theguardian--2020-05-04--US daily coronavirus deaths reportedly projected to double to 3,000 by June

As Donald Trump proclaimed success in America ’ s fight against the coronavirus and continued to push for the US economy to reopen , it was reported on Monday that internal projections show the administration is expecting 3,000 deaths a day by 1 June .
Between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths are currently being reported in the US each day .
The New York Times said it had obtained an “ internal document ” containing projections “ based on modeling by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and pulled together in chart form by the Federal Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC and Fema “ forecast about 200,000 new cases each day by the end of the month , up from about 25,000 cases now ” , the paper said .
The Times report followed a Washington Post report on Saturday that said the Trump White House had followed a model for economic recovery written by Kevin Hassett , an adviser “ with no background in infectious diseases ” .
“ By the end of April , ” the Post reported , “ with more Americans dying in the month than in all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Hassett model was too good to be true .
‘ A catastrophic miss , ’ as a former senior administration official briefed on the data described it.
” The White House attempted to pour cold water on the New York Times story .
In a statement , a spokesman , Judd Deere , said : “ This is not a White House document , nor has it been presented to the coronavirus taskforce or gone through inter-agency vetting .
“ This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taskforce has analyzed.
” According to data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University , by lunchtime on Monday the US had recorded nearly 1,160,000 Covid-19 cases and nearly 68,000 deaths .
The states worst hit are on the east and west coasts , with New York by far the hotspot , although Michigan and Louisiana have also been hard hit .
Cases are rising in cities and rural areas .
But more than half of the 50 states are now attempting some form of easing of lockdown measures .
Some states led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swiftly .
Also on Monday , the influential Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington ( IHME ) , a team that has been cited by the White House , revised a key piece of coronavirus modeling and almost doubled its prediction for the US death toll in next three months .
The IHME is now forecasting at least 134,000 deaths in the US by 4 August , while previously it had predicted just over 74,000 deaths .
Trump , who is heavily dependent on economic recovery for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in favor of reopening measures at a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Sunday evening .
“ I really believe that you can go to parks , you can go to beaches … [ if ] you stay away a certain amount , ” Trump said , adding that it was possible to balance the demands of anti-lockdown protesters with those of governors and public health experts who warn against reopening too soon .
One of those experts , White House coronavirus taskforceresponse coordinator , Dr Deborah Birx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests were “ devastatingly worrisome to me personally , because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a co-morbid condition and they have a serious or a very … or an unfortunate outcome , they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives ” .
Birx also said the administration expected between 100,000 and 240,000 people to die in the coronavirus outbreak , “ and that ’ s with full mitigation and us learning from each other of how to social distance ” .
Hours later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to lose anywhere from 75 , 80 to 100,000 people ” , which was up from his previous prediction of 65,000 .
He also said the administration “ may have to put out a fire ” later in the year , if the virus returns .
In recent weeks , the president and his senior adviser Jared Kushner have repeatedly proclaimed success in handling the coronavirus pandemic .
Many observers have not shared their view and public health experts have warned that the US will need to dramatically ramp up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
In his statement on Monday , Deere insisted the “ phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific-driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with .
The health of the American people remains President Trump ’ s top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions ” .
However , a majority of Americans do not agree with Trump ’ s assessment of how he has handled the pandemic .
A poll last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , Christopher Murray , director of the IHME , said the team was gathering data about US residents ’ mobility during the pandemic .
He pointed out that some data was being processed in order to “ reflect the effect of premature relaxation of social distance , which has a substantial effect ” .

As Donald Trump proclaimed success in America’s fight against the coronavirus and continued to push for the US economy to reopen, it was reported on Monday that internal projections show the administration is expecting 3,000 deaths a day by 1 June.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths are currently being reported in the US each day.
The New York Times said it had obtained an “internal document” containing projections “based on modeling by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and pulled together in chart form by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema)”.
CDC and Fema “forecast about 200,000 new cases each day by the end of the month, up from about 25,000 cases now”, the paper said.
The Times report followed a Washington Post report on Saturday that said the Trump White House had followed a model for economic recovery written by Kevin Hassett, an adviser “with no background in infectious diseases”.
“By the end of April,” the Post reported, “with more Americans dying in the month than in all of the Vietnam war, it became clear that the Hassett model was too good to be true. ‘A catastrophic miss,’ as a former senior administration official briefed on the data described it.”
The White House attempted to pour cold water on the New York Times story.
In a statement, a spokesman, Judd Deere, said: “This is not a White House document, nor has it been presented to the coronavirus taskforce or gone through inter-agency vetting.
“This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the taskforce or data that the taskforce has analyzed.”
According to data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, by lunchtime on Monday the US had recorded nearly 1,160,000 Covid-19 cases and nearly 68,000 deaths. The states worst hit are on the east and west coasts, with New York by far the hotspot, although Michigan and Louisiana have also been hard hit. Cases are rising in cities and rural areas.
But more than half of the 50 states are now attempting some form of easing of lockdown measures. Some states led by Republican governors have sought to move more swiftly.
Also on Monday, the influential Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington (IHME), a team that has been cited by the White House, revised a key piece of coronavirus modeling and almost doubled its prediction for the US death toll in next three months.
The IHME is now forecasting at least 134,000 deaths in the US by 4 August, while previously it had predicted just over 74,000 deaths.
Trump, who is heavily dependent on economic recovery for his hopes of re-election in November, spoke in favor of reopening measures at a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Sunday evening.
“I really believe that you can go to parks, you can go to beaches … [if] you stay away a certain amount,” Trump said, adding that it was possible to balance the demands of anti-lockdown protesters with those of governors and public health experts who warn against reopening too soon.
00:59 Donald Trump claims vaccine will be available by end of the year - video
One of those experts, White House coronavirus taskforceresponse coordinator, Dr Deborah Birx, told Fox News Sunday the anti-lockdown protests were “devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a co-morbid condition and they have a serious or a very … or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives”.
Birx also said the administration expected between 100,000 and 240,000 people to die in the coronavirus outbreak, “and that’s with full mitigation and us learning from each other of how to social distance”.
Hours later, Trump said he thought “we’re going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people”, which was up from his previous prediction of 65,000. He also said the administration “may have to put out a fire” later in the year, if the virus returns.
In recent weeks, the president and his senior adviser Jared Kushner have repeatedly proclaimed success in handling the coronavirus pandemic.
Many observers have not shared their view and public health experts have warned that the US will need to dramatically ramp up testing if it is to effectively reopen the economy.
In his statement on Monday, Deere insisted the “phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific-driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with. The health of the American people remains President Trump’s top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions”.
However, a majority of Americans do not agree with Trump’s assessment of how he has handled the pandemic. A poll last week showed 53% of respondents disapproved.
Meanwhile, Christopher Murray, director of the IHME, said the team was gathering data about US residents’ mobility during the pandemic. He pointed out that some data was being processed in order to “reflect the effect of premature relaxation of social distance, which has a substantial effect”.


theguardian--2020-05-04--US uses coronavirus to challenge Chinese Communist party's grip on power

The escalating row between Washington and Beijing over blame for the coronavirus pandemic is fast becoming a battle over the Chinese Communist party ’ s legitimacy , raising the stakes in an already fraught relationship .
In castigating Beijing for its failure to contain the outbreak , senior Trump administration officials have gone out of their way to portray the crisis as a deadly illustration of the threat that Communist party rule poses the Chinese people – and the world beyond .
In a speech delivered on Monday morning in fluent Mandarin , the deputy national security adviser , Matthew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suppress internal criticism were doomed to backfire .
“ When small acts of bravery are stamped out by governments , big acts of bravery follow , ” Pottinger said in the remarks delivered by video to a University of Virginia webinar , to commemorate China ’ s May the Fourth movement , a student-led populist uprising in the wake of the first world war .
Pottinger asked “ whether China today would benefit from a little less nationalism and a little more populism.
” “ Democratic populism is less about left versus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about reminding a few that they need the consent of many to govern .
When a privileged few grow too remote and self-interested , populism is what pulls them back or pitches them overboard , ” he added .
“ To me it ’ s the most remarkable speech we ’ ve ever seen from anyone in the Trump administration , ” said Bonnie Glaser , director of the China power project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
“ If you ’ re a member of the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the invocation of the May the Fourth movement ] as encouraging people to challenge some of the existing parts of your political system .
It didn ’ t quite say overthrow your leaders , but it certainly encouraged the rise of the masses , shall we say.
” There are signs that Beijing ’ s rulers see in the pandemic , and the US-led response to it , a direct challenge to the party ’ s hold on power .
An internal report produced by the ministry of state security , cited by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be prepared for a worst-case scenario of armed confrontation .
There are two potential flashpoints where the two nuclear powers face off .
One is in the South China Sea , where the US navy conducts freedom of navigation patrols – most recently with a destroyer last week – to challenge China ’ s territorial claims to the chains of islands and reefs .
At the height of the pandemic , China has also become far more aggressive in testing the air and sea defences of Taiwan .
The US maintains a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it would come to Taiwan ’ s defence , but the Trump administration is under internal and external pressure to toughen that stance .
Both Washington and Beijing have been careful not to push military brinksmanship too far , and Donald Trump ’ s own affinity and admiration for Xi Jinping has been a counterweight to China hawks in his administration , like Pottinger ( a former Beijing-based journalist who reportedly led a push for US officials to insist on the term “ Wuhan virus ” ) and the US secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump approaches November ’ s election with his own delayed and chaotic response to the pandemic under scrutiny , that moderating influence looks likely to wane .
Pompeo has so far led the charge against China , issuing an inflammatory tweet on Sunday , declaring : “ China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.
” Pompeo claimed there was “ enormous evidence ” that the Sars-CoV-2 virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory .
The evidence has not been presented , and most experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interaction between animals and humans .
There is little doubt that the suppression by party authorities of early warnings from Wuhan about the danger and the delay in Beijing ’ s response meant an opportunity to contain the outbreak was lost .
China ’ s refusal to share samples and to cooperate with World Health Organization investigators has contributed to international distrust .
A US department of homeland security intelligence assessment , quoted by the Associated Press , alleged that the Chinese government had played down the danger of the virus so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medical supplies .
Beijing has denied withholding any information , but such reports are likely to fuel the anti-China backlash around the world .
The Trump administration ’ s campaign against China in the coming months will be both economic and diplomatic .
The president has said he is contemplating punitive measures , reportedly exploring whether the US might sue China or cancel some of its debt to China as reparations .
US officials are meanwhile developing a plan to switch production and supply chains used by US companies out of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations , in an “ economic prosperity network ” , which ironically resembles the Trans-Pacific Partnership that Trump withdrew the US from in the first months of his presidency .
On the diplomatic front , as well as focusing global attention on Chinese culpability , the US is pushing to upgrade Taiwan ’ s status on the world stage , beginning with a campaign to have the Taipei government invited to the World Health Assembly ( the governing body of the WHO ) later this month .
That is anathema to Beijing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There ’ s more of a worry at the top in Beijing that what the party has been paranoid about for a really long time is now coming to pass , which is that the US and other nations don ’ t want the party to rule China , ” said Isaac Stone Fish , a senior fellow at the Asia Society ’ s Center on US-China Relations .
Stone Fish said that the cold war-era policy of pushing for a peaceful evolution away from Communist party rule was now “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is a growing awareness in DC that the Chinese Communist party doesn ’ t serve America ’ s interest , that it doesn ’ t serve the interests of many people in China , and there ’ s growing debate about what the US should do about that , ” he said .
Much will depend now on how seriously Xi takes that challenge and how he responds .
Glaser said there has been evidence that Beijing is seeking to tamp down militaristic nationalism focused on the reconquest of Taiwan .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pressure increases .
“ If Xi Jinping or other members of the party feel like they ’ re facing existential threat in terms of legitimacy domestically , going to war with Taiwan could be a very sound strategy for them , in ways that would have a lot of awful impacts globally .
”

The escalating row between Washington and Beijing over blame for the coronavirus pandemic is fast becoming a battle over the Chinese Communist party’s legitimacy, raising the stakes in an already fraught relationship.
In castigating Beijing for its failure to contain the outbreak, senior Trump administration officials have gone out of their way to portray the crisis as a deadly illustration of the threat that Communist party rule poses the Chinese people – and the world beyond.
In a speech delivered on Monday morning in fluent Mandarin, the deputy national security adviser, Matthew Pottinger, warned Beijing that its efforts to suppress internal criticism were doomed to backfire.
“When small acts of bravery are stamped out by governments, big acts of bravery follow,” Pottinger said in the remarks delivered by video to a University of Virginia webinar, to commemorate China’s May the Fourth movement, a student-led populist uprising in the wake of the first world war.
Pottinger asked “whether China today would benefit from a little less nationalism and a little more populism.”
“Democratic populism is less about left versus right than top versus bottom. It’s about reminding a few that they need the consent of many to govern. When a privileged few grow too remote and self-interested, populism is what pulls them back or pitches them overboard,” he added.
“To me it’s the most remarkable speech we’ve ever seen from anyone in the Trump administration,” said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China power project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“If you’re a member of the Chinese Communist party, you might read [the invocation of the May the Fourth movement] as encouraging people to challenge some of the existing parts of your political system. It didn’t quite say overthrow your leaders, but it certainly encouraged the rise of the masses, shall we say.”
There are signs that Beijing’s rulers see in the pandemic, and the US-led response to it, a direct challenge to the party’s hold on power. An internal report produced by the ministry of state security, cited by Reuters on Monday, warned that China should be prepared for a worst-case scenario of armed confrontation.
There are two potential flashpoints where the two nuclear powers face off. One is in the South China Sea, where the US navy conducts freedom of navigation patrols – most recently with a destroyer last week – to challenge China’s territorial claims to the chains of islands and reefs.
At the height of the pandemic, China has also become far more aggressive in testing the air and sea defences of Taiwan. The US maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether it would come to Taiwan’s defence, but the Trump administration is under internal and external pressure to toughen that stance.
Both Washington and Beijing have been careful not to push military brinksmanship too far, and Donald Trump’s own affinity and admiration for Xi Jinping has been a counterweight to China hawks in his administration, like Pottinger (a former Beijing-based journalist who reportedly led a push for US officials to insist on the term “Wuhan virus”) and the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.
But as Trump approaches November’s election with his own delayed and chaotic response to the pandemic under scrutiny, that moderating influence looks likely to wane.
Pompeo has so far led the charge against China, issuing an inflammatory tweet on Sunday, declaring: “China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”
Pompeo claimed there was “enormous evidence” that the Sars-CoV-2 virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. The evidence has not been presented, and most experts say the disease most likely evolved from interaction between animals and humans.
There is little doubt that the suppression by party authorities of early warnings from Wuhan about the danger and the delay in Beijing’s response meant an opportunity to contain the outbreak was lost. China’s refusal to share samples and to cooperate with World Health Organization investigators has contributed to international distrust.
A US department of homeland security intelligence assessment, quoted by the Associated Press, alleged that the Chinese government had played down the danger of the virus so that it could build up its own stockpile of medical supplies. Beijing has denied withholding any information, but such reports are likely to fuel the anti-China backlash around the world.
The Trump administration’s campaign against China in the coming months will be both economic and diplomatic. The president has said he is contemplating punitive measures, reportedly exploring whether the US might sue China or cancel some of its debt to China as reparations.
US officials are meanwhile developing a plan to switch production and supply chains used by US companies out of China, providing incentives to move to friendly nations, in an “economic prosperity network”, which ironically resembles the Trans-Pacific Partnership that Trump withdrew the US from in the first months of his presidency.
On the diplomatic front, as well as focusing global attention on Chinese culpability, the US is pushing to upgrade Taiwan’s status on the world stage, beginning with a campaign to have the Taipei government invited to the World Health Assembly (the governing body of the WHO) later this month. That is anathema to Beijing, which depicts Taiwan as a renegade province.
“There’s more of a worry at the top in Beijing that what the party has been paranoid about for a really long time is now coming to pass, which is that the US and other nations don’t want the party to rule China,” said Isaac Stone Fish, a senior fellow at the Asia Society’s Center on US-China Relations.
Stone Fish said that the cold war-era policy of pushing for a peaceful evolution away from Communist party rule was now “coming back into fashion”.
“There is a growing awareness in DC that the Chinese Communist party doesn’t serve America’s interest, that it doesn’t serve the interests of many people in China, and there’s growing debate about what the US should do about that,” he said.
Much will depend now on how seriously Xi takes that challenge and how he responds. Glaser said there has been evidence that Beijing is seeking to tamp down militaristic nationalism focused on the reconquest of Taiwan. But Fish argues that calculus could change as the pressure increases.
“If Xi Jinping or other members of the party feel like they’re facing existential threat in terms of legitimacy domestically, going to war with Taiwan could be a very sound strategy for them, in ways that would have a lot of awful impacts globally.”


theguardian--2020-05-04--Senate rejects Joe Biden's request to search for records on Tara Reade

The US Senate has rejected a request from Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , to search for and release any records of a 1993 complaint against him from an aide who has accused him of sexual assault .
The former vice-president gave his first TV interview on the matter on Friday , flatly denying former aide Tara Reade ’ s allegation that when he was a senator from Delaware he pushed her against a wall and assaulted her .
Biden also wrote to Julie Adams , the secretary of the Senate , requesting that she locate and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint Reade says she made to the Senate personnel office .
But on Monday the secretary said the Senate legal counsel had reviewed relevant laws and , based on strict confidentiality requirements , advised that “ the secretary has no discretion to disclose any such information as requested in Vice-President Biden ’ s letter of 1 May ” .
The Biden campaign responded with three questions : can the Senate disclose whether the records exist ; is there anyone to whom the records could be lawfully disclosed ; and can the Senate release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have overseen a sexual harassment complaint in the 1990s .
The decision left more questions than answers and was seized on by Republicans .
Steve Guest , rapid response director for the Republican National Committee , wrote in an email : “ Joe Biden ’ s attempt to offer faux transparency ground to a screeching halt this morning.
” Guest accused Biden of sending the media on “ a wild goose chase ” to look for records in the National Archives , which said it does not hold them , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise of records at the Senate , National Archives and University of Delaware has become a vital piece of the jigsaw in the allegation against Biden , who said on Friday that he was not aware of any complaint on file .
Biden told MSNBC : “ This is an open book .
There ’ s nothing for me to hide.
” Reade has said she filed a complaint at the time of the alleged incident and was subsequently fired .
But she said last week that the complaint did not explicitly accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable , ” she told the Associated Press .
“ I know that I was too scared to write about the sexual assault.
” Reade subsequently tweeted that the AP report was “ false ” .
She also said she had been threatened .
Reade was among eight women who alleged last year that Biden made them feel uncomfortable with unwanted touching or displays of affection .
He apologised , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
After Biden effectively secured the Democratic nomination to face Donald Trump in November , Reade , who worked as a staff assistant in his Senate office from December 1992 to August 1993 , alleged Biden pinned her against a wall in the basement of a Capitol Hill office , reached under her skirt and pushed his fingers inside her .
Reade , 56 , said she was reluctant to share details of the assault during initial conversations with reporters more than a year ago because she was still coming to terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two of her associates said last week she had conversations with them that corroborated aspects of her allegation .
Numerous Democratic leaders and figures in the # MeToo movement have shown solidarity with Biden .
Republicans have accused them of hypocrisy , arguing they have been zealous in believing women who have accused Trump and other conservatives of assault .
The president has faced multiple accusations of assault and harassment , all of which he denies .
Maureen Dowd , a columnist at the New York Times , observed : “ Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bite them .
They have created a cage of their own making.
” But Trump himself , trailing Biden in numerous polls , has been uncharacteristically hesitant to weigh in .
In an interview with the conservative radio host Dan Bongino , he said if the accusations were false , Biden should deny them .
“ Just go out and fight it , it ’ s one of those things , ” Trump advised .
“ I ’ ve been a total victim of this nonsense , false accusations.
” Biden has , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Democratic party .
Nina Turner , who was national co-campaign chair for Bernie Sanders , who dropped out of the Democratic race and endorsed Biden , told Reuters : “ It can ’ t appear that [ Reade ] is being ignored just because it ’ s an inconvenient truth for certain people in the Democratic party.
” Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator but came under fire for his handling of Anita Hill ’ s 1991 Senate testimony against now supreme court justice Clarence Thomas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Believing women means taking the woman ’ s claim seriously when she steps forward , and then vet it , look into it .
That ’ s true in this case as well … “ But in the end , the truth is what matters , and in this case , the truth is the claims are false .
”

The US Senate has rejected a request from Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, to search for and release any records of a 1993 complaint against him from an aide who has accused him of sexual assault.
The former vice-president gave his first TV interview on the matter on Friday, flatly denying former aide Tara Reade’s allegation that when he was a senator from Delaware he pushed her against a wall and assaulted her.
Biden also wrote to Julie Adams, the secretary of the Senate, requesting that she locate and make public any paper trail relating to a complaint Reade says she made to the Senate personnel office.
But on Monday the secretary said the Senate legal counsel had reviewed relevant laws and, based on strict confidentiality requirements, advised that “the secretary has no discretion to disclose any such information as requested in Vice-President Biden’s letter of 1 May”.
The Biden campaign responded with three questions: can the Senate disclose whether the records exist; is there anyone to whom the records could be lawfully disclosed; and can the Senate release any procedures used by the office that would have overseen a sexual harassment complaint in the 1990s.
The decision left more questions than answers and was seized on by Republicans. Steve Guest, rapid response director for the Republican National Committee, wrote in an email: “Joe Biden’s attempt to offer faux transparency ground to a screeching halt this morning.”
Guest accused Biden of sending the media on “a wild goose chase” to look for records in the National Archives, which said it does not hold them, and then to the Senate.
The existence or otherwise of records at the Senate, National Archives and University of Delaware has become a vital piece of the jigsaw in the allegation against Biden, who said on Friday that he was not aware of any complaint on file.
Biden told MSNBC: “This is an open book. There’s nothing for me to hide.”
Reade has said she filed a complaint at the time of the alleged incident and was subsequently fired. But she said last week that the complaint did not explicitly accuse Biden of sexual assault.
“I remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable,” she told the Associated Press. “I know that I was too scared to write about the sexual assault.”
Reade subsequently tweeted that the AP report was “false”. She also said she had been threatened.
Reade was among eight women who alleged last year that Biden made them feel uncomfortable with unwanted touching or displays of affection. He apologised, then appeared to make light of the matter.
After Biden effectively secured the Democratic nomination to face Donald Trump in November, Reade, who worked as a staff assistant in his Senate office from December 1992 to August 1993, alleged Biden pinned her against a wall in the basement of a Capitol Hill office, reached under her skirt and pushed his fingers inside her.
Reade, 56, said she was reluctant to share details of the assault during initial conversations with reporters more than a year ago because she was still coming to terms with the incident and feared a backlash. Two of her associates said last week she had conversations with them that corroborated aspects of her allegation.
Numerous Democratic leaders and figures in the #MeToo movement have shown solidarity with Biden. Republicans have accused them of hypocrisy, arguing they have been zealous in believing women who have accused Trump and other conservatives of assault.
The president has faced multiple accusations of assault and harassment, all of which he denies.
Maureen Dowd, a columnist at the New York Times, observed: “Democrats always set standards that come back and bite them. They have created a cage of their own making.”
But Trump himself, trailing Biden in numerous polls, has been uncharacteristically hesitant to weigh in. In an interview with the conservative radio host Dan Bongino, he said if the accusations were false, Biden should deny them.
“Just go out and fight it, it’s one of those things,” Trump advised. “I’ve been a total victim of this nonsense, false accusations.”
Biden has, however, drawn criticism from the left of the Democratic party. Nina Turner, who was national co-campaign chair for Bernie Sanders, who dropped out of the Democratic race and endorsed Biden, told Reuters: “It can’t appear that [Reade] is being ignored just because it’s an inconvenient truth for certain people in the Democratic party.”
Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a senator but came under fire for his handling of Anita Hill’s 1991 Senate testimony against now supreme court justice Clarence Thomas.
He said last Friday on MSNBC: “Believing women means taking the woman’s claim seriously when she steps forward, and then vet it, look into it. That’s true in this case as well …
“But in the end, the truth is what matters, and in this case, the truth is the claims are false.”


theguardian--2020-05-04--CNN's Don Lemon tells Trump to stop peddling 'crap' and 'conspiracy theories'

The CNN anchor Don Lemon spoke directly to Donald Trump on Sunday night , after the president retweeted a conspiracy theory about Barack Obama .
Lemon , a frequent target of the president ’ s ire and that of his family and supporters , said : “ In a time when we need leadership , when we need compassion , this is the crap that you ’ re peddling ?
Conspiracy theories ?
” The time Lemon was referring to was that of the coronavirus epidemic , which according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University has infected more than 1.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump appeared on Sunday night at a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , discussing reopening the American economy but saying “ we may have to put out a fire ” if the virus returns in the fall .
The current White House prediction for the initial death toll remains between 100,000 and 240,000 .
The tweet which the president retweeted said : “ Evidence has surfaced that indicates Barack Obama was the one running the Russian hoax.
” It was written by David J Harris Jr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his Apple podcasts biography , is “ an entrepreneur , founder of … a healthy lifestyle supplement company , and a speaker ” .
The piece to which the tweet linked began : “ In the new releases it appears to be saying that Operation Hurricane was being run from the Oval Office .
This would be huge if true.
” Operation Crossfire Hurricane was the codename for the FBI investigation of Russian election interference which expanded to include links between Trump and Moscow and fed into the work of special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal conspiracy but did not exonerate the president of potential obstruction of justice .
Trump ’ s retweet , Lemon said , was “ a new low from a president who goes low all the time ” .
He continued : “ What is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin ?
Is it because he ’ s smarter than you ?
Better-educated ?
Made it on his own , didn ’ t need daddy ’ s help ?
Wife is more accomplished ?
Better looking ?
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it , what is it about him ?
That he ’ s a black man that ’ s accomplished being president ?
That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing ?
What is it about him ?
Just wondering.
” The “ birth certificate ” thing was a reference to Trump ’ s championing of the conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the US and should not have been president .
In 2011 , Obama famously mocked Trump about it at a White House dinner .
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US soil – and tried to pin the conspiracy on Hillary Clinton .
Lemon also praised former president George W Bush , who has called for unity in the face of the pandemic .
Trump attacked Bush on Sunday , writing with regard to his own impeachment over his approaches to Ukraine : “ He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history !
” Trump did not immediately respond to Lemon on Monday , instead choosing to attack other TV hosts , Joe Scarborough and @ @ @ @ @

The CNN anchor Don Lemon spoke directly to Donald Trump on Sunday night, after the president retweeted a conspiracy theory about Barack Obama.
Lemon, a frequent target of the president’s ire and that of his family and supporters, said: “In a time when we need leadership, when we need compassion, this is the crap that you’re peddling? Conspiracy theories?”
The time Lemon was referring to was that of the coronavirus epidemic, which according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University has infected more than 1.1 million Americans and killed more than 67,000.
Trump appeared on Sunday night at a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, discussing reopening the American economy but saying “we may have to put out a fire” if the virus returns in the fall. The current White House prediction for the initial death toll remains between 100,000 and 240,000.
The tweet which the president retweeted said: “Evidence has surfaced that indicates Barack Obama was the one running the Russian hoax.” It was written by David J Harris Jr, an African American conservative who, according to his Apple podcasts biography, is “an entrepreneur, founder of … a healthy lifestyle supplement company, and a speaker”.
The piece to which the tweet linked began: “In the new releases it appears to be saying that Operation Hurricane was being run from the Oval Office. This would be huge if true.”
Operation Crossfire Hurricane was the codename for the FBI investigation of Russian election interference which expanded to include links between Trump and Moscow and fed into the work of special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy but did not exonerate the president of potential obstruction of justice.
Trump’s retweet, Lemon said, was “a new low from a president who goes low all the time”.
He continued: “What is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin? Is it because he’s smarter than you? Better-educated? Made it on his own, didn’t need daddy’s help? Wife is more accomplished? Better looking?”
“I don’t know, what is it, what is it about him? That he’s a black man that’s accomplished being president? That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing? What is it about him? Just wondering.”
The “birth certificate” thing was a reference to Trump’s championing of the conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the US and should not have been president.
In 2011, Obama famously mocked Trump about it at a White House dinner. In 2016, Trump said Obama was born on US soil – and tried to pin the conspiracy on Hillary Clinton.
Lemon also praised former president George W Bush, who has called for unity in the face of the pandemic. Trump attacked Bush on Sunday, writing with regard to his own impeachment over his approaches to Ukraine: “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!”
Trump did not immediately respond to Lemon on Monday, instead choosing to attack other TV hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC.


theguardian--2020-05-04--Under Trump, America has gone a bit late Weimar. We know how that ended | Lloyd Green

Welcome to the US in the age of coronavirus .
Faces and fists pounded the windows of Ohio ’ s capitol like a zombie apocalypse .
In Michigan , an armed crowd stormed the state house .
Then , history repeated itself .
Taking a page from his Charlottesville playbook , Donald Trump called the protesters “ good people ” and urged Gretchen Whitmer , the Democratic governor of Michigan , to “ make a deal ” over the shutdown .
The president tweeted that Whitmer should “ give a little , and put out the fire ” .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a gun .
After all , his base was “ angry ” .
One state over , in Illinois , an anti-shutdown protester waived a poster aimed at the state ’ s Jewish governor , JB Pritzker : “ Arbeit macht frei , JB.
” The words that hung over the gates of Auschwitz .
A Trump administration insider conveyed that it was all a “ bit ” reminiscent of the “ late ” Weimar Republic .
We know how that ended .
Society ’ s guardrails crashed , the volk demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frighteningly unimaginable possible .
Hell became part of the here and now .
Election day is six months away .
The US may experience 25 % unemployment and economic collapse .
We stand to witness “ between 100,000 and 240,00 American lives lost ” , according to Dr Deborah Birx .
As for the protesters , Birx labelled their conduct “ devastatingly worrisome ” .
Life and death are on the line and the president and his minions appear reluctant to grasp the reality .
Echoing his boss , Larry Kudlow ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scourge would be quickly gone .
Marc Short , Mike Pence ’ s chief of staff , prematurely rejects projections of a death toll above 60,000 .
By Tuesday , the total will probably exceed 70,000 .
How this plays out at the ballot box remains to be seen .
But the early numbers should give Trump serious pause .
It is unlikely that racial minorities , suburban mothers and college degree holders will take kindly to bully boys playing Trump surrogates .
A poll taken last month showed most Americans wary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in cities and suburbs signaling particular reluctance .
Indeed , Republicans disfavored such a move by nearly a two-to-one margin .
As for the presidential horserace , Trump is lagging Joe Biden in most national polls and in the swing states .
Among college graduates , the former vice-president holds a near 20-point lead .
Biden is ahead by double digits among women .
Cultural resentments are two-way streets .
All this is a continuation of trends that appeared in the 2018 midterms .
Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-to-two , suburban women by more than 20 points , and a majority of white college graduates .
Peloton moms made a difference .
More ominously for the president , swing states are drifting away : Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are lining up for Biden .
In a break from four years ago , seniors are growing tired of Trump .
Were the trend to hold , the ballgame would be over .
Texas , Georgia , North Carolina and Ohio also appear shaky .
Biden could be sitting atop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York state , the number of coronavirus cases have moved upward and the average number of fatalities appears stuck in neutral .
This is not the re-election campaign Trump envisioned in January .
Not surprisingly , some of his most ardent supporters in the Senate are engaging in political social distancing .
Kentucky ’ s Mitch McConnell , North Carolina ’ s Thom Tillis and Arizona ’ s Martha McSally tout home-state accomplishments .
They are not embracing Trump .
The impeachment vote feels a century ago .
McSally appears destined for defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only McConnell is given a clear edge and even he is struggling .
Coronavirus has unleashed more than death .
Social fissures once buried have metastasized into jagged volcanic chasms .
The past is always with us , much as we try to jettison it .
Weimar was less than a century ago .
Democracy is more fragile than we may care to acknowledge .

Welcome to the US in the age of coronavirus. Faces and fists pounded the windows of Ohio’s capitol like a zombie apocalypse. In Michigan, an armed crowd stormed the state house. Then, history repeated itself.
Taking a page from his Charlottesville playbook, Donald Trump called the protesters “good people” and urged Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, to “make a deal” over the shutdown. The president tweeted that Whitmer should “give a little, and put out the fire”. In other words, negotiate over the barrel of a gun. After all, his base was “angry”.
One state over, in Illinois, an anti-shutdown protester waived a poster aimed at the state’s Jewish governor, JB Pritzker: “Arbeit macht frei, JB.” The words that hung over the gates of Auschwitz.
A Trump administration insider conveyed that it was all a “bit” reminiscent of the “late” Weimar Republic. We know how that ended.
Society’s guardrails crashed, the volk demanded its pound of flesh and democracy made the frighteningly unimaginable possible. Hell became part of the here and now.
Election day is six months away. The US may experience 25% unemployment and economic collapse. We stand to witness “between 100,000 and 240,000 American lives lost”, according to Dr Deborah Birx. As for the protesters, Birx labelled their conduct “devastatingly worrisome”.
“Collective rage” looms large.
Life and death are on the line and the president and his minions appear reluctant to grasp the reality. Echoing his boss, Larry Kudlow ties himself into knots over earlier pronouncements that the scourge would be quickly gone. Marc Short, Mike Pence’s chief of staff, prematurely rejects projections of a death toll above 60,000. By Tuesday, the total will probably exceed 70,000.
00:59 Donald Trump claims vaccine will be available by end of the year - video
How this plays out at the ballot box remains to be seen. But the early numbers should give Trump serious pause. It is unlikely that racial minorities, suburban mothers and college degree holders will take kindly to bully boys playing Trump surrogates.
A poll taken last month showed most Americans wary of returning to normal, with those living in cities and suburbs signaling particular reluctance. Indeed, Republicans disfavored such a move by nearly a two-to-one margin.
As for the presidential horserace, Trump is lagging Joe Biden in most national polls and in the swing states. Among college graduates, the former vice-president holds a near 20-point lead. Biden is ahead by double digits among women. Cultural resentments are two-way streets.
All this is a continuation of trends that appeared in the 2018 midterms. Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the House and Democrats captured the female vote by nearly three-to-two, suburban women by more than 20 points, and a majority of white college graduates. Peloton moms made a difference.
More ominously for the president, swing states are drifting away: Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are lining up for Biden. In a break from four years ago, seniors are growing tired of Trump. Were the trend to hold, the ballgame would be over.
Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio also appear shaky. Biden could be sitting atop an electoral college landslide.
Excluding New York state, the number of coronavirus cases has moved upward and the average number of fatalities appears stuck in neutral. This is not the re-election campaign Trump envisioned in January. Not surprisingly, some of his most ardent supporters in the Senate are engaging in political social distancing.
Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, North Carolina’s Thom Tillis and Arizona’s Martha McSally tout home-state accomplishments. They are not embracing Trump. The impeachment vote feels a century ago.
McSally appears destined for defeat and Tillis is in a dead heat. Only McConnell is given a clear edge and even he is struggling.
Coronavirus has unleashed more than death. Social fissures once buried have metastasized into jagged volcanic chasms. The past is always with us, much as we try to jettison it. Weimar was less than a century ago. Democracy is more fragile than we may care to acknowledge.


theguardian--2020-05-05--Who will be Joe Biden's running mate? – video

It 's one of the most important decisions a presidential candidate can make : so who will Joe Biden choose @ @ @ @ @ Political correspondent Lauren Gambino breaks down the most likely candidates for November 's election

Lauren Gambino, Simon Roberts, Tom Silverstone and Katie Lamborn

It's one of the most important decisions a presidential candidate can make: so who will Joe Biden choose as his running mate? Political correspondent Lauren Gambino breaks down the most likely candidates for November's election


theguardian--2020-05-06--Trump heads to Arizona mask plant to make case for reopening US

Donald Trump used his first cross-country trip since the pandemic began to visit an Arizona plant manufacturing medical masks , seeking to demonstrate America ’ s readiness to reopen the economy even as public health experts warned it was too soon .
His visit to the battleground state on Tuesday came as the White House signalled a desire to wind down the coronavirus taskforce in the coming weeks despite a continued threat from the virus .
“ I ’ m not saying anything is perfect , ” Trump told reporters in Arizona .
“ Will some people be affected ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly ?
Yes .
But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon.
” During a tour of the Honeywell facility in Phoenix , which shifted from manufacturing aircraft engines to producing N95 respirator masks in response to the pandemic , Trump wore safety glasses but no mask .
A sign at the entrance urged visitors to wear masks at all times , but a White House official said the company had informed them in advance that a mask was not required .
The visit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to nudge a cautious nation , still grappling with economic and public health disasters inflicted by the virus , to return to a more normal way of life .
Trump has cheered moves by some governors to reopen their economies , despite a failure to meet guidelines for lifting safety restrictions issued by the White House and concern from public health officials that states are acting too quickly .
Despite Trump ’ s optimism , wide majorities of Americans oppose the reopening of businesses and restaurants .
A Washington Post-University of Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Americans said they were opposed to reopening dine-in restaurants and nail salons in their states , while more than eight in 10 Americans said movie theaters should not be allowed to reopen in their states .
In Arizona , Trump praised the “ phenomenal ” work of the coronavirus taskforce , led by the vice-president , Mike Pence , but said it was time to focus on the next “ phase ” .
Trump was greeted on the tarmac in Phoenix by Arizona ’ s governor , Doug Ducey , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some fellow GOP governors about reopening the state .
This week he extended the state ’ s stay-at-home-order until 15 May with exceptions allowing salons , barbershops , businesses and restaurants to open in the coming days if they meet certain safety conditions .
While the number of infections in Arizona is declining , the Navajo Nation that crosses the northern part of the state remains one of the worst-affected areas in the country .
As of Monday , 2,474 residents of the Navajo Nation have tested positive and 73 have died .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ treasury department announced that it would begin distributing $ 4.8bn in coronavirus relief allocated for Native American tribes , aid the tribal governments had to sue to obtain .
Trump pledged $ 600m to help the Navajo Nation fight the pandemic during a roundtable with tribal leaders .
Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , said Trump had worsened the public health crisis by refusing to reopen enrollment in the Affordable Care Act amid the pandemic , which Ducey recommended .
“ President Trump will try to paper over his administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he travels today to Arizona , ” he said in a statement , “ but nothing can cover up how he failed to prepare our country for this pandemic and his slow response.
” Some of Trump ’ s most raucous rallies have been in Arizona , where he has a devoted base .
But he has also alienated the state ’ s independent and moderate voters , while a growing Hispanic electorate and newcomers from states like California and Washington have also accelerated the state ’ s political diversity .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.5 percentage points , a much smaller margin than past Republican presidential candidates .
Two years later , the Democrat Kyrsten Sinema beat Martha McSally in a Senate race to succeed the retiring Arizona senator Jeff Flake .
McSally was then appointed to fill the seat of the late Arizona senator John McCain , and she is now locked in a fierce contest with the Democrat Mark Kelly to retain it .
The seat has been held by a Republican since Barry Goldwater was first elected to the Senate in 1968 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toss-up ” by the non-partisan Cook Political report and recent polling shows McSally trailing Kelly .
“ This year really could be a tipping point for Arizona politics , ” said Chip Scutari , a political consultant in Phoenix .
“ And I ’ m sure President Trump and his team want to solidify Arizona in the win column but it ’ s really up for grabs.
” Scutari called Trump ’ s visit a “ pseudo-campaign rally ” ; indeed , when the president finished speaking at the Honeywell facility the Rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Always Get What You Want – a Trump rally staple – began to play .
Democrats are increasingly bullish on their prospects , buoyed by polls that show Biden leading in the state .
Felecia Rotellini , the chair of the Arizona Democratic party , called Trump ’ s visit to the state a “ sign of desperation ” .
“ The Covid-19 crisis and the complete lack of empathy and competence that the president has shown in his handling of this has created even a greater sinking ship that is now called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The brief trip to Phoenix marks the beginning of what Trump hopes will be more frequent outings after being locked down in Washington for weeks , and as polling numbers show his support eroding in battleground states .
The president has said he plans to travel soon to Ohio , New York and North Dakota for a Fourth of July fireworks display at Mount Rushmore .
Though eager to get back on the campaign trail , Trump acknowledged in a town hall with Fox News on Sunday that his signature rallies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at least .

Donald Trump visited an Arizona plant manufacturing medical masks, using his first cross-country trip since coronavirus restrictions were implemented in an effort to , demonstrate America’s readiness to reopen the economy, even as public health experts warned it was too soon.
His trip to the battleground state on Tuesday came as the White House signalled a desire to wind down the coronavirus taskforce in the coming weeks despite a continued threat from the virus.
“I’m not saying anything is perfect,” the president told reporters in Arizona. “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.”
During a tour of the Honeywell facility in Phoenix, which shifted from manufacturing aircraft engines to producing N95 respirator masks in response to the pandemic, Trump wore safety glasses but no mask. A sign at the entrance urged visitors to wear masks at all times, but a White House official said the company had informed them in advance that a mask was not required.
The visit was meant to underscore the administration’s efforts to nudge a cautious nation, still grappling with economic and public health disasters inflicted by the virus, to return to a more normal way of life. It was also an opportunity for Trump, who has been sharply criticized for his handling of the virus and not doing more to secure protective medical equipment, to point to the mass manufacturing of vital supplies.
Trump has cheered moves by some governors to reopen their economies, despite a failure to meet guidelines for lifting safety restrictions issued by the White House and concern from public health officials that states are acting too quickly.
Despite Trump’s optimism, wide majorities of Americans oppose the reopening of businesses and restaurants. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll published on Tuesday found that 74% of Americans said they were opposed to reopening dine-in restaurants and nail salons in their states, while more than eight in 10 Americans said movie theaters should not be allowed to reopen in their states.
Trump watches workers create protective face masks at the Honeywell facility. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters
In Arizona, Trump praised the “phenomenal” work of the coronavirus taskforce, led by the vice-president, Mike Pence, but said it was time to focus on the next “phase”.
Trump was greeted on the tarmac in Phoenix by Arizona’s governor, Doug Ducey, a Republican who has been more cautious than some fellow GOP governors about reopening the state. This week he extended the state’s stay-at-home-order until 15 May with exceptions allowing salons, barbershops, businesses and restaurants to open in the coming days if they meet certain safety conditions.
Arizona’s total number of identified cases rose to 9,305, with 395 known deaths, according to the most recent state figures released on Tuesday. The Navajo Nation, which crosses the northern part of the state, remains one of the worst-affected areas in the country. As of Monday, 2,474 residents of the Navajo Nation have tested positive and 73 have died.
Before Trump’s visit, the treasury department announced that it would begin distributing $4.8bn in coronavirus relief allocated for Native American tribes, aid the tribal governments had to sue to obtain. Trump pledged $600m to help the Navajo Nation fight the pandemic during a roundtable with tribal leaders.
Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, said Trump had worsened the public health crisis by refusing to reopen enrollment in the Affordable Care Act amid the pandemic, which Ducey recommended.
“President Trump will try to paper over his administration’s failed response to the Covid-19 pandemic when he travels today to Arizona,” he said in a statement, “but nothing can cover up how he failed to prepare our country for this pandemic and his slow response.”
A political battleground in Arizona
Some of Trump’s most raucous rallies have been in Arizona, where he has a devoted base. But he has also alienated the state’s independent and moderate voters, while a growing Hispanic electorate and newcomers from states like California and Washington have also accelerated the state’s political diversity.
In 2016, he won the state by 3.5 percentage points, a much smaller margin than past Republican presidential candidates. Two years later, the Democrat Kyrsten Sinema beat Martha McSally in a Senate race to succeed the retiring Arizona senator Jeff Flake. McSally was then appointed to fill the seat of the late Arizona senator John McCain, and she is now locked in a fierce contest with the Democrat Mark Kelly to retain it.
The seat has been held by a Republican since Barry Goldwater was first elected to the Senate in 1968. But the race is now considered a “toss-up” by the non-partisan Cook Political report and recent polling shows McSally trailing Kelly.
“This year really could be a tipping point for Arizona politics,” said Chip Scutari, a political consultant in Phoenix. “And I’m sure President Trump and his team want to solidify Arizona in the win column but it’s really up for grabs.”
Scutari called Trump’s visit a “pseudo-campaign rally”; indeed, when the president finished speaking at the Honeywell facility the Rolling Stones’s You Can’t Always Get What You Want – a Trump rally staple – began to play.
Democrats are increasingly bullish on their prospects, buoyed by polls that show Biden leading in the state.
Felecia Rotellini, the chair of the Arizona Democratic party, called Trump’s visit to the state a “sign of desperation”.
“The Covid-19 crisis and the complete lack of empathy and competence that the president has shown in his handling of this has created even a greater sinking ship that is now called his re-election campaign,” Rotellini said.
The brief trip to Phoenix marks the beginning of what Trump hopes will be more frequent outings after being locked down in Washington for weeks, and as polling numbers show his support eroding in battleground states. The president has said he plans to travel soon toNew York and North Dakota for a Fourth of July fireworks display at Mount Rushmore. Though eager to get back on the campaign trail, Trump acknowledged in a town hall with Fox News on Sunday that his signature rallies were unlikely to return for several more months, at least.


theguardian--2020-05-05--Trump loyalist set to become national intelligence director on second attempt

A Trump loyalist nominated as director of national intelligence ( DNI ) looked set to sail through Senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday , only nine months after being forced to withdraw for having exaggerated his security experience .
John Ratcliffe , a Republican congressman who fiercely defended the president in last year ’ s impeachment hearings , told the Senate intelligence committee that he would speak truth to power if confirmed as DNI .
Ratcliffe was reminded by Democratic senators that his two predecessors had been forced from their posts because the findings of the intelligence community irritated Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently under pressure to provide evidence for Trump ’ s claim that the coronavirus outbreak started in a Chinese laboratory .
“ Regardless of what anyone wants our intelligence to reflect , the intelligence I will provide , if confirmed , will not be impacted or altered as a result of outside influence , ” Ratcliffe said in his opening remarks at his confirmation hearing , held under social distancing rules , with most of the senators and staff wearing masks .
“ Above all , my fidelity and loyalty will always be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and my actions as DNI will reflect that commitment.
” However Ratcliffe , a fiercely partisan congressman , dodged questions on which Trump has broken with his own intelligence briefers , such as whether there has been any progress towards North Korean disarmament ( there has not ) and whether Iran was in compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal when Trump pulled the US out of the agreement ( it was ) .
Ratcliffe said that if confirmed , he would focus on the impact of coronavirus , questions about its origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I view China as the greatest threat actor right now , ” he said .
“ Look with respect to Covid-19 and the role China plays ; the race to 5G ; cybersecurity issues : all roads lead to China , ” he told the panel .
Ratcliffe withdrew his first nomination five days after Trump first named him as a candidate – to widespread surprise – last July , after it was found he had grossly overstated his national security experience .
He had falsely claimed on his website to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a single day ” and had “ put terrorists in prison ” although he had not tried a terrorism case in his time as a US attorney .
“ I don ’ t see what has changed since last summer … when the president decided not to proceed with your nomination over concerns about your inexperience , partisanship and past statements that seemed to embellish your record , ” the ranking Democrat on committee , Senator Mark Warner , said on Tuesday .
However the committee chair , Senator Richard Burr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , indicated they would back Ratcliffe ’ s nomination and quickly put it to a vote in the full Senate , despite a legal requirement that the DNI “ shall have extensive national security expertise ” .
“ The Democrats in the committee and the Senate seem strongly opposed , but Ratcliffe seems likely to secure confirmation , probably on a party-line vote , ” said Carl Tobias , a University of Richmond law professor .
Tobias suggested that Ratcliffe ’ s promises to be objective may have assuaged doubters on the committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and independence may have been weakened after he was found to have sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in stocks in mid-February , a few days after publishing a commentary for Fox News claiming that the US was “ better prepared than ever before ” to confront the virus .
Katrina Mulligan , a former official who worked for more than 10 years in the office of the director of national intelligence ( ODNI ) , suggested another factor that has changed since last summer could be that the Senate is eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grenell , another partisan with even less experience than Ratcliffe and who is not answerable to Congress because he is not confirmed in the role .
Mulligan added that US intelligence officials may be resigned to Ratcliffe getting the top job for similar reasons .
“ The morale at ODNI is so low right now and people are so fearful , that I think that there is a real sense that it could be worse , ” she said .
“ There ’ s this sense that at least he can form coherent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a modicum of experience which the current acting DNI really did not .
”

A Trump loyalist nominated as director of national intelligence (DNI) looked set to sail through Senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday, only nine months after being forced to withdraw for having exaggerated his security experience.
John Ratcliffe, a Republican congressman who fiercely defended the president in last year’s impeachment hearings, told the Senate intelligence committee that he would speak truth to power if confirmed as DNI.
Ratcliffe was reminded by Democratic senators that his two predecessors had been forced from their posts because the findings of the intelligence community irritated Donald Trump, and that the spy agencies were currently under pressure to provide evidence for Trump’s claim that the coronavirus outbreak started in a Chinese laboratory.
“Regardless of what anyone wants our intelligence to reflect, the intelligence I will provide, if confirmed, will not be impacted or altered as a result of outside influence,” Ratcliffe said in his opening remarks at his confirmation hearing, held under social distancing rules, with most of the senators and staff wearing masks. “Above all, my fidelity and loyalty will always be to the constitution and rule of law, and my actions as DNI will reflect that commitment.”
Senators wear masks and practice social distancing rules at the nomination hearing of John Ratcliffe. Photograph: Reuters
However Ratcliffe, a fiercely partisan congressman, dodged questions on which Trump has broken with his own intelligence briefers, such as whether there has been any progress towards North Korean disarmament (there has not) and whether Iran was in compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal when Trump pulled the US out of the agreement (it was).
Ratcliffe said that if confirmed, he would focus on the impact of coronavirus, questions about its origins in China and US competition with Beijing.
“I view China as the greatest threat actor right now,” he said. “Look with respect to Covid-19 and the role China plays; the race to 5G; cybersecurity issues: all roads lead to China,” he told the panel.
Ratcliffe withdrew his first nomination five days after Trump first named him as a candidate – to widespread surprise – last July, after it was found he had grossly overstated his national security experience.
He had falsely claimed on his website to have “arrested over 300 illegal immigrants in a single day” and had “put terrorists in prison” although he had not tried a terrorism case in his time as a US attorney.
“I don’t see what has changed since last summer … when the president decided not to proceed with your nomination over concerns about your inexperience, partisanship and past statements that seemed to embellish your record,” the ranking Democrat on committee, Senator Mark Warner, said on Tuesday.
However the committee chair, Senator Richard Burr, and the other Republicans on the panel, indicated they would back Ratcliffe’s nomination and quickly put it to a vote in the full Senate, despite a legal requirement that the DNI “shall have extensive national security expertise”.
“The Democrats in the committee and the Senate seem strongly opposed, but Ratcliffe seems likely to secure confirmation, probably on a party-line vote,” said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor.
Tobias suggested that Ratcliffe’s promises to be objective may have assuaged doubters on the committee, or that Burr’s standing and independence may have been weakened after he was found to have sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in stocks in mid-February, a few days after publishing a commentary for Fox News claiming that the US was “better prepared than ever before” to confront the virus.
Katrina Mulligan, a former official who worked for more than 10 years in the office of the director of national intelligence (ODNI), suggested another factor that has changed since last summer could be that the Senate is eager to replace the current acting DNI, Richard Grenell, another partisan with even less experience than Ratcliffe and who is not answerable to Congress because he is not confirmed in the role.
Mulligan added that US intelligence officials may be resigned to Ratcliffe getting the top job for similar reasons.
“The morale at ODNI is so low right now and people are so fearful, that I think that there is a real sense that it could be worse,” she said. “There’s this sense that at least he can form coherent sentences, and at least he has a modicum of experience which the current acting DNI really did not.”


theguardian--2020-05-05--Trump poised to wind down Covid-19 taskforce as US death toll tops 70,000

Donald Trump is preparing to wind down the White House coronavirus taskforce even as the US death toll has topped 70,000 and experts warn that the worst is yet to come .
Mike Pence , the vice-president and taskforce chair , said on Tuesday that coordination of the pandemic response could be transferred back to federal agencies in late May or early June .
But in the wake of a leaked internal White House report suggesting that the daily US death toll will climb to 3,000 per day by June , the move is likely to fuel concerns that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy in favour of economic imperatives .
“ I ’ m not saying anything is perfect , and yes , will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some people be affected badly ?
Yes , ” Trump said during a trip to Arizona – a battleground state in the 2020 presidential election – on Tuesday .
“ But we have to get our country open , and we have to get it open soon.
” In an interview with David Muir of ABC News on Tuesday evening , Trump was asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the reality we ’ re facing , that lives will be lost to reopen the country ?
” The president said : “ It ’ s possible there will be some because you won ’ t be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is , but at the same time we ’ re going to practise 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we have to get our country back.
” A prolonged shutdown , Trump added , came with its own costs in terms of increased drug use and suicide .
Hillary Clinton , a former secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate , tweeted : “ It appears the plan is , shamefully , to have no plan .
Americans will suffer .
We must replace this administration in November.
” David Axelrod , former chief strategist for Barack Obama , added on Twitter : “ If you can ’ t shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pence was responding on Tuesday to questions about a New York Times report that said officials in the Trump administration were telling the 22 taskforce members and their staff to expect the group to be phased out within weeks .
“ I think we ’ re starting to look at the Memorial Day [ 25 May ] window , early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner , ” the vice-president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence insisted that “ it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we ’ ve made as a country ” and promised to keep the response coordinator , Deborah Birx , “ around every bit as long as we need to ” .
Birx herself said : “ We ’ ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now .
It took us a while to build that capacity .
And we ’ ll make sure that , you know , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there was also immediate confusion .
Even as Pence spoke , Anthony Fauci , a leading taskforce member , was denying the Times ’ s report .
“ That ’ s not true , ” the infectious disease expert told CBS News .
“ I ’ ve been in every taskforce meeting , and that ’ s not what they are doing.
” The taskforce was created in late January and Pence was named as chairman in late February .
It met frequently to address the rapidly spreading pandemic and then explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump that sometimes lasted more than two hours .
But the president was accused of using the platform to score political points , with Republican allies eventually warning that the briefings were damaging him at the polls .
After a briefing in which Trump floated the idea of treating the virus with disinfectant injections , the events were soon killed off .
There has now been no briefing for more than a week and the taskforce is meeting less frequently .
Its demise would be the latest sign that the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s plan to reopen the country after many states ordered people to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus .
The president has urged supporters to “ liberate ” states from pandemic restrictions and signalled approval for armed protesters who have defied his own social distancing guidelines .
On Sunday , Trump held a Fox News virtual town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and was joined by Pence and the treasury secretary , Steven Mnuchin , putting an emphasis on the economy .
Laura Ingraham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely , applauded the winding up of the taskforce .
“ For too long it seemed like unelected doctors were making policy , ” she tweeted .
“ Economic toll was disastrous.
” Kayleigh McEnany , the White House press secretary , denied that health concerns were being neglected : “ Reporting on the task force is being misconstrued to suggest the White House is no longer involving medical experts , ” she tweeted .
“ This is totally false .
President Trump will continue his data-driven approach towards safely re-opening.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , researchers at the University of Washington ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation almost doubled its previous US mortality model to more than 134,000 from 72,400 on 29 April .
The change reflected “ rising mobility in most US states ” with an easing of business closures and stay-at-home orders expected in 31 states by 11 May , the institute said .
Fauci warned in a CNN interview on Monday that there would be a “ rebound ” of new coronavirus cases in the US if the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of society and business .
“ How many deaths and how much suffering are you willing to accept to get back to what you want to be some form of normality sooner rather than later ?
” he asked .
Elaine Kamarck , a senior fellow in the governance studies programme at the Brookings Institution thinktank in Washington , said any attempt to sideline Birx and Fauci was doomed .
“ He might try to marginalise them but the press isn ’ t going to try to marginalise them .
“ They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expertise and nobody with data and expertise is going to be marginalised .
It ’ s going to be the politicians who don ’ t listen to the scientists who are going to get marginalised .
”

Donald Trump is preparing to wind down the White House coronavirus taskforce even as the US death toll has topped 70,000 and experts warn that the worst is yet to come.
Mike Pence, the vice-president and taskforce chair, said on Tuesday that coordination of the pandemic response could be transferred back to federal agencies in late May or early June.
But in the wake of a leaked internal White House report suggesting that the daily US death toll will climb to 3,000 per day by June, the move is likely to fuel concerns that Trump has all but abandoned a public health strategy in favour of economic imperatives.
“I’m not saying anything is perfect, and yes, will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes,” Trump said during a trip to Arizona – a battleground state in the 2020 presidential election – on Tuesday. “But we have to get our country open, and we have to get it open soon.”
In an interview with David Muir of ABC News on Tuesday evening, Trump was asked directly: “Do you believe it’s the reality we’re facing, that lives will be lost to reopen the country?”
The president said: “It’s possible there will be some because you won’t be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is, but at the same time we’re going to practise 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. And we have to get our country back.”
A prolonged shutdown, Trump added, came with its own costs in terms of increased drug use and suicide.
Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate, tweeted: “It appears the plan is, shamefully, to have no plan. Americans will suffer. We must replace this administration in November.”
David Axelrod, former chief strategist for Barack Obama, added on Twitter: “If you can’t shut down the virus, shut down the taskforce.”
Pence was responding on Tuesday to questions about a New York Times report that said officials in the Trump administration were telling the 22 taskforce members and their staff to expect the group to be phased out within weeks.
“I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day [25 May] window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,” the vice-president said, according to a pool report.
Pence insisted that “it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country” and promised to keep the response coordinator, Deborah Birx, “around every bit as long as we need to”.
Birx herself said: “We’ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now. It took us a while to build that capacity. And we’ll make sure that, you know, we’re watching that at a federal level.”
But there was also immediate confusion. Even as Pence spoke, Anthony Fauci, a leading taskforce member, was denying the Times’s report. “That’s not true,” the infectious disease expert told CBS News. “I’ve been in every taskforce meeting, and that’s not what they are doing.”
The taskforce was created in late January and Pence was named as chairman in late February. It met frequently to address the rapidly spreading pandemic and then explained its work in nightly press briefings dominated by Trump that sometimes lasted more than two hours.
But the president was accused of using the platform to score political points, with Republican allies eventually warning that the briefings were damaging him at the polls.
After a briefing in which Trump floated the idea of treating the virus with disinfectant injections, the events were soon killed off. There has now been no briefing for more than a week and the taskforce is meeting less frequently.
Its demise would be the latest sign that the White House is pivoting towards the first phase of Trump’s plan to reopen the country after many states ordered people to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. The president has urged supporters to “liberate” states from pandemic restrictions and signalled approval for armed protesters who have defied his own social distancing guidelines.
On Sunday, Trump held a Fox News virtual town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and was joined by Pence and the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, putting an emphasis on the economy.
Laura Ingraham, a Fox News host whom Trump follows closely, applauded the winding up of the taskforce. “For too long it seemed like unelected doctors were making policy,” she tweeted. “Economic toll was disastrous.”
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, denied that health concerns were being neglected: “Reporting on the task force is being misconstrued to suggest the White House is no longer involving medical experts,” she tweeted. “This is totally false. President Trump will continue his data-driven approach towards safely re-opening.”
But to critics, the timing is awry. On Monday, researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation almost doubled its previous US mortality model to more than 134,000 from 72,400 on 29 April. The change reflected “rising mobility in most US states” with an easing of business closures and stay-at-home orders expected in 31 states by 11 May, the institute said.
Fauci warned in a CNN interview on Monday that there would be a “rebound” of new coronavirus cases in the US if the country rushes towards a “premature” reopening of society and business. “How many deaths and how much suffering are you willing to accept to get back to what you want to be some form of normality sooner rather than later?” he asked.
Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow in the governance studies programme at the Brookings Institution thinktank in Washington, said any attempt to sideline Birx and Fauci was doomed. “He might try to marginalise them but the press isn’t going to try to marginalise them.
“They are the people with the data and with the expertise and nobody with data and expertise is going to be marginalised. It’s going to be the politicians who don’t listen to the scientists who are going to get marginalised.”


theguardian--2020-05-05--Why is the White House winding down the coronavirus taskforce?

The Trump administration is poised to break up the White House coronavirus taskforce , the public face of the US response to the virus , even as experts warn that the worst is yet to come .
Here is what we know so far about the taskforce and where the US stands in its response to Covid-19 .
What is the coronavirus taskforce ?
Days after public health officials announced the first confirmed case of Covid-19 on US soil on 21 January , the White House announced that it had formed a taskforce that would lead the federal government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , it said , would work together to monitor , contain and mitigate the spread of the virus in the US and keep the public informed about important public health and travel guidance .
By March , as the US reported thousands of new cases of Covid-19 every day , the taskforce gave daily press briefings , ostensibly to update Americans about the public health emergency .
But at the end of April , the briefings stopped .
The last press conference was held on 24 April .
According to reports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearances were hurting his chance of re-election in November , especially after he suggested – with no evidence – that disinfectant could fight the virus in human bodies .
Who is on the taskforce ?
Headed by Mike Pence , the taskforce is made up of members of Trump ’ s cabinet , including Alex Azar , secretary of health and human services , and Steve Mnuchin , secretary of the treasury .
There are also representatives from different departments , such as transportation and defense , and various advisers to the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drs Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx , to the taskforce .
Both , though especially Fauci , have been widely regarded as the sober voices centered on public health , in contrast with the political figures on the taskforce .
What effect is Covid-19 having on public health in the US ?
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and released on Tuesday showed that the number of coronavirus deaths in the US had passed 70,000 – far more than any other country , and over a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US had nearly 1.2m confirmed cases , one-third of the worldwide total .
The virus has had a devastating effect in communities across the US as hospital systems have become overwhelmed and struggled to get proper protective equipment and ventilators to help patients with the most serious cases .
A report thought to be from the White House ( though the White House has denied ownership ) said daily coronavirus deaths could reach 3,000 in the US by 1 June .
The US is currently seeing between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
What effect has Covid-19 had on the US economy ?
A majority of states issued stay-at-home orders , allowing only essential workers to go to work and keep their businesses open .
This has resulted in a wave of unemployment throughout the US : more than 22 million people have filed for unemployment since the crisis began , a number likely to rise as states work through the backlog of applications .
Industries such as restaurants and travel have been decimated by shutdown orders with uncertainty over when , if ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress has passed a series of spending bills , the main one being a $ 2.2tn stimulus package in March , to try to mitigate the harm the virus has had on industries , hospitals and local governments .
As the economic fallout worsened , Trump has encouraged states to reopen , insisting that it is safe while also acknowledging the death toll is set to rise .
Twenty-three states are beginning to reopen despite the warnings of the risks to public safety .
Meanwhile critics have accused Trump of effectively abandoning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing “ clear willingness to trade lives for the Dow Jones ” .
Why is the White House ending the coronavirus taskforce ?
Pence insisted that “ it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we ’ ve made as a country ” , despite data on the continuing public health risk .
Recently there has been some tension in messaging about the virus from key members of the group .
Fauci has cautioned that the US needs to have enough testing capacity to reopen safely , and is not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US will need to double its current level of testing within several weeks .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s a chance that this virus is just going to disappear , ” he told National Geographic .
“ It ’ s going to be around , and if given the opportunity , it will resurge.
” But acknowledging that the US is still behind on testing does not chime with Trump ’ s messaging .
In recent days , Trump has started to amp up talk about reopening the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ going to happen pretty fast ” .

The Trump administration is poised to break up the White House coronavirus taskforce, the public face of the US response to the virus, even as experts warn that the worst is yet to come.
Here is what we know so far about the taskforce and where the US stands in its response to Covid-19.
What is the coronavirus taskforce?
Days after public health officials announced the first confirmed case of Covid-19 on US soil on 21 January, the White House announced that it had formed a taskforce that would lead the federal government’s response to the pandemic. The group, it said, would work together to monitor, contain and mitigate the spread of the virus in the US and keep the public informed about important public health and travel guidance.
By March, as the US reported thousands of new cases of Covid-19 every day, the taskforce gave daily press briefings, ostensibly to update Americans about the public health emergency.
But at the end of April, the briefings stopped. The last press conference was held on 24 April. According to reports, Trump’s advisers said his daily appearances were hurting his chance of re-election in November, especially after he suggested – with no evidence – that disinfectant could fight the virus in human bodies.
Who is on the taskforce?
Headed by Mike Pence, the taskforce is made up of members of Trump’s cabinet, including Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services, and Steve Mnuchin, secretary of the treasury. There are also representatives from different departments, such as transportation and defense, and various advisers to the president.
Trump appointed two well-respected epidemiologists, Drs Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, to the taskforce. Both, though especially Fauci, have been widely regarded as the sober voices centered on public health, in contrast with the political figures on the taskforce.
What effect is Covid-19 having on public health in the US?
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and released on Tuesday showed that the number of coronavirus deaths in the US had passed 70,000 – far more than any other country, and over a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the world. As of Tuesday afternoon, the US had nearly 1.2m confirmed cases, one-third of the worldwide total.
The virus has had a devastating effect in communities across the US as hospital systems have become overwhelmed and struggled to get proper protective equipment and ventilators to help patients with the most serious cases.
A report thought to be from the White House (though the White House has denied ownership) said daily coronavirus deaths could reach 3,000 in the US by 1 June. The US is currently seeing between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths and between 20,000 and 30,000 new cases a day.
What effect has Covid-19 had on the US economy?
A majority of states issued stay-at-home orders, allowing only essential workers to go to work and keep their businesses open. This has resulted in a wave of unemployment throughout the US: more than 22 million people have filed for unemployment since the crisis began, a number likely to rise as states work through the backlog of applications.
Industries such as restaurants and travel have been decimated by shutdown orders with uncertainty over when, if ever, business will return to normal. Congress has passed a series of spending bills, the main one being a $2.2tn stimulus package in March, to try to mitigate the harm the virus has had on industries, hospitals and local governments.
As the economic fallout worsened, Trump has encouraged states to reopen, insisting that it is safe while also acknowledging the death toll is set to rise. Twenty-three states are beginning to reopen despite the warnings of the risks to public safety.
Meanwhile critics have accused Trump of effectively abandoning a public health strategy for the pandemic and showing “clear willingness to trade lives for the Dow Jones”.
Why is the White House ending the coronavirus taskforce?
Pence insisted that “it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country”, despite data on the continuing public health risk.
Recently there has been some tension in messaging about the virus from key members of the group.
Fauci has cautioned that the US needs to have enough testing capacity to reopen safely, and is not yet at that stage. Fauci said the US will need to double its current level of testing within several weeks.
“I don’t think there’s a chance that this virus is just going to disappear,” he told National Geographic. “It’s going to be around, and if given the opportunity, it will resurge.”
But acknowledging that the US is still behind on testing does not chime with Trump’s messaging.
In recent days, Trump has started to amp up talk about reopening the economy, saying Tuesday morning that it was “going to happen pretty fast”.