Unhappily, Episode 53 covers the consequences of disjointed Federal policy in the United States leading to new divisions.  A failure by DC to prepare for or meet the needs of states led to encouraging independent responses, and we see at least three factions forming as pacts that are pursuing a divergent path than the Administration desires with growing acrimony and consequences.  With California, New York, and Illinois all firmly ensconced with their neighbors in a health driven slower approach, we see people bristle on both sides as the issues become more partisan, and we see the Great Plains, South, and Texas rush toward openings.  If things go badly, how fragile might these connections become?

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Links:
Latest statistics: https://covid19info.live/
Case sources: https://bnonews.com/
Covid-19 news: http://covidreport.net/

Flashback: President Trump tells governors to solve their own problems back in March: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/19/trump-governors-coronavirus-medical-supplies-137658

Western States Pact applauded betweeen CA, OR, and WA: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/western-states-pact-is-a-promising-move/

Newsom providing $500 benefit to CA illegal population: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/15/california-to-give-cash-payments-to-immigrants-hurt-by-coronavirus.html

Trump closing off all immigration at same time pushing for economic open: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/donald-trump-immigration-halt-coronavirus/index.html

Conservatives calling on AG to prosecute states for restrictions during Covid: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493505-conservative-activists-encourage-doj-to-sue-governors-local-leaders

NY Governor Cuomo announces multi-state pact with CT, DE, MA, NJ, PA, and RI: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/massachusetts-joins-new-york-new-jersey-connecticut-pennsylvania-delaware-and-rhode-islands

NY hires high powered consulting firm to make evidence based approach in contrast to DC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/new-york-taps-mckinsey-to-develop-a-trump-proof-economic-reopening-plan.html

ME working with NH and VT to coordinate separate response in Northern New England: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/gov-mills-opening-america-talking-new-hampshire-vermont-governors-about-northern-new-/133109

Illinois joins partnership with IN, KY, and OH to form larger Midwest Pact with MI, MN, and WI: https://www.npr.org/local/309/2020/04/17/836875890/illinois-partners-with-six-midwest-states-to-decide-when-to-reopen-economy

Protests encouraged by President Trump happen nationwide to open economy: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/18/coronavirus-scenes-of-protests-across-the-country-demanding-states-reopen-the-economy.html

Iowa avoids joining Midwest group - works informally with NE, SD, ND, and others: https://iowastartingline.com/2020/04/16/iowa-opts-out-of-midwest-partnership-on-coronavirus/

DC Area states working together as virus expands in region to coordinate lockdowns between DC, MD, and VA: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-and-virginia-governors-blast-trump-over-protests-and-lack-of-covid-19-testing-as-cases-continue-to-rise-in-the-capital-region/2020/04/19/0b878724-81d1-11ea-a3ee-13e1ae0a3571_story.html

Following administration lead, GA, SC, and TN eager to reopen like FL and TX: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/us/coronavirus-us-hot-spots-reopening.html

Editorial decrying the partisan nature of our response and how it makes governing impossible: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/coronavirus-economy-pennsylvania-legislature-wolf-working-masks-testing-20200420.html

Coronavirus Central Unscripted - 4/17/2020 - How disagreements become dissolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsJG_LxtqFk&t=1s

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