Monday, March 23

á           The State Department said it would cut $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan this year and possibly the same next year after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to convince Afghan leaders to support a unified government.

á           Two senators introduced a bill requiring President Donald Trump to fully use the Defense Production Act to prioritize the production and distribution of lifesaving medical equipment the countryÕs medical personnel need to deal with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

á           The Federal Reserve began new programs to keep businesses open and markets functioning during the pandemic, among them restarting a massive bond-buying program and buying government-backed debt tied to commercial real estate.

á           Senate Democrats voted against a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill for the second time in two days. Sen. Chuck Schumer blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for holding the vote before a compromise was reached, giving a false appearance of Democratic obstructionism. One major Democratic criticism concerned the $500 billion in aid to corporations affected by the pandemic that Democrats said would effectively give the corporations a blank check.

Tuesday, March 24

á           Following reports of rising racist verbal and physical attacks against Asian-Americans, Trump went to Twitter to say Asian-Americans Òare amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form.Ó The comment did not mention his much-criticized and continued use of the term Òthe Chinese virusÓ in reference to the coronavirus.

á           Trump said he wanted to reopen the United States for business by Easter, April 12, a decision not determined by data analysis but because, he said, ÒI just thought it was a beautiful time.Ó Public health experts say lifting current restrictions would result in unnecessary deaths.

á           Following news that 60% of the U.S.Õs new confirmed coronavirus cases are in New York City, Vice President Mike Pence advised people who have left the city recently to place themselves in a 14-day quarantine.

á           The National Park Service closed Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains national parks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Wednesday, March 25

á           Congress and the White House agreed to the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, the largest of its kind in modern American history. It includes a huge bailout fund for businesses, taxed payments of $1,200 to Americans earning up to $75,000 and $100 billion to hospitals with heavy coronavirus patient loads.

Thursday, March 26

á           A Labor Department report showed nearly 3.3 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, significantly surpassing the previous record of 695,000 in a week in 1982.

á           The Census Bureau released figures showing the American population is growing at about 0.5%, its slowest pace since 1919. It noted the decline began before the pandemic hit.

á           The Environmental Protection Agency announced a drastic relaxation of environmental rules, a Ònationwide waiverÓ according to one official, to allow energy and production facilities to determine for themselves if they can meet legal requirements on reporting air and water pollution.

á           The Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline for Real ID enforcement by 12 months to Oct. 1, 2021, because of the pandemic.

Friday, March 27

á           The House approved the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill and Trump signed it into law.

Saturday, March 28

á           New York postponed its April 28 presidential primary to June 23 in light of the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

á           The Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opened civil rights investigations to ensure states did not allow medical providers to discriminate based on disability, race, age or other factors when providing lifesaving medical care for the coronavirus.

á           The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which leads the nationÕs coronavirus response, said at least seven of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.

Sunday, March 29

á           The White House extended its social distancing guidelines to April 30 and possibly longer as U.S. coronavirus cases reached about 140,000. Lead health advisors warned that as many as 200,000 Americans could die from the virus.

á           An aircraft carrying 80 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai landed in New York, the first of 22 scheduled flights funneling essential supplies like N95 facemasks, gloves, gowns and thermometers to provide care during the coronavirus outbreak.