HMM: Pope, Coughing And Sneezing, Skips Retreat As Italy Battles Coronavirus.

AT AMAZON, spring savings in Automotive.

Plus, save on Books and Textbooks.

FROM WHEATON COLLEGE, Advice for Houses of Worship on Public Health Emergencies. I would have changed the emphasis, but it’s okay.

R.I.P. ANDREW BREITBART, who died 8 years ago today. I met him for the first time in 2002, in L.A. This photo is from after the Quincy Tea Party event in 2009. That’s Elbert Guillory, Jim Hoft, Andrew, me, and Dana Loesch.

I wish Andrew were still around for all sorts of reasons, but I’d certainly love to hear his take on today’s politics.

AT AMAZON, Coleman Portable Butane Stove with Carrying Case.

IRONY CAN BE PRETTY IRONIC SOMETIMES: ‘This Land Is Your Land’ Is Still Private Property, Court Rules.

Flashback: “I saw a sign that said ‘private property,’ but on the other side it didn’t say nothing. This side was made for you and me,” Woody Guthrie sung during the earliest performances of his song in 1944. Pete Seeger “reinserted that Marxist ode to taking private property” back into his performance of “This Land Is Your Land,” alongside Bruce Springsteen at Barack Obama’s inauguration.

DISEASES SHOWN TO INTERACT AND SPREAD LIKE INTERNET MEMES: And the reverse  is true as well; it’s as if social media is like a virus of the mind, or something.

OPEN THREAD: Seek solace and comfort going forward in the post-Buttigieg presidential race.

ROGER KIMBALL: Neither Bernie, Nor Biden, Nor Bloomberg Will Stop Trump’s Continued Winning.

COORS MASS SHOOTER DOESN’T FIT THE MEDIA NARRATIVE: Is That Why You’ve Heard Nothing About Him?

ANTHONY FAUCI, ET AL.: Covid-19 — Navigating the Uncharted.

On the basis of a case definition requiring a diagnosis of pneumonia, the currently reported case fatality rate is approximately 2%.4 In another article in the Journal, Guan et al.5 report mortality of 1.4% among 1099 patients with laboratory-confirmed Covid-19; these patients had a wide spectrum of disease severity. If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.2 . . .

China, the United States, and several other countries have instituted temporary restrictions on travel with an eye toward slowing the spread of this new disease within China and throughout the rest of the world. The United States has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of travelers from China, especially from Hubei province. At least on a temporary basis, such restrictions may have helped slow the spread of the virus: whereas 78,191 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified in China as of February 26, 2020, a total of 2918 cases had been confirmed in 37 other countries or territories.4 As of February 26, 2020, there had been 14 cases detected in the United States involving travel to China or close contacts with travelers, 3 cases among U.S. citizens repatriated from China, and 42 cases among U.S. passengers repatriated from a cruise ship where the infection had spread.8 However, given the efficiency of transmission as indicated in the current report, we should be prepared for Covid-19 to gain a foothold throughout the world, including in the United States. Community spread in the United States could require a shift from containment to mitigation strategies such as social distancing in order to reduce transmission. Such strategies could include isolating ill persons (including voluntary isolation at home), school closures, and telecommuting where possible.9

Read the whole thing.

#JOURNALISM:

Related: Facebook Fact-Checkers Admit Trump Never Said Coronavirus Was ‘a Hoax.’

JUST SAW MIKE BLOOMBERG’S CORONAVIRUS COMMERCIAL. He looks and sounds like an audio-animatronic robot, spouting platitudes. Whatever he spent on this, it was too much.

UPDATE: It was followed a few minutes later by the first Amy Klobuchar ad I’ve seen. That was brilliant timing, as the usually drab and colorless Klobuchar positively glowed with warmth and humanity by comparison. Money well spent on her part.

SAD! “We’ll see who’s sleepy,” says Joe Biden, and then he calls Chris Wallace “Chuck.”

SAME. BUT WHERE’S MY ORION NUCLEAR SPACE CRUISER? I’M WAITING. Elon Musk approves of the US Space Force, eyes ‘Star Trek’ potential.

THROW BACK THE LITTLE ONES: AP sources: Pete Buttigieg ending his race for Democratic presidential nomination. Okay, I should probably have saved that headline for Bloomberg . . . But hey, there’s nothing to stop me from using it again!

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: U.S. Coronavirus Outbreak Widens: Rhode Island confirms its first case of the virus, while number of cases in King County, Wash., rises to six. “New cases of the novel coronavirus in Washington, California and Rhode Island on Sunday raised fears of a wider spread of the disease in U.S. communities, prompting federal officials to ramp up efforts to test for and fight the widening outbreak. Health officials are focused on a cluster of confirmed cases in Washington state where some patients had no clear path to exposure, including the first death from the virus in the U.S. Those cases, and several others in Oregon and California signal that there might be wider spread of the virus in some American communities with many cases still undiagnosed.”

South Koreans told to stay home as coronavirus infections surpass 3,100.

Coronavirus outbreak spreading across Iran.

Italian coronavirus deaths rise to 34, number of cases hits almost 1,700.

U.S. plans ‘radical expansion’ of coronavirus tests.

Coronavirus outbreak: 2 Bay Area healthcare workers test ‘presumptive positive’ for COVID-19, officials say.

Ecuador confirms five new cases of coronavirus, all close to initial patient.

Nigeria says 100 people have been exposed to Covid-19 patient.

Coronavirus crisis as 13 more Brits infected and PM to chair Cobra meeting.

Egypt says 1,443 people tested for coronavirus so far.

Houston mural changed to read ‘Wash Ur Hands’ amid coronavirus outbreak.

What are coronavirus symptoms?

Negotiators move closer to deal for coronavirus, expected to exceed White House request.

Coronavirus just caused the American Physical Society to cancel its biggest meeting of the year.

Coronavirus overview.

NH Students Told to Stay Home After Return From Italy.

Louvre museum in Paris closes over coronavirus fears.

Nike, Columbia deep clean campuses as coronavirus reaches Oregon.

Panicked New York shoppers stock up at Costco amid coronavirus fears.

Why are so many new cases of COVID- 19 in Canada linked to travel from Iran?

4 new cases of COVID-19 in Ontario bring Canada’s total to 24.

Scoop: Lab for coronavirus test kits may have been contaminated. “The Trump administration has ordered an independent investigation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab, and manufacturing of the virus test kits has been moved, the sources said. . . . It was not immediately clear if or how possible contamination in the Atlanta lab played a role in delays or problems with testing. Nor was it clear how significant or systemic the contamination concerns may be; whether it was a one-time issue that’s easily resolved, or a broader concern involving protocols, safeguards or leadership.” Flashback: You had one job, CDC.

THEY’LL QUIT PROTECTING HIM ONCE BIDEN IS OUT OF THE RACE, BUT THAT’S NOT YET:

I DUNNO, I KINDA WANT ONE JUST FOR THE RETRO-CONTRARIANISM: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review—I think I hate flip phones.

OUCH: Black Churchgoers in Selma turn their backs on Bloomberg during service.

CLARICE FELDMAN: Coronavirus: When All Else Fails, Try Reason.

LESLIE EASTMAN: A biochemist reviews the Trump administration’s continuing response to COVID-19. “Until the press decides that it wants to help the country instead of destroy Trump, it needs to be quarantined.”

NEW SOCIALIST “IT GIRL” CONTINUES TO PAY DIVIDENDS: “That microbiology award from MIT that AOC is bragging about was second place at a high school science fair.”

Related: ‘I await your engagement on the actual substance:’ Ted Cruz won’t accept AOC’s insults and extensive resume as answers to these science questions.

AT AMAZON, Massage Gun for Athletes, Portable Body Muscle Massager Professional Deep Tissue Massage Gun for Pain Relief with 5 Massage Heads 20 Speed High-Intensity Vibration Rechargeable Legiral Le3 Massage Gun.

Plus, LifeStraw Family 1.0 Portable Gravity Powered Water Purifier for Emergency Preparedness and Camping.

MAKE THE SUPER BOWL GREAT AGAIN: Dee Snider backs petition to have AC/DC play Super Bowl half-time show.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HOLSTER.

AT AMAZON, Shop Amazon Warehouse Deals – Deep Discounts on Open-box and Used Products.

Plus, Shop Amazon Outlet – Clearance, Markdowns and Overstock Deals.

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD WAS BORN: Christian News Satire Site Launches.

“This is a sad day for America, and a sad day for the world,” remarked a teary-eyed President Obama in an emergency press conference from the White House. “Look,” he continued, “news satire has a long, storied history as an important and effective tool for articulating a specific brand of worldview: far-left, anti-religion, naturalist, nihilist—in a word, reasonable. The very idea of Christian satire is an outrage and has no place in our society, or among civilized people anywhere.”

After a brief pause to gather himself, the President continued, “Are we really OK living in a world in which some Christian version of The Onion freely publishes Christ-centered news satire? There are even reports that The Babylon Bee already has a roster of talented contributors.”

Snopes would never be the same.

THIS POST SPONSORED BY THE TYRELL CORPORATION: Sex robots with ‘coding flaws’ prone to ‘sexually assaulting humans.’

WELL, GOOD: Finally, an Effort to Make Inflight Wi-Fi Less Awful.

FLAILING FAUXCAHONTAS SPEAKS WITH FORKED TONGUE:

● Shot: “I’m not doing big-dollar fundraisers, I’m not selling ambassadorships to donors, I’m not cozying up to super PACs.”

—Elizabeth Warren releases new anti-corruption campaign ad in Iowa, ABC News, December 23rd.

● Chaser: Elizabeth Warren Now Has The Largest Super PAC In The Democratic Field.

—The Huffington Post, Friday.

FIGHT THE POWER: Oregon Engineer Makes History With New Traffic Light Timing Formula. “Today, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) formally announced that it voted to adopt a new formula for determining the timing of traffic lights. The vote vindicates the theory of Mats Järlström, who was fined $500 by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying for publicly criticizing traffic light timing without first obtaining a professional engineering license.”

COMRADE SANDERS DECLARES WAR ON THE WHOLE U.S. ECONOMY.

Democrat front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders has responded to his disastrous 60 Minutes interview by releasing a plan for how he would raise the estimated $60 to $94 trillion necessary (he doesn’t know exactly how much it all costs, and don’t ask him) to pay for his massive socialist social programs. These programs include abolishing private health insurance to replace it with a government-run universal Medicare, pushing the so-called “Green New Deal” to force the economy onto expensive and as yet unreliable energy sources, and even a $1.5 trillion government-funded child care program that he nevertheless dubs “free.” He claims he would pay for that by taxing “extreme wealth.” Sanders would also drastically weaken the military, abolish ICE, and effectively open our borders while expanding the welfare state to cover illegal immigrants.

The Sanders plan to pay for all this is less serious, as a plan, than your average dorm room philosopher’s pot-inspired sophistry to save the world, man. It’s also an all-out assault on the American economy and, in particular, on the energy-producing states including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ohio, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska, and Texas. In that sense, it’s very serious.

And California and the Democrat-controlled Congress are getting a jump on things! California and federal politicians want to destroy millions of freelance jobs – We can’t let them win.

The same language that was used in AB5 was, according to Davis, snuck into federal legislation that passed the House earlier this month called the PROAct.

This law, which is heavily pro-union and seeks to repeal right-to-work laws, also encompasses doing away with freelancing.

This awful legislation threatens the entire backbone of our economy. Davis says, “With the PROact looming on the horizon for the country at large, California artists and freelancers are not giving up this fight, but instead will double our efforts as we move into election season.”

What you can do about all of this? If you are in California, you should call or email your state representatives to oppose AB5, and federally, you should call and email your representatives and senators and ask them to oppose the PROact.

And in general, my advice is this: Don’t vote for people, whether “democratic socialists” or otherwise, who believe that the government knows what is right for you better than you do and who want the government to limit your freedoms.

Hopefully Cocaine Mitch will let the PROAct die in the Senate. Stay tuned.

NEWS YOU CAN USE: How to prepare for a viral epidemic.

COVERING THE IMPORTANT NEWS: Jif peanut butter to release limited edition Jif-GIF jars to settle ‘great debate.’

Well, that’s how I was taught to pronounce it, by the original  1996 spiral-bound Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age, an elegant little book, written in a more civilized era, when the publication still leaned libertarian, prior to its being acquired by the massive Condé Nast empire.

Click to enlarge.

QUALITY HAS NOT BEEN JOB ONE: Boeing says longer Starliner software tests could have prevented flight failure.

IS ANYONE SURPRISED? Report: Two of CNN’s Most Self-Righteous ‘Journalists’ Partied With Katie Hill After Covering for Her.

YES.

EIGHT YEARS AGO TODAY: RIP, Andrew Breitbart, the Ultimate Happy Warrior.

BIRTH OF A VIRUS:

We visited a Hutong (inner city – where the locals live) and saw raw chickens, skinned and bleeding, just laying on the floor, waiting to be thrown on a restaurant grill…for public consumption. No FDA or USDA or food inspectors or “codes” to comply with, here. But why? This is the last purely communist country on earth. You’d think there would be red tape everywhere. What was happening here?

Then, my wife and I had to rush our newly adopted, 8-month-old daughter to the public hospital…and suddenly it all started making sense.

As we stepped in more urine, took our number from the print-out machine, walked past the line of children whining and crying from the scalp IVs in their heads, then rushed to clean up blood and mucus (left by the last patient) on the plastic table they were now laying our baby on, then waited on the ONE overworked doctor (attending to no less than three hundred people) try to round up a basic anti-biotic to administer to my daughter (right there on site – no refills) it dawned on me what I was seeing and what I had been seeing this whole time. I wasn’t watching a “backward” culture or a third-world society. These people weren’t genetically inferior to first-worlders. They weren’t “less-evolved” than I was.

I was witnessing the kind of maximum, almost brutal efficiency a society must develop when the state is the master and the individual is merely a subject. Why would a Communist country not have an effective FDA? Because who are you going to complain to if you get tainted food? The government? They don’t answer to you. The press? They are owned by the government. And again, they don’t answer to you.

So what if you don’t like the conditions in the hospital? Where else are you going to go? This hospital is the last (and only) stop. You can’t opt for another place and then just pay out of your own pocket. The government has capped financial upward mobility. There is now “income equality.” And that means nobody has the means to buy their way into a different (or better) situation. And even if you could, one doesn’t exist. The state provides it all. You’re stuck.

Exit quote: “The thing about free-market solutions when it comes to healthcare, is that if they don’t work, you can always trash them and go to a public option. But once you nationalize healthcare, there is no going back. And that terrifies me. I’ve seen the natural conclusion of what happens when only one buyer is purchasing gauze and morphine; when one source pays the doctors and nurses.” Definitely read the whole thing.

(Via James Woods, now back on Twitter.)

DEBLASIO’S NEW YORK: Subway Robberies More Than Double in One Year.

DNC-MSM DUSTING OFF KATRINA PLAYBOOK: Facebook Fact-Checkers Admit Trump Never Said Coronavirus Was ‘a Hoax.’

BIDEN’S PYRRHIC VICTORY: 

Blocking Sanders with Biden is tantamount to writing off the Democratic party’s own youth activist wing. No one Biden could pick as his running mate would have the pull with the left-wing youth that Sanders has. And beating Trump in November will put Democrats in the awkward position of having to govern without the two-chamber congressional majorities and the massive popular mandate that Barack Obama came into office with in 2009.

Read the whole thing.

IN THE MAIL: Lies My Doctor Told Me Second Edition: Medical Myths That Can Harm Your Health.

Plus, browse today’s Gold Box and Lightning Deals.

TAUTOLOGIES 2020! Joe Biden Comes Out Swinging at Bernie After SC Win: ‘False Promises Are Deceptive.’

Related: Joe Biden thanks ‘Chuck’ for interview after Chris Wallace asks him about his mental capacity.

IN AMERICA THE WORKING CLASS IS REPUBLICAN. THE UPPER CLASS IS COMMUNIST. Bernie Sanders is Funded by the Wealthiest Zip Codes in America.

FIGHT THE POWER: Ohio State opens several women-only programs to men after Title IX complaint.

AT AMAZON, Podiatrist Toenail Clippers, Professional Thick & Ingrown Toe Nail Clippers for Men & Seniors, Pedicure Clippers Toenail Cutters, Super Sharp Curved Blade Grooming Tool.

MASKED RACIAL GROUPS IN THE STREETS OF SYRACUSE.

AT AMAZON, Hot New Releases – Updated Every Hour.

Plus, Best Selling Products – Updated Every Hour.

Also, Shop Amazon Outlet – Clearance, Markdowns and Overstock Deals.

NICE WORK, GUYS: China officials knew of coronavirus in December, ordered cover-up, report says.

In late December, several genomics companies tested samples from sick patients in Wuhan — the center of the coronavirus outbreak — and noticed alarming similarities between their illnesses and the 2002 SARS virus, the Sunday Times of London reported, citing Chinese business news site Caixin Global.

The researchers alerted Beijing of their findings — and on Jan. 3, received a gag order from China’s National Health Commission, with instructions to destroy the samples.

Rather than hunkering down to contain the virus, Wuhan officials went ahead with their annual potluck dinner for 40,000 families.

The alleged cover-up continued when representatives from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention visited Wuhan Jan. 8, where officials intentionally withheld information that hospital workers had been infected by patients — a telltale sign of contagion.

China really isn’t ready to join the family of civilized nations.

WELL, BLOOMBERG ISN’T DONE YET: Was Tom Steyer’s Campaign the Worst in Presidential History? Billionaire spent $3,373 per vote and earned zero delegates.

THE 21st CENTURY IS NOT TURNING OUT AS I HAD HOPED: Steven Spielberg’s porn-actress daughter jailed in Nashville.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: CDC erroneously identified first patient to die from coronavirus as female. Telling boys from girls should have been within their medical skillset.

2 dozen first responders quarantined in Washington state.

Wash. Investigates More Possible Coronavirus Cases Amid Fears Of A Regional Outbreak.

Coronavirus crisis: UK cities could be CLOSED to contain virus – Health Secretary.

South Korea: 210 New Coronavirus Cases Surface, Total Infections Now More Than 3700.

Iran’s Death Toll From Coronavirus Jumps to 54, With 978 Infected.

New coronavirus case confirmed at Tenerife hotel on lockdown.

Life imitates art as Irish actor in Italy for plague movie ends up in Covid-19 lockdown.

Saudi Arabia prepares 25 hospitals to handle coronavirus cases: health ministry.

Malaysia reports four new cases of coronavirus.

Mexico confirms three coronavirus cases in three men returned from Italy.

Indian automakers say coronavirus outbreak hitting parts supply from China.

South Korean coronavirus cases rise as tech supply chain hit.

Coronavirus Effects On Auto Supply Chain Won’t Trump Trump’s Impact. “The coronavirus outbreak continues to jangle automotive supply chains around the world, but it’s only the latest of the forces that have been reshaping where cars get built and shipped over the last couple of years — and they mostly benefit the United States.”

UPS says coronavirus is already cutting demand and disrupting supply chains.

Sen. Josh Hawley breaks down his coronavirus bill aimed at securing medical supply chain: ‘Bring them back to US.’

One worker at a time, virus-hit China’s factories sputter back online.

SHOCKER: GOP voters, 2-1, want Romney punished for impeachment vote: Poll.

AT AMAZON, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, Lemon & Lime Blossom, 320ct ,Packaging May Vary (Pack of 4).

Plus, Electric Toothbrush Powerful Sonic Cleaning – ADA Accepted Toothbrush with Smart Timer 4 Hours Charge Minimum 30 Days Use 5 Optional Modes Whitening Toothbrushes for Adults with 3 Brush Heads Black.

AFTER 50 YEARS IN POLITICS, BIDEN JUST WON HIS FIRST RACE OUTSIDE OF DELAWARE.

AT AMAZON, Deal of the Day, LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness.

NO RESPECT FOR THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE HERE: Trump Criticized For Breaking With Longstanding American Tradition Of Remaining In Middle Eastern Countries Indefinitely.

AT AMAZON, Deal of the Day, Rosetta Stone: Learn a Language with Lifetime Access – Choose from 24 Languages [PC/Mac Online Code].

JON GABRIEL: I feel your pain, moderate Democrats. Bernie Sanders has hijacked your party. Maybe the Dem & GOP party establishments should think about how their primary processes have given rise to candidates whose supporters hate the party establishments.

THE CORBYNIZATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACCELERATES: Public Enemy’s Chuck D defends his own long history of anti-Semitism ahead of upcoming rally with — who else? — Bernie Sanders.

Earlier: Bernie Sanders is The Corbynizer.

WALL STREET JOURNAL: The Coronavirus Isn’t Partisan: Maybe we should quarantine Capitol Hill until the crisis passes.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opened a joint statement Thursday on federal coronavirus policy with this line: “Lives are at stake—this is not the time for name-calling or playing politics.” As the saying goes, interesting if true. The evidence so far of bipartisan cooperation in response to the virus isn’t promising. Actually, it’s depressing.

In the 48 hours before the Pelosi-Schumer call for an end to name-calling, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mocked Vice President Mike Pence, named by President Trump to lead the government’s response, as a science denier. Elizabeth Warren tweeted that the Administration’s “bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak is a mess.” Mike Bloomberg, the self-described adult in the room, chimed in that leadership is “sharing the facts, demonstrating control and trusting the experts. Unfortunately, not Trump’s strong suit.”

It’s not clear yet whether the Covid-19 virus will become a significant public-health crisis in the United States, but it’s not too soon to recognize that Washington is already terminally ill with political delirium. Sen. Schumer, almost at the same moment he was joining Speaker Pelosi in a plea to stop playing politics, went onto the floor of the Senate to re-rip into Mr. Trump, recycling his “towering and dangerous incompetence” line.

At his coronavirus news conference, Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump was joined by Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health. These are the government officials expected to plan and execute the U.S. response to the virus. Addressing the challenge, Dr. Schuchat said, America’s “aggressive containment strategy has been working and is responsible for the low levels of cases that we have so far.” She said we should expect more cases and now is the time to prepare.

That is essentially what Mr. Trump said as he answered the press’s questions. By and large, Mr. Trump did a fairly straightforward job of addressing the medical and administrative challenges whose outlines are obviously far from clear. His job as head of the executive branch is to warn the public to be prepared while reassuring the public that there’s no reason to panic. That’s what we heard him trying to do even if it included some of his trademark bragging about his Administration’s performance.

Yes, along the way he also got off a few shots at Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer when the press baited him with questions about their criticisms. But we hope we’re not the only ones taken aback at the level of partisan vitriol getting poured over how to respond to the coronavirus.

We suppose it’s to be expected that Members of Congress would default to arguing over coronavirus spending levels, parsing whether the right amount is $2.5 billion, $4 billion or $8 billion. Offering his own ideas on the Senate floor, Sen. Schumer said “affordable” vaccines should be “available to all who need them,” and few would disagree with that.

But first the scientific community will have to better understand the nature of the virus, its ability to spread, and whether in fact it constitutes an extraordinary threat to the American people requiring extreme containment measures. Dr. Fauci said at the White House that we don’t even know whether the virus could survive the warmer months and reappear next year. He said they’re working faster than they ever have on developing and testing a vaccine that would be ready if it returns.

It’s a big challenge, but getting those answers right won’t be any easier if the coronavirus becomes no different than any of the other political footballs kicked constantly around the capital these days.

That requires self-discipline, which is notably lacking in our political class.

AT AMAZON, stock up on Pet Food and Supplies.

Plus, save in Farm and Ranch.

DON SURBER: The Left is purging Comrade Chris Matthews at MSNBC for being a counter-revolutionary and having impure thoughts.

WHEN LOW-INVENTORY, JUST-IN-TIME DELIVERY SYSTEMS FAIL.

THIS IS JOE BIDEN TALKING: Joe Biden Comes Out Swinging at Bernie After SC Win: ‘False Promises Are Deceptive.’

REMEMBER, ONLY TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN BE TRUSTED WITH FIREARMS: Narcotics Officer Charged With Shooting Up Williamsburg Bar Was Angered By Women’s Rejection, Witnesses Say.

On the other hand, he’s likely to escape the consequences that a non-officer would face here, so there’s that. Hint: “Judge Hilary Gingold freed Abreu on supervised release, despite the fact that felony attempted murder remains a bail-eligible offense under the new laws. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s request of $50,000 bail was denied.”

AT AMAZON, Scott Toilet Paper by the case.

Also, Anchor Full-Cream Milk Powder.

WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO LOSE? Why these black New Yorkers are voting for Trump in 2020.

WEIRD, I JUST SAW A COMMERCIAL HERE WHERE STEYER WAS TELLING ME THAT HE’S REALLY SUCCESSFUL, UNLIKE THAT FAILURE TRUMP, AND WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD BEAT TRUMP IN NOVEMBER. Billionaire Tom Steyer quits Democratic primary race: The announcement came after an underwhelming finish in the South Carolina primary and spending nearly $160M on his campaign.

UPDATE: Epic Fail: Impeachment Candidate Bows Out After Expensive Embarrassing Loss.

WELL, THAT’S NOT GOOD: Washington State Is Investigating Potential Outbreak at Facility.

Washington State officials are investigating a potential outbreak of coronavirus at a health facility that cares for elderly, vulnerable patients, after two people at the facility were infected.

Two people at a LifeCare nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington, were diagnosed with the virus, health officials there said Saturday. One is a health-care worker in her 40s, and is in satisfactory condition at a local hospital. The other is an female resident of the facility in her 70s, and is in serious condition at the same hospital, local health authorities said.

In addition, more than 50 residents and staff at the facility have shown symptoms of a respiratory illness, according to Jeff Duchin, health officer for public health in Seattle and King County. Tests of the residents are ongoing.

Let’s hope it’s some other respiratory illness.

OPEN THREAD: It’s all yours.

FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE MEDIA HOAXSTERS: NIH’s Dr. Fauci: “I’ve Never Been Muzzled” By The Trump Administration; “A Real Misrepresentation” By Media.

ROGER KIMBALL: Biden Wins The South Carolina Puppy Bowl. I thought puppies were supposed to be lovable.

AOC IN A NUTSHELL.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Some Covid-19 speculations.

JULIETTE OCHIENG: THEY TELL NO TALES. “Not suspicious at all: A mystery has taken hold of me. Phil Haney was a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security – an agency that investigated him nine times and found nothing untoward. And this very same agency scrubbed its own records that Haney had been using to investigate Islamist terror networks in the United States. Vaguely, I remember his name from my early days of blogging. He’s back in the news again; unfortunately for being dead.”

[WATCH] HILARIOUS Parody Socialist News Network at CPAC: ‘From Our Studio to Your Bread Line.’

CORONAVIRUS: Mainland China reports 573 new coronavirus cases on Feb. 29.

The coronavirus outbreak has now spread to at least 56 countries, with Italy reporting the highest number of cases outside Asia.

Iranian Coronavirus Cases Jump as More Officials Infected.

First death from coronavirus announced in U.S.

Kent State recalling all students studying abroad in Italy due to coronavirus concerns.

Loyola University Chicago sends study abroad students home, Marquette program quarantined amid Italy coronavirus concerns.

Thousands sign petition calling on SXSW to cancel 2020 event as coronavirus spreads.

US Pro Sports Leagues Monitoring Coronavirus Outbreak.

Coronavirus patients with heart disease have a 10% chance of dying. Here’s the mortality rate for patients with various underlying health problems.

The Archdiocese of Boston is making some changes to Mass practices in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Gatherings banned, travel restricted as coronavirus cases grow worldwide. “Leaders in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas rolled out bans on big gatherings, and stricter travel restrictions as cases of the new coronavirus spread around the world.”

Plus, since some of you think this news is too dark, some comic relief:

CNN Host Seemingly Compares Bernie Sanders’ Campaign To Coronavirus. Well, it’s destructive and dangerous and spreading uncontained, so . . .

And: Michael Bloomberg Will Address Coronavirus in Prime-Time TV Ad.

21ST CENTURY HEADLINES: Relativity Space will 3D-print rockets at new autonomous factory in Long Beach, California.

STILL ALIVE: Joe Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primary, NBC News projects, a crucial boost for his campaign.

CPAC NEWS: [WATCH] Trump Does Stand-Up at CPAC: Mocks ‘Mini Mike,’ ‘Pocahontas,’ ‘Sleepy Joe,’ and More.

Trump Tells CPAC He’s Delivering the ‘Hope and Change’ Liberals Promised ‘And It’s Driving Them Crazy.’

Trump Slams Romney, Cheers for Jeff Van Drew at CPAC.

SEEN ON FACEBOOK:

WITNESS NO MORE — HUNTER BIDEN EMBRACES LIFE AS AN ARTIST, AND THE NYT IS HERE FOR IT.

Just think of the media as Democratic Party operatives with bylines, and the whitewashing all makes sense.

COME AND SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERENT IN THE LEFTISM: Dem Congressman Threatens Don Jr. on Live TV for Saying Dems Want Coronavirus to Spread: If I See Him ‘There Would Be A Serious Altercation.’

Related:

● Krugman Thoroughly Embarrasses Himself (Again), Excited About Drop In the Dow.

● Roger Kimball: Donald Trump vs. Corona Hysteria. “His critics are desperate for him to mishandle a crisis. So far he hasn’t.”

● Liz Peek: Desperate Democrats hope coronavirus will undermine Trump.

● Jemele Hill Warns VP Pence Dooming ‘Y’all’ to Coronavirus.

● Chuck Todd Taunts Trump On Coronavirus: ‘Reap What You Sow.’

● Playing Politics With Coronavirus: ABC, NBC Try to Stoke Fears of Trump’s Response.

SPACE: Boeing acknowledges shortcomings in Starliner spaceship testing and vows to fill the gaps.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: How Disease X, the epidemic-in-waiting, erupted in China.

AT AMAZON, Assault AirBike Classic, Black.

Plus, SentrySafe 1170 Fireproof Box with Key Lock 0.61 Cubic Feet.

SOCIALIST FAUX PAS OF THE WEEK: Bernie Sanders boards the wrong private jet. “Mistakes like this (getting on the wrong Gulfstream) are bound to happen.”

Plus: “It’s a 2 hr drive from Charleston to Myrtle Beach & locals do it all the time – Not @BernieSanders- He & his entourage flew from Charleston to Myrtle Beach in not 1, not 2, but 3 Gulfstream Jets today. It took them 10 minutes to fly. Who is the elitist??”

I don’t know, but I don’t want to hear another goddamn thing about my carbon footprint.

“ADMIT:” Trump’s Decisive Actions Helped Save Lives During Coronavirus Epidemic, Experts Admit.

SO WE HAVE BETTER DATA ON FACTORY PRODUCTION THAN ON EPIDEMIOLOGY IN CHINA. WHAT DOES THIS TELL US:

Note: This isn’t a PR effort to hurt Trump politically. Domestic talk in the US may be, but this reality is too expensive to the Chinese to be fake.

UPDATE: Similar thoughts from Richard Fernandez.

MORE: (Via the comments): China’s factory activity plunges to all-time low, worse than global financial crisis, February data show.

HEY, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING THAT HE DO SOMETHING: Trump: Administration ‘very strongly’ considering closing southern border amid coronavirus outbreak. And this is something!

Also: Trump sets new travel restrictions over coronavirus, considering southern border shutdown.

Related: Flashback: California Sees Surge In Chinese Crossing Illegally From Mexico.

I FOUND THE OLD X5 SURPRISINGLY UNIMPRESSIVE: 2020 BMW X5 M Is Irrationally Excellent.

AT AMAZON, Shop Amazon Warehouse Deals – Deep Discounts on Open-box and Used Products.

Plus, Shop Amazon Outlet – Clearance, Markdowns and Overstock Deals.

AS ALWAYS, BAD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE LEFT: Krugman Thoroughly Embarrasses Himself (Again), Excited About Drop In the Dow.

ANN ALTHOUSE: The deceptiveness of Politico’s claim that Trump called the coronavirus “a hoax.” “The fact that the quote doesn’t continue and ‘Then Trump called the coronavirus’ is inserted before ‘their new hoax’ should make you suspicious, whether you’ve heard the original or not. But the purportedly verbatim text above it is not, in fact, verbatim. . . . Trump is clearly not calling the virus a hoax. What he’s calling a hoax is the political talking point that Trump has been failing to protect the country from the virus! Now, Politico is pushing a hoax hoax — it’s putting out a false story about what Trump called a hoax.”

Related: The Left’s Tactic of Floating Outrageous BS.

SUPER GAFFE-O-MATIC ’76! As President, Biden Looks Forward to ‘Appointing the First African-American Woman to the United States Senate.’

SANDERS TESTS OUT NEW MUSTACHE STYLES IN PREPARATION FOR BECOMING NEXT TOTALITARIAN ICON.

From the Babylon Bee, America’s Newspaper of Record. Curiously, one possible mustache choice was not pictured.

TRUMP: DEMOCRATS’ CORONAVIRUS CRITICISM JUST THEIR LATEST ‘HOAX.’

Related: ‘You’re proving him correct’! Dana Milbank’s claim that Trump called the coronavirus a ‘hoax’ melts BS detectors (ROLL TAPE).