The Washington Post offers tips on how to keep your EV battery running in frigid temperatures. The link at the end of this graf is supposed to be a "gift link" (from me, Marie Burns, the giftor!), meaning that non-subscribers can read the article. Hope it works: https://wapo.st/3u8Z705
Monday
Mar232020
The Commentariat -- March 24, 2020
Afternoon Update:
Wowza! Fred Imbert & Thomas Franck of CNBC: "The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared on Tuesday, logging its best day in 87 years as investors bet U.S. lawmakers would deliver soon a stimulus bill to rescue the economy from the damage caused by the coronavirus and shutdowns designed to stop its spread. It was a historic bounce coming amid a historic sell-off. The 30-stock average closed 2,112.98 points higher -- or more than 11% -- at 20,704.91, notching its biggest one-day percentage gain since 1933. The S&P 500 rallied 9.4% to 2,447.33 for its best day since October 2008. The Nasdaq Composite surged 8.1% to 7,417.86, its best day since March 13. Both the Dow and S&P 500 rebound off their lowest levels since late 2016."
Cross of Gold. Quint Forgey, et al., of Politico: "Top Trump administration officials on Tuesday signaled that they were already laying the groundwork to reopen the U.S. economy amid the coronavirus pandemic -- a task that ... Donald Trump revealed he would like to accomplish by mid-April. 'I'd love to have it open by Easter, OK? I would love to have it open by Easter. I will tell you that right now,' Trump said from the White House Rose Garden, where he and members of the administration's coronavirus task force participated in a virtual town hall on Fox News. 'It's such an important day for other reasons, but I'll make it an important day for this, too,' he added. 'I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter.' [April 12] Trump's comments came hours after Vice President Mike Pence told conservative leaders on a private call that White House aides were discussing ways to encourage businesses to reopen and healthy Americans to return to work at the end of the current 15-day period, during which administration officials have asked Americans to avoid social gatherings with more than 10 people and stay home as much as possible." ~~~
~~~ Robert Schlesinger in an NBC News opinion piece: Explicitly cutting against health experts' advice, Trump is embracing the chic new philosophy of the economic right: Death happens, live with it.... This might be Trump's greatest pivot yet: turning the self-anointed pro-life party into one of death-tolerance. It's true that all public policy involves some level of cost-benefit analysis, but few people really think Trump is capable of such nuance. Even if he were, how could we really analyze those costs? We haven't taken the infection curve's measure, let alone started to bend it.... The Donald Trump who [briefly] pivoted and took coronavirus seriously was never long for this world. He remains saddled with the problems that made him dangerously insufficient to the challenges in the first place, including a lack of credibility that compounds at the geometric rate of the virus itself, a baseless and bottomless self-certainty and a child-like impatience.... The now-daily news conferences that seem to be the main result of his turn as a 'wartime president' have only spun up the pace of his bunkum...." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Schlesinger believes the only hope is that Trump still has a week to "pivot back" to taking a responsible position. I suspect the only way that will happen is if Trump himself gets at least a mild case of Covid-19. I don't wish anyone ill health, but this would be a good time for Trump to get a hacking cough that nearly takes his breath away.
"Ill Be the Oversight." Erica Werner, et al., of the Washington Post: "The White House has agreed to allow enhanced scrutiny over a massive loan program that is a centerpiece of the Senate's $2 trillion coronavirus economic package, two people briefed on the discussions said, taking steps to address a major Democratic concern and potentially pave the way for a vote by Tuesday night.... Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also struck a positive tone in remarks on the Senate floor, in a marked shift from days of bitter partisan wrangling...."
Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "President Trump has praised Dr. Anthony S. Fauci as a 'major television star.' He has tried to demonstrate that the administration is giving him free rein to speak. And he has deferred to Dr. Fauci's opinion several times at the coronavirus task force's televised briefings. But Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, has grown bolder in correcting the president's falsehoods and overly rosy statements about the spread of the coronavirus in the past two weeks -- and he has become a hero to the president's critics because of it. And now, Mr. Trump's patience has started to wear thin." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Actually, the first sign that Trump's patience with Fauci has worn thin was when Trump called Fauci a "major television star." Trump squirms when his underlings appear to outshine him. Trump fired Steve Bannon not long after Bannon starred on the cover of Time.
First, Kill All the Old Folks. Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: "Everyone is talking about Dan Patrick's on-air death plea. Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, touched off an outpouring of anger when he declared to Tucker Carlson that people like him -- grandparents in their twilight years -- should risk death so people can stop social distancing to avert economic calamity.... Patrick's plea to Carlson was inspired by Trump himself. As Patrick noted, his 'heart is lifted' by Trump's suggestion that it might be time to go back to work.... It captures something essential about President Trump.... Right now, Trump is actively considering relaxing federal recommendations on social distancing. As Trump put it, 'we cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.' Health experts are screaming warnings.... Trump may have adopted the idea that 'the cure is worse than the disease' almost verbatim from a segment on Fox News, which has pushed this line relentlessly.... Trump would not put it quite [the] way [Patrick does]. But this, at bottom, is what he's asking us to accept." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Sorry, Greg, I see no indication Fat Old Grandpa Donald is willing to sacrifice himself for the kids & the economy.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jabari Young of CNBC: "The International Olympic Committee postponed the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, officials announced Tuesday. The event was scheduled to start July 24 in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday he and the head of the International Olympic Committee agreed to delay the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo for about a year. The games will take place 'no later than summer 2021,' according to a statement from the IOC."
The New York Times' live updates for coronavirus developments Tuesday are here. The Washington Post's live updates are here. From the WashPo updates:
London: "In an address to the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Brits to stay at home,' while outlining strict measures that would only allow people to leave their homes to exercise, shop for essential items and travel to and from work 'where absolutely necessary.' But on Tuesday, confusion continued to swirl. Photos on social media showed people sandwiched together in subway carriages as many still attempted to travel across the city to get to work. The photos raised questions about how the government intends to support those who are self-employed and sparked debate over who should still be going into the workplace."
This will CHILL every Democrat on the Hill being asked to vote for the Phase 3 stimulus package: 'I'll be the oversight,' Trump says. Remember, last night the president would not rule out stuffing his own pockets with taxpayer bailout money for his private hotels. -- James Hohmann, in a tweet, Monday (thanks to NiskyGuy for the lead) ~~~
~~~ From Monday's New York Times' live updates on coronavirus developments: "President Trump, in a nearly two-hour coronavirus briefing, hinted on Monday that the economic shutdown meant to halt the spread of the virus across the country would not be extended. 'Our country wasn't built to be shut down,' he said. 'America will again and soon be open for business,' the president added, without providing a timeline for when he believes normal economic activity could resume.... He later added, 'I'm not looking at months, I can tell you right now.'... He compared deaths from the novel coronavirus so far to deaths from other causes -- influenza and car accidents.... Estimates from ... scientists place the potential deaths in a range from several hundred thousand to several million deaths, substantially more than annual deaths from car accidents and flu combined.... Mr. Trump continued to push two traditional malaria medications, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, in combination with a common antibiotic, azithromycin, as a treatment for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, despite caution by the government's top doctors.... A hospital system in Arizona reported on Monday that a man died and his wife was in critical condition after the couple self-medicated with chloroquine." ~~~
~~~ Philip Rucker, et al., of the Washington Post: "As he watches stock prices plummet and braces for an expected surge in unemployment, Trump has received urgent pleas from rattled business leaders, Republican lawmakers and conservative economists imploring him to remove some of the stringent social distancing guidelines that he put in place for a 15-day period ending March 30, according to several people with knowledge of the internal deliberations. . [At his press briefing Monday, ] Trump predicted 'we're going to be opening our country' in a shorter time frame than months.... Trump drew parallels to the flu season, which he said was on pace to be responsible for the deaths of some 50,000 Americans, as well as to car crashes -- comparisons that [Anthony] Fauci and other experts have dismissed as examples of false equivalency.... Democrats criticized Trump for his scattershot messaging. 'He's a notion-monger, just tossing out things that have no relationship to a well-coordinated science-based government-wide response to this,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said." The story is free to nonsubscribers. ~~~
~~~ Josh Dawsey, et al., of the Washington Post: "President Trump on Monday said he is considering scaling back steps to constrain the spread of the coronavirus in the next week or two because of concerns that the impact on the economy has become too severe. But loosening restrictions on social distancing and similar measures soon probably would require him to override the internal warnings of senior U.S. health officials, including Anthony S. Fauci, who have said that the United States has not yet felt the worst of the pandemic, according to several people with knowledge of the internal deliberations." The story is free to nonsubscribers. Mrs. McC: I don't think Fauci attended Monday's briefing.
~~~ Myah Ward of Politico: "The White House Correspondents Association on Monday said a reporter who was at the White House multiple times over the last two weeks is suspected to have coronavirus, according to an email from the organization. The reporter was at the White House on March 9, 11, 16 and 18, and the WHCA is encouraging all journalists present at the White House during those days to 'review public health guidance, consult their medical professionals and take the appropriate next steps.... We ask again that all members who can stay home or work remotely please do so. Please do not come to the White House if you do not have a workspace or an assigned seat on that day. And please DO NOT come into the White House if you are feeling at all ill,' the statement said.... And the WHCA has issued new protocol for White House journalists, cutting the number of available press room seats in half -- leaving a half-empty briefing room as ... Donald Trump addresses the nation about the pandemic. On Monday..., the WHCA issued even stricter guidelines, cutting the seats from 25 to 14 reporters." ~~~
~~~ Jim Tankersley, et al., of the New York Times: "As the United States entered Week 2 of trying to contain the spread of the coronavirus by shuttering large swaths of the economy, President Trump, Wall Street executives and many conservative economists began questioning whether the government had gone too far and should instead lift restrictions that are already inflicting deep pain on workers and businesses. Consensus continues to grow among government leaders and health officials that the best way to defeat the virus is to order nonessential businesses to close and residents to confine themselves at home.... Relaxing those restrictions could significantly increase the death toll from the virus, public health officials warn. Many economists say there is no positive trade-off -- resuming normal activity prematurely would only strain hospitals and result in even more deaths, while exacerbating a recession that has most likely already arrived." ~~~
~~~ David Fahrenthold, et al., of the Washington Post: "Before Trump called for reevaluating lockdowns, [local officials] shuttered six of his top-earning clubs and resorts[.]... So far, the Trump Organization has closed hotels in Las Vegas; Doral, Fla.; Ireland; and Turnberry, Scotland -- as well as the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida and a golf club in Bedminster, N.J.... Another of Trump's golf clubs, in Aberdeen, Scotland, appeared likely to shut down soon, after an order from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that 'nonessential' shops should close and that people should leave home only to buy food, buy medicine or exercise alone. Even the Trump properties that remain open have been sharply affected: In Chicago, New York and Washington, the restaurants have closed, cutting off a key source of revenue."
Tucker Higgins of CNBC: "... Donald Trump on Monday unleashed a barrage of posts spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, chastising the World Health Organization for its early messaging, attacking his political enemies and the media, and promoting a dubious article that suggested a miracle cure was at hand.... The president ... retweeted, or posted to his own account, a number of replies, including one from a man named Chuck Callesto, who is identified as a 'Digital Real Estate Manager,' promoting a possible cure. 'They should take a SERIOUS LOOK at this...' Callesto wrote in the tweet posted to the president's account, with a link to a story with the headline 'REPORT: French Doctor Reports 100 % Cure Rate Using Malaria Drug to Treat Corona Virus.' There is no known cure or treatment for coronavirus, though scammers have sought to cash in on the panic it has caused.... In other messages, including tweets and retweets, the president attacked former Vice President Joe Biden..., as well as The New York Times, the WHO, and China, which he suggested was manipulating health data."
Jonathan Lemire, et al., of the AP: "... as the coronavirus crisis threatens his presidency, and upends his campaign for reelection, Trump is rapidly losing patience with the medical professionals who have made the case day after day that the only way to prevent a catastrophic loss of life is to essentially shut down the country -- to minimize transmission and 'flatten the curve' so hospitals aren't overwhelmed with critical patients. The president also has been furious that his efforts to halt the harrowing drop in the stock market have so far proven ineffective. He has been calling friends and economists at all hours and berated aides and reporters who try to persuade him to recognize the severity of the outbreak."
David Sanger, et al., of the New York Times: "President Trump's refusal to invoke the Defense Production Act to commandeer resources for the federal government is based on a bet that he can cajole the nation's biggest manufacturers and tech firms to come together in a market-driven, if chaotic, consortium that will deliver critical equipment -- from masks to ventilators -- in time to abate a national crisis. Over the past five days, after weeks of minimizing the virus and dismissing calls to organize a national response, administration officials have been pulling executives into the White House Situation Room, and connecting them by phone, in a desperate effort to unlock existing supplies and ramp up new production.... But it is far from clear that the effort to enlist companies like General Motors, Apple and Hanes, just a few of the firms that have promised to free up existing supplies of masks or repurpose 3-D printers to produce ventilator parts, constitutes an effective strategy.... The White House has not said who will set the priority list for deliveries. And it is not clear that any of it will arrive in time for the cities and the states that are hit the hardest, including New York....
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the heads of major corporations have lobbied the administration against using the act. They say the move could prove counterproductive, imposing red tape on companies precisely when they need flexibility to deal with closed borders and shuttered factories. Mr. Trump and the director of his national economic council, Larry Kudlow, as well as [Jared] Kushner, were persuaded by those arguments, administration officials said." Emphasis added. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ Actually, It's All About Corporate Interests. Sharon Lerner & Lee Fang of the Intercept: "[Monday] afternoon, the Food and Drug Administration granted Gilead Sciences 'orphan' drug status for its antiviral drug, remdesivir. The designation allows the pharmaceutical company to profit exclusively for seven years from the product, which is one of dozens being tested as a possible treatment for Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.... Experts warn the designation, reserved for treating 'rare diseases,' could block supplies of the antiviral medication from generic drug manufacturers and provide a lucrative windfall for Gilead Sciences.... But a loophole [in the 1983 Orphan Drug Act] allows drugs that treat more common illnesses to be classified as orphans if the designation is given before the disease ... affect[s] ... 200,000 people in the U.S.... [Gilead] maintains close ties with ... Donald Trump's task force for controlling the coronavirus crisis. Joe Grogan, who serves on the White House coronavirus task force, lobbied for Gilead from 2011 to 2017 on issues including the pricing of pharmaceuticals.... [Monday], Gilead abruptly announced that it would no longer provide emergency access to remdesivir, telling the New York Times that 'overwhelming demand' left it unable to process requests for the drug through its compassionate use program. Hours later, the Food and Drug Administration gave the drug orphan status. Almost immediately, Gilead's stock price shot up." Emphasis added. ~~~
~~~ Tom Krisher & Hope Yen of the AP: "... Donald Trump is falsely asserting how quickly automakers including GM, Ford and Tesla can manufacture ventilators to help fill an acute U.S. shortage of the medical equipment for coronavirus patients. Ford and GM have yet to start production, and it would take them months, if not longer, to begin production, if it's even possible. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ Thomas Fuller, et al., of the New York Times: "Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said that California would be short about 17,000 hospital beds, raising his previous estimate of a 10,000-bed shortfall. The state was also short 1 billion protective gloves and hundreds of millions of masks, he said. And the pace of testing remains stubbornly slow in California. New York State, with half the population, has conducted twice as many tests for the virus as the Golden State.... Mr. Newsom said the state was ... chartering flights to China to procure protective equipment and expressed concern for smaller states that might not have the same purchasing power. Warning that America could be just days behind Italy, where the virus has claimed thousands of lives, officials in California have rushed to reopen hospitals that had been shuttered, buy motels to house the state's more than 150,000 homeless people, and retrofit college dormitories to serve as hospital wards."
Fred Imbert of CNBC: "Stocks fell sharply on Monday as U.S. lawmakers failed to push through massive fiscal stimulus to curtail the economic blow from the coronavirus. Talks are ongoing, but investors believe the longer Washington waits, the greater the damage to the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 582.05 points lower, or down 3.1%, at 18,591.93, its lowest closing level since November 2016. The S&P 500 slid 2.9% to 2,237.40. The Nasdaq Composite was down just 0.3% at 6,860.67 as investors began making small bets on technology stocks." This is an update of a story linked earlier. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ Have Press, Will Print. Neil Irwin of the New York Times: "The extraordinary actions of the Federal Reserve on Monday morning can be boiled down to two sentences: There is a rapidly developing shortage of dollars across the economy. And the Fed will do anything it needs to, on any scale imaginable, to end this shortage. Its announcement was phrased in the dry bureaucratese typical of statements from a central bank. But it contains a powerful idea. The Fed, the one entity in the world with the power to create dollars out of thin air, has every intention of doing so at whatever magnitude is necessary to try to reduce the severity and limit the duration of the coronavirus economic crisis." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ The New York Times' market updates for Monday are here. "Investors remained focused on the political stalemate in the U.S. Senate that has slowed a rescue plan for the American economy. The S&P 500 fell more than 4 percent, even after the Fed unveiled its new bond buying program." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Erica Werner, et al., of the Washington Post: "Senate leaders and the Trump administration appeared closer to reaching bipartisan agreement Monday evening on a massive stimulus bill that could inject $2 trillion into the economy to blunt the impacts of the coronavirus. After a day of partisan rancor and posturing on Capitol Hill, the outlook grew markedly more positive later in the afternoon, when offers and counteroffers were exchanged. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) convened Democrats on a conference call and told them he was hopeful about striking a deal by the end of the day, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal details.... Democratic concerns have focused on a $500 billion funding program Republicans want to create for loans and loan guarantees, with some Democrats calling it a 'slush fund' that lacks any oversight because the Treasury Department would have broad discretion over who receives the money. Asked about this Monday evening, Trump responded, 'I'll be the oversight.'"
Jordain Carney of the Hill: "The Senate on Monday failed to advance a massive coronavirus stimulus package for the second time in as many days. Senators voted 49-46, falling short of the three-fifths support necessary to move forward with a 'shell' bill, which the text of the agreement would ultimately be swapped into. Democratic Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.) broke with the party to vote in support of the measure." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
From the Washington Post's live updates of coronavirus developments Monday: "U.S. states on Monday reported more than 100 deaths from the novel coronavirus, pushing the country's total death toll past 500 and marking the first time single-day fatalities have risen into the triple-digits since the pandemic reached U.S. soil. The virus has now claimed lives in at least 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and has infected more than 41,000 people nationwide, according to tracking by The Washington Post.
@12:19 pm ET: "Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Monday that her husband, John Bessler, a law professor at the University of Baltimore, has coronavirus. After sharing the news on Twitter, Klobuchar elaborated on her husband's situation during a previously planned conference call advocating vote-by-mail options in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. 'I just wanted to reiterate that one of the hardest things about this disease is he's in the hospital -- he's been there a few days -- and I can't even be by his side,' Klobuchar said. 'I think many families in America are now experiencing this and things that are much, much worse.' She said it took five days to get her husband's test back.... Klobuchar said in a statement that she and her husband have 'been in different places for the last two weeks and I am outside the 14-day period for getting sick.'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Amber Phillips of the Washington Post on Rand Paul's decision to go about business as usual while he was awaiting coronavirus test results (he tested positive). There's this, for instance: "Paul had part of his lung removed last year after an attack by a neighbor. Between that and his medical background, you might think he'd be extra sensitive to the implications of spreading it. Wouldn't he understand how dangerous being around other people, including older senators, could be if there was even the remote possibility he had the virus?" Mrs. McC: Phillips doesn't say where "home" is. I assume Paul has some sort of living quarters in the D.C. area, but is that where "home" is? Or did he fly to his old Kentucky home? (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Mrs. McCrabbie: In case, like me, you thought it was probably safe to touch possibly-contaminated stuff after three days, here's a story to give you pause: ~~~
~~~ William Feuer of CNBC: "The coronavirus survived for up to 17 days aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, living far longer on surfaces than previous research has shown, according to new data published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study examined the Japanese and U.S. government efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreaks on the Carnival-owned Diamond Princess ship in Japan and the Grand Princess ship in California. Passengers and crew on both ships were quarantined on board after previous guests, who didn't have any symptoms while aboard each of the ships, tested positive for COVID-19 after landing ashore. The virus 'was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated on the Diamond Princess but before disinfection procedures had been conducted,' the researchers wrote, adding that the finding doesn't necessarily mean the virus spread by surface.... Researchers from the National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University previously found that COVID-19 can last up to three days on plastic and stainless steel. That study also found that the amount of the virus left on those surfaces decreased over time."
Sabrina Tavernise & Richard Oppel of the New York Times: "As the coronavirus upends American life, Chinese-Americans face a double threat. Not only are they grappling like everyone else with how to avoid the virus itself, they are also contending with growing racism in the form of verbal and physical attacks. Other Asian-Americans -- with families from Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and other places -- are facing threats, too, lumped together with Chinese-Americans by a bigotry that does not know the difference.... Many described being yelled at in public -- a sudden spasm of hate that is reminiscent of the kind faced by Muslim-Americans and other Arabs and South Asians after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike 2001, when President George W. Bush urged tolerance of Muslim-Americans, this time President Trump is using language that Asian-Americans say is inciting racist attacks." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Jodi Kantor of the New York Times: "Wary of a long, confined spring, city dwellers are fanning out to vacation rentals, their own second homes, or anywhere else they can find.... It's an instant national ethical dilemma, exacerbating already-tense relationships between rich and poor, urban and rural, and, in the case of Hawaii, largely white outsiders and more diverse locals.... Destinations known for welcoming visitors are now closing themselves off.... Hawaii announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers. Southeast Utah has prohibited lodging for nonessential visitors.... History shows that may be the correct call. During the 1918 influenza pandemic, Gunnison, Colo., erected barricades over its highways ... and quarantined anyone who entered. Neighboring towns were decimated, but Gunnison's losses were low.... So, before relocating, consider whether farther truly equals safer, especially if you'll be far from the kind of vast medical corps found in major cities, as well as friends and neighbors to count on in an emergency." ~~~
~~~ Antonia Farzan of the Washington Post writes a related story: "In recent weeks, wealthy city dwellers hoping to escape the novel coronavirus have been fleeing to their second homes, exacerbating long-standing tensions between locals and summer residents. While those from out of town feel they have the right to use property that they own and pay taxes on, year-round residents worry that the new arrivals could be carrying the disease, and that local hospitals aren't equipped to handle an outbreak.... From the Catskills to Wisconsin's Door County, communities whose economies usually revolve around seasonal visitors are now asking them to stay away. Over the weekend, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) urged people with cottages on the Jersey Shore to 'stay at your primary residences,' while Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) warned that those with property on Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard should 'stay on the mainland.'"
Annals of "Journalism," Ha Ha Ha. Ben Smith of the New York Times: "... for two crucial weeks in late February and early March, powerful Fox hosts talked about the 'real' story of the coronavirus: It was a Democratic- and media-led plot against ... Donald J. Trump. Hosts and guests, speaking to Fox's predominately elderly audience, repeatedly played down the threat of what would soon become a deadly pandemic. The person who could have stopped the flow of misinformation was ... Lachlan Murdoch, the chief executive of the Fox Corporation. But he wasn't paying much attention.... The most-watched news channel in America has become, since the fall of its powerful founder, Roger Ailes, much more like the Trump White House: a family business where it's not entirely clear who is in charge.... even [Lachlan's] allies told me they no longer think he has the political savvy or the operational skills his job demands." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Ben Smith: "If you were watching some of the commentators on Fox News and Fox Business in the first 10 days of March, you wouldn't have been too worried about the coronavirus -- it would be no worse than the flu, and the real story was the 'coronavirus impeachment scam. Many of the networks' elderly, pro-Trump viewers responded to the coverage and the president's public statements by taking the virus less seriously than ... everyone else had. Public health experts have said that some of them may die as a result.... But one elderly Fox News viewer ... took the threat seriously: The channel's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, who was to celebrate his 89th birthday on March 11. On March 8, as the virus was spreading, the Murdoch family called off a planned party out of concern for the patriarch's health, according to a person familiar with the cancellation.... The canceled party is perhaps the most glaring instance of the gap ... between the elite, globally minded family owners of Fox...." ~~~
~~~ Benjamin Fearnow of Newsweek: "TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz touted a 'game-changer' drug combination as a potential 'treatment' for the coronavirus Monday on Fox & Friends, and less than an hour later on the program, the U.S. Surgeon General warned viewers against seeking dubious remedies. Surgeon General Jerome Adams appeared on the Fox News morning show after Oz did, and criticized co-host Steve Doocy and the daytime TV doctor for promoting coronavirus 'treatments' that are clinically untested in the United States. Earlier in the program, Oz, who is also a Columbia University professor, gushed over a French doctor's recent tests that used a malaria treatment, a hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin combination, in hopes of finding a coronavirus treatment. Adams warned Doocy and Fox News viewers to stop talking about pursuing treatments and vaccines and to start talking about halting the current spread of COVID-19.... In a segment Oz later aired on his own Fox program Monday, he introduced the potential wonder drug to his audience." Mrs. McC: Looks as if Doc Adams is trying to get his creds back after claiming Trump was healthier than he.
Judith Mischke of Politico: "German Chancellor Angela Merkel's first coronavirus test came back negative, her spokesperson said on Monday.... A single negative test result does not necessarily mean a person is not carrying the virus, as the specimen might have been collected at a very early stage of the infection. The German chancellor is currently working from home in self-isolation after being informed late Sunday that a doctor who gave her a pneumococcal vaccination last Friday tested positive for the virus over the weekend."
Pamela Constable & John Hudson of the Washington Post: "In a sign of mounting frustration with Afghanistan's leaders, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced early Tuesday that the United States would cut $1 billion in aid to the country because of its inability to form a unity government to negotiate with the Taliban. Pompeo said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, had failed to set aside their differences, just hours after meeting the two men in a quickly arranged visit to Kabul.... ... 'We are prepared to reduce by another $1 billion in 2021,' Pompeo said, emphasizing that the two leaders' intransigence would not delay America's withdrawal plans."
Second Circuit Upholds First Amendment v. Trump; Trumpist Judges Dissent. Ann Marimow of the Washington Post: "A federal appeals court in New York on Monday let stand a ruling that prevents President Trump from blocking critical voices from the Twitter account he uses to communicate with the public. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit denied the Trump administration's request to revisit an earlier holding that Trump violated the First Amendment when he blocked individual Twitter users who were critical of the president or his polices.... Two judges, nominated to the bench by Trump, disagreed with the decision and would have reconsidered the earlier ruling."
Presidential Race
There are no primary elections today. (The NYT shows a tentatively-scheduled Republican primary in American Samoa.)
Zach Montellaro of Politico: "Bernie Sanders has won the Democrats Abroad primary, netting a handful of delegates but doing little damage to Joe Biden's big lead. Sanders won 58 percent of the vote, which included just under 40,000 Americans living abroad, and Sanders will be awarded nine delegates to the national convention over the summer, according to the release from Democrats Abroad. Biden won 23 percent of the vote and will take home four delegates." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
New York Times: "Terrence McNally, the four-time Tony Award-winning playwright whose outpouring of work for the theater dramatized and domesticated gay life across five decades, died on Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla. He was 81. The cause was complications of the coronavirus, according to his husband, Tom Kirdahy. Mr. McNally had chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and had overcome lung cancer."
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All About Fatty
So yesterday afternoon, I turned on the radio while washing the dishes (dishwasher on the fritz) to see if I could get some news, ie hear something besides Dr. Fatty’s incessant and painfully ignorant bullshit. What do I hear? That whiny, nasally, self-pitying voice, spitting out incessant and painfully ignorant bullshit. I listened for as long as I could stand it (six glasses, four coffee mugs, and three dinner plates) before shutting the damn thing off.
What I heard sounded like A. a miracle vaccine would be ready and available within a week or less, and B. Americans had better stop this nonsense and get back to work soon before Fatty starts to look bad. Both despicable lies. No vaccine will be ready in days and he already looks like Sweeney Todd on a really bad day.
I did hear, however, that he was doing something “tremendous” that has never been accomplished by a human being in world history. Of course he could have been talking about a loose bowel movement, which Fox and his congressional lackeys would all marvel over as if it were ambrosia from the gods.
Still, I’d had enough, so it was pop in a Professor Longhair CD and keep scrubbing away. After a few minutes, I switched back to the radio, but just long enough to hear that whiny tone spit out “tremendous”. Again. OFF. Back to the sink. Ten minutes later, radio on. “Tremendous”. A third time in about fifteen minutes. That was it for me.
This sad, demented, hopelessly mendacious monster cannot go five minutes without praising himself as something never before seen in the universe. It doesn’t matter that thousands could be dead within weeks. It’s always all about Fatty.
“I’ll be the oversight”.
What? Isn’t that a little like Ted Bundy saying “Don’t worry Mr. Smith, I’ll have your daughter home by ten”?
@Akhilleus: I was trying to think of an analogy for "I'll be the oversight." Your Ted Bundy simile is perfect.
I'm all for opening up business and life in another week, per trump. Everything will go back just the way it was. That's not a message that comes through effectively over the TV and intertubes.
The best way for trump to make everything great again, just the way it is in his mind, is for him to hold a rally. The biggest rally of them all.
And surely he can't be outdone by that lady candidate Warren, who stayed after rallies and took selfies with people for 4 hours. This time trump needs to take a selfie with every last Real 'Merican who attends his rally. Nice and close. I really like the ones with the big grin and the double thumbs-up.
Word of the Day: "Covidiots" ... "... a new term for those who fail to practice proper social distancing, who hoard food and travel to moors and lochs to hide out."
Seen in the WaPo article about Brits leaving cities for their appointments in Samarra in the Welsh and Scots countrysides.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/seeking-relief-from-coronavirus-urban-brits-flee-to-the-countryside-where-locals-beg-them-to-please-stay-away/2020/03/23/17841502-6c86-11ea-a156-0048b62cdb51_story.html
After this massive aid package gets released, it's going to allow conservatives, the GOP, and even the MSM to develop permanent amnesia on the three years of Republicans under Trump cutting taxes and spending money like drunken sailors.
Republicans, especially if a Dem wins in November, will snap back to the mythological "fiscal conservatives" and any attempt to point out their bullshit will provoke a cry of "Chinese flu!"
In the aftermath of the 1918 flu pandemic, perhaps the most ominous outcome, as related in the PBS American Experience documentary on the horror of that year (replayed a week ago), is how quickly everyone forgot all about it and went on as if it had never happened (excepting, I’m assuming, those families who suffered multiple deaths, many within days or hours).
An epidemiologist, offering a coda to the program reminded viewers (this was produced in 2006) that if it happened once, it could happen again and forgetting the hard lessons learned and deciding that preparation was unnecesssry would be catastrophic. “It can, and likely will, happen again. We just don’t know when.
Fast forward 10 years to the election of an ignorant, science-hating egomaniac who peremptorily dispenses with the nation’s long-established protections and early warning systems. Because he’s the Donald and he knows everything. Fast forward another three years, and Dr. Fatty is screaming out conspiracy theories, junk science “cures” and spinning lies as fast as he can think them up to pretend he’s in charge.
1918 was our lesson. Now we have a president* who just last week found out for the first time that the average flu can actually kill people.
And when this is over, will we forget again and perhaps vote in another Republican dimwit?
Will be interesting to see how many of these covid-induced changes in our lives will become permanent.
Already well on the way to becoming a stay at home, order it on your smartphone, have it delivered to your door society, the virus has given us another giant push in that direction.
Yesterday, my wife deposited a check via her smartphone (the younger son has been doing that for years) and ordered groceries on line, both first-time major changes for these two old fogies.
We know prolonged crises promote technological innovations that change our lives, but the social changes forced on us by this one may be at least as disruptive of the old order.
We're already a country country of paradox, one whose inhabitants report feeling more isolated and alone as their numbers grow.
Will the covid virus crisis accelerate that (to me, worrisome) trend?
Awoke to a BBC (radio) broadcast about this. Don’t know if the subject has already been posted on RC. From The New York Times:
“The most dangerous place in the world for a woman is her own home. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence affects millions of women every year.
In the time of the coronavirus, being quarantined with an abusive partner poses greater risks.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/opinion/covid-domestic-violence.html
Melanie wants to know how long the virus can survive on faux
marble, gold leaf and velveteen. I would advise no pole dancing on
the faux marble pillars until we know for sure.
Our Michigan governor closed down the state last night at midnight.
We can still go hiking or running, but don't hold hands. We can
converse via cell phone I guess.
Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. No party. No dinner out.
But I found some lamb chops in the freezer and lots of frozen veggies,
so no problem.
@Forrest Morris: Congratulations to you and your husband. If I recall correctly, you-all are celebrating many more than three years together. A quiet evening at home sounds delightful. Wine, a fire and/or candles, music -- and a delicious meal.
Seldom read beyond the New York Post's headlines. Fortunately, in this case, the headline on the Senate stimulus impasse was good enough.
"Republicans want a lifeline. Democrats want to remake the country."
And what's wrong with that, I ask?
Corporate Republicans always want a government lifeline, and I'd sure like to remake the country.
@Bea: Thank you, thank you. Yes, it's been since 1985, so three
years doesn't sound like much. It's just the legality and all that stuff
that most people don't think about. Ferinstance, it's his house, so
his relatives would want me out if we weren't married. It has
happened to so many of our friends. Out on the street with just their
clothes. It's happening right now to one of our close friends. His
partner died and left him the house (not married) so now the family
is suing, wanting him to sell the house and give them half the money.
You can choose your friends, but you're stuck with your family.
Forrest -
One of my fave love songs (and singers) for movin’ ‘n groovin’. Selected this remastered version even if not entirely “synched”.
But it offers visuals of the young, beautiful Al Green.
A very Happy Anniversary, Forrest, to you and your hubby, with many more to come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPh-31TtEOI
Forrest's and Bea's exchange reminded me of something I've noticed going on here at RC in the last few days-- or is it weeks?
The comments don't always hew as closely to the political as they once did.
Maybe it's the sense of being under seige, the virus pushing people closer to the personal, from PD even the poetic, than even the constant barrage of Pretender outrages and idiocies have managed to do.
Or maybe since all politics is local, or so we're told, we're just getting as local as we can.
Have to say, I don't mind it a bit. Goodness knows, we all need friends and I'm happy to get to know this group of people I count as friends a little better.
And, Forrest, please add my congratulations to Bea's.
@Forest: Hail thee and yours while munching on lamb chops and veggies––click your glasses and drink the wine while reminiscing on better days, but know how lucky you are to love and be loved.
Yesterday Peter Alexander was outside the W.H. giving us his take on the chaos within. The loud songs of chirping birds were in competition with Peter's reporting and I thought how they, the birds, were ignorant of the way of the world at this time which then took me to think of all the animals, like the deer that prance around our property in the early morning. They all have their own problems not akin to ours. I find this almost mystifying but comforting in a way. Perhaps only the dogs and cats in households across the land sense something is up.
Yesterday, here in CT. we had a blizzard; last night it rained; today is sunny and no trace of snow anywhere.
Oh, and AK? I only use my dishwasher when large numbers of people have graced our home and consume large amounts of food–-hence lots of dishes and whatnot to clean. I have been washing dishes for most of my life–-it's one of the things I do really well. I smile as I say that.
PD,
Funny you mention pets and their disposition during this time of Trump Virus. I heard about a meme going around with a dog saying something like “I don’t know what’s going on, but my people are home all day every day. This is great! Lots of love, treats, walks! Lovin’ it.”
And so they should. I know my dog is digging long walks every day. He’s looking at me now saying “C’mon, daddy. Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Forrest,
Happy anniversary, my friend. Enjoy the day and enjoy your very important marriage equality. I had some friends some years ago who ran into a horrible time when one of them became very ill. One day in the hospital, several family members (who hadn’t been seen in decades) of the sick partner showed up to kick the well partner out and take over medical, financial, and end of life decisions (lots of money involved). They even tried to stop him from attending the funeral where they all cried crocodile tears for their dear uncle...whatever his name was, all with Ka-Ching! dollar signs in their eyes. My friend got nothing. I’ve always felt that a large part of the right-wing attack on gay marriage had little to do with religion but a lot to do with this kind of punishment.
So enjoy the day, and fuck the begrudgers.
@PD Pepe: Re: Peter Alexander & the Birds (definitely sounds like a '60s band). The lake across the road from my house had lost every vestige of ice cover by yesterday, and on cue, a couple of geese -- oblivious to the Covfefe-19 that engulfs us -- came back to entertain me (there will be goslings). And as in your neck of the woods, had a blizzard here last night: six inches of wet snow which took down some power lines. The power was out for at least two hours. I always think of the linemen having to climb poles that are dangerous in any weather but worse now of course. On the other hand, at least these (mostly) men have paying jobs in the time of coronavirus. (Don't think I'll shovel this time; the temp will go up to the 40s or 50s every day in the next 10 days. I'll let Mother Nature do the honors.)
Forrest: the lamb chops sound delicious-- congratulations!! May there be many more reasons to celebrate!
Marie,
Your decision to let Mother Nature “shovel” reminds me of one of my all-time favorite political anecdotes.
Some years ago, DC was hit with an unusually powerful blizzard that dumped almost a foot of snow on the capitol. Typically, two inches is enough to shut down the district so this was major paralysis. The mayor at the time, Marion Barry (in the middle of his drinking, snorting, smoking, whoring days) was out in California attending the Rose Bowl game. As usual, he was half in the bag when reporters spotted him. “Mr. Mayor” they asked, “What’s your plan for snow removal in DC?”
“Spring!” he replied.
Hahahaha. Great story.
And ... the Barry story has a coda. In the winter of 1996/7, he visited Beijing.
In early January it snowed there, and accumulated on the streets. Snow accumulation is rare in Beijing, and at the time there were relatively few private vehicles. The city had no removal equipment and the days of sending the peasants out in thousands with their brooms and shovels were over. So the snow sat there for over a week.
Americans of course observed that Barry had left his snow removal plan as a city-to-city gift. Ba da boom.
True story.
Looked for the all Democerat's "green" provisions in their stimulus bill that the Right is compaining about.
Though there may be more in the fine print, found only one in this "Politico" account.
Seems that requiring airlines to clean up their act if they want taxpayer money is a bridge too far, a real deal breaker.
What will those Dems come up with next?
Universal healthcare or something equally outrageous?
Liberty University, run by Jerry Falwell Jr., is welcoming students back to campus after Spring Break. It looks as if the classes are modified and the dining hall is for take-out only, but libraries and the fitness center will be open as usual.
My snarky side wants to say it is inspiring to see this fundamentalist institution putting a scientific theory to the test, but this looks like a total disaster in the making. I hope I'm wrong.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/jerry-falwell-jr-trump-ally-isn-t-closing-his-virginia-n1167681
Okay kids, whatchoo think? How long will Dr. Fatty put up with Tony Fauci trying to correct his lies with horrible, inconvenient, Democrat stuff like facts, truth, and common sense?
I give him a week. Look for Young Jared (or maybe Matt Gaetz or some other clueless Trumpaziod) to replace him. So when Fatty sez “Time to reopen the economy (whatever the hell that means—full on exposure of millions to the Trump Virus?), the new groveling bobble head will say “Yes sir, your highness! Great idea. Why didn’t anyone think of that? You’re a genius! Your Nobel is in the mail, I’m sure of it”.
Sorry, Tony. You made your last intimation that the Orange Menace is a snake oil peddling nincompoop who shouldn’t be allowed to head up a three-legged race (“What? This is stupid. Who has three legs?!”) never mind a national medical emergency.
Okay kids, whatchoo think? How long will Dr. Fatty put up with Tony Fauci trying to correct his lies with horrible, inconvenient, Democrat stuff like facts, truth, and common sense?
I give him a week. Look for Young Jared (or maybe Matt Gaetz or some other clueless Trumpazoid) to replace him. So when Fatty sez “Time to reopen the economy (whatever the hell that means—full on exposure of millions to the Trump Virus?), the new groveling bobble head will say “Yes sir, your highness! Great idea. Why didn’t anyone think of that? You’re a genius! Your Nobel is in the mail, I’m sure of it”.
Sorry, Tony. You made your last intimation that the Orange Menace is a snake oil peddling nincompoop who shouldn’t be allowed to head up a three-legged race (“What? This is stupid. Who has three legs?!”) never mind a national medical emergency.