We missed this news yesterday in our lofty round-ups, but two giant pandas who live at the Ocean Park Zoo in Hong Kong succeeded in mating for the first time ever. The news was announced in this press release from the zoo, which declared: “This is the first success since the two giant pandas began attempts at natural mating a decade ago, through which the Park hopes to bring to Hong Kongers exciting pregnancy news later this year while further contributing to the conservation of the vulnerable species.” All these big doofs needed was a little privacy!
Pandas can’t cum unless the apocalypse is happening https://t.co/c4TYxodPbE
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) April 6, 2020
Catch the latest COVID-19 updates and headlines: Riiiiiiiiiight here.
A “person died after reportedly leaping” off the Pike overpass on I-5 last night, near the Convention Center: “The person fell and was struck by vehicles,” writes Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, “and died at the scene.”
Polls have just closed in Wisconsin, where voters were forced to choose between protecting their health or preserving their representation in government. For the state’s presidential primary, it appears Biden has a wide lead over Sanders. More consequential for Wisconsin: There’s a hotly contested State Supreme Court seat up for grabs.
“This is very unjust. There’s no way that there should be thousands of people during a pandemic and five locations”: In Milwaukee, there are only five polling places open. The lines across the state are very long:
This is a line to vote in Wisconsin today.
It is criminal in-person voting is happening during a pandemic.
pic.twitter.com/OgBcHonlIQ
— Becca “self-isolate and show up for workers” Rast (@BeccaRast) April 7, 2020
Long lines formed outside Wisconsin polling stations as voters waited to cast their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court blocked an order by the governor suspending in-person voting. https://t.co/Rp4XOy0W43 pic.twitter.com/GZOjoLAFq8
— ABC News (@ABC) April 7, 2020
What’s happening in Milwaukee should be the last straw. Cities cannot continue to be underrepresented. This weakening of urban political power has become deadly. An urban general strike must now be on the table. Cities need proper representation in the US political system today.
— Charles Mudede (@mudede) April 7, 2020
Trump says the Democrats’ push to postpone the Wisconsin primary was all about him: Not the pandemic.
When will we see results from the Wisconsin primary? Not until April 13. The state’s elections commission has ordered municipal clerks to hold results until that date, due to a federal court ruling. There will inevitably be calls that the results will be illegitimate, considering the election’s circumstances.
What is this? Putting out Fig Newtons spon-con when there’s a pandemic happening is a strategy, I guess.
What do Fig Newtons and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have in common? Listen to this preview of this week’s podcast to find out — and then check out the full episode at https://t.co/t11Fa0CorE or wherever you get your podcasts. pic.twitter.com/AfL018UA4h
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 7, 2020
The Intelligencer has some tips on how Joe can make his bad podcast better: He should get a co-host! (Okay, I don’t think the solution to every Joe Biden problem can be Fill the room and distract from Joe.) He should stop with the Zoom! (Honestly, good advice for us all.) Make more than one show a week! (The article also has one of the best opening lines, ever: “On Monday morning, Joe Biden crossed a threshold thousands of podcasters never have: He made a second episode.”)
Opera legend Andrea Bocelli will perform a concert on Easter Sunday inside the empty Duomo cathedral in Milan. It will be livestreamed on YouTube at 10 AM PST and 7 PM Italy-time.
Disney may check the temperature of guests entering their theme parks when they reopen, says soon-to-be-former Disney CEO Bob Iger. He made the comments during an interview with Barron’s.
For years I’ve wanted to kill email, but this innovation might change the game: “Edison Software is preparing to launch OnMail, a new email service that lets you control who enters your inbox.” You can sign up for early access to the service here.
More layoffs: The Seattle Symphony has furloughed three-quarters of its staff, including its 88 musicians. Pivoting from music to real estate: Redfin laid off 7% of its staff and furloughed hundreds of agents today.
MSNBC hosts have questioned why the network continues to air Trump’s daily briefings live: A rising number of journalists and media organizations, including KUOW, have decided to stop airing Trump’s briefings without fact-checking them because they’re rambling shitshows. Tuesday morning, MSNBC’s Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough questioned the network directly: “If you ask the president a question he doesn’t want to answer, he shouts you down and moves on to somebody else who will ask an easier question. So, why do we hold those press conferences? Why do we carry them all live two hours every night?” It’s a good question.
I’d like to end the day with some personal news: It looks like anyone can whistle.
It’s taken 27 years but I just learned how to whistle. My apartment wants to kill me. #quarantine
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) April 7, 2020
BREAKING: Never mind, I guess we have one more update. Fuck.
Singer-songwriter John Prine, who crafted scores of indelible tunes including “Angel from Montgomery” and “Hello in There,” has died from complications of the coronavirus, a representative says. He was 73. https://t.co/PvgzX8bF1K
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 8, 2020
