching, it became apparent that American culture has changed, the zeitgeist has shifted, and America has become cool again. While remnants of woke culture lingered, they felt out of step next to the parade of American Flags and patriotic messaging that dominated the national event. The message was clear: America is back.

Everybody knows that the commercials are the best part of any Super Bowl, and last night's game was no exception. As Glenn has pointed out, while some of the ads still carried woke messages (like Nike's), many more captured the newly kindled patriotism felt nationwide. Here are four of the best commercials from last Sunday that make this the most patriotic Super Bowl yet:

1. Rocket: "Own the Dream"

This touching commercial by the financial services company, Rocket, states "Everyone deserves a shot at the American dream," while showing images of people returning home and building families. The ad included a cover of John Denver's iconic song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and featured an in-stadium sing-along, live from the Super Bowl.

2. Secret Service: "A History of Protection"

Donald Trump made history by being the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, which required the efforts of hundreds of Secret Service agents to ensure his safety. The Secret Service boasted of this feat during their minute-long commercial, which lauded American values and achievements and featured iconic American imagery.

3. Brad Pitt: "Huddle Up"

The Super Bowl introduction celebrated snapshots of American achievement accompanied with a powerful commentary about unity narrated by Brad Pitt. The message is clear: Americans can achieve great things when we work together. The ad conjures up American ideals such as hard work, ingenuity, self-sacrifice, and teamwork.

4. Jeep: "Big Game"

Movie star Harrison Ford appeared in Jeep's Super Bowl commercial to promote freedom and to remind us that "freedom isn't free." Ford treks through the mountains while ruminating on what freedom means in America and the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it.

How Trump is WINNING at the Panama Canal

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

Despite the doubts of the nay-sayers, Trump's Panamanian plans have already borne fruit.

Shortly before his inauguration, President Trump drew national attention to the Panama Canal. He reminded Americans of just how important the canal is for the U.S. and highlighted the Chinese influence that has been slowly taking control of the vital passage ever since America handed it over to Panama.

President Trump was immediately mocked and ridiculed by the Left, who called him delusional and an imperialist. However, earlier this week, Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made a trip to Panama and spoke with the Panamanian President, José Raúl Mulino, and Rubio made some serious headway. As Glenn has explained, Trump's boisterous talk is part of his strategy. Invading Panama was never the goal, just one of several options to get what America needed, and after Rubio's visit, it seems like America's needs will be met.

Here are the TOP THREE takeaways from Marco Rubio's visit to Panama:

1. Marco Rubio makes headway

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

On February 2nd, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha and President José Raúl Mulino where they discussed critical regional and global challenges, including the canal. Rubio drew attention to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal in which the U.S. promised Panama ownership of the canal on the condition of its guaranteed neutrality. Rubio argued that China's growing influence qualified as a breach of the treaty and that it gives the U.S. the power to take necessary measures to rectify the faults, given Panama doesn't act. As of this week, reports say Panama agreed and promised to take immediate action to purge Chinese influence from canal operations.

2. Panama is ditching China's Belt Road

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

After his meeting with Rubio, Panamanian President Mulino agreed that Panama would step away from China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). The BRI is a Chinese effort to establish China as the main economic power in developing nations across the world. In 2017, Panama signed on to this initiative, and China's influence in the small nation has exponentially grown. However, after Rubio's visit, President Mulino has not only stated that Panama will not renew its agreement with China, but moreover, the country will also look for ways to back out of the agreement early. This is a massive win for the Trump Administration and the American people.

3. The Chinese may lose their ports on the canal

MARTIN BERNETTI / Contributor | Getty Images

Shortly after Rubio left Panama City, two lawyers spearheaded the effort to kick out a Chinese company that controls two major ports on the Panama Canal. The Chinese company—CK Hutchison Holdings—has operated one port on both ends of the canal since 1997, which could potentially give China a massive degree of control over traffic. After analyzing the contract, the Panamanian lawyers argue that the contract is potentially in violation of the Panamanian constitution and should be revoked. It is unclear if the constitutional issues relate to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, but even on its own merit, this is a huge victory for America.

Top 15 jobs AI is TAKING OVER

CFOTO / Contributor, VCG / Contributor | Getty Images

The AI takeover has begun.

Last week, Glenn delved into the World Economic Forum's 2025 summit in Davos, where our malevolent overlords focused especially on AI and how it can replace millions of workers worldwide. We are at the precipice of a monumental change in how the world is run—WEF founder Klaus Schwab called it "The Fourth Industrial Revolution"—and in time, AI will augment every one of our lives.

Already, AI is taking jobs. Thousands, if not millions, of tasks are slowly being delegated to it. The affected fields are largely data entry, admin tasks, and clerical work, along with graphic design and some customer support roles. However, as AI becomes more sophisticated, the scope of its abilities will only grow. The WEF is all for it, and last month they released a shocking chart

that revealed what jobs were already feeling the pain. Check out the top 15 jobs that are already disappearing:

1. Postal service clerks

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

2. Bank tellers

JOHANNES EISELE / Staff | Getty Images

3. Data entry clerks

AFP / Staff | Getty Images

4. Cashiers and ticket clerks

Andreas Rentz / Staff | Getty Images

5. Administrative assistants and executive secretaries

6. Printing workers

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

7. Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll clerks

8. Material-recording and stock-keeping clerks

9. Transportation attendants and conductors

10. Door-to-door salesmen

11. Graphic designers

12. Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

13. Legal officials

14. Legal secretaries

15. Telemarketers

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

3 stories that prove USAID is a criminal organization

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Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has one mission—to eliminate government waste—and it's starting with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is a federal agency that, on paper, is responsible for distributing foreign aid to conflict-ridden zones across the world. However, for years, Glenn has revealed that the USAID acts more like a second CIA, but without the regulation or oversight under the State Department. Elon Musk concurred, describing the federal agency as not merely "an apple with a worm in it" but rather "just a ball of worms."

Don't fall for the left's narrative calling USAID a "humanitarian" organization. Here are the top three stories that reveal just how corrupt the USAID really is:

1. USAID has funded terrorist organizations and Osama bin Laden

Ahmad Khateib / Stringer | Getty Images

In 2023, USAID provided "assistance" to nearly 130 countries, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Yemen, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria (which is currently run by a terrorist that received aid from the Obama-era CIA). Under Obama, USAID gave funds to an organization known as the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA), which was known at the time to help finance Jihadist groups and had been labeled by the U.S. Treasury Department as a "terror-financing organization."

The ISRA also funded and gave shelter to the 9/11 mastermind, Osama bin Laden—U.S. taxpayer dollars sent straight to the perpetrator of the deadliest terrorist attack in history and the most lethal attack on U.S. soil.

2. USAID "loses" funds that happen to end up in individuals' pockets

MANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

A recent investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) revealed that in 2016, Chemonics International colluded with a USAID subcontractor to massively overcharge a USAID project to pocket extra funds from the project's bottom line. Moreover, the USAID project used "self-reported" performance metrics, which made it impossible to verify the actual progress of the project and how the funds were being used.

Even the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic has USAID's sticky fingerprints all over it. In 2014, USAID provided $38 million to an EcoHealth Alliance project called "Predict-2." One of the subcontractors, Ben Hu, headed the Wuhan Institute of Virology's gain-of-function research and was one of the first three people infected with COVID-19 in late 2019. That means U.S. taxpayer dollars were likely used to fund the very research that gave rise to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. USAID operates as a second "CIA" with no accountability

Andrew Burton / Staff | Getty Images

The CIA isn't the only agency that meddles in the political inner workings of foreign powers. USAID has conducted similar operations since the 1950s. USAID notoriously sowed dissent in Cuba to grow U.S. influence, and they even taught South American police forces Nazi torture methods. In the late 1990s, 300,000 Peruvian women were forcibly sterilized in a "poverty reduction strategy" that received $35 million in funding from USAID.

More recently, USAID's foreign influence has grown significantly under former Obama adviser, Samantha Power, called USAID America's "soft power arsenal." Under her leadership, the organization meddled in the political affairs of several nations, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, and, Bolivia. Several domestic, left-leaning influence groups, such as the Tides Center, received several grants and aid.