| President Trump on Monday sided with governors in a dozen states that reopening their economies and even schools makes sense at this stage of the coronavirus crisis, if done “safely.” “Manhattan is much different than Montana,” he said during a Rose Garden briefing that had been on, off and then on his schedule again after the White House weighed the potential hazards of another question-and-answer session with self-inflicted fumbles. The White House, which unveiled phased guidance for states just 10 days ago, displayed a “blueprint” outline on Monday summarizing the federal role in restarting the economy. The administration said it is doing its part and described testing plans “in coordination” with states; federal monitoring of hot spots and at-risk populations; contact tracing steered by state and local officials with help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and federal jawboning to hasten new technological breakthroughs, including for quality antigen tests suitable for masses of people. Trump, joined by Vice President Pence and CEOs from testing laboratories, pharmacies, and companies that make COVID-19 test kits and medical swabs, reinforced the administration’s assertion that the United States has sufficient testing supplies, kits and processing capacity to encourage states to ease back into business, even with anticipated new outbreaks of disease and more fatalities ahead. “We are continuing to rapidly expand our capacity,” Trump said, reading from notes, “and confident that we have enough testing to begin reopening and the reopening process. We want to get our country open. And the testing is not going to be a problem at all. In fact, it’s going to be one of the great assets we have.” The Associated Press: Doubts about the sufficiency of testing remain among public health experts. The president’s boosterism — “we’re doing very, very well” — is being met with polite resistance by some governors, mayors and business executives who are bucking the West Wing tide and extending stay-at-home orders into May while developing their own guidelines and assembling their own teams of advisers. Trump spoke by conference call with some governors on Monday and described them as uniformly enthusiastic during the discussion. The Associated Press: In parts of rural America, the coronavirus seems far away and greetings still come with a handshake. The ongoing state-based debates about how and when to safely open businesses, schools, parks and churches will echo through Washington next week as the House and Senate return to Washington to wrestle over what needs to be done to bolster states and cities as unemployment surges along with the nation’s coronavirus death toll. Later this week, fatalities from COVID-19 are expected to surpass the number of Americans killed during the Vietnam War (The Hill). The nation’s capital, among many cities hit hard by the virus, has not yet peaked during its own battle with COVID-19, and with at least 185 deaths, residents and businesses are under an extended stay-at-home order until May 15, issued by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D). The Washington Post: Antibody testing suggests virus hit D.C. weeks earlier than estimated. The Hill: Experts believe an effective COVID-19 vaccine could take longer than a year to 18 months to develop, approve and produce in mass quantities. The New York Times reports that Oxford University, however, has a potentially promising head start. The Wall Street Journal: Meet a group of scientists, billionaire investors and thinkers who want to save the world from COVID-19 and secretly put promising ideas into the hands of top federal officials. Congressional leaders announced on Monday that both chambers will return to work as May begins and are expected to kick off in earnest a fifth coronavirus-related bill that could include half a trillion dollars to help state and local governments and perhaps embrace close to $1 trillion for infrastructure projects that would create jobs — if preliminary conversations are any guide (The Hill). Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement that the upper chamber will be back in session for the first time since lawmakers passed the $2.2 trillion package in late March and will “modify routines in ways that are smart and safe” (The Hill). McConnell was criticized last week on both sides of the aisle for suggesting that struggling state governments could file for bankruptcy rather than turn to Congress for financial assistance as their revenues dry up during the coronavirus emergency. The majority leader has moved away from that option. The Kentucky Republican put down a new marker, calling for changes in the next relief bill to provide liability protection to health care workers, businesses and employees from lawsuits tied to inevitable new coronavirus outbreaks as the economy reopens. Last week, White House economic advisers continued to insist that businesses were not lobbying for liability relief, although that topic has been part of public conversations for weeks. McConnell said in an interview that he will “insist” on changes in law as part of negotiations with Democrats over the next emergency recovery measure. “We probably will do another bill. What I’m saying is, it won’t just be about money,” McConnell told Politico. “The next pandemic coming will be the lawsuit pandemic in the wake of this one. So we need to prevent that now when we have the opportunity to do it.” “I’m open to additional assistance. It’s not just going to be a check, though, you get my point?” McConnell said. “We’re not writing a check to send down to states to allow them to, in effect, finance mistakes they’ve made unrelated to the coronavirus.” The Washington Post: House and Senate on collision course over coronavirus response as leaders map out conflicting agendas. The Hill: Democrats debate how and when to get the House back in action. The Associated Press: Partisan division might complicate next virus relief package. The House will reconvene roughly a week and a half after passing the $484 billion interim COVID-19 package, which included more than $300 billion in loans for small business. On Monday, the refilled Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) came under increased scrutiny after its relaunched website experienced glitches, delaying small businesses from receiving funds as they continue to struggle from the fallout of the virus. Banks began reporting issues shortly after the funds became available at 10:30 a.m. Rob Nichols, president of the American Bankers Association, tweeted that bankers were left “deeply frustrated” by the technical failures, noting that they “will not be able help more struggling small businesses” until the issues are resolved (The Washington Post). Adding to the problems was the revelation that the Los Angeles Lakers received nearly $5 million from the PPP before deciding to return the funds. The Lakers franchise is valued at roughly $4 billion, raising more concerns that funds intended for struggling small businesses were going to major companies and corporations that have access to capital (ESPN). The Wall Street Journal: For some workers, combined state unemployment benefits and federal payouts exceed compensation they earned when employed. Bosses complain it creates a disincentive to return to work. Trump on Monday conceded the U.S. economy in the second quarter is undergoing a battering unlike anything seen since the Great Depression. Sidestepping projections of a drop of between 20 and 30 percent in gross domestic product in the second quarter, Trump pointed to a robust stock market Monday, which he said was evidence of investor enthusiasm to restart the economy. CNBC: Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett says the U.S. could contract 30 percent in the second quarter. The president, returning to his optimism that the U.S. economy can bounce back with gusto, predicted that growth in the third quarter will be “phenomenal” and that fourth-quarter output (encompassing the Nov. 3 elections) will be “incredible.” 
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