District Sentinel Radio

-Treasury, SBA confirm that companies with more than 500 workers (like chain restaurants) are eligible for paycheck protection bailouts -State Department claims Iranian space launch poses threat despite scoffing from US military -Pelosi deferring to Republicans on proxy votes even though House rules are set by the majority -2019 was a record year for the number of electronic devices seized at ports of entry Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In this week’s Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons takes on the rightwing protests across the nation against state pandemic lockdown orders. The protests reveal deep bias in how the media and police treat dissent in the country. Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Days after Biden ad bashing Chinese people, Trump promises executive order suspending immigration to fight “the invisible disease” -AP report shows Small Business Administration doling out millions to publicly traded companies -Dems cave on food stamp demands, as Congress looks set to top up the small business bailout fund -“How much will it cost,” asks nobody, as Trump promises oil and gas industry bailout -EPA issues final rule dialing back clean water protections for wetlands and streams -GAO details uptick in detention of pregnant women by immigration agents under Trump Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Congress, White House close to deal on $300 billion more for the SBA paycheck protection program -Safeguards on small business fund still lacking despite revelations of Ruths Chris steakhouse and Shake Shack bailouts -Only six states have kids hunger relief programs approved by USDA under “phase two” of the Congressional coronavirus bills -Expiring contracts send oil down to $-37 per barrel on the West Texas Index -Federal Reserve limits emergency local government aid from “phase 3” to 10 cities, 15 counties Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In a new edition of Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons tell us about how the US empire is applying its boot on the necks of countries already struggling to contain the coronavirus. Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-43,000 people making more than $1 million are set to get $74 billion in tax cuts next year because of the coronavirus stimulus - Congressional watchdog -Federal appellate court okays “retaliatory investigations” under the Whistleblower Protection Act -Investment firms are looking at getting money from the Small Business Admin payroll protection program -“Anti-virus kits,” silicone face brushes, and IV doses of Vitamin C: FTC cracks down on more coronavirus scammers Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Supreme Court to hear oral arguments via teleconference -Caseload includes litigation on subpoenas of President Trump’s personal financial information and state laws binding electoral college votes to the popular vote -Labor Department accused of restricting supplemental unemployment benefits, keeping COVID program too narrow -Relaxing risk exposure rules on banks could increase leverage by $1.6 trillion, Fed estimates -DeVos reaches settlement with students who sued her for withdrawing debt relief program Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

Journalist Chip Gibbons joins us for another edition of Chip Chat. We discuss Chip's latest report on a troubling FBI probe into a domestic Palestinian solidarity group: https://theintercept.com/2020/04/05/israel-palestine-fbi-terrorism-investigation/

-Supreme Court conservatives downplay the threat of voter suppression, block attempt to extend mail in voting for Wisconsin primary -RBG pens dissent, contrasts sharply with Biden’s reckless statements on pandemic voting -Mitch McConnell itching to ram through another round of $200 billion in small business bailouts -Trump removes pick to oversee the coronavirus stimulus bailout, ratcheting up conflict with interagency council of inspectors general Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The Department of Labor says workers can’t sue businesses with under 50 employees for sick leave under coronavirus relief legislation -HHS Inspector General details strain on hospitals across the country, report raises questions of medical equipment price gouging -Supreme Court sides with Kansas 8-1 in traffic stop case, Sotomayor decries majority reliance on “common sense inference” and big data -Plus, Wisconsin primary polls finally called off. Sentinel Radio pal Matt Sostock (@msostock) brings us an update from the Badger State Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

Hosts Sam Sacks and Sam Knight sit down with Chip Gibbons for a new edition of Chip Chat.

-Secretary of State castigates US enemies for spending money on defense over civilian needs during the COVID-19 crisis, like buddy….you know which country you represent, right? -Can we not launch huge construction projects during a pandemic, please? Trump calls for Phase 4 of the stimulus to be infrastructure week -Supreme Court grants new case in isolation, takes up plea for immunity from FBI agent and local cop who beat, arrested, and charged the wrong guy in pursuit of a fugitive -NLRB ploughs forward with bogus union-busting “free choice” rule Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The coronavirus bailout law allows the Treasury Secretary to exempt companies from restrictions on stock buybacks and shareholder dividend payments “to protect the interests of the Federal Government” -The law also leaves the short-staffed Postal Service wholly dependent on debt, while private air cargo companies are getting their employees’ salaries paid -Some bright spots: landlords with federally-backed loans are banned from carrying out evictions for 120 days. Plus, expanded unemployment benefits -Executive pay restrictions are a joke, though: bailed out CEOs can still make millions -Amazon and Instacart today, Whole Foods tomorrow: Workers all over the country are taking action against unsafe conditions and insulting levels of pay -Any excuse to be sketchy: The FBI is only taking written FOIA requests right now, despite most federal agencies asking for only digital submissions Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSetinel

This interview aired on Friday's subscriber-only District Sentinel Radio. Given the topic, we've pulled it from behind the paywall so that everyone can now listen. To hear the rest of Friday's show, subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel -People have every right to be angry and scared of getting evicted during a pandemic. But rent strikes might not be the most effective way of fighting back right now. Stephanie Bastek from the DC Tenants Union and Stomp Out Slumlords joins us to explain. -Washington residents: Sign the DCTU petition to cancel rent and mortgages during the crisis. This can happen. The Fed is making the money printer go brrrr. Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cancel-rent/

-ICE is putting detainees in quarantine, buying tens of thousands of respirators, and using sensitive intelligence units to track COVID -Reporter Ken Klippenstein broke the news. He joins us to talk about his latest findings, and how privatization makes the coronavirus nightmare even worse for detainees -Dem Senators asked for info from major for-profit prison company GEO Group, and were told to take their questions to the Bureau of Prisons Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Democrats secure bailout oversight modeled after 2008 Wall Street rescue fund, which left banks bigger than ever -Stop encouraging people to get each other sick: the Fed and the Treasury are preparing up to $4 trillion in emergency loans for businesses -Stress test framework relaxed on federal home loan banks, just in time for the huge unfolding crisis -More patchwork infrastructure: Senators propose $2 billion for rural ISPs; local governments are banned from offering public broadband in most states -FBI fails test on tracking its own ammunition and explosives: DOJ inspector general -The Secret Service spent almost $10,000 at Trump’s golf course in Scotland: DHS inspector general Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Schumer notes improvements on GOP coronavirus stimulus bill, with safeguards on bailout money not among them -Not a great start to the week for libertarianism: Rand Paul swam in the Senate pool on the same day he tested positive for coronavirus -HHS Inspector General to investigate why officials were dispatched without protective equipment to deal with coronavirus evacuees -Supreme Court votes 6-3 to upend insanity pleas; dissent says decision goes against “seven hundred years of Anglo-American legal history” -Appellate court upholds ruling against Trump blocking people on Twitter, citing official nature of January posts threatening Iran Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Pelosi, Schumer embarrassingly lag behind high profile Republicans in boldness of coronavirus relief proposals, though some Dems are pushing for comprehensive aid -Maxine Waters calls on financial services committee Dems to back package including $2000 monthly to every individual, and a prohibition on debt collection and repossession -Tulsi Gabbard proves she never had any principles whatsoever, drops out and endorses Joe Biden -Most Senate Republicans reject Rand Paul push to demonize undocumented immigrants during sick leave debate--but that’s probably because Paul’s amendment called for a withdrawal from Afghanistan Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The folks who brought you “post-truth Dangerous Donald” want you to vote (for Joe Biden) against the advice of public health officials -Ohio’s Republican governor shutdowns polling places, calls for vote to be held in June -Total mess in the works in Illinois, Arizona, and Florida -Pelosi and Republican leaders ram through watering down of sick leave bill after calling changes “technical corrections” -Congress reauthorizes warrantless spying powers minus the telephone records program exposed by Edward Snowden -White House seeking bailouts for buyback-happy airlines, considering $1,000 checks to Americans for immediate relief Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The two Sams are recording from separate locations now -Lyin’ Joe Biden’s new debate strategy: incessantly lying about his record to stave off brain short circuits -Per the CDC guidance: tomorrow’s primaries should be postponed -Stock market plummets again today; Pelosi’s atrocious attempt at emergency relief calms no jitters -Liberals once again ill-equipped to deal with far-right, give Tom Cotton room to pretend like he is pro-worker -GAO: The F-35’s guidance system gets poor internet connection -Trump admin pushes ahead with first border wall contract after DHS obliterated procurement regulations Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel