Trump falsely declares 'total authority'

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

By Holly Thomas

TOP STORIES ‌ Tuesday, April 14 ‌ TRUMP DECLARES 'TOTAL AUTHORITY' IN DEFIANT BRIEFING  After months of coronavirus floundering, President Donald Trump wrongly claimed during a press briefing on Monday that the president’s “authority is total” after reporters pressed him to explain how he would force governors to restart state economies during the pandemic. “When somebody’s the president of the United States, the authority is total. And that is the way it’s gonna be,” Trump told reporters. The president had a meltdown attempting to rewrite history after accurate reports that he was slow to respond to the pandemic despite early warnings. [HuffPost] ‌ U.S. DEFICIT TO HIT RECORD $3.8 TRILLION A steep economic downturn and massive coronavirus rescue spending will nearly quadruple the fiscal 2020 U.S. budget deficit to a record $3.8 trillion, a staggering 18.7% of U.S. economic output, a Washington-based watchdog group said. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projected that the fiscal 2021 deficit would reach $2.1 trillion, and average $1.3 trillion through 2025. [Reuters] ‌ STORMS SWEEP SOUTH, KILLING AT LEAST 32 A storm system that caused the deaths of at least 32 people and ripped apart homes in the South, and downed trees and power lines along much of the East Coast, featured at least 40 tornadoes over more than 1,200 miles from Texas to South Carolina. The system tore the roofs off many houses and killed people in six states before lashing other homes as it moved up the East Coast knocking trees onto roads, and knocking out power to many. [CNN]

Nine signs you're drinking too much during the pandemic. The grim relationship between vaping and coronavirus. Coronavirus may also cause neurological symptoms, like headaches. What clothing donation centers want you to know during coronavirus. The economic devastation of COVID-19 is hitting women especially hard.

Get the latest coronavirus updates on our dedicated page

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS TEAM UP TO COORDINATE REOPENING Democratic governors in the Northeast and along the West Coast announced state compacts to coordinate one of their biggest challenges in the weeks to come: How to begin reopening society amid the coronavirus pandemic. The governors made separate announcements just hours after Trump claimed it was his prerogative to decide when to “open up the states.” [HuffPost] ‌ LIBERALS PREVAIL IN WISCONSIN'S CONTENTIOUS ELECTION Last Tuesday, Wisconsin held its presidential primary and state and local elections despite an outcry over voter suppression amid stay-at-home orders. In the election for the state’s Supreme Court. Jill Karofsky, a Wisconsin circuit court judge endorsed by Democratic Party politicians, beat incumbent Dan Kelly, who was endorsed by Trump. The court will now have a partisan tilt of four conservative judges to three liberals. [HuffPost] ‌ GROCERY WORKERS: SHOPPERS ARE ENDANGERING US Aaron Squeo works in the meat department of a Kroger supermarket in Michigan. He knows of several grocery workers who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and one in his area who died. He worries that the behavior of some shoppers is putting people in unnecessary danger. “When I’m stocking the meat counter and people are crowding around me … that’s not social distancing,” Squeo said. [HuffPost]

WHAT'S BREWING ‌ DEMS SIGNAL FUNDING FIGHT FOR EXPANDED MAIL VOTING  Congress’ three relief bills for the coronavirus outbreak have only included limited funding for states to expand absentee voting. Democratic leadership in Congress has highlighted the need, but faced opposition from Republicans. The last package included $400 million in election assistance for states to help prepare for the 2020 election cycle, including cleaning polling locations, but Democrats said that wasn’t nearly enough. [HuffPost] ‌ TRUMP DENIES IVANKA AND JARED WILL BE ON COVID COUNCIL Trump contradicted a Fox News report that triggered an uproar that Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner would be on his new coronavirus economic task force, which he called “Opening the Country Council." But he also said there will be advisory committees in addition to the council, leaving open the possibility that his nepotistic daughter and son-in-law could serve on one of them. [HuffPost] ‌ FEMA ACCUSED OF HIJACKING PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Like a bad Santa, instead of delivering medical supplies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been accused again of hijacking desperately needed protective gear for first responders and health care workers — this time in Massachusetts. Milford Fire Chief William Touhey Jr. accused the agency of commandeering 30,000 gowns as well as masks that his department had ordered. [HuffPost] ‌ CORONAVIRUS REVEALS 'INVISIBLE' INEQUALITIES IN OUR FOOD SYSTEMS Americans are worried about food, many for the first time in their lives. While the U.S. government has said there are no nationwide shortages, that hasn’t stopped panic buying in supermarkets as coronavirus cases continue to tick upward. Yet the most immediate crisis  is not the availability of food, but its affordability to the tens of millions of people who have lost their jobs and income. [HuffPost] ‌ FOR WEST VIRGINIA HOSPITALS, THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CAME FIRST As the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout March, two communities in West Virginia — a state whose health outcomes rank among the worst in the nation — grappled with the news that they were about to lose two of their hospitals. Other health systems across the state have furloughed hundreds of medical personnel, and other hospitals teeter on the verge of financial collapse even as the demand for care seems likely to rise. [HuffPost] ‌ RAGING WILDFIRES MOVE CLOSER TO CHERNOBYL A huge forest fire in Ukraine that has been raging for more than a week is now less than a mile from the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant and poses a radiation risk, Greenpeace Russia warned, citing satellite images. Ukraine’s Emergency Situations Service said it was still fighting the fires, but that the situation was under control. The Emergency Situations Service said radiation levels in the exclusion zone had not changed. [Reuters]

THE BEST OF THE REST

Moscow rolls out digital tracking to enforce lockdown. Critics call it a "cyber gulag." Quarantined runners log miles in back yards an living rooms. When staying safe meant staying in: Memories of shelter-in-place before COVID-19. The office dress code should never come back. What we know right now about COVID-19 immunity and the end of social distancing.

ILLUSTRATED PSA

The world is trying to cope with the coronavirus, from the serious to the mundane. We’re dealing with jamming full lives into one apartment or house, and trying to stay calm about a world full of an invisible virus. We’re trying to learn how to homeschool our kids, or to make bread for ourselves. It’s a whole new world, and HuffPost is launching a new illustrated series about how to live in it. ‌ Each week, we’ll feature an artist offering their vision for how to handle the world as it is today. We hope they make you think, make you smile, or just offer something to do other than staring wistfully out the windows. ‌ Click on the image to see a full-size version. ‌ Illustration by @ryancarlstudio

BEFORE YOU GO

93-year-old woman goes viral telling internet: "I need more beer." Simone Biles one-ups everyone with an insane twist on the handstand challenge. 15 Indian skin care brands you need on your beauty shelf. How to answer your kids' question, "when will this be over?" "Dune" first look has fans comparing Timothée Chalamet to Kylo Ren. 11 easy baking recipes made with boxed cake mix. What you need to know about "Zoombombing," and how to stay safe. 12 of the most clever WFH spaces created in quarantine so far. Hilary Duff dyes hair bright blue during lockdown, because why not? Seven pieces of parenting advice everyone could use right now. JLo dances with ex Diddy on Instagram before A-Rod cuts in. Daisy Ridley responds to upsetting "Star Wars" backlash. Artists get graphic about how to deal with coronavirus. Dolly Parton didn't let the pandemic stop her spreading Easter joy. Chris Cuomo describes new phase of coronavirus: "It's in my head."

Love this newsletter? Share it with a friend!

Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall — and keep it free for everyone — by becoming a HuffPost member today.

Join today

HuffPost is now a part of Verizon Media Group. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn more. ‌ Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? - Subscribe here!   ©2020 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email becuase you signed up for updates from HuffPost ‌ Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe