theguardian--2020-10-05--Donald Trump returns to the White House after three-day hospital stay

A contagious Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday and immediately took off his face mask for a photo op , despite being in close proximity to his staff .
After a three-day stay at a military hospital to treat symptoms of the coronavirus , the US president stepped off the Marine One helicopter just before 7pm and walked up the south portico staircase .
He stopped in front of an illuminated entrance with four US flags , turned to face the south lawn – and brazenly removed his mask while posing for cameras .
Trump waved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he watched Marine One lift off from the south lawn .
A photographer stood close by .
Video footage suggested that he was breathing hard .
He then waved and walked inside , where masked staff were visible , only to reemerge for what appeared to be a film shoot .
In the film , which he tweeted soon after , Trump offered some bizarrely contrary advice about the virus , which has killed more than 200,000 Americans : “ Don ’ t let it dominate you .
Don ’ t be afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ na beat it .
We have the best medical equipment .
We have the best medicines , all developed recently.
” The president , much criticised for his defiance of public health guidelines , added : “ Nobody that ’ s a leader would not do what I did .
And I know there ’ s a risk , there ’ s a danger , but that ’ s OK. And now I ’ m better and maybe I ’ m immune – I don ’ t know !
But don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there .
Be careful.
” Critics were stunned by the president ’ s audacity .
Neera Tanden , the president of the Center for American Progress think tank , told the MSNBC network : “ I could not imagine a greater act of selfishness by a human being , let alone the president of the United States , who is supposed to protect us .
He ’ s doing the opposite , he ’ s endangering people around him.
” The reckless act seemed to signal an unbroken line in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he had admitted he deliberately downplayed for months .
He also announced on Twitter his intention to return to the election campaign trail “ soon ” .
“ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid , ” he tweeted earlier in the day .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago !
” The message appeared to confirm predictions of critics that , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to use his own experience to yet again downplay the virus and claim that its severity has been exaggerated .
Earlier on Monday Sean Conley , the White House physician , whose own credibility had been questioned , explained the decision for Trump leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland .
“ He ’ s met or exceeded all standard discharge criteria , ” Conley told reporters .
“ He ’ ll receive another dose of Remdesivir [ an antiviral medication ] here today and then we plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We send patients home with medications all the time .
In fact , yesterday afternoon he probably met most of his discharge requirements.
” A reporter asked how this would be safe , referring to Trump ’ s drive by supporters on Sunday and his return to the White House , where staff have reportedly been in turmoil since the president and first lady ’ s diagnoses with coronavirus late last week .
Conley said : “ The president has been surrounded by medical and security staff for days wearing full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service agents were in that same level of PPE for a very short period of time.
” It has been more than 72 hours since Trump ’ s last fever , Conley added , and his blood oxygen level is normal .
“ Though he may not entirely be out of the woods yet , the team and I agree that all our evaluations and , most importantly , his clinical status , support the president ’ s safe return home where he ’ ll be surrounded by world class medical care 24/7.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Trump ’ s lungs had suffered inflammation or when he received his last negative test .
“ I don ’ t want to go backwards , ” he said .
Trump has been treated at Walter Reed since late on Friday afternoon .
His medical team have given upbeat assessments of his condition , but this message has been undercut by the White House chief of staff , Mark Meadows , and by the decision to treat Trump with the steroid dexamethasone , usually reserved for more severe cases .
Wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 6.38pm .
He walked to a presidential limousine ignoring reporters questions : “ Mr President , how many members of your staff are sick ?
” Another asked if he was a “ super-spreader ” .
Trump , giving a slight wave , said : “ Thank you very much , everybody.
” He paused at the limousine and gave a thumbs up and fist wave before climbing in .
He then took the short flight on Marine One to the executive mansion , where he staged his most controversial photo op @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so he could pose with a Bible outside a historic church .
But he found a White House diminished by Covid-19 , with press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , two junior communications staff and two housekeeping staff the latest to test positive on Monday .
Personnel there have flouted public health guidelines for months .
There are now concerns the outbreak could threaten the running of government .
Zac Petkanas , the director of the coronavirus war room at the health advocacy group Protect Our Care , condemned Trump ’ s decision to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s willing to endanger the lives of White House support staff like housekeepers , janitors and his Secret Service detail speaks volumes about his priorities , ” Petkanas said .
“ Unfortunately , we should come to expect nothing less from someone who in the last week alone has endangered the lives of thousands by participating in fundraisers , rallies and even joy rides in his SUV after he was experiencing symptoms.
” Joe Lockhart , a former White House press secretary under Bill Clinton , tweeted : “ This Presidency has turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who thinks he ’ s immune and doesn ’ t care how many he kills – as long as the camera gets his good side .
”

David Smith and Lauren Gambino in Washington

A contagious Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday and immediately took off his face mask for a photo op, despite being in close proximity to his staff.
After a three-day stay at a military hospital to treat symptoms of coronavirus, the US president stepped off the Marine One helicopter just before 7pm and walked up the south portico staircase. He stopped in front of an illuminated entrance with four US flags, turned to face the south lawn – and brazenly removed his mask while posing for cameras.
Trump waved, gave two thumbs up and saluted as he watched Marine One lift off from the south lawn. A photographer stood close by. Video footage suggested that he was breathing hard. He then waved and walked inside, where masked staff were visible, only to re-emerge for what appeared to be a film shoot.
In the film, which he tweeted soon after, Trump offered some bizarrely contrary advice about the virus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans: “Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it. You’re gonna beat it. We have the best medical equipment. We have the best medicines, all developed recently.”
The president, much criticised for his defiance of public health guidelines, added: “Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did. And I know there’s a risk, there’s a danger, but that’s OK. And now I’m better and maybe I’m immune – I don’t know! But don’t let it dominate your lives. Get out there. Be careful.”
01:00 Donald Trump appears short of breath during maskless photo op at White House – video
Critics were stunned by the president’s audacity. Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress thinktank, told the MSNBC network: “I could not imagine a greater act of selfishness by a human being, let alone the president of the United States, who is supposed to protect us. He’s doing the opposite, he’s endangering people around him.”
The reckless act seemed to signal an unbroken line in Trump’s cavalier attitude to the virus, which he had admitted he deliberately downplayed for months. He also announced on Twitter his intention to return to the election campaign trail “soon”.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid,” he tweeted earlier in the day. “Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
The message appeared to confirm the predictions of critics that, if Trump stays relatively healthy, he will attempt to use his own experience to yet again downplay the virus and claim its severity has been exaggerated.
Earlier on Monday Sean Conley, the White House physician, whose own credibility had been questioned, explained the decision for Trump leaving Walter Reed national military medical center in Bethesda, Maryland. “He’s met or exceeded all standard discharge criteria,” Conley told reporters. “He’ll receive another dose of Remdesivir [an antiviral medication] here today and then we plan to get him home.”
Donald Trump’s decision to remove his face mask after returning from being hospitalized was immediately criticized. Photograph: Erin Scott/Reuters
He added: “We send patients home with medications all the time. In fact, yesterday afternoon he probably met most of his discharge requirements.”
A reporter asked how this would be safe, referring to Trump’s drive by supporters on Sunday and his return to the White House, where staff have reportedly been in turmoil since the president and first lady’s diagnoses late last week.
Conley said: “The president has been surrounded by medical and security staff for days wearing full PPE. And yesterday the US secret service agents were in that same level of PPE for a very short period of time.”
It has been more than 72 hours since Trump’s last fever, Conley added, and his blood oxygen level was normal. “Though he may not entirely be out of the woods yet, the team and I agree that all our evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status, support the president’s safe return home where he’ll be surrounded by world-class medical care 24/7.”
But Conley repeatedly declined to say whether Trump’s lungs had suffered inflammation or when he received his last negative test. “I don’t want to go backwards,” he said.
Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert and White House coronavirus taskforce member, warned on CNN that Trump could experience a “reversal” in his progress. “I’m not involved in his primary care,” Fauci said. “But the issue is that he’s still early enough in the disease that it’s no secret that if you look at the clinical course of people sometimes, when you’re five to eight days in, you can have a reversal.”
Fauci also said he believed the experimental Regeneron antibody therapy given to Trump helped the president. Fauci explained that “monoclonal antibodies” are a treatment that scientists are “really quite optimistic about”. The drug has been developed specifically for the pandemic and is in late-stage trials in the US.
Speaking on Rachel Maddow, former CIA director John Brennan, a fierce critic of the president, said, “I don’t think the American people can have any confidence that what they’re hearing right now about Donald Trump’s health is accurate.”Wearing a mask, Trump emerged from Walter Reed at 6.38pm on Monday. He walked to a presidential limousine ignoring reporters questions: “Mr President, how many members of your staff are sick?” Another asked if he was a “super-spreader”.
Trump, giving a slight wave, said: “Thank you very much, everybody.”
He paused at the limousine and gave a thumbs up and fist wave before climbing in. He then took the short flight on Marine One to the executive mansion, where he staged his most controversial photo op since his security forces cleared peaceful protests so he could pose with a Bible outside a historic church.
But he found a White House diminished by Covid-19, with his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, two junior communications staff and two housekeeping staff the latest to test positive on Monday. Personnel there have flouted public health guidelines for months. There are now concerns the outbreak could threaten the running of government.
Zac Petkanas, a director at the health advocacy group Protect Our Care, condemned Trump’s decision to return. “The fact that he’s willing to endanger the lives of White House support staff like housekeepers, janitors and his Secret Service detail speaks volumes about his priorities,” Petkanas said.
Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary under Bill Clinton, tweeted: “This Presidency has turned grotesque. The President is a superspreader who thinks he’s immune and doesn’t care how many he kills – as long as the camera gets his good side.”


theguardian--2020-10-05--White House grinds to a halt as Trump's press chief joins Covid-infected list

Donald Trump ’ s top spokesperson , Kayleigh McEnany , announced she had tested positive for coronavirus on Monday , in yet another escalation of a rampaging outbreak that hospitalized the president and threw the White House into disarray – even as Trump announced he was leaving hospital .
With the pandemic surging , the economy foundering and the election fast approaching , operations at the White House appeared to grind to a halt , with senior staff complaining anonymously to reporters they had been kept in the dark about the president ’ s condition and given no instruction about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen colleagues and recent visitors announced they had Covid-19 .
The state of Trump ’ s health was muddled by mixed messages from his doctors and top aides – and by erratic moves by Trump himself , who left the hospital for a brief car ride on Sunday night and on Monday morning cut loose a string of all-caps campaign-related tweets .
However , early on Monday afternoon , just as a fresh medical briefing on the president was awaited and amid growing speculation , Trump tweeted that he would leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He simultaneously downplayed once again the seriousness of the disease , having received himself the best care available anywhere , by saying : “ Feeling really good !
Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life.
” Trump was admitted on Friday evening and had reportedly demanded to be released on Sunday , but was assuaged with the controversial ride in an armored SUV to greet supporters outside the hospital .
Citing an anonymous source , Vanity Fair magazine reported on Monday that Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s behavior and had sought help from his siblings in “ staging an intervention ” .
Depending on when he contracted the virus , it seemed Trump had not yet emerged from the window when he is likely to be infectious .
It was unclear how his return to the White House could affect the escalating health crisis there .
No internal communications detailing precautions staff should take had been issued , a senior White House official told Axios .
It was “ ridiculous ” , the official said .
“ A bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just gon na make the calls on our own.
” Democrats condemned the White House ’ s handling of the outbreak – and the fact Trump and his colleagues allowed it to happen in the first place – as a glaring culmination of an abysmal track record on the virus .
“ These people think this is all a game , ” tweeted Senator Chris Murphy .
“ They don ’ t care about the rules , which is why we have 200,000 dead .
Vote them all out.
” The US has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and about 7.5m cases .
Apart from the health implications for the president and everyone around him , the White House outbreak could not have come at a worse time for Trump , who is slipping further each day in the polls .
Trump ’ s numbers show no sign of a sympathy bounce .
The proportion of Americans who disapproved of his response to the pandemic rose three points in the last week to 57 % , according to a Reuters-Ipsos poll .
Two separate high-quality polls showed Joe Biden with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a group Trump won by eight points in 2016 .
Less than a week ago , it appeared Trump had suffered a terrible setback when he turned in a universally panned performance in the first debate .
But in retrospect the debate looks like a high point .
On Friday evening , the 74-year-old was taken to hospital , where he has received a steroid treatment , an experimental antibody treatment , an antiviral drug and supplemental oxygen – despite his lead doctor ’ s original denial that oxygen had been given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upbeat attitude of the team , the president , ” Dr Sean Conley said .
The list of close Trump associates infected with Covid-19 , including many who attended a White House ceremony for the supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on 27 September , has steadily grown .
The list includes the first lady , Melania Trump , three Republican senators , top advisers Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway , campaign manager Bill Stepien , the president ’ s “ body man ” , adviser Chris Christie and Republican party chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including McEnany – or at least four members of the press .
One of those reporters , Michael Shear of the New York Times , said on Monday that the White House had made “ zero ” effort to conduct contact tracing around his case , indicating precautions had still not been put in place .
McEnany conducted an in-person press briefing on Thursday , a day after Hicks was diagnosed .
On Sunday evening , McEnany walked out of the White House to address reporters , removing her mask as she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House had determined no reporters were exposed by her case .
The person in line to take command should Trump be debilitated , Vice-President Mike Pence , is not in Washington , having left for Utah , where he is scheduled to debate the Democratic vice-presidential nominee , Kamala Harris , on Wednesday night .
Pence ’ s office has said he and wife Karen Pence have repeatedly tested negative but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , that does not mean it is responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Individuals who have come into contact with known carriers should enter quarantine for 14 days , the CDC recommends .
At the Barrett event , Pence was seated in front of the Utah senator Mike Lee , who has tested positive , and across from Melania Trump and Conway .
The Republicans ’ heedlessness of virus mitigation efforts could endanger one of their most prized projects , the confirmation of Barrett , who is supposed to sit before the Senate judiciary committee next Monday .
Both Lee and a second committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tillis of North Carolina , must work from home if they are able .
A third senator , Ron Johnson of Wisconsin , has also tested positive .

Tom McCarthy national affairs correspondent

Donald Trump’s top spokesperson, Kayleigh McEnany, announced she had tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, in yet another escalation of a rampaging outbreak that hospitalized the president and threw the White House into disarray – even as Trump announced he was leaving hospital.
With the pandemic surging, the economy foundering and the election fast approaching, operations at the White House appeared to grind to a halt, with senior staff complaining anonymously to reporters they had been kept in the dark about the president’s condition and given no instruction about how to stay safe as more than a dozen colleagues and recent visitors announced they had Covid-19.
The state of Trump’s health was muddled by mixed messages from his doctors and top aides – and by erratic moves by Trump himself, who left the hospital for a brief car ride on Sunday night and on Monday morning cut loose a string of all-caps campaign-related tweets.
02:36 Trump leaves hospital but ‘not out of woods’ – video
However, early on Monday afternoon, just as a fresh medical briefing on the president was awaited and amid growing speculation, Trump tweeted that he would leave the hospital that evening, at 6.30pm.
He simultaneously downplayed once again the seriousness of the disease, having received himself the best care available anywhere, by saying : “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life.”
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
Trump was admitted on Friday evening and had reportedly demanded to be released on Sunday, but was assuaged with the controversial ride in an armored SUV to greet supporters outside the hospital.
Citing an anonymous source, Vanity Fair magazine reported on Monday that Donald Trump Jr was worried by his father’s behavior and had sought help from his siblings in “staging an intervention”.
Depending on when he contracted the virus, it seemed Trump had not yet emerged from the window when he is likely to be infectious. It was unclear how his return to the White House could affect the escalating health crisis there.
No internal communications detailing precautions staff should take had been issued, a senior White House official told Axios. It was “ridiculous”, the official said. “A bunch of us are talking about it and just gonna make the calls on our own.”
Democrats condemned the White House’s handling of the outbreak – and the fact Trump and his colleagues allowed it to happen in the first place – as a glaring culmination of an abysmal track record on the virus.
“These people think this is all a game,” tweeted Senator Chris Murphy. “They don’t care about the rules, which is why we have 200,000 dead. Vote them all out.”
The US has recorded more than 210,000 deaths from Covid-19 and about 7.5m cases.
Apart from the health implications for the president and everyone around him, the White House outbreak could not have come at a worse time for Trump, who is slipping further each day in the polls.
Trump’s numbers show no sign of a sympathy bounce. The proportion of Americans who disapproved of his response to the pandemic rose three points in the last week to 57%, according to a Reuters-Ipsos poll. Two separate high-quality polls showed Joe Biden with a double-digit lead among voters 65 and older, a group Trump won by eight points in 2016.
Less than a week ago, it appeared Trump had suffered a terrible setback when he turned in a universally panned performance in the first debate.
But in retrospect the debate looks like a high point. On Friday evening, the 74-year-old was taken to hospital, where he has received a steroid treatment, an experimental antibody treatment, an antiviral drug and supplemental oxygen – despite his lead doctor’s original denial that oxygen had been given.
“I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team, the president,” Dr Sean Conley said.
01:18 ‘Don't be afraid of it’: Trump removes mask as he returns to White House – video
The list of close Trump associates infected with Covid-19, including many who attended a White House ceremony for the supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on 27 September, has steadily grown.
The list includes the first lady, Melania Trump, three Republican senators, top advisers Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager Bill Stepien, the president’s “body man”, adviser Chris Christie and Republican party chair, Ronna McDaniel.
That was not including McEnany – or at least four members of the press. One of those reporters, Michael Shear of the New York Times, said on Monday that the White House had made “zero” effort to conduct contact tracing around his case, indicating precautions had still not been put in place.
McEnany conducted an in-person press briefing on Thursday, a day after Hicks was diagnosed. On Sunday evening, McEnany walked out of the White House to address reporters, removing her mask as she did so. On Monday, McEnany insisted the White House had determined no reporters were exposed by her case.
The person in line to take command should Trump be debilitated, Vice-President Mike Pence, is not in Washington, having left for Utah, where he is scheduled to debate the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, on Wednesday night.
Pence’s office has said he and wife Karen Pence have repeatedly tested negative but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that does not mean it is responsible for Pence to interact freely with other people. Individuals who have come into contact with known carriers should enter quarantine for 14 days, the CDC recommends.
At the Barrett event, Pence was seated in front of the Utah senator Mike Lee, who has tested positive, and across from Melania Trump and Conway.
The Republicans’ heedlessness of virus mitigation efforts could endanger one of their most prized projects, the confirmation of Barrett, who is supposed to sit before the Senate judiciary committee next Monday. Both Lee and a second committee member who has tested positive, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, must work from home if they are able. A third senator, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, has also tested positive.


theguardian--2020-10-06--‘Don't be afraid of it’: Trump removes mask as he returns to White House – video

Donald Trump has returned to the White House following his hospital stay at the Walter Reed Medical Center .
He @ @ @ @ @ the White House balcony and recorded a video message telling people not to be afraid @ @ @ @ @ let it dominate you , do n't be afraid of it , you 're going @ @ @ @ @ the US president said . '
I know there 's a risk , there 's @ @ @ @ @ OK ' .
He suggested he may now be immune to the disease though he @ @ @ @ @ .

Donald Trump has returned to the White House following his hospital stay at the Walter Reed Medical Center. He removed his surgical mask on the White House balcony and recorded a video message telling people not to be afraid of Covid-19. 'Don't let it dominate you, don't be afraid of it, you're going to beat it,' the US president said. 'I know there's a risk, there's a danger but that's OK'. He suggested he may now be immune to the disease though he added he did not know.


theguardian--2020-10-05--Trump leaves hospital but ‘not out of woods’ – video

Donald Trump has left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after spending several days receiving treatment for Covid-19 .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ US president was ‘ not yet out of the woods ’ but had met all @ @ @ @ @ discharged .
Trump ’ s physician , Dr Sean Conley , said : ‘ We @ @ @ @ @ guard because we 're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a @ @ @ @ @ he has so early in the course . '
When asked by reporters Conley said @ @ @ @ @ to discuss ' Trump ’ s latest lung scans due to health privacy regulations .

Donald Trump has left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after spending several days receiving treatment for Covid-19. Trump’s doctors said the US president was ‘not yet out of the woods’ but had met all standard hospital criteria to be discharged. Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said: ‘We remain cautiously optimistic and on guard because we're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course.' When asked by reporters Conley said he was 'not at liberty to discuss' Trump’s latest lung scans due to health privacy regulations.


theguardian--2020-10-07--'Again we are a house divided': Joe Biden calls for unity in Gettysburg speech

Joe Biden delivered a forceful appeal for national unity from the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday , as the nation lurched from crisis to crisis and the president continued to downplay the severity of the coronavirus after being hospitalized for Covid-19 .
From the storied civil war battlefield of Gettysburg , a symbol of the divisions that nearly tore the nation in two , Biden cast the election as a “ battle for the soul of the nation ” and emphasized the stakes this November .
“ Today , once again we are a house divided , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American flags with the rolling hills of Gettysburg behind him .
“ But that , my friend , can no longer be .
We are facing too many crises .
We have too much work to do .
We have too bright a future to leave it shipwrecked on the shoals of anger and hate and division.
” In a sweeping speech – one that drew on Abraham Lincoln ’ s address at the same spot , the site of one of the war ’ s bloodiest battles , and Lyndon Johnson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later – Biden warned of the “ cost of division ” and his fears that partisanship threatened to undermine the central pillars of American democracy .
Biden vowed to govern as an “ American president ” , one who would seek bipartisan solutions to the nation ’ s most consequential problems , including the coronavirus pandemic , racial injustice and economic turmoil .
Though he did not mention Trump by name , Biden ’ s remarks amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of the president ’ s leadership in the wake of a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans and infected millions more , including the president and a widening circle of White House aides and allies .
Lamenting the politicization of science and facts , he called for a national strategy .
“ Wearing a mask isn ’ t a political statement – it ’ s a scientific recommendation , ” Biden said , a surgical mask clenched in his fist .
“ We can ’ t undo what has been done .
We can ’ t go back .
But we can do better.
” His remarks drew a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended negotiations with Democrats over additional relief as millions of Americans continue to suffer from the financial crisis triggered by the virus .
The move was the latest jolt since the president left the hospital on Monday evening .
Earlier on Tuesday , he announced plans to participate in the next presidential debate in Miami on 15 October , which would be exactly two weeks after he tested positive for the virus .
Depending on the severity of Trump ’ s case , he could still be infectious at the point , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control and Prevention .
Biden told reporters he was “ looking forward ” to debating Trump next week , but made clear that if the president was still infectious , the debate should not go ahead .
“ If he still has Covid , we shouldn ’ t have a debate , ” Biden told reporters in Hagerstown , Maryland .
“ I think we were gon na have to follow very strict guidelines , ” he continued .
“ Too many people have been infected .
It ’ s a very serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the guidelines of the Cleveland Clinic and what the docs say is the right thing to do.
” Before his speech , which was held outdoors , the campaign announced that Biden had tested negative for the virus .
Biden also sought to grapple with demands for racial justice and police reform that have continued since the killing of George Floyd in May .
He said the legacy of racial injustice in America extends “ 400 years , to the moment when black men , women , and children were first brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you say we have no need to face racial injustice in this country , you haven ’ t opened your eyes to the truth in America , ” Biden said .
“ Think about what it takes for a Black person to love America .
That is a deep love for this country that for far too long we have never fully recognized.
” But he drew a clear line between support for the protesters and instances of violence in some cities , stating clearly that he supports “ law and order ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – two lines of attack Trump has attempted to level against him .
Four weeks before election day , the speech , one Biden said he worked “ very , very , very hard ” on , sounded like a closing argument .
“ As I look across America today , I ’ m concerned , ” Biden said .
“ The country is in a dangerous place .
Our trust in each other is ebbing .
Hope seems elusive.
” But he was optimistic , as ever , about the possibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , acknowledging some may find him naive in the age of hyperpartisanship and political tribalism .
“ The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some mysterious force beyond our control .
It ’ s a decision , a choice we make , ” he said .
“ And if we can decide not to cooperate , we can decide to cooperate as well.
” Pennsylvania , where Biden was raised , is a critical presidential battleground .
Long a Democratic stronghold , Trump clinched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows Biden with a wide lead .
Biden held a 12-point lead over Trump among all registered Pennsylvania voters , according to a Monmouth University poll released on Tuesday – powered by his strength in the Philadelphia suburbs and his growth in support among people of color .

Joe Biden delivered a forceful appeal for national unity from the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, as the nation lurched from crisis to crisis and the president continued to downplay the severity of the coronavirus after being hospitalized for Covid-19.
From the storied civil war battlefield of Gettysburg, a symbol of the divisions that nearly tore the nation in two, Biden cast the election as a “battle for the soul of the nation” and emphasized the stakes this November.
“Today, once again we are a house divided,” Biden said, framed by a row of American flags with the rolling hills of Gettysburg behind him. “But that, my friend, can no longer be. We are facing too many crises. We have too much work to do. We have too bright a future to leave it shipwrecked on the shoals of anger and hate and division.”
In a sweeping speech – one that drew on Abraham Lincoln’s address at the same spot, the site of one of the war’s bloodiest battles, and Lyndon Johnson’s remarks from there one hundred years later – Biden warned of the “cost of division” and his fears that partisanship threatened to undermine the central pillars of American democracy.
Biden vowed to govern as an “American president”, one who would seek bipartisan solutions to the nation’s most consequential problems, including the coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice and economic turmoil.
Though he did not mention Trump by name, Biden’s remarks amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of the president’s leadership in the wake of a global pandemic that has killed more than 210,000 Americans and infected millions more, including the president and a widening circle of White House aides and allies. Lamenting the politicization of science and facts, he called for a national strategy.
“Wearing a mask isn’t a political statement – it’s a scientific recommendation,” Biden said, a surgical mask clenched in his fist. “We can’t undo what has been done. We can’t go back. But we can do better.”
Joe Biden holds up his mask as he speaks in Gettysburg. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
His remarks drew a stark contrast with Trump, who abruptly ended negotiations with Democrats over additional relief as millions of Americans continue to suffer from the financial crisis triggered by the virus.
The move was the latest jolt since the president left the hospital on Monday evening. Earlier on Tuesday, he announced plans to participate in the next presidential debate in Miami on 15 October, which would be exactly two weeks after he tested positive for the virus.
Depending on the severity of Trump’s case, he could still be infectious at the point, according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden told reporters he was “looking forward” to debating Trump next week, but made clear that if the president was still infectious, the debate should not go ahead.
“If he still has Covid, we shouldn’t have a debate,” Biden told reporters in Hagerstown, Maryland. “I think we were gonna have to follow very strict guidelines,” he continued. “Too many people have been infected. It’s a very serious problem, so I will be guided by the guidelines of the Cleveland Clinic and what the docs say is the right thing to do.”
Before his speech, which was held outdoors, the campaign announced that Biden had tested negative for the virus.
Biden also sought to grapple with demands for racial justice and police reform that have continued since the killing of George Floyd in May. He said the legacy of racial injustice in America extends “400 years, to the moment when black men, women and children were first brought here in chains”.
“If you say we have no need to face racial injustice in this country, you haven’t opened your eyes to the truth in America,” Biden said. “Think about what it takes for a Black person to love America. That is a deep love for this country that for far too long we have never fully recognized.”
But he drew a clear line between support for the protesters and instances of violence in some cities, stating clearly that he supports “law and order” and opposes “defunding the police” – two lines of attack Trump has attempted to level against him.
Four weeks before election day, the speech, one Biden said he worked “very, very, very hard” on, sounded like a closing argument.
“As I look across America today, I’m concerned,” Biden said. “The country is in a dangerous place. Our trust in each other is ebbing. Hope seems elusive.”
But he was optimistic, as ever, about the possibility of forging national unity and finding common ground, acknowledging some may find him naive in the age of hyperpartisanship and political tribalism.
“The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some mysterious force beyond our control. It’s a decision, a choice we make,” he said. “And if we can decide not to cooperate, we can decide to cooperate as well.”
Pennsylvania, where Biden was raised, is a critical presidential battleground. Long a Democratic stronghold, Trump clinched the state in 2016. But new polling shows Biden with a wide lead.
Biden held a 12-point lead over Trump among all registered Pennsylvania voters, according to a Monmouth University poll released on Tuesday – powered by his strength in the Philadelphia suburbs and his growth in support among people of color.


theguardian--2020-10-07--Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller tests positive for coronavirus

Stephen Miller , a top aide to Donald Trump , has tested positive for Covid-19 , joining a growing a growing list of figures close to the president who have contracted the virus as the White House scrambles to contain a growing outbreak .
“ Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating , testing negative every day through yesterday .
Today , I tested positive for Covid-19 and am in quarantine , ” Miller said in a statement .
More than a dozen White House officials and others in the president ’ s orbit have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , Miller ’ s wife , Katie Miller – who is Mike Pence ’ s press secretary – contracted the virus .
Miller , who has served as a policy adviser and speechwriter for Trump , was among the most ardent defenders of the administration ’ s policy to separate children from parents .
An immigration hardliner who has publicly espoused racist and white nationalist ideas that migration and amnesty for immigrants would “ decimate ” the US , Miller was also a key player in the president ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in at least 5,400 children being separated from their parents .
On Wednesday , less than two days before Trump announced he had Covid-19 , Miller was seen boarding Marine One , the president ’ s helicopter , when it left the White House to fly to Joint Base Andrews .
He boarded the helicopter with other top advisers Hope Hicks , Dan Scovino and Jared Kushner .
Trump announced that Hicks had positive for coronavirus last week , hours before confirming his own diagnosis .
Meanwhile Trump , who is recuperating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eagerness to return to the campaign trail on Tuesday even as the outbreak that has killed more than 210,000 Americans reached ever more widely into the upper echelons of the US government .
Trump faced intense criticism after returning from the hospital , where he spent three days , and staging a mask-free photo op outside the White House despite remaining contagious .
US military leaders were also self-quarantining on Tuesday following the Pentagon ’ s announcement that a senior coast guard official had tested positive .
Anxious to project strength just weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday morning that he was planning to attend next week ’ s debate with Joe Biden in Miami .
“ It will be great !
” he said .
Biden , however , has said that if Trump remains Covid-positive by the next presidential debate , the event should be cancelled .
“ I ’ m not sure what President Trump is all about now .
I don ’ t know what his status is .
I ’ m looking forward to being able to debate him , but I just hope all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , speaking to journalists in Hagerstown , Maryland .
“ We shouldn ’ t have a debate ” if Trump is still sick , Biden added .
“ Too many people have been infected.
” So far , Biden has been testing negative for the virus , despite having interacted with Trump during the first presidential debate last Tuesday – when the president may have been infectious .
Katie Miller did not immediately respond to queries over whether she will refrain from seeing the vice-president , and whether she will isolate from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing on the virus or contracting it again .
The CDC says that information about reinfection is limited , and recommends that anyone who has had close contact with an infected person quarantine for two weeks , unless they have had the illness and recovered within the previous three months , and remain without symptoms .

Stephen Miller, a top aide to Donald Trump, has tested positive for Covid-19, joining a growing list of figures close to the president who have contracted the virus as the White House scrambles to contain a growing outbreak.
“Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating, testing negative every day through yesterday. Today, I tested positive for Covid-19 and am in quarantine,” Miller said in a statement.
More than a dozen White House officials and others in the president’s orbit have tested positive for the virus. Earlier this year, Miller’s wife, Katie Miller – who is Mike Pence’s press secretary – contracted the virus.
Miller, who has served as a policy adviser and speechwriter for Trump, was among the most ardent defenders of the administration’s policy to separate children from parents.
An immigration hardliner who has publicly espoused racist and white nationalist ideas that migration and amnesty for immigrants would “decimate” the US, Miller was also a key player in the president’s decision to ratchet up zero tolerance policies that resulted in at least 5,400 children being separated from their parents.
On Wednesday, less than two days before Trump announced he had Covid-19, Miller was seen boarding Marine One, the president’s helicopter, when it left the White House to fly to Joint Base Andrews. He boarded the helicopter with other top advisers Hope Hicks, Dan Scovino and Jared Kushner. Trump announced that Hicks had positive for coronavirus last week, hours before confirming his own diagnosis.
White House management, which has been criticised for a lax approach to putting in preventative measures during the pandemic, have belatedly acted. Prior to this weekend, they had not given any staff guidance on mandatory mask-wearing, leaving it as a matter of personal choice. But yesterday cleaners were seen in full protective equipment disinfecting working areas of the building, including the press briefing room. At least three journalists who cover the president have tested positive for coronavirus since last Saturday.
A member of the cleaning staff dressed in a protective suit, sprays the James Brady Briefing Room of the White House. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Those in the Trump inner circle who have contracted the virus have been publicly defending their actions. Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement about her positive test that as press secretary she was “an essential worker”, and that she “definitely had no knowledge” of aide Hope Hicks’ positive test result in advance. McEnany was seen briefing the press maskless on Thursday last week.
Hicks began displaying coronavirus symptoms while on Air Force One on Wednesday. Sources close to Hicks have sought to deflect blame from her personally spreading the virus to the president, pointing out that she did not attend the Rose Garden event on 26 September to celebrate the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett which has been dubbed a ‘super-spreading’ event as increasing number of attendees have now tested positive.
Ron Johnson, a senior Republican senator who has also tested positive for Covid in recent days, said yesterday that he would attend the Senate “in a moon suit” if necessary to cast his vote to confirm Barrett to the supreme court.
Meanwhile Trump, who is recuperating in the White House, tweeted his eagerness to return to the campaign trail on Tuesday even as the outbreak that has killed more than 210,000 Americans reached ever more widely into the upper echelons of the US government. Trump faced intense criticism after returning from the hospital, where he spent three days, and staging a mask-free photo op outside the White House despite remaining contagious.
US military leaders were also self-quarantining on Tuesday following the Pentagon’s announcement that a senior coast guard official had tested positive.
Anxious to project strength just weeks from election day, Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning that he was planning to attend next week’s debate with Joe Biden in Miami. “It will be great!” he said.
Biden, however, has said that if Trump remains Covid-positive by the next presidential debate, the event should be cancelled.
“I’m not sure what President Trump is all about now. I don’t know what his status is. I’m looking forward to being able to debate him, but I just hope all the protocols are followed,” Biden said, speaking to journalists in Hagerstown, Maryland.
“We shouldn’t have a debate” if Trump is still sick, Biden added. “Too many people have been infected.”
So far, Biden has been testing negative for the virus, despite having interacted with Trump during the first presidential debate last Tuesday – when the president may have been infectious.
Katie Miller did not immediately respond to queries over whether she will refrain from seeing the vice-president, and whether she will isolate from her partner to minimize any risk of passing on the virus or contracting it again.
The CDC says that information about reinfection is limited, and recommends that anyone who has had close contact with an infected person quarantine for two weeks, unless they have had the illness and recovered within the previous three months, and remain without symptoms.
Agencies contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-10-06--Congress should rein in top US tech companies, lawmakers' inquiry finds

Companies including Amazon , Google , Facebook , and Apple have amassed too much power and should be reined in , US lawmakers concluded in a major report resulting from a 16-month inquiry into America ’ s largest tech platforms .
These companies “ wield their dominance in ways that erode entrepreneurship , degrade Americans ’ privacy online , and undermine the vibrancy of the free and diverse press , ” the House judiciary committee concluded in its nearly 500-page report .
“ The result is less innovation , fewer choices for consumers , and a weakened democracy.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to check big tech ’ s power since the government sued Microsoft for antitrust violations in the 1990s .
It follows the committee ’ s lengthy inquiry into the effects of market dominance by major web platforms .
That investigation saw the country ’ s leading tech figures – including Jeff Bezos , Tim Cook , Mark Zuckerberg , and Sundar Pichai – testify before lawmakers during historic congressional hearings in July .
However the report was critical of their testimony , saying that the CEOs ’ “ answers were often evasive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they believe they are beyond the reach of democratic oversight ” .
To address the alleged monopolistic behavior from these companies , the committee offered a list of nearly a dozen sweeping changes , including “ structural separations ” of some of the companies .
It also suggested the prevention of future mergers that could lead to monopolization , and to reform antitrust laws to better rein in such explosive growth and domination before businesses are able to grow to this size .
Other actions put forward by the committee include preventing dominant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and increasing the budgets for the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice ’ s antitrust division to keep a closer eye on anticompetitive activity .
Advocates working against big tech have called on Congress to take action swiftly in light of the findings .
The report provides “ evidence that Facebook , Amazon , Apple , and Google have used anti-competitive conduct and acquisitions to grow and maintain their monopoly power ” , said Sally Hubbard , the director of enforcement strategy at the Open Markets Institute .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at this turning point for our nation , with our democracy hanging in the balance , Congress must act now , decisively and with courage , ” said Hubbard .
The report accused Amazon of monopolizing the online retail space , where 2.3 million sellers do business , 37 % of which rely exclusively on Amazon for income .
Amazon is also accused of harvesting data on consumer shopping habits to offer its own competing products at lower prices .
Amazon said in a statement that any actions against it “ would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of independent retailers out of online stores ” , leaving consumers with fewer choices .
“ Large companies are not dominant by definition , and the presumption that success can only be the result of anti-competitive behavior is simply wrong , ” Amazon said .
Apple is accused of dominating the distribution of software by controlling what apps are allowed on iOS devices .
The investigation cited that Apple favors its own services by pre-installing them onto iPhones and disadvantages its competitors by charging them as much as 30 % in commission fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : that the company dominates both social networking and online advertising .
Facebook ’ s monopoly over social media is “ firmly entrenched ” , the report said .
As of December of 2019 , the Facebook app had more than 200 million users in the United States , reaching 74 % of smartphone users .
Facebook has repeatedly acquired competitors or copied the products of competitors , giving it sweeping power .
The lack of competition in the social media space has led to the erosion of privacy and data protection as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the report said .
Facebook and Apple did not respond to request for comment , but during the hearings executives refuted allegations of anticompetitive behavior and touted the jobs their massive companies create .
Facebook has argued it does not monopolize the tech space and that users have “ multiple choices ” for every service the platform provides , said Will Castleberry , the vice-president of state and local policy at Facebook .
“ We understand that if we stop innovating , people can easily leave our platform , ” he previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the competition we face , not only in the US but around the globe.
” Though the investigation was considered bipartisan in nature , the committee is majority Democrat and the results are already being politicized .
Jim Jordan , the most senior Republican on the committee , said he will release his own report focusing on allegations of bias against conservatives by tech platforms .
Representative Ken Buck of Colorado also said he will release his own report , saying he agrees with the majority of the House judiciary committee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A spokesman from Google said the company disagrees with the report and accused it of relying on ” “ outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals ” .
It said solutions offered in the report would “ cause real harm to consumers ” .
Groups that advocate for small business or against Amazon have also endorsed the report.Stacy Mitchell , the co-director of Local Self-Reliance , an advocacy group for small businesses , said the recommendations represent a historic challenge to big tech that Congress should implement as soon as possible “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Amazon has amassed outsized market power and is exploiting its dominance to crush competitors and monopolize markets , ” she said .
“ The cost to Americans is steep : Amazon is using its power to concentrate wealth , trample independent businesses and start-ups , and undermine communities .
”

Companies including Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple have amassed too much power and should be reined in, US lawmakers concluded in a major report resulting from a 16-month inquiry into America’s largest tech platforms.
These companies “wield their dominance in ways that erode entrepreneurship, degrade Americans’ privacy online, and undermine the vibrancy of the free and diverse press”, the House judiciary committee concluded in its nearly 500-page report.
“The result is less innovation, fewer choices for consumers, and a weakened democracy.”
The historic investigation is the most significant effort to check big tech’s power since the government sued Microsoft for antitrust violations in the 1990s. It follows the committee’s lengthy inquiry into the effects of market dominance by major web platforms. That investigation saw the country’s leading tech figures – including Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai – testify before lawmakers during historic congressional hearings in July.
However, the report was critical of their testimony, saying that the CEOs’ “answers were often evasive and non-responsive … raising fresh questions about whether they believe they are beyond the reach of democratic oversight”.
To address the alleged monopolistic behavior from these companies, the committee offered a list of nearly a dozen sweeping changes, including “structural separations” of some of the companies. It also suggested the prevention of future mergers that could lead to monopolization, and to reform antitrust laws to better rein in such explosive growth and domination before businesses are able to grow to this size.
Other actions put forward by the committee include preventing dominant platforms from unfairly prioritizing their own services, and increasing the budgets for the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s antitrust division to keep a closer eye on anticompetitive activity.
Advocates working against big tech have called on Congress to take action swiftly in light of the findings. The report provides “evidence that Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google have used anti-competitive conduct and acquisitions to grow and maintain their monopoly power”, said Sally Hubbard, the director of enforcement strategy at the Open Markets Institute.
“The report offers a path forward, and, at this turning point for our nation, with our democracy hanging in the balance, Congress must act now, decisively and with courage,” said Hubbard.
The report accused Amazon of monopolizing the online retail space, where 2.3 million sellers do business, 37% of which rely exclusively on Amazon for income. Amazon is also accused of harvesting data on consumer shopping habits to offer its own competing products at lower prices.
Amazon said in a statement that any actions against it “would have the primary effect of forcing millions of independent retailers out of online stores”, leaving consumers with fewer choices. “Large companies are not dominant by definition, and the presumption that success can only be the result of anti-competitive behavior is simply wrong,” Amazon said.
The Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, testifies via video conference during the House judiciary committee’s investigation. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock
Apple is accused of dominating the distribution of software by controlling what apps are allowed on iOS devices. The investigation cited that Apple favors its own services by pre-installing them on to iPhones and disadvantages its competitors by charging them as much as 30% in commission fees.
The allegations against Facebook are twofold: that the company dominates both social networking and online advertising. Facebook’s monopoly over social media is “firmly entrenched”, the report said. As of December of 2019, the Facebook app had more than 200 million users in the United States, reaching 74% of smartphone users.
Facebook has repeatedly acquired competitors or copied the products of competitors, giving it sweeping power. The lack of competition in the social media space has led to the erosion of privacy and data protection as the company mines user data for advertising, the report said.
Facebook and Apple did not respond to request for comment, but during the hearings executives rejected allegations of anticompetitive behavior and touted the jobs their massive companies create.
Facebook has argued it does not monopolize the tech space and that users have “multiple choices” for every service the platform provides, said Will Castleberry, the vice-president of state and local policy at Facebook.
“We understand that if we stop innovating, people can easily leave our platform,” he previously told the Guardian. “This underscores the competition we face, not only in the US but around the globe.”
Though the investigation was considered bipartisan in nature, the committee is majority Democrat and the results are already being politicized. Jim Jordan, the most senior Republican on the committee, said he will release his own report focusing on allegations of bias against conservatives by tech platforms. Representative Ken Buck of Colorado also said he will release his own report, saying he agrees with the majority of the House judiciary committee’s report but believes in different solutions.
A spokesman from Google said the company disagrees with the report and accused it of relying on” “outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals”. It said solutions offered in the report would “cause real harm to consumers”.
Groups that advocate for small business or against Amazon have endorsed the report. Stacy Mitchell, the co-director of Local Self-Reliance, an advocacy group for small businesses, said the recommendations represent a historic challenge to big tech that Congress should implement as soon as possible
“The investigation has uncovered extensive and detailed evidence that Amazon has amassed outsized market power and is exploiting its dominance to crush competitors and monopolize markets,” she said. “The cost to Americans is steep: Amazon is using its power to concentrate wealth, trample independent businesses and startups, and undermine communities.”


theguardian--2020-10-06--Democrats outraged as Trump halts Covid stimulus talks until after election

Donald Trump on Tuesday called off negotiations with Democratic lawmakers on coronavirus relief legislation until after the election , even as cases of the virus are on the rise across much of the country before flu season .
“ I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when , immediately after I win , we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business , ” Trump wrote on Twitter a day after emerging from a hospital stay for Covid-19 treatment .
The news triggered an immediate stock market selloff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations , US stocks were down more than 2 % in late afternoon trading .
Trump ’ s surprise move came after House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said during an interview with NBC ’ s Face the Nation that progress was being made in her negotiations with the Trump administration on a bill to build on the more than $ 3tn in coronavirus aid enacted into law earlier this year .
Pelosi issued a thundering statement in the wake of the announcement , accusing Trump of “ putting himself first at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations over a new coronavirus aid package from Congress .
Pelosi said Trump “ showed his true colors ” in stopping the talks between congressional leaders and the White House that have been aimed at bringing $ 2tn in new aid to fight the coronavirus .
The Democratic leader said by “ walking away ” Trump was “ unwilling to crush the virus ” and is abandoning the needs of children and other Americans .
“ The White House is in complete disarray , ” she concluded .
Some media commentators described Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scored against his own team – making it a lot harder for him to blame Democrats for any lack of a deal .
Pelosi and Mnuchin had been talking extensively , in person and by phone , in recent days .
But with some arch-conservative senators facing tough re-election battles and campaigning on platforms of fiscal austerity , there has been resistance to Trump spending more trillions on economic relief at this juncture , no matter the individuals , businesses and entities such as the postal service crying out for aid .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jerome Powell , told a business conference the US economic expansion was “ far from complete ” following the deep contraction stemming from the coronavirus pandemic .
A failure by the United States to provide further relief , Powell warned , “ would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses.
“ In recent days , financial markets were hopeful progress toward a Covid-19 vaccine and another round of economic stimulus from Congress would boost the US economy , which has been showing signs of renewed weakness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow the gap between a recent Democratic call for around $ 2.2tn in new spending to battle the pandemic and bolster the economy , versus around $ 1.6tn sought by the administration .
It was not clear whether enough Senate Republicans would have gotten behind any deal , however .

The erratic process to approve further coronavirus economic relief for struggling individuals and businesses took another turn on Wednesday morning when Donald Trump pivoted from abruptly canceling talks on a comprehensive package until after the election to urging a new bill to provide personal checks for Americans.
The president tweeted, with a mention of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, saying: “Move fast, I am waiting to sign!”
Donald Trump on Tuesday called off negotiations with Democratic lawmakers on coronavirus relief legislation until after the election, even as cases of the virus are on the rise across much of the country before flu season.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” Trump wrote on Twitter a day after emerging from a hospital stay for Covid-19 treatment.
The news triggered a brief stock market selloff. Following Trump’s announcement breaking off negotiations, US stocks were down more than 2% in late afternoon trading.
However, the president later appeared to backtrack slightly and said he was “ready to sign right now” a bill that would approve a fresh round of $1,200 stimulus checks to be sent out immediately.
Trump’s decision to halt talks came after Pelosi on Sunday said during an interview with NBC’s Face the Nation that progress was being made in her negotiations with the Trump administration on a bill to build on the more than $3tn in coronavirus aid enacted into law earlier this year.
Pelosi issued a thundering statement in the wake of the announcement, accusing Trump of “putting himself first at the expense of the country” by halting negotiations over a new coronavirus aid package from Congress.
Pelosi said Trump “showed his true colors” in stopping the talks between congressional leaders and the White House that have been aimed at bringing $2tn in new aid to fight the coronavirus. The Democratic leader said by “walking away” Trump was “unwilling to crush the virus” and is abandoning the needs of children and other Americans.
“The White House is in complete disarray,” she concluded.
Many Republicans on Capitol Hill could not countenance a relief bill over $2tn as Democrats were proposing, with the GOP favoring something between $800bn and $1.5tn, and they never got above that ceiling despite the many rounds of talks between Pelosi, Mnuchin and sometimes also Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, Politico reported on Wednesday, adding that the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, was not going to push a bill a majority of his Senate cohort would not support.
A phone call between McConnell and Trump on Tuesday had the Kentucky Republican senator telling Trump that Pelosi was stringing him along and no deal she cut with Mnuchin would command broad GOP support to pass in the Senate, according to two people with knowledge of the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss it, the Washington Post reported.
Some media commentators described Trump’s abrupt move as a goal scored against his own team – making it a lot harder for him to blame Democrats for any lack of a deal.
Wait, so Trump not only rejects stimulus funds that would probably have helped his re-election chances, but *also* does so in a way to make sure that he personally will take blame for it? — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) October 6, 2020
Pelosi and Mnuchin had been talking extensively, in person and by phone, in recent days. But with some arch-conservative senators facing tough re-election battles and campaigning on platforms of fiscal austerity, there has been resistance to Trump spending more trillions on economic relief at this juncture, no matter the individuals, businesses and entities such as the postal service crying out for aid.
Lawmakers have long thought they would be unable to compromise on a deal before the election. But the failure to deliver desperately needed to aide to Americans was seen as a problem for both parties. Now, Trump has made it a White House decision not to continue negotiating. https://t.co/CaqIZ0IxOk — Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) October 6, 2020
Earlier on Tuesday, the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, told a business conference the US economic expansion was “far from complete” following the deep contraction stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
A failure by the United States to provide further relief, Powell warned, “would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses”.
In recent days, financial markets were hopeful progress toward a Covid-19 vaccine and another round of economic stimulus from Congress would boost the US economy, which has been showing signs of renewed weakness.
Pelosi and Mnuchin had been trying to narrow the gap between a recent Democratic call for around $2.2tn in new spending to battle the pandemic and bolster the economy, versus around $1.6tn sought by the administration.
It was not clear whether enough Senate Republicans would have gotten behind any deal, however.


theguardian--2020-10-06--US military chiefs in quarantine as Covid chaos spreads and Trump recuperates

America ’ s top military leaders were under self-quarantine Tuesday after a senior coast guard official tested positive for the coronavirus , the Pentagon said , as Donald Trump , infected with the coronavirus himself , continued to recuperate at the White House .
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff , Gen Mark Milley , and the vice-chairman , Gen John Hyten , were among those affected , US officials said .
Military leaders who were in contact with Adm Charles W Ray , the vice commandant of the US Coast Guard , were told Monday evening that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were all tested Tuesday morning , according to several US officials .
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement that none have exhibited symptoms or have so far tested positive .
Ray was in a meeting of the joint chiefs of staff late Friday morning in what ’ s called the Tank the classified meeting room in the Pentagon .
Officials said that is where most of the military leaders were exposed to him , but he also had other meetings with officials .
The infections at the top level of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus crisis in the US government , where the White House is also experiencing an outbreak .
While the total number of White House staff and aides who have tested positive is unknown , given the administration ’ s cloak of secrecy around the outbreak , total cases appeared to number in the dozens , making the White House one of the hottest active zones for virus circulation in the entire US .
A day after the US president returned from the military hospital in Maryland where he had been treated for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid-19 were diagnosed in his immediate circle .
A military attache , Jayna McCarron , tested positive , as did a valet , an active-duty member of the military who traveled with Trump last week , Bloomberg first reported .
Gen Milley ’ s decision to quarantine was first reported by CNN .
He and other leaders attended a recent White House reception for military families that was also attended by the president and the first lady , Melania Trump , who also tested positive .
But other reports quoted anonymous officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be linked to the White House .
The news sparked outrage among some observers .
Democratic congressman and veteran Ted Lieu said the president ’ s behavior was a matter of national security .
“ The anti-science , anti-mask agenda of Trump is also a national security threat .
Multiple members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are now in quarantine because of exposure to # Covid_19 , ” he tweeted .
Meanwhile , anxious to project strength just four weeks from election Day , Trump , who is still contagious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is planning to attend next weeks debate with Democrat Joe Biden in Miami .
It will be great !
he said .
In a letter , Trump ’ s doctor , Sean Conley , said Trump had a “ restful ” night at the White House and that on Tuesday he reports no symptoms .
On Monday afternoon , shortly before his departure from Walter Reed national military medical center , Conley offered that the president would not be fully out of the woods for another week .
Trump himself interrupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on opponents to tweet : “ FEELING GREAT !
” Such triumphant messaging was echoed by Republican supporters on cable TV and social media but undercut by a confirmed US death toll of more than 210,000 and a caseload over 7.5 million .
Trump also attempted to downplay the dangers of coronavirus but was censured by social media platforms , which slapped a warning message on a tweet comparing the virus to the flu , or removed it altogether .
“ This tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company said in a label superimposed on Trump ’ s words .
On Monday night , in a highly choreographed arrival at the White House from Walter Reed national military medical center in Bethesda , Trump attempted to project a message of indomitability .
After a three-day hospital stay , the president stepped off the Marine One helicopter just before 7pm and walked up the south portico staircase .
He stopped in front of an illuminated entrance with four US flags , turned to face the south lawn – and brazenly removed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waved , gave two thumbs up and saluted as Marine One flew off .
A photographer stood close by .
Video footage suggested the president was breathing hard .
He then waved and walked inside , where masked staff were visible , only to re-emerge for what appeared to be a film shoot .
In the film , which he tweeted soon after , Trump offered bizarrely contrary advice about the virus : “ Don ’ t let it dominate you .
Don ’ t be afraid of it .
You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best medical equipment .
We have the best medicines , all developed recently.
” The president added : “ Nobody that ’ s a leader would not do what I did .
And I know there ’ s a risk , there ’ s a danger , but that ’ s OK. And now I ’ m better and maybe I ’ m immune – I don ’ t know !
But don ’ t let it dominate your lives .
Get out there .
Be careful.
” Critics were stunned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for American Progress thinktank , told MSNBC : “ I could not imagine a greater act of selfishness by a human being , let alone the president of the United States , who is supposed to protect us .
He ’ s doing the opposite , he ’ s endangering people around him.
” Trump , who had already admitted he deliberately downplayed the virus for months , announced on Twitter his intention to return to the campaign “ soon ” .
Such messaging appeared to confirm predictions that if Trump stays relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own experience to again downplay the virus .

Tom McCarthy, David Smith, Lauren Gambino and Helen Sullivan

America’s top military leaders were under self-quarantine Tuesday after a senior coast guard official tested positive for the coronavirus, the Pentagon said, as Donald Trump, infected with the coronavirus himself, continued to recuperate at the White House.
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley, and the vice-chairman, Gen John Hyten, were among those affected, US officials said.
Military leaders who were in contact with Adm Charles W Ray, the vice commandant of the US Coast Guard, were told Monday evening that he had tested positive, and they were all tested Tuesday morning, according to several US officials. Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement that none have exhibited symptoms or have so far tested positive.
Ray was in a meeting of the joint chiefs of staff late Friday morning in what’s called the Tank the classified meeting room in the Pentagon. Officials said that is where most of the military leaders were exposed to him, but he also had other meetings with officials.
The infections at the top level of the military adds to a growing sense of coronavirus crisis in the US government, where the White House is also experiencing an outbreak. While the total number of White House staff and aides who have tested positive is unknown, given the administration’s cloak of secrecy around the outbreak, total cases appeared to number in the dozens, making the White House one of the hottest active zones for virus circulation in the entire US.
A day after the US president returned from the military hospital in Maryland where he had been treated for the disease, at least two additional cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in his immediate circle.
A military attache, Jayna McCarron, tested positive, as did a valet, an active-duty member of the military who traveled with Trump last week, Bloomberg first reported.
Gen Milley’s decision to quarantine was first reported by CNN. He and other leaders attended a recent White House reception for military families that was also attended by the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, who also tested positive. But other reports quoted anonymous officials as saying the military outbreak was not believed to be linked to the White House.
Steven Xiarhos, a Gold Star father, speaks at a reception to honor Gold Star families on 27 September. Photograph: Tia Dufour/The White House
The news sparked outrage among some observers. Democratic congressman and veteran Ted Lieu said the president’s behavior was a matter of national security. “The anti-science, anti-mask agenda of Trump is also a national security threat. Multiple members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are now in quarantine because of exposure to #Covid_19,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, anxious to project strength just four weeks from election Day, Trump, who is still contagious with the virus, tweeted Tuesday morning that he is planning to attend next weeks debate with Democrat Joe Biden in Miami. “It will be great!” he said.
In a letter, Trump’s doctor, Sean Conley, said Trump had a “restful” night at the White House and that on Tuesday he reports no symptoms. On Monday afternoon, shortly before his departure from Walter Reed national military medical center, Conley offered that the president would not be fully out of the woods for another week.
Trump himself interrupted a stream of online invective and attacks on opponents to tweet: “FEELING GREAT!”
Such triumphant messaging was echoed by Republican supporters on cable TV and social media but undercut by a confirmed US death toll of more than 210,000 and a caseload over 7.5 million.
Trump also attempted to downplay the dangers of coronavirus but was censured by social media platforms, which slapped a warning message on a tweet comparing the virus to the flu, or removed it altogether.
“This tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to Covid-19,” the company said in a label superimposed on Trump’s words.
On Monday night, in a highly choreographed arrival at the White House from Walter Reed national military medical center in Bethesda, Trump attempted to project a message of indomitability.
After a three-day hospital stay, the president stepped off the Marine One helicopter just before 7pm and walked up the south portico staircase. He stopped in front of an illuminated entrance with four US flags, turned to face the south lawn – and brazenly removed his mask while posing for cameras.
Trump waved, gave two thumbs up and saluted as Marine One flew off. A photographer stood close by. Video footage suggested the president was breathing hard. He then waved and walked inside, where masked staff were visible, only to re-emerge for what appeared to be a video shoot.
In the video, which he tweeted soon after, Trump offered bizarrely contrary advice about the virus: “Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it. You’re gonna beat it. We have the best medical equipment. We have the best medicines, all developed recently.”
Donald Trump poses on the White House balcony after his return from Walter Reed medical center. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images
The president added: “Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did. And I know there’s a risk, there’s a danger, but that’s OK. And now I’m better and maybe I’m immune – I don’t know! But don’t let it dominate your lives. Get out there. Be careful.”
Critics were stunned. Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress thinktank, told MSNBC: “I could not imagine a greater act of selfishness by a human being, let alone the president of the United States, who is supposed to protect us. He’s doing the opposite, he’s endangering people around him.”
Trump, who had already admitted he deliberately downplayed the virus for months, announced on Twitter his intention to return to the campaign “soon”. Such messaging appeared to confirm predictions that if Trump stays relatively healthy, he will attempt to use his own experience to again downplay the virus.


theguardian--2020-10-06--Twitter removes campaign video of Trump scoring touchdown against Covid-19

Donald Trump ’ s election campaign may claim the president has beaten Covid-19 , but it fell foul of the NFL ’ s copyright rules on Tuesday .
The campaign tweeted a video of the San Francisco 49ers ’ Brandon Aiyuk leaping over a Philadelphia Eagles defender on his way to scoring a touchdown during Sunday ’ s game between the two teams .
The campaign superimposed Trump ’ s head on Aiyuk ’ s body ( an unkind comparison : unlike the president , Aiyuk is not clinically obese ) with Covid-19 as the Eagles defender .
The video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s release from hospital after treatment for Covid-19 .
He also told Americans that they shouldn ’ t be “ afraid of Covid ” , a virus that has killed more than 200,000 people in the US .
However , on Tuesday the video was removed from Twitter with a message that said “ this media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.
” The video also showed a brief clip of an anti-Trump protester from an ITV News report .
It is unclear if ITV News or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticised over player protests , requested the removal .
Trump ’ s attempts to downplay the dangers of Covid-19 have been attacked by public health experts and doctors .
There has also been speculation that the president has downplayed the toll the virus has taken on his health .
There may be a warning from the video too : the Eagles came back from 14-8 down to win Sunday ’ s game 25-20 .
The president often depicts himself as a model of sporting excellence .
He is proud of his golf game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him cheating .
He has also claimed he could have played baseball professionally , although his record in high school suggests otherwise .

Donald Trump’s election campaign may claim the president has beaten Covid-19, but it fell foul of the NFL’s copyright rules on Tuesday.
The campaign tweeted a video of the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk leaping over a Philadelphia Eagles defender on his way to scoring a touchdown during Sunday’s game between the two teams. The campaign superimposed Trump’s head on Aiyuk’s body (an unkind comparison: unlike the president, Aiyuk is not clinically obese) with Covid-19 as the Eagles defender. The video was a reference to the president’s release from hospital after treatment for Covid-19. He also told Americans that they shouldn’t be “afraid of Covid”, a virus that has killed more than 200,000 people in the US.
However, on Tuesday the video was removed from Twitter with a message that said “this media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.” The video also showed a brief clip of an anti-Trump protester from an ITV News report. It is unclear if ITV News or the NFL, which Trump has regularly criticised over player protests, requested the removal.
Trump’s attempts to downplay the dangers of Covid-19 have been attacked by public health experts and doctors. There has also been speculation that the president has downplayed the toll the virus has taken on his health. There may be a warning from the video too: the Eagles came back from 14-8 down to win Sunday’s game 25-20.
The president often depicts himself as a model of sporting excellence. He is proud of his golf game, although there are many stories of him cheating. He has also claimed he could have played baseball professionally, although his record in high school suggests otherwise.


theguardian--2020-10-06--After Donald Trump's deranged balcony address, we're all gasping together | Marina Hyde

A rare moment of unity in the US election , as Donald Trump marked his return to the White House by gasping along with his detractors .
On Monday night , the president puffed up the front staircase of his residence , his face coated in several more gallons of paint than the front elevation of the building .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate your lives , ” he panted of the virus , a bad case of which tends to dominate your death .
Yet there he was , this hideous kink in the arc of history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Michael Jackson had his baby crowdsurf off one .
The American people are all Blanket now .
As for the optics , “ deranged balcony address ” is certainly a look – but not one that tends to end well .
How might this version turn out ?
Unfortunately , it ’ s not a question Trump ’ s attention span equips him to answer .
His reference points for the form are the occasional three minutes of historical documentaries he ’ s forced to watch while searching his stomach-folds for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switches over to Fox News before discovering how a whole series of 20th-century balcony stories ended .
Still : don ’ t call him Wussolini .
He beat this illness – which he still very much has – like a man .
One of the really manly ones , who takes all the best drugs and leaves everyone else exposed and misled and unprotected .
Even so , early reactions to the gasping spectacle suggest the move could only have backfired more if Trump had ascended the front steps via a hastily installed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once he ’ d wheezed through the unpleasantries , all that remained was to remove his mask and set about infecting any remaining staff yet to be exposed to his droplets .
Think of Trump as the 83rd Airborne , parachuting his deadly particles deep into butlers ’ respiratory systems .
He won ’ t give you a Purple Heart , but he might give you purple lungs .
Alas , it ’ s disappointing to find potential victims failing to feel grateful for the opportunity .
One current secret service agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail expressed frustration , telling CNN : “ We ’ re not disposable.
” Two housekeeping staff have already tested positive for the virus .
As the events of the past week show , the president ’ s respect for human life is so low that he is willing to send an entire army of servants into 14-day isolation or worse in order to keep up a steady stream of trans-fats being fed to him .
Dying in the line of duty used to mean taking a bullet for the president ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coke .
Thank you for your drinks service .
As for how Trump spent the rest of his evening , I assume it was straight on to the monstrous leaders ’ WhatsApp to josh with the other bros about how they kill their underlings .
RocketmanKim loves a firing squad , Vlad69 ’ s a huge chemicals guy , but Trump just clears his throat while being brought his fourth burger of the day .
Boom !
“ I cough on them like a bitch !
When you ’ re famous you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s absolutely bossing the likes of Kim and Xi and MBS in the fantasy evildoer leagues .
It ’ s not that the other guys don ’ t have lethal motorcades and abysmal interiors taste and balcony addresses and death cults and doctors who mislead the world .
But doing them in a democracy – well , that makes it triple points .
Speaking of physicians who really need to heal themselves , what a striking misinformation campaign it ’ s been from presidential medic Sean Conley , who has been continually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling his symptoms “ mild ” , only for even the White House to contradict him .
For me , that ’ s the new low .
Of course , we now expect the president of the United States to lie as default – to tell us black is white , or up is down , or to claim he never said something he ’ s on camera saying .
But for a professional and senior doctor to mislead apparently without remorse shows how necrotic the body politic has become , from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality-denying is not a one-off case – it ’ s the other epidemic .
In fact , it ’ s kind of amazing that conspiracy theorists have lined up so supportively behind Trump , when he ’ s really the most convincing proof yet of all their worst fears .
The Man really is lying to them , he really is wicked , and he really does want to kill them .
The damning evidence is right there in front of everyone .
Only , instead of begging Oliver Stone to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give Trump a second term .
Like me , you probably hate to see a conspiracist wimp out of their beliefs just when it ’ s coming up roses for them .
It ’ s as if the moon landing hoaxers were signing over their life savings to Nasa , or the flat Earthers booking a round-the-world ticket .
So come on , guys – back yourselves !
After all , if not now , then when ?

A rare moment of unity in the US election, as Donald Trump marked his return to the White House by gasping along with his detractors. On Monday night, the president puffed up the front staircase of his residence, his face coated in several more gallons of paint than the front elevation of the building. “Don’t let it dominate your lives,” he panted of the virus, a bad case of which tends to dominate your death.
Yet there he was, this hideous kink in the arc of history, giving the most dangerous balcony performance since Michael Jackson had his baby crowdsurf off one. The American people are all Blanket now.
As for the optics, “deranged balcony address” is certainly a look – but not one that tends to end well. How might this version turn out? Unfortunately, it’s not a question Trump’s attention span equips him to answer. His reference points for the form are the occasional three minutes of historical documentaries he’s forced to watch while searching his stomach-folds for the TV remote. It feels like he switches over to Fox News before discovering how a whole series of 20th-century balcony stories ended.
Still: don’t call him Wussolini. He beat this illness – which he still very much has – like a man. One of the really manly ones, who takes all the best drugs and leaves everyone else exposed and misled and unprotected. Even so, early reactions to the gasping spectacle suggest the move could only have backfired more if Trump had ascended the front steps via a hastily installed stairlift carrying a pack of adult diapers.
Once he’d wheezed through the unpleasantries, all that remained was to remove his mask and set about infecting any remaining staff yet to be exposed to his droplets. Think of Trump as the 83rd Airborne, parachuting his deadly particles deep into butlers’ respiratory systems. He won’t give you a Purple Heart, but he might give you purple lungs.
Alas, it’s disappointing to find potential victims failing to feel grateful for the opportunity. One current secret service agent assigned to the first family’s detail expressed frustration, telling CNN: “We’re not disposable.” Two housekeeping staff have already tested positive for the virus. As the events of the past week show, the president’s respect for human life is so low that he is willing to send an entire army of servants into 14-day isolation or worse in order to keep up a steady stream of trans-fats being fed to him. Dying in the line of duty used to mean taking a bullet for the president; it could now involve taking him a Diet Coke. Thank you for your drinks service.
01:00 Donald Trump appears short of breath during maskless photo op at White House – video
As for how Trump spent the rest of his evening, I assume it was straight on to the monstrous leaders’ WhatsApp to josh with the other bros about how they kill their underlings. RocketmanKim loves a firing squad, Vlad69’s a huge chemicals guy, but Trump just clears his throat while being brought his fourth burger of the day. Boom! “I cough on them like a bitch! When you’re famous you can do that.”
Face it, he’s absolutely bossing the likes of Kim and Xi and MBS in the fantasy evildoer leagues. It’s not that the other guys don’t have lethal motorcades and abysmal interiors taste and balcony addresses and death cults and doctors who mislead the world. But doing them in a democracy – well, that makes it triple points.
Speaking of physicians who really need to heal themselves, what a striking misinformation campaign it’s been from presidential medic Sean Conley, who has been continually obfuscating about Trump’s condition since calling his symptoms “mild”, only for even the White House to contradict him. For me, that’s the new low. Of course, we now expect the president of the United States to lie as default – to tell us black is white, or up is down, or to claim he never said something he’s on camera saying. But for a professional and senior doctor to mislead apparently without remorse shows how necrotic the body politic has become, from the very top down. The lying, the reality-denying is not a one-off case – it’s the other epidemic.
In fact, it’s kind of amazing that conspiracy theorists have lined up so supportively behind Trump, when he’s really the most convincing proof yet of all their worst fears. The Man really is lying to them, he really is wicked, and he really does want to kill them. The damning evidence is right there in front of everyone. Only, instead of begging Oliver Stone to make a film about it, they want to give Trump a second term.
Like me, you probably hate to see a conspiracist wimp out of their beliefs just when it’s coming up roses for them. It’s as if the moon landing hoaxers were signing over their life savings to Nasa, or the flat Earthers booking a round-the-world ticket. So come on, guys – back yourselves! After all, if not now, then when?