Year: 2020

When American companies recently applied for U.S. government loans meant to help small businesses survive the coronavirus crisis, they had to certify they needed the cash to cover basic needs like salaries and rent. The […]

U.S. Faces Great Depression-Like Job Losses, Unemployment Rate

The U.S. economy likely lost a staggering 22 million jobs in April, in what would be the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression and the starkest sign yet of how the novel coronavirus […]

Justice Department Moves to Drop Case Against Trump Ex-Adviser Flynn

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday abruptly asked a judge to drop criminal charges against Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn following mounting pressure from the Republican president and his political allies on […]

China, South Korea Report New Virus Cases

China and South Korea both reported more coronavirus infections Friday after reopening economies damaged by devastating outbreaks. Around the globe, governments are opting to accept the risks of easing pandemic-fighting restrictions that left huge numbers […]

Trump, Pence Test Negative After White House Valet Contracts Virus

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative for the novel coronavirus after a member of the U.S. military who works at the White House as a valet came down with the […]

Steve Scalise to be Top Republican on New Coronavirus Committee

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy requested GOP Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., to head the Republicans on the new House Coronavirus select committee, saying the GOP will fight any effort by Democrats to launch “impeachment 2.0” against President Donald Trump, Fox […]

House Republicans to Launch China Task Force amid Growing Scrutiny over Coronavirus Response

House Republicans on Thursday is set to initiate a “China Task Force” to coordinate a strategy against the geopolitical threat from Beijing, coming amid global scrutiny over China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, Fox News informed. The Washington […]

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Allegation Against Biden – Generic Congressional Vote – Coronavirus Ratings

May 7, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, May 7, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Up 1 from Tuesday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on six polls, ranging from 42% (Politico) to 49% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

DOJ Publishes Long-awaited Mueller Scope Memo, Revealing Probe Went Beyond Previously Known Mandate

The Justice Department on Wednesday published an unredacted version of then-Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s August 2017 “scope memo” outlining the authority of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller — and the document mentions for the first time […]

Musk Now in Line for a $720 Million Payday

Tesla shares are up 86% so far this year, which means CEO Elon Musk just qualified for stock options worth more than $700 million, CNN reported. Musk, who already owns about 20% of the company, […]

Foreigners on the Frontlines of Pandemic in Arab Gulf States

The global pandemic has drawn attention to just how vital foreigners are to the Arab Gulf countries where they work, particularly as countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman expel foreigners from certain sectors to […]

Coronavirus Spread Swiftly Around World From Late 2019, Study Shows

A genetic study of samples from more than 7,500 people infected with COVID-19 suggests the new coronavirus spread quickly around the world after it emerged in China sometime between October and December last year, scientists […]

Detained American Claims He Plotted Maduro’s Capture

A former U.S. soldier captured in Venezuela said on Wednesday that he had been contracted by a Florida security firm to seize control of Caracas’ airport and bring in a plane to fly President Nicolas […]

Trump Administration Shelves CDC Guide to Reopening Country

A detailed report created by the nation’s top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places such as mass transit, day care centers and restaurants […]

U.S. Unemployment Increases as Coronavirus Restrictions Bite

Millions more Americans likely sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting a broadening of layoffs from consumer facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country […]

Trump Vetoes Iran War Powers Resolution

President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed legislation passed by both houses of Congress to limit a president’s ability to wage war against Iran, as Trump wages a campaign of maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic, […]

Canadian Doctor Fighting COVID19 in NYC Denied Green Card

A doctor that was born in Canada and now is on the frontline treating U.S. coronavirus patients was not allowed permanent status in the country due to President Donald Trump’s move against immigration during the […]

Judge Reinstates New York Presidential Primary

A U.S. judge has reinstated a presidential primary canceled last week by New York state, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, over concerns that voting would have been an unnecessary risk, Reuters writes. Former Vice […]

Facility Near Pyongyang Airport Connected to North Korea’s Missile Programme

A new facility near Pyongyang International Airport is almost certainly linked to North Korea’s expanding ballistic missile programme, according to a report from a Washington-based think-tank, Reuters reported. The Center for Strategic and International Studies […]

Trump Better Suited for Economy, Coronavirus Response Than Biden, Poll Shows

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s advantage over President Donald Trump in popular support has eroded in recent weeks as the former Vice President struggles for visibility with voters during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a […]

Trump Administration Drafting ‘Artemis Accords’ Pact for Moon Mining

The Trump administration is drafting a legal blueprint for mining on the moon under a new U.S.-sponsored international agreement called the Artemis Accords, people familiar with the proposed pact told Reuters. The agreement would be […]

NYC’s Subways Shut Down for Virus Cleaning

New York City’s subway system went silent in the early morning hours of Wednesday, as part of a plan for the normally round-the-clock system to shut down for train cleaning, The Associated Press reports. The […]

UN Leader Says People With Disabilities Hard Hit by Virus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world’s 1 billion people living with disabilities are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus and called for them to have equal access to prevention and treatment of COVID-19, […]

Trump Denies Ties to Venezuelan Attack With Two U.S. Citizens Jailed

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington had nothing to do with an alleged incursion into Venezuela that landed two U.S. citizens behind bars in the crisis-stricken South American nation, The Associated Press reported. Trump […]

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Picking a VP – World Leaders Rated – Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas – Tuesday Trivia

May 5, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Tuesday, May 5, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%Same as Thursday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 41% (Emerson) to 46% (Rasmussen). Without these extremes […]

Tom Cruise, NASA, SpaceX to Make Movie in Space

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Tuesday that the space agency is working with Tom Cruise to create a film aboard the International Space Station. “We need popular media to inspire a new generation of […]

FBI, DHS Warns Russia May Try to Infiltrate U.S. 2020 Presidential Campaigns

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned officials to increase security and to do additional checks for possible Russian operatives appearing as political advisers working in U.S. politics for the upcoming […]

NYC Mayor de Blasio Accuses Trump of ‘Stabbing his Hometown in the Back’ over Bailouts

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday called President Donald Trump a “hypocrite” who “seems to enjoy stabbing his hometown in the back” after Trump rejected the idea of coronavirus bailouts for the hardest-hit states, which […]

FBI Issues Statement Defending Wray’s Leadership after GOP Criticism

The FB defended Director Christopher Wray in a written statement after recent accusations that he was not quick enough to release evidence of wrongdoing under the bureau’s previous leadership in the former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s […]

Another 1,700 Virus Deaths Reported in NY Nursing Homes

New York state is reporting more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities as the state faces scrutiny over how it’s protected vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated […]