Coronavirus has hit Capitol Hill, as the first members of Congress have tested positive for the virus.
Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Ben McAdams (D-Utah) announced diagnoses late Wednesday. Diaz-Balart’s office said he had developed symptoms Saturday evening and was notified Wednesday of a positive test. Both had voted on the House floor as recently as Saturday morning, to pass the coronavirus relief bill.
Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah (Left), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. (Right)
At least five other members of Congress are quarantining because they had contact with the lawmakers, including Rep. Steve Scalise, the second-highest ranking Republican in the House.
Some lawmakers had been pushing for ways to vote remotely, particularly since congressional members are disproportionately in higher-risk categories for coronavirus complications. Forty-eight senators are over the age of 65, the age at which some states have recommended individuals to stay inside their homes.
Senator Dick Durban (D-Ill.) has said “it’s time for the Senate to wake up to the 21st century and make sure we’re using technology that allows us to communicate with each other without any danger or risk to public health.”
From Omarosa to Bob Woodward to Jeanine Pirro, authors are cashing in on the Trump presidency. Brent Lang, a film and media editor for Variety, said that sales of books on the Trump presidency ー regardless of political leanings ー are surging as readers want to make sense of this era.
Washington Post journalist Nicole Ellis has a new documentary series that follows millennial women, including herself, who are weighing whether or not to freeze their eggs. It's an emotional and expensive discussion that should be had out in the open and with the support of friends and family, Ellis said.
President Trump has lashed out at many a journalist, and Mika Brzezinski knows personally what it's like to be on the receiving end. The co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" told Hope King that "in the grand scheme of things, it's not really a big deal."
It is still up in the air if Christine Blasey Ford will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were both in high school. Daniel Lippman, co-author of "Politico Playbook," explained the high-wire act Republicans are trying to walk with a crucial midterm election around the corner.
Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," spoke with Cheddar about the role of media in the age of Donald Trump. "Keep it cool and stick to the facts," she said.
Twilio, a cloud-focused tech company based in San Francisco, is doubling down on its commitment to diversity. The company has a goal for at least 50 percent of its staff to be female and 30 percent to be from underrepresented groups by 2023. Lafawn Davis, global head of culture and inclusion at Twilio, said that there are more than enough women in tech to be able to fill the roles.
One year after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is still recovering from the devastation. Luis Soto of "Save the Children" said a staggering 84 percent of the island's kids are living in poverty.
