Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders delivered an address on the coronavirus outbreak, rounding out three perspectives from the current president and the two Democratic challengers to his presidency.
Sanders, who trails former Vice President Joe Biden in the delegate race to the nomination, used his speech to contrast with his rivals. He called for the Trump administration to declare a national emergency and appoint an "emergency bipartisan authority of experts" to determine the next steps in the crisis.
Like Biden earlier, Sanders criticized the White House response, calling the administration incompetent and point out that its "incompetence and recklessness have threatened the lives of many, many people in this country."
Sanders and Biden both mentioned the lack of intensive care units and ventilators, an issue raised by health officials but one that the administration has not touched upon. The senator called for mobilizing retired medical professionals and medical students to increase medical care. He implored the nation to protect doctors, medical professionals, and nurses with proper instructions and personal protective equipment both because their safety is important and because "if they go down, then our capacity to respond to this crisis is diminished."
"Our country is at a severe disadvantage," Sanders said, "because we do not guarantee healthcare to people as a right."
During the speech, news came in that France's Emmanuel Macron called coronavirus the worst health crisis in a century, ordered changes to businesses and education and, echoing the very words Sanders was delivering across the Atlantic Ocean, said France will massively increase hospital capacity to deal with the novel coronavirus.
Both Democratic hopefuls today pleaded for an expansion of current practices. Biden called for mobile testing centers and Sanders for an expansion of community health centers.
Sanders also listed proposals to support people from low-income neighborhoods and working-class families, including calling for providing healthcare to immigrants regardless of immigration status, emergency funding for paid medical and family leave and a moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, and utility shutoffs.
Repeatedly, health officials and, now, the Democratic hopefuls, have said a choice between a paycheck and staying home when sick will expedite the spread of a virus in need of slowing down so as not to overwhelm America's health system likely to be overwhelmed in the coming weeks.
"Here is the bottom line and that bottom line is that in the midst of this unprecedented moment, we need to listen to the scientists, to the researchers, to the medical folks — not the politicians," he said of the spread of the virus as "on the scale of major war."
Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) lives completely off the power grid. His house runs completely by renewable energy. As a libertarian, the congressman says a more independent America would be a more prosperous America.
Chipotle announces a new CEO. Dominos and Tinder and teaming up for Valentine's Day. The Director of National Intelligence sounds the alarm on Russia and the midterms elections. Sarah Kauss is the CEO of water bottle company S'well. Her small idea has turned into one of the most successful female-run businesses. Legal technology platform CannaRegs is on a mission to make sense of the legal landscape of marijuana for stakeholders in this growing space. Vermont Governor Phil Scott is asking legislators in his state to speed up equal pay legislation.
This Changes Things: Advice for the executives and leaders of tomorrow, brought to you by American Express OPEN. On Between Bells: Adam Rippon & The Official Johnny G. Weir win the Olympics. With SB Nation, UNO, PCMag, and more.
The National Portrait Gallery has two new additions thanks to Barack and Michelle Obama's official paintings. Latina Magazine's Taiia Young joins Cheddar to discuss the added significance to this American tradition.
A New York family will go to court Wednesday to challenge the federal government, arguing that cannabis shouldn't be a Schedule 1 drug. Amanda Ostrowitz, co-founder and CEO of CannaRegs, says the case might not change the laws.
On Between Bells: Infrastructure, budget, and John Kelly's future. Plus, major Olympic moments and the first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue of the #MeToo era. With The Young Turks, Rare Media, The Daily Caller, Royal Canin, and more.
In their annual letter, Bill and Melinda Gates share their thoughts on the Trump administration and social media's growing influence. Under Armour saw a 47% surge in international sales last quarter. Facebook's VP of U.S. Public Policy and Chief Privacy Officer joins Cheddar to discuss the importance of doing regular privacy check-ups. Ty Pennington and Amanda Brinkman, co-hosts of the show "Small Business Revolution - Main Street," tell us what to expect from the upcoming third season.
Zak Dychtwald, author of "Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World," discusses how his time in China after graduation inspired him to write a book about China's younger generation.
Bill and Melinda Gates weigh in on the Trump administration in their annual letter. Under Armour saw a 47% surge in international sales last quarter.
Cybersecurity has been a hot topic in America over the past year. With more and more hacks going public, what role does the government play in creating regulation? Megan Stifel, Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council and former Cybersecurity Policy Adviser at the White House National Security Council joins Cheddar to discuss the relationship between Washington DC and cybersecurity.
