Corona Virus: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

[El Guapo]

https://twitter.com/DataProgress/status ... 7685874688

Isn't the story from *today*? How can they poll that quickly?

(This is because everyone's at home, bored, and willing to respond to any telephone call, isn't it?)

That's a good question. Guessing it must be an online poll, *maybe* telephone. It was shared by Nate Silver, so I assume it's reasonably reputable.

[El Guapo]

Republican Jim Inhofe dumped up to $450,000 in stock — the fourth GOP senator implicated in scandal: report

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/republ ... al-report/

I will say the numbers are at least somewhat incomplete without an assessment of how it differed from their usual trading. I would tend to assume (though it's not out of the question) that Burr selling $1.6 million in stock was unusual. $450,000 might be for Inhofe, though it's hard to say. Also matters whether the sales were directed, or whether they were part of some automatic plan.

I’ll ask this with the caveat that I know absolutely nothing about trading.

It seems like if you sensed a pandemic was possible, you might make a move to liquidate, even without any “insider” information. Wouldn’t it be incredibly hard to prove otherwise?

I mean we all know that being a duplicitous asshole is par for the course these days, so I hardly think there’d be much legal leverage to go after him for him telling the public one thing, then doing something entirely different. They do that every day.

I think the core of the scandal is effectively covering his own ass while throwing the public to the wolves. That there is a potential criminal hook is kind of gravy.

Shows how much I’ve been desensitized to the assholery of politicians. While my first thought was “Wow, that’s a seriously dick move”, it never even occurred to me that there would be any sort of repercussion for it (legal or otherwise).

Democrats would cry foul, GOP would say it’s business as usual, everyone would retreat to their tribal camps, and it would be forgotten. Isn’t that the way it works now?

I think the response so far is a mix of (1) people are angry and scared in general; (2) this is pretty egregious douche-nozzery, even for Republican senators; (3) MAGA-land has its own grudge against Burr; and (4) conservatives can go after Burr (and I think Loeffler) because they'd get GOP replacements.

[Isgrimnur]

Study

Data for Progress conducted a poll of 452 North Carolinian likely voters on 3/19/2020, asking them:

“Various news outlets are reporting that while serving as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Richard Burr received classified briefings about the coronavirus. He then sold 1.6 million dollars in stock before the stock market declined on coronavirus related fears

Democrats claim that Senator Burr unethically used classified briefings to personally profit, while publicly claiming there was nothing to worry about. They call on Senator Burr to resign over this behavior. Republicans say that this is simply a partisan attack against the senator. They say that Burr's sale came before the stock market began to show signs of strain and was properly disclosed according to the law. Do you think Senator Richard Burr should resign or not?“

[LawBeefaroni]

Republican Jim Inhofe dumped up to $450,000 in stock — the fourth GOP senator implicated in scandal: report

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/republ ... al-report/

I will say the numbers are at least somewhat incomplete without an assessment of how it differed from their usual trading. I would tend to assume (though it's not out of the question) that Burr selling $1.6 million in stock was unusual. $450,000 might be for Inhofe, though it's hard to say. Also matters whether the sales were directed, or whether they were part of some automatic plan.

I’ll ask this with the caveat that I know absolutely nothing about trading.

It seems like if you sensed a pandemic was possible, you might make a move to liquidate, even without any “insider” information. Wouldn’t it be incredibly hard to prove otherwise?

I mean we all know that being a duplicitous asshole is par for the course these days, so I hardly think there’d be much legal leverage to go after him for him telling the public one thing, then doing something entirely different. They do that every day.

You cannot trade on insider information. As a government official you cannot trade on information not available to the public and certainly not on information learned as part of a Congressional briefing. What makes it even worse is that they were dumping stock wholile downplaying the risk. Essentially manipulating the market to allow their insider exit. If they came out and said, "I just learned this shit is really really bad" and then instantly sold, less of a legal and ethical issue.

[Daehawk]

I thought this story was fake since its Fox but other sites say the same. its not tests just swabs.

Air Force flew 500,000 coronavirus test swabs from Italy to Tennessee

[DOS=HIGH]

Will Fox really broadcast this ad during Fox & Friends?

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/ ... 9729783808

[Blackhawk]

Republicans. Republicans never change.

But the checks will shrink for both low- and high-earners. Americans with little-to-no tax liability—aka, poor folks—will only receive a minimum payment of $600, unless they earned less than $2,500, in which case they get zilch. My early reading of the bill is that low-wage workers who simply don’t file federal tax returns—adults generally aren’t required if they earn less than the standard deduction—also won’t qualify.

It isn't just low wage workers who don't file, it is anybody on disability, as disability isn't taxable. In other words, me.

[Alefroth]

On the other hand, how does NC replace its senators? I know NC has a democratic governor now. But even if they hold a special election, a special election in NC wouldn't be a gimme for the GOP, especially now.

Appointed by governor but must be of same political party of the senator leaving.

Ah. So yeah, they're free to throw Burr to the wolves. With the caveat that it would be a democrat picking Burr's Republican successor, so that's a bit of a wild card / risk.

It'd be sweet justice if a Democrat switched to Republican just to get the appointment.

[Kraken]

Republicans. Republicans never change.

But the checks will shrink for both low- and high-earners. Americans with little-to-no tax liability—aka, poor folks—will only receive a minimum payment of $600, unless they earned less than $2,500, in which case they get zilch. My early reading of the bill is that low-wage workers who simply don’t file federal tax returns—adults generally aren’t required if they earn less than the standard deduction—also won’t qualify.

It isn't just low wage workers who don't file, it is anybody on disability, as disability isn't taxable. In other words, me.

In other other words, everybody who needs it the most. But let's see what actually passes before we twist our knickers.

[LawBeefaroni]

They're trying to sell it as a stimulus. WTF, half the businesses are closed. They won't see a dime of any stimulus.

They need to give out lifelines, not discretionary spending money. $500/month to anyone making under $75K (including $0 income individuals and those on disability) and an extra $500 to anyone who lost a job. $250 for each kid.





By the way, the rationale for not giving to anyone on disability or low to no income is that nothing changed for those individuals. No jobs lost. It's off the mark bullshit but that's the rationale so others can sleep at night.

[Daehawk]

Thats totally ignoring any economy help that giving disabled money would help. It would allow us to actually use some money to buy something with. Those idiots.

Does someone earning $75,000 actually need $1,200 dollars over someone with under $12,000 income?

[stessier]

So this is the tax rebate idea. Think about what you got back in taxes this year and then subtract this payment from it... that is next year's return. If they give me this, i'm not spending it until next year as part of my normal plan.

[malchior]

Republicans. Republicans never change.

But the checks will shrink for both low- and high-earners. Americans with little-to-no tax liability—aka, poor folks—will only receive a minimum payment of $600, unless they earned less than $2,500, in which case they get zilch. My early reading of the bill is that low-wage workers who simply don’t file federal tax returns—adults generally aren’t required if they earn less than the standard deduction—also won’t qualify.

It isn't just low wage workers who don't file, it is anybody on disability, as disability isn't taxable. In other words, me.

In other other words, everybody who needs it the most. But let's see what actually passes before we twist our knickers.

Yeah. Hopefully this is just them staking out a negotiating position. My real concern is that they are still deeply rooted in their supply side bullshit. This is a demand side collapse.

[malchior]

We are broken Covid-19 edition. Apparently getting on TV daily to badmouth and babble is leadership nowadays.

https://mobile.twitter.com/atrupar/stat ... 3579071488

[LawBeefaroni]

Thats totally ignoring any economy help that giving disabled money would help. It would allow us to actually use some money to buy something with. Those idiots.

Does someone earning $75,000 actually need $1,200 dollars over someone with under $12,000 income?

There shouldn't be a needs test below a certain threshold. Someone making $75K in a large city who just lost their job is not in great shape. They have likely lost $50K+ in income and need that lifeline as much as someone making $12K. Dithering over the specifics of who gets how much is not what we need right now.

[raydude]

Ugh, I have to quit facebook for a while. I got into it with my aunt, who supports the President and his "response" - especially the one where Trump says everyone should "pray the virus away". I posted the graphic showing Trump's tweets along with the number of confirmed cases, showing how he said everything was fine until it clearly wasn't.

Her response: I'm glad he did.
I couldn't help myself and responded: Oh yeah, so more people can die.

Fucking I am so mad that people I know are so fucking stupid sometimes. And not only stupid but willfully stupid!

[LawBeefaroni]

Ugh, I have to quit facebook for a while. I got into it with my aunt, who supports the President and his "response" - especially the one where Trump says everyone should "pray the virus away". I posted the graphic showing Trump's tweets along with the number of confirmed cases, showing how he said everything was fine until it clearly wasn't.

Her response: I'm glad he did.
I couldn't help myself and responded: Oh yeah, so more people can die.

Fucking I am so mad that people I know are so fucking stupid sometimes. And not only stupid but willfully stupid!

Wait until the line that he tried to stop this when he tried to ban "shithole countries". Pretty sure that's where the "China Virus" narrative is going

[Paingod]

Thats totally ignoring any economy help that giving disabled money would help. It would allow us to actually use some money to buy something with. Those idiots.

Does someone earning $75,000 actually need $1,200 dollars over someone with under $12,000 income?

There shouldn't be a needs test below a certain threshold. Someone making $75K in a large city who just lost their job is not in great shape. They have likely lost $50K+ in income and need that lifeline as much as someone making $12K. Dithering over the specifics of who gets how much is not what we need right now.

A millionaire won't need $1,200 either. Won't even notice it. This is the fastest way to get money to everyone, though. Trying to tangle logistics into it will make it too political and drag it out. Our family doesn't need an extra $3,400. Yet. We're banking it when it comes in just in case things get worse. My wife and I have entered a seriously "low power" mode in our lives now. No unnecessary spending, travel, or other purchases. Life essentials and bills only.

[$iljanus]

A little something for everyone today. Where's my lab test nerd crew? $iljanus? A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in humans:

These assays were developed with negative control samples representing pre-COVID 19 background immunity in the general population and samples from COVID19 patients. Results: The assays are sensitive and specific, allowing for screening and identification of COVID19 seroconverters using human plasma/serum as early as 3 days post symptom onset. Importantly, these assays do not require handling of infectious virus, can be adjusted to detect different antibody types and are amendable to scaling. Conclusion: Serological assays are of critical importance to determine seroprevalence in a given population, define previous exposure and identify highly reactive human donors for the generation of convalescent serum as therapeutic. Sensitive and specific identification of coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 antibody titers will also support screening of health care workers to identify those who are already immune and can be deployed to care for infected patients minimizing the risk of viral spread to colleagues and other patients.

Created by a multi-national team. So I guess Trump will be taking credit for it tomorrow?

Ahhh, my physician wife heard that they are trying to come up with a test to screen for antibody titers after Covid-19 exposure. You certainly can have high thruput with an ELISA assay due to the colormetric nature of the assay which can be done in multi well plates. I've done a ton of them and the diagnostic kits in screening labs are probably much faster. Would want to know when Ig (immunoglobulin) levels peak after a person is infected, more specifically if you're asymptomatic is there a detectable rise in IgG/IgM levels? With a PCR based assay you're detecting actual virus vs reaction to the virus but if the production of antibodies starts to ramp up soon after infection it can be a useful screen. If there's a long lag between infection and Ig buildup you could be testing in a window that would miss a positive case. I'm sure the authors will address it and I'm off to read the preprint.

At the least if you've been exposed and recovered you should have increased Ig titers and can reasonably be classified as immune which can allow you to safely interact with society again, making this a useful tool.

[El Guapo]

A little something for everyone today. Where's my lab test nerd crew? $iljanus? A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in humans:

These assays were developed with negative control samples representing pre-COVID 19 background immunity in the general population and samples from COVID19 patients. Results: The assays are sensitive and specific, allowing for screening and identification of COVID19 seroconverters using human plasma/serum as early as 3 days post symptom onset. Importantly, these assays do not require handling of infectious virus, can be adjusted to detect different antibody types and are amendable to scaling. Conclusion: Serological assays are of critical importance to determine seroprevalence in a given population, define previous exposure and identify highly reactive human donors for the generation of convalescent serum as therapeutic. Sensitive and specific identification of coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 antibody titers will also support screening of health care workers to identify those who are already immune and can be deployed to care for infected patients minimizing the risk of viral spread to colleagues and other patients.

Created by a multi-national team. So I guess Trump will be taking credit for it tomorrow?

Ahhh, my physician wife heard that they are trying to come up with a test to screen for antibody titers after Covid-19 exposure. You certainly can have high thruput with an ELISA assay due to the colormetric nature of the assay which can be done in multi well plates. I've done a ton of them and the diagnostic kits in screening labs are probably much faster. Would want to know when Ig (immunoglobulin) levels peak after a person is infected, more specifically if you're asymptomatic is there a detectable rise in IgG/IgM levels? With a PCR based assay you're detecting actual virus vs reaction to the virus but if the production of antibodies starts to ramp up soon after infection it can be a useful screen. If there's a long lag between infection and Ig buildup you could be testing in a window that would miss a positive case. I'm sure the authors will address it and I'm off to read the preprint.

At the least if you've been exposed and recovered you should have increased Ig titers and can reasonably be classified as immune which can allow you to safely interact with society again, making this a useful tool.

I was just about to say the same thing.

[Blackhawk]

In other other words, everybody who needs it the most. But let's see what actually passes before we twist our knickers.

It's hard not to twist when your ability to pay the rent is McConnell's latest power play.

[$iljanus]

A little something for everyone today. Where's my lab test nerd crew? $iljanus? A serological assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in humans:

These assays were developed with negative control samples representing pre-COVID 19 background immunity in the general population and samples from COVID19 patients. Results: The assays are sensitive and specific, allowing for screening and identification of COVID19 seroconverters using human plasma/serum as early as 3 days post symptom onset. Importantly, these assays do not require handling of infectious virus, can be adjusted to detect different antibody types and are amendable to scaling. Conclusion: Serological assays are of critical importance to determine seroprevalence in a given population, define previous exposure and identify highly reactive human donors for the generation of convalescent serum as therapeutic. Sensitive and specific identification of coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 antibody titers will also support screening of health care workers to identify those who are already immune and can be deployed to care for infected patients minimizing the risk of viral spread to colleagues and other patients.

Created by a multi-national team. So I guess Trump will be taking credit for it tomorrow?

You would also need to draw blood for serum collection. Not optimal for drive by screening but certainly reasonable if you've been admitted due to symptoms or at your doctor's office for symptoms especially if there's a lack of nasal swabs.

I'd say, if you're exhibiting symptoms this is a reasonable approach. If just exposed but asymptomatic PCR would be a good approach.

This will also be very useful for analysis of the kinetics (if I’m using this correctly) of the disease. Are there differences in specific antibody titers and patient recovery? Do asymptomatic people have high titers that are perhaps protective? I’ve also been reading about researchers looking into serum transfusions from recovered individuals to patients. If high antibody titers are protective can the protection be transferred to critically ill Covid-19 patients to aid recovery?

[Holman]

On the other hand, how does NC replace its senators? I know NC has a democratic governor now. But even if they hold a special election, a special election in NC wouldn't be a gimme for the GOP, especially now.

Appointed by governor but must be of same political party of the senator leaving.

Ah. So yeah, they're free to throw Burr to the wolves. With the caveat that it would be a democrat picking Burr's Republican successor, so that's a bit of a wild card / risk.

I don't know the rules in Wisconsin, but Ron Johnson is also coming under scrutiny for insider trading, and the governor is a Democrat.

[El Guapo]

On the other hand, how does NC replace its senators? I know NC has a democratic governor now. But even if they hold a special election, a special election in NC wouldn't be a gimme for the GOP, especially now.

Appointed by governor but must be of same political party of the senator leaving.

Ah. So yeah, they're free to throw Burr to the wolves. With the caveat that it would be a democrat picking Burr's Republican successor, so that's a bit of a wild card / risk.

I don't know the rules in Wisconsin, but Ron Johnson is also coming under scrutiny for insider trading, and the governor is a Democrat.

I've read that Johnson has a much more facially plausible explanation for his trading - it was materially smaller, and linked to the sale of a family business, or something like that.

But regardless, there is a 0% chance of leading Republican figures calling for Johnson to resign.

[Defiant]

You would think more politicians would have their things put in a blind trust.

[El Guapo]

You would think more politicians would have their things put in a blind trust.

The thing is, that makes it way harder to do insider trading and to be generally corrupt.

[Kraken]

So this is the tax rebate idea. Think about what you got back in taxes this year and then subtract this payment from it... that is next year's return. If they give me this, i'm not spending it until next year as part of my normal plan.

So it reduces my next refund? What refund??? Definitely going to have to bank it.

I agree that this money should be heavily targeted at the lowest quintile, who will spend 100% of it.

Thats totally ignoring any economy help that giving disabled money would help. It would allow us to actually use some money to buy something with. Those idiots.

Does someone earning $75,000 actually need $1,200 dollars over someone with under $12,000 income?

There shouldn't be a needs test below a certain threshold. Someone making $75K in a large city who just lost their job is not in great shape. They have likely lost $50K+ in income and need that lifeline as much as someone making $12K. Dithering over the specifics of who gets how much is not what we need right now.

The median rent on a 2BR apartment in Boston is $2,000. Someone earning $75k is probably paying less than that, but it's still barely a month's rent, if that.

[pr0ner]

https://twitter.com/smotus/status/1241003815790247936

[Holman]

I've read that Johnson has a much more facially plausible explanation for his trading - it was materially smaller, and linked to the sale of a family business, or something like that.

But regardless, there is a 0% chance of leading Republican figures calling for Johnson to resign.

Yeah, the story has been developing all day, and Johnson's case now seems benign. In short, the privately-held trades he was making would have to have been put in motion several weeks before the congressional briefings.

Fun hashtag trending: #Burrisma

[pr0ner]

https://twitter.com/EliStokols/status/1 ... 4608769026

[malchior]

He called Pompeo the Secretary of the “Deep State Department”. He is a serious, serious man.

[Unagi]

My sources are telling me that Pritzker (Illinois) will be announcing a Shelter In Place, today at 3:00.

[Paingod]

Trump, live, telling people "Tens of Thousands" of people each day are getting tested. Smells like bullshit.

I couldn't keep watching. It's infuriating. I wanted to punch my monitor when I heard him mutter "We inherited an obsolete deal and we made a good thing out of it..." like the state of our CDC response is the fault of Obama, from FOUR YEARS AGO, when Trump's the one who canned the pandemic chiefs and has had years to plan - if he had any people around him with brains. It's outrageous that he still wants to blame everyone else. I desperately want a President who can take responsibility for things. Anything.

[morlac]

Thats totally ignoring any economy help that giving disabled money would help. It would allow us to actually use some money to buy something with. Those idiots.

Does someone earning $75,000 actually need $1,200 dollars over someone with under $12,000 income?

There shouldn't be a needs test below a certain threshold. Someone making $75K in a large city who just lost their job is not in great shape. They have likely lost $50K+ in income and need that lifeline as much as someone making $12K. Dithering over the specifics of who gets how much is not what we need right now.

My nephew who makes $13 an hour has more disposable income than i do sometimes because he qualifies for basically free healthcare, owns nothing, an has no dependents. I throw up every time I compare his medical expenses out of pocket vs Mine.

[malchior]

Trump, live, telling people "Tens of Thousands" of people are getting tested. Smells like bullshit.

I couldn't keep watching. It's infuriating. I wanted to punch my monitor when I heard him mutter "We inherited an obsolete deal and we made a good thing out of it..." like the state of our CDC response is the fault of Obama, from FOUR YEARS AGO, when Trump's the one who canned the pandemic chiefs and has had years to plan - if he had any people around him with brains. It's outrageous that he still wants to blame everyone else. I desperately want a President who can take responsibility for things. Anything.

I want to flip a table when this pile of shit speaks. His people including Bolton FUCKED THIS UP. Here are the facts.

Fact: They ran a pandemic table top at the very end of the Obama administration that identified many of these risks (source: Jeh Johnson)

Fact: The administration reviewed the National Security Council under John Bolton and choose to 'stream line' it by folding the Pandemic office into a new function the 'counterproliferation and biodefense directorate' (source: Trump acknowledged it at a contemporaneous press conference)

Fact: That re-organization was evaluated by 6 members of Congress, health experts, and former military leadership and they recommended *one month* before the COVID-19 outbreak that health leadership needed to be restored. The reorganization has diminished its influence inside the NSC. (source: CSIS report)

The story is all there. We'll need a commission when this is over to do an after action but my early hypothesis would be that this will all flow to the GOP having anti-government dogma, did not understand the risk of infectious disease versus other risks, and was led by the most incompetent President in the history of the United States.

[Daehawk]

Not getting a stimulus for not paying income tax is insulting and in my case totally BS. I still pay property tax each year for hundreds of dollars. Every time I buy anything at all in town...food, materials....anything I pay 10 cents on the dollar. But I am in a way deserving of that money because Ive been disabled from the time I was a kid. Im not receiving free money Im drawing off my dad's social security not mine not someone elses..my father's. He paid SS and income tax to have that.

I think they should simply make it simple and easy and give everyone that $1200 that have under $75,000 income no matter what.

EDIT to add it would help me stock up. I usually dont quite have enough to get me through a month. The extra would help me buy gas to keep going and trying to find things and if find them stock up on them. I ran though all I had 2 weeks early by trying to stock up on some things. Also because of the virus Im not going to go sit in a room with 20 other people waiting for a free bag of food so Im down another bit there. If nothing else I could order some of the over priced items online that I never buy there because the yare in stock and come to my home. See what a mess this all is when ya live on the edge or past it?

[stessier]

Not getting a stimulus for not paying income tax is insulting and in my case totally BS. I still pay property tax each year for hundreds of dollars. Every time I buy anything at all in town...food, materials....anything I pay 10 cents on the dollar. But I am in a way deserving of that money because Ive been disabled from the time I was a kid. Im not receiving free money Im drawing off my dad's social security not mine not someone elses..my father's. He paid SS and income tax to have that.

I think they should simply make it simple and easy and give everyone that $1200 that have under $75,000 income no matter what.

I absolutely agree you deserve to be included in the help, but 1) that's not how Social Security works, and 2) those taxes you paid are state, not federal, so the Feds can't give them back to you in the form of this stimulus.

[Daehawk]

Not getting a stimulus for not paying income tax is insulting and in my case totally BS. I still pay property tax each year for hundreds of dollars. Every time I buy anything at all in town...food, materials....anything I pay 10 cents on the dollar. But I am in a way deserving of that money because Ive been disabled from the time I was a kid. Im not receiving free money Im drawing off my dad's social security not mine not someone elses..my father's. He paid SS and income tax to have that.

I think they should simply make it simple and easy and give everyone that $1200 that have under $75,000 income no matter what.

I absolutely agree you deserve to be included in the help, but 1) that's not how Social Security works, and 2) those taxes you paid are state, not federal, so the Feds can't give them back to you in the form of this stimulus.

My dad sure paid the feds. Its him I draw from.

[Holman]

https://twitter.com/poniewozik/status/1 ... 07523?s=20

I wonder how long Fauci's got before Jared gets his job.

[stessier]

Fauci's ability to contain his smile is extremely impressive.