The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: DeLauro questions why White House is blocking Fauci from testifying before House panel, wants Pelosi to stay on into next Congress

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

> Tensions rise between Washington and Beijing as Trump casts blame on China

> Administration projecting 3k daily coronavirus deaths by June

> Senate back in Washington as ‘new normal’ takes shape on Capitol Hill 

> DOJ sides with Virginia church, argues stay-at-home order interferes with free exercise of religion 

> US airline stocks tumble as Buffett sells stake

> Rep. Rosa DeLauro surprised administration afraid of having Dr. Anthony Fauci bring science and facts to House committee, says White House putting politics over public health while people are dying, asks what happened to $16 billion House appropriated to strategic national stockpile, says we need to stop destroying milk, meat and crops and get to hungry people in need, wants Speaker Pelosi to stay on into next Congress

President Trump steps up his criticism of China. President Trump accused the Chinese government of making a “horrible mistake” in its coronavirus response and of then orchestrating a cover-up that allowed the pathogen to spread around the world. “My opinion is they made a mistake. They tried to cover it, they tried to put it out. It’s like a fire,” Trump said Sunday night during a virtual town hall on Fox News. “You know, it’s really like trying to put out a fire. They couldn’t put out the fire.” 

THE INTERVIEW

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) asks what the administration is afraid of in having Dr. Anthony Fauci bring science and facts to House Committee, says White House putting politics over public health while people are dying, wants Speaker Pelosi to stay on into next Congress

Watch the full interview here.

THE HILL’S CORONAVIRUS REPORT

Welcome to The Hill’s Coronavirus Report. It’s Monday, May 4.

Editor’s Note.

Warren Buffett just sold his investments in United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines — all of it. This morning, I snapped a picture of the intersection at 16th and K Street, NW. This is a block from the White House and normally an insanely busy place on any non-pandemic weekday morning, and it looked like a neutron bomb (remember those?) had wiped everyone out, leaving only the buildings unscathed, and the parked cars — but almost no human beings at all. Berkshire Hathaway is predicting it will take a long time to get full planes flying again — and I’m guessing it’s going to take a long time to fill up this people-missing corporate landscape, not only in the nation’s capital but all over the country. 

Today I interviewed Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and she’s got a lot to say regarding how we navigate public safety for the massive number of Americans out there who are struggling to survive the double mugging of their health safety and their economic foundation. DeLauro chairs the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and was planning to have Anthony Fauci testify Wednesday along with former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tom Frieden and Senior Associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Caitlin Rivers. The White House blocked Fauci from testifying before her panel, but gave him a green light to appear before the GOP-controlled Senate committee. What that tells me is that the 68,000 dead in America thus far — and the 30,000 or more predicted — have not yet focused the attention of some politicians enough to get beyond political games. Yes, games. If there is anything clear about Fauci is that he doesn’t mince words and he’d say the same things whether at a Senate hearing, a House hearing or even appearing on The Hill’s Coronavirus Report, which I hope he soon does. The key here is that we all try to take the high road, promote high quality information and debate, and engineer policy decisions to save lives now.

DeLauro has also helped shine a spotlight on other overcapacity in agriculture today as many families, homeless folks and others in need are going hungry and “at the same time,” DeLauro says, “farmers are plowing crops under, euthanizing pigs and dumping milk.” Along with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and with public support from chef José Andrés and former Agriculture Secretaries Dan Glickman and Tom Vilsack she has released an action plan to help these farmers and to keep intact the American supply chain of food. This seems pragmatic to me, a win-win for both political parties, farmers and communities in need.

My colleague at The Hill Marty Johnson caught this poignant clip of something powerful and worthy of repeating from former President George W. Bush from Oprah’s “The Call to Unite” on Saturday: 

“We serve our neighbor by separating from them. We cannot allow physical separation to become emotional isolation. This requires us to not only be compassionate but creative in our outreach. Let us remember empathy and simple kindness are essential, powerful tools of national recovery. Even at an appropriate social distance, we can find the way to be present in the lives of others. … In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants. We’re human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God.”

President Trump wasn’t impressed with Bush’s words, but I was. And I think that whether folks are devout supporters of the president’s brand of leadership or support former Vice President Joe Biden, or if they like neither, this is the time for personal magnanimity. The shocks of this pandemic won’t just be dumped airline stocks, a glut of corporate offices or millions of aborted piglets, it will also be many people without a clear path to keep themselves and their families from sinking into the sludge of these times.

– Steve Clemons

Your Coronavirus Report team includes Steve Clemons, editor-at-large of The Hill, and researcher Andrew Wargofchik. Follow us on Twitter at @SCClemons and @a_wargofchik. CLICK HERE to subscribe to The Hill’s Coronavirus Special Report. To stay up-to-date on all things coronavirus, visit TheHill.com and SUBSCRIBE to our Overnight Healthcare newsletter for the latest developments from the daily White House coronavirus task force briefings. 

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CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

There are 3,544,281 cases of COVID-19 around the world. 249,079 have died from the virus. 

The U.S. is reporting 1,166,083 cases and 68,046 deaths as of the time of this newsletter. Spain is reporting 217,466 cases. Italy 211,938. 191,827 in the U.K. 168,962 in France. 145,268 in Russia. 126,045 in Turkey. 101,826 in Brazil. 98,647 cases are being reported in Iran. 83,965 in China. Canada 60,577. Mexico 23,471. Pakistan 20,884. 5,000 in Morocco. 

New York’s 318,953 cases remain the highest anywhere in the world. 128,269 cases in New Jersey. 68,087 in Massachusetts. 61,499 in Illinois. 54,994 in California. Pennsylvania is reporting 52,816 cases. Florida 36,897. Texas — which is set to enter the first phase of reopening today — 32,343 cases. 13,177 in Tennessee. 9,703 in Iowa. 8,699 in Missouri. 6,626 in South Carolina. 3,437 in Arkansas. 

7,123,222 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the U.S. 1,137,265 have reported full recoveries from COVID-19 worldwide.

WASHINGTON WATCH

The “new normal” takes shape on Capitol Hill. Congressional lawmakers hoping for a return to pre-coronavirus life on Capitol Hill might find themselves waiting awhile.The pandemic has already upended daily routines and legislative calendars during the extended recess, forcing lawmakers to adapt to Zoom hearings and cloistered campaigning. But now Congress’s leading medical authority is warning that the upheaval will extend to virtually all facets of life in the Capitol complex. And those changes are likely to last years. (The Hill) 

Trump administration projecting 3K daily new coronavirus deaths by June: NYT. The Trump administration is projecting that the United States could see up to 3,000 deaths per day from the coronavirus on June 1, according to internal documents obtained by The New York Times. The president also predicted during a Fox News virtual town hall Sunday that up to 100,000 Americans could die. He nonetheless emphasized the need to reopen businesses and get Americans back to work by lifting certain measures intended to slow the spread of the virus. (The Hill) 

DOJ argues Virginia stay-at-home order interfered with church’s free exercise of religion. The Department of Justice is siding with a Virginia church that filed a lawsuit against the state over Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D) stay-at-home order restricting in-person religious services to no more than 10 people amid the coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday, lawyers from the Justice Department filed a statement of interest supporting the church’s action. (The Hill)

LAWMAKERS TWEET

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) 

@RepMattGaetz I was talking to one of my constituents recently who said, “It doesn’t matter what businesses open. America will not open until the schools are open.”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) 

@RepDWStweets To all of you inspiring young minds, To all of you sparking creativity, To all of you changing lives forever, And to everyone now doing it from a distance, Thank you, and happy #TeacherAppreciationWeek!

 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

@SenTedCruz

ACROSS THE NATION

COVID-19’s class divide creates new political risks. The COVID-19 outbreak ravaging the United States is exacerbating the nation’s class divide, closing small businesses and bankrupting households while many in the nation’s elite emerge relatively unscathed.The disparity was highlighted in April when stock markets enjoyed a banner month even as 22 million people were added to the unemployment rolls. It is a divide that has political ramifications for both parties, but especially so for Republicans, who hold the White House and the Senate majority. (The Hill) 

Utah starts to reopen as number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) placed the state under “moderate risk” protocols starting Friday, allowing certain establishments including gyms and salons to reopen and restaurants to begin offering dine-in options with precautions in place. The state is still recording new confirmed COVID-19 cases, however, with a total of 5,175 infections reported as of Sunday. (The Hill)

WORLD VIEW

The risk of rich countries neglecting poorer ones during the pandemic. The pandemic is not a great leveler. The novel coronavirus outbreak has exposed socioeconomic divides within countries, disproportionately affecting the working class, minorities and other vulnerable communities. It has also exposed the gulf between the world’s wealthy nations and poorer ones. Though countries in the West have been ravaged by the virus, they are more prepared to fend it off than countries with much weaker health systems and no social safety nets. That gap will only be exacerbated as the virus spreads deeper into the global South. (Washington Post) 

EU official says Europe has been “naive” about China. European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Europe has been “a little naive” in dealing with China but that it was beginning to take a more pragmatic approach. Borrell told France’s Le Journal du Dimanche that China and the EU are “on the same side” in that they both promote multilateralism. However, he said, that commonality does not necessarily mean they see eye-to-eye on global governance in general, according to Politico Europe. (The Hill) 

/ With virus under control, Australia and New Zealand may form a travel “bubble.” With their coronavirus outbreaks under control, New Zealand and Australia are discussing forming a “travel bubble” that would allow people to resume international journeys across the Tasman Sea without quarantine restrictions. The move, which is still weeks if not months away, would enable both countries to take a step toward normality and help their tourism industries, while serving as a potential template for other governments as they emerge from the crisis. (Washington Post)

SCIENCE

What happens if a coronavirus vaccine is never developed? Instead of wiping out COVID-19, societies may instead learn to live with it. Cities would slowly open and some freedoms will be returned, but on a short leash, if experts’ recommendations are followed. (CNN)

BUSINESS

US airline stocks tumble after Buffett sells his stakes. U.S. airline shares were down sharply again on Monday, this time after Warren Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway sold its entire stakes in the four largest U.S. carriers as coronavirus devastates travel demand. Berkshire was among the largest investors in the four — American, Delta, Southwest and United. (CNBC) 

J.Crew files for bankruptcy, the first national retail casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. J.Crew Group, the apparel chain known for its preppy basics, filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, becoming the first national retailer to do so during the coronavirus pandemic. (Washington Post)

IDEAS, CAUSES, PASSION

How to protect the right to vote. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many weaknesses in institutions and governing systems, but it has reminded Americans that we are in this crisis as one people, battling a common scourge and united by the ties that bind us together. Perhaps the most fundamental of these ties is the right to vote, which must be protected from the ravages of this disease in the coming months and beyond. (Glenn Nye and Chris Condon for The Hill)

Will open office spaces become a thing of the past? Most companies are only just beginning to think about how they might change their corporate workspaces, with some experts saying the open floor plan could be redone with better consideration for personal space and stricter cleaning schedules. Others, however, say the pandemic is the final straw for the open office. (National Geographic)

GENEROUS SPIRITS

Sidney Crosby donates 100,000 meals to Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has donated 100,000 meals to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The donated meals translate to 120,000 pounds of food that will be distributed across the organization’s 11-county area in southwestern Pennsylvania. (KDKA) 

Customer leaves $1,300 tip to support Texas restaurant on day it reopened. A man and his family, who had visited the restaurant before, on Friday ordered a filet mignon, scallops, grilled steak and other items. The check came out to a hefty $337. But then the customer asked his server to double charge him. But after the customer received his updated check with the double charge, he then added a $300 tip for the 18-year-old waiter and another $1,000 “for the house,” according to a picture of the check. His total came out to be $2,029. (CNN) 

ICYMI: STEVE’S INTERVIEWS, 15 MINUTES EACH

> Steve interviews Sen. CHRISTOPHER COONS (D-Del.) 

> Steve interviews Edelman Public Relations CEO RICHARD EDELMAN 

> Steve interviews Rep. DONNA SHALALA (D-Fla.) 

> Steve interviews Rep. TREY HOLLINGSWORTH (R-Ind.) 

> Steve interviews former Secretary of State MADELEINE ALBRIGHT 

Watch all Coronavirus Report interviews here.

YOUR WORLD, YOUR STORIES

Life on pause. Neil Banton shared his photo of the eerily empty Oculus at New York City’s World Trade Center. Under normal circumstances, the Oculus is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the country — but not today, as the coronavirus has ground the largest U.S. city to a halt. 

SEND US YOUR OWN PICS – from your own walks or adventures – during this time of physical distancing but social connection. And SEND US YOUR STORIES of how teleworking is going, what you have learned from homeschooling, new ways to exercise, and special moments or standout heroism you want to share. What’s working for you? What’s comic in these dark days? 

Send to YourStories@TheHill.com. Our thoughts are with you, our readers, and we hope and trust that no matter the weight of burdens on you now — and it’s not a good story for everyone we know — that we all stand together, resilient and confident, on the other side of this. There will be another side.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to The Hill’s Coronavirus Report. To stay up-to-date on all things coronavirus, visit TheHill.com and SUBSCRIBE to our Overnight Healthcare newsletter for the latest developments from the daily White House coronavirus task force briefings.

VIEW ALL – CORONAVIRUS REPORT ARCHIVE