TCB Edition 47 - 05/08/20
States begin to ease restrictions, China faces international pressure, and Biden's accuser speaks out.
Friday, May 8th, 2020
USA: Lockdowns, China, and Tara Reade
1. Governors start to reopen sectors of states
Over 1,223,468 Americans have now tested positive for Covid-19, and at least 73,039 have passed away. These numbers are by far the highest in the world, but America has less cases per capita than most European countries. Most of the data from the past few weeks shows that the curve has effectively been flattened, as cases and causalities in most areas of the nation have flat lined or diminished. The original goal of the stay-at-home orders and the nationwide lockdown was to spread out the influx of cases, as to allow the health care system time to prepare. That was successful, so governors and local officials around the country are looking to begin the reopening of their states. Some governors are viewing the lockdown from a different angle: they refuse to reopen the economy until cases are significantly lower. This is not a sustainable solution supported by science. We simply cannot continue to lock down large portions of the nation until a vaccine comes, as multitudes of Americans would be financially decimated. Instead, we must begin to safely reopen society and develop antibodies to the virus. The longer we stay home, the longer the virus will remain a threat.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf announced that twenty-four northern counties will move into the first phase of reopening. Multiple counties in the southwestern part of the state have less cases and a lower population density than most of the counties that are moving to the next phase, so many Pennsylvanians are not pleased with the governor’s move. Other large states, such as California and Florida, have begun to reopen workplaces and recreational activities. Montana is reopening schools beginning next week, and churches across the nation are tentatively beginning the process of reopening.
2. China scrutinized over Covid-19 response
Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told media that he believes that the coronavirus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. The Asian country has vehemently denied these allegations and has resisted international investigations. Many in the international community also suspect that China has altered the true case and death count in Wuhan, as the data seems incredibly low.
China also allegedly shielded the severity of the virus during its early days and did not inform the public about the risks of large gatherings until late in the process.
3. Reade accuses Biden of sexual assault
The Joe Biden campaign is in trouble. Former Biden staffer Tara Reade told reporter Megyn Kelley that Biden pushed her against a wall and assaulted her during his time in the Senate in 1993. In contrast to previous accounts, Reade described the alleged incident in graphic detail in the Kelly exclusive. Subsequently, she called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race, saying that he “should not be running on character.”
Biden categorically denied the accusations through a spokesperson. As of yet, it is difficult to tell if the alleged assault will significantly hurt Biden’s chances in the presidential race, but if it is pursued through the justice system or further publicized, Biden may not fare well.
These allegations may also push the Democratic party to select a new nominee before the convention, potentially someone like Andrew Cuomo or maybe even Bernie Sanders, but that high level of turnover seems quite unlikely. If pressure from the left becomes too great, Biden may be forced to step out of the race.
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