Haley Schulman, 29, a Jewish professional in New York City was “appalled” by Pence’s comments. 

Haley Schulman, 29, is “appalled” by Mike Pence’s assertion that Trump is incapable of prejudice because his grandchildren are Jewish. Photo courtesy of Haley Schulman.

“It feels like blatant pandering and treating Jews as if the only thing we care about are other Jews,” she said. “Treating Jews as a monolith is offensive, especially because those values that I care about as a Jew are not values that are being expressed or embodied by this current administration.” 

President Trump was recently reported as having stated that Jews are “only in it for themselves” — a commonly employed antisemitic trope used to conjure suspicion toward the Jewish community. 

At the debate Pence tried to deflect Harris’ charge that Trump did not condemn white supremicists during the September 29th debate.

“The President has Jewish grandchildren,” said  Pence. “His daughter and son-in-law are Jewish. This is a president who respects and cherishes all of the American people.” 

Lucy Greenbaum, 23, a Jewish musician from St. Louis, Missouri, sees a disconnect

Lucy Greenbaum, 23, does not feel recognized as a Jewish person by the Trump administration. Photo by Zack Dalin

between the Trump administration’s eagerness to appear close to the Jewish community and its actual relationship with Jewish Americans. 

“I was just really taken aback by that comment,” she said. “My immediate reaction was that I don’t feel seen by [Pence], by Trump, by the Trump administration, as a Jewish person. I do not feel represented by them.”

Greenbaum is concerned about the impact of Trump and Pence’s rhetoric on the Jewish community. 

“Trump had the opportunity to condemn white supremacy as a whole and did not do so [during the presidential debate]… I feel that this administration is a direct threat to Jewish people in this country,” said Greenbaum. 

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States have risen under Trump’s presidency, with a 12% increase from 2018 to 2019. 

Jonah Rothstein, 25, described Pence’s comments as “laughable.” Photo courtesy of Jonah Rothstein.

Jonah Rothstein, 25, a member of the Jewish community in Encinitas, California, rejects Pence’s assertion that Trump supports the Jewish community. He described Pence’s comments as “laughable.” 

“This administration throws dog whistles to white supremacists, including the Proud Boys, who are recognizable antisemites… it’s baked into their ideology,” said Rothstein. “Just because you have a relationship with someone who’s Jewish does not mean you are not antisemitic.” 

Although originally a Bernie Sanders supporter, Rothstein will be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 

“It’s the only option we have to preserve a semblance of American democracy,” said Rothstein. 

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Miller who also handled communications for the coronavirus task force said she was asymptomatic, according to NBC News.

Pence was delayed for nearly an hour for this trip to Iowa this morning. Six Staffers who had contact with the infected aide were removed from his plane, according to a senior administration official. 

The confirmation came one day after the news that a personal valet for President Trump tested positive for the virus.

It is the second time the White House has announced a Pence staff member tested positive for the coronavirus. The first tested positive in March.

As of Friday, more than 75,000 Americans have died of Covid-19, and more than 1.2 million have tested positive.

“We are finally ahead of this virus,” Cuomo said.

For the first time since the pandemic outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared on Friday that his state is finally ahead of its battle against the coronavirus.

“Now I feel for the first time we’re actually ahead of it. We have shown that we can control the beast,” Cuomo said.

Total hospitalizations are down to 8,196, from more than 18,000 at the peak. The daily death toll is at about 200, down from a high of nearly 800, Cuomo said at a press briefing.

He also predicted the state to “see a steady sharp decline” in new hospitalizations, which are still around 600 a day.

Cuomo urged residents to stay cautious as another wave could hit in the future. 

“We haven’t killed the beast, but we’re ahead of it,” he said. “We are ahead of it, and we are in control of our own destiny.”

NY Pause, the name for the state’s stay-at-home measures, will still continue until May 15, Cuomo said. 

California starts to reopen today

America’s most populated state California is taking the first significant step to reopen its economy on Friday by easing restrictions for certain businesses. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his plan to allow small retail stores to open. 

Select retailers such as clothing, flowers, furniture and books can reopen to curbside pickup and delivery options. In-store shopping is still not permitted.

Friday’s move is the first of two phases in “Stage 2″ of the state’s four-part reopening plan. 

In hard-hit Los Angeles County, the state’s epicenter, Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that reopening is not “the flipping on of a switch.” 

Garcetti added that local beaches will remain closed.

Shanghai Disneyland reopening tickets sell out in minutes

On the other side of the world in Shanghai, China, people can not wait to jump at a chance to visit the amusement park for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak forced the park to close on Jan. 25.

Tickets for Monday’s reopening of Shanghai Disney sold out within minutes, according to NPR.

The park’s officials said that visitors will be required to wear face masks at all times unless they are eating.

Visitors are also required to practice physical distancing.

There will be no selfies with famous Disney characters and crowd-oriented features, such as children’s play areas and theater shows, will remain shut down.

“I screamed when I got the ticket,” Shanghai resident Shuwen Chen said. “I’ve been waiting for months to hang out with my friends at Disneyland.”

The park usually sees around 80,000 visitors per day, according to CNBC, but the government has mandated Disney operate at 30% capacity. 

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