Stocks Crash Over Coronavirus Fears – Stocks on all major indexes tanked this week as global fears over the spreading coronavirus intensified. Major indexes fell more than 10% this week alone, and on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1,200 points, or 4.4%, making it the largest single-day drop in market history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging Americans to be prepared for “severe disruptions” to their lives, as its continued spread appears to be rapidly turning into a worldwide pandemic. At least 15 Americans have been infected with the coronavirus, which originated in China and quickly spread to other countries.
Pence Appointed To Lead Coronavirus Efforts – At a Wednesday evening press conference, President Trump appointed Vice President to lead efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States. The president also attempted to quell fears over the spread of the virus, telling Americans that the danger posed to them is “very low.” CDC officials who spoke at the press conference said that businesses and schools should “dust off” their pandemic preparedness plans as the transmission of the virus continues.
Sanders Bashes Pro-Israel Lobby – Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, said he won’t attend the annual conference held by AIPAC – the largest pro-Israel lobbying group in the US – because it’s a platform for “leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights,” according to Sanders. With those comments, the socialist Vermont Senator, who is Jewish, solidified himself as the most anti-Israel candidate running for president.
Candidates Make Last-Minute Super Tuesday Pushes – The Democratic candidates for presidents made their appeals to voters across numerous states this week as they attempt to shore up support in the runup to the Super Tuesday primaries next week. Nearly a third of the 1,991 delegates necessary to win the Democratic nomination will be up for grabs on Tuesday and the latest polls show that Bernie Sanders is expected to win a large chunk of them. Whether moderate Democrats will be able to slow his roll still remains to be seen.
Trump Supports FISA Revisions – Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told reporters this week that President Trump supports his effort to include reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) if Congress wishes to reauthorize the intelligence program. Senator Paul’s proposed reforms include changes that would prevent authorities from spying on Americans or from using information collected by the FISA program from being used against an American in court. Libertarians have long raised concerns about the intelligence program, but those concerns gained credence after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz found 17 “inaccuracies or omissions” in the surveillance warrant application used to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
Milwaukee Mass Shooting – Five people were killed when a colleague of theirs opened fire at Molson Coors headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The victims, who ranged in age from 33 to 61, were all employees at Molson Coors, as was the shooter, identified as Anthony Ferrill, 51. Police and other law enforcement officials are still investigating the motive behind the attack.