COVID-19 is changing the world. The fallout from this deadly virus and the shutdowns it has caused could be politicians trying to take guns. ALG President Rick Manning explains how it can happen.

President Trump chose life at every turn in the war against the virus—and that’s a good thing:
http://dailytorch.com/2020/04/president-trump-chose-life-at-every-turn-in-the-war-against-the-virus-and-thats-a-good-thing/

At some point early in the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump had a choice to make. Jan. 20, was when China finally confirmed human-to-human transmission, more than a month after the outbreak began. At that point, high mortality rates were not yet on the radar. But on Jan. 24, China would lock down Wuhan and the surrounding region. A day later, on Jan. 25, the first doctor to treat the virus and who tried to warn the world about it died from it in China, raising international awareness. That was the seminal moment that told both the public and world leaders two very important things: 1) this virus is much worse than was realized; and 2) that was because China was lying about it. On Jan. 29, the President appointed the White House coronavirus task force. The State Department was already evacuating people from Wuhan. At that point only a few hundred people had died in China. On Jan. 31, he suspended all travel from China. Now we know those early calls were critical and bought America time, enough time to get ready for the worst of the storm that we are now in. By March 13, President Trump had declared a national emergency and joined the coronavirus task force press briefing to announce the administration’s joint effort with the private sector for drive-thru testing for the virus, calming public fears. States followed in short order with cancelling schools, with the stay at home orders coming thereafter. Additionally, the emergency declaration paved the way to waiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restrictions — over FDA scientists’ objections — on antiviral treatments and other therapeutics. On the antivirals and other therapeutics, what President Trump did there was truly important, because we’re still about a year away from a vaccine with a whole other cold and flu season that will start in the fall. We really need something, anything, that might prevent the virus from spreading in our bodies or lessen the severity of infection. We’re not going to stay inside for another year. At every turn, President Trump has chosen life, even sacrificing the health of the economy while having the foresight to work with Congress with leaders in both parties to put in place the $2.2 trillion economic rescue plan that can be increased to $6 trillion to help as many employers as possible including 30 million small businesses to keep payroll plus expanding unemployment benefits, all to encourage Americans to stay home while we wait out the pandemic. I’m struck that the public so far has overwhelmingly preferred the recession option and has cooperated with the social distancing. President Trump chose life, acted decisively and has led the country through this emergency — and the American people by and large have followed his leadership. And that’s a good thing. What do you think?

After Chinese coronavirus, we need to make essential items in America based on strategic need—and enough of them:
http://dailytorch.com/2020/04/after-chinese-coronavirus-we-need-to-make-essential-items-in-america-based-on-strategic-need-and-enough-of-them/

Weekly unemployment claims in the U.S. were up another 6.6 million, bringing the total jobs lost since the Chinese coronavirus pandemic anywhere from 16.6 million to 19.6 million as federal and state government closures continue to in order to stave off the virus and protect the elderly and those with underlying conditions, more than doubling the jobs lost during the Great Recession when 8.3 million were lost. That puts the effective unemployment rate 15 percent, pretty much the highest since the Great Depression, with an overall 22 million to 26 million out of work and rising as Americans continue to engage in social distancing. Recall, about 5.8 million were already jobless when the outbreak began when unemployment was just 3.5 percent, a 50-year low, with the worst likely yet to come. This is like a tidal wave washing over the global economy, and no one will be spared. Businesses large and small are being tested during this time, but already the data and the damage is simply catastrophic. Nothing has ever been seen like it. What’s worse, it could take years or a decade to recover, even with well-intentioned measures by Congress to help small and large businesses to shore up payroll. President Donald Trump has requested Congress increase funding for small businesses by another $250 billion bringing the total up to $600 billion and the Federal Reserve appears to be opening a secondary market for these small business loans that it will be purchasing as banks make the loans, freeing up more capital to keep the lending going. The next few weeks’ unemployment claims reports will bear out the extent of the damage that has already been caused and as can be seen, it is quite extensive. The key thing to understand is that the damage may not be reversible in the short-term as any notions about getting back to 3.5 percent unemployment anytime soon are dispelled. However, with the decisive action being taken today by President Trump and Congress, we can shorten the duration of the job losses and speed the recovery. Main Street will reopen soon, it’s only a matter of time. How long do you think the recession will go on? Can we come back quickly?

$350 billion of forgivable loans for 8 weeks won’t be enough to save 30 million small businesses, Mr. President:http://dailytorch.com/2020/04/350-billion-of-forgivable-loans-for-8-weeks-wont-be-enough-to-save-30-million-small-businesses-mr-president/

One of the key aspects of President Donald Trump and Congress’ $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package are provisions for $350 billion for 30 million small businesses to cover payrolls for 60 million Americans for eight weeks to encourage people to stay home to wait out the Chinese coronavirus pandemic. Along with the expanded unemployment and credit facilities covering critical industries and larger employers, the policy is designed to ensure that in saving as many lives as possible — the White House coronavirus task force has said as many as 2.2 million Americans could die without social distancing — we don’t find ourselves in a long, deep recession or depression as a result that might take a decade to recover from. As President Trump keeps saying, the cure cannot be worse than the disease. That is why we have to consider the very real possibility that $350 billion and eight weeks of loans will not be nearly enough to save these businesses, even if we have no new coronavirus cases come May or June. Looking back at the ten recessions that have occurred since 1948, it took on average 11 months for all the job losses to be realized to get to the labor market bottom, and another 16 months to recover. The entire ordeal lasts on average 27 months. Do you think we’ll get a speedy recovery after the pandemic ends?

Joey come lately: Biden now says he supports China travel ban to slow virus after he called it ‘reactionary,’ ‘xenophobic’ and ‘hysterical’:
http://dailytorch.com/2020/04/joey-come-lately-biden-now-says-he-supports-china-travel-ban-to-slow-virus-after-he-called-it-reactionary-xenophobic-and-hysterical/

Former Vice President Joe Biden now says he supports travel bans to contain the Chinese coronavirus after all, after he had previously called the China travel ban issued by President Donald Trump in late January “reactionary,” “hysterical,” “xenophobic,” and “counterproductive.” Deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield told CNN on April 3 that Biden “supports travel bans that are guided by medical experts, advocated by public health officials and backed by a full strategy,” adding, “Science supported this ban, therefore he did too.” Was that before or after looking at a poll that said Trump would do a better job dealing with this crisis than Biden? Asking for the potentially hundreds of thousands of American lives President Trump saved by acting decisively in the early days of this pandemic at a time Biden was hysterically complaining about what he called “reactionary” travel restrictions. Biden not only didn’t support the ban, he explicitly opposed it, repeatedly, saying it was unscientific, even though it turns out it ultimately was backed up by the science. On Feb. 1, a day after the travel restrictions were put into place by, Biden said in Iowa, “We have, right now, a crisis with the coronavirus… This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia — hysterical xenophobia — and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science… Diseases have no borders, they have no borders.” Now, on April 5, Biden completed his about face on the issue on ABC News with George Stephanopoulos, who must have simply forgotten to roll the video tape of Biden blasting the travel ban. Biden said, “[Trump] indicated that I complimented him on dealing with China. Well you know 45 nations had already moved to keep—to block China’s personnel from being able to come to the United States before the President moved. So it’s about pace, it’s about the urgency and I don’t think there’s been enough of it.” Leadership does not come in a text book. It’s not something you can look up. It requires instincts and an ability to take decisive action. In politics you don’t a second chance to act decisively. Trump acted decisively. Biden failed. Coming back in April and saying in hindsight it was a good idea is nice and all, but at best it makes Biden a Joey come lately on this issue. He should just admit he was wrong. To say he supported it all along is a monstrous lie. What do you think?