Three news outlets have received more than $23 million in forgivable stimulus loans

Newspapers were struggling to stay profitable before the coronavirus

News outlets are receiving tens-of-millions in federal stimulus money as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that President Trump signed into law, among them such venerable newspapers as The Seattle Times and Tampa Bay Times.

The money is coming through forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans under the CARES Act that Congress passed last month.

According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with under 500 employees can apply for PPP loans, which are forgivable if they are used for qualifying expenses such as payroll costs and rent.

However, it's unclear whether any of the news outlets intend to repay the money, or how much they'll repay.

The Tampa Bay newspaper, which received an $8.5 million loan, told Just the News on Thursday that its chairman and CEO, Paul Tash, says the federal government will "likely forgive much of the loan" and that the "remaining balance" will carry an interest rate of 1 percent.

The Seattle Times received a $9.9 million PPP forgivable loan from the federal government. In its voluntary announcement of the loan, the Seattle Times stated that the loan is forgivable but didn't specify whether the company plans to repay any of the money. The paper did not respond to a request for comment before publication.

The media outlet Axios, based in Arlington, Va., disclosed that it had received a forgivable PPP loan of roughly $5 million. Axios did not respond when asked if it plans to repay the loan.

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/media-outlet-receives-85-million-stimulus-funds-doesnt-plan-pay-it-all-back

Pompeo hints US may NEVER restore WHO funding…as China ponies up an extra $30mn amid still-raging Covid-19 pandemic

The US may never resume funding the World Health Organization, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned, after President Donald Trump pulled his support. China has stepped into the breach with an extra $30 million.

“I think we’ve got to take a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this,” Pompeo told Fox News, calling for a “structural fix” for the organization as a precondition to resuming funding.

Asked if he was serious about hanging the global health body out to dry, he confirmed, “it may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting - having US taxpayer dollars go to the WHO.”

At the same time the Trump administration was doubling down on its decision to yank funding from the group despite the global coronavirus pandemic, Beijing announced it would donate an additional $30 million to the WHO on Thursday, citing the need to beef up health systems in developing countries as the coronavirus pandemic continues to menace the world’s population. The bonus comes in addition to the $20 million China gave the UN body last month.

“At this crucial moment, supporting WHO is supporting multilateralism and global solidarity,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Twitter.

Trump’s decision to pull US funding from the organization earlier this month has triggered international outcry. While the move has not yet been finalized - the administration is reviewing the contributions, a process that will take 60 to 90 days - Trump has not minced words, accusing the WHO of “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus” and promoting “Chinese disinformation.” Along with Pompeo, the president has encouraged rumors that the coronavirus epidemic began in a lab in Wuhan - allegations Beijing has flatly denied and which are not supported by evidence.

https://www.rt.com/news/486686-pompeo-china-who-donations-control/

COVID-19, the REAL-ID Act, and ID to fly

A month ago — in what seems like it was long ago and in a galaxy far, far, away, before the COVID-19 pandemic reduced air travel in the US by more than 95% — the US Department of Homeland Security was stepping up its baseless threats to begin “enforcement” of the REAL-ID Act against airline passengers on October 1, 2020.

There’s been no change (yet) in the REAL-ID Act or the regulations for its implementation, despite proposals that remain pending in Congress.

Over the last month, though, President Trump, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, and the Transportation Security Administration have each issued formal or informal notices or statements about their intentions with respect to the REAL-ID Act and ID demands for air travel.

As of now, it appears that the DHS/TSA “ultimatum” to air travelers to obtain “compliant” ID cards or be denied passage through TSA and contractor checkpoints at airports will be postponed yet again, this time for another year, until October 1, 2021.

After that date, it appears that the TSA intends to continue to allow people to fly even if they don’t show ID at checkpoints, but only if it the TSA or its contractors thinks that they have been issued some complaint ID (even though they don’t have it with them).

Is this legal? No. Does this make any sense? No. But it’s what the TSA seems to saying it plans to propose. The TSA is asking for comments on this proposal from the public through May 19, 2020.

During a coronavirus press briefing on March 24, 2020, President Trump announced a one-year postponement of the October 1, 2020, “deadline” for REAL-ID Act enforcement:

https://papersplease.org/wp/2020/04/20/covid-19-the-real-id-act-and-id-to-fly/

Brazil Justice Minister to Announce Resignation Later in the Day - Reports

Earlier on Friday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sacked the chief of the federal police Mauricio Valeixo, appointed by Justice Minister Sergio Moro. The minister reportedly warned that he would step down if could not choose the successor for the federal police head himself.

Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro is set to announce his resignation in a public address at 11 a.m. Brazilian time, Reuters reported citing a source familiar with the matter.

The minister has been engaged in a dispute with President Bolsonaro over his intention to replace the chief of Brazil's federal police, whom he dismissed earlier in the day. The president did not give any official reason regarding police chief Mauricio Valeixo's sacking.

https://sputniknews.com/latam/202004241079081590-brazil-justice-minister-to-announce-resignation-later-in-the-day—reports/

HERE WE GO AGAIN: House Democrats Vote To Create Committee For New ‘Witch Hunt’ Into Trump

House Democrats have voted to begin yet another witch hunt.

In a strictly partisan vote, 212-182, the House voted on Thursday to create a select committee to oversee the federal response to the coronavirus crisis — and examine President Trump’s response.

The panel will be led by House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) — a longtime Trump hater who has also endorsed Joe Biden. It will be comprised of seven Democrats and five Republicans — which means every vote will be 7-5 in favor of the Democrats.

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis within the House Oversight and Reform Committee will review the “efficiency, effectiveness, equity and transparency” of how

federal relief money is expended — and examine the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/go-house-democrats-vote-create-committee-new-witch-hunt-trump/