While Donald Trump flipflopped on disbanding the White House coronavirus task force after public backlash, allegations emerged that the response effort headed by Jared Kushner relied heavily on unqualified volunteers that were told to priorities deals with Trump allies and contacts.
After not wearing a mask to the mask factory, while Guns N' Roses "Live and Let Die" played in the background, Trump insisted on Wednesday that he actually was wearing a mask backstage before the Honeywell CEO said it wasn't necessary. But the unmasking mystery only deepened after the company put out statement suggesting otherwise.
The president, meanwhile, attempted to smear former health adviser Rick Bright, who filed a whistleblower complaint, saying "to me, he seems like a disgruntled employee that's trying to help the Democrats".
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Trump tours Arizona mask plant without wearing one himself
Donald Trump spent Tuesday touring a Honeywell plant manufacturing N95 medical face masks in Phoenix, Arizona, while declining to wear one himself as the Guns N’ Roses cover of the James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” blared over the Tannoy, an absolutely extraordinary spectacle.
For many, like late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the absurdity of the scene was the perfect metaphor for the president's callous, vain and anti-scientific first term in office, which has culminated in his disastrous handling of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis.
Here's our top meme man, Greg Evans, to paint the picture.
Donald Trump spent Tuesday touring a Honeywell plant manufacturing N95 medical face masks in Phoenix, Arizona, while declining to wear one himself as the Guns N’ Roses cover of the James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” blared over the Tannoy, an absolutely extraordinary spectacle.
For many, like late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the absurdity of the scene was the perfect metaphor for the president's callous, vain and anti-scientific first term in office, which has culminated in his disastrous handling of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis.
Here's our top meme man, Greg Evans, to paint the picture.
President concedes more deaths 'possible' but insists country must reopen
Trump told the press during his visit that it was "possible" people would die from the virus as a result of ending lockdown measures.
During an earlier roundtable on supportng Native Americans, he had already told the nation: “I'm viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors. They're warriors. We can't keep our country closed. We have to open our country... Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon.”
In his interview with ABC's David Muir, in which Trump looked uncomfortable throughout sat atop a high stool like an aggrieved toddler, he also made the extraordinary claim that he was not worried about November's election being decided on the coronavirus because he had delivered the "best job numbers in history", overlooking the fact that 30m Americans are currently claiming unemployment benefits, statistics the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Trump also made excuses for not replenishing the depleted federal stockpile of medical supplies he says was left behind by the Barack Obama adminstration, saying he had not done so because he had "a lot on" with the Russia investigation, also once again seeking to take credit for Veteran's Choice legislation actually signed into law by President Obama in 2014.
While he did manage to avoid being talked into a George W Bush "Mission accomplished!" snafu, Trump was adamant that the country must reopen.
He also repeated his contention that Covid-19 would one day just disappear.
Here's John T Bennett's report.
Trump told the press during his visit that it was "possible" people would die from the virus as a result of ending lockdown measures.
“It’s possible there will be some because you won’t be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is,” he told ABC News. "But at the same time, we’re going to practice social distancing, we’re going to be washing hands, we’re going to be doing a lot of the things that we’ve learned to do over the last period of time.”
During an earlier roundtable on supportng Native Americans, he had already told the nation: “I'm viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors. They're warriors. We can't keep our country closed. We have to open our country... Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon.”
In his interview with ABC's David Muir, in which Trump looked uncomfortable throughout sat atop a high stool like an aggrieved toddler, he also made the extraordinary claim that he was not worried about November's election being decided on the coronavirus because he had delivered the "best job numbers in history", overlooking the fact that 30m Americans are currently claiming unemployment benefits, statistics the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Trump also made excuses for not replenishing the depleted federal stockpile of medical supplies he says was left behind by the Barack Obama adminstration, saying he had not done so because he had "a lot on" with the Russia investigation, also once again seeking to take credit for Veteran's Choice legislation actually signed into law by President Obama in 2014.
While he did manage to avoid being talked into a George W Bush "Mission accomplished!" snafu, Trump was adamant that the country must reopen.
“Take a look at what’s going on,” he said. “People are losing their jobs. We have to bring it back, and that’s what we’re doing. We can’t sit in the house for the next three years. There’ll be more death.”
He also repeated his contention that Covid-19 would one day just disappear.
“The virus will pass, with or without a vaccine. And I think we’re doing very well on the vaccines but, with or without a vaccine,” Trump said. “It’s going to pass, and we’re going to be back to normal. But it’s been a rough process. There is no question about it.”
Here's John T Bennett's report.
Trump considering disbanding White House task force with death toll climbing
Ahead of the president's visit to Arizona, he had lashed out at the House of Representatives, saying he would not allow his top infectious diseases man Dr Anthony Fauci to testify before the Democrat-held chamber because it is "a set up" loaded with "Trump haters".
Fauci will be allowed to speak to the friendlier, Republican-dominated Senate, he said, but that is hardly how federal oversight is supposed to work in a healthy democracy.
It subsequently emerged via The Wall Street Journal that Trump is thinking of disbanding the coronavirus task force altogether, despite the country's death toll continuing to climb to 72,000 from 1.23m cases.
Asked about it at Honeywell, this is what he had to say:
The popular Fauci and Dr Deborah Birx would be kept on as advisers, it appears, a move that would go some way to appeasing the inevitable public anger.
Here's Oliver O'Connell's report, with word from the task force's nominal leader vice president Mike Pence.
Ahead of the president's visit to Arizona, he had lashed out at the House of Representatives, saying he would not allow his top infectious diseases man Dr Anthony Fauci to testify before the Democrat-held chamber because it is "a set up" loaded with "Trump haters".
Fauci will be allowed to speak to the friendlier, Republican-dominated Senate, he said, but that is hardly how federal oversight is supposed to work in a healthy democracy.
It subsequently emerged via The Wall Street Journal that Trump is thinking of disbanding the coronavirus task force altogether, despite the country's death toll continuing to climb to 72,000 from 1.23m cases.
Asked about it at Honeywell, this is what he had to say:
The popular Fauci and Dr Deborah Birx would be kept on as advisers, it appears, a move that would go some way to appeasing the inevitable public anger.
Here's Oliver O'Connell's report, with word from the task force's nominal leader vice president Mike Pence.
Ousted scientist Dr Rick Bright says president ignored warnings and pledges to testify before Congress
While all that was going on, the top scientist dimissed by the White House for sounding the alarm over hydroxychloroquine, an untested drug that Trump had repeatedly pushed to treat coronavirus patients, has filed a whistleblower complaint saying he was “pressured to ignore or dismiss expert and scientific recommendations” and instead award lucrative contracts based on political connections.
In a statement to reporters following the filing of his report, Dr Rick Bright commented: “I was pressured to let politics and cronyism drive decisions over the opinions of the best scientists we have in government. And ultimately, I was removed from my position because of my continued insistence that the government invest funds allocated by Congress, hard-earned tax payer dollars, to address the Covid-19, and invest them into safe and scientifically vetted solutions instead of funding projects that were promoted by cronies, or politically connected companies.”
His stunning report (which you can read about here) is one of the first high-profile revelations of the inner-workings of Trump administration’s response to the pandemic we've seen so far, alleging deep ties between the White House and Congress with pharmaceutical companies and other interests as health officials sent multiple warnings about the seriousness of the looming crisis that went ignored or were dismissed entirely.
While all that was going on, the top scientist dimissed by the White House for sounding the alarm over hydroxychloroquine, an untested drug that Trump had repeatedly pushed to treat coronavirus patients, has filed a whistleblower complaint saying he was “pressured to ignore or dismiss expert and scientific recommendations” and instead award lucrative contracts based on political connections.
In a statement to reporters following the filing of his report, Dr Rick Bright commented: “I was pressured to let politics and cronyism drive decisions over the opinions of the best scientists we have in government. And ultimately, I was removed from my position because of my continued insistence that the government invest funds allocated by Congress, hard-earned tax payer dollars, to address the Covid-19, and invest them into safe and scientifically vetted solutions instead of funding projects that were promoted by cronies, or politically connected companies.”
His stunning report (which you can read about here) is one of the first high-profile revelations of the inner-workings of Trump administration’s response to the pandemic we've seen so far, alleging deep ties between the White House and Congress with pharmaceutical companies and other interests as health officials sent multiple warnings about the seriousness of the looming crisis that went ignored or were dismissed entirely.
Dr Bright is expected to testify to members of Congress next week and Alex Woodward has the latest.
Three key takeaways from the explosive coronavirus whistleblower report
Here's John T Bennett with more detail on Dr Bright's complaint.
Trump's national intelligence director pick insists he won't politicise job but opposition decidedly unconvinced
Texas congressman John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to be the nation's top intelligence official, was nothing if not consistent as he told lawmakers a dozen or so times yesterday that he wouldn't allow politics to colour information he took to the president.
The senators kept asking anyway as Trump's firing or forcing out of at least seven top US intelligence officials since last summer overshadowed the Republican's confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
The forced departures have left the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the nation's 16 spy agencies, without a single Senate-confirmed leader as the nation faces the Covid-19 pandemic, threats from Iran and North Korea, Russian disinformation campaigns to meddle in the US elections and rising competition from China. The turmoil has deepened speculation that the president is trying to place loyalists in charge of the nation's intelligence apparatus.
The senators' questions reflected that scepticism: Would you communicate intelligence to Trump even if you knew the president strongly disagreed with it?
"Of course," Ratcliffe replied.
Even if it put your job in jeopardy?
"Of course."
"Anyone's views on what they want the want intelligence to be will never impact the intelligence that I deliver. Never," he added.
Variations of the question kept coming, but Ratcliffe offered the same answer: "No."
"I will be entirely apolitical as the director of national intelligence," he said, adding that he had an apolitical job as a US attorney and "kept both parties out of everything that I did."
Ratcliffe's critics aren't convinced and worry he's beholden to Trump. They point to his ardent defence of the president during the Russia investigations and Trump's impeachment and argue that he doesn't have enough intelligence experience for the job. Before being elected to Congress in 2014, Ratcliffe was mayor of Heath, Texas, and a US attorney in the Eastern District of Texas.
California senator Kamala Harris certainly gave him a torrid time on the president's (mis)handling of the pandemic.
Trump first nominated Ratcliffe for the job nine months ago, but Ratcliffe withdrew after doubts about his experience were raised. Trump unexpectedly nominated him again in February and his chances at securing the job appear better, although confirmation is not assured.
The Daily Beast's reporting that he appears to have an unhealthy interest in QAnon conspiracy theories deserves further investigation, however.
Texas congressman John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to be the nation's top intelligence official, was nothing if not consistent as he told lawmakers a dozen or so times yesterday that he wouldn't allow politics to colour information he took to the president.
The senators kept asking anyway as Trump's firing or forcing out of at least seven top US intelligence officials since last summer overshadowed the Republican's confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
The forced departures have left the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the nation's 16 spy agencies, without a single Senate-confirmed leader as the nation faces the Covid-19 pandemic, threats from Iran and North Korea, Russian disinformation campaigns to meddle in the US elections and rising competition from China. The turmoil has deepened speculation that the president is trying to place loyalists in charge of the nation's intelligence apparatus.
The senators' questions reflected that scepticism: Would you communicate intelligence to Trump even if you knew the president strongly disagreed with it?
"Of course," Ratcliffe replied.
Even if it put your job in jeopardy?
"Of course."
"Anyone's views on what they want the want intelligence to be will never impact the intelligence that I deliver. Never," he added.
Variations of the question kept coming, but Ratcliffe offered the same answer: "No."
"I will be entirely apolitical as the director of national intelligence," he said, adding that he had an apolitical job as a US attorney and "kept both parties out of everything that I did."
Ratcliffe's critics aren't convinced and worry he's beholden to Trump. They point to his ardent defence of the president during the Russia investigations and Trump's impeachment and argue that he doesn't have enough intelligence experience for the job. Before being elected to Congress in 2014, Ratcliffe was mayor of Heath, Texas, and a US attorney in the Eastern District of Texas.
California senator Kamala Harris certainly gave him a torrid time on the president's (mis)handling of the pandemic.
Trump first nominated Ratcliffe for the job nine months ago, but Ratcliffe withdrew after doubts about his experience were raised. Trump unexpectedly nominated him again in February and his chances at securing the job appear better, although confirmation is not assured.
The Daily Beast's reporting that he appears to have an unhealthy interest in QAnon conspiracy theories deserves further investigation, however.
Late night hosts hit back after Trump hits out at 'no talent Stephen Colbert and wacko Jimmy Kimmel'
The president is not exactlty known for being able to laugh at himself and yesterday lashed out at TV comics Colbert and Kimmel (but not Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee or John Oliver, interestingly).
Big mistake.
Ellie Harrison has the inevitable comeback.
New York governor warns 'people will die' if Trump does wind down task force
Andrew Cuomo isn't the only person anxious about yesterday's murmurings from the White House.
Gino Spocchia has the latest.
Andrew Cuomo isn't the only person anxious about yesterday's murmurings from the White House.
Gino Spocchia has the latest.
Trump complains CBS reporter Paula Reid not enough like demure 1950s housewife actress Donna Reed
Ooof. The president's showing his age (and incurable sexism) here.
You'll probably know the Hollywood Golden Age star from her performance as Mary Bailey opposite Jimmy Stewart in Frank Capra's Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946) but she also embodied the model American housewife when she starred as Donna Stone in 275 episodes of The Donna Reed Show between 1958 and 1966, after which her character's example became deeply unfashionable and outmoded.
Anyway, Trump thinks her near-namesake over at CBS could take a lesson from the famously demure actress after growing weary of Reid's dogged and inconvenient questioning at his daily briefings.
She disagrees:
John T Bennett has the full story.
Ooof. The president's showing his age (and incurable sexism) here.
You'll probably know the Hollywood Golden Age star from her performance as Mary Bailey opposite Jimmy Stewart in Frank Capra's Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946) but she also embodied the model American housewife when she starred as Donna Stone in 275 episodes of The Donna Reed Show between 1958 and 1966, after which her character's example became deeply unfashionable and outmoded.
Anyway, Trump thinks her near-namesake over at CBS could take a lesson from the famously demure actress after growing weary of Reid's dogged and inconvenient questioning at his daily briefings.
She disagrees:
John T Bennett has the full story.
Texas moves to further ease shutdown
As Trump continues to push for widespread repopening, even if that means more death, the debate over how and when to ease restrictions on commerce and social life continue.
As Trump continues to push for widespread repopening, even if that means more death, the debate over how and when to ease restrictions on commerce and social life continue.
Democratic governors of states hardest hit by the outbreak have taken a more cautious stance, abiding by public health officials - and guidelines from the White House itself - warning that vastly expanded coronavirus testing and other safeguards be put in place first.
But dozens of US states, many led by Republicans in the South, Midwest and mountain West, have begun in recent weeks ease stay-at-home orders that have paralysed their economies.
Texas, one of the largest, allowed restaurants, retail stores and shopping malls to resume business on a limited basis last Friday. On Tuesday Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, announced he was expanding that partial reopening to hair salons, barber shops and nail parlours this Friday, to be followed by fitness clubs and office buildings on 18 May subject to occupancy restrictions and workplace social-distancing. He also recommended individuals 65 and over, as well as people with chronic health conditions, largely remain at home.
Widespread relaxation of social-distancing measures was a key factor cited by an influential coronavirus mortality model on Monday in predicting nearly 135,000 Americans would die from Covid-19 by early August, almost double previous projections.
The research model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has become a closely watched data point often cited by the White House and public health authorities in gauging the coronavirus crisis.
Arizona, a battleground state that hosted Trump on Tuesday and could decide the election outcome, has also joined the ranks of partial economic reopenings, after protesters rallied in the capital Phoenix demanding Republican governor Doug Ducey loosen restrictions.
Iranian president derides Trump over 'stupid mistake' of exiting nuclear pact
Hassan Rouhani has said today Trump made a bad lapse in judgement by pulling the US out of Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers and called on Washington to lift its sanctions.
Hassan Rouhani has said today Trump made a bad lapse in judgement by pulling the US out of Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers and called on Washington to lift its sanctions.
Trump pulled the country out of the Obama-era pact in 2018, arguing it did not go far enough to constrain Tehran's missile programme and influence in the region.
"Trump made a stupid mistake by exiting the nuclear deal," Rouhani said. "If America wants to return to the deal, it should lift all the sanctions on Tehran and compensate for the reimposition of sanctions... Iran will give a crushing response if the arms embargo on Tehran is extended."
Ted Cruz bemoans 'censorship' of Top Gun reboot in rant about appeasing China
Here's the Texas Republican senator really getting to the heart of the issues that matter right now on Tucker Carlson last night.
The Tom Cruise film's release has been postponed anyway because of the pandemic and it's not even an original talking point: South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham was wasting breath on the same non-issue last July.
Here's the Texas Republican senator really getting to the heart of the issues that matter right now on Tucker Carlson last night.
The Tom Cruise film's release has been postponed anyway because of the pandemic and it's not even an original talking point: South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham was wasting breath on the same non-issue last July.
Most Americans 'would take coronavirus vaccine if deemed safe'
Three-quarters of Americans would take a coronavirus vaccine after receiving certain assurances that it was safe and another nine per cent would take one as soon as it was available, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed.
The strong support for a vaccine comes as vocal anti-vaccination protesters joined right-leaning groups to protest shelter-at-home orders imposed by public health officials in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
Development of a safe and effective vaccine is widely believed by public health officials to be key to controlling future outbreaks, but it is not clear how long that process would take - or if a vaccine can even be developed for the virus.
Asked to choose one or more reasons they would feel comfortable taking a new vaccine, about 40 per cent of American adults surveyed in the Reuters/Ipsos study said they would wait until the US Food and Drug Administration approved such a vaccine and 38 per cent said they would try one after extensive, peer-reviewed clinical trials.
About 38 per cent said they would wait until such a vaccine had already been taken by much of the public and proven safe. A smaller number, about six per cent, said they would take a coronavirus vaccine after a friend or family member tried it, and the same number said they would try it if Trump were to endorse it.
Among those who were willing to be vaccinated against the virus, 89 per cent would do so if it was made in the United States, and 11 per cent said they would take it if it were developed in another country.
"A vaccine would be an important tool, because I don't think the virus is going to disappear," said Arthur Reingold, head of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health.
But he cautioned that people's willingness to take a vaccine will vary depending on what happens as time progresses.
"If there is a raging epidemic going on and bodies are piling up all over the place they're probably going to be more likely to get the vaccine," he said.
Reuters
Three-quarters of Americans would take a coronavirus vaccine after receiving certain assurances that it was safe and another nine per cent would take one as soon as it was available, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed.
The strong support for a vaccine comes as vocal anti-vaccination protesters joined right-leaning groups to protest shelter-at-home orders imposed by public health officials in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
Development of a safe and effective vaccine is widely believed by public health officials to be key to controlling future outbreaks, but it is not clear how long that process would take - or if a vaccine can even be developed for the virus.
Asked to choose one or more reasons they would feel comfortable taking a new vaccine, about 40 per cent of American adults surveyed in the Reuters/Ipsos study said they would wait until the US Food and Drug Administration approved such a vaccine and 38 per cent said they would try one after extensive, peer-reviewed clinical trials.
About 38 per cent said they would wait until such a vaccine had already been taken by much of the public and proven safe. A smaller number, about six per cent, said they would take a coronavirus vaccine after a friend or family member tried it, and the same number said they would try it if Trump were to endorse it.
Among those who were willing to be vaccinated against the virus, 89 per cent would do so if it was made in the United States, and 11 per cent said they would take it if it were developed in another country.
"A vaccine would be an important tool, because I don't think the virus is going to disappear," said Arthur Reingold, head of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health.
But he cautioned that people's willingness to take a vaccine will vary depending on what happens as time progresses.
"If there is a raging epidemic going on and bodies are piling up all over the place they're probably going to be more likely to get the vaccine," he said.
Reuters
Trump backs down from talk of disbanding coronavirus task force
He seems to have just been flying that one up the flag pole and does not like the way the wind is blowing on it one little bit.
One of his smarter moves, you have to say.
He seems to have just been flying that one up the flag pole and does not like the way the wind is blowing on it one little bit.
One of his smarter moves, you have to say.
'While everyone's distracted, Trump has been quietly taking control'
For Indy Voices, Andrew Feinberg says the president has been exploiting the crisis to get his tiny hands on the Office of Personnel Management, an agency responsible for ensuring that civil service guidelines are adhered to and a place he should be absolutely nowhere near.
For Indy Voices, Andrew Feinberg says the president has been exploiting the crisis to get his tiny hands on the Office of Personnel Management, an agency responsible for ensuring that civil service guidelines are adhered to and a place he should be absolutely nowhere near.
Hillary Clinton to host virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden on Zoom
The former first lady and secretary of state is getting behind the Democrats' nominee-elect despite being housebound like the rest of us.
Meanwhile, possible running mate Elizabeth Warren has back Biden against the sexual assault allegation levelled against him, saying that she believes his innocence and backs him all the way.
Danielle Zoellner has this report.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg admitted to hospital
Andrew Naughtie has the latest on the celebrated Supreme Court justice's health.
Cancelled New York Democratic primary must go ahead, judge rules
New York State’s cancelled Democratic presidential primary will now go ahead after a federal judge ruled the state’s move to cancel it unfairly deprived voters and delegates of the chance to influence their party’s platform.
The primary was cancelled at the end of April, with the New York Board of Elections removing all names except Joe Biden’s from the ballot, as is now provided for under state law if candidates have dropped out. The board cited the risk that voters could contract Covid-19 in the process of casting their ballots, as well as the fact that the result of the primary would make no difference to the nomination.
However, former candidate Andrew Yang and supporters of Bernie Sanders - who suspended his campaign at the start of April after losing a string of crucial primaries - maintained that the primary must go ahead to allow him and other candidates to win delegates to the convention, where the party platform is negotiated and then passed by vote.
Here's a little more from Mr Naughtie.
New York State’s cancelled Democratic presidential primary will now go ahead after a federal judge ruled the state’s move to cancel it unfairly deprived voters and delegates of the chance to influence their party’s platform.
The primary was cancelled at the end of April, with the New York Board of Elections removing all names except Joe Biden’s from the ballot, as is now provided for under state law if candidates have dropped out. The board cited the risk that voters could contract Covid-19 in the process of casting their ballots, as well as the fact that the result of the primary would make no difference to the nomination.
However, former candidate Andrew Yang and supporters of Bernie Sanders - who suspended his campaign at the start of April after losing a string of crucial primaries - maintained that the primary must go ahead to allow him and other candidates to win delegates to the convention, where the party platform is negotiated and then passed by vote.
Here's a little more from Mr Naughtie.
America's Bible Belt played down the pandemic and now dozens of pastors are dead
Can't do better than that headline from Alex Woodward.
Here he is on how evangelical Christian communities have found their defiance brought low by the same "phantom plague" they initially sought to dismiss and cash in on.
Can't do better than that headline from Alex Woodward.
Here he is on how evangelical Christian communities have found their defiance brought low by the same "phantom plague" they initially sought to dismiss and cash in on.
