CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: April 14th

April 14, 2020

WRITER

Glenn gives the latest coronavirus numbers, updating YOU on everything needed to know as Americans and officials monitor China's new COVID-19 virus:

Daily Stats as of 5:30 AM CT (from John's Hopkins)

Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 1,934,754 (up from 1,862,254 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 120,438 (up from 114,980 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 456,776 (up from 431,666 yesterday)
US has 587,173 Confirmed cases and 23,644 deaths, up from 560,433 cases and 22,115 deaths yesterday
US now leads the World in both total Cases and Deaths from COVID-19, but is 15th in Deaths per 1 Million people, and 19th in Cases per 1 Million
1st Death in Wyoming - Officially All 50 States Now Have at Least 1 Death Attributed to COVID-19

Is COVID-19 Body-Shaming Americans? https://www.zdnet.com/article/nyu-scientists-largest-u-s-study-of-covid-19-finds-obesity-the-single-biggest-factor-in-new-york-critical-cases/

Novel-Coronavirus is upsetting the politically-correct "Woke" crowd by targeting overweight people for more dangerous infections and higher fatality rates compared to leaner, healthier Americans.
Researchers studied thousands of New York cases and found that being overweight or obese was the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 critical infections requiring hospitalization, slightly higher than age and significantly higher than smoking, diabetes or cancer.
Turns out that being fat and "out of shape" isn't just a cosmetic or lifestyle choice after all, but appears to actually be unhealthy and puts people at higher risk of death from infections...or so says science.
So far, no comment from Dove Soap or the hundreds of other "woke" brands that have promoted the "It's OK to be overweight" PC-narrative for the past 10 or so years.

Mutations in SARS-Cov-2 May Derail Vaccine Development https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3079678/coronavirus-mutation-threatens-race-develop-vaccine

Every known virus has mutations, most of which do not impact how the virus functions.
Novel viruses like SARS-CoV-2 undergo 1 mutation for about every 2,700 victims...each unique host increases the risk that the virus will mutate (part of the reason it's important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to new victims).
So far, there are over 2,000 known strains/mutations of the virus that causes COVID-19. At least 2 strains have been shown to have different levels of virulence in humans.
Every new mutation of the virus is just as likely to be harmless as it is to make it more dangerous - mutations are completely random. Viruses don't "try" to mutate to become more dangerous, they merely adapt to each unique biochemical environment.
A new strain discovered in India showed changes in the mechanism used to bind the virus to human cells which could render current vaccine research futile.
Researchers had been targeting vaccines at the same cell-binding process that allows SARS-1 to infect healthy cells, but the new mutation could upend their assumptions.
The new strain found in India appears to bind to cells differently, which could make current vaccine approaches moot.
Researchers did point out that the strain found in India has not yet been found in any other location, so it is not yet widely spread. The mutation also could be an affectation of how the virus was grown for research purposes.
Researchers in India have sent the new strain to the CDC and EU-CDC for further testing.

1 Tyrant in DC vs 1,000 Tyrants All Over the Country - Mayors & Governors Test Freedom vs Emergency Powers https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/13/the-coronavirus-is-exposing-little-tyrants-all-over-the-country/

Not following Trump's lead of honoring basic civil rights, COVID-19 has exposed thousands of mini-Tyrants all over America.
Some mayors and governors are using the pandemic to exercise arbitrary and unlimited power over their fellow citizens.
Governors appear to believe they can order citizens to do (or not do) just about anything under the guise of protecting public health and safety.
Local and state governments have issued decrees about what people can and cannot buy in stores, they have arrested parents playing with their children in public parks, yanked people off public buses at random, removed basketball rims from private property, ticket churchgoers, and in one case try—and fail—to chase down a lone runner on an empty beach.
Several states, cities or counties have banned the sale of firearms and ammunition - violating the 2nd Amendment, or the sale of alcohol, violating the 21st amendment.
In one example, following a confusing, similar order in Vermont, the Governor of Michigan has ordered businesses to stop sales of "non-essential" items, including gardening supplies and seeds. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/garden-centers-large-stores-must-close-under-governors-order, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/04/10/whitmer-stay-home-michigan-lottery/5129316002/
Meanwhile, Lottery tickets can still be purchased at grocery and convenience stores all over the state. Michigan receives about 8% of its annual revenue from the sale of lottery tickets.

With 60s-Style Sit-Ins Banned, Americans Resort to Group "Drive-Bys" to Protest Government Edicts https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coronavirus-stay-at-home-orders-protests-economy

At least 15,000 cars and trucks are expected to descend on Michigan's state capital on Wednesday to protest what they're calling Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's tyrannical new guidelines to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state.
The so-called "drive-by" demonstration – in order to maintain social distancing - aims to bring traffic to gridlock in Lansing and protest the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order by Whitmer.
Her orders mandate what businesses could stay home, what some businesses could sell and order people in her state against any gatherings – no matter the size or family ties.
"Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people," Meshawn Maddock, an organizer of the protest with the Michigan Conservative Coalition, told Fox News. "Every person has learned a harsh lesson about social distancing. We don't need a nanny state to tell people how to be careful."
Similar 'drive-by' or 'park-in' protests are planned in North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Michigan.
With gas prices nationwide near all-time lows due to lack of demand, this is one form of protest most Americans can afford.

Bucking the Trend, Governor Abbot, TX, Moves to Re-Open Economic Activity https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-gov-abbott-says-he-plans-to-announce-safe-and-healthy-strategies-to-reopen-state-economy

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday foreshadowed a potential executive order later this week to begin the process of reopening the state's economy.
This as President Trump publicly advocates for the U.S. to get back to business as quickly as possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The comments from Abbott come after he said on Friday last week that he planned to sign an executive order "about reopening Texas businesses ... in a way that will be safe for that economic revitalization."
"At the same time we cannot ignore the impact economically that the coronavirus has caused," Abbott said in his Monday remarks. "Later this week I will outline both safe and healthy strategies where we can begin the process of going about reopening businesses in Texas and revitalizing the economy."
Insiders indicated to Fox News that the executive orders would likely include allowing workers who are younger and have no underlying health conditions to return to work.

COVID-19 Survivors May Not Have Long-Term Immunity https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/13/who-officials-say-its-unclear-whether-recovered-coronavirus-patients-are-immune-to-second-infection.html

Researchers from the WHO and CDC echoed earlier studies from China, Hong Kong, and the US that it's yet unknown if survivors of COVID-19 develop long-term antibodies that render them immune.
While many patients who survive episodes of COVID-19 do test positive for Coronavirus anti-bodies, not all patients do.
Additionally, many survivors show such low anti-body count that researchers doubt they'd have sufficient antibodies to fight off repeat infections.
Finally, researchers warn that many other known Coronaviruses, including the Common Cold and SARS-1, only infer temporary immunity after recovery, lasting months but then fading in efficacy, and SARS-CoV-2 is too new for scientists to know to any certainty if survivors are permanently immune to reinfection, temporarily immune, or have any lasting immunity at all.

Pandemic Will Peter-Out by Summer, Says New Model https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/health/us-coronavirus-updates-monday/index.html

An influential coronavirus model cited by the White House predicts the pandemic will "peter out" in May, but experts are wary about its assumption that there will be no resurgence of the virus in the summer months.
The model, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, was created by Dr. Christopher Murray, who told CNN Monday the country can essentially stop coronavirus transmission this summer.
"The one thing we absolutely know for sure is that social distancing measures work," Murray said. "It leads to a situation where every case is infecting less than one other case, and that means if you keep the course, you'll get transmission essentially down to zero."
Murray cited Italy and China as places where this was happening already. "There is no reason to expect that won't happen in the US," he said.
Critics of the model pointed out that in China, Hong-Kong, Korea and Japan, when social-distancing measures have been relaxed, new outbreaks have also emerged.
Murray's model has been cited by the While House COVID-19 Task Force and President Trump as recently as yesterday.

YOUR VOICE

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

GLENN

Civics isn’t optional—America's survival depends on it

GLENN

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

Do you think the Gen Z support for Trump is an opportunity for conservatives to win them over with anti-establishment reforms that preserve liberty?

Americans expose Supreme Court’s flag ruling as a failed relic

Anna Moneymaker / Staff | Getty Images

In a nation where the Stars and Stripes symbolize the blood-soaked sacrifices of our heroes, President Trump's executive order to crack down on flag desecration amid violent protests has ignited fierce debate. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough question: Can Trump protect the Flag without TRAMPLING free speech? Glenn asked, and you answered—thousands weighed in on this pressing clash between free speech and sacred symbols.

The results paint a picture of resounding distrust toward institutional leniency. A staggering 85% of respondents support banning the burning of American flags when it incites violence or disturbs the peace, a bold rejection of the chaos we've seen from George Floyd riots to pro-Palestinian torchings. Meanwhile, 90% insist that protections for burning other flags—like Pride or foreign banners—should not be treated the same as Old Glory under the First Amendment, exposing the hypocrisy in equating our nation's emblem with fleeting symbols. And 82% believe the Supreme Court's Texas v. Johnson ruling, shielding flag burning as "symbolic speech," should not stand without revision—can the official story survive such resounding doubt from everyday Americans weary of government inaction?

Your verdict sends a thunderous message: In this divided era, the flag demands defense against those who exploit freedoms to sow disorder, without trampling the liberties it represents. It's a catastrophic failure of the establishment to ignore this groundswell.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.