Spreads inside belmarsh prison then over to the International Space station where the latest space crew to walk drive talk about whats happening right here on earth with the Global Pandemic all right its time to use i q. 1920 news to grip the world and this nation the total now topping 1600000. 00 people with 98000. 00 deaths and 365000 recovered cases now the u. S. Still leading the way with some 473000 confirmed cases and about 17000 deaths and about 26000 recovered and as the number of infections continue to surge prisons and jails across the country have become hotbeds for this virus while some are looking to free up space others are seeing protests over a lack of action. Arties Rachel Blevins is joining us now live from the newsroom with more details to this rachel well manila the United States is known for having the largest prison population in the world and hundreds of thousands of inmates are now calling for help as both prisoners and guards test positive for the coronavirus dozens of inmates took part in a demonstration at the monroe correctional complex in Washington State after 6 prisoners and 5 Staff Members were diagnosed with the virus while officials confirm that officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to try to control the protesters they claim no one was harmed a Nonprofit Law Firm filed a motion calling for the state Supreme Court to issue an order that would mandate tests for all prisoners and push for the release of inmates with Underlying Health conditions now they are in response to the outcry state officials said they have separated the inmates who tested positive and they are looking into Early Release for nonviolent drug offenders who are nearing the end of their sentences a similar demonstration was held at the Lansing Correctional Facility in kansas only this one was more violent around 20 inmates took part in an hours long riot thursday night officials said they destroyed property including breaking windows and setting small fires so far 12 inmates and 14 Staff Members of the gel have tested positive for coated 19 concerns over the rampant spread of the corona virus are being felt that prisons across the country with the close quarters between inmates and staff leaving many to worry that it is impossible to escape an infection like in vermont where after one prisoner tested positive the northwest state correctional facility conducted 328. 00 tests on all available inmates and staff so far at least 28. 00 in the its and 5 Staff Members tested positive reports noted that most inmates were asymptomatic and in chicago at least 2 inmates of the Cook County Jail have died from complications related to the corona virus right now 276 prisoners have tested positive for the via. How does the syllabi known as one of the largest single site prisons in the country the crisis has drawn the attention of attorney general william barr who issued a memo calling on the federal prisons in danbury connecticut oakland louisiana and out in ohio to release inmates classified as vulnerable and in an effort to lessen the impact of the coronavirus his directive comes after 7 inmates died and and so far more than 500. 00 inmates from the facilities have been moved to home confinement meanwhile inmates at the Fort Bend County jail in texas are now devoting their time to sewing mass to protect themselves and the essential Staff Members with supplies the gel purchases from local businesses the visibility currently has 0 confirmed cases and they say their goal is to keep it that way now it still remains to be seen just how much of an impact 19 will have on prisons across the country but many are hoping it will push facilities to release nonviolent offenders and drastically reduce the overall prison population before it is too late reporting in the newsroom Rachel Blevins archie. The Australian Parliament have called on british officials and the judge to release julian of songe due to the rapid spread of coronavirus among the prison population and the workers at belmarsh prison where songes being held 23 and a half hours a day in a solitary confinement cell last night journalist Vaughan Smith said a songe contacted him and shared some more insight into whats really happening at belmarsh contradictory to what little the tight lipped prison officials are saying joining in on this conversation now former u. K. M. P. And and friend of julian a songe George GallowayGeorge Julian told mr smith that the Prison Governors Association is considering releasing more than 15000. 00 nonviolent prisoners the department of justice is considering some 4000 people but julian is not on any of those lists even though the ozzie parliament is now calling for his release on humanitarian terms maybe suggesting home arrest with an ankle monitor to all of this you say what. Well i theres no argument against this its incredible is not even on the table for discussion never mind agreement he could have gone he could go to a nominated address they could stick to costs on an 8 hour shift 3 shifts still cost them much less than its costing them to keep him in belmarsh the little is no logical argument against it does he told our friend Vaughan Smith from the Frontline Club 1. 00 of britains eminent journalists although he himself does not yet how of coronavirus hes surrounded by people who do and he exercises for 30 minutes just a day thats all the time that is out of his cell hes surrounded by hundreds of other prisoners many of whom undoubtedly have got this virus so it comes back to the point that ive been making julian a son john unconvicted mom cannot be released to home detention when hardened convicted criminals are this is a level of discrimination nonbiased that can only lead you in your luck to bleed to conclude that they want julia to get a coronavirus 19 they want julian to die they want a say on good friday to wash their hands of this trouble some priest its a very very ugly story in manila and george this is just incredible when you hear the the level and the numbers of people that theyre considering letting out and julian as you said and we should underscore he is not convicted yet of anything and he wont even be allowed to be on an ankle monitor at a at a private location outside of belmarsh thats unbelievable and julian is contradicting what belmarsh. Officials are saying about the spread of corona virus he believes there are much more deaths within the inmate population than the one official count possibly 2 that people are entertaining and that the virus was quote ripping through the prison is what julian said why are the u. K. Department of justice not investigating these claims. Well not for the 1st time julian is telling the truth and the officials are lying thats in a way the whole point of Julian Assange as it happens i have very close contact with the prison officers a source. Of the prison stuff and i can tell you the corona virus is ripping through belmarsh prison and many other prisons too and they are asked concerned about as we who are concerned about the prison are julian our sons are because its their members that are going down like flies 150 of their members in belmarsh prison are in self isolation and thats the stuff what about the prisoners it is incredible theres no people theres no mosques theres no gloves theres no separation possible in a jail its its mass mob there are waiting to happen and george lastly critics of the situation are now comparing the u. K. Justice system to that of iran now citing that the newly released mrs nasa needs a garri ratcliffe because of kobe 1000 she is now out having been a member of parliament for so many years how do you take that comparison i imagine this is supposed to be a slight. Is deeply humiliating its a sad day when the prisons in iran are being emptied door of prisoners including someone they claim is a british spy nozinan rockliffe and shes now been released on humanitarian grounds for fear of for contracting corona virus about the british will not release julian a sons their political prisoner the Australian Parliament spoke with a great cottage on cloudy im. A lot of those in the last 24 hours but you cant find a Single Person single in the British Parliament that would raise their voice making the kind of demands that im doing now here on your show so not only are prisons shilling themselves in relation to the order in them so is our parliament shimming itself in relation to our old friends in australia that is absolutely the best last word for today george George Galloway always appreciate your take thank you. Well many of us we have never experienced or had to go through quarantine but for one profession they have had to do it every single time before they go on their mission arduous fair project is joining us now with more on this so farit with all thats happening right now on earth space is apparently now the safest place to be you probably could say that manila and you know just hours ago actually those 3 astronauts they were made it to the International Space station and they spoke to reporters saying that they knew you know a year ago that they were going to be put through quarantine but what they didnt know was that the rest of the world was going to be joining them well thursday the u. S. Russian space crew blasted off and kazakstan and about 6 hours later they docked with the i assess now those astronauts did all their proper work in russia and space officials there had taken a lot of extra precautions to protect the crew during training and preflight preps following the outbreak of the coronavirus now the one astronaut and 2 cars minutes they floated into the space station one by one join the 3 that are already there now the newest crew members theyre going to stay till october keeping it until space x. Launches a pair of nasa astronauts from Floridas Kennedy Space Center as early as next month which actually will be the 1st launch in the u. S. Since 2011 now the astronaut spoke friday about what its like to be up there with all thats going on down here. This is quite surreal for us to see this whole situation unfolding on the planet below we can tell you that the earth still looks just as stunning as always from up here so its difficult to believe all the changes that have taken place since both of us have been up here nominal its kind of ironic because those astronauts they realize that their return date actually mirrors nasa is most catastrophic accident on a journey to the moon that triggered the most daring successful scuse me daring and successful rescue in nasa history take a look. This is used to say again please use when we have a problem. There it is one of the most famous lines in hollywood the 3 astronauts are going to return to earth the same day 50 years ago that the 3 astronauts aboard apollo 13 came home now it has been called a successful failure after the astronauts were safely returned to earth despite an oxygen taken explosion which put their lives in major jeopardy now astronaut jim lovell was on that mission back in 1070 and reflects on what happened 50 years later 13 that successful at its Additional Mission was very successful in bringing together the people of the United States of the world and the Space Program as 2 people can take over this is complete disaster and turn it into something thats very successful. Now all 3 of apollo 13 astronauts say they gave a thought to they never gave a thought to their to their Mission Number as they blasted off for the moon 50 years ago never mind that the liftoff actually occurred at 1313 houston time on april 11th 1970 but the way level c. Level sees it he says that he is incredibly lucky despite all of these unlucky 13 number saying that not only did he survive miller he is still around 50 years later to reflect on this amazing anniversary and i want to share our our astronaut superstitious i dont know but what is very weird though too is here you have this whole coronavirus that happening you had tom hanks who played jim lovell and who was sick who was just who just run a virus exactly very very strange all interconnected Twilight Zone music 13 weird all right well be right there fair thank you for that story. The head of the World Health Organization president trying to not politicize the virus how is america handling this and having our Political Panel is going to weigh in and then later and were going to hammer brings us some darling comments rather regarding the postponing tokyo 2026 so well be right back. Join me every thursday on the elec so i will be sure and ill be speaking to guest of the world of politics or business im show business ill see you the. Good news. For those who heard its a preview of the. New movie. Well you know. When its. All chileans to look beautiful the militants can look. More muslim also theres also a good view film school good girls. Go to show also look look your simu to local small historic move to the issue go. To starts to. Get to me to tell you the littlest bit still appears its. Just ashton under test just you know the mash dog trying to stop the president and please introduce project to. The 3 of producers to talk this way to snap them up when you look at us the girls are with you serious supporters to your shoes as they should shouldnt be you should cut off from the one whos your business. As americans continue to hunker down at home the slow drip of new information on cope and 19 had family split on how to live with this new reality now debate on Wearing Masks whos most vulnerable whos highest risk how long will this new normal last meanwhile earlier this week a surprise announcement from the Sanders Campaign bernie effectively calling it quits and handing the nomination to joe biden so joining us to discuss all of these hot topics the walk ins hes an acclaimed author and College Professor and ed martin bestselling author and president of the Phyllis Schlafly eagle forum are joining us today so gentlemen good to see you its been a while so i want to go over to do you 1st. Now that this virus has been going on in the u. S. A few months we can see a trend of where and who its impacting the most on a heat map the were seeing places like new york city detroit and new orleans to light up that map those are predominantly black neighborhoods how do you read those numbers. Well theres a number of things that we can see those numbers to. Africanamericans in this country are less likely to have insurance to them was acceptable to be as many things right because the Living Conditions at the dominantly areas 3 on everything americans are are being deemed essential employees out there the people working there a lot of these markets and these delivery services. Are incarcerated so everybody had a virus you know is hitting the more i think this is where people know that the virus doesnt discriminate but at the same time if you are a person you dont have a lot of resources that you are going to if you want to for our. Most likely the virus obviously populate. Density ed whats your take. Well you know i 1st of all its very important to know to as you point out that the hardest hit are in blue areas you know enter typically democrat or city detroit even numbered in San Francisco area and the whole federal government doesnt matter what party you are has motivated and has has mobilized to do everything they can to mitigate that heres the one thing id say and d. Is exactly right virus is colorblind its going to get to everybody in every population i think we shouldnt ignore some of the data that showing that africanamericans are hit harder we should address that and i think we are and look i think the theres plenty of time in the future to look at who moved slowly i think new york city was a little slower but that shouldnt matter now what matters now is get everybody well get testing going in the right direction and i think were seeing that i think youre seeing success in fighting what is a really good medicine something we could have expected and sticking with you here the president s response to all of this i think no matter who is sitting in the oval office theyre going to be damned if they do and damned if they dont but it seems to fall down party lines in that republicans think trump should have taken a more measured approach like that of sweden who only quarantined high risk or people whereas democrats think everything should be locked down and everybody even this lock down isnt going far enough so what do you think of that. Well i think youre right that its a lose lose situation and if you do everything you can to try to fight for me to gauge and social distancing were still having death you know its hard to measure how many lives you saved and i think you can write the president president tromp you would have thought would have instinct to keep the economy to try to wait till the last minute he. And he did what i think he had to do which was locked things down and move that way hes even slower now in terms of some republicans want to open up faster nancy pelosi came out today and she said you dont do it too fast i think the president s going to listen ultimately though were going to get to a point where the nation is going to have to let the leaders decide when were going to take some risks to go back to work at that point some of us are go