More than 12.2 million cases have been confirmed in the U.S. as of the beginning of December, a number that surpasses every other country’s total. The U.S. has confirmed more than 3 million cases more than India, the country with the second-highest number of infections. India has seen more than 9 million cases and has recorded a rate of 60,000 cases per day for multiple weeks as well. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, The U.S. on the first of December marked the 20th straight day of more than 100,000 new confirmed COVID-19 infections. Deaths in the U.S. also continue to climb and most recently passed 275,000 deaths, another statistic that sits far higher than the levels recorded in other countries. These statistics can be easily compared to countries who are deemed as successful in containing the outbreak such as Australia.

Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services announced the state has yet again achieved a day of zero new cases and zero deaths since early June. This prompted locked-down residents to start a trend of celebrating the end of the second wave of Covid-19 infections with doughnuts, posting photos and emojis on social media with the hashtag #donutday. Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, declared it a “good day” and posed with a classic glazed, while the state’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton (who has replaced the “O” in his Twitter username with a doughnut emoji) was welcomed home from work with a mixed box. Since restrictions were lifted, donut sales have doubled, and they’ve sold out just after lunch on every double-zero (no new cases, no new deaths) day.

Former Democratic Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, currently hosts his own Podcast called “Yang Speaks” and recently hosted an episode with former MSNBC Producer Ariana Pekary. Interestingly enough, the former producer who quit from her position in August of this year had detailed of her experiences and spilled controversial information which has caused some public upset. In an open letter she published after her resignation she specified how commercial networks are a “cancer” of America’s democratic values. Soon after her visit on Yang’s show, she revealed on Twitter how Yang was blacklisted from an MSNBC show called “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.” Asserting her stance on the matter by stating “Actually, I just reviewed my journal. On 4/25/19, I was told that we were never to pursue Andrew for an interview on our show (along with several others). The list of candidates was dictated, but the reasons for allowing them or not were not explained.”

This story bears striking resemblance with Ed Schultz, a former MSNBC host, conformed he was fired in 2015 because of his support for Bernie Sanders and had gotten close to formerly announcing the beginning of Bernie Sander’s 2016 presidential campaign for United States President. Schultz, who had recently passed away in 2018, told National Review‘s Jamie Weinstein in an interview that MSNBC chief Phil Griffin was a “watchdog,” and Schultz claimed he was often given direction on what stories to cover. Sanders gave his official campaign launch speech in Burlington, Vermont on May 26, 2015, and Schultz said he was the only cable news host planning to air it live. He had also taped an interview with Sanders at the lawmaker’s home ahead of the speech. However, he said Griffin called him five minutes before air time at 5 p.m. EST, and he said, “You’re not covering this.” The Pekary exposure has given MSNBC criticism in the past few days for it’s unethical and malpractice of powers. With people reminding the news network provider of its only duty to give all candidates a fair hearing and proper exposure for the American people to judge and evaluate as the next leader of the free world.

Former Democratic Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, currently hosts his own Podcast called “Yang Speaks” and recently hosted an episode with former MSNBC Producer Ariana Pekary. Interestingly enough, the former producer who quit from her position in August of this year had detailed of her experiences and spilled controversial information which has caused some public upset. In an open letter she published after her resignation she specified how commercial networks are a “cancer” of America’s democratic values. Soon after her visit on Yang’s show, she revealed on Twitter how Yang was blacklisted from an MSNBC show called “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.” Asserting her stance on the matter by stating “Actually, I just reviewed my journal. On 4/25/19, I was told that we were never to pursue Andrew for an interview on our show (along with several others). The list of candidates was dictated, but the reasons for allowing them or not were not explained.”

This story bears striking resemblance with Ed Schultz, a former MSNBC host, conformed he was fired in 2015 because of his support for Bernie Sanders and had gotten close to formerly announcing the beginning of Bernie Sander’s 2016 presidential campaign for United States President. Schultz, who had recently passed away in 2018, told National Review‘s Jamie Weinstein in an interview  that MSNBC chief Phil Griffin was a “watchdog,” and Schultz claimed he was often given direction on what stories to cover. Sanders gave his official campaign launch speech in Burlington, Vermont on May 26, 2015, and Schultz said he was the only cable news host planning to air it live. He had also taped an interview with Sanders at the lawmaker’s home ahead of the speech. However, he said Griffin called him five minutes before air time at 5 p.m. EST, and he said, “You’re not covering this.” The Pekary exposure has given MSNBC criticism in the past few days for it’s unethical and malpractice of powers. With people reminding the news network provider of its only duty to give all candidates a fair hearing and proper exposure for the American people to judge and evaluate as the next leader of the free world.

As the second largest wave of Covid-19 continues to make its way in the U.S., hospitals are running out of room for ICU patients, supplies, and optimism for the future. There is a staff shortage at many hospitals due to nurses having Covid as well as supply shortages nation-wide.

Covid-19 is setting new records every day with more people being hospitalized and high fatality numbers. “The reality is, December and January and February are going to be rough times,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many states are beginning to initiate more lockdowns and tighter regulations on restaurants, shopping malls, and public outings.

While Moderna is working on their vaccine to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, nurses and doctors are working hard to keep the suffering alive.

For more on Covid-19 and current events, visit CIMA Law Group and CIMA Blog.

Millions headed home for Thanksgiving weekend while Coronavirus numbers are surging past its initial introduction earlier in 2020. While other countries are back to enjoying concerts, family holidays, and social events, the U.S. is entering another major lockdown.

So far Sunday, the United States has reported 109,671 new cases and 731 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University Infection numbers were rising before Thanksgiving weekend, and are now projected to rise significantly after the holiday week.

“There’s no way that the hospitals can be fully prepared for what we’re currently facing,” emergency medicine physician Dr. Megan Ranney said. Hospitals are preparing for what could be the highest COVID infection rate yet.

Roughly 6 million travelers passed through security at US airports after the CDC’s travel warning in the week leading up to Thanksgiving.

It could be weeks before we know how much of an impact traveling during Thanksgiving weekend has on COVID numbers, and we can only imagine what will happen with Christmas soon to come.

For more information on COVID safety and current events, visit CIMA Law Blog and CIMA Law Group.

Two separate New York state investigations into allegations of fraud by President Trump are now looking into tax write-offs on millions of dollars in consulting fees, some of which appear to have gone to the president’s daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Criminal investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance (D) and a civil probe by New York state Attorney General Letitia James (D), both of which are being conducted independently, have apparently recently issued subpoenas to the Trump Organization for records in connection to the write-offs. This comes after a report from the “Times”, published in September and based on more than two decades of Trump’s tax records, found that he had deducted approximately $26 million in fees to unidentified consultants on several projects between 2010 and 2018. 

Ivanka Trump reacted to the Times’ Investigation on Thursday evening, tweeting, “This is harassment pure and simple. This ‘inquiry’ by NYC democrats is 100% motivated by politics, publicity and rage. They know very well that there’s nothing here and that there was no tax benefit whatsoever. These politicians are simply ruthless.” Keep in mind however, through other reporting we learned that President Trump had made about 73 million dollars from foreign investors while he’s President. Also, Jared and Ivanka are reported to have made 130 million dollars while in the White House with traces going back to individuals of elite statuses. Alan Garten, general counsel member of the Trump Organization stated, “Everything was done in strict compliance with applicable law and under the advice of counsel and tax experts.” He added, “All applicable taxes were paid and no party received any undue benefit.” Soon enough the general public will be made well aware of the inner workings of the White House and an investigation is the beginning to entice truth to be revealed.