Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), along with her husband Andy Moffit, answered students' questions on the coronavirus pandemic. The governor said she expects grade school classes to resume in the fall but acknowledged that the environment will look different with students possibly having to wash their hands more, wear face masks and spread out in the classroom. She also talked about the importance of children talking to parents and teachers if they have emotional or physical health concerns. In regards to colleges and universities, Gov. Raimondo said she asked all 20 of the state's institutions to submit a plan on how they will safely reopen in the fall.
Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina delivers the Weekly Democratic Address. The Hse Majority Whip, Chair of the Hse Select Cmte on the Coronavirus Crisis and Chair of the Hse Democratic Rural Broadband Task Force discusses the need to connect all Americans to broadband internet.
House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a virtual discussion on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on homeless veterans in America. Committee members asked National Coalition for Homeless Veterans CEO Kathryn Monet several questions on additional funding for transitional and short-term shelters, supporting homeless female veterans with children, and the best way to test and track the homeless veteran population across the country.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) gave an update on the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Justice updated the state's positive case numbers and death toll. He also talked about new guidance for the safer-at-home order he issued on April 30th. The governor spoke about the state's decreased revenue and said he hopes to get help from the federal government.
Members from the House Natural Resources Committee held a virtual discussion on the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic in U.S. territories. Led by committee Chair Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), they discussed the medical supplies needed, the financial impact on their economies, and the measures their local governments are taking to mitigate the spread of the virus, as well as the delay in stimulus checks to several of the territories. They also discussed the need for increased relief funding, given that several of these U.S. territories are still recovering from previous natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis joined the former director of the U.K. Special Forces, Sir Graeme Lamb, in a discussion on the global response to the coronavirus pandemic sponsored by the Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. They discussed the global significance of the pandemic, the importance of competent and decisive leadership in times of crisis, the response from the U.S. and U.K., how militaries can play an effective role, and the importance of global coordination amongst allies in combatting global pandemics.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined from his home in Kensington, Maryland to talk about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his state. He also talked about the Senate planning to return to work from an extended break, and about some of his concerns regarding that.
We note the anniversary of the May 4, 1970 National Guard shootings at Kent State University in Ohio that left four students dead, with a 2005 Book TV talk by author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Philip Caputo, who covered the shootings for the Chicago Tribune. He spoke about his book: "13 seconds: A Look Back At The Kent State Shootings."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) gave an update on the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He announced that the New York City transit system would be closing during overnight hours for a deep clean in order to keep workers and the riding public safe. The governor also updated the death toll, number of positive cases and hospitalizations.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank is committed to using all its monetary policy tools to keep the economy going during and after the coronavirus pandemic. His comments came during a news conference in Washington, DC where he also indicated that interest rates will remain low for the time being. The chair also suggested that more federal stimulus may be needed to respond to the virus' impact on the economy. Other topics discussed included unemployment numbers, credit availability and fiscal spending power.
Wellesley College professor Brenna Greer debunked some of the myths about Rosa Parks and the 1955-56 Montgomery bus boycott. She addressed that Parks was not the first African American woman who refused to give up her seat and that the boycott had planning and precedent. She also explored with the class why a simplified version of this history has become so widespread.
Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, who played a central role in the handling of the 2008 financial crisis, talked about the actions the Fed is taking to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. During this webcast hosted by the Brookings Institution, he was joined by Brookings Institution senior fellow David Wessel.
Attorney Martin Garbus talked about the case of the Cuban Five, who were charged by the U.S. government with espionage and conspiracy to commit murder in the 1990s.
Journalist Katherine Stewart argued that religious nationalists are waging political war on American democracy and institutions. This was a virtual author program.
Author and historian Victor Davis Hanson talked about COVID-19 and how Americans have dealt with similar threats in the past. This virtual discussion was hosted by the Hoover Institution.
