As we warned, the new weekly jobless figure released yesterday was horrific. We cringe at the news of each coronavirus death as we should. But each of these 3.28 million people are going through their own nightmare. Some worse than others. 

A word about the economics of this. The normal way a recession begins is that you see a small increase in jobless claims. Over several months that increase gathers speed. Then profits start falling at companies. Then jobless claims peak and start receding. That process can take a year or longer. 

This is not that. This is a sudden, horrific jump in claims that may continue for a couple of months. This will be a significant recession. But in my view, there will be a dramatic return to employment just as dramatic as these initial job losses. 

A final point: Yesterday’s stark numbers should be a warning to all politicians about the severity of this crisis. Our nation is in uncharted territory. We desperately need unity. This is not the time for political games or cheap shots.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus relief bill passed the Senate Wednesday night 96 to 0. The House is expected to take up the bill Friday. 

Speaking of Cheap Shots…

I was stunned Wednesday as I watched the president’s daily press briefing. Every day, President Trump is bombarded with hostile questions, but none as outrageous and disgusting as this. 

Referring to the president’s desire to reopen the country, a reporter asked the president, “How many deaths are acceptable?" 

Well, I want to correct myself — a reporter didn’t ask that question. That’s an ideologue doing the bidding of the political left. That question was an outrageous attack on the president’s character. 

When liberal governors say, "I am for a woman’s right to choose, and I will not restrict that right in anyway,” no reporter even thinks about asking obvious follow-up questions. 

For example, has any reporter ever asked the governor of New York, “What if half the babies conceived in New York are aborted? Are you okay with that?” Has any reporter ever asked the governor of Virginia, “How many babies killed moments after they’re born are you willing to accept?”

That such questions have never been asked of these left-wing politicians, while every coronavirus death is blamed on Donald Trump, tells you everything about the mindset of the American media.  

A significant percentage of people masquerading as “reporters” and “journalists” are in fact part of the left-wing juggernaut trying to transform America in ways we must never allow.

And this “reporter” isn’t alone. As I noted yesterday, this disgusting smear against the president is the left’s latest theme. Just consider these recent headlines:

“Tell Us, Mr. President, How Many Coronavirus Deaths Are Worth It To Save The Economy?”

“The Party Of Life Embraces Trump’s Death Cult." 

"Donald Trump Is Trying To Figure Out How Many Americans He Needs To Sacrifice To Keep The Economy Going.”

The fake news media’s hysteria and hyperbole is incredibly irresponsible. It is fueling panic and paranoia at the worst possible time.

But while the left is piling on the president, here’s what you need to know: According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, no country in the world is better prepared to handle a pandemic than the United States of America. 

That may be little solace to folks in Seattle and New York City right now, but it speaks volumes about the benefits of our free-market economy, as well as the difficulties of the challenge we face right now.

And in related news, the Army is reaching out to veterans, specifically retired medical professionals, willing to answer the nation’s call to service once again as the coronavirus crisis stretches the capabilities of our medical system.

Confronting China

While the American left and its media allies are blaming President Trump for the coronavirus pandemic, the real blame lies with communist China. As former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich writes in a new column, China’s cover-up shows just how dangerous and dishonest Beijing’s dictatorship truly is.

Newt is absolutely right, and I have been warning about the dangers of dealing with China for decades. Along with my good friend Dr. James Dobson, I led conservative opposition to granting China preferable trade status during the late 1990s. Confronting the communist regime was a centerpiece of my 2000 presidential campaign.

Sadly, Dr. Dobson and I faced tremendous opposition at the time from the GOP establishment and even some prominent Christian leaders.

Thankfully, Donald Trump has also made confronting China a centerpiece of his trade and foreign-policy agenda, and I am pleased to report that more and more members of Congress in both parties are stepping up now. For example:

• Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have introduced resolutions demanding an international investigation of the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Their resolution follows up on a letter I and other conservative leaders recently sent urging an investigation of China’s actions. (By the way, the left-wing haters at the Southern Poverty Law Center are attacking us for issuing the letter!)

• Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to end our dependency on China for vital drugs and medicines.

• Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) are co-sponsoring a resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party for its cover-up of the coronavirus pandemic.

• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has authored legislation to ensure that Chinese state-owned companies do not benefit from financial relief funds authorized by Congress.

Trump Won’t Defeat Biden in November

I apologize to anybody who just had a coronary reading that headline. Let me explain.

I don’t think Donald Trump will defeat Joe Biden in November because I am increasingly beginning to doubt that Biden will be the Democrat presidential nominee. 

Anyone who has seen the former vice president attempting to do interviews from his basement this week understands that this man is not capable of governing, let alone undergoing the rigors of a general election campaign. He seems disoriented, uninspiring, confused, and clueless. 

Perhaps because he has the majority of delegates, he will still be nominated. After all, the alternative at this point is Bernie Sanders, and Democrat Party elders are not going to allow that to happen. 

But I have no doubt that right now left-wing movers and shakers are trying to figure out a way to suspend democracy in the Democrat Party and end up with Andrew Cuomo as their nominee. (Many progressives have been pining for a “President Cuomo” for decades!)

President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus has boosted his approval ratings. He’s a natural leader. And Cuomo is inspiring Democrats as they watch his handling of the disaster in New York City. But the coronavirus crisis is politically killing Joe Biden as he “self-quarantines” in his basement.