More on the Federalist’s “let’s let the young people get C19 in hopes of herd immunity”:

Twitter temporarily locked the account of The Federalist Wednesday after the conservative opinion site published a piece, written by a dermatologist based in Oregon, that proposed the deliberate spread of the coronavirus in order to boost immunity to the disease.

The op-ed, penned by Dr. Douglas Perednia, proposed an “outside the box” solution to the current pandemic that flies in the face of advice from experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who are urging social distancing.

…

“It is time to think outside the box and seriously consider a somewhat unconventional approach to COVID-19: controlled voluntary infection,” The Federalist wrote in a now-removed tweet linking to the op-ed.

That’s a pull-quote from the article. That’s not a thought experiment, it’s a “let’s consider this” suggestion. Saying let’s consider is a step removed from “let’s do” but it’s not as far removed as a thought experiment. Thought experiments are just that, they’re not suggestions to consider doing a thing.

Twitter initially added a warning to the link stating that the post might be “unsafe.”

Then, according to a Twitter spokesperson, “the account was temporarily locked for violating the Twitter Rules regarding COVID-19.”

It’s great that Twitter could find a few seconds to spare from locking the accounts of women who say that men are not women, in order to lock the account of someone saying we should consider deliberately spreading COVID-19.

The tweet was deleted, and the Federalist Twitter page appears to be back up and running. Twitter has taken aggressive measures to crack down on misinformation surrounding the coronavirus.

Federalist co-founders Sean Davis and Ben Domenech did not respond to Mediaite’s request for comment.

Probably too busy talking to Sean Hannity.

The monster has stirred.

Superb.

The Federalist did what now?

Erm…have they forgotten that there is no effective treatment yet? Which means there is no such thing as “safe infection”?

Also…a dermatologist? Really?

What’s the thinking here? That taking C19 seriously is a libbrul thing, the way taking climate change seriously is a libbrul thing? That treating it with frivolity or reckless endangerment or both is a Trump-Republican thing? (If it is that means Princess Ivanka will have to come out in favor of it, because she announced she’s a “proud Trump-Republican” the other day.) The hitch in the plan here is that viruses don’t give a fuck about your politics, any more than climate change does.

No one ever does.

First thing this morning.

The trolley problem revisited.

Daniel Dale has more samples from Trump’s fake “town hall” on Fox.

He hadn’t been reading anything about it.

Even now, he has to remind us that he is Sir.

And, as he told us the other day, he’s been right a LOT.

We have to ask him for lifesaving medical equipment nicely or he won’t give.

Jesus will save?

While schools and college campuses around the country remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Liberty University is set to allow the return this week of up to 5,000 students. The plan was announced by the private evangelical university’s  scandal–plagued president, Jerry Falwell Jr., an ally of President Donald Trump. Trump in recent days has dismayed public health experts by announcing he may push for the lifting of restrictions on businesses to reduce economic damage as soon as next week.

In an interview last week with Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes, Falwell said it is fortunate that COVID-19 “doesn’t have a high mortality rate for young people because they’re the ones that are not worried about it. And I’m not worried about it.” Falwell said healthy people should stay away from those “who are high risk” and elderly people. But he accused the media of overhyping the disease. “Thank God we have the best president we could possibly have to deal with a crisis like this,” he said. “Shame on the media for trying to fan it up and destroy the American economy. They’re willing to destroy the economy just to hurt Trump.” 

If Trump is the best president we could possibly have to deal with a crisis like this, what would the worst one be like?

Apparently Trump is on Fox right now, talking dangerous bollocks. Yamiche Alcindor is taking notes for us so that we don’t have to watch.

How about that – several of Trump’s hotels have been closed because of C19.

President Trump’s private business has shut down six of its top seven revenue-producing clubs and hotels because of restrictions meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, potentially depriving Trump’s company of millions of dollars in revenue.

Those closures come as Trump is considering easing restrictions on movement sooner than federal public health experts recommend, in the name of reducing the virus’s economic damage.

But there is probably no connection between the two, right? He would never put us all in danger just to keep his personal $$$ flowing.

In his unprecedented dual role as president and owner of a sprawling business, Trump is facing dual crises caused by the coronavirus. As he is trying to manage the pandemic from the White House, limiting its casualties as well as the economic fallout, his company is also navigating a major threat to the hospitality industry.

…

So far, the Trump Organization has closed hotels in Las Vegas; Doral, Fla.; Ireland; and Turnberry, Scotland — as well as the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida and a golf club in Bedminster, N.J. Many of the clubs closed because they had to, under local orders. Others closed on their own, following strong guidance or recommendations from local officials.

Those are six of Trump’s top seven revenue-producing clubs and hotels, bringing in about $174 million total per year, according to Trump’s most recent financial disclosures. That works out to $478,000 per day — revenue that is likely to be sharply reduced with the clubs shuttered.

But he won’t kill us just to keep the cash flowing…surely…

Annals of corporate you have got to be kidding:

While much of the economy grinds to a halt, Amazon is doing more business than ever. The company has announced it is hiring 100,000 workers to try to meet surging demand. In 2019, Amazon had over $280 billion in revenue and $11.9 billion in profits. As more Americans shift their shopping online, it will likely do better this year. But, as the pandemic continues, Amazon maintains one of the stingiest paid sick leave policies among major corporations.

Well that’s why the profits are $11.9 billion!

In response to the pandemic, Amazon said it would provide two weeks of sick leave to “all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine.” Kroger had a similar policy until Saturday when Kroger expanded its policy to cover workers with COVID-19 symptoms or who need to care for sick family members. Amazon, however, has held firm. 

Amazon’s large contract workforce, which delivers packages and performs other critical tasks, is in even worse shape. Amazon is not providing any sick leave at all for these workers, even if they test positive for COVID-19. Instead, these workers must apply to the “Amazon Relief Fund” and apply for a grant to cover their sick leave.

That’s the joy of having a contract workforce, innit – no benefits.

Amazon donated $25 million to the fund and is soliciting individual donations to add to the pot. It initially included an option to donate by text.

Or Amazon could just, you know, pay its workers benefits, contract workers included.

Pence the other day:

Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday described his novel coronavirus test as a “kind of invasive” and a “not comfortable” experience.

Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative for the virus Saturday afternoon after a staff member of his office had tested positive.

“The test was quick, but it goes a fair amount to the sinuses and it is not comfortable,” Pence said at a White House press briefing.

Oh yes? Not comfortable? That’s sad.

Newsweek tells us never mind about the cancer patients, the people thrown out of work and unable to pay rent, the bus drivers and supermarket workers and delivery drivers taking the risks – focus your attention instead on The Most Marginalized Of All.

With empty toilet paper aisles and shuttered businesses, some of the effects of social distancing and other pandemic measures have been readily apparent. But the pandemic has less visible consequences unique to vulnerable communities, like the additional burden placed on transgender people.

Transgender people are vulnerable, you see, unlike the rest of us. Women for instance – women are not vulnerable at all. Bitches.

Widespread closures and the strain placed on health care systems have thrown up obstacles to trans people like Tally the Witch author Molly Landgraff, who has experienced disruptions to her hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

There is paragraph after paragraph of detail about Landgraff’s tragic struggle.

Dr. Alexis Chávez, psychiatrist and medical director of The Trevor Project—an organization focused on preventing death by suicide among LGTBQ youth—shared with Newsweek some of the less visible likely effects for trans people pursuing gender affirming medical support and medication during the coronavirus pandemic.

Apparently without pausing to ask if people should really be making a fuss about “gender affirming medical support” during a global emergency.

Self-quarantine isolation imposes a psychic burden that can be especially acute for trans youth.

No it doesn’t. Trans youth are not the people most burdened by self-quarantine; not even close. Being trans is not a category of thing that is made far more desperate by self-quarantine. What is? Being ill, frail, unable to walk, poor, parents of small children, in mourning, afraid – and on and on. Young people who think they’re the other sex do not come anywhere near the top of that long list, and they should refrain from whining about their idenniny right now.

While nearly everyone has experienced disruption to their plans during the coronavirus shutdown, for trans people the disruptions can be central to their identity and relationship with wider society.

In other words “sure, it’s inconvenient for other people, but for trans people IT’S A JILLION TIMES MORE SO. The usual narcissistic bullshit, in other words.

Now is not the time.

Another rally disguised as a press briefing today.

Enough of this trying to slow the contagion! Back to selling!

We’re lucky they don’t run 8 hours.

Originally a comment by Your Name’s not Bruce? on Ok time’s up.

15 days is forever for someone with no impulse control.

The fundamental theory is that your clampdown measures have to last 15 days after your last new case unless you have containment and contact tracing in place allowing every single instance to be quarantined.

Yes, but he’s a really smart guy who’s right a lot of times. He’s got a good feeling about 15 days. Besides, that sounds like a lot of work (none of which Trump would actually have to do), and altogether too many big words to fit onto the pages of his jumbo print note binder.

I say let him go out after 15 days, then slap him in quarantine for a couple of weeks. During that time he could wait for a test to become available; once it is, Jared could administer it. During quarantine, Trump could learn to wash and reuse his mask in some of those great liquids, and Dr. Fauci could use him as a test subject for that “treatment” Trump’s so eager to roll out. It might save us from more of his Nuremberg pressers, which will save us from tearing our own heads off listening to him.

The other day when he was contradicting Anthony Fauci on chloroquine as a miracle cure for C19 Trump asked “What have you got to lose?”

Your life, would be one answer.

Medical toxicologists and emergency physicians are warning the public against the use of inappropriate medications and household products to prevent or treat COVID-19. In particular, Banner Health experts emphasize that chloroquine, a malaria medication, should not be ingested to treat or prevent this virus.

“Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, we understand that people are trying to find new ways to prevent or treat this virus, but self-medicating is not the way to do so,” said Dr. Daniel Brooks, Banner Poison and Drug Information Center medical director. “The last thing that we want right now is to inundate our emergency departments with patients who believe they found a vague and risky solution that could potentially jeopardize their health.”

But sir, but sir, Trump said what have we got to lose.

A man has died and his wife is under critical care after the couple, both in their 60s, ingested chloroquine phosphate, an additive commonly used at aquariums to clean fish tanks. Within thirty minutes of ingestion, the couple experienced immediate effects requiring admittance to a nearby Banner Health hospital. 

That which cleans out fish tanks probably does nothing salutary to the stomach lining.

Joy Reid asks some very necessary questions.

Oh did they now.

A review of public statements by Trump administration officials urging confidence in the markets as the coronavirus spread reveals a stark contrast with the private behaviour of some GOP lawmakers. 

While the president and his top economic adviser late February were urging Americans to show confidence in the stock market and invest as the coronavirus spread, at least two GOP senators had already privately dumped stocks — after receiving classified briefings on the damage likely to be caused by the disease. 

In other words Trump and Kudlow were telling people to buy stocks when they knew the market was going to tank. Meanwhile were they putting their own money at risk? Nah.

Deputy Labor Secretary in the Obama admin:

But we now know that lawmakers in Trump’s own party were taking a very different course of action. At least two had been briefed with information from government officials on the likely devastating impact of the disease which contrasted sharply with the White House’s optimistic messaging about the likely minimal impact of the virus.

They lie to us but not to each other.

Zookeepers are the best people.