theguardian--2020-03-31--The US-China coronavirus blame game is undermining diplomacy

As the world grapples with the human and economic devastation being wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic , not even the relationship between the United States and China is being spared .
However , the US and China can not allow their global competition and rising tensions to impede efforts to fight the pandemic .
There will be time enough when this global emergency is over to figure out the ways in which the Chinese Communist party ’ s ( CCP ) actions endangered the world by covering up the initial outbreak .
But we are where we are , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the world must focus on fighting the pandemic .
Unfortunately , neither the US nor CCP leadership seems willing to resist throwing mud at one another .
Donald Trump , the House minority leader , Kevin McCarthy , and other elected officials have called Covid-19 the “ Chinese virus ” and one White House official reportedly called it the “ Kung Flu ” .
The Republican senator Tom Cotton hinted ( without evidence ) that the virus could be a bioweapon created by the CCP .
In China , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs lied in suggesting that the US military could be to blame for the virus .
Chinese government officials have echoed that sentiment while the CCP ’ s propaganda machine is busy promoting these conspiracy theories .
This blame game is undermining diplomacy between the countries .
Instead of calling his counterpart to coordinate responses to the global pandemic , the US secretary of state , Mike Pompeo , called China ’ s senior foreign policy official , Yang Jiechi , instead to object to “ PRC efforts to shift blame for Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration has reportedly attempted to stop the UN security council and the G7 from taking action against the pandemic unless the groups singled out China for blame .
It ’ s important to get the facts right .
The virus started in China .
In the early days , doctors tried to sound the alarm , but were not allowed to do their jobs .
As the virus spread , the CCP censored many of those attempting to raise alarm bells .
The CCP ’ s botched initial response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the priority for every nation right now must be the pandemic , and tensions between the world ’ s two biggest economies can not get in the way .
Toning down aspects of the US-China competition temporarily in no way means that the United States should ignore the CCP ’ s dangerous initial response to the virus , nor does it mean that the United States should stop blunting dangerous Chinese behavior elsewhere .
What it means is taking concrete steps to ensure that the competition does not inhibit the fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States must stop scapegoating China .
Leaders need to stop referring to Covid-19 as the “ Chinese virus ” , trying to blame China for the outbreak and feeding conspiracy theories about China launching the disease on purpose .
Halting this kind of rhetoric can help reduce some of the discrimination against Asian Americans that has been sparked by racist comments surrounding the virus .
And while China will continue trying to spin this crisis to its advantage to win headlines , at the very least the United States can play the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finger-pointer .
Second , the United States must ensure that no policy that is intended to blunt nefarious Chinese behavior will negatively affect the fight against the pandemic .
In order to address genuine concerns , the United States has increasingly scrutinized Chinese investment and private sector cooperation in education , scientific collaborations and the technology sector .
Sometimes , those actions can have unintended consequences : for instance , ProPublica reported that one scientist – who had lived in the United States for decades and left the country after being investigated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rapid coronavirus test in China .
Whether it ’ s scientists sharing research to find a vaccine or companies partnering to produce necessary equipment , we must ensure all the doors to cooperation on the pandemic are open right now .
The Trump administration ’ s move to lift tariffs on Chinese medical products like masks and sanitization products is a good step .
Third , the US and Chinese governments must work together to stem the tide of the pandemic .
As tensions have risen in recent years there are fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have pursued robust cooperation .
But combating the pandemic is exactly the kind of challenge that requires the two nations to come together , from sharing lessons learned in their respective responses to searching for medical treatments to working together in multilateral organizations like the World Health Organization and the G20 .
And it means being open to support from one another : while China initially refused US help , reports now suggest the United States is declining China ’ s offers of sending personal protective equipment .
Fourth , don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attempts to win public relations victories by sending aid to US allies .
The United States must focus on actually helping US allies – such as coordinating travel restrictions to avoid the disaster when the Europe travel ban was announced – and being supportive of allies getting desperately needed help from anywhere it can , whether the United States , China or anyone else .
Even if the United States has relatively little to offer and China is sending small amounts of aid as a public relations move , responding by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause of the outbreak will only make America look petty ( and some countries are already finding out on their own that part of China ’ s aid is faulty ) .
If the United States and China are successful in fighting this pandemic – and doing so together – perhaps , at the end of all of this , the two countries just might end up building bridges that could be useful in tempering the more dangerous aspects of their competition .

As the world grapples with the human and economic devastation being wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, not even the relationship between the United States and China is being spared. However, the US and China cannot allow their global competition and rising tensions to impede efforts to fight the pandemic.
There will be time enough when this global emergency is over to figure out the ways in which the Chinese Communist party’s (CCP) actions endangered the world by covering up the initial outbreak. But we are where we are, and China, the United States, and the rest of the world must focus on fighting the pandemic.
Unfortunately, neither the US nor CCP leadership seems willing to resist throwing mud at one another. Donald Trump, the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, and other elected officials have called Covid-19 the “Chinese virus” and one White House official reportedly called it the “Kung Flu”. The Republican senator Tom Cotton hinted (without evidence) that the virus could be a bioweapon created by the CCP.
In China, a spokesman for the PRC ministry of foreign affairs lied in suggesting that the US military could be to blame for the virus. Chinese government officials have echoed that sentiment while the CCP’s propaganda machine is busy promoting these conspiracy theories.
This blame game is undermining diplomacy between the countries. Instead of calling his counterpart to coordinate responses to the global pandemic, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, called China’s senior foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, instead to object to “PRC efforts to shift blame for Covid-19 to the United States”. And the Trump administration has reportedly attempted to stop the UN security council and the G7 from taking action against the pandemic unless the groups singled out China for blame.
It’s important to get the facts right. The virus started in China. In the early days, doctors tried to sound the alarm, but were not allowed to do their jobs. As the virus spread, the CCP censored many of those attempting to raise alarm bells. The CCP’s botched initial response to the virus probably made this pandemic far worse.
But the priority for every nation right now must be the pandemic, and tensions between the world’s two biggest economies cannot get in the way. Toning down aspects of the US-China competition temporarily in no way means that the United States should ignore the CCP’s dangerous initial response to the virus, nor does it mean that the United States should stop blunting dangerous Chinese behavior elsewhere. What it means is taking concrete steps to ensure that the competition does not inhibit the fight against the pandemic.
First, the United States must stop scapegoating China. Leaders need to stop referring to Covid-19 as the “Chinese virus”, trying to blame China for the outbreak and feeding conspiracy theories about China launching the disease on purpose. Halting this kind of rhetoric can help reduce some of the discrimination against Asian Americans that has been sparked by racist comments surrounding the virus. And while China will continue trying to spin this crisis to its advantage to win headlines, at the very least the United States can play the role of responsible leader rather than infantile finger-pointer.
We must ensure all the doors to cooperation on the pandemic are open right now
Second, the United States must ensure that no policy that is intended to blunt nefarious Chinese behavior will negatively affect the fight against the pandemic. In order to address genuine concerns, the United States has increasingly scrutinized Chinese investment and private sector cooperation in education, scientific collaborations and the technology sector. Sometimes, those actions can have unintended consequences: for instance, ProPublica reported that one scientist – who had lived in the United States for decades and left the country after being investigated for ties to China – is now developing a rapid coronavirus test in China. Whether it’s scientists sharing research to find a vaccine or companies partnering to produce necessary equipment, we must ensure all the doors to cooperation on the pandemic are open right now. The Trump administration’s move to lift tariffs on Chinese medical products like masks and sanitization products is a good step.
Third, the US and Chinese governments must work together to stem the tide of the pandemic. As tensions have risen in recent years there are fewer and fewer areas on which the two countries have pursued robust cooperation. But combating the pandemic is exactly the kind of challenge that requires the two nations to come together, from sharing lessons learned in their respective responses to searching for medical treatments to working together in multilateral organizations like the World Health Organization and the G20. And it means being open to support from one another: while China initially refused US help, reports now suggest the United States is declining China’s offers of sending personal protective equipment.
Fourth, don’t worry for the moment about China’s attempts to win public relations victories by sending aid to US allies. The United States must focus on actually helping US allies – such as coordinating travel restrictions to avoid the disaster when the Europe travel ban was announced – and being supportive of allies getting desperately needed help from anywhere it can, whether the United States, China or anyone else. Even if the United States has relatively little to offer and China is sending small amounts of aid as a public relations move, responding by trying to remind everyone that China is the cause of the outbreak will only make America look petty (and some countries are already finding out on their own that part of China’s aid is faulty).
If the United States and China are successful in fighting this pandemic – and doing so together – perhaps, at the end of all of this, the two countries just might end up building bridges that could be useful in tempering the more dangerous aspects of their competition.


theguardian--2020-03-31--Trump attacks journalists for asking 'snarky' questions on coronavirus testing in US – video

Donald Trump said that federal physical distancing guidelines might be toughened as he urged Americans to help fight the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump , speaking to reporters at the White House , said more than 1 @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus , which he called a milestone .
But when questioned about testing @ @ @ @ @ , Trump wrongly claimed that the population of Seoul in South Korea was 38 million @ @ @ @ @ closer to 10 million people ) and told the reporter to stop asking ‘ snarky @ @ @ @ @ news : US deaths pass 3,000 as study shows higher risk from middle age

Donald Trump said that federal physical distancing guidelines might be toughened as he urged Americans to help fight the coronavirus with tough measures through April. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said more than 1 million Americans had been tested for the coronavirus, which he called a milestone. But when questioned about testing per capita in the US, Trump wrongly claimed that the population of Seoul in South Korea was 38 million people (it is actually closer to 10 million people) and told the reporter to stop asking ‘snarky’ questions


theguardian--2020-03-31--Coronavirus US live: Donald Trump predicts 'a very, very painful two weeks'

“ Nobody knew how contagious this was , ” Trump said .
“ I don ’ t think any doctor @ @ @ @ @ .
People have not seen anything like this.
” In fact , as the disease @ @ @ @ @ health experts were warning for weeks that the coronavirus threat could grow into a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ been predicting this sort of pandemic for years .
The US intelligence community , in @ @ @ @ @ Assessment , wrote : “ We assess that the United States and the world will @ @ @ @ @ flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates @ @ @ @ @ severely affect the world economy , strain international resources , and increase calls on the @ @ @ @ @ ”

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now), Joan E Greve in Washington and Tom McCarthy in New York (earlier)

1 Apr 2020 01.33 BST Summary The White House predicts that up to 240,000 Americans will die of coronavirus, even if the US abides by distancing measures, officials announced during the president’s daily coronavirus briefing. The president repeatedly asserted that millions would have died if he hadn’t stepped in.
The president repeatedly asserted that millions would have died if he hadn’t stepped in. The coronavirus task force briefing that lasted for two hours. Throughout, the president made false and misleading claims. Through most of the lengthy debate, Trump struck an unusually quiet and somber tone, warning of the “tough two weeks” to come. But he also attacked governors, news reporters and critics as he defended his record.
Throughout, the president made false and misleading claims. Through most of the lengthy debate, Trump struck an unusually quiet and somber tone, warning of the “tough two weeks” to come. But he also attacked governors, news reporters and critics as he defended his record. New York governor Andrew Cuomo lamented the bidding wars over ventilators. Cuomo said having numerous states and FEMA simultaneously trying to obtain the crucial breathing machines was “like being on eBay.”
Cuomo said having numerous states and FEMA simultaneously trying to obtain the crucial breathing machines was “like being on eBay.” Cuomo’s brother, Chris Cuomo, was diagnosed with coronavirus. The governor said his brother “will be fine” considering his age and overall health, but he added that the diagnosis underscored the need to maintain social distancing practices.
The governor said his brother “will be fine” considering his age and overall health, but he added that the diagnosis underscored the need to maintain social distancing practices. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said Trump’s impeachment distracted lawmakers from responding to coronavirus, a claim that was quickly criticized by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who called for the virus to be declared a public health emergency in late January. Trump himself said that he wouldn’t have done anything differently if the impeachment trial didn’t take place.
a claim that was quickly criticized by Senate minority leader who called for the virus to be declared a public health emergency in late January. himself said that he wouldn’t have done anything differently if the impeachment trial didn’t take place. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden emphasized the need for more testing to combat the virus. Both of the prominent Democrats also demanded that Trump immediately use the full powers of the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of medical equipment. Read the full story on Trump’s latest press conference here: Trump warns of 'painful two weeks' as officials predict up to 240,000 US coronavirus deaths Read more
Updated at 01.55 BST
1 Apr 2020 01.07 BST A 'bidding war' over ventilators During today’s briefing, Trump said that all governors had to do if they needed ventilators, was ask. He also suggested that the US was “holding on” to a stockpile of 10,000 ventilators, that the government would slowly and strategically dole out. He also said the government has asked companies to send equipment directly to states. At the same time, he derided and dismissed New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s complaint that states have to bid for ventilators, competing with other states and Fema to secure life-saving equipment. “The federal government, Fema, should have been the purchasing agent: buy everything and then allocate by need to the states,” Cuomo said today. “Why would you create a situation where the 50 states are competing with each other and then the federal government and Fema comes in and competes with the rest of it?” Without addressing why the federal government isn’t stepping in to secure the equipment at a fair price, Trump said that Cuomo,” shouldn’t be complaining because we gave him a lot of ventilators.” “No matter what you give, it’s never enough,” he said. New York's Andrew Cuomo decries 'eBay'-style bidding war for ventilators Read more
31 Mar 2020 00.43 BST Marathon briefing ends “It’s an incredibly dark topic,” Trump said, before leaving the podium. “An incredibly horrible topic. And it’s incredibly interesting. That’s why everybody is, They’re going crazy, they can’t get enough of it.”
31 Mar 2020 00.42 BST Fact check: “Nobody knew” “Nobody knew how contagious this was,” Trump said. “I don’t think any doctor new it at the time. People have not seen anything like this.” In fact, as the disease spread through China, public health experts were warning for weeks that the coronavirus threat could grow into a pandemic. Moreover, epidemiologists have been predicting this sort of pandemic for years. The US intelligence community, in its January 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment, wrote: “We assess that the United States and the world will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support.”
31 Mar 2020 00.31 BST Once again, Trump misrepresented his administration’s travel restrictions, saying that he “stopped” travel from Italy before issuing broader restrictions on travel from Europe. Through the administration issued travel advisories for parts of Italy, he never banned travel from Italy. The briefing has now reached the two hour mark.
Updated at 00.38 BST
31 Mar 2020 00.27 BST “This is really easy to be negative about. But I want to give people hope, too,” Trump said, abandoning the quiet, somber tone he used earlier in the briefing. “I’m not about bad news,” Trump said. “I want to give people hope. I want to give people the feeling that we all have a chance.” As he has during previous briefings, the president then became combative, attacking reporters and dismissing what he called “stupid question”.
31 Mar 2020 00.25 BST “I don’t think I would’ve acted any differently. I don’t think I would’ve acted any faster,” Trump said when asked if the impeachment distracted him from the coronavirus crisis. Senate leader Mitch McConnell, has blamed the impeachment trial for distracting from the crisis. “I think it diverted the attention of the government because everything every day was all about impeachment,” McConnell said in an interview on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
31 Mar 2020 00.23 BST Fact check: Even more on ventilators Earlier, Dr. Birx said that the US is better positioned than the UK on ventilators. “They have 8000 ventilators in the UK. If you translate that to the US that would be equivalent to us having 40000 ventilators. We have five times that,” she said. Indeed, the UK Cabinet Office said that there are 8,000 ventilators currently in the NHS with a further 8,000 already on order from overseas. The US has nearly five times the population of the UK, so Birx’s idea to multiply 8,000 ventilators by 5 to gauge a comparison makes sense. But it’s unclear how many ventilators the US has. Estimates published in the New England Journal of Medicine guess 60,000 to 160,000 — that’s fewer than Birx’s boast. “There is a broad range of estimates of the number of ventilators we will need to care for U.S. patients with Covid-19, from several hundred thousand to as many as a million,” wrote public health experts in the NEJM.
31 Mar 2020 00.10 BST Fact check: Travel bans As evidence that he acted early and effectively, the president touted his piecemeal travel bans and restrictions — which epidemiologists said could have stopped the spread of disease if implemented much earlier than they were — but ultimately did little more than cause chaos and confusion at airports. “We stopped all of Europe,” Trump boasted. But the restrictions didn’t apply to all of Europe and included restrictions for several types of travelers.


theguardian--2020-03-31--Trump administration revokes tribe’s reservation status in ‘power grab’

A tribe is losing reservation status for its more than 300 acres in Massachusetts , raising fears among Native American groups that other tribes could face the same fate under the Trump administration .
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe , which traces its ancestry to the Native Americans that shared a fall harvest meal with the Pilgrims in 1621 , was notified late on Friday by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs that it will be rescinding its reservation designation and removing the land from federal trust , according to Cedric Cromwell , the tribe ’ s chairman .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unnecessary ” as the tribe and others across the nation are struggling to respond to the coronavirus pandemic within their sovereign lands .
The decision , if allowed to stand , would destroy much of what the tribe has worked to build in recent years on its sovereign lands , Cromwell said .
That includes establishing an independent judicial system , police force and Wampanoag-language school , as well as beginning construction on a roughly 50-unit tribal housing development and breaking ground on a $ 1bn resort casino “ Talk about being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face from the bully you thought was your friend , ” Cromwell said .
“ I thought they were calling to see how we ’ re doing in all of this .
To do it at 4pm on a Friday during a pandemic ?
That ’ s sneaky.
” The US Department of the Interior , which oversees Native American affairs , is obligated by a recent federal court decision to remove the special land designations , which were bestowed in 2015 under then President Barack Obama , according to Conner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , the US court of appeals in Boston upheld a lower-court decision declaring the federal government had not been authorized to take land into trust for the Cape Cod-based tribe .
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe declined to challenge that decision , but Cromwell argues a separate lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington DC , is still pending .
The decision is the latest concerning sign that the Trump administration is willing to use its discretionary powers to attempt to take lands away from tribes , said Jean-Luc Pierite , of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy group .
“ This is an existential crisis for tribes , ” Pierite said .
“ It ’ s a power grab and a land grab by the Trump administration.
” Former vice-president and now 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden posted a protest on Twitter to the Trump move .
Last April , the interior department withdrew trust status from lands owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California , citing the discovery of endangered bird species .
Congress eventually included a provision in a defense spending bill in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres of land would be held in trust for the tribe to build housing .
Swanson stressed the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe retains its federal recognition , which it earned in 2007 .
The tribe ’ s more than 300 acres – about half of which are located in the town of Mashpee and the other half in Taunton near the Rhode Island state line – also remain in the tribe ’ s ownership , as it had before the federal government took them into trust , he noted .
Cromwell promised the tribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These are the lands of our ancestors , and these will be the lands of our grandchildren , ” he said .
“ We will not rest until we are treated equally with other federally recognized tribes and the status of our reservation is confirmed .
”

A tribe is losing reservation status for its more than 300 acres in Massachusetts, raising fears among Native American groups that other tribes could face the same fate under the Trump administration.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which traces its ancestry to the Native Americans that shared a fall harvest meal with the Pilgrims in 1621, was notified late on Friday by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs that it will be rescinding its reservation designation and removing the land from federal trust, according to Cedric Cromwell, the tribe’s chairman.
He said the move is “cruel” and “unnecessary” as the tribe and others across the nation are struggling to respond to the coronavirus pandemic within their sovereign lands.
The decision, if allowed to stand, would destroy much of what the tribe has worked to build in recent years on its sovereign lands, Cromwell said. That includes establishing an independent judicial system, police force and Wampanoag-language school, as well as beginning construction on a roughly 50-unit tribal housing development and breaking ground on a $1bn resort casino
“Talk about being blindsided. It was a sucker punch in the face from the bully you thought was your friend,” Cromwell said. “I thought they were calling to see how we’re doing in all of this. To do it at 4pm on a Friday during a pandemic? That’s sneaky.”
The US Department of the Interior, which oversees Native American affairs, is obligated by a recent federal court decision to remove the special land designations, which were bestowed in 2015 under then President Barack Obama, according to Conner Swanson, an agency spokesman.
In February, the US court of appeals in Boston upheld a lower-court decision declaring the federal government had not been authorized to take land into trust for the Cape Cod-based tribe.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe declined to challenge that decision, but Cromwell argues a separate lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington DC, is still pending.
The decision is the latest concerning sign that the Trump administration is willing to use its discretionary powers to attempt to take lands away from tribes, said Jean-Luc Pierite, of the North American Indian Center, a Boston-based advocacy group.
“This is an existential crisis for tribes,” Pierite said. “It’s a power grab and a land grab by the Trump administration.”
Former vice-president and now 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden posted a protest on Twitter to the Trump move.
In the midst of a pandemic, the Trump Administration chose to expend effort to attempt to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s reservation. #IStandwithMashpee and with all of Indian Country. https://t.co/5Z6nZjClAf — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 31, 2020
Last April, the interior department withdrew trust status from lands owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California, citing the discovery of endangered bird species.
Congress eventually included a provision in a defense spending bill in December declaring that the more than 1,400 acres of land would be held in trust for the tribe to build housing.
Swanson stressed the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe retains its federal recognition, which it earned in 2007.
The tribe’s more than 300 acres – about half of which are located in the town of Mashpee and the other half in Taunton near the Rhode Island state line – also remain in the tribe’s ownership, as it had before the federal government took them into trust, he noted.
Cromwell promised the tribe would continue its decades-long land fight.
“These are the lands of our ancestors, and these will be the lands of our grandchildren,” he said. “We will not rest until we are treated equally with other federally recognized tribes and the status of our reservation is confirmed.”


theguardian--2020-03-31--New York's Andrew Cuomo decries 'eBay'-style bidding war for ventilators

Andrew Cuomo , the governor of New York , has condemned the US federal government for fueling an “ eBay ” -style bidding war for ventilators as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies .
Cuomo also spoke of his brother Chris ’ s infection .
The governor said on Tuesday New York , the worst-hit state , had confirmed nearly 76,000 Covid-19 cases and 1,550 deaths .
The state government is racing against time to secure enough breathing machines before an infection apex , expected in the next 14 to 21 days .
Cuomo has walked a fine line between thanking Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and offering subtle criticisms of his approach .
At his daily press briefing in Albany on Tuesday , Cuomo described a “ bizarre situation ” in which every state buys its own ventilators , pitting them against each other in bidding war .
“ You have 50 states competing to buy the same item , ” he said .
“ We all wind up bidding up each other and competing against each other , where you now literally will have a company call you up and say , ‘ Well , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like being on eBay with 50 other states , bidding on a ventilator.
” “ How inefficient !
And then Fema gets involved and Fema starts bidding .
And now Fema is bidding on top of the 50 .
So Fema is driving up the price .
What sense does this make ?
“ The federal government , Fema , should have been the purchasing agent : buy everything and then allocate by need to the states .
Why would you create a situation where the 50 states are competing with each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes in and competes with the rest of it ?
” Without attacking Trump directly , the governor added : “ Anyone could ’ ve told you a lot of these things … did you really have to learn that 50 states shouldn ’ t compete against 50 states , and then Fema shouldn ’ t come in late and compete with 50 states ?
It ’ s not like you had to go to the Harvard Kennedy school to learn this.
” A shortage of ventilators is one of the biggest crises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of Covid-19 passes that of China and the death toll exceeds 3,000 – more than that of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York , Washington and Pennsylvania .
Carmakers such as Ford and General Motors are mass-producing the machines but Trump has been criticised for a slow and piecemeal response .
Trump told a press briefing on Tuesday the federal government had held 10,000 back , in a stockpile .
“ We didn ’ t want to give them because we don ’ t know where the emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , so fast , ” Trump said .
“ It comes so quickly .
And we have 10,000 .
We ’ re probably going to send some of them now.
” He added : “ We ’ ve been sending a lot to Michigan and various other states .
We ’ ll probably send some additional ones to Michigan .
New York has been doing very well , but we can add some more to New York .
We ’ re adding them to the areas that are having a problem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden , flared up a little bit , as you saw the last couple of days , and we ’ ll send them down to Alabama .
So , we have 10,000 .
We kept them for this very specific purpose.
” The pandemic has now hit close to home for Cuomo , who has earned widespread praise for his leadership during the pandemic .
The governor said his younger brother and “ best friend ” , the CNN host Chris Cuomo , had tested positive .
“ We found out this morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is going to be fine , he ’ s young , strong , not as strong as he thinks … but he will be fine .
I spoke to him this morning and he is going to be quarantined in his basement.
” The revelation came after Cuomo said New Yorkers who had tested positive for the coronavirus increased by more than 9,000 from a day earlier to 75,795 , with deaths rising to 1,550 from 1,218 .
“ The virus is more powerful , more dangerous than we expected , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still going up the mountain ; the main battle is on top of the mountain.
” Some New York City hospitals have been overwhelmed , with medical staff speaking of hellish conditions and a chronic lack of resources .
A temporary hospital built inside the Javits conference center has begun accepting patients .
A US navy hospital ship was expected to take in patients as early as Tuesday .
The US government is building makeshift hospitals as the US marked 700 deaths in a single day from Covid-19 for the first time on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor , Bill de Blasio , pleaded for reinforcements from the Trump administration , saying the worst could still be weeks away .
“ This is the point at which we must be prepared for next week , when we expect a huge increase in the number of cases .
What I asked very clearly , last week , was for military medical personnel to be deployed here , ” De Blasio said at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens , where a field hospital was being built .
De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House for an additional 1,000 nurses , 300 respiratory therapists and 150 doctors by 5 April but had yet to receive an answer .

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, has condemned the US federal government for fueling an “eBay”-style bidding war for ventilators as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies. Cuomo also spoke of his brother Chris’s infection.
The governor said on Tuesday New York, the worst-hit state, had confirmed nearly 76,000 Covid-19 cases and 1,550 deaths.
The state government is racing against time to secure enough breathing machines before an infection apex, expected in the next 14 to 21 days.
'It's like being on eBay': US states competing to buy ventilators, says Cuomo – video
Cuomo has walked a fine line between thanking Donald Trump for the federal government’s support and offering subtle criticisms of his approach.
At his daily press briefing in Albany on Tuesday, Cuomo described a “bizarre situation” in which every state buys its own ventilators, pitting them against each other in bidding war.
Did you really have to learn that 50 states shouldn’t compete against 50 states, and then Fema shouldn’t come in late? Andrew Cuomo
“You have 50 states competing to buy the same item,” he said.
“We all wind up bidding up each other and competing against each other, where you now literally will have a company call you up and say, ‘Well, California just outbid you.’ It’s like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) was making matters worse, Cuomo added.
“How inefficient! And then Fema gets involved and Fema starts bidding. And now Fema is bidding on top of the 50. So Fema is driving up the price. What sense does this make?
“The federal government, Fema, should have been the purchasing agent: buy everything and then allocate by need to the states. Why would you create a situation where the 50 states are competing with each other and then the federal government and Fema comes in and competes with the rest of it?”
Without attacking Trump directly, the governor added: “Anyone could’ve told you a lot of these things … did you really have to learn that 50 states shouldn’t compete against 50 states, and then Fema shouldn’t come in late and compete with 50 states? It’s not like you had to go to the Harvard Kennedy school to learn this.”
A shortage of ventilators is one of the biggest crises facing the US as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 passes that of China and the death toll exceeds 3,000 – more than that of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Carmakers such as Ford and General Motors are mass-producing the machines but Trump has been criticised for a slow and piecemeal response.
Trump told a press briefing on Tuesday the federal government had held 10,000 back, in a stockpile.
We’re still going up the mountain, the main battle is on top of the mountain Andrew Cuomo
“We didn’t want to give them because we don’t know where the emergency – this hits – it hits, like, so fast,” Trump said. “It comes so quickly. And we have 10,000. We’re probably going to send some of them now.”
He added: “We’ve been sending a lot to Michigan and various other states. We’ll probably send some additional ones to Michigan. New York has been doing very well, but we can add some more to New York. We’re adding them to the areas that are having a problem.
“Even Alabama, all of a sudden, flared up a little bit, as you saw the last couple of days, and we’ll send them down to Alabama. So, we have 10,000. We kept them for this very specific purpose.”
The pandemic has now hit close to home for Cuomo, who has earned widespread praise for his leadership during the pandemic. The governor said his younger brother and “best friend”, the CNN host Chris Cuomo, had tested positive.
Andrew Cuomo with his brother Chris, right, who has tested positive for Covid-19. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
“We found out this morning,” Andrew Cuomo said. “He is going to be fine, he’s young, strong, not as strong as he thinks … but he will be fine. I spoke to him this morning and he is going to be quarantined in his basement.”
The revelation came after Cuomo said New Yorkers who had tested positive for the coronavirus increased by more than 9,000 from a day earlier to 75,795, with deaths rising to 1,550 from 1,218.
“The virus is more powerful, more dangerous than we expected,” he said. “We’re still going up the mountain; the main battle is on top of the mountain.”
02:04 Coronavirus: New York doctors tell young people to 'stay inside and stay healthy' – video
Some New York City hospitals have been overwhelmed, with medical staff speaking of hellish conditions and a chronic lack of resources. A temporary hospital built inside the Javits conference center has begun accepting patients. A US navy hospital ship was expected to take in patients as early as Tuesday.
The US government is building makeshift hospitals as the US marked 700 deaths in a single day from Covid-19 for the first time on Tuesday.
New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, pleaded for reinforcements from the Trump administration, saying the worst could still be weeks away.
“This is the point at which we must be prepared for next week, when we expect a huge increase in the number of cases. What I asked very clearly, last week, was for military medical personnel to be deployed here,” De Blasio said at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, where a field hospital was being built.
De Blasio said he had asked the White House for an additional 1,000 nurses, 300 respiratory therapists and 150 doctors by 5 April but had yet to receive an answer.
Reuters contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-03-31--US ignores calls to suspend Venezuela and Iran sanctions amid coronavirus pandemic

At a time when all of humanity is facing a common , invisible , enemy , world leaders have called for a suspension of economic sanctions that have increasingly become the pursuit of war by other means .
The Trump administration has responded so far by ignoring those appeals and intensifying punitive measures on the two nations it has identified as America ’ s greatest enemies : Iran and Venezuela .
The spread of coronavirus has not slowed the regular drumbeat of successive layers of sanctions imposed by the state department on Iran .
Last week , a new list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revolutionary Guard was targeted .
On the same day , the justice department unveiled drug trafficking and money-laundering charges against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and 14 top current and former officials .
Briefing the press on the indictment , attorney general William Barr left little doubt about their political nature , portraying the coincidence with the pandemic as serendipity , claiming it will spur on regime change .
“ It ’ s good timing , actually , ” he said .
“ The people in Venezuela are suffering , and they need an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Peter Harrell , a former senior sanctions official at the state department , said : “ The administration is taking a kind of ‘ kick them while they ’ re down ’ approach , seemingly with the hope that by piling on sanctions and other actions , the administration can capitalize on the virus in Iran and Venezuela to spur greater public opposition to the incumbent governments and perhaps regime change.
” The US laid out a new plan for Venezuela on Tuesday , calling it a “ democratic transition framework ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces leave the country , and the creation of an interim government , a “ council of state ” chosen by the major factions of the opposition-run national assembly , in return for sanctions relief .
In terms of actual concrete economic damage , last Thursday ’ s new measures are unlikely to make much difference .
Iran and Venezuela are so heavily sanctioned already that there is precious little income left to cut off .
But they signal US determination not to relent even in the face of a mounting coronavirus death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed at a time when both countries , long mired by chronic mismanagement and corruption – are facing plunging oil prices on which both producer nations are dependent for foreign currency .
In Tehran , government ineptitude allowed coronavirus to spread unhindered for weeks before serious action was taken .
There are now more than 40,000 infections and 2,757 deaths in the country .
“ The government ’ s response to the outbreak of Covid-19 in the early weeks is really responsible for where the country is today , ” said Ariane Tabatabai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Venezuela , the pandemic has yet to hit in full force : just over 100 cases have so far been reported .
But the country is in an even worse state to cope when it does , with disastrous results for its population and the region , home to some 5 million Venezuelan refugees .
Only a quarter of Venezuela ’ s doctors have access to a reliable supply of water and two-thirds are without soap , gloves or masks .
There are 73 intensive care beds in the whole country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ off in Venezuela , and the country were not to receive a huge injection of international support , it would face an absolute disaster , ” said Ivan Briscoe , Latin American and Caribbean director at the International Crisis Group .
The United Nations secretary general António Guterres , and other top UN officials have called for a sanctions ceasefire around the world “ In a context of global pandemic , impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us , ” Michelle Bachelet , the UN commissioner for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populations in these countries are in no way responsible for the policies being targeted by sanctions , and to varying degrees have already been living in a precarious situation for prolonged periods.
” The Trump administration has insisted that its sanctions regimes are aimed at the governments of Iran and Venezuela and not their populations .
It points to exemptions for humanitarian goods , which were established in the last days of the Obama administration .
However , such exemptions exist more in theory than in reality .
International banks are so skittish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran that it is almost impossible to get financing for humanitarian goods purchases .
Adding to the uncertainty , some medical equipment that has become essential for fighting the coronavirus is on a list of dual-use items that requires specific US Treasury authorisation .
The line between permissible and forbidden items is badly defined .
Even before the pandemic hit , the US sought to open up a separate channel for humanitarian goods , through Switzerland , but it is mainly relevant for companies with Swiss subsidiaries and suffered from the same uncertainties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all that is that Iran has a really hard time making speedy and reliable payments for these types of humanitarian items , ” Esfandyar Batmanghelidj , an expert on economic diplomacy and founder of the Bourse & Bazaar .
“ What that means right now , when you ’ re dealing with an acute crisis like this and you have a sudden surge in demand .
Iran is basically going to be at the back of the line.
” On Tuesday , the long-delayed first export was made through a European payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago to insulate Iran from US sanctions .
According to the Wall Street Journal , the shipment was of medical equipment worth 500,000 euros , ordered before the coronavirus outbreak .
Venezuela is already selling its oil at a significant discount and the price collapse could make it uneconomical to export .
At the same time , the political standoff between Maduro and his US-backed challenger , Juan Guaidó , who are recognised as the head of state by different countries , makes it impossible for the country to get aid money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maduro ’ s request for $ 5bn in emergency aid funds , because of the lack of clarity of who was in charge .
Aware of the gravity of the situation , both sides have been in talks about the possibility of a unity government , negotiations that were disrupted by timing of the Maduro indictment – which by charging top generals at the same time , made it less likely the military would desert the incumbent leader .
Sanctions advocates argue they are humane alternatives to waging war for foreign policy objectives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that argument is weakening with the advance of the pandemic .
Richard Nephew , former principal deputy coordinator for sanctions policy at the state department , said : “ It is very difficult to argue that sanctions are intended to serve the best interests of the international community on the whole and the countries being targeted in particular if they are also perceived as worsening an unrelated humanitarian crisis .
”

At a time when all of humanity is facing a common, invisible, enemy, world leaders have called for a suspension of economic sanctions that have increasingly become the pursuit of war by other means.
The Trump administration has responded so far by ignoring those appeals and intensifying punitive measures on the two nations it has identified as America’s greatest enemies: Iran and Venezuela.
The spread of coronavirus has not slowed the regular drumbeat of successive layers of sanctions imposed by the state department on Iran. Last week, a new list of people and companies linked to the Revolutionary Guard was targeted.
On the same day, the justice department unveiled drug trafficking and money-laundering charges against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and 14 top current and former officials.
Briefing the press on the indictment, attorney general William Barr left little doubt about their political nature, portraying the coincidence with the pandemic as serendipity, claiming it will spur on regime change.
“It’s good timing, actually,” he said. “The people in Venezuela are suffering, and they need an effective government that responds to the people.”
Peter Harrell, a former senior sanctions official at the state department, said: “The administration is taking a kind of ‘kick them while they’re down’ approach, seemingly with the hope that by piling on sanctions and other actions, the administration can capitalize on the virus in Iran and Venezuela to spur greater public opposition to the incumbent governments and perhaps regime change.”
The US laid out a new plan for Venezuela on Tuesday, calling it a “democratic transition framework”, proposing Maduro step aside, foreign forces leave the country, and the creation of an interim government, a “council of state” chosen by the major factions of the opposition-run national assembly, in return for sanctions relief.
In terms of actual concrete economic damage, last Thursday’s new measures are unlikely to make much difference. Iran and Venezuela are so heavily sanctioned already that there is precious little income left to cut off. But they signal US determination not to relent even in the face of a mounting coronavirus death toll.
The new measures have been imposed at a time when both countries, long mired by chronic mismanagement and corruption – are facing plunging oil prices on which both producer nations are dependent for foreign currency.
In Tehran, government ineptitude allowed coronavirus to spread unhindered for weeks before serious action was taken. There are now more than 40,000 infections and 2,757 deaths in the country.
“The government’s response to the outbreak of Covid-19 in the early weeks is really responsible for where the country is today,” said Ariane Tabatabai, a scholar at Columbia University.
In Venezuela, the pandemic has yet to hit in full force: just over 100 cases have so far been reported. But the country is in an even worse state to cope when it does, with disastrous results for its population and the region, home to some 5 million Venezuelan refugees.
Only a quarter of Venezuela’s doctors have access to a reliable supply of water and two-thirds are without soap, gloves or masks. There are 73 intensive care beds in the whole country.
“If the virus were to take off in Venezuela, and the country were not to receive a huge injection of international support, it would face an absolute disaster,” said Ivan Briscoe, Latin American and Caribbean director at the International Crisis Group.
The United Nations secretary general António Guterres, and other top UN officials have called for a sanctions ceasefire around the world
“In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us,” Michelle Bachelet, the UN commissioner for human rights, said. “The populations in these countries are in no way responsible for the policies being targeted by sanctions, and to varying degrees have already been living in a precarious situation for prolonged periods.”
The Trump administration has insisted that its sanctions regimes are aimed at the governments of Iran and Venezuela and not their populations.
It points to exemptions for humanitarian goods, which were established in the last days of the Obama administration.
However, such exemptions exist more in theory than in reality. International banks are so skittish about handling any kind of trade with Iran that it is almost impossible to get financing for humanitarian goods purchases.
Adding to the uncertainty, some medical equipment that has become essential for fighting the coronavirus is on a list of dual-use items that requires specific US Treasury authorisation. The line between permissible and forbidden items is badly defined.
Even before the pandemic hit, the US sought to open up a separate channel for humanitarian goods, through Switzerland, but it is mainly relevant for companies with Swiss subsidiaries and suffered from the same uncertainties as other channels.
“The consequence of all that is that Iran has a really hard time making speedy and reliable payments for these types of humanitarian items,” Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, an expert on economic diplomacy and founder of the Bourse & Bazaar. “What that means right now, when you’re dealing with an acute crisis like this and you have a sudden surge in demand. Iran is basically going to be at the back of the line.”
On Tuesday, the long-delayed first export was made through a European payments mechanism, Instex, set up 14 months ago to insulate Iran from US sanctions. According to the Wall Street Journal, the shipment was of medical equipment worth 500,000 euros, ordered before the coronavirus outbreak.
Venezuela is already selling its oil at a significant discount and the price collapse could make it uneconomical to export. At the same time, the political standoff between Maduro and his US-backed challenger, Juan Guaidó, who are recognised as the head of state by different countries, makes it impossible for the country to get aid money. The International Monetary Fund turned down Maduro’s request for $5bn in emergency aid funds, because of the lack of clarity of who was in charge.
Aware of the gravity of the situation, both sides have been in talks about the possibility of a unity government, negotiations that were disrupted by timing of the Maduro indictment – which by charging top generals at the same time, made it less likely the military would desert the incumbent leader.
Sanctions advocates argue they are humane alternatives to waging war for foreign policy objectives, but in both Iran and Venezuela that argument is weakening with the advance of the pandemic.
Richard Nephew, former principal deputy coordinator for sanctions policy at the state department, said:“It is very difficult to argue that sanctions are intended to serve the best interests of the international community on the whole and the countries being targeted in particular if they are also perceived as worsening an unrelated humanitarian crisis.”


theguardian--2020-03-31--Trump to roll back Obama-era clean car rules in huge blow to climate fight

The Trump administration is rolling back the US government ’ s strongest attempt to combat the climate crisis , weakening rules which compel auto companies to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles .
Critics say the move will lead to more life-threatening air pollution and force Americans to spend more on gasoline .
The changes to Obama-era regulations will allow vehicles to emit about a billion more tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide – equivalent to roughly a fifth of annual US emissions .
The rollback is one of dozens Trump officials have ushered to completion , seeking to bolster the fossil fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pushback from world leaders .
Experts say the world is far off track in dealing with the climate emergency , following a year of record-breaking heat , rising hunger , displacement and loss of life due to extreme temperatures and weather disasters .
Donald Trump is expected to laud the new rule as a boost to the US economy , which has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
His administration says weakening the standards will make cars about $ 1,000 cheaper , leading Americans to buy new and safer models more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) chief , Andrew Wheeler , said in a statement : “ Now , more than ever , this country needs a sensible national program that strikes the right regulatory balance for the environment , the auto industry , the economy , safety , and American families .
“ [ This rule ] does all of those things by improving fuel economy , continuing to reduce air pollution , and making new vehicles more affordable for all Americans.
” Miles Keogh , executive director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an organization of state and local air regulators , called the timing of the rule change “ appalling ” .
He said : “ We know coronavirus preys on people with respiratory problems , and this dirty air rule will make more Americans vulnerable.
” The Obama administration required auto companies to make vehicles 4.7 % more efficient each year .
The Trump administration initially wanted to freeze any progress on fuel efficiency past 2020 .
But its final rule , written by the EPA and the Department of Transportation , sets an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – or an industry average of 40.4 miles per gallon by 2026 .
That ’ s far less than the 2.4 % per year by which the industry has said it will increase standards without any regulation .
The rollback has drawn opposition from nearly half of states and a significant portion of the auto industry .
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia , representing about half of US residents , sued over the changes .
They said weakening the standards would kill about 2,000 more people and cause 50,000 more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate crisis worse .
California has long instituted more stringent auto standards than the federal government , but the Trump administration has revoked the state ’ s authority to do so .
The state last year struck a deal with four companies – Ford , Honda , Volkswagen and BMW of North America – to exceed what Trump is asking for and require cars , trucks and SUVs to get nearly 50 miles per gallon on average by 2026 .
Democratic-run states and environmental advocates are expected to challenge the new regulation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over its weakening of dozens of other environment and public health protections .
Ann Carlson , a professor at the University of California in Los Angeles , said the legal fight will be “ one of the hardest fought , in part because it ’ s the most significant ” .
Carlson believes the rollback is meant to maintain demand for gasoline , which is expected to fall as vehicles become more efficient and transition to electricity .
“ You can make cars with zero emissions now , zero greenhouse gases that don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , ” Carlson said .
“ So I think the big beneficiaries are absolutely the oil companies.
” The rule change comes as many communities around the US are seeing a decline in air quality , a result of climate change , wildfires , higher temperatures , regulatory rollbacks and poor enforcement of regulations , said Paul Billings , senior vice-president of advocacy for the American Lung Association .
“ This will mean there will be more pollution associated with oil extraction , transport , refining – sort of all the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Billings said .
“ This will mean high levels of smog , more coughing , wheezing , shortness of breath , asthma attacks , COPD ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ) exacerbations and also more particulate pollution.
” The effects will be worse on communities near oil processing facilities and highways , often people of color and poorer Americans .

The Trump administration is rolling back the US government’s strongest attempt to combat the climate crisis, weakening rules which compel auto companies to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Critics say the move will lead to more life-threatening air pollution and force Americans to spend more on gasoline.
The changes to Obama-era regulations will allow vehicles to emit about a billion more tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide – equivalent to roughly a fifth of annual US emissions.
The rollback is one of dozens Trump officials have ushered to completion, seeking to bolster the fossil fuel industry amid intense opposition from Democratic-led states and pushback from world leaders.
Experts say the world is far off track in dealing with the climate emergency, following a year of record-breaking heat, rising hunger, displacement and loss of life due to extreme temperatures and weather disasters.
Donald Trump is expected to laud the new rule as a boost to the US economy, which has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. His administration says weakening the standards will make cars about $1,000 cheaper, leading Americans to buy new and safer models more frequently and resulting in fewer crash fatalities.
Coronavirus preys on people with respiratory problems, and this dirty air rule will make more Americans vulnerable Miles Keogh, NACAA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief, Andrew Wheeler, said in a statement: “Now, more than ever, this country needs a sensible national program that strikes the right regulatory balance for the environment, the auto industry, the economy, safety, and American families.
“[This rule] does all of those things by improving fuel economy, continuing to reduce air pollution, and making new vehicles more affordable for all Americans.”
Researchers dispute such logic.
Miles Keogh, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, an organization of state and local air regulators, called the timing of the rule change “appalling”.
He said: “We know coronavirus preys on people with respiratory problems, and this dirty air rule will make more Americans vulnerable.”
The Obama administration required auto companies to make vehicles 4.7% more efficient each year. The Trump administration initially wanted to freeze any progress on fuel efficiency past 2020. But its final rule, written by the EPA and the Department of Transportation, sets an improvement rate of 1.5% per year – or an industry average of 40.4 miles per gallon by 2026.
That’s far less than the 2.4% per year by which the industry has said it will increase standards without any regulation.
The rollback has drawn opposition from nearly half of states and a significant portion of the auto industry. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia, representing about half of US residents, sued over the changes. They said weakening the standards would kill about 2,000 more people and cause 50,000 more cases of respiratory illnesses, while making the climate crisis worse.
California has long instituted more stringent auto standards than the federal government, but the Trump administration has revoked the state’s authority to do so. The state last year struck a deal with four companies – Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW of North America – to exceed what Trump is asking for and require cars, trucks and SUVs to get nearly 50 miles per gallon on average by 2026.
Democratic-run states and environmental advocates are expected to challenge the new regulation. They are already fighting the Trump administration over its weakening of dozens of other environment and public health protections.
Ann Carlson, a professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, said the legal fight will be “one of the hardest fought, in part because it’s the most significant”.
Carlson believes the rollback is meant to maintain demand for gasoline, which is expected to fall as vehicles become more efficient and transition to electricity.
“You can make cars with zero emissions now, zero greenhouse gases that don’t run on petroleum, any more,” Carlson said. “So I think the big beneficiaries are absolutely the oil companies.”
The rule change comes as many communities around the US are seeing a decline in air quality, a result of climate change, wildfires, higher temperatures, regulatory rollbacks and poor enforcement of regulations, said Paul Billings, senior vice-president of advocacy for the American Lung Association.
“This will mean there will be more pollution associated with oil extraction, transport, refining – sort of all the way from the well to the pump,” Billings said. “This will mean high levels of smog, more coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) exacerbations and also more particulate pollution.”
The effects will be worse on communities near oil processing facilities and highways, often people of color and poorer Americans.


theguardian--2020-03-31--New US measures threaten civil rights amid coronavirus pandemic

As the US continues its scrambling response to the coronavirus outbreak , it has closed borders , quarantined some neighborhoods , and shut down businesses in a number of the most populous states .
Behind the scenes , federal and state governments have also been pushing for a series of draconian measures to respond to the virus , which would disproportionately affect asylum seekers , people embroiled in the justice system and even those seeking an abortion .
The efforts have already had a striking impact on civil liberties , and bear hints of a 2020 version of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 , which ultimately led to the Patriot Act , a sweeping piece of legislation that allowed , among other things , the government to collect citizens ’ phone data , in an unprecedented encroachment on personal rights .
Amid the indisputable need to contain the coronavirus outbreak , many of the measures have civil rights advocates concerned .
With the Trump administration ’ s poor record on openness and on freedom – seen especially in its treatment of undocumented workers – there is a real risk of Covid-19 having a permanent impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubling efforts is a government proposal that would allow it to detain people indefinitely without trial during national emergencies .
The justice department sent a request for the move to Congress around 20 March , in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Politico viewed justice department documents sent to Congress detailing the measure which would allow the justice department to ask federal chief judges to detain citizens without trial .
One document would mean the attorney general – currently the controversial Trump supporting Bill Barr – could ask judges in a district court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster , civil disobedience , or other emergency situation ” .
Norman L Reimer , executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers , told Politico that the proposal would affect “ pre-arrest ” cases .
“ So that means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over , ” Reimer said .
“ I find it absolutely terrifying .
Especially in a time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about granting new powers to the government.
” The request is even more troubling given Trump ’ s willingness to use national emergencies for political motives .
In February 2019 Trump declared a national emergency in an attempt to force through money to construct his border wall .
With the House currently dominated by Democrats , the measure is unlikely to be approved , although the election in November could change the dynamic , especially as Trump has risen in popularity in recent polls .
Other proposals hit asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enact measures which would mean people with confirmed cases of Covid-19 not be allowed to apply for asylum , ABC News reported .
The department is also seeking to deport undocumented immigrants who are confirmed to have the virus .
The department ’ s proposal would send those immigrants back to their home countries , regardless of whether they are unsafe .
While those rules depend on congressional support , other measures are already being enacted which impede individual rights .
Dozens of courts across the US have already been closed due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of selecting a jury at a time when many Americans are being told to social-distance means further delays are inevitable .
Elsewhere , Texas and Ohio have banned almost all abortions in response to the coronavirus , a move it claimed followed federal guidance , but one which fits neatly with their previous efforts to restrict access to abortion .
Under the Texas order any medical worker providing an abortion can be fined $ 1,000 , claiming abortions fit within federal government guidelines which prohibit non-essential surgery .
In response to the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency lawsuit on Wednesday , Buzzfeed reported , stating the move is unconstitutional .
Nancy Northup , head of the Center for Reproductive Rights , accused Texas ’ s attorney general , Ken Paxton , of “ exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state ” .
Some of the most vulnerable are those detained by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement .
As cities have released some low-level offenders from jail , Ice has remained resolute in refusing to release undocumented people from its detention centers .
With social distancing almost impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear the consequences could be severe .
Last Wednesday Ice confirmed it had pepper-sprayed detainees during a briefing on the coronavirus at a center in Louisiana , alleging they had become confrontational .
Ice told CBS News pepper spray had also been used on detainees at two other centers , following protests where undocumented people asked to be released .

As the US continues its scrambling response to the coronavirus outbreak, it has closed borders, quarantined some neighborhoods, and shut down businesses in a number of the most populous states.
Behind the scenes, federal and state governments have also been pushing for a series of draconian measures to respond to the virus, which would disproportionately affect asylum seekers, people embroiled in the justice system and even those seeking an abortion.
The efforts have already had a striking impact on civil liberties, and bear hints of a 2020 version of the US government response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which ultimately led to the Patriot Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that allowed, among other things, the government to collect citizens’ phone data, in an unprecedented encroachment on personal rights.
Amid the indisputable need to contain the coronavirus outbreak, many of the measures have civil rights advocates concerned. With the Trump administration’s poor record on openness and on freedom – seen especially in its treatment of undocumented workers – there is a real risk of Covid-19 having a permanent impact on society.
One of the most troubling efforts is a government proposal that would allow it to detain people indefinitely without trial during national emergencies. The justice department sent a request for the move to Congress around 20 March, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Politico viewed justice department documents sent to Congress detailing the measure which would allow the justice department to ask federal chief judges to detain citizens without trial. One document would mean the attorney general – currently the controversial Trump-supporting Bill Barr – could ask judges in a district court to pause court proceedings “whenever the district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation”.
Norman L Reimer, executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, told Politico that the proposal would affect “pre-arrest” cases.
“So that means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over,” Reimer said. “I find it absolutely terrifying. Especially in a time of emergency, we should be very careful about granting new powers to the government.”
The request is even more troubling given Trump’s willingness to use national emergencies for political motives. In February 2019 Trump declared a national emergency in an attempt to force through money to construct his border wall.
With the House currently dominated by Democrats, the measure is unlikely to be approved, although the election in November could change the dynamic, especially as Trump has risen in popularity in recent polls.
Other proposals hit asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants hardest. The justice department recommended Congress enact measures which would mean people with confirmed cases of Covid-19 not be allowed to apply for asylum, ABC News reported. The department is also seeking to deport undocumented immigrants who are confirmed to have the virus. The department’s proposal would send those immigrants back to their home countries, regardless of whether they are unsafe.
While those rules depend on congressional support, other measures are already being enacted which impede individual rights.
Dozens of courts across the US have already been closed due to the coronavirus, and the inherent difficulty of selecting a jury at a time when many Americans are being told to social-distance means further delays are inevitable.
Elsewhere, Texas and Ohio have banned almost all abortions in response to the coronavirus, a move it claimed followed federal guidance, but one which fits neatly with their previous efforts to restrict access to abortion. Under the Texas order any medical worker providing an abortion can be fined $1,000, claiming abortions fit within federal government guidelines which prohibit non-essential surgery.
In response to the order, Planned Parenthood and others filed an emergency lawsuit on Wednesday, Buzzfeed reported, stating the move is unconstitutional. Nancy Northup, head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, accused Texas’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, of “exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state”.
Some of the most vulnerable are those detained by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. As cities have released some low-level offenders from jail, Ice has remained resolute in refusing to release undocumented people from its detention centers. With social distancing almost impossible in detention centers, lawyers and advocates fear the consequences could be severe.
Last Wednesday Ice confirmed it had pepper-sprayed detainees during a briefing on the coronavirus at a center in Louisiana, alleging they had become confrontational. Ice told CBS News pepper spray had also been used on detainees at two other centers, following protests where undocumented people asked to be released.


theguardian--2020-04-01--Trump warns of 'painful two weeks' as officials predict up to 240,000 US coronavirus deaths

Donald Trump has warned America to brace for a “ very , very painful two weeks ” as the White House projected that the coronavirus pandemic could claim 100,000 to 240,000 lives , even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained .
Striking an unusually sombre tone at the start a marathon two-hour briefing , the US president defended his early handling of the crisis and displayed models that , he said , justified his decision to keep much of the economy shut down .
“ I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks .
This is going to be a very painful , very , very painful two weeks.
” The US death toll from the coronavirus climbed past 3,800 on Tuesday , eclipsing China ’ s official count .
Trump has been widely condemned for exacerbating the crisis by failing to prepare testing kits , breathing apparatus and other equipment .
On Tuesday his experts said their models showed between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could die even if the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus taskforce response coordinator , said models showed a worst case scenario of between 1.5m and 2.2m deaths in the US “ without mitigation ” .
But with measures in place , she added , the “ mountain ” could be reduced to a “ hill ” that projects 100,000–240,000 deaths – still a staggering total .
She stressed that the number could be lower if people changed their behavior .
She displayed a chart in which New York had by far the most cumulative cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other 48 states bunched together .
Birx expressed hope that social distancing could prevent major outbreaks in those states .
Early mitigation slowing the spread of disease in California and Washington state “ gives us great hope ” , she added .
“ It ’ s communities that will do this .
There ’ s no magic bullet .
There ’ s no magic vaccine or therapy .
It ’ s just behaviour.
” Asked if Americans be prepared for the likelihood that there would be 100,000 Americans who die from this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said : “ The answer is yes .
As sobering a number as that is , we should be prepared for it .
“ Is it going to be that much ?
I hope not , and I think the more we push on the mitigation , the less likelihood it will be that number ... We are really convinced mitigation is going to be doing the trick for us.
” He added : “ We ’ re going to continue to see things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working ... Now is the time , whenever you ’ re having an effect , not to take your foot off the accelerator and on the brake , but to just press it down on the accelerator .
And that ’ s what I hope and I know that we can do over the next 30 days.
” Trump eventually heeded such advice , and opinion polls , after previously declaring an ambition to restart the economy by Easter .
He announced on Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines that urged Americans to cease social gatherings , work from home , suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus .
Trump spoke after another bad day for the stock market .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points , or roughly 1.9 % , to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history .
But the president defended shutting down much of the economy , attempting to rewrite history .
Trump , who in speeches and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu , said : “ A lot of people have said , ‘ Ride it out .
Don ’ t do anything , just ride it out .
And think of it as the flu.
’ But it ’ s not the flu .
It ’ s vicious.
” And as the briefing wore on , more of the old Trump emerged .
He made misleading claims about the early travel restrictions he imposed on China and Europe and , despite complaints from state governors , defended the supply of ventilators and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alarm early based on reports from China , the president claimed : “ Nobody knew how contagious this was .
I don ’ t think any doctor knew it at the time .
People have not seen anything like this.
” And trying to put his own efforts in a positive light , he noted that without his mitigation guidelines , models show the death toll could have reached 2.2m .
“ You would have had people dying all over the place .
“ You would have seen people dying in airplanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hotel lobbies .
How many people have even seen anybody die ?
You would have seen death all over.
” The president added : “ One hundred thousand is , according to modeling , a very low number.
” But he also described the figure as “ very sobering ” .

Donald Trump has warned America to brace for a “very, very painful two weeks” as the White House projected that the coronavirus pandemic could claim 100,000 to 240,000 lives, even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.
Striking an unusually sombre tone at the start a marathon two-hour briefing, the US president defended his early handling of the crisis and displayed models that, he said, justified his decision to keep much of the economy shut down.
“I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead,” Trump said at the White House. “We’re going to go through a very tough two weeks. This is going to be a very painful, very, very painful two weeks.”
The US death toll from the coronavirus climbed past 3,800 on Tuesday, eclipsing China’s official count. Trump has been widely condemned for exacerbating the crisis by failing to prepare testing kits, breathing apparatus and other equipment.
On Tuesday his experts said their models showed between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could die even if the US keeps mitigation measures in place.
Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus taskforce response coordinator, said models showed a worst case scenario of between 1.5m and 2.2m deaths in the US “without mitigation”.
But with measures in place, she added, the “mountain” could be reduced to a “hill” that projects 100,000–240,000 deaths – still a staggering total. She stressed that the number could be lower if people changed their behavior.
She displayed a chart in which New York had by far the most cumulative cases, followed by New Jersey, then the other 48 states bunched together. Birx expressed hope that social distancing could prevent major outbreaks in those states.
Early mitigation slowing the spread of disease in California and Washington state “gives us great hope”, she added. “It’s communities that will do this. There’s no magic bullet. There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviour.”
Asked if Americans be prepared for the likelihood that there would be 100,000 Americans who die from this virus, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said: “The answer is yes. As sobering a number as that is, we should be prepared for it.
“Is it going to be that much? I hope not, and I think the more we push on the mitigation, the less likelihood it will be that number ... We are really convinced mitigation is going to be doing the trick for us.”
He added: “We’re going to continue to see things go up. We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working ... Now is the time, whenever you’re having an effect, not to take your foot off the accelerator and on the brake, but to just press it down on the accelerator. And that’s what I hope and I know that we can do over the next 30 days.”
Trump eventually heeded such advice, and opinion polls, after previously declaring an ambition to restart the economy by Easter. He announced on Sunday that he was extending to 30 April the guidelines that urged Americans to cease social gatherings, work from home, suspend onsite learning at schools and more in a nationwide effort to stem the spread of the virus.
Trump spoke after another bad day for the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 400 points, or roughly 1.9%, to seal the worst first-quarter finish of its 135-year history.
A shoe company in Culver City, California, makes masks to be donated to hospitals. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images
But the president defended shutting down much of the economy, attempting to rewrite history. Trump, who in speeches and on Twitter has compared Covid-19 to the common flu, said: “A lot of people have said, ‘Ride it out. Don’t do anything, just ride it out. And think of it as the flu.’ But it’s not the flu. It’s vicious.”
And as the briefing wore on, more of the old Trump emerged. He made misleading claims about the early travel restrictions he imposed on China and Europe and, despite complaints from state governors, defended the supply of ventilators and other equipment.
Although public health experts raised the alarm early based on reports from China, the president claimed: “Nobody knew how contagious this was. I don’t think any doctor knew it at the time. People have not seen anything like this.”
And trying to put his own efforts in a positive light, he noted that without his mitigation guidelines, models show the death toll could have reached 2.2m. “You would have had people dying all over the place.
“You would have seen people dying in airplanes, you would have seen people dying in hotel lobbies. How many people have even seen anybody die? You would have seen death all over.”
The president added: “One hundred thousand is, according to modeling, a very low number.” But he also described the figure as “very sobering”.


theguardian--2020-04-01--Coronavirus US live: Donald Trump predicts 'a very, very painful two weeks' – as it happened

Opinion : Ice agents are still performing raids – and using precious N95 masks to do so On the first day of California ’ s “ shelter-in-place ” lockdown , Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( Ice ) agents raided immigrant communities in Los Angeles .
Different from other raids , they carried N95 medical masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 .
Also different from previous raids , the Ice agents broke state regulations that ordered everyone to stay home except to do “ essential ” activities necessary to survive ( eg buying food or medicine ) .
The protective masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LA are the same personal protective equipment that made headlines in the last week due to extreme shortages endangering the lives of healthcare workers .
These frontline health professionals care for patients without this basic protective equipment , forced to risk not only their own health but also the capacity of our health system in this critical pandemic .
In fact , the surgeon general issued a statement requesting that all N95 masks be saved for doctors , nurses and other frontline health workers .
In a time with severe shortages and orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government chose to prioritize masks for Ice agents instead of necessary health personnel and , ultimately , chose raids over the health of our country .


theguardian--2020-04-01--The pandemic is producing a 'Trump bump' in the polls – but it may not last | Simon Tisdall

The rise in Donald Trump ’ s approval ratings – it would be misleading to call it a surge – appears to have shocked his opponents .
Critics in the Democratic party and the media have noisily condemned and ridiculed his handling of the coronavirus outbreak , as have some scientists and economists .
But it seems a growing chunk of the America public does not agree .
The latest national poll , for ABC News-Washington Post , puts Trump within two points of Joe Biden , on 47-49 % , assuming the latter is the Democrats ’ nominee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s seven points up on February .
Other polls also suggest a tightening race , especially in swing states .
While Biden still leads the race for the White House by a national poll average of just under six points , Trump ’ s overall approval rating is also up on previous record lows , to around 47 % , according to the Real Clear Politics website .
Given the storm of mostly negative comment surrounding Trump ’ s coronavirus performance , how can this be ?
One obvious explanation for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that he is , after all , the president – and Americans , like citizens in other countries , tend to rally round their leaders at times of national emergency .
In Italy , the prime minister , Giuseppe Conte , is up 27 points in one poll .
France ’ s previously deeply unpopular president , Emmanuel Macron , is up 14 .
George W Bush saw his ratings go through the roof after the 9/11 attacks .
His father , George HW Bush , hit 90 % + approval after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parade to celebrate .
By these measures , Trump should actually be doing much better in the polls .
In fact , when asked whether the country is headed in the right direction under Trump , Americans say no by 55-38 % .
Such comparisons suggest the “ Trump bump ” phenomenon should be handled with care – and a lot of hand sanitizer .
There are other reasons , too .
Since the Covid-19 crisis erupted , and especially since the White House started holding regular , much-watched televised briefings , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media coverage , dominating the news cycles with dramatic policy announcements and updates .
Rarely has the White House bully pulpit been so powerful .
But his dominance of the public arena could yet backfire on the president .
The fact that Trump ’ s announcements have often been contradictory , ill-thought-through or plain false , and the fact he has reversed himself with alarming regularity – the latest U-turn being Sunday ’ s decision to extend social distancing measures until the end of April – does not seem to put off many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a man in charge .
Yet by casting himself as an all-powerful , all-seeing “ wartime president ” calling the shots in the biggest national health and economic emergency Americans have experienced , Trump is setting himself up for a fall .
Many experts predict the measures he has taken so far will prove to be too little , too late and Covid-19 will spread more widely and for longer , and the death toll will begin to rise exponentially .
The impact of Trump ’ s monopoly on messaging has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , for now , appears irrelevant – and risks being eclipsed by figures on his own “ side ” , such as New York ’ s vigorous , tough-talking governor , Andrew Cuomo .
That ’ s good news for Trump .
Trump ’ s claim to be on top of things has also been helped by the uneven , patchy spread of the virus as of late March .
So far at least , the main hotspots are urban , predominantly in the north-east , and in Democratic cities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Large swaths of mid-western and southern rural America are relatively unscathed at this point .
This is where a lot of Trump supporters live .
Many of them , and perhaps some independents and Democrats , too , may sympathize with Trump ’ s barely repressed scepticism of recent weeks about the virulence and longevity of the pandemic , and with the importance he has attached to limiting economic damage to people ’ s livelihoods ( and Wall Street ) .
Trump ’ s gut instinct to dispute expert medical advice , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anti-science and Christian fundamentalist sentiments nurtured in Trump ’ s Republican base .
So , too , do his xenophobic attempts to blame the virus on foreigners and foes , principally China ’ s communist leaders , immigrants and Europe .
Ironically , the level-headedness , good judgment and common sense shown by a key adviser , Anthony Fauci , a leading infectious disease expert , have made up for Trump ’ s lack of those very qualities .
Fauci has added gravitas to Trump ’ s rambling , incoherent performances in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this sort can not work indefinitely .
The real problems for Trump and his national savior act will begin when it becomes clear the administration ’ s failure to instigate a nationwide testing regime , coupled with its refusal to order effective lockdowns of virus hotspots and tardiness in delivering life-saving equipment , is increasing the likelihood of a protracted , rolling nightmare of sickness and misery through the summer and fall .
Based on a growing body of evidence from China , Italy and Spain , and prospectively the UK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus may await Americans everywhere if such measures are neglected .
With Fauci now warning that up to 200,000 US citizens could die , Trump ’ s phoney war is coming to an end .
The “ Trump bump ” , like the so-called post-election “ Boris bounce ” in Britain , could soon be a bad joke – a grim memorial to incompetence at a time of existential need .

The rise in Donald Trump’s approval ratings – it would be misleading to call it a surge – appears to have shocked his opponents. Critics in the Democratic party and the media have noisily condemned and ridiculed his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, as have some scientists and economists.
But it seems a growing chunk of the America public does not agree.
The latest national poll, for ABC News-Washington Post, puts Trump within two points of Joe Biden, on 47-49%, assuming the latter is the Democrats’ nominee in November’s presidential election. That’s seven points up on February. Other polls also suggest a tightening race, especially in swing states.
While Biden still leads the race for the White House by a national poll average of just under six points, Trump’s overall approval rating is also up on previous record lows, to around 47%, according to the Real Clear Politics website. Given the storm of mostly negative comment surrounding Trump’s coronavirus performance, how can this be?
One obvious explanation for what is dubbed the “Trump bump” is that he is, after all, the president – and Americans, like citizens in other countries, tend to rally round their leaders at times of national emergency. In Italy, the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, is up 27 points in one poll. France’s previously deeply unpopular president, Emmanuel Macron, is up 14.
George W Bush saw his ratings go through the roof after the 9/11 attacks. His father, George HW Bush, hit 90%+ approval after the first Gulf war and held a parade to celebrate. By these measures, Trump should actually be doing much better in the polls. In fact, when asked whether the country is headed in the right direction under Trump, Americans say no by 55-38%.
Such comparisons suggest the “Trump bump” phenomenon should be handled with care – and a lot of hand sanitizer.
There are other reasons, too. Since the Covid-19 crisis erupted, and especially since the White House started holding regular, much-watched televised briefings, Trump has enjoyed something approaching a monopoly of media coverage, dominating the news cycles with dramatic policy announcements and updates.
Rarely has the White House bully pulpit been so powerful. But his dominance of the public arena could yet backfire on the president.
The fact that Trump’s announcements have often been contradictory, ill-thought-through or plain false, and the fact he has reversed himself with alarming regularity – the latest U-turn being Sunday’s decision to extend social distancing measures until the end of April – does not seem to put off many viewers. What they think they see is a man in charge.
Yet by casting himself as an all-powerful, all-seeing “wartime president” calling the shots in the biggest national health and economic emergency Americans have experienced, Trump is setting himself up for a fall. Many experts predict the measures he has taken so far will prove to be too little, too late and Covid-19 will spread more widely and for longer, and the death toll will begin to rise exponentially.
Trump’s claim to be on top of things has also been helped by the uneven, patchy spread of the virus as of late March
The impact of Trump’s monopoly on messaging has been strengthened by the the political reality that Biden, for now, appears irrelevant – and risks being eclipsed by figures on his own “side”, such as New York’s vigorous, tough-talking governor, Andrew Cuomo. That’s good news for Trump.
Trump’s claim to be on top of things has also been helped by the uneven, patchy spread of the virus as of late March. So far at least, the main hotspots are urban, predominantly in the north-east, and in Democratic cities such as New Orleans, Detroit and Chicago. Large swaths of mid-western and southern rural America are relatively unscathed at this point.
This is where a lot of Trump supporters live. Many of them, and perhaps some independents and Democrats, too, may sympathize with Trump’s barely repressed scepticism of recent weeks about the virulence and longevity of the pandemic, and with the importance he has attached to limiting economic damage to people’s livelihoods (and Wall Street).
Trump’s gut instinct to dispute expert medical advice, without any evidence, plays into the anti-establishment, anti-science and Christian fundamentalist sentiments nurtured in Trump’s Republican base. So, too, do his xenophobic attempts to blame the virus on foreigners and foes, principally China’s communist leaders, immigrants and Europe.
Ironically, the level-headedness, good judgment and common sense shown by a key adviser, Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease expert, have made up for Trump’s lack of those very qualities. Fauci has added gravitas to Trump’s rambling, incoherent performances in front of camera. But vicarious leadership of this sort cannot work indefinitely.
The real problems for Trump and his national savior act will begin when it becomes clear the administration’s failure to instigate a nationwide testing regime, coupled with its refusal to order effective lockdowns of virus hotspots and tardiness in delivering life-saving equipment, is increasing the likelihood of a protracted, rolling nightmare of sickness and misery through the summer and fall.
Based on a growing body of evidence from China, Italy and Spain, and prospectively the UK, an ineluctable, lethal spread of the virus may await Americans everywhere if such measures are neglected. With Fauci now warning that up to 200,000 US citizens could die, Trump’s phoney war is coming to an end.
The “Trump bump”, like the so-called post-election “Boris bounce” in Britain, could soon be a bad joke – a grim memorial to incompetence at a time of existential need.