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.”
Kelly Weill, reporter for The Daily Beast, joins us to talk about Michael Wolff's new book, which gives revealing details about the disarray in the Trump campaign and the first year of the administration.
Kelly Weill, reporter at The Daily Beast, told Cheddar that they "come from very similar worlds." She argues that "Trump has a tendency to boast," and Wolff might've been a "willing listener."
After news around Michael Wolff's book, "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," broke, the relationship between former White House advisor Steve Bannon and President Donald Trump completely deteriorated. The former team engaged in a very public fallout, but political consultant Rick Wilson was not all surprised. Wilson joins Cheddar to break down what this means for the GOP and how a Mitt Romney Senate run could further shake the White House.
VF Hive + Between Bells: The crew from Vanity Fair’s Hive discusses the new day at 'Today.' Between Bells looks at the Trump's new war on Bannon, and why Meryl is calling out Ivanka and Melania. With Women's Health, Mental Floss, YourTango and more.
Ken Stern, Former CEO of NPR and Author of "Republican Like Me: How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right," joins The Hive. Stern, Kristen Scholer, and Jon Kelly discuss the possible demise of the American two-party system and whether the Independent Party may be able to make a run in the next election. They talk about the impact the Trump Presidency may be having on the two-party system, and whether outsiders like Mark Cuban might be realistic in 2020.
Former State Department senior adviser Haroon Ullah joins the Hive to talk about his recent piece on the information war for control in Iran. He discusses the Iranian regime's strategy in dealing with protesters and what potential impact it may have. Ullah also talks about whether Iran's problems may spill out elsewhere in the Middle East.
The White House is demanding Michael Wolff not publish his upcoming tell-all, "Fire and Fury." Axios' Alayna Treene joins Cheddar to break down the story that's turning the political and media worlds on their heads.
VF Hive editor Jon Kelly, Kristen Scholer and the rest of the Hive Panel discuss the biggest stories of the week in politics, business and technology. Emily Jane Fox reports on her story on the rise of Hoda Kotb to Matt Lauer's former spot on the 7am and 8am hours of the Today Show on NBC. She discusses the notion that this role would have traditionally gone to a male. The panel also discusses a report on Fox that NBC had access to data indicating Matt Lauer's favorability had been declining for years.
Ken Stern, Author of "Republican Like Me" and former CEO of NPR, says the "independent billionaire,...the movie star who doesn't have any political baggage, may in fact be a credible candidate."
