Coronavirus with Rep. Karen Bass, Gloria Allred & Carla Marinucci
Episode 132, Mar 27, 2020, 10:41 PM
Now the House and Senate have passed the CARES Act, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA37) breaks down how the bill will impact those Americans sitting at home weathering the storm.
"If you filed your taxes, and had a direct deposit, you just get money put directly into your account," Bass said. "If you didn't have direct deposit, then it will take you a little longer, and you'll get a check in the mail, and the check should be out in just a couple of weeks."
Bass added that while checks are helpful, they won't help pay all the bills if Americans don't have a regular income, so unemployment insurance enhancements will also be beneficial to Americans struggling through the crisis.
Bass, however, admitted there were issues with the relief package.
In California, for instance, the cost of living is higher than much of the rest of the country, many who earn $100K may be unable to afford housing in the state, but still earn above the national threshold for receiving relief payments.
"It is absolutely not enough," Bass said. "We had to do something right away, so you better believe that we're already thinking about, and planning about, a fourth bill."
This, as Bass expressed concerns that California needs federal assistance in further funding SNAP, block grants, and homeless efforts, requiring more than has currently been allocated as part of the CARES Package.
Speaking of legislation at the federal level, Bass also had some choice words for President Trump's response to the pandemic.
"I think he has been consistent over the last 3.5 years, and I think that the very sad thing that's happening now, is that this is probably the only crisis that he's had in his time that he didn't create the actual crisis," Bass said. "He has mishandled it from the beginning, leaving our country unprepared."
"The worlds' largest economy now has the world's largest number of people infected with COVID-19, this could have been prevented in terms of the large numbers," she continued.
Working from her in-district home, Bass said she's spent her time in virtual meetings, and watching Netflix's newest series "Self Made" about the life of C.J. Walker.
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Elex is joined by Carla Marinucci, senior writer of POLITICO's California Playbook.
Two of the leaders who have received the most attention during the coronavirus crisis have been Governors Cuomo and Newsom, both of whom have had to face the largest tests of their times in office.
"Newsom has really managed to shine, I think the Sacramento Bee today called him the 'President of California,' he talks about the nation-state and the importance of what's going on here, and I think all the way along, Newsom has really led the way on this coronavirus crisis."
Marinucci said Newsom's support of efforts to keep Californians, especially older ones, at home, have allowed the state to keep the number of fatalities down, seeing just a tenth of the number of deaths in Louisiana, which itself has 1/10th of the population of the Golden State.
As Governors Newsom and Cuomo jump into the national spotlight, leading many to try and draft Cuomo as a Democratic nominee, the actual presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, has retreated from the trail to a makeshift studio in his Delaware home.
"After those wins in the primaries, Biden looked like he had a clear path to go, now this has really thrown him for a loop, I think," Marinucci said. "Really, the messaging, everything about his campaign, seems to have taken a back seat. He is hurting right now, I think, because you can't look strong from an underground bunker, and he doesn't look strong and decisive from there."
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We wrap things up with legendary attorney Gloria Allred.
In the past couple years, Allred has represented accusers of both Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. Now, one of those men has tested positive for coronavirus, the other is petitioning to move to house arrest to avoid contracting the disease in prison.
"I don't frankly wish coronavirus on anyone, including Mr. Weinstein, but I really don't have sympathy for Mr Weinstein, he is where he is because of what he has done," Allred said of the disgraced producer's diagnosis.
To avoid further community spread of the disease, Allred discussed the need for changes to the court system and prison population in the name of public health and safety.
On jury trials: "We cannot have jurors being endangered, or feeling that they are endangered, by going to court, nor can we have court personnel or attorneys, or anyone else in the courtroom endangered by having hundreds, perhaps thousands of jurors going to court... this is not the time for jury trials."
----------
The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson is California's only statewide political show, broadcast from FOX 11 Studios in Los Angeles. For airtimes and more information, go to TheIssueIsShow.com.
"If you filed your taxes, and had a direct deposit, you just get money put directly into your account," Bass said. "If you didn't have direct deposit, then it will take you a little longer, and you'll get a check in the mail, and the check should be out in just a couple of weeks."
Bass added that while checks are helpful, they won't help pay all the bills if Americans don't have a regular income, so unemployment insurance enhancements will also be beneficial to Americans struggling through the crisis.
Bass, however, admitted there were issues with the relief package.
In California, for instance, the cost of living is higher than much of the rest of the country, many who earn $100K may be unable to afford housing in the state, but still earn above the national threshold for receiving relief payments.
"It is absolutely not enough," Bass said. "We had to do something right away, so you better believe that we're already thinking about, and planning about, a fourth bill."
This, as Bass expressed concerns that California needs federal assistance in further funding SNAP, block grants, and homeless efforts, requiring more than has currently been allocated as part of the CARES Package.
Speaking of legislation at the federal level, Bass also had some choice words for President Trump's response to the pandemic.
"I think he has been consistent over the last 3.5 years, and I think that the very sad thing that's happening now, is that this is probably the only crisis that he's had in his time that he didn't create the actual crisis," Bass said. "He has mishandled it from the beginning, leaving our country unprepared."
"The worlds' largest economy now has the world's largest number of people infected with COVID-19, this could have been prevented in terms of the large numbers," she continued.
Working from her in-district home, Bass said she's spent her time in virtual meetings, and watching Netflix's newest series "Self Made" about the life of C.J. Walker.
---------
Elex is joined by Carla Marinucci, senior writer of POLITICO's California Playbook.
Two of the leaders who have received the most attention during the coronavirus crisis have been Governors Cuomo and Newsom, both of whom have had to face the largest tests of their times in office.
"Newsom has really managed to shine, I think the Sacramento Bee today called him the 'President of California,' he talks about the nation-state and the importance of what's going on here, and I think all the way along, Newsom has really led the way on this coronavirus crisis."
Marinucci said Newsom's support of efforts to keep Californians, especially older ones, at home, have allowed the state to keep the number of fatalities down, seeing just a tenth of the number of deaths in Louisiana, which itself has 1/10th of the population of the Golden State.
As Governors Newsom and Cuomo jump into the national spotlight, leading many to try and draft Cuomo as a Democratic nominee, the actual presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, has retreated from the trail to a makeshift studio in his Delaware home.
"After those wins in the primaries, Biden looked like he had a clear path to go, now this has really thrown him for a loop, I think," Marinucci said. "Really, the messaging, everything about his campaign, seems to have taken a back seat. He is hurting right now, I think, because you can't look strong from an underground bunker, and he doesn't look strong and decisive from there."
----------
We wrap things up with legendary attorney Gloria Allred.
In the past couple years, Allred has represented accusers of both Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. Now, one of those men has tested positive for coronavirus, the other is petitioning to move to house arrest to avoid contracting the disease in prison.
"I don't frankly wish coronavirus on anyone, including Mr. Weinstein, but I really don't have sympathy for Mr Weinstein, he is where he is because of what he has done," Allred said of the disgraced producer's diagnosis.
To avoid further community spread of the disease, Allred discussed the need for changes to the court system and prison population in the name of public health and safety.
On jury trials: "We cannot have jurors being endangered, or feeling that they are endangered, by going to court, nor can we have court personnel or attorneys, or anyone else in the courtroom endangered by having hundreds, perhaps thousands of jurors going to court... this is not the time for jury trials."
----------
The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson is California's only statewide political show, broadcast from FOX 11 Studios in Los Angeles. For airtimes and more information, go to TheIssueIsShow.com.