Republican voter suppression in Wisconsin

The Democratic governor just postponed tomorrow’s primary. Republicans are more concerned about winning than public safety. They don’t want a high voter turnout that would help Democrats. This battle will apply to the national elections, too. It’s going to get ugly. A lot of issues will wind up in the courts.

BREAKING: Wisconsin governor suspends in-person voting in Tuesday’s elections amid escalating coronavirus fears by @amyegardner @eliseviebeck https://t.co/50xL4oxdjD
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) April 6, 2020

"Because in Wisconsin, the GOP would rather endanger people’s lives and have a clusterf_ck election, so long as it gives them a chance at clinging to a piece of government power."@SykesCharlie lays it on the line.https://t.co/IjSYWGVnCE
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 6, 2020

What's happening in Wisconsin right now is a dry run.

If the pandemic is still raging this fall, Republicans in the state will resist making voting safer — to salvage the presidency for Trump — even if it puts lives at risk.@paulwaldman1 and me:https://t.co/ttoxC9Fzaf
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) April 6, 2020

Maybe everything will be back to our normal standards of broken democracy, but what is happening in Wisconsin is a preview of how Republicans will use the pandemic, purges, and rigged courts to steal the election in November. https://t.co/WDhalEw5sX
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) April 6, 2020

position of Wisconsin’s Republican legislature seems to be that a Democrat cannot be governor. https://t.co/CkV9VDBV91
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 6, 2020

1) I just put up a piece explaining what's going on in Wisconsin right now, and holy shit this is about to get chaotic.https://t.co/r7pneRMohx
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) April 6, 2020

It’s very telling that Wisconsin Republicans care more about preserving their conservative majority on state Supreme Court than whether people will die as a result of voting tomorrow
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) April 6, 2020

Opinion: Wisconsin Republicans are exploiting the pandemic to grab power. It’s a dangerous precedent. https://t.co/JBMwvLj0qe
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 6, 2020

This is the Republican Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, who is up for election, telegraphing that he expects his Republican-controlled court to rule against the Democratic governor and prevent the election from being delayed. https://t.co/K69W11UvxB
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) April 6, 2020

BREAKING: Wisconsin @GovEvers halts in-person voting tomorrow and moves election date to June 9.

Absentee ballots that already have been cast will count.

People can continue voting absentee.

In-person voting could occur June 9.#PostponeWisconsin https://t.co/1O4pyNRJEr
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) April 6, 2020

Recent Coronavirus stats

According to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the US, there are at least 486,490 cases of coronavirus in the U.S.; at least 18,002 people have died in the US from coronavirus.

So far on Friday, Johns Hopkins has reported 20,740 new cases and 1,318 reported deaths.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 10, 2020

The undercount of COVID-19 mortality is likely staggering. This are the numbers from NYC over just 5 days in April. https://t.co/CgfTMBqQVW pic.twitter.com/0OFFwp5xa9
— Nikhil Pal Singh (@nikhil_palsingh) April 10, 2020

The real number of deaths is higher—but no one knows by how much. https://t.co/8zxevnXBRJ
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 10, 2020

Columns extending below the midpoint indicate racial/ethnic groups that are underrepresented in coronavirus cases and deaths.

Those extending above, like almost all of the blue ones, are overrepresented. https://t.co/z8MLh3MnVF pic.twitter.com/aancAQaCGi
— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 8, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

Feb. 6: 12
Mar. 6: 332
April 6: 367,507
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 7, 2020

This is interesting (though preliminary). Density is predictive but not *that* predictive of COVID-19 deaths. Socioeconomic status seems to matter more, with areas with more minorities and fewer college graduates suffering a lot more deaths per capita. https://t.co/QD3HWhsiag
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 5, 2020

Reported US coronavirus cases via @CNN:

5 weeks ago: 69 cases
4 weeks ago: 444 cases
3 weeks ago: 2,826 cases
2 weeks ago: 25,740 cases
1 week ago: 121,285 cases
Right now: 311,544 cases
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 5, 2020

In order to be on track for an estimated ~100,000 deaths from coronavirus in the United States, and a peak of ~2,500 deaths per day, the University of Washington model cited by the White House would expect 8.363 total deaths today.

The latest @CNN number is 8,488 deaths.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 5, 2020

The U.S. death toll from the novel coronavirus has jumped to over 8,400 this eveninghttps://t.co/H8OWoXoWIC
— Axios (@axios) April 5, 2020

NEW: Sat 4 April update of coronavirus trajectories

Daily new deaths:
• US about to go clear of Spain for most daily deaths of any country in the world
• UK on steeper trajectory than Italy, which was seen as hardest-hit country worldwide

Live charts: https://t.co/JxVd2cG7KI pic.twitter.com/7chcsW6bYO
— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) April 4, 2020

The growth rate of new US cases is declining a bit, even as test volume has started to increase again. It's pretty decent news and a sign that the impact of social distancing may be starting to show up in the data. https://t.co/b2Ca9NnA76
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 4, 2020

Coronavirus death toll: Americans are almost certainly dying of covid-19 but being left out of the official count https://t.co/9FNs08d4Vb
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 5, 2020

Covers: Nine Pound Hammer

Nine Pound Hammer was written and recorded by country artist Merle Travis (1946) as “”Nine Pound Hammer is Too Heavy”. It is an adaptation of “Take This Hammer”, a prison, logging and railroad worksong. I know it best from John Prine’s 1973 version. I believe the acoustic guitar solo on it is by Steve Goodman.

Here are versions of “Take This Hammer”

The Postal Service could run out of money in June

Republicans don’t want mail in voting because they lose when more people vote. As usual, they will put party interest ahead of the country’s interests.

I spoke with the Postmaster General again today. She could not have been more clear:

The Postal Service will collapse without urgent intervention, and it will happen soon.

We’ve pleaded with the White House to help. @realDonaldTrump personally directed his staff not to do so. https://t.co/5wPQvbA951
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) April 9, 2020

Do you want to read 2,000 words on the US Postal Service this Friday? I've got you covered with an in-depth look at how USPS could run out of money by June without Congress' help, which could seriously harm states' efforts to expand absentee & vote by mail https://t.co/KQ0KNT5BWQ
— Grace Panetta (@grace_panetta) April 3, 2020

U.S. Postal Service could shut down by June without more funding, Democratic lawmakers warn https://t.co/UiGVj9Y6PW pic.twitter.com/QUwPd1ZHfV
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 3, 2020

More than 80 confirmed cases. No masks or hand sanitizer. Understaffed stations working overtime. This is the reality at post offices around the country: an essential service is breaking down just when we need it most. New from me in @thenation: https://t.co/SoHb6zs2Lh
— Jake Bittle (@jake_bittle) March 27, 2020

Financially rescuing the postal service is just as important for voters as Congress passing legislation mandating & funding that states expand mail voting. Some states will switch to greater mail voting without Congress telling them do so, but not if the postal service collapses https://t.co/UsIHgKvoR6
— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) March 31, 2020

If we lose the US Postal Service then America has literally lost its ability to deliver democracy in November. https://t.co/b9EALL0dL7
— Ellen Kurz (@EllenKurz) March 31, 2020

So, apparently not only is the Post Office (@USPS) going to be critical to helping us conduct our vote by mail election this November, it plays a critical role in our nation's pandemic planning – making sure everyone gets a vaccine. https://t.co/2S53Howles
— Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) April 3, 2020

The US Postal Service May Be Gone By June. Necessary Funds Were Not In 2 Trillion Stimulus Package https://t.co/Yh7Iah7ieA
— Denise Oliver-Velez (@Deoliver47) April 2, 2020

Here's a link to a Politico article about it. Keep in mind, Republicans blocked any attempt to correct the problem in the coronavirus relief bill, and even openly mocked Democrats for trying to include a provision for this.https://t.co/FwgtXR2phv
— DCPetterson (@dcpetterson) April 1, 2020

"The November election is now in jeopardy. The best way to ensure it still happens and to try to maintain its integrity is voting by mail. So of course you see the Trump administration trying to shut down the US postal service by July." — @gaslitnation https://t.co/7Njo1IKgTz
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) April 1, 2020

The @USPS is being hit hard by COVID-19. The Postal Service plays a crucial role in providing many people with their only connection to the world outside their home. We must do all we can protect postal workers and ensure that this vital service continues.https://t.co/nEKhwolQaV
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) April 9, 2020

If there is no USPS, there is no vote by mail. https://t.co/AotvD6HeuL
— Lynn Bernstein ✍ (@bernstein_lynn) April 10, 2020

The #USPS is better than a private system because it is obligated to serve ALL AMERICANS. Imagine rural Americans getting left out in the cold for the simple reason that it isn't profitable to deliver where they live.#SaveThePostOffice
— Jason Cook (@jcook092) April 10, 2020

Changing the government to fit Kushner’s spin

Trump and Kushner have abdicated the federal government’s leadership role. They see it as a backup. A government web site was edited to match Kushner’s statements yesterday. Federal leadership is needed and Trump and Kushner are failing to provide it. It is making states compete for supplies.

The Trump administration edited the website of the Strategic National Stockpile a day after a bunch of people pointed out that the website contradicted Jared Kushner. https://t.co/E3rgm4OZwy
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 3, 2020

Kushner thought he flattered himself with this story last night:

friends told Trump NY hospitals needed supplies, Jared called director who specified N95 masks. Jared got some

doctors and hospitals and governors have begged for supplies for weeks

the story shows what’s wrong
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) April 3, 2020

Shocking. His use of the word, "our" , is so wrong. Mr. Kushner and the federal government work for US, citizens of the United States, who also happen to live in states. These masks in the stockpile are OUR masks, paid for by OUR money. https://t.co/l1Z74tuETc
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 3, 2020

A real estate developer with none of the medical expertise of a public health official nor the mobilization experience of a general, Jared Kushner has nonetheless become a key player in the Trump administration's response to the pandemic.https://t.co/tNq5vEpyXk
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 3, 2020

After Jared Kushner’s comment about how the Strategic National Stockpile is not supposed to be for states, lots of people pointed to the fact that its own website says it is.

The language on the website has now been changed.

My screenshot from last night vs. one from today: pic.twitter.com/UwJFAr7uoV
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 3, 2020

A senior government official described the Kushner team's coronavirus response efforts as a "frat party" that descended from a UFO and invaded the federal government.

At one point, the team used FreeConferenceCall-dot-com to arrange high-level meetings.https://t.co/qMZc1GmRUU
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 3, 2020

How fast is the coronavirus growing in specific US metro areas

Great interactive chart

A brilliant set of graphs and a colossal dose of optimism from @UpshotNYT

Brilliant– A+ graphs that focus on US metro areas which are more similar than state/country analysis

Optimism– slowdown in case growth rates, even though testing is increasing https://t.co/dME4IhnD0v
— Amitabh Chandra (@amitabhchandra2) April 3, 2020

One other thing we added is a little box that helps you think about the chart axes, which we know are sort of difficult. They even got the rare @amandacox compliment — "really nice" — which will now have to sustain me for 7 more years pic.twitter.com/PKlOHz0buK
— Kevin Quealy (@KevinQ) April 3, 2020

It may be easier to see by comparing similar cities. In each case, those with the longer shutdowns saved more lives in the short run AND enjoyed greater employment growth in the medium run. pic.twitter.com/A4MA73Ba7P
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) April 3, 2020

Another thing I'm tracking is the US v. Western Europe. We're not publishing this automatically, but it's a useful comparison to the US if you want to move to a larger geography than a metro https://t.co/jQMVcVz7qO
— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) April 3, 2020

Fox viewers are seeing a different story on the coronavirus

They’re going to get sick if they don’t take it seriously. Every governor who hasn’t imposed stay at home restrictions is Republican too.

Three research studies now give devastating weight to what many intuitively knew: That Fox and other pro-Trump media lulled their audiences into not taking coronavirus seriously in the crucial early days. My column, building on @_cingraham's analysis: https://t.co/TIkrLhr67Y
— Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) June 28, 2020

There’s a huge media gap right now btw mainstream coverage and the Trump media, where the biggest story is speculation that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab. This will so likely be a central Trump theme of the coming months, and maybe through the election (1/ pic.twitter.com/5SQUjLSLXI
— Ben Smith (@benyt) April 16, 2020

The Fox 3-Step of Reactionary Politics.
1. Oppose the protective measures that were implemented unevenly and too late.
2. Ignore the fact that those measures saved thousands of lives.
3. Say that such measures were not only unnecessary but are dangerous and counter-productive. https://t.co/GuQ0jr29ve
— Lawrence Glickman (@LarryGlickman) April 13, 2020

63% of those whose who cite Fox News as their main source for political news say President Donald Trump is doing an excellent job in his response to the COVID-19 outbreak – 23% of all U.S. adults say the same https://t.co/fVLRutAwfm pic.twitter.com/0CgsAnHZu1
— Pew Research Journalism (@pewjournalism) April 9, 2020

Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are bracing for public-interest lawsuits over misinformation and conspiracy theories dispensed by certain Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network personalities such as Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Trish Regan. https://t.co/qFtkBeHoTx
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 6, 2020

Six different polls show how Fox’s coronavirus coverage endangered its viewers https://t.co/Dpj6GDXxuE pic.twitter.com/sytvCQqpCO
— Media Matters (@mmfa) April 9, 2020

Eight in 10 Fox News viewers say the media exaggerated the threat from coronavirus as compared to 54% of CNN viewers and just 35% of MSNBC watchers https://t.co/ONqEaogrk0
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) April 2, 2020

Over 70 journalism professors sign letter slamming Fox News as a "danger to public health" https://t.co/WnfDdWHmst pic.twitter.com/yQssLuQU0j
— The Hill (@thehill) April 2, 2020

I hope @FoxNews is sued and found liable for spreading false propoaganda when the facts were known. They should pay millions in healthcare costs. pic.twitter.com/Cxh1l5V5J0
— Stop Trump 🍷 (@StopTrump2020) April 2, 2020

Fox News amplifies this ignoring of facts. Never forget that. The collaboration between Trump and Fox News is death. https://t.co/Fp8tbglP6E
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) April 2, 2020

They simply cannot acknowledge how dire the situation is, and so in a partisan, Fox News-induced stupor, they ignore social distancing and refuse to stay home—all to Make America Great and to own the Libs while putting everyone in danger. That's so MAGA.https://t.co/UA74e5Ynss
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) April 2, 2020

FOR FUCK’S SAKE! How do these @FoxNews @JesseBWatters idiots sleep at night? What bullshit! https://t.co/o4D2OKKsge
— Was A Republican Now NO (@WasARepublican2) April 2, 2020

"An analysis by Media Matters last week found that Fox News had promoted hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a coronavirus cure more than 100 times over three days." https://t.co/6eftlZJou8
— Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) April 2, 2020

Tucker Carlson doesn't think America should let medical experts make coronavirus decisions https://t.co/NTILRs4XsA
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 3, 2020

Despite all my rage I am still just staring at this absolutely fucking insane screenshot all fucking day https://t.co/b0Swj9ii7V
— Matt MEET THE PRESS IS SANCTUARY FOR LIARS Negrin (@MattNegrin) April 3, 2020

After spending weeks downplaying the deadly virus, several Fox News stars are now attempting to gaslight viewers by claiming they sounded the alarms over COVID-19 all along while it was actually the media and Democrats who dismissed ithttps://t.co/8Q6u28YXSF
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 3, 2020

Brian Kilmeade tried to Foxsplain unproven coronavirus drug treatments to Dr. Anthony Fauci. It did not go great. pic.twitter.com/xthBbdJgHT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 3, 2020

She was fired because of this mess, so she’s probably free right now for you to call her and tell her she ‘nailed it’. https://t.co/sUusTfdTv4
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) April 3, 2020

Sue the Murdochs into the ground, please. https://t.co/d0uSonkq3c
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) April 3, 2020

The Murdoch family has blood on their hands. https://t.co/PwRGHv8UG0
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) April 3, 2020

Tucker Carlson on Dr. Fauci: "He has the luxury of looking at the world through the narrow lens of his profession. He doesn't seem to think much outside that lens."
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 4, 2020

The number is now well over 110. Read here, & journalism profs & journalists may sign: https://t.co/g5KVMJwKJG https://t.co/rNIMZAP9rg
— Todd Gitlin (@toddgitlin) April 4, 2020

Washington state nonprofit files lawsuit saying Fox News misled viewers about coronavirus

Anyone else think this will be the only legal action against Fox News?https://t.co/6Opole21XP
— Dave #VoteBlueNoMatterWho (@dwh112655) April 4, 2020

As @seanhannity spreads misinformation, where is Fox News CEO @Suzannescott? Does she not watch his show? Does she not care about how he is deceiving viewers? Or does she not have control over her own talent? pic.twitter.com/k2JI9N3pDr
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 5, 2020

Trump watches Fox. He is influenced by Fox. And he makes decisions based on what he sees on Fox.

So you have to wonder, if Fox had taken coronavirus more seriously in the weeks leading up to the crisis, would Trump have? Would lives have been saved? Hard to conclude otherwise. pic.twitter.com/hsCqu1rcsz
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 5, 2020

"The meeting — which was first reported by The Post and which Fox has declined to confirm — would be an extraordinary breach of ethical standards at most news organizations, which typically prohibit their employees from directly advising public figures." https://t.co/lXRRe7S0S0
— Robert Costa (@costareports) April 11, 2020

Art modified for social distancing

I don’t know who made this but they deserve an award pic.twitter.com/X2loscc8uB
— Jon Brown (@beardandbible) April 1, 2020

Well done, lads. pic.twitter.com/5BjgTM30XX
— Ben Stanley (@BDStanley) March 16, 2020

Biden warned us about the coronavirus pandemic

.⁦@JoeBiden⁩ “wrote an op-ed on January 27 warning that Trump had left the country unprepared to handle the coronavirus outbreak, and proposing steps to counter it.” Key adviser ⁦@RonaldKlain⁩ , wrote similarly 5 days before@jonathanchait⁩ https://t.co/8XcidVyCSX
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) April 2, 2020

Biden, in January:

"coronavirus…will get worse…cases have been confirmed in a dozen countries, w/at least 5 in the US. There will likely be more…shortsighted policies have left us unprepared for a dangerous epidemic that will come sooner or later"https://t.co/lYOEdSz7Sa https://t.co/uD4JIOW6kt
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) April 1, 2020

In January, while Donald Trump was downplaying COVID-19, I wrote an op-ed calling for immediate action to combat the growing threat.

In it, I also said Trump was the worst possible leader to deal with a public health crisis.

I stand by that statement. https://t.co/PH4vF5taDa
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 4, 2020

I've compiled a detailed timeline comparing public statements about coronavirus by @JoeBiden with statements by @realDonaldTrump.

Viewed in one place, the contrast is extraordinary — it's utterly, comprehensively damning to the president.

New piece:https://t.co/OPuiQeBcn6
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) April 6, 2020

What happens when you don’t follow social distancing

Seventy spring breakers from Texas went to Mexico to party in defiance of social distancing guidance. Now 44 of them have tested positive for the coronavirus. ⁦⁦⁦@daveymontgomery⁩ ⁦@mannyNYT⁩ https://t.co/qL1CqhjnAP
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 2, 2020