March 19 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Trump signs coronavirus aid package, invokes Defense Production Act to fight COVID-19 – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/6024211/

WGN TV
— Nurse claims inadequate staffing and care at Willowbrook nursing home with 46 cases of COVID-19 – Nancy Loo
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/nurse-claims-inadequate-staffing-and-care-at-willowbrook-nursing-home-with-46-cases-of-covid-19/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— President Donald Trump signs coronavirus relief package into law, invokes emergency powers – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-trump-coronavirus-relief-package-20200319-isj7lthb2nfyzav7bvsgwbqyuu-story.html
— Treasury says it wants to start sending coronavirus stimulus checks to Americans by early April – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-coronavirus-congress-economic-response-bill-20200318-35z4ir3marbdxnig64v3qam4eu-story.html
— Gov. Pritzker serves his politics and risks coronavirus spread on Election Day – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-jb-pritzker-coronavirus-election-kass-20200318-jninzo3ecben7b2q7lwbxo6f2e-story.html
— Former COVID-19 epicenter of Wuhan reports no new cases as virus infects more than 217,000 worldwide – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-infections-europe-20200318-5zs7fqtq6rgm3a7xtg2mmvyptq-story.html
— Amid coronavirus fears, Illinois Democrats side with a known commodity in Joe Biden rather than Bernie Sanders and his call for political revolution – RICK PEARSON (DIERSEN: Expect that ever-increasingly, to defeat Trump, Biden will promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.) 
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-democratic-primary-voters-20200318-ko4dlhpgmvggbkrauix2isz4dq-story.html
— ‘Very real possibility’ that Illinois school shutdown will be extended as coronavirus cases nearly double overnight – Hannah Leone
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-schools-closed-how-long-20200318-jrpng7mx55aibanox7zypguow4-story.html
— Springfield postelection: Don’t let coronavirus sidetrack remap and ethics reforms – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-post-primary-springfield-coronavirus-20200318-szkt3t6svfdmvbrccyamf7xfxu-story.html#new_tab
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What do you say to those who say “US must face coronavirus recession in ‘Lockdown Paradox’: To save economy, shut it down fast?”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-coronavirus-shutdown-recession-20200318-yyevihtbvnf5lhthliyovu3fmq-story.html
— Need a coronavirus test? Being rich and famous may help – MEGAN TWOHEY, STEVE EDER AND MARC STEIN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/sns-nyt-coronavirus-test-rich-famous-may-help-20200319-njorhz7e7bdjped4ban4kttjzm-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois expects to get ‘thousands and thousands’ of coronavirus tests in next few days, Pritzker says During a news conference Wednesday in Murphysboro, the governor said obtaining testing kits has been “the biggest challenge” officials have faced while trying to beat back the spread of the virus. – Tom Schuba 
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/3/18/21186077/illinois-coronavirus-tests-pritzker

WLS AM
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Dispensaries Deemed ‘Essential’ in Coronavirus Shutdowns
https://www.wlsam.com/2020/03/19/dispensaries-deemed-essential-in-coronavirus-shutdowns/

WTTW
— Who, What and How? The Challenge—and Confusion—of Coronavirus Testing – Amanda Vinicky 
https://news.wttw.com/2020/03/18/who-what-and-how-challenge-and-confusion-coronavirus-testing

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Gun dealers report increased store traffic, ‘panic buying’ – Ben Orner 
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20200318/gun-dealers-report-increased-store-traffic-panic-buying

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— Congressman puts blame on Chinese government for COVID-19 pandemic Kinzinger says China hid the virus; opponent says the blame is a tactic – Derek Barichello
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2020/03/18/congressman-puts-blame-on-chinese-government-for-covid-19-pandemic/aqx1pto/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Virus fears may have cut local turnout in half – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: What did your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain do to maximize the Republican turnout? I hand-delivered a sample ballot, mail-in ballot request form, and campaign literature for the candidates to all the homes that had at least one Republican or Independent voter.)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200318/virus-fears-may-have-cut-local-turnout-in-half

HERALD REVIEW
— More demand, fewer volunteers at Central Illinois food banks as coronavirus concerns continue – Donnette Beckett
https://herald-review.com/news/local/more-demand-fewer-volunteers-at-food-banks/article_c2d8f1d6-3a95-5043-88da-98ca77a488b9.html#new_tab

MDJ ONLINE
— Illinois’ COVID-19 shutdown to hit taxpayers as local governments anticipate negative impacts – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: How big a negative impact do the leaders of your municipality, township, and county anticipate?) 
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/illinois-covid–shutdown-to-hit-taxpayers-as-local-governments/video_0a2de0d8-7e75-5fc1-b435-892acb3e324f.html

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois municipal leaders seek emergency powers for gas, gun sales bans and curfews amid pandemic – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-municipal-leaders-seek-emergency-powers-for-gas-gun-sales/article_98d91ef8-694e-11ea-be04-4fc29a7c91c8.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS MUST ACT NOW TO GUARD AGAINST COVID-19 FINANCIAL FALLOUT – Adam Schuster
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/special-report-illinois-must-act-now-to-guard-against-covid-19-financial-fallout/#new_tab

GOPUSA
— Democrats And Coronavirus: Alinsky On Steroids
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about my naive critics/opponents, their naive operatives, and their naive dupes who refuse to believe a) that Democrats are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means and b) that Democrats will do “whatever it takes” to defeat Trump.)


https://www.gopusa.com/?p=86338
— Celebrities Get Virus Tests, Raising Concerns Of Inequality
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=86324

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Wartime’ footing: Trump mobilizes U.S. manufacturing against pandemic Coronavirus reached all 50 states, infects 2 members of Congress – Tom Howell Jr.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/18/trump-invoke-defense-production-act-ramp-supplies/
— Tale of two campaigns: Chaos catapults Biden toward Trump showdown – Stephen Dinan and Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/18/coronavirus-boosts-joe-biden-sets-likely-donald-tr/
— ‘Carnage’: Millions face financial ruin as coronavirus infects U.S. economy – James Varney (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, any and all government assistance should be targeted at those who are negatively impacted by the pandemic the most.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/18/coronavirus-infects-us-economy-millions-face-finan/
— China knew for years bats caused disease, left wild animal markets open – Rowan Scarborough (DIERSEN: This sounds like libertarianism to me.) 
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/18/china-knew-years-bats-caused-disease-yet-left-wild/
— David Axelrod: Coronavirus outbreak may help Trump’s reelection: U.S. ‘likes to rally’ behind leader – Jessica Chasmar
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/18/david-axelrod-coronavirus-outbreak-may-help-trumps/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— No bailout, no stimulus — give us reparations for government-mandated shutdowns – Timothy P. Carney 
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/no-bailout-no-stimulus-give-us-reparations-for-government-mandated-shutdowns
— Media think there’s never a bad time to call Trump and his supporters ‘racist’
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/media-think-theres-never-a-bad-time-to-call-trump-and-his-supporters-racist-even-during-coronavirus
— Coronavirus will fade, but the threat of socialism will remain – Ying Ma
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/coronavirus-will-fade-but-the-threat-of-socialism-will-remain

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Rich Socialist Restaurateur Lays Off Hundreds Amid Coronavirus Outbreak – Alana Goodman
https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/rich-socialist-restaurateur-lays-off-hundreds-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Coronavirus Lessons: Nobody Trusts the Press – J.B. Shurk (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who focus on discouraging everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican.) 
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/03/coronavirus_lessons_nobody_trusts_the_press.html
— Remember When Travel Bans Were Racist and Xenophobic? – Brian C. Joondeph
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/03/remember_when_travel_bans_were_racist_and_xenophobic.html
— The Wuhan Virus – What if Hillary had won in 2016? – Patricia McCarthy
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/03/the_wuhan_virus__what_if_hillary_had_won_in_2016.html

BREITBART
— ICE Reduces Arrests of Illegal Aliens amid Wuhan Fears – NEIL MUNRO
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2020/03/18/ice-reduces-arrests-of-illegal-aliens-amid-wuhan-fears/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Trump Wants To Speed Up Wuhan Virus Drug Tests: Bureaucrats Object – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/32161

DAILY CALLER
— Tucker Carlson: Using Coronavirus As Excuse To Stop Arresting People ‘A Recipe For Chaos’ – DAVID KRAYDEN
https://dailycaller.com/2020/03/18/tucker-carlson-coronavirus-stop-arresting-people-recipe-chaos/

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— BIDEN’S MEMORY ISN’T THE ONLY PROBLEM; IT’S HIS LIES – Larry Elder
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/bidens-memory-isnt-the-only-problem-its-his-lies/

PJ MEDIA
— SPLC ‘Hate’ Report Takes Aim at Donald Trump Ahead of 2020 Election – TYLER O’NEIL (DIERSEN: SPLC is a hate group that promotes hatred against individuals, against organizations, against companies, against governments, and against countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://pjmedia.com/election/splc-hate-report-takes-aim-at-donald-trump-ahead-of-2020-election/

TOWNHALL
— Liberal Media Parrots China’s State-Run Communist Propaganda – Larry O’Connor
https://townhall.com/columnists/larryoconnor/2020/03/18/liberal-media-parrots-chinas-staterun-communist-propaganda-n2565197
— The Media Is Even More Garbage Than Usual – Kurt Schlichter (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Google steers everyone a) toward websites that promote the Democrat, Libertarian, and Green party platforms and b) away from websites that promote the Republican Party Platform.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2020/03/19/the-media-is-even-more-garbage-than-usual-n2565172

THE HILL
— Claims for unemployment benefits spike as coronavirus forces thousands of layoffs – SYLVAN LANE 
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/488386-claims-for-unemployment-benefits-spike-as-coronavirus-forces-thousands-of
— U.S.-China relationship worsens over coronavirus – OLIVIA BEAVERS (DIERSEN: Those who want to destroy America side with China against America.) 
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/488311-us-china-relationship-worsens-over-coronavirus
— Millennials become focus of coronavirus outreach – BRETT SAMUELS AND MORGAN CHALFANT 
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/488268-millennials-become-focus-of-coronavirus-outreach

CNN
— The pandemic began in China. Today, it reported no new local infections for the first time – Shanshan Wang
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-19-20-intl-hnk/h_4ce3632bd5290efe03587bcfffb66c34

POLITICO
— Yes, States and Local Governments Can Close Private Businesses and Restrict Your Movement They’ve always had the power to take drastic measures in situations like this. – ELIZABETH JOH
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/18/states-police-power-coronavirus-135826
— Governors brace for coronavirus budget cliff as tax dollars evaporate Governors of both parties are calling on President Donald Trump and Congress to step in with billions in federal aid and reductions in red tape. – KEVIN YAMAMURA
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/19/coronavirus-governors-state-budgets-136190
— Surgeon general: 15 days of social distancing ‘likely not going to be enough’ to halt coronavirus The pandemic’s effects on American life could extend much longer than initially thought. – QUINT FORGEY
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/18/surgeon-general-social-distancing-not-enough-135377
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “The Pandemic Is the End of Trumpism.”
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/18/the-coronavirus-generation-comes-to-life-136491

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Defends Using ‘Chinese Virus’ Label, Ignoring Growing Criticism – Katie Rogers, Lara Jakes and Ana Swanson
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/politics/china-virus.html
— Give Every American $2,000, Immediately A consensus is building around the simple expedient of sending cash to every American. Politicians need to move quickly. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, any and all government assistance should be targeted at those who are negatively impacted by the pandemic the most.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/opinion/coronavirus-economy-recession.html
— Trump Seeks $500 Billion in Checks for Taxpayers The administration is proposing two waves of checks to individuals and another $500 billion for small and large businesses as part of its economic response to the coronavirus pandemic. – Nicholas Fandos and Emily Cochrane (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, my wife and I are spending more money than our income because my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension is dramatically reduced because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old. My CSRS pension is only 41% of what my salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-trump-stimulus.html
— There Aren’t Enough Ventilators to Cope With the Coronavirus The United States and other countries face a critical shortage of the lifesaving machines — and no easy way to lift production. – Sarah Kliff, Adam Satariano, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Nicholas Kulish
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/business/coronavirus-ventilator-shortage.html
— The Coronavirus Is Here to Stay, So What Happens Next? There may be two to four more rounds of social distancing before this is over. Here’s what to expect. – Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Susan Ellenberg and Michael Levy
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-social-distancing-effect.html

WASHINGTON POST
— As layoffs skyrocket, America’s unemployment safety net is underprepared to help many in need Laid off workers are struggling to apply for unemployment aid as government websites crash and phone lines have hours-long waits – Heather Long and Abha Bhattarai
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/19/unemployment-insurance-today-coronavirus/

USA TODAY
— LGBTQ community may be ‘particularly vulnerable’ to coronavirus pandemic. Here’s why. – Savannah Eadens
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/18/lgbtq-coronavirus-community-vulnerable-covid-19-pandemic/2863813001/
— Dow, S&P 500 keep falling. So how will we know when the stock market drop is over? – Adam Shell
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/03/18/dow-jones-when-stock-market-stop-going-down-bear-marke/5074110002/
— A recession has probably begun. How bad will a coronavirus-triggered downturn be? – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/18/coronavirus-how-bad-recession-and-how-long-last/5073149002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— TRAGIC: Call It a Layoff, a Furlough or a Cut Shift: Americans are Losing Work Many employers are cutting staff or reducing hours; ‘It’s kind of a demoralizing thing’ – Micah Maidenberg, Chip Cutter and Rachel Feintzeig
https://www.wsj.com/articles/call-it-a-layoff-a-furlough-or-a-cut-shift-americans-are-losing-work-11584550057
— TRAGIC: Coronavirus Hits State and City Budgets Local officials say they don’t know how deep the hole might get; a double punch of higher spending and falling revenue – Scott Calvert and Jon Kamp
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-hits-state-and-city-budgets-11584610201?mod=djemwha
— TRAGIC: Markets Enter New Phase—Where Cash Is All That Matters Investors sold nearly everything they could Wednesday – Paul J. Davies
https://www.wsj.com/articles/markets-enter-new-phasewhere-cash-is-all-that-matters-11584546863
— Mexico Slow to Implement Strong Measures Against Coronavirus President cites impact on economy; other Latin American nations, with fewer cases, have taken tougher actions – Robbie Whelan and Juan Montes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mexico-slow-to-implement-strong-measures-against-conronavirus-11584570623
— America Needed Coronavirus Tests. The Government Failed. Decisions that limited testing for the pathogen blinded the U.S. to the outbreak’s scale. Here’s how it happened. – Christopher Weaver, Betsy McKay and Brianna Abbott
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-washington-failed-to-build-a-robust-coronavirus-testing-system-11584552147
— The Government Wants to Send You Money—but How Soon Will It Arrive? Lawmakers face a tradeoff between speed and accuracy as they try to fill holes in household budgets – Richard Rubin (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, any and all government assistance should be targeted at those who are negatively impacted by the pandemic the most.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-government-wants-to-send-you-moneybut-how-soon-will-it-arrive-11584558455
— The Economic Rout Accelerates The Fed and Treasury need to liquefy business now or liquidate later. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-economic-rout-accelerates-11584573285

BLOOMBERG
— U.S. Jobless Claims Are Poised for Historic Surge – Reade Pickert and Katia Dmitrieva
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/u-s-jobless-claims-poised-for-historic-surge-amid-virus-layoffs

TIMES RECORD NEWS
— State, local Republicans plan for postponed political conventions amid COVID-19 concerns – Trish Choate (DIERSEN: Republican Precinct Committeemen and Captains in Illinois, DuPage County, and Milton Township like me await information on a) their April township, ward, and/or county party meetings and b) their April 15 county conventions. What about the April 21 annual township meetings?) 
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2020/03/18/state-local-republican-political-conventions-delayed/2871883001/

WBKO
— The National Corvette Museum to close to the public – Allison Baker 
https://www.wbko.com/content/news/National-Corvette-Museum-to-close-March-18-568905081.html

BLOOMBERG
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who want more government spending say “Even Trump’s Mega-Stimulus May Not Be Enough.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-03-18/even-trump-s-mega-stimulus-may-not-be-enough

FORTUNE
— The Dow’s gains under Trump have been wiped out by coronavirus – ERIK SHERMAN
https://fortune.com/2020/03/18/stock-market-under-trump-dow-lost-all-gains-coronavirus-2020/

FORBES
— Government Payments Will Help Families But May Not Boost The Coronavirus Economy Much – Howard Gleckman (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, my wife and I are spending more money than our income because my Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension is dramatically reduced because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old. My CSRS pension is only 41% of what my salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.) 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2020/03/18/government-payments-will-help-families-but-may-not-boost-the-coronavirus-economy-much/

ATLANTIC
— Four Theories for Why People Are Still Out Partying Our moral instincts don’t match this crisis. – Yascha Mounk
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/moral-instincts-coronavirus/608305/

NEWSWEEK
— AMERICANS ARE CROSSING INTO MEXICO TO BUY TOILET PAPER – CHANTAL DA SILVA (DIERSEN: How dependent are you a) on foreign countries and b) on citizens of foreign countries?) 
https://www.newsweek.com/americans-are-crossing-mexico-buy-toilet-paper-1493008

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Financial adviser suggests delaying retirement amid current economic uncertainty – Peter Musurlian (DIERSEN: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is dramatically less because my Democrat superiors in the federal government wasted my career and forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.) 
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/your-turn/2020/03/financial-adviser-suggests-delaying-retirement-amid-current-economic-uncertainty/

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who a) run the world, b) hate conservatives, and c) blame all negatives on conservatives say “Disinformation and blame: how America’s far right is capitalizing on coronavirus.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/america-far-right-coronavirus-outbreak-trump-alex-jones

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.