Sunday shows – Trump trade adviser knocks Obama, whistleblower, CDC

by The Hill staff - 05/17/20 11:41 AM ET

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro appeared on multiple Sunday morning political talk shows, taking shots at former President Obama, whistleblower Richard Bright and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Several governors also discussed reopening efforts in their states amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

White House trade adviser: 'I'm glad Mr. Obama has a new job as Joe Biden's press secretary'

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Sunday that he was “glad Mr. Obama has a new job as Joe Biden’s press secretary.”

The comment came after ABC's George Stephanopoulos asked Navarro to respond to the former president saying during a commencement address that things are “screwed up” because leaders are doing “what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy.”

Read the full story here

Navarro says whistleblower 'deserted' in an 'American tragedy'

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Sunday that whistleblower Richard Bright “deserted” the U.S. in an “American tragedy” when he authored a report criticizing the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full story here

Navarro: CDC 'really let the country down with the testing'

By ZACK BUDRYK

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday faulted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its handling of coronavirus testing, saying the CDC “really let the country down.”

Read the full story here

HHS secretary on people not following social distancing: 'That's part of the freedom we have'

By REBECCA KLAR

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Sunday that reports of people crowding in bars across the country as some states lift restrictions is “part of the freedom” Americans have.

Read the full story here

Azar points to 'unhealthy comorbidities' when asked about high coronavirus death rate in US

By REBECCA KLAR

“Every death is a tragedy, [but the] results could have been vastly, vastly worse,” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said, adding that “to our knowledge” nobody in the U.S. has died because they didn’t have access to a ventilator or a bed in an intensive care unit.

Read the full story here

Trump economist: 'Worst economic news is starting to get behind us'

By TAL AXELROD

Stephen Moore, a member of the White House coronavirus economic task force, said he thinks the “worst economic news” has passed and urged Democratic governors and mayors to expedite the reopening of their respective states and cities amid the pandemic.

Read the full story here

Former CDC head: 'I don't think you can be too alarmist about what this virus can do'

By ZACK BUDRYK

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Thomas Frieden said Sunday that he did not think it is possible to be “too alarmist about what [coronavirus] can do.”

Read the full story here

Public health expert: Vaccine possible this year 'if everything goes in the right direction'

By ZACK BUDRYK

The director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said Sunday that Americans should not “bank" on a coronavirus vaccine by year’s end, but said it is a possibility in a best-case scenario.

Read the full story here

Ohio governor 'absolutely' concerned about crowded bars as state lifts restrictions

By REBECCA KLAR

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Sunday he is “absolutely” concerned about pictures of crowded bars as his state begins lifting coronavirus restrictions, but he said officials are working with the attorney general to help keep businesses in check.

Read the full story here

Colorado governor predicts mix of online, in-person schooling in fall

By ZACK BUDRYK

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), who recently announced schools in the state will resume in the fall, said on Sunday that classes would likely be a “hybrid” of in-person and online learning.

Read the full story here

Newsom says federal government has 'ethical obligation' to send states funding amid coronavirus pandemic

By REBECCA KLAR

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sunday said approving coronavirus relief funding for state and local governments is “not charity” and that his state is facing budgetary concerns as a “direct result” of the crisis.

Read the full story here

Sanders says coronavirus relief bill should include paycheck guarantee

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that the latest coronavirus relief bill should include guarantees that workers will continue to receive their paychecks and benefits.

Read the full story here