TROY: That is Troy (ph).
LAURA: Laura (ph).
AMANDA: Amanda (ph), Lucy (ph) and Tex (ph).
TROY: And we’re at the moment driving as a substitute of flying from California to Texas in order that we will social distance. This podcast was recorded at…
ASMA KHALID, HOST:
1:11 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
TROY, LAURA AND AMANDA: This is the present.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE BIGTOP ORCHESTRA’S “TEETER BOARD: FOLIES BERGERE (MARCH AND TWO-STEP)”)
KHALID: It is fairly a prolonged highway journey to social distance.
SUSAN DAVIS, BYLINE: I am undecided I perceive how one can highway journey and social distance on the similar time.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Effectively, I suppose they’re in it collectively.
KHALID: (Laughter) Do not get me incorrect. There have been moments once I thought, like, man, possibly I ought to simply choose up and drive to my dad and mom’ home.
(LAUGHTER)
KHALID: A minimum of I might get little one care assist.
KEITH: (Laughter).
KHALID: Effectively, hey there. It’s the NPR POLITICS PODCAST. I am Asma Khalid. I am overlaying the 2020 marketing campaign.
KEITH: I am Tamara Keith. I cowl the White Home.
DAVIS: And I am Susan Davis. I cowl Congress.
KHALID: President Trump is holding his fifth press convention in a row immediately. Yep, we have had a briefing each single day. It has been that type of week. And each day, the president has been updating the general public on how the administration is making an attempt to maintain folks wholesome whereas additionally cope with the financial fallout to this pandemic. And, Tam, you cowl the White Home, so let’s begin with you. What have been the important thing headlines out of immediately’s press convention?
KEITH: The president made a bunch of bulletins on the high of the press convention, and I ought to say that with all of this stuff, typically, they find yourself being a bit of extra nuanced than he describes them as upfront. However let’s simply go together with what we all know. He says that there will probably be no standardized testing necessities for youths in class, who’re now not in class. And in addition, the federal authorities is waiving curiosity on federally held pupil loans. That we knew, but in addition, the secretary of training is directing lenders to permit debtors to droop their funds with out penalty for at the least 60 days.
KHALID: Wait. To be clear, Tam, you are speaking about pupil loans there of all kinds then.
KEITH: Sure. Although, you realize, I feel that we would acquire readability over time. I feel these are solely federal pupil loans not non-public pupil loans. After which Tax Day is formally shifting from April 15 to July 15, at the least for federal taxes. And the actually large information is that each the Mexican and Canadian borders will probably be shut down beginning tomorrow to all however important journey. Commerce will nonetheless proceed and different issues like that.
DAVIS: However, Tam, at occasions at these briefings, there appears to be a disconnect with what the president is promising after which the fact of what the general public well being officers are telling us.
KEITH: Proper, each a disconnect between the fact of what public well being officers are saying and in addition simply kind of the fact of what’s being promised, whether or not it matches up on the time that he is saying it. So an instance of that’s that yesterday, President Trump got here out of the briefing and mentioned, there may be this super-promising drug. It is used for malaria. We predict it should be nice for COVID-19. We’ll rush it out into the market. Effectively, immediately on the briefing, Anthony Fauci, the infectious illness specialist who has been serving to with the response in a giant approach and might be essentially the most trusted particular person within the nation on this outbreak – he mentioned, I would not go that far. After which President Trump responded or was requested about that, and he pushed again and mentioned he thought it was nice.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: May go, could not work. I be ok with it. That is all it’s, only a feeling. You recognize, I am a wise man. I be ok with it. And we will see. You are going to see quickly sufficient.
KEITH: Yeah. I imply, there’s this very large problem of kind of balancing expectations and giving folks a way of the seriousness, not upsetting folks an excessive amount of but in addition not giving false hope. After which Fauci was requested to answer what Trump mentioned.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ANTHONY FAUCI: The president feels optimistic about one thing – his feeling about it. What I am saying is that it is likely to be efficient. I am not saying that it’s not. It is likely to be efficient. However as a scientist, as we’re getting it on the market, we have to do it in a approach as whereas we’re making it obtainable for individuals who may need the hope that it would work, you are additionally gathering information that can finally present that it’s actually efficient and secure beneath the circumstances of COVID-19.
KEITH: Or possibly not – that is the factor. There is not any examine to know. They’re simply throwing stuff in opposition to the wall. And Fauci says, you realize, watch out. It hasn’t been confirmed efficient in any respect.
KHALID: Tam, there have been issues a few lockdown, as we have seen sure states advise folks to remain at residence. Is there ideas or was there readability on a nationwide lockdown?
KEITH: The president mentioned that for now, he would not see a necessity for it. However as you say, states are instituting keep at residence orders for all of their residents. We now have each New York and California asserting these within the final 24 hours. And what the president mentioned was, you realize, it positively is sensible in these areas. He helps these strikes, however he is not positive it is sensible in different areas of the nation the place the virus is probably not as widespread.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TRUMP: Primarily, you’ve got accomplished that in California. You’ve got accomplished that in New York. These are actually two hotbeds. These are in all probability the 2 hottest of all of them by way of hotspots. I do not assume so since you exit to the Midwest, you exit to different places and so they’re watching it on tv. However they do not have the identical issues. They do not have by any means the identical drawback.
KEITH: I feel one factor that we simply do not know in any respect is how widespread the virus actually is. It’s in all 50 states now. What we do not know is how many individuals have it as a result of the testing continues to be ramping up.
KHALID: The opposite large information that we have to focus on immediately is that the Senate has now launched the textual content of the trillion-dollar stimulus package deal that we talked about on the podcast yesterday.
DAVIS: Proper.
KHALID: Sue, there are many fascinating nuggets in that invoice, however let’s begin with money funds to People. I imply, that appears actually fascinating and intriguing to, I feel, a number of people. What’s that going to appear to be?
DAVIS: Yeah. I imply, that is the a part of the invoice that is going to have an effect on most People most instantly. And in it, it might embrace, as you mentioned, Asma, money funds scaled to earnings. So when you make a sure amount of cash, you would not qualify for these money funds. I consider should you’re a person who earns over $99,000 a 12 months or a married couple that makes greater than $198,000 or extra, you will not get something.
KEITH: One factor I’ve been confused about, Sue, is simply how these negotiations are occurring. It looks like Senate Republicans got here out with a factor that they need, which isn’t essentially the factor that Home Democrats need, or it isn’t even clear to me that it is what the White Home needs. After which the clock is ticking.
DAVIS: So Mitch McConnell primarily took management of this course of, and there is a few explanation why. The primary is he was in a position to get by that part two invoice. I feel it handed 90-Eight with a very large bipartisan margin. Numerous Republicans hated that invoice. They did not like the best way it was written. It was primarily written by Nancy Pelosi and Steven Mnuchin. And McConnell obtained a number of senators to vote for that by saying, the part three invoice – that is the one we’re speaking about now – will probably be extra a product of Senate Republicans.
So McConnell wrote the primary draft of the invoice, in a approach, to maintain his Senate Republicans in line. Right now they’re now bringing in Democrats. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, different high Democrats on the committees that matter are hashing it out behind closed doorways immediately – the 4 corners, he mentioned, of the invoice; the 4 primary facets of it. He informed them, the negotiators, this is your baseline. Come again to me with what you’ll be able to all vote for by midnight Friday. Mitch McConnell needs to have the ability to begin drafting this invoice on Saturday so as to have the ability to vote on it within the Senate as early as Monday.
KHALID: And, Sue, would that occur now that we all know that there are individuals who have the coronavirus who’re on Capitol Hill?
DAVIS: Effectively, McConnell informed senators to not go wherever. They are not going to adjourn till they cross this invoice, so everybody’s kind of hanging tight to the Capitol. The query – the larger query is, as a result of we all know senators are on the town and might vote for it – is, what does the Home do subsequent as a result of the Home shouldn’t be in session? The bulk chief, Steny Hoyer, over there has mentioned he is not going to carry lawmakers again till they’ve a invoice to vote for.
There is a honest quantity of dialogue in each the Home and Senate of making an attempt to vary the foundations of Congress to permit for distant voting, however Mitch McConnell once more previously 24 hours and Speaker Nancy Pelosi beforehand have indicated that they are actually not recreation for that. They are not curious about altering the foundations of Congress that senators and lawmakers and congressmen – they’re nonetheless going to should vote in particular person to get this by after which possibly take an prolonged break.
KHALID: Why is that, Sue, once we’re all being suggested to work remotely, that they are being kind of somewhat obstinate about not doing that?
DAVIS: Effectively, you realize, it is an enchanting query, and I feel a number of People do not get it, proper? Like, we’re all working from residence proper now. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are working from residence proper now. We’re making loopy lodging in our personal lives to get our jobs accomplished. Why should not Congress?
I feel there’s a few issues. It is a constitutional query. There is a query of whether or not distant voting is likely to be in violation of the Structure. There’s lots of people who’re institutionalist who really feel that it might undermine the establishment and the values of the chamber, that the entire argument for democracy is that you simply collect in a single place, you debate, and also you vote. And should you begin a slippery slope of permitting lawmakers to vote from wherever they’re, it modifications the character of the establishment. There’s additionally a ton of safety questions. How do you vote? There’s completely no infrastructure in place to guard the integrity of the vote to ensure it is the lawmaker being the one casting the poll. I am undecided they’re all going to get on a Slack channel and determine how one can cross a invoice or not.
So it appears easy, nevertheless it raises so many advanced points. Speaker Pelosi has mentioned she’s going to review the problem, however fairly frankly, the timing simply would not permit a protracted, deliberative course of. I feel it feels like, as we sit right here immediately, they’ll make the decision to carry lawmakers again within the Home to vote on this after which get them out of city as quick as potential.
KEITH: Whilst two of them are at the moment at residence with coronavirus.
DAVIS: A minimum of two and possibly extra, proper? We now have two confirmed constructive coronavirus checks in Congress – Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Ben McAdams of Utah. He is a Democrat. They have been on the Home flooring and voting on Friday and Saturday. Each of them mentioned they began to really feel symptomatic Saturday night. They obtained checks. They’re getting therapy. They’re quarantined. However I consider at the least of our final rely, there’s been at the least 11 extra Home members who’ve self-quarantined now as a result of they have been involved with them – not that they’ve examined constructive, however they’re now self-quarantining as a result of they have been in relation with them.
So lawmakers are spooked. There’s a actual concern about that. Democrats are assembly about it on a convention name once more immediately to debate it out. However it’s fairly potential there are extra lawmakers carrying the coronavirus, and we simply do not know it. And members are actually conscious of that, and they’re – admittedly, a lot of them – a bit of freaked out about coming again to D.C.
KHALID: All proper. Effectively, we have to take a fast break, and once we get again, now we have an NPR unique report.
And we’re again, and we’re joined now by our previous good friend Tim Mak. Hey there, Tim.
TIM MAK, BYLINE: Hey there.
KHALID: So, Tim, you will have left us and formally moved to a unique flooring within the constructing. Effectively, that is really once we’re not working remotely – a unique flooring. However you joined the investigations staff for NPR, and you’ve got some new reporting about Sen. Richard Burr. He is a Republican from North Carolina who serves because the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was a loopy story, to be trustworthy. However why do not you simply fill us in from the start?
MAK: Effectively, I feel to grasp this story, you need to get a way of the timeline of the story, proper? So you need to return about three weeks in the past to February 27, when the US had about 15 confirmed instances of COVID-19. There hadn’t even been a single demise on this nation associated to that virus. On that day, the president was even suggesting that the virus may very well be seasonal, that it might disappear. On that very same day that the president made these feedback, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr attended a luncheon, and this can be a luncheon for well-connected people from his state of North Carolina. Now, Sen. Burr is de facto an skilled on pandemics each in legislation and in the subject material. And he held forth. He is informed the well-connected constituents from his state the next.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
RICHARD BURR: There may be one factor that I can inform you about this. It’s rather more aggressive in its transmission than something that now we have seen in current historical past. It is in all probability extra akin to the 1918 pandemic.
MAK: The general public was simply – had in all probability heard concerning the coronavirus however definitely wasn’t conscious of the disaster it might and will develop into. However Sen. Burr appeared to assume that it might develop into an actual disaster. He warned the folks within the room to start out reconsidering journey to Europe. That is 13 days earlier than the State Division started to warn in opposition to journey to Europe and 15 days earlier than the Trump administration banned European vacationers.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BURR: Each firm needs to be cognizant of the truth that you’ll have to change your journey. You could have to have a look at your workers and choose whether or not the journey they’re making to Europe is important or whether or not it may be accomplished on videoconference. You do not need to threat it.
MAK: He warned about the specter of faculty closures. He warned that the navy is likely to be mobilized to fight the coronavirus, and that is one thing we’re actually solely listening to about in earnest now. And this was a non-public occasion. Somebody was so alarmed by what they have been listening to, they began to report it, and that is the place we obtained this secret recording exhibiting what the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman was saying in non-public. Now, he by no means mentioned any of this in public. He by no means warned the general public that he felt that these steps is likely to be needed. He solely warned these people behind the scenes at this non-public luncheon, and that is what’s so wonderful about this story.
KEITH: By that time, there had already been the primary case of neighborhood transmission recognized in the US of coronavirus. You recognize, by then, President Trump had named the coronavirus process power and put Mike – Vice President Mike Pence answerable for it. So there had been some actions indicating that this was extra severe than the numbers would have it appear. But additionally, round that very same time, President Trump was saying issues like, possibly it’s going to go all the way down to zero, and, we have this contained.
So there have been a number of contradictions popping out of the White Home. I imply, I ponder, although, if, maybe, like many Republicans, Burr did not need to make public area between himself and the president. If the president saying it should go to zero, Burr in all probability would not need to come out in public and say what he was saying in that closed-door assembly.
DAVIS: I do not assume it’s a shock that politicians typically say one thing publicly that they are saying in another way privately, particularly to their donors. However what I feel makes Tim’s reporting all that extra fascinating is that inside the similar day, there was extra stories about Richard Burr’s actions, that – specifically, that across the time that he was conscious of how severe the coronavirus implications may very well be, he additionally selected to liquidate a number of his inventory holdings, I feel estimated to be nearly close to $2 million – as much as $2 million of private inventory holdings. In order that additionally raises extra alarms about whether or not the senator was not solely appearing ethically however appearing legally.
MAK: Effectively, there was a ProPublica report on Thursday night type of outlining – hey; there are these – there’s these public disclosures that present these huge inventory gross sales on a single day – 33 inventory gross sales, as much as $1.7 million of inventory offered on a single day that Sen. Richard Burr made. And people definitely look suspicious.
KHALID: So, Tim, what has Sen. Burr’s response been to all of this?
MAK: Sen. Burr did not say a lot on Thursday night however, on Friday, gave the impression to be in a bit of bit of injury management – mentioned that each one his monetary strikes had been motivated solely by public info, particularly reporting that he was seeing on CNBC popping out of Asia, and that he used no insider info so as to make these trades.
KEITH: The explanation that Burr is being cautious to say that this was all based mostly on public info is that there’s, the truth is, a legislation. It’s known as the STOCK Act. It was handed a number of years in the past. That claims members of Congress cannot commerce – do inventory trades based mostly on private info that they get due to their place as a member of Congress.
MAK: And he additionally referred his personal conduct to the Senate Ethics Committee. What do you make of that, Sue?
DAVIS: Effectively, I feel it does communicate to the truth that he realizes that this can be a a lot larger political storm for him, proper? Couple of issues about Richard Burr – he isn’t going to run for reelection. He was reelected in 2016, and he is already mentioned he is not going to search one other time period in 2022. So in some methods, the normal pressures of politics aren’t actually dealing with him as a result of he is not likely taking a look at his subsequent reelection.
To the Senate Ethics Committee, you realize, it is a fairly secure factor to name for an ethics investigation as a result of anyone on Capitol Hill effectively is aware of the Senate Ethics Committee might be best-known for all of the work it would not do. It is not a rigorous investigative physique. It’s bipartisan. It is equally divided between the 2 events, however it’s not recognized for aggressive enforcement of senators’ behaviors. Senators traditionally, historically, institutionally actually do not prefer to self-discipline each other, so it is good purpose to be skeptical that an ethics investigation into Richard Burr would quantity to a lot of something in any respect. I do not assume that they’ve issued any reprimands to any senators for nearly a decade now.
KEITH: And President Trump was requested about this immediately on the White Home press briefing, requested concerning the inventory trades by Burr and a few different senators. And President Trump kind of brushed it off, mentioned he did not know a lot about it however that these have been good folks.
KHALID: All proper. Effectively, we’re going to go away it there. Tim, thanks a lot for coming again and hanging out with us.
MAK: Thanks for having me.
KHALID: And once we get again, it should be time for Cannot Let It Go.
And we’re again. And it’s time to finish the week like we do each week with Cannot Let It Go, the a part of the present the place we speak concerning the one factor that we simply can not cease excited about, politics or in any other case. And I need to go first as a result of as you all know, I battle with discovering Cannot Let It Gos (ph). However this week…
DAVIS: A minimum of ones that are not miserable.
KEITH: Yo (ph).
(LAUGHTER)
KHALID: (Laughter) I do know, proper? (Laughter) However this week, I carry you a second of pleasure – has nothing to do with the coronavirus. Actually, effectively, it kind of tangentially may. However I do not know should you all have ever been to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. It’s a lovely, amazingly superior place that has, like, penguins and many fish and dolphin exhibits. And rising up, we used to go there on a regular basis, so I’ve kind of this private affinity with the Shedd. And there was this video launched earlier this week of the penguins on the Shedd who’ve gone…
DAVIS: Oh, I did see this.
KHALID: You probably did see this. (Laughter) So the penguins, as a result of, like, no one else can go to the Shedd proper now, they obtained to go on tour of the Shedd.
KEITH: (Laughter).
KHALID: And there was this one little penguin, Wellington, who, apparently, shouldn’t be very younger. I feel he is, like, 30 years previous. However Wellington was, like, enamored with the tropical fish zone. And so there’s this video that the Shedd posted that has gone viral of Wellington simply, like, you realize, waddling about after which staying fixated on the tropical fish as a result of if you concentrate on it, like, when else has a penguin in all probability ever, like, seen fish from the Amazon jungle earlier than? So anyhow, if you have not seen it, you must test it out. It, like, introduced me a second of pleasure amidst all the loopy tumult, I really feel, that we’re all in all probability feeling today.
DAVIS: That looks like such a great plot for the subsequent Disney Pixar film…
KHALID: (Laughter).
DAVIS: …Like, the penguin that meets the tropical fish, and it is, like, such a curiosity. They usually go on great adventures collectively.
KHALID: Effectively, Sue, what cannot you let go of?
DAVIS: So the factor I can not let go this week is the factor that I began out being a complete hater about and have come to completely embrace – and never simply embrace however endorse. And it’s, primarily, digital hangouts.
KEITH: (Laughter) Ah.
DAVIS: As all of us are caught alone in our properties, you’ve got – beginning to see it increasingly more, the place individuals are having playdates with their youngsters or they’re having digital completely satisfied hours or dinner events with their associates. And I used to be type of, like, eye-rolly (ph) about this at first, however I downloaded an app. It is known as Home Get together that associates of mine saved sending to me, saying we must always do it. And I downloaded it, and I attempted it final night time. I am a really current convert – previously 24 hours. However final night time, I had, like, two…
KEITH: Issues are shifting quick right here.
DAVIS: Sure. Effectively, I had two, quote-unquote, “home events” with two totally different teams of associates, and we caught up.
KHALID: Wow. That is, like, actually social for weeknight.
DAVIS: Yeah, it was nice. I imply, it was actually actually great to truly see folks’s faces. And the group chat was actually enjoyable, and we laughed. And it was, like, a great way to meet up with one another and de-stress and, like, speak about issues that weren’t all of the stuff within the information that was stressing us all out. So I’ve – I am a complete convert. I actually – should you guys have not tried it, I feel you must. I feel it is nice in your psychological well being. I feel it is an effective way to remain in contact with folks. And I feel possibly we would should do a podcast hangout someday quickly.
KEITH: Ooh. Was there wine concerned?
DAVIS: After all there was wine concerned.
KEITH: Oh, good, good. Glad to listen to it.
KHALID: Effectively, Tam, what about you?
KEITH: So mine is on the coronavirus theme as effectively. Lots of people have been producing public service bulletins, however one particular person has been kind of doing it his personal approach. Former California governor and Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger – he began out with a video on his Twitter of him exhibiting his small canine how one can wash arms.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: You see right here? Have a look at this, Cherry. That is the way you wash your arms.
KEITH: He was simply, like, on the sink washing his arms, small canine not likely paying consideration. After which his subsequent video was him on the eating room desk with two mini ponies.
DAVIS: I beloved the mini ponies one.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SCHWARZENEGGER: We simply ate. We had Whiskey, and we had Lulu. And now we have a great time. We’re getting entertained. Have a look at that stunning smile she has.
KEITH: I imply, like, this complete factor, I am like, the place are you, Arnold Schwarzenegger? And why do you will have miniature ponies in your eating room? However no matter – type of wonderful. Then he posted one other one which was, like, you guys need not exit. Simply keep right here like me. I am in my sizzling tub with a stogie.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SCHWARZENEGGER: Right here I’m at residence taking a jacuzzi, smoking a bit of stogie.
KEITH: And he – you realize, it is like, how California are you able to be, proper? So he is, like, in a sizzling tub together with his shirt off, carrying a hat and sun shades, telling folks they need to simply keep residence.
DAVIS: I think about you probably have a multimillion-dollar property, sheltering in place is a way more nice solution to trip this out.
KHALID: Perhaps you, like, understand corners of your property that you simply by no means knew existed, proper?
DAVIS: That is in all probability true.
KEITH: (Laughter) Who is aware of?
KHALID: However I say this talking from my two-bedroom condominium, so (laughter)…
DAVIS: Even Arnold Schwarzenegger was in all probability like, I’ve mini ponies?
KEITH: They’ve names, too. After which lastly, the final video obtained a bit of bit extra severe. And he was thanking all the first responders and the docs and the nurses and the grocery retailer clerks and all people who’s working so exhausting right now.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SCHWARZENEGGER: I imply, all of these individuals are actual heroes. I simply need you to know that I admire it a lot. I’ve performed an motion hero my complete life within the films, however you’re the true motion heroes. Congratulations, and thanks in your serving – for serving the neighborhood. My father-in-law all the time mentioned, you realize, serve, serve, serve, for in the long run, it is going to be the servant that can save us all. That is precisely what you are doing. You’re the true motion heroes.
KHALID: Effectively, that’s it for immediately. Our government producer is Shirley Henry. Our editors are Muthoni Muturi and Eric McDaniel. Our producers are Barton Girdwood and Chloee Weiner. Because of Lexie Schapitl, Brandon Carter, Maya Gandhi and Meredith Roten (ph).
I am Asma Khalid. I cowl the presidential marketing campaign.
KEITH: I am Tamara Keith. I cowl the White Home.
DAVIS: I am Susan Davis. I cowl Congress.
KHALID: And thanks for listening to the NPR POLITICS PODCAST.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE BIGTOP ORCHESTRA’S “TEETER BOARD: FOLIES BERGERE (MARCH AND TWO-STEP)”)
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