Tuesday, April 14th, 2020
Treatment Drug Debate, Bernie Backs Biden & Live Wrestling Returns
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.MagicSpoon.com/newsworthy
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...
Reopening the U.S. & COVID-19 Testing
Some states are making plans for how and when they’ll decide to reopen the economy. Seven governors on the East Coast and three governors on the West Coast have formed committees, so states can work with one another. Both groups say they’ll use metrics to guide reopening, but it seems President Trump doesn’t approve. He said multiple times yesterday he is the ultimate decision-maker. But that’s reportedly not true, since under the constitution, only states have the power to shut down or reopen themselves.
The CDC director says it should be based on testing. He told NBC News blood tests will help us know who might be immune to the virus. That said, there are some concerns with those tests. Without strict oversight, they might not be as accurate as they should be.
Rutgers reportedly received FDA authorization to start using a new type of diagnostic test. It uses saliva to get results. It’s said to be just as accurate as the traditional swab test, but safer for healthcare workers to avoid getting infected.
States vs. Trump: NY Times, AP, Axios
Antibody Testing: NBC News, Politico, CNN
New Saliva Test: FDA, Rutgers, The Hill, AP
Coronavirus Spread
People have now died from the new coronavirus in all 50 states. Wyoming was the last state, but it recorded its first death yesterday. Still, there is reason to be optimistic. New York’s governor said “the worst is over,” but that will only be true if people keep staying home. The CDC released a study that relied on data from smartphones in New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. It suggested people in those cities followed social distancing guidelines last month, which may have helped ensure the rest of the country isn’t hit quite as hard as New York.
Case Count/Death Toll: Johns Hopkins
First Wyoming Death: Casper Star-Tribune, The Hill
Fewer Hot Spots Emerging: AP, WaPo, CDC
Treatment Drug Debate
Scientists testing whether two certain drugs have the ability to treat COVID-19 are running into new complications. President Trump has promoted those medicines -- chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine -- during media briefings. There were some early signs they helped patients recover. Now, some American hospitals that had been using the drugs are dropping them, and American cardiology groups have told doctors to be aware of “serious implications” for patients with cardiovascular disease. In Brazil, a small study was called off for safety reasons. Both drugs have been used for decades to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Read More: LA Times, WaPo, CNN, NY Times
Severe Weather Outbreak
The past two days brought devastating severe storms to the southeastern United States. They spawned several tornadoes, heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and mudslides. In total, there were more than a thousand severe weather reports across the U.S. Sunday and Monday combined. More than 30 people died in six states. The destruction path was so widespread, it will take surveyors a few days to measure the true extent of the damage.
Read More: Accuweather, AP, WaPo, Twitter
Bernie Backs Biden
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has now endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president. Sanders made the announcement less than a week after dropping out of the race himself. Biden is the last Democrat in the race, so he’s the party’s presumptive nominee. By the way, Biden claimed victory in Wisconsin’s Democratic presidential primary. He scored 63% of the vote and Sanders got 31%.
Sanders Endorses Biden: The Hill, AP
Wisconsin Primary Results: CBS News, NBC News
Supreme Court Resumes
The U.S. Supreme Court is going virtual during the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time ever, oral arguments will be heard via teleconference. Starting next month, Justices will weigh their cases remotely. They'll hear ten cases over six days in early May. Three of them focus on access to President Trump’s financial records. Audio of the arguments will stream live. CSPAN will broadcast them too.
Read More: Washington Post, Press Release, The Hill, Newsweek
Congress & Census
The U.S. House is avoiding getting together in Washington D.C. until at least May 4. At this point, the U.S. Senate still plans to return next week, on April 20.
The U.S. Census Bureau is hoping for extra time to provide results, asking Congress to delay deadlines by about four months. President Trump says they may need even more time. Remember, you don’t need to go anywhere to fill out your census. You can complete it online, by phone, or by mail.
House Pushes Back Return: CNBC, CNN
Census Bureau Requests Delay: Politico, FOX News, 2020Census.gov
Grocery Delivery Changes
Amazon is starting to scale back. For the time being, you have to be a loyal online customer to order Amazon Fresh for delivery or get pickup at Whole Foods. New customers will be waitlisted. Amazon is hoping more slots will become available once more people get hired. The company is also hiring another 75,000 people on top of the 100,000 it hired in the last month. Meanwhile, Walmart has been hiring about 5,000 workers a day, and Kroger plans to bring on 20,000 people over the next several weeks.
Amazon Waitlisting: Reuters, Mashable, CNN, Press Release
Store Hiring Sprees: WSJ, The Verge, Gizmodo, Press Release
WWE "Essential Business"
In Florida, WWE is now considered an “essential business.” The governor’s office made the call, making it exempt from the state’s stay-at-home order. It has continued to record shows in Orlando, but it just resumed live shows last night. However, fans weren’t allowed to attend in-person, and they won’t be until the state reopens.
Read More: ESPN, CBS Sports
Entertainment: Drake & Sesame Street
Drake has made history as the first male artist to have debuted three songs at number one on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart. That’s thanks to his latest single, “Toosie Slide,” which went straight to the top.
Also, Sesame Street is broadcasting a unique event for kids today. It’s a half-hour special hosted by Elmo and celebrities. They’ll sing, dance and celebrate frontline workers responding to the coronavirus pandemic. “Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate” will air tonight at 7 p.m. ET.
Drake Makes History: CNN, Billboard
Elmo’s Playdate: People, Deadline, Sesame Workshop