alternet--2020-10-04--When did Trump get the virus — and when did he know it?

That 's why Donald Trump got on Air Force One and flew to his Bedminster golf club on Thursday afternoon , not long after he had learned of Hope Hicks ' positive diagnosis for the COVID virus .
There were millions in campaign contributions waiting for him at his golf club in the person of dozens of VIP Republican contributors who had paid as much as $ 250,000 to sit down with Trump at a `` roundtable '' at the reception .
A donation of $ 50,000 got you a photo-op with the president , $ 35,000 got you a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unnamed `` VIP '' from the Trump campaign , and $ 2,800 got you in the door .
Lots of money sitting around out there in New Jersey at one of Trump 's favorite places on the planet .
You think he was going to skip that trip and miss out on all those bucks ?
Not a chance .
People who attended the fundraiser reported that Trump did n't wear a mask on Thursday .
Neither did many of those attending the event .
Trump was reported to have and posed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday morning , according to Bloomberg News , yet he `` continued on with a full schedule of events .
No one knew Trump was positive on Thursday , but some suspected it , people familiar with the matter said . ''
Hicks , one of Trump 's closest aides , had traveled on Air Force One with him to a rally in Duluth , Minnesota , on Wednesday .
Then she `` was separated from the rest of the staff on Air Force One on the trip home Wednesday night after falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hicks was seen walking across the tarmac with Jared Kushner to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday when Trump flew to Cleveland for the debate with Joe Biden , and seen again getting on the presidential plane before the flight to Minnesota the next day .
So Trump knew by late Wednesday night that he had been exposed .
Hicks often sees Trump a dozen times a day , according to Jonathan Lemire , an AP White House correspondent and MSNBC contributor .
Trump probably suspected that he was sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and depressed walking across the White House lawn to Marine One before the flight to New Jersey , and was described as `` tired and lethargic '' at the Bedminster fundraiser , although he was n't reported to have shown other symptoms .
But you know how you feel with a case of the flu coming on , and the coronavirus is said to hit a lot harder than the common flu .
A few hours after the Thursday fundraiser , at 1:00 a.m. on Friday , he sent out a tweet acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the COVID virus .
Why are all these details about the timing of Trump 's COVID diagnosis important ?
In addition to being contemptuous of the virus itself , Trump has been contemptuous of those who wear masks to protect themselves .
Trump belittled Joe Biden at the debate on Tuesday night for wearing a mask .
`` I do n't wear a mask like him , '' Trump said , gesturing toward Biden .
`` Every time you see him , he 's got a mask .
He could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he shows up with the biggest mask I 've ever seen . ''
Now we know that Trump was equally as contemptuous of his fawning fans who follow his example and do n't wear masks .
He showed up at his Thursday fundraiser knowing he had been exposed to the deadly virus , yet he did n't wear a mask and did n't warn his campaign donors that he had been exposed and they should protect themselves from him by wearing masks and keeping their distance .
This is what the criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life . ''
In New Jersey , where the Bedminster fundraiser was held , a person can be charged with reckless manslaughter when you `` recklessly cause the death of another under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life , '' according to the criminal code .
Trump 's indifference to human life is manifest in everything he has done since the COVID crisis hit .
He admitted in interviews with journalist Bob Woodward for his book , `` Rage , '' that he `` played down '' the threat of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though he knew the disease could be deadly and that you could become infected just by `` breathing the air . ''
He has played down the threat ever since , most recently continuing to tell audiences at his rallies last week that the virus `` is going away , '' and reportedly repeating the claim at the Bedminster fundraiser .
Again and again , even after the death toll hit 100,000 and continued to climb , he has praised himself for `` doing a fantastic job . ''
Now that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you could certainly make a case that Trump has contributed to the toll by encouraging the reopening of businesses and schools , which has caused coronavirus cases to rise in at least 25 states this week .
Nationwide , the country has averaged 43,000 new cases a day for the last two weeks .
But now , with Trump 's appearance at the fundraiser in Bedminster , it 's personal .
We will probably never know for sure when Trump came down with the virus , because we ca n't trust what comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on an official basis by his White House .
But Trump , at the very least , had to suspect that he was dangerous to the health of others after Hicks got sick on Air Force One Wednesday night , and he knew it for sure when she tested positive on Thursday morning .
Still , he went to the fundraiser in New Jersey and posed for photographs with his adoring fans and sat down with the $ 250,000 donors at the so-called roundtable .
Even now , with his wife quarantined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heading to Walter Reed hospital on Friday evening — and with more positive tests of prominent political figures , so far all Republicans , being announced almost hourly — political insiders are wringing their hands over what it will all mean to Trump 's electoral fate , not to mention that of the Republican Party .
`` It 's hard to imagine this does n't end his hopes of re-election , '' Rob Stutzman , a Republican consultant , on Friday morning , pointing to Trump 's `` flouting of obvious precautions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters for the Times that Trump 's `` recklessness … amounted to a political 'disaster . '
'' Trump 's failures with COVID have gone from the political to the personal .
If only one person who attended that fundraiser with Trump dies from COVID , his `` extreme indifference to human life '' will make him liable to a manslaughter charge in the state of New Jersey .
That 's a reminder , as if we needed one , that it 's not political careers that are ending out there , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick and in the hospital .
If he dies , all his life will amount to in the end will be one more statistic .

He wanted their money.
That's why Donald Trump got on Air Force One and flew to his Bedminster golf club on Thursday afternoon, not long after he had learned of Hope Hicks' positive diagnosis for the COVID virus. There were millions in campaign contributions waiting for him at his golf club in the person of dozens of VIP Republican contributors who had paid as much as $250,000 to sit down with Trump at a "roundtable" at the reception. A donation of $50,000 got you a photo-op with the president, $35,000 got you a place at a "roundtable" with an unnamed "VIP" from the Trump campaign, and $2,800 got you in the door.
Lots of money sitting around out there in New Jersey at one of Trump's favorite places on the planet. You think he was going to skip that trip and miss out on all those bucks? Not a chance.
People who attended the fundraiser reported that Trump didn't wear a mask on Thursday. Neither did many of those attending the event. Trump was reported to have mingled with dozens of VIP attendees and posed for photographs.
Trump had been told of Hicks' diagnosis on Thursday morning, according to Bloomberg News, yet he "continued on with a full schedule of events. No one knew Trump was positive on Thursday, but some suspected it, people familiar with the matter said."
Hicks, one of Trump's closest aides, had traveled on Air Force One with him to a rally in Duluth, Minnesota, on Wednesday. Then she "was separated from the rest of the White House staff on Air Force One on the trip home Wednesday night after falling ill," according to Bloomberg. Hicks was seen walking across the tarmac with Jared Kushner to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday when Trump flew to Cleveland for the debate with Joe Biden, and seen again getting on the presidential plane before the flight to Minnesota the next day.
So Trump knew by late Wednesday night that he had been exposed. Hicks often sees Trump a dozen times a day, according to Jonathan Lemire, an AP White House correspondent and MSNBC contributor. Trump probably suspected that he was sick by Thursday morning. Trump looked tired and depressed walking across the White House lawn to Marine One before the flight to New Jersey, and was described as "tired and lethargic" at the Bedminster fundraiser, although he wasn't reported to have shown other symptoms. But you know how you feel with a case of the flu coming on, and the coronavirus is said to hit a lot harder than the common flu. A few hours after the Thursday fundraiser, at 1:00 a.m. on Friday, he sent out a tweet acknowledging that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for the COVID virus.
Why are all these details about the timing of Trump's COVID diagnosis important?
In addition to being contemptuous of the virus itself, Trump has been contemptuous of those who wear masks to protect themselves. Trump belittled Joe Biden at the debate on Tuesday night for wearing a mask. "I don't wear a mask like him," Trump said, gesturing toward Biden. "Every time you see him, he's got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away from him and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen."
Now we know that Trump was equally as contemptuous of his fawning fans who follow his example and don't wear masks. He showed up at his Thursday fundraiser knowing he had been exposed to the deadly virus, yet he didn't wear a mask and didn't warn his campaign donors that he had been exposed and they should protect themselves from him by wearing masks and keeping their distance.
This is what the criminal codes call "depraved indifference to human life." In New Jersey, where the Bedminster fundraiser was held, a person can be charged with reckless manslaughter when you "recklessly cause the death of another under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life," according to the criminal code.
Trump's indifference to human life is manifest in everything he has done since the COVID crisis hit. He admitted in interviews with journalist Bob Woodward for his book, "Rage," that he "played down" the threat of the virus in the early days of the pandemic even though he knew the disease could be deadly and that you could become infected just by "breathing the air." He has played down the threat ever since, most recently continuing to tell audiences at his rallies last week that the virus "is going away," and reportedly repeating the claim at the Bedminster fundraiser. Again and again, even after the death toll hit 100,000 and continued to climb, he has praised himself for "doing a fantastic job."
Now that the American death count has hit 200,000, you could certainly make a case that Trump has contributed to the toll by encouraging the reopening of businesses and schools, which has caused coronavirus cases to rise in at least 25 states this week. Nationwide, the country has averaged 43,000 new cases a day for the last two weeks. But now, with Trump's appearance at the fundraiser in Bedminster, it's personal.
We will probably never know for sure when Trump came down with the virus, because we can't trust what comes out of his mouth or what is released on an official basis by his White House. But Trump, at the very least, had to suspect that he was dangerous to the health of others after Hicks got sick on Air Force One Wednesday night, and he knew it for sure when she tested positive on Thursday morning. Still, he went to the fundraiser in New Jersey and posed for photographs with his adoring fans and sat down with the $250,000 donors at the so-called roundtable.
Even now, with his wife quarantined in the White House and Trump himself heading to Walter Reed hospital on Friday evening — and with more positive tests of prominent political figures, so far all Republicans, being announced almost hourly — political insiders are wringing their hands over what it will all mean to Trump's electoral fate, not to mention that of the Republican Party. "It's hard to imagine this doesn't end his hopes of re-election," Rob Stutzman, a Republican consultant, told the New York Times on Friday morning, pointing to Trump's "flouting of obvious precautions." One White House political adviser told reporters for the Times that Trump's "recklessness … amounted to a political 'disaster.'"
Trump's failures with COVID have gone from the political to the personal. If only one person who attended that fundraiser with Trump dies from COVID, his "extreme indifference to human life" will make him liable to a manslaughter charge in the state of New Jersey.
That's a reminder, as if we needed one, that it's not political careers that are ending out there, it's human lives. Now Trump is sick and in the hospital. If he dies, all his life will amount to in the end will be one more statistic.


alternet--2020-10-04--Hospital-ridden Trump may crush what's left of his deplorable base

Anecdotally , Donald Trump 's medical travails is n't doing him any electoral favors .
Several polls are showing the impeached irresponsible dumbass losing ground after his COVID diagnosis , like this one and this one .
By all indications , it 's way too early to tell .
But I 'm not here to argue that Trump will lose ground in the head-to-heads .
I 'm say that things are even more dire for him—that his coronavirus diagnosis and hospitalization will crush his supporters ' intensity , damage both turnout and even the possibility of post-Election Day violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have any data to point to , no polls to bolster my argument .
This is pure conjecture , but it is an educated guess as to the evolving contours of the race .
As Kerry Eleveld wrote yesterday , `` Over the course of 24 hours , the central pillar of Donald Trump 's campaign strategy came crashing down … Trump 's air of invincibility has been entirely destroyed . ''
Trump has studiously worked to present himself as `` strong , '' `` resolute , '' `` a winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigor , and Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's lack thereof .
`` Sleepy Joe , '' as stupid a nickname as it is , was fully intended to convey contrast : Trump , strong .
Biden , weak .
None of that was on starker display than the debate question about wearing masks .
`` I will put a mask on when I think I need it , '' Trump said , pulling out what might 've been a Kleenex from his coat pocket .
`` I do n't wear masks like him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
`` Every time you see him , he 's got a mask .
He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I 've ever seen . ''
That Biden , what a weak piece of shit , so afraid of the corona that he wears a big mask .
A Strong man like Trump , on the other hand , does n't let no virus scare him !
And yet he now lies in a hospital room , with comorbidities compounding his frail condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughably claims to have ?
Where is his , to use Kerry 's word , invincibility ?
I always laugh at how liberals ca n't handle good news , while Republicans ca n't handle bad news .
While many on our side react to a good poll by saying silly things like `` act like we 're 10 points down ! ''
their side will just follow along with Trump 's proclamations that it 's all fake news and the media , deep state , and swamp are conspiring to depress conservative turnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a candidate is down significantly , like 10 points , it depresses turnout .
Who wants to spend their precious time , especially in a pandemic , working hard for a loser ?
That 's why they work so hard to create their alternate reality , one in which Trump is totally cruising to reelection !
But what happens when Trump is n't around to mobilize his base , tell them to stop paying attention to reality , and use hate , fear , and bigotry to rally the faithful ?
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , good luck with that .
The conservative base does n't care about any of those people .
There is only one person that matters .
And that person , that supposed symbol of vigor and strength , is laid up in a hospital bed because of his rank idiocy and stupid .
And while the Trump camp insists he 's fine and `` in good spirits , '' we know that 's bullshit because , you know , he 's not tweeting .
Will Trump be able to regain enough strength and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buttons on his phone ?
I certainly hope he gets better .
I need him to be alive to see himself become the biggest loser in American history .
I want him to see his business empire crumble under incompetent stewardship and legal scrutiny , him and his children in prison , that bullshit facade of success crumbled to dust .
Death would be too easy an escape .
I am genuinely rooting for him to pull through .
But by all indications , this is not an easy disease to recover from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Will he have the strength to type bullshit tweets again ?
I hope so !
Will he have the strength to muster up the kind of rage and sense of grievance that is so effective in riling up his base ?
That 's a whole different question , and it 's easy to see him having difficulties elevating the political temperature .
You take away Trump 's ability to manipulate his supporters ' lizard brain , and what do you have left ?
Even a small 5-10 % erosion in intensity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump !
He 's already losing .
But for the rest of the Republican Party , already facing deep losses in the House , Senate , and state-level races .
You add deep electoral losses ( like a defeated Sen. Lindsey Graham and a massive Electoral College Biden win ) and a Trump too sickly to really work up the requisite level of outrage , and the chances of post-election violence we 've been fearing are also severely diminished .
It really is ironic , is n't it ?
Had Trump taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something he clearly understood ( as he told Bob Woodward in those recorded conversations ) , today would look more different .
Imagine an America where Trump could claim credit for minimizing COVID deaths , having encouraged everyone to wear masks from the start , and shut down the country while ensuring a smooth and efficient distribution of PPE , ventilators , and other necessary equipment .
Imagine further that Trump worked with Democrats to provide several rounds of economic stimulus , minimizing the nation 's economic pain and saving millions of jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now reopen fairly safely , as they have in well-run countries like Korea , New Zealand , and Germany .
Trump could claim credit for all of that .
And , as a bonus , he would n't be laid up in the hospital too sick to tweet or call in to Fox and Friends .
The Senate would be doing regular business , confirming more conservative judges including the big one , the open Supreme Court seat .
And who could punish Trump for any of this ?
Certainly not liberals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic seriously .
The deplorables ?
They 'd happily do whatever Trump asked them to do .
They 're stupid lemmings .
The media would give credit where credit was due .
And we 'd be running a much tighter race , one in which Trump had proven himself a genuinely strong and capable leader .
It 's genuinely tragic that none of that happened , and that we had to lose 210,000 souls ( and counting ) to Republican idiocy .
And now , Mr. `` I 'm too strong to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big-ass mask '' is fighting for his life .
This is n't the story that will motivate the deplorables to work harder to turn out the vote or disrupt the post-election transition of power .
Quite the opposite , it smells of defeat and surrender .

Anecdotally, Donald Trump's medical travails isn't doing him any electoral favors. Several polls are showing the impeached irresponsible dumbass losing ground after his COVID diagnosis, like this one and this one. By all indications, it's way too early to tell.
But I'm not here to argue that Trump will lose ground in the head-to-heads. I'm say that things are even more dire for him—that his coronavirus diagnosis and hospitalization will crush his supporters' intensity, damage both turnout and even the possibility of post-Election Day violence.
Unlike everything else I write, I don't have any data to point to, no polls to bolster my argument. This is pure conjecture, but it is an educated guess as to the evolving contours of the race.
As Kerry Eleveld wrote yesterday, "Over the course of 24 hours, the central pillar of Donald Trump's campaign strategy came crashing down … Trump's air of invincibility has been entirely destroyed."
Trump has studiously worked to present himself as "strong," "resolute," "a winner." His campaign has been about vigor, and Democratic nominee Joe Biden's lack thereof. "Sleepy Joe," as stupid a nickname as it is, was fully intended to convey contrast: Trump, strong. Biden, weak.
None of that was on starker display than the debate question about wearing masks. "I will put a mask on when I think I need it," Trump said, pulling out what might've been a Kleenex from his coat pocket. "I don't wear masks like him," he said, pointing to Biden. "Every time you see him, he's got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen."
That Biden, what a weak piece of shit, so afraid of the corona that he wears a big mask. AStrong man like Trump, on the other hand, doesn't let no virus scare him!
And yet he now lies in a hospital room, with comorbidities compounding his frail condition. Where is that strength he so laughably claims to have? Where is his, to use Kerry's word, invincibility?
I always laugh at how liberals can't handle good news, while Republicans can't handle bad news. While many on our side react to a good poll by saying silly things like "act like we're 10 points down!" their side will just follow along with Trump's proclamations that it's all fake news and the media, deep state, and swamp are conspiring to depress conservative turnout.
And they're right. When a candidate is down significantly, like 10 points, it depresses turnout. Who wants to spend their precious time, especially in a pandemic, working hard for a loser? That's why they work so hard to create their alternate reality, one in which Trump is totally cruising to reelection!
But what happens when Trump isn't around to mobilize his base, tell them to stop paying attention to reality, and use hate, fear, and bigotry to rally the faithful? The Trump campaign certainly sees the danger:
Yeah, good luck with that. The conservative base doesn't care about any of those people. There is only one person that matters. And that person, that supposed symbol of vigor and strength, is laid up in a hospital bed because of his rank idiocy and stupid. And while the Trump camp insists he's fine and "in good spirits," we know that's bullshit because, you know, he's not tweeting.
Will Trump be able to regain enough strength and vigor to at least tap a few buttons on his phone? I certainly hope he gets better. I need him to be alive to see himself become the biggest loser in American history. I want him to see his business empire crumble under incompetent stewardship and legal scrutiny, him and his children in prison, that bullshit facade of success crumbled to dust. Death would be too easy an escape. I am genuinely rooting for him to pull through.
But by all indications, this is not an easy disease to recover from. The road is long and hard. Will he have the strength to type bullshit tweets again? I hope so! Will he have the strength to muster up the kind of rage and sense of grievance that is so effective in riling up his base? That's a whole different question, and it's easy to see him having difficulties elevating the political temperature.
You take away Trump's ability to manipulate his supporters' lizard brain, and what do you have left? Even a small 5-10% erosion in intensity and passion among his supporters would prove catastrophic—not for Trump! He's already losing. But for the rest of the Republican Party, already facing deep losses in the House, Senate, and state-level races.
You add deep electoral losses (like a defeated Sen. Lindsey Graham and a massive Electoral College Biden win) and a Trump too sickly to really work up the requisite level of outrage, and the chances of post-election violence we've been fearing are also severely diminished.
It really is ironic, isn't it? Had Trump taken this pandemic seriously from the beginning, something he clearly understood (as he told Bob Woodward in those recorded conversations), today would look more different. Imagine an America where Trump could claim credit for minimizing COVID deaths, having encouraged everyone to wear masks from the start, and shut down the country while ensuring a smooth and efficient distribution of PPE, ventilators, and other necessary equipment. Imagine further that Trump worked with Democrats to provide several rounds of economic stimulus, minimizing the nation's economic pain and saving millions of jobs. As a result, schools could now reopen fairly safely, as they have in well-run countries like Korea, New Zealand, and Germany.
Trump could claim credit for all of that. And, as a bonus, he wouldn't be laid up in the hospital too sick to tweet or call in to Fox and Friends. The Senate would be doing regular business, confirming more conservative judges including the big one, the open Supreme Court seat.
And who could punish Trump for any of this? Certainly not liberals, who were begging him to take the pandemic seriously. The deplorables? They'd happily do whatever Trump asked them to do. They're stupid lemmings. The media would give credit where credit was due.
And we'd be running a much tighter race, one in which Trump had proven himself a genuinely strong and capable leader.
It's genuinely tragic that none of that happened, and that we had to lose 210,000 souls (and counting) to Republican idiocy. And now, Mr. "I'm too strong to wear a mask unlike stupid Biden and his big-ass mask" is fighting for his life.
This isn't the story that will motivate the deplorables to work harder to turn out the vote or disrupt the post-election transition of power. Quite the opposite, it smells of defeat and surrender.


alternet--2020-10-04--HHS Secretary Azar says public health protocols don't apply to president's innercCircle

Democratic lawmakers were incredulous after Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Friday testified following President Donald Trump 's Covid-19 diagnosis that the Trump family ca n't be expected to take the precautions that public health experts recommend , while also claiming the spread of the coronavirus to more than 7.3 million Americans is a matter of `` individual responsibility . ''
Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as Trump reportedly began developing Covid-19 symptoms , Azar told Rep. Nydia Velazquez ( D-N.Y. ) that the president 's family did not wear masks at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first family and the protective aspect around the president is a different situation than the rest of us . ''
Despite the fact that at least two members of the Trump family are now ill , Azar suggested the family is in `` a protective bubble . ''
At the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland , Ohio on Tuesday , a doctor was reportedly shooed away from the president 's adult children when she approached them to ask them to wear face coverings during the debate .
Members of the Trump family were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last Saturday where Republicans celebrated the president 's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court , where many attendees were unmasked .
The gathering is now thought to have been a `` superspreader '' event , with at least seven attendees having tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday , including Sens .
Thom Tillis ( R-N.C. ) and Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) and former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway .
Testifying before masked Democratic lawmakers and GOP members who declined to wear face coverings even as the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Azar dodged a question from Rep. Maxine Waters ( D-Calif. ) about Trump 's recent rallies , where indoor venues have been packed with unmasked attendees in close proximity and where the president has frequently downplayed the severity of the virus .
`` Do you think that the president 's rallies that he has gone to where people are not social distancing ... or wearing masks , does that contribute to the increase [ in cases ] ? ''
Waters asked .
While assuring the congresswoman that HHS advises Americans to practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask , washing your hands , and watching your distance , Azar said people should also `` evaluate [ their ] individual circumstances . ''
Azar 's comments came as news spread that the Barrett nomination event may have led to several positive tests .
In addition to the Rose Garden celebration at the White House , the event included an indoor gathering where attendees were also unmasked .
New York Times opinion writer Charlie Warzel suggested on Twitter that Azar 's statement that different safety standards apply to those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You 're staying at home , not seeing loved ones .
Making big sacrifices for the greater good , '' Warzel wrote on Saturday .
`` But that 's a *you* thing .
*They* do what they want always . ''
Rep. James Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) , chairman of the subcommittee , harshly criticized Azar for enabling the president to downplay the pandemic and potentially contribute to the spread of the coronavirus in an effort to appeal to voters .
`` Let there be no doubt : the president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a failure of historic proportions , '' said Clyburn .
`` Covid-19 has claimed more American lives than the battles of World War I , the Korean War , Vietnam War , Afghanistan War , and Iraq War combined .
As HHS Secretary and the first Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , Mr. Secretary , you should have been at the helm of an ambitious national response .
Rather than follow the science , you tried to hide , alter , or ignore the science whenever it contradicted the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perceived political advantage . ''

Democratic lawmakers were incredulous after Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Friday testified following President Donald Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis that the Trump family can't be expected to take the precautions that public health experts recommend, while also claiming the spread of the coronavirus to more than 7.3 million Americans is a matter of "individual responsibility."
Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as Trump reportedly began developing Covid-19 symptoms, Azar told Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) that the president's family did not wear masks at the first presidential debate last Tuesday because "the first family and the protective aspect around the president is a different situation than the rest of us."
Despite the fact that at least two members of the Trump family are now ill, Azar suggested the family is in "a protective bubble."
"He said this...today?" tweetedMSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow.
At the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, a doctor was reportedly shooed away from the president's adult children when she approached them to ask them to wear face coverings during the debate.
Members of the Trump family were also present at the White House event last Saturday where Republicans celebrated the president's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, where many attendees were unmasked. The gathering is now thought to have been a "superspreader" event, with at least seven attendees having tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) and former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway.
Testifying before masked Democratic lawmakers and GOP members who declined to wear face coverings even as the number of positive Covid-19 tests on Capitol Hill grew, Azar dodged a question from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) about Trump's recent rallies, where indoor venues have been packed with unmasked attendees in close proximity and where the president has frequently downplayed the severity of the virus.
"Do you think that the president's rallies that he has gone to where people are not social distancing...or wearing masks, does that contribute to the increase [in cases]?" Waters asked.
While assuring the congresswoman that HHS advises Americans to practice "the three W's" by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance, Azar said people should also "evaluate [their] individual circumstances."
Azar's comments came as news spread that the Barrett nomination event may have led to several positive tests. In addition to the Rose Garden celebration at the White House, the event included an indoor gathering where attendees were also unmasked.
New York Times opinion writer Charlie Warzel suggested on Twitter that Azar's statement that different safety standards apply to those in the president's circle unfortunately rang true.
"You're staying at home, not seeing loved ones. Making big sacrifices for the greater good," Warzel wrote on Saturday. "But that's a *you* thing. *They* do what they want always."
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), chairman of the subcommittee, harshly criticized Azar for enabling the president to downplay the pandemic and potentially contribute to the spread of the coronavirus in an effort to appeal to voters.
"Let there be no doubt: the president's response to the coronavirus crisis has been a failure of historic proportions," said Clyburn. "Covid-19 has claimed more American lives than the battles of World War I, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghanistan War, and Iraq War combined. As HHS Secretary and the first Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Mr. Secretary, you should have been at the helm of an ambitious national response. Rather than follow the science, you tried to hide, alter, or ignore the science whenever it contradicted the president's wish to downplay the crisis for perceived political advantage."


alternet--2020-10-05--'Don't tell anyone': Trump directed aide to keep positive test secret while awaiting his own COVID-1

'Don't tell anyone': Trump directed aide to keep positive test secret while awaiting his own COVID-19 results

President Donald Trump on Thursday received a positive coronavirus test result but did not disclose it .
He even did a Fox News interview Thursday night with his close friend and unofficial advisor Sean Hannity , and did not publicly reveal he had COVID-19 .
The President , upon learning of a top aide 's positive coronavirus test , told them to keep it quiet .
President Donald Trump on Thursday received a positive coronavirus test result but did not disclose it .
He even did a Fox News interview Thursday night with his close friend and unofficial advisor Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had COVID-19 .
The President , upon learning of a top aide 's positive coronavirus test , told them to keep it quiet .
`` Do n't tell anyone , '' President Trump directed , according to The Wall Street Journal , which did not name who that advisor was .
Trump finally announced his coronavirus status after a second positive test , just before 1 AM Friday morning .
Trump on Thursday flew to his golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey to attend a high-dollar donor fundraiser , knowing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been exposed .
It 's unclear if his first positive coronavirus test result had come back at that point , but having been exposed CDC guidelines state clearly he should have been self-quarantining at that point regardless .
`` Mr. Trump and his top advisers also aimed to keep such a close hold on the early positive results that his campaign manager , Bill Stepien , did n't know that Hope Hicks , one of the president 's closest White House aides , had tested positive on Thursday morning until news reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person familiar with the matter , '' The Journal adds .
`` The Trump campaign said Friday evening that Mr. Stepien had tested positive . ''
`` Do n't tell anyone , '' President Trump directed , according to The Wall Street Journal , which did not name who that advisor was .
Trump finally announced his coronavirus status after a second positive test , just before 1 AM Friday morning .
Trump on Thursday flew to his golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey to attend a high-dollar donor fundraiser , knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had been exposed .
It 's unclear if his first positive coronavirus test result had come back at that point , but having been exposed CDC guidelines state clearly he should have been self-quarantining at that point regardless .

President Donald Trump on Thursday received a positive coronavirus test result but did not disclose it. He even did a Fox News interview Thursday night with his close friend and unofficial advisor Sean Hannity, and did not publicly reveal he had COVID-19.
The President, upon learning of a top aide's positive coronavirus test, told them to keep it quiet.
President Donald Trump on Thursday received a positive coronavirus test result but did not disclose it. He even did a Fox News interview Thursday night with his close friend and unofficial advisor Sean Hannity, and did not publicly reveal he had COVID-19.
The President, upon learning of a top aide's positive coronavirus test, told them to keep it quiet.
"Don't tell anyone," President Trump directed, according to The Wall Street Journal, which did not name who that advisor was.
Trump finally announced his coronavirus status after a second positive test, just before 1 AM Friday morning.
Trump on Thursday flew to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey to attend a high-dollar donor fundraiser, knowing that Hope Hicks had COVID-19 and that he had been exposed. It's unclear if his first positive coronavirus test result had come back at that point, but having been exposed CDC guidelines state clearly he should have been self-quarantining at that point regardless.
"Mr. Trump and his top advisers also aimed to keep such a close hold on the early positive results that his campaign manager, Bill Stepien, didn't know that Hope Hicks, one of the president's closest White House aides, had tested positive on Thursday morning until news reports later that evening, according to a person familiar with the matter," The Journal adds. "The Trump campaign said Friday evening that Mr. Stepien had tested positive."
"Don't tell anyone," President Trump directed, according to The Wall Street Journal, which did not name who that advisor was.
Trump finally announced his coronavirus status after a second positive test, just before 1 AM Friday morning.
Trump on Thursday flew to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey to attend a high-dollar donor fundraiser, knowing that Hope Hicks had COVID-19 and that he had been exposed. It's unclear if his first positive coronavirus test result had come back at that point, but having been exposed CDC guidelines state clearly he should have been self-quarantining at that point regardless.


alternet--2020-10-05--'Insanity': Walter Reed Physician slams COVID-infected Trump for recklessly leaving hospital to gree

'Insanity': Walter Reed Physician slams COVID-infected Trump for recklessly leaving hospital to greet supporters

An attending physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center took to Twitter Sunday evening to publicly voice outrage at President Donald Trump 's decision to briefly leave the Maryland hospital to greet supporters rallying nearby , a move the doctor slammed as `` political theater '' that endangered the health and potentially the lives of those forced to participate .
`` Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential 'drive-by ' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days , '' tweeted Dr. James Phillips , chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may die .
For political theater .
Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater .
This is insanity . ''
At least two masked Secret Service agents were inside the armored and enclosed SUV , which Phillips noted in a subsequent tweet `` is not only bulletproof , but hermetically sealed against chemical attack . ''
`` The risk of Covid-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures , '' Phillips wrote .
`` The irresponsibility is astounding .
My thoughts are with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In an interview with the New York Times late Sunday—just 48 hours after Trump checked into Walter Reed amid concerns that his condition was deteriorating—Phillips raised the possibility that the president is improperly ordering the facility 's doctors to abide by his politically motivated whims .
`` At what point does the physician-patient relationship end , and does the commander in chief and subordinate relationship begin , and were those doctors ordered to allow this to happen ? ''
Phillips asked , pointing out that no other coronavirus-infected patient would be permitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , in violation of CDC guidelines .
Dr. Leana Wen , an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University 's Milken School of Public Health , tweeted Sunday that `` if Donald Trump were my patient , in unstable condition plus contagious illness , and he suddenly left the hospital to go for a car ride that endangers himself others : I 'd call security to restrain him then perform a psychiatric evaluation to examine his decision-making capacity . ''
Trump 's stunt—an apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery from the virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans on his watch—came at the close of a weekend packed with obfuscation by the administration officials responsible for keeping the public apprised of the president 's condition .
On Saturday , White House physician Sean Conley delivered a press briefing in which he muddled the timeline of Trump 's coronavirus diagnosis , offered a rosy assessment of the president 's condition , and repeatedly dodged straightforward questions about the treatment process .
In the face of criticism from public health experts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that his earlier briefing was `` trying to reflect the upbeat attitude that the team , the president , over his course of illness , has had '' rather than providing an unvarnished account of Trump 's medical status .
After refusing to do so on Saturday , Conley finally acknowledged Sunday that Trump experienced two drops in blood oxygen levels on Friday and Saturday and received supplemental oxygen at least once .
`` Every statement he is giving appears to be political , dictated by the White House or the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with Conley told the Washington Post .
`` These are not the statements a medical doctor gives . ''
The president 's medical team on Sunday also belatedly disclosed that Trump is being treated with dexamethasone , a steroid that is typically only recommended for severe cases of Covid-19 .
But despite indications that Trump 's illness is more serious than administration officials are letting on , the president 's doctors said he could be discharged from Walter Reed as early as Monday .
In a column for the Washington Post on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the limited information we have about President Trump 's health , it 's too risky to send him back to the White House on Monday . ''
`` In the absence of trusted information , we are left to speculate on a matter as consequential as the president 's health , '' Wen added .
`` Based on what we know , discharging Trump from the hospital on Monday seems premature and potentially dangerous . ''

An attending physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center took to Twitter Sunday evening to publicly voice outrage at President Donald Trump's decision to briefly leave the Maryland hospital to greet supporters rallying nearby, a move the doctor slammed as "political theater" that endangered the health and potentially the lives of those forced to participate.
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days," tweeted Dr. James Phillips, chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University. "They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity."
At least two masked Secret Service agents were inside the armored and enclosed SUV, which Phillips noted in a subsequent tweet "is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack."
"The risk of Covid-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures," Phillips wrote. "The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play."
In an interview with the New York Times late Sunday—just 48 hours after Trump checked into Walter Reed amid concerns that his condition was deteriorating—Phillips raised the possibility that the president is improperly ordering the facility's doctors to abide by his politically motivated whims.
"At what point does the physician-patient relationship end, and does the commander in chief and subordinate relationship begin, and were those doctors ordered to allow this to happen?" Phillips asked, pointing out that no other coronavirus-infected patient would be permitted to briefly leave the hospital as Trump did Sunday, in violation of CDC guidelines.
Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University's Milken School of Public Health, tweeted Sunday that "if Donald Trump were my patient, in unstable condition plus contagious illness, and he suddenly left the hospital to go for a car ride that endangers himself others: I'd call security to restrain him then perform a psychiatric evaluation to examine his decision-making capacity."
Trump's stunt—an apparent attempt to project an image of speedy recovery from the virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans on his watch—came at the close of a weekend packed with obfuscation by the administration officials responsible for keeping the public apprised of the president's condition.
On Saturday, White House physician Sean Conley delivered a press briefing in which he muddled the timeline of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis, offered a rosy assessment of the president's condition, and repeatedly dodged straightforward questions about the treatment process.
In the face of criticism from public health experts and members of the press, Conley admitted Sunday that his earlier briefing was "trying to reflect the upbeat attitude that the team, the president, over his course of illness, has had" rather than providing an unvarnished account of Trump's medical status. After refusing to do so on Saturday, Conley finally acknowledged Sunday that Trump experienced two drops in blood oxygen levels on Friday and Saturday and received supplemental oxygen at least once.
"Every statement he is giving appears to be political, dictated by the White House or the president," one unnamed person who has worked with Conley told the Washington Post. "These are not the statements a medical doctor gives."
The president's medical team on Sunday also belatedly disclosed that Trump is being treated with dexamethasone, a steroid that is typically only recommended for severe cases of Covid-19.
But despite indications that Trump's illness is more serious than administration officials are letting on, the president's doctors said he could be discharged from Walter Reed as early as Monday. In a column for the Washington Post on Saturday, Wen wrote that "based on the limited information we have about President Trump's health, it's too risky to send him back to the White House on Monday."
"In the absence of trusted information, we are left to speculate on a matter as consequential as the president's health," Wen added. "Based on what we know, discharging Trump from the hospital on Monday seems premature and potentially dangerous."


alternet--2020-10-05--Furious Trump aides are calling Amy Coney Barrett’s announcement the ‘Rose Garden massacre’ after CO

Furious Trump aides are calling Amy Coney Barrett’s announcement the ‘Rose Garden massacre’ after COVID-19 outbreak

Appearing ON MSNBC on Sunday afternoon , former Trump White House official Omarosa Onee Manigault Newman revealed staffers at the White House are upset with the president over the Rose Garden ceremony that seems to have led to a COVID-19 outbreak .
She also shed light on what might really be going on with President Donald J. Trump as he receives care at the facility .
She spent some time there when she fractured her foot during the early part of her tenure with the Trump administration .
`` I had an opportunity to go to Walter Reid and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was in that boot for about six months and I had to go back and forth , '' she said .
I '' m so grateful for my doctors there , but let me just tell you what it is like at Walter Reid .
Particularly the presidential suite , probably one of the most advanced medical wings .
They can fully support Donald Trump and his COVID diagnosis .
The only comfort I have is knowing he is only a mile away from George Washington hospital where they , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care and the director there can also handle any kind of presidential incidents .
But why go and expose the staff , the secret service , the military aides , the wonderful staff in the residence , even the junior staffers you see there going in and out ?
They 're at risk in the Trump White House . ''
She added , `` What surprised me about him being moved , particularly with the symptoms they 're describing , are symptoms that could have easily been treated at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition is worse than what they are describing .
For him to be transported means there are things they have not shared with the American people . ''
She revealed more about the inner workings at the White House during the pandemic .
`` I will tell you there are members of the staff , career staffers , who are very upset about the fact that this outbreak has happened , '' she added .
`` They 're calling it the Rose Garden Massacre .
It could have been prevented .
Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID and they do not have access to the best cutting edge technology like the president does .
They could succumb to this virus .
So I 'm hearing things , and a lot of it is that they just do n't understand why even now the White House has not changed their mask policy .
People are still being allowed to roam around the complex saying they 're optional . ''
During the press conference outside of Walter Reed Medical Center , the president 's team of doctors said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to eat and drink .
be up and out of bed as much as possible .
If he continues to look and feel as good as he does today , we hope to discharge him tomorrow . ''

Appearing ON MSNBC on Sunday afternoon, former Trump White House official Omarosa Onee Manigault Newman revealed staffers at the White House are upset with the president over the Rose Garden ceremony that seems to have led to a COVID-19 outbreak. She also shed light on what might really be going on with President Donald J. Trump as he receives care at the facility. She spent some time there when she fractured her foot during the early part of her tenure with the Trump administration.
"I had an opportunity to go to Walter Reid and I spent a lot of time there because I was in that boot for about six months and I had to go back and forth," she said. "I"m so grateful for my doctors there, but let me just tell you what it is like at Walter Reid. Particularly the presidential suite, probably one of the most advanced medical wings. They can fully support Donald Trump and his COVID diagnosis. The only comfort I have is knowing he is only a mile away from George Washington hospital where they, too, are part of the umbrella of medical care and the director there can also handle any kind of presidential incidents. But why go and expose the staff, the secret service, the military aides, the wonderful staff in the residence, even the junior staffers you see there going in and out? They're at risk in the Trump White House."
She added, "What surprised me about him being moved, particularly with the symptoms they're describing, are symptoms that could have easily been treated at the White House. That leads me to believe that his condition is worse than what they are describing. For him to be transported means there are things they have not shared with the American people."
She revealed more about the inner workings at the White House during the pandemic.
"I will tell you there are members of the staff, career staffers, who are very upset about the fact that this outbreak has happened," she added. "They're calling it the Rose Garden Massacre. It could have been prevented. Many of those career staffers have been testing positive for COVID and they do not have access to the best cutting edge technology like the president does. They could succumb to this virus. So I'm hearing things, and a lot of it is that they just don't understand why even now the White House has not changed their mask policy. People are still being allowed to roam around the complex saying they're optional."
During the press conference outside of Walter Reed Medical Center, the president's team of doctors said: "Our plan for today is we want him to eat and drink. be up and out of bed as much as possible. If he continues to look and feel as good as he does today, we hope to discharge him tomorrow."
Watch the video below.


alternet--2020-10-05--'Privileged' Republicans with COVID-29 are getting 'top-tier' health care while others die

The case for Medicare for All was once again made by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic , Sen. Ed Markey tweeted on Sunday , after Republican politicians were able to check themselves into hospitals shortly after announcing they had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Markey noted that throughout the coronavirus pandemic , in which more than 7.4 million cases have been detected and more than 209,000 people in the U.S. have died , people have attempted to get care at hospitals after testing positive and showing worsening symptoms , only to be turned away and `` told only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Now politicians are checking into hospitals as a 'precaution . '
Healthcare should be a right , not a privilege , '' Markey wrote .
`` We need Medicare for All . ''
The senator 's statement came a day after former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , a member of the president 's debate prep team this past week , announced he was checking himself into Morristown Medical Center after testing positive on Saturday .
`` While I am feeling good and only have mild symptoms , due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is an important precautionary measure , '' Christie tweeted .
Christie 's announcement angered social media users whose own family members had been denied admission at hospitals even as their symptoms grew more severe earlier this year , as medical centers faced severe shortages of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) —and as the Trump administration seized shipments of the supplies and claimed the federal government was not responsible for ensuring healthcare workers were equipped to combat the pandemic .
`` How many lives of 207,000+ lost could 've been saved if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
wrote one critic .
`` The surge ventilators they desperately requested ?
How many parents , children , wives , husbands would still be here if they could 've gotten early care 'out of an abundance of caution ? '
'' Others noted that under the for-profit healthcare system in which insurance companies decide whether a patient 's treatments and hospital stays are medically necessary and should be covered or if the person should have to pay out of pocket , the vast majority of Americans are in no position to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often , even to a doctor 's office—as a precautionary measure .
`` Mystifying that people think this kind of class system in healthcare is worth fighting to preserve , '' tweeted journalist Steve Lubetkin .
The details of the president 's condition , and how far into the illness he is , remained murky on Sunday after a press conference the previous day in which his physician , Dr. Sean Conley , suggested Trump had first been diagnosed with Covid-19 last Wednesday , rather than late Thursday night .
After Trump on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walter Reed Medical Center , where he 's been since late Friday , saying he was feeling `` much better , '' his medical team reported that his oxygen levels had dropped to 93 % , below normal range and to the level that doctors generally consider a severe case of Covid-19 .
The president was reportedly given the steroid dexamethasone on Sunday as well as the experimental drug remdesivir .
Dexamethasone has been shown to help patients with severe coronavirus cases .
The time and place where Trump contracted the coronavirus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last Saturday at the White House to celebrate his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has been called a `` super-spreader '' event , after at least eight people in attendance have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days .
The White House is reportedly overseeing contact tracing of the event , where more than 100 people gathered both indoors and outdoors , social distancing was not observed , and few people wore face coverings .
On Twitter , journalist Anand Giridharadas summarized the last week in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times also reported on his failure to pay taxes for 10 of the 15 years preceding his term , and that he paid just $ 750 in 2016 and 2017 .
`` The moral of the story is , he lied to you for months and encouraged you to live recklessly during a pandemic , and when it got to him he received every top tier treatment and medication to ensure his survival while your friends and family died alone , '' wrote comedian and writer Travon Free .
`` Remember that @ @ @ @ @

The case for Medicare for All was once again made by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Ed Markey tweeted on Sunday, after Republican politicians were able to check themselves into hospitals shortly after announcing they had tested positive for Covid-19.
Markey noted that throughout the coronavirus pandemic, in which more than 7.4 million cases have been detected and more than 209,000 people in the U.S. have died, people have attempted to get care at hospitals after testing positive and showing worsening symptoms, only to be turned away and "told only to come back when they could not breathe."
"Now politicians are checking into hospitals as a 'precaution.' Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege," Markey wrote. "We need Medicare for All."
The senator's statement came a day after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a member of the president's debate prep team this past week, announced he was checking himself into Morristown Medical Center after testing positive on Saturday.
"While I am feeling good and only have mild symptoms, due to my history of asthma we decided this is an important precautionary measure," Christie tweeted.
Christie's announcement angered social media users whose own family members had been denied admission at hospitals even as their symptoms grew more severe earlier this year, as medical centers faced severe shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE)—and as the Trump administration seized shipments of the supplies and claimed the federal government was not responsible for ensuring healthcare workers were equipped to combat the pandemic.
"How many lives of 207,000+ lost could've been saved if hospitals had had the PPE they needed?" wrote one critic. "The surge ventilators they desperately requested? How many parents, children, wives, husbands would still be here if they could've gotten early care 'out of an abundance of caution?'"
Others noted that under the for-profit healthcare system in which insurance companies decide whether a patient's treatments and hospital stays are medically necessary and should be covered or if the person should have to pay out of pocket, the vast majority of Americans are in no position to simply decide to go to the hospital—or often, even to a doctor's office—as a precautionary measure.
"Mystifying that people think this kind of class system in healthcare is worth fighting to preserve," tweeted journalist Steve Lubetkin.
The details of the president's condition, and how far into the illness he is, remained murky on Sunday after a press conference the previous day in which his physician, Dr. Sean Conley, suggested Trump had first been diagnosed with Covid-19 last Wednesday, rather than late Thursday night. After Trump on Sunday released a video of himself at Walter Reed Medical Center, where he's been since late Friday, saying he was feeling "much better," his medical team reported that his oxygen levels had dropped to 93%, below normal range and to the level that doctors generally consider a severe case of Covid-19. The president was reportedly given the steroid dexamethasone on Sunday as well as the experimental drug remdesivir. Dexamethasone has been shown to help patients with severe coronavirus cases.
The time and place where Trump contracted the coronavirus is unknown, but the ceremony he hosted last Saturday at the White House to celebrate his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has been called a "super-spreader" event, after at least eight people in attendance have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days. The White House is reportedly overseeing contact tracing of the event, where more than 100 people gathered both indoors and outdoors, social distancing was not observed, and few people wore face coverings.
On Twitter, journalist Anand Giridharadas summarized the last week in Trump's presidency, during which the New York Times also reported on his failure to pay taxes for 10 of the 15 years preceding his term, and that he paid just $750 in 2016 and 2017.
"The moral of the story is, he lied to you for months and encouraged you to live recklessly during a pandemic, and when it got to him he received every top tier treatment and medication to ensure his survival while your friends and family died alone," wrote comedian and writer Travon Free. "Remember that on Nov 3rd."


alternet--2020-10-06--'We're on a knife's edge': Report details frightening parallels between Trump's era and fascism of t

'We're on a knife's edge': Report details frightening parallels between Trump's era and fascism of the past

During his heated debate with former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night , September 29 , President Donald Trump disturbed many of his critics when he expressed his solidarity with the Proud Boys — a racist far-right group with a history of violence .
History repeats itself , and journalist Amy S. Rosenberg — in an article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 5 — warns that some historians see troubling parallels between the United States in 2020 and countries that sunk into fascism in the past .
For her article , Rosenberg interviewed some scholars and historians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of them is Anne Berg , who grew up in Germany and now teaches history at the University of Pennsylvania .
Rosenberg writes that although Berg 's parents were `` basically hippies , '' her grandparents `` were Nazis '' — and Berg told the Inquirer , `` To expect that things are going to return to normal is irresponsible .
People need to be aware of the risks we are facing right now . ''
Berg noted that in 2017 — the year in which Trump was sworn in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Penn against `` catastrophizing . ''
But now , she is sounding the alarm about what she warns is a `` rapid descent toward fascism '' in the United States .
Rosenberg writes , `` Is American Democracy at risk ?
After Tuesday 's volatile debate , with a belligerent President Donald Trump signaling paramilitary white supremacist groups to 'stand by , ' repeatedly calling the voting process into question , and raising the specter of post-election violence , lots of Americans may have joined a growing chorus of academics and others who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases , years . ''
Nikol Alexander-Floyd , who teaches political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey , told the Inquirer , `` We have to understand : we are not immune from what has happened in other parts of the world and other time periods .
This is what a potential coup looks like . ''
Eddie S. Glaude , Jr. , chairman of the African-American studies department at Princeton University in New Jersey and a frequent guest on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' told the Inquirer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edge .
The republic is in serious jeopardy . ''
For a sobering depiction of the type of creeping fascism that Bern , Alexander-Floyd and Glaude are warning about , an excellent movie to watch is the 1972 film adaption of the musical `` Cabaret '' — which takes place in Berlin in 1931 near the end of the Weimer Republic .
The film , starring Liza Minnelli , is fiction , but it 's a realistic , frighteningly accurate depiction of what was happening Germany in 1931 — when Adolf Hitler had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up concentration camps , but Nazis were becoming increasingly brazen in their anti-Semitism .
In 2020 , even some of critics of Trump and the Proud Boys are arguing that it is alarmist to say the U.S. is slipping into fascism .
But in `` Cabaret , '' one of the characters who was critical of Nazis believed it was alarmist to think that Hitler would actually come to power — even when Jews were being brutally beaten by Nazis in the streets of Berlin and the attacks were getting worse and worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ( scholar on Nazism ) , says she is reminded of early-1930s Germany , in the waning days of the Weimar Republic , when both ends of the political spectrum , fascists and communists , lost faith in the democratic system and urged that it be dismantled . ''
Berg told the Inquirer , `` These are warning signs for democratic fragility .
Once we agree the democracy is under threat and the institutions no longer work for us , we do n't feel the need to defend them . ''

During his heated debate with former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night, September 29, President Donald Trump disturbed many of his critics when he expressed his solidarity with the Proud Boys — a racist far-right group with a history of violence. History repeats itself, and journalist Amy S. Rosenberg — in an article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 5 — warns that some historians see troubling parallels between the United States in 2020 and countries that sunk into fascism in the past.
For her article, Rosenberg interviewed some scholars and historians in Philadelphia and nearby southern New Jersey. One of them is Anne Berg, who grew up in Germany and now teaches history at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rosenberg writes that although Berg's parents were "basically hippies," her grandparents "were Nazis" — and Berg told the Inquirer, "To expect that things are going to return to normal is irresponsible. People need to be aware of the risks we are facing right now."
Berg noted that in 2017 — the year in which Trump was sworn in as president — she warned her students at Penn against "catastrophizing." But now, she is sounding the alarm about what she warns is a "rapid descent toward fascism" in the United States.
Rosenberg writes, "Is American Democracy at risk? After Tuesday's volatile debate, with a belligerent President Donald Trump signaling paramilitary white supremacist groups to 'stand by,' repeatedly calling the voting process into question, and raising the specter of post-election violence, lots of Americans may have joined a growing chorus of academics and others who have sounded the alarm for, in some cases, years."
Nikol Alexander-Floyd, who teaches political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told the Inquirer, "We have to understand: we are not immune from what has happened in other parts of the world and other time periods. This is what a potential coup looks like."
Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., chairman of the African-American studies department at Princeton University in New Jersey and a frequent guest on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," told the Inquirer, "We're on a knife's edge. The republic is in serious jeopardy."
For a sobering depiction of the type of creeping fascism that Bern, Alexander-Floyd and Glaude are warning about, an excellent movie to watch is the 1972 film adaption of the musical "Cabaret" — which takes place in Berlin in 1931 near the end of the Weimer Republic. The film, starring Liza Minnelli, is fiction, but it's a realistic, frighteningly accurate depiction of what was happening Germany in 1931 — when Adolf Hitler hadn't yet come to power and set up concentration camps, but Nazis were becoming increasingly brazen in their anti-Semitism.
In 2020, even some of critics of Trump and the Proud Boys are arguing that it is alarmist to say the U.S. is slipping into fascism. But in "Cabaret," one of the characters who was critical of Nazis believed it was alarmist to think that Hitler would actually come to power — even when Jews were being brutally beaten by Nazis in the streets of Berlin and the attacks were getting worse and worse.
Rosenberg explains, "Berg, the (scholar on Nazism), says she is reminded of early-1930s Germany, in the waning days of the Weimar Republic, when both ends of the political spectrum, fascists and communists, lost faith in the democratic system and urged that it be dismantled."
Berg told the Inquirer, "These are warning signs for democratic fragility. Once we agree the democracy is under threat and the institutions no longer work for us, we don't feel the need to defend them."


alternet--2020-10-05--Expert warns armed right-wing groups could launch a ‘rural insurgency’ against the government

When President Donald Trump — during his raucous debate with former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night , September 29 — expressed his solidarity with the far-right Proud Boys , many critics accused him of promoting violence against his adversaries .
Political violence in major cities is a possibility that Trump 's detractors fear , but Vasabjit Banerjee , an assistant political science professor at Mississippi State University , warns of a possible `` rural insurgency '' in an article published in Just Security this week .
`` The intrusions of white supremacist militias into cities to intimidate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( BLM ) movement highlights the possibility of rural insurgency , '' Banerjee explains .
`` Rural insurgencies range from week-long armed rebellions against local governments , law enforcement , and the wealthy to decades-long ones against subnational and national-level security forces , which seek to impose new revolutionary regimes . ''
Banerjee goes on to note that white supremacist and white nationalist groups have been expressing `` fears of becoming a minority group due to changing demographics . ''
`` The targets of such fears have shifted from primarily African-Americans to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In conjunction with racial fears , other causes include anti-Semitism as well as perceived threats to Christianity from Muslims , who have replaced Catholics as antagonists .
Some scholars have observed , however , that the militias do not constitute a cohesive movement , but have many groups with varied beliefs . ''
Trump 's `` anti-immigrant nativism '' and promotion of `` fundamentalist Christian beliefs '' have been an inspiration to far-right militia groups , Banerjee warns .
`` After he assumed office — in addition to his equivocation about deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration 's policies also appeared to favor militia groups by reducing monitoring by federal law enforcement , '' Banerjee notes .
`` Trump may accept pre- and post-electoral violence by such militias during the 2020 elections , as indicated by his statements about the white supremacist Proud Boys during the first presidential debate . ''
According to Banerjee , insurgent groups in the U.S. could have easier access to weapons than insurgent groups in other countries .
Banerjee points out , `` In most countries , insurgent groups must smuggle quantities of small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or bought in black markets , across international borders .
In the United States , however , per capita gun ownership is the highest in the world , while gun laws are some of the least restrictive .
Thus , militias can legally acquire vast quantities of small arms . ''
Banerjee concludes the article by emphasizing that the United States ' `` geography '' — which includes a lot of wide-open spaces — would be conducive to a rural uprising .
`` The preconditions for insurgencies are already present , '' Banerjee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve more scrutiny from security forces and a unified political consensus to deter and suppress them in order to maintain peace and stability . ''

When President Donald Trump — during his raucous debate with former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night, September 29 — expressed his solidarity with the far-right Proud Boys, many critics accused him of promoting violence against his adversaries. Political violence in major cities is a possibility that Trump's detractors fear, but Vasabjit Banerjee, an assistant political science professor at Mississippi State University, warns of a possible "rural insurgency" in an article published in Just Security this week.
"The intrusions of white supremacist militias into cities to intimidate and attack protestors from the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement highlights the possibility of rural insurgency," Banerjee explains. "Rural insurgencies range from week-long armed rebellions against local governments, law enforcement, and the wealthy to decades-long ones against subnational and national-level security forces, which seek to impose new revolutionary regimes."
Banerjee goes on to note that white supremacist and white nationalist groups have been expressing "fears of becoming a minority group due to changing demographics."
"The targets of such fears have shifted from primarily African-Americans to include non-White immigrants," Banerjee observes. "In conjunction with racial fears, other causes include anti-Semitism as well as perceived threats to Christianity from Muslims, who have replaced Catholics as antagonists. Some scholars have observed, however, that the militias do not constitute a cohesive movement, but have many groups with varied beliefs."
Trump's "anti-immigrant nativism" and promotion of "fundamentalist Christian beliefs" have been an inspiration to far-right militia groups, Banerjee warns.
"After he assumed office — in addition to his equivocation about deadly white supremacist attacks against protestors — his administration's policies also appeared to favor militia groups by reducing monitoring by federal law enforcement," Banerjee notes. "Trump may accept pre- and post-electoral violence by such militias during the 2020 elections, as indicated by his statements about the white supremacist Proud Boys during the first presidential debate."
According to Banerjee, insurgent groups in the U.S. could have easier access to weapons than insurgent groups in other countries.
Banerjee points out, "In most countries, insurgent groups must smuggle quantities of small arms, offered by willing foreign sponsors or bought in black markets, across international borders. In the United States, however, per capita gun ownership is the highest in the world, while gun laws are some of the least restrictive. Thus, militias can legally acquire vast quantities of small arms."
Banerjee concludes the article by emphasizing that the United States' "geography" — which includes a lot of wide-open spaces — would be conducive to a rural uprising.
"The preconditions for insurgencies are already present," Banerjee warns. "Consequently, militia groups deserve more scrutiny from security forces and a unified political consensus to deter and suppress them in order to maintain peace and stability."


alternet--2020-10-05--White House refused to trace COVID infections after Amy Coney Barret's potential super-spreader even

White House refused to trace COVID infections after Amy Coney Barret's potential super-spreader event: report

Nine days after the White House Rose Garden nomination announcement and celebration of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as President Donald Trump 's third Supreme Court nominee at least 11 Trump associates have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Reporters , including at least one of the three who were present covering the event and became infected , were surprised that they had received no call from the White House or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to attempt any contact tracing , or notify them they should quarantine after coming in close contact with attendees who tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times reports that the White House will not perform any contact tracing , and will not notify any attendees to self-quarantine .
The CDC has been ordered to not perform any contact tracing as well , despite that it is the government agency best prepared to perform the important function .
The White House `` has limited its efforts to notifying people who came in close contact with Mr. Trump in the two days before his Covid diagnosis Thursday evening .
It has also cut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge and resources for contact tracing , out of the process .
`` The Times calls contact tracing `` an essential piece of any outbreak investigation , '' and `` a key to stopping the virus from spreading further , especially after a potential 'super spreader ' event where many people may have been infected . ''
New York Times White House correspondent and CNN political analyst Michael Shear , who became infected after covering the event , says `` nobody from the White House has said 'boo . '
''

Nine days after the White House Rose Garden nomination announcement and celebration of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as President Donald Trump's third Supreme Court nominee at least 11 Trump associates have tested positive for COVID-19.
Reporters, including at least one of the three who were present covering the event and became infected, were surprised that they had received no call from the White House or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to attempt any contact tracing, or notify them they should quarantine after coming in close contact with attendees who tested positive for the deadly virus.
Now The New York Times reports that the White House will not perform any contact tracing, and will not notify any attendees to self-quarantine. The CDC has been ordered to not perform any contact tracing as well, despite that it is the government agency best prepared to perform the important function.
The White House "has limited its efforts to notifying people who came in close contact with Mr. Trump in the two days before his Covid diagnosis Thursday evening. It has also cut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has the government's most extensive knowledge and resources for contact tracing, out of the process.
"The Times calls contact tracing "an essential piece of any outbreak investigation," and "a key to stopping the virus from spreading further, especially after a potential 'super spreader' event where many people may have been infected."
New York Times White House correspondent and CNN political analyst Michael Shear, who became infected after covering the event, says "nobody from the White House has said 'boo.'"